Author's Note: I'm sorry to all my faithful readers! I didn't abandon the story, I just got caught up on later chapters and finding my ending. Most of the chapters right after this one are done so they will be posted in next few weeks. This chapter is all from Kate's POV, the next few chapters will focus back on Tony and be about a case. Please Read & Review! Thank you!
LA and OSP
It is eight in the evening the following day after receiving a ticket and some paperwork and a rider for her gun Kate went straight to Dulles to wait for her plane that left at three in the afternoon. She has to remember to have the Special Agent in London ship back the remaining of her things that had found their residence in Catherine Doscher's loft. Kate walks out of the gateway and gives a bright smile when she sees the curly haired brunette standing waiting for her. She knows there is some benefit to being an armed federal agent and this is one of those times.
"Hey, Kens," the brunette gives her a strange look and she realizes she has yet to change her hair back to her natural color.
"Kate," she gives a smile and she meets the slightly taller woman for a hug and she chuckles at the woman's unruly curly hair which falls over her eyes as they hug.
"So, you call me out of the blue. So your deep cover must be over, but how long are you here?" as they walk through the crowds, Kate has never felt this relaxed in a long time.
"Just a few days to finalize some things at OSP, so I can return to my position on the MCRT and then I need to prepare all my things in storage to be shipped back to D.C." she sees the sad smile that passes over the face of her former Probie.
"So, if your only here for a few days then you are staying with me," Kate just nods, but she is imagining what she could possibly trip on in Kensi's over cramped apartment that has so much stuff that often times it took Kate more than five minutes to get through the apartment in fear that she would fall because of some article of clothing.
"I see that look, Todd, I cleaned my apartment specifically because of you," she raises her eyebrow.
She gives her friend a smile and follows her towards the exit.
"Any bags?" Kate shakes her head and Kensi doesn't look at all surprised as Kate shifts the medium size bag on her left shoulder to indicate that is all that she had brought.
Kate gives a laugh as they get in the Mercedes that Kensi must have checked out from the OSP garage.
"So where to first, OSP or the storage unit?" Kensi asks starting the black cars engine.
"OSP, my assault and sniper rifle are still in lock up and I'm sure Mace wants to go over details about the fact that I'm still staying on as an OSP agent even though my permanent assignment is at the Navy Yard," Kensi gives a nod and Kate can see that the woman is thankful that she is going to be able to have at least one other female field agent on the team.
"So, how was it seeing all of you friends again after two years?" the woman asks and Kate grips the handle on the passenger side of the car as Kensi weaves in and out of traffic.
"Jeez, Kens, are you trying to make me sick?" the younger woman gives a laugh and eases off the accelerator and stays in the left lane instead of weaving in and out as to pass people going ninety miles an hour.
"Sorry, I haven't had a partner in a while and I'm always speeding after Callen and Sam by myself," Kate gives a chuckle as she takes in the city lights of Los Angeles.
"Well, I don't think there is any rush because Mace doesn't leave until at least after ten," Kate says with a chuckle as Kensi quickly merges onto 110 going North towards downtown and towards the warehouse district where building that housed OSP is.
"Yeah, that woman needs to get a life," Kensi says and Kate just chuckles knowing that her twenty four year old former partner isn't any better.
"Says the agent who sits around her apartment writing her operations reports on the weekends," Kensi gives her a glare even though Kate know she only does that to make herself look better to their Operations Manager.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Kensi says with a smile.
"Meet anyone lately?" she asks this time she is being serious, but she won't be surprised if the woman evades her question.
"It is kind of hard to meet a guy when you have to lie the entire time," Kate gives her a sad smile. Though she knows her old partner's hesitance had more to do with Jack and him leaving her on Christmas than anything else. Kate makes one promise to herself that if she ever finds the guy he will no longer exist on this earth and they would have nothing to pin it on her.
"Why do you think I didn't date while I was here?" Kensi gives her a raised eyebrow and now she is sure she doesn't want to know why the other woman is going to say in response.
"I thought it had more to do with being in love with your old partner?"
"You," she asks with a laugh.
"No, Very Special Agent DiNozzo," she gives the younger woman a glare as she gets off on an exit into downtown L.A.
"You mean the very annoying sexist pig, who is pissed at me right now? Besides a distinctly remember saying I had feelings for him, not that I was in love with him," Kensi laughs this time at the statement.
"Well, you really don't think he has reason to be upset? And it was kind of obvious, Cat," Kate nods at the point the woman makes about Tony being upset, but decides to ignore the woman's point about her feelings being obvious.
"He is the only one other than Gibbs that is angry. He was so sweet yesterday when he found out, but before I left today he was as cold as ice and let's just say that Tony isn't exactly the best at hiding when he's angry," Kate scoffs as Kensi turns the car towards the more industrial part of L.A., and after a long moment Kate gives a smile as the old brick building that is camouflaged to look like just another empty warehouse rather than headquarters of the covert branch of NCIS.
As Kensi pulls into the alley, Kate gives a smile as the other woman punches in the code to garage. All is silent as they get out of the car and Kate glances as the walk the familiar path to the old elevator.
"It isn't any different," Kate says with a laugh as the elevator loudly arrives on the second floor and the walk through the hallway to the door into the Ops. room.
"Well, we have some nicer tech stuff, but Eric would have to explain it to you because even after listening to him talk about it for half an hour I still don't get it," chuckles at this because she doesn't find this at all surprising.
"I've worked with Eric, McGee, and Abby and I still don't understand half of what they say about computers, I just know that it helps catch the bad guys," Kensi gives a chuckle as she enters in pass code into the main room of OSP. Kate would not be the first person to say that the OSP center's main room is kind of bleak with its grey walls and banks of computers that mirror MTAC except for the fact that the screen and computers are more advanced than MTAC. Kate follows Kensi along the upper walkway until they are in the main hallway of the office. Kate gives Kensi a nod and she alone walks to Mace's office while Kensi turns to head back to what use to be their shared office. Kate lets a soft smile fill her lips as she knocks lightly on the door jamb of the Operation Manager's office. The door is open which is something that she had gotten use to while working at OSP. The lighter blonde looks up at her and gives her a soft smile that reveals absolutely nothing.
"Hey, Mace," she says entering more into the office and into the light.
Her former boss sets down the pen and gets up from her desk and Kate wonders what Lara is going to do and Kate barely has time to process the woman's movements when the blonde embraces her in a hug. She returns it with a surprised laugh and as they pull away the woman takes a moment to look over her features.
"Well I see you survived the European Arms Dealers," Lara says with a laugh.
"I came out stronger and with better clothes," she says and this receives a chuckle as the older woman lets go.
"So now that you are done with your undercover operation, I'm guessing you are here to formally tender your resignation and transfer back to the Navy Yard," the woman walks back to sit behind her desk. Kate quickly takes her seat across from the more experienced NCIS agent.
"You haven't received a memo from Director Shepard?" the woman purses her lips and shakes her head not understanding the statement.
"In order to sanction my return to the Navy Yard and ultimately to the MCRT, I'm to remain an OSP agent ready to report to L.A., when the need arises," the woman once again takes a moment to process the words, but Kate can tell the older agent understand perfectly what that means. The woman across from her simply nods and gives a small smile.
"Well, I guess that makes the paperwork, I was going to give a little lighter," the woman grabs for a thick stack of paperwork before thumbing through it. Taking certain packets out of paper out of the stack, Mace hands her it after it is a third of the original size.
"That's all of the paperwork I'm going to need you to fill out," Mace says with a grin.
"I just want to say thanks, Lara, for everything, you let me be a part of this team without a lot of questions and I learned a lot from you," the woman gives her a serious look before leaning farther over her desk and interlacing her fingers together.
"I think you are a great agent and that was clear from the get go. I know you were only here for less than a year, but it felt like you were truly a part of this team and even though no one more than me will be sad to see you go, D.C. is where you belong and you and I both know it is what you want," the woman offers her hand and Kate gladly accepts her compliments with a heavy heart.
"Thank you so much, Lara," she says letting go of the woman's hand.
"Here is the key for the locker with your guns in it?" she says sliding a small silver key across the wood desk.
"The armory code is the same as it always has been," Kate nods and gets up. She turns one last time sending the woman a smile.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Mace. Hopefully by then all these papers will be filled out and I will have gone through my storage unit and sorted through everything," the woman gives her a nod.
"Feel free to take Agent Blye with you. We don't have any pending cases right now and I know you love telling her what to do," Kate gives a chuckle before throwing the woman one last glance as she heads down the hallway back to the two other offices which are shared between the four agents.
Kate softly leans on the door frame as she stops at Callen and Sam's shared office.
Kate sends Callen a soft smile as he glances up at her from his desk. He is wearing his classic gray colored t-shirt and jeans.
"Well, look at you, Todd," the buzz cut haired man face shines with a smile that leaves little room for her to figure out exactly what he is thinking even though she knows his happiness is genuine.
"Hey, G, how are you doing?" she has always felt weird calling him by the single letter. She has always wondered what it stood for, but she has never dwelled on it because she knows that it worries him more than anyone else. She can't even imagine not knowing anything about yourself, not even your first name.
"Same, old, same old," he says and Kate knows exactly what she is going to ask next.
"So how many times have you moved since I went undercover?" she inquires with a chuckle.
He lets out a laugh and she can already tell that she has asked the right question. He leans back in his chair before saying, "Well, according to Sam as of last week it was eight, but I only remember seven and let me tell you I have better memory than Sam does." She advances farther into the office and takes a seat at one of the chairs in between the two desks.
"G, it was totally eight because you were staying in the long term motel in Santa Monica when Todd left for England," Kate turns and smiles at the huge bulking agent in the doorway. He is in a black square stitched long sleeve shirt that Kate has seen him wear at least a dozen times. It is one of about ten that he has in different colors. He also often wears skin tight workout shirts.
"Besides I have a better memory than you," Kate gives him a bright smile. She chuckles at his statement.
"I must say Kate that you look pretty good for narrowly escaping one of the most revered arms dealers of our day and age," Kate laughs at his over dramatic statement.
"Well, you can only imagine, how far my charm can get me," she says bringing a hand to her chin.
"You, charm never," he retorts.
"I guess it was my beauty then," she says and G sends Sam a 'she's right' look.
"So, how long are you back for, Todd?" these two men aren't easy to fool, so she isn't surprised that they already know that this is just a trip and not her returning for good.
"Two, three days tops, I just have to sort out moving my stuff back to D.C. and filling out some paperwork for Mace."
"So does that mean we can at least take you out for a drink to catch up before you run back to the capital?" Callen sends her an encouraging smile.
"I would love to," she sends him a smile in return and wonders why she couldn't have feelings for him because he is a good man. Though she also remembers how guarded the man is and she realizes that honesty is a trait she would want in a relationship.
"Well, what are we waiting for lets go grab Kens and hit the town," Kate gives a nod. She notices that they hadn't said anything about Eric or Nate, but she assumes that that psychologist and tech operator have things going on or rather Eric is playing Halo and Nate is catching up on looking over case files or is doing research.
"I need to go get my rifles out of lock up and then we can head out, why don't you boys go rile up Kensi and decide where we are going?" they nod and she heads back out into the hallway and after entering into the main hallway away from the Ops center she hangs a left away from Mace's office to the armory. She takes a look around the brick building and she knows she will miss it even though she hasn't been here in over a year.
The room is as cold and unyielding as it has always been with it caged guns and countertops and drawers. There is almost something clinical in nature about it, but she can't help, but smile at the room. Kate gives a long look around at the armory and closes her eyes for a moment taking in the memories that she has of being in here. She remembers the many different times that she and Kensi stood side by side getting ready for an operation or preparing to take down a suspect along with Callen and Sam. She remembers their conversations here and there about the case of the week or joking after a successfully op before going to grab a drink. She also remembers the first time she had admit out loud that she had feelings for Tony and Kensi had in a matter of fact way stated that she had known that since the first time she had talked about the team.
Flashback
Kate clicks the left lock hinge up and she slowly eases the case for her assault rifle open. She carefully places the gun back in its spot after taking out the clip which is still half full with bullets. She lets out a long breath because she is tired. She, Kensi, Sam and Callen had spent the last four hours interrogating the different members of the Byrne gang. She smiles as she realizes she has some old photos stuffed in the top of the case. She pulls the stack of photos out and smiles when she sees some of her favorite memories of working for MCRT. The first picture is from her first Christmas working at the Navy Yard. It features her, Tony, Abby, and Ducky all raising a glass to celebrate the merriment. She runs a finger over Tony and then Abby's face. Two months, that is how long she has been working at OSP. It has been almost five months to the day since the day of the shooting and even though she often has nightmares about it, she feels better knowing that Gibbs had shot Ari and the whole ordeal is over. She is also able to look back on that day and know that they had done everything in their power to stop Ari and his Hamas cell before they could blow up Norfolk and the arriving USS Kennedy and the families wait for their arriving loved ones.
"Reminiscing, Kate?" she glances up at her 22 year old partner and she shrugs. She doesn't really want to go there with the younger woman right now.
"I just noticed all of the photos I had shoved in here," Kate says getting up with the photos still in hand as she closes the case and slides the locked drawer closed.
"Is there any specific reason they were in there?" she knows that she can lie to Kensi, but she also knows that the woman can tell if she is fibbing. So she knows it is best to tell her a partial truth.
"Just somewhere to keep them safe," what Kate doesn't tell her is that she had put them in her assault rifle case because she didn't want to look at them and be reminded of what she left behind.
Kensi picks up the picture that she had placed on the metal table.
"So that is Very Special Agent Tony DiNozzo?"Kensi chuckles at her repeating the overly egotistical moniker that Tony had made up for himself.
"Yep, he is almost as good looking as he thinks he is," Kate receives a raised eyebrow from the recent college graduate and Kate can see the mirth in her expression obviously because of the cynical and sarcastic nature of her statement.
"Though I would never tell him because there would be no room left for anything, but him and his ego," this receives a snort from the Portuguese woman.
"They way that you talk about all of them it is as if…they are your family," Kate nods because what the brunette in front of her is saying is more true than she cares to admit.
"Yeah, in some ways they are. If you spend enough time with someone they take a piece of you without you even realizing it and you carry a piece of them with you wherever you go no matter how much distance is put between you. Abby always knew how to put a smile on my face no matter how dark things seem to get because no matter what you see here in this picture she is one of the happiest people I know and her antics are always so childlike, but wise in their own way. Ducky always has the way of remembering some long story that honestly has almost nothing to do with what is going on and you can't help, but smile because he has such vivid memories of all the amazing things that he has witnessed. Tim took so much crap from Tony and I and I know he is still going to, but he has the makings of a good agent and he is a good guy and he was like the little brother I never had, I mean come on, I was the youngest of five so it was nice to have someone to pick on. Gibbs he is harsh, but underneath all that Marine and Special Agent is a kind man, I learned so much from him and even though his rules are sometimes ridiculous I will stick to them because most of them have helped me become a pretty good agent," Kate can't help the fact that her eyes glisten with unshed tears that she knows she will make sure never fall.
"And Tony?" she glances up at the young woman and she is rewarded with an undisguised smirk and Kate glares at her and in return her probie just gives her a cocked eyebrow filled with amusement. The good thing about the other woman's humor filled question is that it had made the tears that built up in her eyes dissipate.
"He is the most sexist pig I know and he can without fail make anything into a movie reference. He is also the most egotistical man I know and he is always talking about the expensive clothes that he has bought or about the latest bimbo he had a one night stand with. He also without fail manages to say something so irritating that it takes everything in me to not shoot him and the only reason I don't do it is because it would just be more paperwork," Kate notices Kensi slightly titled head and she can tell that the other agent wants to say something, but doesn't.
"But most of all I could have loved him, god and do you have any idea how stupid that makes me feel because he is Tony, for god sake. The man who told people that I tried to sleep with him when we were away on a mission in Paraguay or that I had breast implants."
"He sounds like a real piece of work, but I could tell from the first time you told me about the team that you had feelings for him. It was that gleam in your eye," this makes Kate blink and god she is pissed at herself for letting that much out and letting herself be vulnerable like that especially when she is trying to establish a trust with this young agent so they can work together.
"I'm sorry for getting all mushy on you," Kate feels instantly better when her partner just shakes her head and gives her a smile and returns to putting away her gear.
"Its okay, Kate, it is nice to know that you would trust me with something as personal as that," she gives the young woman a smile and feels good about how things are developing in their partnership.
Kate follows the rest of the team into the dive bar that they use to grab drinks at every once in a while.
"Dan, get this woman anything she wants," Callen says to the bartender. The guy had always been nice to her and he gives her a surprised smile at her appearance.
"Hey Dan," she says taking her seat in between G and Kensi.
"Haven't seen you in a while," she gives the young bartender a smile, he had always been a really nice guy.
"Yeah, I got reassigned and am just back for a few days to clear up some stuff," the bartender thinks that they work for a national non-profit.
"Well, you guys help safe lives it doesn't really matter where you are, right?" the four of them share a knowing smile.
"Well, thanks for that, can I have a dirty martini," he nods and begins to mix the drink before turning to engage the rest of her companions.
"So what can I get the rest of you?" Sam and Callen quickly answer that they want beers as does Kensi.
They take a seat in a booth and Kate can see that the three fellow agents have questions about her undercover op trying to get to La Grenouille.
"So let me get this straight you spent the last year getting to live it up in London while we have been taking down bad guys and stopping the world from mass destruction?" she loves Sam's over exaggeration.
"I was working. You, know how it is. A full on undercover operation that requires your full and utter attention and never letting yourself slip," she knows if anyone understands it is Sam and Callen who have both down undercover work that has been longer than six months.
"So let me get this straight, you can't even tell us what the assignment was about?" she can see how skeptical Callen is especially since he is technically the Special Agent in charge of special projects working directly under Mace. All they know is that she had popped up in D.C. in the company of Rene Benoit.
"No, I am on strict orders by Director Shepard to keep it under wraps," the man nods and she can tell that he is going to ask Mace about it, but she knows that Lara can't tell him anything.
"So at least tell me this, did you complete the mission?" she shrugs and Callen gives her a smirk knowing that she will never tell him and he will never know whether she did or not.
"So, enough about me, tell me about some of the cases I missed," she sees a smile rise on Sam's lips and she can tell that he has a good story that probably ends with Callen falling flat on his ass.
She knows that will keep them distracted from asking about her undercover op. and she knows she is in for some good stories because Sam and Callen have a way of interpreting the events of a takedown differently especially who had been the one to actually detain the suspect.
As she listens to them talk about the different cases Kate is surprised by just how much she has missed each of them and their own unique humor and their way of focusing in on what would normally be minuscule details just because they ended in some funny anecdote that often involved one of them doing something completely ridiculous or being revealed to be undercover. Hearing about Kensi having to go undercover at a strip club had made her day especially since she ended up falling off the pole.
Two hours and a few drinks later Kate walks over the threshold into Kensi's apartment that she is shocked to find clean. Kensi is the Merriam-Webster English Dictionary definition of hoarder. She has stakes upon stakes of magazines that she had never read and would never get around to and clothes that she hadn't worn sense high school. Instead Kate can clearly see that the floor is actually hard wood or at the very least laminate.
"Wow, you actually have a floor," Kate chuckles setting her bag down the small couch that she is sure she might fall off in the middle of the night because it is barely two feet wide.
"It does happen every once in a while," Kensi says with a shrug.
"Yeah, once in every millennium," this receives a glare from the California native as Kensi walks into her kitchen obviously in search of either water or tequila which generally had been their choice of poison when they wanted to get completely smashed or drown out the horrors of the day or days past.
When the young woman lifts the bottle of Patron into view Kate nods a smile feeling her face.
"It happens more than you think."
"Name once in the last year that I have been gone where this place has been what anyone other than you would consider clean?" Kate knows that she has the woman basically dead to rights about her lack of cleanliness.
"Just one drink, Kens, I have things to do tomorrow," the woman nods and puts the cork back in the glass bottle.
"Yeah, I know," Kate bites back her words about the fact that Kensi sounds almost sad. She knows that the younger agent is like her little sister, but she doesn't want the woman to make her feel bad about having to leave again.
The woman gives her a smile as she advances towards her and takes a seat next to her offering her one of the glasses in her hands which she takes gladly.
"To new or— old beginnings," Kate gives a curt nod and clinks the tumbler against the other brunette's.
"How about to life and its surprises," her former probie stares at her in disbelief as if she has said something unheard of.
"That sounds rather optimistic even for you, Kate, what is going on?" She has always been optimistic, but she had always curbed that in the presence of Callen, Sam, and Kensi as to not be perceived as weak.
"Nothing…" she knows that is the stupidest thing she could say.
"I don't believe you. You are trained liar for god's sake and you couldn't come up with something better than nothing," Kate covers her eyes annoyed with herself for not being specific enough when she just tried to lie.
Kate in turn rolls her eyes before expressing something that she has been trying to keep buried because she knows in some ways that it will hurt the Portuguese woman, "I just feel like I can breathe again, it is like I'm not waiting for the other shoe to drop anymore and it feels like I can life again."
"It is because you can," Kate knows that it is true, but if she is being honest it is kind of scary.
"Yeah," she leaves it at that letting the silence take up the space between them as she sips her drink remembering all of the good memories that she had made in this city. She would soon be leaving L.A. and all of its wonder and the focus it brought to her life, but she knows that she is okay with that. After a few minutes of silence Kensi bids her good night after giving her a blanket and pillow for the couch.
Kate turns the key in the lock and lifts the handle up and opens one of the heavy doors even though she never considered herself a material person it is amazing how many of items help define who she is as a person.
"Wow, I had no idea you had this much stuff, Kate, I mean you call me a pack rat," Kate turns to the junior field agent and gives her an annoyed huff as she walks the few feet into the storage unit and looks at the writing scribbled on the first box.
"So what exactly to you need me for?" Kate just chuckles because she really doesn't need that much help since all she has to do is sort through the boxes and call the movers.
"Nothing really I just thought you would want to spend some time with me before I go back to D.C."
"So what does Mace think I'm doing with you exactly?" Kate just shrugs in response.
"Mace told me to bring you with me," the 24 year old smirks, but tilts her head obviously interested in why their by the book Operations Manager would allow her to help Kate pack up her things.
"So, seriously where did all of this stuff come from because I don't remember half of this stuff ever being in your apartment?"
"Most of it is stuff that I had in D.C. and I guess I just didn't want to include everything from there into my entire new life in L.A. especially since it would just make me miss it more," she can tell that her words have stopped whatever Kensi was going to say from leaving her lips. She knows that her words like many before are probably going to have been used to tease her.
Kate swings the keys in her hands and finds the other key that is exactly the same to the one that opened this storage unit.
Kate smiles when she opens the heavy door and chuckles at the silver car which she knows she can't drive in D.C. because it is technically an OSP car.
"We actually had to use the BMW in one of the cases a couple months ago," Kate could only imagine.
"Oh, don't look so horrified. We didn't hurt your, baby," she hopes her roll of the eyes will get it across to Kensi that it really is just a car, she isn't Sam for god sake with his love for Dodge Challengers.
"So, no high speed chases to speak of?"
"I didn't say that," the shorter brunette knows that the taller one is just playing with her.
"So, you dressed up as some upper middle class housewife didn't you?" when the young girl looks down this time she just laughs.
"Please tell me there are pictures," the woman she shakes her head and Kate just laughs as she steps out of the storage locker and walks the few feet to the one that has all of her personal belongings in.
"Afternoon, I'm here to pick up the contents of units 380 and 381 for shipment to Washington D.C for Caitlin Todd, including a BMW which is to be shipped to the Johnson Storage Yard in Fredrick, Maryland," she nods and the man smiles.
"My men and I should have this done in …" the man looks over the contents of the storage unit before continuing, "half an hour, ma'am."
"Is there a specific order that you want this packed into the truck, ma'am," she thinks about it and in truth it hadn't been that organized to begin with.
"There is no order, just pack them up, thank you," the man gives her a nod and she and Kensi watch the movers take away the boxes.
"Well that's kind of the end of the era," Kate says as she watches the movers load the last of the boxes into the moving truck.
"Think of it this way, Cat, you finally get to just be," she can hear the underlying envy in Kensi's tone and Kate really wants to reassure her, but she knows that Kensi is still struggling with the decision to become a member of OSP and hide what she really does from the people most important in her life.
"I know, Kens," Kate knows not to say anymore than that because she doesn't want to make Kensi feel any worse about choosing to live her life in the shadow of what she does. Having to always pretend to be something else than what she truly is, an undercover federal agent.
She hands the keys to the head of the moving company and less than ten minutes later Kate has signed all of the paper work and she and Kensi are speeding down the road towards the old warehouse district where OSP is.
Kate walks through the hallway of OSP slowly and she takes a moment to remember some of her more fond memories. She knows this place and the people within had taught her so much and she would forever be grateful to them. She will miss them, but she also knows that she will be back and they won't lose contact even if they didn't, but it truly is the end of a part of her journey as an NCIS agent.
She pauses for a moment before entering Mace's office and she is unsurprised to see Mace is looking over some paperwork.
"All done," she says and the blonde woman smiles and nods.
"You know you could stay a few days longer and do some tactical training with team," Kate shrugs and she can't help, but wonder if the woman might actually miss her.
"I would normally say yes, but I was hoping to go see my parents before having to go back to work on Monday," when the woman nods Kate knows that if there is anyone who understands being close to their parents it is Lara Macy.
Kate offers her hand to the woman and she crosses around the desk and returns the hand shake.
"Now go get out of here before I change my mind and order you to stay," Kate gives a smile and shakes her head.
"See you soon, Mace," the older woman smiles.
"You too, Kate," Kate gives one final nod before walking out the door and towards the Ops. Center.
She is suspicious when she walks in and it is almost quiet. She also notices that Eric seems to be doing something other than looking up information or running through surveillance cameras. Now she knows something is off because the ops screen is blank except for the NCIS, Navy, and Marine seals because there is always some operation going on that requires surveillance. She is also kind of wondering where Kensi is since the woman said she would wait for her here why she talked to Mace.
Eric glances towards her and gives her a smile and she walks down the ramp towards him.
"Slow day, Eric?" the man gives a shrug.
"Not bad I just helped Renko to identify his target," Kate nods and glances over the tech operator's shoulder at his individual screen. The genius glances over at her and gives her that look that tells her whatever he was just helping Renko with is need-to-know.
"Sorry," the man shakes his head signaling that he understands and he turns his chair around and gives her a smile.
"So are you excited about going back to the Navy Yard?" she shrugs because honestly there is more than one emotion attached with the prospect of returning to her old team and the capital.
"There you are, Todd," Kate glances away from the tech operator to the ex-Navy Seal who stands leaning over the railing.
"Where else would I be?" Sam gives a chuckle realizing that what she is saying is true.
"Hey get in here everybody," the man says before whistling and Kate perks up at this now knowing something is up.
After a moment all of the OSP employees that are not currently in Ops file in with Kensi, Mace, and Callen bring up the rear.
She chuckles when she notices the plastic cups in Kensi's hands and the bottle of champagne in Callen's.
She gives a warm smile at the familiar faces of some of the other people she had worked with on a daily basis. As they begin to pass around cups with champagne Kate knows she is going to get teary eyed especially since Callen looks ready to give a speech.
"It takes a special kind of person to do what we do and Kate is one of those people, she is an incredible agent and even better human being, we will miss having you around. To Kate Todd. You will always be a part of this team," Kate gives a smile to the room and to Callen she gives an appreciative nod as she raises her glass with the rest of the room before taking a sip.
"You take care now, Todd," she gives Sam a smile as he pulls her in for a hug.
"I will, Hanna," she gives him a punch in the arm and the man flashes his pearly whites at her.
"Eric," she says and the tech operator who is wearing a Hawaiian shirt and cargo shorts pulls her into a hug.
"I'll miss you, Kate," she had come to love the guy and all of his computer talk and his love of surfing.
"You, too."
"Callen," she says extending her hand to the supervising agent and in turn he grasps her hand and pulls her into a hug.
"Don't forget about us when you are back on the East Coast."
"I won't. I'll miss you, G," when he pulls back he gives a nod that signals that he will miss her too.
She spends a few more minutes interacting with some of the other people that work at OSP before she glances up at the end clock which indicates the time for here in L.A.
"Ready to go, Kate?" she nods to Kensi and she gives one final small to all in the room
Kate climbs into the car and gives a sideways glance back at the door into OSP and for some reason even though she knows that she will be back soon, it still feels like she is leaving a family behind and a part of herself. She found out a lot of things about herself while here that she knows she will take with her when she goes back to D.C. that have made her a better person and agent.
Kate embraces Kensi and when she lets go she seems the gleam in the woman eyes and Kate's eyes widen because she has never seen Kensi almost reduced to tears except for when Jack had left and honestly that had been over a webcam that she had seen that.
"You take care, probie, don't let Callen and Sam take you for granted or force you to wear anything ridiculous to go undercover," the curly haired woman laughs at this.
"I will. Bye, Kate," she nods and gives the woman a soft smile before pulling her into a hug.
"Bye, Kens," she says after a moment. She gives the woman a soft smile before making her way towards security.
Kate takes her seat and she is annoyed that she is stuck with the middle seat in coach on this flight back, but the flight is almost already loaded with any luck there won't be anyone seated in the aisle seat and she can take that one.
Even though Kate wants to close her eyes and make the time spent on the plane shorter she takes the opportunity to people watch for a moment and she sees a man that bears a striking resemblance to Tony walk down the tight aisle way of the 737 obviously look for his seat and Kate's heart falls not because the guy passes her, but because of how angry Tony had been when she had left headquarter yesterday. He had been so quiet and that worried her about his anger more than anything else. If he had at least been vocal than at the very least she could use words to defend herself or at the very least do something to hopefully earn his forgiveness.
Flashback
It is just after noon and Kate exits the elevator and she isn't surprised to see the bullpen on the third floor abuzz with activity, but the squad room is empty except for Tony. As she takes the few steps towards the squad room she is surprised in some ways and others not at the very obvious dark circles under Tony's eyes.
"Oh it is you," she knows she deserves the anger, but she isn't sure what had changed since yesterday and she wonders if the man is angry about having his hand forced in regards to Jeanne. She knows him well enough to know that his feelings were real. His glare makes her heart fall and the fact that it is so icy makes her wonder if his kindness from yesterday had turned to a hatred that could possibly not be remedied. Her heart breaks a little in her chest as she throws one final glance towards him as he stares long and hard at his computer screen.
She decides not to respond beyond a nod and she wonders how long he is going to be like this. The silent treatment from Gibbs is one thing, but she really did need her friends and for some reason feeling the resentment and anger from Tony felt worse because she had always felt that even though they didn't always like each other they trusted each other. She also knows no matter how much she doesn't want to admit her feelings for him is what is making this so much harder.
She knocks on the door softly and she hears Director Shepard's assistant tell her to come in. She is surprised when the outer office is empty accept for the secretary. Under normal circumstances she would think that there would be at least one other person waiting to talk or meet with the head of a federal agency.
"Go on in, Agent Todd the Director has been expecting you," she gives the woman a thankful nod before
"Afternoon, Director," she after shutting the door.
"Afternoon, Kate," the red head woman says looking up from her paperwork and pulling off her reading glasses.
"You wanted to see me?"
"Yes, I had Cynthia make all of the arrangements for your trip to L.A. you are on the 3:30 flight out of Dulles and the return ticket is open ended for any time before next Monday. There is information on the movers in the folder and you waivers for your guns because it will take a week for your things to arrive from L.A. I have already talked with the Agent Burrows and he and his team will retrieve your things from your condo in London," Kate gives a shocked glance, but she takes in a seat in the chair across from the once partner of Gibbs.
"You didn't have to do all of this, I could have easily taken care of this," she says after accepting the folder with the information.
"Kate, listen me, you are one of my top agents and after everything that you have done it is the least I can do," Kate gives a shake of the head, but a thankful smile fills her features.
"Thank you, Director—" the woman gives a shake of the head and
"It is, Jenny," Kate gives her a nod and she can't explain why this is so weird for her because she was on a first name basis with Bush when she worked the protection detail.
"Well thank you, Jenny," she says and she glances
"I better be going if I want to catch my flight," the red headed woman nods and she gets up from the chair.
"Tell Agent Macy to keep up the good work," Kate nods and gives a smile before ducking her head and leaving the Shepard's office.
Kate takes a long moment to look at herself in the mirror and she can't help, but wonder who the stranger in the mirror is. She knows she only feels like this because she is finally home. She squints her eyes as she runs a finger over the crease of her right eye and she is willing to admit that she looks older and that even though the wrinkles are subtle they are there. As she looks at herself she realizes this it is true, experience ages a person. Sometimes she wonders how much she has aged on the inside because even though she had always been sure of herself now she felt like her confidence is at a different level even though in some ways she feel more uneasy with where she is in life then she was when she first joined NCIS after leaving the Secret Service.
She enters the squad room and she glances around for a moment because all the desks are empty and she wonders just for a moment where she is going to be even if she is on this team. She wonders if they really will take her back with open and arms and as she turns her head she is met with hazel eyes that send more rage than she ever thought possible from a happy go lucky guy like Tony.
"Tony?" she asks and when he turns away from her and walks away she lets out a sigh and pulls away the sadness that she feels in her chest and she forces herself to focus on going to L.A. and seeing her friends there. She is also glad to know that they will hold no ill feelings towards her. She can't help, but feel that at least he isn't indifferent because that would mean he doesn't care at all.
It takes all of her to not start an out loud mantra of 'just breathe, just breathe, Kate.' She glances around at the other travelers and she wonders if any of them are going home. This brings a smile a to Kate's lips and even though Tony's anger is weighing heavily on her mind and heart she remembers that she gets to return to the life that she was forced leave behind and she knows not many people can say that and she gets to start by seeing her parents and family for the first time in over two years.