Disclaimer: It still in chapter 1
Spoilers: Same as before, after Good Samaritan, but before anything else has happened.
All The Elevators In Between
Chapter 3
Kate dreaded going into work that day. She knew that they would have to face each other. Her first instinct was to go to Abby for comfort, but her friend had spilled the beans to rid them of the clingy Sheriff. She wasn't angry with her, but she needed a day or so to move past the breach of her confidence. So she headed for Autopsy. Ducky was always the next best thing to Abby. He was chatting with Gerald over some aspect of the human anatomy, but waved her over just the same.
"Gerald, could you give us a few minutes. Take a break." Gerald nodded and left them to their conversation.
"What can I do for you, my dear?"
"Have you seen Gibbs today? I heard Tony send you by his house when he didn't come in."
"I saw him, yes. He should be here shortly."
"Did he say anything about last night?"
"Only that he teased you and that you were upset with him."
"Oh, good." She paused and then started to speak again, but remembered Abby and closed her mouth again. "I'll apologize for overreacting when he comes in and we'll be good. I wasn't sure if he was angry with me or not."
"Not angry Caitlin, confused."
"I know, I went off on him a bit." She rose quickly. "I'll go see if he's here and apologize. Thanks Ducky." She darted out the door and into the elevator. She stared, lost in thought at her reflection. She didn't even notice the elevator stopping at the ground floor, until Gibbs stepped on. Then her attention zeroed in on him like a laser. She stared straight ahead at his reflection next to hers. She schooled her features into a blank mask. Gibbs stared back and flipped the switch, just like the night before.
He could smell her subtle perfume, something with apples and spice. He spun around and trapped her in the corner of the elevator. She gulped in a breath in surprise as a sense of déjà vu ran over her. He invaded her space, his arms on either side of her, locking her into the corner. He was so close that she could almost taste him. He smelled like soap, sawdust, coffee, and male. She gulped a second breath as he moved his lips next to her ear.
"Sheriff Dupre never had a chance, I was just humoring her in the interest of the case. She's not my type." She could pretend until that moment, then she flashed back to the sight of him getting into a sports car with a pretty redhead.
"Yeah, I know, she wasn't a red-head and doesn't drive a silver sports car." She spat back, angry with him for making her feel the way she did, and with herself for allowing him to affect her that much.
"Kate…" The tone of his voice held a warning, but she ignored it and put her hands on his chest and pushed him back until he was on the other side of the elevator. She could almost breathe as she turned the elevator back on. "Kate…" He said her name again, this time with more feeling. She still ignored him. The doors dinged open and she tried to dash out, but he caught her wrist. "I think I prefer brunettes these days." He whispered in her ear as he walked past her. He left her in the same shocked state she'd left him in the night before.