"You wanted to see me, Director?" He knocked on the doorframe, leaning in past the open door.

Morrow nodded, and stood. "Glad to hear you caught Pacci's killer."

"So'm I." He was sure his displeasure that he had been forced to catch anyone, his disdain for the scumbag lying in the morgue, showed on his face.

"The funeral will be on Saturday."

He just nodded in response. "Was that what you called me in here for, sir?"

"How did you do with Agent Todd on the Voss case?" Morrow clasped his hands in front of him, and Gibbs straightened under his gaze.

"Fine, sir. No problems." And there hadn't been. Sure, she had hated being cooped up in the apartment—he could tell even if she never said anything—but she hadn't pushed any further. She had loosened up a little once they were out of the office, and he couldn't say he really blamed her.

"I heard there was a loud discussion at one point."

"She objected to it being 'my' investigation." And damn, it had pissed him off then. "Considering she had been working with Pacci on tracking Voss down already. She hasn't been neutered in the slightest." The director cracked the smallest of grins, one he was sure mirrored his own. "We sorted it out."

"What was the result?"

"Got some practice sharing an investigation." He lifted one shoulder. "Not so bad, as far as it went."

"And Agent Todd? Speaking professionally, as an agent? Do you think she'd be able to investigate on her own, once she can work in the field again?" Morrow had an excellent poker face, when he wanted to.

He didn't have to think about it. "Kate is more than capable. Could use more experience, though."

"Could she train a probie?"

"Most likely, but I wouldn't give her one just yet, sir."

Morrow nodded. "I had asked Pacci for a report on her performance, but…" His spread hands said it all.

He nodded, waiting for a moment. "Was that all, sir?"

"Agent McGee will be transferring here as a probationary field agent. I want him to work with you."

"Noted."

Morrow began to sift through the papers on his desk. "If I end up having to assign Agent Todd to assist you while she is still on desk duty, you are working with her—she is not your subordinate. I don't want any further possibility of the accusation of ethics violations."

"Understood."

Morrow nodded and returned to his office chair. "That was all I wanted to discuss, Agent Gibbs."

He didn't know whether to be relieved or annoyed when she wasn't assigned to work with him, instead cycling among the other agents in HQ, putting together backgrounds and profiles and helping with interrogations as needed.

"It's interesting, to see all these different cases, and how different agents interrogate suspects, but I have to say I miss having a team," she said to him one evening, over a plate of pasta and chicken, twirling a small glass filled with wine in her hands. "I will be so happy to get this cast off next week."

"Can't say you'll be the only one." He smirked slightly to himself, because as much as he liked sex with her in any form, Kate on top of him offered delectable visuals.

"Yeah, I bet you'll be happy to have a little more space again." She took a sip, licking a stray drop of wine off her lips. "Thank you, again, for letting me stay here."

"Nothing you have to thank me for, Katie."

He'd gotten used to her eventually asking him to turn off the light and lie down with her, and maybe the extra sleep did him good (though he'd still never pass up coffee). Maybe he didn't make her ask quite as often anymore.

"You'll be going back to your apartment after you get it off, then?" He stole a sip of her wine; she watched him with an amused smile.

"It'll be nice to be home. In my own space, if that makes any sense." She glanced around with a small smile. "Not that I don't like being here—but it's still your house."

He followed her gaze over the wooden furniture, the bare walls, the lack of pictures or knicknacks. Maybe it was kind of utilitarian—fine, spartan—but he'd never really minded.

"You telling me these are still your guest manners?" He arched an eyebrow in play consternation, eyeing the oversized t-shirt she had stolen from his closet and both feet propped up on the chair between them.

She laughed, dipping her head, and made no move to take her good leg down. "Not quite."

He hadn't realized before how much it mattered to him that she was comfortable around him. "Good."