A/N: Okay, I'm sorry to everyone who I was supposed to send this to, but it's kind of hot off the press, and I've been told that I should post as a Christmas present for you guys... Could I not have gotten one more measly review on this? Just one... ::sigh:: Oh well, here you go!

The next few days were rough for Kate. She couldn't bother Abby this time- and she knew it all too well. She couldn't tell Gibbs, as he would undoubtedly make her take some time off, and that was the last thing she needed. She could have told Tony more about it, but she really didn't want him to know that she was still having trouble sleeping. She kept telling herself that it didn't matter- after all; he would probably just make some stupid remark about how he could probably find a way to get her to sleep.

So she did what anyone else in her place would have done. She drank as much coffee and caffeine filled drinks as she could force down her throat and took a bath every single night so that she could at least put on the air of being relaxed. Sure, she still looked like hell, but at least she was awake- not that she had any choice in the matter.

Tony looked at his partner worriedly. Ever since Kate had told him about her problems with sleeping, he had been keeping a close eye on her. He had no excuse, other than the fact that he was worried about her. It was obvious to him that she still wasn't sleeping- and he wished that there was something he could do to help her.

Even Gibbs had noticed her sudden lack of enthusiasm. Of course, if he hadn't noticed that, the dark rings around her bloodshot eyes should have been a dead give away. He had asked Tony about it, thinking that Kate would rather turn to him than her boss. But Tony had told him that he didn't know either. And he didn't- to an extent. If Gibbs ever found out that he knew, he would probably be boiled in oil- but, for some reason that not even Tony knew, he really didn't care. Gibbs could fire his ass for all he cared right now.

Gibbs looked up at his two junior agents and sighed. Tony knew something- he had to. He refused to keep his eyes off of Kate. Sure, she was attractive enough, but he had had enough time to stare at her when she was better looking.

"Hey Kate- want some coffee?" asked Tony, hoping to have an excuse to escape the all knowing gaze of his boss.

She looked up at him with a glare. "Why? Does it look like I need coffee?"

He shook his head quickly. "Of course not, I was just going to get me some and I thought maybe you'd want some."

"You can get me some DiNozzo…" Gibbs told him, hoping to break the tension in the room.

Kate sighed angrily. "Yeah, okay, I'll have some too."

Gibbs looked at her. "Okay Kate- he's gone. Now, tell me what happened."

Kate looked up at him. "What do you m- There's nothing to tell…" Nothing to tell, nothing to tell, nothing to tell- the words seemed to echo in her head.

"Then go and talk to Abby…" he suggested.

Kate laughed scornfully. "Right- so that you can go to her afterwards and get her to tell you? I think not…"

Gibbs gave her a funny look. "You know, don't you?" It really wasn't a question- it was more of an acknowledgement.

"No, Gibbs, I don't…" she told him sarcastically. "Come on! Who doesn't know?"

"I didn't think anyone knew." Gibbs raised his eyebrows. "So Abby told you?"

Kate shook her head. "Don't be stupid; Abby was probably the one who wanted to keep it a secret in the first place. And you'll be the typical male who wants the entire world to know about his latest sex toy."

"Kate! Abby and I are not having sex. Honestly, what's gotten into you?"

"Nothing, I just-" No, she was not going to tell Gibbs too. "Good for you and Abby…" She made a half-hearted attempt to change the subject.

Gibbs decided to change tactics on Kate in the hopes of finding out what was wrong, though he knew he had a better chance getting it out of Tony. "Why? You want some too?"

"Not just no, but Hell NO!" She threw him a disgusted look.

"Well, good…" Okay, that was stupid of you Jethro.

"Yeah, it is good…" she retorted with a flashing glare.

Tony arrived with three cups of coffee. He set one on Gibbs desk and one on Kate's desk before sitting down with his own cup. "I have no idea what you guys are talking about, but I'll I agree with Kate and say that it must be very good."

Gibbs bit back a smirk and stood up, coffee in hand. "Well, I'm going to go and see Ducky… You two can finish up here and then leave."

Kate watched as he left the bullpen. "Ducky my ass! I'll be damned to hell if I don't know where he's really going…" she muttered hotly.

Tony grinned as he took a sip of coffee. "You don't believe him? Why not?"

Kate looked at the top of her coffee. To tell or not to tell, that is the real question… She decided to keep her best friend's secret- for now anyways. "Ah- never mind, I'm just going mental, that's all."

He looked at her carefully for a moment. "How mental?"

"Trust me- you have no idea, nor do you want to know."

"Mental enough to come with me to get some food?"

She frowned. "Like, on a date? Sorry Tony, but I haven't gone that mental…"

"Not on a date, just for food…" He sighed. "We used to go out for lunch and dinner all of the time Kate, what happened?"

Oh wow Kate- what did happen? Hmmm… Let's see. Where do we start? Abby's confrontation- but no, you knew you liked him way before that. Gibbs' confrontation? Nope- you knew before that too. No, it probably had to be since after he had almost died. Now why on earth would that push you away Katie? Oh, wait, that's right. Because you were too damn stubborn to make sure he was okay and, next time, you're also going to be too stubborn to do anything about it. And the time after that, and the time after that, and every time from now on- until you're just too late. And then there won't be a Tony for you to swoon over. Actually, maybe that's not such a bad idea...

"Kate?"

"Nothing 'happened'; we just don't do it anymore…"

"Okay, okay. I get it…" He looked away dejectedly.

"No, Tony- that's the problem. You just don't get it!" She sighed and put her head down on her desk. Sleep, sleep, sleep- please, God, just let me sleep!

"Well, maybe I would if you'd actually talk to me. You talk to Gibbs and Abby…"

"Oh, please Tony; when was the last time I went to talk to Abby? And since when have I ever talked to Gibbs? Gibbs doesn't even listen!"

"Kate, everybody would listen to you- if you'd talk to them. But you don't, and we know better than to push it…" He sighed. "Look, if you want to come and get some food with me, you're still more than welcome to, but if you don't, I'll go."

Kate nodded and stood up slowly. For a moment Tony thought she was actually going to come with him and his heart leapt. Maybe he could actually get her to open up to him. And then she could get some help…

"Well, what are you waiting for? Go…" Kate glared at his vacant expression.

Tony shook his head. "You're not coming then?"

She shook her head and picked up her purse with one hand and her coffee with the other. "No, I'm not. I'm going to go home and take a bath and then I'm going to go to bed."

Tony nodded. He wasn't used to rejection, but he could take it. Okay, well, he couldn't take it- but he'd put up with it for Kate. Hell, he'd do anything for Kate… It was just a matter of her asking. Still, maybe he should tell her one more time. "You know, if you ever want to talk to me, I'm only a phone call away… You have my cell phone number."

"And why would I want to talk to you? You're not my boyfriend and I don't call guys just to chat. Nice try though…" she scoffed.

"Ouch Kate… You win, I'm going." He turned around sadly and headed for the parking lot.

Kate watched him, horrified. Oh my God, what was I thinking? He was only trying to help! And, let's face it, right now, you could sure you use some 'help', couldn't you Katie? But now look what you've done- you've pushed him away from you. You know he won't put up with it forever… She wanted to run after him- to call him back and apologize. She wanted to throw her arms around him and pour her heart out to him. Without thinking, she rushed off to get in the elevator with him.

"Did you change your mind? Or did you think of another insult that you forgot to throw at me?" asked Tony bitterly as the doors shut behind her. He was hurt, but trying his hardest to hide behind his 'tough guy' exterior.

Rather than using that as an opening for an apology, she turned to him angrily. "Yeah, well, it's your own fault… You're just too easy to insult." Kate, what the hell are you doing? He just gave you the perfect opportunity, and what did you do? That's right- you insulted him even further! Some person you are…

"Okay, fine- you don't want to talk to me… I can deal with that. But- not that you'll care- I'm still worried about you."

"Don't be! There's nothing to worry about, other than the fact that I work with a bunch of assholes. And if you want to fix that then you and Gibbs can quit!"

The elevator dinged and they got out.

"Bye Kate…" he muttered softly as she walked away, her head held high.