Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS. Enough said.

CHAPTER NINE – Mirror Mirror

Monday October 11th 2004

Third Person POV

The elevator doors opened and Kate stepped in, pushing the number of her floor, she waited for the doors to close before sinking against the wall of the elevator. Today she would have to see Tony and deal with the fallout of her actions. She had all weekend to think about that and the epiphany she had reached regarding her feelings for Tony.

The trip to her floor was short, too short in her opinion and a nervous Kate entered the bullpen slowly. There he was sitting at his desk as always. The only difference was that instead of lounging in his chair goofing off; he was just sitting there staring at her empty desk, his face unreadable.

"Hey Tony." She said nervously, walking around to her desk, trying to act casual as if she hadn't blurted out what was probably the biggest news of their lives, trying to pretend that he wasn't mad at her.

"Good morning Kate." He replied, his tone of voice formal.

Looking at his face, Kate held back a wince, when she noticed that it held the same expression he would adopted when speaking to a witness or sometimes a suspect. Kate wasn't looking at Tony; she was looking at Special Agent DiNozzo.

"Tony." Kate began, but Tony stood up abruptly.

"I'm getting coffee." He announced and swiftly walked off.

As she watched him go Kate brushed away the tears that had formed at his hasty exit. 'How long will it be before he goes back to regular Tony? She asked herself. 'Or have I broken him?

Swallowing, Kate sat down at her desk and turned on her computer, deciding to get started on some paperwork while it was quiet.

McGee arrived just as Tony returned with his coffee. Timothy surveyed the pair, no doubt expecting them to be fighting as usual. He actually looked a little disappointed to see them sitting silently at their desk. They fought all the time, but always made up. 'It's going to be different this time though.' He reminded himself. 'Kate wasn't pregnant with Tony's baby before.'

McGee had been quite surprised to find out that Kate was pregnant. Not that he much experience with pregnant women, but he was an investigator, he should have noticed it. There would have been signs. As soon as he had left the Friday before, he attacked Abby, wanting to know why she hadn't told him that Kate was pregnant. He had no doubt that she would have known, being Kate's best friend.

Abby explained to him that Kate had sworn her to secrecy and Tim respected that. He was just glad he hadn't known before Tony, who would have killed him if he had.

"Hey Tony, Kate." He greeted them.

Kate looked up. "Good morning McGee."

Tony didn't answer, just took a sip of his coffee, before hunching over his keyboard, typing in his slow manner.

McGee walked past them to his desk, not missing the small sigh Kate gave as she watched Tony, a pained look on her face. He felt a pang of sympathy for Kate. First she marries Tony in a drunken haze then she finds out she is pregnant with his child. Tony wasn't exactly the poster child for commitment and family, so Tim didn't blame Kate for not telling him. Although he couldn't get the hurt look on Tony's face as Kate said things to him that she had told him a hundred times before, out of his mind.

With a shake of his head, he sat down at his desk and like his co-workers, got to work not wanting to face the wrath of Gibbs, who probably wouldn't be in a good due to the tension between Kate and Tony.

By the time Gibbs arrived with what was his second or third cup of coffee, all three of his team members were working quietly. He was not looking forward to today. A quick look around the bullpen told him that things were obviously tense; Tony was actually working quietly and not baiting Kate or McGee like usual. This was why he had Rule 12; personal relationships beyond friendship just ruined a team and their ability to work together.

"Morning Boss." McGee said, noticing him for the first time since he had arrived. This caused Tony and Kate to look up as well.

"Good morning Gibbs." Kate greeted him. She was paler then usual and looked tired, not the way a woman in her second trimester of pregnancy should look.

"Boss." Tony said with a slight nod of his before turning back to his computer.

Gibbs greeted them before sitting at his desk, finishing off his cup of coffee, as he watched his team. McGee was working quietly, as was Tony. Kate was as well but she kept sending Tony sad looks. Gibbs didn't like the atmosphere at all. Strange, the amount of times he had wished that Kate and Tony would stop fighting and just work, now he wished that things were back to normal.

Gibb's desk phone rang just as he returned from delivering Abby's late morning Caff-Pow.

"Gibbs." He said in his normal manner, listening as the person on the other end spoke to him. "Gear up." He called out as he hung up the phone. Tim and Kate shot up while Tony followed at a slower pace, grabbing their stuff and following Gibbs as he headed for the elevator.

"What's going on Boss?" McGee asked, entering the elevator behind Kate and Gibbs.

Once Tony was in the elevator, Gibbs hit the button for the garage. "We've got a lead of Petty Officer Scott." He informed them.

Petty Officer Scott was a witness in a murder trial, who had failed to show up for court last month. They were worried she had met foul play, as a search of her house showed signs of a struggle and none of her bank accounts had been touched.

Ten minutes later they were flying out of the Navy Yard on their way to Virginia Beach.

**********

Sometime later they arrived in Virginia Beach, parking a short distance from the house that would show them that fate of Petty Officer Scott. Gibbs turned to face Kate and McGee who were sitting in the backseat. "Kate, you and Tony will take the front. McGee, your with me." He said. It was as if he had forgotten that Kate and Tony were not on speaking terms. McGee was still a little green and he preferred to keep an eye on him.

Kate glanced at Tony who was looking at Gibbs as if he were crazy, but didn't say anything fearing Gibbs' wrath for questioning his orders. Exiting the car, they crept towards the house they had been directed to. Gibbs indicated to McGee to follow him around the back while Kate and Tony headed towards the front door.

Kate peered in one of the windows facing road and her eyes widened slightly when she saw a female figure laying on what looked like a bed. She couldn't get a clear view, but the woman did resemble Petty Officer Scott.

"Tony." She hissed towards her partner, who ignored her. Damn it, they were on the job. What was he doing? "I see something."

This got his attention. Creeping towards her, she moved away so he could peer through the gap in the curtain. He stepped away and nodded his head toward the front door, indicating they should check to see if it was locked. Kate returned the nod, before quietly informing Gibbs off their plans via the earwig he would be wearing.

Fate seemed to be on their side, as they found that the door was unlocked. "NCIS." Tony called out, as they entered, gun drawn.

Noise came from their left and they turned to find Petty Officer Scott sitting on the floor, covering her naked body with a sheet, while a man who they quickly recognised as their murder suspect stood up and grabbed a gun from the coffee table, not bothering to cover his own naked body.

"Put the gun down." Kate shouted holding her own level to the suspect.

Their suspect, Andrew Gilmore, just laughed before turning his gun towards Petty Officer Scott, who looked up at him in shock. He pulled the trigger and with a loud bang, shot the Petty Officer right between the eyes. She flopped down, her blood quickly staining the white sheet she was wrapped in.

"Put the weapon down now." Tony shouted at him, even as he turned back to them, lifting the gun again, pointing it at Kate. This time there were two gunshots.

Andrew fell on the ground, landing on top of Petty Officer Scott, Tony's bullet imbedded in his chest. Not bothering to even check if the man was alive, Tony turned to Kate who was now slumped against the wall, Andrew's bullet had hit her shoulder and she was losing blood fast.

"Kate." Tony shouted, dropping to his knees, as Gibbs and McGee came running in from the back, having heard all three gunshots. Surveying the scene, McGee went over to check on Gilmore and Petty Officer Scott, while Gibbs flipped open his cell phone and rang for an ambulance, as Tony pushed his hand against Kate's shoulder trying to stem the bleeding.

Kate had already lost as lot of blood in a short amount of time. Her breathing was ragged as she looked up at Tony, her face pale in a way that was not normal. She was starting to lose consciousness. "Come on Kate, stay with me." Tony told her desperately. She couldn't die; she was pregnant for Christ's sake.

"I'm sorry." Kate whispered softly, so soft that only Tony was able to hear her. With that she gave into the darkness surrounding her.

A/N: Oh no!!! Kate's been shot. What's going to happen?? Review and you will find out in the next chapter. The amount of reviews I get depend on how fast the chapter comes out.

Thanks to all who reviewed and those who added this story to their alerts and favourites.

BTW the chapter title 'Mirror Mirror' is a song by a duo called M2M. I was listening to it as I finished this chapter. I though it kind of fit in.