A/N: This was going to be the final chapter, it really was, but these two wouldn't shut up. On the plus side, it gives me a reason to stick around, I guess, until it's finished. So, there is more to come, not sure how much, but there will be more.

So, maybe Kate didn't really hate Gibbs (wasn't even sure it was a possibility at this point) for not showing up any faster, but she was feeling more angry and embarrassed by the moment. She had, at least, finally made it to the bench in the middle of the parking lot. There had been no way, in any form of hell, that Gibbs was going to find her at the bottom of the hill she had rolled down when she had slipped off the path she was running.

Calling Gibbs though, that was a dangerous sort of autopilot, the sort that also sought out his eyes first when she felt fear winning. He'd become her resolve, more often than not, the rock she'd crash into if it kept her from drowning. Tony's number was tucked inside her phone too, but his name wasn't the first one into her head while she gripped the bench and waited for the pain to recede even a little. There was probably something to that.

If she had to, under the influence of something akin to torture probably, Kate would admit that it had been stupid to come here so late at night. Logic, however, had taken a fatal blow against the need to drive Gibbs and the mess Dean had turned out to be, far from her head. The only way she knew how to accomplish something as impossible as forgetting, was to run. She needed the sound of her feet against the path, the air so cold it burned, taking up space inside her lungs to replace actual, you know, feelings. It had worked, too. Until she had been a little too distracted(She would not, even under torture, admit to thinking about Gibbs) and a probably shouldn't do this, had turned into an actual mistake. One that hurt, a lot, and continued to hurt with every careful breath she drew in.

What she really, really needed, was for Gibbs to just get here. And seriously, how many times had he had her almost clutching the door of the car while he tested how fast he could drive without killing them all? It left Kate wondering if she had interrupted something by asking him to come here. A date? He hadn't said anything about a date-and this was so not the time to be getting jealous over fictitious girlfriends. Come on, Gibbs.

Finally, headlights flashed over her, as a car turned into the parking lot. She let out an achy breath of relief, before seeing that it wasn't Gibbs' car at all, but a taxi. In a better position, if willpower alone could overcome the actual physical inability to stand up(of course if willpower could do that, she would have driven herself home anyway) she would go to meet the taxi halfway. It had better be Gibbs, because if it was anyone else, she might just be tempted to draw her gun in annoyance. Not that she would shoot them, of course, but she wasn't against scaring them in the mood she was in. Her breath puffed out in front of her, as she was forced to wait as the car rolled to a stop before her and the back door opened up quickly.

From inside the taxi, she could just make out Gibbs' low voice, and saw him pass money over the seat as he was climbing out. He turned, heading over to her at once, at a speed that seemed to be trying to make up for the time that had kept him from getting to her. In an ideal world, she'd be able to hang onto her pride, pretend she was okay. Then he could lay his anger over her, and she would take it silently, because she was just so very glad he came.

He looked her over, as he stepped into the light. His face was tight, tension clear in the way his shoulders were drawn up. Did he need reassurance, should she offer?

"I'm alright, Gibbs," she said, as he started digging into his pocket. So much for thinking her words over carefully.

He pulled out a flashlight, as the cab pulled a little away and the parking lights came on. He had asked them to wait? Should she point out how close her car was?

"Kate," he said, flicking the light on and leaning over to look her over.

"Gibbs," she said, shaking her head. "I'm alright, sorry. I just fell, and I'm a bit banged up, and I can't really drive. Do you think you could use my car to give me a lift?"

"What's hurt?" Gibbs asked, running the light down over her body. "God, Kate, you scared me."

She had opened her mouth to answer him, to tell him what was hurt so they could get this part of the evening over with. She should have known he'd want to see, to assess for himself if she needed to see a doctor and likely wouldn't take no for an answer if he decided she did. Kate was, however, thrown off by his words. Realistically, she knew Gibbs got scared. It would be hard not to in their line of work, with the things he had seen, even for such a hardened Marine. However, he wasn't the sort to share it, admit it, and definitely not look at her so tenderly as if he had no choice but to admit in the face of said fear.

When she didn't answer, which was hardly fair after words like that had fallen from his lips, she found his thumb drawing up her eyelid and the light being flashed into her eye.

"Gibbs," She said, letting out a breath and then a whimper as she jerked her head away. She saw his jaw tighten, his lips go thin and allowed him to check the other one silently. It hurt her ribs too much to fight him anyway.

"My head is fine,' she said, looking up at him. "Honestly, I just need a ride...and maybe some help to get inside."

She'd hoped that he'd just help her up, do what she asked, but wasn't at all surprised when instead his gaze remained fixed on her.

"What else, Kate?"

She sighed, debated lying, and then decided it wasn't worth the effort. He'd just know anyway.

"My ankle and wrist hurt a bit," she all but muttered.

He squatted quickly, tucking the flashlight in between his teeth and holding out a hand to her. She paused, before slowly lifting her arm and settling it down into his palm.

Her leg might have jerked in his direction when his cold fingers made contact with the swollen skin of her wrist, but she probably didn't actually kick him. He didn't seem to falter in his balance, and hadn't actually sent a glare up at her. She figured that meant she was in the clear. He moved his fingers over the skin, the bones, prodding so carefully she knew he was trying to spare her pain that couldn't be avoided. She focused her breathing instead, trying to keep her face passive.

The hand was lowered back into her lap, and he took the flashlight out of his mouth for a moment.

"Don't think it's broken," he said. "But you ought to have an x-ray."

"I'm fine," she insisted(maybe if she said it a few dozen more times, it might become a truth) but he was already ignoring her in favor of reaching for her ankle instead. The same soft touch followed, causing her less pain this time at least.

"We're takin' you by the hospital," he said, before standing up. She opened her mouth, and he shut it again with a firm look

Damn him.

Obedience was automatic, despite how often she did actually argue with him in their job. If Gibbs said to do something, set you in that gaze of his, you just did it-trusting and hoping he knew what was best (and he usually did). She didn't want to go to the hospital, but as he wrapped her good arm over his strong shoulders, her anger faded away. He managed to take most of her weight away from her, as well as avoiding the pain in her side she hadn't mentioned.

Kate was pretty touched he had come for her, that he had shown how much he was worried, and she supposed to would be good to be certain nothing was broken from her fall.

He waved the cab driver off who had been waiting, slipped his hand in her coat pocket to grab her keys, and started them off towards her car.

"Gibbs?" she asked, trying to focus on anything but the distance she had to try to hop.

"Yeah, Kate?" he said, after a moment. He didn't look over, kept staring at her car as if he was the one in agony instead of her.

"I'm sorry I worried you," she said, ducking her head.

Tears were coming, the exhaustion of being in so much pain and the late hour crashing over her. She wouldn't let him see her cry though, not after all that he had already seen. She bit them back, digging her teeth into her lip until she had regained control of her emotions and they had somehow managed to round the passenger side of her car.

He shook his head, gave a shrug that she felt rather than saw, and she didn't offer anything else. What was there to say to the man who avoided words by habit? Gibbs unlocked the door with ease, still keeping his tight grip on her, and then carefully worked her inside. Maybe she imagined it, but it seemed like his hands skimmed over more of her than was necessary, drawing a wince as they brushed her ribs (in reality, he was probably still examining her) but she met his eye and he gave another shrug. After a moment he shut the door and she was quick to lay her head against it. Gibbs slid in behind her wheel, into her seat, and she was struck with how odd and how right it felt to have him in her world, instead of spending all her time in his. It was a little nice, despite the circumstances.

Gibbs

Kate looked decidedly dopey when they wheeled her back out to him. He'd been busy, not at all pacing the waiting room in his worry. He'd been damn near terrified when she had called, and now looking at her he felt a bit stupid and then doubly so for admitting his fear to Kate directly. Sure, she was hurt. The doctor, however, had already given him a report (possibly after he claimed to be her fiancé, Kate probably never needed to know about that) and she was okay. Kate had a sprained wrist and ankle, and her ribs had taken quite a beating, but she was okay. His Kate, well, he'd just stick to thanking everything that might still be willing to listen to a bitter old man, that she was only drugged out of her head, instead of something much worse.

Kate was staring at him so intently, only half of her smile seemed to be working, but it was firmly locked into place. She looked amused, and happy, and a lot like a woman in love and he couldn't take that seriously while she was so out of it, but he sure wanted to.

"Let's get you home, Kate," he said, brushing hair away from her face, leaning over to press a kiss to the top of her head.

She probably wouldn't remember this anyway, he could afford a little extra affection. Good to play the part anyway, and his hands didn't seem to want to stay at his side now that she was so close to him again.

"Do'tor said-" she started, and then started up at him. "Not 'lone."

"My place, Kate," he said, gently. "I'll go get the car."

He headed out, driving Kate's car back around to park in front of the emergency room. The nurse stood guard, watching Kate, but Kate only had eyes for him, even as he helped her out of the chair and into the car. The actual goal here, was to touch her less this time-but Kate didn't seem to be overly invested in his goal. She reached up, running her fingers over his scalp and down his face. Her fingers ran over his neck, and she smiled crookedly at the way he swallowed hard against her touch.

"I got a secret," she said, the slur in her voice almost too much for him to be able to translate.

"Do you?" he asked, pushing her uninjured hand away, again, as he tried to buckle her in.

She really was being quite a nuisance, and he was grateful the nurse had given up and left him to deal with her alone. Still, he found himself smiling, as she nodded and tried to lean in close again. He clicked the buckle, leaning up out of her touch and knowing exactly why his short supply of patience had suddenly found itself limitless. Gibbs had it bad, even his frustration became confused and gave up at the absolute joy he felt around her. He'd be lying if he didn't say he felt pretty lucky too, Kate let them make her weak, as high as a kite, knowing he would be the one to hold the string tightly enough she wouldn't float away.

"Yup," she said, grinning. He closed the door softly, and she leaned back against it at once.

He drove her home, or rather his house, obeying the speed limit to a fault. Her breathing was deep, fogging up the glass on her exhale, and he swallowed hard and reached out. He only wanted to touch her hand, her face, to feel that she was really right here and not just some dream he might wake up from. The thought of stealing a moment from her, affection that she couldn't deny was enough to make him recoil. Gibbs scrubbed the reaching hand down his face, and then focused on nothing but the road until he could park out front.

Gibbs shut off the car, feeling like an absolute idiot for being so awkward in this situation. He turned towards Kate, watching her look so at peace for a long moment. He wished she could look like that forever, even while he knew they'd both miss all her other expressions. Was it too much to want to make sure she felt safe and loved forever, while also wanting her to call him whatever came into her mind, and never hold back in what she thought? Could that work?

He sighed, leaning in a little closer to her.

"Kate?" he asked, softly. When she didn't shift, didn't acknowledge him at all, he reached out and touched her shoulder, rubbing it gently with his thumb. "Katie? You need to wake up. Gotta get you inside."

Her response was a soft noise of protest, and a halfhearted attempt to brush his hand away from her. He withdrew it anyway, and looked from her to his front door in the distance. He wasn't against carrying her inside, and up to his bed, not at all. Gibbs could think of far worse things than Kate in his arms, but it did come with a few complications. The most likely being her waking up halfway, cuffing his head for presuming that she needed to be carried in the first place.

"Kate," he said, a little louder a little firmer. "Get up. Inside."

"Shhh," she said, shifting against the window and settling again

He wasn't going to let her lay against a window all night just because she turned him so unsure of himself. Gibbs unbuckled her, sliding the belt over and under her head as he shifted her away from the glass. The embrace was only one of convenience, to pull her away from the door that he was about to try to open. Kate took it as an invitation, turning and letting out a happy little noise as she snuggled into his chest instead.

"Kate?" he asked, swallowing a couple times.

Why was she so touchy? And why couldn't he bring himself to make it stop?

"Gotta let you go, sweetheart," he muttered, shaking his head at the term of endearment. She had him shedding his armor without even trying, going all soft just because he found himself with an armful of such goodness and hope that he had come to know as Kate.

She wrapped a hand into his shirt, and he just...stopped. He just let her stay snuggled up to him, while he sat uncomfortable and half twisted and a whole jumble of emotions. He was floored, and it had been what felt like a lifetime since he had felt so damn lucky. Men like him, didn't get this sort of second chance, didn't get to feel like this twice in a lifetime.

After a few more moments, when he thought she was out enough again, he carefully worked her fingers free and settled her against the seat again. His chest felt colder, his arms cold and far too empty, but he would be remedying that soon enough. Gibbs climbed out, hurrying around to Kate's side of the car and opened up her door.

"Gonna carry you, Kate," he whispered, sliding his arm carefully up under her legs and the other back up under her back.

It was awkward, and while he didn't lack strength (and she was plenty light enough) he wasn't twenty or even thirty anymore. It took a few moments until he could slide her out of the narrow space and shift her enough he found his balance again. She snuggled back into his chest at once, as if it was the place in the world she truly belonged (It was hers, she could have it) and he kicked the door shut behind him.

Gibbs was thankful for the late hour, though the neighbors had probably seen far more disturbing things than Gibbs carrying a woman to his front door. Still, no one peeping out was one less thing to worry about. He shifted her, fingers finding the door handle and it turned with ease. Gibbs was extra thankful he didn't lock his door right now, as he settled Kate's weight back down where it belonged and stepped into the entryway.

He had just kicked the door shut when heard her sharp intake of breath. Gibbs cursed under his breath, that he had been so loud to wake her, and that now she was waking after he tried in the car to spare them this not entirely unwanted moment.

He stopped moving, looking down at her. She was yawning, rubbing at her eyes a little sloppily with her good hand, and then looking up at him.

"Gibbs?" she asked, tilting her head to look away from him and into his home. It was clean, right? He wasn't exactly a messy person, but now he didn't feel so certain. "What're we doin'?"

"Takin' you to bed, Kate," he said, and her head jerked back up towards him.

She blinked, and he blinked. Of all the ways he could have said that...

"For sleep," he explained, and she nodded at once. "You gotta sleep."

"Oh," she said, her voice thick. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously at him, before shoving her tongue out and that same suspicious glare was directed at it. He bit back a smile. She drew it back into her mouth after a moment, and settled her cheek back over his chest. "'kay, Gibbsy Gibbs."

Gibbsy Gibbs? Yeah, she really had to sleep now. She would shoot him in the morning for not stopping her words, her playfulness, most likely. He didn't want to, so certain he'd never get the chance to see her like this again, and he couldn't help but enjoy it with a small smile he hoped she wouldn't notice.

"Like you," she said, yawning again. "Lots."

"I, uh, I like you too, Kate," he said, clearing his throat and walking again.

The sooner he got her upstairs, and to his bed, the sooner she could fall back asleep and he could go back to pretending he was unaffected by her.

"Lots?" she asked, and the crooked smile was back and if he wasn't so sure she was still doped up, he'd think maybe she was actually teasing him. That she was actually looking for a confession. Well, he'd had to confess to far worse than this.

"Lots," he agreed, arriving at his door and nudging it open with his foot.

He walked her over to the bed, setting her down gently. She let out a huffing noise, but quickly rolled over and settled against his pillows. Gibbs gave his arms a stretch, and then leaned down, pulling the folded blanket from the foot of his bed. He unfolded it, eyes on her the entire time, as he laid it out over her. He never imagined he'd get Kate into his bed, and the very first time (hopefully not the last) he wouldn't even let himself be near her. Instead, he moved over to the chair in the corner, and slid down into it.

He forced his eyes to close, knowing that he was just going to see that crooked smile and those maddening dimples in his mind anyway.

"Scared me, Kate," he admitted to the night. "Not somethin' I can lose."

He peeked at her, her eyes still closed, her breathing still even. It would be so easy to admit a few little words she wouldn't be able to hear, but he knew that if he did it there was no going back. He would do anything to make Kate his, if he let himself give in, and this wasn't the time to think about anything but her comfort and safety.

He settled back, and hoped maybe they both would be a lot more clearheaded when they woke.