A/N: Okay, I want to start out by saying that you all rock for reading this stuff. I didn't think that a songfic would go down all that well, but I had to write it because I'm extremely addicted to music, so I'm glad others are enjoying it. This chapter, in my opinion, isn't quite as well written as the last few. This is mostly because this is the part of the story that was kind of a blind spot when I first came up with the rest of it. Give me feedback on what you think. Also there are two swear words in the chapter, one in a song, just FYI.

And to my beta, I just watched "Shalom" again and, since they are what Gibbs is wearing in Mexico, my choice to put Gibbs in Chuck's during the last chapter is totally justified.

Now on with it...

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Gibbs wasn't sure if Kate could see the NCIS table from where she was on-stage, but from his position behind the drums the moment she had walked out had been priceless. Ducky had smiled knowingly as though having expected it from minute one, but Tony, Abby and McGee looked like fished pulled from the pond. Jaws gaping open, they just stared blankly at her. And he couldn't blame them.

He'd always recognized just how beautiful Kate was, but something about the stage lights and a cheering crowd seemed to light her up in a way that he never could have imagined before. She seemed to radiate confidence and energy in a way that was incredibly distracting. He was already having trouble remembering which song came first. Closing his eyes he focused on the music and when the opening guitar riff broke through the air he entered faultlessly.

The beat was fast and strong, driving an already pumped audience to jump in time to the strong downbeat. Kate grabbed the microphone off the stand and after a stunning smile fired over her shoulder at Gibbs, she began to sing.

You're the kind of friend
Who always bends when I'm broken,
Like remember when...
You took my heart and put it back together again.
I've been wasting time with clueless guys but now it's over.
Let me tell you why...I'm through...I've got someone new who's just like you!

Gibbs had never actually heard the lyrics to the sing before. The band had been given the sheet music to Kate's three songs but had never really worried too much about what the words were. Now he was fascinated, letting muscle memory take over the drumming as he listened and watched her perform.

You're it, You're the Ultimate,
It's automatic I'm sure of it.
No lie, So don't even try
To tell me that you're not the guy.
Cuz I've been waiting all my life for someone just like you,
But you're it..You're the Ultimate you.

Kate had chosen this song specific for tonight figuring that since Gibbs would be watching somewhere in the audience she'd finally be able to tell him how she felt, even if it wasn't direct. Now, after what had happened backstage, she felt even surer that performing this was right. She'd been facing the crowd, but as the next verse started she turned slightly so that she could look at him as she sang.

You're the kind of guy whose hand's in mine..
Sends shivers, up and down my spine.
I want to do to you, what you do to me
You're the kind of guy that blows my mind..
But now it's my turn, You've been right in front of me.
Everything I need, why didn't I see?

You're it, You're the Ultimate,
It's automatic I'm sure of it.
No lie, So don't even try
To tell me that you're not the guy.
Cuz I've been waiting all my life for someone just like you,
But you're it..You're the Ultimate you.

Gibbs couldn't believe it. She was singing to him. Even after she turned back to the crowd he still felt every word directed at him. He'd always enjoyed playing before, but now it was even more completing as he echoed her sentiment drumming every beat just for her.


You're it, You're the Ultimate,
It's automatic I'm sure of it.
No lie, So don't even try
To tell me that you're not the guy.
You're it, You're the Ultimate,
It's automatic I'm sure of it.
No lie, So don't even try
To tell me that you're not the guy.
Cuz I've been waiting all my life for someone just like you,
But you're it..You're the Ultimate you.

You're it...you're the Ultimate YOU!

As the last note sounded the crowd went crazy. Every guy in the place stared lustfully up at Kate, a fact that didn't go unnoticed by Gibbs who felt huge waves of jealousy course through him. With a final laugh and bow Kate moved backstage. She stood just to the side of his drum set and Gibbs took enormous pleasure at feeling her eyes on him as they started the next song.

The next two songs past quickly as the band continued to mix older rock with the new. Gibbs eyes frequently flitted over to where Kate stood just behind the curtain and each time he was amazed to discover her gaze on him. The third time this happened he flushed as she gave him a grin and a lazy wink as their eyes locked.

Despite Mike's earlier insistence that she could come on stage and do their songs with them, Kate stayed backstage, moving slightly in time to the beat, but thoroughly enjoying just watching the band as they ripped through Green Day's "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and REM's "Losing My Religion." She had planned to do the same through their next song, but as she recognized the slightly twangy first notes of one of her favorite songs she hurried out to join Mike at the microphone.

Gibbs' first reaction to seeing Kate back onstage was ecstatic. In just the few minutes during which she had performed earlier he had grown addicted to seeing her like that, but as he realized that she would be doing the song with Mike he again felt a wave of frustration and pain; a feeling that was only amplified as the two interacted throughout Barenaked Ladies "Go Home." Their voices, Mike's rough gravel and Kate's smooth silk, created an incredible contrast that flowed beautifully throughout the song. The pain grew as the song ended and she gave the other man a hug and kiss on the cheek.

As the band waited for the crowd to settle down before starting Kate's next solo song, she felt eyes on her back. She turned slowly and was completely confused as she caught the angry gaze that Gibbs had fixed on her. For a moment she didn't understand, but then her actions during the last song caught up to her, and she realized what his problem was and it caused her to laugh. The very idea that she would be interested in Mike over Gibbs was just so ludicrous in her mind. She turned back to the crowd, perfectly willing to let Gibbs suffer.

Despite Gibbs' eyes on her back, Kate focused her attention on the crowd and for the first time since getting onstage she was reminded of who else was there. Standing front and center before the stage were Abby, Tony and McGee all moving to the beat. Both Tony and McGee were slightly turned away and appeared to be arguing with another man who was making obvious and rather lewd gestures toward Kate. Abby was absolutely ecstatic, a huge grin across her face as she listened to Kate sing. The band behind her played Leann Rimes "Right Kind of Wrong" beautifully, though Kate thought that she detected a little more force in the drumming than was necessary.

The song ended and as she had done earlier Kate took a quick bow and moved backstage, desperate for a break from the limelight. She wasn't sure how Gibbs was managing to survive out there for the entire night, though she suspected that being barely visible behind his drum set probably helped a great deal.

Kate didn't know the next two songs that they played and had almost stopped listening to anything but the beat when Mike asked the crowd to quiet down for a moment. He spoke briefly and was very to the point as he informed them that the next song was dedicated to Gibbs' ex-wives. Kate was surprised at the statement until she caught the almost malicious grin that sprang up on Gibbs' face and she laughed along with the rest of the audience as the band powered through Plain White T's "Hate." As he had done during the first set, Gibbs joined the vocals for the chorus and spent the rest of the time with a huge shit-eating grin plastered on his face.

The song transitioned nicely, following the mixed era vibe of the evening, into "Heart of Rock & Roll." Much of the crowd seemed to be too young to know the song, but that didn't stop them from getting into the song and continuing to have a good time. Kate was enjoying her time backstage, but when she saw Mike move offstage and Gibbs move his microphone closer she felt a surge of excitement. Listening to him sing during the first set had been incredible and she moved ever so slightly closer. When the band began to play, she was startled to recognize the song as one she knew. Moving on-stage and grabbing Mike's discarded microphone, she hoped Gibbs wouldn't mind her singing with him.

Life's like a road that you travel on
When there's one day here an' the next day gone
Sometimes you bend, sometimes you stand
Sometimes you turn your back to the wind
There's a world outside every darkened door
Where blues won't haunt you anymore
Where brave are free an' lovers soar
Come ride with me to the distant shore

We won't hesitate
Ta' break down the garden gate
There's not much time left today, yeahea...

Gibbs had barely registered Kate moving onstage as he prepared for the song, but when her sweet voice joined his, she was all he could focus on. She stood next to the drum set rather than in front, taking care not to block the audience's view. It also meant that she could look at him while they sang without having to turn around.

Life is a highway
I wanna ride it all night long
If you're going my way
Well, I wanna drive it all night long

Through all these cities an' all these towns
It's in my blood an' it's all around
I love you now like I loved you then
This is the road an' these are the hands
From Mozambique to those Memphis nights
The Khyber Pass to Vancouver's lights

Knock me down, an' back up again
You're in my blood
I'm not a lonely man

Unlike the contrast that had been present when Kate had sung with Mike, Gibbs' voice seemed to blend into perfect harmony with hers. Every fault in her voice was covered by the perfection of his and the other way around. By the fourth verse they were no longer singing for the audience, despite still facing them.

There's no load I can't hold
Road so rough, this I know
I'll be there when the light comes in
Just tell 'em we're survivors

Life is a highway
Well, I wanna ride it all night long
If you're going my way
I wanna drive it all night long (all night long)

Life is a highway
Well, I wanna ride it all night long
If you're going my way (you're goin' my way)
I wanna drive it all night long (all night long)


There was a distance between you an' I (between you and I)
A misunderstanding once
But now we look it in the eye

Gibbs couldn't believe how right performing like this was. The song wasn't slow, or particularly romantic, but somehow it fit them. As he glanced over at her during a break in the vocals, he couldn't help that his grin widened. He reminded himself forcefully that no matter how right this felt, neither of them had actually said anything. They still needed to have that talk.

There ain't no load that I can't hold
A road so rough, this I know
I'll be there when the light comes in
Tell 'em we're survivors

Life is a highway
Well, I wanna ride it all night long (all night long, yeah)
If you're goin' my way
Well, I wanna drive it all night long

The song ended and as Kate made no move to leave the stage the cheering only increased. The audience was well and truly enjoying the night and Kate was sure that they would be truly disappointed when they discovered that there was only one song to go.

It took the band a few minutes to get sorted for the next song, as they had to pull out a keyboard and get it set up before going any further. As they did so the DJ played a sappy remix of some old seventies song, and Kate took the opportunity to emotionally compose herself for the next song. She'd known for a very long time that she was falling or maybe already had fallen for her boss, but she had never really allowed herself the pleasure of thinking that he would feel the same. And yet here they were on a stage together, after having almost kissed, and she was now almost certain he felt the same.

As the notes of the song started she nodded and gave Gibbs a shy smile, trying to silently get him to understand that she was trying to tell him something with this song. Then she moved to the front of the stage, profoundly afraid that if she looked at him while singing, than she wouldn't be able to finish the song.

Get a load of me, get a load of you
Walkin' down the street, and I hardly know you
It's just like we were meant to be
Holding hands with you when we're out at night
Got a girlfriend, you say it isn't right
And I've got someone waiting too

What if this is just the beginning
We're already wet, and we're gonna go swimming
Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you
Why can't I speak whenever I talk about you
It's inevitable, it's a fact that we're gonna get down to it
So tell me
Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you

Gibbs had spent enough time around Kate to know what that smile and nod before the song started had meant and now he couldn't believe what he was hearing. Even with the almost kiss backstage he hadn't been completely sure that what he was feeling went both ways, but listening to her sing made him confident.


Isn't this the best part of breakin' up
Finding someone else you can't get enough of
Someone who wants to be with you too
It's an itch we know we are gonna scratch
Gonna take a while for this egg to hatch
But wouldn't it be beautiful
Here we go, we're at the beginning
We haven't fucked yet, but my head is spinning

Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you
Why can't I speak whenever I talk about you
It's inevitable, it's a fact that we're gonna get down to it
So tell me
Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you

Kate had chosen this song out of all the others because she had promised herself that tonight she would tell Gibbs how she felt and this song seemed to fit perfect with that goal. It didn't matter that she didn't really know him outside of work; she still seemed to know with all of her heart that he was right, that there was something big there.

High enough for you to make me wonder
Where it's goin'
High enough for you to pull me under
Somethin's growin'
out of this that we can control
Baby I am dyin'

Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you
Why can't I speak whenever I talk about you

Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you
Why can't I speak whenever I talk about you
It's inevitable, it's a fact that we're gonna get down to it
So tell me
Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you

The song came to an end and just as had happened after the first set, the band took a collective bow as the DJ announced that they were done for the night. The rest of the guys took the front stairs down into the audience, giving Kate quick hugs before disappearing to the bar and friends. Gibbs moved unobtrusively down the back stairs and into the back room. He had been sure during the song that Kate felt the same as him, but now he wasn't so sure and his brain had started to come up with worst case scenarios. You tried to kiss her. You're her boss, what if she feels forced and that's why. He tried to shake the feeling, but told himself that before anything happened he would make absolutely sure she was doing it because she wanted to.

Kate had seen Gibbs go backstage and had followed shortly after. She'd paused in the hall outside the back room, composing herself before going in. She'd finally told him what she'd been feeling for a year, but now she wasn't sure if she could face his reaction.

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A/N: The next chapter will be heavy into the KIBBS, but in the next week I have 20 hours of practice, 20 hours of work, 18 hours of classes, a fit rep, an Aerodynamics test and two history exams so it may be a while before the next chapter is posted. The good news is that I have started it, so who knows.