Summary: What if Kate Todd and Leroy Jethro Gibbs met way before Kate joined the Secret Service and were together for a few months before a big fight broke out, pushing the two away from each other. 20 years later, the two meet again, will they be able to work things out between them? KIBBS all the way! Kate and Kelly live!
Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS, but if I did, Kate would've lived and there would've been WAY more Kibbs. I only own Jake, Jaiden, Layla, Ben, and some other characters who will come in the future chapters.
A/N: To fit in with this story...Shannon died when Kelly was a year old. Sorry! And this chapter is a bit long, hope you enjoy the story!
_
Once Kelly was settled in the back seat, she sighed, "I wonder what triggered Kate to run away like that."
Ben shrugged and turned on the engine of his car. "It was obviously Lily's name."
"No, it wasn't!" Layla protested making Ben and Kelly look at her and give her a "You know we're right" look.
She rolled her eyes, "Whatever."
Ben just sighed and shook his head as he pulled out of the parking lot.
x.x.x.x.x
Back at the cafe, Kate and Gibbs sat outside after ordering themselves coffee. The waitress frowned at Kate, having just seen her with a group of teenagers at the same table they're sitting at. Kate just gave her a small smile which pleased the waitress before walking away.
Kate looked at Gibbs. "I have to come up with the questions or are you just gonna tell me the full story?"
Gibbs narrowed his eyes at Kate before he spoke, "I'll tell ya the full story."
Kate just nodded his head and let him continue.
"When...Layla was just 3 years old, her father...my brother…had died in a plane crash. Her mother had died at childbirth. Layla had been staying with me since my brother was always away so, she had basically already looked up to me as a father figure."
Kate nodded, "But...What was her real name?"
"Ella Gibbs. After I adopted her, I changed her name to Leilani."
"Why?"
"I...I was still in love with you and naming Layla after the name you wanted...It just...Felt as if I still had a part of you around with me." Gibbs said, looking away from Kate. Kate looked at him shocked.
"But...But, you were married."
"Yeah, I was married! But you were my first- You were the first- God, Katie." Gibbs put his head in his hands and took a deep breath. "I wanted to marry you, Katie. I wanted that dream you had that night to come true. But, then we had that big fight and we broke it off. You were the first woman I fell in love with, Caitlin."
Kate's mouth slightly opened but she kept quiet. She was speechless. What was she supposed to say to him? "I love you too" No, that would be too weird.
"Does he still love me?" Kate thought to herself as she watched Gibbs slowly get up. She grabbed his hand which shocked him and truth be told, shocked herself as well.
"Don't go." She managed to get out in a small whisper.
"Kate-"
"Jethro, please."
Gibbs sat back down and the two stayed silent for a few minutes. He looked down to see Kate still holding onto his hand and to be honest, he had missed her touch. Her small hand in his big paw. Kate must've noticed as well because her hand started to slip from his until he caught it and held it back in his hand.
"I waited for you." Kate finally said after a few moments. Gibbs looked away from their joined hands and into her eyes.
"What?"
"I waited for you...To come back."
"But, I didn't." Gibbs whispered, looking down.
"But, you didn't." Kate agreed, shaking her head before they both heard ringing coming from Gibbs' phone. With his free hand, he pulled out his phone and answered.
"Gibbs." He stated, watching Kate as she took a sip and licked her lips, putting her cup back down. She looked up at him and a faint blush came on her cheeks.
Gibbs smirked before speaking into his phone, "Yes, DiNozzo. I'm out." He started rubbing the back of Kate's hand with his thumb as he hummed. "I'm on my way. You know what to do." Gibbs shut his phone and sighed as he glanced at their joined hands before smiling at Kate.
"Wanna help me with somethin'?"
Kate smirked at him, "Depends on what I'm helping you with."
Gibbs chuckled, "C'mon." He stood up before helping her up and the two walked to Gibbs' car with their coffee cups in hand.
x.x.x.x.x
Jake walked over to the dead body on the ground while Jaiden stayed back with McGee.
"When's my Dad comin'?"
McGee shrugged at Jaiden before he spoke, "Don't know. He went out for coffee 30 minutes ago. Usually, it only takes him about 5 minutes."
Jaiden nodded his head before staying silent as he followed McGee to the witnesses and just listened to McGee while he interviewed them.
After a while, they heard Jake yell, "Hey! Dad's here! With...Mom?"
Tony turned around and whispered something to Jake before he nodded and spoke, "I meant to say that Special Agent Gibbs is here with his assistant. Agent Todd."
Ducky chuckled, Gibbs smirked while Kate glared at Jake before chuckling as well. McGee finished up his interview before walking over to Gibbs and Kate with Jaiden trailing behind him.
"I got their statements, Boss."
"What'd they say?" Gibbs asked, looking around at the crime scene before spotting Ducky, Palmer, and Jake examining the body.
"Well, they're best friends and they were just heading back home from a small trip they had and made a pit stop here to stretch their legs and that's when they noticed the body sitting against the wall. They didn't touch it but noticed three gunshots." McGee said, reading off his notes. Gibbs nodded before walking towards Ducky and the others with Kate trailing behind him.
"Time of death, Duck?"
Ducky shook his head, "Well, Jethro. There isn't much to say. He's out in the cold, it was windy this morning."
"Plus, he's practically naked considering he's only in boxers." Jake shrugged. Gibbs let out a deep breath.
"Time of death, Ducky."
Ducky sighed, "Well, I'd have to say this was less than 6 hours ago."
McGee popped up behind Jake. "Witnesses said they heard gunshots around 0600."
Ducky nodded his head, "Or 6 o'clock this morning." Gibbs crouched down and examined the body closely.
"Anythin' of his around?"
"Nope, only a key we found three feet away from him." Tony shrugged. Gibbs looked up at him. Tony nodded, "Right. I will go check with the owner of these apartments about the key."
"Jake, go help him."
Jake's jaw dropped, "Oh, c'mon, Dad! Why can't Jaiden go with him?"
"Because Jaiden is going to help us with the body."
"What?!" The two boys exclaimed. Gibbs stood back up and turned around, facing Jake and Jaiden.
"You either follow what I say or you go home. Choose one."
"Alright, fine. Whatever." Jake grumbled as he walked away with Tony while Jaiden groaned.
"I'll help."
"Good choice." Gibbs said before handing him and Kate a pair of gloves.
"Ever worked a crime scene, Kate?"
Kate put on the gloves, "I'm a secret service agent."
Gibbs smirked, "I thought so." He walked away while Kate's jaw dropped and she glared at him. Jaiden had to bite his tongue to stop him from laughing as he put on his gloves and walked over to McGee. Kate mumbled something to herself before she followed Gibbs.
"Where are we going?"
"We are going to check around the apartments to see if anything will help us with the case."
Kate hummed and nodded. "Like...that?"
Gibbs looked at her and saw her pointing to bloodstains on a wall near one of the apartment doors.
"Exactly like that."
Kate smiled triumphantly as the two of them walked over to the wall. Gibbs took out a cotton swab and swabbed some of the blood before putting it inside the vile and handing it over to Kate.
"Give this to Palmer." He stated. Kate took the vile and frowned.
"Wh-"
"The guy with the glasses who looks like he doesn't have a clue as to what he is doing."
Kate looked around and spotted a young man, probably in his 30's who indeed looked like he didn't know what he was doing.
"Ah, gotcha." Kate replied before walking away towards Palmer.
"Palmer?"
Palmer looked around before spotting the beautiful brunette walking towards him.
"Oh, wow."
Kate smiled at him. "Um...Jet wanted me to give this to you. We found some bloodstains on the wall over there and he collected some so...Here." She explained as she handed him the vile. Palmer just kept staring at her like a deer in headlights.
Gibbs walked over to them and spotted Palmer staring at Kate.
"Palmer!"
Palmer jumped and faced Gibbs who had an ice-cold glare on his face.
"Y-yes, Sir."
"Aren't you supposed to be helping Ducky with something?"
"R-right. So-Sorry, Gibbs." Palmer stuttered before walking away towards Jaiden and Ducky. Kate turned and gave Gibbs a look.
"What?"
"Why'd you scare him like that?" She asked as the two started to walk back to the car while the others were packing up the crime scene and Jaiden helped Ducky put the body on the gurney- Jaiden trying so hard not to throw up all over the body- and rolled it towards the truck after covering the body with a bag.
Gibbs shrugged, "I didn't scare him. He's always like that."
Kate scoffed at his response and got in the car while Gibbs got into the driver's side.
"Where're we headed now?"
"Home."
Kate snapped her head towards Gibbs, "What?"
"Yeah. 'M takin' ya home and then I'll get back to work. I don't wanna get fired because of your pretty face." Gibbs teased while Kate scoffed and folded her arms across her chest.
"Why do I have to go home and the boys get to stay with you?! Why can't it be the other way around?!"
Gibbs chuckled, "Because I said so."
Kate huffed and looked away from Gibbs and stared out the window as he pulled out of the parking lot and headed towards his house.
x.x.x.x.x
It's been five hours since Gibbs had dropped off Kate and all she had been doing was reading, cleaning a bit, and once in a while, making herself a cup of coffee. Looking at the time, she noticed it was almost 0630 so she decided she would surprise Gibbs with his favorite dish. Chili bean, Grilled Steak, and mashed potatoes. Kate smiled when she remembered the first time she made the dish.
FLASHBACK
20 YEARS AGO
Jethro was finally coming back from his deployment after five months. Kate was getting excited, she had missed him so much. She was currently making mashed potatoes when someone wrapped their arms around her waist, she had tensed at first but after taking a deep breath and smelling him she relaxed and a smile graced her lips.
"Welcome back, handsome." She said while Jethro started kissing her bare shoulder.
"Good to be back. Somethin' smells good."
Kate giggled, "It's just mashed potatoes."
Jethro chuckled and turned her around, giving her a smirk. "I wasn't talkin' 'bout the mashed potatoes." He kissed her lips while she smiled before she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I missed you." She mumbled against his lips before moaning softly when she felt him caress her bottom. Kate felt his tongue swipe across her bottom lip, asking for entry which she granted by opening her mouth slightly before his tongue slipped into her mouth and started dancing around with her tongue. Jethro then broke the kiss which got him a small whine from Kate making him smirk.
"Jethro." She whined as he laughed softly.
"You've gotta finish cookin'." He shrugged making her glare at him. She huffed, turned around, and finished up the mashed potatoes before feeling Jethro's hands run down her sides and settle on her hip. She hummed as he started to kiss her shoulder, trailing up to the side of her neck before kissing her jaw.
"Jet, you're gonna get me burned." Kate giggled making Jethro stop and chuckle before his arms circled her waist and he hugged her tightly from behind.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"What's for dinner?"
"Grilled steak with mashed potatoes and chili beans."
Jethro hummed against her hair, "My favorite."
"I thought you didn't have a favorite?"
Gibbs smirked, "I now do."
Kate laughed and turned her head, giving him a passionate kiss on the lips making him smile against her lips.
END OF FLASHBACK
"Kate? You home?" She heard a female voice call out, pulling her out of her memories.
"Uh- Yeah! Kitchen!" Kate shouted before three heads popped up near the door frame.
"Hey, Ms. Todd. You seem much better now." Ben said as he smiled at her. Kate chuckled.
"Oh, please. Call me "Kate", "Ms. Todd" is my mother."
Ben chuckled as he scratched the back of his neck. "Well, I'mma head out. Just wanted to make sure Lily and Kells made it home safe."
Layla turned around and shrugged, "Why don't you just stay the night?"
Ben thought about it before shrugging his shoulders, "Alright. Yeah, I can stay the night. Lemme just go call my Mom. Last time I didn't call her, she worried all night."
Kate laughed, "I get that. I couldn't sleep the night Jake slept over at a friends and didn't let me know." Ben chuckled softly before leaving the room to call his Mom.
Kelly turned to Layla and smirked. Layla frowned at her.
"What?" She asked.
"Benny-boy definitely has the hots for you."
Kate agreed, "Mhmm."
Layla rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on. No, he's not. Besides, he likes someone else so I wouldn't even have a chance."
Kelly gasped, "You have the hots for him too?!" She whisper-yelled.
"No, I do not!"
Kelly and Kate smirked at each other.
"Oh, yes you do!" The two exclaimed before giggling. Layla huffed before leaving the kitchen.
"Whatever."
Ben walked back into the kitchen and frowned, "What's wrong with her?"
Kelly rolled her eyes, "When is something never wrong with her."
Ben laughed, "True." He looked back with a concerned look before turning back to Kate and Kelly.
"So...Anything I can help you with...Kate?"
Kate smiled, "You can help peel the potatoes while I cook the chili beans."
Ben nodded as he grabbed the peeler and started to peel some potatoes while all three started chatting.
After a while, Layla came back down the stairs.
"Hey, I'mma go pick up Jaiden. He threw up in Autopsy."
Ben tossed her the keys, "Wreck my car and I swear to god, Lily."
"You know I'm a safe driver, Benny." Layla said sticking her tongue out at him. Ben playfully glared at her before the two laughed as Layla walked out of the house. Kate and Kelly turned to each other and smirked.
"They are so into each other." Kelly whispered as Kate nodded.
"I'll bet you twenty bucks by the end of the month they'd be together."
"If you, Jake, and Jaiden stay that long." Kelly said, looking up at Kate while she stayed silent before nodding her head slowly.
"I- We'll...I don't know, Kelly."
Kelly nodded her head silently. Kate sighed before turning to Ben.
"You finished with the potatoes?"
"You bet."
"Okay, you started boiling the potatoes and I'll start on the steak. Jet should be home in about one or two hours."
"Aye, aye, boss." Ben said, bringing out the pot and boiling the potatoes. Kate chuckled and shook her head as she started on the steak.
x.x.x.x.x
It was already past 8 by the time Gibbs got home, he opened the door to find the house silent.
"Huh...Everyone must've gone to bed already." He thought to himself as he shut the door behind him and locked it. He set his keys in the bowl on the shelf near the door and slipped off his shoes before leaving his bag and coat on the couch. Gibbs walked into the kitchen to find the lights dimmed and the table set with two candles lit up in the middle. He frowned before he turned his head to find Kate standing in the doorway dressed in a beautiful short dark red thin-strapped dress. Her hair was curled and let down as a smile graced her beautiful, plumpy, red-colored lips.
"Katie." He breathed out making her giggle and walk up to him.
"Hello, Jethro." She smiled. Gibbs let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.
"I made your favorite." Kate said, nodding her head over to the table. Gibbs nodded his head.
"I noticed."
Kate smiled at him as she slipped her bangs behind her ear.
"Where are the kids?"
"I...May have bribed them with 100 dollars to go out and have fun after Layla came back with the boys."
Gibbs chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck as he looked her up and down before meeting her eyes. "You look beautiful."
Kate blushed as she bit her bottom lip. "You look handsome." She replied, her voice dipping a bit lower than she expected. Gibbs smirked at her as he took another step towards her.
"How did you know what was my favorite food?"
Kate stepped closer to him. "I remembered."
Gibbs chuckled lowly as his arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her against him making her gasp.
"Did you now?" He asked, bringing his face closer to hers. Kate closed her eyes and hummed as she felt his hot breath on her skin.
"Mhmm." She hummed, bringing her face closer to his. If they had moved just one more inch, their lips would touch.
"I'm surprised, Caitlin Todd."
"Just shut up and kiss me, Jethro." She replied impatiently. Gibbs chuckled and covered her mouth with his making Kate sigh as she brought one hand and rested it where his neck met his shoulder and kept one hand on his chest, right above his heart.