When Tony started to come to he was extremely confused. His head was pounding like someone had a hammer and was slamming it behind his eyeballs over and over again. His whole body ached. His mouth was dry and everything was dark. Then he realized that was because he had his eyes closed. When he tried to open them it was the other extreme and the bright hospital lights blinded him. A hospital. Yes he knew he was in a hospital. The soft bed and the smell of disinfectant told him that.

Then he realized something else and was shocked he didn't notice sooner. There was a constant ringing in his ears. He couldn't hear much else except someone very far away was calling his name.

He tried to look around the room, his eyes getting used to the light, and could make out someone standing over him. He said the first thing that came to his lips.

"Kate."

"No sorry to disappoint you DiNozzo but Kate's gone to get lunch. You're stuck with me instead."

The voice sounded so far away and was hard to hear over the constant ringing in his ears, but he knew who it was.

"Oh, hey boss," he choked, trying not to sound disappointed. Then he fell back asleep.

When he woke again things were much clearer. The headache had subsided, the ringing had quieted and when he opened his eyes he could see Kate clearly. She was slumped in a chair next to him, staring into space. Her expression was one Tony had never seen her wear before – worry.

And she was holding his hand.

Tony thought he must have died and gone to heaven if Kate Todd was holding his hand. He gave it a squeeze, which actually hurt his muscles, and she spun to face him immediately.

"Tony!" she exclaimed excitedly. Then, as if realizing she may have seemed a little too happy to be considered normal, she relaxed a bit and simply said "You're awake."

"Careful Katie, someone might actually think you cared about me," he managed.

She grinned, closed her eyes and shook her head. "You wish DiNozzo."

"I know you care about me Kate." He gave her a trademark DiNozzo grin.

"Oh do you really Tony? And how do you know this?" she smirked.

"Well…" he began, "Nothing serious happened to me, yet you still waited here with me –"

"Nothing serious! Tony you narrowly escaped a massive bomb blast!" she interrupted.

"You didn't let me finish!" he continued, "Plus there's the fact that you just called it a 'massive bomb blast'." He rolled his eyes. "Plus you have chocolate in the corner of your mouth and you never eat junk food unless you're worried or upset…"

She frantically tried to wipe her mouth clean.

"…Plus," he smiled at her, "you're still holding my hand."

She stopped trying to wipe chocolate from her mouth and looked at their hands entwined and then into Tony's eyes. She didn't really know what to say. She opened her mouth but nothing came out. Tony took the opportunity to admit some things to her and get everything out in the open.

"When Ari had you I didn't sleep for three days Kate," Tony began. "Then even when we had you back I couldn't rest for fear that I'd lose you again. I can't lose you Kate." He paused to look at her shocked face. He'd be shocked he was saying this too if he wasn't so pumped with drugs. Hey he can blame it on the drugs if he wants. That's his story and he's sticking to it.

"So whether you care about me or not Kate, I care about you. A lot." Tony looked away, taking a sudden interest in a spot on the opposite wall, for fear he'd just made a complete fool of himself.

However, next thing he knew Kate had stood to lean over him, placing her hand on his jaw and moving it so he was facing her again. Looking into her beautiful brown eyes, Tony was overwhelmed with feelings he didn't even know the names of. She bent further and kissed him so gently, so softly, so delicately, that Tony squeezed her hand again, ignoring the pain.

He moved his free hand to her cheek and deepened the kiss. When they parted for air, Kate just smiled that dazzling smile that did wonders to Tony, as he gently rubbed his thumb over her cheek.

"It's about time," said a voice from across the room. Tony dropped his hand and they turned to see Gibbs standing in the doorway with two cups of coffee.

"B-Boss…" he stumbled.

"Glad to see you're awake DiNozzo… and back to you're old self already," he said straight-faced as he handed Kate a cup of coffee.

"Uhh Gibbs… This… We…" Kate struggled to find the words.

Gibbs grinned a rare grin and said "Relax Agent Todd. I didn't actually object to anything. Back later for a statement DiNozzo." And with that he left the room and two stunned agents in it.

P.S. When Gibbs left, he went to my mother's house where he mowed her lawn shirtless while she lay in the sun with a good book and a glass of wine. (She made me put that in – it's her ultimate fantasy. She actually calls Gibbs "Hubba-Hubba") rolls eyes

R&R! plz!