A/N: Well howdy folks. Long time no write, eh? –Chuckles nervously-. All right, I am truly very sorry about the delay. Really, I am! I did not intend to take so long to update. Hell, I didn't even realize it had been five (five!) months since my last update. But…I am here now. I do, however, offer you a list of reasons why I haven't updated.
I was in mourning for Kate
I was planning the demise of DPB for said killing of Kate
I was undercover exposing the truth about aliens and Elvis
I was getting acquainted with the fabulous Fabio
I am a lazy bum who doesn't deserve your wonderful support.
But then again, I am sure you don't want to read my erm…interesting attempts to amuse you now, do you. So I'll just be shutting up now and hope this chapter lives up to your expectations!
--Emily—
Disclaimer: Me no own. DAMN IT!
Edited 12/20/07
Despite what Tony had told Rita about going to see Kate, he had remained seated on the bench outside of the hospital for quite some time. After what seemed like hours, the sound of footsteps coming close once again caused him to lift his head. This time, however, he was greeted with a very unexpected face. The newcomer sat silently beside him, uttering not a word. The tension hung heavily between them, growing until it became so unbearable Tony felt he had to break it. Not quite sure what to say, he started with the simplest thing he could think of.
"Kate."
"Tony." It was a pointless introduction, and they both knew it. Tony searched his brain, desperate to find some topic they could safely talk about, anything to avoid the inevitable conversation he knew was coming. Kate, however, always the sensible one, broke his thoughts.
"What do you want Tony?"
He was startled at these words. Had he not made it clear? He wanted to be part of her life; of his daughter's life.
"I want to be part you your life, of her life."
Kate ran a hand through her hair. "So I suppose asking you to just leave and forget all of this is out of the question?" He nodded.
"Why are you so hell bent on keeping me out of your lives?"
She looked at him. "Honestly?"
"Yes!"
"I don't trust you. I don't trust you to be the father figure she needs, nor can I trust you to make good on all you say."
Whatever Tony thought she was going to say, it most certainly was not that. His eyes darkened. "You don't trust me? Why the hell not?"
Kate met his furious gaze. "Why should I Tony? You have never had a serious commitment in your life; you have no idea what raising a child is like! And say we do tell her that you're her Father. What happens when you have to leave? Tell me, Tony, Just how do I tell my daughter that Daddy doesn't live with us and that she cant see him often?" She bit her lip, trying to keep the tears at bay. "You can't just waltz in here and expect to be welcomed with open arms."
Tony looked away, partly in embarrassment, for her words held a note of truth. "How can you possibly know, Kate, if you have never given me the chance to prove myself? You just ran off without a word to anyone! And you call me irresponsible! The moment things got tough you just packed up and left! You couldn't even face your friends!"
"How dare you Tony DiNozzo. How dare you sit there and insinuate that I am irresponsible. You have NO idea what it takes to raise a child on your own. NO idea." People were starting at the couple on the bench, for their voices had steadily risen to the point of almost screaming.
"Look. Kate, I'm…" He tried to apologize, but she cut him off.
"Tony, just…don't. Okay? Just leave me alone. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to make sure my daughter is doing well." And with that she stomped off, leaving Tony to once again smack himself on the head for being perhaps the world's biggest moron.
Kate had to make several attempts to press the correct elevator button, for her hands trembled so violently. She was relatively sure that she had a nasty look on her face, judging from the number of people that went well out of their way to avoid her.
How dare he! How dare he say those things! He had no idea what he was talking about. No idea! She was anything but irresponsible. She had to be if she wanted to make a good living. Sure she had that one lapse of judgment that had resulted in the birth of her daughter, but she had acknowledged that fact, and had made the most of her new life. She wiped away the tears of anger that trickled down her face as she waited impatiently for the elevator to open.
If Kate were to be completely truthful with herself, she might have realized that Tony was not the root of all of her anger. She was angry with herself as well. Angry for not telling Tony about his daughter, angry for thinking he would never find out. But most of all, she was angry that his words, while harsh and uncalled for, held a certain amount of truth in them. She had run away when things got tough. She could have staid and let people know the truth. She could have faced the anger. But no…she had bolted at the first sign of a disturbance in her carefully planned life.
"What do I do now?" she wondered to herself, wishing desperately that the doors could answer. Of course, their only response was to open to allow her entry into the elevator, and a hand halting the progress of the closing doors screwed even that up.
"So I've been thinking…"
Kate groaned. "Damn it DiNozzo. I thought I told you to leave me alone!"
He flashed her a smile. "Since when have I ever listened? Now shut up, I have something to say. Here's the way I see it. You have two choices. You can fight me about my rights to see my daughter, and we can make a big fuss about this. But I will win, Kate. You will find that I can be very…persuasive…when it comes to getting what I want."
Kate glared at him. "And what, may I ask, is the second choice?"
He took at step closer too her, and she backed away. "The second choice is you willingly let me spend time with the both of you. You let me into your life. We don't have to tell her that I am her father, not yet anyways. Just give it a…shall we say trial run…and see how it goes. She needs a father, Kate. We both know it. So why deny her the chance to have one?"
Her shoulders sagged in defeat as she processed the two choices. She had no doubt in her mind that Tony would get what he wanted in the end, for he always did. So should she fight it and hope that he just forgot? Or give things a chance. God only knew what that man did to her in such a close proximity. Perhaps…
Oh what was she thinking? It would never work in the long run.
"What about your job? Did you think about that? We live in completely separate places. How the hell is that going to work out?"
What he did next caught her completely off guard. Gently, he cupped her face and tilted her face up so she was looking at him.
"I'll get a transfer, if that's what you want." And then he kissed her.
It had been over five years since the last kiss they shared, and so such a difference did those years make. When they had kissed all those years ago, their kisses had been frenzied and passionate. This was different. It was gentle and tender. He broke away and smiled once more at her as the doors opened.
"Think about it Kate." And just like that he was gone, leaving her utterly confused and defenseless.
Damn you Tony DiNozzo, she thought. Damn you for showing up in my life all of a sudden. Damn you for giving me this ultimatum. And damn you for making me feel this way."
She was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't even realize that her floor had come and gone.
A/N: Well…how was it? I hope it was up to your expectations! I also hope that it won't take so damn long to get the next chapter up. So, leave a review! And hopefully I can respond to each of them now!
Until next time!
Emily
