Disclaimer: NCIS is not mine nor are the characters.

AN: Thanks for the reviews guys! Keep them coming and the story will keep coming! Glad everyone is enjoying it! Its one of those that refused to die in my head so I had to write it down to keep from going crazy :-D.dark rolling sea

Chapter Three: Hidden Sides

After a short ride they arrived at Gibbs' house. The ride was done in almost complete silence and it was a little awkward for Kate. She followed behind the two of them as Gibbs carried Hunter into the house with Jeb close behind him. She watched as Gibbs put Hunter on the couch and covered him with a blanket, the boy finally asleep again. Jeb leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. Kate saw Gibbs eye him up and down. The look of a protective father given to a son that didn't know he needed protection. Finally Gibbs walked up to Jeb.

"Hey, tell me what the hell happened?" Gibbs said in a low voice. Jeb looked up, and Kate saw the need for approval in his eyes. Gibbs apparently saw it too and pulled Jeb into an embrace. Kate turned and left the living room, making her way into the kitchen to give them more room.

She didn't know how long it had been but a good amount of time had passed. She looked up when she heard someone coming towards her. It was Jeb and he looked emotionally drained. He offered a small smile and Kate returned it.

She studied him a moment, his red hair cut short and spiked, his eyes a dark shade of blue. He was short, just barely five six she thought, and had an athletic build to him. She could tell he was stronger than he looked from the way he carried himself, and the display she saw at the safe house. He stared at the wall a moment before turning towards Kate and looking at her. She averted her eyes quickly.

"You must be pretty special to him," Jeb said quietly. His statement shocked Kate and it showed on her face. "Just the way he…acts around you. And the fact that he brought you with him."

"Brought me with?"

"When I signaled for help."

"You mean today?"

"Yes, anyone else and I'm sure he would have dumped them."

"There was no where to dump."

"Sure there was. Don't deny it he would dump someone on the side of the road if need be. He would have done that to Tony or McGee."

"You know Tony and McGee?"

"Only what he tells me. But you, he talks differently about you," Jeb said and then realized he might be saying too much so he looked away. Kate was studying him again, wondering how Gibbs must have reacted to Jeb the first time he realized who he was. Jeb looked up and smiled. Kate looked away quickly.

"It's ok. I know it must be a shock," he said quietly. Kate nodded not sure what to say. "Ducky is the only one that knows, well about Jake and I. No one knows about Hunter, except you now."

"Why?"

"The way he wanted it. Didn't want people to know he existed I guess."

"Has he been a part of your life since you were…"

"Little? No. But it wasn't his fault. He didn't know."

"Know about what?"

"Who is more correct. My mom never let him know."

"About you two?"

"Right, it was a…short term relationship. And she didn't really know who he was. So when he was gone she didn't know how to contact him. She told everyone it was a one-night stand and she didn't know his name. Of course granddad was angry but he got over it."

"So how did he find you?"

"He didn't. I found him. After my da…after Declan died."

"Who's Declan?"

"Declan McPherson."

"Ah, the last name."

"Yes. He met my mom when Jake and I were three. When they got married he adopted us and gave us our last name."

"How'd he die?" As soon as Kate asked she knew she hit a deep wound. She saw Jeb's eyes glaze and his mind sink into a memory. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be asking so many questions."

"It's all right," Jeb replied softly as he stared at the floor. "He was a cop, shot in the line of duty."

"How old were you?"

"Twelve. It was then that I got my mom to admit she knew more about our real father than she was telling. So I got his name, which explained a lot, and that he was a marine. I ended up tracking him down."

"At twelve?"

"I'm a pit bull when I put my mind to something," Jeb answered shyly. He stiffened then and looked at the doorway. Kate turned to see a shadow approaching. A second later Gibbs appeared. He took in the scene with a stone face and Kate couldn't read his emotions. There was an awkward silence in the room before Gibbs came in and sat down across from Kate at the table.

"He is a pit bull," Gibbs said looking up at Jeb. Jeb offered a small smile, and Kate could see there was still tension between the two of them. She felt out of place, but didn't want to leave. "Been talking about me?"

"No," Jeb said staring at the floor. "About me." Gibbs looked up at him and smiled. Jeb didn't return it. Gibbs then looked at Kate. She saw something in his eyes but she couldn't tell what. She felt her walls coming down and fought to keep them. What was it about him that made her want to be defenseless?

"I should…" Kate began but Gibbs cut her off.

"When Jeb first found me he was twelve," Gibbs said looking Kate in the eye. Almost asking her to believe him, to see it his way. She returned his gaze and let him continue. "I didn't believe him at first but the more I looked at him the more…the more I couldn't deny it. Then he told me who his mother was and showed me a picture and I knew then it could be true. Then he drops the bomb. There are two. Not just one son I never knew about, but two.

"So I asked him his name, and he tells me, my name is Jeb. And I know right then it's my son. But I've never let anyone know. I told Ducky and that was it. My wives didn't even know. Don't look at me like that. It's true they never found out either."

"How could you keep…"

"It secret? Easy enough. The boys lived in California. I lived out here. I would visit when I was in the area out there. The rest was done with phone calls, letters, cards, gifts."

"Gibbs, how could you not tell them?"

"Maybe it's the reason I'm destined to have failed relationships. They don't trust me after awhile," Gibbs replied unlocking the gaze between them to speak to the floor, his voice trailing off as he did so. A noise came from the other room and the three of them looked that way. Jeb pushed away from the counter and Gibbs watched him walk around the table to the living room. When Gibbs' brought his gaze back to Kate he found her staring at him, studying him intently. The focus of her attention made Gibbs a little uneasy and he shifted in his seat avoiding her eyes.

Kate was studying Gibbs, and couldn't help but be amused when he appeared to squirm when he realized she was. She couldn't read the man; every time she thought she figured him out he would throw a curve ball in the personality, a completely new side showing up.

"What," Gibbs replied gruffly, trying to devoid attention to himself. Kate smiled at the attempt. Gibbs couldn't help but crack a small smile in return. He loved her smile.

"You just amaze me sometimes," Kate said quietly. Gibbs' smile widened. Kate felt herself blush and she looked away. They heard Jeb talking with Hunter in the next room.

"Only sometimes?" Gibbs asked amused.

"Only when you're not being a bastard," Kate replied with a smile. Gibbs nodded in agreement. He understood that. They both looked up as Jeb came back in.

"Everything all right?" Gibbs asked. Kate was again amazed at the change in Gibbs where Hunter was concerned. Jeb just nodded before replying.

"Just bad dreams," Jeb said quietly, his attention still on the living room where Hunter slept.

"You should get some sleep, Jeb," Gibbs replied looking up at the young man. Jeb nodded and rubbed the back of his neck. Kate looked up at Jeb and noticed just how tired he looked. He finally nodded again.

"Yeah, I'm gonna crash out for a bit," Jeb said quietly and started out of the room.

"You can use the bedroom. You might want to move Hunter in there too," Gibbs said quietly.

Jeb nodded once then was out of the room. Gibbs and Kate sat in silence for a moment. Neither one wanting to break the silence, both wondering why it felt so comfortable. Finally Gibbs spoke.

"You should go back to the office," Gibbs said half-heartedly to the floor. "Tony, McGee, and Abby could use your help."

"I don't have a ride, you brought me here," Kate said with a smile. She saw the look on his face when he remembered and couldn't help but smile wider. It was contagious and Gibbs smiled in return.

"Oh yeah," Gibbs replied. "I could take you back."

"No, you shouldn't leave them," Kate said not knowing where this was coming from or why she had the sudden urge to stay. Gibbs looked up at her a confused look in his eye but his face stone. Kate looked away a bit embarrassed by her comment. She looked at the floor.

"No body knows their connection to me," Gibbs replied. Kate could tell Gibbs the boss was back from the change in his tone of voice.

"Are you sure?" Kate asked.

"Why do you ask that?" Gibbs said a hint of anger in his voice. Kate could tell this was a dangerous line to follow. She looked away and didn't answer. "Answer me."

Kate was silent a few more moments before she gave him an answer. "It's not a complete secret, Gibbs. Nothing can be."

Gibbs pushed up from the table and walked out of the room with out further comment. He was gone from sight and Kate sat at the table and shook her head staring at the floor. She heard him move through the house and eventually heard footsteps going down stairs to the basement.

TBC...