Title: Sweet Dreams

Rating: still PG-13

Disclaimer: Do I look like DPB? That's right, didn't think so.

A/N: I'm so sorry that this has taken so unbelievably long, but I got my computer privileges taken away for 8 weeks, then when I got it back I got lazy, and beside that I wanted to catch up on reading all of the stories that had been written since I had last been online. So I finally got off my ass today when I caught a bad cold from one of the kids I baby sit, and here's chapter 4! (It's about time too…)

A/N2: ::sigh:: I couldn't help myself. This chapter contains the lyrics to the song from Phantom of The Opera, "Past the Point of No Return". (Though, mind you, the bits and pieces of lyrics are not in order, they have been arranged to suit my needs.:))

Chapter 4: The Point of No Return

Gibbs moved to the door of the stairwell, took a deep breath, and opened it. He could now hear footsteps echoing from several flights up, followed by a very loud bang. He raced up toward the source of the noise, taking the stairs 2 at a time. The door to the top floor of the government building was soon in his sight, as well as a small female form huddled against it.

"It's locked," Kate choked out. Gibbs knelt beside her, taking her hand in his. When he spoke, his voice was unusually calm and comforting.

"Listen to me Katie," her head snapped up at the use of the nickname, "I didn't hear anything back there. Believe me when I say that I have no idea what's going on. So please, don't be upset." He rubbed his free hand up and down her back reassuringly, and the contact sent chills down her spine.

"But Gerald-"

"Gerald's a good guy. He won't tell anyone whatever he may have heard."

She inwardly sighed. He was just being a good friend, nothing more. She was kidding herself about his feelings for her. To think that he liked her as something more than a friend was only wishful thinking on her part. She shook her head.

"Gibbs, I appreciate this, really, but please go. You have better things to do than sit here with me."

"Like what?" he challenged. She froze. Should I bring it up? Should I tell him that he really should be with her, whoever she may be? He sighed, and sat on the floor, pulling her into his lap and holding her against his chest. He felt her stiffen in his embrace.

"Gibbs-"

"Kate, I don't mind sitting with you at all. I have nowhere to be that's more important than where I am now," he reassured her. She sighed, and relaxed into his embrace.

Past all thought of "if" or "when" -

no use resisting:

abandon thought,

and let the dream descend . . .

Her mind screamed at her, telling her to back away before she emotionally went over the edge… but she ignored it and allowed herself to enjoy the moment that would certainly never happen again.

Past the point of no return

the final threshold -

the bridge is crossed,

so stand and watch it burn . . .

She knew it now. As she buried her face in his chest, she knew exactly what she'd wanted to avoid at all costs had happened. She was past the point of no return.

Abby bounded out of the elevator, Gerald in tow, soon to be greeted by one of Tony's famed mega-watt smiles.

"Well hello Abbs, Gerald," he nodded to the assistant medical examiner, acknowledging his presence, before looking back at Abby again. "What brings you to the bullpen on this fine day, I wonder?" Abby giggled, but turned serious again.

"Have you seen Kate or Gibbs?" The brunette agent frowned, and his air of playfulness diminished slightly.

"No…" he paused, looking at the clock. "But now that you've mentioned it, I haven't seen either one of them for a long time." He glanced worriedly at Abby and Gerald. "What happened?" The two visitors exchanged looks, and a silent agreement was made that they would only tell him half the truth. The Goth made her way over to his desk, and lowering her voice, she told him only what he needed to know-- basically, that she and Kate had gotten into a yelling match, some things were said very loudly that Kate didn't want everyone to know, and it turns out Gibbs may have heard a lot of it.

Tony raised an eyebrow mischievously.

"Oh no, there is no way I'm telling you what was said. Uh-uh. No way José." Tony looked at her as if to protest. However, showing that (contrary to popular belief) he actually had some respect for Kate, he bowed his head in defeat.

Who knows how long later, Kate was still wrapped up in Gibbs's arms on the floor of the stairwell. If the hard, cold linoleum was bothering Gibbs, he wasn't letting it show. She sighed, knowing that she had to end it soon, or she would say (or, god forbid, do) something stupid. She lifted her head away from him, and sat up a little straighter. Immediately missing his warmth, she fought the urge to cuddle back up with him, and instead softly cleared her throat. Don't back down now, she told herself. As hard as it may be, do not back down.

"Listen, Gibbs," she gathered the courage to look up into his intense blue eyes. But what she saw there made her voice catch in her throat. The eyes that were normally icy and cold were warm, and full of caring, understanding, sympathy, and was that-- no, no it couldn't be. The little voice in the back of her head chose this moment to put in it's two cents worth: You've read eyes wrong before, Kate. This is just another one of those times. In a rush of reality, Kate realized that Gibbs was still patiently waiting for her to finish her sentence. She swallowed, and picked up where she left off. "You should really be with… you know…" she started a staring contest with the floor "…the woman you were… uhh… talking about in your sleep." There, she thought, I did it. It's over. I've gotten it out of my system.

"But I am with her." He stated simply. Kate resisted the urge to believe she had understood him correctly. He didn't mean it that way-- he misspoke. He meant "with her" as in he was dating her… right?

"No, Gibbs, I mean 'with her' like you need to take her to lunch or something, you know, like--" he silenced her by placing a finger on her lips. She was still intently studying that speck of something on the floor. That is, she was, until he cupped her face in his hands and tilted it toward his, giving her no choice but to look at him.

"Kate, I want you to know that the beautiful, funny, incredibly intelligent woman I was talking about in my sleep…" she felt her heart breaking with every word. This was cruelty in its worst form. "… is you."

She gasped, and felt the tears stinging her eyes. When she saw that he looked worried, she realized how much of an emotional leap that was, for him to be able to admit that. A smile broke out on her now tear-streaked face, and she threw her arms around his neck. After a few seconds of sobbing into his shoulder, she felt his strong arms wrap around her back, and he whispered into her ear, "I love you, Katie."

Past the point of no return -

no backward glances:

the games we've played till now

are at an end . . .

She tilted her head, so that the lips that were so close to her ear only seconds before were now less than an inch away from her own. "I love you too, Gibbs."

What raging fire shall flood the soul?

What rich desire unlocks its door?

What sweet seduction lies before us . . .?

Their lips met, and the world around them seemed to disappear. One of his hands found its way to the back of her neck, pulling her closer to him, allowing him to deepen the kiss. He shifted sideways so that she was between him and the wall, and without once breaking the kiss, pinned her to it with his body.

Past the point of no return -

no going back now:

our passion-play has now,

at last, begun . . .

They kissed passionately, a year of pent up desire spilling out all at once, threatening to overwhelm them.

Past all thought of right or wrong -

one final question:

how long should we two wait,

before we're one . . .?

Kate was the one who eventually broke the kiss, burying her face into Gibbs's neck. Neither said a word, for words were no longer needed.

Past the point of no return,

the final threshold -

what warm, unspoken secrets will we learn?

Beyond the point of no return . . .

She smiled to herself, wondering what Tony would say if he could see them right then.

Past the point of no return

the final threshold -

the bridge is crossed,

so stand and watch it burn . . .

We've passed the point of no return . . .

A/N: So, what did you think? I hope it lived up to your expectations… Please review and let me know if you liked it or not, and also give me your opinion on this: do you think I should write a 5th Chapter/Epilogue?? (I think it would take place in the bullpen, wrapping up the Tony/Abby/Gerald thing, mostly.) OK, GO REVIEW!!!