Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

Spoilers: This could still be before 'Reveille' but I may not follow the episodes after this point. I haven't decided yet.

A/N: I know! I know! I promised 2 chapters and you only got one. I'm sorry. Life reached up and well, you know. Here is the promised 2nd chapter, 4 months late. Ok, one other thing before I forget. I'm making one of Kate's brothers gay. I know this is hugely taboo in Catholic religions, hell in most religions, but I felt Kate needed one family member who would love her no matter what, and that would understand her distance from the rest. I also figured that Kate being as compassionate as she is, wouldn't care that her brother was gay, no matter what religion she practiced. That being said, I hope you enjoy.

All The Elevators In Between

Chapter 18

Kate drove home to her empty apartment with a heavy heart. She had hoped that Gibbs would keep her company, so that she wouldn't have to deal with the issues that always came up when her mother mentioned her sister in any from. But even as she wished he'd agreed to come home with her, she knew that she was going to be horrible company for him, and that she shouldn't expect him to fix everything, all the time, just because she needed him to fix it. She was strong, and had been before him, and would continue to be.

She dropped her things by the door as she entered, and made her way back to her bedroom to change into more comfortable clothes. She wasn't hungry, so she sat on her couch in silence, her mother's letter glaring at her from the coffee table where she'd dropped it.

She had never told her mother or her brothers why she stopped speaking to her sister. That was why they kept pushing her to fix things, and why they in turn had stopped communicating with her for the most part. She still talked with her youngest brother occasionally, as he was the only one who had never questioned her reasons for not talking with the rest of them, because of his own distance from the family. He was by far her favorite and always had been, even as children. He was the youngest boy, only a year older than her. They were practically like twins as kids. Kate smiled over the thoughts of him. He was living in New York, managing an art gallery, and living with his boyfriend of six years, something that had not gone over well with their extremely devout Catholic family. She checked the clock to see it was only eight pm, still early enough to call him. She dug out her cell phone, and pressed speed dial 1. He picked up after a single ring.

"Katie!" Her brother exclaimed as soon as they were connected.

"Hey, Georgie. How are you?"

"Good baby girl. How are you?"

"I'm good. Well I was great until…" She trailed off.

"Mom?"

"Yeah. She wrote, probably because she knows I wouldn't answer."

"She told you about Deb getting married, and wants you to reconcile, doesn't she?"

"Yes."

"Will you?" She could hear the concern in his voice. She knew he wanted her to be there, if only so they could see each other. She hadn't told him why, and he'd never asked.

"I don't know. Who is she getting married to?"

"Some guy named Chase. He's a lawyer."

"What a shock. Have you met him?"

"Yeah, once. It was disgusting watching them. They were all over each other and he waited on her hand in foot."

"Sounds like she found herself a winner." Kate said sarcastically.

"Hmmm. Will you come to the wedding even if you guys don't patch things up?"

"I don't know Georgie. I really don't. I'm so tired of carrying this around, but I don't know how to forgive her for how bad she hurt me."

"Will you ever tell me what happened?" Kate was silent for a minute, thinking about it. It would feel better to share her burden with someone. Her thoughts turned to Gibbs. She was already willing to tell him. She worried that she would skew her brother's view of their sister. "Kate?"

"I'm here. I was debating with myself."

"You don't have to say anything about it." He said with a frustrated sigh.

"When I was in law school, I was engaged, remember?"

"Yes."

"I was living with James. I finished with class early, and came home for lunch because I had two hours before my next class. I walked back to the bedroom, expecting to be alone in the house, to find my scarf, because I had forgotten in when I left in the morning and it had gotten colder outside. I found James in bed with Deb. I walked in at the final moment. She was riding him like a horse. They both saw me, and tried to cover themselves. I know I was crying when I asked how long it had been going on. James had the decency to look ashamed, but Deb blurted out that they had been seeing each other for months. James and I had only been together for a year and a half. I turned around and walked out and went to a friend's apartment. I dropped out of law school the next day. You know the rest, because I stayed with you until I started at NYU. I didn't see James again, and I've only seen Deb once, and you know how that ended. I even asked my friend to get my things with me at a time when I knew James wouldn't be home."

"I'm sorry baby girl. I had no idea it was something like that. How awful! When did our sister turn into a bitch?" Kate sniffled into a laugh.

"I hate to tell you this Georgie, but she's always been like that. You just never saw it because she always reserved her nastiness for me. I ignored it for the most part, until that day. That was the final straw."

"I understand, but how did the rest of us never see it?"

"She was only like that when we were alone. The rest of the time she was the angel you all thought she was. I knew Mark and Bradley would never understand, and Mom never listened to me. I knew you would understand, but I didn't want to ruin your view of Deb."

"You were protecting all of us. It's what you do. It's what you've always done, even for Deb, inadvertently."

"Yeah, I can't help it. I've got a mother complex." They both laughed. Kate paused when she heard the key turn in her lock. She knew it was Gibbs, as no one else had a key. She turned to see him letting himself into her apartment.

"Kate?" George prompted her.

"Hang on, Georgie." She answered. "Hey. I thought you were going home tonight."

"I was, but I couldn't focus on anything but you. So I came over. I hope that's ok." Gibbs answered.

"Of course it is. Come sit with me. I'll be off in a few minutes." He nodded and sat next to her on the couch. She leaned into his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her.

"Ok, Georgie."

"So, who is the guy? He has a nice voice, from what I can hear. Should I be lusting?" He teased.

"You can lust all you want but you can't have." She laughed.

"Ah, well. Its good Andrew loves me, as my own sister obviously doesn't."

"Sorry, honey, but he's as straight as they come." She smiled up a Gibbs who raised an eyebrow at her.

"Well that's even worse. Oh well. Enjoy him baby girl."

"I will. Give Andrew a hug and kiss from me. I'll get back to you about the wedding ok?"

"Sure thing, Katie. Although now that I know, I don't blame you for not coming."

"Thanks. Love you."

"Love you too, baby girl. Bye."

"Bye." She hung up the phone, laying it on the coffee table.

"Who were you talking to?" Gibbs asked.

"My brother George."

"I thought you didn't speak to your family."

"I don't. I speak to George. He like's your voice though. He asked me if he should be lusting after you." Gibbs gave her a funny look. "He's gay, and he has a wonderful partner named Andrew. Besides, after what I told him tonight, he wouldn't even consider trying to steal you away."

"And what did you tell him?"

"I told him why I don't speak to my sister." Gibbs nodded and waited. He knew she was willing to talk to him about it, but that she would tell him when she was ready. "I found Deb in bed with my fiancée. They had been sleeping together for months and I had only been with him for eighteen months. My family didn't understand my sudden coldness to her, and sided with her over me, with the exception of George. He refused to take sides. He still talks with Deb, but we've always been very close. If it weren't for the fact that he's a year older than me, we'd be twins." Gibbs nodded, rubbing her back. She snuggled into him a little more, breathing in his scent, and the comfort it brought to her.

"Come on." He urged her up. "Let's go to bed." She hummed in response and let him lead her to bed. He stripped down to his boxers and t-shirt, and crawled in next to her, wrapping her in his arms. He felt her relax into him, and sighed softly into her hair. She eased into sleep after a few minutes. He lay awake for a little while longer, stroking her back intermittently. It took a while longer for him to fall asleep.

He'd gone home like he had told her would, but once he was there nothing distracted him from his thought about her. He had eaten dinner. He had tried to work on the boat. He tried reading one of the books he'd read a dozen times before. He'd lain in bed and tried to sleep but it didn't work. It wasn't too late, so he'd grabbed fresh clothes and driven to her place. He'd felt something ease in his chest as he'd turned the key in her lock. And seeing her sitting on her couch, phone pressed to her ear, and an easy smile on her face just for him, had ignited something warm in his gut. He'd already told her he loved her. He'd been unable to stop himself from saying the words, and she had responded in kind immediately. There was just something so full of life about her that made him truly want to live again, live like he had when Shannon was alive. He wanted to live for her. The realization was like little fireworks in his heart and he could feel a smile steal across his lips. He turned his head to look at the sleeping woman in his arms, and for once in the many years since he'd lost his first wife, and his daughter, he felt complete.