Chapter 10

Tony kicked his feet up onto his desk, it had been a long day, a long week really. An 8 year old child had been abducted from her home, and ransom demands had been made to her mother who was serving a second tour in Iraq. The previous evening they found the child and despite being shaken up, she seemed relatively unharmed. Even though this case had ended well, anything involving children was always hard, it definitely had taken its toll on Gibbs. He hadn't said a word since they had arrived back at the bull pen, but had sat down and stared and the stack of paperwork in front of him. Tony remembered, that Gibbs had lost a child and that she had been around the same age of the girl they had saved this week, of course this case must have brought up some terrible memories. Tony wanted to say something but just as he was about to speak, Gibbs stood up and without a word marched out of the bull pen."Is he always like this?" Kate Todd asked as she watched him enter the elevator. Tony shrugged "Not really, its probably just this case." Kate pulled her dark brown hair out of the tight bun it had been in all day, and sighed "This paper work is making me crazy, at least you get to go to that conference this week." Tony smiled and nodded "Can't believe Gibbs is letting me take my girlfriend though." Kate laughed "Neither can I, then again I can't believe you've managed to keep a girlfriend!" Tony made a face and tossed his pen at her. She caught it and said "when are we going to meet this mystery girl anyway?" Tony checked his watch " any minute actually, she's meeting me here, before we head to the airport." At that moment Abby and Ducky exited the elevator "Tony my boy" Ducky said "Abby tells me that your girlfriend is coming here and we are all excited to meet her!" "And warn her!" Kate piped up. Tony turned around to throw something else at Kate as Abby said "you guys are going to love her, she's my nieces best friend and she's amazing, a bit young, but that's what you need." She said nudging Tony and raising her eyebrows. Just then the elevator doors opened and a tall blonde in a green sweater walked in. She approached the group and Tony caught sight of her out of the corner of his eye and ran over to give her a hug. "Katie I've missed you!" he gave her a kiss and turned around "Kate, this is everyone- Abby, who you know, Kate Todd my partner, and Dr. Mallard-" "Call me Ducky my dear" Ducky interjected and reached out for Kate's hand. She shook it and beamed "I've heard so much about you all, it's so great to finally meet you!" Kate Todd smiled " the girl that got Tony DiNozzo to settle down, you're kind of a legend here!" Kate laughed and swatted her boyfriend "babe why does everyone always say that!" She said sarcastically. Tony winked "absolutely no idea." "Oh Kate we better get going if we want to make our flight!" She nodded "lovely to meet you all!" The two walked out of the bull pen hand in hand and approached the elevator...

Meanwhile, Gibbs roughly pushed the up button on the elevator and adjusted the lid on his coffee. The elevator opened and as he started to step out a girl walked right into him. He cursed as his coffee fell to the floor and the contents of the woman's purse fell all over. He looked up to see DiNozzo, trying not to laugh as he bent to clean up the mess. "sorry boss!" he said quickly. Gibbs shot him a glare "just go" he growled. He stood up to leave and the girl started to apologize, he simply brushed past too annoyed to stop and talk. She stood, as the elevator stated to close and he saw her face for the first time. He gasped "Kelly?" Then the doors closed and she was gone. He shook his head, it couldn't have been just a trick of the light he supposed. He turned to go but something caught his eye, on the ground lay an NCIS visitor badge. He picked it up and saw the name Katelyn Geer written across it. He dropped the badge and nearly ran into the bull pen "Agent Todd what was that women doing here!" He demanded. She blinked "The blonde girl? That Kate, she's Tony's girlfriend. She's picking him up so they can go to the airport, She's going to Israel with him." Gibbs looked outraged "Over my dead body!" he yelled as he turned and ran out of the bull pen. The team stood there in stunned silence, "what was that about?" Ducky murmured.

Kate and Tony walked through the airport hand in hand she chattered happily about her classes and her running as Tony loaded the bags onto the desk. The security line was long, and after getting though it they had to practically run through the Dulles airport. The final call for boarding had just been announced as the two entered the plane. They found seats near the back, "Thank you for inviting me" Kate whispered as she grabbed Tony's hand and gave him a peck on the cheek. "I'm just glad you could come, we live in the same city, but I see you so rarely I feel like we are in a long distance relationship!" Kate laughed and raised her eyebrows "wow that must make you feel like a real grown up, oh my goodness Special Agent DiNozzo is finally an adult! Someone alert the media." Tony stuck his tongue out at her "babe you know I'll never be an adult." She laughed and put her head on his shoulder "that's what I love about you."

A man was running through the Dulles airport and top speed he reached the ticketing booth and shoved his wallet on to the counter." I need to know if flight 1472 has left yet" He demanded rudely, the women behind the counter looked a little alarmed at his demeanor, but pulled up the information, "sir it's just finished boarding and beginning to pull out of the gate." "Well stop it! I need to get on that plane!" The woman shook her head "sir I'm afraid I can't do that-" Gibbs cut across her "I am a federal agent" he shoved his badge on the counter. She looked alarmed "sir if there is a security risk, Homeland will-" Gibbs shook his head no I just need to be on that flight." The women took a somewhat condescending tone "Sir I can't get you on that flight, especially since you don't have a ticket. I'm sorry" Gibbs growled "to hell you are, just get me a ticket for the next flight." She nodded "okay sir there is one that leaves tomorrow morning flight number 4321." Gibbs nodded curtly and handed over his credit card.