AN: Sorry for the delay. Enjoy...longer authors note next chapter, running late for work.
After having solved the case and clearing Cassidy of any involvement Team Gibbs headed back to the states. Kate is pleased to go home, and get away from Tony, its bad enough she has to put up with his childish antics at work, but living with him for a week, was not something she wanted to relive.
She was also relieved to go to her own house and bedroom tonight. She and Jethro weren't speaking, and it was mostly due to his comment about agents and relationships.
You know Gibbs, sometimes you can be a real bastard.
Relationships between agents, Kate don't work.
You speaking from experience?
Sitting alone in the back of the airplane, Kate is going over every night she and Gibbs shared, before and during their trip to Gitmo.
Was he unhappy with her? Was she not enough to convince him that relationships like this can work? Did he regret being with her? Was their relationship a lie?
She has been pondering these questions since the night he had Tony search Paula's apartment. She knows what she wants out of this relationship, and she knows that her feelings for Jethro aren't going anywhere, but if he needs time to think things over, she'll give it to him. She doesn't want him to get into anything with her unless he wants her.
"Penny for your thoughts?" a voice asks, sitting down across from her.
Kate looks up from her lap to be met with the light green of Paula Cassidy's eyes. Smiling at the agent, Kate says, "Oh, I'm sure they aren't worth a penny. They aren't worth much of anything right now."
Paula smiles, "Come on, I know we're not on the same team, and we have no relationship what so ever, but maybe you could use a little 'girl talk'. What's on your mind, Agent Todd?"
"Please, it's Kate. I'm just thinking about things," Kate answers, not alluding to anything.
Paula nods, reading Kate like an open book, "Boyfriend troubles?"
Kate snaps her head up in shock, "Wh-How do you figure that?"
Paula shrugs, "Lucky guess. What's going on?"
Kate squint's her eyes at the blonde agent, not sure if she should spill her guts to a woman she hardly knows. Sure, she likes Paula, but she's not exactly Abby. She knows that she can trust Abby, but Paula she's not so sure. The woman is interested in DiNozzo, that right there causes Kate to second guess the Agent.
Casually glancing over to where Gibbs and Tony are sitting, she looks at Gibbs, who is looking down at the paper work in his lap. What she would give to go over there and just kiss away his fears about dating co-workers, sighing sadly, she turns back to Paula.
"How about we go out with Abby when we get back home, have some drinks and get to know each other as friends before I dump my problems on you?" Kate suggests.
Paula nods, "Sounds good. So, was this your first trip to Gitmo?"
Kate nods, "Yes, and it would have been more enjoyable had it not been work related, but the image of Tony aiming a gun at an iguana is going to be a fond memory."
Paula laughs, clearly imaging the scene in her head, "I would have loved to see that."
"Trust me, I wish I had a camera," Kate says through her giggles.
The girls make more small talk, Paula tells Kate how she got into NCIS, and about her past. Kate learns that Paula worked for the CIA and became an interrogator. She eventually grew tired of the CIA and became an NCIS Special Agent.
"So, what did you do before NCIS, Kate?"
Kate smiles, remembering when she first met Gibbs and the rest of the team; "Well, I was working on Air Force One as one of President Bush's Secret Service members. A Terrorist somehow got on board and poisoned a member of the crew. That's when we called NCIS, and after the investigation, I quit my Secret Service job, and Gibbs hired me as I was walking from the plane to my car. It was an unexpected offer, but I wouldn't change my career now if I was given the option."
The pilot announces a couple hours later, that they are landing in DC and to fasten their seatbelts. Hearing that they were home; Kate smiles. She's never been so happy to get off of a plane in her life. Tony comes walking over to where the girls are, and smiles at both of them.
"Welcome home, Paula," he says and turns to Kate, "Need help with your bags, Kate?"
Kate smiles graciously at Tony, "No thanks, I can get them. So, Paula call me when you get settled and Abby and I will meet you at our favorite bar just outside the Naval Yard."
"Will do; see you after a while, Kate."
Kate picks up her things, and feels a hand being placed on her lower back; she turns to be met with Jethro's face. She glares at him for a short moment, and manages to speed up her walking and get out from under his touch.
"Kate! Kate, stop, let me help you with your bags please?" Jethro says, catching up to her retreating form.
Turning to face him, she holds her bags tighter in her hands, "If I wanted help with my bags, I would have taken Tony up on his offer."
"Kate, what is your problem?" Jethro says, dropping his hands to his sides. "You've been ignoring me for the last four days and only speak unless you're spoken to. I've missed you, Katie."
Inside, Kate is smiling, he's missed her that's a good thing, right? But in her heart she knows that he's still set in his ways and doesn't believe that relationships in the work place can work.
"Well, I'm sorry, Gibbs. Maybe you should think back on what happened in Gitmo that has me so upset, because right now, I'm just Agent Todd."
"Kate, talk to me please?" Jethro says, trying to get her to look him in the eye.
Kate shrugs, "What's there to talk about? You should know why I'm angry, and if you don't, then you're just as clueless as Tony is."
Realization strikes Jethro, as he thinks back to their time in Gitmo. He inadvertently placed doubts in her head that he didn't want her or a relationship with her-and that couldn't be farther from the truth.
Reaching for her, he drops his hand as he sees her step back, "Katie, I never meant what I said about relationships to be taken towards us."
Trying to believe him, Kate looks up at him, willing her tears not to fall, "Look, I'm going to go home, shower and change then go out and have a drink or two with Abby and Paula. If you happen to be at my place when I get home we'll talk then, if not, then I will take that as a sign that you need to think about what you want. I know what I want; Jet, but I want you to be sure as well. I'm not going anywhere."
Kate turns and walks the rest of the way to her car, not even looking back at the broken man she left in her wake. All she knows is she's got to get back to her place, because if she didn't then their relationship would be exposed to Tony, and they have yet to tell anyone. It took all she had not to drop her bags and crash into him. This is their first 'fight' as a couple, and she's positive that it will be their last, she hates fighting with him.
~*~
She walks into her house, heading straight to her bedroom. She drops her things and jumps in the middle of her bed, hugging her pillow to her; burring her face in the other-the one that smells of Jethro. She turns onto her back, and stares up at the plain ceiling. She's never been so happy to be home in her life.
Deciding to leave unpacking for later, she only grabs her toiletries and heads for her bathroom. She showers quickly, and curls her hair in lose ringlets, she finds a nice pair of black slacks, and a fiery red top. She expertly applies her make up, and heads back to her room to find her dress shoes. She walks into her living room and grabs her purse and keys, locking the door behind her, she heads for her car.
She flips open her phone and dials Abby's number and tells her Goth friend that she is on her way to the bar and she'd see her after a while. After hanging up from Abby she call's Paula, telling her the name of the bar and that she'd be there soon.
Pulling up to the bar, she grabs a bit of cash and makes sure all her doors are locked. She sets the alarm on her car, and walks over to the door, where she sees Abby standing, bouncing up and down in excitement, waiting to tackle her in a fierce hug.
Kate smiles and beats Abby to the hugging, "I missed you, Abs."
"I missed you too, Kate. How was Gitmo?" Abby says, pulling away from her friend.
Kate looks down briefly and sends a fake smile towards Abby, "It was fantastic."
Abby eyes Kate, knowing that she isn't telling her the truth, but doesn't want to push anything. "Ok, if you say so."
"Kate!" Paula calls out, walking up to where the girls are standing.
Abby turns in the direction where her friend's name was called, and watches as the blonde woman comes up to them. "Paula, this is Abby Scuito, Abs, this is Paula Cassidy."
Abby smiles and greets Paula the only way Abby does-by pulling her into a firm hug, "Welcome back to D.C."
Paula hugs Abby back, having no other choice, and smiles, "Thanks. I hope you don't mind me tagging along, Kate invited me."
Abby smiles, "Any friend of Kate's is a friend of mine. Let's get the party started girlies!"
The three girls are seated at the bar, and wait for the bar tender to head their way. Kate smiles', being back home with her best friend, really is better than sitting in a house on base in Gitmo. She has to tell Abby about her and Jethro, and that means that she has to tell Paula too.
The bar tender finally comes over to the trio and asks each what they would like. Kate orders her usual Cosmo, Abby orders a White Russian and Paula orders a Madori Sour.
"Come on Kate, what's on your mind," Abby says, gaining Kate's attention.
Kate turns to her friends, and smiles, "What I'm about to tell you, I tell you in confidence. Both of you-Paula no squealing to Tony and Abby, same goes to you. Deal?"
Abby and Paula exchange a look and both agree to Kate's demands. Nodding, Kate closes her eyes, and sucks in a breath, "Gibbs and I have been dating for the past couple weeks."
Kate opens her eyes to see Paula's shocked expression, and Abby's mile wide smile. Abby pulls Kate into a bone crushing hug, "It's about time!"
"Wait, 'it's about time'? Abs, what are you talking about?" Kate asks.
Abby only smiles, "Oh, come on Kate. Everyone can see the way you guys look at each other. It was only a matter of time."
Kate shakes her head, "So, you're ok with this? Gibbs and me being together?"
Abby smiles and nods, "As long as you're happy, Kate. Then I'm ok with you being with whomever you choose."
Kate smiles, "Thanks, Abs," turning to Paula, she still sees a look of shock on her face. "What do you have to say?"
Paula just shakes her head, "So that's why you weren't sitting with Tony and Gibbs on the plane. Something happened in Gitmo."
Kate's happiness at Abby's approval disappears and she only nods, "Yeah. He said something and pretty much has me second guessing his feelings. He's told me that he wants to be with me, and God knows how much I want to be with him-but when you tell your girlfriend that 'relationships between agents don't work' what am I supposed to think?"
"Wait, he actually said that?" Abby asks, she can't believe that Gibbs would say that to Kate, especially if they're dating.
Kate nods, "Yeah. He then tried acting like he didn't say anything wrong tonight when we landed. I just don't know what to think. He's sending me mixed signals, and I don't know how much more I can take. Yeah it's only been two weeks, but Abby, I don't want to lose him, I can't lose him. I know he's the one that I want, I just need to know that he wants me too."
Paula looks at Kate taking in the new information. "Well, from what I have seen of Gibbs, he does not seem like one who usually expresses him self verbally. You've got to try a different type of approach to see how he feels."
Kate nods, "But how?"
Paula smiles trying to keep her voice straight, "There are two things that men respond to 1) Jealousy and 2) Seductions. Take your pick. Then, based on how he reacts, you can use that as insight into him. Though, it might be a bit tricky. He is a reserved type of man."
Kate nods, "True, but he's not reserved with me, we talk. He's told me things that no one knows about him." Kate eyes Abby, and they both share a knowing look. "Why do guys have to be so complicated?"
Paula snorts as she picks up her drink, "If they weren't complicated, then things might actually run smoothly," thinking back on Tony while they were in Gitmo she replies with a smile, "especially with the men they keep at NCIS."
Kate smiles, and picks up her drink, and clinks her glass against Paula's, "I'll drink to that."
~*~
The three girls go their separate ways at the end of the night. Kate has to admit to herself that having a little get together and being able to talk about her relationship with Gibbs to Abby and Paula helped ease her nerves a little bit. Sitting in her car outside the bar, she picks up her cell phone and flips it open, but she doesn't have any missed calls.
The twenty minute drive back to her house is twenty minutes too long. All she wants to do is go home, change into her pajamas and go to sleep in her own bed. She pulls up to her house and gathers her things, she follows her routine of locking and setting her car alarm before walking up to her apartment complex.
She climbs the stairs and pulls out her door key, unlocking the door, she steps inside dropping her keys in the bowl. She hangs her purse and coat on the coat rack and jumps out of her skin when she hears someone clear their throat.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," he says, walking the short distance to her, a single red rose in hand.
Kate shakes her head, amazed that he's here. "How'd you get in here?"
"Picked the lock."
Kate nods, and takes the red rose that he is holding out to her. "What are you doing here, Jet?"
He slowly wraps his arms around her small waist and pulls her to him, "I realized that I was being a complete ass, and I should never have said what I did. Yes I was speaking from experience, Kate, but I wasn't referring to you and me."
Kate nods, her head resting on his chest, she hates that she's forgiven him so easily, but he has that power over her. He can make her forget why she's even mad in the first place, and make things better by a single red rose and breaking and entering.
She feels his lips brush against her hair, and she moves to look up into his crystal eyes, "You had me second guessing this entire thing. I felt like I would never be good enough for you, or that you never wanted me in the first place. I mean, lets be honest here, you're my boss, not to mention our age gap. I don't care about any of those things, Jet, I only care about you."
Jethro silences her by placing his finger over her lips, "Kate how could you think that I don't want you?" He leans down and kisses her, "Of course I want you, Katie. Day and night, at work where I can't touch you or kiss you, it's hell for me, Kate."
Kate leans in again, having not been able to kiss him, and being mad at him she needs this. "Stay with me tonight, Jet."
Jethro nods, taking her hands and leads her down her hallway to her bedroom. He opens the door, and a proud smirk graces his face as she looks at the room in shock. The lights are dimmed, and there are candles lit everywhere. Her floor is littered with red and white rose petals, and her bedspread is pulled back. On each of her bed side tables is a vase with a dozen roses, a mixture of red and white in the bouquets.
Kate turns to Jethro, shock still apparent on her face. "You did this for me?"
He smiles back at her and nods, "Yes. I was an ass, and I wanted to make it up to you. You didn't deserve to be treated that way. This is as close to an apology as I will ever get, Kate."
Kate laughs and smiles up at him, "I'll accept your apology then, Jet."
~*~
The candles have all burned out; the only light in the room is coming from the full moon. He's admiring her sleeping form, wondering why in the world she chose him of all people to be with. He knows that he is a far cry from her Prince Charming, but she's chosen him to share her deepest secrets with.
He pushes a stubborn strand of hair away from her eyes, and smiles as she moves closer to him. Kissing her forehead, he smiles. If the rest of his days are lived like this, then he can die a happy man.
~*~
The next morning, he's the first to wake up. He takes not of the face that Kate hasn't left his arms, and he smiles. He feels her stir, and she kisses his bare chest and smiles sleepily up at him, "Good morning."
"Good morning, Katie. How'd you sleep?"
"Wonderfully, last night was amazing, Jet."
"I'm glad you think that," he says, giving her a peck on the lips. "What do you say I go make us some breakfast?"
She smiles, "I say: I want waffles."