Chapter One

I walk into the bullpen, stepping off the elevator, stopping as I hear my name being called. It's Tony, smirking at me.

"Can I help you, DiNozzo?" I ask, annoyed.

"Did you see the note I dropped on Gibbs' desk? You are so doomed, Kate!" He cackles, smirking at me.

"What note?" I ask, frozen in place. What did DiNozzo do?

He shrugs. "I'm just kidding about the note anyway."

I stand up, crossing over to Gibbs' desk, picking up the note carefully. Take Caitlin to the next level.

I turn to Tony. "Very funny, Tony, what does it mean?"

"What?" I've confused him, but he could be acting. "Kate, I type things, like the probie. I don't write. Not my handwriting. I thought it was a note about a dead Marine. I don't know who wrote it."

"You want to explain the note on my desk, Agent Todd?" Gibbs says, walking past my desk. I have to fight the urge to jump at him and explain.

"No. Gibbs, I don't know anything about the note, but if I had to guess, I'd guess Tony."

"Wrong." Tony grins, saying it in a sing-song voice.

"Kate, DiNozzo, get over yourselves. Kate, it's not Tony's handwriting."

"What about prints, DNA?" I ask, confused.

"Take it down to Abby." He orders, not looking up. "DiNozzo, you owe me a case report."

"I do, boss?" Tony looks up, coughing slightly. He still occasionally coughs because of his unfortunate encounter with the plague. I don't remember that incident too fondly.

I stare over at Gibbs, hoping he doesn't notice. He probably does notice, but I don't care. I slide on gloves, taking the note to the elevator. I stare at the elevator doors, wishing they'd open up and Gibbs would be standing there.

But I don't get that lucky, because when the doors open, I'm just greeted with the music blasting from Abby's lab.

"Abby. ABBY!" I yell, walking in.

She grins when she sees me. "Kate. What've you got for me?"

"A note. Addressed to Gibbs, about me."

She's confused. "About you?" She takes it out of my grasp, glancing over it. "What does Gibbs want me to do with it?"

"He didn't say. Just find out where it came from, try and learn what you can from the handwriting."

She turns and looks at me. "I'll do what I can, Kate. Can you pass it on?"

"Sure." I pull a Caf-Pow from behind my back. "This is for you, in advance. Don't tell Gibbs."

"Aw Kate, you're the best." She wraps me in a hug, before turning to her computer. I chuckle to myself, before heading back into the elevator.

I walk into the bullpen, before noticing someone upstairs. It's Director Shepard. She's watching our desks carefully, and I see Gibbs and her meet each other's eyes. It's unsettling, watching them.

Gibbs' phone rings, and he picks up. "Yeah, Abs, what've you got?"

He turns and looks at me, before saying. "Yeah, I'll be right there." He walks past me. "Kate, you're with me."

"What, why?" I ask.

"Abby apparently found something on the paper. You coming or what?"

"Yes, of course." I follow him into the elevator. But I don't say anything to him, it wouldn't make any sense. I can't tell him that I made a mistake. A big mistake. I can't tell him I love him, it would be stupid of me.

Of course it is Gibbs, he may already know. But he isn't one for relationships. He has his rule 12, and I'll be damned if I break one of his rules.

He turns and smirks at me. "Got a lot on your mind, Kate?"

"No, Gibbs. Of course not."

"I've got a meeting with Director Shepard in an hour." He grumbles. "I don't know what the hell she wants."

The elevator dings, and we walk into the lab.

"What do you got, Abs?" He asks.

"Well…" She glances at me, hesitating. "The paper fibers matched the paper used in the evidence garage printer. The handwriting is familiar, but I'm not sure why. And the security tapes have nothing. When I took a closer look, I found that the tapes were destroyed. Only someone with a high clearance could do this." She sighs. "Sorry Kate."

"It is okay, Abby." I say quietly, glancing at Gibbs. He's changed a lot from the Gibbs I met on Air Force One.

"Thanks Abs… anything else on the note?"

"Nothing. I don't know… it looks recent."

Gibbs takes a closer look. "I recognize the handwriting too."

"I don't." I say, frustrated. "And I don't even know why this person wants with me either. Could it be Ari?"

"No way, Kate." Gibbs says, annoyed. "He's a medical guy, not a techie, and even if the note called you Caitlin, it could just be to raise your hackles."

"True." I say quietly. I sigh again.

Gibbs looks between Abby and I. He kisses Abby on the cheek. "Call me if you get anything else!" He calls over his shoulder, walking out of the lab.

"Oh God." I sink into her chair. "It's a nightmare working here now."

"Kate, he doesn't know, does he?" Abby asks nervously.

"No, Abby, to answer your question, my boss does not know I love him. And I really don't mind that." Epic sigh this time. "What do you think?"

"I think you should tell him, Kate." She says calmly. "Be honest."

I wince. "What do you think he'll do to me?"

"Who knows. Maybe he'll kiss you, or kill you, or both."

"Or he'll fire my ass."

"Hey. Kate. You got in a relationship with someone in the Secret Service, and Gibbs still hired you. He likes you."

"Or just my work ethic. Compared to Tony, I probably looked like a saint." I mutter.

"Kate." Abby says patiently. "Confront him. Tell him. I think he and Director Shepard had a thing, he's broken rule 12 before. And I say this as a friend: You'd be a woman worth breaking rule 12 for!"

I pull her into a hug. "Thanks Abby. I think I will tell him."

"Hide in my lab after." She suggests. "Feel free to."

"Enabler." I chuckle, hearing the elevator ding. Gibbs is back, bringing Abby a Caf-Pow.

"Abs, I need to take Kate back with me, she has case reports she needs to finish in the bullpen." He says.

"Thank you Gibbs." She winks at me.

I follow Gibbs into the elevator.

"Gibbs…. It could be personal. This attack."

He turns and glares at me, shutting down the elevator. "Ya think, Kate?"

"Yes." I say defensively. "Did you and Director Shepard ever have a relationship."

He nods. "Briefly. Kate, if there's anything you want to tell me, pertaining to the case…. Now would be great."

A bolt of fear flashes through me. He knows. I think, terrified. "Gibbs…" I say. "I'm in love with you. I have been for a while now. I know it's not important, but someone else could know, and they could use it against me."

"Is that so?" He asks, looking at me unfeelingly.

"Yes. Gibbs… do you have any feelings for me?"

"Kate, rule 12 exists for a reason. How would it change the team dynamic if you and I were in a relationship?"

I don't have an answer, but I finally say. "We'd still be a team, Gibbs."

My hopes crashing and burning, Gibbs turns to me. "Kate, go home. Get some rest. I think I know who sent the note."

"Yeah, who?" I ask, curious.

"She wanted to see if there were any personal, inappropriate relationships in my team. Specifically between you and I."

"She?" I ask.

He finally turns and looks at me. "The Director."