A/N: I thought I'd throw in some extra Kibbs this chapter. Don't know why, but I was in the romance mood, hehe. Thanks for the reviews, guys.

Chapter 13 - Showing Emotions

Gibbs and Kate walked out of the NCIS elevator and towards the bullpen. Both were surprised to see Tony, McGee, Abby, and even Ducky already hard at work in the search for Trisha. It was nearing three o'clock in the morning. Tony and Ducky were on the telephone making calls to local and surrounding state police departments. Abby and McGee were both working at the same computer, feverishly typing on the same keyboard at once.

When Tony saw Gibbs and Kate come around the corner, he quickly ended his current call to brief them on the team's progress. "Hey Boss. So far Ducky and I have called over 30 police stations, both on the local and state level. We faxed each of them a copy of Trisha's photo, too. They're all on the lookout for her."

Abby stopped typing on the keyboard and walked to Gibbs and Kate. "McGee and I are trying to go over Trisha's file, but we're having a hard time accessing it. There's encryption out the wazoo. Something's hinky here, Gibbs. I think---"

McGee cut her off in mid sentence. "I'm in!" he exclaimed from his desk. He stared at the computer screen with an open mouth for a few seconds before he leaned back in his swivel chair. "Wait, this can't be right. According to this… Wow." McGee rubbed his tired eyes and shook his head.

"Well?" Gibbs asked impatiently as he held his hands out to his sides. "You wanna fill us in, McGee?"

"Oh, sorry Boss," he stammered. "Well, according to this, Trisha was placed in the Witness Protection Program after her parents were murdered in July of 2002. She was indeed four when it happened, Gibbs."

"I knew she was four when it happened, McGee! Give me something useful!" Gibbs barked.

Suddenly it dawned on Kate. "Gibbs, it doesn't add up. I mean, doesn't Trisha seem small for supposedly being 12 years old?"

McGee nodded. "Kate's right. She's not 12, guys. Trisha was born in 1998; she's only 8 years old. When she was given a new identity she was also given a new age. A lot of the families she stayed with in the beginning were actually comprised of FBI agents. She was rifled around New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia for two years until the murderer was caught and sentenced. Only then did the FBI release her into an actual foster care family. Since 2004 Social Services has her listed as being assigned to six different families. Actually seven if you count yourself, Boss…"

The bullpen grew quiet. Gibbs tilted his head back and sighed towards the ceiling. "This kid has been through so much," he said quietly, "and now you're telling me she's really only eight years old?" He fell silent again and dropped his gaze to the floor. "I need coffee," he stated as he headed for the break room.

Kate turned abruptly and walked off in the direction that Gibbs had gone. She found him seated at a table, his head in his hands. She walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around him. "Jethro," she murmured, "I know this is all new for you. And I know it isn't easy for you. Our relationship… your relationship with Trisha… having a family again… But please don't hold your emotions back. I'm here for you and I love you very much. Talk to me." Kate rested her chin on the top of Gibbs' head and waited for him to respond.

Gibbs stood up suddenly and moved away from Kate. He turned his back on her and placed both his hands on the counter, leaning on it as if bracing himself for impact. He shook his head before he began to speak slowly. "Do you think that she's better off without me? That maybe I'm just adding salt to her already open wounds?" Gibbs' voice began to waver as he started rambling. "I can't do this, Kate. Not again. I lost a child once already, I can't handle losing Trisha, too! You're probably thinking, 'Hell Gibbs, you only knew the kid for a couple of weeks!' But it doesn't matter because I see something in her, something that none of those damn foster families could bring out in her. When I'm with her I just feel better. And when it's you, her, and me, I feel whole again. Like I've been given another shot at having a family…" Gibbs' voice trailed off as he felt tears stinging his eyes. He hated crying and hadn't done so in years. But more importantly, he didn't want to look weak in front of Kate. He blinked listlessly as he tried to bury his feelings, but it was no use. He crumpled to the floor as the emotions he'd been holding in for so long all spilled out at once.

In an instant Kate was there for him, her arms holding him in a tight embrace as she whispered words of comfort. She could feel his entire body shaking as he silently wept; not only for Trisha, but for his lost daughter and wife. Kate shifted her body and moved Gibbs' head to her shoulder. She felt him bury his face in her green sweater. "I'm here Jethro, it alright. Everything's going to be ok," she whispered, running her hands up and down his back soothingly. "You made a mistake with Trisha. But she still loves you, she told you that in her letter."

He rolled his head back and forth on Kate's shoulder. "Why'd she leave me?"

Kate thought for a moment before answering. "She's scared, Gibbs. I think she's scared to love you because she's afraid of losing you." She ran her hand through his hair then down his back. "Why do you think it took me so long to come to term with my feelings for you, hmmm?"

Gibbs picked up his head and slowly looked at Kate. He kept one arm wrapped tightly around her as he cupped her face with his hand. He caressed her cheek with his thumb, his red-brimmed eyes darting back and forth between Kate's strong brown ones. "I love you Katie," he said simply. Gibbs finally admitted it and accepted it. When he moved his head and captured Kate's lips with his own, all previous doubts about their relationship deserted his mind. He didn't care if he had fallen in love with his subordinate; in his eyes she was his equal. When he felt Kate's tongue tracing the outline of his lower lip, he forgot the age difference; she made him feel young. He was ready to get on the announcement system and tell the whole NCIS building about his love for this one woman; Special Agent Caitlin Todd.

When the overpowering need to breathe consumed them both, they pulled apart and stared at each other, panting quietly. Kate smiled at a slightly swollen-lipped Gibbs. She noticed that the fire had once again returned to his blue eyes.

He pulled her with him as he stood up. In one swift motion he had her body flush against his. Gibbs put his hands on Kate's hips and began to gently sway back and forth. "Dance with me," he whispered.

Kate wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest. She let him lead to the imaginary music and smiled when he wrapped his arms around her waist to hold her more tightly. She turned her head and looked up at Gibbs. "I love you too, Jethro," she said softly.

Gibbs' heart swelled. He looked down at Kate and smiled before he bent his head down to kiss her.