I'm sorry that I haven't updated in a while. Suffered slight WB. I hate WB…Anyway, here it is, please review:D
Chapter 7
"You two are so obvious, Kate!" Abby squealed as she processed the information. "Now, let me see" Kate stared at her as if she was crazy.
"Abs, there's nothing to see!"
"Kate. Keys. Now"
Laughing and shaking her head, Kate reached into her pocked and fished out her set of keys. Last night she'd officially claimed Tony's key as hers by adding it to the rest of her keys. Abby scrutinized it and grinned.
"I bet my Caf-Pow that half of your stuff will be at his place within a month"
"Abby, for the hundredth time, Tony and I are not together!"
"Whatever you say. It's just a matter of time, Kate" Kate shook her head; sure, it had been moments when she contemplated that there's something more between her and Tony. But no, it was jus plain and innocent flirting. The words her, Tony and committed relationship didn't fit in the same sentence.
"So, moving back home tonight?" Abby asked. Kate nodded. "Yep"
"You gonna miss him?" To Abby's surprise, Kate shrugged and smiled rather sheepishly. "Maybe a little bit"
"I knew it!"
"It's not like that! It's…it was just nice having company at home. That's all, I swear!"
"Kate Todd, you are so into this man that you're almost scaring me"
Once again Abby received an are-you-crazy-look from Kate. "I'm going back up. You're impossible"
"So I've been told. Say hi to your boyfriend from me" Abby wiggled her eyebrows before turning back to her microscope. Kate just rolled her eyes. Yes, at a few rare times, she'd wondered if she actually wanted something more than friendship but even then she'd known that it would never happen. Then why, once again did she feel so disappointed?
---
Up in the bullpen, she spotted Gibbs reluctantly gather up the files from the McKenzie case and place them in the file cabinet. Then he left without a word.
"Case went cold" Kate stated as she approached her desk.
"Yep" Tony said. "Now we only have about fifteen other case reports to finish" he said sarcastically which made Kate smile. She took a file from her own pile and began to read it.
Five minutes later, annoying electronic sounds announced that Tony had started up another of his computer games.
"Can you turn off the sound, Tony?" Kate asked gently. McGee's head snapped up. He wasn't that good at reading people but Abby had taught him a thing or two. Or maybe fifty... Usually Kate would threaten to expose Tony to physical violence or cut off the electric cord to his computer. Now she calmly asked him to turn off the sound. Abby was right, something "hinky" was up between them. Living together may have changed a thing or two…Wanting to know what was up, McGee quickly sent an IM to Abby.
---
McGee: Kate is being nice to Tony
AbbyS: Yeah, so what?
McGee: She's not threatening him. Something's up!
AbbyS: You begin to sound like me. I'm proud of you
McGee: Whatever. Just wanted you to know
AbbyS: Too late. Kate already told me
McGee: They're sleeping together:O
AbbyS: Not yet. But she got to keep the key to his place
McGee: Really..
---
After ending the conversation with Abby, McGee went back to work. And yes, not just Kate had changed; Tony had actually turned off the sound without any fuss. Abby was so right, it was only a matter of time now…
---
The afternoon passed slowly and Kate was busy with her own thoughts, tonight she would be alone – again. It wasn't such an appealing thought. She had really enjoyed spending time with Tony, more than she could even have imagined. Moving out, if only after a few days, made her feel pretty down. Now when everybody knew, they didn't make such a big deal of leaving together. Gibbs just shot them a glance before turning back to his computer. In the car, Kate noticed how Tony seemed pretty down too. The radio was off and he hadn't said a word since they left HQ. When they arrived at his apartment, he disappeared into his bedroom without a word. Shrugging, Kate went to collect her bags. As she placed her duffel bag by the door, Tony came out, now dressed casually in jeans and an Ohio State t-shirt.
"Wanna eat before you leave?" he said softly as he passed her on his way to the kitchen. Kate, who didn't really look forward to go home to an empty apartment, quickly followed him.
"What's for dinner tonight?" she asked.
"Well, I was thinking something alone the line of…a barbecue"
"A barbecue? In the middle of January?"
"Yes, we need some summer feelings here. You up for it?" he smiled a half smile.
"Sure!" Kate said, curious about how he was going to do this.
"I was thinking about inviting Abby and McGee, what do you think?"
Kate smiled. It was a great idea. "Okay" They both smiled, secretly relieved that they now got a change to procrastinate, well, the inevitable. While Kate called Abby, Tony rummaged through his fridge for something to eat.
"Abby'll bring some beer. Got anything to eat?"
"Hamburgers okay with you?"
"Sure"
Neither of them seemed as down, as they danced around and prepared the meal and lighting the grill on Tony's balcony. About thirty minutes later there was a loud knock on the door and Abby let herself and McGee in.
"I come bearing liquor" she exclaimed dramatically and Kate laughed and accepted the bottles. "Thanks Abs" Abby just grinned and followed her out in the kitchen. "Where's Tony?"
"Watching the grill. Why?"
"I don't get why we're having a barbecue in January" Abby said, a bit confused even if she knew Tony could come up with, well anything.
"He said we needed some summer feelings" Kate said with a shrug. Abby laughed.
"I could get used to this"
"You two… inviting your friends to your shared apartment" she raised her brows suggestively.
"Abby, please, not again"
"I'm just say what we all already know"
"Abs, I'm moving back home tonight"
"And so you tells us…"
Kate rolled her eyes and finished unpacking the stuff Abby and McGee brought. She smiled when she fished out a bag of marshmallows. Perfect.
---
After a while, Kate and Abby joined the guys on the balcony.
"Tony, why have a barbecue in the middle of the winter?" Abby asked. "Geez!"
"Don't be so negative, it'll be fun" Tony grinned.
"Whatever you say, me and Kate are going back in. Coming, McGee?"
"Sure" McGee said, shivering violently from the cold, lips almost blue. Abby gently shoved him inside. As they passed Tony he called out;
"Abby stay away from the lighter fluid" In response, she slapped his arm.
"I missed something?" Kate said as they went inside.
"During Tony's first year at NCIS, I… had well…a small incident involving a bottle of lighter fluid" Abby admitted. Kate laughed. She loved hanging out with these people. Coming home would certainly become lonely.
The evening passed quickly while beers, cheeseburgers and marshmallows disappeared from the table. Around midnight, Abby and McGee excused themselves and left. While cleaning up the kitchen, the mood once again fell. They both knew why but neither of them wanted to voice it out loud. As Kate dried her hands on a towel and prepared to leave she felt Tony glancing at her.
"What?"
"Um…you could stay here tonight, you know," he said, almost nervously. Kate smiled gently.
"Thanks, but I have to go home" She moved slowly out to the foyer, putting on her coat and shoes. But then finally, she stood by his door, ready to leave.
"Thanks for letting me stay" she mumbled, now avoiding his eyes again, knowing that if she looked up, she might accept his offer.
"Pleasure was all mine" he assured her with a smile. Then he walked up to her and gently adjusted the collar on her coat. "Bye, Kate. Drive safely"
"Yeah, bye. And thanks again. I'll make it up to you"
"No need to. G'night" he mumbled as she opened the door and stepped out in the hall. They shared a quick hug before Kate began to walk down the hall, for the elevator. As she pressed the button to the main floor, she sighed. She should have accepted his offer…
Well, how was it? A bit short maybe, I know. But I hope the next chapter will be longer. Until then, please REVIEW :D