2. KATE

"So, where are you staying?"

Kate wasn't yet quite up to asking how long he was going to be in Hawaii. Surely not just one day this time. DC was much too far away.

"Ahh..." Gibbs looked sheepish. "This was kinda last minute. I guess I should see if anyone on base-"

"Okay, then you stay with me." She said it firmly and confidently, and inwardly congratulated herself on not sounding nervous - or too eager, for that matter.

He stopped dead, looked at her, blinked in an almost comically slow fashion. She was caught between the desire to scold him for his deplorable travel habits, and the warm, fuzzy feeling he'd done something so absurd just for her. "Really?"

She cocked her head at him. "My couch is comfortable, and it's Christmas Day, Gibbs. Do you really think you're gonna get a better offer?"

He nodded, a wry smile appearing. "When you put it that way..."

She laughed at his tone, and dug in her bag for her keys. "Plus you can sleep this afternoon while I finish up at work, have a shower if you want."

"You sayin' I smell?"

"No! I didn't, I just meant..." She caught the look on his face and realised he was teasing. "Gibbs!" She thumped his arm.

He grinned, looking pleased with himself at having gotten a rise out of her. "You sure it's okay to have me on your couch the next few days?"

A few days? She couldn't help how ridiculously happy that made her, and she laughed again. "It's fine, Gibbs. It's good. It'll be fun."

He gave her a sidelong glance, looking less than convinced. "Me as a houseguest? You have a weird definition of fun."

She shrugged. "I have good coffee - Kona coffee. We'll be okay."

He raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Well, yeah, Katie. That'll definitely help."

NCISNCISNCIS

Since he was actually staying longer than twenty hours this time - and especially since he looked ready to fall sleep on his feet - it seemed logical to just take Gibbs straight back to her place. She smiled to herself when he dozed off against the window on the short car journey home, and when they arrived she let him sleep for a couple of minutes just because it was so unusual but so nice to see his face utterly relaxed.

Eventually it occurred to her he might wake up and discover her staring, so she reached out to pat him gently on the cheek. "Hey Gibbs. Wakey wakey." He mumbled slightly. "There's a couch inside that's much more comfortable than the car seat."

As he slowly stirred, he leaned into her hand, then one eye popped open. "Wha'?" He squinted, looking thoroughly confused.

She stifled the urge to burst out laughing. She was so not used to this side of Gibbs, and she would never have expected it to be quite so adorable. "You need to come inside and get some sleep, and I need the car to go back to work."

"Oh. Okay." He peered up at her, and then raised his hand to touch the back of hers. There was an awkward moment in which Kate suddenly realised she was kind of cradling his face, then he looked away, she withdrew, and she shook her head, getting her mind back on the task at hand.

At least Gibbs was an experienced light traveller, and she knew how tired he must be when she took his go bag from him and he didn't protest, just meekly followed her up and into her apartment.

It took her only a few minutes to find blankets and a pillow, and to show him where the bathroom and the coffee were located (she gave herself props for concentrating on the essentials), and then she didn't really have an excuse to stay longer.

"I better get back to work. I'm sure Rich'll be okay with me taking a couple of personal days, but there's stuff I need to finish off before then."

Gibbs followed her to the front door. He'd kicked off his shoes and socks already, and there was something endearing about him padding round her apartment barefoot, eyes still bleary from his long journey. She grinned up at him, still finding it hard to believe he was really here.

"Sure." He yawned hugely. "Prob'ly be asleep on the couch when you get back."

She laughed. "That's okay. You need it. Catching up can wait till tomorrow."

"Uh-huh."

"There's a spare key in the bowl in the living room. You know. Just in case." He nodded. "So I'll see you in a few hours okay?" She hovered in the doorway. Part of her had the ridiculous notion he'd somehow disappear while she was at work, and she really did not want to leave. But her work ethic was too strong, and with a sigh she shrugged. "Okay. I'll see you later."

"Yup." Gibbs leaned down and kissed her, briefly, chastely - shockingly.

Instinctively she leaned towards him as he pulled away, then caught herself and took a step back. Did he just...? She forced herself to keep breathing steadily, to not completely freak out, to look up at him, though she could feel her cheeks flushing.

By his expression, she was fairly sure Gibbs had surprised himself as much as her. He looked decidedly startled.

"See you later," she said again, her voice unnaturally high.

He bobbed his head, bright eyes meeting hers for a moment, then inspecting the doorframe. "Yeah."

She smiled, hoping she didn't look too thunderstruck, and made herself walk away, wondering how she was supposed to manage any work now.

She turned back once, and it didn't help matters at all when he was still standing in her doorway, a slightly goofy half smile on his face.

Safe in her car, she allowed herself a few seconds to close her eyes and press her lips together. What the hell just happened? She wasn't sure what was freaking her out more, the kiss or her own response to it. She shouldn't be having palpitations over what had been hardly more than a brush of his lips over her own, no matter how... unexpected. "Oh, God." She was toast.

On autopilot, she started the car and set off, making a supreme effort of will not to look and see if Gibbs was still standing there. She didn't know whether she hoped he'd gone inside or if she wanted him to watch her drive away, but either way, she was sure glancing back would be bad for her mental health. And she'd already had more than enough problems on that front before he'd kissed her.

She took a deep breath and sternly told herself to get a grip. She needed to regain her composure before she got back to work, or Will would have a field day. She was gonna get the third degree about Gibbs' visit anyway, for sure, and being flustered would not help her case.

She would go back to the office, do her work, and she would not spend the afternoon trying to figure out what was going on. That was a question for later.

And if her treacherous memory would quit replaying his mouth on hers in technicolor and surround sound, she might even make it that far without losing her mind.

GIBBS

As he watched her drive away, Gibbs caught himself grinning foolishly again and shook his head. He probably should feel embarrassed or guilty or like he needed to apologise or... something - not to mention that he was reacting like he was fifteen and had never touched a girl before - but try as he might, he couldn't make himself.

I just kissed Kate Todd.

And while it might have been accidental, inappropriate, way too soon and probably the stupidest thing he'd done in years... he really couldn't feel bad about that.