It wasn't a great start to the day.

Kate had nearly missed her flight, almost forgotten her luggage, and then spilled Gibbs' coffee. He'd only grimaced, instead of shouting, which had made the whole thing worse.

He never shouted when he was upset with her, instead descending into periods of moody silence punctuated with the odd glare. Today he was as close as he could be to actually being upset without getting angry. They were sitting in silence for the most part, as Gibbs wasn't exactly talkative, and after so many years, Kate had learned that trying to talk to him was pointless.

And so now, they were waiting in a lounge at the Orlando airport for Kate's escort. When she'd brought up the escort thing to Gibbs, he'd made a stupid joke that it sounded like she was hiring a prostitute, and was he required to babysit her then too? Because that would cost extra.

Ellie sat down beside her, clutching her phone, and staring Kate down nervously. "Uh, boss?"

"What is it, Ellie?" Kate asked, turning from her notes to look at her assistant. Ellie bit her lip nervously, before clearing her throat.

"I got a call, saying that your escort is on her way, to take you to your hotel. And we missed a press conference this morning. I am so sorry, boss, I thought that-,"

"It's okay, Ellie. You know I hate press conferences anyway."

"Yes, but-,"

"Leave it kid," Gibbs said, looking over from Kate's other side. His gun had given the security guards pause, until they'd seen his papers, and seen Kate. They'd left him alone after that. "Don't tie yourself in knots over one press conference. There'll be more. Oh and Bishop?"

She turned as she stood up again. "Yes Gibbs?"

"Her escort is takin' her to the hotel? Now this really sounds like prostitution."

"It wasn't supposed to."

"Leave her alone, Gibbs," Kate cut in. "Thanks Ellie, that's fine."

Ellie nodded. "I'm going to go grab you both a coffee."

"Good, since Todd spilled mine."

"I'll be back." She hurried off, leaving Kate alone with Gibbs. She tried to focus on her notes, but heard him chuckling to himself instead.

"What's so funny?"

"Ya really picked someone that green to do such an important job?" he asked.

"Ellie is a good assistant," she said patiently, rolling her eyes. It was so like Gibbs to stir shit up; it was infuriating in fact.

"Todd, remind me what we're doin' here?"

"It's a mutual head-hunting thing. We're trying each other out." She ignored his chuckle at the double entendre, and continued with dignity. "You would know that if you could stand to spend more than twenty minutes actually speaking to me instead of grunting monosyllabically."

He snorted, and then turned to glare at her. "Todd did you know-,"

"That I'm a pain in your ass? Yes. And the feeling is mutual."

"Excuse me?" Kate looked up to find a young woman, no older than twenty at best, smiling hesitantly at her. "Are you Caitlin Todd?" She spoke with a noticeably British accent, tucking her brown hair behind her ear nervously.

Kate smiled, as Gibbs tensed beside her. "Yeah, that's me."

"I'm sorry, I'm sure you hate being bothered, but I'm just such a big fan of your writing."

"Yeah?" Kate said, her smile growing. She wasn't in the job for the glamour or God forbid the money; these were the moments that made it all worth it. "Do you have a favourite?"

"Yeah." The girl pulled out from her bag a clearly well-read, ragged around the edges copy of Kate's first book, The Rainbow Thief. "It has to be this one."

Gibbs gave Kate a heavy dose of side eye at that; The Rainbow Thief had been so controversial among both fans and critics alike, and gained such a vocal opposition, that it had led to the need for a bodyguard in the first place. Kate nudged him with her elbow as she said "I'm glad you liked it."

"Yeah, it was so well-written." The girl blushed. "Honestly, if I could write half as well as you…"

Kate grinned. "I'm sure that you're a fantastic writer."

"I learned from the best," the girl blurted out, before turning an even deeper shade of pink.

"Do you want me to sign it?" Kate asked.

The girl froze at that, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Only if you wouldn't mind."

"I'd love to. It's always so exciting to meet a fan." Kate took the book from her, pulling out her pen. "To whom do I owe the pleasure?"

"Oh, uh… I'm Jamie." She smiled at Kate then, apparently still not entirely sure that this was actually happening.

Kate thought for a second, before scribbling out a message and signing it, before handing it back to her. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Jamie."

"Oh my god, the pleasure is all mine!" Jamie said, "Thank you so much, you're honestly my favourite."

Kate nodded and then shook her hand. "Good luck with your writing."

Jamie hurried off, and she could feel the waves of disapproval radiating from Gibbs. "What, Gibbs?"

"Nothing, Todd. Ya just… you're very accomodatin'."

"Gibbs, there was a time when my readership was one person. I'm always excited to find someone who enjoyed reading what I wrote as much as I enjoyed writing it."

"Okay, and?"

"She's also a writer. If I can't inspire writers, then what am I even doing this for?"

"Money?" he asked, provoking a glare from her. "She's probably a fanfiction writer," he commented mildly.

She elbowed him, and he grunted, annoyed. "So? I have no objection to fanfiction writers."

"Most writers do, though."

"Since when am I most writers?" she teased.

He rolled his eyes, as Ellie got back, handing them both coffees, but then turned his sharp eyes on her. "Bishop."

"Mr. Gibbs," Ellie said in return, not meeting his eye. "Is there a problem?"

"Of course not, Ellie," Kate cut in, glaring at him. "Right Gibbs?"

"I was just wonderin' why we're still sittin' here instead of gettin' on our way to the hotel. Or pickin' up the car."

"I did not make those arrangements, Mr. Gibbs. I just arranged for us to meet our – Kate's – escort here at the airport, and she made all the arrangements after that."

"Gibbs, can you stop being a pain in the ass for five minutes?"

"I'm supposed to be cheerful?"

"Yes."

He slid his sunglasses back on, grumbling as he looked around the terminal with disdain. "Go on Todd, waste my morning."

"Gibbs, do you have somewhere else you'd rather be?"

"Oh." He turned to her with a smirk. "I gotta lotta places I'd rather be, Todd. Here isn't one of them."

"Ugh, I'd rather have Tony back again. Even if he did flirt with me constantly. At least he was pleasant about it."

Gibbs glared at her. "Ya want Tony back? I can hire him back for ya, but he's not stoppin' any attempts on your life. So while you're bleedin' out on the floor, and he's off absentmindedly hummin' the James Bond theme, I'll be somewhere nice and hot, sipping a margarita!" And then he grinned at the thought, the smile softening the hard lines of his face. Kate thought to herself that she'd prefer it if he smiled more often, but knew it wasn't likely to happen- especially not with her around.

She opened her mouth to argue back, to suggest somewhere else nice and hot he could go (and hint: there weren't any margaritas) but mercifully they were both prevented from arguing further.

"Are you Miss Todd?"

Kate stood up by instinct, only to find a very cheerful-looking woman about her age – she looked quite young so it was hard to tell – smiling at the three of them. Kate tried to smooth out her rumpled travel clothing and smiled. "Yes, that's me."

"I'm Abigail Sciuto, I will be assisting and planning for you during your stay here."

"Did the mouse send ya?" Gibbs asked with a smirk, taking a sip of his coffee.

Abigail stared at him, and Kate immediately felt the need to explain. "Hi, Miss Sciuto, I'm Kate, obviously. This is my personal assistant, Ellie Bishop," she pointed to Ellie, and then to Gibbs. "And this cheerful guy is my…" she cringed as she realized that she had to explain.

"I'm the babysitter," Gibbs said without preamble.

Abigail offered a smile. "You can just call me Abby or Abs. Miss Sciuto…" She made a face. "Too formal. I've got your rental car waiting in the lot across the street. Do you need any help with bags?"

Kate and Ellie both reached for their suitcases, but Gibbs got there first, raising an eyebrow at Kate before walking away with their bags under his arms.

"He really is friendly," Kate said apologetically.

"Oh, don't worry about it!" Abby said with a smile, waving her hand. "I deal with all kinds of people. He's actually relatively nice compared to some."

"Really?" Kate asked, a smile creeping onto her face.

Abby nodded, "Totally. You'd think that the happiest place on earth would have higher customer satisfaction rates. It's not quite like that. But trust me, one week here and he'll have all kinds of reasons to smile!"

"I doubt that. The only reason he'll have to smile is getting on the plane back home. He's always been a bit… grumpy." Kate sighed, but followed Abby and Gibbs anyway.

"Anyway, I arranged all of the hotel information, and your rental car, I'm sorry, I only got one-."

"One is fine," Kate cut in.

"And I got you complimentary theme park tickets."

"Actually?" Ellie asked in surprised.

"I know the Mouse. I think I can get a few perks," Abby said with a grin.

They stepped out into the heat and it was like walking into an oven. "Jesus," Kate said, digging in her backpack to find her sunglasses, but was interrupted by Gibbs, who'd slung a bag over his own arm in order to hold out said sunglasses. She took them. "Thanks."

"Welcome." He picked the bag back up and stalked across the parking lot. "Better get inside!"

How are you not sweating?" Kate asked, indignantly. "It's like Satan's armpit out here!"

He turned and grinned at her. "Eh, I'm used to taking heat."

"Why are you not dying?" Ellie asked Abby, who smiled.

"I'm from Louisiana. This is actually mild by comparison to a New Orleans summer."

"Wow." Thankfully, they'd arrived at the parking garage, and together, they ducked out of the oppressive heat.

XNCISX

Kate set down her bag, collapsing on the bed. As soon as she did, there was a knock on the door. She groaned, and rolled over, staring resentfully at the door. It was probably Gibbs. Or Ellie. Or Abby, who was friendly, if a little insistent.

She jumped up as the door opened, only to find Gibbs staring at her. "Have you never heard of the concept of privacy?" she demanded.

He grinned. "Nope."

"What do you want?"

"Well, Kate dear, I thought I'd check up on you. Since I am your babysitter."

"Piss off, Gibbs. I'm too tired to deal with this."

"Fine, I figured we'd go grab some lunch but if you're in a mood, I'll leave it."

"Me? I'm the one in a mood? You're the one grunting and glaring at everyone like some kind of Gloomy Gus!"

He paused, looking genuinely hurt for a moment. "Gloomy… Gus?" he asked, staring her down.

"You heard me."

"I was unaware that I was ever gloomy."

"No that's right, you're just a real…" she searched for the word, growing more and more frustrated by the second.

"Bastard?" he supplied helpfully.

"Yes!"

He held open the door. "Lunch?"

"What?"

"Kate, I know that face. You're about to open your laptop and go on a writin' binge. Ya gotta eat. Especially when Abby is comin' back first thing tomorrow to give ya the schedule. You are allowed to relax, ya know."

"I can't relax, Gibbs, because I'm working. This isn't a vacation."

He held up a finger. "One day on this trip, I'm makin' ya relax. Doctor's orders."

"You're not a doctor."

"Fine, then ya can't sue me for malpractice." He grinned. "Please?"

She was taken aback at that. Gibbs never, if he could help it, said please. A lot of grunting and drinking sludge (that he called coffee) and giving people the hairy eyeball, but not actual manners. Damn it. "Did you just say please?"

He waved a hand dismissively. "Nah. Minor slip-up. Won't happen again, boss." He smirked at that.

"Don't call me boss," she grumbled. "You know I hate that."

"Sure thing, Todd. Now c'mon. Food."

"I have to at least start a book outline-,"

"No, ya gotta eat. Ya ate breakfast at the airport this mornin', but that was the last time I saw ya eat. Besides, I saw some good food in the cafeteria here. Let's go."

"Fine. But you're buying."

He held open the door as she followed him outside. "If ya insist."

"I'll buy you coffee tomorrow."

"I do believe that we have a deal, Miss Todd. Better tell your lapdog that we're grabbin' food."

"Don't call her that," Kate said with another well-deserved eye roll. "And she's taken care of. She raced to the vending machines as soon as we got here and is currently chowing down in her room."

She watched him hesitate. "Just you and me then?"

"Yes. Hope you can handle a whole half hour lunch with me."

"It would be my pleasure."

"You have to say that," she muttered. "It's what I pay you for."

"And it's good pay, so it is my pleasure."

"Bastard."

"I heard that."

"You were supposed to."

He snorted. It might have even been a laugh. She wasn't sure. And yet, she followed him outside anyway.

It wasn't a luxury resort by any means. In fact, Pop Century Resort was actually quite modest considering that it belonged to Walt Disney World. But it still believed in lavish food, so Kate was sure that they'd at least have a good lunch.

XNCISX

Kate was biting her lip nervously, staring over her sketchpad. It was the next day. She'd been sitting by the pool, and instead of working on the sketches she needed to have done for her meeting in the afternoon, she was sketching Gibbs instead. She'd done a few small caricatures in the corner of her page, thanks to her lack of focus, but when she looked up and saw him walking towards her, she slammed the sketchpad shut. She could already feel a blush spreading across her face. He always seemed to catch her unaware. It was like a special skill of his.

"Mornin'," he called as he got closer.

"Good morning," she replied, as cordially as she could manage considering she was trying to work on five hours of sleep.

"Sleep well?"

"Mmm," she said, not really answering.

He sat down on the lounge chair next to her. "Ya get breakfast already?"

She looked up at that, annoyed. "Gibbs, I know you joke about being my babysitter, but that's not in your job description."

He did a half-shrug. "I don't mind takin' care of ya, Todd."

"I don't need to be taken care of. I'm an adult."

"An adult who forgets to take care of herself when she's on a writin' binge? I've known ya too long to believe that."

"Fine. Okay. Fine. I'm not fine. I mean, I am fine. I can take care of myself."

"If you say so."

"You're infuriating."

"Only for you." He leaned closer, looking over her sketches. "These are good. Who is that?"

"It's a book deal with Disney, Gibbs. Who do you think it is?"

"A Disney character?" he asked innocently.

"Jesus, Gibbs. Yes. They're just sample sketches anyway."

"Ya gotta meetin' this afternoon?"

"Right after lunch. And yes I'm eating beforehand," she said, answering the silent question.

"And what am I supposed to do with myself?"

"You could read."

"Read what? I don't really read, if ya haven't noticed."

"I hadn't." Her sarcasm wasn't lost on him, but he ignored her. "I'm planning on going to one of the parks later."

"You've got a book signing at two. Barnes & Noble in Orlando."

"Shit. Do I?"

"Yeah, Todd. Isn't this why you have a personal assistant?"

"She's busy trying to arrange other events, like the meeting I have at twelve-thirty. A signing, you said? For what book?"

"Your most recent," he said with a smile. "What else?"

She froze, still staring at her sketchbook. Her most recent, The Jagged Edge of Loyalty, had been a bestseller, and her last thriller for a while. She'd written books in a few different genres, but Jagged was her last book for adults. At least for now. "You haven't read that one, have you?" she asked, a bit anxiously.

"Nah. Don't do much readin'. We've been over this."

She sighed. "You're right, we have been. Sorry."

"It's fine. So. You've got a few hours to get organized for your meetin', then lunch with Bishop and I. We can go to the meetin' and then go from there to the book signing."

She sighed. "I wanted to go to one of the parks today."

"The parks?" he asked.

"Gibbs, they gave me complimentary theme park tickets. I'm not going to not use free theme park tickets!"

"They're just tryin' to sweet-talk ya, without sayin' a word. I know what it's like to be head-hunted."

"Is that how you ended up with the agency?" she asked, curiously.

He shot her a look. "Don't be nosy."

"You can't shut down all of my questions about your personal life forever."

"I can sure as hell try, can't I, Todd?"

"True," she conceded, looking around the edge of the pool. "Water is warm."

"It's July. Everything is warm," he pointed out.

"Don't be a smart-ass."

"I get paid to do that."

"You get paid to guard my body."

"I do a good job."

"Too good a job," she agreed. "When was the last time I had a boyfriend?"

"Well…" Damn. Was he… embarrassed? "Good point."

"I mean," she said absentmindedly. "It's not like you're purposely chasing away any potential dates, right?"

"Nah," he said, laughing a little too strongly at the thought. She looked at him for a second, and wondered if the heat had cooked his brain.

"Anyway," she said, looking him up and down. "I'm going to go to Epcot today. I'm feeling like world showcase."

"I thought the best one was one with the castle," he said.

She looked up at that. "What? Oh, Magic Kingdom? I'm saving that for last. I haven't been in a few years, and I can't wait to go again… you should come."

"I kinda have to," he said with a grin. "It's part of my job."

"I didn't mean as a bodyguard."

"Then what?" he scoffed. "As a date?"

"No!"

"No?" he asked, surprised at her vehement objection.

"As a friend, Gibbs. I don't want you to be there because you have to be. I want you to be there as a friend." They shared a hesitant smile. When he smiled, Kate wouldn't mind being his friend. He didn't look as harsh around the edges as he usually did. He'd terrified her a little when she'd met him, however many years ago. A retired Marine in the middle of a nasty divorce, he'd seemed solid and loyal enough to protect her if needed. He'd saved her life once already. She reached over, as though she was going to take his hand, but hesitated and-

"Speaking of friends," Ellie said, plonking down between them.

"What's up, Ellie?" Kate asked, turning to her. Whatever moment they'd had was instantly forgotten in the need for propriety and information.

"Thom called your phone, but you didn't pick up so he called me. He thought you were maybe writing, and said you could call him back. He's in Florida this week too, as it happens." Ellie offered a winning smile.

Kate grinned back, eager to forget the awkwardness she'd left behind with Gibbs. Thom E. Gemcity was a mystery writer whom Kate had been friends with for a very long time. And if he was here, it would make her week all the better. "Did you tell him that I'd call him back?"

"Yeah, he's waiting for your call. I said you'd call as soon as possible. Was that okay?" Ellie hesitated then.

"Yes, of course. Did he say anything about what he wanted from me?"

"Oh, uh… no. Only that he wanted you to call him."

"I can definitely do that. It's probably a meet-up for shop talk or something. I can call him back soon. Anything else?"

"Uh no, aside from the meeting at twelve-thirty and the book signing at two. Did you have other plans for today, boss?"

"My only plan for today, business aside, is to go to Epcot."

"Can I come?" Ellie asked, brightening.

"Sure. The more the merrier."

"I can organize the tickets and everything-,"

"You can work it out with Abby," Kate said, gently cutting her off.

"Okay," she said, deflating. She got up, "I'll be back."

"Okay." Kate watched her walk away.

"She's not used to giving up her power," Gibbs commented. "Like a dog with a bone, ya know?"

"Possessive?"

"You're like the older sister she never had."

"Gibbs did anyone ever tell you that you're a good psychologist?"

"No."

"Good. Because you're not."

"Hey!"

"And speaking of possessive, you won't let anyone else guard me. It's all you, all the time."

"Getting to hang out with ya, do ya blame me?"

"A little."

He chuckled. "Alright, I deserved that, I guess."

"Can you please leave me alone? I have writer's block and you are not really helping."

He stood, hands raised in surrender. "Okay, okay. If ya insist. But I'm comin' back at eleven to make sure ya eat."

"Sure… mom."

He walked away, still chuckling, and as he did, she opened her sketchbook again, staring at her drawing of him. There was something wrong with it, something she couldn't quite place. And then she figured it out.

It would be better if he was smiling.