ok, so heres chapter two. I really apolagise (did i spell that right?) so much for how long it took to get it written and published and i hope you forgive me because 1.) i'm pretty lazy and 2.) i've been really caught up with exams

However i now have just over a week free with nothing to do and only about 3 exams left so i'm going to sit down and write the next couple of chapters :) hopefully the third chapter won't take quite so long for me to get round to writing.

The journey back to Kate's apartment was pretty much uneventful, Abby had spent the whole journey engaging Kate in an almost single sided conversation about whether her parents would like McGee when she took him to meet them at the weekend, it seemed her main concern lay with the fact that he couldn't use sign language very effectively and some how always made a polite request, such as could you pass the salt or may i use your bathroom, into an insult, no matter how many times Abby went over it with him. If Kate had been honest, she wasn't really in the mood to care, but then again, she wasn't in the mood to complain.

Within minutes of reaching Kate's building, she was bundled into bed and a bowl of steaming chicken soup had been thrust in her face. Without any complaints she managed to consume the bland tasting and watery concoction and was on her way into a deep slumber.

Abby unsure of the exact nature of her instructions stayed at Kate's apartment and decided to watch the next episode of "Stargate: Atlantis" which she had missed, but on all accounts had been one heck of a good installment. It wasn't long however before the shrill ring of her phone prevented her from admiring the muscles of the character "Ronon Dex". She flipped open her phone but didn't even manage to say hello.

"Abbs, can you get back down here we need you to go over a few items we've just collected."

"Sure Gibbs, Kates asleep, and i think she will be for a while so i'm free."

"Hows she doing?" Gibbs was unable, for once in his life, to hide the concern that was riddled in his voice. Abby just grinned to herself,

"She's in a pretty bad state, and i hate to say this Gibbs, but, i think shes getting worse too, this morning was just the start of it."

"Right... " Gibbs' really was unable to hide the worry in his voice at all this time, "you get back down here, i'll..." he took in a deep breath, "I'll come over and watch her when i've tidied these files up, Tony should be able to handle this anyway." Then the phone went dead, Abby was becoming pretty worried about Gibbs, she'd never seen him take such concern over anyone before, when tony had, had the flu he wasn't half as worried and all Gibbs'd done was send round a chicken soup, which at that point in time seemed to be the full extent of Gibbs' concern for anyone. But now, now he sounded so worried, anybody else who knew Gibbs would probably assume that someone like Ducky, or Abby was in hospital and had a huge chance of not coming out alive.

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Gibbs arrived at Kate's apartment block about 5 minutes after Abby had left and made his way through the building to Kate's front door, he let himself in and just stood and took in the whole space for a minute or two. It was exactly like Gibbs had anticipated it would be like, organised, clean and with just a touch of unordiliness that proved it was actually inhabited. He made his way through the apartment until he came to a door that he assumed was Kate's bedroom. He eased the door open and peered round and was met with the sight of Kate, pale and clammy looking, but asleep and slightly less haggard than she had been at 8:00am that morning.

A lump formed in his throat, and his chest knotted as he moved toward her and could truly see what a state she was in. He knelt beside her bed and gripped her hand, he couldn't help himself, he just couldn't stop himself from caring. Her hand was warm to the touch and slightly sweaty. Without really being aware of what he was doing, he brought his other hand up to brush back a few stray locks of hair that had fallen down her face. It then all became suddenly so real that he was Kate's bedroom, and he took a look around it for the first time, figuring this would probably be his only chance. Mostly the colours were neutral, but it had a definate feminine air about it, there were fresh flowers on the wind'sill that let off a faint fragrance, and there were a few books stacked on the bedside table. Suddenly very concious of where he was, he took one last look over Kate and went to make himself a coffee, before sitting down on her couch and watching some re-runs of the baseball game last night.

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When Kate awoke, she glanced across at her alarm clock and relised she had slept away most of the morning, as it was now, to be precise 11:53. She could her something moving around in her kitchen and assumed that Abby must still be here. Determined that, no matter how good a friend Abby was, she wasn't going to swallow another spoonful of her soup, which she found, frankly, quite revolting, she hauled herself out of bed with all the strength she could muster. As she stood up Kate's head span and she almost fell back down to the bed, but she managed to hold herself together and progressed slowly out her room and to her kitchen.

Kate was quite unprepared for the sight that greeted her when she did finally reach the kitchen. The person rummaging around through her cupboards was not as she had assumed, it wasn't Abby, it was her boss. The revelation that her boss, whom she had harboured strong feelings for, for quite a while, was in her apartment, in her kitchen, sent her head spinning again and she clutched at the door frame for support, surely she must be having delusions brought on by this bought of flu.

When the sound of Kate falling against the door frame reached Gibbs' ears he spun around and caught sight of her, pale and helpless, in the doorway.

"Hey, why aren't you in bed?" It was a tone of voice Kate had never heard him use before, soft and gentle, and honest. She couldn't help but raise a small, half-hearted smile, touched by his concern. He stood up and started moving towards her.

"Couldn't sleep." she replied, unsure of what excuse to give as it turned out it wasn't Abby making another batch of soup.

"C'mon then." He guided her with a hand around her waist through the large arch at the other side of her kitchen and helped her sit down on her couch. Her heart had fluttered when he put his arm around her waist, and she was more than happy to let her perfect man help her to the couch. The fact that he hadn't taken her back to bed, like Abby or DiNozzo would have done, but knew shed rather sit and watch a little TV for now made her heart swell with gratitude at his understanding.

Unsure of what to do now Gibbs said the first thing that came to his mind.

"Err... you hungry? 'Cus i think that um... Abby left some chicken soup in the kitchen... and..." Kates pale face was tinged with green and she was starting to balk. Gibbs ran into the kitchen, grabbed the first bowl he found and managed to get it to Kate just as she emptied the contents of her stomach into the glass mixing bowl that two days before had been used to make cookies. She grimaced apolagettically at Gibbs.

"Please don't make me eat that stuff again." she croaked. One of Gibb's signature grins graced his face,

"That bad huh?" A small smile made its way to kates face,

"Just a bit"

ok, so thats chapter two, it was going to be slightly longer, but i figured i'll just add it to the next chapter, i think i spelt apolagettically wrong too... if someone can please give the correct spelling of that word i would be eternally grateful.

Somewhere near the middle i used the word wind'sill i hope most of you managed to figure out that this meant windowsill, just its a bit of a colloquilism and i feel weird saying/typing windowsill. Virtual cookies too anyone who figures out which part of britain i'm from ;)

ok... i'll try and get chapter three up soon as, i promise, (maybe if i get enough reviews i'll be urged too faster ;P )

sam