NCIS

Chapter 2

The best days of before

"Gibbs?" Kate wandered into the clearing where the body lay. DiNozzo and McGee were elsewhere but Gibbs was standing away from the body leaning against a tree with his hand. He was hanging his head, shoulders heaving. She waited for him to show a sign that he had heard her but there was no response whatsoever. She opened her mouth to call for his attention again and he caught her off guard.

"What do you want Agent Todd?" He appeared to be rubbing his eyes but Kate could not be sure with his back to her.

"Ducky and Palmer are here."

Gibbs turned around his eyes red and watery. Kate tried to pretend that she did not notice.

"Where are they?" Gibbs was slightly frustrated that Kate had interrupted him for nothing since Ducky and Palmer were nowhere to be seen.

"They're getting the van ready." Kate answered, wringing her hands.

"Something else you want Agent Todd?"

"Gibbs…I...uh…I want to apologize for my behavior back at headquarters." She said taking a step forward.

"Do me a favor Agent Todd."

"Sure."

"Don't apologize to me," He said as he brushed past her. "It wasn't my wife you insulted."

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Apartment of Anthony DiNozzo Junior;

They sat together on the couch watching the credits roll and he looked over at her to find tears falling down her cheeks. He smiled never thinking that she would cry from watching the Titanic.

He sat up and leaned forward placing his glass of wine on the coffee table in front of them. She dried her eyes quickly hoping he hadn't noticed and she sipped the last of the wine that remained in her glass before setting it on the table as well.

"I've only ever seen you do that twice." He chuckled while settling back against the couch and pulling her into his arms. The first time was after she almost died on her first case the second was when Gibbs was in the hospital.

"What can I say? I guess it's just easy for me to let my guard down when we're alone together." She smiled sweetly hugging him closely.

Tony smiled and grabbed the remote. He turned off the TV leaving the room to only be lit by the candles in the room. He took a deep breath and looked into her eyes. He never felt the way he did now with another woman before.

"I love you." He whispered meaningfully.

She smiled and he noticed fresh tears escape her eyes. "I love you too." She smiled then kissed him softly.

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He would give anything to hear her say that again for real instead of having to recall a memory that stabbed him in the heart each time he thought of it. Every memory he had of her brought both a smile to his face and tears to his eyes.

He would never forget the way she laughed and how her eyes would light up whenever she talked about her job, her father, her friends, and even himself. There were nights when he couldn't sleep because she was all he could think about.

She used to never be able to sleep unless he was there with her and now he knew how that felt in the worst way. He remembered how she would only wear his shirts to bed if anything at all and the way she smiled every time she saw him.

He also loved the way that she preferred the elevator over the closet for a place to steal a kiss before Gibbs or anyone else knew they were so in love.

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NCIS Headquarters; Squad room

"Does personal space mean anything to you DiNozzo?" He couldn't help but smile from where he stood behind her their bodies an inch from touching.

"Not when you smell like that." She looked over her shoulder glaring at him and he smirked. "You really are Gibbs' daughter." He chuckled.

"That's exactly why you should shut up and step back considering the fact that he could catch us any second." She laughed.

Tony smirked as he noticed a little glimmer of lust in her eyes. "Is that really what you want?" He asked softly in her ear. He took a step closer as if there was even that much space left. He smiled knowing he was pushing his limits and he pressed his lips to her cheek.

"You must have a death wish." The brunette laughed. She looked around to make sure no one on the floor was paying attention and she nodded in the direction of the elevator with a wink.

Tony raised an eyebrow in curiosity and followed her as she started to walk toward the doors. She had pushed the button just as he caught up to her and the doors opened. He smirked as they stepped in together and she closed the doors.

"Am I in trouble?" He asked with a boyish grin as she punched the emergency stop.

"You will be if you don't kiss me."

Tony smiled wondering how she knew that was exactly what he wanted to hear. He took a step closer to her and pulled her into his arms kissing her passionately.

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Tony sighed while he waited for Gibbs to return to the van. He leaned on the tailgate of the car that Ducky and Palmer arrived in knowing that Gibbs would prefer to take it in order to get back faster.

"Get in Tony." Gibbs opened the passenger door tossing Tony the keys.

The younger man caught them in one hand and got in starting the engine immediately.

"Boss?"

"Yeah, what?"

"Do you think she felt it, when she was killed?" Tony wondered with caution. He was curious ever since it happened but never actually asked Gibbs what he thought.

"I hope to god she didn't just like I hope that Kelly didn't feel any pain. No parent wants their child to suffer." Gibbs answered honestly. Talking about this with Tony was easier than with anyone else since they both lost the women they love. Though he would still much rather his feelings remain quiet.

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"Tell him Dad." Gibbs looked into the sideview mirror and into the backseat at the sound of her familiar voice.

She was sitting there as if she had never been gone. She looked exactly the same as the last time he had seen her. She had her brown shoulder length hair in curls and she was wearing a dark red tailored suit.

"I can't." Gibbs whispered to the hallucination.

Tony glanced over at him confused by what he heard. "Can't what Boss?"

Gibbs looked at his son in law and shook his head. "Nothing just thinking to myself." Gibbs muttered and turned back to look at her reflection but she was gone.

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"Ah Caitlin, Gibbs said you'd be here waiting for us." Ducky placed the gurney down next to the man's body with Palmer's help.

"Hi Ducky," Kate smiled at the medical examiner. "I guess that means I'm riding back with you." Kate assumed.

"Didn't Gibbs inform you of that?" Ducky questioned as he bent down to get a look at the body.

"No, he's taken to minimizing any confrontation with me today."

"Why would he do that?" Palmer asked.

Kate sighed bending down next to Ducky. "Long story, basically I said something that offended Tony and I was informed that it involved Gibbs."

Ducky looked up at Kate and sighed. "My goodness, in my haste to get here I almost forgot what day it was."

Palmer looked confused. "It's Tuesday Doctor."

"Yes I'm well aware of what day of the week this is Mr. Palmer what I meant was the date." Ducky replied quietly.

"I'm sorry Doctor." Palmer said quickly.

"That's quite alright, my boy." Ducky answered. "You see today marks the anniversary of a terribly traumatic day for both Gibbs and our young DiNozzo so it is understandable if their moods are a bit more dramatic than usual." Ducky explained to them both.

"You knew her too?" Kate asked.

"Oh yes of course, she was the most talented agent to ever work for NCIS." Ducky replied with a smile.

Palmer was becoming more confused by the second. "Who are you talking about Doctor?"

"I am referring, Mr. Palmer, to Gibbs' daughter who was also Anthony's wife."

"I had no idea that either of them had such relations." Palmer said with surprise.

"It appears that Miss Caitlin had no idea either." Ducky looked back at Kate and smiled sympathetically.

"What was she like?" Kate wondered out loud.

"She was an extraordinary young woman. She was intelligent, kind, funny. She gave Tony a run for his money that's for sure. She was also tolerant and strong, cared more about other people than she ever did herself. She was beautiful and a wonderful friend to all who knew her and she was very protective of Gibbs. She didn't take kindly to him marrying three times. You sometimes forgot which one was the parent and which one was the child."

When Ducky was through with his description Kate noticed the glimmer of tears in the man's eyes as he started examining the body.

"How was she killed?" Kate asked. She did not want to remind Ducky of the loss that was obviously as painful for him as it was for Tony and Gibbs but she could not help but be curious.

"I don't think I've said anything about the manner in which she passed." Ducky looked at Kate suspiciously.

"McGee told me." Kate informed him.

"I see," Ducky paused. "I'm not sure that I should be the one to tell you Caitlin. What happened was a tragedy and I do not feel comfortable betraying the trust that Gibbs and Anthony have in me."

"I understand Ducky." Kate gave him a friendly nod and she let him get back to work.

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McGee stood at the window of the conference room looking down at the Navy yard below. He sighed as thoughts of her clouded his mind. She was the only one including Sarah who understood him completely. He loved her and missed her every day.

The day she died a part of him went with her but he would never tell Abby, Tony, or even Gibbs that. Only she knew how much she really meant to him. He sighed and rubbed a hand over his face as he let the memory of her take over while he waited for the team.

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She stood in the center of the apartment wailing on a speed bag with her hair tied back in a ponytail. She was drenched in sweat and clearly pissed at something.

McGee didn't know what to say when he saw her like this upon entering their apartment. He had only seen her so angry once or twice and it was usually aimed at Gibbs but this time seemed different. Like it was someone else she was pissed at.

"Do I want to ask what's going on with you?" McGee asked cautiously as he moved to sit on the couch.

Brooke paused in the middle of beating the bag and glared at him. She only growled and tore off the gloves she was wearing and threw them on the floor on the way to the fridge where she grabbed a bottle of water.

"What happened?" He got to his feet and strolled toward her shoving his hands in his pockets fearing that maybe she was mad at him.

She had her back to him and after sighing she turned around and slammed the unopened water bottle down on the counter.

"She left, just like the other two why do they always leave?" Brooke hissed angrily. McGee sighed having realized that she was talking about her third stepmother.

"I don't know Brooke, I honestly don't know." McGee sighed wishing there was something he could do for her.

"I didn't like her as much as Stephanie but I was starting to." She bit her lip and took a sharp breath. All I want is for my Dad to be happy. I would give anything to have my Mom and Kelly back."

McGee placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and she immediately crumbled letting him hug her while she started to cry. "It's okay, I know it still hurts."

"I didn't even get to say goodbye to them." She sobbed. She hated that the anniversary of their deaths always came so quickly.

"You were in a coma Brooke there was nothing you could do. They know you loved them." He reassured her softly.

"I should have died with them." She whimpered.

McGee pulled back a bit and held her at arm's length. He took his shirt sleeve and gently wiped away her tears. "Don't say things like that. If you died we never would have met and I wouldn't have a best friend."

Brooke smiled weakly and shrugged with his words. "I didn't think of it like that." She dried the rest of her tears with the back of her hand and stood on her toes to kiss his cheek. "You always know what to say."

"That's because I love you."

"I love you too Timmy."