Under the Covers
Chapter 12

Aren't you lucky?! Two Tate updates in two days! Lol!
This chapter isn't great but I wanted to update tonight because I'm going to be away for a few days. It's more of a filler chapter really but it's pretty much essential to the plot, or what there is of one!
I've been thinking about this fic and I reckon that it'll be about eighteen chapters long altogether, maybe a little longer.
Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, I wouldn't still be writing and posting this without your support! Please review this chapter! Xxx.

Tony scrambled out of the swimming pool and tried to catch up with Kate and Rowena without drawing attention to himself. He couldn't keep up though and he soon lost sight of the two women, their head start giving them all the advantage. He went back to his cubicle and changed back into his shorts and a t-shirt. He knew he should get in contact with Gibbs and the Director immediately but he needed to see if he could find Kate on his own first. He started off in the direction where he had seen Kate and Rowena disappear. He couldn't see anywhere where they could have gone though. The trail seemed to lead him to elevators but he didn't venture it, it wouldn't be as enjoyable as it had been the day before. Tony knew now that he had no choice but to talk to Gibbs so, with a sense of defeat, he headed up to their hotel suite.
Luckily for Tony, Jenny and Gibbs were together when he rang through to his boss so he could relay the message to both of them at the same time. He was so worried about Kate that he didn't even think to wonder why Gibbs and the Director would be together in the middle of what was, for them, a normal working day.

"Tony?" Was Gibbs' quick reply, Tony heard him press a button so that his voice was relayed through the speakerphone to Jenny as well.

"Boss, it's Kate. She's gone off with Rowena Clarke, I think she went willingly but the Clarke's would know better than to make a scene." He said, beginning to slow the pace of his speech when he realised how panicked he was sounding.

Jenny turned to Gibbs. "Jethro, there's no way around this. Someone has to go in undercover to find out what's happening to Kate."

Gibbs nodded slowly and thoughtfully. "Who are you thinking of Jen? McGee's already been to the hotel and could be easily spotted, I don't think Abby would be the best choice either…" He tailed off as he realised what Jenny was thinking. "You?"

"You don't think I'm up to it?" She asked, her tone a little lighter before and almost teasing.

"I know you are but you're the Director of NCIS Jen, you don't need to do this."

"I know." Jenny agreed. "But I want to. For Kate."

After his conversation with Gibbs and the Director where they had decided that Jenny would enter into the hotel in her undercover role that evening, Tony decided to head back down to the spa to see if there was any sigh of Kate or either of the Clarkes. Being careful not to arouse suspicion, Tony did a slow lap of the pool and was about to head for the massage parlour when a beautiful blonde woman in a skimpy white bikini approached him. It was hard to concentrate on Kate when this woman was standing so close to him.

"Hey," She smiled.

"Hi." Tony replied a little warily.

"I'm Suzy." She smiled again. "What's your name?"

"I'm Tony." He said, taking the hand she offered him and shaking it.

"It's good to meet you, Tony." She said, taking her time in letting go of his hand.

"Likewise, Suzy." He tried to remain polite while scanning the room for Kate at the same time.

"How long are you staying here for?" Suzy asked, moving a little closer and making it harder for Tony to concentrate.

"Not long. I just needed some time alone to relax." He improvised.

Suzy smiled knowingly. "Did you come alone?"

Tony decided to hedge his bets and nodded.

"Really? Me too." She laughed, looking up at Tony suggestively but he was not going to fall for this. He had to think about Kate and what they might be doing to her right now.

"How long are you booked in for?" He asked, forcing himself to remain polite.

"Another week." Suzy answered. "But I'm getting bored. I've spent every day of my vacation getting massages, swimming in the pool and spending time in the sauna but I want to have some real fun." She said, placing a palm on Tony's chest. He tried to control the hammering of his heart beneath her touch, she really was stunning.

"Would you like to see my suite? It's really beautiful." Suzy said, changing tact.

Tony could only nod and follow her, unaware of the guilt that would haunt him later.

Later that afternoon Timothy McGee walked down to Abby's lab with a new spring in his step, this time he was determined to confront the issue of their kiss in the elevator. He was almost past caring if Abby rejected him, he just needed to know the truth and then he could adjust to that. Abby was a good friend and he loved her the way he loved his sisters but he had always wondered if there could be something more between them. The kiss had heightened his suspicions and his hopes even more.

"Hey Abby." He said brightly.

"Two seconds, McGee." She replied, not even turning to face him as she continued clicking away at her computer. He tried not to feel too disappointed. Finally she was done and spun around on her chair to look at him. "What's up?" She asked.

"I want to ask you something." He paused, losing his confidence now he was actually dealing with the situation. "If that's okay?" He stammered.

Abby smiled, nodding patiently. "Fire away."

"You know yesterday…in the elevator…did…did the…kiss…mean anything to you?"

"Tim…" Abby began gently, using his Christian name, which only happened rarely. Usually when she had bad news for him.

"Abby please…"

She sighed. "Yes, okay, yes it did mean something to me but we were fooling around McGee, it was all just a bit of fun."

McGee nodded, but to him it was much more than just a bit of fun.