AN: Here comes the first part of my new story. I really hope you like it. This one is totally TATE.
Storyline: There is something Kate hides from her colleagues and friends. But then she gets bad news and her life is about to change.
Timeline: early – mid second season. Kate is still alive and I don't intend on killing her.
Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS or its characters. But I own Matt, Beth and Amanda. No money is made with this.
Kate's other life - Part 1
"Gibbs, I need some days off.", Kate, who just got off the phone, said.
"Kate, we just got a new case. I need you here.", Gibbs said, taking a sip of his coffee.
"You don't understand. I really need some days off. It's a family emergency. Someone very close to me was just diagnosed with Leukemia. I need to help her.", Kate said, tears starting to fall down her cheeks.
"I'm sure there are other persons who can help her. I'm sorry for your friend, but I really need you here, Kate."
"No, I can't stay. I need to go home. I'm the only one who can help her. If you don't give me some days off, I'm forced to hand in my resignation. I will take some days off. And don't even bother to ask, I'm not going to explain it at the moment. Later perhaps, but not at the moment.", Kate said, finally crying. She packed her bag and was on her way out.
"Kate, if there is anything I can help you, give me a call. If you need somebody to speak, you know where you can find me.", Tony said when Kate walked past his desk.
"Thank you Tony. But this is something I have to face alone. I'll call tomorrow, Gibbs."
Kate went out of the office without turning back. She had to go home immediately. Nothing could change her mind. In the darkness of the NCIS-garage she sat down and cried even harder. 'How could it be? She is still so young? She just turned two this month. How can she have cancer? Mandy is everything to me. I can't lose her, too. I wont survive another funeral.' Kate said to nobody.
The phone call just a few minutes ago had taken her by surprise. It was Dr. Roberts from Galilee Hospital in Washington. She had been there last week with Amanda, since she wasn't feeling well for quite some time. Kate thought she might have the flu, but like the doctor told her, she has Leukemia. She needed to do a Chemotherapy right now. The chance was good, that it would help her, but one could never be sure about it. 'How was she going to tell a two-year old girl that she was terrible ill and needed to stay at the hospital?', Kate wondered.
About ten minutes later,Kate was able to drive home. Normally she was more than happy to go home to her family, but not today. She was going to destroy a life. And she wasn't sure how all this would affect her own life. Sure, some great changes would need to be made, but would she be able to work in the near future? Her little girl needed her more than NCIS. What was about Tony? Would she survive not seeing him on a nearly daily basis?
She knew that they would never be more than colleagues or maybe friends, but seeing him every day helped her to survive. Now that she needed to stay home, there was no way she could see him. And she needed to stay home with her little girl, no matter what Gibbs was telling her. She loves her job, but Amanda needed her even more at the moment.
Kate opened the door of her house. She went inside and straight to the kitchen, where she would find her mother Beth probably.
"Kate, you are already home? Did something happen at work, dear?", her mother asked.
"No, mom. Nothing happened at work. But I got a call from the hospital. Mandy has Leukemia and needs to do a Chemotherapy right now. She is scheduled for tomorrow morning. For now, I'm staying at home. My little girl needs me now.", Kate said, sitting down on the table.
"Leukemia? Oh my gosh? That's terrible; she is too young to have cancer. How are you going to tell her?", Beth asked, sitting down next to Kate.
"I don't know. How are you going to tell a two-year old girl, that she is going to die?"
"Kate, don't even think about it. Mandy is not going to die. Everything will go just fine. She has her loving family, who is going to take care of her. She won't die."
"I just hope you are right. I can't lose her, too. That would be too much for me. I don't think I can live without her."
"Kate, don't worry. I'm sure, everything will go fine. She is a fighter, you know that. Just like you are."
Kate went up to the little girl's room. She was there, sleeping. She was so exhausted in the last few weeks, but now they knew the reason for that. Kate couldn't wake her up. She just sat there, watching the girl sleeping.
Only a few moments later, Kate was asleep, too.
Kate was in the nursery, making some late arrangements for the new life that would come sometime soon. She was kind of surprised, when the doorbell rung. She wasn't awaiting someone. Only her husband was scheduled to come home, but he got a key. Actually Matt, her husband was supposed to be home two hours ago. He had called her, when he left the office.
Kate went down to get the door. In front of her were two NCIS agents standing.
"What can I do for you?", Kate asked friendly.
"Are you Mrs. Caitlin Todd?", the older one of the agents asked.
"Yes, that's me. Did something happen?", she asked, getting nervous. It was never a good sign when the NCIS showed up at your doorstep, and with Matt being a Major at the Navy, Kate got a terrible gut feeling.
"Can we come in for a moment, Mrs. Todd?"
"Of course, please come in. Would you please tell me, why you are here?", Kate asked again.
"We are sorry to tell you, that your husband was participant at a traffic accident. A truck got his car frontal. I'm sorry to tell you, that your husband didn't make it to the hospital. He died on the way.", the younger agent said.
A/N: Who is Amanda? You will learn more about her in the next chapters. And please review.