Funny what the Heart Feels.

A/N: ok this chapter contains the most amazing pairing ever...TATE of course, only slightly, might be a lot of Tate in future chapters though.

Also this isn't from anyone in particulars POV, just normal story type chapter, so read and hope you enjoy, let me know what ya think, and if you have any requests please do post 'em, story could go one of two ways so let me know what ya feeling with it, anyway, hope you enjoy, and still don't own anything...one day though and on that day, there will be TATE lol

So here they stand, face to face, both harbouring unsaid feelings and questions they desperately want answered, both scared to be the first to ask, to say.

They're both aware that the Gothic Lab tech is only pretending to work outside the glass wall, they are both well aware that when the conversation dose start, if it starts she'll be reading their lips, and won't miss a beat, yet right now, they don't care.

Finally the silence is broken, by a word, just one word in the form of a question, uttered from the most beautifully inviting lips he'd ever seen, the same lips he dream't about from the first day he met, the same lips he loved even more when they formed the most beautiful smile he'd ever seen.

"Why?" asked so softly it was barely audible, yet had the impact of a small meteor smashing into the earth.

There was so much more she wanted to know, so many other questions she add to that one word, why are leaving? Why won't you talk to me? Why are you making me fall madly in love with you without trying? Why are you breaking my heart with silence? Why? why was a good start, and depending on the answer she got from the man of her dreams depended on what other questions followed.

"why what?" he asks as softly, his eyes fixed intently on the floor before her feet, he knows if he looks up into her stunning eyes he'd lose all inner strength and tell her everything, he couldn't do that, he wouldn't she was happy with Gibbs, he'd never destroy her happiness for himself, in a way, all he wanted was for her to be happy, but in another way...he wanted to be the one to make her happy, to make her smile with a look, make her laugh when she was crying, hold her every night and wake with her every morning, to kiss her daily and tell her that she, is, his everything, his sun in which his universe orbits, the most important thing in his life and the only thing he'd walk into the deepest darkest depth of hell for, he'd die for...but he couldn't, it wouldn't be fair.

"why are you leaving?" a soft whisper escapes her lips as she takes a step towards him, her arms hanging at her sides, her hand nervously playing with the material of her dark brown slacks, her eyes fixed with a soft, caring stare, one that if he was to look into, he'd know what she felt, he'd know she mirrored all his wants, his dreams, his feelings, but he continues to stare at the floor.

"because...I have to" he answers weakly, it's a form of truth, he feels he needs to, because he doesn't know what else he could do, how else he could deal or handle the fact that he lost her to a man he once loved and looked up to as a farther, because... he's scared of being hurt more than he already is.

"but, why do you have to?" she asks risking another step in his direction, she reads his body as though it were an open book in her lap, he isn't hiding anymore, she see him, the real him, not the mask he'd been wearing, he's open to her, and he'll talk with a little encouragement "please, just...tell me the truth, no matter how bad it is tony, tell me the truth" she whispers softly.

His eyes cloud over as he goes deep into thought for a second, he'll do as she asks she deserves to know, but where does he start, his mind runs through his time working with her, where exactly did these feelings for his co-worker, his friend, his best friend start? Was it on air force one? He felt something there, but was that just lust? Did he only want her for sex then? No, that was the start of love, he knows it was, because, for her, he'd go a life without sex if it just meant being able to sleep beside her, feel her in his arms, kiss her, and hear her whisper she loves him each day and night.

He closes his eyes and takes a long deep breath, steadying his nerves before the truth, his mouth opens at the same time his eyes do, his eyes meet hers and he begins.

"I have to go because you hurt me, you don't know you have, and you didn't do it intentionally, but you have, by choosing Gibbs instead of me, because the day we met, I fell in love, and I feel more every day we spent together, because I can't pretend to be happy for you and Gibbs anymore, I can't pretend that together, you both smashed my heart into dust" he tells her the truth, she takes a moment to absorb all the information.

He's just said he was in love with her, but he also accused her of breaking his heart, was he that oblivious to the fact that he started smashing hers as soon as she joined NCIS?, she went from concerned to angry and she was going to let him know.

"Well did it ever occur to you that I may love you too?" she snaps back folding her arms across her chest while turning on her heel and taking the two steps back.

"And why would I think that?" Tonys argues back, "dating the boss doesn't exactly scream I LOVE YOU TONY!" he yelled his arms waving above his head wildly.

"Well neither dose bragging about those bimbo whores you slept with each night!" she snaps her voice breaking slightly into a sob.

Damn it Kate, she curses herself mentally for letting him know she was crying, she was stronger than this and she hated the fact he could so easily break through her walls and get to her, the real her, the woman not the NCIS agent that felt she had something to prove.

"Kate," he breaths softly as he takes steps towards her "they weren't real," he says softly as he reaches out and turned her to face him, his heart breaks again as he sees the tear rolling down her beautiful soft cheeks, he cups her face with his palms and ever so softly strokes the tears away with his thumb "I only want you, you and no one else, I LOVE, you Kate" he says softly "I'd give up anything for you" he finishes softer than her original question, so soft, Kate strains to hear it.

"Really?" she chokes weakly with a small broken but hopeful smile.

"I love you" he whispers sweetly with a reassuring smile.

Kate smiles she cups his face, his jaw line covered in stubble from where he hadn't bothered to shave, she pulls him down to her and into a heated passionate kiss.

When the need for air is too much they break apart both looking into each other's eyes with small loving smiles.

"I love you Tony DiNozzo" she whispers happily, this time, happy tears fill her beautiful eyes; she's shocked as she sees tears start to fill Toni's eyes.

"I love you too Kate Todd" he smiles as a tear escapes his eye and starts to roll down his cheek, but her thumb brushes it away softly before her arms slide over his shoulders and close the distance between them, their lips touching softly, as Tony snakes his arms around her waist closing the distance even further.

He's taken back by the sensation of Kate's tongue sliding softly over his bottom lip, asking silently permission to enter, he obliges and slides his tongue forward to meet and massage hers before they explore and truly taste each other.

The kiss is more loving than there first, they both poor there love, their souls and their hearts into it, each drinking it up gratefully, as they continue to embrace each other, again they hold out until their lungs scream for the gas they need in order to keep their hosts alive, they stand in each other's arms lost in one another's eyes, both for the first time in a long time truly, Happy.

"Son of a bitch!"

they both turn but react to late, as Gibbs' left fist collides with Tonys jaw, sending him flying to the floor, Kate staggers back shocked by the sudden event, she reaches for Gibb's arm to hold him back but the Ex- Marine is to strong he pushes her away as he round on Tony.

How do I fight a Marine? He thinks, at best he's an armature boxer, a better brawler but there's no way he could fight a marine trained in close quarters combat. Gibbs swings again, Tony ducks and thanks whatever higher being for the opportunity to read the second punch before he threw it, but his success is short lived as in no time he on the floor, Gibbs straddling him as he fires punch after punch into his face, he hears his nose break, he hears his eyebrow and lip tear open and feels the warmth of his blood, his life fluid trickle at first, but pour later from the wounds, he's aware that at any moment Gibbs could break his neck and finish him, he's also aware of Kate screaming, pleading for the older man to stop, and then, as the darkness starts to cloud his vision, he feels the older man stand and march out.

As soon as Gibbs is out the door, Kate runs to Tonys side, she lifts his head onto her lap and screams for Abby to call an ambulance, there's so much blood, she feels a warm wet patch on her slacks and looks down to see a small pool of blood start to form on her lap, her eyes fill with tears again, not happy tears like before, but tears of fear, heart ache, desperation.

"Tony, open your eyes" she whispers desperately as she cradles his face with her palms "please Baby open your eyes" she whimpers as the first tear drops from her chin onto his forehead "Tony, Please" she begs, fear gives way to anger as she shouts at him to open his eyes, but after no response the fear returns drowning the anger out "Tony I love you, please don't leave me now...please Baby, I love you, I need you please" she begs as she starts to rock gently with him in her lap, silent and lifeless.

She hears a noise from the door, she looks up to see Ducky, Abby and the Director stood all shocked at what they see.

"Ducky, please help him, please" she pleads as the old English ME rushes over to her.

Ducky lifts tony from her lap and lays him on the floor again, Kate moves to the side and takes Tonys hand in hers, she pleads with him to wake up, or say something, Abby walks to her side and tries to pull her away.

"Give him some room to do what he does" she reasons softly.

"I'm not leaving him Abs" Kate whimpers holding Tonys hand tightly.

"Kate..."

"NO! I'm not leavening him!" she shouts while glaring at her best friend.

"He's not breathing" Ducky comments, snapping Kites attention back to Tony "I can't find a pulse either" he states looking at the director.

"do something" Kate breaths shocked, this can't be how it ends, not like this, it's not fair, we didn't get a chance, she thinks "DO SOMETHING!" she shouts at ducky.

The director, with the help of Abby pull Kate away and out of the small office, she fights with them, screaming and kicking, begging them to let her go back to tony, but falls silent as two paramedics enter the lab with McGee, she watches as Ducky stands up and shakes his head defeated to one of the paramedics.

Her legs give way under her as she collapse onto the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

"It's not fair, it's not fair" she cried into her palms as she rocks sobbing on the floor.

A/N: will Tony make it? Will there be a happily ever after for Tate? What's going to happen to Gibbs?...honestly? who cares about Gibbs lol, let know what ya think please, always appreciate your feed back :D