Disclaimer: See chapter 1

Chapter 8

Kate on the other hand was still talking to Gibbs. He had asked to go with her that night. "Mind if I tag along?" She hesitated, "Please?"

Finally she relented. "You can, your sig sauer can't. We have a rule. No weapons on Air Force One unless you're Secret Service." Gibbs removed his gun and put it in his drawer. As everyone watched, he put his jacket back on. He instructed Abby and Ducky to keep looking, as he followed Kate across the room.

"Wow," Abby remarked, "Gibbs said 'please'."

Kate and Gibbs waited for Tony to finish his call before they left. It was after all, her cell phone. "Everything ok?" She asked Tony, noticing he was a little shaken up.

"Yeah, I'm picking her up tonight. I really miss her." He smiled sadly. "She wanted me to give you a big kiss Kate, but I'm not sure if you really want one." He laughed. 'I know I really want to give you one.' He thought. He stared into her eyes and for a moment, he could have sworn he saw the same thought, but it was gone almost immediately. "Hey Kate, could I have a word with you before you leave?" She looked at Gibbs who nodded.

"Sure, here or somewhere private?"

"I can think of somewhere." He took hold of her arm and directed her towards the elevator. Once inside he pushed a button to change floor before immediately pressing the 'emergency stop' button. "Now it's private."

"What's wrong Tony?" she could see a sadness still in his eyes.

He sighed, unsure how to continue, "Is it true that you're dating Major Kerry?"

"I'm not sure that's any of your business." She replied, a little shocked.

"You're right, it's not." He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. "But I think you have a right to know that I think I'm still in love with you." She tried to say something, but he interrupted her, "Let me finish, please. I'm sorry about what happened when you came with the papers. I was mad at you after seeing you with James, yet I…I just couldn't make myself sign them. So I guess you could say we're still married." She stood there speechless. "You can say something now." He joked.

"Why didn't you say anything when I arrived at your door? I had originally gone there to try and sort things out, but once I saw that blonde bimbo, I knew you had moved on and would probably have wanted me out of your life as soon as possible." It was Tony's turn to be speechless. "I only started talking to James because you have begun to shut me out. Yes I admit he tried to come on to me a few times, but I always turned him down." She forced him to look straight in her eye, "I never cheated on you. I never even wanted to."

They stared at each other for a moment before Tony broke the silence. "So you're saying we could have sorted this whole thing out ages ago?" She nodded. "Just one thing. Do you still love-" he was cut off by her lips on his. 'I guess I just got my answer,' he thought. After a while, the need for oxygen forced them apart. Breathing heavily, he pulled her into an embrace, which she gladly received. "Come on. Gibbs is gonna wonder what's going on." She nodded and they left the elevator.

Later that day, Kate was sitting in a local restaurant with Major Kerry. They clunked glasses as they toasted to Commander Trapp. "To come all the way through the war without a scratch and die of a stroke…he was in the thick of it in the push to Baghdad." Tim said.

Kate was a little surprised, "You never told me you knew him."

We had a drink when he reported to the Whitehouse. Wanted to know what tips I could give him."

"About the football detail?"

"That, or where he could find a good gym, dry cleaners, grocery mart, local watering hole."

She smiled. "Did you tell him about this place?"

"No. He might have run into us and that wouldn't be good, would it?" He laughed and placed his hand over hers. After a moment she nodded and removed her hand. "He wouldn't have run into us after tonight though, would he?"

She whispered "No." He leant back in his chair and sighed. She struggled to look into his eyes.

"Worried about losing your job?"

"Worried about losing a President. We work together, my focus, it just wouldn't be a hundred percent. Plus there's my daughter to consider." He nodded. "I'm sorry, Tim. That's the way its gotta be and you know it." He sighed and nodded again, when she refused to make eye contact.

"Why do I get the impression that you're not telling me everything?" This time she did look up.

She took a deep breath before starting. "Remember I told you that I was once married?" He nodded. "Well, I bumped into my ex-husband earlier. Well technically he still is my husband since he didn't sign the divorce forms, but that's not the point. I'm thinking of getting back together with him. Emily is his."

An awkward silence developed as they left the restaurant. He opened her door for her and watched her get in. After he closed the door, she started the engine and he watched her drive down the road out of sight. He headed for his own car and got in. he was sweating so loosened his tie. It wasn't long before he began convulsing and foaming at the mouth.

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