Thinking Out Loud
Chapter One: Personal
"I thought I'd die before I heard you say that." That got a chuckle out of him and Gibbs. She winces visibly, because the bullet is still stuck in the vest, and hitting her abdomen. Kate begins to lean forward in pain right as a whoosh of air passes over her head and Tony took her down with him to the hard rooftop. Her body stills underneath his strong one as silence ensues. Kate's breathing becomes choppy as does Tony's. Neither moves, waiting, for what their not sure. Another gun shot? Gibbs's body joining theirs? But there's just nothing. Tony bites his lip and slowly eases his head up to look around. His boss is standing completely rigid, gun up, eyes probing the area in which the bullet intented for Kate came from. It was Ari, it had to be.
"We didn't even look for him." Tony muttered under his breath, suddenly angry with the fact that Kate had almost been shot by that bastard. He looks down at her to see Kate's eyes watching Gibbs.
"What is he going to do?" She whispered, meeting his eyes. Tony swallowed.
"I don't know."
"Come and get me." Ari smiled without any emotion and watched. Gibbs eyes were almost on top of him, but from this distance he couldn't see him. He carefully extracted his rifle from the building's edge, and disappeared.
"He could be anywhere by now." McGee added as Tony crosses his arms over his chest. He's barely listening to his and Gibbs' conversation, being worried about Kate. The Caitlyn he knows is not this quiet, the Caitlyn he knows would not be sitting at her desk staring into space while there's talk about how Ari is probably out of the country by now. She would be arguing along with McGee. He sighs as Kate suddenly meets his eyes. There's a fear there that shouldn't be. 'You wanna talk?' He mouths to her, and she smiles softly and nods.
"Uh, boss, we're gonna go get some coffee." Gibbs tilts his head in consent.
"Great, I would love so-"
"Not you Probie, sorry." Tim's mouth drops open but he shuts up from the glare he's thrown. Kate and Tony dissapear into the elevator and Jethro returns to his desk.
"Are you still resigning from NCIS?" Both men look over to Fornell who raises his eyebrows in question.
"Hell no."
It's a clear night, not too hot, not too cold. A chilly breezes comes out of no where, reaching the roof and its occupants. The slight wind pushes her dark hair out of her pale face and a shiver crawls up her spine. He licks his lips, and glances down to her. The silence, which has been going on for about fifteen minutes, is starting to unnerve Tony. This was not his idea of talking it out. So he clears his throat to catch her attention.
"I don't know whats gotten into me." She finally admits, though it confuses Tony.
"How do you mean?" Kate's teeth close against the inside of her cheek, trying despertaly to ignore the way her emotions are attempting to grab at her from every direction.
"We come close to death every day, it's part of job…so what makes this so different?" Her soft voice barely reaches him, but he understands.
"Well, usually it's not so personal, and usually it's not Ari…who might I add abducted you as well." Kate squeezed her eyes shut at the memory.
"I was so scared that he was gonna kill you, I would've done anything he asked. And today, today did not help at all." The last part hits hard, but Tony gets past the shock, and moves in front of her to gently lift her chin up. Her misty eyes avoid his.
"Kate, look at me." Eyelids flicker, but the beautiful eyes he's come to rely on finally meet his. But, for the first time in a long time, Anthony DiNozzo is at lost for words. There's nothing you can say to erase the trepidation resting in her eyes. So he does the only thing he can do, hold her. Kate does not fight him, but welcomes the rare intimacy between them. Hands clasp tightly together against his back; holding on for dear life. Tony engulfs her, causing a feeling of safety to stir inside her that hasn't been there in a long time. He suddenly cracks a smile, and speaks into her soft hair.
"Should we go to your apartment or should I take you to dinner first?"
A/N: Okay, a lot of factors mix in with my pissyness. First, the show itself, second, all the fanfiction stories of her death. SHE DIDN'T NECCESSAIRLY DIE FOR CRYING OUT LOUD. There's a big portion of our brain we don't use. Goddammit, some of you people really piss me off. Okay I'm done ranting, if you want me to continue writing their new found closeness/friendship review. Thanks much!