A/N: We apologize for the delay in updating. Christmas is a time to spend with family. We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday.

Too stunned for words, neither agent made a move to look at what was inside the envelope Mr. Cartwright had left on the table for Tim. Kate was married? When did she do that? Why hadn't she ever said anything? Well, she did say she wouldn't even ever let Tony know where she lived. But to not tell us she was married? Wait, if she wouldn't tell us that much about herself and I'm sitting here at her family lawyer's - at her husband's request – what the heck else didn't she tell us?

With that last question burning a hole in his brain, Tim reached for the envelope with a shaking hand. Carefully pulling the folded pieces of paper from their enclosure, the young man swallowed hard as he unfolded them and quickly glanced up and down the front page. It was typed and the signature at the bottom wasn't one he recognized. Glancing back up at the top of the expensive copy paper, he noted the date: Nov. 1, 2005 - six months after Kate's death.

***NCIS****

Impatient and with his heart up around his Adam's apple, Gibbs fairly growled at his junior agent. "McGee!" It had been several minutes since the lawyer had left the room – leaving them to read this in peace and the older man's patience was already on thin ice.

In a reflexive knee-jerk reaction, Tim dropped the letter, the resulting momentum it carried sending it skidding along the table top in the Team Leader's direction without Tim having even registered a word that was in it.

Watching the boss read it, seeing the man's silent reaction, noting the grip on the edges of the paper were tightening briefly before loosening up, only to tighten again, while his eyes blinked over and over, as if trying too hard to hold something back, Tim felt his own heart pound in his chest. What could Kate and her husband – when had she married? Whom? Why hadn't she ever said anything to them? What could they want with him, the team probie?

Suddenly, the older man dropped the letter as if it were a hot potato in his hands, and was on his feet, as Tim watched in sadness while the man took himself over to the large window on the wall behind the desk. As his eyes went back to the letter, Tim realized he still had the second sheet of paper in his own hands and hadn't even looked at it yet.

With a release of pent-up breath he hadn't even realized he'd been holding in, Tim reached across the table and brought the first page of the letter back to him, picking it up, he opened it back up and finally focused enough to read the words written there.

Agent Tim McGee:

Though we've never met, I've been told you and that boss of yours were extremely instrumental in helping clear up the mystery surrounding my brother's death – and incidentally clearing me of any wrong-doings with his tragic accident- though the grief of bugging him to come home - a trip that cost him his life - will forever remain my cross to bear.

Contrary to what others might have said or believed – most notably, that Lockhart woman - I loved Brian deeply, though it was no secret we didn't see life the same way.

I apologize. That's not why you're here in my family lawyer's office, reading this. However, I feel I must extend long over-due yet still deeply felt gratitude and thanks for all you and your team did for our family's name. You did all you could to get the truth and justice for Brian, despite what that crackpot crook of a private eye tried to do. My beautiful wife assures me it will be gratitude appreciated just the same. I should have thanked you all long ago for clearing my name, though you weren't focused on that. For that oversight, I am sorry.

Yes, by now, your memory has served you well and you realize I am Thomas McAllister. Maybe even by now, you've come to realize that when, in speaking of my beautiful wife, I am in actuality speaking of your team's beloved Kate Todd. Though ours was a whirlwind romance, it was also one that blossomed completely out of sight of the public and with sound reasoning.

I'm certain that by now, you're busting out at the seams to know why we've requested that you meet with our family lawyer, not to mention, why the registered letter you received made no mention of Kate's married name. The reason is simple. Kate.

Blame it on her Secret Service training or her sense of the extreme need for caution. The same can be said of the reason that neither trace nor photo of her and I together in which she could be identified was ever available for the taking. Unlike most happily married couples, our happiness was confined to the privacy of our home, with its shuttered windows and privacy fencing.

You see, Kate was worried, not that I could blame her, - almost to the extreme – that as the sole heir to my family's estate, fortune and business holdings, I was a prime candidate for foul play – and her marriage to me would only be food for the fool who attempted such. She wanted no such chances taken. She wanted us to be happy together forever.

Yet, sadly, she was the one taken from me – at the hands of a merciless, cold-hearted bastard who didn't even belong in this country. Yes, it still angers me down to the depths of my soul that I lost my beloved wife in the way that she died. But, I must get through writing this, as one of her last requests that I must honor. She's been gone six months and I'm just now ready to do the second hardest thing she ever asked me to do; the first being to continue on without her.

Now, where was I? Oh, yes. Protection. Such is the reason for the secrecy, even now after we have both passed. I did, however, convinced her to provide you with full disclosure of what she decided to ask of you – the person she decided is the right person to ask.

I must admit, Agent McGee, that I fought her on this. Truth be told, it was the only thing we ever truly fought about beyond your typical initial disagreement, if you know what I mean. You must understand I did not know you as she did. However, in the end – when push came to shove – I found myself seeing her point of view, which is why you are reading this and are about to read the letter Kate left for you.

Please honor our last request to the best of your ability, Agent McGee – for it is a request not made lightly or easily or without much thought.

And by all means, do NOT attempt to honor it alone. Ask for and accept all the help you can get, but never doubt or forget you were chosen because of the faith Kate had in you.

With Deepest Respect,
Thomas McAllister.

CEO and President: McAllister Industries and McAllister Avionics
Founder, Owner, CEO and President: Beyond First Class Airlines.

Letting the first page fall to the table, Tim's eyes slammed shut in thinking overload as his mind flew in all directions. What could they possibly want him to do that would require so much help? Would that god-awful day ever stop coming back to haunt him? With shaking fingers, he unfolded the second letter, unaware the boss had come away from the window to stand at his side until the man laid a supportive hand on Tim's shoulder, obviously reading quite accurately into Tim's frayed nerves.

Swallowing hard, Tim straightened the paper, making sure to hold it at an angle that made it possible for the boss to read it as well. He blinked rapidly to hold back the rush of unwelcomed tears as his eyes found the greeting scrawled in Kate's beautiful penmanship at the top of the page, along with the date.

May 1st, 2005.

Hey, Tim:

I'm sure Tony's standing behind you, reading this over your shoulder with you, having bullied you into letting him come to the lawyer's office with you. Or maybe Abby? No, wait, with the way his mind works, it's most likely Gibbs. That would be good. It's okay. I understand and am actually glad they're finally being supportive of you. I know I should have been more so – and less of the one egging on Tony's unkindness when you first joined the team.

But, that's not why you're here and it's certainly not why you will ever be reading this. By now, you've been hit by the double whammy of the unexpected summons to show up here which gave you the news that I was married before I died; not to mention the letter from my husband, Thomas – and probably whatever news story hit the airwaves after he died. Please tell me he did not suffer – that his death was instant. -.

Sorry. Lost myself for a minute there. Where was I? Oh, right - I won't apologize for keeping this secret. I did it to protect my family – not only the one at home – but also the one I work with every single day. I could not risk someone with a grudge (I've lost count of the number of people Gibbs pissed off on a daily basis) using one against the other. I know you can understand the need for such caution. I know I can trust that all of you on Team Gibbs will eventually come to understand my reasons – especially if you stop long enough to put the shoe on the other foot and ask yourselves – would I have done it any differently?

The bottom line is this, Tim. I love my job – but my family is my life.

He couldn't read any more, his vision clouded as he closed his eyes against the onslaught of tears, but he couldn't suppress the shudder that rippled through him. Her family had been her life, yet her job had cost her that life – in his place. Knowing the survivor's guilt was creeping back on him again, he forced his mind to refocus – on Gibbs. The man had just been dealt another knife twist to the heart over Kate's death – the very thing Tim had been afraid of happening – Tim wanted to crawl into a hole somewhere and disappear.

Surprisingly enough the hand on his shoulder didn't disappear, but rather, clamped down on him with even more of a show of support as the gruff voice moved him. "Finish it, Tim."

Nodding as he swallowed hard around the lump in his throat, Tim sent his eyes back to the page, finding the place where he'd left off reading:

You're reading this because my husband has come to join me. Which goes without saying that I've already gone on. If my life was lost on the job – please let it be known – without a shadow of a doubt – that I do not want ANYONE to carry blame for my death. Not a single minute wasted on feeling responsible. Do you hear me TIM? Just like you did with Erin Kendall, you've probably done the same thing to yourself over my death. Stop!

Now. Let's get to the point of all this, shall we?

Tim, of all the people I know love and trust, of all the people I can think of, I can think of no one else I'd rather entrust with my legacy.

I know it may overwhelm you to hear that and certainly to take on the responsibility – but I have complete faith and trust in you and your inherent honesty, compassion and gentleness.

I hear those cogs in your head turning, Tim. The questions are coming faster than you can think of the possible answers. Why you? Why not my family? Why not my Secret Service friends?

The answers are quite simple, really. Tom and I never managed to get the support of my family behind us. I won't go into the why or why not - all you need to know is that no one in my family is an option. My brothers - all 3 of them - are more juvenile and self-absorbed than DiNozzo; my sister has told me often enough that she'd never be able to do something like this and regardless of their support or not, my parents are too far up there in years to be a good choice.

And none of my Secret Service friends are ready to take on the responsibility. Especially one not planned for well ahead of time.

Which brings us back to you, Tim. With everything I believe in, I have faith in you. You can do this because you're smart enough to know when to ask for help and you're caring enough to make sure you do before you get into trouble with something. That is why I know I can trust you with all I have left in this world.

Please look after my legacy, to the best of your ability - and with all the help you can get - but do it with the deep down unquestionable knowledge, that I asked you because I know you're capable and the best person to ask.

You're a wonderful person - especially on the inside where it counts - and I know I can count on you.

With love and respect:

Kate Todd McAllister

P.S. Tell DiNozzo he'd better not show up here anytime soon. In fact, none of you had better not even think about it!

Setting the letter down on the table in front of him, Tim scrubbed a shaking hand over his face as his brain scrambled to put the pieces together and process what Kate had written. It didn't make any sense without knowing what exactly it was she wanted him to take care of. All she had left in the world? Her sketches? Why would he need so much help looking after them? Did she have them in a gallery somewhere like paintings? No, he wouldn't need everyone's help with that. Wait! She said 'family' not 'husband'! Could she have meant...? Nah! She wasn't pregnant before she died or she would have asked to be taken out of the field and given desk duty. So, then what did...?

"I think you're ready to see the first thing Kate wanted you to see after you read what she and Tom had to say." The lawyer's unexpected voice came from behind them where he stood in the now open doorway, his hands holding what looked like two books; one over-sized,in both height and width compared to the other much smaller one.

Walking to the table, Stephen Cartwright set both down on the table. "Take your time. I'll check on you again in a while." With that minimal explanation, the man was gone once more, closing the door behind him as he left out.

Gibbs brought himself back to his chair, sitting down once again as he reached for the items, - sliding the smaller book off the larger one, which now could be plainly seen as a photo album. Tim had yet to move a muscle, too shocked with this seemingly never-ending wave of surprises from the past. His eyes didn't even register what the larger book was before the boss opened the front cover. Gibbs' next breath was sharply indrawn before he expelled it on a pain filled sigh. "Oh, Kate!"

Not wanting to crowd the man, Tim looked over from where he sat. What he was seeing left no doubt what Kate was asking of him was indeed huge. With handwritten words, most of it scrawled in Kate's beautiful penmanship, the unmistakable purpose of the photo album – the full picture of what Kate was asking him to take on - twisted his heart.

Kathleen Alicia McAllister
D.O.B.: 10/25/2005 (through gestational surrogacy)
Natural Parents – Thomas & Kate McAllister