This chapter wasn't originally supposed to be in the story, but for all of my lovely reviewers who are Tate fans; a little prezzie. Hope you like :)

Oh, and please be kind and ignore the fact that they would most probably have Sat Nav, as that would completely ruin this lovely Tate-filled chapter. ;)

I know that this chapter is mainly dialogue, but the NEXT chapter will be back to normal standard and format. I swear. :)

Those of you who wanted more humour should love this chapter.


"We're lost, Tony!"

Kate and Tony were sat in the front of the car, with Sophie curled up in the back seat. She had spent most of the journey, dozing in and out of a light sleep, but at the moment, she was fully awake, and smiling slightly for the first time that night as she watched Kate and Tony argue.

"I'm not lost, Kate. I know exactly where I'm going."

"If you knew where we were going, we'd be there by now. Did you not take any notice of the route on the way here?"

"I didn't think I needed to. What about you? You live in the town, surely you should know your way better than me."

"Funnily enough, knowing the way to NCIS HQ wasn't one of my biggest priorities!"

"Well, it doesn't matter, anyway. Like I said, I know where I'm going!"

Kate snorted incredulously, but decided it would be best not to reply.

NCIS NCIS NCIS

Fifteen minutes later, Kate came to a definite conclusion.

"Tony, you have no idea where we're going. We have to call Gibbs, and ask for directions."

"Well," replied Tony, sullenly, "Don't look at me. My cell's dead."

"I don't carry one any more," said Kate. "Too risky."

The both turned to look hopefully at Sophie.

"I haven't got anything on me – no pockets," she said apologetically.

Kate spun her head round to glare at Tony. They had not been separated so long that he had forgotten the meaning of this familiar look. It was the one that said, 'DiNozzo, if you like having your head attached to your shoulders, get us out of the mess you've gotten us into'. He gulped.

NCIS NCIS NCIS

Joseph tried to watch the TV, but he was too tense. The game was on, and there was no backing out now. In the end, he settled for switching the set off, and staring at the clock until he had to flee the motel. He had a few preparations to make before he was ready for NCIS to come for him.

NCIS NCIS NCIS

He really needn't have been too worried. At the moment, two members of the NCIS team, and the closest thing they had to witness were all driving hopelessly down the highway, very lost – not exactly scary professionals.

"So," started Tony, bored with Kate's sighing being the only sound in the car. "Kate, you dating anyone?"

"No, not at the moment, but I'm guessing you are. Why else would you have asked the question?"

"Well, now that you mention it," he ignored Kate's rolling eyes, "I went on a date with a hot blonde last night, Laura."

"Oh really. I am interested."

"I know that's sarcasm, but I'm gonna keep talking anyway," he said cheerily. "You'd be amazed at the people you can find on the internet."

"You met her on the internet?"

"Yup, one of those dating site things."

Kate smirked. "Why do I get the feeling that you discovered the wonderful Laura, when you should have been working?"

"Ah, Kate, you're just jealous."

"I'm presuming that that's of you, and not Laura. Tell me, DiNozzo, why the hell would I be jealous of you?"

"Because, I get my work done quick enough to "mess about" afterwards. You're just slow."

"No, Tony. You're getting confused again. I'm not slow; you just have a half-assed approach to everything."

"Ouch. It's not half-assed, it's…creative."

"Arrrgh! To think, I actually missed you."

That stopped Tony in his tracks.

"You missed me?" he asked quietly.

Though she really didn't want to, Kate nodded. Tony's face was impossible to read for a few moments, but then a look of triumph spread across his face.

"I knew it!" he shouted happily.

"What?" This was asked by both Kate (annoyed), and Sophie (intrigued).

"Well," said Tony, to Sophie, "Kate always had a bit of a thing for me when we worked together."

Sophie giggled a little, while Kate grit her teeth, and said, "I swear, DiNozzo, if you weren't driving right now, I'd kill you!"

Kate's outburst was followed by a short silence, until Tony piped up childishly, "She's always been touchy about it."

NCIS NCIS NCIS

"Abby, please stop pacing. You're making me dizzy."

"This isn't funny Gibbs! Where are they?"

"I don't know, Abs."

"Well that's stupid – you know everything."

Gibbs sighed, and turned away from Abby. "McGee, try Tony's cell again."

McGee did. "It's still off, boss."

McGee and Ziva exchanged worried looks. Abby had spent the last fifteen minutes pacing impatiently, and even Gibbs looked a little unsettled.

"Right," he said, finally, "They're probably lost. Tony's phone could have run out of battery. We'll give them another fifteen minutes, and then we'll start looking."

Abby looked less than happy with the decision, but even she knew that past a certain point, there was no arguing with Gibbs.

NCIS NCIS NCIS

"We could stop for directions," suggested Kate.

"Oh yeah," said Tony, looking around the road that they currently found themselves on. "Do you want to ask that tree over there? Actually, on second thoughts, it looks a little sinister. Maybe we should try the tree next to it."

"Oh, shut up, Tony." Kate shuffled a little in her seat, to avoid looking at him.

"Erm, this is probably a bad time, but I have to use the bathroom," said Sophie, quietly.

"We'll stop at the next gas station," promised Tony.

"Yeah, they might be able to give us directions," said Kate, her frown now lost due to her stroke of inspiration.

NCIS NCIS NCIS

Joseph smiled slightly as he dropped the note on his pillow, and left the motel room.

NCIS NCIS NCIS

"Gibbs!" protested Abby, as Gibbs removed the clock from the wall.

"Abby, I'll know when fifteen minutes is up. Try not to worry so much."

"Kate's only been back for an hour, I'm not going to lose her again already."

"Kate'll be fine. They all will."

"I hope so, Gibbs. I hope so."

NCIS NCIS NCIS

"Right," said Kate, as they drew into the gas station. "I'll take Sophie to the bathroom. You ask about the phone and directions."

Tony nodded, and left the car. Meanwhile, Kate and Sophie made their way to the bathroom.

"Sophie?" started Kate.

"Yeah?"

"You know I'm sorry about Martin, don't you?"

Sophie nodded, and said quickly, "Yeah."

"And, if I ever thought that I was putting you in any danger –"

"Uh-huh."

"And, well, I'm just sorry."

"Okay."

"You're not listening, are you?"

"No, Charlie, I mean, Kate, it's just that…well…I really have to pee."

Kate laughed. "Oh, well, that's okay then."

As Sophie made her dash for the toilet, Kate looked at herself in the mirror. There were a few changes that needed to be made again. First she took the fake glasses off and threw them in the trash can beside the sink. Next, she slipped the blue contacts out of her eyes, and sent them on a similar journey into the trash can. The final touch was to loosen her hair from the ponytail, and wipe away the lipstick that frankly, she had never liked.

NCIS NCIS NCIS

Gibbs couldn't believe how fast Abby moved when the phone rang.

"Kate?"

"No. Tony. Abby, why are you answering Gibbs' phone?"

"Oh, that doesn't matter," said Abby, impatiently, "Are you guys okay?"

Tony smiled on the other end of the line. "We're fine. We were lost, but the guy behind the counter here's given me some directions. We won't be long."

"Why didn't you call?! We've been really worried!"

"My phone died. I'm sorry."

"Okay," she said, slowly, "See you soon."

"See you in a bit, Abs."

Abby hung up the phone, and smiled happily at the others. "They're fine. You were right Gibbs."

"Well, I do know everything."

NCIS NCIS NCIS

Tony gasped as Sophie and Kate got back into the car. Kate was…well…Kate again.

"Welcome back, Kate," he said, sounding earnest for one of the first times that evening.

Her brown eyes flashed as she replied. "It's good to be back."


Hope you liked it, Tate-ers. x

Please, please, please review this chapter. As it's a slightly experimental one, I would be so unbelievably grateful. Promise sickly sweet, grovelling review replies for everyone who does. :) :)