Disclaimer: All publicly recognized characters, settings, and dialogue, belong to Donald P. Bellasorio, not me. No copyright infringement intended.
Rating: T
Pairings: Kate + Gibbs = Kibbs (yes I know she's dead but I'm in twilight denial OK), Paula + Tony = ?????? ( I know she's dead but I decided to bring her back anyway ), McGee + Abby =McAbby
A/N: Hi! This is my first ever case file and I am having a little trouble creating/bringing up clues, finding chapter breaks, and so on… please bare with me during the duration of this story. I really am trying my hardest. Please, no flames…constructive criticism and encouraging reviews, however, are acceptable.
A/N 2: I have stayed almost perfectly realistic in scientific and profiling aspects, therefore you all can try to solve the case on your own if you want to…message me through my profile when you figure it out…
A/N 3: Sorry this piece took so long to get out. I hope you enjoy none the less, tell me what you think. I am also using a new word program and the spacing is a little different.
Enjoy and Review!
Can it be Bliss?
By: Katie Todd
Chapter 6
STEVENSON HOME
NEXT
DAY
"Daddy's home." Kate chimes as she sashays to the foyer.
Her silver headed boss gets out of the car after he parks it in the driveway. He jogs to the now open front door and opens his arms, an uncharacteristic grin lighting up his face.
"How are my two favorite girls?" he asks.
Kate smiles and Belle gurgles while swinging her arms open towards him. Gibbs picks her up and swings her around in a circle, as he steps inside the house. The child latches on to him and buries her head against his neck.
"Ummm…" Gibbs sighs, "What's mommy making for dinner?"
Kate smiles and tosses a head of auburn curls to look up at him.
"Fettuccini Alfredo." Kate slurs her pronunciation perfect.
"Daddy's got to go get out of his work clothes, so Belle is going to mommy." Gibbs instructs as he hands his navy blue clad daughter to Kate.
Kate smiles and settles Belle on her hip as she dances around the kitchen adding different ingredients to the glass bowl that sits on the counter. Kate starts slightly when she feels a rough hand on her back. She turns her head over her shoulder wincing as the movement pulls at newly formed knots. Gibbs drops a kiss on her up turned lips for her trouble.
"How was work?" She asks as she scoots around the kitchen.
He sighs, he could get used to this. Coming home to Kate's cooking, snuggling with his little girl, giving Kate a peck on the cheek.
"Long. Boring." He answers as he squeezes a rough hand around Kate's neck.
She sighs gently in pleasure as he starts to knead her shoulders gently. He's mindful of both the child on her hip and the spoon in her busy hands.
"How was your day, Katie?"
She smiles at the added endearment.
"Rough. Little one here didn't go down for her nap; the phone was ringing off the hook. Neighbors calling about some parade the school is having for a big game they have next week, and some picnic Heather is organizing. I think your work dinner was mentioned. Alice called to see if I could go dress shopping, and if we wanted to go to the USO show Saturday. Abby called to report that they had no more leads and the profiling squad is getting nowhere, they really need better leadership." Kate babbles.
Gibbs smiles.
"The profiling squad does need better management. They see a possible yearlong investigation and put the perp on the back burner. You'd be a good candidate if you'd ever give up field work."
Kate gives a small half smile and boost Belle up higher on her hip. Gibbs pulls the girl off her hip and places her up against his chest. Her head lulls right under his collar bone her eyes almost closed. He bends down to pick up her blanket and bunny that had been forgotten on the kitchen island.
"What do you say we put little one to bed early and you and I catch a movie on the couch." Gibbs asks his eyebrows slightly rose.
"I'd love to." Kate declares in a half sigh.
It's obvious that she's tired.
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LATER THAT EVENING
Kate laughs gently at the poor guy on the TV screen. Why he is practically begging for a date she is perfectly comfortable with the one she has. She is snuggled up to Gibbs' side her hands rest lightly on his chest just below where her head resides. Her feet are curled up under her. His arm encircles her why his other hand gently kneads the tender skin on the back of her neck. Her eyes flutter close as her breathing evens out and she falls asleep against his chest.
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STEVENSON HOME
NEXT DAY
Kate coos and makes funny faces as she scoops the little girl up from her crib.
The girl willingly snuggles up to Kate, her bunny swings from an almost limp hand. Kate lays her down on her changing table and changes her diaper in a mere matter of seconds. She pulls the footie pajamas off the anxious girl and blows softly on her tummy. Belle's giggles fill the room as she continues snuggling her head on the little ones tummy. She finally manages to pull a soft green dress over the girls head; she slides matching socks on her feet and sweeps her up in her arms to move downstairs for breakfast.
Kate skips down the steps and scoots into the kitchen sliding on the linoleum in socked feet. Gibbs laughs as he gently catches her.
"I'm running late, I've got to go, thanks for the coffee" Gibbs says as he gives her a gentle kiss on the lips.
Kate smiles and proceeds with getting Belle her breakfast.
VIDEO
CONFRENCE
LATER THAT EVENING
NCIS HEADQUARTERS: AUTOPSY
STEVENSON HOME: DEN
"Where's Kate?" Abby asks.
The young lab rat stands in the dimly lit basement morgue.
"Hello Stevenson's." Tony says from his place seated in Ducky's swiveling chair.
"You said it was urgent, does that mean progress is being made?" Kate asks from somewhere off screen.
"Yes." A comforting British voice replies.
"Hold on a second?" Kate half asks.
She crosses the front of the computer screen and walks to the door connecting the garage to the house.
"Jet honey, can you come in and take this call for a second I have to put Belle to bed."
Stan enters the basement and looks at the assembled group.
"Sorry, I'm late" Stan apologizes as he sits himself upon an operating table.
"Your not," Paula chirps from her casual place on the arm of Tony's chair, "Kate's putting Belle to bed, and Jet is coming in from the garage."
Stan shoots her a questioning look, she smiles.
"I'm here to entertain." Gibbs states as he settles in an arm chair.
"I'm here." Kate huffs as she half runs down the stairs, Gibbs smiles and she settles herself on the arm of the chair he occupies.
"Spill the beans." She orders at the assembled team.
"Well we know that all the males are poisoned with something resembling arsenic, the children suffocated, and the women poisoned with an unknown gas." Dr. Mallard states.
Kate and Gibbs nod recalling the details from their notes. The only certain information on the case was how the killer killed.
"We stumbled across a body in the cold case storage facility Jethro, resembling the other murders." Duck states.
Gibbs raises an eyebrow in question.
"I was down there looking for an old evidence file when I found it," Abby starts, "the report says that the man died of a diluted arsenic in his coffee. I looked up his name he worked at CDT we're searching for details now."
Gibbs nods and rubs a hand down Kate's back.
"We think, Jethro," Ducky continues "this was the true first victim the TOD was on May fourth 2002. His wedding ring was found between his teeth," Ducky pauses for a moment before he continues, "once we discovered this thing with the wedding ring we discovered that the wedding rings on the male victims have been removed in all cases. They, unlike this one, just haven't been found. We think our murderer went after her husband because of an on-the-side lover."
Gibbs frowns, once scorned married women are the worst people to try to rationalize with or deal with. He knows, he has dealt with three. Kate swallows dry an excuses herself to go check on Belle. Gibbs instructs them to get in contact when they have more information and goes upstairs after Kate.
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"Katie, tell me what you're feeling" Gibbs urges as he rubs her back.
She sits at the top of the stairs; her head lies limply on her knees. Her auburn hair falls in thick curls that touch the floor.
"Like a target" She says flatly, "I feel like there's nothing I can do to protect Belle, like each new piece of information, is a hit, it's a reality check. I don't like it" she says pouting like a small child.
"C'mere" Gibbs demands as he pulls her hunched body toward him.
She lays her head on his shoulder and lets him rub her back and lay soothing kisses in her hair.
"I'm gonna keep you safe, I'm gonna keep Belle safe. No one, No One is gonna hurt you" he promises.
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NEXT DAY
STEVENSON
KITCHEN
"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Bel-le, Happy Birthday to you" Kate, Gibbs, Alice, Mike, Heather, and Dana sing.
Belle sits in her high chair looking curiously at all the singers around her. A delicious looking piece of chocolate cake sits in front of her covered in bright sprinkles. Belle's Sophie sits on the table next to her; she rests against the back of the top of the white kitchen chair behind her, a birthday hat on her head. She reaches out a cute fat hand and grabs a piece that she then shoves in her face to the enjoyment of everyone.
Kate continues to serve the rich chocolate cake and Gibbs warms the spot between her shoulder blades as she slices deep into the cake's three thick layers.
"Looks beautiful Katie" he murmurs into her ear.
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"Thanks for having us, Kathleen, the cake was delicious" Alice thanks.
"It was lovely" Mike agrees.
"By baby Belles" Dana says in a sing song voice.
"Say Bye" Kate parents as she raises Belle's tiny hand which she opens and closes roughly.
"It was wonderful Kathleen" Heather says.
Kate smiles as the vivacious woman steps forward to kiss Belle on the cheek. The friends scoot out the door and Gibbs closes it with a bang before kissing Kate gently. After he pulls away from her cherry tasting lips he nuzzles his daughter's nose. He and Kate settle Belle in her play pin and slide Marie's Adventures in Paris in the DVD player. Kate was big on promoting different languages why Belle was young. The birthday girl seems content so Gibbs and Kate start hanging up her new clothes in her closet.
Kate turns when she feels Gibbs's hands on her shoulders. He turns her around and places a soft kiss on her lips. He likes the picture they make more than he wants to admit, even to himself.
"What was that for?" she whispers against his cheek.
"Do I need a reason" the silver haired man murmurs softly.
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THREE
DAYS LATER
STEVENSON KITCHEN
"Kate?" Gibbs asks as he walks in the house.
He drops his keys on the kitchen as he enters.
"Kate?" he calls again softly. He tries to stop fear from coloring his tone.
He walks into the family room and has to hold back a laugh. Kate is sprawled out on the sofa; face down with her arms folded across under her forehead. Belle lays primarily the same way on a blanket Kate must've laid down on the floor for her. The laundry sits stacked perfectly in white baskets that lay near the end of the couch. Their case file sits on top of the folded whites.
Gibbs kneels in front of the couch wincing at the movement and reaches up a callused hand to massage the back of Kate's neck, he feels her wake up under his hand but he doesn't stop his gentle treatment. His left hand joins his right and he continues his gentle kneading from her shoulders to her lower back. He rubs his hands back up to her neck and whispers hello in her ear. Kate smiles and sits up on her knees before she scoots to the other end of the couch.
"That felt wonderful" Kate thanks.
Her silver haired boyfriend stands up and goes to sit on the couch. Kate pulls her knees up to her chest only to have Gibbs pull her ankles onto his lap. He peels off her socks and starts kneading her feet.
"I have a gift for you," Gibbs murmurs as he pulls a slim box our of his inner sports coat pocket.
He leans forward and places the box in her waiting hands.
"Why-" Kate starts.
"I don't have to have an occasion" Gibbs declares.
Kate nods and carefully pulls open the box. She pulls out one of the two white cards inside and clamps her hand over her mouth after she reads it. Her chocolate eyes shine with excitement.
"Dance lessons?," she half states half asks, when Gibbs nods a breathtaking smile lights up her face, "When do we start?"
"Monday" Gibbs states.
"Thank you. This is wonderful" Kate smiles and Gibbs's guarded expression breaks into a sly smile.
He tugs on her feet and slides her across the couch. He pulls her face up to his. He kisses her sweetly as he tangles his hands up in her hair.
"I'm glad" he mumbles against her lips.
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1903 MAPLE ROAD
FOXTROT DANCE STUDIO
2 DAYS LATER
"I'll count you off. 1 and 2 and 1, 2, 3, 4" the tall blond instructor yells as she claps her fingers together.
Gibbs smiles as he and Kate rock back, kick their feet out, and step gingerly on the ground. Kate turns her head to look at him and smile. They're in open position with their hands intertwined between them. The silver haired man rubs a thumb over her knuckles and gently squeezes Kate's thin hand. Their instructor joins her equally blonde partner and they demonstrate the second kick in the "Lindy Hop". Kate and Gibbs follow getting the hang of the step much sooner than the other dancers. They follow the instruction and Gibbs spins Kate into his chest. He flips his arm back out and Kate hops into the air before she lands.
Gibbs spins her into a closed position and gently drops a kiss on her lips before he starts the count off to their next round of the "Lindy Hop".
"We'll see you next week" Mindy, their instructor calls after several more minutes of music.
Kate and Gibbs exit hand and hand, he settles her in the passenger seat of their car. He runs around to the driver's side and climbs in. He grabs Kate's hand and massages the back of it as he drives them home.