A/N: This is my first attempt at an NCIS story, with my favourite pairing, Kate/Gibbs. It starts off a bit strangely, but will eventually have a Kate/Gibbs slant to it. This is set immediately after the events of the first ever episode, Yankee White, but assumes the relationship between Gibbs and Fornell to be the one that is established where they have known each other for years, rather than the one where they meet for the first time on Air Force One.

Please read and review.

Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS or any of its characters or storylines.

Caitlin Todd had had an eventful few days. She had experienced an attempt on the president's life and the death of a friend, as well as resigning from one job and gaining another. She had also managed to get a date with an FBI agent.

Agent Fornell had caught up with her as she left the NCIS building, just after she had agreed to Agent Gibbs tagging along on Air Force One. Gibbs had gone off to run a couple of errands, she was picking him up later to take the flight out to California to meet the rest of the detail.

"Agent Todd?" Fornell had called as she had made her way back to her car.

"Agent Fornell, everything OK?"

"What was that all about?" The FBI agent looked curious, worried that the FBI were missing out on some part of the investigation no doubt. She had guessed that he was going to sound her out about what Gibbs was planning, seeing as he had been told that the case was all but closed.

"Oh, nothing much, just Gibbs calling in a favour."

"You know the man has been married 3 times don't you? Dangerous around women, that one is."

"Three times? You're kidding? Oh well, three marriages means three divorces, that bit doesn't surprise me."

"I, on the other hand, have only been married and divorced once. Much less dangerous." Was Fornell flirting with her? "You fancy grabbing a drink later?" Yep, definitely flirting. He was no Gibbs, but Kate had always gone for the older man, and he definitely had something.

"I would love to, but I have to rejoin Air Force One tonight. I could definitely make it tomorrow night though, if you are free?" Kate also had to go and break off things with Tim between now and 5.30. Things had got a little unprofessional there. While it might seem callous to accept a date with a man before she had finished things with another, she did not feel too bad. Kate and Tim had never been serious, they had had a good time, but it was really just sex.

"I most definitely am free. Here, let me take your number and I'll give you a call."

Things had now changed somewhat. Kate had left her position with the Secret Service, and had been offered a job with NCIS, starting on the following Monday. She was also dealing with the fact that Tim had died mere moments after they had agreed to break things off. The whole thing left her feeling strange. She was grieving for him, but only as a friend. She was also in a quandary about whether or not she should meet Fornell for that drink. If she had had second thoughts about accepting the date with him, she was now worried about how it would look if she actually went on the date, just days after Tim had died. "Screw it," she said aloud. It wasn't as though Tim and she were exclusively dating, they had had fun but things were never serious. She decided to go and meet Fornell.

"So you're going to be working at NCIS?" Agent Fornell asked, as they sat in the bar at the hotel.

"Wow, happy news really does get around this town fast, huh?" Kate was glad she had decided to go through with the date, even if it felt a little strange.

"Yeah, well, I called in there today to get some more of the findings of the original autopsy from Ducky, and DiNozzo was telling me all about it. He's rather excited at the thought of having such a beautiful partner."

"Are you sure he said that, Agent Fornell, or is that you speaking?" Kate asked, turning the flirting notch up by one.

"Please, call me Tobias. And yes, 'beautiful' was my choice of word. I think DiNozzo's was 'hot'. Or some such frat boy expression. Not that I disagree." Typical DiNozzo, Kate thought, also noting that Fornell had decided to match her flirting.

The evening progressed very nicely, with Kate discovering that Fornell was a charming man. If she wasn't as attracted to him as much as she was Gibbs, well that wasn't his fault.

"Well, Kate, it has been a real pleasure. Would you like to do it again sometime? Before you start at NCIS, and Gibbs ruins you for everyone?" Fornell asked, as he walked her to her car.

"He can't be that bad, surely! But yes, I would love to do it again. I start at NCIS on Monday, so if you are serious about going out again before then, it would have to be the weekend."

"How about Friday night? I could take you for dinner?" He asked as they reached Kate's car.

"Mmm, that sounds fabulous. You have my number, give me a call and we'll arrange it," she said, as she reached into her bag for her keys. This was the bit of the date she always hated, the awkward 'Will he or won't he kiss me?' moment. At this point, she was hoping for a kiss.

"I will certainly do that," he said, leaning towards her. Looked as though it was a 'he will be kissing me' moment, Kate thought. She leaned back on her car slightly, as he leaned in and their lips touched lightly. It remained a light kiss, until Kate decided to deepen it, and she felt his lips part. Kate moved her hands to his neck, and his went down to her waist. She broke it off with a sigh, knowing that if it went much further she wouldn't need much persuading to take things back to her apartment. She leaned her forehead against his.

"I should probably be going." she said, reluctantly.

"Yeah, I guess," Fornell said, his eyes going down to her lips. He leaned in again, and his lips grazed Kate's. "It was a great evening Kate."

"Yes it was. Make sure you call me about Friday."

Friday:

Fornell and Kate had enjoyed quite the date. He had been charming and attentive, and she had laughed a lot. They had made it further than the car tonight, all the way back to his sofa. He had picked her up in his car and taken her to the restaurant, and when he had suggested coffee at his apartment when the meal was over, Kate found herself saying yes. She didn't really want to start anything too serious, but as long as she stayed in control it would be fine.

Half an hour later, and things were getting hot and heavy on the sofa. Things had started off innocently enough, Fornell had actually made coffee and they had sat together, drinking it and chatting. Then he stroked Kate's face with his finger, and took her coffee cup with the other hand. He traced her lips with his fingers and then leaned in and kissed her. Tonight it was Fornell leading the way, he deepened the kiss and moved his hand down to her thigh. Kate leaned her hands against his chest as his other hand went behind her head and began to play with her hair.

After a while, Fornell had leant Kate back, and begun to unbutton her shirt. She wasn't sure that she wanted things to move on this fast. From here, it was a very short step to the bedroom, and this was only the second date.

Just as Kate was beginning to think about slowing things down, Fornell's phone rang. He broke the kiss with a sigh. "I'm sorry. I have to take that." Kate was relieved, and was just re-buttoning her shirt when her own phone rang.

"Hello?" she said, not recognizing the number on the caller display.

"Kate? It's Anthony DiNozzo here. Gibbs asked me to call, we've just had a new case come in and he was wondering if you could start tonight, rather than Monday?"

"Tony. Gibbs did not wonder if I could start tonight, did he? My guess is that he said something like, 'Get Agent Todd on the phone and tell her she's starting tonight.' Right?" Kate smiled as she talked to Tony. This was the perfect excuse to get out of whatever it was that was happening with Fornell.

"Well, yeah, maybe. Can you?"

"Yeah, no problem. I'll be there within the hour. See you soon Tony."

Kate hung up with Tony and turned back to Fornell, who had caught the tail-end of my conversation. "I take it you heard that? Gibbs has asked me to start early, apparently a case has come in."

"Funny you should say that, my call was from work too. I have to go into the office." Fornell lent in and kissed her again. "I'm sorry; it's not exactly how I planned this evening going."

"Me either," Kate said. But duty calls."