She blinked and coughed a bit. There was pain from the lower side of her stomach and she had to figure out why that was. Right, she had been shot. She removed the blanket and let it drop to the floor. As she sat up she felt light headed. She took a few deep breaths as she got off from the slab. She noticed Jimmy fast asleep by the desk. She smiled. He looked rather adorable. She quietly made her way over and then through the doors. She then saw Gibbs and Ducky sleeping on the couch. What the hell happened to Gibbs' face? Bruising over his nose and dried blood underneath. She'd have to ask him about that later. Nose aside he was rather cute the way his head had dropped sideways. Another smile graced her lips. They must really be tired if they had failed to hear the sounds she was making. She continued to the elevator careful not to disturb them. She decided to take the stairs so she changed her path. She took one last look at the sleeping pair as she quietly opened and closed a door behind her. Grimacing at the pain in her stomach she took one step at a time. This was going to hurt a bit. It wasn't too long before she was at the right floor. Opening the door she walked inside. She took in the surroundings and there she was. It felt good to be here again. For a few moments she had actually though she might not see this place again. She took a seat behind her desk and the pain in her stomach seemed to welcome that she was off her feet.
'''''''''''''''
Gibbs yawned as he opened his eyes. Damn, he fell asleep. It seemed that Ducky had done the same. Well, they weren't young men anymore. Gibbs stood up and walked through into autopsy. Once inside he stopped. He saw the empty table and the blanket on the floor. Where was Kate? He walked over to Jimmy and placed a hand on the younger man's shoulder.
Jimmy opened his eyes as he felt someone shaking him. "What?"
"Jimmy, where is Kate?"
That woke Jimmy up. He stood up abruptly and took in the same scene Gibbs had only moments ago. "I… I don't know."
Gibbs had suspected as much. He turned and walked out to Ducky. "Ducky." He got closer to his friend. "Duck!"
"Hmm." Ducky stirred and opened his eyes. "Yes, what is it Jethro?"
Gibbs waited until Ducky had fully awakened. "Kate is not here. She must have woken up while we were asleep."
Ducky smiled. "No need to worry. She is probably upstairs. Why don't we go and check?"
That did make sense still why hadn't Kate woke them up? Gibbs would feel much better once he saw Kate in person.
The two men headed for the elevator and right then the elevator doors opened to reveal Abby.
"Is she awake?"
When Gibbs didn't reply Ducky filled her in. "We think so. She isn't here."
Abby moved back as Gibbs and Ducky joined her in the elevator. "So she is awake. Well, maybe she needed a potty break." Abby smiled at the thought of finally being able to talk to Kate again. "Or maybe she just needed to move around a bit. Can't imagine how stiff she must be after being on that cold steel for hours."
Gibbs had to agree that Abby had a good point. Still would feel better once he actually saw her.
The trio waited patiently as the elevator moved between floors.
Abby was getting impatient. "How's your nose, Gibbs?"
"It will heal."
As they stepped out of the elevator Abby took one fast look around and then made a beeline for the restroom. "I'll check in here." She yelled over her shoulder.
When Gibbs failed to see Kate anywhere in the bullpen he wondered just where she could have gone off to?
Abby had barely stepped inside the restroom when she saw Kate sprawled out on the floor. "GIBBS!" She yelled at the top of her lungs as she moved to Kate's side.
Soon the door was yanked open as both Gibbs and Ducky came inside.
"What's wrong with her?" Abby's both hands held on to one of Kate's while looking at the two men.
Gibbs knew he had to be patient as he waited for Ducky take a look at her.
"I wouldn't worry Abigail." Ducky checked her pulse and once he was satisfied he moved Kate's head carefully. "I think she overstrained herself."
Gibbs took of his jacket and moved to kneel beside Abby. Gently he raised Kate's head and laid his jacket underneath. "Are you sure Ducky?"
Ducky nodded. "Yes, she may have been a sleep but she still needs some more rest." Hel lifted her shirt and inspected where she had been shot.
Gibbs hoped that Ducky was right. There was a moan and his attention was drawn back towards Kate. He watched as her eyes opened and had never felt so relieved.
Abby let out a deep breath as she kept holding on to Kate's hand.
Where was she? Oh, right. She saw Ducky. There was someone else holding her hand and squeezing it tight. She tilted her head and saw Gibbs.
"I do not think I've ever been so happy to see you open your eyes Kate." He reached out and brushed some hair from her face,
She was so happy to see him. No, he wasn't the one holding her hand. Abby was. "Abby." She tried to sit up and as she did Ducky helped her.
Abby was incredible happy to see her. "Kate, I've been so worried about you. First you were abducted and then we got this goodbye DVD. As if that wasn't enough when Gibbs told me he had shot you I thought I was going to have to hurt him bad!" She went on missing the small smiles from Ducky and Gibbs. "But vamp girl is back!" She leaned in and gave Kate as good of a hug as she could.
Thrown a bit Kate had to think. "Vamp girl?" That could only mean one thing.
Abby withdrew while holding on to Kate's shoulders. "Yeah, you know. I mean you are a vampire." She let go and gestured wildly. "It's so awesome. I didn't think they were real but they are and you are one. This is so freaking cool!" She threw her arms around Kate once again and this time Kate embraced her back.
Kate looked at Gibbs over Abby's shoulder. He smiled back at her. She pushed Abby gently away from her. "So, who else knows?"
"Dinozzo, McGee and Palmer." Gibbs answered her question.
"Oh, ok." A hand went to her forehead and she sighed. She was feeling light headed again.
Ducky knew that sign very well. "Caitlin, do you need blood?"
Gibbs eyed her carefully. When Kate nodded as in answer to Ducky's question Gibbs moved around Abby and seated himself on the floor behind Kate. He had to squeeze in to fit between her and the wall but it worked. He drew her to lean in to him quite easily. Once she was seated between his legs he pulled out his knife.
"Jehtro, let me get a scalpel." Ducky moved before Gibbs got a chance to say anything. "Another minute or two will not make a difference."
Abby had a pretty good idea what was going on but was she right? "Blood? Eh, Kate does that mean you eh…. "
Kate opened her eyes. "Yes. I need to drink blood once in a while."
"Wow!" Abby also understood why Gibbs was behind Kate now. "So, Gibbs does it hurt?"
"How do you know I've done this before?"
She frowned. "Well, you didn't even offer to do it this time."
Gibbs chuckled as he rubbed one of Kate's arms. "Actually Abs; I've only done it one time before."
Kate laughed a little. "Yeah, he just found a razor blade, cut his arm and told me to drink."
Abby could easily see that happening. "So, does it hurt?"
"It doesn't hurt. It's a bit over powering but it doesn't hurt." Gibbs didn't feel like mentioning the sexual thrill that went along with it.
The door was opened and Ducky came back inside. "I am afraid my mind isn't what it used to be. I forgot I actually had one scalpel with me just in case."
Gibbs rolled up a sleeve and held out his arm for Ducky as Abby moved a step back.
Ducky was steady on his hands as he made a small wound in his friend's arm. "There we go."
Gibbs offered Kate his arm and soon her lips were on the wound. Again the familiar lightning bolt of sexual feeling hit him. He had to work hard to ignore that. It was difficult when Kate's lips were on his skin and greedily sucked away.
Abby had never witnessed something like this. There were no words she could describe what she was seeing. Sure she'd seen moves but this, this was real.
Gibbs tried to focus. Then the arousing feeling seemed to fade but not entirely. He sighed as he leaned in against the wall behind him.
Still holding on to Gibbs' arm Abby watched as a transparent liquid came from Kate's lips that she placed over the cut. It was rather intriguing. Abby noticed that the bleeding had already stopped. Then Kate placed a light kiss on the cut before leaning back into Gibb's body. Gibbs however, looked a bit worn out.
Gibbs had felt the small kiss from Kate and he now embraced her as they sat there together. He felt a hand on his arm. He turned to look at Abby who seemed worried. "I'm ok Abs. Like I said, it can be over powering."
Abby nodded. "That was unbelievable but in a good way. It was freaking amazing."
Kate was really happy that Abby was accepting her so easily. Then again, this was Abby; if anyone would it would be her.
Gibbs smiled as he kissed Kate's hair. So far this was going well. He wondered how the others would treat Kate now. He didn't feel he had to worry about Tim but Tony, he wasn't sure. Then again, Tony had punched him for shooting Kate so the odds were looking good.
"Well my dear, I still recommend you get some rest today." Ducky patted Kate's arm as he stood up. "I am sure Jethro will look after you but if you need me you know where I'll be."
"Oh, I have to find Tim and Tony. They would want to see you." Abby stood as well and together with Ducky they headed out the door.
"Gibbs?" Kate said once they were alone.
"Yes, Kate?" He tightened his embrace enjoying the feeling of having her close.
"Want to tell me what happened to your face?"
"Dinozzo."
"Dinozzo?"
"Dinozzo."
Tony had taken a swing at Gibbs. Now that was different. "Why?"
"He wasn't too fond of the idea that I had shot you."
Kate was a bit surprised at this. "That was rather sweet of him."
Gibbs frowned but could hear the humor behind that statement. "Yeah, wasn't he a doll?"
Kate laughed as she turned to look at him more. She studied him. "Is he still alive?"
"He's fine. We're all fine." Even after everything she had been through she was still the most beautiful woman he knew.
They gazed at each other both wondering if it was a bad time to kiss. The moment was interrupted when the door was yanked open.
Gibbs banged his head against the wall in frustration of being interrupted.
"Abby told me you were up. Seems to me you are still down." Tony walked in but halted his steps once he was inside. He wasn't sure how to interpret the moment he had interrupted.
Kate turned towards Tony and Tim while rolling her eyes at Tony's comment. She leaned forward from Gibbs and missed the feel of his body already.
Tim continued on inside and kneeled down next to Kate. "How are you Kate?" He was really happy to see her and couldn't hide it even if he tried.
Tim did seem glad to see her or was she imagining it? "I'll be ok. Just still a bit light headed."
"And that…" Tim pointed to her stomach that was still covered in the bloody shirt.
She lifted it slightly for him to see. This drew Tony to Tim's side too take a closer look as well.
Tim was stunned. There was some bruising and slight scarring but nothing more. "That is incredible."
Tony was equally stunned.
"The bruising will eventually go away. Not sure about the scarring. Sometimes it fades and sometimes it does not." She let her shirt fall back down.
"No matter, just glad to have you back Kate." Tim gave her a small kiss on her cheek.
Kate wanted to ask but a part of her was still holding back. "And now that you know the truth about me?"
Tony started talking before Tim had a chance to. "You know what Probie said when he found out?"
Kate had not expected Tony to answer but shifted her eyes to look at him. She shook her head.
"He said and I quote. 'Still, doesn't change who she is. She's still our friend.' That's what he said."
Kate looked back at Tim. "Really?"
"Yeah." Tim confirmed. "It doesn't change who you are."
Now Kate didn't hold back as she hugged Tim. "Thank You."
Embracing her Tim patted her lightly on the back while seeing Gibbs smiling behind Kate. "You don't need to thank me." He drew back and stood up to make room for Tony.
Seeing the gesture Tony took a step to the side and kneeled next to Kate. He saw the glare that came from Gibbs and knew what it meant. The glare was screaming 'be careful with what you say'.
She couldn't read him. She wasn't sure what he was thinking so she started out light. "Punching the boss, Tony?"
"He shot you!" Tony defended himself. "What would you have done?"
Kate said nothing in response at first but when Tony did not either Kate knew she had to say something. "Are we ok?"
Tony could hear himself saying those words just hours earlier to Gibbs. He had been worried that he had really screwed things up with his boss but now this was more important. Kate needed to know he would still be there for her, like before. "Of course we are." He paused a moment. "I mean that was one hell of a secret and I can understand why you didn't tell us but we are all still here. You can't get rid of us that easy. "There was another moment of pause. "I admit that when we found out I questioned if you really were the same person we knew."
"Dinozzo." Gibbs moved forward a bit from the wall.
Kate half turned and put a hand on Gibbs' chest. "No, let him finish."
Tony tried to ignore Gibbs as he focused on Kate. "I thought about it once you were back. Sure we might know something about you that makes you different from us. Just in some ways. In all that matters you are the same as before and you mean a lot to me. I got your back." He drew her into a hug and added into her ear. "Got any hot vampire chicks I can meet?"
Kate laughed as she hugged him back.
Tony looked over Kate's shoulder towards Gibbs who by now had a look of approval on his face. At least that is what it looked like. He could never be sure when it came to his boss.
"Ok, I really need to change shirts now. And these pants too." Kate regretted those comments immediately knowing full well Tony would comment on that.
Tony withdrew from Kate. "I can help you with that." He winked at Kate.
Gibbs didn't care if that was meant to be light hearted or not. He slapped the back of Tony's head.
This time Tony didn't even bother to comment or even register the slap.
Kate just shook her head. "How about helping me up instead?"
Tony stood and drew Kate back up with him. She was rather light and it was good to see her back in form. "Need help boss?"
Gibbs felt like slapping Tony again. He was just too far away. "No!"
