Chapter 6

By the time she cleared customs, it was almost 10 o'clock at night. She got a cab and told the driver to take to the Hilton Washington and Towers.

When she got to the hotel, she checked in and booked herself there, as Danny ordered her to, for a week. When she handed the clerk her NCIS credit card, the clerk told her that they give NCIS 40 discount. Kate smiled and said thank you.

After checking in, a concierge helped her with her suitcases. She brought one suit case for her stuff and the other suit case had all the pertaining to the case. After the concierge brought her stuff in the room, she gave him a tip and politely muttered a thank you.

As soon as the concierge left, she dialed Danny's number to let him know that she had arrived in DC safely. Danny informed her that he had spoken to Director Sheppard and that she is waiting for her phone call.

After hanging up with Danny, she called Jenny Sheppard. Jenny, welcomed her back to DC and told her to just show her NCIS ID to security tomorrow morning. Jenny told her that she would like to meet with her in her office at 7 am before she meets with the team. Kate, somewhat felt relieved, that the meeting is early, that way she won't have to face Gibbs first thing in the morning. And that by the time she meets the team, she will be in her professional mode.

After hanging up with Jenny, she thought about calling Abby to let her know that she is in town but that would also mean, Abby will tell Tony, Tim and Ducky and they would want to come and see her right now. The past week and a half have been really exhausting for her and the long flight, didn't ease the exhaustion. So she decided to hang up her clothes in the closet instead and check the other suitcase once again to see if everything that she needed to bring to the office tomorrow is there. She took the folders that contained all the reports and notes, and put them in her briefcase. After checking her briefcase and the evidence suitcase one last time, she took a hot bath and then went to bed.

Kate woke up early the next day to make sure she had time to get coffee and a bagel and to compose herself before stepping foot in the NCIS Headquarters again.

She got ready and left her hotel room to go down to the coffee shop. She asked the front desk clerk if he could call a can and have her picked at 6:30 out in the front. He nodded and said it would be a pleasure to get her a cab. She smiled back and muttered a soft "thank you."

She arrived in front of the NCIS building 10 minutes before her appointment with Director Jenny Sheppard. She took a deep breath before going inside. She was met by a security guard she didn't recognize. She showed her Italian NCIS ID and the guard politely asked her to step aside. The guard then handed her another ID, one that she needs to use to get around the building. She thanked the guard and made her way to he elevator.

She walked in and looked around the bull pen. It was still early so she knew nobody would be there yet. She looked to her right where Tony sits and his desk is still as messy as when she left. And to her left is where she sat. Thank God her replacement is neat because she'd hate to come back and find her desk a mess. She then past Tim's desk and as expected his is clean. On top of his desk, there's a bottle of lotion that both Tony and Gibbs gave him grief over and over again. The last desk is Gibbs, the one she spent countless times looking over whether he is there or not. She touched his desk and quickly made her way up the stairs to the Director's office.

She knocked softly and the Director opened the door.

"Hey Kate, come in."

"Hello Jenny."

"So how did you sleep last night?"

"I slept fine, thank God."

"Well, I brought all the evidences that we found and they are all in that suitcase. I have all the reports and notes in this briefcase."

Kate and Jenny talked for another hour about the case. Jenny told her that she'll be leading this investigation and she will have to work closely with Gibbs. Kate assured her that things will be professional and that she had no problem working with Gibbs and that whatever happened before is water under the bridge.

Kate asked if she could have her badge and gun back. Jenny told her that Gibbs has her badge and her gun but handed her a cell phone instead. She had it activated this morning.

"The team should be here by now, so let's go down to the bull pen. Your replacement, she's got the flu and Gibbs told her to take a week off."

" I can't to see their faces when they see you."

"Believe me, it's more like Tony and Abby will yell at me for not calling them."

"True. You know, Tony and Gibbs still call your replacement Kate. I'm not sure if that's to annoy her or they just really, really miss you. I think it's the latter."

"Tony misses me because he can't annoy her. He's too afraid to go through her purse and answer her calls. I think he's afraid she'll report him to HR for harassment. And Gibbs, well, I don't know why he would miss me. He probably misses yelling at me or telling me about not getting too emotional."

"Oh, Gibbs is Gibbs. He certainly is unique and grumpy." Both women laughed as they opened the door.

Tony, Tim and Gibbs all looked up as they heard that familiar laugh. They knew that only one person could have that laugh.

"Kate, what the hell are you doing here?" Tony asked very loudly.

"It's so nice to see you too, Tony."

"Hi Kate." Tim said, and ran to her to get the suitcase she was carrying.

"Probie, I'm supposed to hug her first. I'm her partner remember? Come here, Kate." Kate walked over to Tony and gave him a hug.

Gibbs stayed quiet and watched Kate very intently. He could feel butterflies in his stomach. It's been so long since he had last seen her and he misses her so much. If it was possible, she looked more beautiful now than the last time he saw her.

"Hi Gibbs."

"Hi Kate."

"I'm sure you're all wondering why I'm here. Well, before I start, I need to have Abby and Ducky here too. Tim could you ask them to come up here, please?"

"Sure Kate. I'll tell them you're here that way they won't take their sweet time."

"Just tell them, Boss wants them here ASAP!" Tony said.

Everyone laughed including Gibbs.

"Oh I don't know Dinozzo, I think Kate has power over them more than I do. What do you think Kate?"

"Ah, well we'll just have to wait and see how fast they get here. And I think we have our answer, they are here, FAST!"

"Kate!" Abby said running to her and hugging her really tight.

"Whoah, Abby! I need to breathe."

"I'm so sorry Kate. I'm just so happy you're here. When did you get here?" Why didn't you call me?"

"Abs, let's talk about that later. Right now I need to give a briefing."

"Oh, hello Caitlin, you are here. I thought Mr. Palmer had lost his mind when he gave me the message from Timothy that I'm wanted in the bullpen because Agent Todd is here."

"Hey, Ducky, I'm here." Kate said and gave the old man a hug.

"Should I start the briefing, Director Sheppard or did you want to say something to the team first?"

"You, go ahead and start the briefing Agent Todd."

"Tim, is my laptop connected to the monitor?"

"Yeah, you're good to go Kate."

"The reason why I'm here is about this Staff Sergeant Jason Johnson, he raped and killed these two female marine officers. From what we have gathered so far, we don't believe these women were targeted. Both bodies were dumped just outside the base. He left no fingerprints and semen. The first bodyt, Private First Class, Diane Blake, according to our ME, was kept for a couple of days before he dumped her body. The second body, Private Jessica Smith, her body was kept for three days but if you compare the bruising on her face, it looks like his anger escalated. Her body was kept for three days before it was dumped."

"This one is Private First Class Michelle Mann, she's the one that came forward and identified our suspect. He tried to rape her in the back parking lot of a bar, when she was out on a date with him and fortunately for her someone knocked on the window and he let her go. She didn't report the attempted rape because she was scared."

"Kate, what makes you think he's the guy? And what does this have to do with NCIS here?" Tony asked.

"Well, we checked with Personnel and he's gone AWOL. The day the second body was found, he has not been seen since then. We also check the airport flight manifesto and he left Italy that same day and landed here in Washington D.C."

"Caitlin, not that I don't trust your M.E. in Italy but would it be alright if we asked them to transport the bodies here? I want to have a look at them before we give them to their families? Have the families been notified yet?" Ducky asked.

"Before I left, no notifications were given to either of the family yet."

"There shouldn't be a problem in transporting the bodies, Ducky. I'll talk to Kate's boss." Director Sheppard interjected.

"And Abs, all the evidences we collected, they are all in that suitcase. Maybe, Tony or Tim, can help you carry it."

"I'll help you, Abby." Tim volunteered.

"Thanks, McGee." Abby said.

"We are going to have a video phone conference with Kate's team in Italy, in 15 minutes, so I need for us to move to the Conference Room. And Gibbs, I just wanted to let you know, that, if it's all right with you, Kate will be heading this investigation."

"I have no problem with that Director. I'll be glad to help Kate in any way I can."

The team watched as Kate and Gibbs made eye contact and smiled at each other. They all felt relieved inside.

The team started to make their way to the Conference Room. Kate stopped as she felt a gentle tug on her arm.

"Kate, here's your badge and your gun."

"Thanks Gibbs."