AN: warning: some of the content of this story may be disturbing to some readers. There's nothing graphic, just a few suggestions but I still figured I'd include a warning cuz Greg is clearly one disturbed, psychotic jerk. Anyway, please review! I'll be enjoying spring break next week and probably won't get a chance to update unless I get really motivated to write, cough reviews cough.

Holy Water: Chapter 3

"You ready?" Tony asked as he sat down next to her with the envelope in hand. When Kate hesitantly nodded he took a deep breath and gently opened it. He removed the letter and cautiously unfolded it. Several key words instantly jumped off the page at him and he hesitated, wishing that Kate didn't have to read it. He wanted to protect her from the words but he knew that he couldn't, even though it killed him. He wished he could do more to help her, but in the end all he could do was wrap an arm around her. He offered her support, a shoulder to lean on and a chest to cry on.

She knew it was going to be bad, especially when Tony froze after opening the letter. She was relieved when he wrapped an arm around her, reminding her that she wasn't alone. She leaned against him, thankful for the support, and her head instantly found what she now thought of as "her spot." Slowly, Tony lowered the letter to where they both could read it. There it was, scrawled in black and white, and she gasped.

Katie,

You know what happens when you run from me, and now you have to pay. I spent 12 years in Hell all because you had to be a whore. Your boy toy got what he deserved, but that was nothing compared to what will happen now. You have 12 years of punishments coming to you, and I guarantee it will be painful. I know you got your job using the talents I taught you since those were the only talents you ever had, not that you ever were particularly skilled even at that. I hope you've gotten better, but I suppose I will have to find out for myself later.

I've seen the pictures. They were quite helpful, a kind of "who's who" on my list of things to kill do. You've really gotten around. You obviously need to be reminded of the rules but don't worry, I'll retrain you. I need to show you that you are and have always been MINE! Do you remember how pathetic you were when I found you? No one ever wanted you. You were totally useless. I gave you a purpose, to serve me, and you couldn't even do that right. You have always been a failure, never living up to anyone's expectations.

But I took pity on you. I kept you when no one else would. I taught you valuable skills, showed you how to be the only thing you will ever amount to…my slut. And you repaid me by running and giving your body away. Your body is mine and no one is allowed to touch it without my permission. You knew that, yet you disobeyed me.

I will come back for you, my Katie, but first I have to teach you a lesson. Taking one life wasn't enough to teach you to obey me, so now I have to take more. They must pay for touching you and for taking you from me. You see, Katie, you are death to everyone around you, everyone but me. That must be the only thing you're good at. Quite a talent, isn't it?

Always,

Greg

Kate was in sobbing, the tears blurring the horrific words in front of her. All the threats she'd thought she left behind were staring back at her, only now it was a million times worse. Now he was going to hurt the people she'd cared about and all the ones who'd cared about her and it would all be her fault again. Then he would come back for her, just like he'd always said he would. It was her worst nightmare coming true, and she just wished she could wake up.

Tony tossed the letter on the coffee table so he could wrap her tightly in his arms. She continued to cry, soaking his shirt but he didn't care. He wanted to hit something, preferably Greg, but he knew he needed to be calm for Kate. He stroked her hair and murmured soothingly in her ear as he tried to clamp down on his anger.

"Shh, it's okay. He can't hurt you anymore. I'm here and I'm not going to let anyone hurt you. We're going to get this guy and everything will be okay. Shh, I promise he won't touch you, Kate. It'll all be okay." That sounded dumb even to his own ears. Nothing would ever be okay after what she'd been through. No one should have to go through that, least of all Kate. The only thing Tony could do now was keep her safe and make sure this guy paid dearly for what he'd done.

Kate tried to focus on Tony's words and the feel of his arms around her. She kept reminding herself that she wasn't alone now, she had Tony. She lost herself in the sound of his voice and managed to stop the flood of tears. She sat there with her head on his chest listening to the steady thump-thump of his heart for what felt like forever, just soaking up his warmth. She actually felt safe as long as she was right here, that Greg couldn't get anywhere near her as long as she was with Tony. She wished she could crawl inside him and hide from the world, or at the very least stay in his arms forever.

Tony loved holding her and he never wanted to stop, but he knew he had to call the cavalry. They needed to find this guy and they had to figure out who he was planning on going after. Tony could protect Kate but it would be a good idea to move somewhere safer or have some kind of back up. He kissed the top of her head, once again because it just felt right, and tilted her chin up so she was looking at him.

"I have to go call Gibbs and get some people on this, ok? I promise I won't tell him anything more than I absolutely have to, but he'll eventually need to know. He'll want to see the note and you're going to have to tell him what happened, but I'll tell him he can't see the note until tomorrow so you have some time. We're going to get this guy. I promise." Tony stared into her eyes, looking for any sign of objection. He saw a flash of panic at the mention of telling Gibbs, but that was it.

She took a deep breath and nodded, letting him know everything was alright, then moved back to her side of the couch so he could get up. He cursed the lack of contact but hurried to get his phone and call Gibbs. He'd considered calling from the couch so he could hold her in his arms, but he didn't want to upset her anymore. He went to the kitchen so he could still see her through the doorway, then punched speed-dial 2 on his cell phone. Kate, of course, was speed-dial 1.

Gibbs picked up on the second ring and Tony had to hold the phone away from his ear. "Where the hell are you! I told you to get back here ASAP! We're in the middle of a crime scene and I'm two agents short!"

"Gibbs!" Tony interrupted his tirade. "Listen to me, we have a situation here. Someone's after Kate."

There was silence on the other end of the phone. Gibbs, for once, was speechless. Of all the things he'd thought could be wrong when they'd left this morning that definitely hadn't been one of them. "What happened?"

Tony stuck to the basics. "High school boyfriend who thinks he owns her. About a year after she moved to D.C. he showed up at her door and blew away the guy she was hanging out with. Shot out both his knee caps then blew his brains out before the cops could get there. He spent 12 years in jail but he's out now. She found a note on her car this morning, that's why I took her home. We found another note slipped under her door when we got there, so I had her pack a bag and come to my place."

"If you found this when you got her home why the hell didn't you call me, DiNozzo? Why am I just finding out about this now?" Gibbs was using his angry, "how stupid are you" voice, which wasn't a good sign but Tony didn't care.

"I didn't get the story until we got here. I called you as soon as we read the letter." Tony pulled the phone away from his ear in anticipation, and he wasn't disappointed.

"You should have called me from the car, DiNozzo! You should have came straight back to the office, and you should not have opened that letter without me! Geez, Tony, haven't I taught you anything? I'm going to pass the case we're on to someone else and I'll be right over to talk to Kate and get that letter."

"You can get the letter and talk to Kate tomorrow, boss, just check out her apartment. The letter mentioned pictures and I think he's talking about Kate's photo albums. And check out everything you can find on Greg Patterson, that's the guy's name. In the letter he said that he was going to go after the people in Kate's life, probably starting with the guys in the pictures he mentioned. Let me know what you find, and can you send me a picture when you get it? I need to know who I'm looking for."

Gibbs was silent for a minute. "I do not take orders from you, Tony. Here's how it works, I tell and you do, got it? Now I'm going to come get the letter and talk to Kate, and I don't care if you have a problem with it or not. I will have McGee check out the name, though."

Tony let out an exasperated sigh. He knew this wouldn't be easy, but he had to do it for Kate. "Gibbs, you can't talk to her yet. Please, you'll understand everything tomorrow, just leave her alone for today."

"I'm guessing you know more than you're telling me. Dammit Tony, I need to know everything if we're going to help Kate."

"Look, I told you everything you need to know for right now. The rest is just background information that isn't really going to help you. All it would do now is hurt Kate and she's already been through enough today. Just come by tomorrow and you can talk to her then." Tony pleaded with Gibbs to understand.

"Fine. I'll be by tomorrow, but only because I don't want to hurt Kate." Gibbs knew that whatever they weren't telling him was huge and really painful. It wasn't like Kate to hide or to show weakness, so this had to be really horrible to rattle her so badly. "Is there anything else I should know?"

"Just that this guy is completely psycho and thinks that he owns her. But if you find him give me a call before you take him in. I want to beat the shit out of him." Tony's voice was completely cold and Gibbs wondered if beating this guy was all Tony wanted to do.

Gibbs hung up without saying goodbye and Tony returned to Kate. She hadn't been able to hear what Tony was saying since he'd purposely kept his voice low after getting Gibbs' attention. She'd felt uneasy and vulnerable the entire time he'd been gone and she breathed a sigh of relief when he returned, the feeling's instantly quieting. It was amazing how his just being there could make her feel so much better, like it might actually be okay.

"Gibbs is going starting the hunt. He'll be by tomorrow to talk to you." He stopped next to the couch, seeing her relax a little. "Can I do anything for you? Get you something to eat or drink?"

"Nope," Kate shook her head. "You're doing enough just by being here." She offered him a small, grateful smile as he sunk into the couch next to her. He immediately wrapped his arms around her and lightly kissed her temple. She found her spot on his chest and snuggled closer. She was content to simply enjoy the safety of his arms, and he was busy savoring the feel of her in his arms and swearing to God that he'd never let anything happen to her.