For those of you who thought that Gibbs was a little out of character in the last chapter, being suicidal and all, I thought the same thing. Outwardly he appears not the type. But he is the type to let things bottle up, something like this could just throw him off the deep end.

Chapter Seven

"Do you really want to do this, Gibbs?" the voice—that voice—interrupted him. Haswari!

"Ah, surprised to see me here, are we? I expected Agent McGee was not as thorough as Caitlyn in protection duty. After all, he's not here to throw himself in front of the bullet."

Gibbs gritted his teeth, finger growing sweaty on the trigger.

"But who's bullet?" the terrorist continued. "You wish not to die with the gun I, at this very moment, have pointed at you. So, shall it be your own? While I stand here?"

"I told you if you go near her, I will kill you," Gibbs spoke.

"And I told you, I would have it no other way," the terrorist responded.

"Then I hope you are more ready to die than she was."

"Oh, right. You and Agent Dinozzo both had unfinished business with Caitlyn. But tell me, Gibbs, how is it that you can be so sure that Caitlyn was dead?"

And with that, leaving Gibbs frozen, he left.

………………………………………………..

"I don't understand, boss. If he wants to kill you, why did he just leave? I would have shot you right there." Gibbs gave Tony a sharp glance. "Uh, that is, if I wanted to kill you….which I don't…."

"He wants something from me; don't you see Dinozzo? Something I can give him, something I don't have yet."

Tony looked thoughtful.

"And Tony, he said….he asked how we could be sure Kate was dead." Gibbs had left out that part.

"What!"

"Not possible, is it? Just a lure, right? I know what you are thinking. I think it, too."

McGee spoke. "I'm not. Yeah, I know you don't think I have instincts, or very good ones. I didn't want to speak up before, but now…."

"What is it, McGee!" the other two agents cried in unison.

"Something is telling me Kate is still alive," he continued, hoping he would not get the reaction he feared. He didn't. Well, sort of. Toy looked skeptical, but Gibbs stared at him long and hard.

"You really think so, McGee?" the man asked finally.

"Yeah, I do."

"Your instincts may or may not prove true……but we should look at all possibilities.

…………………………………………………

Tony stared at his computer screen. 1994. Kate on spring break. Acting with total dignity. Right….

She would kill him if she knew he had that picture. But he couldn't delete it.

Especially if she was alive. Because if she was, they would find her. And what would he tease her with if she came back.

It had been hard to think she was dead. It was possibly harder to think she was alive. Waiting for them. She wasn't alive, she couldn't be. He saw it happen. But still, he couldn't help but hope. She could come back. What if she did come back? What would he do?

Tell her everything? That he had loved her since he saw her on Air Force One? That his love had grown so much in the last two years? That he knew just how much after he lost her?

"She's way to smart for that," he had told Probie. Yeah, he had tried to avid the question McGee had asked him. His answer had been indirect. McGee had noticed it.

But what held him back with Kate was that very thing. She was too smart. She meant business. She wanted someone to spend the rest of her life, to have a family with. He did want these things, but with her only. Yet, she could not possibly consider him the ideal man for a family, at least a real family. Whatever she saw in him—Kate probably saw what everyone did—the lady's man. No the more mature-ready-to-settle Anthony Dinozzo. Not with his reputation.

Gibbs interrupted his thoughts. "Hey, Tony, you should go home."

"I'm not leaving, boss, till we find him."

"Sitting there looking at that picture isn't helping—you might as well get some sleep."

"Boss, I-"

"Go, Dinozzo!"

………………………………………………….

Tony almost ran into Abby downstairs. She tried to smile, but Tony could tell it was fake. Like it had always been lately.

"Oh, hey, Tony….I was actually coming up for you. Got plans tonight?"

He smiled, weakly and just as fake. "What, wanna see DC's wild night side and hit a couple of bars?"

Abby looked sober. "No, I'm going to Kate's place. Her mom called, said they were getting her stuff out, and asked if we wanted to come, see if there was anything we wanted."

"Oh."

Both remained quiet a few minutes, then Tony spoke up. "I'll drive….hey, Abbs?"

"Yeah?"

"What about Tony?"

"Tony?"

"The dog?"

"Oh….oh my gosh! I totally forgot! Someone needs to get the beast!" She almost ran down the sidewalk.

"Wait up Abbs. The mutt can wait a little longer, " he called.

"Tony! Haven't you ever listened to Ducky go on about starvation?"

………………………………………………………………..

Even in the dark, Tony knew his way to Kate's Silver Spring, Maryland, condominium well. It wasn't the greatest looking place on the outside, but Kate had tastefully repaired the inside.

Tony had been to the condo several times. It was different now, however. Ghostly. Old memories of Kate resurfaced. Things he normally would not remember.

Comparing her to a Shih Tzu. He heard about that forever. Their "sessions" with Ducky. Well, that had only lasted one time. Paraguay. It was Kate's idea to tell Gibbs they couldn't catch a plane for two days so they could get some vacation time. Smoky Corners, West Virginia. He was way too comfortable around her. Michelle's annoying pone calls. Kate had taken care of that, saying she was his wife (which had given unspeakable glee), and gotten Probie to pay the $43.86 he owed. Well, actually just $40 of that.

Gosh, he missed that woman. And he still owed her money.

Frantic barking greeted the two friends of Kate as they reached the door.

Tony glanced at Abby. "Well, he's still alive."

When Kate's father opened the door, Tony the dog sprang out. Instead of his usual growl at Tony Dinozzo, he wagged his tail and licked him, sniffing warily.

"Come on in. We've got a lot in the truck, but there are a few things we thought you two might want to look at."

Abby almost immediately found what she came for—a chain she had given Kate last Christmas. Tony browsed through a box a few more minutes. He knew exactly what he wanted---

Tick. Tick. Tick.

An unmistakable sound. He'd heard it too many times in his lifetime, and recently.

"Everyone out!" he yelled.

Within a few minutes, the four were outside, watching Kate's home explode into a ball of flames.

I want to say, I know some of you aren't too sure about the whole idea of Kate coming back. I understand. But stay with me, more will be revealed. ;)