A Dare, Or Something More Sinister?
Rating: T
Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS... I wish I did, but I don't!
Author's Notes: Thanks for all the reviews... a few more wouldn't go unnoticed though! Please!
This chapter is a bit long, but I got a bit carried away
Again a humongous thank you to Kate for her inspiration and fantastic ideas!
McGee watched as the chopper came in and landed. He walked across the heli-pad and opened the door of the chopper to find all three occupants asleep. He looked at Tony who was leaning against the window, snoring softly, then looked to Kate and Gibbs who were leaning against each other, Gibbs' arm around Kate. Kate didn't look good, she had a bruise over her left-eye, and Gibbs didn't look much better, he knew the man hadn't had coffee in over a day, but he didn't expect this, Gibbs was pale and shivering. He should call Ducky. But before he could move, Gibbs opened his eyes.
"We're here," he said softly, removing his head, from its position, he looked at McGee, "Well are you just gonna stand there? Or are you gonna help us unload? Tony! Kate! We're back!". Tony and Kate opened their eyes and got up, stepping out of the chopper to stretch their legs. Gibbs let them get off first before doing the same. They collected their bags and went into the base. As they walked into the bullpen, McGee told them that Ducky was waiting for them. The agents dropped off their bags and wordlessly got onto the elevator, McGee unused to the silence tried to make conversation but gave up when it was clear they didn't want to talk.
They got out of the elevator and entered the morgue where Ducky awaited them.
"Ah, Jethro. I was wondering when you would come and see me" He said without looking up
"What have you got for me Duck?" Gibbs asked, looking at the body of the dead marine
"Well I was right, our marine was frozen," Ducky paused looking up, a frown coming across his face "Jethro, are you okay? You look the living dead, you could almost be mistaken for one of my corpses"
"Thanks Ducky. The marine, you were saying he was frozen" Gibbs replied
"The marine, Jethro, can wait" Ducky told him
"He just hasn't had coffee in almost 30 hours Ducky. Watch out, he's really cranky" Tony said, pre-empting the clip over the back of his head, he moved out of range
Gibbs just glared at him as he said "I'm fine Ducky. The marine?"
"Ahh. 30 hours since you last had caffeine. You're going through withdrawals Jethro" Ducky told him, ignoring Gibbs' question. "Yes, when I was training to be a medical examiner, one of our lecturer's lost his pain medication. In his seminar that day he showed us on a corpse how to remove somebody's spleen, but took out the young man's liver instead"
Kate, Tony and McGee chuckled, "Oh, but that was nothing in comparison to one of the chemistry lecturers who blew up the chemistry lab when he was coming off of.." Ducky began again
"Ducky!" Gibbs barked. "The marine, how long?"
"What marine?" Ducky asked
"Ahh! I need a coffee!" Gibbs said heading towards the elevator. McGee, Kate and Tony followed him.
In the elevator, Tony looked at Gibbs with an amused expression on his face "I bet you couldn't go a week without coffee Gibbs"
"You're probably right DiNozzo. Guess we'll never know" Gibbs replied
"What if I bet you, that you couldn't do it. If I win I get another week off over spring break" Tony said
"Why would I do that DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked
"Ah…because you love me" Tony replied. Gibbs glared at him, then turned back to the door, "If you win I'll give you a bottle of jack."
The doors of the elevator opened, then shut as nobody moved. "How big?" He asked turning to Tony
Tony thought about it, "A big one"
"You seem confident DiNozzo" Gibbs stated
"That's because I know you'll never do it" Tony replied
"It's a deal" Gibbs told him, "I like coffee, but I can go a week without it" Gibbs turned around when the doors opened again to find they were back in the morgue. He walked back to where Ducky was, "Ducky, time?"
"Ah, Jethro, you're back. Four days ago. Likely between ten pm and midnight" Ducky replied
"Ok. What's the time now Duck?" Gibbs asked
"Four thirty" Ducky replied
"Ok DiNozzo, its been thirty-two hours, that's a day and eight hours" Gibbs told him
"Wait a sec boss. I meant a week from now" Tony said
"Well, you said a week without coffee, that means from the moment of my last coffee, which includes yesterday" Gibbs responded, challenging him to argue
"What's going on here?" Ducky asked
"Gibbs accepted a bet from Tony. If he can go a week without coffee, he gets a big bottle of Jack" McGee replied
"Yeah, and when he doesn't, I get an extra week of leave" Tony added
"I don't approve of this Jethro, this could make you very ill" Ducky told Gibbs
"Are you saying I can't do this?" Gibbs asked
"No, Tony's saying that" Kate replied instead
"Jethro, I have no doubt you can do this, but you shouldn't put your body through that much stress" Ducky responded, sighing. He looked at the team, they looked tired "It's been a rough couple of days, I suggest you all go home and rest, and return in the morning refreshed. Caitlin, let me have a look at your eye, its rather swollen"
Kate walked over to join Ducky who gestured to an empty table. Tony and McGee left with a nod from Gibbs, who stayed whilst Ducky gave her a quick exam. "Jethro, Caitlin's injuries, whilst better, are still a bit of a concern." Then turning to Kate, he continued, "I would suggest you spend the night in hospital, just in case, but I know you're as stubborn as you're boss who believes he can do anything. Jethro, you shouldn't be left alone tonight either and I'm not going to suggest you go to hospital. Would you let me give you a once over before you leave? Good, come here" Ducky said without waiting for a response. With Ducky's okay, Kate and Gibbs left autopsy and got their bags from the bullpen.
"So, where's your car parked?" Gibbs asked as they got back into the elevator
"At home, I caught a taxi here yesterday" Kate replied
"Of course, you had a date with Shane" Gibbs said, "Is he picking you up?
"You remember that?" Kate asked, shocked
"Yeah," Gibbs looked at her then back at the doors, saying quietly "How could I forget?", then saying louder "So is he picking you up?"
"No, it didn't work out, I ended up sleeping at a friends house" Kate admitted as the doors opened and they walked out
"Why?" Gibbs asked
"He didn't show up" Kate replied looking up into his eyes, "I'll see you tomorrow Gibbs"
"Oh no you don't. Ducky said he didn't want you left alone"
"No, Ducky said he didn't want you left alone"
"So, what's the problem?"
"I don't think it's a good idea Gibbs. With both of us in the state we are in now…"
"Kate, he didn't say we had to sleep together, he just said he didn't want us left alone. But, of course, if you have a better offer, I won't stop you, I'm just worried about you"
"Wow! The rock has feelings!"
"Right" Gibbs said turning away, walking away "forget it. See you tomorrow Kate"
"Wait! Gibbs I didn't mean it like that"
"It's okay Kate. I'm fine, I understand. See you tomorrow" With that Gibbs walked off to his car. Gibbs reached his car and sat inside, putting his head in his hands. His head was thumping and he couldn't think straight. He sat up and looked out the windscreen, not registering anything. He turned on the engine and left the parking lot, pulling up outside the taxi bay where Kate was standing. He wound down the window and called out to her, when she didn't respond to him, he put on the hand-brake and got out of the car.
"Kate. Ah, do you want a lift?" He asked
"My place is a bit out of the way isn't it Gibbs?" She asked. "Besides I've already called a taxi"
"Yeah, well you won't be catching it." Gibbs stated "I don't trust taxi drivers or their driving"
"Well, I don't trust your driving!" Kate responded
"Kate, get in the goddamn car! Stop being so bloody stubborn" Gibbs snapped
Kate slowly walked to the sedan and got in, Gibbs following suit. They traveled in silence for the first ten minutes. Kate turned on the radio to break the silence, to find that the radio was broken, producing a high pitched squealing noise. Kate looked at questioningly at Gibbs, who shrugged "Somebody stole my car for a few days, was caught when they tried to cross the border into Canada. The radio came back in that condition, the car repairer said it was something to do with the base…"
"Gibbs, you're car was stolen six months ago, most people would have gotten the radio fixed by now" Kate said
With a smirk, Gibbs replied "I'm not in the car long enough to listen to the radio", as if to illustrate the point, Gibbs slowed down, before coming to a stop in-front of Kate's house "We're here".
Kate rolled her eyes and collected her bag. "Thanks" She said as she got out of the car, then turned back "would you like to come in for coffee?"
"I'd love to come in for coffee" Gibbs replied, shutting off the engine and opening his door.
They walked to her front door, but when Kate opened the door, Gibbs didn't move. Kate stopped and looked back at him "Well, would you like to come in or just stay there?"
"I'd like to come in," he replied, his face falling "but I can't. If I come in and have coffee, then I lose the bet with DiNozzo"
"Exactly" She said with a smirk
Gibbs frowned, "I've never lost a bet in my life Kate. I'm not about to start now"
"I see. Didn't really take you for the betting type Gibbs. Well, I have a whole bottle of Jack if you want some of that instead"
His frown disappeared and was replaced with a smirk, raising his eyebrow he said "Didn't really take you for the type that drinks Jack, Kate"
"I don't"
"So, why do you have a bottle of it?"
Kate realised he'd backed her into a metaphorical corner, she would never tell him that she had that bottle in-case he decided to drop by, "One of my sisters drinks it, she was here a few months ago and accidentally left it behind"
He broke out into a full smile "Kate, you don't have any sisters"
"She's not a real sister Gibbs. We went to NROTC together" She tried to cover it up, a bit too quickly
"Why does that make you sisters" He asked, confused
"Gibbs, did you ever have a friend who was really close, almost like a brother? Or uncle?" She asked, when Gibbs raised his eyebrow and still had a clueless expression on his face, she continued "You know, like they are adopted family members. People have close friends who they might call 'Uncle Mike' or 'Auntie Liz" … No? okay well we were close, we had the same interests and … we were like sisters. Like I see Abby as a sister, and Tony and McGee as brothers"
"The more I know, the less I understand" Gibbs responded
"So, was that a yes? Or a no?" Kate asked, referring to the Jack
Gibbs thought about if for a second, not wanting to seem too eager, "I suppose a drink wouldn't hurt"
Gibbs walked in and looked around as Kate closed and locked the door. "Nice place you have here"
"It's not too bad. A place to call home" Kate replied, "I'm just going to change, make yourself at home"
"Thanks" Gibbs replied, walking into the Kitchen. He looked through the cupboards and found a whiskey glass, then continued looking, eventually locating a wine glass. He opened the fridge, noting that it contained mostly half-eaten meals and microwave food, he was going to have to teach Kate how to cook. He looked in the door of the fridge and called to Kate "White or bubbles?", picking out the white and pouring it into the wine glass without waiting for a reply
"White, thanks" She called back
Gibbs went looking for the bottle of Jack, but instead found a packet of coffee. He picked it up and opened it, breathing in the rich aroma. He looked up to find Kate had re-entered the room, wearing a slightly revealing black three-quarter length top with a v-neck and jeans. She looked stunning.
"I thought you said you weren't going to have coffee" Kate said, after a few seconds, she had noticed how he looked at her when she walked in, and smiled.
Gibbs gave her a questioning look, momentarily forgetting the coffee packet in his hand. Then recovered "I'm impressed. This is quality coffee, grown in Jamaica. Not grounded yet so the flavor lasts longer, keeping locked in until its ground". He did up the packet and put it away. "So, where's the coffee? I mean, Jack?"
Kate walked to another cupboard, pulling out an un-opened bottle of Jack "I keep all my alcohol in here". She walked to the counter where he had poured her wine, and poured the Jack into his glass "You take it straight?"
"I'd have it no other way" He replied.
Kate replaced the bottle and led the way to her lounge room, sitting on her couch and making room for Gibbs to join her. Gibbs sat next to her on the couch and took a sip of the Jack, closing his eyes and putting his head back.
"What a day" he remarked
"Yeah" she said. She watched him take another sip of the Jack, he looked tired.
"Kate?" he asked
"Yeah?" She replied
"Earlier, you said that you thought of Abby as a sister, and DiNozzo and McGee as brothers," He told her
"Yes..?" She responded, already knowing where he was going with this
"So what do you see me as?" He asked opening his eyes and sitting up to watch her reaction.
"I'm not sure, I haven't really thought about it." She lied "And yourself, what do you see me as?" she returned the question
"Not sure, never really thought about it" He lied, putting his head back again and closing his eyes. Gibbs thought about what had happened over the last day and a half, Kate had startled him when she first made that comment on the ship about not seeing his boat, but had ignored it afterwards, the case distracting him. For a while at least, until Kate had been injured. As he'd put pressure on her head wound, watching the blood leave her body, he thought he was going to lose her, and in that moment he realised that she meant more to him than just an agent. And that thought had scared him, he couldn't let that happen, he knew that relationships in the work place never worked, he was living proof. But yet here he was, it was happening again, and he couldn't control it, and he didn't like things he couldn't control. One of his ex-wife's had called him a control-freak, and she was right. He had stayed with her as she recovered from the blow to her head, knowing that he had an investigation to run, interrogations to do, but he couldn't bring himself to leave, afraid that something bad would happen to her if he did. But for a while he believed that it might work, after twenty minutes of sleeping on the chopper, he had woken to find DiNozzo asleep, leaning against the window, and Kate asleep as well, leaning on his shoulder. He'd watched her sleep for a while before putting his arm around her, pulling her body closer to his, then had fallen asleep again. He knew that they had landed well before McGee had opened the door, but he played sardines, pretending to be asleep so he could be close to Kate a little while longer. But when he had gotten out of the chopper, his world came crashing in again and he'd put the walls back up, determined not to let anyone in, no one would know, except Ducky. Ducky always knew, he knew the real reason why Gibbs had hired her and why Gibbs had always liked the gym sessions. Hell, Ducky would have known before he even did.
"Gibbs?" he heard Kate call him
"Ducky" Gibbs said sleepily
"Ducky?" Kate asked, confusion evident in her voice
"Ducky knows" he mumbled. Kate shook him, he opened his eyes and looked at her. He must have dozed off, he didn't think he had been that tired.
"Ducky knows what Gibbs?" She asked.
Gibbs sat up, "Ducky knows a lot of things" he said cryptically, downing the rest of the Jack left in his glass. "What's the time? I should probably leave"
"You can't leave. I've already ordered take-out" Kate replied "Chinese. Want another Jack?" She asked, getting up from the couch to get the bottle
Gibbs nodded, holding out his glass when she came back. Kate put the bottle on the coffee table and sat down again. "How do you feel?" Kate finally asked
"Fine" He replied
"No, Gibbs, really" she prompted
He sighed and took a sip of the Jack. "I have a headache, I'm tired and I feel like a grumpy old man"
"Oh, I don't think you're old" Kate said, moving closer and putting her hand on his knee
Gibbs looked over at her and raised his eyebrow. "Exactly how much wine have you had?" he asked looking back at the kitchen to find the bottle of white was almost empty, he did a mental calculation, she'd had half the bottle, he must have dozed off for longer than he thought. He looked into her brown eyes, she wasn't drunk, but she wasn't sober either.
"Not a lot" she replied "but you need to catch up" she indicated his glass with the movement of her eyes towards his glass
"If I didn't know any better, Agent Todd, I would think you were trying to get me pissed" he said, slightly amused
"No, Agent Gibbs. I'm trying to seduce you" she replied
Before he had the chance to reply to her comment, the door bell rang. It seemed to go unnoticed as they both continued to gaze into each others eyes. He was in dangerous territory here, he was alone in a room with a very attractive women, who had probably had too much to drink. He mentally back-tracked, he had to get out of here. "I'll get it, it's probably the Chinese" he said, getting up.
He answered the door and paid the man, bringing the bags of food back to the lounge room. "We eating in here?" He asked
"As long as you don't make a mess" She replied
He put the food on the table and sat down on the couch again, trying to keep his distance. As they ate, they made small talk, mostly about the case. He felt himself relax again when she seemed to sober up, laughing at some of the odd habits of their colleagues. As he finished his meal and put the box on the table, his phone rang.
He pulled it out of his pocket and answered it, "Gibbs".
Kate watched as his face as he put the walls back up, and listened to the one-sided conversation.
"No, I'm at a colleague's house…going over work…No, I won't be meeting you later…yeah, I know this is important…yeah…no…thankyou!..." he flipped the phone closed, hanging up on whoever had rang him. She gave him a questioning look, he shrugged "My ex-wife. She's in town for a while and wanted to meet up. She may be staying here longer than she expected though, looks like she's going to get a job around here somewhere". He finished off the rest of his Jack and poured himself another. "You know, I sometimes wander how men in other countries can have so many wives, bigamy is having one wife too many. I say monogamy is the same thing"
"Didn't stop you from getting married three times" She said
"Then divorced three times" He responded, having another sip of Jack and cradling the glass in his hands. "It was never going to work in the first place anyway. I'm married to my job – according to my third wife. I mean, I liked them, I think I may have loved them, for a while and it wasn't hard to live with them"
"Don't marry someone you can live with… You marry someone you can't live without" Kate said
"That's very profound of you Kate" Gibbs said
"Yeah, well I didn't make it up, I heard Fornell say it, and couldn't help thinking it made sense" She replied.
Gibbs laughed "Didn't stop him from marrying my second ex-wife. You can certainly live without her".
Kate smiled, she loved it when he smiled. She went to say something but was interrupted with a yawn, "Sorry, I'm not actually tired.."
"Kate, never apologize. I should probably go, you need your sleep" Gibbs said
"Right," Kate said looking down, she looked back up and asked him hesitantly, "Um, could you, ah, just hang around until I fall asleep or something, I just…"
"Of course" Gibbs replied
They stayed on the couch, recounting stories of things that had happened since they had been in NCIS, until eventually Kate fell asleep. Gibbs watched her, as her chest rose and fell with each breath. He told himself he would leave soon, he just wanted to stay a little while longer…
That's it for chapter 5... I hope you like it! Reviews please!