Kate needs to know Tony is here.
Tony knows just how to prove it.
Twilight ended differently, because it's the best place to fit this in.
Kate got shot in the arm. Her and Tony are lying on her hospital bed together, late at night.
Disclaimer: Don't own. Geez, where'd you get that idea?
'Tony,' Kate says, almost in a whisper. She's not afraid of waking him but she can't manage more than a low whisper.
He doesn't respond.
'Tony,' Kate hisses again, only louder.
He doesn't say anything. He doesn't stir.
'Tony!' Kate almost yells.
'What?' He almost yells back.
'I need to know something…' She says absently.
'Shoot,' Tony says and realises it was a stupid thing to say. 'Sorry…' He mumbles and raises his arm so he can rest his chin on it.
'After today… After almost… You know what happened.' She says almost irritably, like he's making her relive it. Making her say what she's about to.
'Yes.' Tony whispers. He figures she's in denial. She won't say Ari's name. She won't say she got shot. She only implies. He hates that she's in so much pain.
'I need to know something…' Kate murmurs, realising she's already said this. 'I need to know that you're here.'
'What do you mean by 'here'?' Tony asks kindly but he figures it doesn't come out that way. 'Sorry.' He mumbles. 'Do you mean, in this room? With you? Thinking of you? Here for you…?'
'I don't really know.' Kate says. This wasn't one of the replies she had expected. But then again, most of them she thought would be bad reactions. She wasn't sure what kind of reaction this was.
'Ok.' Tony says. He doesn't fully understand the question, but he knows the answer. He gets up. He walks out of the room and out of sight.
Kate is left sitting on the bed, confused and alone.
Where has Tony gone?
Why did he go?
He just up and left! Why?
Did I offend him?
Questions flood her head.
How is this 'being here'?
Kate is close to tears when Tony walks back into the room. Instead of a goofy smile, he wears a humble, all knowing one, kind of like Gibbs.
He climbs back into bed and wraps his arms around Kate.
'Where did you go?' She asks in a small but annoyed voice.
'It doesn't matter.' He says, and pauses before continuing. 'The point is, you were worried. You were upset.' Kate didn't want to admit to this, but she nodded silently. 'Whenever you think I'm 'not here', just remember that feeling just then, when you didn't know where I was. When you feel that, but one hundred times worse, you'll know I'm not here. What ever 'here' is…'
'Are you saying I can't function when you walk out the door?' Kate jokes. It's the first time she's smiled since Ari shot her.
'Haha.' Tony says sarcastically. 'I'm saying you'll really know it when I'm not 'here' and that I hope you don't feel that way ever.' He rests his hand on her cheek gently and brings her face close to his, so their eyes meet.
'Do you understand?' He asks. She nods. She knows he wants her to say it. She turns away, smirking.
'Do you understand?' He asks. She nods again.
'Do you understand?!' He asks rolling her over onto him, so their eyes meet again.
'Yes.' She says. 'You're here.'
'I am.' He says, rolling her onto the bed. 'Remember that. Always.' He whispers gently, closing his eyes.
'I will.' She says, doing the same. 'I promise.'
A/N:How ever so sentimental, yo ne?
Darcie