Disclaimer: I don't own them. You know the drill.

No Spoilers

Authors Note: I know it is short. I hope you enjoy there are more on the way...


Protector

This time was very difficult for Gibbs. He felt so alone. This is the reason he works on his boat so much. Kate was going out with some new guy from the third floor. This made Gibbs a little testy around the office. There case load had been fairly light just a few misconducts and other fluff. So the NCIS crew had been stuck in their office doing backed up paperwork. It was a Tuesday morning and Kate was not there yet.

"Tony where the hell is Kate," Gibbs snapped.

"Well Boss, yesterday she was saying something about a breakfast with John from the third floor." Tony replied.

"Oh" he acknowledged with a grim look on his face.

They all kept on working and at about 10:30 Kate walked in.

"Nice of you to join us, Agent Todd," Gibbs said very sternly.

"Sorry I am late, Boss. I was unavoidably detained."

Gibbs just gives her his B.S. look as she sits down while avoiding his eyes. She loved his blue eyes, but when he was mad they turned a special blue and it scared her. He just watched her. He just figured that she stayed a little longer at breakfast than she had planned. Then it occurred to him that she looked almost worried. His look went from pissed off to a 'what's up?' look. She could still feel him staring at her so she decided to look back and try to catch him off balance. When she looked up she was the one that was caught off balance.

At breakfast she told John that she was not looking for a boyfriend right now. She didn't like him that much but he kept asking her out so she thought she would just tell him over breakfast that it just wouldn't work. He didn't take it as well as she had hoped he would have. He asked for her to give him a chance that he is a great guy. She just said it wouldn't work and to leave it be. She was kind of worried because she had a feeling he wouldn't just forget about her. She just figured that she would deal with that if it occurred.

Gibbs decided not to bother with her being late…yet. They all continued with there work until it was time to go home. Tony and McGee left first. They had decided to go for a beer. Kate saw them get up to leave and hurried up to shut down her computer and get her stuff together. She did not want to be at the office alone with Gibbs because she knew he would still be mad at her being late that morning. Gibbs had rundown to talk to Abby earlier and had not returned yet. She figured she would be safe for a little bit longer. She didn't really feel like talking to Tony about her "relationship" so she waited until they where on the elevator to walk that direction. As she pressed the button the stair door opened and Gibbs came out.

'Damn,' she thought.

"Kate I need to talk to you," he said. He knew she was trying to get away without talking to him.

"Well actually, Boss, I need to get home to feed my dog and let him out."

"Then I will ride down with you."

They waited in silence for the elevator to get to their floor. As they boarded Kate was dreading the ride down.

'Ding' the door closed.

"Kate why where you late today," Gibbs casually asked.

"I had a breakfast date that unexpectedly went longer than I expected," she said getting a little annoyed.

"Why?"

"Why does it matter," she snapped.

He looked at her with a 'watch it look' and said, "Because I want to know, you looked worried."

'How the hell did he know…..wait he is Gibbs' she thought. She sighed and explained what all happen that morning.

'Ding'

The door open and with a sigh of relief Kate started to exit. Gibbs stepped in front of her blocking her way and said, "If you need me you can always call me. Just let me know if he is getting possessive!" He said.

"Gibbs, I can take care of myself."

"I know you can, but just…well…know I am here for you."

TBC……………….Please review, I would love to know what you all think. Oh and it doesn't matter I will read any review good or bad.