"So, Petty Officer Davidson was a single father to a fifteen year old girl who got pregnant but couldn't keep the baby." McGee said as Tony brought the Davidson's profile on the big screen. Gibbs stared at the picture of the older Officer and his fifteen year old daughter, Emma. The baby definitely had her mother's bright blue eyes and dark hair. Gibbs remembered his daughter Kelly who was murdered 15 years ago along with his first wife Shannon. Sighing deeply, he turned to see Tony crouched down next to Kate's desk. The two were watching the little baby sleep peacefully in Kate's arms. Gibbs began to worry Kate was getting too attached. "Does the baby have a name?" Tony asked. "I'm pulling up the birth certificate now." McGee answered. Seconds later it appeared on the screen. "The baby doesn't have a name…?" Kate looked up. "How can she not have a name?" McGee frowned as he pulled up another document linked to the certificate. "It looks like the daughter Emma decided after a two months to give the baby up for adoption. She was scheduled to arrive at the orphanage today." Tony looked down at the baby. "Davidson was the grandfather; he was probably the one bringing her there." Kate felt her heart clench. This innocent little baby was going to an orphanage. "I wonder why Davidson wasn't going to keep her?" she wondered out loud. "Kate, you stay here with the baby. Go down to Abby's lab. See if she needs help or anything. Tony, McGee come on. We're going to find out more about what's going on. There are too many unanswered questions."
All three moved to do as Gibbs said. Tony waited for Gibbs and McGee to head to the elevator before laying a hand on Kate's arm. "Kate, are you going to be OK?" he asked. Kate looked up to see Tony's gentle green eyes full of concern and worry. She smiled at him gently and reassured him she would be just fine. Tony grinned and gently stroked the baby's head and planting a soft kiss on Kate's cheek before hurrying after Gibbs. Kate smiled after Tony and clutched the baby to her chest as she made her way to the other elevator. "Don't worry, sweetheart. We're going to find out what's going on. But I promise you; you're not going to be alone in this world. Not if I can help it." She leaned over and kissed her on her little head. The baby squirmed and opened her eyes to see Kate gazing lovingly down at her. "Hi there, Sleepyhead! Come on we're going to visit some friends. First we're going to see Ducky and have him check you out. Make sure you're all healthy. Then we're going to see Abby. You'll like her." Kate said as she entered Autopsy. Ducky and Palmer were in the middle of a furious game of Scrabble. Both men blushed and jumped up when Kate entered. "Working on the job, boys?" she teased. "I would never dream of doing such things." Ducky winked teasingly at her. Kate knew what he was referring to. She and Tony often came down to Autopsy to play Poker after work when neither had anything to do. "Who do we have here?" Ducky asked as he smiled down on the little girl wrapped in Kate's arms. "It appears to be a little infant." Palmer replied. Ducky sighed and Kate rolled her eyes at the young assistant. "Obviously Jimmy." He muttered. "This is the little baby that was found at the crime scene. It seems the dead Petty Officer was her grandfather. His fifteen year old daughter was the mother and she decided to give the baby up for adoption. Davidson was driving the little one to the orphanage when he was gunned down. Whoever it was put her up in a tree where we found her. And now she's here with us!" Kate cooed at the baby in her arms who gurgled happily at Kate. Ducky smiled knowingly as he watched Kate interact with the baby. He knew there was no way Kate was going to let her go to an orphanage after this case was over. Ducky got his stethoscope out and replaced the head with a smaller one appropriate for the baby. He listened carefully at the little girl's strong heartbeat. "Yes, she is a very healthy little baby." He said proudly. "May I?" he asked Kate. "Of course Ducky." She replied as she placed the baby in Ducky's arms.
"Oh, little one. I will have many stories to tell you." Palmer and Kate smiled as the old doctor spoke softly to her. After a while, he handed her back to Kate. "Would you like you hold her?" she asked Jimmy who blushed furiously. Kate hardly ever talked to him. But when she did, he always blushed and stuttered. Everyone was convinced Palmer had a crush on Kate. "N-no, that's fine. Maybe another time." He rushed. Ducky and Kate smirked at each other. Kate turned to head to the elevators. "Thanks Ducky!" she said.
Kate was surprised when she entered Abby's lab and classical music was playing instead of the usual heavy metal. "Wow, Abbs! This is a change. What brought this on?" Abby turned and squealed at the bundle of pink in Kate's arms. "It's for the baby. Ducky just called me and said you were probably going to bring the baby down now so I should change my music. Oohhh… she's so beautiful!" Abby sighed as Kate placed the baby in her arms. "What's her name?" Kate shrugged. "Technically she didn't have one. The mother is the daughter of our Petty Officer and she was going to give her up for adoption. Davidson was just bringing her to the orphanage when he got attacked. She doesn't have a name." Kate said sadly. Abby was silent as she studied her friend. Kate was definitely attached to the little baby… Maybe she'll adopt her. "Have you thought of it?" Kate snapped her head up and looked at her friend knowing exactly what she was referring to. "Oh, I don't know… I guess I've considered it. But I don't know…" she said hesitantly. Abby smirked and nodded. "What?" Kate asked. "Nothing. I just know you and you're not going to just let her go back to the orphanage. You've always wanted to be a mommy." Kate smiled sadly. "But I couldn't do it alone." Abby rolled her eyes. "Kate, tons of women are single moms. And you're one of the strongest women I know. You can do it." Kate shook her head. "Yeah, and those women aren't federal agents who could die any day at work. If something happens to me she needs a second parent." Abby stared at her. "Do you really think one of us wouldn't step up for it?" Kate smiled. "I know you guys would. But you know what I mean. A child needs two parents." Abby nodded. "What about Tony?"
Kate chuckled. "Tony and I aren't even in a relationship or anything. Besides he doesn't want any kids." Kate tried to reason with Abby. "How do you know? And from what I saw you two have something going on…" she said slyly as she handed the baby over to Kate who took her willingly, cuddling her close to her. Kate smiled softly as she stroked her soft fuzzy tuft of dark hair. "What's that supposed to mean?" she looked up at Abby. Abby smirked and turned to her computer. "Agent Pierce had me pull up the cameras at the front of the building for the case he's working on and look who came up!" Abby grinned. Kate watched as she saw herself in Tony's arms this morning, when she leaned over to give him a kiss on the cheek. Kate's heart leapt when she saw Tony's goofy love-sick grin he shot her as she was walking away. She hadn't seen that earlier because her back was to him but it was clear from that video feed he had it bad for her. She closed her eyes and sighed as Abby turned to her waiting for details. "It was nothing. We walked in together and he beat up this motorcycle guy up the street who grabbed my butt. Tony was just protecting me. And there he was just telling me he'd protect me from anyone else who tried to hurt me. That's all that was." Kate tried to convince Abby. But the forensic scientist just smirked and nodded at her friend. "It looks like so much more than that." She sang.
"What does, Abbs?" Gibbs said as he, Tony and McGee entered the room .Gibbs handed Abby her Caf-Pow. "Nothing Gibbs." Abby said as she closed the video feed. Gibbs rolled his eyes and checked on the little baby fast asleep in Kate's arms. Tony came up behind her and peeped over her shoulder to make sure both his girls were alright. The baby was sleeping peacefully and Kate looked happy. He took half a second to inhale her citrusy shampoo and relish in the fact that his presence behind her sent shivers down her spine. Kate playfully glared at him and turned to Abby who was showing Gibbs and McGee her new maspectrometer. Tony took the brief moment of the two other agents distracted to lightly run his fingers up Kate's arm. "How is she doing?" Kate grinned and gently placed a kiss on the baby's head. "She's doing fine. She's just tired. But she met Ducky and Palmer. I had Ducky check her out, make sure she's healthy." Tony smiled down at the beautiful agent. She would make an amazing mother. Gibbs came over to them and Kate held the baby out to him. Gibbs took her gently in his arms and let her drool on his shirt. "So what did you guys find out?" Kate asked. She was anxious to know what's going to happen.
"The daughter's dead. When we got to the house the FBI was already there. It was technically in their jurisdiction so they had the body of the girl and we have the Petty Officer. We're going to be sharing this investigation with them. It seems that a couple years ago Petty Officer Davidson caught several of his men with drugs aboard a ship. When he told their CO they were dishonorably discharged. The men came back for revenge. Two of them killed Davidson without telling the other two, so when they arrived at his house and his daughter was there. They killed her because she wouldn't tell them anything about her father or his whereabouts. She died protecting her father and her little girl." Gibbs ended as he looked down at the sleeping child. Abby gasped and went to McGee who immediately comforted her. Tony glanced at Kate who was wrestling with a sea of emotions. Part of her mourned deeply for the fifteen year old girl who lost her life protecting those she loves, and part of her knew she was given a chance to become a mother. But it wasn't that simple. She needed to think this through. Tony stretched out his hands and pulled Kate into his arms. She leaned her head on his shoulder and let her tears fall. Gibbs motioned to McGee and Abby and the three of them left the room to give Kate and Tony some privacy. "Kate." Tony said softly. He stroked her soft hair as his other arm circled her petite waist pulling her completely against him. She sobbed into his shirt and reveled in the feel of his strong arms around her body. "Shhh, Kate. I've got you." He promised. "I got you." She looked up at Tony and whispered, "She was just a girl. She was only fifteen and her life ended! She died protecting her father and her baby. It's just not fair." She whimpered. Tony hugged Kate tighter and replied, "No, it's not fair." He gently brushed her tears away with his thumbs as he looked at the pain and hurt in her eyes. It absolutely killed him. He hated seeing his Kate in so much pain.
Kate slowly wrapped her arms around his neck and waited for Tony to make the next move. He brought his lips down but stopped millimeters from her sweet lips. "Are you sure?" he asked her. Kate was taken back for a moment. "Are you asking my permission to kiss me?" she murmured to him. Tony nodded as he ran his hands up her arms to link their fingers together behind his neck. "You're vulnerable right now and I would never try to pressure you into something you don't want. I can wait as long as you need me to." He whispered against her lips. Kate smiled and tugged his lips onto hers. "I want this, so badly." She murmured as she pressed her lips to his. Kate thanked God Tony was holding her otherwise she would've fallen. The feel of his strong lips against hers was paradise. His kiss was gentle, slowly massaging her lips with his until he slid his tongue along the softness of her lower lip. She immediately allowed him access to her mouth which he took willingly. She moaned as his tongue explored every surface, every part of her mouth. Tony tangled his fingers in her hair, pulling her even closer, unable to get enough of her sweet taste. When air became necessary, she gently pulled her mouth away but kept her body pressed tightly to his. "Tony…" she whispered. He still had his eyes closed as if he was trying to imprint every second of that kiss to memory. He could still taste her on his lips and he wanted more. "Kate." He murmured into her hair. They were both vulnerable now but neither wanted it to end. They were safe with each other and they both knew it. He opened his eyes to find Kate gazing at him with her beautiful hazel eyes wide with curiosity. "What do we do now?" she asked hesitantly. Tony swallowed nervously, afraid of rejection. "What do you want to do?" he asked. Kate looked Tony in the eye. "I want this. But I want all of it. If we do this, if we pursue a relationship, I want it all. This can't be just a two week relationship for you, Tony. I need someone who'll commit to me and love me unconditionally. If you can't do that then we shouldn't ever do this again." Tony swallowed again and pulled her back into his arms where she belonged. "I want this Kate. I want you. You are everything I need and I will be everything you need. Everything you want. And I want it all. Right now a committed healthy relationship with you and only you and maybe down the road, we can get married. I know that's what you've always wanted and I need for you to know that I'm your man. I can be a wonderful boyfriend and someday a husband. "He took a deep breath before taking the plunge. "And I can be a wonderful father. Maybe someday down the road after we're married we can have our own child, but right now there's a little baby girl upstairs who has no one in this world. We can adopt her together. You'll make a perfect mother." He whispered lovingly as he tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Kate had tears streaming down her face. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him fully in the lips. "I know we haven't been in this relationship for very long, but I love you, Tony!" she cried as he gathered her in his arms, pressing his lips to hers. He picked her up and twirled the two of them. Kate burst out laughing as she clung to him. "I am crazy in love with you too, Kate."