CHECKING ON A PARTNER

AUTHOR'S NOTE/DISCLAIMER

Inspired by a scene in Minimum Security. Belongs to Donald J. Bellisario.

Kate walked up to Tony's room and softly knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" he asked and the woman internally winced at the sharp tone. Yeah, he wasn't happy. Not that she could blame him. Gibbs had been a bastard to talk to him like that.

"Me. Can I come in?" she queried.

"Yeah sure," came the response. The woman waited as her partner opened the door and she stepped inside.

"You okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Gibbs was pretty harsh with you."

"I'm fine, Kate." Tony went to his laptop and shut it down, his eyes clouding. Had what Gibbs said hurt? Hell yeah, but the older man was also right. He was letting his attraction to Agent Cassidy cloud his judgment. He had come dangerously close to screwing up and had needed the reminder to focus on the threat at hand.

"What he said back there-" Kate started to say.

"He was right. I was letting my attraction to Agent Cassidy cloud my judgment," Tony interrupted.

"Even if that was true, there are better ways to remind you to stay focused," Kate stated.

"That's just Gibbs. He's done it before and I'm sure he'll do it again," Tony dismissed. Did his words hurt? Sure, but I'm not telling her that, he determined. There was no need to let her know it. It was just Gibbs' way. He was a bastard and everyone knew it. And he wouldn't apologize for it.

"Doesn't make it right," Kate insisted. Hate that he's defending him like this. He didn't deserve to be treated that way, she thought to herself.

"Kate, I swear, it's fine," Tony told her and she sighed in defeat, nodding as she accepted the fact that the conversation was closed.

"Thanks, though…for checking up on me."

"Any time."

THE END