Have to admit that I am not really happy with this chapter. Hope you will like it somewhat though. I have things planned but not until a bit later in the story. In the meantime, I haven't decided where to go with these guys. The crime scene plans changed a bit and the fall out is something new. I had planned to go a different direction at first but decided to do it this way instead. Where to next? Not sure. Ok, a little sure but not totally. Am I making any sense?

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"So, you are sure you are ok?" Tony's voice came over her computer.

"I'm fine Tony. Didn't Gibbs tell you to go home?" She did not look up as she continued typing. They had come a long way in this case even though it had only been half a day since they got it.

"Just want to make sure Kate." He had not liked how she been earlier but had to admit she had seemed perfectly fine ever since they had returned from the crime scene. "So you are ok?"

She frowned as she finally looked up at him. "For the third time, I am fine. Go home."

"Kate." He tried in his sweetest voice. "What happened in the bathroom?" He had a feeling something was going on between his friends and coworkers but Kate was not talking.

He felt a slap in the back of his head.

"Go home Dinozzo."

He barely flinched. "Yes, boss. I am gone." He gave a wave with his hand and walked away.

"You should go home to Kate." Gibbs moved to his desk.

"I will, soon." She flipped through the papers. John and Sandra Donovan seemed perfectly happy. The murder suicide theory had been dropped now. Who would want to kill them? Getting nowhere she gave up. She turned and noticed that Gibbs was looking at her. "What did the Director want?"

"Again, she wanted to know why she had not been informed of your faked death. She doesn't believe that I did not know about it." He shrugged as he drank some coffee.

"I can understand that. You usually know everything that goes on around here." She pondered her next question and decided to ask it. "What is your history with the Director by the way? Abby thinks there is something between the two of you. Besides having worked together."

He watched her wondering how much to tell her. He had expected that question and from her, it was fair. "We worked undercover a few years back. It became more than just work." That really sounded awful and he scolded himself in his head. "I cared about her and still do just not in that way." He was not sure why he had added the last part. He figured it was for Kate's benefit. To make sure she understood where he stood. Yeah, it was definitely for Kate's benefit.

"Ok." So they had been involved. She felt a little jealous that this woman was now working here but Gibbs had just said he did not care about her in that way anymore. Kate had no reason to doubt him. "I think that she still harbors feelings for you though."

The thought had occurred to him but he had dismissed it rather quickly. "What makes you say that?"

"A woman knows these things. Trust me she wants to continue your non-working relationship."

"She knows about my rules." He took another sip of coffee trying to study Kate's face.

"But you were willing to break your rule just recently." She was proud he had not heard how weak she felt at that moment.

He smiled as he was about to take another sip of coffee. "Only for you, Kate."

She blinked. Surely he could not still be interested romantically in her. Now that he knew the truth she was more than happy to still be a co-worker and friend. She did not expect anything else. Her phone suddenly interrupted her thoughts. She turned away and clicked to put it on speaker. "Todd."

"Hello stranger. Guess who?"

Gibbs heard the voice of a young woman and saw Kate's face break in to a huge smile. Kate was beautiful when she smiled.

She had not heard this voice in a long time. "Marcy!"

"Yep, it's me, mom."

Gibbs almost choked on his coffee. He saw that Kate was now looking at him so he just waved to show he was ok while he kept coughing slightly. Just how many kids did this woman have?

Kate felt stupid at how Gibbs had just found out about her second child. She focused on the phone. "So what is my girl up to?" Poor Gibbs, so many surprises or should one say shocks lately.

"I talked to Leo and thought I'd drop by. Is that cool?"

"You are welcome any time you know that."

"Ok, see you soon then. Love you."

"Love you too."

A click and the call were over. She looked over at Gibbs. "You ok?"

"Fine." He coughed a bit more clearing his throat.

She waited while he found his voice. Perhaps she should have told him about Marcy.

"Just how many kids do you have Kate?" Darn it, his voice was still not cooperating with him.

"It's only those two. Leo and Marcy." She received a nod in response. "I should have told you but it honestly did not occur to me to do so. I mean it did after you found out about Leo but I did not get around to it."

"It's fine. Just a bit surprised." His voice was better now.

"We don't see each other to much. We were close when she grew up but then she has more been on her own. She likes it that way and I've accepted that."

He noticed that Kate did not sound too sad while saying that. "Well, you do have longer lives then the rest of us so in likely hood you might see her more than some parents see their kids anyway." He did not know why he said that since Kate probably already knew that. He just wanted to make her feel better.

She was glad he had caught on what she had meant. "Yeah, that is true."

There was silence. They still watched each other but no one said anything. It was only the two of them left in the bullpen and neither seemed to want to leave.

Breaking the silence Gibbs thought he'd ask her something that he had thinking about lately. "Kate. Considering you were born in the 19th century how did you manage to get an identity card that states otherwise?"

"Well it's rather easy when you have fellow vampires like yourself working in high places. One knows another and we look out for each other."

It was as simple as that. He should have known.

Kate knew she should leave. She would like to stay but she should go. She got up and gathered her things knowing he was watching her. She stopped for a second. There was something she had to do.

Gibbs saw her approach and rounded his desk. She bent down and kissed his cheek. "Again, thank you." She retreated and within moments she was gone. He reached a hand up and touched his skin where she had placed her kiss. He knew what he had been thanked for. It had not been necessary for her to do so but he was not going to complain. He grinned as he turned off his computer.

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"We are missing something." Gibbs said out loud as he paced in the bullpen the following morning.

"We know Boss. We are working on it." Tim responded as his fingers worked the keyboard.

"And where are Kate and Tony?" Gibbs asked as he finally seated himself behind his desk.

"Tony is downstairs. Don't know about Kate Boss. She is only a few minutes late. Maybe she overslept."

Gibbs could understand that being the case. She had had a few emotionally draining days. He decided to give her a little more time before he called her.

…………

Kate shifted slightly on the couch in the large living room. She wondered why this man had a fire going so early in the morning. She knew she should not be here alone but he had said he was leaving for duty soon and she could not wait. Even though this man's brother had been found murdered the day before, he was still going to leave. She had found that strange but once she got that late phone call it did not seem so strange anymore. Soon he joined her on the couch.

"Sorry for making you wait. You said you had a few questions for me Agent Todd."

"Yes. I want to know why you did not mention your relationship with your brother's wife. You two did have an affair right?" She saw him going slightly pale. "I received a phone call late last night from a relative of yours who told me that he thought that you two were involved." She had a hunch and decided to go for it. "Mr. Donovan. You killed your brother and his wife didn't you?"

"What, no that is absurd. Yes, we had an affair but I would never kill her or my brother. I loved them both."

"I found this note yesterday." She pulled out the tiny note or rather a copy of it. " 'Sandra. It's you and me forever. In life or death. J'. At first I thought it was your brother who had written it but after that phone call and seeing that you kept calling her cellphone repeatedly well, care to deny you wrote this?"

"That was just… I mean….."

…………

Gibbs looked over the files of the case. What did he not see?

"Kate back yet?" Tony said as he walked into the bullpen.

Gibbs head snapped up. Back?

Receiving a glare from his Boss Tony figured he did not know. "Kate was here earlier. I thought I came in early but she was already here." Receiving another glare from his boss he knew he should get to the point. "She was looking over those files." Tony pointed at the map on Gibbs desk. "Seems she found something and said she needed to check something out. She said she'd be back soon."

Gibbs was starting to worry. This did not sound good. "When was this?" He got up as he pulled out his phone.

"About 20 minutes ago."

Gibbs dialed quickly as he yelled. "McGee, get a trace on Kate's phone. Dinozzo, you're with me."

Tony hurried after him over to the elevator.

Hearing the serious tone in his boss' voice Tim started to locate Kate's cell.

…………

Kate heard her phone and figured Gibbs was on to her. As she took it out she noticed the man next to her started to panic. Before she could get a chance to take the call he took her phone and tossed it aside. She stood up quickly and he did the same.

"I did not mean it. I just loved her so much." He had never been a smart man. However, he knew this woman next to him knew the truth now. "I couldn't take it. She wouldn't leave him. I pleaded and pleaded."

"What happened?" Kate hoped saying it in a low and friendly voice she could calm him down.

…………

Gibbs slammed the phone shut. He quickly dialed again hoping she would pick up.

"McGee got a location." Tony shut his phone. "She's at Jake Donovan's place."

"The brother? Damn it!" He swerved the car around driving from the garage. He thanked God the brother didn't live far away.

"Yeah, if she suspected anything why didn't she tell me?"

Gibbs had no answer.

…………

"I went to the house. I thought if I told my brother the truth about us he would leave her."

"But he didn't."

"No, he got mad of course but he was determined to make the marriage work. Said he would forgive her if she never saw me again. I couldn't live with that."

"What then?" She waited while he paced back and forth wringing his hands. She could see he was thinking how to get out of this.

"I just snapped. I didn't want to do it. I loved my brother but he was taking her away from me. I pulled out the gun. Sandra got scared but John just laughed. Why did he have to laugh?"

"So, you killed them?"

"Yes, I did. I had to. He was taking her away from me!"

Kate carefully brought out her handcuffs but Jake saw them and he made a move. He grabbed her arms and started to fight her. They stumbled backwards and his grip on her got harder.

"I am not going to jail."

She saw the fear in his eyes. She tried to get away but damn he was too strong. Suddenly he pushed her away and she fell. She hit the back of her head on the fireplace and groggily saw him vanish from her sight. Then she felt it. She looked down and saw that her arm was on fire.

As the car screeched to a halt Gibbs and Tony both saw Jake Donovan appear from inside the house. Something was wrong. They were out in seconds drawing their weapons. "Mr. Donovan!" Gibbs yelled.

Jake stopped as Tony hurried over and as he did started fighting Tony as well. "I got it boss. Go and find Kate." Tony punched the man hoping he would go down.

Gibbs ran towards the house and once inside started searching. "Kate?" The bad feeling kept growing. As he approached the living room he saw her sitting on the floor next to the fire place clutching her left arm. "Kate?" He was next to her in seconds.

She heard his voice but could not quite concentrate. "Gibbs?"

He noticed that she seemed disoriented. He reached up with a hand around her head and felt a small lump. You hit your head?"

She removed her right hand to feel at the back of her head where his hand already was and that's when he saw it. He winced as he removed his hand from her head. Under her elbow her left arm and hand were bright glaring red with blisters.

She could see the worry in his features as he looked at her arm. "I landed in the fireplace. Think he was burning some damaging evidence." Her right arm took a hold of the injured one once more.

He nodded as he gently took her arm to study it. "We'll need to get you to a hospital." There were dark spots also.

"No, Ducky can handle it." She flinched her arm away when his touch became too much.

"Sorry." He had not meant to hurt her.

"I'll be ok. Just need to see Ducky."

He was not going to argue with her but he was definitely taking her to a hospital. Not just for the arm but to have her head checked as well. "Come on. Let me help you up." He gently grabbed her good arm and stood her up with him.

Tony dragged Jake to the car and almost threw him inside. He slammed the car door shut. That guy was strong. He stretched out as he felt some of the pain that had been inflicted upon him. He retreated back to the house as Gibbs and Kate emerged on the porch. Right away he noticed her arm and suddenly all his own pain was nonexistent. "Damn Kate. That looks bad." He received a stare from Gibbs but also noticed the gentle way his boss had his hand on Kate's back and one her right arm. "I mean, you going to be ok?"

Kate simply nodded. She was getting a head ache.

Gibbs guided Kate as he held her steady. "Tony, you drive the suspect in my car and we'll take Kate's car."

Tony knew that look from Gibbs. He was taking her to the hospital.