I Want The World To Stay As It Is…
We duck behind a trashcan as a bullet zooms past us and buries itself in the wall. Shots are fired from all over the place at our hiding spot but none of them hit us.
"I think we're doomed." Tony states.
"YA THINK DINOZZO?" I yell back- I'm really not in the mood for his juvenile remarks right now.
I poke my sig around a corner and fire rapidly. Quickly, I duck back as a load of bullets are shot back at me. "Any ideas?" I shout at Tony, the charming idiot that got us into this mess.
"There's an empty vent over there!" He replies, gesturing off too his right, where, sure enough, there is an empty vent leading to the alleyway outside. "One of us could get outside and call Gibbs!"
"Why can't we call Gibbs now?"
"There's no phone signal!" Tony says.
"We can't fit through that vent!" I exclaim- the vent is tiny. I doubt a child could fit through it.
"I can't," Tony exhales, "but you'll fit through just fine."
I feel myself tense up at his suggestion. Me go and leave him alone, in the middle of a fire fight? Crazy, but that's DiNozzo. No, I can't. I care about him too much for that. I'd rather die than admit it though.
"Are you crazy DiNozzo? I'm not leaving you in here by yourself!"
"It's the only way Kate!" He looks me directly in the eyes; his own filled with what looks like fear and concern. "Please go. Get Gibbs, he'll come for me. Save yourself!"
"Why are you so worried about me all of a sudden?" I ask him, placing my hand on his shoulder and shaking it gently.
"Because… Because I care about you Katie, more than you'll ever know." Tony reaches out and touches my cheek, his hand cool against my flushed skin. I hold it there, trying to take in everything that's happening.
"Go Kate, please, be safe. I want the world to stay as it is- with you in it," he murmurs, the sincerity in his voice bringing tears to my eyes. What's wrong with me? I never cry in front of anyone, especially Tony.
Suddenly, Tony leans forward and presses his lips against mine. It's a kiss of desperation and longing but I relish it all the same.
"Go," he whispers, pushing me out of hiding.
I sneak along the wall to the vent and crouch down beside it. Before I go through, I shoot a glance at Tony, who nods at me. I should run back and fight with him, defend him, protect him, but I can't- he's right, one of us has to get out.
It's dark and claustrophobic in the vent, but I crawl through it, the shots which are ringing out in the air spurring me on. I have to do this. I have to help Tony.
As I emerge from the vent, I get out my phone (which now has signal) and ring. The person that I'm calling answers almost instantly.
"Hello?"
"Gibbs, it's Kate…"
