Naples, Italy,
Kate's been in Naples, Italy for a month now. When she first arrived in Italy, she fell in love with the city instantaneously. She has never seen anything more beautiful than Naples. Right when arrived in Naples, her NCIS team, Danny Westbrook, the team leader, Teddy Marshall, her partner and Senior Agent, and James Brady, Junior Agent, met her at the airport. Special Agent Westbrook insisted on being called Danny and not boss or sir. He was a very pleasant man. He was soft-spoken but very open. Teddy, reminded her a lot of Tony. He's funny, playful and a flirt. He put her at ease right away and she knew that she would not have a problem working along side him. James, is young, a little quiet and shy.
They took her to the NCIS office so she could meet the rest of the team, Cody Blake, the Forensic Scientist and Jack Warner, the Medical Examiner. Right after meeting the team, they helped her move her things to the apartment. The apartment they got for her was already fully furnished except there is no couch and television but the bed is brand new and there's a small dining table. They took her out to dinner that night and told her that she didn't need to report until Monday and wanted her to get situated first. Teddy and James offered to show her around the city, and teach her the transportation system.
She found herself adapting to her team and life in Italy easier than she thought. Although, the pace is slower in Italy she found it rather enjoying that she isn't stress all the time and she could come to Teddy, whenever she had a question or isn't so sure about something.
The time difference made it difficult to talk to her old team back in Washington, D.C. For the first month, her plate was full and since it's obvious that there's a need of order in the filing system, she volunteered to clean it up which the other agents were thankful for. They said she was God-sent.
She has only managed to send Tony, Abby and Tim short emails. They wrote her back telling her that she has probably forgotten about them. She told them about some of the places she had visited in Naples and how beautiful the museums, churches and the old buildings are. She promised to email them pictures which she has not done yet. Kate knew she was in trouble with them for not sending the pictures so she told them that she would call today.
"Hello, Abs, it's me Kate."
"Kate, oh my God, we finally hear your voice. We are all here. How are you Kate?"
"I'm fine, Abs. Hi Tony, Hi Tim and Hi Ducky. I'm sending some of the pictures right now. The first set, are pictures with my team here."
Unknown to the team, Gibbs is in the background listening to the phone call. He felt relieved to hear her voice but hearing it made him miss her more. And for her to not even say his name, made his heart ache.
"We are looking at those pictures right now Kate. Oh, you got some cute guys on your team Kate. You're the only girl?"
"Yeah, Abs I am the only butterfly."
"Hey Kate, this one guy, he has his arm around you, who is he? He seems to like you?" Tony asked.
"Oh, that's Teddy, he's the one I work with the most. He's a lot like you Tony."
"But of course, he isn't me right Kate because there is only one Tony Dinozzo."
"Yes, Tony, you are my only partner. The other man is my boss, Danny, and James, the Junior Agent. They are really cool guys and easy to work with. The second set of pictures are the museums that I have visited. And the third set are pictures of castles. Next weekend, if we are not working, I'm planning to visit some of the old churches here."
"We are looking at the second set right now. Oh my God Kate, you look really hot. My God, you are wearing shorts and a tank top." Tony said.
Gibbs caught a glimpse of the pictures and Tony was right, she looked hot. Ducky noticed that there was someone behind them. He looked back and saw Jethro in the corner watching and listening. He called him over to join them. Jethro nodded and made his way to them. But he put his index finger on his lips to indicate to the team not to let Kate know that he's there.
"Caitlin, you do look very lovely in those pictures. I have been to Naples, my Dear and have seen these places. They are beautiful aren't they?"
"Yes, Ducky I agree."
"So Kate, are you dating anybody?"
"No, Tony, I have only been here for a month and I'm much too busy to even think about dating."
"So no Italian men have asked you out?"
"I didn't say that, Dinozzo."
"Ah, so you have been asked out but you turned them down, right."
"Yes, Tony. Listen, I have to go, work starts in an hour and I have to finish getting ready. I'll talk to you guys again soon. I miss you guys and take care. Bye."
"Bye, Kate we miss you too."
"I'll put all the pictures in one of the folders so everyone on the team can access it. I'll let you know which one."
"Thanks Abs. It's getting late. It's time to go. Boss, I finished my report, can I go home?"
"Yeah, Dinozzo. You too McGee."
After Tony, Ducky and Tim left, Gibbs stayed behind in the lab with Abby.
"Hey, Abs can we talk?"
"What do you want to talk about Gibbs?"
"About Kate. About everything."
"Sure. Do you want to start or do you want me to start?"
"You can start."
"I know I've been cold lately, Gibbs. I promised Kate that I wouldn't do that to you but I'm trying my best not to get mad at you for pushing her away. You know Gibbs, you should have been man enough to face her. She never told me what happened between you two but it doesn't take a genius to know what did. How could you treat Kate like that? You treated her like she was a mistake. Then at work, you made her seem like she's a plague and you wouldn't get near her. And you blamed her for what happened between you two when in fact, you are a big part of what transpired that night. Gibbs, she gave you six months. She stayed that long, hoping that you would at least talk to her. What did she do that was so wrong?"
"Abs, I'm sorry for being such a coward. It's all my fault and I wish I could take it all back, not what happened that night but what I did to her after. She didn't do anything wrong. Yes, I pushed her away because I thought it would solve everything and I thought I could just forget that night but I can't. I blamed her for being so damn beautiful. I blamed her for not letting me forget that night. Every time I close my eyes, I see her. Everything that happened that night keeps replaying in my head. I hate myself for what I done not only to her but to all of you. Because of me, Kate isn't here with us."
"You know Gibbs, Kate isn't like any of your ex-wives."
"I know, Abs. I'm sorry, please forgive me"
"I'm not the one you should be saying it to."
"I will tell her Abs. But right now, I need to leave her alone. She's happy there."
"Gibbs, life is too short. Learn to accept love when it's being offered. Don't be so hard on yourself because you're really are a good man who deserves a really good woman. Gibbs, her smile could light up any room she walks in. And yet, she only has eyes for you. "
"Thanks, Abs, I will keep that in mind. And she is breathtaking even when she's sleeping."
Gibbs gave Abby a peck on the cheek. He looked at the computer screen one more time and smiled before leaving the lab.