Then, it hit her. Kate frantically rushed down to Abby's lab, repeating the words 'Oh My God' over and over and over and over in her head. The elevator doors opened and she found a very cheerful Abby, and a not to cheerful McGee.

"Tim, can you give me and Abby a minute or 5? Alone?"

"Uh, yeah, sure Kate. Bye Abs."

"Hey Kate, that wasn't fair! I was just about to tell McGee about my piercings!"

"It's me isn't it?" Kate asked as if she were expecting a heart attack.

"What are you talking about woman?"

"Tony. This morning when I came down, you were saying something about Tony being in love. Just then I was thinking, why would Tony want to take me out to dinner when he's already in love with someone else? Then the absurd thought crossed my mind that the one he loves could actually be me. And it all makes sense. The staring, the nickname, the stuttering and stumbling when he talks to me, and he's been spending an awful lot of time around me lately."

Kate took in a huge breath and sighed. She then looked up at Abby, and saw her friend giving her little golf claps, with a huge smile plastered over her face.

"Well done Kate! You finally got it. I expected you to catch on a little earlier though. And you call yourself an NCIS special agent!"

"Not funny Abs, what am I gonna do?"

"Well, first of all, you're gonna stop stating the obvious. Second of all, you're gonna go back upstairs and finish your paperwork so Gibbs won't make you stay behind and tonight, you and Tony are going to go have the night of your lives, and not come in tomorrow."

"Why am I not coming in tomorrow?"

"Because you and Tony will be busy doing, uh, other things."

"Abby!"

"Awe, Kate you know you want to. As much as you deny it, you want to sleep with Anthony DiNozzo."

"Yeah? Well, I could say the same for you and McGee."

"That's different."

"How?"

"Because I wouldn't deny it."

"I'm going to tell him you said that!"

"Go ahead! Saves me the trouble."

"You are truly unique Abby."

"Thank you Kate! Hey, tell me what you think of Tony's new nickname for you."

"Which one?"

"Katie-Pie. It's adorable, I think."

"Well, it's a hell of a lot better than Rosefern."

"True. So…."

"Well, I guess it is kinda cute. But I still don't know Abby,"

"About what?"

"Whether this is a good idea or not?"

"Why not?"

"Because. It jeopardizes everything."

"Career-wise, yes. But Kate, this could be the best time of your life. You don't know, Tony could even be 'the one' for you."

"He's hardly 'the one' material Abs."

"Fine then, tell me something. When Gibbs sent you two undercover, and you had to share a hotel room. What was he like?"

"Sardonic, chauvinistic…"

"Apart from the usual."

"I dunno, we talked a lot about why we got into this line of work, plans for the future and stuff like that. I never thought Tony had a nice side, you know. One I could relate to. And, I found out that we both wanna name our son Drew."

"See, Kate, you're already planning your kids." Abby said as she put her arm around Kate's neck and hugged her. "And I think I know what this means."

"Enlighten me, please."

"I think you're in love with Tony."

Kate sighed. "Maybe I am."

"I think you are."

"Would you stop that? You're making me nervous."

Abby smiled as she listened to Kate explaining every single reason why she couldn't possibly be in love with Tony. But she knew it was just the denial phase. After tonight, it would pass. She was sure of it.

"Kate! Would you just stop worrying, and just have fun tonight."

"You know what, you're right! It's just a date. I'm being silly."

"Exactly, it's just a date."

"Exactly, a date, with Tony, tonight."

"Kate! You're doing it again."

"Right, sorry."

"Now get outta here before Gibbs makes you work overtime."

Gee, I hope Kate doesn't suffer from panic attacks. It'd be quite a show if she does. Kate Todd, damsel in distress, and Anthony DiNozzo, knight in Shining Armor! That's something I'd pay to see. Hey! Now there's an idea!