Author's Notes: Up to 65 reviews on this story and I now have 71 for my other story. The person who makes this story go past the reviews on the other story will get a treat. Send me a prompt and I will try to write a story just for you. Oh and NCIS-Addict-4427, contact me at some point and I'll try to write something for you also since you were #70 on the other story.

Part 11

"And I'm not just taking about how you inspired Nikki Heat. That does mean a lot to me but even more; you've made me grow up."

"You've grown up?" she asked trying to joke a bit since this was getting much more serious than she thought would happen tonight. "How did I make you grow up?"

"You know how I watch you, and yes I know you think it's creepy," he insisted before she could agree with him, "but by watching you, I've learned so much."

"Like what?"

"That you actually care. So many other cops I see just do their job then go home never bothering to think again of the people they dealt with during the day. You aren't like that. You actually care about the victim and their family."

"Well, I've been in their shoes before."

"I know," he said as he reached out and put his hand on hers. "And that makes it even more amazing."

"How? I would think that anyone who had my experiences would have similar feelings."

"No, Kate. You are special. You are such an inspiring person. You've had tragedy in your life, too much even but you haven't let it made you bitter. Guarded yes, but not bitter. You devote your life to justice because of what happened to you but you don't make a big deal about it."

"Why should I make a big deal about it? I can't change the past, the years of not knowing what really happened to my mom." He squeezed her hand and watched as she laced her fingers with his. "But I can change that for other families. I mean, it's terrible enough to lose a family member but not knowing why? That's horrifying, Rick. Hopefully, the families of the victims that I deal with will never know that horror."

"That's exactly what I mean, Kate. You care. When we first met, I only cared about Alexis and me. And I guess Mother too. If I worried about other people it was how it would affect Alexis or me. I would support various charities and such but only because it was good publicity for my books."

"A lot of celebrities do things for good publicity."

"I know, but now I want to do things more because it's the right thing to do than what can it get me."

"My mom's scholarship?"

"You devote your life for the same cause that she gave her life for, that should be honored in some way," he said.

"You didn't have to do that though."

"I know but I wanted to. If there is something I can do for the people I care about, even something as small as loaning my car to them, then I want to do it. I've never really done stuff like that but since I met you there are so many more people that I worry about. The Captain, Ryan, Esposito and Lanie," he paused, as he looked into her eyes then lightly touched her cheek with his hand. "And most of all, you."

End part 11