Title: The Dawn
Author: Snuez
Rating: PG / K+
Summary: The power of unspoken words - KIBBS
Disclaimer: I do not own (much to my chagrin) NCIS as a whole, the
characters, or any portion thereof.

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Kate's Apartment; 0650 EST

A single beam of light streaked across the kitchen table as the sun began
its daily ritual. Caitlin (Kate) Todd sat with her hands wrapped
around the steaming cup of coffee that sat in front of her, head
hung low and shoulders slumped. In the last 48 hours her life had
taken a nosedive and she was now waging an internal battle.
Kate's mind told her that she had no other choice but to shoot. However,
her heart wasn't yet to that point and it was her heart that now
tore at her insides. Kate knew that she took the only action she
could or she would be sitting here in the dawn of light fighting a
whole other battle. Unfortunately for Kate, knowing this did not
make the process any easier and the battle between mind and heart
waged on.

As she took a slow appreciative sip of the coffee before her she
felt a calloused and rough, yet soft and gentle, hand place itself
upon her shoulder. In any other situation she would have had her
gun drawn and turned on the unsuspecting sole within seconds, but
she knew this presence and welcomed it as the lifeline that may get
her through this day. The hand squeezed lightly and he knelt down
beside her taking in her appearance and looking her in the eyes –
looking into her soul. No words were exchanged; they did not need
to be. He released her shoulder and placed his hands in hers and
rose, taking her with him. He held her for a moment -or was it an
eternity, time was lost to them- and she felt a strength form within
her that she had been searching for, that she needed in order to win
this fight.

Releasing his hold on her, he grabbed her cup of coffee and led her
to the couch. He took a sip of the coffee before placing it on the
table before him. Not his usual black and strong, but Kate's
sweeter delight -he thought to himself that it was not so bad -. As he
lowered himself onto the couch he pulled Kate beside him resting his
arm behind her and she raised her legs up to rest on the couch. He
looked down at her now and his heart went out to her. He had told
her it was suicide by cop and to get over it.

He knew it was easier said than done, especially where Kate was
concerned. She still let her heart lead her so much of the time a
quality he was actually quite endeared to and one which fit them
well as he long ago left his heart at home where the job was
concerned and he knew that there must be a hard fought internal
battle waging at this very moment. His right arm rested lightly at
her lower back and he could not help but relish in the feeling it
elicited within him.

He thought briefly of running his fingers between the waistband of
her sweats and her skin but knew this was not the time for that -he
smiled softly at the thought that there may be another time for
that-.

His left hand slowly brushed a strand of hair from her eyes and the
back of his index finger gently wiped away a tear that had made its
escape. He placed his hand on the back of her head and placed a
reassuring kiss on her forehead as he brought her head to rest on
his shoulder. He let his left hand drift down her arm picking up
her hand softly and running his thumb across its back. He studied
her closely, not with the hard eyes reserved for the suspect, but
with the softest eyes Kate had ever seen. She had known this man
had a heart; it was just buried beneath years of heartache and
inches of steel. To see it come out for her was shocking and most
comforting and she let its warmth wash over her. As he finished
playing with her hand he slowly entwined his fingers with hers and
never breaking the eye contact they had established brought the back
of her hand to his lips to place the gentlest kiss upon it that Kate
had ever experienced. The kiss was so soft Kate was not sure if his
lips had even touched her skin, yet they must have as sensation that
it elicited did not come from the air around her. That simple gesture
said so much and more tears escaped from the walls of her eyes.
Their hands, still entwined, were dropped to his thigh.

Kate slowly closed her eyes and inhaled the essence that was Gibbs
and felt a strong security take hold of her. The battle within
still waged, but now Kate knew her mind would win. Her heart would
come out with one more scar than when this case started, but she had
the strength within, and looking up to the man that now held her,
she also had the support that would be needed to move on.

No words were exchanged that morning, yet volumes had been spoken.
He believed in her, he trusted her, he thanked her, he was there for
her, and he would never leave her. No apology was necessary for his
actions and words at the office, that was now far behind them. Kate
snuggled in closer to relish in all the strength he exuded and he
rested his cheek upon her head and let her warmth seep into his soul.