NCIS: Torchwood- When Worlds Collide
This Fan Fic is Co-Writen by: vonvoltair & ncistorchwood
Chapter Three: And Everything Changes
-Vonvoltair & ncistorchwood-
It had been nearly a month since Kate had been poisoned in a rather unusual and mysterious case that to this date was still fully unsolved, mostly because the prime suspect had obligated himself and his makeshift lab. On top of that there had been no sign of the mysterious man in black, and as of this morning the case files had all been appropriated by an unknown group calling them selves Torchwood, much to Gibbs ire.
"Tony, give me back my phone!" Kate laughed as he kept it just out of her reach across her desk.
She seemed to be getting more attached to him. Though she didn't want to admit it to herself, she was starting to think of him as more that a colleague.
"Come on Kate! Who called" Tony asked being his nosey self. He liked Kate, but never told her. He was certain she'd say yes to dinner tonight.
"Here Kate" he said handing her the phone back, then after a moment he lowered his voice "Kate, can I ask you a question?" he stuttered.
"Yes, just spit it out Tony" Kate started to laugh. He seemed serious, unusual for Tony.
"Lets have dinner?" Tony whispered.
Kate was astonished by what Tony had asked. Was she imagining things? Her mind started to wander. She really had become fond of him, his nosey ways had gotten her interested in him.
"Sure Tony, Dinner tonight, Is 7pm ok?" She asked, trying to sound casual. Just as Tony open his mouth too talk McGee walked in.
"Hey Probbie, Late with the drinks again,!" Tony loved getting on his nerves. He waved McGee over and took the cup from him. Kate couldn't help but laugh. Gibbs had arrived earlier that morning but was up in MTAC with the director, they were having "Words" about this Torchwood group and their sudden influence. They had been at it all day.
"Good thing we didn't get any calls today" McGee exclaimed, as he sat down at his desk. Suddenly Gibbs came storming down the stairs and though the squad room. "Have a good evening" Gibbs yelled as he closed the elevator door in the direction of the Director who was looking none to happy from up on the landing.
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Later that Evening Kate was getting ready for dinner…. She must've changed 5 times in the last hour. She finally gave up and called Abby. She needed help and Abby was the best person she could trust to help.
The phone rang three times then "Kate!" Abby was being her usual cheery self. "Abby, I need your help!" Kate confessed. "Sure Kate, spit it out! What you need me to do?"
Abby now seemed to catch on when "I'll be over your place in a bit" as she hung up the phone. Moments later the bell rang. Kate rushed to the door and hugged Abby.
"Was there a tornado in here" Abby laughed as she took in the clothes all over the floor. "I'm going to dinner tonight, and I can't find what to wear!" Kate was so embarrassed to say who she was having dinner with. Abby looked confused
"Come on Kate! How bad can finding something be? Or is this guy important?" she was now starting to get a little curious.
"Abby, I'm going to dinner with Tony" Kate confessed as she lowered her head.
She watched Abby stare. She must've not expected Kate and Tony going out together, with no bickering.
"Does Luna know?" Abby said almost in jest.
Kate's face turned red, "Yes, she ah... is having dinner with Ducky tonight. She left quite some time ago, she really wasn't much of a help anyways. She just kept picking on me."
A few minutes later, Kate was dressed, nervous she headed to the car. "Let me know how it goes" Abby giggled.
Finally at the restaurant, Kate made her way in. She looked around waiting to see if she saw Tony.
"Hey there miss" A voice from behind whispered in her ear. She turned around, of course it was Tony, standing there looking better than ever in his Black suit, his hair nicely combed.
"Shall we sit?" Kate asked coolly.
Dinner dragged on. Kate kept getting texts from an excited Abby. She couldn't help but smile from the texts that surely had kept her calm during dinner. "Lets watch a movie in my place" Tony smiled. "We don't have work tomorrow, unless called in remember?" he went on.
"Sure, I think we can do a movie."
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They drove to his house "I'll be right back, let me get out of this suit" Tony yelled as he went to his room.
Half way into the movie Tony wrapped his arms around Kate, and went in for a small kiss.
Kate was surprised but she didn't stop him. She really did grow fond of him, though she never could tell him…
A month went by, and the same routine continued. Tony and Kate had become closer, but never took the next step. They were concerned as to how that would affect their work. As far as they were concerned only Abby and Luna knew.
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Abby was so happy for Tony and Kate she could explode. It helped that she had Kate's sister to talk to about it, if she had no one she would have positively blown a gasket.
Agent Gibbs had walked into Abby's lab several time amidst whispering and giggling from the girls. They always stopped upon his approach which bothered him. They were keeping secrets, and even a steady supply of Cafe-Pows wouldn't loosen their lips.
Abby noticed the frequency of Gibbs visits to her lab as of late seemed to have increased since the incident with Kate. She was almost positive it wasn't because of her either. The past few times he had ventured down to her lab, he had brought Cafe-Pows even when they had not been working on a case. He seem light hearted, and almost flirtatious with her assistant Luna.
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As she went to the morgue to return something to Ducky she paused making sure Mr. Palmer was well out of ear shot.
"Ducky, there's something I want to talk to you about." she said plainly.
Ducky stopped what he was doing for a moment. The tone in which she had addressed him told him she was up to something... something she wanted to include him in.
"Oh dear... Well Abigail, what is it?" he asked sliding his seat over to her.
Abby looked over her shoulder for a moment making sure no one else was coming in before she began
"Its about Gibbs... and um... Luna"
Ducky looked at her for a moment, not quite sure what to say. He had an idea of what she was thinking though, he was there when they witnessed the moment between Gibbs and Luna in Abby's lab just about a month ago. It was more than just a moment to be honest but he couldn't tell Abby that, not after his talk with Jethro.
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Days earlier Jethro had come down to autopsy for no reason other than to talk. He was aware that Ducky saw him and Luna while she was working in Abby's office, and he wanted to make it clear that there was nothing there...
"Are you sure Jethro?" asked Ducky a question which rewarded him with one of Gibbs "Looks"
"Yes Ducky.." his response came "I mean ... you know... God Ducky she's Kate's sister!" he exclaimed.
Ducky couldn't recall a time in recent memory in which Jethro had been this worked up about a girl before. He couldn't help but smile as he said "Well Jethro, she is Kate's OLDER sister..."
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"Ducky?" Abby asked as his train of thought came back into focus.
"What is it about them?" he asked her
"You know.. you saw them in my lab before... and lately Gibbs.. he's coming down for no reason.. with no case... just to visit." she said swinging around in front of him "Today... he was almost flirting with her..." she said staring into his eyes... "This has been going on since that night with Kate in the hospital... oh.. oh.. we are going to need Kate's help on this..."
"Oh my... " was his only response.
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Later that day Abby called Kate down to her lab. As Kate walked in she suddenly felt uneasy at the look Abby was giving her.
"Ok Abby Im here... what's up?" she asked. Abby just smiled.
After listing to Abby go on for about 10 minuets Kate had to stop her... "Are you serious... Gibbs, and my... sister...?"
"Oh most serious." she said with a smile. "Are you sure she never said anything to you?" Abby asked.
Kate blushed, "Ive been a bit busy..." she said.
Abby suddenly saw her opening. "Well you know, I have been keeping your secret about Tony..." she started.
Kate's head snapped up suddenly as she glared at Abby "Oh... you wouldn't..." she said
Abby just smiled as Kate tossed her hands up in defeat. She knew Abby wouldn't really rat her out but still... "Are you sure... my sister?"
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"See what did I tell you." stated Abby as she peered around the side of the building with Kate and Ducky.
Outside sitting on one of the benches near the back of the complex sat Luna. She had something that looked like popcorn in her lap. Next to her sat Gibbs. A coffee in one hand, and the other hand on the back of the bench around Luna. Their conversation seemed light, and Gibbs even batted her hand down now and again when she occasionally tossed some of her snack to the squirrels hanging about.
"See..." Abby said again to her two companions. Then from behind them some one new spoke up.
"Something interesting around the corner?" the voice was that of the Director. This caused all 3 of them to jump.
"No madam Director..." Abby stammered out.
The Director looked from her to Kate to Ducky... something was going on. "Excuse me then... " She said moving around the group.
"I... ah.. um..." was all Abby could say as the Director moved around them.
"Oh this is not good... " murmured Ducky to Kate especially when the Director stopped and looked back at them.
The three of them looked around the corner again and were surprised to see Luna sitting now alone on the bench with Gibbs no were in sight. Then the Director called out, with out warning.
"Miss Voltair!" rang her voice loud, and clear making Luna jump. "What did I tell you about feeding those things!"
The three of them could hardly contain their laughter.
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The next 2 weeks Abby, Kate and Ducky's plotting to get the 2 together was interrupted by a case, a case of familiar consequence. There had been an explosion, two men had been killed. Gibbs team had been sent out to investigate, and lead right into a set up, and they them selves a target of a well laid trap.
Abby and Luna has been working as fast as they could with all the evidence that had been dumped into the lab. Tony was laying on the floor as the two girls worked. He had taken the brunt of the blast and was a little winded. Things only got worse after that.
A man named Ari Haswari threatened to detonate a bomb right under Gibbs if he didn't back off this case , and while Gibbs was later told he was not permitted to go after Ari, that wasn't stopping them from looking into the matter further... off the record.
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"Kate... " Luna growled as they walked into their apartment. "I should be back at the lab with Abby helping her out."
"You heard Abby, she's going to be fine. Anyways you know how hard she's worked to set up this blind date for you..." Kate said with a bit of a snicker in her voice.
Luna on the other hand didn't find this amusing at all. Earlier Kate and Abby had insisted that Luna was working way to much and needed to get out more... like either of them had room to talk...
"Abby even sent over an outfit for you" Kate said which elicited another moan from Luna.
"Oh don't be such a sour puss... you will love this one!" she exclaimed pushing her sister into the bed room.
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"Ducky, we are in the middle of a case..." came Gibbs...
"No butts Jethro, you are over working your self and need a break, and besides you have been ordered to back off this one!" he said giving Gibbs a stair that some how only Gibbs thought only he had mastered.
"Ducky..." said Gibbs, but Ducky cut him off.
"7:30... promptly Jethro... be there." he said tapping his finger on a piece of paper with the address of a bar they frequented. "7:30" he repeated.
Gibbs gave Ducky a look but Ducky just waved him off and walked out of the morgue...
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It was 7:30 and Luna sat at the bar tapping her foot against the rail. Kate and Abby had dressed her up, and sent her to this place and told her to wait... she didn't like waiting.. She was dressed in a black dress, and Kate had strung red ribbons though her blond hair as well as did her makeup and nails. She was way out of her element… and in heals… though the one thing they were good for was threaten the few patrons who had approached her to buy her a drink or see if she wanted to "talk" or if she was "Waiting for someone" with emanate death.
One such brave soul was accosting her now, asking to buy her a drink and if she was alone when she felt a warm hand on her shoulder and she looked up. "She's with me..."
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Gibbs sat in his car. He was unsure why he let Ducky talk him into this... now was not the time but... still maybe he could use the distraction. He got out of the car and walked up to the door and let out a deep breath. As he looked up he noticed a familiar some one sitting in the bar. "Ducky you didn't..." he murmured as he went in side.
Inside the bar sat Luna, dressed in black with ribbons in her hair. She looked rather nice, he thought to him self as he approached her. She was currently sitting at the bar being harassed by some young man in a Washington Redskins jersey.
"Are you sure... " the young man slurred at her... " You have been sitting here a while by your self, you sure your not with anyone..."
Before she had a chance to answer him back Gibbs laid his hand on her shoulder, and said "She's with me…" Gibbs followed by the "Gibbs Stair" as Abby so lovely put it which sent the young man scowling away back to his table with his friends mocking him all the while.
"Well this is a pleasant surprise." she said smiling up at him.
"Ducky..." he said.
She got his meaning and said "Abby.." to which Gibbs couldn't help hide his smile.
The night went on like that, they ordered their food and talked, and talked and enjoyed the company of each other, all the wile unaware of two other sets of eyes curiously watching them. One of them quite on accident.
Tony was late... he wanted to get Kate some flower to brighten up her day, though after talking to her on the phone she seemed really excited about something. He stopped at the flower stand that was right around the corner and caught the guy as he was closing up. He sure hoped that she liked these... he thought as he was walking back to his car. For just a moment he glanced up and looked though the window of one of the bars they occasionally frequented, and what he saw stopped him in his tracks.
"Boss?" he mumbled as he moved closer to the window.
Inside the Bar he noticed Gibbs sitting at a table with a rather lovely blonde woman, when she brushed her hair back away from her face he almost choked on the air he took in. There before him sat Kate' s sister Luna, having dinner with his boss Gibbs... and Gibbs was holding her hand... what was this world coming to?
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It was very late by the time Gibbs's car pulled up in front of the apartment that Luna shared with her sister. Gibbs moved quickly to the other side of the car opening the door for Luna and helping her out.
"At least some men still get it right." she remarked causing Gibbs to smile.
As they walked up the steppes to the door leading into the building Luna turned to him and said " I had a really nice time tonight Gibbs."
He reached past her and opened the door for her. She took another few steps in, and he followed.
"Gibbs..." she said spinning around to face him but before she could get another word out he leaned in suddenly, and kissed her.
Gibbs wasn't sure what compelled him to do so but he just went with it as she turned. He leaned in and caught her off her guard and kissed her, and much to his surprise she kissed him back.
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They stood out side of Kate's apartment door for some time just wrapped in each other before Gibbs finally asked "Invite me in?"
Luna smiled, but as she turned the knob to the door the sounds of the television could be heard, and she stopped short of opening the door.
"Oh... um..." she said turning back to him... "Kate's home..."
To which he replied "That is a problem isn't it..." and he leaned in, and kissed her gently.
"Later then... " he said as he smiled at her and she nodded.
Once inside the apartment she quietly slipped off her shoes, and walked over to the couch. She could see some one laying on it watching TV. As she moved closer she noticed not one, but two people lay sprawled out on the couch sleeping in each others arms...Tony and Kate.
Luna snickered to her self... that would have been a real date killer... if Gibbs had come in and seen them together... like this...
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Tony was the first of the two to wake up. It was early still but didn't quite remember he wasn't alone until a warm body moved next to him causing him to jump. His quick movement caused Kate to giggle at him..
"Well good morning to you too Tony." she said, then she realized... "Morning... did we sleep like this all night?" she asked
"My back says yes." he teased her. She rolled off the couch and stretched. "Well if its morning, then were... " she said turning around in the room. She noticed a pair of heals by the door and her heart sank.. "Oh no..."
"Oh no what?" asked DiNozzo as he followed her back towards the bedrooms. As quietly as possible she opened Luna's door and before them she laid on her bed spiraled out blankets tossed everywhere...
"Maybe her date just called an early evening." he commented. He hasn't told Kate that he had seen who her sister had a date with earlier. He was sure she knew, but just in case she didn't, and the entire evening she never once mentioned who Luna has been out with.
"Oh I hope so Tony..." she said before the ringing of her phone caught her attention. She talked softly for a moment then hung up.
"Its work, we need to go..." she said moments later his phone began to ring.
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Abby hadn't had time to pester Luna about her date yet. They had almost finished compiling the information the FBI had requested from them on the case they had been officially taken off of. She heard however that Gibbs had talked his way into joining the FBI raid on a terrorist cell in Norfold.
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Things weren't going as well as one could have hopped thought Kate as she, and Gibbs were pinned on the roof taking heavy gun fire from the terrorists. Things had suddenly started looking up at Tony re joined the gun battle, and the terrorists were losing men left and right. Then with out warning one of the men stepped though the door way and took aim at Gibbs, and before he could react fired at him.
Kate was there in a heart beat, catching the bullet in her vest and tumbling to the ground as Tony took the assailant out.
Across the way Ari was watching the men help Kate up though the scope of his riffle. He watched them closely for a moment looking at Gibbs, then to Kate, then back to Gibbs. "I always keep my word..." he said as he squeezed the trigger..
The shot rang out like thunder. Kate and Tony had no time to react as Gibbs pitched backwards dropping to the ground, a bullet hole seared into his forehead. Tony spun around his weapon drawn... all Kate could do was scream...
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A few moments earlier...
"I can't get this jar opened..." grunted Abby as she struggled.
"Give it here Abby, " Luna said holding out her hand. Abby handed over the jar then looked at her with a big smile.
"So..." Abby said.
"So what... " Luna said turning away from her feeling her face turn red. She knew what Abby was going to ask... she just didn't know how to answer her...
"So silly... how was the dinner with Gibbs?" she said swinging around in front of Luna.
"Oh you mean that Blind Date you guys sent me on?" she said with humor in her voice .
" Oh come on Luna…. Ducky, Kate and I worked really hard to get you guys together for dinner…" Abby giggled as she back peddled after unintentionally letting her co conspirators name slip from her lips.
Luna looked at her for a moment then said "I don't kiss and tell Abby…"
"Wait there was kissing involved…. Ewwwwww" Abby said as she spun around in a flurry of giggles.
Her excitement was cut short however by the sound of shattering glass.
That feeling was back.. it was stronger than it had ever been before.. and she knew... she just knew... some one was gone...
As Abby turned to look, she saw Luna, the jar she had been holding shattered on the ground before her. She was shaking and tears streamed down her face…. "Oh god Abby… something's wrong… something is horribly wrong….."
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Abby and Luna sat in Abby's office. Abby had tried to call Gibbs, and the rest of the team but no one was picking up. "They are on an opt… that's why we cant get a hold of them…." Abby tried to reassure her…
She had even tried to call Ducky to come to her lab but he to wasn't picking up, and now even she begun to worry.
She wasn't sure how long they had just sat there… but it wasn't until Director Sheppard came in… her face stained with tears that Abby realized that Luna's feelings of doom… were in fact going to be realized.
They walked out slowly together to see her. She looked pale, her coat wrinkled, and her voice cracked as if she has been crying a long time. "Girls…. "
"Oh my god…. Kate…." Luna said as she felt Abby start to tremble next to her.
The Director shook her head…. "No… it was Jethro…."
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Tony, Kate and Tim were still in shock after leaving the autopsy room. Ducky was the most collected amongst them, but the pain was in his eyes.
Luna found her way up to the squad room, Kate and McGee were no were to be seen, but Tony… he was sitting at Gibbs desk in the dark. He looked up as she approached.. They talked for a short while, but before she left he grabbed her hand . "I saw the two of you the other night…. I don't think id seen Gibbs smile like that… in along time…"
A short time after that Kate approached Tony in the squad room, but before either of them could speak his phone lit up. As soon as he heard the voices on the other end he tossed the phone down and sprinted to the elevator with Kate hot on his heals.
"Tony?" she questioned as he pulled her inside.
"Its Abby, her labs taking fire..."
Two days later neither Abby nor Luna had left the building. The two of them took to working and sleeping in one of the interrogation rooms, far far from any windows.
By this time the Director had called them to her office.
"This," she motioned to a dark haired young woman standing next to her "Is officer Ziva David She will be helping us in the capture of Ari..."
"Capture!" retorted Tony to the Director, and Ziva
"Yes Capture... " she stated.
"I don't care! " Tony exploded "I just want to see the bastard dead! " before storming out.
Two more days past, and yet nothing had been found... nothing had been done. Abby and Luna continued to haunt the halls of NCIS, yet both refused to go to the morgue. Ducky sat with both of the girls as they ate in the interrogation room. Neither said much to him. He wanted to reach out to them but was unsure how...
Tony sat angrily in the squad room, McGee near by clicking away on his computer... nothing was as it was suppose to be. Kate on the other hand was no were to be found.
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Kate found her self in Gibbs house. It was cold and quite, and made her uneasy but she needed to get away from everyone... and here... here should could find solest. She made her way to the basement. The boat he has just recently started to build lay there a few pieces here and there... just like she felt... torn asunder. She reached out to touch the skeleton of the boat when she heard a click... and she realized she wasn't alone.
She turned slowly, and in the dark she found Ari, waiting... holding Gibbs old riffle. She froze...
Ari studied her for a moment then began to speak. He taunted her, ranted and raved at her, and in the end turned to her and said. "Isn't it sad the woman who would have given her life for such a man... killed her self with his own weapon rather than go on with out him... " and he raised the gun but not before a shot rang out startling Kate.
Ari dropped dead in front of her. Just like that... as she looked up, in the doorway to the basement sat Ziva holding her gun still leveled at were Ari had been moments before. She made her way slowly down the stairs and for a moment just looked at the body on the floor before them. Ziva raised her head, and her gaze met Kate's. Something past between the women, of thanks and regret. Pain and sadness and finally of understanding.
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The funeral was hard on all of them, some more than others. Luna and Abby stood on either side of Kate. McGee stood near Abby along with Ducky and the Director. On Luna's other side stood Tony. He kept one hand on Luna's shoulder, while his other hand was behind her back, holding Kate's as the preacher went on. The service wasn't long but it was draining.
After the casket was put into the ground,, most of the group made their way to Gibbs old house. The Director excused her self after a few moments but the rest remained. They sat around, drinking and talking about Gibbs and the things he had done. They laughed and cried, but most importantly they were together..
Ducky found Luna standing in Gibbs basement running her hand over the remains of the boat he had started.
She looked up as he came down the stairs.
"He told me about this..." she said softly. "I didn't believe him, so he said next time... next time he'd have me over and show me..." she said as Ducky took her in his arms..
"Before Jethro left that day, " Ducky said to her "He stopped by and told me a little about your evening together."
She lifted her head from his shoulder, and looked at him. "It had been some time since I had seen him talk of a woman like that. I truly believe he meant to keep his promise to you my dear..."
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It was growing late and McGee, and Palmer has already departed. As the 4 of them stood in the living room, Abby was notably missing. Back the hall the four of them found Gibbs bedroom door open, and Abby laying in his bed crying softly. Luna sat next to her on the bed, and Abby reached out and took her hand.
"Just tonight" she whispered... " I want to stay here..."
Luna looked at Kate, and Kate nodded back.
As she and Tony left the room Ducky spoke up. "Ill stay here with the girls, you two should go home... " he said waving them off.
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Ducky had made him self some tea, and was just sitting there watching the steam rise from his cup. He was at a loss, a feeling he did not relish having. From behind him he caught some movement. He turned slowly as Luna pulled up a seat next to him. He quietly poured her a cup, and set it before her.
She tried to smile, but he could see the exhaustion in her eyes. He took a moment before he reached into his jacket looking for something. When he found what he had been digging for he reached across the table, and took Luna by the hands, dropping something cold and heavy into them.
"Im not sure what to do with all of Jethro's things yet but... I think he would want you to have this..." he said with a weak smile as he pulled his hands back to his steaming cup.
Luna blinked for a moment before looking down at the object Ducky had placed in her hands. It was one of the few things Gibbs had never gone anywhere with out... It was Gibbs knife.
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As Kate and Tony walked to Tony's car Kate looked at her feet. She was overwhelmed with guilt... so much guilt. Guilt for letting the team down... for failing Gibbs... she could barely look her sister in the eye.
Tony felt the pangs of guilt deep in his gut.. There was so much he should have done differently... Gibb's shouldn't have died.. not like that. As he drove he reached over, and took Kate's hand. He knew she felt it to, especially after watching her interactions with her sister...
"Tony... " she said quietly.
"Yeah..." he said.
"I don't want to be alone tonight..." She said her reddened eyes looking up at him.
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His apartment was quite, and dark. He didn't bother to turn on many lights as they entered. He moved away from Kate and down the hall slowly almost as if trying not to disturb the darkness around them. She set her things on a nearby counter, then stopped. Sitting on the small table next to the couch was a picture. It was the picture. The picture Abby had insisted get taken of the team the moment Kate came back to work.
She studied it for a moment, and tears once again welled up in her eyes. They all looked so happy, especially Luna... and Gibbs. She hadn't caught it before, but in the picture one of Gibbs arms was around Abby... the other about Luna's waist.
"Im so sorry Gibbs..." she sobbed holding the picture tight... "...that should have been me."
Tony had changed himself into something more comfortable, he found a pair of shorts and a shirt for Kate. As he walked down the hall in his bare feet he could hear her sobbing in the living room.
"You were my best friend... my mentor... I'll miss you so much." she continued as if Gibbs was right in front of her.
A cold hand rested suddenly on her arm almost making her jump out of her skin. When she turned she saw Tony.
"Kate... Its going to be ok.." he said as she set the picture down. She turned to him, and he wiped the tears from her eyes.
As she looked at him she knew he felt it too. All of the tension that had been building these past few weeks had reached its breaking point. Tony leaned in and kissed her slowly at first then more deeply, more passionately. It had never been like this before. It was just constant flirting, and hand holding when no one was watching. This was different, she could feel it, and she knew he felt it too.
Her body was wrapped around his as they stumbled into the bedroom, and fell upon the bed. He was pulling at her top, as she was pulling at his. For a moment he stopped... he had wanted this for so long. She looked up into his eyes, she needed this... she needed him. He lowered his head to her neck and moaned her name "Kate... " he whispered...
"No more talking..." she whispered back.
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A week had gone by since Gibbs death, and nothing was the same.
The Director had promoted DiNozzo to Senior Special Agent In charge of the MCRT. This was not an easy promotion for Tony to take, but he did so with dignity and honor that any agent would display. Things were hectic in the weeks that followed his promotion.
Ducky was left as executor to Gibbs estate, an estate which two of his three ex-wives descended on like locusts. The third one was much more reasonable. She wanted the house, a request the other two were more than happy to comply with as they removed the furniture, and anything they deemed not to personal that it would be sent to Gibbs father, a man they never seemed to have issue with.
The house was then sold to Tony at a very reasonable price. She didn't really want it, in the time they had been a part she had found some one new. Some one who made her happy, and she didn't want to go back but she didn't want to see what little parts of her ex husband be destroyed.
Tony was more than happy to take it off her hands. The house was empty as he stood there and stared at the vacant walls. The only room the women hadn't touched was the basement... the boat... the tools... a few very personal items, and some clothing... it was left alone for Tony and Ducky.
It didn't get any easier after that. Ziva David the woman who had been sent to assist them in the "Capture" of Ari Haswari, was now in a joint effort of international cooperation between agencies assigned as the Mosaad- Liaison officer to NCIS. In light of there loss, the Director found it necessary to assign her as the new member to Tony's team.
This did not sit well with Tony at first. He had so much on his plate, that he didn't have time for a new "raw" member to be inter-graded into the team, let alone time for his personal life, a personal life which had come to a screeching halt.
As the weeks turned into months tempers eased but the pain was ever present. Kate spent her evenings in the company of Ducky and Luna, and more often than not Abby with an occasional side of McGee. Ducky, since Luna had joined NCIS had been like a father figure to her, something Kate noted Luna needed more now than anything. There were some things only a father could understand.
Tonight was different. Five months had past since that fateful day, and Luna sat on the couch cradling her sisters head in her lap as they watched some old black and white monster lizard movie on TV. Kate was upset, things had not turned out the way she had hoped since she and Tony had spent the night together. It wasn't that things were awkward, it was that he just shut her out. First Kate thought it was because of all the new responsibilities afforded to him in his new possession, then dealing with Gibbs estate, then the addition of the Mosaad liaison officer to their team. He had so much to do and so little time, but things had started to quite down yet he made no move to be anything more than professional with her.
"He's acting like it never happened Luna..." Kate said frustrated.
Luna knew everything. It had taken Kate some time to open up about Tony. It was only after she asked for Luna's forgiveness, a forgiveness her sister refused to give her because in her eyes she had done nothing wrong, and Luna had told Kate all about her last day with Gibbs that Kate burst into tears and spilled everything.
"He's under a lot of pressure Kate... " Luna said. Kate just shook her finger at her sister.
"Oh it gets worse..." she said as she crammed some popcorn into her hand from the bowl on the floor.
"I was going to see if you and Abby wanted to join me for lunch today, and I caught him flirting with Ziva..." she said as she put a few pieces into her mouth.
"Ziva? I thought he couldn't stand her..." Luna said as Kate threw some pop corn at her trying to make light of the situation.
"Well either he things she's up to something, and he's trying to gain her trust or..." and Kate trailed off not wanting to admit the truth of the matter.
"Or he was just flirting with her..." Luna finished...
"You know... " Luna said. " I could talk to Abby."
Kate gave her a questionable look.
"Well she is the only person I know who can kill some one, and leave no forensic evidence..." Kate smiled... and she knew... Luna was right.
.
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Another month past, and things only got worse between Kate and Tony.
Kate sat at her desk as she listened to Ziva and Tony bicker at each other. McGee had the right idea when he high tailed it to Abby's lab. For weeks this had been going on, they would bicker, they would flirt, they would be annoying to all those around but... they got the job done, and at the end of the day that was all that mattered.
Abby could see Kate needed to talk, but it wasn't her she was looking for when she came into the lab. Abby pointed to her office were Luna and Tim were working on upgrading her desktop. McGee took the hint, and left with Abby for a bit to eat. Kate sat down in Abby's chair as Luna turned down the music.
"I can't do this anymore Luna." she said putting her head down on Abby's desk. " I just can't. There is just to much here... to many memories... to much pain..." she mumbled.
Luna knelt down and hugged her. She felt her sisters pain. It was all to real to her too, she however didn't have to spend all day every day up there... with them... looking at the desk... missing...
"What do you want to do?" she asked Kate.
Kate was quite for a moment, then she mumbled softly... "I think..."
.
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The Director didn't like this one bit. When the top brass at the DoD (Department of Defense) calls, you clear your schedule, which she had. She sat as the man before her debriefed her on the "incident". What she was hearing she couldn't believe, and she was sure she was being told only the bare minimum.
Next she was handed a file stamped Torchwood:D.C. Branch Confidential. As she flipped thought the first pages warning that this information was classified, and on and on until she reached the first file. She read it to her self.
Torchwood was an international group of special ops formed to protect the international community from threats with in and with out of their respective territories. While it didn't go into details on what these threats were, she had a bad feeling about them.
They had run afoul of the agency before, and now Washington was sanctioned them to work freely, no questions asked with in US borders, and even have their branch officer here in DC.
"They are asking for two agents from NCIS to be assigned to them, and before you say anything the president has already signed off on this. NCIS isn't the only agency being asked to contribute personnel, just the first. Apparently your agency has made quite a good impression with them. They seem to want the personal from this agency to take lead in the DC Office.
Director Sheppard wasn't quite sure how to respond. This didn't sit well with her one bit, but her hands were tied. She sighed.
"Ill have the records pulled for the most capable personnel by the end of the day... " she began.
"That wont be necessary." Came a voice from the back of the room.
The man was tall, and dressed in a gray over coat. He had come in with the general, however had stayed silent until now.
"We already know which agents we want." He said handing her a file.
The file was worn as if its contents had been looked at over and over. As she opened it she noticed it had hand written notes scribbled about on various pages. As she continued to read what little that was actually there she couldn't believe what she was seeing...
"You can't be serious." She said looking up at the man.
"Oh we are." he said shooting her back a look that made her skin crawl, a feeling she hadn't felt in some time now.
"One of these isn't even a field agent..." She began as she stood up.
"Things change... " he said. With that the conversation was over... Jennifer Sheppard, Director of NCIS Operations had lost.
.
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Tony's day just wasn't going his way, first Ziva was nagging him about something.. something he wasn't even paying attention to anymore. Now the Director had called. She wanted Tony to find Agents Todd, and Voltair this instant and send them up to her office.
Last Tony had heard the Director was in a meeting with some brass from the DoD. Why would they want to see Kate and Luna, and why suddenly was she addressing them both as Agent Todd and Agent Voltair? Something wasn't right...
"Probbie..." He hollered causing Ziva to stop with her taunting of him. "Were is Kate?" he asked knowing full well it was lunch time, and she was most likely with her sister as she did every day.
"Last time I saw them they were in Abby's... " McGee stated.
"Well they aren't there now, I just called and no one is picking up." he said.
"Did you try Ducky?" came Ziva suddenly.
They both looked at her with quizzical looks.
"What?" she asked. "Its Thursday, every Thursday she has lunch with Ducky and her sister no?"
"Its not thursd.." Tony grumbled to himself... it was Thursday. He picked up the phone and dialed as McGee snickered and Ziva blew him a kiss.
.
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The doors of the elevator slid open as they did every Thursday. Unlike Thursdays past however Dr. Donald Mallard was waiting for the occupants.
"Im sorry ladies, but you two are needed elsewhere." He said as he joined them and pushed the button for the squad room floor.
"Ducky?" Kate questioned.
He waved his hand in the air. "Im just the messenger Caitlin, Im not sure what this is about."
"Both of us?" Luna asked.
"Both of you..." he said, not able to hid the hint of worry in his voice.
The exited the elevator with Ducky, and walked across the squad room floor. They stopped for a moment at Tony's desk before a voice from above called to them.
"Ladies, if you will come with me." the director said motioning to them.
Tony shrugged to Ducky as they walked past and up the stairs.
"Something's wrong Ducky..." he said quietly. "I don't like this one bit..." as he shifted uncomfortably in his chair.
.
Director Sheppard opened the door to the conference room, and ushered the girls in. Inside sat a lone man who was shuffling some papers about in front of him.
"Ill be in my office if you need me." she said before taking Kate by the arm. "I seriously ask you to not consider what he is about to propose..." she whispered to her before releasing her and closing the door.
Kate wasn't sure what to make of the Directors comment. She had never seen or heard of her acting like this before. As she moved to the table she noticed that Luna was studding the man very intently..
He in turn looked up at her, smile and gave a little wave.
"I know you from somewhere..." she said before sitting down.
"I get around a lot, so its quite possible." he replied.
"Its more than possible..." she said.
He chuckled for a moment before waving his hands in front of him. "Well there was this one time in a bar were you threatened to... what was it... cause me great bodily harm with your nine west pumps when you thought I was the one who grabbed your..."
"Oh my..." Kate said looking at her sister... She just shook her head... it was something else, she was sure of it.
"Im not here because of that." he said "Though it is nice to see some one so fierce in defending them selves. That's the sort of attitude my organization is looking for."
"Organization?" asked Kate.
"Yes, I believe you have heard of us before. Allow me to introduce my self. My name is Jack Harkness, Captain Jack Harkness if you will." he said sliding over two folders to the girl. "I am the leader of the Torchwood International Group."
"Torchwood." Kate said as she and Luna flipped open the files before them.
"Yes... Torchwood. We have been watching you for a while now..." he started...
"At the hospital..." Luna said, barely skimming though the file. "You waved... you felt... off..."
Jack smiled. She was quick, and has he looked over at Kate he saw she was about just as...
"You were in my room when I woke up... " she said as if she was unsure of her memories.
He nodded at the girls.
"What do you want from us?" Kate said pushing the file away.
"I want to offer you a job."
This caught Kate's attention, and the Directors earlier warning came to mind.
"Perhaps..." he said taking the files away from them and tucking them away. He then proceeding behind them.
"... it will be easier just to show you." he put a hand on each of their shoulders. There was a soft clicking from the watch on his wrist, then everything just faded away.
.
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It had been some time, and Tony was out of patients. The Director was escorting the General out of the building, and he took this opportunity to make his way up to the room were Kate and Luna were suppose to be. He stood silently, and listened but after a few moments heard nothing but silence.
Cynthia walked by, and snickered at him. He shushed her as he turned the handle of the door slowly
"I wouldn't do that Agent DiNozzo..." she said but it was too late. One moment he was eyeballing the crack, and the next he was swinging the door wide open.
Cynthia came up beside him quickly to chastise him, but she too was taken back. The room was empty.
"They were just here..." Cynthia said baffled
Tony didn't hear the rest of what she was saying. He was already moving back towards the squad floor.
"Ziva!" Tony called hopping down the steeps.
"What is it?" she asked after taking one look at his face.
"Did Luna, and Kate come this way?" he asked approaching her and McGee.
"No.. aren't they still up..." she began.
"No they aren't, and Cynthia never saw them leave..."
"How is that possible?" Ziva asked.
"Its not..." Tony growled... "McGee..." he started but Tim was already ahead of him
He had slid into his desk and his fingers began to work their magic. "Working on a trace for their cell phones now boss..." he said unconsciously...
Tony flinched at being called boss, he had ever since... but it passed...
.
.
What they had seen... what they were seeing was like nothing they had ever imagined. Kate and Luna sat quietly as Jack, and his partner Gwen explained at length about the organization. As Jack went on another young woman came in and tapped on her watch.
"They started a trace..." she said.
"Thank you Tosh..." He said. "Tosh, this is Agent Todd, and her sister Agent Voltair." he said giving a quick introduction.
"So... your the one who crashed my systems..." She said giving Luna a quite unusual look. She wasn't sure if it was one of malice or admiration.
"You will have more time to get to know them later." he said motioning for the Agents to come with him.
As they walked Kate looked at Jack, and asked. "Why us?"
"I know this wont satisfy you, but we have our reasons. Unfortunately before you go... we need an answer."
.
.
"I got it Tony..." McGee said trailing off.
"What is it?" he asked moving over to McGee's desk.
"They're... they're right outside..." he said confused. He wasn't the only one.
.
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Jennifer Sheppard was walking across the lawn when she spotted Kate, and her sister sitting on a bench behind the agency. As she got closer she could feel her heart sinking. Things hadn't been right with these girls since Gibb's death. There was more going on than she knew about that was for sure, but in the end she found it better not knowing. Now she was regretting the decision not to find out...
She walked up to them and stopped. From around the building she caught DiNozzo, McGee and David coming from a run to a dead stop upon seeing her standing with them. They just stood and looked on as the Director sighed out loud.
"When did they want you to start?" she asked
Kate just looked up, and offered the director a smile.