Disclaimer: Not mine.
A/N: Yes, the apparently long-anticipated ending of "Fire Me, Or…" Anyhow, I had to put a lot of thought into this. I wondered, what would Tony do if given a chance to actually date Kate? Not flirt with, not ask out, actually date? Where she couldn't get away from him. Add "Caught On Camera" (which, in my insane universe, has happened at this point in time) flirting to the mix… Oh, dear God, there goes my imagination. If anyone sees it, will you let me know?
Fire Me, Or…Kate couldn't believe how dressed up everyone was. As she walked into the large rented hall on Tony's arm, the room before her dazzled her eyes with its brilliance. Men in tuxedos led women in brightly colored gowns past the golden drapes that hung from the walls. Her survey of the stunning array of people was interrupted by Tony's low voice.
"Can I ask you to dance?"
Kate raised a hand to the neckline of her dress self-consciously. Truth be told, she was feeling slightly unattractive compared to some of the incredibly elegant women she could see around her. Some of them were eyeing Tony, too, which only served to make her more uncomfortable. She had the horrible feeling that he was going to leave in the middle of this mandatory assignment and leave her alone while he went off and got some debutante's phone number. Might as well enjoy his company while he was still offering it. "Sure."
As he led her to the dance floor, Tony couldn't understand the look in her eyes. It looked almost… embarrassed. Why would she be embarrassed? She was gorgeous, and her well-defined muscles looked better to him than the skinny model-types who seemed to be the norm here. They had to be trophy wives, he decided. Nothing else would explain the overabundance of jewels and the lack of brain cells that appeared to prevail throughout the room.
"Hey, Tony?"
"Yeah, Kate?" With his arms wrapped around her waist and hers around his neck, they were in the perfect position to talk quietly.
"Were you serious? About the whole men and women can't just be friends thing?" The look on her face made him really think about his answer. She wasn't kidding.
"Honestly, it's never worked for me. And I hate to break it to you, but most married men who invite single women out for dinner with their wives aren't looking for companionship."
"I guess you're right." She looked slightly upset. "I mean, for crying out loud, that Sheriff even said that he wanted to have dinner with me WITHOUT his wife." The idea seemed to be getting to her. Tony felt like beating the crap out of the sheriff.
"Well, he's scum."
"Yeah, but look at the soldier! He trusted his wife when he was out defending the country and she betrayed him! She slept with his best friend."
"Well, again, scum. Kate, in this profession, we see the exceptions." He held her gaze steadily. "We see the people who kill for no reason at all. We see the small percentage of military personnel who do drugs, or launder money, or whatever. Most people aren't like that."
"I guess." She didn't look at all convinced. The song ended, and Tony led her over towards Abby and Gibbs.
"Hey, Abby. Boss."
"DiNozzo." Gibbs nodded curtly.
Abby grinned up at him. "So, kissed Kate yet?" Both Kate and Tony gaped at her. She giggled, wrapping her arm through Gibbs'. "You mean to tell me you didn't consider it? Stop looking like fish, you two."
Tony was about to respond when Kate beat him to it.
"Tony's not interested in me. He knows me." Her smile was slightly stiff, but Tony, being Tony, didn't notice.
Abby disentangled herself from Gibbs and grabbed Tony's arm. "Can I have a word with you?" She pulled him off as fast as she could move in her heels and dress. "What was that about?"
Tony sighed. "She asked if I thought she was attractive, I said yes. She said something along the lines of 'But you've never…' and it was pretty clear what she meant. I said no, I knew her. And then we went back to interrogation."
Abby whacked him upside the head after checking to make sure Kate couldn't see what they were doing. "Are you nuts? You blew a perfectly good chance to tell Kate how you felt about her! For crying out loud, must you be so dense all the time?"
"I don't know how I feel about her, so how can I tell her?"
Abby gave him an incredulous look. "You're in love with her Tony. It's obvious to me, it's obvious to McGee, hell, even Gibbs has mentioned that he's tired of you 'keeping your head up your ass instead of doing something about it'."
Tony did his fish impression again. "But… but… I thought rule twelve was no dating other agents!"
Abby snorted. "Come on. Gibbs thinks of you guys like the kids he never had. You make her happy. Go for it."
He shook his head. "It wouldn't work. She doesn't think of me that way. She thinks I'm a playboy with no problem chasing everything in a skirt."
Abby tilted her head up at him. "Then don't you think it hurts that you don't really chase her?" He looked at her blankly. "Like you said, you chase everything in a skirt. Except for Kate. That's a little hard on a woman's ego."
"I flirt with her!" Tony couldn't believe he was having this conversation with Abby.
"But you don't do what you do with other women. With other women, you don't comment on how they know what porn stars look like, you don't make incredibly sexual jokes. You actually flirt, because you actually want them to go out with you. You just have fun annoying Kate. And that makes her feel like you don't really find her attractive." She turned him around and pushed him in his date's general direction. "Go on, kiss her and get rid of that tension that's been building for months. You're making it hard to work in the office."
Another slow song had started, and Tony held out his hand to Kate as Gibbs went to fetch Abby. "Hey, can I get another dance?"
"Sure."
As he pulled her into his arms again, Tony tried to plan out what he was going to say. How do you tell a coworker that you're in love with her? That despite the fact that you have dated practically every woman in the city you really want to date her. And despite said reputation, you were ready to settle down with her, because you really didn't like any of the other women you've dated. He finally figured that simple was always the best.
"Hey, Kate?"
"Yeah?"
"I lied, earlier."
"About what?"
"Look, when I said men and woman couldn't be platonic friends, I was speaking from experience. In fact, you were the only woman I ever really made friends with without dating. But what I lied about was when you asked me if I'd ever ask you out. Look, I do know you, and you're just the sort of person my mother always dreamed I'd find. You're calm, level-headed, funny, smart, athletic, and you're incredibly beautiful." At this, she blushed. He took a deep breath to finish. "I didn't ask you out before because I was afraid you'd be exactly what I was looking for. It sounds stupid to say I was scared of commitment, but I was. I was worried you'd expect it to be a short-term thing and move on when I wanted it to last. That's why I never asked you out. So, since I've been waiting too long to do it…" He held her head in both hands so she was forced to look at him. "Caitlin Todd, will you go to dinner with me sometime?"
She blinked several times, hard. Tears welled up in the bottom of her eyes at his sincere words, and when she spoke she was obviously working really hard to keep her voice steady. "Wow, that's a one-eighty from earlier."
"Well, earlier, I didn't have Abby telling me how much of an idiot I am for passing up a chance to date you…" He grinned, but was acutely conscious of the fact that she still hadn't answered his question. "At least, a date not ordered."
"God, I think I love Abby now." Kate wiped her eyes furiously. "Yes, Tony, I'd like to go to dinner with you sometime."
Tony wanted to whoop, but he contented himself with wrapping his arms more tightly around her waist and kissing her lightly on the forehead. "I promise you that you will not regret this."
She smiled up at him. "I better not. Otherwise, your voice will be several octaves higher for a while."
He winced playfully. "What did I just get myself into?"
Kate wrapped her arms around his neck and placed her head on his chest. "I dunno, but I like it so far."
"Me too, Kate, me too."
A/N: There! Done! Ok, do people want a sequel? Because I suppose I could write about the first date or something, but I'll need some ideas. Leave a review with an idea for a place Tony would take Kate for a first date if you want to see a sequel.