Chapter 10

It's been a week since Kate arrived in Washington DC and they still haven't had any break in the lead. The bodies are arriving later tonight and Kate is hoping that Ducky will find something there that could help them in the case.

Since Gibbs stayed that night with Kate in her hotel room, he had been staying with her every night. He made no move on her and was quite content to just spend time with her. They have been enjoying the time of getting to know each other and getting used to just being around each other on a personal level. Gibbs knows that he hurt Kate badly and the ball is in her court now. All he could do is wait until she's ready to be with him again. The more he got to know her the more he saw himself falling deeper. And it felt good and for the first time in so many years, he loved the feeling of being in love.

Kate told him this morning that she had decided to stay with him while she's in DC. The news gave him more hope that they are heading in the right direction. Gibbs couldn't contain his happiness with the news that he pulled Kate into a hug and kissed her lightly on the lips in the middle of the bullpen. Tony, Abby, Ducky and McGee couldn't believe what they just saw. Their boss was no longer hiding his feelings for Kate. He was showing his emotions for the first time since they had known him. They had noticed that Kate and Gibbs had been coming at the same time in the morning and leaving together at night but chose not to mention it for fear of being chewed out by their cranky boss. They are just happy to see them getting along compared to what it was like then before Kate left. They would never want to go through something like that again. Kate was always the light in the office and when she left, the team was never the same.

Gibbs' desk phone started ringing and he finally let Kate go. Kate, who was still in a daze, blushed when she noticed that people had seen what took place. She quickly walked over to her temporary desk and sat down. Abby then followed her and stood in front of her desk with a devilish grin on her face.

"So Kate what was that about?"

"What are you talking about Abs?"

"Oh Kate, don't play innocent with me."

"First, let me say that I didn't know he was going to do that. I told him that I decided to stay with him while I'm here in DC and he just grabbed me and kissed me."

"Kate, you didn't tell me that he asked you to stay with him? So I guess you have totally forgiven him."

"He asked me but I wasn't sure if it would be wise to stay with him but he's been staying with me in my hotel room and no, Abby, we have not slept together." Kate said almost whispering the last part.

"If you were someone else, I would not have believed you, but since you are Kate, I do believe you." Abby said teasingly.

"I don't quite know what that means but I'm flattered."

"I love that you are making Gibbs wait and squirm. Way to go Kate!" Abby said and gave Kate a high five.

"All right, enough with the gossip ladies, I just got a call and I have to take this Kate. Would it be okay if I work on this case for the meantime while we wait for a break in the Joshua Jackson's case?"

"Sure Gibbs. If it's all right with you, I'd like for Tim to continue working this case with me and you can take Tony and Caroline with you, on this case."

"Hey Kate, I thought we are partners, how come you are taking McGee?"

"Oh, Tony you're Gibbs' senior agent and his right hand." Kate said to appease Tony.

"True, I guess that's fine."

"All right Dinozzo, stop with your pouting and gas the truck. Caroline, let's go. McGee, can I have a word with you?"

"Yes, boss."

Kate and Abby watched as Gibbs pulled McGee aside and put his arm around him, like a father talking to his son.

"McGee, call me for any updates. And, if you guys go on the field, make sure, you back her up. You do not go in until it's clear, you got me?"

"I got it boss. I'll take care of her."

"All right, I trust you. I'm just, you know."

"I understand boss."

Gibbs nodded and looked over to Kate. Kate smiled and shook her head at Gibbs a little bit. Even though she didn't hear what Gibbs said to McGee, she had a pretty good idea what Gibbs said. If Gibbs had done this before, she would have been furious with him but she knows that Gibbs is trying his best to show her how much he cares for her and that, she appreciates.

"See you later, Kate, Abs and McGee."

"Bye Gibbs."

Later that night..

When Gibbs got home that night, Kate was already waiting for him in his house. He found her sitting on the couch, reading a case file. He smiled at the sight of her waiting for him.

"Hi. Did you have dinner yet?"

"Not really."

"I got you some Chinese take out. Just wait here and let me go heat it up for you. You look really tired. You guys were out on the field all day."

"I know. I'm sorry I didn't call you to let you know that I'll be coming home late. I didn't even help you with your bag."

"It's okay Gibbs, McGee helped me with it. So how was your case?"

"Well, we have a lot of forensic evidences. I gave them to Abby. Ducky is working on the body. Ducky told me that the two bodies finally came."

"Yeah, they came around 7 o'clock. I told Ducky he could work on them tomorrow morning. Looks like he'll be very busy with the three bodies."

'Yeah, poor guy. So how was your day?"

"Boring, just going over paper work. Joshua still hasn't contacted his grandmother. We still have not found his ex girlfriend. We are half way done with the list though, so we'll see if we get a break in a week or so."

"Gibbs, do you want water, soda or juice?"

"Just water, Katie."

They talked as Gibbs ate dinner. Gibbs talked about the case he, Caroline and Tony are working on. Kate said that she would help them just to break the monotony of her day working on Joshua Jackson's case. Sitting on her chair all day and doing paperwork drives her crazy. Gibbs is the same way so he knows exactly how Kate is feeling.

After finishing his dinner, and cleaning up, Gibbs walked over to Kate and asked her if she was ready to go to bed.

"Gibbs, I'm ready."

"Yeah, I know you're tired, so let's go to bed. We had a long day today."

"Gibbs, I meant, I'm ready."

"Ah, are you sure? I mean I don't mind waiting. I mean, the wait I admit has been killing me but you know, I'll wait for as long as you want me to."

"I know, you would but I think it's time and I really am ready. I want to make love to you tonight."

"Oh, God Katie you don't know how long I have waited to hear you say that."

Gibbs lifted Kate and carried her to his bedroom.

When they go to his bedroom, he put her down and kissed her lightly on the lips. She kissed him back and they spend a few minutes exploring each other's mouth. Gibbs' lips then moved to her neck while his hands slowly removed her top. Once her top was off, he removed her bra and then the rest of her clothes. Gibbs then took a moment to just look at her.

"Katie, you are so beautiful. Do you know how much I want you right now? Do you know what you do to me when you smile? Do you know how much I love you?"

"I know because I feel the same about you, Gibbs."

Kate this time made the first move and kissed Gibbs with so much passion that there was no doubt that she needed him as much as he needed her. Kate then removed his shirt and the rest of his clothes.

They both slowly made their way to his bed. Gibbs lifted her so that they are both in the middle of the bed. Gibbs kissed every part of Kate and made sure that his lips did not miss any inch of her body. Every curve, every freckle he memorized. He still remembers what drives her to the edge. Each thrust conveyed their need to feel each other. As slow thrusts became frantic and moans reverberated in the room until they reached nirvana and screamed each other name in ecstasy. Their breathing evened out and they fell asleep in each other's arms.