The Morning After
By that belle

Ending up in Anthony DiNozzo's bed was not at the top of Caitlin Todd's 'to do' list… ..Tony & Kate..

A/N: Here's the next chapter! I must say, the plot has taken quite a turn lately... I'm not going to say anything else, apart from please read and enjoy!


Nightmares.

"Are you sure you're alright, Kate?"

"Yes, Tony," Kate smirked. It was the third time had called her that evening, to make sure she hadn't been kidnapped or killed. At first, it was sweet, but Kate was soon starting to get annoyed. She blamed the hormones. "I'm fine. I'm going to have a bubble bath now, and go to bed."

"Oh, a bubble bath…" Tony sighed into the phone. The only reason he wasn't with her right now was because he had to work late, and the only reason Kate wasn't at work was because Gibbs let her have the day off. Some time to herself. She spent the morning down at the mall, looking at The Baby Factory. Abby had recommended it. "I'd love a bubble bath, Katie."

"As far as I'm aware, they don't have baths down at the office, Tony." Kate laughed. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Goodnight Kate."

Kate hung up the phone, and looked around her room. She was still afraid. However, she had told Gibbs and Tony otherwise. She told them that she would be fine to go home alone. She went into the bathroom and ran the bath. Tonight she would be able to try and relax.


Kate pulled into the driveway and stopped the car. She looked at the house. From the outside, it looked like it had been abandoned a long time ago. She left her gun and cell phone on the passenger seat, and got out of the car. Locking it quickly, she walked up to the front door and knocked three times.

Just like he told her to. The door opened, and he was standing there.

"Caitlin." He greeted her.

"Ari." She replied coldly. She would never forget when he held her, Ducky and Gerald in Autopsy. She could never forget his eyes.

He looked out into the empty street, to make sure there was no one lingering, then pulled her inside. He closed the door just as quickly as he opened it, and locked it.

"About our phone conversation." Ari said, taking a seat on the sofa.

"You want to turn yourself in?" Kate asked.

"I am not a terrorist, Caitlin." He said, taking a sip of wine. "I wish to explain that to you."

Kate snorted. "You expect me to believe that. You've kidnapped me twice now. How do I know that this isn't a repeat? Only this time, you mean to kill me. Is that it?"

"Look at me," He said, holding out his arms. "I am unarmed. Do not anger me, Caitlin."

"There is nothing you can say to me that will make me believe you are not a terrorist!" Kate snapped. "You told me you had plans to bring down Air Force One."

He stood up, clearly shaking with anger. "Do not anger me, Caitlin. It will not be good for you."

She rolled her eyes. "It's evidently too late for that."

"Damn you!" He swore, grabbing her by the neck. She gasped in surprise, not expecting him to move so quickly. He pushed her roughly against the wall. Kate bit her lip when her head smacked against the wall.

"Let… me… go…" She hissed.

He smacked her face. "I told you not to anger me. Now, you will pay."

"But," Kate said quickly – as quickly as she could, considering his hand was wrapped firmly around her neck – "Didn't you… want to… negotiate?"

"Not anymore."

Kate's insides froze up, because she could feel Ari's hands roaming her body. She tried to kick out with her leg, but that just earned her another smack in the face. He pressed his body to hers, and she wanted to scream, but nothing was coming out.

'Why did I decide to wear a skirt today?' Kate's mind screamed at her as she felt his cool fingers on her thigh. She had goosebumps, and her whole body was shaking. But still his fingers continued to move upwards.

It dawned upon her that Ari had her against the wall, and he wasn't holding her against the wall… strictly speaking. In a last attempt, she used her knee to try and cause him some pain.

And it worked. Ari stumbled back, his hands covering where she had successfully kneed him. She used this opportunity to try and get out. She ran out of the living room to the front door, not thinking to stop and listen, to see if Ari was coming after her or not. She grinned triumphantly as she listened to him groaning.

Her luck ran out when she reached the door. It was heavily locked, nothing like the usual locks she had seen on a front door. And the words weren't in English. She let out a desperate moan.

"You should never have agreed to meet me alone, Agent Todd."

Kate turned slowly, and there he was again. Only, this time, he was pointing a gun to her forehead. Her eyes widened in fear, thinking it was the end.

The last thing Kate remembered was Ari's voice saying, "Goodbye for now, Caitlin."


Kate's eyes opened slowly, but for a while she lay there, motionless. Her heart seemed to be beating alright, which meant she was still alive. And she wasn't inside anymore. The ceiling of the dark house she had been in with Ari Haswari earlier did not have clouds.

She was in terrible pain. That much she could tell without moving. Every bone in her body, every inch of her skin felt like it was on fire. She sat up slowly, and looked around. She was in a garden. The garden of the house Ari had lured her to. She felt so stupid. She had no idea what condition she was in, and she had no idea what Gibbs was going to say when she arrived back at the office in the state she was in. Her lunch hour was more than over. She suspected it was late in the afternoon.

She checked herself quickly. There was no gunshot wound, but there was blood. Her nose didn't feel broken, nor did any other bones. Her clothes looked like they had been taken off roughly, and then put back on quickly, because they were quite tattered. Rape was the first thing that came to mind. After all, when they had been in the house, hadn't he tried to…?

Kate realised she had to get out. She figured that Ari would have left some time ago, and that it was possible that he may have left some form of explosive. But, on the other hand, it was possible that he was still inside, so if she wanted to get out alive, not only did she have to move quickly, but quietly as well. She got on her hands and knees and crawled slowly around the side of the house, stopping with a start when she thought she heard movement. After what seemed like an eternity, she was around the front of the house, and she could see her car. The first thing she would do when she got to her car was get in on the passenger side, so if anyone was looking out the window they couldn't see her, and the second thing she would do would be to turn on her cell phone and call Gibbs.

Kate stayed by the edge of the house for 20 minutes, before deciding the coast was clear and she could crawl over to her car. When she made it, and realised no one had seen her, she burst into tears. She was crying with relief, over managing to escape, and she was also crying because of the whole situation. It never had to happen. Kate should have discussed it with Gibbs before she took any action. She opened the door slowly, and slid inside. She grabbed her cell phone off the seat, and looked at it. She had left it on. 14 missed calls. 10 from Gibbs, two from Tony and two from McGee. She pressed the speed dial for Gibbs' cell phone, and waited.

"Kate!" The reply came almost instantly. "What the hell is going on? We put a BOLO on you; you've been at the same place for over four hours!"

Kate nodded. "Gibbs, you aren't going to like this. I met up with Ari Haswari… and I got into a tight spot. A very tight spot."

"I'll ask you about the details later, Agent Todd." Gibbs replied coolly. "Are you injured?"

"Not only that…" Kate said, tearing up again. "I think I may have been raped."


When Kate opened her eyes, she found her pillow was wet. She had been crying. She switched on the lamp, and sat up. She was in her room, and she was not injured. This meant that what she thought she had experienced was just a dream.

Or rather, a nightmare. Reliving the nightmare she had gone through 10 weeks ago. She had received a call on a secure line at work, from Ari. She was told to meet him at an abandoned house in Alexandria to negotiate the possibility of him turning himself in. When she arrived, however, he became violent. She didn't want to remember it all, but as she reached over to turn the lamp back off, another thought struck her.

Instead of reaching for the lamp, she reached for the phone, and dialled the number.

"Yeah, Gibbs." Came the surprisingly awake voice of her boss.

"Gibbs, it's Kate." She said quietly.

"Kate? Is everything alright?"

She paused for a moment. "Gibbs… I think I may need a paternity test."