As Abby helped to clean the dishes Kate laughed with her. It was good to hear Kate laugh again. "So, we haven't really been to see him as much as we have with you but when we did try he didn't want company."
"I can imagine." Kate put a few plates back in the cupboard. "It can't be easy to lose your memory."
Abby didn't like the return of Kate's somber mood. "Give him time and he will remember." Suddenly she saw Kate gripping the counter so hard that her knuckles turned white. "Kate?" The towel fell from her hands as she moved quickly to grab Kate and ease her gently down on the floor. "Ducky!" She yelled knowing he would hear her.
He hurried into the kitchen and saw an all familiar sight. With calm he walked over to the two ladies and gently pushed Abby aside to get better access to Kate.
Abby rounded Kate to sit next to her friend on the other side. "Kate?" The lack in response worried her.
"It's nothing to be afraid of Abigail. She just needs some blood."
Oh Right. Blood. She had seen Gibbs' give it to her before. She had even thought of offering it to Kate herself but Gibbs always made sure that Kate had enough. Now this was her chance. She saw Ducky pull out a small blade and watched as he started to unroll his sleeve. She reached out a hand and grabbed a hold of his arm. "Let me."
Ducky halted in his movements and searched her eyes to see to see if there was any hesitation on her part. "Are you sure?"
In response Abby rolled up her arm and offered it to him. "Do it."
A groan interrupted them and Kate opened her eyes. Oh, darn would she ever learn? She tried to sit up and with Abby and Ducky's help she did. The room was spinning in an all familiar pattern.
Ducky smiled at her. "Young Abigail here has kindly offered you some blood."
Kate looked over to Abby with half opened eyes. "Abby, you don't need…" She knew it was a waste of time trying to get her friend to not do this.
Abby shook her and smiled at her. "I really want to do this. I really do."
The huge smiled of Abby's face confirmed what Kate had suspected. Abby did find this intriguing and would gladly do this. She wasn't lying. Kate was too wiped out to even try to argue. "Ok."
Abby once again held her arm out to Ducky as he made a small cut on her arm. Then she offered the arm to Kate. "Drink up." This was exciting.
Kate took her arm gently and started sucking on the wound.
Abby felt a strong force hit her and was overwhelmed by it. She had to steady herself with her other hand. She watched in a trance as Kate drank the blood from her arm. It seemed beautiful in a way. Erotic. Holy crap, was she in love with Kate? Abby saw the familiar transparent liquid coming from Kate's mouth to be placed over the cut. It stopped bleeding.
Kate leaned back and saw the strange look on Abby's face. "You ok?"
Abby smiled shyly as she looked at her friend. "For a moment I thought I was in love with you but it's gone now. I mean I love you but…."
Kate put a hand on Abby's arm to calm her down. "It's just a sexual feeling one gets. It happens all the time. The scar will be gone in an hour or so."
Abby nodded as she drew back her arm to watch the small scar. "To bad I can't it. It would have been so cool." She pouted.
Kate couldn't help but to laugh as Ducky did the same.
''''''''''''''
He wasn't sure what he was doing here. He had managed to stay away from her all weekend but he so desperately wanted to see her before work tomorrow. To make sure that everything was ok between them. Yet, he hesitated now that he was here, outside her apartment. His urge to see her eventually won out and he knocked on the door. He didn't have to wait long before it was opened and a familiar face greeted him.
Ducky smiled when he saw who was on the other side. "Jethro. It's good to see you. Won't you come in?"
Gibbs didn't hesitate as he went inside. "Ducky." He wondered if Ducky was here on a social call or not but didn't say anything. He followed Ducky inside.
"Abigail, look who's here."
Abby bounced off the couch and headed straight for Gibbs. "Gibbs. Hi!"
As he received one of Abby's hugs he couldn't help but to smile. "Hi Abby."
She withdrew and really beamed at him. "Why didn't you let any of us visit you?"
"I just needed to be alone Abby." She nodded and was about to move away when he saw her scar. He took a hold of her arm. "What's this?"
When Kate walked into the living room she froze in her tracks. Gibbs was there and he had just seen Abby's scar. She looked over at Ducky who simply shook his head and indicated for her to be quiet.
Abby bit her lower lip and thought fast. "Oh it's nothing. It was a small accident."
Ducky observed Gibbs as he seemed to be quite taken with the scar.
Gibbs wasn't sure why he couldn't stop staring at the scar. He traced it with his thumb wondering what it was that made it so special.
This was something Abby had not expected. Maybe this was something that could help him remember. Or was that just wishful thinking of her part? Still when he didn't move it made her feel a bit nervous. "Gibbs?"
The voice of Abby brought him out of his thoughts. "Yeah." He let her arm go as he saw Kate in the back of the room. "Hi Kate."
She moved forward a bit. "Hey."
"Well we should be going shouldn't we Abigail?" Ducky took a gentle hold of Abby's arm and winked so only she could see.
Abby knew what he was doing and happily agreed. She went over to give Kate a hug. "See you tomorrow Kate."
It was in one fast move that Abby was out of Kate's arms and was now walking away with Ducky.
Gibbs could let go of the image of the scar Abby had on her arm. It seemed familiar somehow. Then again one scar is like another. Isn't it? "How are you Kate?"
"I'm good." She motioned for him to sit down to which he did. "You?" And she did the same.
"Ok I suppose."
She noticed that his mood seemed too had changed since the last time she had seen him. "What's wrong?"
He ran his fingers threw his salt and pepper hair as he thought about it. "I used to think that the missing year didn't matter. Considering nothing special ever happens in my life I probably didn't miss anything." He had not meant to talk to Kate about this. He didn't want to add to her guilty burden. The words had found a way out of his mouth even before he could stop them though.
She wondered what could have happened during two days that would have changed his mind. "And now?"
"I don't know. Now I feel like I am missing something. Something doesn't feel quite right and I do not know what it is." He placed his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands together.
Kate swallowed hard. She could hear the torment he was going through. "I wish I could help you."
Her voice was so sweet and filled with sorrow. "I know. The doctors want to see if I can remember myself first. It's just hard. Everyone else might know what happened this past year but I don't."
She reached out one of her hands and placed it over his joined ones.
At her touch he looked up and moved one of his hands to place on top of hers. She had such soft hands. He briefly couldn't help but to wonder what it would feel to have those hands on his body and caressing his face. No, he couldn't think like this. Not now. "I didn't come here to give your more grief."
She let her hand stay right where it was. It was so nice to feel his touch again. "No you are not. I'm here for you if you ever need to talk."
Hearing her say that made him happy. "I don't know why I came here but maybe it's because you were in the accident with me. You would understand." He was lying to himself he knew it. He knew very well why he was there. It really had nothing to do with the accident.
She had hoped that the visit was for other reasons but she would take it. She was just glad to see him. "You can always come to me you know that. Whatever you wish to talk about I am here."
He smiled at her. "I know. You're a good friend Kate." He gave her hand a squeeze between his and gently released it. "I should let you get some rest. I'm glad to say that you look much better now."
She already missed the contact with him. "Yeah, been sleeping and eating. You would be so proud of me."
He laughed at her joke. "Good girl." As he watched her laugh also he found that he was unable to move. He really should but he did not want to. He did something then that he never thought he would do. He leaned in and kissed her.
She froze. He was kissing her. Well he tried but she completely froze up not knowing what to do.
He felt her stiffen and do nothing. He backed away. He should have known better. "I shouldn't have done that." He got up and started to walk away. He heard some movements and felt a hand on his arm.
"Gibbs." If he only knew just how much she wanted to kiss him. Kiss him and more.
He turned towards her and gave her a small smile. "It's ok Kate. You don't have to say anything." He wasn't sure if the look on her face was pity or concern. "Nothing has changed between us. I was foolish. See you tomorrow."
She knew better then to try and stop him this time. Damn it this was so hard. She fell back on the chair and found that she felt like crying. She straightened herself and pushed those thoughts aside. She would not cry. Not now. She needed some air. She sighed as she got up. Would things ever be the same?
Outside the closed door Gibbs left his hand on the door handle. What had he been thinking? Why had he kissed her now? The feelings he had for her had been there for years so why now? Was it because of the accident? Because the thought of Kate who could have been hurt more than she was? He didn't know. It was wrong. If he was involved with Jenny then he shouldn't be kissing Kate. That wasn't fair to any of them. He removed his hand and started to walk away. He wasn't sure why the doctors had said he should try to remember on his own. Wouldn't it help him better if people told him about the year that he couldn't remember? He stopped near a tree and turned back to look at Kate's apartment. He still didn't want to leave.
He wasn't really surprised when he saw Tony pull up in his car. He watched as the younger man parked and got out. Gibbs stepped back to hide behind the tree so he wouldn't be caught. Why was he watching this? Kate's front door was opened and she seemed to almost crash into Tony. By the look on her face she was surprised to see him there. Still that did not stop her from embracing him. Gibbs felt that pang of jealousy again as he watched his coworkers hug. Was that why Kate had not kissed him back? Was she involved with Tony? They had seemed closer when he had caught them the hospital. He saw them walk inside and once the door was closed Gibbs didn't really feel like sticking around anymore.
Kate gestured for Tony to sit. "What brings you here?"
Tony remained standing. "Abby called me and told me Gibbs was here. I thought you might need some support."
Kate wondered briefly if Tony had shown up when Gibbs had been there would he have made his presence known or just waited. "He just left. I'm ok Tony."
He wasn't so sure but she did seem to really try. "You want me to hang around? We could talk, watch some TV."
"As much as I appreciate your offer I have to say no. I need to get some rest." She gave him a small peek on the cheek.
Gibbs wasn't sure why he hadn't moved. Surely there must be better things then watching Kate's front door and wonder what she and Tony did in there. Heck, anything would be better than that. No, this was stupid. He was stupid. He didn't get a chance to move as he saw her front door being opened again and he watched as Tony left. That was fast. He stayed hidden behind the tree as Tony headed for his car. Wonder what that quick visit was all about? It was none of his business. Oh but he would love to make it his business. Or maybe he did not. If they were involved then he really didn't need to know any details about that! As Tony drove away Gibbs again didn't feel like leaving. He wanted to go back to talk to Kate. Make sure she wasn't mad about the kiss. Knowing that it might do more harm than good he decided against it. It was time to go home.