What If?

Chapter Three: No good intention goes unpunished.

A/N: wow once again thanks for the comments, they really do inspire us to continue writing, and actual feed our creativity, so we thought we'd upload the next chapter now as opposed to waiting for a few days, so here it is, we both really hope you enjoy this chapter, not so much TATE, but I promise, they will be, and a lot of fluff to go with it, Thank you again for your comments and we both hope you will keep commenting.

Thank you again.

Still don't own anything, but god do we wish we did.

When Chip reached Home, he had just enough time to take a quick shower, which he fully enjoyed, other than his coat, scarf and gloves to keep him warm on the walk home he had the memory of Kate returning the wave earlier that day, and now, well now he had hot water flowing over his entire body, warming the outside of him to the same temperature that the memory had to his inside, and after a few minutes he was warm all over, he stepped out of the shower, he dried himself and then stood before his open wardrobe looking at the range of fine suits he had to choose from.

If he was completely honest he wanted to phone Ben and make up some reason why he couldn't make it, he'd rather of stayed home and just gone through as many different ideas as to find his way back into his old life, a way back to his friends to Kate, but he had said he'd go and Chip Sinatra always kept his word.

He let out a low remorseful sigh before selecting the black D&G suit, it was the only really expensive suit he owned, and it was also the only suit that felt comfortable no matter what, he slid the suit on, added some aftershave and styled his hair, a smile gracing his lips as he remembered the kid that owned a nightclub's hair, and how he tried to mimic it on the ride back to base, his smile only grew as he remembered Kate's reaction to his "new" hair do, a typical roll of her eyes, yet a smile lingering behind them.

He gave himself one last look over before turning out the lamp and walking out into the hall, he jogged down the stairs and snatched up his keys from the small bowl on the table beside the door, he placed his hand on the latch of his front door and turned to look back at his home, one last glance to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything and he was out, pulling the door closed behind him.

Chip slid into his classic second generation 1975 ford mustang, he leaned over and opened the glove box to make sure that he had his Sig, that he had brought once he got settled in his new life, at the sight of his holstered weapon he gave a relieved sigh and closed the glove box, sliding the key into the ignition he brought the beast to life, he paused for a moment to listen to engine purr before slipping it into reverse and backing out of his drive.

The journey to Ben's was uneventful, that was the only problem with this place, as quant and perfect as it was, it was really boring, no crime, or if there was it was nothing more than a drunken bar fight between returning Marines that lived nearby.

The classic all American mussel car pulled up outside his friends house, Chip killed the engine took a long deep breath and slid out of the warm car and into the extremely chilly autumn night, he quickly locked his car, silently cursing himself for not brining a coat, he crossed the road, took the small amount of steps two at a time before gently knocking at the door.

He slid his hands in his pockets and looked up at the stars while he waited, thankfully he didn't have long to wait as the door was flung open and bathed him in warm golden light, Chip turned with Tonys classic grin to find his friend stood before him wearing a nervous smile.

"Hey Chip, I'm glad you could make it" Ben laughed nervously.

"Like I'd miss an opportunity to meet the woman that's tamed you" Chip stated as he gave a friendly laugh.

"Listen, She invited her sister over to meet you too...is that ok?" Ben whispered as he allowed Chip to enter.

"Yeah, the more the merrier" Chip smiled as he stepped over the threshold and waited for Ben to close the door before following him in.

Ben lead the way through to the sitting room, his house was smaller than Chips, he had a two bed attached house, but what it lacked in room was made up for in the homely feeling it gave of, epically at Christmas time, Chip often left his friends house with ideas of how to try and make his home feel more...welcoming.

As they rounded the corner into the sitting room they heard soft feminine giggles float toward them.

"Honey, this is Chip" Ben introduced as he stepped out of Chips way.

"Agh, so this is Chip, it's very nice to meet you Chip, I'm Lucy Todd" the woman introduced.

Chip was awe struck, the woman before him looked remarkably like Kate, younger and only little things about her were different, yet there was a striking resemblance.

"Todd?" Chip repeated "you're sister wouldn't happen to be-" he never finished that sentence because just at that moment, Kate walked in, she dropped the bowl of chips she was carrying as soon as she saw him.

"Tony?" she breathed shocked.

Both Tony and Kate paled at the sight of each other, their hearts started to race, a mixture of emotion started stirring, granted for Tony there were really only two, Happiness and fear, but for Kate, there were so many more.

She wanted to cry, to run and hold him, to kiss him, to punch him, slap him try to make him feel some of the pain he had put her through, but most of all she wanted to scream, with happiness or anger she wasn't sure, but she knew she wanted to scream either way.

"Kate" Chip whispered finally.

He took a step towards her, his eyes wide as he took in her appearance, god did she look beautiful, he wanted, NO, he needed to feel her in his arms, he closed the rest of the distance between them and opened his arms ready to engulf her in a hug when he felt it, a sudden and extremely painful slap across his right cheek, he turned his face back to face Kate and noticed that her eyes now shone with angry tears.

"I deserve that" he whispered as he rose his right hand to the painful cheek.

Then came another slap, this time to his left cheek, equally as hard and hurt just as much as the first, this time a soft sob escaped Kate's lips as her hand collided with his flesh.

Again Chip returned his gaze upon her, this time seeing her cover her mouth with the hand that had just inflicted the pain, tears trickled down her cheeks silently.

"Kate," He whispered again but wasn't allowed to continue as she silenced him by holding up a hand.

She closed her eyes, took a long deep breath, wiped the tears away with the hand that had been covering her mouth and composed herself before speaking.

"I think, I'm going to leave" she breathed as she looked down at the small bit of floor between them.

"Kate, please don't go" her sister pleaded softly.

"I'm really happy for you Lucy, I am honestly, and Ben, you're a lovely guy, just take care of her and we won't have any problem" she stated as she pushed past tony and stood in the middle of her sister and her sisters Fiancé, "But I really think I better leave" she breathed softly, there was however a hint of the anger she felt in her tone.

Kate quickly kissed her sister on the cheek and then Ben before hurrying down the hall and towards the door.

Chip turned on the spot and lifted his gaze from the floor to the two very confused people before him.

"Chip, what's going on?" Ben asked completely lost.

"Why did she call you Tony?" Lucy asked equally baffled by what she had witnessed.

At the sound of the front door opening and then slamming, Chip broke into action, opting not to answer the two imitate questions he had been asked, but to chase after Kate, he couldn't leave it like this, not with her made at him, she didn't understand, if he could only explain then maybe she wouldn't be so angry.

He jogged back round and down the hall, he pulled the door open and leapt down the steps, his head snapped from left to right as he searched for Kate's figure in the dim light the surrounding street lamps provided.

He spotted her on the other side of the street walking away at a quick pace and ran after her, he sprinted across the street and over took her, turning and making her stop as she came face to face with him.

She snapped her head up and locked eyes with him, his eyes pleaded for her to hear him out, they also showed the care and love she had seen that fateful day two years ago, when Tony DiNozzo was shot and killed, the day the best part of her died, but right now she really didn't care, she was so angry, no not angry furious, he'd been alive all this time, he made her hurt so badly, he had hurt her so badly and now he wanted a chance to talk his way out of it, No, she'd strike first and she did.

"Did you see us all crying for you?!" she spat bitterly at him "Did you watch as Gibbs broke down beside you're coffin? Bet you had a good laugh didn't you DiNozzo!" she hissed furiously at him.

Tony didn't know what to do, he wanted to make it right, to make her understand he didn't do it because he wanted to, he did it because he had to, he didn't want to hurt her, or any of them, he'd rather suffer an eternity in Hells deepest circle than hurt her, but she was so angry, So much anger that he had no idea how to make it right, how to calm her down enough to hear him out, calm her enough for him to tell her, because he was sick of hiding, sick of pretending he didn't, he wanted to tell her, that he Antony DiNozzo was madly and completely in LOVE with her, Catlin Todd, but the anger...it, scared him.

"Kate please, just...just let me explain" he pleaded desperately

"Stay away from me DiNozzo" Kate hissed as she pushed by him and continued to walk up the road.

"Kate, I didn't want to hurt you!" he called after her "I LOVE YOU!"

Kate froze, that was it, that was the straw that had not only broken the camel's back, but also buried it well within the sand, she turned on her heel and marched back to him, she stopped a foot away from him, her face hidden in shadow, except her eyes that shone with the burning anger within.

"What?" she whispered resentfully "what did you say?"

"I'm in love with you Kate, I'd never, ever hurt you intentionally, I'm so, so sorry that I –"

SMACK!

Another incredibly painful slap, and then another and another, Tony had to grab her hand to stop them, he made sure he didn't hurt her but also made sure that she couldn't slap him again, he knew he deserved this, this and oh so much more, and was sure that in the days to come he would be getting full payment of his punishment, but right now, he was sure that if she continued she'd break his jaw and shatter his teeth.

"You BASTARD!" she screamed at him "You're sorry! NO, no, You're so, so SORRY! Do YOU have any idea what YOU! Put me through? How much YOU! Hurt me, How many tears I cried over YOU! And you say that you're sorry?" she instantly fell silent, snatching a hand back from Tony so she could cover her trembling lip and chin, once again she closed her eyes, took a long deep breath and wiped away the few tears that had escaped before she lowered her hands and spoke again "I loved you Tony, I would of done or Gone anywhere for you, and you broke my heart, you shattered it" she whispered weakly, all her anger had vanished, she just felt drained, completely weak and numb.

"Kate, I'm-" Again he was silenced by her hand coming up in front of him.

"But I moved on...I had to, not only for me, but for the rest of the team, I had to be strong for them" she whispered numbly, her eyes still closed.

"Kate, I love you...I...I want to commit to you, to us, I Know I should of told you about this, but I was told I couldn't, I can't even look at another woman because of how strongly I fell about – " the hand again, this time it was shaking slightly, weather from the cold or from her emotions Tony didn't know, he knew he wanted to hold her, to tell her just how sorry he was and that everything was going to be alright now, but he knew she wouldn't let him, not yet.

"I'm in a relationship Tony, I'm engaged in fact" she whispered as a few more silent tears escaped her closed eyes and trickled down her cheeks "I'm getting married next month, it's like I said...I've moved on, we all have...and if you care about us as much as you say you do, then you'll..." a sob escaped her lips, she couldn't believe she was going to say this, but she had to, it just hurt so much to see him again "If you care for us as much as you say you do, then you'll stay away from us...and just...just let us live our lives" she finished with another sob, more tears trickled from her eyes as she opened them and looked up into Tonys now watery eyes.

"No...Kate please" He begged weakly, but she simply shook her head.

"I'm sorry Tony" She breathed before turning and walking away from him.

Chip stood in the street alone, cold and completely numb, he watched her walk away, tears spilt from his eyes and silently slid down his cheeks, stinging him due to the coldness of the night, once she was out of sight he turned and walked numbly back to his car, he slid inside, put the key into the ignition and then slumped forwards against the wheel and cried.

A/N: Ok, Chapter Three done, Please, please do comment, as they truly are the only things that make us want to continue, Thank you reading, we hope you enjoyed it and we hope you look forwards to the next chapter.

Thanks to all : )