Title: I'm Here For You
Author: Jeana
Spoilers: none
Pairing: TATE!
Summary: I hate summaries, so just read it
Disclaimer: Navy NCIS is the property of Belisaurius, Paramount, DPB, CBS, and all that jazz...The characters just run around in my head all day long, so I put them to work.
"I have never said that you are hot!"
"Well, you said I was good-looking!"
"When?"
"The other day, when you called me an action figure, you said that I was good-looking!"
I scoffed at him; he was so conceited. "It was an analogy, DiNozzo, what I meant was--" The ringing of my cell phone interrupted our lively banter. "Don't you go anywhere, Tony," I said, reaching into my purse and pulling out my cell phone, "We will finish this." I flipped open my phone. "Hello?" I heard my mother's voice on the end of the line, but it sounded frantic and upset. "Oh, Kate! Did Christi call you already?"
"Why would she call? Is everything ok?"
"It's Joe. There was a rebel shooting today over in Iraq. Several of the soldiers were wounded, and," her voice faltered, "Joe didn't make it." I just stood there in shocked silence. Joe, my friend since first grade…dead? The phone fell from my hand and to the ground with a clatter. "Kate? Are you alright? Kate?" I didn't hear my mother's voice calling to me, nor was I aware of Tony asking, "Kate, what's wrong?" I didn't notice him walking around the car to where I was standing, until he put his hand on my shoulder. "Kate?"
I turned around, and tried to blink away the tears that I knew were coming; I didn't want Tony to see me cry.
"Kate, what is it?"
"My friend, Joe, was stationed over in Iraq. Today there was a shooting and…" I took a deep breath and continued, "he didn't make it." I decided that I no longer cared if he saw, and so I let the tears fall freely.
"Oh, Kate, I'm so sorry."
I tried to see Tony's face through all of my tears. 'I don't think I've ever seen him so genuinely concerned,' I thought of Tony, and then my mind went back to the awful news I had just received, 'Oh my gosh, Joe can't be gone!'
"I-I don't know what else to say."
Tossing all reason out the window, I replied, "Don't say anything, just hold me." And with that, I threw myself into his arms. I felt them wrap around me as he drew me close, and I began crying into his shoulder. I could feel his hands start massaging my back as the sobs racked my body. Then I nearly melted in his arms when I heard his usually teasing voice, say soothingly, "It's ok, Kate, it's gonna be alright." And it really tugged my heartstrings when he said, "I'm here for you." I had no idea how long I stood there crying in Tony's arms. My sobs had finally quieted down, and I voiced my thoughts, "I just can't believe that Joe is really gone." That brought more tears, which prompted Tony to draw me close and say, "I know, Kate, I know." And then he kissed the top of my head.
'Oh, how long have I wanted him to do that? It's just so awful that it would take a tragedy to bring us together.' I hugged him tighter. After a few more minutes, I had stopped crying. I looked up at Tony and said simply, "Thank you."
"For what?"
"For caring… and for letting me cry on your shoulder."
"Oh, Kate," he said in a gentle voice, "You know that I am not completely unfeeling. You know that I care about you." Then he brought his hand up to my face and gently wiped away the tears on my cheeks. "Now, are you gonna be ok? Because I can drive you home if you want…"
'Heck ya you can!' "Would you? I'm still a little shaken up."
"Sure. And I guess you'll need a ride up here tomorrow since you are leaving your car here, right?" I nodded, and picked up my cell phone. "Ok. I'll swing by your place on my way." We were now walking towards Tony's car. I smiled as Tony opened my door for me. 'Ah, so chivalry isn't dead.' We drove to my apartment in silence. When we got there, I turned to Tony. "Thanks for the ride, and for everything."
"No problem." He flashed me one of his gorgeous trademark grins. I opened the car door to leave, stopped, turned back around to Tony, and gave him a peck on the cheek. I could not stop smiling as I walked up the steps and into the apartment complex.
