A/N: Sorry for the short beginning, but I promise it'll get longer. As always, please review! I thrive on it!
Disclaimer: You know the drill, NCIS and its characters belong to Bellasario. The title and the lyrics belong to Lonestar.
Tell Her
"Kate." The single word tumbled from his lips. He was terrified and he knew this definitely wasn't the best time, but it was his last chance. Even though it was selfish, he needed her to know.
She turned back at the sound of her name and saw the uncertainty in Tony's eyes. It wasn't a look she was used to since he was always so cocky and sure of himself. She took a few steps toward him until there were only a few feet between them. "What's wrong?"
He swallowed and took a deep breath. "Nothing's wrong, I just…" He looked to the ground, totally unsure of himself. "I just wanted you to know…" He couldn't get the words out.
"What is it, Tony? Come on, spit it out. It can't be that bad." Kate smiled jokingly, but Tony was starting to scare her. He was being totally un-Tony-like. She'd never seen him so unsure.
Of course it's bad, he thought. We're standing outside of your rehearsal dinner on the eve of your wedding. It can't get worse than that. Instead of saying that, he decided to try to kind of ease into the speech he'd been working on forever. "Do you remember when we were in G'tmo and you said I was like a brother to you?"
Kate nodded but she had no idea where he was going with this.
"Well, I've been thinking about it a lot lately. I really, really care about you and I don't want to do anything to hurt you. You know that, right?" God, what was he doing? This was definitely not going like he'd planned.
He could see the questions in her eyes but she nodded anyway. She was totally lost, then an idea donned on her. What if Tony knew something that was going to hurt her? What if he'd found out something bad about Shawn? Or what if something had happened at the bachelor party?
He saw the sudden panic flood her eyes and he hated that he'd caused it. Had she figured it out? It was time to get it over with as quick and hopefully painless as possible, not that saying it quick would make the rejection any easier. He took a deep, steadying breath, then let it all out. "Don't marry Shawn. He's not good enough for you. No man is. And I know I'm not good enough, but I want to be." Tears were shining in his eyes as he pleaded with her to understand, to love him back.
She was stunned silent, so he took her hands in his and continued as he stared straight into her beautiful eyes. "I've been in love with you since Air Force One. I tried to hide it and I know I was a jackass sometimes, but it doesn't change how I feel. I used to watch you sleep in the office and think that was as close as I'd ever get, but I can't do that anymore. Please, don't marry him. Marry me."
Tell her that you love her
Tell her that you need her
Tell her that you want her to stay
Reassure her with a kiss
She may never know unless you
Show her what you're feeling
Tell her you're believing
Even though it's hard to say
'Cause she needs to know you're thinking of her
So open up and tell her that you love her
Of all the things Kate had imagined Tony would tell her, this had never even crossed her mind. Actually, it had, but only in her dreams. She had wanted Tony since she'd seen him on Air Force One, and her feelings had only grown the more she got to know him. She'd hidden it with jokes and sarcasm and had told herself it would never happen. She'd met a nice guy that she could be happy with, even though he wasn't Tony. Now her dream was coming true just as she'd totally let it go. What was she supposed to do?