"Agent Todd," she was already turning back to her desk, and braced herself for the reprimand she knew was coming. "If I may ask, what is this?"
"It's a request, Gibbs, for time off." She turned back to him, crossing her arms, one eyebrow going up, and she felt as though she was daring him to deny her request.
"Why do you need time off, Kate? Am I workin' ya too hard?"
She grinned down at him, and leaned against the desk, "My niece is being baptised on Sunday, and I have to go help because they're throwing a party. I'm her godmother, I'm expected to be there."
"Uh huh," he took the form from her, "Is that right?"
"Yes."
"Daniel's girl?" he asked, looking it over, and grinning up at her.
"Yep,"
McGee walked in from his visit to Abby's lab, and noticed that Kate was leaning against Gibbs' desk, stopping in his tracks. "Uh… what's going on?"
Kate stood up, "I'm getting some time off."
"Really?"
"My niece's baptism."
"That would be… Noelle Caitlin, right?" McGee asked, going over and sitting back down at his desk, before turning again, "The one who's named after you?"
Kate opened her mouth to answer, but before she could, Tony walked in carrying his case file. He looked grouchy and Kate figured whatever agent he'd been chatting up ten minutes ago had turned him down.
"Yeah, Probie, so she got a baby named after her. Big deal."
Kate made a face, as Gibbs signed the page and handed it back to her, "What do you have against babies, Tony?"
"Nothing against babies. I dislike naming children after adults."
"This coming from Anthony DiNozzo junior." Kate grinned, sitting back at her desk.
Gibbs, not looking up from his paperwork, said calmly, "I was named after my dad's best friend."
Tony winced, before turning to look at Gibbs, "You were?"
"Uh huh. Leroy Jethro. Ya can't make that up on your own." Gibbs looked up with a grin, noticing how uncomfortable Tony was, "Somethin' wrong, DiNozzo?"
"No sir, Leroy Jethro is a perfectly acceptable name." He turned back to his computer and started typing, even though Kate suspected he was just trying to look busy.
McGee stood, "Case report is done, boss."
"Good, McGee, that's good." He looked at the rest of them, "Might as well go home, not much else to do here. DiNozzo, if you don't get your report in by tomorrow morning, you might wanna start lookin' for a new job."
"Boss?" Tony asked incredulously, "You won't fire me over a case report?"
"A case report no, a late case report, maybe." He grinned, "Go home, DiNozzo."
"Didn't have to ask twice," Tony grabbed his jacket and backpack and left in a hurry.
"Wow," Kate said, grinning over at Gibbs, "He must be really worried about that case report."
"Uh huh."
McGee packed up, and then stopped at Kate's desk. She looked up from her email, and smiled, "Yeah Tim, what is it?"
"Have a good trip home, Kate."
"Thanks Tim, don't work too hard."
"Well, you… thanks Kate. Night. Night boss." He turned to Gibbs.
"Night McGee."
McGee left, and they were the only two agents left in the bullpen, left to stare at each other. Kate smiled, standing back up and sitting on the edge of his desk, "It's getting late, Gibbs."
"Do not give me the same advice you gave McGee, because I will shoot you," Gibbs was smiling though, "You should get home, because you have a flight to catch tomorrow morning."
"How did you know when my flight was?"
"Looked through your PDA when you were in the shower this morning."
"You're insufferable. And maybe don't tease Tony so much, he's not used to hearing you make jokes."
He grinned, and touched her hand, "Agent Todd, you should be gettin' on home. It's late, your boyfriend might get worried."
"My boyfriend shouldn't worry," Kate said back, standing up and reaching for her coat, her sleeve sliding back so that her bracelet caught the light. "He knows exactly where I am."
"Should get home to him, and say goodbye." Gibbs was standing up too, and shrugging on his own coat, before holding hers out for her to put on. It hadn't been long, and the little things like helping her with her coat and holding doors open, were simultaneously annoying and somewhat endearing. Grabbing her bag off the floor, they walked over to the elevator. Once they were inside, Gibbs reached over and took her hand.
"You good, Kate?"
"Yeah," she smiled down at her feet, not used to the hand-holding, but enjoying it all the same.
"Lookin' forward to goin' home and seeing your family again?"
"Gibbs it's been two weeks, maybe, since I was there."
"Isn't Rachel gonna be home?"
"Yeah, it'll be great. You have to meet her Gibbs, she's really something. And trust me, she's dying to meet you."
He sighed, "Gonna miss ya, Katie."
"Gibbs, I'm going to Indiana for three days, not dying. I'm coming home."
"Home?" he turned to her.
"Yes, home. DC, I mean." She was getting flustered because he was starting to annoy her again.
"So," he said, letting go of her hand as the elevator door opened, "Another night of Chinese takeout?"
"I was thinking Thai food, and then a long bath." She retorted. "You?"
"Couple of beers, working on the boat."
"Well," she walked over to her car, "Night Gibbs."
"Good night Kate," he grinned, and she rolled her eyes. If this routine kept up, no one would really be fooled. She was amazed that in the two and a half weeks since they'd gotten back from Carlisle, no one on the team had commented on odd behavior. Although Ducky was starting to give them suspicious looks, and Abby always grinned when they walked in together. No point in worrying though, as it wouldn't solve anything. For now though, she had dinner and a long bath to look forward to.
XNCISX
He walked in when she was sitting in a tub full of bubbles, staring at her with a look of confusion she thought he usually reserved for technology of any kind. She didn't' know if he was staring because he liked what he saw, or because he had no notion of the last time someone had used his bathtub. Not that it mattered because even if she was the first in a long time to use the tub, it had been clean, and she was finally warm again after the long stakeout the night before.
"Gibbs, when was the last time you took a bath?" she asked, not looking up from her mystery novel, already damp, which she was reading because she was bored- she'd already figured out who the killer was.
"I'm a Marine. And Marines take showers. Takes less time."
She looked over the edge of her book, "Personally, I think everyone can benefit from bath-taking. Maybe if you took a nice long bubble bath once in a while, you wouldn't be so grumpy. Does a lot for a person."
"Until you're sittin' in a tub full of cold water."
She tossed her book out, so it landed near her towel. "Pass me my towel, will you?"
"Kate, you're gettin' entirely too comfortable in my house."
"You don't seem to mind," she retorted, as he passed her the towel, not bothering to avert his eyes as she stood up, wrapping it around herself.
"Well with a view like this," he gestured at her, "How could I?"
She reached up and kissed him as she walked past, "Ugh, you smell like wood shavings."
He mimicked her as she walked into his- their- room, "Ya don't seem to mind."
"Just because I like the smell of sawdust, doesn't mean I have to put up with it."
"The whole house smells like sawdust, Kate. And don't lie," he grabbed her wrist, and pulled her against him, "Ya think it's sexy."
"Gibbs I'm all wet," she protested, laughing, as he reached for her towel.
He kissed the tip of her nose, and then looked at her innocently, "I know."
"That is not what I meant, you pervert-," she was cut off when he leaned in again, and reluctantly let her towel fall to the floor. Oh she had plans to get him back for this all right. Just as soon as his hands weren't all over her.
XNCISX
When she rolled over the next morning at five-thirty, she blinked, and stretched, reaching across the bed, frowning when she found it empty. But the smell of coffee coming from downstairs was enough to make her get up, wrapping the quilt around herself with a yawn. She pushed her hair back from her face, sighing when she glanced in the mirror and saw that her hair was sticking out from her head, and she looked like she'd stuck her finger in an electrical outlet. Shaking her head, she stood up, letting the quilt fall back, and grabbed a shirt from one of the drawers, not even bothering to see what was on it, before heading downstairs.
When she walked into the kitchen, she found Gibbs, fully dressed and making breakfast, "What are you doing up?" she asked, watching him standing over the stove.
He turned and then grinned, "Well, Katie, I'm drivin' ya to the airport, so how bout a thank you." He blinked, then grinned, "Like the shirt."
She finally looked down to see she was wearing one of his old NIS shirts, shrugged, and sat down at the kitchen table. He set down a mug of coffee, "Thanks. First one I could find."
"Don't go stealin' all my clothes." He warned. "Wouldn't wanna hafta go to work naked. Don't wanna scare anyone."
"DiNozzo would have a field day," Kate remarked, taking a sip of strong coffee, and being proud of herself when she didn't wince at the strength anymore.
"Or he'd wanna compare-," He buried himself in his work, his shoulders shaking, laughing, so he couldn't finish his sentence.
"Get your mind out of the gutter," she scolded.
Throwing his dishtowel over his shoulder, he walked over with a plate of steak and eggs. He put the plate in front of her, then sat down beside her, "Never," he teased.
"How do I look?" she asked, tucking her hair behind her ear.
"If ya mean, do ya look like you didn't get any sleep last night, then the answer is yes. Sorry, Katie, but your mom is gonna have fun; Kate Todd, respectable woman. Just add holy water."
She stuck her tongue out at him, "Shut up."
"Anyway, you excited about seein' the baby?"
"Very much so," she grinned back at him, forgetting the fact that she did look like a mess. After all, when he was staring at her, a faint smile on his lips, she could forget looking like a mess, or at least she could enjoy the knowledge that she was his mess.
"Better eat up, or you'll miss your flight."
She started eating faster, thinking to herself that whatever his faults had been in his four marriages, he could cook a mean steak. Maybe he ought to let her stick to doing the eggs, but otherwise, she had no right to complain. She sat back for a moment to sip her coffee, "When was the last time you had someone to make breakfast for?"
He shrugged, not meeting her eye, "Dunno, Kate, but not nearly as fun as cookin' for you."
"I'll make you dinner when I get back from Indiana, if you provide the bourbon," she offered.
"Kate, now there's a good idea. Gettin' tired of takeout."
"Maybe I'll steal a recipe from my mother," Kate set down her coffee mug.
"Careful, she'll think I've domesticated ya."
"Gibbs, the day you domesticate anyone, will be the day I die of shock. I'm probably going to be spending most of my time with Dan and Edie anyway."
"Oh!" he stood up, "That reminds me. You," he pointed, "Go get dressed. I'll be back." He kissed the top of her head, before taking off for the basement, and she was left to roll her eyes at the door. She stood, setting her plate in the sink, but taking the coffee back upstairs with her. She got dressed, but instead of putting Gibbs' NIS shirt back in the drawer, she opened her suitcase and set it underneath her other clothes instead. She finished getting ready, before lugging her suitcase back downstairs, setting it by the front door, and staring at the darkness outside. The neighbor across the street still hadn't taken down their Christmas lights, so they were twinkling, but it was very quiet. She heard Gibbs coming up from the basement, and turned as he walked over, holding-
"Gibbs, it's so cute," she grabbed the gift from him, "Is this for Noelle?"
"Yep," he grinned, "Got it the other day, after work."
She turned over the US Marines teddy bear in her hands, "It's adorable, LJ."
He stepped closer, looking down at her, "That's Gunny to you, Agent Todd."
"You got it, Gunny," her eyes dropped from his eyes to his mouth, "It's perfect."
"I thought so," he cupped her face in his hands and leaned in, barely brushing his lips against hers. She was annoyed, but they didn't really have time for anything more complex than a kiss. He pulled away, "Now c'mon, Agent Todd, let's get you home."
"On it, boss." She said it to his back, and was surprised when he turned around, shaking his head at her, before picking up her suitcase for her.
"The hell did you pack in here?" he asked, holding it, "You're going for three days, not a month."
"Man up, Marine. It's a suitcase, it won't kill you." She grinned.
"You're gonna pay for that."
"You'll have to collect later." She reminded him.
"You annoy me, Agent Todd."
"You know you love me!"
"And that's my problem," he huffed, "I do love ya, Katie, for all the good it's done me."
XNCISX
After grabbing her bags, she walked out into the airport, where she scanned the crowd for Daniel. He'd insisted that no, John would not be picking her up, he'd do it himself, dammit! Never mind that he was a new father (for the second time), he still insisted on coming.
And then she started laughing when she saw Dan, holding a gigantic pink sign that said in huge letters:
Welcome Home Auntie Kate!
She walked over, dropping her bags for a second, so she could hug him. He hugged her tightly back, before pulling away, "You look great, sis. Mom will be so surprised."
"She will?" Kate asked, unimpressed.
"She has it in her mind that you're some kind of… what did she call it? Ah yes, she called you a harlot, and that whatever living in sin you're doing, she's worried that you're too busy going at it to eat or sleep properly."
Kate rolled her eyes, "Unbelievable. And you're the one who looks like you haven't slept lately."
"Yeah that's not from having sex, that's from the result."
"Actually Dan, I don't think I've ever seen you happier. How's my niece doing?"
"She screams when she doesn't get her way, reminds me of her namesake."
Kate rolled her eyes, "Shut up. I can take you down, don't forget."
"I have no doubts," Dan slung an arm around her, as they walked out of the airport. "Glad you're home again, Kate, because it's nice to have an ally."
"Isn't Rachel coming home?"
"Not until tonight, unfortunately for the rest of us."
"Great."
"How's Gibbs doing?"
"He's old, he's annoying, and stubborn, and-,"
"And you wouldn't have it any other way," Dan grinned, "I know you better than that, sis. You're head over heels for him."
"Yeah, he sends his love, and a gift for little Noelle. I'm also supposed to give a kiss to the baby from Gibbs."
"What," Dan pretended to be offended, "He didn't send a kiss for me?"
"Why would he? Gibbs is mine," Kate smirked.
"Really? Because we've been mistaken for gay before. He corrupted my family friendly image."
"What family friendly image?" Kate asked, dodging a punch from her brother, and head-slapped him in retaliation.
"Remind me, the next time I see your idiot of a boyfriend, to slap him for teaching you that," Dan rubbed the back of his head. "Why couldn't he come?"
"He's team leader, we couldn't both go, because it would look suspicious." Kate rattled off the reasons, "He wished he could be here."
"Bullshit."
"I hope you don't talk that way around your daughter."
"Are you kidding? Edie would kill me."
"Speaking of Edie, I cannot wait to see her, and the kids," she smiled at her brother.
He shook his head, "You annoy me, Kate, but I am glad you're back."
"I can't miss the big day," Kate said, wistfully thinking of how even if Gibbs didn't want to be there, she wanted him there.
"No you can't because mom, and then Edie would kill you, and I'd probably maim you a little."
"All the more reason to attend." They walked out of the airport together, headed back to Carlisle.