One Sure Thing - Chapter Two
Kate bustled through the door of her apartment, glad to be home. She unceremoniously dumped her shopping – groceries to restock her kitchen after days away with the NCIS. Her family continued to hassle her to change career. She could hear their voices, almost ringing in her ears. "I just wish you would find something more settled, dear." Or "We are only thinking of your safety Caitlin." Screw safety, Kate thought bitterly. Here I am happy, and with them I am always safe. Then a thought echoed from the back of her mind. No, it amended; it is with him that you feel safe. You wouldn't feel as with just Tony, would you? She shook her head slightly and smiled to herself. Okay, okay, she thought, I feel safe with Gibbs.
But safe wasn't the end of it, Caitlin knew in her heart. There was so much more to what Kate felt for Gibbs. There were so many sides to him, each of them individual, but all equally kind and nasty to her. He could be so wonderful to her sometimes, and others he was in his own words "a real bastard". Occasionally, she told herself it was because he didn't want to make it obvious that he singled her out. But that Kate knew Gibbs well enough to know that she was just fantasizing. Gibbs picked on everyone – it was his way, and there was no way Kate even wanted to change that. But it was good moments that were the most memorable, like when she had been thrown against him in the emergency blow, or defended her right to work on the submarine or even when they had met the first time, on Air Force One, and she'd ended up sobbing in his arms. Each one of those had become a treasured memory, locked away and cherished, as if someone may try to steal them.
Each time he looked at her, with those rather blue eyes, she felt so elated – even if it was just to give the simplest. And those rare occasions when his gaze held any positive emotion, well, it would be amazing if she could even talk after that. She longed for the day, though, when it wasn't sympathy, thanks or admiration beaming at her. The day when Leroy Jethro Gibbs would look at her with eyes of love, even desire, as she knew she would stare at him. But how to tell him, approach him, show him… she had no idea.
Save one. However, it would require a bit of teamwork. She considered who to ally with. Her safest bet was on Abby. She was the most likely to be completely supportive, and wouldn't tease like Tony did. Admittedly, Abby would probably tease her a little, but not the way Tony would. As a second resort, she could ask Ducky, but that was a little more risky. The older man did have that tendency to babble, and Kate couldn't risk him revealing anything at the wrong moment.
So Kate decided she would speak to Abby. She was going to tell Gibbs, and if he didn't like it, she'd just have to suffer. Surely the risk you be worth it if she succeeded, she reasoned. The idea of Gibbs liking or even loving her in return sent tingles along her nerves. She smiled like she hadn't in a long time. She was in love, and she would either end heartbroken or rapturously in love. That's all there was too it. How simple and clear life can be. Kate only prayed the result that eventuated would be one that would please her.