Finally, an update, lol! Sorry all, I've been done with chapter for a while, but just forgot to post it! Stay tuned for more, soon I promise!
Bedside Confessions: Tony
Tony lets out a long breath as he gets out of his car and he stares up at the hospital. He knows he should have stopped for some flowers, but he wanted to be there when she woke up. He knows that today will change his life for better or worse. It has been almost three days since the night Kate got shot and Tony can't help, but be annoyed with his actions during that night even if he had apologized to the respective parties.
Flashback
Tony glances up and lets out an annoyed grumble as he sees Gibbs, McGee, and Ziva walking towards him because he doesn't want to have to deal with them right now.
"Any word?" Gibbs barks out and Tony shakes his head because it has only been twenty minutes since she has gone into surgery.
Gibbs starts to pace in front of him and he knows it is far from over. There are many hours of waiting ahead of them. The two other agents give him a nod and he receives a reassuring look from McGee and he nods to the Probie. Ziva tries to give him a reassuring smile, but all he can see is her hands which are still covered in Kate's blood.
"Did anyone call Ducky and Abby?" he asks after a long moment as McGee takes the seat across from him and he sees Ziva take a seat two from his right.
"They are on their way and the Director has been informed," McGee says and Tony glances at the younger agent and he sees the sadness in his eyes and it takes all of Tony to not show how worried he really is. He had let the worry take over his face when he was alone, but now that he is with the team he knows it is best to try and keep some semblance of composure.
Not a moment late there is a flurry of motion and in typical Abby fashion the woman comes thundering in with such worry on her features that Tony wonders why they had to go through it again. With Ducky at her heels also with a look of equal worry.
"Please tell me she is okay?!" no one has a clear answer for the forensic scientist who is almost close to tears as she collapses into a seat next to McGee.
Ducky quickly excused himself to go see what he could get out of the doctor in regards to Kate's condition. He returned only a few minutes later to tell them that they wouldn't tell him anything.
Tony glances at the clock for the millionth time and he growls when only a little bit more than an hour has past and he knows for certain that he will be waiting a lot longer to know if Kate is all right.
He looks up when he sees someone walking towards their group in scrubs. "Are you here for Agent Todd?" He nods and Gibbs stands with a stern expression on his feature and gives the woman a curt nod.
"The surgery is going well. We have been able to recover the bullet, but there is more bleeding then Dr. Sutton is doing everything she can, but it is going to be at least another few hours." Tony lets out a pained breath and nods not glancing up from his knitted together fingers.
"Thank you," Ducky lets out and Tony finally looks up and he sees Ziva give the woman a soft smile. Tony glances at Abby and the woman has the tissue still clutched in her hands and though she is has stopped crying her mascara is still streaked down her cheeks.
"I honestly don't know what is taking so long," the woman grumbles and Tony growls because this is her fault.
"It is going take as long as it takes, Ziva, as long as it saves KATE!" he glares at her.
"I know that, Tony. I am just curious why it is taking so long there was barely any blood when I got to her and I could tell there wasn't a lot of internal bleeding,"
"There shouldn't have been any blood at all, Ziva. You should have watched her back better. She should have never been shot in the first place," he growls and the Mossad officer gets up from her seat and glares at him and he gets up also and faces her.
"I did everything I could have done, Tony, they had the advantage," Tony snorts in indignation; he doesn't believe her at all.
"You are a trained Mossad agent you should have taken them out," he knows that Ziva is a trained killer.
"Kate, knew what she was walking into when she went to confront Dempsey and Calhoun, Kate is a good agent, so don't act like I did anything wrong. I care about Kate, too, you may not see it, Tony, but Kate has become my friend and that means something to me," he shakes his head and turns away from the woman not wanting to hear her lies.
"You may not have put the bullet in her chest, but you did nothing to stop it, that makes you no better than your terrorist brother, Ari," the woman eyes set it in a cold icy glare and she sneers at him.
"Anthony!" he hears Ducky scream and he can't help the anger that is still boiling in his veins as he stares at Ziva. This was all her fault.
Tony knows he would never hit a woman especially Ziva because she is his team member and friend, but he is so infuriated right now.
"Tony!" and he turns to look at Abby who has a look that would kill him if looks could kill and he doesn't even have time to say anything before he receives a hard slap to the face.
"That was out of line, DiNozzo, get out of here and cool down before I let Abby beat your ass to a bloody pulp and then I let Ziva do what she sees fit with whatever is left."He charges away not bothering to look back at the team.
He walks the long hallways hoping to find somewhere where there isn't anyone else. It takes all of his might not to storm out of the hospital and not come back, but he has to be here when Kate wakes up to know she is okay.
He jams his knee into the vending machine and screams when it doesn't drop out the package of peanuts that he wants. He doesn't really feel like eating, but he needs to be away from everyone right now especially after how he had just acted, accusing Ziva of letting Kate get shot and her being just as bad as he brother. It was because of Ari that he had missed out on two years with Kate. He is sure now that if those two years hadn't been spent apart, him thinking she was dead and her working in L.A. running covert operations, that they would be together. Tony would like to think that they would be married by now or at least engaged, but he is also aware that her supposed death had acted as at catalyst to his otherwise completely buried feelings.
He slams his fist hard against the glass and the package only wiggles a little from its space against the glass and the metal in almost the middle of the machine.
"Sometimes it requires a lighter touch," Tony turns towards the voice and the person he sees is not at all who is expecting. The woman is obviously in her late sixties and as she reaches around him and lightly smacks the machine on the side and the peanuts fall almost unceremoniously and he can't help, but be even more shocked.
"Thank you. You have obviously done this before," he says a soft, but uneasy smile filling his lips.
"More times that I care to admit," Tony's eyes widen realizing that they are in a hospital.
"I'm so sorry," he says finally giving an apologetic smile.
"No, it is quite alright. Though I'm surprised to see anyone here this waiting at this time of night," Tony nods because this woman is right there is no one around and Tony knows that is why he had chosen this particular waiting room.
"Are you waiting for someone?" he asks and as he takes a moment to look over her he can see the deep set circles under her eyes and he can tell that this woman hasn't gotten a decent night's sleep in a long time.
"No, I just needed to stretch my legs, I am staying the night with my husband," Tony's heart clenches in his chest at hearing the obvious love the woman has for her husband.
"I just happen to be walking down the hallway and heard the slamming. Waiting is the hardest part," he nods and gives her an earnest smile trying to let go of the worry in his chest.
He turns away from the woman for a moment and reaches down to grab the bag of peanuts from the vending machine and he hears the woman gasp and Tony realizes that he still has gun and holster on.
"Don't worry I am a federal agent," the woman lets out a long breath and Tony can see her relax even though she doesn't ask to see his identification.
"I'm sorry," he gives her a soft reassuring smile because honestly she has nothing to be sorry about.
"It is alright, I just forget sometimes that most people are not use to guns," the woman gives a nod and takes a seat on the couch a few feet away and motions for him to join her and he takes a seat on an arm chair next to the couch.
Tony glances at his watch and when he glances up at the woman she gives him a somber smile, "How long till?"
"I don't know," Tony feels his heart tighten in his chest this time in heartache because he still doesn't know if Kate is alright.
"It is bad isn't it?" he sucks in a deep breath closing his eyes and nods hesitantly. He normally would be evasive about answering such a personal question, but he can tell that this woman's intentions are pure.
"Yeah, I'm not sure if she is going to make it?"he doesn't want to imagine the worst, but he can't help it because he has already seen the worst thinking she was dead. Though this time he did get to ride in the ambulance with her and see that she did hold pretty steady as they drove to the hospital.
"Your girlfriend?"he chuckles sardonically because he wishes that is true, but it isn't.
"No, my partner," the woman nods and her eyes narrow and Tony sees the edges of the woman's lips turn up for a split second.
"If you don't mind be asking what happened?" he knows it will probably help him to talk about it.
"She got shot and I wasn't there to protect her," he lets out simply because that is truly what he believes even though up until today he knew for certain that she could take care of herself.
"You love her, don't you?" he doesn't know why he is surprised he has been rather transparent about his feelings for Kate.
He nods and gives a sad smile. "Does she know?"
"I'm not sure, I never told her," Tony knows that he has made his attraction for her known, but he isn't sure if his actions over the last month have made Kate realizes how deep his feelings are for her.
"I will tell you this. The woman always knows," Tony doesn't doubt it for a minute.
"I don't doubt that. Did you know with your husband?" he can tell she is speaking from personal experience.
"I knew long before he did. He was scared to tell me. So I took the initiative and told him and to this day he reminds me of that because it was what prompted him to ask me to marry him and without it we wouldn't be where we are today. Happier than ever. Four kids and eleven grandkids," he use to think people like that didn't exist, that everyone had a screwed up family like his where his mom died and his father basically abandoned him or shipped him off to boarding schools and summer camps without a care in the world about spending time together.
"That is really amazing," he knows if Kate were here she would express her awe and admiration about this woman's obvious devotion to her husband. Then he is sure that once they were out of the room she would poke fun of him displaying actual feelings.
"Let me tell you this, if that partner of yours wakes up you tell her," he nods and the truth is he plans on it
"I will, thank you…?" he asks because he had provided a lot personal information to a woman whose name he doesn't even know.
"Hello, my name's Rose Adams," she extends her hand and he gladly shakes as he leans over to her.
"Nice to meet you, Rose. Tony. Tony DiNozzo and I really hope you husband is going to be alright," she gives him a bright smile and for a moment he almost forgets where he is and why he is currently sitting in the 4th floor family waiting area.
"He is doing fine now, he wasn't earlier, but he is now and I think he will be able to go home soon. He has had heart attacks in the past, but the doctor reassured me that he is going to be okay. So, Tony what federal agency do you work for?"
"NCIS," he isn't surprised when the woman looks perplexed.
"NCIS?"everyone always knows the big ones and it is funny he doesn't take it personally anymore when people don't know what NCIS is.
"Yeah, that is Naval Criminal Investigative Service," the woman nods finally understanding what that means.
"So your partner?" Tony eyes her curiously wondering what she wants to know.
"What do you want to know?" he asks cautiously because he knows this woman is awfully perceptive and she seems like a wily one, who could ask very tough questions.
"How long have you been partners?"
"Well, when I said she was my partner that is a little bit of a stretch because we work on a five person team, but we have worked together a total of two years and…" he can't exactly tell this woman that he thought Kate was dead for the last two years.
"And?"there is a lot that he can't even comprehend about the last four years since Kate first joined NCIS.
"It's complicated let's just say she got transferred to another unit by the Director and until last month I hadn't seen her in two years," the woman nods and Tony can tell that she knows there is more to it than that, but doesn't push because there is obviously things he can't tell her.
"So was it love at first sight?"he isn't sure if he even believes in love at first sight, lust at first sight sure, but love, he doesn't think so.
"No, I mean sure I thought she was attractive, but it took me two years to fall in love with her and even then I didn't accept it. I didn't realize it until she came back and I just think the shock of it all put it in to perspective," the woman smiles and it doesn't take a well trained federal agent like himself to see what she is thinking.
"Well that is what is important, that you figured it out," he gives her a nod and checks his watch again. It has only been five hours since she was brought into the hospital.
"Yeah it is," he lets out a sigh of recognition as he realizes that if Kate is okay he is going to tell her. The woman gives a smile and they sit there in silence.
"DiNozzo?" he glances up and when he sees Gibbs in the doorway he knows that whatever he is about to hear is going to either crush him or get the worry off his chest.
"Boss?" he asks as his silver haired boss walks into the waiting area. He can tell from the man's face that Kate is okay and he lets out a breath that he feels like he has been holding for the last five or six hours.
"Well, I think that is my cue to leave. I hope your partner is okay?"he gives her a thankful smile as she skirts by Gibbs and gives him a polite smile.
"Bye," he states and watches the woman leave after giving a soft smile to Gibbs.
"Let's go, DiNozzo," the man orders and he quickly gets up from his position seated on the couch and follows the gray haired man out of the room.
He glances down at his hands the nervousness filling his being at seeing Kate. He is worried what seeing her like that will do to him, but at the same time worry fills his chest at what he is going to say to her.
"DiNozzo, you know she is going to be okay?" Tony nods and looks up at his boss of seven years and he is surprised to see no annoyance in the man's features just an almost stoic expression on his face. He is still Gibbs even in a crisis— well it isn't really a crisis anymore, but he knows that he and the team will be dealing with the fallout for a long time.
"I'm sorry, boss about back there," he is waiting to be berated by the man or at least receive a head slap.
"I know, DiNozzo, but it isn't me who you need to be apologize to," Gibbs is right, what Ziva was uncalled for and he would understand if the woman doesn't forgive him.
"What happened to rule number 6, boss?"he asks the first real smile crossing his lips in what feels like days.
"It still exists, but you completely screwed up, Tony," he is surprised the man isn't growling at him. He is also surprised when the man doesn't call him DiNozzo.
"I know, boss," he thinks this is almost the nicest conversation the two of them have ever had.
"Let's go they are bringing Kate up to the ICU now," Tony tilts his head before quickly following the man down the hallway.
"I thought the surgery went well," Tony lets out his eyes widening and the worst possible outcomes.
"They just want to keep a close eye on her especially since the bullet was lodged in her lung," Tony nods and gives the man a relieved smile which Gibbs doesn't return, but he can tell that his boss is relieved.
They walk in silence and also ride the elevator in silence and when he catches sight of the team he immediately feels the regret of his words and his actions towards Ziva wash over him. Saying something about Ari was a low blow and he knows she would do anything to protect the team and that includes Kate.
Ziva gives him an icy glare as does Abby, but he gives them a nod and glances towards where Ducky and McGee stand waiting a few feet away.
"Can we see her yet?" he asks and they all nod.
"Two at a time though because she is still unconscious," Ducky adds almost hesitantly and he can tell the Scottish man is worried about what is going to happen next especially since it seems Ziva has been fuming for the last few hours.
"Ziva, can I… talk with you for a moment?" the woman looks hesitant, but nods and he motions with a tilt of his head for her to follow him father down the hallway away from the team and the ICU.
"Do you want to scream at me some more for letting Kate get shot?" the woman asks and he gives a smile at the bite in her voice.
"No, what I said was wrong and honestly unforgiveable, but you have to know I only said that because I was worried about Kate and I am sorry," the woman nods and her eyebrow quirks ever so slight and Tony would pay a lot of money to hear what the Mossad Officer is thinking right now.
"You really love her?" Tony eyes widen and he lets out a shocked laugh even though he isn't that surprised that she figured it out.
"Yes, I do, more than I thought was ever possible," he says and he can't believe that he has just admitted that to Ziva.
"Well than take it from me as someone who knows, do not let your fear get in the way of telling her how you feel, especially because in this job there are no assurances that everything will always be alright," he gives her a soft smile and he can only hope that he can truly earn her forgiveness.
He turns and walks back towards the group, but then glances over his shoulder and speaks words of truth, "Ziva you are a good friend." The Israeli woman gives a nod and the smallest smile raises at the edge of her lips. He also notices that there is some sadness in her expression, but he lets it go because he assumes she is thinking about Ari and him having been shot by Gibbs. He hopes that he can make up for what he said, but right now he wants to focus on Kate and her recovering.
"Can I?" he asks Gibbs and the man nods and he takes a deep breath preparing himself to see Kate lying there.
Tony enters the ICU room and lets out a heavy sigh and he glances briefly back out to where Ziva, Gibbs, McGee and Ducky are standing. He walks slowly and quietly as to not disturb Abby who is whispering to the unconscious Kate. She looks so peaceful and if it had been anyone else he would think it makes her so beautiful and angelic, which it does, but seeing her unconscious like this just makes him flashback to the alleyway and the roof. He cringes at the breathing tube which is present in between her lips and it gives him pause that she isn't breathing on her own. He gives a smile at Abby who is going on about how she is going to keep Kate within five feet of her at all times.
He walks around to the right side of the bed where Abby is leaned over whispering to Kate and Tony doesn't dare interrupt. He knows Abby is going to be angry with him, but he thinks he can take the scientist angry words.
"Hey, Katie you gave us quite the scare there," he says as if she were awake and up to talking. He resists the urge to run a hand over her beautiful face or at the very least drop a kiss on her head.
"DiNozzo," growls Abby turning towards him and he is waiting for the harsh words the scientist is about to throw at him.
"Abbs," he says forcing a smile to his lips hoping that it will be enough to disarm the fearsome woman.
"You are such a jackass, Tony, you and I both know that Ziva couldn't have done anything to stop Kate from being shot. And I cannot believe that you would accuse her of being like that stupid jackass, Ari. You and I both know that Ziva has been nothing short of amazing and understanding since Kate rejoined the team," Tony nods knowing she right. Though he can't help, but remember when Abby had been so angry at Ziva when Gibbs had almost gotten blown up that she had slapped her, he wonders what has changed in year and he knows that the two have grown almost friendly and that Kate being around had made the Mossad Officer and the forensic scientist friends. He is scared what will happen when the three of them became inseparable, he shakes his head because that is a scary, but also incredible hot thought.
"Are you done, Abbs?"he asks as the woman trails off her as she finishes her angry rant.
"Not even close, mister, but if you aren't begging at Ziva's feet when Kate gets better, I will end you."
"I've already apologized, but you are right Abby, I need to earn Ziva's forgiveness," the scientist gives a curt nod of almost approval,
She asks after a long moment of silence, "God, how could this happen again?!"
"I don't know, Abbs, but the important thing is that she is going to be okay," he knows he is saying this not only for her benefit, but his as well.
"I was really scared, Tony. I can't lose her again," Tony hears the sound of her slow heartbeat and he tries to put everything in perspective.
"I was scared too," more than you know, he thinks to himself.
When the door slides open and a twenty some year old man in a white lab coat enters.
"I'm sorry, Agents, I'm going to have to ask you to leave. It's way past visiting hours and even though Agent Todd is asleep she needs her rest," Tony tried to nod, but he doesn't want to leave his position at her side.
Abby nods and she motions for him follow and he does albeit quite reluctantly.
As they enter the hall the nurse gives them a smile.
"I would like to stay if that is alright. Besides we don't know if someone could possibly be coming back to retaliate," he knows his words are far-fetched, but the Dr. doesn't need to know that it most likely won't happen.
"I'm sorry, sir, I can't allow you to stay if you aren't family," Tony tries not to growl at the woman.
"I think it best not to argue with him Dr. he can be rather persistent," Tony glances up at Ducky and gives him a surprised, but thankful smile.
"Alright, you can stay, but don't get in the way of the nurses. Agent Todd is stable as of now and she should be just fine, but that could change in an instant and you are going to need to get out of the way," he nods fully aware that her condition could change in an instant.
Tony stands in the doorway of Georgetown Hospital room that Kate has been in since being moved from the ICU after awaking from her slumber. She has been in and out of consciousness for the last three days and Tony hopes to catch her awake during this visit. He is waiting for the right moment, but holding her hand as she almost slipped away for the second time put everything in perspective regarding his feelings for her. He has been up all night trying to find a way to tell her. There are so many variables involved because he honestly doesn't know if she feels the same way and he doesn't want things to be awkward at work if she doesn't want him. But, one thing is for certain that he would not leave this hospital without telling her he loves her. He has talked himself out of telling her so many times over the past two days that, he has walked to the doorway of her hospital room just to turn back again. It has been just over three days since she had arrived in the hospital and even though Kate is stable she is still in a great amount of pain and her color isn't all back which alarms Tony to no end.
"Couldn't find anyone to annoy, DiNozzo?" even through the hoarse voice that Kate is currently with he can tell that she is teasing him because of the bright smile across her pale features.
"I'm hurt, Katie. I thought you might actually care about me," he gives her a smile. Even though she looks paler than usual, she still looks striking. Her hair looks less tangled and a tad bit cleaner, but he would place a bet that they hadn't allowed her to have a shower, but she must have remedied the situation a little bit.
"A very little bit," she rewards him with a teasing smile and his heart soars, there is nothing indicating that she means that in a bad way.
"You had us worried there for a bit, Todd," he decides that they can go back to their usual banter for a little while. It is comforting that after all the time apart it is like they could pick up right where they left off even if made them leave things unsaid. He shakes his head walking to the chair next to her bed that he has been sitting in at different hours for the last three days. He has had to compete with Abby for the honor of watching over Kate while she slept.
"Just remember if I die, I am so dragging you with me," the smile that she gives him is enough for him to work up the courage.
He just shakes his head with a smile and parks himself in the plastic hospital chair that is pulled to her right side.
"So, DiNozzo is there something you want other than to bug me?" her eyes look serious even though her tone and words aren't.
He takes a deep breath and prepares himself for admitting his feelings. "Kate… I know you think I'm just a guy who always makes jokes and goes after the eighteen year old blondes, but I grew a lot after I thought you were dead and those two years that you were gone they put a lot into perspective for me," Tony watches her eyes for any flicker of recognition, but all she looks is confused at his very serious words.
"Tony what is any of this about?" she hides her confusion, but he can see it, she is trying to put the pieces together, but is failing.
"Kate would you please let me finish!" he doesn't mean to raise his voice at her and he hopes his expression portrayed that as he lets his face soften. The brunette nods with an almost hint of fear in her hazel eyes; he now regrets how angry his voice sounds.
He sucks in a long breath before continuing giving himself sometime to find the words and to let her realize that what he is about to say is important, "There were so many times where I just wanted to go back and be the one to take the bullet to the chest because for a while, life without you didn't make sense. You were Kate, my partner, someone I cared about. I never let myself think of it any deeper than that, but when I saw you again all those feelings that I had let bottle up inside me just rose to the surface. I realized that I had been keeping those feelings at bay because if I truly thought about them, then having lost you would have been so much harder. I love you, Kate Todd. I'm so in love with you that my world finally makes sense again with you back in it and after almost watching you slip away again I couldn't let myself not tell you again. I understand if you think this all completely ridiculous and if you just see me as your annoying partner," Tony tries to see clear emotion in her deep green eyes, but sees nothing and as he began to rise from the chair he sees a hint of a smile twinkle in her eyes and then across her lips. He sees the wetness that had formed in her eyes, but he can't tell if it was out of anger, sadness, or of pure joy. He loves her so much, but she has become such an unreadable force that it slight unnerves him.
He waits for her to make some quirk joke about not believing him or taking pity on him, but nothing ever comes about. The serious look that appears on her face is enough for him to question whether she might actually return those feelings or she is preparing herself to let him down easy.
"Tony…I love you, too, god, I do," she gives him a watery smile finally and he gets up from the chair and leans over the railing of her hospital bed. She gives him a dazzling smile and he leans down and cups her chin in his right hand before placing a soft loving kiss on her lips. Her lips are the best thing he has ever felt and he could kiss her forever. She responds by grabbing his coat collar with her left arm and pulling his lips more firmly to her, which causes him to groan and for her to whimper. He smiles into the kiss before wrapping his other arm around her left shoulder and starts to run his other hand through her chocolate brown hair, far above her hurt collarbone and chest area. He chuckles ever so slightly as she runs her hands through his perfectly gelled hair, that he is sure will be messed up after he is finished kissing her, not that he cares so much. He pours as much emotion into his kiss as possible. When she moans into his lips, he takes this a sign to deepen the kiss. He runs his tongue over her bottom lip asking for permission and Tony is surprised when she fervently meets his tongue halfway and Tony plans to imprint this so firmly into his memory, so that when he's eighty he will remember her taste. Her tongue battles with his for dominance, but there is no way that he is letting her win. She tastes so impeccably good, like mint and raspberries. He also begins to explore her mouth in the hopes that he can memorize every inch. He hears a louder beeping, than those of the humming of the machines that almost pulls him out his world that right now consists of kissing Kate so passionately that he hopes she will remember it forever. As she pulls away and he gets the chance to look at her, her lips her swollen and her cheeks are flushed with as much color as he has seen in her face over the last three days, her breathing is fast. He glances at her heart rate monitor and notices that her HR is elevated and he feels a little bit of pride in himself that he has elicited such a reaction from her.
"Oh, Katie," he says as he gives a gleeful smile as he collapses back into the chair and she leans back on the bed letting out an exasperated breath.
"What have told you about calling me Katie, Tony?" Tony pretends to look fearful, but he can't especially since the flush from their heated kisses hasn't left her cheeks yet and she still has a smile on her features and her eyes looked slightly clouded.
"That you'll kill me, if I continue to, but I don't think you will my love," he gives her a cheeky smile before running his thumb lightly over her swollen lips. He can see that she fights back the urge to kiss his thumb and he doesn't know if he is sad or feels overly satisfied that Kate can barely fight off the urge to do something that is so girlfriend like.
"My love, Tony, that is original," she rolls her eyes and gives him a pointed look.
"It doesn't have to be original to be true," he argues with a wink. He knows being in a relationship with her is going to be so much fun.
"I guess I'll work on more original pet names, but I'm sure that I think of couple that will do the trick for now," the girly giggle that he receives from her makes his eyes widen for a moment before he smiles.
"Whatever. Oh my god, Tony, what about Gibbs and Rule Number 12?" Tony gives her a shrug.
"Gibbs knows how I feel about you, Kate. Well, I didn't exactly tell him, but he's Gibbs you know, he knows all and he basically told me not to screw it up. Remember Rule Number 18, it is better to seek forgiveness than asks permission," the shocked smile that fills her face is adorable and then she chuckles at his use of rule 18 to counteract rule 12.
"Nice, Tony. Gibbs would be so proud that you using one of his cardinal rules to bypass an even more important one," though he can tell she is just teasing him because if she didn't think them being together was a good a idea she wouldn't have told him she loved him too, she would have just pretended that she didn't feel that way about him at all.
"Kate, there is something I want to ask you and it's a big step for me?" the look of astonishment that covers her features makes him realize that her mind has gone to him asking her to marry him. He plans to do that somewhere down the line because she is the woman he loves, but dropping the 'I love you' bomb and then asking the person to marry you is so not his style and besides it wasn't like he was sure about her feelings when he walked in here.
"I'm not going to propose, Kate, so take a deep breath and slow your heart rate because one of the nurses or the doctor is going to burst in here and wonder what is stressing you out. Though I'm surprised that they didn't come in during the best kiss of your life that obviously had your heart beating like crazy," he isn't prepared for the smack that he receives for his smug statement.
"Kate, seriously, I tell you I love you and you hit me?" he asks in an offended tone rubbing the now red spot on his right cheek.
"I love you, Tony, but you happen to be the smuggest son of bitch sometimes," he actually laughs at Kate's use of bad language. He relishes in her words of love and how easily they slip from her mouth.
"So back to my question, I know they are going to release you tomorrow and even though you have a place of your own, would you come stay with me, Kate. I want to take care of you," she gives him a look of surprise and the smiles sweetly at him.
"Tony, you don't have to do that I can take care of myself," her stubbornness and need for independence are two of many things he loves about her, but sometimes she needs to be able to ask for help.
"Kate, in order for this relationship to work, we have to be able to rely on each other," her eyes widen and he realizes that he had dropped the R-word without declaring that he wanted to be with her.
"Relationship?" Tony sees the flicker of a smile that forms on her face even as she questions his words choice.
"Oops, let me clarify, as you know I'm not very good at this," he receives a raised eyebrow from the woman that states that she has always known that, but he chooses to continue, "I want to be with you Kate."
"Okay," she says and even though he knows her, he isn't sure to which thing she is answering yes to and he wonders if even she knows.
"Okay to what?" she gives him a mystifying smile.
"To all of it," he stares into her eyes and for a moment her mask isn't up and he can see that she is being completely honest and letting him in a little even though she is obviously scared of what all this means. He knows that her letting her guard down is a sign that she trust him enough not to hide behind her ability to be unreadable.
"We are…" Tony's sentence is cut off as the door slides open and Abby walks in with a nurse at her heels.
"I have to do a check up on Agent Todd, if you would mind, even though I know Miss Sciuto just got here, would you please step out of the room," he nods and gives his girlfriend one last smile. She gives him a soft smile and he can tell it is small because of the looming presence of Abby and the morning duty nurse that is here to check her vitals. He smiles to himself as he reflects on the word girlfriend, it sounds so juvenile, but it is the most apt word at the present moment even if she is so much more than that; she is his best friend, partner, banter cohort, and the woman he loves above anyone or anything else.
"You take care of her, Abs, I'm heading back to the office," Tony notices the suspicious look Abby gives him as he exits the room probably because he hasn't made some joke about Kate being sickly or made a movie reference out of the whole experience. He gives a laugh of pure happiness as he walks knowing he can't wait till tomorrow.