GIBBS

When he woke it took him a little while to orient himself. Sleeping on a couch was not remotely unusual for him, but this one was unfamiliar, and he definitely didn't usually wake up with a warm body wrapped round him and a voice mumbling contentedly in his ear.

"Hmmm, Gibbsh..."

The room was still dark and her voice was slurred, but it was enough to remind him of where he was and who he was with. It was obvious they'd both adjusted themselves for comfort in their sleep, and somehow she'd ended up lying on top of him, one hand still curled possessively into his shirt, her head resting on his shoulder, her breath tickling his neck.

She mumbled and sighed again, then nuzzled in closer. You have got to be kidding me. For a moment he'd thought she was awake - she had been awake enough to say his name, hadn't she? - but it seemed like she'd drifted off again.

He wasn't complaining, not exactly, but he was wondering quite how he'd ended up here. It was decidedly not what he'd planned for this evening. Admittedly, there were good points to waking up with Kate clinging on like a barnacle, but as far as maintaining proper boss-employee relations... this wasn't exactly SOP.

"Chineshe food," she muttered. Or at least, that was what it sounded like. Gibbs had more pressing concerns than trying to decipher Kate's sleep talking, though he had to admit to himself that it was... kind of cute. He made a mental note never to use that word out loud about her, though. Something told him she wouldn't appreciate it.

An attempt to unravel her fingers from their grasp on his shirt quickly proved fruitless. He wasn't surprised at her intransigence - he'd seen her bullheadedness often enough at work to be used to it - but who could ever have guessed it would also apply when she was, to all appearances, sound asleep?

He forced himself to relax, and had almost convinced his body that Kate sprawled over him wasn't a distraction (no sir, not at all) when she gasped, stiffened, and straightened up so suddenly that the top of her head connected painfully with his chin.

"Gibbs!"

She looked up at him with frightened eyes, and instinctively he ran a hand lightly over her hair and gripped her shoulder.

For a long, long moment they just stared at each other. The look on her face was almost wild, and he had the impression she was neither fully awake nor fully sober.

"You almost died today, Gibbs," she whispered eventually.

He shrugged a shoulder. "Didn't, though." What else could he say?

"You're alive?" She definitely wasn't properly awake

"I'm alive. I'm fine, Kate."

Kate worried at her bottom lip with her teeth. "I... I let you down." Her voice was even quieter now. "You almost died and I should have- I let you down."

He shook his head. "No you didn't, Katie. You did well today." He tightened his arm around her waist and squeezed her shoulder with his other hand. "I was proud of you."

It came out gruffer than he'd really intended, but even so, the effect on Kate was immediate and breathtaking. Her eyes slipped closed and she smiled slowly, beatifically, as if the compliment was rolling over her like a wave. "And you're okay?"

He couldn't keep the grin off his face at her continuing, sleepy concern. "I'm good, Kate. I'm fine."

Without opening her eyes again, she let her head drop back down onto his chest. With a contented humming sound, she rubbed her cheek against his shirt, and he could feel her body relaxing into him. "Glad you're okay, Gibbs. I'm glad... I'd mish you."

Gibbs chuckled. That was, what, at least two nice things she'd said about him in one night. Must be a record. Too bad they'd both happened while she was drunk. "Thanks Katie. I'm glad, too."

A ladylike snore in response informed him that she'd fallen back to sleep almost instantaneously. He rolled his eyes at the ceiling. He'd probably get more sleep on a Navy transport than with Kate snuggled into him but he couldn't quite summon the degree of regret that he was sure he should be feeling at this point.

He dropped a soft kiss on the top of her head, let his head fall back, and closed his eyes. Absently rubbing at the sore spot on his chin where Kate had caught him, he shook his head. Could really use some time off from being a human target. When Kate woke up properly and discovered how she'd spent the night, he'd probably be at risk again. He'd need to have his wits about him. He chuckled at the thought, and then forced his breathing into a slow rhythm. If it was possible to do so by sheer willpower, he was determined that he would get back to sleep.