Kate feels like a coward.
She called in sick today - not placing the call to Gibbs but calling the Director instead, then asking Tony to deliver the message.
This is the easy way out, she knows, but she is not ready to face Gibbs. Not yet.
Lazily, her hands come to rest on top of her stomach. It's still early in the pregnancy for it to be rounded, but she still feels the life inside her, and she revels in it.
"What should I do, Little One?" she asks the life inside her, her hands moving up and down slowly. "I mean, he wants to marry me. I should have said yes, right? I mean, that's what's good for us, isn't it? You definitely deserve a family, and Gibbs will definitely be a great dad. I don't want to guilt him into marrying me though."
The throbbing in her head returns as she continues her one-sided conversation to the child inside her. Tiredly, she lays her head back on the couch and closes her eyes. Images after images of the night before fly in front of her. The surprise, the shock, the frustration, the guilt ... everything she experienced is now on display.
She is about to fall asleep on the couch when someone knocks at the door. Wearily, she turns away from it and hopes it will go away.
The knocks come back.
Groaning, she stands up and moves to open the door.
"Good evening, Caitlin. I hope I didn't wake you," her visitor says with a British accent, "but you need to eat, especially when you aren't feeling well, and I know for a fact that you don't eat well enough."
Kate smiles at her unexpected guest. Ducky has always been like a father to her, and she is glad he has decided to visit. She can use some company listening to his stories about old times. They fascinate her, sometimes.
"Here, you should have some of this soup. My mother's a wiz at making feel-good food," Ducky hands over the thermo and follows Kate to the kitchen.
Kate smiles at the older man looking in on her. She has been independent for so long that she's forgotten how good it feels to have someone to take care of her.
"Thank you, Ducky," she leans down to kisses him on his cheek. "I'm sure it's very good. I just don't think I have the stomach for food right now."
Ducky watches while Kate put the soup into a container and washing the thermo thoroughly.
"Now, Caitlin, tell Dr. Mallard what is wrong. Have you been to a doctor yet?
Kate pauses what she's doing and contemplates how to answer the doctor. She doesn't want to lie to someone who is actually looking out for her, but she is not yet ready to tell the truth yet.
"No, I haven't. I'm sure whatever it is, it will pass by fairly quickly," she states firmly. Hoping to stop Ducky from delving too deep, Kate hastily changes subject, "You want anything to drink? I've got juice, water, some Chinese sweet soup, and beer. I think I may have some scotch stack somewhere in the cabinet."
"I'll take some Chinese delicacy, if I may, dear," the medical doctor helps Kate getting the drinks ready and moves with her back to the living room.
Kate is settling in her couch, getting comfortable, when Ducky suddenly blurbs out, "Why aren't you wearing your ring, Caitlin?"
She almost chokes on her juice. Taking a few deep breaths to calm herself down, she asks with a hoarse voice, "What ring?"
"The one Jethro bought you on your birthday," the medical doctor states matter-of-factly. "I've never seen him spend so long in a store before; almost drove the poor salesgirl insane."
Ducky looks up to see the face of a shocked woman, and he smiles before setting his drink on the coffee table.
"I ... " Kate stammers and quickly shakes her head. "You know what, Ducky, I'm getting quite tired. Must be the meds I took."
"You shouldn't take pills just like that, dear, not when you are not sure what's wrong with you," he chides softly, keeping up the play with the agent.
"I ... I guess I'll go to bed now, Ducky," she tries to sound apologetic, but her heart's beating too fast for her to think. "Stay and finish your drink, and just close the door when you're going out, alright?"
The medical doctor nods, "I'll just slide the key back into the apartment, okay, dear?"
"Yes, that's fine," she responds and takes off to her room.
Ducky stays to finish his drink and washes both glass before taking Kate's spare key and getting his jacket on. His mother will enjoy this latest story of his colleagues, he's sure. He closes the door behind him and slides the key inside the apartment, as he said he would, and leaves the building humming. Mission accomplished.