Hello valued readers,

This is a follow on story to "Sorry Kate," it may be a one shot depending on the responses I get from readers!

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Kate couldn't believe she was doing this, but she knew she had too. The team at NCIS could hardly be in her presences they were all so busy feeling bad for her. That is why Caitlin was now lying on a bed fully conscious while a team of highly skilled surgeons drilled into the back of her scull looking for her optical nerve.

Abby stood in the viewing room with Ducky, nervously watching the surgery. The pair had been on strict instructions not to tell the rest of the team that she was going through with the surgery, Kate wanted it to be a surprise of sorts and also didn't want to worry the others. Ducky and Abbs were scientists, so it was different with them.

"I can't feel my left fingers," Kate said suddenly; as she listened to the doctors behind her quickly discuss what to do. A few moments later sensation returned to her hand, Kate took a deep breathe, that had been a close call.

After an intense few hours of surgery, Kate's heart had stopped twice due to unavoidable risks on the surgeon's behalf, the reason why this surgery was so infrequently performed. A few hours into the afternoon Kate blinked and the sight in her left eye had returned, not fully but she could see basic outlines although not compete detail. The surgeon kept on fiddling with that area of her brain; he kept asking questions until her sight was almost as good as new. It took another five hours to get the second eye, equally as high-quality as the first. At ten o'clock the surgeon sent Kate to recovery and with in three days she was able to leave the hospital, on the condition she would be with a friend at all times, so her condition can be monitored.

It take Kate the better half of Saturday to gain her balance properly as seeing where you are, puts of your balance. Though on Saturday she was still having trouble with escalators and elevators, Kate knew it would be a long while before she could even think about attempting to get her drivers license back.

So early on Monday morning, after spending the weekend with Abby, Kate entered the bullpen with a large red and white sticker which read…

Kate Todd

Visitor

Gibbs didn't notice her at first; Tony looked up when he saw Abby's bright purple VANS shoes. Tony saw Kate, then instinctively looked away as the thought of being in her presence, let alone looking at her was too hard to handle. Tony rocked on his office chair.

"You haven't been to visit in a while Tony," Kate said as Gibbs gave her a hug. Gibbs had noticed straight away that Kate wasn't her usual self and that her eyes were looking directly at Tony.

"I've been busy," Tony lied. Tony loved Kate to much to look at her, but he knew she no longer felt the same way about him.

Gibbs was going to ask Kate when she would be returning to work, but decided against it, "Abby come look what I found and the crime scene, I left a sample in your lab."

Abby took the hint and followed Jethro. Kate walked over to Tony's desk and stood behind him, without having to feel where she was going or listen for other people.

Kate placed her hands on Tony's shoulders, "I'm sorry Tony, I was selfish, but you have to understand, having the surgery would be risking my life and I love living."

Tony nodded indicating he understood, even though he knew Kate couldn't see him but Tony didn't dare speak as he feared that the sole tear rolling down his cheek may make its way into his voice.

"Tony, you're the only thing I love more then my own health," Kate said as she brushed away the tear from Tony's cheek.

Tony froze, how did Kate know that tear was there? It's not like she could see it, could she?

Tony looked up over his shoulder to see Kate smiling and looking right into his watery eyes. "You-ou had the surgery," Tony stuttered as he turned around in his chair and stood up, his eyes glistening.

Kate nodded, "I love you too much to not have the surgery and…" But Kate didn't get to finish her sentence; Tony was holding her head, one hand on her cheek, the other holding the back of her head.

"I'm sorry Kate," Tony said as another tear fell down his face. Tony felt incredibly guilty for not visiting her and frequently sought comfort in unconventional ways, women nearly half is age and his old friend in a bottle, tequila.

Tony rested his forehead against Kate's looking into her eyes, "I missed you Kate."

"Would you like to go to lunch?" Kate asked, before adding, "As a date."

Tony didn't respond. Kate soon found out why. Standing across the room was a very attractive brunette who could have been Kate's sister they looked so much alike.

"Tony?" The attractive women asked from across the room.

"Jeanne, this is my friend Kate," Tony said. At the word 'friend' Kate felt her heart being ripped out of her chest. Tony hadn't waited for her, the reason she had had the surgery hadn't waited for her.

"Kate I swear I can explain," Tony whispered so Jeanne couldn't hear him.

Kate retreated to Abby's lab; she couldn't believe that Tony didn't wait. Though in Tony's defence he didn't know that she was getting the surgery, but Kate still couldn't comprehend the fact Tony had a girlfriend. Kate had gone through so much to be with him, risking her life even and he hadn't waited.

Kate walked into Abby's laboratory with tears dwelling in her eyes, "oh Kate. What happened?" Abby spent the next few hours consoling her former colleague, hoping like hell that Tony would come around and that he and his lady friend weren't serious. Abby felt ill in the pit of her stomach, she had told Kate that she didn't think Tony and Jeanne were serious, but she was fairly sure that they were.

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Hi guys,

Hope you like "Kate, I can explain"

Please leave a review on your way out!