Author: jtbwriter

Chapter 13

Previously on De Nuovo a Tana Me:

Ari was getting up and she began to see that the rifle was out of both Ari and Gibbs' reach. Ari was closer and he looked around for only a second before he spotted it. Gibbs was pulling himself closer to the gun, but without some help he would never get it before Ari.

Kate took a deep breath then pushed herself towards Ari, tackling him to the ground the best she could without the use of her arms. He threw her to the ground and her left shoulder smacked against the pavement. He made another attempt to get the gun and ran in the direction of where the rifle had fallen.

Kate could only barely make out someone picking up the gun. Then she heard a shot fired.

"No!" She screamed, then saw Ari stagger as an explosion of flesh and blood came from his chest and he collapsed face first.

"Kate!" Gibbs raised himself up, then half-crawled to her side to untie her wrists and ankles.

"Boss, you're bleeding." A familiar voice said.

Both Gibbs and Kate looked up to see Tony and McGee, guns drawn. They had both fired at the same time, killing Ari instantly.

There was a moment of silence, then Gibbs quietly said, "I'm okay, thanks."

Against her protests, he lurched to his feet, then carefully helped Kate to her feet.

Seeing the worried look on DiNozzo's face, she took a deep breath, then smiled.

"Yeah, nice shooting guys." Kate added, and he grinned.

"Well, you're welcome, Katie." Tony replied with a swagger, only for Kate to frown at him.

"Tony! Don't call me Katie, only one person has the right to call me that!"

"Who's that, your boyfriend?" Tony smirked, then yelled "ow!" as Gibbs's hand connected with his head.

"Watch your mouth, DiNozzo." He winced, then reluctantly allowed McGee to grab a first aid kit and bandage the deep graze on his left side.

"You and McGee, call Fornell and get a pick up for this trash." Gibbs ordered, staring one more time at the dead terrorist.

"Yes, sir." Both men chorused together, reaching for their cell phones.

Seeing the younger agents occupied, Gibbs turned to Kate, examining her for any injuries.

"I'm all right, Gibbs. Just a couple of bruises, and…ouch!" she stopped, as Gibbs touched her shoulder. He saw her grimace of pain and bit back a swear word.

"I'm taking you to Ducky, Kate. Here." He took off his jacket and put it around her as she shivered from his touch.

"Thanks, Gibbs." She met his eyes, grateful that he was alive, that she hadn't caused his death. He must have seen the look in her eyes, for with a quick glance at Tony and McGee, he whispered, "Who's the only one that can call you Katie?"

Shyly she replied, "the man who almost gave his life for me. The man I'll break Rule 12 for."

One corner of his mouth lifted up in a smile as he guided her towards his car. Yelling at the others to meet them at NCIS headquarters, he helped her into the front seat, then stiffly climbing in, said, "That'll make two of us, Katie."

Just as Gibbs's car did a u-turn and screeched away, McGee looked up and did a double take. He could swear he saw his boss put an arm around Kate.

"All right, McGee, who do you think gets to call Kate, Katie?" Tony asked testily, seeing a couple of FBI vans approaching.

McGee decided discretion was the better part of valor. "Whoever it is……" he turned to face Tony, then grinned.

"He isn't you."