Disclaimer: Don't own any of them
Spoilers: none

Pairing: Tony/Kate
Rated: PG

Chpt. 12

Kate was reluctant to leave their warm bed, especially the warm body that she was curled around, but she knew they had to get up, today was their last day at the spa and the last chance for them to at least find suspects.

"Tony, come on we have to get up." She nudged him in the shoulder and was answered by an incoherent mumble and his arms tightening around her waist, pulling her closer to him. Kate froze for a second, wondering what he was doing, partners weren't supposed to act like this, even undercover.

"Hey, sparky come on we need to get up." Kate attempted to extract herself from his arms but he just held her tighter. "Tony, seriously let go." She felt him loosen his arms slightly and she began to pull away, only to be pushed onto her back and his fingers tickling her stomach and ribs. She squirmed for awhile until breathless from laughter; Tony stood up and began walking towards the bathroom.

"I warned you last night Todd, that I was going to get you."

Since this was their last day, Tony and Kate skipped lunch in the dining room to say they had to pack.

Between bites of their salads Tony and Kate packed up their computers and files, locking them safely in a suitcase before packing up their clothes.

"Mrs. Orton was in my aerobics class this morning; she didn't say anything to me out of the ordinary or give me any weird looks, so I think we're in the clear."

"Mr. Orton was talking to one of the security people before we played tennis, but didn't act suspicious around me, so don't worry."

Suddenly Kate stopped and whipped around to face him, "Tony, I don't know why we were worried in the first place, the killers wouldn't pick a new victim this soon, and it's not in their profile."

"True, but I think they're getting antsy, they keep getting increasingly violent with each murder. Besides, we now have a feel for the area and the people who work at the spa, we're better suited now than we were before to catch these guys."

"Yea, but we still don't have any suspects or any motive."

"We still got to play husband and wife." Tony winked at her and was only met by her piercing glare. "Hey Kate, I'm only trying to look on the positive side of things."

"Let's just finish packing because we have appointments in twenty minutes." As Kate finished packing and setting aside the things she would need for tonight and tomorrow, she couldn't help thinking with a twinge of something that wasn't close to relief or happiness, that this was their last night together. She glanced at Tony as he was packing up his shirts, what would change and what would stay the same after this.

Four hours later Kate walked back into their cabin to find Tony towel drying his hair, "How come you took another shower? Didn't you take one after your mud wrap?"

"I still felt like I was covered in that stuff." Tony grimaced slightly as he finished drying his hair, when he looked back up he finally got a good look at Kate and his hand froze in mid-air. "Whoa Kate, you look amazing."

As a surprise the spa had setup appointments that each woman attending the formal dinner this evening have her hair and makeup done before the event. Kate's hair was falling in gentle waves on her shoulders and around her face, her makeup was simple but looked very elegant and sexy, leaving Tony trying to remember why he was not allowed to have a relationship with this woman.

Kate blushed slightly as she moved past Tony to get her dress out of the closet. This one was also black, like the one she had worn their first night at the spa, but this was strapless with a slit in the side that went up to her thigh, a little too bold for Kate but her sister had insisted on her buying it, telling her that she would never know when it would come in handy. "You better hurry up and get ready because we have to be over there in twenty minutes for the cocktail hour."

Tony was still pulling up his pants when Kate walked out of the bathroom and almost tripped over them when he saw her. 'This woman has got to stop doing this to me.' He thought as he stared at his partner and what she was wearing.

"You ready?" Kate fought back the urge to blush as Tony stared at her, practically with his mouth open. "Come on bubba, we've got to get going." She grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the door and out onto the path, as he slid his hand down to meet hers Tony began to wonder if anything would change after this, and if anything did what would it be?

During the cocktail hour Tony and Kate wandered through the room making small talk with those that they had become familiar with over their stay at the spa. They took in every inch of their surroundings, analyzed every waiter and every guest until finally Tony pulled her aside.

"See anything out of the ordinary?"

"Yea, the bald guy over there is wearing brown shoes with a black suit." Kate winked at Tony and was about to continue when they were interrupted.

"And what are you two love birds hiding from?" Mr. and Mrs. Orton were standing beside them grinning slyly.

Tony wrapped his arm around Kate's waist and pulled her against him, "Can't a man want to be alone with his gorgeous wife for a few minutes?"

"Of course, but I must confess that we came over here to get away from the Bontecou's, I'm afraid they'll get on our case about missing our appointments." Mr. Orton winked at Tony, who tried not to laugh and felt Kate stiffen against him.

"Oh don't worry about that, we've missed plenty of our appointments and they haven't said one word." Tony smiled down at Kate who looked up at him and tried to keep the color from rising in her cheeks. She saw something change in his eyes and he leaned down and brushed his lips ever so lightly against hers. A slight blush rose along her cheeks as she turned back toward the Orton's and attempted regain her composure.

'Damn you DiNozzo.' She thought as the Orton's continued to babble on about something that she couldn't quite understand because her mind was fixed on the man next to her, the man who was supposed to be her partner and not someone that she wanted to get to know in any other way.

Tony and Kate dined on a delicious meal and good conversation with those seated at their table. After dinner they danced almost every song until Kate began to feel tired and asked Tony if they could say their goodnights and go back to the cottage and get some sleep. On the way back she felt as if her body was turning to rubber but fought it as long as she could, holding onto Tony just like she had this whole weekend.

"Kate are you ok?" Tony could feel her putting her weight on him and prayed that they would get to the cottage soon because he too was feeling sleepy.

"I'm fine, just tired." She felt him wrap his arms around her tighter and she gave in to the feeling of his warmth, allowing herself to be guided back to their cottage.

When they got back to the cottage she went into the bathroom and quickly changed out of her dress and without bothering to hang it up threw it over a chair and climbed into bed beside Tony who had simply taken off his shoes and crawled into bed. His eyes were half closed and he couldn't remember the last time he had been so tired. He felt Kate's body close to his and he could see that she was already asleep, he was about to pull her into his arms when he realized too late what was happening.

"Kate," he voice slurred as he reached over to wake up his partner. "Kate wake up and get your gun." His eyelids were so heavy and the room was swimming in and out of focus, Kate was so out of it that she hadn't even moved away from him as he shook her. Giving up on waking his partner Tony rolled over and began to search for his cell phone, just then the power went out in the cottage. He fumbled blindly for his phone when he heard the door open and two sets of footsteps walking toward their bed. He fought to keep his eyes open as he gave up on his phone and instead turned back to Kate, only to find her spot on the bed empty.

"Kate," he whimpered helplessly as a rag smelling of chloroform was being pressed against his nose and mouth.

"Don't worry; we'll be taking good care of both of you." A woman's voice hissed sweetly in his ear as the rag was pressed harder against his face; Tony could feel the cold steel of a gun pressed into the back of his neck. From somewhere across the room he heard Kate whimper and begin to put up a struggle with whoever was holding her. With a last surge of strength Tony broke away from the chloroform soaked rag and swung blindly for his attacker until he hit something and heard her cry out and fall back. He ran to where Kate was being held and struck the assailant down before grabbing Kate's arm and pulling her with him, he heard the door open and people shouting. Guns went off and he pulled Kate onto the ground and lay on top of her, more shouting, he couldn't open his eyes. He felt hands pulling Kate away from him,

"Kate" he whispered as he struggled to keep hold of her before his whole world went black.