Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

Spoilers: None but set between "See No Evil" & "The Good Wives Club"

A/N: Because y'all were so adamant that I continue this story. Here is the next chapter, and I've half written the 25th chapter. So there! No more complaints guys. I'll even remark the story as incomplete.

All The Elevators In Between

Chapter 24

Gibbs woke to extreme warmth emanating from his side. Kate had wrapped herself up in the blankets and pressed into him as close as she could get without crawling into his skin with him. It was way too hot, and that worried him. She shouldn't have been that warm. Opening his eyes enough to see, he pressed a hand against her forehead. She was burning up. He nudged her gently.

"Kate." He called softly, enticing her away from her sleep.

"Dontwannagetup. Fivemoreminutes." Her words came out in a jumble, slurred together and muffled by his chest.

"Kate." He called again. "Wake up babe. Come on, open your eyes." He coaxed.

"Kay. I'm awake." Her eyes were fever hazed and sleepy. "What did you need?"

"Kate, you're running a fever. A high one. How are you feeling?"

"Like crap. Wanna sleep more."

"I know. Let's get you some water and some Tylenol first. Then you can sleep." Gibbs detangled himself from the blankets and Kate's arms, making his way to his kitchen. He heard a phone ringing downstairs. He knew the tone well enough to know if came from Kate's phone and not his own. He picked it up when he reached the living room and inspected the caller ID. It was her mother. He debated on answering it, but it stopped ringing. He moved to set it down, but it began again. Her mother was persistent.

"Gibbs" He answered the phone gruffly.

"Oh. I was trying to reach my daughter. I believe I dialed the wrong number." Kate's mother answered.

"You didn't. She's sleeping."

"Ah. And are you her man of the moment?"

"Don't know about being the man of the moment, but I'm hers, if that's what you mean."

"Be careful with that girl. She never seems to keep them around for long. Now will you be coming with her to the wedding?"

"She hasn't said she's going yet."

"She hasn't told you her sister is getting married? How odd. Well you must come with her, provided she hasn't ditched you by then. Please inform her I called. Thank you." And with that she hung up. Gibbs stared at the phone for a moment before clearing the screen and setting it down.

"Who was that?" Kate asked from the doorway.

"Your mother. I don't think I like her very much."

"That makes two of us. What did she want?"

"To make sure you attended the wedding and to bring me along, that is if you hadn't ditched me yet."

"That woman makes me crazy. Gibbs, I feel like crap. You promised me Tylenol and water."

"I know. Come on."

Gibbs left Kate at his house that day, hoping that a day of rest and recuperation would end any harsher symptoms that she was bound to experience. He mulled over his conversation with her mother. It was obvious that the woman had a low opinion of her daughter, and that was something her couldn't abide by. Kate was a much better person than it seemed her parents or siblings gave her credit for. He wanted to change that, but wasn't sure it was his place.

Kate puttered around Gibbs house for a little while, before returning to bed. She wondered what her mother had said to him, but was almost afraid to ask. Her mother was notorious for saying things that were taken out of context or fabricating something to make herself feel better. She was a drama queen. It was no wonder where her sister got it. She fell asleep with those thoughts troubling her mind, and further clouding her dreams. Later when she was awake she would call her mother back and get the story from her, one way or another.

Kate woke around noon to the ringing of her phone. She glanced at the caller ID with high hopes that were answered. It was Gibbs.

"Hey." She answered it softly.

"Hey. Are you feeling any better?"

"Sort of. Do you need me to come in?"

"Nah, just checking on you. You call your mother back?"

"Not yet. I just woke up. I was having strange dreams."

"What about?"

"Nothing in particular. Flashes of faces of my family. I don't really remember."

"Hmm. Eat some lunch and call your mom back. Tell her you'll go to the wedding. I'll go with you. And get some more rest."

"Wait a minute. You want to go with me? And what about keeping things low key? What about the director?"

"The team already knows. Tony told McGee. As for the director, I just told him. He took it well. Said to keep it out of the office and he didn't care. And that if anyone were to ask him about it he would deny any knowledge of our relationship."

"I knew I liked him. And was McGee ok?"

"He's new enough to the team, that he's afraid to say anything but I don't think he's bothered by it. He seems rather taken with Abby."

"She does have that effect on people."

"Ummhmm. Gotta go. Call your mom, and eat some lunch."

"Yes boss." They hung up, and Kate felt a lightness in her heart that she hadn't know she needed to feel. She decided to call her brother George first and let him know she was going to the wedding. The call didn't last long, as he was at work, but the relief and joy emanating from his voice told her many things, the least of which was that he, like her, dreaded going home for any type of family gathering without a friendly face to back them up. They would be doubly supported this time as George was bringing his partner, and she was bringing Gibbs. Next she decided to call her mom. She had a feeling that their conversation was not going to be for the faint of heart.

"Hello." Her mother answered loftily, as if she didn't know it was Kate calling her.

"Hello mother."

"Darling! How wonderful of you to call me back. Why didn't you answer your phone this morning? That man was quite gruff."

"I wasn't feeling well. I woke up with a fever. So I was still in bed. He got up to get me some Tylenol and some water. And as for him being gruff, that's just how he is over the phone. He's not one to mince words."

"Ah, will you be bringing him to the wedding? I mean, assuming you're coming that is."

"Yes mother, I'm coming, and yes I'm bringing him with me. When is Deb getting married? I haven't had a chance to check my mailbox to see if the invitation arrived."

"Well it's going to be in October. The 20th. That's a Saturday, and we're having it here at the house, you know for all the fall colors and such. It's going to be lovely. Now she's already picked bridesmaids and the like, they're wearing fall leaf colors, red and orange. So if you dress similarly, you can be a stand in just in case someone backs out at the last minute."

"I will not. If Deb wanted me in her wedding I would have known long before now. No mom."

"Well it was a thought. I do wish the two of you would stop fighting."

"We never fought mom. She hurt me in the most horrible way you can hurt a sister. I've forgiven her, but it's very hard to forget."

"Won't you please tell me what happened?"

"No. I think that if you want to know, you need to hear it from her, provided she actually tells you the truth."

"I've asked Deb a dozen times. She always says she doesn't know what she did to upset you. Is that a lie Katie?"

"She knows. Remember how I dropped out of law school?"

"Yes. I always wondered what happened. You seemed so distant and you didn't come home. You stayed with George."

"I came home early from classes one day. I caught Deb having sex with my fiancé. I dropped him, her, and law school in the same week."

"Darling why didn't you tell me? All these years of hurt over some silly man and a mistake."

"A mistake? No, that would have been sleeping together once. They had been together for months. I never said anything to protect myself. All of you, aside from George, have always taken her side on everything. None of you have ever bothered to listen to me. I'll come to her wedding and I'll sit politely in the crowd. I'll even toast to her happiness. But I will not ever forget the hurt she visited on me."

"Very well."

"I have to go mother. I'll talk to you later. I love you."

"I love you too darling." With that they hung up. Kate brushed away the angry tears that had gathered in her eyes, hoping to ease the sting a little bit more. She wasn't sure if telling her mother was the right thing to do. But it felt better to get it off her chest, just like it had when she'd told George about. And now that she had, she felt better prepared to face her sister again.

Gibbs came home to the smell of something delicious wafting from his kitchen. It had been a long time since anyone had bothered to cook for him. He knew Kate had some skill in the kitchen but had never really seen her go all out for dinner. She must have gone to the grocery store at some point, because he couldn't remember having some of the items in his refrigerator.

"Hey." He said softly to get her attention, as he leaned against the door frame. She didn't whirl around in surprise, so she must have heard him at some point.

"Hey, yourself. How was work today?"

"Slow. Would have been better with you there. How are you feeling?"

"Better. The fever has been gone all day. No chills and no other symptoms. I decided to make you dinner."

"Thanks babe. I'm going to change." She waved him off and checked on her pasta noodles. She heard him troop up the stairs a moment later. She liked being in his house, surrounded by him. She could imagine them moving her furniture in as well, and making it their home instead of just his. She knew he had a lot of memories there, from Shannon, and Kelly. Probably some of his other two ex-wives. But she knew the Shannon and Kelly would pervade his space. It would take time, and they might not ever get there, but she loved him and that was enough for her.

Kate heard him walking down the stairs again a moment later. The way his feet were padding, made her think he was barefoot. That meant he wasn't going down to the basement anytime soon. She plated the pasta, and poured sauce over it. She was setting everything on the table when he rounded the corner. He had changed into jeans and a t-shirt, but she couldn't remember him ever looking so handsome. A smile crept it way across her face of its own volition. This man truly made her happy.