Chapter Two
I walk into the bullpen the next morning, and Tony looks at me grinning. "So do we know who sent the note, Katie?"
"Yeah." I sit down at my desk, glancing over at the empty desk beside me. "Where's Gibbs?"
"He got called into a meeting with the Director." Tony rolls his eyes. "Not very exciting is it?"
I check my phone, seeing I have two messages.
Hey Kate, it's Rachel. Just checking up on how work is going? You still working under that old bastard or have you switched teams? Let me know how you're doing. Love you sis.
I roll my eyes. It's a good thing Gibbs isn't here, or he'd question why I'd called him an old bastard. But it's true….. His name is after all Leroy Jethro "Second B for Bastard" Gibbs. I see the second message is from Abby.
Kate, can you come down to my lab for a few minutes? We need to talk about what happened with you-know-who. And no, I don't mean Voldemort. It's important, Kate, please hurry.
Tony looks up. "You-know-who? Aw Kate, don't tell me. You met someone."
I glare at him, rolling my eyes. "It's none of your business, Tony." I stand up, heading for the elevator. He jumps up, following me.
"So what's his name, Kate?"
"Go away, Tony." I say getting in the elevator.
"Who is it, Kate?" He says, following me in.
"What part of go away do you not understand, DiNozzo?"
He rolls his eyes. "Do I know him?"
"No."
"Do I know her?"
I glare. "I'm not a lesbian, Tony."
"Thanks, because I definitely needed that clarified." He says sarcastically.
"It's a case of don't ask, don't tell, DiNozzo."
"You keep leapfrogging back and forth between calling me Tony and calling me DiNozzo, and I'm a little curious as to why. Also, I'm beginning to think that this is more of a kiss and tell, Kate." He smirks at me, as I roll my eyes.
I get cursed with the most annoying co-workers. I think, sighing. The elevator opens, and Abby calls. "So you talked to Gibbs right? You told him?"
"Told him what?" Tony asks, as Abby spins around in shock.
"Oh my God. Tony, what are you doing here?"
"Abby" He grins. "I work here."
"I meant, what are you doing in my lab? I thought it was just Kate and I."
"Why? What did Kate needs to tell Gibbs? That she desperately wants to have sex with him? That she drank his coffee? That she loves him?"
I practically turn bright red on cue. He gasps as if that's confirmation.
"YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH THE BOSSMAN?!" He yelps.
"What?" Another person, as I groan to myself, turning around.
"McGee." I groan.
"Did Tony just say what I thought he said?" McGee asks, looking stricken.
I sigh again. "He did but that doesn't make it true."
Tony does a half-shrug, before grinning. "Watcha got there, McGemcity?"
"It's my latest manuscript. And I'll have you know that Tommy and Katy were the ones getting it on." He grins at the look of disgust on Tony's face.
Then he perks up. "Did you say getting it on? Gimme!" He grabs the manuscript from underneath Tim's arm, flipping through it, before groaning. "Damn it, McGee made us cuddlers. It's not even steamy."
"You wanted it to be?" I ask, annoyed.
"Careful, Kate, Gibbs is a Marine. I hear they like it rough."
"Is that so, DiNozzo?" Tony freezes, before looking at me.
"He's standing behind me isn't he?"
I nod.
"Gonna headslap me?"
I nod again, smirking, but the smirk falls as Gibbs headslaps Tony before turning to Abby. "Any new developments, Abby?"
"No." Abby's turn to sigh. "Sorry Gibbs."
"Keep looking. I have a person I suspect, but… I need a handwriting sample."
"Who do you think it is?" Abby asks.
Gibbs and I exchange a look, before Gibbs turns to Tony and McGee. "What the hell are you two still doing here? Don't you both have case reports to finish?"
"Yes boss." McGee bolts.
"On it boss!" Is Tony's reply.
He leaves the three of us alone in the lab. Abby looks at us. "Out with it, who's the suspect?"
"It's the Director." Gibbs and I say at the same time, before noticing. I look away first, as Abby watches us.
"So you need a handwriting sample from the director? Just get her to sign off on your physical."
"Right." I sigh. "I have one of those coming up soon anyway."
"Have fun not eating." Gibbs smirks, before his phone rings. "Speak of the devil." He picks it up. "Yeah, Gibbs."
He leaves the lab as I sigh, burying my head in my hands. "Damn it."
"The Director? Kate, are you guys sure?"
"She has the right clearance level," I say grimly. "Much as I hate to admit it, it might be the truth. Do you think she still has a thing for Gibbs?"
"She might…." Abby trails off, before sighing. "But I doubt it, Kate. She was the one who left him I think. Otherwise, how would a junior agent rise up the ranks in… five or six years?"
I shake my head. "It's so hard to concentrate on this stupid note, when all I want is to stop having his stupid penetrating gorgeous blue eyes on me."
"Did you tell him?"
"Yes, I did tell him, Abby."
"And what was his reaction?"
"He just… started talking about how it would affect the team dynamic…. Abby it bothers me."
"I'm sure." She sighs. "Kate, it's Gibbs. You know, Gibbs. Second B for bastard. It's just who he is. He's not one to wear his heart on his sleeve. Maybe he does love you back. I mean, for God's sake, Kate, he makes eyes at you across the bullpen all the time. Didn't you notice?"
I turn red. "No. Abby…"
"You look frustrated."
"Yeah, cause it's hard to focus when I just want to kiss him." I regret as soon as I say it because Abby squeals in excitement.
"I have the most perfect of perfect ideas, Kate!"
I'm wary. "And what perfect idea would this be?"
"I'll tell you: I'll go visit Ducky, tell Gibbs to come down here, but I'll leave the two of you alone. And you can do whatever you want. You can even put the lab on lockdown if you want!"
"You're certainly eager to help." I grin.
She smiles back. "Come on, Kate, you gotta kiss him at least once. And then tell me everything."
"He's kissed you before though."
"As a friendly gesture, on the cheek, Kate." She reminds me.
I wince, and she notices. "Ankle bugging you again?"
"Just a little bit. Not that it matters." I sigh. "Feel free to call Gibbs back down here. Not that it matters."
"It does matter, if I can help you." She picks up the phone, and dials. "Hey Gibbs, I found something. Can you come down here? Thanks. I'll meet you in the lab."
She turns to her computer, turning it on. I blink, sure I'm imagining things. "Abby, what the hell is that?"
"That, my friend, is a Gibblet."
"A what?" I ask, confused.
"Well this is a program where you take two people and find out what their kids look like. We used the program once on Director Shepard and Gibbs, and started calling them Gibblets. It stuck."
"Aww… it has his eyes." I say. I turn to her. "Can you save this?"
"Sure. It's kind of cute, isn't it?"
"Hell yeah. Although, I'm glad it doesn't have silver hair." I smile. "Wonderful as it looks on Gibbs himself."
Abby nods. "Yeah, that is really hot." She suddenly realizes. "I better go visit Ducky, it's been awhile since I've done that. I'll take the stairs." She runs out of the room, and I quickly turn off the monitor. Gibbs doesn't need to see that.
The elevator dings, and a moment later, Gibbs walks in.
"Kate." He says. "Where's Abbs?"
"She hasn't gotten here yet."
He chuckles, before noticing. "You look like you've got something on your mind, Kate."
"Yeah. You."
He nods, understanding. "Ah."
I step towards him. "Listen Gibbs, I don't care what you do, tell the Director, tell the team or fire me. I had to do this at least what."
"Do what?" He asks.
I take his face in my hands, reaching up and kissing him, our lips only touching momentarily. And then I start walking away.
"Kate!" He yells. "TODD!"
But I don't look back.
