A/N: Back from Easter break - only 24 days of college left until summer. Sweet. Sorry this took so long to get up; I really didn't have either the ideas or the time. But here it is... finally!
Chapter 21 - Performance
It seemed like it took forever for the days to pass, but it was finally time for Gibbs to put on his show. Trisha had spent many hours trying to teach him how to sing the song for Kate. It didn't start out too well; Gibbs' stubbornness to avoid trying anything new and Trisha's unwillingness to give up had collided with each other. However, in the end, Trisha was confident that Gibbs was more than ready and that her plan would indeed work.
Getting Kate to actually go to the bar had been a challenge for Abby, McGee, and Tony. Usually Kate would jump at the offer to spend some time with her friends away from the office, but she had cited that there was too much work to be done to allow herself to have any fun. More importantly, she was tired and needed the rest. For two days she had sat in her cubicle next to Gibbs, ignoring him to the best of her abilities. Who thought the simple act of ignoring could take the energy out of one so easily?
Abby and McGee had both tried to get Kate to go out with them, but to no avail. The real kicker came from Tony: "Why don't you wanna come out with us? You miss Gibbs too much? Yea, I'll bet that's it. You miss his silver hair and blue eyes---"
And Kate's eyes had lit with fire as she slammed the files she had been holding down on her desk. She grabbed her things and threw them in her bag. Quickly putting on her jacket, Kate stomped off to the elevator. "If we're going for drinks then you'd all better get the hell over here in the next ten seconds!"
Tony could have sworn he saw actual smoke coming from Kate's ears as he boarded the elevator behind her. He made a silent prayer that this plan to get Kate and Gibbs back together would work - for everyone's sake.
Back at Gibbs' house, Trisha was in the process of picking out something for Gibbs to wear. She chose a pair of his jeans and a blue polo that brought out his eyes. She laid the clothes on the bed and went looking for him. Trisha found him in the basement, feverishly sanding his boat. "Gibbs," she said softly as she walked down the stairs.
He stopped sanding but didn't look up. His grip on the hand sander was so tight that it made his knuckles turn white.
Trisha stepped off the stairs and came up next to Gibbs. She put a hand on his back and gently made circles. "What's the matter?" she asked. Trisha reached out and gently gripped Gibbs' hand as he remained grasping the sander.
Gibbs moved and put the tool down. He turned back around and knelt down in front of Trisha. "Do you honestly think this is gonna work?" he asked, his blue eyes searching the little girl's face.
She placed her hands on his shoulders and smiled. "Not only do I think this is gonna work, but I think it just might make Kate fall for you all over again," Trisha answered reassuringly.
Gibbs drew her into a strong hug. He placed his chin on her shoulder, closed his eyes, and sighed deeply. "What would I do without you, kid?" he asked softly.
In response, Trisha hugged Gibbs' body tighter. "Come on," she said as she glanced at the clock on the wall, "you gotta get ready. It's almost time to go."
He nodded and slowly backed away from her embrace. Gibbs stood and walked up the stairs with Trisha on his heels.
Kate had been at the bar for over an hour and a half. She sat there at a table, her back to the stage, nursing the same drink the whole time. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get into the conversation taking place around her. Her mind kept wondering back to Gibbs. I'm still angry with him, but at the same time I want to forgive him. I want some alone time, yet I want to be in Gibbs' arms. I want… Kate laughed at herself. Hell, she didn't really know what she wanted at all. She just wished the time would go by faster so she could go home. Suddenly she noticed that Abby, McGee, and Tony had grown quiet. Their eyes were all glued to the stage where people were singing their heart's out.
"This song goes out to a very special lady in the house tonight," came a little girl's voice over the speakers.
Kate knew that voice. She whipped her head around to look at the stage.
"If you're listening right now," Trisha continued, "this guy up here wants you to know how much he misses you and how much you mean to him. Here's Special Agent Gibbs with Brad Paisley's She's Everything."
Much to Kate's astonishment, Gibbs came walking out onto the stage, microphone in hand. He nodded, giving the signal for the music to start. Gibbs found Kate almost instantly in the small crowd. He locked eyes with her and took a deep breath. He let the musical introduction play before he began to sing. Gibbs started out a bit timidly, but his confidence grew the further he got in the song.
She's a yellow pair of running shoes, a holey pair of jeans
She looks great in cheap sunglasses, she looks great in anything
She's I want a piece of chocolate, take me to a movie
She's I can't find a thing to wear, now and then she's moody
She's a Saturn with a sunroof, with her brown hair a-blowing
She's a soft place to land and a good feeling knowing
She's a warm conversation that I wouldn't miss for nothing
She's a fighter when she's mad and she's a lover when she's loving
And she's everything I ever wanted and everything I need
I talk about her, I go on and on and on
'Cause she's everything to me
Gibbs walked to the left side of the stage and slowly down the steps. He began making his way towards Kate's figure at the table.
She's a Saturday out on the town and a church girl on Sunday
She's a cross around her neck and a cuss word 'cause its Monday
She's a bubble bath and candles… baby come and kiss me
She's a one glass of wine and she's feeling kinda tipsy
She's the giver I wish I could be and the stealer of the covers
She's a picture in my wallet of my unborn children's mother
She's the hand that I'm holding when I'm on my knees and praying
She's the answer to my prayer and she's the song that I'm playing
And she's everything I ever wanted and everything I need
I talk about her, I go on and on and on
'Cause she's everything to me
He now stood directly in front of Kate, his eyes never leaving hers. He knelt down in front of her and took her hand, gently squeezing it.
She's the voice I love to hear someday when I'm ninety
She's that wooden rocking chair I want rocking right beside me
Everyday that passes I only love her more
Yeah, she's the one that I'd lay down my own life for…
Gibbs watched as Kate's eyes welled with tears. He gently removed his hand from hers and lovingly wiped away the tears that had already fallen down her cheeks.
And she's everything I ever wanted and everything I need
She's everything to me yeah she's everything to me
Kate moved her hand and placed it on Gibbs' cheek. She scooted closer to him in her chair and wrapped her arms around his body.
Everything I ever wanted and everything I need
She's everything to me…
When Gibbs finished the song, he pulled back and looked at Kate, his eyes going back and forth between hers. "I love you, Katie," he said into the microphone. "Come back to me," he half asked, half stated.
She sniffled and smiled through her tears. "Yes," she nodded.
"Yes?" Gibbs repeated.
Kate leaned in and kissed Gibbs with all the passion that she possessed. He wrapped his arms around her and drew her body closer to his.
Around them, the small crowd in the bar cheered and clapped.