NCIS Special Ops Challenge #10

"Is that thing loaded?" an unfamiliar female voice asked. "Be careful, Tony!"

Kate glanced sideways at the new addition to the room. An attractive blonde woman walked next to Tony, pointing and asking questions. The last query had apparently been about his weapon, as he was holding it and showing off its features.

"Don't worry," he smiled. "The safety's on." Kate squinted curiously, forgetting to pretend she wasn't looking. Despite Tony's affable façade, she could tell he was uneasy. And the woman was acting like Kate had never seen another woman act around Tony, excepting herself. Confident, domineering, even protective. Who was this lady?

Gibbs sat at his desk, working hard and giving the impression that he didn't care. Kate knew better, though; Gibbs was aware of everything. Did he know?

"Psst, Gibbs," she hissed, as Tony and his lady friend moved past their work area.

He looked up without saying a word. His face wore the expression it always did when he was interrupted: perturbed and impatient. Though his lips did not move, Kate could have sworn she heard him say, "What the hell is it? I'm busy."

"Who's the girl?"

Gibbs eyes flicked, barely imperceptibly, up to where Tony stood laughing with the blonde. Glancing back at Kate, the corners of his mouth twitched ever so slightly before he regained his composure. "Don't know."

Kate was dead sure he was lying but knew she could neither prove it nor get him to tell her the truth. Eyes narrowing, she smirked at the back head, bent over his work again. He had won the battle, but she would win the war.

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"Ducky?"

"Caitlin! What can I do for you?"

"Have you seen the woman Tony's with?"

"With? As in..."

"No, I don't think Tony has the capacity for that kind of commitment. I mean the woman he's been showing around today."

"Today? No..."

"Tall, blonde, good-looking...Never mind, that doesn't really narrow it down much with Tony, does it? Thanks anyway, Ducky." Kate turned to leave.

"Sorry I couldn't be of more assistance," Ducky called after her.

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Kate walked dejectedly back to the bullpen. If Ducky didn't know, who would? She considered asking Abby, but the lab was dark as she walked past. Sighing, figuring she would never solve the mystery, she trudged back to her desk.

She was curious seeing Abby in her seat. Reasoning that she had some evidence for Gibbs, she was surprised to find her laughing hysterically at something...someone. The blonde woman was telling an apparently funny story, but the strangest part was the reactions of the two men.

Tony was sitting at his desk, looking as if he was trying to block out the woman's voice. His face burned with...embarrassment? Gibbs, on the other hand, was listening with rapt attention, a faint smile on his lips.

Kate inched closer, unnoticed by any of the four. She came in in the middle of the story.

"So our parents left me in charge, right? Well, I was getting his bath ready when the phone rang. I answer it, leaving the room for not even a minute. When I get back," she dropped her voice to a whisper and Kate missed the next part. Abby sniggered and Tony's face turned a bright shade of red. The woman suddenly increased her volume and Kate caught the punch line. "So I yelled, 'Tony, not in the bathtub!'"