Title: Sleeping Arrangements J
Author: Cailyn
Pairing: Gibbs/Kate
Rating: PG-13: Nothing really bad in this chapter. The rating is at pg-13 for consistency.
Disclaimer: Again, characters are not mine and I do no profit from them in any way, shape, or form.
Authors Note: Another chapter up, again, please read and review. I can use the criticism. Much thanks to NCISFanatic for beta reading yet another chapter for me. I can't believe I haven't driven her completely insane yet. And don't let the title fool you, this is meant to be a fluffy chapter more then anything else. By the way, since this a longer chapter I am not be able to post for a bit. I'm taking a week off of school to go to California next week so I may not be able to get much written. But expect more when I come back. My writings while on airplanes have proved to be anything other then typical in the past… Stay tuned for more!
When Kate woke up, she hurt all over. Rolling over with a groan, she grabbed a bottle of Percocet off the bedside table and popped two in her mouth. She swallowed anxiously; craving the temporary relief the painkillers gave her. She wasn't usually one for taking medication, and refused when the doctors wanted to put her on OxyContin. But, she hurt. And it would be easier for her to heal if she could move around.
"Are you decent?" Gibbs called from the hallway.
"As decent as ever," She grumbled in return.
He strode into the room carrying a tray full of pancakes with fresh red strawberries on top, a glass of orange juice, and a vase with an orange gerbera daisy, her favorite.
"You cook?" She asked amazed at all of Gibbs's talents she didn't know about.
"You'd be amazed."
He placed the food down in front of her and grabbed a strawberry off her plate, nibbling on it and throwing her a wink.
"Ok Gibbs, what gives, why the hell are you so cheery at," she glanced at the alarm clock on the desk on the other side of the room, "Holy shit its noon?!?"
Gibbs stood up and walked over to the window, pulling back the drapes. It revealed Gibbs' neighborhood covered in a blanket of newly fallen snow. And if Kate's eyes weren't fooling her, about three and a half feet of it, and still falling!
"Daaaaaaammmnnn! When did that happen?" She asked, staring in amazement.
"Started around 3 this morning, and hasn't stopped ever since. First time NCIS has closed because of snow in 15 years."
"How are the roads? Are we going to be able to get out because I need to get stuff from my apartment." She shuddered at the thought of going back in their, but she knew that she needed to get things if Gibbs was going to keep her locked up in his house for a while.
"Shouldn't be a problem as long as we take back roads. Downtown is gridlock though, there have been a total of 17 accidents so far. You think that people would know not to go out driving in the middle of a blizzard. It's supposed to let up for about two or three hours around one, so we can go out then, as long as week get back before it picks up again at two."
"Alright," Kate said as she began eating her food, "I'll eat, then we'll head out. I'll take a shower when we get back so I have something clean to change into. Hey, you want some of this food I'm not going to be able to eat it all?"
"Sure, I'll be right back."
Gibbs ran into the kitchen and grabbed utensils. When he returned Kate was still eating. Taking her time. He sat down next to her and she pushed the plate over toward him so he could help her eat. When they finished, he helped her get up.
"Here's a jacket, it may be a little big but it will keep you warm." He helped her pushed her arms into the sleeves carefully feeding her injured wrists though. They walked out to the car and left for Kate's apartment. Driving was slow and the roads were slippery. The disadvantage of taking the back roads was they were typically the last ones paves so they were covered in snow.
When they pulled into Kate's apartment, Gibbs took his gun out from in between the seats and had full intentions of going in and clearing the area first. Kate protested.
"Come on Gibbs just let me come in. I've got a gun."
"And what are you going to do if he's in there? Take off your shoes and fire the gun with your toes?"
"Alright, point taken. Just don't go though my things."
"Ye of little faith. Who do you think I am, Tony?"
Kate chuckled to herself, "Just come out and get me when you're done. I don't think I can even open the car doors. I feel so powerless!"
"Just give me five minutes."
He left the car running, the heat on full blast. Kate turned the radio on and changed until she found a station she liked. Gibbs came out a little over five minutes later and helped her up to her apartment. Going into her bedroom, she kicked her leather duffel bag out of the closet and began opening drawers with her elbow, searching for clothes.
"There is no way in hell we're going to get out of here before the storm picks up again if we don't find a way to do this faster."
"Come on Gibbs, just let me keep the very little bit of dignity I have left."
"It's you're choice. But I'll warn you. You know how fast Tony usually drives? Well that's going to be me times ten if we don't get out of here soon. I hate driving in the snow."
"Fine. But Gibbs?"
"Yeah?"
"If anything, ANYTHING, gets back to Tony, I swear to God, when I get my casts off you're going to have more holes in you then Abby, only I'm NOT talking about piercings."
"Kate, why the hell would I tell Dinozzo?"
"Whatever, lets just get this over with."
Surprisingly, Gibbs assisted packing Kate's bag with discretion. And they were back on the road within 20 minutes. When the got back got Gibbs's house, Kate was more then ready for a shower. She was cold and hadn't been properly bathed in quite a while.
"Can I go and take a shower now, please?"
"Kate, you have two broken wrists in casts, how the hell do you expect to be able to take a shower?"
"By myself!! That is where I draw the line Gibbs."
"Kate I-"
"No Gibbs I'm serious!"
"Kate, I wasn't implying I was going to assist you in any way. But you are going to have to take a bath not a shower and put plastic bags over your hands to keep the casts from getting wet."
"Oh."
Kate managed after some time to undress herself. It wasn't the pants that posed a problem so much as the shirt. She got into the bath and slid into the warm water. Immersing herself completely except for her hands, which were wrapped in double plastic. The water felt good all over her body. But, her hair needed to be washed.
She pulled a towel off the towel bar and threw it into the water covering her body except her shoulders and head.
"Gibbs," she hollered, "I need you!"
He knocked on the door of the bathroom she replied telling him he could enter.
"You sure you want my help? I could call Abby if you want."
"Well it's a little late for that. She lives across town. She won't get here for at least and hour and I'm not going to sit here and turn into a prune until then. All I need you to do is put the shampoo in my hair. And then I'll stick my head under water and rinse it out, then the same for the conditioner."
"Alright."
Gibbs took the shampoo off the shelf and squeezed a good-sized amount into his hands. He rubbed them together, and then began massaging it into her hair. Stimulating her scalp with her fingers.
"God," Kate thought, "This SO isn't going to help our situation."
When he finished washing her hair and he left the bathroom and Kate was by herself again. She rolled onto her side allowing the drenched towel to slide off her body, and rose to her feet and grabbing a dry towel with her pinky and ring finger attempted to wrap it around her body. She left the bathroom and went into Gibbs's bedroom where she got dressed to the best of her capabilities. She found Gibbs staring at his laptop on a couch in the living room. He didn't look up until she had sat down next to him.
"Look Gibbs I'm sorry about before. I really am. I greatly appreciate what you're doing for me and I was being inconsiderate. The truth is I'd rather be here with you then across town with Abby."
"Apology accepted. And thanks."
"Thanks for what? I was just a complete asshole to you."
"For staying with me. I enjoy the company. Would you like something to drink? Coffee?"
"This is going to sound awful, but do you have anything stronger?"
"Agent Todd, do you think it's wise to be drinking while on pain medication."
"Ah, but Gibbs, if I drink I won't need the medicine."
Gibbs chuckled, "Bombay on the rocks, splash of club soda, twist of lemon sound okay?"
"I guess bartending was one of your many talents as well?
"Can I take that as a yes?"
"Sure."
Gibbs reentered the room with two drinks in his hands. He sat down on the couch and they talked. They got caught up in childhood memories and most embarrassing moments for the better part of the afternoon and before they knew it was is seven thirty, and both of their stomachs were growling.
"So, Agent Gibbs, what do you have planned for dinner?"
"Chinese food, if that's alright with you. I already started it."
"You already ordered it?"
"No, I already started it. As in homemade Chinese food."
"There's such a thing?"
"Just as long as you don't tell Tony."
"If you haven't noticed, I try to avoid conversation with him all together."
Gibbs cooked up quite the feast. Shrimp fried rice, sweet and sour chicken, chicken and broccoli, and egg-drop wonton soup.
"I don't think I'll ever look at Chinese food the same." Kate announced with a sigh
"Then my job here is done." Gibbs replied triumphantly, obviously confidant that his cooking had satisfied Kate."
Gibbs cleared the table as Kate, again, felt useless. When they finished. They made more drinks and sat in the living room watching T.V. When The Late Show was over, they both yawned in unison.
"I guess you better point me in the direction of the guest bedroom." Kate said as her eyelids became heavy and the gravity pushing down on them became more and more evident.
"Don't be ridiculous. You're sleeping in the master bedroom. The guest room is freezing. I can't get the vent to work in their and its small and the bed creaks."
"Gibbs come on, this is your house. You sure as hell shouldn't have to sleep in there!"
"I'm not going to, I'm sleeping right here," he said as he slapped the couch.
"Are you absolutely positive?"
"Kate, do I look like the kind of person that would do something if they didn't want to?"
"But still, it's your house."
"Come on Kate," He helped her to her feet and into his bedroom.
She got into the bed and he pulled the blankets on top of her.
"You know Gibbs, this is a pretty big bed and I'm good to keeping to myself. You could always just stay in here."
"Are you sure?"
"Definitely!" Kate said with a little too much enthusiasm in her voice for the time of night.
"Agent Todd, I do believe that you are drunk."
Gibbs got under the blanket and turned off the light.
"And so what if I am?"
"Good night, Caitlin."
"Good night, Jethro."
Gibbs gently placed his arm over Kate's shoulders, tenderly pulling her closer into his body and holding her all through the night.
