Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

Spoilers: Between 'Weak Link' and 'Reveille'

A/N: Sorry it has taken so long for me to post another chapter, but here is the first of hopefully 2 new chapters after nearly 10 months without one. You'd almost think I had gestating this poor thing. Lol! Please enjoy.

All The Elevators In Between

Chapter 17

Gibbs arrived at her door, still deep in thought. He didn't really remember the drive to her place, but there he was standing on Kate's doorstep. He let himself in with the key she'd palmed him that morning before work. Her shy smile spoke volumes and he knew that she was giving him free access to all of her, especially her heart.

Kate was waiting for him on the sofa. She'd already changed into soft pajamas, and he felt a spark of desire for her shoot through him. She was the type of person who looked sexy in everything she wore. She would look beautiful in a sack. She was reading some of her mail and from the stack she had piled up, she hadn't had time in a while to look through it all.

"Anything interesting?" He asked, coming around to sit beside her. She shifted to lean into him, rather than the arm of the couch.

"Not really, mostly junk, a few bills and a letter from my mom who still thinks computers are a torture device." She set everything aside, giving him her full attention. He looked tired, and a little sad. She couldn't blame him. The case they had closed that afternoon showed such wasted of an individual's life. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, hugging him before allowing her hands to seek out the tense muscles in his back. He tugged off his jacket and shirt, to allow her better access and hummed in satisfaction as she found and eased the tension from him. He'd give her a year to stop.

When she finally stopped, he was all but a puddle in her lap. He didn't think he'd ever felt so relaxed. However the soft, wet kisses she was leaving along his shoulders and neck was bringing up a whole new tension that was definitely more pleasurable. That night he held her so tightly that she was almost afraid to breathe. But she didn't mind. So long as he was happy.

As usual, he was the first one rise. He kissed her briefly, waking her enough to tell her he was going home to change, and that he would see her at work. She nodded sleepily before snuggling into what had become his pillow. He watched her for a few minutes, admiring her sleeping state before heading out the door to his own home.

Kate roused herself not long after he left. She took her shower and was thankful for the already made coffee waiting for her. She recollected her mail and read what was left over breakfast, leaving the letter from her mother for last. She hesitated over reading it, never knowing what to expect from one of her letters. Sometimes it was to catch her up on the news from her brothers, other times to nag about her job and why she wasn't married yet and last but not least to plead with her to patch things up with her sister. As she unfolded the pages, she sincerely hoped it was the first.

My Dearest Katie,

I hope you are well…

As she read, she felt her heart sink a little more. The letter was one more plea to reconcile with her sister before she got married. Kate threw the letter across the table. She was in no mood to deal with her mother's fantasy over why she didn't speak to her sister anymore. She gathered her gear and was out the door a few seconds later.

When she arrived at work, Gibbs was just setting a cup of coffee on her desk. He saw the look on her face and paused as she approached.

"Everything ok?" He asked. There was a slight frown creasing his forehead causing his eyes to narrow slightly in study of her.

"I'll live. Thanks for the coffee." He nodded and sat at his own desk. She knew their conversation wasn't over, but that he was giving her time to tell him on her own, what was bothering her.

Kate volunteered to go get lunch. Gibbs followed her into the elevator. Halfway down he stopped the car. She looked up at him and sighed. He just watched her silently, waiting for her to speak. He knew she would talk eventually. Like all their conversations in this elevator, he only had to wait her out. She had been distracted all morning and he wanted to know why.

"The letter from my mother upset me. I'm sorry I've been distracted."

"Don't apologize…"

"It's a sign of weakness, I know."

"What's going on, Kate?"

"It's a long story, but the highlights are I don't speak to my siblings, and my mother has been pushing reconciliation with my sister, who is the cause. She thought that she could guilt trip me into talking through our problems because she's getting married."

"That's not the whole story is it?"

"No, but I'll tell you the rest some other time. The point is, I don't talk to my family and I hate it when my mother gets on one of her tears." He nodded in acceptance and understanding. He didn't speak to his own father, how could he blame her for not communicating with her own family.

They picked up lunch and returned to NCIS. The rest of the day passed slowly. Kate managed to concentrate on her work for the most part. They didn't have a case, so the team finished up reports, made phone calls on cold cases, and generally did busy work. While they all enjoyed the thrill of the chase to some extent, a day without a new crime to solve was a pleasant change of pace.

Gibbs cut everyone loos around five. Tony and McGee were gone in a flash. Kate looked expectantly at him, wondering if he was going to come over. He was still working steadily, but looked up when she stopped in front of his desk. He read the question in her eyes before it had time to pass her lips.

"Not tonight, Kate. Go home, get some sleep. I'll see you in the morning." She nodded and headed home to be alone with herself and her memories.