Okay...I know this chapter has been a long time coming, but real life got in the way. I'm sorry it's short, but I'm trying to get back into writing this fic after so long, and I had to start somewhere. Obviously, the dialogue in this chapter is borrowed from season one of NCIS, but it had to be addressed at some point in this story. I will try really hard to update again soon. Thanks for everyone who has stuck with me through this fic...

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Chapter 20

Kate sat nervously in her chair as Gibbs slowly drank his coffee. She was still waiting for the fallout of spilling his previous cup, some of which was still on his jacket. Gibbs, however, didn't say a word. He sipped his coffee and stared at Kate. She hated this technique. She hated it because it always worked. She'd seen it dozens of times when Gibbs interrogated suspects. He'd never have to say a word. The silence would eventually become too much, and the suspect would crack.

Not this time Gibbs. I know you too well...you will not beat me.

Minutes passed. Gibbs still hadn't said a word. He stared at Kate over the brim of his coffee cup. Kate shifted in her chair and looked down at her hands.

Okay...as long as I don't look at him, I don't have to say anything...we can sit here forever if that's what it takes.

Gibbs placed his cup on the table in front of him. He leaned back in his chair and cocked his head to the side. Kate didn't have to look at him to know he had that strange look of anticipation on his face...the look he got when he knew someone was about to break. Kate made a last ditch effort to fight the inevitable. She inhaled deeply and looked up at the man she had come to love, hate, admire, and respect... the man who had come to know her so well. Despite her determined look of defiance, Gibbs knew he had won.

"What do you want me to say Gibbs?" Kate stated flatly, trying to cover her emotion with contempt.

"Why, Kate? I want to know why." Gibbs replied, not feeling a need to prod her any further.

Kate continued to stare at him defiantly. His question was the one she had been fearfully awaiting since their previous conversation. It was the very question she had been asking herself for the past two days. She took a long breath and gave Gibbs the most honest answer she could think of.

"His eyes." She began. "He had kind eyes."

Gibbs shifted forward in his chair, not taking his eyes away from hers. "Eyes can lie Kate. If you meet him again, don't forget that."

"I won't." She quickly responded.

Gibbs continued to stare at her. He knew her well enough to know he didn't have to say anything else.

"I won't." Kate said again, this time with enough force that Gibbs believed her.

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Even if you just want to say 'it sucked', leave a review. They seriously make me update way faster. And if there's any storyline or ideas you would like to see in this fic, let me know. Even though I know where I'm going with this story, I'm open to putting new ideas into it...