He couldn't find enough things to fill 3 hours- he could only wander around the grocery store contemplating which ice cream to get for so long before the staff started looking at him funny. Which is why he found himself back at Kate's, an hour and a half sooner than he promised, with his head in the fridge.

Crisper looks amazing. Maybe you could defrost the freezer next.

He ignored the taunt from his own treacherous mind and contemplated his next move. Kate had been asleep when he came back, though he knew he was going to need to wake her soon, and 3 hours wasn't enough to analyze, deal with and file away whatever the hell was going on ever since he buckled her into his truck. The envelope of emotions that opened the moment Tony took that phone call needed to be resealed, and quickly before the contents spilled out all over the floor. It'd be a hell of a lot harder to clean up than the kitchen.

Running out of excuses and things to clean, he sighed and lightly knocked on the bedroom door. Silence greeted him. He stepped halfway into the room. She still didn't stir.

"Kate," he said, to no avail. He tried it again, firmer, and adding, "I've got ice cream."

"What kind?"

Her clarity made him chuckle. "How long have you been awake?"

"Since you came back." She tried to shift into a sitting position, and he was immediately at her side. "But I heard you cleaning and thought, 'Who am I to disturb him?'"

"Free labour," he said, shaking his head and adjusting her pillows. "For that, no Cherry Garcia."

"Giiiibbs."

There was that pout again.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm here to give you your medication. Couldn't find a glass in that disaster you call a kitchen. So I got sidetracked."

She touched her stomach. "Don't freak out, but I think I changed my mind on the ice cream."

"It's the pills. Does a number on ya."

"My head, too. Do I need to keep taking it?"

"No," he shook his head and couldn't stop himself from brushing a thumb across her forehead. "It's gonna hurt, though."

She turned into the touch. "I know. I just hate this half awake half asleep feeling in my head."

"Okay. Whaddya want me to do?"

Pausing, as if contemplating her options, her mouth twitched. "My laundry?"

x...x

Falling asleep on a couch was second nature to him, so he shouldn't have been surprised to find he had fallen asleep on hers. It lacked the well worn shape of him, so instead of forcing his body into one position, the soft cushions encouraged him into any position he liked. His back begged him to never leave. The television had been left on the local news but was now showing some workout infomercial that reminded him he hadn't gone on a run in a week. Glowering at the enthusiastic spokesperson, he jabbed the power button and tossed the remote on the coffee table.

The apartment was just settling into silence when he heard it. Soft, but a definite sound. Whimpering. Gibbs was at the bedroom door in an instant. Announcing his presence with a knock, he poked his head into the lowly lit room, and his heart constricted at the sight. Kate was slumped to the side, away from her injury, face contorted in pain.

"Kate, Kate," he whispered, sitting on the edge of the bed.

Her good hand clenched his thigh as he rearranged the pillows behind her.

"Next time I decide to play tough, don't let me, okay?"

He couldn't help but grin. "It's your nature."

"Yeah, well, my nature is stupid."

Gentle hands guided her back into the pillows. Rather than argue, he just shook his head. "You want the drugs?"

She tried to settle. "No. I just want to sleep."

"Hold on a minute."

Before she had the chance to question him, he was out the door, and just as quickly, was back. Crushing a small bag in his hand, he returned to the bed and placed the bag on her shoulder. She hissed when the frozen peas made contact with her injury.

"Ice?" she whined. "What part of 'I just want to sleep' did you not get?"

Shaking his head in amusement, he said, "Heat later. But the ice is gonna help you now, trust me."

She looked into his eyes and saw both the humour and the compassion, and it warmed her more than a heating pad or blanket. His eyes, so often icy blue were butane hot and it seemed to burn her everywhere he looked. His free hand caressed her good shoulder almost absentmindedly, just as his gaze touched everything else. She tried to hold on to the moment, but it was all conspiring to lull her to sleep. Her eyes drooped and she could hear his voice encouraging her to go with it, to not fight it. She wondered if it was a metaphor for something more, but she couldn't-

He grinned when her chin dropped to her chest.

"'Night, Kate."

x...x

It took more effort than she would have liked, but nature called as well as a curious sound from the kitchen. So with wobbly legs and a disheveled appearance, she made one trip first, then turned the corner. She put a hand on the wall to take in the sight before her. With his back to her, Gibbs stood at the stove in well-worn jeans and a t-shirt that looked so soft she wanted nothing more than to crawl up in it. The smells coming from a pan blocked by his body made her stomach growl and reminded her she hadn't eaten in over 18 hours, but she was willing to starve if it meant having more time to burn this image in her brain.

"When you're done starin', you might wanna try gettin' some of this down."

Of course he had known she was there. Of course. She let a grin appear freely on her lips. Coming to his left side, she peered around him to see what he was cooking.

"Not much," he said. "Just eggs and toast."

"Pretty sure that's a cheese omelette and that's sourdough bread."

"Sure. Okay."

She raised an eyebrow at his stoic deflection, but squeezed his arm in a silent thanks.

"Go sit," he told her.

Carefully, she sat at the small kitchen island. Glancing around the apartment, her gaze stopped at the couch.

"You spent the night."

He looked over his shoulder. "Yeah," he answered, drawing out the word in slight confusion. "You do remember the whole frozen peas thing, right?"

"Yeah, of course." She rubbed her forehead. "I'm just really losing track of time."

"It's Friday, 0830. You got out of the hospital yesterday." He put a plate in front of her. "Ringin' any bells?"

She laughed. "Okay, okay. Wait. It's 8:30?"

He pulled out a chair to join her. "Yep."

"On a Friday?"

"I took the day off," he said, anticipating the question.

"You what?"

Her mock astonishment drew out a growl. "What? I can take a day off, ya know."

"First one this decade though, huh?"

"Eat your food." He looked at her over his coffee cup. "Surprised you're up. Always imagined you rolled out of bed 5 minutes before you had to be in the car."

"Not sure if that's a compliment or not." The food touched her lips and she moaned. "This is very good." Pretending not to notice him shift in his seat at her purr, she said, "It hurts to sit up. It hurts to lay down. It hurts to breathe. Thought I'd try something different."

Any wayward thoughts he might have had were pushed down in light of her discomfort. "You're gonna get tired of me asking, but what do you need me to do?"

She savoured more of the meal before answering. "Can we get out today, just for a little? I'm already going stir crazy."

"We can do that," he agreed. "Not too long, though."

"And I need help with a shower."

He did everything he could to contain his sputter. She hit his back several times with her good hand.

"Say something, Gibbs."

"'Jesus!' How 'bout that?" he said, squeezing out the last ripples of his cough.

She didn't bother containing her laugh. "I didn't mean you, Gibbs. I was thinking of calling Abby."

Wiping the back of his hand across his eyes, he nodded. "Right."

"I mean, unless, you know…" His glare did nothing to deter her mirth.

"You wanna call Abs first or get out?"

"Probably call Abs."

"Good. I gotta go do something." When she quirked an eyebrow, he gave away nothing. "You're not the only one who needs a shower."

Her grin grew, then dropped. "Hey! Are you saying I stink?"

"Are you saying I do?" Both their grins returned. "Call Abby."

x...x

He was gone long enough to take a shower, change, and do one thing more, but not long enough to avoid Abby leaving the apartment.

"Hey, Bossman, looking clean and smelling fresh!"

"Thanks?"

"Meant Kate, but, okay!"

"Everything go all right?"

"Sure." She kissed Gibbs' cheek. "Want some tips so you can do it yourself next time?"

"Nope," he said without hesitation, much to her amusement. "Thanks, Abs," he said, returning the kiss.

"Anytime."

The apartment smelled of bergamot and Kate, and Gibbs wondered if he'd ever get the smell out of his olfactory senses. Wondered if he'd ever want to. She was putting the dishes away when he stepped into the kitchen.

"Hey."

She turned with a smile. "Hey."

It was strangely domestic, though neither acknowledged it.

"Can we go now?" she asked.

Flicking his wrist, he glanced at his watch. "Five minutes. They should be right behind me."

"'They'?"

On cue, a knock came at the door. Gibbs held up a finger.

"Gentlemen." He stepped aside to let the two men in. "Left at the end of the hall."

Kate watched them manoeuvre a large covered item towards her bedroom. Gibbs held her in place with a look, then joined them. Less than a minute passed before all 3 came out. Gibbs peeled off some bills from his pocket and thanked them. When the door closed, he invited her to the bedroom with a casual jerk of his head, and her curiosity wouldn't let her refuse. He walked directly in, waited for her to follow, then wordlessly pulled away the disposable cover.

Kate's eyes went wide. "You… you bought me a chair?"

His mouth twitched. "First, this isn't just a chair. At least that's what the lady told me at the store." He sat in it, reached to the side and pressed a button. It automatically began to recline. "There's a remote for heat, but you can't use that for another 2 weeks."

Looking at him, reclining so casually made her wonder what it'd be like to see him doing that every day. The fact that it was in the bedroom wasn't as out of place in her mind as she would've once thought. The comfort of the idea almost made her forget her question.

"What's the second bit?"

His eyes were closed, reveling in the chairs comfort. "What? Oh. I didn't buy you a chair. I bought me a chair. I'm lettin' you borrow it."

She laughed at his logic. "I see. It looks very comfortable."

"It is," he agreed, eyes still closed. When there was no reply, he cracked one open. "Wanna try it?"

"Wouldn't mind, no."

"Automatic button," he told her, "So you don't have to strain yourself." The chair returned to its upright position and he stood. "It's all yours."

Needing no further encouragement, she slid into the seat, still warm with him. It was nothing more than a simple push of a button and the seat went back again. It molded so perfectly with her body, taking all the pressure off her injury, she couldn't help but moan.

"You two need some alone time?"

"Very funny." She paused ever so slightly, sinking into its delights. "Yeah, maybe." Hearing his 'hmph!', she brought the chair upright once more. "Okay, okay. But you'd better be taking me somewhere amazing."

x...x