A/N: The chapters are getting more difficult to write for my, that's why it takes longer to update them. My apologies for the long wait. Another much needed conversation in this one. For the first time it's going to be about their feelings for each other. The chapter is a bit shorter than the others. I have no idea how to end this fic yet so if anybody has any ideas. I'm still not sure how far things are going to go between Gibbs and Kate. A part of my would like them to express their feelings for each other(that'll probably also happen) yet I'm not sure if I was more than that or just admitting they have feelings for each other and leave it at that. What do you think? I'm thinking about concluding this fic in about two chapters but that all depends on the inspiration and the direction this fic is going to take. Like I said before, thoughts and ideas are very welcome. Please R&R!

Chapter twelve

Kate woke up feeling disoriented. She was lying on a couch, she couldn't remember doing that. She also realized she was inside. Last thing she remembered was sitting outside, reading her book.

"Hey". She heard a familiar voice greet her from her left.

She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and looked his way. Apparently he had found a way to get inside while she was asleep.

He watched her wake up and was mesmerized by the way she lazily stretched. With her hair tousled, her eyes still sleepy, she looked beautiful. Why was he more and more aware of her beauty these last couple of days? Was it because he was afraid he was losing her? That he wanted to imprint the images in his mind? Was that how it was going to be? Watching her empty desk at NCIS headquarters? Remembering when she used to be there? He couldn't and didn't want to wait any longer. "Can we talk about this?" He asked her.

Kate noticed the anticipation in his eyes. She felt it too. She knew she couldn't hold this conversation off any longer. It wasn't fair for him, but that didn't mean it was easy. "I guess we should." Walking to the fire place, Kate ran a hand through her hair. She looked at him before she started. "Thank you for being honest with me. Thank you for your trust in me. It means a lot."

"You don't have to thank me."

"I do. I know I haven't been easy these last few days. It meant a lot to me that you came here. I'm pretty sure things would have been a lot different if you hadn't been here." She sighed and sat down on the couch again. "I know what you want to hear, Gibbs, but I don't know if it's what I want. I've still got some stuff to deal with before I know if I'm coming back."

"What kind of stuff?" He truly didn't know there were also other things on her mind. He thought this had all been about the explosion. Apparently there was more going on.

"This isn't just about the job anymore." She hesitated. If she was going to continue this conversation it was going to thread into their private lives. A boundary they had purposely put up between them. A boundary that shouldn't be crossed, afraid of the consequences.

He was confused and didn't know how to react. He sensed that this was an important moment. He saw it in Kate's eyes. This was going to end this conversation or was going to bring it to a whole other level. Was he ready for that? He was curious to what she meant. If it wasn't about the job, what else could it be? Was there even something else? He gave her a small nod, signalling her to continue.

"This has become so much more. It's become so complicated. I've seen something in your eyes, Gibbs. Something I haven't seen before. Or maybe it has always been there, but I chose to ignore it because that made it so much easier. Now I see it and I'm not sure what it means."

He was shocked. All this time he thought he'd hid his feelings for her. That she couldn't see it. He should have know she would see it. She knew him better than anybody else. She was the only one who could see it.

"Maybe it's for the best if I quit and walk away."

For Gibbs that simply wasn't an option. Standing up he walked towards her. "No, I don't want you to go."

"Are you sure? Wouldn't that make things a lot easier?" Kate turned to him.

"What do I have to do to convince you, Kate? I told you yesterday how I felt about this." He was surprised she was still unsure about his trust in her. He had been pretty clear yesterday.

Kate looked at him. In his eyes she could see he truly didn't know what she was saying. Maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe they weren't ready to have this conversation. After all sometimes ignorance was a bliss.

He saw the hesitation in her eyes. She was thinking about ending the conversation. He wasn't going to let her do that. They'd come this far, she was going to tell him what this was all about. "Why are you still hesitant?"

She took a deep breath before she continued. "Because this has become about you…and me. And where I stand with you. I don't know if being at NCIS would be wise for the both of us."

"What do you mean?" He had an idea where she was going with this. They were moving fast into his personal feelings for her. It was something he wasn't ready for yet.

"Sometimes I think I'm the only one who has problems with the boundaries we've put between us. I need to know where I stand with you. Where is it that you want me?"

"How can you ask me that?" He asked incredulously. "I already told you yesterday where I want you. I want you by my side, watching my back."

She was now standing before him, anger flashing in her eyes. She pointed at him. "As an agent yes. That's professional, but personally, where do you want me then?"

He took a step backwards. "What do you mean personal? This isn't personal. This is about you doubting your job."

"No it isn't and you damn well know that! What is it that I see in your eyes? Is that purely professional? I don't think so because Tony sure as hell wouldn't be pleased with that look pointed at him. Can we continue with the way things were between us? Continue denying that there's something more between us? I don't think I can do that anymore. I don't think I want to anymore. And if you want to keep denying your own feelings then go ahead, but count me out. I won't be a part of the team anymore."

TBC…