When Ducky stepped out of the elevator Gibbs immediately motioned for the M.E to come over to him. When he was in reach Gibbs put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Think I should tell them about Kate?

Ducky knew immediately what Gibbs was talking about. "Do you think that's wise?"

"I don't know. We don't know who has Kate and I need them to prepare for anything and everything." He glanced over Ducky's shoulder to see Abby pull something out of the envelope and hurried over to her. "What you got?"

She held up the shiny Disc. "Should we look at this first or should I continue with the envelope?"

Gibbs was torn. However, knowing there might be something on the Disc he decided. "Let's look at that and then you can proceed with the envelope."

Abby glanced at the disc. "I can't see any fingerprints here." She walked over to the computer and soon had the Disc in place. She took a deep breath. "Ok, here we go." A click and she walked back to stand next to Tim grabbing on to his arm.

The computer screen became dark and for a moment no one saw anything. Then it seemed to brighten and soon a figure could be seen. A figure sitting against a dark wall with her head bent down.

"Kate." Gibbs whispered taking in her slumped form. He noticed the red markings on her wrists and clenched his hands in anger.

Abby tightened her grip on Tim's arm and in return he put one of his hands over her hand.

The figure on the screen raised her head and was now looking straight at them. So it seemed. A small and pained smile graced her face. "Hi guys."

Gibbs searched her face for injuries but all he saw was a small bump on her forehead. She looked pale and worn out

"She doesn't look to good." Tony spit out in disgust.

Before anyone could respond Kate's voice spoke again.

"I hate doing it this way but it seems I have no choice. This is my goodbye to you all."

Abby's hands flew to her mouth. "No, no, no…"

Tim wrapped his arm around her shoulders but would not take his eyes of the screen.

This could not be happening. Tony tried to keep calm. This would not be goodbye. He would see her again.

Ducky silently prayed she was wrong. Kate had been through so much. Surely things could not end this way.

Gibbs couldn't breathe. This was not a possibility. This was not goodbye. No way. Not know. Not after everything that had happened. Not until Kate's voice spoke again did he breathe.

"I don't know what you know by now. About me I mean. Not sure what you've been told. I've been keeping secrets. Well, just one but still." There was a pause as she shifted slightly and looked down at her hands. "I should have told you I know but well, things haven't been that easy for me. I just hope you won't hate me for keeping it from you."

Gibbs moved to the computer and hit a key making the screen freeze.

"Boss?" Tony and Tim's voices echoed each other.

Abby removed her hands from her mouth. "Gibbs, what is going on?"

Gibbs looked over at Ducky who simply nodded.

He didn't like what he was going to say and some part of him told him he didn't need to say it. However, keeping Kate's secret was important. "What I am about to tell you I do not want to go any further. Let me be perfectly clear on that. If it does then I will have you fired and you are lucky if that is all I will do."

Abby was shocked and let it show. "Gibbs, why would you say something like that? You know we would never betray you or Kate."

Gibbs knew but he had to be sure.

Tim realized it had been hard for his boss to say those words. He knew whatever Gibbs was going to say next was important and it might mean Kate's safety. "She is our friend. We don't betray friends."

Gibbs was glad that he had been right. Still this was not an ordinary secret. He did not like the look Tony was giving him. "Tony?"

Tony wasn't sure what secret could be so big but he knew better then to question it right now. "I thought you knew us better than this boss."

Gibbs felt a bit relieved. It wasn't about Kate secret in itself but more of not being trusted. "I do but this is different." He took a deep breath. "I am not sure how to say it so I'll just say it. Kate is…. Kate is a vampire."

Three very shocked faces stared back at him.

"It is true." Ducky spoke. "I have known a while longer then Jethro and can guarantee that our dear Caitlin is a vampire."

Abby tried to think but her mind was reeling. "Kate is a vampire? Wow."

Gibbs smiled a little at that.

"That is … different." Tim had not expected something like this but looking at Gibbs' face he knew this was no joke. "Still, doesn't change who she is. She's still our friend."

Gibbs wondered if Abby might have rubbed of a little more on McGee then anyone realized. No, this was pure Tim. He didn't judge people by labels or covers.

"You are serious?" Tony ran fingers though his hair. "Do I really know Kate at all?"

Gibbs wanted to smack his head then but Tim spoke first.

"She still is the same Kate she was before."

Tony turned towards Tim. "Is she really Probie?"

"Of course she is. How can you say something like that?" Abby shouted and moved to slap Tony's arm.

"ENOUGH!"

Everyone whipped their heads around to face Gibbs.

"You can deal with your feelings later Tony. Now we work to find Kate and then you can see for yourself she is still the same person she always has been." Not waiting for a reply he hit the key and the image of Kate came to life.

Kate looked up at them again. "Ok, this is hard but ok, here we go. Ducky."

The M.E focused more intently at that moment at the screen.

"I've told you many times how grateful I am to you and I am. You've been such a wonderful friend that several times I wondered if I should pinch myself to see if I was dreaming."

Ducky smiled at the comment.

"I cannot thank you enough for everything. You truly are one of the most amazing people I have ever met and believe me, I've meet many." Kate placed her hands over her heart. "Thank You."

Abby sniffed as Tim and Tony watched in silence

Ducky looked away not wanting the others to see the tears that was starting to form in his eyes. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up at Gibbs.

"Gibbs."

When he heard his name Gibbs turned to look back at the screen.

"When you found out and didn't walk away from me. You don't know how much that meant to me."

"I do know Kate." Gibbs whispered.

Kate coughed a bit before continuing. "Damn it, Gibbs. I thought we had more time."

Ignoring the looks that he received Gibbs whispered yet again. "We will Kate. I promise you we will."

"No matter what I say it won't be enough but…" Kate closed her eyes but opened them quickly and seemed to look directly at him from the screen. "You mean so much to me and I wish I could tell you just how much."

Gibbs silently hoped it was the other way around. That Kate knew how much she meant to him.

Kate seemed to shake herself and continued. "Dinozzo…. Tony."

Tony blinked slightly.

"If you know then I hope you can understand why I didn't tell you. I do trust you but I couldn't trust myself. Trust myself how I would react if you were to turn your back on me. I was the weak link here not you. "

Gibbs looked over at Tony and could see that those words from Kate had poked a hole in the anger Tony had felt earlier. She had hit the right target.

Tony was taken aback. How was it that Kate knew him so well?

"Screw the rule about apologies."

Tony smiled and while still watching the screen he did not see that Gibbs smiled as well at that comment.

"I am sorry Tony. I am."

"We will find you Kate so you can apologize to me in person." Tony whispered rather loud.

Gibbs wasn't sure if Tony was serious or not but he didn't care. Kate had gotten to him and that was a good thing.

"McGee….. Tim."

Tim felt Abby grab his arm again but more in friendly gesture this time.

"I also owe you an apology. Somehow I think you might have accepted me more easily but well, it still scared me to tell you. I trust you as much as I trust the others but as I said before. I didn't trust myself. I am sorry Tim."

"No Kate. There is nothing to be sorry about." Tim said out loud.

Gibbs watched the young man. Leave it to Tim to say something like that.

"Abby."

Abby braced herself and this time Tim was the one that grabbed her arm gently.

Gibbs left Ducky's side and walked over to stand next to Abby.

"If I know you the way I do you might even find my secret interesting."

Abby smiled sadly as she felt Gibbs' hand on her back and Tim's hand on her arm.

"Still didn't trust myself to tell you and for that I am really sorry. Believe me when I say I trust you and I was close in telling you once or twice but could never bring myself to do so. I regret that now."

"Oh, Kate." Abby leaned into Tim's arms as Gibbs' made soothing circles with his hand on her back.

"I hope you all know how much I love you." Kate's voice was breaking at this point. "And Ducky, I don't know what Palmer knows but tell him how much I respect him and tell him to stop second guessing himself. He is too smart for that if he just gave himself the chance."

Gibbs looked over to Ducky and both men smiled again.

"So I guess this is goodbye. I wish that it wasn't but it's out of my hands."

Something caught Gibb's eyes.

"Gibbs, did you see it?" Abby yelled suddenly extremely excited.

"I saw it."

Gibbs and Abby moved closer to the screen. And the others soon followed.

Tony couldn't understand what they were looking at. "What did you see?"

"Her hands are moving. She is signing something." Abby replied while working on the computer so they could see that last scene again.

Soon the image came back on screen and they all watched as Kate signed. They were small and subtle hand gestures.

"She's giving us a message." Tim couldn't see what she was trying to sign.

"Good girl." Gibbs grinned as he tried to see what Kate was trying to say.

"It's too small. I need to make the image bigger." Abby franticly typed away.

"Come on Kate, What are you trying to tell us?" Gibbs knew Abby was working as fast as she could but he still wished it would go faster.

"There."

A larger image came on screen and soon Kate' hands were signing again.

Gibbs was frustrated. He still couldn't make it out. He watched Abby and could tell she was being more successful than he was. "Abby?"

Abby held a finger up hoping he would get the message.

How he hated to wait but he had no choice. He saw Abby was trying to concentrate.

She wasn't sure if she had been right and as she replied the scene one more time she realized it had to be what Kate was signing. Her face lit up in a smile. "I know where Kate is."