Disclaimer: Of course NCiS… characters… and such belong to the powers that be & not MEL!!! Story created purely for entertainment value.

You know the drill… I haven't purchased the rights in the last 24 hours… I still don't own it!

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Kate hadn't had a good night sleep in days. She was beyond reading, beyond watching television and now just spent her time tossing and turning. Punching her pillow, pacing her floor as well as contemplating going into her sister's room they way Abby had barged in on her. Kate finally settled a little looking at the ceiling finally turning on her side. She had left the lamp on but had no desire to get up from her bed and turn it off.

The door slowly opened. Kate felt the whoosh of air and saw the gentle glow of ankle height hallway night lights spill into the room. It didn't matter who it was because Kate had lost the desire to care about anything else other than the guilt that had taken up permanent residence in her body.

"Katie… Kate you awake?" It was the last person she wanted to speak to. So she was hesitant to answer, but it didn't stop him from advancing.

As he got closer she answered. "I'm up dad."

Coming to sit on the edge of the bed Gibbs rubbed his daughter's shoulder not sure what was causing the insomnia, although he did have his suspicions. "I saw the light under the door baby. What's wrong?"

"I couldn't sleep earlier and forgot to turn off the light when I got back in bed. I just didn't feel like getting up to turn it out."

"You're having a hard time sleeping?"

She was going to scream if he was nice to her for another moment. "Dad I'm fine. I mean seriously I just couldn't sleep it's not a big deal. I'm sorry I left the light on."

"Take it easy I was just checking. I thought something might be bothering you. You sure you don't want to talk." He kept up rubbing her back as she was now on her stomach.

Kate just moved her head from side to side without taking it off the pillow. Gibbs kissed the back of that head and walked out of the room turning out the light on the way.

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"Jethro what took you so long?" Jennifer Shepard Gibbs sat up in bed taking off her glasses and set her book aside. She had taken to snacking late which drove her husband nuts because he absolutely hated finding little crumbs in bed even though she was positive she never left any. Unbeknownst to him she had made a doctor's appointment to see why her appetite was so voracious all of a sudden.

Placing the tray on her lap Gibbs watched her dig in as though they hadn't had dinner a mere three hours ago. "I was checking on Kate. Her light was on when I came upstairs. She's not sleeping well."

"Well, it's not like you don't why. At this point it isn't like she doesn't know why. Tony and Jack get in day after tomorrow and I'm telling you I won't drag this on. I know she's lying and being stubborn and there's almost no reason for it accept a boy, but enough is enough."

"I thought you were on board to have her come to the truth on her own."

"I was when I thought she would do it in a couple of days. To her credit our daughter certainly inherited the ability to stick to her resolve from us."

"Not our ability Jen… yours." Gibbs leaned over and kissed his wife prompting her to move the tray to her night table.

Coming up for air she questioned him. "Jethro are you saying after all these years you think I'm stubborn."

"No, I'm positive you are. Look, I've got one more hand to play and if she doesn't come around we'll do things your way."

Jen put her hands up stopping his next advance. "I'm starting to think you're giving in so quickly is because you want something in return Agent Gibbs."

"You're so right Jen."

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When Kate came down, in search of liquid stimulation, she found her mother and sister standing at the door with their coats on about to make an early exit.

"Hey guys. Where you going so early? And why didn't I get an invitation?" She remained on the third step from the bottom.

Looking back at her sister from beneath the hat she wore that had holes for her pigtails Abby snidely responded. "Because mommy doesn't find your wardrobe inappropriate and unacceptable."

"Okay." Kate answered her tone laced with confusion.

"I didn't say your entire wardrobe Abigail. I just said I'd like you to wear something that won't make Victoria cringe all night at the Christmas party. Last years number had her making lewd comments about your future and morals all night. I'd like to avoid that this year if possible. That's why we'll be looking at skirts that actually touch the knee."

"Great I bet I'll get a lot of use out of that," Abby mumbled walking out to the cold DC air.

Kate just laughed. The sooner her mother stopped forcing her style on her sister the less Abby would lean toward the overly outrageous. Coming down the steps all the way she waved her hand and offered a blessing for happy shopping.

Just as she was crossing the dinning room Jenny called out. "Kate dad made pancakes for you. He said he'd be down in a little bit that he has a surprise for you."

She was near collapse as she flung her head back and rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. All Kate could think was 'what in God's name is he going to give me now'. Choking down pancakes would be difficult enough without having to smile through anymore niceties. This had to be what the priest used to talk about in church when it came to guilt. All she wanted to do was come clean and have her dad be just as disappointed in her as he was with her brother and sister. It had been two weeks with more and more restrictions lifted.

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FLASHBACK

It started with her getting her cell phone back. Next, when some friends stopped by unexpectedly he didn't balk at them staying and hanging out. When she got caught on the phone talking to Ash he said to say hello then left the room. He still wouldn't let Abby use the computer unsupervised or have her phone back. Poor Tony was still on lockdown in Stillwater. Kate picked the film for movie night and he winter grilled steaks for dinner after overhearing her tell Abby how she was craving it. He even went so far as to stop being all Marine like with his inspection of her chores. She was enjoying the preferential treatment at first, but the more upset her sister got about her brother being gone the more guilt Kate was feeling.

Now she was standing in front of her father as he reminded her about the rules for driving the car. Leroy Jethro Gibbs was letting her take the car to go out with friends with little to no notice. He even gave her money for the outing instead of making her dip into her stash. As Abby looked on from the other side of the desk in her parents offer she was in a state of disbelief. It was starting to seem like not only did Kate not get in trouble for her part in the Hilton mess, but that she was being rewarded for it.

Following her sister to the driveway Abby said nothing but just stared incredulously.

"What Abs?"

"Don't you feel at least a little guilty going out? Taking dad's money? Not to mention the car!"

"Nope, I'm good."

"Kate! Tony's suffering and you're partying. We haven't even spoken to him except that weird phone call you had. You need to go in there and tell dad you're as much to blame at T-man and beg him to let Tony come home."

"Not gonna happen Abs. Tony and I made a deal and I'm keeping it. Apparently he is too. Just drop it." Kate didn't believe a half of what she was saying. She hoped it sounded more convincing to her sister's ears.

"You know this is wrong Kate and totally unfair."

"What I know is that you better not say anything." Slamming the car door Kate pulled off to meet her friends. It turns out that she didn't have anywhere near the amount of fun she should have and ended up getting home two hours before her curfew.

She walked past her parent's door. Standing there she vacillated on her choices. Knocking Kate still wasn't sure what would pop out of her mouth.

"Come in," her mom's voice called.

"Hi, I just wanted to let you know I was in."

"You're early did you have fun?"

"It was alright. I just felt like calling it a night. Where's daddy?"

"Where else," Jen offered with a laugh.

"Well, tell him I said good night and that the keys are on his desk. Night mom."

"Night sweetheart."

Pulling the door closed Kate swallowed the lump of guilt lodged in her throat once again committing to keeping her mouth shut. Certainly the man didn't have anymore wonderful surprises up his sleeves. She would just work on doing everything she was supposed to do and then some making sure not to take anything she felt she didn't earn or deserve.

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Present-Gibbs' Kitchen

Picking at the top pancake on the platter while she stirred the milk in her coffee Kate thought about the conversations she'd had with her sister over the last few weeks. Abby had been right she did feel bad. Now that Ash wasn't completely off limits, one phone call a day, she hardly made the effort at contact. She had to come clean because she knew the rotten way she felt wouldn't go away otherwise.

With a kiss to the top of her head Kate became aware of her father's presence. "Morning Kate."

So startled she almost dropped the coffee mug.

"You're a little jumpy."

"Tony's right you know we need to get you a bell of some sort. I can't wait to see him. I miss him."

"Really? So you're ready to have him 'torture' you for the next few days?"

Did she hear him right? Tony was only coming home for a few days. If this was the surprised it sucked! "Tony's only coming home for a few days? Why?"

"Haven't you noticed how quiet the house has been without all of his antics? Besides Grandpa Jack could use the help at the store."

"Then he needs to hire someone. You're only making Tony stay because of what happened at Hilton. You think he's the bad influence on me and Abby. He's not."

"Forget it Kate and stop worrying about Tony. I didn't come down here to talk to you about your brother. Mom and I can see how hard you've worked around the house, how responsible you've been with all the privileges you have, how much help you are to your sister and what a good example you are for her. We also talked about what happened here with Ash and we are both positive nothing happened, so we're lifting his ban completely."

"What?" Her tone could be described as nothing but utter disbelief.

"You can see Ash whenever you want and you can invite him to the Christmas party at Ducky's. You earned it kiddo."

She was sure she looked like a character in a Bugs Bunny cartoon with her jaw dropped to the floor in shock. This wasn't happening again. In one breath he had continued punishing Tony simultaneously rewarding her. The Earth was off its axis. This was it there was no way she could go on like this. How was she going to that party with Ashen on her arm knowing that Tony was still in such hot water with her parents?

Turning away from his penetrating eyes Caitlyn Marie Gibbs dug deep to summon her courage. Her voice was hardly a whisper. "No, I didn't earn it. I haven't earned anything and I'm so sorry daddy."

Leaning back in his chair the salt and pepper Gunny stared at the tiny frame of his daughter. Keeping his face dispassionate Gibbs said one word, "explain."