A/N: Okay now, here come the last two rounds. I'm actually a little sad, that this is finished, I so enjoyed writing it.
You were all so kind, reviewing every chapter, Thanks a lot! And I would love you to give me a final feedback on this one.
X
She suddenly felt the urge to cry. She tried to pull her hands away and was surprised that he
let her go at once. She turned away and went back to the living room. This was too
embarrassing. She didn't want him to see her cry.
Gibbs picked up the glass of water she had poured and followed her. He sat down beside her on the sofa,
handed her the glass and rested his arms on his knees.
"Why didn't you tell me? I really thought you trust me." He sounded tired and sad. Kate
turned her head sideways and watched the man who was her boss. And the man she secretly
loved ever since she met him first on Air Force One.
"I do," she whispered, looking down at her hands again. "I just didn't want to bother you with
my problems. I thought I should be able to handle that on my own."
"Christ, Kate. I know I'm a bastard sometimes, but do you really think I don't care when I see
you suffer like you did the last days?"
Kate didn't answer.
"Megan told me everything VanHusen did to her. And she's going to testify. Abby will find
other women who worked with him. I want this guy out of business, Kate. Do you feel he
should be able to go on like that for ever?"
Kate shook her head.
Gibbs sat up and watched her closely.
"I want you to tell me what he did to you. There's no need to be ashamed. I'm your boss, ok,
but I'm your friend too, you know?"
"And I want to be much more than just a friend," he added in his thoughts.
"It's not easy," she sighed.
"I know. Take your time."
And Kate started to tell him about her hell at work. At first, she carefully thought about the
right words to give an objective report, but once she'd started it all spluttered out of her.
She told him how VanHusen had looked at her, about the remarks he had made. She tried to
explain how helpless she'd felt when he'd caught her without anyone else around and kissed
her and touched her in the most embarrassing way. She told him about VanHusen calling her
at home, torturing her with detailed descriptions of what he would do with her the next time
they were alone. And about the way her superiors had reacted when she finally had the
courage to report what was going on.
Gibbs hadn't interrupted her once. He listened closely and at some time had started to stroke
her hair.
She felt completely exhausted when she was finished, but also somehow relieved.
Gibbs reached out and gave her a short, reassuring hug.
"We'll have to write that down. But not now. It's time for you to get some sleep."
Kate got up.
On her way to her bedroom she turned around.
"Could you stay for a while?"
"Don't worry, Kate, I'll be here."
When Kate had left, he stretched out on the sofa. He wasn't picky about where he slept.
This was just fine. He thought about Kate, too aware that she was in the other room, so close,
but out of reach for him. He more than anything else wanted to hold her and protect her, now
that she'd let down her guard in his presence.
He'd just dozed off, when he felt her presence. She was standing in the doorway, looking at
him, not moving, not saying a word.
He sat up.
"Are you ok?"
"I can't close my eyes without seeing him…"
"Anything I can do?"
She blushed a little and looked down at her feet.
"Would you hold me for a while?"
Gibbs was on his feet and standing in front of her in one fluid motion. She shied away a little
on his fast approach.
Gibbs waited a second before he reached out and gently lifted her chin with his right hand.
"Anything, Katie," he softly said. "Anything, anytime."