Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

Spoilers: 'See No Evil' but before 'The Good Wives Club'

A/N: Finally! I know, right?

All The Elevators In Between

Chapter 23

Kate wasn't sure how long Tony would leave the subject alone, but so far he'd been remarkably good about not saying anything. They had more pressing matters to attend to. After they arrived at NCIS, Sandy was handed over to Ducky, who looked her over, and bandaged her wrists. The older man was incredibly gentle with the little girl. Kate couldn't help but like her, and wondered if she would ever have children of her own. She could picture little brown haired girls with bright blue eyes, or young boys that had her eyes and Jethro's smile. She shook herself away from her thoughts, and back to the case. There were no guarantees that he would even want to have kids, after losing Kelly, and she had a case to solve.

Ducky discovered how acute Sandy's hearing was, and Gibbs had the idea to have her listen to the tape of her mother's capture. Kate didn't like the idea, and she knew Gibbs didn't want to put the little girl through the trauma of hearing that, but she was their only option at the moment.

Sandy held together remarkably well, and took an instant liking to Abby. Most people did. Kate smiled at the little girl even though she couldn't see her. The case took off from there, and she, Tony, and Gibbs, tracked the kidnapper to the train station. McGee and Abby were left to track the money that Sandy's father had wired out to them. When the money trail finally ended, they were all shocked to learn that her father had been the one to set up the whole ordeal. Kate didn't think she'd ever seen Gibbs that angry, except perhaps when he had faced Voss, over Pacci's murder. She put her hand on his shoulder after he slammed the man into the wall.

"Gibbs." She waited for some acknowledgment. It was slight, but it was there. "He isn't worth it." He kept his steely gaze on the man, but murmured for Tony to take away the piece of garbage. Gibbs sighed and shook his head. Kate was right, the man wasn't worth it, but that didn't diminish the anger and confusion he felt over the situation.

That evening, he wanted Kate to stay with him, but he didn't know how to ask her. He'd never been particularly good at expressing his feelings and emotions. Thankfully she seemed to know what he needed, and gave him a nod when he looked toward the elevator. They would talk when they reached his house, until then they had finished their paperwork.

An hour later he cut them all loose for the evening. Tony looked like he wanted to ask a question, but couldn't with McGee in the lift. McGee got off the elevator at Abby's Lab's level, leaving the three of them alone to speak. As soon as the doors were closed Tony flipped the switch. He knew that it probably wasn't the best time to ask about their relationship, especially after the case they'd just wrapped up, but he had to know.

"Are you two seeing each other?" Tony asked bluntly. Kate, who had hoped that he'd forgotten about the incident in the car, nodded her head in resignation. Gibbs fixed him with a stare, that clearly stated he needed to come to a point, or he would be skewered shortly. Tony took in Kate's nod, and Gibbs silence and melded them together in an answer. "I see. That's a yes you are, but its none of my business. Got it." He was quiet for a minute and Kate was about to breathe a sigh of relief when he spoke again.

"I think its great that you two are together, but about Rule 12?" She didn't know about rule 12, so she looked to Gibbs for the answer.

"Some rules are made to be broken." Came Gibbs reply. He was still leveling a steely stare at Tony."

"Ok. Don't hurt her Gibbs, or I'll have to hurt you. She's like my little sister, you know? And Kate, if you break his heart, I'll kick your ass." He said finally and flipped the switch on the elevator, restarting it, and quickly stepping off as it came to a stop. Kate and Gibbs looked at each other quizzically, before they shrugged and followed Tony off the lift. The talk they had been dreading went well. They had less to worry about from the team, than they had originally thought.

The drive home was mostly silent. Kate kept hold of Gibbs hand as he drove them through the empty streets to his home. He said nothing as he let them in the door and then bounded up the stairs to his bedroom. She knew him well enough to let him be for a few moments. He came down after he changed into his cargo pants, and an old Marine Corp sweatshirt. She wanted to hug him close, but could still see the fire igniting his eyes, and simply followed him to the basement. He worked on his boat for over an hour before he said something.

"I despise him for putting his child in danger for money. She is so much more precious than anything else he could ever have, or have wanted. I don't understand how he could risk her life for something so fleeting and ridiculous." He said it softly, and Kate almost didn't hear him at first.

"I don't understand either, Jethro. Some people just don't make sense. And for us, those who seek justice, they never will, because we cant fathom making the choice between a child and money. It just doesn't occur to us. Its what sets us apart from criminals." Kate stood, beside him, slowly edging her way between him and the boat. He moved back enough for her to stand properly in front of him before he leaned into her, pressing her back against the boat. His blue eyes were still hard, but they held love for her as well, and he leaned in to press his lips to hers, allowing himself to forget about the day they'd had.

Hours later, they lay spent in his bed, hands running over each other, tired, but far from sleepy.

"Tony took our relationship rather well. I know Ducky doesn't mind and Abby already knew. But where does that leave us with the Director?" Kate asked, finally voicing what had been on her mind for most of the evening.

"I don't know, Katie. I would like to open about seeing each other, but I don't want to lose you either."

"Don't worry about it right now. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it." She was silent for a while, allowing herself to bask in his closeness, before her mind circled back to its thoughts from earlier in the day. "Have you ever thought about having kids again?" She could feel him stiffen beneath her, his whole body going rigid for a moment, before he forced himself to relax.

"I'm not sure I can go throughout that again." He whispered. "Do you want children, Kate?"

"Yes, I think so. I know that I want them with you. I can understand your hesitation, and I'm certainly not talking about now. But later on, when the time is right, maybe."

"Later on, maybe." He agreed softly. "I love you Kate, and I really don't want to deny you anything, but that is a very hard thing to think about."

"In your own time, Jethro. I love you too. Now sleep."

"Yes, boss." He chuckled in her ear.