The Privilege Of Being Yours

Gibbs was staring at the door, waiting for Caitlin Todd, his Agent, his colleague, dare he say his friend, to enter. He was aware he was staring, he didn't try to hide it. He was simply perched against his desk, bourbon in one hand, the other in his suit pocket, waiting for her to arrive. His mind shifted, only for a moment, wondering how Abby had convinced him to let her throw Kate a surprise birthday party at NCIS.

"Couldn't this wait until tomorrow, I feel weird being here dressed like this." She was wearing a midnight blue dress, embroidered with lace, and a lace trim at the bottom which stopped just above the middle of her thigh.

"No, Kate! It'll just take a second." Abby commented.

"Okay." Kate sighed. "I still don't know why I couldn't have stayed in the ca-" She was cut off when the elevator chimed and many voices shouted "Surprise!" With Tony and Tim pulling a few party-poppers over Kate's head.

A smile spread across Gibbs' lips and he was relieved that for a moment, all eyes were on her so no one noticed. She was laughing, her dimples even more defined in the low light, her cheeks flushing a noticeable rouge.

"I didn't know you could smile, Gibbs." Came Abby's voice from beside him.

Shit. He was so caught up in watching Kate that he hadn't noticed Abby sneaking over to him. "Oh, that's, or should I say, she's who you're smiling at."

Gibbs gulped, his smile dropping from his face and he grunted in response. He'd had this conversation with her a few times. Well, conversation was too strong of a word when it only involved Abby commenting on the way he looked at, or treated Kate, and Gibbs grumbling something about her minding her own business in return.

"Come On, Gibbs! You like her, she clearly likes you."

He pondered that comment, and then mumbled in his usual gruff tone. "You think she likes me?

"You really don't see it?"

"What?" Gibbs replied lazily, his eyes still fixed on Kate, who was now making her way over to him.

"All these guys drooling over her. Every guy in this place is watching her, but she's looking at you." Abby exhaled audibly and patted Gibbs' arm. She smiled at Kate, who was now almost at his side, and left.

"Hey you." Kate spoke softly, knocking the back of her hand against his.

There was a glint in his eyes as he looked over her, unable to resist the smile spreading across his lips.

"Hi. You look..." he paused and tensed up, his eyes dropping from hers to indulge in the way the blue material clung to her petite frame. He gulped and refrained from telling her she looked deliciously perfect in that dress. He let out a breath, "You look nice, Kate." His voice was low, and the comment almost nothing more than a catch in his throat. Every inch of her face lit up as she giggled. A loud, piercing giggle, dropping her head forward, her loosely curled hair falling delicately in front of her face.

Gibbs reached up and tucked some of the loose hair behind her ear. He cleared his throat when he noticed her expression "Confetti." He stated.

Suddenly nothing was funny anymore, and she tried to tell herself she wasn't disappointed that the only reason he was brushing her hair behind her ear, was because of some Confetti. "Ah." She nodded.

Gibbs shot Abby a look when the cheesy, upbeat, pop song abruptly transitioned into John Martyn's 'Couldn't Love You More'. He turned his attention back to Kate and noticed her eyes are greener when she's smiling, almost like an emerald.

"You want to dance?" Shit. It had slipped from his lips before his brain had time to catch up with him. He wanted to, he really wanted to. After all, it was her birthday. He didn't say anything else, he just placed his bourbon on his desk and found himself leading her into the middle of the room - centre to the four desks.

The moment was intimate, she was pressed to him, his hand on the small of her back, his thumb absently tracing patterns across her spine, and his other laced with hers. As they danced, one by one every surrounding person became nothing but a mere blur to him. His lips were unconsciously brushing against the skin on her forehead, and his nose grazed her hairline. He detected hints of rose and passion fruit, a scent he told himself he could get used to.

As the last few chords faded he was hesitant to pull away, but becoming aware that they had the entire room's attention, he stepped back and cleared his throat. "Want a drink?" He asked, turning his gaze toward the makeshift bar Tony had set up just below the window.

Kate gulped, her breathing now a rhythm than before. She couldn't shake the sudden need to be pressed against him again. "Sure. Wine, white if you've got it." He gave her a sharp nod and left stood where they had just danced, as another song kicked in and people began to flood around her.

Her legs were shaky from the adrenaline and so she weaved through the now dancing people, to her desk. That's when she noticed something she hadn't when she'd first arrived. A small box, coated in blue velvet and wrapped with a porcelain silk bow. She lifted the card propped next to it, it was typed and read "Happy Birthday, Kate. x" She scanned the room for anyone she suspected. Tony was flirting with a pretty blonde woman, Abby was attempting to teach Ducky how to dance to the lame pop song now playing, which made Kate smile. She scanned the room a second time and couldn't find Gibbs. She had not long left him to go get her a drink and wondered for a moment if he had left, which wouldn't surprise her considering it was Gibbs, and he didn't do parties. Although, she hoped he hadn't.

"Looking for someone, Kate?" His breath tickled her ear and sent a shiver down her spine.

"Just who to shoot." She mumbled.

"And why's that?" He handed her drink to her, and perched against her desk.

She shook her head. "Someone left this on my desk." She used the card she was still holding to lazily gesture to the small, unopened box.

He suppressed his growing smirk. "Open it."

"Yeah, with my luck DiNozzo will pop up with a camera to capture my reaction when I open it to find a dead bug or something. No thanks. And thanks for this." She swirled the liquid in her glass and took a large gulp.

Gibbs picked up with box and held it out to her. "DiNozzo wouldn't leave a potential one night stand for a prank, Kate."

She sighed, giving into his ever-so-slightly charming glare. She placed the glass on her desk took the box from him, pulling on one side of the ribbon watching as it unravelled easily. She warily opened the box, and gasped.

"Any dead bugs?"

"Gibbs." His name caught as a whisper in her throat. Two simple, beautiful, black/purple pearl, diamond stud earrings. He remembered. Just the other week they were questioning a suspect who worked in the jewelry store, she had merely mentioned that she thought they were stunning, and the peacock overtones very much reminded her of a ring her grandmother used to wear. "I can't- Gibbs. You remembered."

He shrugged. Admittedly, he thought they were overpriced, but to see a smile glisten in her eyes came at no cost.

She felt his eyes on her and tilted her head to catch his gaze. She tip-toed and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. "Thank you. I know how expensive these are. You didn't have to."

"You're worth it."

The rest of the night was filled with a considerable amount of alcohol, a delicious cake that Ducky had baked, Tony, to much amusement, being rejected, McGee taking care of a drunk Abby, and Kate ignoring the fact that every inch of her body was on fire from flirting with Gibbs all night. Granted, she had more confidence with the three and a half glasses of wine she'd managed to consume, but something in the pit of her stomach still knotted and flipped every time she felt the warmth of his hand on her waist, pulling her closer to talk directly into her ear over the roaring music.

In the parking garage, everyone was saying their goodbye's. "Thank you for the party, Abs, it's been the best." Kate laughed as Abby cuddled her forcefully, causing them to stumble.

"Love you." She slurred, as McGee pulled her from Kate. "No' 'smuch as Gibbs does. Bu' I do."

"Get her home safely, will ya?" Gibbs cut in, and Kate was sure she saw his neck and cheeks flush red.

McGee nodded, "Yes boss." and with that they left.

"C'mon, I'm driving you home." She raised an eyebrow at him and he cleared his throat. "Abby drove you here."

"Ah, I forgot. Okay." Was all she said, ducking her head to hide the blush rising in her cheeks when he held open the passenger door for her. Who'd have thought, Gibbs, romantic.

The journey was a comfortable silence, nothing more than a few smiles and glances, and Gibbs smirking at Kate humming along to the radio. They soon arrived and Gibbs walked Kate up to her front door. Not because it was late and she couldn't take care of herself, but because he wasn't quite willing to say goodnight just yet.

"Thank you, Gibbs." He nodded his response until she grabbed his hand and squeezed it. "I mean it. For driving me home, and for the beautiful earrings. I love them."

"You're welcome, Kate."

They gazed at each other for a few minutes until the bitter November air made her shiver. She played with her keys. "I better get inside before I catch a cold and have to call in sick tomorrow." She laughed.

He nodded again, then tucked a loose curl behind her ear and leaned down to kiss her forehead. Her cold skin prickled under his warm lips. She sucked in a breath. "Goodnight. And Happy Birthday, Kate."

"Goodnight, Gibbs."

He watched from the warmth of his car as she switched on the hall light, and shut the door behind her before starting the engine and making his own way home.

Thank you for reading! I have a lot more planned for this, so please let me know if you like it and if I should continue.