The pair was still sleeping as Gibbs came in. He smiled.
They do look kinda good together. He admitted to himself reluctantly.
Showing his rarely seen soft side, he went to the other side of the room and waited for them to wake up.
Kate's back hurt. She slowly woke up and stretched. Tony woke up, too.
"Good morning, sleepyhead." He said.
"Good morning yourself."
"Thanks, Kate."
"For what?"
"Sleeping with me." He grinned the familiar 'I-made-a-joke' grin.
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Oh please, Tony. Your mind is consistently in gutterville, you're too dirty to sleep with."
"That hurts, Kate. That really hurts."
She rolled her eyes. "I'm going for coffee."
"No need, Kate. Drinking hospital coffee is almost worse than going without." Gibbs said quietly, offering a cup to Kate.
The pair was startled out of their wits by the quiet voice: they hadn't noticed him before.
"Boss! Don't do that!" Tony exclaimed.
He shrugged.
"I have to get back to the office. Kate, you have the day off."
"Thanks, boss."
He smiled and sipped his coffee as he left.
Kate went home for a quick shower then she and Tony spent the day watching old movies, playing cards and other games, Kate reading while Tony slept. They had a lot of fun.
Kate looked at her watch near the end of the day as they were playing poker.
"Oh, I've got to go. I'm sure Gibbs won't let me off a second day."
"Do you have to?" Tony whined.
"Unfortunately, yes. I'll stop by tomorrow before and after work."
"Okay." He pouted. She gathered up her things.
"Bye, Tony." She went to the door and hesitated, looking back him. She looked torn for a moment, then rushed back to his side and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. He jerked backwards.
"I'm sorry; I don't know what I was thinking…" She turned to go.
"No, Kate, stay." He grabbed her arm and she turned back around, her head down.
He rubbed his temples. "I… I… I remember! I remember!" He laughed for a second then pulled her back down for a heart-stopping kiss.
He pulled back.
"I love you, Kate."
Her heart leapt. She smiled tenderly.
"I love you too, Tony."
"Really?"
"Yes. I am heart-stopping, totally-breathless, spinning-out-of-control, leave-me-begging-for-more-even-when-you're-annoying-as-all-hell in love with you."
"Me too, Kate. Me too."
She lay down next to him on the narrow bed.
"I guess I could stay for a little while longer."
He laughed.
Of course, they ended up sleeping that way again.
This time, it was a doctor who came in the morning.
"Excuse me, Mr. Dinozzo-"
They were startled awake.
"Oh, I'm sorry, should I come back?"
Kate sighed as she got up and brushed herself off.
"I was going to say that we would like to keep you here one more night to double check that everything's okay and you can go home tomorrow."
"I'm leaving today."
"Well, I'd rather you stayed one more night."
"I'll sign whatever you want, but I want to go home today."
The doctor shook his head.
"Alright. I guess you can. I'll send in a nurse with your paperwork. But, someone has to stay with you. You can't be by yourself."
"I can get the day off." Kate piped up.
"Okay. You have to sign some forms too." He walked out, muttering "Damn navy cops. Never change."
Kate smiled at Tony.
"Hey, what happened to 'I'm sure Gibbs won't let me get the day off'?"
"If Gibbs says no, I'll go to the Director."
"Yup. That'll work."
"Definitely. You ready to go?"
"Let's get the hell out of Dodge."
She laughed as she led him out of the hospital and into her car.
(-: NCIS :-)
Epilogue
"Anthony DiNozzo! I am going to kill you!"
"That's it, honey. Get it all out."
"You are so lucky hospitals don't allow guns!"
"I know. I know."
This was starting to get on his nerves.
HELP!!!! My hand is going to break.
Kate screamed one last time and then the sound of a newborn baby filled the air.
Kate sighed in relief. She wanted to hold her so bad, but the doctors took her away to clean her. Finally, the baby was placed in her arms.
She looked into her daughter's face and smiled.
Life is good.
Fin
Finished! Finally!