GIBBS

Gibbs scolded himself for the stupid grin he couldn't quite wipe off his face. Director Morrow had given him several slightly odd looks during the debrief, and he was incredibly grateful that his part in the case was basically done. He had a feeling he might have missed a few salient points in the meeting, too busy behaving like a lovesick teenager. If he kept it up much longer he'd have to start head slapping himself.

He had been too impatient and too full of energy to wait for the elevator, and he'd laughed at his own eagerness to grab Kate and get outta here. For a self confessed workaholic, he sure was ready to take some well earned time off.

As he made it way through the lab, he heard the voices of two of his favourite people as they chattered away. Somehow, he wasn't at all surprised by the subject of their conversation.

"Trust me, Kate, Gibbs has been crazy about you, like, forever."

"Really?"

Kate sounded genuinely surprised: Gibbs couldn't help smiling, given that he thought he had been painfully transparent for way too long.

"Trust me, I know."

"How do you know?"

Gibbs paused a couple of yards from the office, a little intrigued himself.

Abby chuckled. "Kate, he's been in love with you since that first case."

The sabotaged parachute? He tried not to think too hard about the fact he knew instantly what Kate's first official case had been, or that Abby had figured it out that quickly.

There was silence for a moment. He could imagine Kate's expression in the face of Abby's utter certainty.

"Really?"

"Really. I knew when he said 'please'."

It took Gibbs a moment to understand what she meant, then when he remembered he shook his head. Apparently Abby had cottoned on to it before he had, if she dated his feelings for Kate all the way back to Air Force One.

It occurred to him that he'd gone from accidental overhearing to intentional eavesdropping, and he made himself cough to announce his approach as he crossed the last few feet. He tapped lightly on the door then pushed it open. Two women jumped up to throw themselves at him, and he supposed he shouldn't have been that surprised when Abby made it first. He smiled at Kate over Abby's shoulder, and she grinned back.

"I'm so happy!" Abby was practically yelling it direct into his ear and he gently grasped her shoulders and pushed her far enough away that she wouldn't deafen him.

"I'm glad, Abs, but I'd like to keep what's left of my hearing."

Completely unabashed, she stepped back, grinning widely, as Kate walked into his arms. He dropped a kiss on the top of her head, then rolled his eyes. Abby had her hands clasped together like a small excited child and was practically jumping up and down as she looked at them.

Kate laughed. "So, Abby knows."

"You don't say?"

They grinned idiotically at each other, and he didn't even particularly mind Abby's narration about how adorable they both were.

"Oh, I am so happy for you." Her smile turned mischievous. "You guys have a whole weekend, you can just spend it-" Gibbs slapped a hand over her mouth.

"We best get outta here before Abs says something she regrets." He raised an eyebrow. Abby didn't look remotely abashed, and he shook his head and released her. Chances are she'd say what she wanted, and he was in too good a mood to mind all that much.

"I can think of a few other reasons for you to get out of here."

Gibbs shook his head, and swatted her on the ass, then tugged Kate with him out through the lab. He laughed at the squeak of protest that followed them out into the hallway, tightened his arm round Kate's waist, and pulled her flush against him as he hit the call button for the elevator.

It arrived quickly, for once. He grinned down at Kate as the doors closed. This was so wildly different from the last elevator ride they'd shared - was it really only a few days ago? - when the air had been thick with uncertainty and he'd so badly wanted to say or do something to find out if they were on the same page.

He reached out to flick the emergency stop. Kate looked up at him, frowning slightly, but when he cupped his hands around her face and bent to kiss her, he felt her grin.

When they surfaced she looked up at him with half hooded eyes and a happy smile. "That was... nice," she said.

"Yup. Always wanted to do that," he admitted in a low voice.

"Always?"

He shrugged. "Well, yeah, ever since you started workin' here, anyhow..."

Her laughter was both delighted and delightful. "So what else have you always wanted to do in here, Gibbs?"

She was teasing him. Well, he was almost certain she was teasing... He growled into her hair, and tugged her even closer.

"Not denyin' it could be fun." He pressed another warm, promising kiss to her mouth. "But I got plans for you that need a bed."

She grinned. "Well, Gunny... I do like the sound of that."