AN: Another chapter down. Hope you enjoy. Thanks to everyone who is leaving reviews or just reading the story. Glad you're along for the ride. dark rolling sea.
Chapter Twenty
Kate went up and knocked on the door. Ann came to it almost immediately and smiled brightly when she saw Kate. Then she saw Donovan standing just behind her off to the side. Her smiled increased.
"Kate, R. J, what a surprise," she said almost in tears.
"Is Jethro here?" Kate asked. Ann shook her head and Kate sighed. She would need to go to the hotel then.
"Take my car, Kate, I'll get the keys," Ann said turning into the house. "Come on in."
Kate saw Hunter on the couch curled up watching television. He looked drained. He turned his head slightly to glimpse who had come in and she saw his face brighten when he saw her. Then he saw Donovan. He jumped from the couch and first sprang up at Kate.
"Kate!" he squealed and wrapped his little arms around her neck. She hugged him and he hung on tight. He then pealed back and grinned at Donovan. "Uncle R. J., what are you doing here?"
"Came to visit, bud."
"I missed you," he said as he leaned in Kate's arms towards Donovan. Donovan caught him up and scooped him away from Kate. Hunter then scooted down Donovan's leg and scampered back to the couch.
Ann handed Kate the keys. Kate said a quick goodbye before hurrying out to the car. Donovan and Ann watched as she drove away.
"She's a good match for the gunny," Donovan said softly.
"She certainly is. She can take his gruffness."
Kate drove to the hotel quickly. Her hands shook as she finagled the steering wheel. She pulled up in front of the building and quickly made her way to room 205. She knocked lightly on the door and waited with eyes closed. How was she going to tell him she just resigned? She didn't have any more time to think about it as the door opened and Gibbs was standing there.
She looked up at his face and worry swept over her. He was a mess. He looked like he had been crying. His face was pale, and his eyes were dull. She saw them brighten when the recognition of who was waiting in the hallway hit him. He smiled at her and took a step back. Kate came slowly into the room and waited. She waited for him to yell at her. It didn't come. She turned to face him and noticed there was something about his eyes that had changed. The way he was looking at her. She cocked her head to one side.
"Jethro, I…"
"Kate, wait," he said softly as his hands came gently up to the sides of her face. She closed her eyes and waited. "I want to tell you something, and I want you to listen until I am done."
He had stopped and Kate opened her eyes to look at him. He was looking at her expectantly, waiting for her answer. She nodded slowly and waited.
"I'm so glad you came. I've been trying to call you. I have to tell you something, I was thinking and it hit me. I need you, Kate, I NEED you in my life. I sat here thinking about what it was like, why I felt something was missing. The only thing that was missing, Kate, was you," he said, his voice just above a whisper. Kate was crying now. She knew it would be ok. She knew he would forgive her for resigning.
"I need you to," she said shakily. She wrapped her arms around his middle and leaned into his chest. Gibbs smothered her in his arms and leaned his head against the top of hers.
"And right now Jeb needs both of us," Gibbs said heavily. "How much damage did you do to your career by coming back?"
Kate pulled back from him and attempted to turn from him. He caught her and held her in place. He gave her a look that meant no arguing and Kate hung her head.
"I resigned," she said softly. She felt the pain flush through Gibbs as he took in what her words meant. He didn't know how to feel. She had risked everything to be here by his side. She stood stock still waiting for his berating on her throwing everything away. He couldn't do it. He couldn't believe that she would throw away her job for him. He knew now more than ever that this was love. This was what it was supposed to be like. He thought about how it would be if roles were reversed and he thought immediately that he would be by her side as well.
He smiled and nodded. She looked at him without knowing what he was thinking or feeling. She couldn't read him and it scared her just a little bit. He stepped closer and put his hands on her shoulders.
"It's ok. I would have done the same."
His words plowed into her like a torpedo. She felt the strength of his grip, firm but yielding, and the warmth of his nearness. She felt complete and from the smile on his face so did he. They decided to go to Ann's and on the way Kate filled Gibbs in on how Donovan had come to see her and persuaded her to take action. Gibbs gave a queer smile and Kate wondered what it meant. Then she told him that Donovan had accompanied her out to California and was waiting for them at Ann's.
"Doesn't surprise me. Wondered when that one would join the group here," Gibbs said. Kate didn't know how deep the ties with Donovan ran but it seemed that he was very much a part of the family here. She could see why. The marine had a way of carrying himself and making you trust him. He held a command about him that made you feel that he was worthy of respect.
They pulled in right behind Jeb and Kylie. Jeb grinned when he saw Kate was in the car with Gibbs. Kylie was excited too. Then Jeb turned and saw Donovan standing in the doorway and he stopped. He gave the marine a cool look but Donovan only beamed at him in return.
"Whacha doin' here, R.J.?" Jeb asked coyly. Donovan made his way down the steps as Kate and Gibbs came up behind Jeb and Kylie. Donovan stopped in front of Jeb but looked over him at Gibbs.
"Hi, Gunny, been a while."
"That is has. I hear you're a colonel now."
"Yeah. Got the promotion couple months ago."
"Good to hear."
"Ok, stop talking over me," Jeb cut in and stepped forward to embrace his friend. They both smiled.
"You're not going to hurt me are you?" Donovan asked.
Jeb laughed out loud and shook his head no. He then looked over at Kylie. She was smiling. Kate thought something was up between Jeb and Kylie. Their spirits were lifted immensely since she left. And even though she liked to believe her and Donovan's presence had everything to do with it she had a feeling something more was going on. But she didn't say anything, she waited, watching, wondering.
Finally Jeb had everyone go into the house and sit down. He and Kylie stood at the front of the room and Kate defiantly knew something was going on now. They looked at each other and smiled then Jeb turned to his family.
"We have news for you all. Kylie is pregnant," Jeb said, a grin exploding from ear to ear as he took in everyone's expressions. He was amused when he saw shock and happiness. He was amused when he saw Gibbs cock his head sideways. He saw Hunter's eyes brighten.
"We found out today," Kylie said smiling. She looked from face to face taking in everyone's reaction.
Ann stood up and embraced Kylie and then Jeb. Donovan smiled widely. Gibbs sat quietly in the chair with a smile on his face. Another grandchild. Gibbs pulled Hunter tightly to him and gave him a squeeze.
They spent some time catching up with Donovan then Jeb said he needed to contact Dr. Youngblood now that he had all the paperwork filled out. He scheduled an appointment for the next morning. It was set. He would see the doctor in the morning and they would let him know if they were going to operate.
The evening was spent together quietly. The small group enjoying the company of each other. Under lying the ease of the conversation was the fear and unease of what was going to happen in the morning. This was the pivotal point in this wild ride. He would learn if it was correctable in the morning, he would learn if it would be simply surgery or if there would be a long road of chemotherapy or radiation therapy. It was when they would finally be on the other side of the hill of this emotional roller coaster.
The emotional drain on the entire family was going to come to a head and then pass soon. They would experience the highest anxiety, followed by the joy of it being done. The time would be passing quicker now; the worst of the waiting was over. Tomorrow would be the first day of recovery.
TBC…..