I'm back! Well, more like Complicated is back! Sorry for the really, really, really, long time in between chapters. Misplaced (more like I freaking lost it!) my outline that I had, which slowed me up as well as real life and crazy work. But, I have five days vacation from work (looking so forward to the break) which will give me sooo much time to write. This part is filled with quite a bit of flashbacks and some might catch how the flashbacks in this part connect with the flashbacks in Part IV. And I want to thank you all for the reviews and fav alerts and story alerts. Much appreciated! Hope everyone enjoys!


"Hey, how was your date last night?" Tony bombarded her with the question when he saw her approaching her desk.

Surprise entered her voice. "How did you know that I had a date last night?"

"You talk very loud when you're on the phone. I've been meaning to say something."

Kate scoffed, "You mean you eavesdropped."

Sensing the disdain in her voice. "Guess it didn't go too well."

She proceeded to stow her gear. "He had to cancel." The only way to get DiNozzo off her back was to tell him almost everything.

"What excuse did he give?"

While looking at a file, she replied, "Surgery."

He hummed in appreciation for the unnamed man. "Huh, that's a good one! I've got to remember that." Got up from his desk and went over to her. "What was wrong with him?"

Thankful she wasn't facing him because she rolled her eyes a few times out of the response of his comment. "He didn't have surgery, Tony." Turned and looked at him. "He performed it."

And from that cancellation came her phenomenal night with Gibbs. But was it too much to ask for a night with another man and not think about Gibbs? Kate didn't think so.

Two weeks. Two weeks since their first night together and the one time deal has ballooned into who knows how many. Some nights, it was frenzied, like last night where they couldn't get enough of each other while others were like that first time, taking the time to explore each other's bodies.

And what she had believed to be the only time.


She watched him stroll—more like ogled his sexy butt as she remembered sinking her nails into the taut cheeks while he pounded into her during round number three, when they had finally made it to the bed—over to the junk collector to pepper him with questions about the severed leg he found the night before. She then resumed taking photos of the leg that had once belonged to a US Marine.

Out of the blue and cutting into her erotic flashback of last night, DiNozzo commented over her shoulder while doing his sketches, "I don't get the whole tattoo thing."

Kate hung her head to hide the smirk on her face. Another shot of the leg from a different angle. "I'll add that to the ever growing list of things you don't get."

He circled behind her. "Being stuck with a needle thousands of times for a piece of artwork," he trailed off and shuddered. "No thank you."

"It's more than just a piece of artwork, Tony." She straightened to her full height and went to the top of the steps.

"On a woman, maybe."

By now, she should be used to the idiotic and obscene things that flowed from his mouth, but there were still times that he befuddled her. "What?"

Quickly backpedaled. "You know, on a woman." Gestured with a free hand. "It means she's up for anything."

Squatted down to get a better angle and winced lowly. Had a feeling her muscles would be sore today from the strenuous activities of last night, but never expected this much. Mind you, she definitely was not complaining.

The only thing that irked her was the arrangement they had.

Threw back at Tony, "Abby's got tattoos."

He laughed, "No comment."

Kate ran her tongue over her teeth. Took a few more photos before blowing up his spot, "All right, well, what about me? You think I'm up for anything?" A sultry smile lit up her face.

Tony laughed again because it was too outrageous. Kate with a tattoo? Now, why didn't he believe that? Oh, yeah, this was Little Miss Goody-Goody Caitlin Todd. "Yeah, you don't have a tat."

"And if I did, that would just blow your theory to hell, now wouldn't it?" She loved proving him wrong.

"Okay, say for a minute, I believe you've got one. Where is it?" His eyebrows quirked at her.

Didn't surprise her that the first question he would ask would be where it was located. "Nowhere you will ever see." A cheeky smile.

Two days later, she tried to relax beneath Gibbs' touch as they both recovered from a round of sex—but she just couldn't. Couldn't stop her mind from turning. From DiNozzo ragging her about the stupid tattoo that adorned her right ass cheek until she caved and revealed where it was located—to reliving Gibbs' reaction to the sight of Melissa Dorn and the blatant flirting during the interview. And that fucking giggle that had sounded from the kitchen. She had gritted her teeth and narrowed her eyes when she heard it, wondering what he had done to bring it out of Melissa Dorn.

She shouldn't be jealous. She was the one who had a date two nights ago with a cute doctor. Not hot. Not absolutely drop-dead sexy like Gibbs. Just cute. Which told Kate that she could date and possibly sleep with other men, but they will never measure up to Gibbs. Not after she sampled what he had to give.

And she wasn't even going to mention Gibbs letting it slip that he knew what her tattoo was. Fucking bastard.

"You okay?"

She plastered a fake smile on her face before rolling over to face him. "Of course. Why?"

His face was unreadable. "You just don't seem like you're here. You seem to be somewhere else."

"I'm fine Gibbs." Another lie.

As if reading her mind, he whispered, "You had nothing to be jealous over. I wasn't interested in Melissa."

And he did it. Brought another woman into bed with them. Couldn't take it. Needed to get away from him. "I can't believe you did that!" She laughed sarcastically as she crawled out of his bed.

"Kate—"

She shook her head. "No, Gibbs. Don't." Began gathering up her clothes and happened to glance at him—sitting up with the sheet pooling at his waist—showing off the body that she has sampled more times than she could count in the past two weeks.

"What are we doing here, Gibbs?" She paused her motions, her eyes pleading with him.


"What are we doing here, Gibbs?"

He heard the hesitation in her voice as he parked his truck in front of a Craftsman style house with a For Sale sign. "I scheduled a viewing." At her confused look, he continued, "This is the house that you were fawning over—last Sunday—in the paper." Turned off the car and turned his gaze to her.

They had discussed moving together or the possibility of buying a house during the past month. Gibbs' house was suitable but not enough room for a family of three.

"Kate," his voice was soft and soothing, "we don't have to look at it. I can call Andrea and cancel the appointment. Tell her we changed our minds or that something came up at work."

Andrea McKay was a dear friend to Gibbs and was well aware of his workload at NCIS. They had met about ten years ago through mutual friends—who both thought that Andrea and he would be perfect for each other. Gibbs had been between ex wives and Andrea had just ended her two-year engagement because the bastard was cheating on her with one of her best friends. Neither wanted a relationship, but both were in dire need of a friend. So, when it came time to think about moving in with Kate or buying a house together—there was only one realtor that Gibbs wanted to work with.

"Should I be jealous of this Andrea?" Ignored everything else but the woman's name.

"Nothing to worry about." Where had he said that before?

Her lips were a thin line. "Mm-hmm." She then glanced out the car window and surveyed the house. The block that it was located on was beautiful and quiet. A yellow Maple was planted on the left side of the front porch and on the right was a small garden with gorgeous annuals.

The front porch was medium sized and when her gaze landed on the porch swing—images of she and Gibbs sitting there alone, watching sunsets and also with their baby—flashed before her eyes.

"You're envisioning out family growing up here, aren't you?"

Not being able to form any words, she simply nodded. Sometimes it scared her at how well he knew here. "By the way, I'm not forgetting how you evaded the question on Andrea," she said when she finally found her voice.

His response was a soft laugh.


It was official. While she knew that she would undoubtedly fall in love with the house, she never expected to like Andrea McKay. Hated admitting it. From the first hellos they exchanged thirty minutes ago, Kate was drawn to the early-forty's woman with the warm personality and bright smile.

"So, how did you and Gibbs meet?" Andrea asked as she walked into the living room

Kate turned from the window.

"He never gave me any details when he called two days ago." Glanced over her shoulder to make sure they were truly alone in the living room.

She smiled at the red head—which was slowly turning to a beautiful copper with age. "Sounds like Gibbs—withholding certain details."

Both women exchanged warm smiles, knowing how Jethro Gibbs operated.

"We met at NCIS—well, actually we met on Air Force One."

"Air Force One as the Air Force Once? The President's plane?" To say Andrea was surprised would've been an understatement.

Kate laughed at the other woman's reaction. "Yeah, that would be the one. I used to be a Secret Service Agent and there was a death on the plane and Gibbs muscled his way onto the plane and the case." And eventually into my heart. "Pissed me off so much that I wanted to shoot him."

"Seems to bring out that reaction in all women."

"Mm-hmm." Kate agreed as she leaned against the windowsill. "He then offered me a job at NCIS when the case ended. I had just resigned from the Secret Service."

Andrea crossed her arms. "Why?"

"I had an intimate relationship with a coworker. It was against regulations."

"But you and Gibbs," she gestured to Kate's pregnant belly, "obviously had an intimate relationship with each other. And maybe something more," she indicated, referring to the possibility of purchasing the house.

"This wasn't planned." Her hands affectionately rubbed her belly.

"They never are, honey."

Kate smiled warmly. "Mine and Gibbs' relationship is kind of hard to explain. A bit on the complicated side."

"I believe all of Gibbs' relationships are on the complicated side," Andrea said dryly.

"How did you and Gibbs meet?" Kate threw Andrea's questions back at her.

Andrea laughed. "Long story. But I guess I can give you the short version before he shows himself." Moved closer to Kate and lowered her voice. "We met through mutual friends who thought we were perfect for each other."

"But you weren't?" Kate secretly was thrilled that whatever happened between Gibbs and Andrea hadn't worked out.

"Never happened. We went out on a date to quiet our friends—but neither of us wanted a serious relationship or one at all for that matter. Gibbs was between ex wives and I had broken up with my fiancée of two years after discovering him and a best friends were having an affair."

Kate winced, "Ouch!"

"Yeah. He was lucky that I was in real estate and not law enforcement." She laughed but then turned serious again. "What I needed was a friend not connected to anything that concerned my life. An unbiased person and Gibbs became that person. We date a wonderful date and over the next ten years—we've kept in touch." Andrea stopped suddenly when Kate's gaze was focused over her shoulder.

"Andrea McKay, are you selling me out?" Gibbs strolled over to Kate and kissed her temple.

She feigned surprise. "Now, why would you think that? I'm shocked!" A hand went to her chest.

"Well, gee, I don't know. Maybe ten years of knowing how you act around women that I'm dating." His hand laid on top of Kate's, which was still on her belly.

Andrea watched the interaction between the couple and softly smiled. Kate might've said that the relationship was on the complicated side, but from where Andrea was standing, it didn't look that complicated at all. It looked like two people deeply in love and about to embark on another journey together—parenthood.


"What are we doing here, Gibbs?"

The words still rang in his ears a week later and even then, he still had no answer. He had sat, dumbfounded, on the bed—unsure of what to say. He'd never been good with communicating vocally. To him, actions always spoke louder than words.

But that night, he should've opened his mouth. Him, sitting silently, had been the absolute wrong thing to do. Because Kate hadn't stuck around long enough. He had watched her dress quickly—covering the delectable body that he had just sampled. When she left the bedroom without a backward glance and slammed the front door minutes later—he'd flopped back on the bed and sighed in frustration.

Starting something with Kate hadn't been the smartest decision he'd ever made.

Made the decision to cool things down between them. Gave the idea of severing ties all together a passing glance but he wasn't entirely sure of what he wanted—other than Kate. She was an addiction. And he had no clue of how to give her up without going cold turkey.

So, he did it the only way he knew how.

Distanced himself from her. In all aspects. If there was a lead that needed confirmation, he sent Kate with Tony, when usually it was himself who was partnered with her. Or he went and took Tony along, making Kate stay behind—doing mundane tasks that would earn him snipe remarks or evil glares,

He could take it. He had been divorced three times.

Earlier, he'd made the mistake of letting his hands linger too long after making sure Kate's uniform was squared away by Marine Standards. It was too easy to linger when touching Kate. And he needed to maintain control. Needed to keep his distance.

That much needed distance lasted a full two weeks. After trying to avoid Sheriff Duprey—who acted like a female dog in heat, wanting his attention—and work the serial killer case, you would like think he would want peace and quiet for the weekend. And to be alone. Completely.

That was why after watching DiNozzo leave for the weekend and observing Kate gather up her gear, he had an epiphany.

"Kate?"

She looked taken aback when her name came from his mouth. "Yes, Gibbs?" Neutral voice—devoid of any emotion and polite.

"You have any plans for the weekend?"

Basically avoiding her like she had the plague for the past two weeks and now he wanted to know what her plans for the weekend were. "Why do you want to know?" Started closing down her computer and straightening her desk—her motions angry, like her words.

"I was an asshole." Out of nowhere.

She scoffed, "That's the understatement of the week."

"I deserve that." Sighed and leaned back in his chair. He'd made a mess of things. "I'm sorry, Kate."

Looked at him with raised eyebrows. Knew how hard it was for him to apologize sometimes. "I'm sorry, too." She could speak freely with DiNozzo and most of the bullpen gone for the weekend.

"How are you at fault?"

"I shouldn't have thrown that question at you. I'm a big girl. I got myself into this and I shouldn't read too much into it." Stopped straightening her desk and looked him in the eyes,

Stood up from his desk and went over to her. "Honestly, Kate, I don't know what we're doing. Hell, I don't even know what I'm doing or what I want for that matter. I don't want to hold you back. From anything."

She stood there silent. Not what she really wanted to hear, but it was better than not knowing at all. "Okay." What else could she say?

"I know that it's not what you wanted to hear." His eyes said more than his words.

"Like I said before, I'm a big girl, Gibbs." She threw her backpack over her shoulders and picked up her purse.

Gibbs laid a gentle hand on her arm. "Spend the weekend with me."


Earlier, they had made an offer on the house after viewing it. Kate had fallen in love with it at first glance. Gibbs knew that it was a moot point in looking at others when Kate had already found her dream house. So, Andrea had faxed all the paperwork needed to seller's realtor and now it was a waiting game—if the seller accepted their offer or countered with an offer of their ow.

A throaty moan came from her mouth when he playfully bit her naked thigh and then sighed breathlessly when he affectionately kissed the wounded area. "Jethro," she whispered. What this man did to her and reduced her to?

"Yes?" He crawled up the bed and settled against her warm, and slightly sweaty body—his head resting on her shoulder. His hand rubbed her belly, Kissed the underside of her jaw. "Have I told you today that I love you?"

"Mm-hmm," she hummed. Trailed her fingers over the back of his neck. She was on cloud nine.

Gibbs' hand that was on her belly started caressing her hip and then slipped down, tracing a finger over the tattoo that adorned her right ass cheek.

She felt him smile against her shoulder. "You have quite an infatuation with that tattoo of mine." She laughed softly when he playfully pinched her.

"What can I say? I find it absolutely sexy." Kissed her clavicle. Sucked at the side of her neck.

"Hmm, maybe I should get another one after the baby's born." Tongue-in-cheek.

Sucked harder at her neck. His hand slipped from her hip to between her thighs, delving into her folds. Kate's breathing hitched. Her hand gripped the back of his neck, holding his mouth against her neck while the other hand gripped the sheets. As he slipped two fingers into her warmth—all conversation about tattoos vanished from her mind.

All that remained was this man.


To Be Continued...