Title: Lake Effect
Rating: K+, for now
Spoilers: None whatsoever
Summary: Sequel to Ain't Nothing But a Family Thing... and on it goes...
A/N: I have returned from a hiatus that was very much needed, especially as far as this story goes. But, hopefully I'll be able to finish these chapters, and be able to give you some new meat :) There are several re-writes that I'm working on here (mostly starting in chapter 2). I hope I haven't lost this story's feel… please let me know if I start going off track!
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The Lake Effect influences the ever surrounding nature for about twenty miles inland from the shore, creating a heartening environment that wouldn't exist otherwise. In winter, the lakes cause heavy, moist snowfall, blanketing the vineyards, insulating and protecting the vines from the bitter, frigid air. It allows for the survival of things that would normally have trouble surviving at all...
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1
A day turned into several, which was eventually drawn out to a week where Kate didn't breathe a word or make a single vulnerable gesture towards that cold, exposing November night. Gibbs watched her, but never pressed.
When the days turned into weeks, and as the weeks continued on, Gibbs pressed— in his own, usual Gibbs-way: in secret and without her knowledge... with the best intentions. He investigated the hospitals that Kate's mother frequented, even calling them periodically regarding her condition or any changes. But when his reasons for phoning became weaker, the nurses began sending him in circles, eventually denying him information all together. He was really left no choice…
He had almost forgotten what he had done when on a Monday morning, a few days after the fact, an unforgiving whirlwind tore into the bullpen without a drop of warning. Kate viciously threw her jacket over her desk, landing precariously over her computer monitor; simultaneously tossing her purse onto the floor in her cubicle, having it skid and crash against the back partition wall.
Gibbs felt her anger as she stepped off the elevator— could hear it in the heated click of her heels— but he didn't realize the full force of her fury until he looked up into her reddened face and dark, widened, wild eyes. Kate was seething.
"What the hell did you think you were doing?" her tone cut deep as she managed to keep her voice low and thick with contempt.
He had lifted his eyes to hers, eyebrows slightly raised in mild surprise at her sudden ferocity and blinding rage; he opened his mouth to speak, but she wouldn't let him.
"What were you doing…??" her raised voice drew a few curious stares from the agents around the squad room; Tony snapped out of his haze, standing up at his desk, utterly bewildered by her curious behavior, directed at their irritable boss. Gibbs looked down to his desk, setting down his pen as he also stood. He looked over Kate's shoulder, glaring at Tony and willing him to sit back down and stay out of it.
Walking slowly out from behind his desk, Kate's eyes followed him vigilantly as he gently took her by the elbow, relieved when she didn't yell, recoil, or pull away. His face grew stern, the lines on his face hardening as he grumbled to her: "Move your feet."
His fingers tightened around her elbow as he led her to the elevator, stabbing at the Down button with a controlled hand.
When the doors opened, a young agent stood in the elevator, file and coffee in hand as he waited for Gibbs and Kate to board. Gibbs held his hand against the side of the elevator door, keeping it from closing, glaring menacingly at the young man. The agent looked up to him with a blurred expression of fear and confusion before gracefully scrambling out of the elevator as Gibbs ushered Kate inside.
The heavy metal doors closed and the lift began to descend not too long before Gibbs slammed at the Emergency.
He turned to her, hovering close, but not to crowd her, his face wrapped in a sort of stern, unyielding fascination of her. His eyebrows almost met in the middle as his brow furrowed furiously, his mouth set in a firm, frowning line, while his arms hung still and waiting at his sides.
"How's your mom, Kate.." he asked quietly, the edges of his voice softened despite his visibly challenging demeanor.
"Why don't you tell me, Gibbs?" She spat hotly, folding her arms tightly across her chest, edging towards him calculatingly slow, coming toe to toe with him where he could still feel her anger radiating in waves.
Gibbs matched her stance, faintly tilting his head as he scoured over her face shamelessly. He shook his head distantly.
"You wouldn'tve told me." He explained coolly rather than answering her direct question; beginning to anticipate her need of good reason for his covert actions, trying to diffuse the heated air that flowed from her.
"Probably not." She chuckled angrily, still incensed. Her mouth wavered as he saw her swallow hard. "You still.. you could've asked, Gibbs. You called my father??" Her voice rose again in exasperated, angry disbelief.
He took another careful step towards her, looking down to her, her face softly bathed in the dim emergency lights. He sniffed lightly as he looked away from her.
"I was concerned." His voice was soft gravel against her ears.
Something suddenly reignited her fervor. "Yeah.. well, while you were having some.. some freaking bizarre parent-teacher conference behind my back..!? You could've just said something… asked me.. just, talked to me, Gibbs… But you had to go, completely sidestep me all together!" She heaved and swallowed again, having to look away from him and breathing a little harder. She murmured angrily, "But what else is new…" Kate looked up to him. "I just.. you can't…" her voice trailed as her hands balled at her sides.
"Would you have told me?" he asked roughly. She looked away and then back to his face, with a miserable and vaguely pathetic expression.
"No.. Yes. I don't know..." she quieted.
"Then what's your point, Kate?" he asked softly.
She glanced away from his face, over his shoulder before she bowed her head in silent, emotional defeat. She placed a steadying hand on her hip while the other wandered to her forehead, her fingers brushing and massaging the lines and the ache of her brow. Gibbs raised a slow, comforting hand to her shoulder. She leaned into his warm touch, drawing what strength she could from his focused contact.
Kate kept her eyes closed as she slowly pulled away from him.
"She won't see me." She whispered huskily.
Her sudden admission threw him for a moment. Gibbs blinked several times before he reached a large hand to her cheek, lightly rubbing his thumb over the delicate skin beneath her eye. Momentarily relishing the softness of her flushed face, he then slid his rough paw to cradle the back of her head, taking another step towards her and dragging her the rest of the way towards him, close to his chest. He understood the delicate boundary between tough love and gentle tending; he understood what she needed, and he wouldn't let her cave in and collapse upon herself. She was too good to self-destruct. He just wouldn't let her. He could see the cracks from where she had already glued herself back together once before. Gibbs pressed his fingertips against the back of her head, into her soft hair, his other arm cautiously snaking around her waist.
Kate slid her hands to his shoulders, resting her cheek against his chest. Sighing deeply, she didn't cry, but the misdirected anger that had been coursing feverishly, slowly leaked away. She impulsively nuzzled underneath his chin, her nose brushing against his neck as she drew up to her full height. Sliding her hands around and up his back as she rested her flushed cheek against his shoulder, she murmured lightly:
"Why are you doing this, Gibbs…"
He remained silent as he stood there with her, holding her, carefully thinking of an appropriate answer to give her. His lips twitched in a sad, ephemeral little grin as he pulled from her just a little and pressed a firm, moist kiss to her cheek; running a gentle hand from the crown of her head, over the brown silk of her hair, down to the nape of her neck. He moved his mouth to the other side of her face, pressing his lips against her other cheek; her face beginning to glow with a mystifying red warmth that he couldn't turn away from.
He placed his warm and softly weathered hands on her cheeks, hesitantly suspended over her expectant lips that were so slightly parted. Gibbs could feel her delicate breath mix with his as he looked to her lips and then up to her eyes. Her focus was on his mouth, as she stood still and balanced, waiting for him to take the next step. She shuddered and hung on this moment, spellbound and aching towards him like an unforgiving magnet that she just had no control over. Kate looked as if she might simply break.
The shrill ring of Gibbs cell echoed and broke the spell as their eyes met momentarily. Kate took a step back and carefully crossed her arms in front of her chest, dipping her head down as her hair fell into her face. Gibbs watched her retreat and swallowed as he slid the phone out of his pocket and irritably snapped it open, never once taking his eyes from her form. Damn thing never works in the elevator when he wants it to.
"Gibbs." He grumbled. He looked down to his shoes and then back up to Kate. "Yeah, Abs. She's okay. Right. Uhuh. Yeah... I'll send her down." He clasped the phone shut as he shoved it back into his pants pocket. Gibbs took a moment and let the air lighten between them before speaking. He took a step and placed a hand on Kate's shoulder as he hit the Emergency, throwing the elevator back into motion.
"Abby has something for you." He spoke low and hoarse.
Her arms tightened across her chest as she looked up to him with a slightly heavy heart; placing on the mask of pleasant professionalism, she smiled sad and sweet, nodding as she looked back down to the cold elevator floor.
The lift came to a stop at the lab and Kate stepped out, looking back at him before the doors shut between them— her eyes shone, as she wiped a few stray tears from her darkened eyes. Taking her open palm, she touched her fingers to her lips and gently brought her hand forward, away from her mouth. Gibbs smirked softly, his eyebrows raised slightly as he looked to the floor, the elevator doors closing between them.
Abby bounced over with a little smile on her face as she looked from Kate to the elevator.
"What'd you thank the G-man for..?"
Kate smiled and looked over to her friend before walking over to Abby's lab table.
"For watching my six." she said lightly, thankful for the few signing lessons Abby had given her so many months ago.
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