Happy Thanksgiving. I'm still dealing with remnants of the cold, so I hope this makes sense. Reviews are wonderful. Enjoy

Thankfully the entrance to the parking lot was not gated. It was late, around one in the morning, and they had not had to deal with security. Kate continued to run through a silent list of things to be grateful for, trying hard to keep herself distracted from the doubts popping up in the back of her mind.

"Ziva is coming up with the helo?" she'd tried to keep the skepticism out of her voice, but she hadn't managed. As they pulled into a parking space behind the main building, parking near a loading dock, Gibbs had started to strap her into a Kevlar vest.

He was guiding her gently but firmly into the vest, pulling straps taut before helping her fit her jacket over it. "Yeah."

"Gibbs … can we trust her?" She knew it was the question they were all wondering.

"She's in too deep to turn on us now," came his only explanation before he shed his jacket, donned a vest, and slipped the jacket back on. "McGee?"

"Yeah, boss?" Their junior field agent had been quiet through the whole drive and the moments since they parked. Kate wondered just how much of their conversation he caught, but at least he was smart enough to pretend not to hear any of it.

"I'm running recon. Channel seven. Stay with Kate, no matter what."

"Yes, sir."

"Don't call me 'sir,'" Gibbs muttered before giving Kate's hand a squeeze and slipping his ear wig into place. He slipped from the van, quickly blending into the shadows and disappearing.

Two more minutes until he checked in, and Kate thought she was going to lose her mind. This. This was exactly why they should stop it now. Whatever 'it' was becoming between them. Between her and her boss. It was exactly why she broke up with Tim Kerry, and now the thought of losing another man she cared about … You're the one who's in too deep.

"Kate? Caitlin?"

Her head jerked up, and she glared at McGee. "It's Kate."

Even in the very dim light she could see the mix of hurt and irritated that McGee wore so well. Sometimes he looked exactly like a kicked puppy. An overgrown puppy. Retriever, maybe? "You didn't answer," he hissed back defensively, handing over her ear wigs. "We're on seven still. Gibbs wants us to meet him at the third fairway."

She stuffed it into place, slipping the mic into her wrist cuff by memory and slipping out of the van. With a slightly wistful glance back, she ignored her bag. Someone from the County Club could ship it to her later. If she was it again. Right now, getting out was priority.

"I can take it—" the younger man offered.

She shook her head. "No. We're going." Her jaw clenched, and she fought to ignore the emotions. They're just clothes. You have more back in D.C. In Abby's lab. Because her apartment was trashed. This was not going to be a good end to the day, even though she was certain her day would not end at her place.

Jogging was her distraction. The ache in her side made her forget anything else, eyes sweeping the trees as they followed the tree line that buffered between golf and the tennis courts and pool. It was cover for them and for anyone that might be hiding. She knew they were probably fine. The location was random and impromptu. Still, there were risks.

Not until she was nearly on him did Kate realize their boss was three feet away on the other side of a tree. Despite the channel, she had chosen to remain silent as they worked their way to him. "All clear?"

"Yeah. Helo will touch down in two minutes." His hand came to rest on her lower back, giving a light caress, steadying her.

Kate tried to tell herself that there were three layers of clothing between his touch and her skin. One: jacket. Two: freakin' Kevlar. Three: flannel shirt. She should not be feeling anything but focus right now. This was a distraction, and distractions were the fine line between almost hurt and hurt. Almost killed and…

"Boss, Tony's calling you."

The hand on her back gave a gentle pat before fishing out the phone. "Keep your eyes peeled," he murmured, flipping it open. "Yeah, DiNozzo? … See if you can get it released … Make it happen," he ground out. "We're waiting for the pick up… As soon as you can."

She wanted some space to think. It wasn't easy to sort out feelings until she had time alone. The past few days she had plenty of time and space in Stillwater, but she had spent all of her time trying to rest while drugged and dealing with the stress of the unknown. Now her head felt clear again, but she couldn't think through this with him standing so near. She knew she wasn't going to have much privacy in the coming days, either. "Where are we going after this?"

"Back to the yard," he murmured, pocketing phone yet again and taking the night vision goggles from McGee to scan the area. "Gonna have Ducky check you over, first." He passed the goggles back to the younger agent. "McGee, go south, check down the ridge."

"On it, boss," McGee murmured, taking the offered goggles and slipping down the tree line.

She caught Gibbs's arm and his attention. "After Ducky checks me again, where then?"

The half moon offered enough light for her to see his face. He had an answer, but she wasn't going to like it.

She knew her home wasn't the answer. Even if it had been swept for any remaining devices, it was probably still a bit of a mess and definitely not secured. "You're not taking me to your place?"

"That's the first place someone will come looking for you," he murmured, the sound of a helo thumping distantly. "You're not gonna like it."

"Does it keep me alive?"

He shook his head. "Not funny, Katie."

"Gibbs," she protested, catching his arm again. "Come on."

"You're staying with the director."

"The…"

"Yeah," he answered, eyes darting along the tree lines as the helo approached and touched down on the fairway. Ziva was on their channel now, calling for them. "Let's go." He pulled his gun, making sure Kate had hers drawn as they raced toward their ride. Forty yards.

Anything could happen in forty yards, and he spotted McGee about fifteen yards past them, his weapon drawn as he swept the clearing, following them in. Keeping cover even as Ziva stepped out of the helo and did her own sweep.

At twenty yards, his arm wrapped around Kate, and within moments more he was helping her up into their ride. It was blessedly anticlimactic as McGee folded himself in behind them, followed by Ziva and finally him. They saved the seat beside Kate for him, and he quickly snapped himself into place, reaching over and adjusting her belts as they lifted from the ground and he took his first deep breath in days.