Disclaimer on Part I.

AN: A little more for this one. Have part XI in my head already so should be coming soon. Read, enjoy, let me know. dark rolling sea.

Part X: A Nightmare

Gibbs had had his conversation with the Director almost a month ago. His relationship with Kate was stronger than ever. They had settled into their new living arrangements with little difficulty. They spent much of their time away from work together, separating only when they needed alone time, Kate reading while Gibbs worked on his boat.

Kate had been moved to another team and Gibbs had received Carter Wentworth as her replacement. Wentworth was only five foot seven, weighing in at one hundred and thirty pounds, with short black hair and green eyes. Kate would smile at night when Gibbs would complain about his newest agent. In the end she knew he was just hard up on the new kid, because he was taking her space. She made an extra effort to talk to Agent Wentworth to soothe the man's fears of his new boss.

Tony didn't help matters any as his incessant picking turned from McGee to Wentworth. McGee breathed a sigh of relief, while Wentworth received Tony's attention. Tony insisted on calling the new addition Kid, simply because the man looked so young. As the month wore on, Agent Wentworth seemed to relax into his new position and the team started to function with some degree of normalcy.

Gibbs complained regularly to Kate about the hole her leaving created on his team. She would smile and kiss him then remind him he can only have one way. He always smiled in return and chose her in his home rather than work.

The day started like every other day, they woke and completed their mourning routines, before heading off to headquarters. They said their goodbyes at the door and each headed their separate ways once inside. Gibbs and the team caught a case early in the morning and left for the crime scene.

Kate's team was already working on a hot murder case of a Marine. They were quickly finding the identity and location of their suspect. They finally caught the break they needed and the four Agents rushed into the field to apprehend him.

Their suspect, Randall Parker, did not go peacefully. Kate and her new partner, Morgan Rafferty, took the rear of the house that Parker was holed up in. The other members of the team barged in through the front door. Morgan led the way with Kate on his heels through the back, as they converged on the dug in Parker.

Parker open fired on the Agents coming at him from the front of the house, charging through towards the back. He was surprised to find Morgan and Kate coming at him from the rear. He brought his gun up and fired two quick shots as he diverted down a hallway. The first shot struck Morgan in the vest and spun him to the right. The second shot was lower as Parker had turned to run, and it caught Kate just below her vest.

The force knocked her back and to the right as she slammed into the wall. The burning sensation enveloped her as she was stunned for the moment. Morgan picked himself up with a grunt and moved passed Kate to chase after their suspect. Mark Foster and Kyle Harper, the other two agents on Kate's team, rushed past as well as they corralled Parker in the back. Another gun fight erupted and finally Randall Parker was dead.

Morgan sunk to the ground and struggled to breathe against the intense pain in his chest. He checked the underside of his vest and breathed a sigh of relief that the bullet had not penetrated. Mark and Kyle quickly rushed back into the house to find Kate.

They came up beside her, as she slumped against the wall clutching the hole in upper leg. She was losing a lot of blood and Kyle jumped up to call in paramedics. Mark applied pressure to Kate's leg. Kate looked up at him with groggy eyes.

"Call Gibbs," she said softly as she felt herself growing tired. Mark nodded as he attended to her wound not moving. Kate grabbed his arm and made him look at her. When his eyes fixed on hers she looked at him sternly. "Now."

"We will, Kate, let's get you to a hospital first," Mark said reassuringly as he glanced up at Kyle.

"They're on the way. I'll call headquarters," Kyle said walking over to Morgan. Kate's world faded away from her then as she gave into the exhaustion that was overtaking her.

Gibbs was sitting at his desk when Director Morrow came down the stairs from his office. He quickly made his way to Gibbs' desk and leaned down, looking Gibbs square in the eyes.

"Problem?" Gibbs asked with his gut churning. Morrow looked down briefly, before he took a deep breath.

"It's Kate, Jethro," he said softly so only Gibbs heard.

"What?" Gibbs replied immediately springing to his feet. The sudden movement gained all three of his agents' attention. They all stilled and stared at their boss.

"She took a hit, Jethro, they're taking her to Bethesda right now."

Gibbs didn't reply. He grabbed his keys and his coat before heading for the elevator. He was stepping through the doors when he noticed DiNozzo standing next to him. Neither said a word, riding down to the parking garage in silence. DiNozzo took the keys from his hand with no protest from Gibbs.

Tony could see the anguish and fear in his boss' eyes. He worried about Kate, but was afraid to ask Gibbs what was wrong. The elevator finally reached the bottom level and the two men quickly made their way to the car. Tony looked at Gibbs as they shut the doors.

"Bethesda," Gibbs whispered softly as he absently latched his seat belt. Tony simply nodded and started the car. As they drove, the silence was thick and heavy as Tony concentrated on the road. They finally arrived and Gibbs rushed into the Emergency entrance looking around. He came up to the counter with Tony on his heels.

"I'm looking for Special Agent Kate Todd," Gibbs said quickly. Tony spotted Mark and Kyle standing on the other side of the waiting room and left Gibbs. He approached the other agents with the question on his face.

"She took a round in the leg," Mark said. "Her partner took one in the vest."

"What happened?" Tony asked.

"Went in after Randall Parker and he didn't go quietly. Mark and I chased him from the front and Morgan and Kate came in from the rear when they heard the gun fire. He got off two rounds as he rounded the corner. One hit Morgan and the other Kate. Parker got outside before we were able to bring him down," Kyle added.

"How's Kate?" Tony asked.

"They haven't said yet," Mark replied. Tony turned to watch Gibbs and realized he should rescue the poor woman running the reception desk. He hurried back over to hear the end of Gibbs yelling rant. He grabbed a hold of Gibbs shoulder and pulled him back enough to slide in front of him.

"Go talk to Mark and Kyle," he said sternly. Gibbs leveled calculated eyes at him before he closed them, nodded, and strode towards the two other men waiting. Gibbs stopped in front of Kate's new team and stood silently watching the swing doors.

"She's going to be alright, Gibbs," Mark said with a gentle hand on Gibbs' arm. Gibbs could only nod as he couldn't seem to tear his eyes from the door.

"Heard anything?" Gibbs asked void of emotion. Mark watched the other agent trying to judge what was going on inside his head. Gibbs turned his head to level his eyes on Mark, making the man fight the shiver down his spine.

"No," Kyle said stepping up next to them. "Haven't heard on Morgan either."

"How bad was she hit?"

"One round in the upper leg," Kyle explained while pointing to the area Kate had been shot. Gibbs nodded once as he saw a doctor headed their way.

"Are you the agents from NCIS?" the doctor asked coming through the swing doors and stopping in front of them. The four men nodded in unison, anxious to hear the news. The doctor continued. "I'm Doctor Gary Wilson. I worked on Special Agent Todd."

Gibbs looked up quickly and waited anxiously. He struggled to hold his emotions in check, wanting desperately to be able to go and see Kate. Mark and Kyle each held their breath slightly as they waited for the doctor to continue.

"The bullet went right through and missed the main arteries. She's going to be very sore for a while, and on crutches but otherwise she's doing just fine. She has asked to see Special Agent Gibbs."

"That's me, where is she," Gibbs said taking a step towards the swing doors.

"I'll take you back, just a second. I also have news that Special Agent Rafferty suffered two broken ribs but nothing more," the doctor said before turning and taking Gibbs into the restricted area.

Gibbs rounded the corner and stopped short in the doorway to the room Kate was occupying. She was in the bed, with an IV in one arm, her leg wrapped in white and elevated. He fought with himself to hold the tears in, as he slowly made his way towards her. She turned her head and smiled up at him.

"It's ok, Jethro. I'm ok," she said softly, reaching out her hand. He walked slowly to her and gripped her hand tightly in his. The first couple tears slid down his face and he closed his eyes to stop the rest.

Kate pulled him closer to her and reached up with her other hand, gently stroking his jaw line. He opened his eyes and looked at her, letting his eyes travel from her face to her toes and back.

"I thought I was going to lose you," he whispered. Kate smiled up at him.

"You didn't. I'm ok."

"Luckily," he said as he pulled a chair up and took a seat. He leaned down and kissed her.

"Well I'm off for a while. Then I'll be desk duty for a bit after that, so you can relax for a while."

Gibbs only nodded as he leaned onto the bed with her. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight as she linked her arms around him. They held each other for a while, before Gibbs pulled back and sat down again. He leaned in and brushed her hair behind her ears and stared at her.

"I love you," he whispered as he picked her hand up and kissed the back of it.

"I know, and I love you too," she replied.

"I'll take some time off, Tony can handle the team for a while. I'll stay with you," Gibbs said with closed eyes. Kate reached up and placed her palm against his cheek.

"You don't have to."

"I want to. I need to," he said softly opening his eyes and letting the grin of his relief spread over his face. Kate simply nodded.