2 years later
Kelly had just finished packing up the last of her belongings. She had finally finished her Master's and Kate had helped her get an internship at a Centre in Richmond. She looked around her room, a little shocked at how empty it was.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of her cell phone. She grabbed it, looked at the screen and her heart sank when she saw Tony's name. It was bad enough having her father working where he did and the fact he seemed to be a bullseye for bullets, now she had two people she cared about working with bullets and crazy people.
"Tony, what is it?" she asked, instead of her normal cheery hello.
"Hey Kel, look you better come quick. It's Kate, she's been shot and Gibbs wanted me to call you" Tony said, sounding out of breath. Kelly stood up instantly.
"Okay, where are you?" she asked grabbing her bag and keys.
"MedStar Washington" he answered as he blasted the horn.
"Okay, I'm on my way" she hung up and didn't even think before running out of the house.
Kelly ran into the hospital. She went up to the information counter a little short of breath.
"Hi, I'm looking for Kate Todd?" she asked quickly. They lady looked at her, then typed something on the computer, then looked at her again.
"Are you family, Miss?" she finally asked. Kelly thought for a moment, before nodding her head.
"She is my Step Mom" she easily lied. The lady nodded, grabbed a piece of paper and wrote something down.
"Go up to the third floor, turn right and head all the way down to the nurse's station. They will help you from there" she instructed. With a quick thank you, Kelly took the piece of paper and headed for the elevator.
As she waited, she couldn't help but tap her foot. She had so many scenarios running through her head. Though if it was bad news, Tony would of told her that over the phone. Right?
Kelly walked down the corridor, looking at the room numbers as she went. She then finally saw Tony and ran to him. He wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug.
"Hey kid, she's in there" he told her as she finally let go. She turned and looked through the window at Kate lying lifeless on the bed. Monitors hooked up to her and needles in her arm.
"Where's dad?" she asked noting his absence.
"He's out looking for Ari. He's the reason we were on the damn roof" he said shaking his head. Kelly knew the name, but she didn't exactly know all the details.
"Tony, please tell me what happened. Did Ari shoot Kate, like he shot Dad?" she asked. Tony sighed as he looked at her. He knew he shouldn't, but she was so persistent and he knew she wouldn't stop until she got answers.
"We were at a warehouse thinking that's where Ari was hiding, but he wasn't there. We thought we had gotten everyone until Kate saw this guy aiming for Gibbs. That's when she jumped in front of him. Bullet missed her vest. Doc says it missed major organs, but there was a lot of internal bleeding and there was a lot of medical words, before he told us he had to remove one of her ovaries" at this piece of information Kelly couldn't help but gasp.
"Does Dad know?" at her question, Tony nodded.
"He left after she came out of surgery. You know Gibbs, he throws himself into work to take his mind off things" Tony said with a nod.
"Look, I have to go, but I will come back later" Kelly nodded and hugged him again, and watched him go. She took a deep breath before heading into Kate's room. She pulled up the spare chair so it was closer to the bed and took Kate's hand in her own. She was thankful that it was warm.
"Tony told me what happened. Kate I can't believe you did that. You saved Dad's life and risked your own. Now I don't know if that was your training or because you are madly in love with him, but I would like to think the second option" she said with a smile and a sniffle. She looked up to see the brunette still unconscious.
"And truth is, I'm pretty sure he is madly in love with you too. And I know I haven't said it, but I love you. You have helped me so much and in the last two years, we have shared so much. More than any of the others ever did" she felt the tears roll down her face and squeezed Kate's hand tighter.
"Please, if you can hear me, don't go anywhere. You need to stay here with us. You make us so happy" she sniffled "especially Dad. So please, no more jumping in front of bullets" she stared at her, hoping that she would open her eyes.
Three days later
"You're healing very well Miss Todd. I will get the discharge papers together and your medications and you're good to go" the doctor said with a smile, then left her room.
"Finally, I have been stuck in here for way too long" Kate said as she threw the blanket off the bed.
"Just because you're coming home, doesn't mean you can't take it easy. Go shower and get dressed and I will pack your stuff up" Kelly told her. Kate limped to the bathroom to get ready to finally go home. As Kelly was packing up her cards and teddy bears people had brought in for her, there was a knock on the door. She turned to see Gibbs poke his head in.
"Hey, you're late" Kelly said with a smile. He walked in, closed the door behind him and put the bunch of flowers in his hand on the bed.
"Yeah, had something to take care of. Where is she?" he asked, the heard the shower running.
"Getting ready to go home. Doc is just getting the paperwork ready" she informed him. He sat down on the bed and stared out the window.
"Hey, you okay?" she asked her dad as she came to stand in front of him. He gave her a small smile as he looked up at her. Every day she was looking more and more like her mother.
"I'm okay" he finally said.
"And are you absolutely sure, you don't want me to stay longer to help Kate? I can put it off for a few more days" Kelly said as she came to sit down next to him.
Before he had a chance to answer, the bathroom door opened and Kate waddled out.
"No, you are going. I am fine. I can shower myself and walk by myself" she said as she walked over to them. Gibbs got up to greet her. Leaning down to kiss her softly, so glad that he was actually able to do it. He then helped her sit down on the bed.
"Hey kiddo, can you go take her things down to the car?" Gibbs asked as he looked over at Kelly. She was about to protest, when she realized he wanted to be alone with Kate.
"Sure, I will see you guys soon" Kelly grabbed Kate's bag and left the two alone. Gibbs then sat down next to Kate and looked at her.
"So, what do you need to tell me that you can't say in front of her?" she asked with a small knowing smile. He took her hands in his and squeezed them gently.
"Ari is dead. He is finally out of our lives" he told her. She stared at him, not entirely sure what to say.
"Are you okay?" he asked her softly. All she could do was nod. And suddenly she felt tears in her eyes. Gibbs noticed and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her into him.
"He's finally gone. And we can, we can finally be free" she cried into his chest. He kissed her head and nodded.
"We are" he kissed her head again.