Usual Disclaimer:I don't own NCIS, or anything like it (sadly). I didn't invent the characters just enjoy the manipulation! Frankly if I can't have control over my own life, why should anyone else? I am not making any money out of this, it's written purely for entertainment purposes. But if you like, let me know?

Thanks for the reviews folks, hope you enjoy Chapter 2 as much...

It was the week before the Gala.

Kate had studiously not mentioned the evening coming up, Gibbs wasn't quite the social animal as the whole team was aware, and Kate knew she risked inflaming his wrath if she kept bringing it up.

Abby had assembled her outfit; Kate had been privy to a viewing the previous evening when Abby had turned up at her apartment with a garment bag.

"Hey girl!"

"Hey Abs - what do I owe the pleasure? Oh! Is that your outfit?"

"Uh-huh, I thought we could trade a viewing?"

"Come on in!"

Abby had walked into Kate's living room and laid her clothes on the back of the sofa. "So, did your dress get sorted out?"

Kate's dress was a triumph - at least according to Abby that was. Kate still wasn't sure about it, but had let herself be swayed. She figured she might never get another chance to show the guys she worked with that she could pull off stunning. They were so used to seeing her in her workaday clothes; she was almost looking forward to seeing the look of surprise in their eyes when she entered the room.

"Yes - but I want to see yours first"

"Okay - where can I change?"

Kate offered Abby her spare room - she utilised it as a study but it was almost a spill over for her wardrobe. Abby grabbed her bag and Kate went to make some coffee.

After a while, Abby called out, "Ready?"

"As I'm ever!" Kate replied

Abby threw open the door and sauntered into the living room.

"So? Whatcha think?" she twirled, snapping open the black lace fan she had on her wrist and delicately wafting her face.

"Wow! Abby, that's fantastic!" Kate was so impressed.

Abby had gone for the full Victorian gown - in deep burgundy with little frills from the skirt waist down to the ground. The hem was slightly raised at the front of the dress, allowing Abby to walk more easily and showing off her heeled button boots. The top of the dress was closely fitted to her torso, with lace cap sleeves, and an modest ruched neckline - modest for Abby that was. Abby had teamed her outfit with long black evening gloves up past her elbows. She grinned at Kate's reaction.

"Hey, you wait till I get my hair done! I'm having it all piled on top of my head with a few arty stray bits here" she said as she scooped her hair up and pulled a few tendrils around her face.

"Abby, you look fantastic! Its gorgeous - where did you find it?" Kate walked around her friend, marvelling at the flow of the material and the fit of the dress.

"A little place I know - now what about yours?" Abby hustled Kate into her room and shut the door, calling; "You're not coming out till you put that dress on!"

Ten minutes later Kate peered nervously round the living room door.

"Look, I'm still not sure about this you know..."

"Nonsense Kate, you look fantastic. Tony will eat you alive!"

"That's not really the look I was going for!" Kate retorted, but she stepped into the room and, blushing, gave a slow turn.

"So?" she asked her friend.

"Wow! And Wow again!" Abby sat down heavily on the sofa.

Kate blushed and smoothed imaginary wrinkles from the material. How had this happened? She thought. I was going for simple and yet stylish, and Abby talked me into this, nearly $200 worth of dress!

The dress was sky blue, and reached to the floor with an elegant fishtail hem. The scoop neckline hinted at Kate's décolletage and flattered her shoulders. The material had a slight shimmer to it, so as Kate moved it caught the eye like sunshine on the sea. That was what had drawn Kate to the dress and once she had it on in the changing room she couldn't bear not to have it. She had teamed it high-heeled silver sandals.

"You don't think it's too much?" She asked her friend.

"Kate, you are going to have them speechless!" Abby clapped her hands in excitement.

"Now, you've booked your hair and manicure haven't you?" Kate asked her.

"Yes. Stop fussing! I'm meeting you there at 1400 hours tomorrow afternoon." Abby looked at her watch. "Man, I have to go. Listen – call me at lunchtime and we'll meet early? Discuss tactics?"

With that she whirled back into Kate's spare room to change. Kate sighed and went to her room to carefully remove and hang her dress on the back of her door.

The spare room door opened,

"Kate, I'll let myself out - see you tomorrow!" and with that Abby was gone.

Kate sat on the edge of her bed, in her jeans and T-shirt. She knew she really needed to paint her toenails, but she reached for her jewellery box and started to choose earrings and a necklace to finish her outfit off. She settled on a silver pair of drop earrings, and her simple silver cross that she always wore, deciding to keep things simple to compliment her dress.

As she started to paint her nails a soft shimmery pink, she thought about her motives for taking such care in her preparations. Oh, sure, some of it was pride in herself: she worked out, made sure she ate the right things, well, mostly, took time over her appearance. She was a professional woman and she was aware much of her professionalism was portrayed by the clothes she wore and the way she looked.

Tomorrow night was something different though. The team had been out for takeout while they were deep into an investigation and even for a few nights in a local bar, but nothing as dressy as this. She sighed as she reviewed her colleagues who would be there:

Ducky was clearly looking forward to it; she smiled as she recalled the scene of Abby and the M.E. waltzing round the lab that was the Englishman's domain. Kate knew he had had to make arrangements for a help to keep an eye on his elderly mother, which was not an easy thing to do she realised.

Abby and McGee, who she really must remember to call Tim more often. Abby was excited about this occasion, but Tim was a bit apprehensive about all the formalities. Kate knew he would be fine with Abby to guide him through the first awkward moments.

Tony, well, Tony was born for social events like this, she thought ruefully. He would charm all the women he danced with and tease Kate for her outfit in a good-natured way. Kate chastised herself for thinking too long and hard about how good Tony would look in his tux. She knew he loved old movies, but who would he model himself on? Cary Grant? James Stewart? She shook herself, annoyed at going off on a tangent about him - something she found herself doing more of late.

It was a shame Gibbs couldn't, sorry, wouldn't be there. Abby and Ducky had both tried repeatedly, but he had said "no" so many times, they had given up before his annoyance factor really kicked in. She sighed. Kate had this image in her mind about how Gibbs would look in a tux, and now she would never find out. Wiggling her toes she decided they were dry enough and went to get a book she wanted to finish before tomorrow.

Had she known that across town, Gibbs was standing in his basement, looking at the tux he had just rented for the following night, or that Tony was standing in his apartment, putting another polish on his dress shoes, it would not have calmed the nerves already starting to flutter in her stomach...

TBC