Tony gingerly lowered himself into his chair. Two days later, and his side was still sore. He looked at the stack of paperwork on his desk and sighed.
"DiNozzo."
The voice behind him startled him, and made him jump. He rolled his eyes at himself for being so jumpy. He pasted a smile on his face, and swiveled his chair around to face Gibbs.
"Something wrong? I detect an air of…reluctance about you." Gibbs raised his eyebrows threateningly. "I could always just send you home for a few more days to, you know-"
"No thanks, boss, I almost went stir-crazy as it was, cooped up in my apartment alone for a couple of days. You can only watch so many 'Happy Days' reruns before wanting to put your eyes out in an attempt to end to your misery, you know." Tony rolled his eyes at the mere memory.
"What, DiNozzo? I would have thought that laying on your ass for a few days would be your definition of happiness."
Tony snorted as Gibbs began to walk away. "I'm going to ignore that oh-so-subtle insinuation."
"By the way, DiNozzo," Gibbs turned around, "nice job out there."
Tony's mouth dropped open. Gibbs just gave me a compliment? Compliments and Gibbs just don't go together in one sentence. "Did anyone else hear that?" he asked.
Kate, who had been watching the whole conversation from her desk, put an innocent look on her face. "Hear what?" She asked, barely able to keep the smile off her face. "Tony, if you're hearing voices, maybe you should go in for an ear exam when you go back to get your stitches taken out." She couldn't keep her face straight anymore and laughed.
"Very funny, Kate." He pursed his lips together, cocked his head to one side, and looked at her fondly. She was so beautiful when she laughed. Her eyes sparkled as they met his. Their eyes locked. He caught his breath. God, she is stunning.
"Umm…Kate?"
Kate looked away from Tony quickly and looked up to see Abby at her side. "Uh, yeah…I…um…what?" she asked, a little flustered.
Abby raised her eyebrows. "Well, I have reports for all of the trace I got off of the dead sailor for you."
Kate took the papers. "Ok. Thanks, Abby."
Abby leaned down and whispered. "Don't think you're getting out of it that easily. Later, you're going to tell me everything."
"Ok, just…don't tell anyone, Abby…especially not Gibbs. Ok?"
Abby snorted. "You think I'm stupid or something? Don't worry…your secret is safe with me!"
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It was lunchtime. Tony stretched, and grimaced a little. Ouch. Damn stitches. He straightened all of the papers on his desk and looked up at Kate. He caught her eye. "Lunch?" he mouthed. She nodded.
Kate stood up, and announced casually, "I'm going out to lunch, anybody want to come with?"
Tony stood up. "That sounds good. I'll come with you." He picked up his jacket and put it on.
McGee looked up. "I'll go."
Tony let out his breath with a hiss. "I'm sorry McGee, but I just can't be seen with you in public…you understand. It's a matter of…reputation." He grinned, grabbed Kate's arm, and they left together.
McGee looked confused. "What's going on with those two? Something I don't know about?" He asked Abby, who was nearby.
She nodded, grinning. "They're in love! Can't you tell? They are so cute together. Isn't Tony dreamy?"
McGee snorted.
"What? He's HOT!" Abby exclaimed, laughing.
Gibbs' head appeared around the corner. "Just tell them to keep it out of the office, ok, Abbs? Thanks." And he was gone. Tony and Kate. Gibbs had always been aware of the sexual tension between the two. Who hadn't noticed? He'd noticed a change in Tony since he'd fallen for Kate. Not a big change, but a change nonetheless. He'd been less flighty, less airheaded, and had become a little more responsible. This was a good thing. He was actually kind of pleased that they'd gotten together. They were both like son and daughter to him.
As Gibbs walked away, Abby clapped her hand over her mouth, eyes wide. "Oops!"
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After lunch, Tony and Kate walked down the sidewalk side by side, stealing glances at one another and holding hands, almost shyly. Kate was the first one to break the silence. "Tony, can I ask you something?"
He looked sideways at her. "Sure. Shoot."
She fumbled with her words, as if they were something she couldn't quite manage to spit out. "Would you say…I mean, do you think…do you think I'm attractive?"
He looked at her in surprise. "What? What would make you ask that? Of course I think you're attractive!"
She hastened to explain. "I mean, you used to flirt with any pretty face you saw, but you never flirted with me, or asked me out. Why?"
He stopped walking, and pulled her in front of him. "Do you want to know why? It's because you are so beautiful, so smart, so sexy, so incredible, that I never thought you would ever want to be with someone like me. I think I've been in love with you since I really got to know you. And you know what that tells me? Your looks are not the reason I fell in love with you…even though you are beautiful, don't get me wrong…I fell in love with you because you are smart, strong, and you make me feel alive inside. I love you for everything you are, Caitlin Todd." He leaned down, drew her to him, and kissed her softly but passionately, in the middle of the sidewalk. It was a kiss that made her lips tingle and her stomach quiver, but it was also a kiss that made her feel so completely loved. When they finally broke apart, she whispered into his neck contentedly, "I love you too."
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Tony unlocked the door to his somewhat lavish, somewhat messy apartment. He put his keys on the table, sorted through his mail. His fingers brushed fondly across a picture of himself and Kate that had been taken a month or so ago. When they were just friends. He smiled as he thought of the kiss they'd shared earlier. The feelings that were taking him over slowly were unlike anything he'd ever felt before, for anyone. He was gladly drowning in her, welcoming the rush of emotions that left him feeling so alive. She is so beautiful…
He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't notice the man behind him until a rag was shoved over his mouth and nose, and the liquid fumes sent him spiraling into black nothingness…
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Haha, the angst begins! Thanks for all the reviews. They motive me to write more quickly, so I thank all of you. Please continue to R and R!
