After Tony left for work the next day, Charity got in her car and headed for the cemetery. Once she parked her car she got out and headed for Katie's grave. She placed a bouquet of flowers on the head stone.
"We finally got him." Charity spoke to the grave. "Moore is finally paying for his crimes. He gets to live in Gitmo now."
Charity stood and looked at the grave. She let the silence surround her. "Life is pretty crazy, Katie. I've been discharged from the Core. I'm also gonna get married and I'm pregnant with twins." Charity told the grave.
Charity stood there a while longer, imagining what katie would be saying right now. "The man I'm marrying, his name is Tony. He works at NCIS with my dad. He's pretty great." Charity spoke. "He makes me laugh and feel like a normal human being again. He reminds me of you in that respect."
Charity felt the tears stinging at her eyes. She thought back to the day that Katie died.
Flashback...
Charity lay in the rubble of the compound. She lay with the bodies of three of her friends and fellow Marines. Katie lay to her right, still barely clinging to life. "What are... you... thinking... about, Katie?" Charity asked between coughs.
Katie let out her own cough. "Just about...how much...time...we're gonna have...to spend...in the hos...pital." Katie answered. "I hope...we get...hot doctors."
Charity let out a small laugh. "How is it...that while...we are lying in...our death beds..."
"Don't...we aren't...gonna die." Katie interrupted.
"Fine... how is it...that in a time...like this...that you can think...of men...and be making...me laugh?" Charity responded.
"That's how I...roll." Katie answered, lifting her uninjured arm to make a peace sign.
Charity laughed again and that brought on a coughing fit.
"And we...must...prank the...nurses." Katie said as soon as Charity's coughing fit was over.
"How?" Charity asked taking in a deep breath of dust and debris-filled air and coughing again.
"Unplug all the...machines...and make them...run in...thinking we're...gone." Katie answered. "Watch as they...panic."
"You're...terrible." Charity replied.
"But...you love...me."
The two women talked, trying to keep each other sane. They had no idea how long they had been laying there. They had no idea how long they had been captives, but it felt like an eternity.
"It's cold." Katie said.
"It is." Charity replied. Then she drug herself closer to Katie so that they could huddle close for warmth.
Katie breathed in and then coughs began to wrack her body, shaking her. After what seemed like forever, the coughs finally stopped and Katie was gasping for air. Charity had no idea what to do, she had no way to help her friend.
"It's getting...darker in here." Katie said once she was able to get a breath in without coughing.
"Katie..." Charity began.
"I don't think I'm...gonna make...it." Katie said, her face serious and pale.
"Don't talk... like that, Katie." Charity spoke, her voice scared.
"Hey...we all...gotta go...sometime..." Katie said. "Get...in my...pocket."
"What?" Charity asked.
"Put...your hand...in my...pocket." Katie told Charity.
Charity nodded and reached her hand into Katie's pocket. She felt a vibration and jumped slightly, pulling her hand out of Katie's pocket.
Katie smiled and laughed/coughed. "My joy buzzer...pull it out."
Charity reached her hand back into Katie's pocket and pulled out the joy buzzer. "What...do you...want me...to do...with it?" Charity asked.
"Take it...and keep it." Katie told her.
"But...you're gonna need...it...when we get...outta here." Charity protested.
Katie shook her head slightly. "No...I'm not...gonna make it...outta here...we both know that."
Charity nodded, her lips pressed close together.
"Now...take it...and keep it as...a reminder...to always...find a...reason to...laugh...and smile." Katie told her. "Promise me...you will...always find...a reason to...laugh and...smile."
Charity nodded, holding her tears back.
"Promise...me." Katie said.
"I...promise." Charity replied.
"Now...I need...you to...remember...this one...last piece...of wisdom." Katie told Charity.
"What is it?" Charity asked.
"An apple...a day...keeps the...doctor away...but if...the doctor...is sexy...throw...the apples...back." Katie said with a laugh.
Charity laughed with Katie. All too soon, Katie's laughs stopped and she was gone.
"Katie." Charity said, shaking her friend. Katie was no longer breathing. Charity felt for a pulse and found none. Katie still had a smile frozen on her dead face. Charity reached up and closed Katie's unseeing eyes. Then she held Katie's body and let the tears and sobs consume her.
Present...
Charity stood at the grave and reached a hand into her pocket. She pulled out the joy buzzer and looked at it. She smiled through the tears that had been falling down her face. Then she looked at the grave. "Thanks Katie. I've found my reason to laugh and smile." She slipped the joy buzzer back into her pocket and wiped at the tears in her eyes.
"Rowdy Girls Semper Fi." Charity said and then made her way back to her car.
Once behind the wheel, Charity looked at herself in the mirror. She dried her eyes and then started the car and drove away. She parked the car at NCIS and looked at her reflection one last time. All traces of my tears are gone. She thought.
Charity got out of her car and hopped on the elevator to go to the squadroom. The doors opened and Charity stepped out. She looked up and spotted Tony at his desk. He looked up from whatever he was doing and smiled at her. "Hello gorgeous."
Charity grinned back at him as she made her way to him. "Hello handsome."
Tony stood up and pulled Charity into his arms for a hug and kiss.
"What the hell is this?" came the familiar gruff voice.
Charity pulled away from Tony and turned around, an even bigger smile on her face. "Mike!" She squealed and ran to hug him.
Mike hugged Charity back and laughed. "When'd you get home darlin'?" He asked, pulling back and holding her at arms length.
"A while ago." Charity answered.
Mike turned to see Gibbs. "Probie, why didn't you tell me baby doll was home?"
Gibbs just shrugged.
Mike turned back to Charity. "Now, you didn't answer my question earlier. What the hell is going on with you and DiNozzo?"
"We're engaged." Tony answered.
"And I'm pregnant." Charity added. "With twins."
Mike sighed and shook his head. "I don't believe this. Probie, how could you let this happen?"
"She could do a lot worse." Gibbs answered.
Mike put an arm around Charity's shoulder and pulled her aside. "Baby doll, if you want out just say the word and I can help you. I know I ain't much, but I might just be better than DiNozzo." Mike told her jokingly.
Charity laughed. "I'll keep your offer in mind." She replied and kissed his cheek. "So, what are you doing here?" She asked.
"Oh, Probie just needed my help solvin' a case. You know your daddy can't go too long without me." Mike replied turning them around to rejoin the group.
"Then I guess I should go and let you guys get back to work." Charity said. She gave Mike a hug. "You need to visit more often."
Mike chuckled.
Charity hugged her father. "Love you, Daddy."
"Love you, baby girl." Gibbs said, returning the hug and kissing the top of her head.
Charity then walked over to Tony and gave him a kiss. "There's something I want to talk to you about when you get home tonight." Charity told him.
"Okay." Tony replied. "Am I in trouble?"
Charity grinned up at him. "Depends on your definition of trouble." She teased. Then she gave him a kiss and was leaving NCIS and heading home.
A/N: I hope you guys are enjoying this story. I have to tell you guys something that I find kind of funny considering that I am writing this story. Today while I was at work, a recruiting officer for the Marines came up to me and tried to recruit me. I also find this funny because I would be the worst Marine ever. I'm a wimp and would probably fall over dead on the first day of boot camp. I do however have a great deal of respect for our troops and especially our Marines. I would like to send out a big thanks to everyone who serves the military and I'm greatful that there are so many who will risk their lives to protect my freedoms and way of life.
