Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

Spoilers: "Split Decision"

All The Elevators In Between

Chapter 14

He met her in the elevator with coffee. It was becoming a habit to meet her there, one that he enjoyed immensely. She smiled up at him. She asked him how his night had been. He answered that it had been ok, but that he'd missed her. She smiled a little wider at his comments. He flipped the switch on the elevator just before they reached their floor. He studied her in the dim light. She was so different from Shannon and his ex-wives. She was special, a bright light to him. He leaned in a pressed a chaste kiss to her lips, and then turned the elevator back on. She flipped the switch off again. He smirked at her. She was learning his tricks. She kissed him and there was nothing chaste about it. It was hot and wet, and made him want to take her against the elevator wall. She pulled back and smiled up at him through her lashes. His smirk upgraded to a full-blown smile that crinkled around his eyes. She wiped her lipstick off his lips before turning the elevator back on. He got off the elevator at their floor but she went down to see Abby. Gibbs called her up a few minutes later because they had a case.

Gibbs sent them off on all their tasks while he stood over he body with Ducky. Tony found the crater. He sent Kate to take photos and sketch. As she listened to Tony talk about the weapon, she couldn't resist poking fun at him.

"Wow, you really do keep something besides comic books in your bathroom." Tony looked up with a smile. He knew she was teasing.

"Hard to believe, huh?"

"Impressive"

"Thanks a lot." He sounded almost sincere.

"I was talking about the crater." Kate burst his bubble, and his smile slipped a little. They finished gathering the evidence and returned to NCIS. Kate took what they gathered down to Abby, while Gibbs got more coffee. Tony was left to return to the bullpen where he found McGee working on Gibbs' computer. He peered over McGee's shoulder and when Gibbs and Kate came back and found him, Gibbs happily gave him a slap to the back of the head, while McGee was rewarded for what he was doing.

"He gets a pat on the back, and I get smack on my head." He mumbled to Kate.

"Doesn't seem fair does it." She responded before telling the team about their dead Marine, Staff Sgt. Grimm.

Kate and Tony went to the gym to find out more about Grimm. While Tony got the list of opponents, she walked around and had a brief conversation with another Marine who was working out. When they were finished there, they headed Grimm's apartment. They gathered his computer and brought it back to Abby to see what she could find.

Gibbs went down to see Abby, about the blasting cap they'd found at the crime scene.

"Looks like a serial number." He said over her shoulder, making her jump a little.

"Its part of one." Abby answered.

"The good part?"

"You can't go straight for dessert, Gibbs. You have to eat your peas first."

"I hate peas." He mumbled. She filed it away for later, as information to share with Kate. Abby gave him the information on the serial number. The S.M.A.W. came from Quantico and was shipped out to be destroyed by SSGT Grimm. She also repaired Grimm's computer so that they could access the information. They got the contact from his phone records. Tony pitched the idea of going undercover in the pawnshop. Tony went down to Abby to get a background workup, leaving Kate and Gibbs in the bullpen. He snipped at her a little about going over all of the information. She gave him a sharp look and said something about being a 'Gloomy Gus'. He just glared at her, and then left to catch up with Tony for their undercover operation in the pawnshop. Kate started to pour over the information and found Corporal McClain list on the shipment manifest. When she returned to the gym, the story she got from the Corporal would make Abby say something along the lines of "Hinky." Her drive back to NCIS allowed her plenty of time to think over the case and Gibbs in general.

Tony and Gibbs went into the pawnshop and discovered the other undercover op being run by ATF. Kate was left to her own devices to talk to the Staff Sergeant who was supposed to sign for the weapons coming in. She pulled him into NCIS, because there was something off about him as well. When she had him in interrogation, she went to report in with Gibbs and met Agent Stone from the ATF. Kate pulled Gibbs aside and told him about the Staff Sergeant.

"Staff Sergeant Rafael is holding out, I can feel it in my gut."

"Guts are good."

"He's having a little time out in the interrogation room, so when you're ready, I'll go over all of my notes with you."

"I gotta work up and ID with Abby. I'm afraid SSGT Rafael is all yours."

"You always do the interrogations, Gibbs!"

"Not this one." He started to move away, but she put a hand on him arm.

"Are you sure I'm ready for a solo?" She said quietly, not really looking at him. He patted her hand and leaned in to whisper in her ear.

"You've always been ready. Get to work, Kate." She nodded and took a deep breath before heading down to the interrogation room.

She was in the interrogation room, even though she was in on the plan with the ATF agent, to sell weapons as arms dealers. When she was finished she went after Corporal McClain. She didn't have time to worry about how safe he was or how the op was going. She would worry later, but it didn't stop her stomach from churning.

After SSGT Rafael, Corporal McClain, and the ATF agent were arrested, she saw Gibbs. He was walking and talking, but there was a bright red stain on his shirt and across his cheek. She had to restrain herself from physically checking him over for injuries. He saw her approach and waved her off. He was fine. After Tony left for the night, and Gibbs had changed into clean clothes, they sat and stared at each other over the partition between their desks.

"I was worried when I saw the red dye."

"I know."

"I can't help it."

"I know."

"Because you're just going to have to deal with it, I can't change who I am."

"I know, Kate."

"Good. I'm going home." He nodded and watched her gather her things. She shut down her computer and walked around her desk and his, so she was standing next to him. He looked up at her. "I would really like it if you came home with me." She whispered, then turned and headed for the elevators. He contemplated working for a moment, but there was little he needed to do that couldn't wait until morning. He followed her to the elevator. She was holding it open for him. As soon as it started, he flipped the switch and pulled her close. He kissed her like they hadn't seen each other in months or years. All of the passion they felt for each other, poured into that kiss. When they broke apart, he did something unusual.

"Meet me at my place. I'll make us dinner." She looked at him with wide eyes. She'd been willing to take things as slowly as he wanted, but he upped the stakes by allowing her into his space.

"Sure."

"Bring clothes for tomorrow too. I'm not letting you leave tonight." He murmured against her lips before kissing her again. All she could do was nod dumbly when they broke apart. Something about his kisses always made it hard for her to think. They went their separate ways, both anticipating their later meeting.