Jealousy
She doesn't know what the relationship between the blonde woman - Marta - and Ari is. Whether they are lovers or just members of the same cell. She doesn't know if they care for one another or if it's just physical.
There's definitely something though. Maybe they're just sleeping together but there's something going on between them; if the looks Marta keeps throwing at her are anything to go by. She's mostly pretending to read. The glare isn't quite threatening, Kate is pretty sure she can take the Swedish Hamas terrorist, but it's constant.
It took her a little while to twig what it is.
It's jealousy.
It takes her longer to realise that it's because of Ari and the way the terrorist looks at Kate. He watches her every move not because he needs to, not to stop her from getting away but because he wants to. Because he enjoys it. Even in her anger, he likes the way she looks. She may be awful at reading Gibbs but the profiler in her definitely sees his attraction to her.
Which confuses her all the more - he's not a terrorist - not in the traditional sense. She's sure of that. But she's not sure what his motivations are.
He takes another sip of his wine, sitting opposite her at the picnic table. Kate has spied a lot of missiles, a lot of weapons. Marta has her 9mm on the table, and another smaller weapon tucked into her shorts. If she's smart she'll have a knife somewhere too as Kate has.
Had.
Ari was thorough in searching her, something else that probably annoyed the blonde.
They've watched the others leave, missiles hidden in boats and trucks, she's guessed correctly every time which shell the pea is under, much to his amusement and Marta's annoyance. She knows exactly why she's here. Why Marta is here.
She's not sure why he is here though.
"The President is flying to Camp David with Sharon today," she says, "I saw those missiles. You want to know which helo is Marine One to shoot it down!"
He smirks and she wishes she could reach across the table and punch him in the face. Without Marta shooting her.
"Those tiny missiles are mere training aids. In any case, I have no intention of shooting down Marine One."
"You're a lying bastard," she tells him, making Marta laugh before the blonde mutters an apology.
"Unfortunately, half of that is true."
She takes a deep breath to stop from lunging at one of them.
"There is no way to tell them apart," she states, glaring, "And even if there was I wouldn't tell you."
Marta holds up her own weapon, "Even if it meant your life?"
"Are you willing to die for what you believe in?" Kate asks, already knowing the answer.
"We Hamas prove that every day!" Marta snaps, pointing the gun at her
"No. Your children do," Kate snaps back.
"Marta, give me her gun," he says, reaching out for it.
"We are wasting time."
"The gun Marta please, if killing is to be done, I will do it,"
She hands him the gun and instead of pulling on the weapon he pulls on her wrist instead, pulling her across the table. His eyes are on Kate the entire time he manoeuvres the blonde over to him, only slipping closed when their lips meet.
Kate reacts.
It's all instinct, and later, when she tries to recall it for her report, for her statement, she won't be able to give them a clear picture of what happened. Only that she makes a grab for her gun that the two of them are holding. In the panic, as they all pull apart and Marta is shot.
She's pretty sure it's Ari who pulls the trigger.
And he's about to say something, she's sure, but she doesn't give him a chance to plead for his life as she manages to get control of her weapon.
The bullet is not quite dead centre, something she is sure Gibbs will pick up on later. Either way, he falls back to the ground with Marta and she slumps back, almost losing balance herself. It takes her a moment, to breathe, to check no one is coming at the sounds of gunshots before she realises she should get her phone. She's sure one of them has it but instead, she grabs the cell off the table and dials Gibbs' number.
It's in her speed dial on her own phone but she knows it by heart.
Not because of her secret service level of observance but because she knows he's the first person she would call if she were in trouble. No matter what.
"Gibbs."
He's there twenty minutes later, in a car with Ducky looking a little white and the FBI and NCIS truck behind him. He ignores the bodies on the floor, kneeling down in front of Kate to bring himself level with her, Ducky hovering behind her with his medical bag. She doesn't know what to expect, after how angry he's been all day, how he's been working mostly on caffeine and ideas of revenge for the past six months but the gentle swipe of his thumb over her cut lip surprises her.
She welcomes it though.
"You okay Katie?" he asks, voice just as gentle.
She can see her team, the FBI, Fornell, hovering in the background too, waiting for a sign they can move in and process the scene. Waiting for Gibbs to give the okay. So she nods and stands.
"I'm fine," she says and he nods. They both know she doesn't mean it and later, much later, she'll feel the ache in her lip and the guilt in her conscience.
"Let's get you out of here," he says and she's glad he doesn't call her on it. He wraps an arm around her shoulders, glancing at the terrorist on the ground before leading her over to Ducky. Ducky immediately starts to fuss and it's comforting, but she still can't quite relax. Gibbs pulls away and she grabs his arm to stop him.
"He shot her but I shot him," she tells him, eyes steady but hands not. He takes it, squeezes it.
"Thanks," he tells her.