Chapter 15
Author: nikkinor
A/N: This is the last chapter, it's been a fun ride guys, and I hope all of you readers had as much fun reading it as we had writing it. Thank you so much to all of you who reviewed, those comments mean a lot and I have enjoyed reading them all.
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"I'm the man that's in love with you."
Kate looked deep into his eyes, realizing he truly meant what he was saying. It wasn't that she was shocked by it, but she was blown away by how sincere he had just been, how totally un-Gibbs he could be. Kate was in true amazement of how loving he could be.
"So I guess it wouldn't be to bad if I was the woman that's in love with you?"
"No," Gibbs said as he moved closer to her, "It wouldn't be a bad thing at all."
They were only a few inches apart, and Gibbs moved his hand up to Kate's face and caressed it lovingly. She closed her eyes as his rough fingers ran along her much smoother skin. His hand them ran lightly through her hair and stopped at the back of her head.
"It wouldn't be a bad thing at all," he repeated quietly as he moved his head down and captured her lips. He had only kissed her forehead, what could have been a very affectionate sign or a purely platonic gesture. But this was different; this kiss was hard and long, unlike the other in every single way possible.
His lips are warm and so incredibly fascinating. No matter how close she gets to him, no matter how high she can stand on her tiptoes or how far down she pulls his head, Kate can't get enough of him. She can't taste enough of his mouth, can't feel enough of his gorgeous silver hair, can't smell enough of the sawdust on his clothes, she just can't get close enough, and she never thinks she will ever have enough of Jethro Gibbs.
They both pulled away reluctantly, their lungs screaming for air.
"I'm sorry." Kate whispered as she rest her head on Gibbs' chest.
"For what?" he mumbled into the top of her hair.
"For yelling at you, I didn't mean it."
"I know," he pulled her closer to himself.
"I'm so glad it's over."
He again pulled her close to him; wanting to feel that she was alive, know that she was ok. "I am too, Katie. You have no idea how worried I was."
"He was going to kill you." Kate whimpered into his chest.
"I'm ok, we got him first, Kate, he's never going to hurt you again."
They stood in the elevator for what seemed like forever, just holding onto one another, knowing they were all right, knowing they were safe in the other's arms. Ari had been back to haunt the two of them, but they had overcome it, together.