"You've reached Kate, leave a message."
She frowns at how boring it is but listens to the person that called.
"I figured you wouldn't be coming to the funeral. They raised you for eighteen years and you can't even pay them some respect?"
The women now yelling at Kate's machine is her sister, she never talks to her but knew that she would know Kate hadn't talked to their parents.
"That's typical, I knew once you left that you would not have a family. Now the two great people who raised you don't even get your attention when they're dead. You know even if you hated them they did still love you, you should at least pay them some respect."
The woman hangs up and the red light on the machine lights up. Kate grabs the keys off the table and the suitcases waiting by the door and walks out into the fading sunlight. It's only been an hour since Tony's unexpected visit and she figures that if he is going to check up on her again it won't be for a while. As she jumps in her car she looks out to the street, all her neighbors are gone at their jobs. She starts the car and heads to the airport figuring that anywhere is better than staying in her house.
Tony jumps in his car and follows Gibbs out of the parking lot, their cars separated and Tony starts to speed up, Gibbs looks back figuring on seeing Tony still there like always but he had disappeared.
As Tony heads for Kate's house Gibbs sits in his car driving to his home, counting on working on his boat with no interruptions. Tony not being behind him worried him a little but Kate not being at work or calling in worried him more. Each time he stops at a red light he glances behind him, hoping that Tony is just a few cars behind him. When Gibbs pulls into his driveway he sits in his car and stars at his wheel, he finally gives up and pulls out again and heads in the opposite direction.
As Gibbs pulls into an empty spot on the street he watches as Tony knocks on the door and yells Kate's name.
"DiNozzo."
Tony jerks his head in time to see Gibbs shut his car door and walk up behind him.
"Boss."
Tony knocks on the door again, calling for Kate and still not getting an answer.
"You hear anything?"
Tony shakes his head and starts to head back to his car.
"Where are you going?"
Tony turns around with a confused look on his face as he watched Gibbs take out a loose key from his pocket and fits it in the lock the door swings open easily.
"Emergencies."
Gibbs explains but it doesn't kill Tony's curiosity.
"Message."
Tony says and pushes the play button. The message from a very unhappy woman comes out of the speaker as the two continue through the house. Tony walks into the extra room and looks at the desk that sits at one corner of it. He stops and stares at a piece of paper sitting in the middle of it.
"Figured you'd come check in on me again so I thought I'd tell you that I went on vacation so you wouldn't think I was kidnapped or something. I'm probably on a plane right now depending on what time it is. Tell Gibbs I'm taking my sick days. I'll be back to work by the end of the week. I just have some things to do. I'll be fine. Signed, Kate Todd."
The letter ends with her signature and a smile drawn at the end of it.
"Gibbs?"
Tony said, he sounds a little worried. Gibbs comes running in and looks at the note that was written in Kate's handwriting and signed.
"Explains the empty closet."
Gibbs says as he turns around the room.
"You know what all the bottles are doing in the trash?"
Tony shakes his head.
"Ah... no boss."
He doesn't look Gibbs in the face just in case he can pick up on his lie. Gibbs nods and than shakes his head.
"Let's go, and call McGee."
Tony nods and follows Gibbs out the door; he takes out his cell phone and calls McGee for the third time in one day.
As Kate sits in a first class seat she types away on her laptop and continually looks at her watch. As the night goes on each person in the first class seats slowly fall asleep. The typing from her laptop soon becomes the only sound in the section other than the slow breathing of the sleeping passengers. The plane is planned to get to its destination by morning and from there she's getting a hotel room and ignoring all signs of life. Right now she's busy trying to figure out the different things she could tell Gibbs when she gets back so he doesn't get on her back too much. Kate looks out the window once more before closing her laptop and leaning back her seat just enough to get comfortable and closes her eyes.
TBC