Author's Note:
I'm currently in the process of editing this story, hopefully making it much better. It needs work badly, and I've finally managed to get started doing so. The story is still incomplete, but I want to edit the first few chapters before continuing to update. I just wanted to let you all know that I intend to update this story after doing so. This first chapter is just an introduction, mainly focused on Gibb's point of view. Hopefully you all like the story, and thank you for taking the time to read it. Any questions, comments, or thoughts are more than welcomed. =)
Gibbs walked along the trees, their leaves blowing slightly in the wind. He took in the feel of the wind, the warm sun, and the grass under his shoes all reminders of his former training. Today however he wasn't thinking about being a Marine. For him the day seemed perfect, the type that Kate could have loved. Kate, that was who he was thinking about, who he couldn't stop thinking about. He'd lost many men when he was a Marine, but he'd never once lost a woman. The day he had met Kate she'd stuck out, being the only girl just as stubborn as he was. His mind couldn't help but flash back to the time he'd pinned her in the airplane bathroom. That was when Kate had still worked on Air force 1. He'd been cold to her, and Gibbs remembered holding her.
She had at first punched him, her arms making direct contact. Still the force she used was more out of desperation than anger, and he hardly felt it. He'd wrapped his arms around her, and smelled her perfume. Never one to notice, it struck him as odd that she smelled nice to him. They'd stayed there for a moment locked in that airplane bathroom. Her tears soaking his shirt, her head resting against his firm chest, and for a moment he didn't want to let go of her. It was a misconception that crying was a weakness, and Gibbs knew that. Crying was simply a sign of emotion, and it couldn't be faked. The moment Kate had cried against him was the moment he knew she right to join his team. He had hired her when no one else wanted her, and he hadn't regretted it a single day since.
Walking up to join the funeral line, Gibbs could only watch as his team. They each stood in line in front of Kate's casket, in order to each say their last goodbyes. He wondered what each member of his team recalled. Everyone always seemed to know someone differently, and now they'd never to know more about her. Kate had a way of making Tony smile, and Gibbs wondered if Kate had broken another rule for him. He couldn't possibly think of Kate doing that, but she would be the kind of girl to surprise him. Gibbs recalled all the moments he'd found Kate and Abby lost in another hug. Abby wasn't going to handle this very well, the usually happy girl silent and withdrawn. McGee had always been awkward around Kate, but they had often shared a few laughs. Laughs that were usually at Tony's own expense, made them laugh the most.
Each of the team members had laid a rose on Kate's coffin. Gibbs reached Kate's coffin, and held the rose in his hand for a moment. It was a red rose, a symbol of love felt from one person to another. He didn't want to let go of that yet. This was the last rose Kate would ever receive, and oddly it would be by him. She had saved his life moments before her death, and he couldn't save hers. He had died for her, and all he had left to give her was the simple flower. Gibbs had never been one to give women roses, and now all the value he had for one was now in his hands. He set the rose down, and noticed the flag reminding him of all the people he'd ever lost. The moment caught up to him, as it often did after he had just lost another person he cared about.
He was unsure of what to say, and then again what words were there left. There was a feeling tight within his chest slightly unfamiliar to him. If it was regret or sadness he didn't know, but it made him weak. All the days since Kate's death had lead to this moment for Gibbs. Being able to know Ari was never going to bother their team again, and standing beside Kate knowing he had done her right. His hand gently grazed the flag on the casket. A flag that made him recall so much at once, so many people he had failed to protect. None hit him harder than Kate did. He simply stared at her casket for a moment, and finally let go of the rose. Gibbs stood there looking at the collection of roses, and imagined Kate giving him a hard time for being a little late. It made him smile, but inside he was weak and he showed his weakness. "I'm sorry, Kate."