AN: I typed this up in the previous format I was writing in. Until I can update the other chapters' formats, this one will remain the same as well so the reading of it will be smoother. I figured I owed you guys an update before I posted any new fics. I'm deeply sorry for being AWOL this long. I will be on regularly now. I didn't get mynet hooked up until a few days ago, and I was going to post last night, but I needed to have a meaningful conversation with one of the few people who are close enough to me to take percedence over my writing. Yes... It was a boy... Heehee.
Hellfire, this chapter's dedicated to you for harrassing me. Thank you.
-
"You ready to go?" Tony asked.
"Just gotta get my coat. It's in the bedroom."
"I'll go on out and warm the car."
Tony shrugged his leather jacket on and braced himself for the harsh cold of the Pennsylvania winter. Making a mad dash, he dug the keys out of his pocket and jumped into the car, turning the heat up full blast.
A minute later Kate locked the front door behind her and slid in beside him, shutting the cold out with the slam of the door.
"Jeez, it's cold out there."
"Sorry. I forgot to warn you. But this is actually kinda warm for up here. Philly's worse."
"It's twenty degrees and it's only six-thirty. I'm so glad I don't live in Canada. Although I do love their beer."
She turned her gaze to Tony. "So, Mr. Addams, where are we going?"
Tony grinned mischievously. "I was thinking McDonald's..."
That earned him a glare from his partner.
""-but, we can compromise and hit Wendy's instead."
"Fine by me. There's one about five miles from here. Just go straight to the next intersection and cut a right."
"Kate buckled her seatbelt and turned on the radio as Tony began the short drive from their 'home' to the gate. Settling on a station as they finally cleared the gate, she sat back and began listening to the music. Fifteen seconds later, she laughed out loud.
"This is so you." She explained and cranked up the volume.
'...I've got seven women on my mind.
Four that wanna hold me
Two that wanna stone me
One says she's a friend of mine...'
"Well which one are you?" He impudently asked.
"Definitely one that wants to stone you."
Tony grimaced.
"Ouch, Kate. Can't you just be a friend of mine?"
"Knowing what you do with your friends, I'll take a rain-check."
"So that's a maybe later. Looking forward to it. You know, this song's kind of you too."
'Take it easy
Don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy
Lighten up while you still can
Don't even try to understand
Just find a place to make your stand
And take it easy...'
Kate narrowed her eyes at the smirk on his face. "Is that supposed to mean something?" she inquired.
"Nooo. Well, yes. You could lighten up a bit; let your hair down every once in a while. I mean, we only have one life. Don't you want it to be a happy one?"
"Tony, my hair is down. That's how I almost always wear it."
Tony rolled his eyes as they pulled into the parking lot and turned the car off. "You know what I mean. Eat in or take out?"
"We don't have anywhere to eat at home." She reminded him. "What are you smiling at?"
"You just said 'home'. Admit it; you just wanna play house."
"Get out of the car."
They sat down at a quiet corner table a few minutes later, Kate with a mandarin chicken salad and Tony with french fries and a cheeseburger that should have been too large to fit in his mouth. Kate passed him his food and one of the frosties as he plopped down across from her. She cringed as Tony poured salt over his fries and popped one in his mouth.
"Did you hear that?" she murmured.
Tony frowned. "Hear what?"
"Your arteries hardening."
Tony laughed at his partner's disdain for his food. "Salt's good for you."
"Not that much. Those french fries are gonna give you a heart attack!"
"Aw. Worried about me?"
"No, I'm worried about explaining your corpse to Gi- everyone."
Tony replied by eating another fry. Kate sighed in exasperation at Tony's apparent death wish.
"Your funeral."
"Your dead husband." He retorted.
Kate ignored him. "Okay, when we get 'home', we need to finish unpacking our marriage certificates and other papers. We also have to make a grocery list so all we have to do in the morning is go buy it. Oh! And call your dad."
Being undercover was harder than she had thought it would be. Having to refer to Gibbs as Tony's father- her father-in-law- was more than a little creepy. Although, Kate couldn't figure out if it was because it meant she and Tony were married, Gibbs was her father-in-law, or a little bit of both.
Tony simply nodded at her to do list as he took another bite of his burger. Sometimes Kate wished they ate out more often; Tony's manners were infinitely better in public.
Tony tossed the keys down on the nearest end table as he sat down on the couch beside Kate, who was already setting case files up on the coffee in front of them. As she continued arranging the files, Tony sighed.
"Do we really have three hours of this?"
Kate looked askance at him. "It's our job, Tony."
"After 'nesting' all day?"
"Yes. Where do you wanna start?"
Tony's grim expression clearly said he didn't want to 'start' anywhere at all. Kate set her jaw.
"We'll start at the beginning then. Drake and Francis Corsche from Key West, Florida. The couple, white, mid 20's was on their honeymoon at a beach in Key West. They were shot in the water, bullet wounds to the chest and upper abdomen. The bullet couldn't be traced because the inside of the muzzle had been filed down, but it was a round from a sniper rifle. There weren't any prints found. The husband was an ensign navigator aboard the Nimitz, and the wife, Francis, was a civilian bank teller..."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AN: I know I have 4 or 5 other victim profiles to add. I have them typed up, believe it or not, in a document called, 'Victim Profiles' of all things. BUT, they're in the next chapter 5.4: Roses are Red, so you guys may have your update. I love you all. Jenni didn't get a chance to beta this, so don't blame her. I love you, girl! Email me! REVIEW! I wanna see how many of you got the jokes. And yes, the Canadian beer thing was a tribute to riccinbru's Fortune Favours: Decoy. If you haven't read it, do it. It's a classic. REVIEW!