AN: Alright, here is the next chapter! Sorry, kinda short, but it works. Anyway hope you enjoy it. dark rolling sea.
Chapter Fourteen: Making a New Friend
"Tell me about what your mother said," Gibbs said softly as Kate seemed to have settled into him. She shifted on the bed pulling her head from his shoulder and putting it at an angle she could look at him.
"What?" Kate asked slightly confused.
"Earlier. She worked you up. My guess is it's about Abby," Gibbs said reaching out and running his thumb down Kate's cheek.
"It's nothing important," Kate mumbled throwing her head back against the pillow, flopping onto her back. Gibbs sat up and leaned over her. He gave her his interrogator face. Kate narrowed her eyes at him.
"Talk to me," Gibbs whispered.
Kate was still staring up at the ceiling and took a deep breath. She felt the pressure building in her chest and the tears stinging at her eyes. She had promised herself she wouldn't do this, she wouldn't let her mother do this. Gibbs noticed the change and relaxed next to her, leaning heavily on his elbow.
"Hey," he said gently and he reached over with his free arm and laid it across her waist. She looked at him and bit her upper lip fighting the urge to give up and cry. "It's ok, everything will be fine."
"She's always like this. Everything I do she has to butt in and say I'm doing it wrong."
"You're not doing anything wrong," he said and leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. She closed her eyes and shook her head after he leaned back.
"She is impossible to please."
"It doesn't matter, Kate, what matters is that you're happy with your choices."
"I'm very happy," she said with a smile as she turned on her side to face him. He grinned in return. She leaned in and kissed him, then flopped back onto the bed.
"That makes two of us. Now, just relax. Abby is your maid of honor, your choice. Your mother will be ok with it, just giver her time," Gibbs said softly. Kate was immediately suspicious and she didn't know why. She narrowed her eyes and turned her head to face him.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You read too much into things," Gibbs said leaning over her again. He had a grin on his face and Kate put her hand up to his chest. She gripped his shirt and stared at him.
"No I don't. What did you mean by that?"
"Relax, Kate," he said settling back on the other side of the bed. Kate had rolled with him still gripping his shirt. She studied his face a moment. "It's late, get some sleep."
"Jethro," she said.
"Get some sleep, Kate, no sense worrying over something you have no control over," he said closing his eyes. Kate gave in and settled into the other side of the bed. Gibbs smiled to himself.
When Gibbs woke it was already seven Indiana time. He had slept in. It was then he noticed that not all the weight and heat on his side was coming from Kate. He glanced down, curled up between them was the cat. It looked up at him when it sensed the movement and momentarily laid its ears back, while the hair on its back bristled. The cat seemed to contemplate him for a moment before it relaxed and tucked its head under its paws.
Gibbs was slightly amused by the cat's reaction. He watched the feline for a minute as it rolled onto its back and stretched its paws as far away from its body as it could. He reached down and stroked the cat's stomach and felt it start to purr.
"He decided he likes you," Kate whispered as she also reached over and rubbed the cat's head.
"Weird way of showing it," Gibbs replied attention still on the cat.
"Blukie is a weird cat; the momma cat had a little trouble with the kittens that batch. My mom actually pulled the first four out. They all came backwards, tails first. We thought she was done so we all went to bed; it had been about eight hours of labor. Came back the next morning to check on her, she's now got five kittens instead of four. I think he was just in there too long and got his wires a little mixed up."
"Rough start," Gibbs said with a smile.
"Just makes for an eccentric cat."
Gibbs nodded and continued to pet the cat. He was purring loudly now, something Gibbs had yet to hear it do. Kate looked at the clock and groaned. She didn't know why she was already awake, especially after the late night.
It was then her cell phone started to ring on the dresser. She rolled over and this caused the cat to snuggle closer into Gibbs. He watched the cat with great curiosity. Kate grabbed the phone and checked the screen.
"Who is it?" Gibbs asked.
"Abby," Kate said slightly confused. She flipped the phone open. "What's up Abbs?"
"Just checking if you're awake. I'm awake, thought I'd see if you were awake."
"Slow down, Abbs, you already have a Caf-pow?"
"They don't sell that here, I made Tim check, but I've already had a caffeine fix yeah. Tim is up too. What are you guys doing?"
"We were cuddling with the cat," Kate said as her lips curled into a smile. Gibbs looked up.
"Oh, we disturbed you! I'm sorry, Kate!"
"Don't be, Abby, you have something in mind?"
"I just hate being stuck in a motel," Abby said with a small whine.
"Abby, do you want to come over here?"
"I thought you'd never ask! We'll be right over."
The line was dead and Kate closed the phone and tossed it on the dresser. Gibbs watched her look at it a moment before she started to laugh. He sat up, and the cat crawled further into his lap.
"What was that about?" Gibbs asked, sliding the cat slightly to be more comfortable.
"Abby was bored."
"That could be disastrous."
"I think it's been a long time since she's been in a setting like this."
Gibbs only nodded. Kate went to get dressed and Gibbs sat with the cat a while longer. When Kate came back she couldn't help but smile at the image. Gibbs looked up at her and glared.
"What?" he asked defensively.
"I think you made a new friend," Kate said softly and then sat down on the edge of the bed. Blukie was rubbing his head along Gibbs' hand. Gibbs nodded and slid the cat off his lap so he could go get dressed. When he was done Kate was already out of the room. He left the door open enough for the cat since he was still curled up in the blankets on the bed.
Gibbs wasn't down stairs very long when he heard a soft thumping coming down the stairs. He sat down on the couch and looked back. Blukie was waddling across the floor towards him. The cat then sat back on its haunches and thought for a while before launching itself into the air. It hit Gibbs lap with a thud.
Blukie then curled into a neat ball on Gibbs' lap and started to purr again. He rubbed his head along Gibbs' arm. Kate walked into the living room and smiled at him again. He ignored her. He continued to pet the cat absently with his right hand. Kate sat down next to him.
"Maybe we should get one of those," Kate said putting her hand on his shoulder. He looked at her then down at the cat.
"Maybe," Gibbs said.
"I never imagined you for a cat guy," Kate said a smile playing at her lips. Gibbs simply shrugged his shoulders and watched the cat. They sat with Blukie waiting for McGee and Abby to show up.
TBC…
AN: Ok so Blukie wouldn't leave me alone today which is why he is in the story. He was always one step away from me or in my lap.
