FLASHBACK

Thursday Morning 8:10 am – Kate's Apartment

There was a knock at the door while Kate was getting ready to leave for work. Exasperated because she was already late for work and thinking it was Tony again, she swung the door open. "What did you forget this time Tony?"

Surprised and dismayed that it was Andrew standing there, Kate stood there for a couple of seconds before instincts screamed at her to shut the door. Andrew shoved it open and pushed Kate against the wall. Kate's head slammed at the wall, which caused her to get dizzy for a moment, almost blacking out. With his forearm against her throat, Andrew leaned in and whispered warningly to Kate, "Don't scream." He reached over and closed the door, bolting it.

Having a difficult time breathing, Kate grabbed at Andrew's arm to relieve the pressure against her throat.

"Thought it was your boyfriend again? I made sure he left the building before I came up. I watched when he brought you home last night."

"Andrew, it's not what you think. He's my co-worker. He dropped me off last night." Kate said hoarsely.

"Don't lie! It was the same man from the coffee shop. I saw him leave this morning. He was here all night."

"No! He didn't spend the night. He came back this morning because he forgot something."

"Don't lie to me! Do you know what you've done Caitlin? The report you filed against me has damaged my reputation with my colleagues. They are now doubting me. Me! I'm one of the best agents the FBI has, and you've marred my name! I.A. had been questioning me all afternoon because of you!"

Still stunned from her head slamming against the wall and the lack of oxygen, Kate chocked out, "Andrew stop. Let go!"

"We are going to solve all our problems now Caitlin. I want you to call your office. Tell them that you're feeling sick and that you're not going into work today. You tell your boss that you've decided to drop the complaint against me."

"They'll be suspicious if I don't show up."

"Call them. Use your cell phone so they'll think you're out. Tell them you're going to see a doctor. Don't say anything more Caitlin. Don't give them any hints that something's wrong."

Andrew grabbed Kate's cell phone from the entryway table and shoved it at Kate. When Kate didn't immediately dial, Andrew grabbed a fist full of Kate's hair and jerked her head back. "Do it now Caitlin."

"I can't breath."

Andrew eased back slightly.

Kate's hands shook as she dialed NCIS. After a few rings, a voice on the other end answered. "Gibbs."

"Jethro…its Caitlin." Andrew pulled the phone slightly away from Kate's ear to hear the conversation.

When Gibbs didn't immediately reply, Kate continued speaking. "I'm not feeling well this morning. I must have eaten bad oysters last night for dinner. I started to feel sick after my boyfriend Tony dropped me home."

Andrew leaned into Kate's opposite ear and whispered, "Finish it."

"Okay. Will you be home all day in case I have any questions on those reports you did yesterday?"

"I'm not sure. I'm on my way to the Doctor's office now and yes, all the information is on top of my desk if you need it.

Again Andrew leaned into Kate's other ear, breath hot, sending shivers that ran down Kate's back. "The complaint." Andrew reminded her.

"Jethro, I've decided to drop the complaint against Agent Sommers. I…I realize that I may have over-reacted. He doesn't deserve it."

Andrew harshly whispered, "End it now."

"I should be fine by tomorrow. Thank you, sir."

Andrew grabbed the phone away from Kate and threw it to the ground near the sofa.

Same time - NCIS Bull Pen:

Gibbs hung up the phone.

He sat there stunned. Kate called him 'Jethro' and called herself 'Caitlin'. She referred to Tony as her 'boyfriend'. He rushed over to Kate's desk and directly on top was a copy of the report filed against Andrew Sommers.

McGee and Tony glanced at each other with eyebrows raised in confusion.

"DiNozzo! When was the last time you saw Kate?" Gibbs asked Tony sharply.

"Just this morning. I went by her apartment to pick up my jacket. I left it there last night when I dropped her home."

"What's going on Boss?"

"Tony, Kate referred to you as her 'boyfriend'.

Tony looked over at McGee's open mouth shock. "Hey, I didn't know that Kate felt that strongly about me." Tony gave McGee an amused smirk. "But then again I do have that affect on women."

"DiNozzo!" Gibbs called warningly.

"Boss, I swear - all I did was drop her home after dinner."

"Kate said that she's feeling sick after eating bad oysters for dinner last night."

"But Boss, we all had dinner together and she had chicken."

"I know that McGee! I was there too!"

Tony and Gibbs stared at each other for a moment. It was like Ari all over again when Kate was kidnapped. "Bastard's got her."

"DiNozzo, McGee, head down to Abby's lab. Trace Kate's cell phone."

Tony and McGee rushed out of the bull pen and headed to the rear elevator.

Gibbs grabbed his cell phone and called Fornell. At Fornell's answer, Gibbs growled, "Sommers has Agent Todd".

"What? Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure!"

"Sommers is out on assignment. He called me a few minutes ago saying he was going to follow up on a lead for a case that he's working on."

"Well, he lied. If he hurts Agent Todd, I'll kill him."

A few minutes later – Abby's lab:

McGee and Abby were at the computer while Tony stood near them. They were startled when Tony slammed his hand on the counter. "I was at her apartment this morning. I should have waited for her."

Before McGee and Abby could reply, Gibbs walked in and asked "Any luck?"

"Abby and McGee are still putting a trace on it, Boss."

"Well hurry up! We may not have enough time. DiNozzo, McGee –meet me upstairs. Get ready to roll once Abby tracks Kate down. I'll brief Director Morrow."

Abby rushed over to Gibbs. "Gibbs, I'm really worried about Kate."

"So am I Abs. We'll get to her." Gibbs said gently. He leaned in and pressed a kiss to Abby forehead.

Abby closed her eyes, reassured by Gibbs words and action that they will save Kate.

"Just find her Abby." Gibbs said as he exited the lab.

Abby turned to find McGee and Tony staring at her with wide eyes. "What?"

McGee's eyebrows were drawn together as he asked suspiciously, "Does he do that a lot?"

"What?" Abby's eyes widened innocently.

Tony wagged his eyebrows up and down, and clarified, "Kiss you."

A few minutes later – Bullpen:

"McGee, try her cell phone again. See if she'll answer."

"Still no answer, Tony. I'm just getting her voice mail."

"Keep trying until she either answers or Abby traces her location."

Kate's apartment:

Andrew was pacing the living room area holding a gun in his hand.

Kate was sitting on her sofa and eyed her cell phone as it rang again.

"Don't answer it."

"Andrew, if I don't answer my cell phone, they'll get suspicious. My boss is supposed to call if he has any questions on the case we are working on."

Andrew pointed the gun at Kate. "I said don't answer it!"

A few minutes later Bullpen:

Coming down the stairs from the Director's office, Gibbs cell phone rang. "Gibbs."

"Gibbs! Got it! She's still at her apartment."

"Good work Abby. McGee, DiNozzo - let's go. Kate's still at home." Gibbs reached into his drawer and pulled out his gun and holstered it. He grabbed some extra ammunition and started running to the elevator.

McGee and Tony scrambled to grab their own weapons and ran after Gibbs. They just barely made it into the elevator as the doors closed.

Kate's apartment:

Gun pointed in Kate's general area, Andrew sat on the coffee table in front of Kate, whom was still seated on the sofa.

"I really thought you were different Caitlin. Special. You seemed so perfect – so beautiful. You were so professional when we worked together. I thought we'd make the perfect couple."

"Andrew, don't do this."

NCIS Company issued vehicle:

"Fornell, I'm heading over to Agent Todd's apartment now. You can meet me there." After rattling off the address, Gibbs hung up and applied more pressure to the accelerator.

Kate's apartment:

"Me? You did this! You betrayed my belief in you!" Andrew back handed Kate, connecting his fist to her left cheek.

Andrew reached down and pulled Kate upright.

Finally have recovered from being stunned once again, Kate attempted to throw Andrew off balance. She lifted her right knee to strike at his groin but Andrew, who was also taught in self-defense, knew to keep full body pressure against Kate. Without the leverage and Andrew's height, it made it difficult for any type of attack. Struggling with arms and legs thrashing, they rolled off the sofa with Kate crashing into the coffee table. Andrew managed to get a punch in to Kate's left temple. This time Kate blacked out.

Street in front of Kate's apartment – a few minutes later:

The car came to a screeching halt in front of Kate's apartment building. Barely waiting for the car to stop rocking, Gibbs, Tony and McGee scrambled out of the car and ran into the building.

Gibbs and McGee with weapons drawn, positioned themselves on either side of the apartment door. Voice lowered, Gibbs said to Tony, "DiNozzo, you know what to do."

At Gibbs' signal, Tony took a deep breath and knocked. After a few moments when there was no answer, Tony pounded on the door and yelled, "Kate, it's me Tony. I think I forgot my wallet."

Kate opened the door a crack and said, "Tony, I'm not feeling well right now. Can you come by later?"

Tony flinched at the drawn look on Kate's face and the cut on her left cheek and right eyebrow. "Hey sweetheart. I really need my wallet. My cash and credit cards are in it."

Kate subtly indicated with her eyes that Sommers was behind the door.

Tony gave a quick nod to Kate that he understood. "I'll be quick. Just let me get it. It may be on the kitchen counter."

As the door opened a few more inches to allow Tony to enter, a gun was pointed directly at Tony over Kate's shoulder, waving him in.

Hallway – Kate's apartment:

Gibbs looked down the hallway as the door shut to see Fornell and a couple of FBI agents rushing towards them. Gibbs waved at them to be quiet.

"Fornell, Sommers has Todd and DiNozzo in there."

"What can we do?"

"We wait for a signal from DiNozzo. I don't want to barge in there not knowing the situation."

INTERVIEW – FBI BUILDING

With a hand that shook slightly, Kate reached up and pressed a couple of fingers to her forehead. "I was both relieved and worried when Tony knocked on the door."

"Why relieved?" The interviewer asked.

"I knew Gibbs and McGee were also out in the hallway. Tony had called me 'sweetheart'. He wouldn't dare call me anything but 'Kate' to my face."

"And why worried?"

"Because Tony being Tony was willing to enter the apartment not exactly knowing what to expect. Sort of his usual gung-ho attitude and willing to try anything. It's part of his charm." Kate said with slight sarcasm and a quick look to the one-way mirror.

In the Observation Room, Tony gave a small smile before frowning again knowing that what happened next would, if not had already established the bond between them, surely strengthened it.

McGee stared at Kate, going over the bruises and cuts on her body that was visible. Listening to what Kate had gone through at the hands of Sommers, he had cringed every time Sommers had inflicted an abuse on her. McGee had always known that Kate was a strong, independent woman; however, his admiration for her increased knowing what she had endured and survived these past couple of days.

Gibbs stood there, arms down with fists opening and closing. He felt caged in, angry – at Sommers, Fornell, the interviewer, at the recent events. As Ducky had mentioned, physically Kate would recover but it was her frame of mind he worried about. Gibbs hated to admit it but he was also concerned about the scene he had witnessed in the kitchen between Kate and Tony.

TBC Final Chapter

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