Hey readers - here we are with the next chapter : )

Now I know that you guys were probably expecting the first part of 'Mind Games', but what I've decided to do is have interval chapters between each episode. The only ones that won't have intervals are two-parter episodes. This is mostly because it'll give me a chance to write entirely unique scenes which I think could have fit into canon had Kate not been killed off in the show. They'll be a bit shorter than regular chapters, but hopefully you guys will enjoy them : )

Beyond that, I just want to say a MASSIVE thank you to everyone that has reviewed, favourited and followed this story. The support this story has received really means a lot to me, and some of the comments regarding the Kate and Tony scene in the last chapter were really lovely, so thank you all so much : )

Finally, please remember that NCIS is not owned by me.

I hope you enjoy this chapter : )

After The Storm

It was completely on autopilot that Kate found herself wandering into the squad room back at NCIS headquarters. She had no idea as to how she'd got there after leaving Gibbs' house, and to be perfectly honest, right now she simply couldn't find it within herself to care. The young woman was having immense difficulty focusing on anything, let alone something quite so trivial. Because what actually mattered when it came down to it, was one single, simple fact. She was here. She was still here, despite all the odds. Despite his vile intentions and best efforts, Kate had survived. And now that he was the one on his way to the morgue, she was finally safe again. They were all finally safe again.

Nothing had ever felt quite so liberating.

So it was with a somewhat stunned expression on her face that Kate slowly approached her desk, and all but sagged up against it. She had to use it to support herself, otherwise her knees might have given out from beneath her, she was so overwhelmed with relief.

"Kate?" a familiar voice said in concern. It was enough to snap the young woman out of the virtual trance that she had fallen into, and looking up, Kate saw Tony standing before her, his face full of worry, "Kate, are you alright?"

The female federal agent was unable to respond right away. She wanted to, she really did, but the words just wouldn't come. It appeared that her lack of a verbal response however had gone on for a moment too long. Misconstruing her silence as something far more sinister then simply being emotionally wrung out, Kate soon had a cluster of people all gathered around her desk. In addition to Tony, the small group consisted of Abby, McGee, Ducky, and even Gerald, who had stuck around as per Kate's earlier instructions.

That's when the questions started flying.

"Kate, what happened?" McGee demanded to know, his tone and expression the most serious that Kate had ever seen of him, "What happened to Ari?"

"Never mind about Ari!" Abby cut in impatiently before Kate could even think of responding to the other agent, "Where is Gibbs? Is he alright? He's not hurt is he? Oh god! Please tell us that Gibbs is alright!"

The gothic forensic scientist's nervous energy seemed to be rubbing off on everyone else.

"Are you alright Kate?" Gerald's voice was heavy with concern as he visually checked the female federal agent over for any potential injuries, "He didn't hurt you, did he?"

"Please Caitlin" Ducky implored her desperately, "Tell us - what happened?"

Needless to say, it wasn't before Kate found herself to be totally overwhelmed by the impromptu interrogation. She tried to stammer out some kind of response, any kind of response, but she honestly wasn't sure which question she ought to answer first. And they just kept coming at her. Some of her distress at the situation must have shown on her face, for less than five seconds into the bombardment of questions, Tony stepped in front of his partner, half-blocking her from sight of the others, as he gave them all a hard stare that Gibbs might actually have been proud of.

"Back off guys! All of you!" the senior field agent commanded, a hint of protective anger beginning to creep into his tone, "Can you see that she's struggling to speak? She doesn't need everyone overwhelming her!"

The others all immediately fell silent, looking shame-faced.

"T-Thank you, Tony" Kate managed to force out. She hated how... well, weak her voice sounded in that moment, but she just couldn't help it. Processing what had just happened was proving rather difficult. Still, she reminded herself that she wasn't the only one that had suffered at Ari's hand. They had all suffered in one way or another because of that bastard, and so they each deserved a proper explanation. With that thought spurring her on, Kate forced herself to continue, "But it's fine. You guys all deserve to know what happened".

All five members of her captive audience found themselves waiting with baited breath.

For one brief moment, Kate still wasn't sure how to proceed, how best to recount the events that happened in Gibbs' basement. But then she realised that maybe she was over-thinking it. It was that thought that caused a shaky, deeply relieved smile to flash across her face.

"It's over..." the female federal agent finally said those two tiny yet impossibly significant words aloud.

A look of shock rippled across the features of all those gathered in the bullpen. Kate, feeling more and more emboldened as the reality of the situation began to truly sink into her frazzled mind, grinned widely at each of them in turn.

"We won".

Just like that, the entire mood of the conversation seemed to shift. Kate wasn't sure if it was just her, but by admitting the truth aloud, somehow some of the immense pressure that had been weighing on her so heavily over the last few days seemed to lift. It really was a wonderful feeling, and Kate just couldn't stop smiling, nor did she want to.

This felt... amazing.

It was the sound of the almost hysterical laughter that involuntarily tore its way from her throat that snapped all of the others out of the stunned reverie that they had fallen into. Each of them stared at Kate in clear disbelief as she struggled to regain control of her emotions. A heavy silence fell over the group as they all tried to absorb what had just been claimed, and the repercussions that went with it.

"Y-you mean it?" an incredulous Tony was the first to break the silence, his voice but a mere stammer as he stared at his partner in amazement, "But... but how?!"

Kate swallowed hard, but managed to say the truth out loud for the very first time ever.

"Ari's dead" was all she had to say.

Once again, a hushed silence fell over the group. A stunned expression appeared on each and every face, even Kate's, and she had been there when the bastard had finally met his downfall. None of them could believe it, but it was true. They could see it in Kate's eyes.

"And Gibbs?" Abby was the one to break the tense silence, her voice but a soft whisper, almost dreading the answer, "What happened to Gibbs? Where's he?"

Kate just gave her a reassuring smile, hoping to set her best friend's mind at ease.

"He's absolutely fine" she announced, and everyone's shoulders visibly sagged, the collective relief almost palpable, "I assume that he's still at his house, making the arrangements to have Ari's body removed and sent back to Israel".

"You don't know?" McGee asked, slightly confused as to how she would not know that when she had just come from there.

Kate blushed a very faint shade of pink, and rubbed the back of her head sheepishly.

"I was... in a sort of daze" the young woman admitted, her expression and tone both showing her clear embarrassment at the confession, "I think I just sort of wandered out of there... I don't even remember how I got back here".

Clearly Kate was slightly perturbed by that fact, and so her friends quickly rushed to assure her that everything was alright now.

"Well it's hardly surprising, my dear" Ducky said to her kindly in that grandfatherly way of his, "That bastard put you through more than anybody should have to endure. It's not that surprising that seeing him die in front of you would have an effect. I imagine it was all the relief of him finally being gone forever just hitting you all at once".

Kate managed to give him a smile back, albeit a slightly strained one.

"I think you're probably right about that Ducky" she slowly nodded in agreement.

Sensing that his partner would probably appreciate a change in the subject right about now, Tony so fit to do just that. They knew the two most important things after all. Gibbs was fine, and Ari was dead. That was enough for now. They could get the rest of the details later, when Kate was ready to give them.

"Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I think this calls for a celebration!" the senior field agent announced, clapping his hands together bracingly, "Let's go down to the bar for drinks!"

Kate could see the gesture for what it was, and couldn't help but give her partner a grateful smile. McGee on the other hand didn't seem to get it, and looked at Tony incredulously.

"That's a little crass Tony" the younger man frowned, "I mean I know that Ari did some horrible, awful things... but to celebrate him being dead..."

He trailed off uneasily, looking very uncomfortable at the idea.

"Perhaps it is a little cold" Abby admitted from his side, chewing her lip awkwardly, "And normally I wouldn't condone such a thing... but, well this case is different! Ari put us all through emotional hell. We have a right to be happy about the fact that he can't do that to us anymore".

McGee frowned again, but could begrudgingly admit that she had a point.

"If it bothers you that much Timothy, try not to think of it as us celebrating the fact that that parasite is gone" Ducky chimed into the conversation in an attempt to make the younger man feel better, "Think of it as us celebrating the fact that we're all still here, alive and well against all odds".

"Amen to that" Gerald concurred.

"That is the part we really need to focus on right now" Tony agreed as well.

Kate silently nodded her head in agreement as well, though she couldn't help it when her fingers ghosted across the graze at her temple against her will. The female federal agent just barely manage to suppress a shiver at the reminder of how close to death she had come. She quickly forced those rather morbid thoughts away however. Her friends were right. Now wasn't the time to dwell on such things. Now was a time to celebrate.

Celebrate just being alive.

Not twenty minutes later, the NCIS team were walking into the local bar, a cute little place called The Rusty Anchor. Kate had only been there a couple of times before, but she always got a kick out of the name. She thought it was appropriate for a Naval Base bar after all.

The group had quickly managed to locate an empty booth, and Tony bought them all their first round of drinks. He was feeling particularly generous tonight after all, and why shouldn't he? All of them had just come out of a terrifying ordeal. If ever there was a time for them to all stick together, it was now.

'All' of them included Tony himself, Kate, and McGee, as well as Abby, Ducky, Gerald and his temporary replacement as Ducky's assistant, Jimmy Palmer. Ducky had invited the man to join them, wanting him to meet Gerald, whom he had shared many stories about. The medical examiner had also invited their new director to join them if she wished, but Jenny had politely turned him down, stating that she had to tame the fires of the political nightmare that Ari and his death had helped to create. Ziva was also helping her in that effort, which explained where the Mossad operative had gone off to. Kate alone seemed to be the only member of the team to wonder about that. Everyone else was too busy enjoying a rare night out, and trying not to dwell on the reasons that had instigated it.

That just left Gibbs.

In a rare display of team spirit, the silver haired federal agent had actually caved into the request to join them. Kate suspected that the only reason their boss had agreed to come was because she had been the one to call and ask him. If it had been any of the others Gibbs probably would have refused, but due to the immense guilt that the man was still carrying around with him as far as Kate was concerned, he had agreed to come. Personally Kate found his feelings of guilt to be a little ridiculous, and certainly misplaced, but she also knew there was no talking him out of it. Either way, she was just glad that he was coming.

This was a time for them all to be together after all.

Kate took a long sip of her drink as they awaited the arrival of their fearless team leader. Next to her in the booth, Tony was entertaining McGee and Abby with his usual daft jokes. Kate smiled at a particularly bad one, before she turned back to the conversation that Ducky, Gerald and Jimmy were all having.

"So Gerald, are you looking forward to coming back to work?" Ducky was asking just as Kate tuned back in.

It was clear that he was enjoying having a nice catch-up with his original assistant. Across from him, Jimmy looked a little put-out by it though, and Kate suspected that she knew the reason why. Jimmy had only been taken on as Ducky's assistant at NCIS due to Gerald being out of commission for such a long time. With Gerald returning, it was likely that Jimmy might have to search for another job.

Or would he?

An odd look flashed across Gerald's face. It was both wistful but decisive at the same time, almost like he had come to a decision about something very important. Kate felt her heart sink. It didn't take a genius to work out what was coming next after all.

"Actually Doctor Mallard... I..." Gerald took a deep breath to steady his nerves, not really sure how to tell the man he respected and looked up to his news, but deciding to just get it over with, "I've... I've been doing a lot of thinking about this, and I've decided that I won't to be returning to NCIS".

The shock on Ducky's face was almost palpable.

"Oh..." the older man said knowingly. There was no masking the look of hurt and shock in his tone and features however, something which Gerald quickly picked up on and wanted to put right.

"I just can't" the man explained, willing his mentor to understand why he wanted to do this, "This is something I've been thinking about for months, and I honestly did think I would be alright to come back... but after what happened with Ari just now, being taken hostage again... I just can't do it. I'm sorry, but I hope you can understand my reasons, Doctor Mallard".

"What will you do with yourself though?" the medical examiner asked him sadly.

"Put the skills you taught me to good use" Gerald replied, a brilliant smile appearing on his face, "I've decided that I want to re-train. I want to stop using my life to get justice for the dead, and instead use it to focus on helping the living. Because if crossing paths with Ari has taught me anything, it's that life, being alive, is what it's really all about in the end".

Kate couldn't help but smile widely at him. That was certainly a sentiment that she could get behind.

"I'm sure you'll do brilliantly Gerald, at whatever you decide to do" the female federal agent told him warmly.

Gerald smiled at her, but before he had a chance to reply, Ducky let out a low sigh that was heavy with sadness and disappointment.

"Well, I can't say that I'm not upset my boy, but of course I will support you in any way I can" Ducky assured his now-former assistant, "And don't worry about a reference, because it will be glowing. You just keep in touch, you hear me?"

"Yes sir, Doctor Mallard" Gerald nodded, leaning over and giving his mentor a brief, one-armed hug, "I'm just sorry that I'll be leaving you in the lurch".

"Oh, don't worry about that" Ducky easily waved his concerns aside, "I think I have the perfect candidate for your replacement right here".

He gestured towards Jimmy, whose eyes widened dramatically.

"M-Me?" the young man stammered. The old medical examiner just smiled at him with patient kindness.

"Why not? You've been doing the job for months anyway, and doing it very well might I add" Ducky stated, and Jimmy couldn't help but feel a swell of pride for himself at the compliment, "Of course I'll have to run it by our new director, but I'll put in a good word, so I can't see why it would be an issue".

"I... thank you, Doctor Mallard" Jimmy said earnestly, practically beaming in delight. He had loved the last few months working at NCIS, and so he was very happy about the possibility of being taken on on a more permanent basis.

"You must be quite an assistant" Gerald observed, smiling kindly at the man who was most likely going to be his permanent replacement at NCIS from now on, "Doctor Mallard doesn't give praise easily, and certainly only when it's deserved. You'll learn a lot from him if you allow yourself to, so don't waste the opportunity, because they don't come up very often. Good luck Jimmy".

"And you Gerald" Jimmy returned his warm smile.

Kate just grinned, and took another sip of her drink. Tonight was really starting to feel like it was a new beginning for all of them, and after all of the adversities that they had faced over the last couple of months, a new beginning was exactly what each and every one of them deserved.

"Hey! Boss, over here!" Tony's voice suddenly snapped Kate's attention away from the conversation.

Glancing around, she saw that her partner was beckoning with his hand, and sure enough, Gibbs appeared at their booth a moment later, having just arrived at the bar from his house. Kate just silently looked at him for a moment, trying to weigh up the man's mood from appearances alone. Then she smiled. His shoulders seemed lighter, as if a great wait had been lifted from them. She took that to mean that all of the arrangements regarding the transportation of Ari"s body had been made. It really was over.

At long last, the nightmare was over.

"We were beginning to worry that you'd bailed out on us Boss" Tony smirked as Gibbs took the only empty seat left at the table, gesturing between himself, Abby and McGee, "What are you drinking? Bourbon?"

Gibbs just smirked at his senior field agent in a manner that could almost be called playful.

"If you're the one buying it DiNozzo..." the silver haired man quipped, "You can make it a large Scotch".

Tony playfully huffed, but dug out his wallet anyway and made his way over to the bar. A few minutes later, the young man returned to the booth with the requested beverage in hand. He passed it to Gibbs, who accepted it with a word of thanks, before slipping by into his seat next to Kate. A mischievous grin was sprawled across his face, and Kate couldn't help but wonder what scheme her partner was cooking up this time.

"So... now that we're all here at long last, and everyone has a drink..." he looked over to Gibbs playfully, "I suggest that we make a toast. Boss?"

The silver haired federal agent immediately shook his head.

"Ah hell no, DiNozzo!" Gibbs growled, inwardly berating himself for not seeing that one coming, "If anybody around here should be making a speech, it should be Kate. She's the one we're still lucky to have with us after all".

Kate frowned slightly at the reminder, and was a little irked at the way he had shamelessly thrown her under the bus to get out of making a speech himself. Before she could voice any protests however, a cheerful cry cut her off before she could even start.

"Oh yeah! Good idea Gibbs!" Abby concurred, smiling encouragingly at her best friend, "Come on Kate! Make a speech!"

The others all voiced their agreement as well. Kate rolled her eyes and sighed, realising that there was no getting out of this now. She begrudgingly climbed to her feet, and held up her glass.

"Okay, if you all insist, but I'm not making a big long speech" the female federal agent playfully shook her head at the group she loved like family, "Let's see now... a toast... a toast..."

Unsure of what she ought to make a toast too exactly, Kate hesitated for one brief moment and used it to glance around the bar for something to provide her with a bit of inspiration. Almost immediately, her hazel eyes landed on the window opposite their booth, and they widened what she saw. Because despite the latest of the hour and the darkness that had descended outside, one thing was still perfectly clear to the eye to see.

The rain... had stopped.

After the continuous downpour which had battered against the city ever since Ari had first taken that ill-fated shot at her, the shot which had almost robbed Kate of her life, the weather had finally decided to let up. The nightmare had ended, and so had the storm. And just like that, Kate suddenly knew exactly what her toast ought to be too.

"To surviving the storm together" she held her glass up high.

Everyone else echoed her, raising their glasses as well, before they each took a drink. Grinning broadly, Kate lowered her glass and took her seat again, and took comfort of being in the company of amazing friends and dear loved ones. Ari was gone from the world forever, and at long last, Kate was free to live her life without fear again.

And that was just how things should be.

And that's another chapter done : )

I really wanted a nice little end to the Kill Ari story arc, and I like to think that if Kate had lived in the show, then all of the team would have went out for a little bonding and to blow off some steam. I also really wanted to tie things up regarding Gerald and why he never came back to NCIS. In my head-canon, he just couldn't cope with the idea of returning after Ari took him hostage again, so that's why he left. But yay! Now we're all wrapped up where Ari is concerned, which means that next time, we'll finally be at Mind Games, which is one of my favourite NCIS episodes ever!

But anyway, thank you so much for reading my story, I hope you're enjoying it so far, and please consider leaving a review on your way out because I'd love to hear your thoughts and any feedback you might have to give : )

Until the next time, keep on reading : )