Thank you all for your wonderful reviews. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I'll try and maybe imply some slight, slight Jibbs, we'll see, but I kinda like writing the director's character since I've never done that before. So, we'll where this story goes and I hope you're in for the ride. Now please read, enjoy and then of course, review!

Chapter 5

"Abby, for the hundredth time, nothing happened" Kate once again tried to explain to Abby who refused to believe that Kate's and Tony's relationship had remained a platonic one.

"But if that's the case, why are you here?"

"Well…" Kate sighed. This really sucks! "I believe there's nothing in between platonic and romantic…"

"Nope" Abby answered immediately. "So, wanna tell me what happened?"

"I just did!"

"And you think I would buy that? Come one, something more happened than just a chick flick and then falling asleep"

"No! That's the thing, nothing happened but it feels like it did"

"Were you dressed when you woke up?"

"Abby!"

"What?"

"Of course I was! Now tell me what to do"
"Wow I'm flattered, Kate. That you have such faith in me" Abby smiled from ear to ear.

Kate just rolled her eyes and leaned back in the chair, waiting for an advice somewhat concealed in one of Abby's rantings about hers and Tony's relationship. Since when did a federal job involve long hours conversations about your relationship with your partner? Such a topic shouldn't even exist! At work they should act completely professional and not having thoughts about what your partner looked like first thing in the morning. It's the crime show's fault, she mused. They always portrayed perfect looking women and their charming and of course very athletic partner.

"Go for it"

"Excuse me?"

"Having a fantasy?"

"ABBY!"

"Sorry. My advice is, go for it"

"For what?"

Abby eyed her skeptically. "You and Tony! You should really get together. Don't come here and deny that you're not attracted to him?"

"Well…I-" Kate trailed off, not having a good answer to that. Right now, she didn't know at all what she thought about the unknown change in their relationship.

"Gibbs will fire us" Kate then blurted out.

"Ah! So that's why you two have contained yourselves for almost three years. Good job, Kate. And Tony, it's not like him. But I'll tell you what, Gibbs will not fire you and no, Tony won't dump you, Kate"

"I didn't even say that"

"But you were thinking it" Abby said. A typical Gibbs-comment, Kate noticed as she let her thoughts wander. Two friends falling asleep to a movie was technically nothing to fuss about. But the way we woke up…And the tensed morning had been hell and if she had to stay at Tony's place for a few more days, they would have to solve this.

"Kate, you two really need to talk"

"Tony, having a serious conversation with me?"

"Don't be so condescending. He can be very sincere if he has to. And that's not a side you will see, it's scary"

Kate nodded absently and recalled the night when they'd watched AFV and he'd given her the key. When he'd kissed her…on the cheek of course but still…and before she could stop herself, Kate found herself speaking again.

"He gave me a key to his apartment"

"Really?" Abby said amused. "Kate, this guy is so into you! Why can't you see it?"

"Because…it's a really bad idea!"

"Listen to me, it's your decision. I think you should dare to try. He's not that bad, Kate"

Kate sighed. "I…don't know…I should probably go. Gibbs will be looking for me. See ya later"

"Sure" Abby watched after her friend as she left, taking the stairs this time. Abby smiled. Kate always took the stairs when she needed to think. Just as she turned back to her microscope the elevator dinged and familiar steps were heard.

"Okay, next" she said sarcastically as Tony walked in and sat on the chair Kate just left. "Why do I feel like the new NCIS shrink?"

"Kate was here?" Tony asked, ignoring Abby's last statement.

"Yup. So, what's on your mind then?"

"You probably know already"

"Of course I do. Anyway, you really let Kate sleep? You didn't wake her up?"

"Um, no. It seemed…rude"

Abby smiled good-naturedly. "You two are so cute!"

"We haven't talked all day. How's that cute?" he questioned, raising a brow.

Abby groaned. "Neither of you get the point so I'm going to lay it out simply for you; you and Kate have this magical chemistry. Following so far?"

"I guess I am…"

"Okay, good. You two are so attracted to each other but you both try to conceal it. And last night you failed"

"I did?"

"Yes, by letting her sleep in your bed, with you. A line was crossed and you two know it, and are scared like hell"

"How do you know all this?"

"Because you two are in love and when you're in love, your judgement isn't what it use to be"

"I'm not…"

Abby glared. "Oh come on, Tony! Don't say that you don't have a thing for Kate"

"Even if I have, it's wrong, Abs. We work together. It should be nothing more, nothing less"

"But it isn't"
"I know" he sighed. This was complicated. Tony hated complicated. Usually, he ran from it. He ran when his latest girlfriend's husband found out, he ran when there was too much pressure on him. But now he couldn't, he couldn't run away from Kate. Neither physically, nor mentally.

"And you the almighty shrink suggest?"

"That you two talk and then kiss and make up" Abby answered firmly. Tony eyed her.

"You're crazy, Abs"

"So I've been told" she grinned. Tony shook his head. There was no use talking to Abby. She'd made up her mind, and much like with Gibbs, it was near impossible to change it. He stood.

"I'll try but I'll blame you if she shoots me"

"Feel free to blame me all that you want. Good luck" she practically sing sang as Tony left. They are so blind!

---

Up in the bullpen, they were still working the McKenzie case, which looked like it was going cold any minute now. With no leads or witnesses they were pretty much stuck. But neither Kate nor Tony were bothered by the case at the moment, they were too busy with their own thoughts. McGee aimlessly typed something, probably IM:ing Abby and Gibbs was drinking coffee and writing something in his report. Snow fell outside the window and Kate felt like her life couldn't get more complicated than this. Of course it had been tensed between them before, like after they'd been isolated at Bethesda. It had taken weeks before Kate had come over the experience and started to see Tony as Tony again, because every time she saw him, images of him dying popped up before her eyes.

"Kate, Tony, McGee, there's nothing else here to do. Go home" Gibbs said. He'd realised that this case was one of the very rare ones that he wouldn't solve. Keeping his agents there to play solitaire and IM:ing didn't seem fair. Knowing better than questioning Gibbs orders, his agents quickly turned off their computers and desk lights and went for the elevator.

During the ride, McGee sensed the uneasy tension. Abby had told him briefly about what was going on but it still confused him. Tony's and Kate's relationship was probably something he would never understand. One day they could fight and look like they would kill each other, just to show an enormous amount of care the next day. Then they also did some flirting in between the threats and the comforting words, which made the situation even more incomprehensible. Right now, they snuck glances at each other. If this was counted as threat, comfort or flirting, McGee didn't know. Maybe some weird mix than resulted in awkward silence? He knew they lived together, which made this even more interesting. McGee knew Abby would give anything to be a fly on the wall in Tony's apartment tonight. And as he watched them walk across the parking garage, he began to wish the same.

---

The ride to Tony's apartment was just as silent and awkward as this morning. The radio played in the background and Tony kept his eyes focused on the road while Kate looked at the snow-covered trees that were flying by. She was careful not to give after and begin to speak. She had no idea what to say, but she knew she had to say something. As they parked, it was like they'd reached their limit since neither of them left the car. They had to talk and they both knew it.

"Kate…"

"Tony…" they said simultaneously. Tony smiled awkwardly. "You go ahead" he said. Kate turned away her face and began, letting her mouth speak without knowing what to say.

"Thanks for not waking me up…" she said in a low voice. "And I know this should probably not change anything but I just…I'm not used to it…"

"Yeah, I know what you mean. And I'm sorry for not talking to you today" he said softly, sensing how hard it was for Kate to take the first step and talk.

"Ditto" she said with a sheepish smile. "Come on, let's go. I don't know about you but I'm hungry" she added and left the car. Tony smiled to himself and then left as well. As they walked up to his building, the snow on the ground became even more tempting. Tony knew Kate hated snow but still, tossing a snowball at her and get a priceless face back…Before he knew it, he had a snowball in his hand and was aiming for her shoulder. She's so going to kill me. Kate was walking up towards the porch when she felt something hit her shoulder. She spun around and was met by Tony's smirking face. He's so asking for it…They'd just broke the ice and of course he'd decided to immediately pull a prank at her, the earlier awkwardness leaving no trace.

"Tony, I'm going to shoot you. Come on, I'm hungry!" she said firmly even if she knew he wouldn't give up and that she could probably await more snowballs. Tony looked at her skeptically as he walked up to her. And in one swift move he'd her thrown over his shoulder as he walked for the lawn and giant snowdrift.

"TONY! Let me down. Remember that I know where you keep your weapons!" she threatened.

"But, Katie…please, just one time" he said with a childish voice. He wiggled his eye brows teasingly as he dropped her down in the snow. Kate shrieked which earned her a laugh from Tony. He tossed some snow at her and grinned.

"See, not that bad? We should call Abby, she wants to have snowball fight and since you're already soaked, why quit now?" He reasoned which earned him a glare from Kate. Quickly she made her own snowball and fired it at Tony and hit him right in the face.

"Ahhh!" he shrieked as the snow slipped down his neck and behind his collar. Kate laughed from where she lay discarded in the snow.

"I always get revenge, Tony"

He eyed her for a moment and then slumped down in the snow beside her. "I know, Kate" he said softly and smiled. He turned his face at her and suddenly his smile faded and that unreadable look covered his face again. Kate's faint smile began to fade as well as she tried to read his expression. Why was he looking at her like that? But as soon as the moment had appeared, it vanished as Tony stood.

"Race you to the shower" he said and took off. Kate shook her head and slowly stood, brushing snow off her clothes and then followed him. As she climbed the steps she heard Tony unlock his door and making a dash for the bathroom. She smiled. He could gladly get to shower first if it meant they were on good terms again.

Sorry there, had to put in some TV show irony! Gosh, I love to write Abby's character. It's so easy and since she reminds me of well…me, it makes the story a lot more personal. So, I have my own hatred for snow integrated into Kate's character and Abby's energetic personality as a reflection of my own…when I've had too much coffee, but that's beside the point! Now review :D