A/N: In this story, Kate is alive. Essentially, it's pre-Twilight, since I accept the changes that have been made in the show… so far. Time will tell how I feel about the new characters. Many thanks to Rinne, for fixing the punctuation and giving me suggestions when the action wasn't clear.Thank you for all the wonderful comments. Andycake: Actually, it's not farfetched to be able to get blood results that quickly. I used to have my blood drawn and would watch the machine count the platelets. It was fascinating, but I'm easily distracted and entertained. I'm putting it at 15 minutes or so between the blood draw and the results, in between time they shocked the poor baby twice and gave him Lidocaine. There's a wonderful site that gives step by step instructions, which is why that part, at least, is fairly realistic.(BTW, I'm replying to your comment because you raised a very valid point, for which I have an answer, I'm not responding angrily or defensively.)
Chapter Four
A few hours later, after talking with Director Morrow, Kate went to see Gibbs. She found him dozing fitfully, waking up when he heard her heels on the tile floor.
"Come to visit the condemned?" he said, as he raised the head of the bed into a sitting position.
"I'm sorry, I left my cake and file at home." She replied.
Kate paused, trying to think of way to tell him what had happened. Deciding to just jump right in, she said, "We think we have strong evidence that you've been framed, Gibbs."
"Evidence? How? What?"
"Someone tried to kill Tony. He's the only one who can clear you."
Gibbs sat up straighter, "How is he? Is he okay?"
"Well, he's still in a coma, but he's alive. Ducky's keeping an eye on him. I have McGee doing a background check on medical personnel; the security tape for the floor is being sent to Abby, plus the IV bag that we suspect was spiked with potassium."
"I need to get out of here," Gibbs pulled on the cuff in frustration.
"No Gibbs," warned Kate, "They won't let you investigate, not in your state of mind. Besides, you're still too weak to do anything strenuous. The Director has allowed us to take over the investigation, along with Paula and Cassie, but he won't let you anywhere near it."
"Damn it! I need to do something!"
"You can do something," Kate's voice rose over his, "Something very important."
"What?"
"You can stay with Tony, keep an eye on him, make sure no one gets to him. Keep him alive for us."
Gibbs stared intently at Kate for a moment. She returned his gaze with equal intensity. Finally he nodded.
He sank back into the pillow, "You're right, I would just get in the way right now, I wouldn't be of any use."
Kate shook her head, "You would, Gibbs. I know you'll do everything in your power to protect Tony. I never believed for a minute that you were the one who stabbed him. Now, if he had ended up in the hospital with a huge knot on the back of head..." Kate shrugged.
Gibbs smiled, the first one Kate had seen on his face in weeks, causing her to smile back at him warmly.
"We'll find out who's doing this to you and Tony, I promise."
"I know you will, Kate."
Back at NCISPaula Cassidy, Cassie Yates, Kate Todd and Tim McGee were gathered in the squad room, going over the files for the first Murphy case. The two temporary agents held no resentment toward Kate for taking over the case, they understood what this meant to her and the rest of the team. They were there to provide an objective view.
"There's got to be something we missed in the initial investigation." Muttered Kate, as she rifled through the photos taken at the crime scene.
McGee replied, "There was absolutely no evidence at the scene. Whoever did it knew exactly how to eliminate anything that might point to the killer.
Frowning, Kate looked at the picture of the late Roger Murphy. "Murphy didn't strike me as being the sharpest knife in the drawer." She winced as she realized what she was saying, and said to the others, "Sorry, bad choice of words."
McGee agreed, "He seemed to be your typical jock; concerned about his looks and eyeing the women." He paused, "Remind you of anyone?" he said softly.
The women smiled ruefully. Kate spoke first. "Tony, on his most narcissistic day, is ten times the man Murphy was."
"Oh?" The other three agents turned to her, eyebrows raised.
Clearing her throat, Kate changed the subject. "McGee, did you and Abby find anything on the security tape?"
McGee picked up a remote and pulled up a video on the plasma screen. "Here's what's on the tape We see you and Ducky wheel Gibbs into Tony's room."
Cassie interrupted, "Gibbs looks awful, how's he doing?"
"He's upset, obviously." sighed Kate. "He feels helpless, angry, anxious and very guilty about what he said to Tony."
McGee nodded, "Yeah, I bet. That was harsh, especially for someone like Tony."
Paula was curious, "Why 'someone like Tony'?"
"Tony practically worships Gibbs. He wants to please him, make him proud. Hell, I think he wants to be Gibbs, except he doesn't have the discipline." explained Kate. "But he's an excellent agent, better, in some ways, than Gibbs."
"Better? How so?" asked Cassie.
"Tony is more flexible; he's better at disarming people, making them trust him or making think he's just a dumb jock." Kate looked meaningfully at McGee. "People underestimate Tony and end up giving themselves away. Gibbs is what he is, no one misunderstands him, they fear him and can shut down completely."
"Anyway, I asked Gibbs to keep an eye on Tony. It'll keep Gibbs involved and keep Tony safe."
McGee looked puzzled, "How's he going to do that?"
"He'll be able to spot anything unusual. Ducky will be with him, it'll be okay." She said in response to the skeptical looks.
"Who's that?" Paula's attention was drawn to the screen. McGee rewound the tape to the point where Kate and the others left the room and set it to play again.
He checked his notes, "That's Corporal Gina Livingston. She's been at the hospital for six months."
Cassie said, "I think Abby would say she looks hinky."
Kate agreed, "She does look pretty nervous. What else do you have on her?"
McGee checked his notes. "She appears to be pretty clean, not even a traffic ticket on her record."
The four watched the tape, seeing Corporal Livingston leave the room and walk quickly out of the camera's view. A few minutes later nurses were rushing into Tony's room.
Kate's phone rang just then, answering it she could hear music blaring before she got the receiver to her ear. "What have you got Abby?"
"I have partial prints from the IV tubing, not a complete set because there's not much of a surface, BUT I believe I have a match." Abby paused, savoring her good news.
"Corporal Gina Livingston." Kate smiled, knowing the reaction she was going to get.
"KATE!" whined Abby. "You're turning into Gibbs!"
"Sorry, Abby," laughed Kate, "I'll let you break any big news next time." Abby hung up in a huff.
"We have a positive ID." She told the others, "Let's bring her in."