A/N: Against my better judgement I'm posting this. It's not done yet and I'm working on a another fic. So leave me reviews it will help me decide which fic I'm going to work on.

(Kate's POV)

Gibbs and I have been undercover for over 9 months now. We've moved 3 times Hawaii, San Diego, and North Carolina. We've been trying to stop a ring that has been smuggling in drugs and weapons out. The problem is that, prior to Gibbs and me going undercover; everyone that was undercover was killed or has disappeared. We have one person in protective custody that will testify to being blackmailed in to letting a shipment go out without verifying its contents, but he can't tell us who the blackmailer is.

So almost 10 months ago after the last informant died, the director decided that Gibbs should go undercover. Tony was disappointed that he wasn't chosen; then Gibbs told him that he would be found out in first day, because he doesn't have the personality to have a wife like myself. That's how I found out I was going. And I wasn't sure if I should take his comment as a compliment or an insult, I mean what does that mean 'to have a wife like Kate'?

We were in Hawaii the longest, so far. We needed to reestablish the trail and yet not look like it. Gibbs got on the security detail and I stayed at home. Well, not really, I made friends and tried to find out as much as I could, which wasn't much; Gibbs got most of the good information by being on security. San Diego lasted for 2 months, before we moved to North Carolina. The people that are running the ring are smart. They make it very hard to track them and use different bases all the time. They might use one base twice before another base receives the shipment, but then a couple of weeks later use the first base again. When we were in North Carolina it was easy to pass information to Tony, who plays my over protective brother and there he visited often. We were there for just about 2 months. We are currently driving to our new post in Florida. Normally, I love being undercover, but this is starting to get to me. I'm so taking time off when this is done.

"Katie?" I pull myself from staring out the window watching the landscape go by.

"Uh yeah, what do you need?" I ask Gibbs.

"You zone out for a minute?"

"I was thinking about what I'm going to do when this is over."

"And what's that going to be?'

"Take 2 weeks vacation and lock myself in my house. No phone calls, no visitors, no nothing, just me and Toni."

"Am I that awful?"

"No, but I miss my house and my dog." My dog that is living with Abby at the moment.

"Would you feel better if you could have Toni back?"

"I can't have my dog while we're undercover. She's kind of distinctive in the way she looks and her attitude."

"I know, I just thought I'd try and cheer you up."

"Thanks," I say, looking back at the landscape.

"I need to stop for gas soon, do you want to stop and get something to eat?"

"Yeah, at sandwich shop or something like that."

I must have drifted off, because the next thing I know Gibbs is outside pumping gas.

I step out to stretch, "Do you want to eat in or just take it with us?"

"Sandwiches?" I nod. "Then let's eat in, it's kind of hard to drive and eat." He says as he closes the gas tank.

"Not if you'd drive like a normal person."

"Hey, what's going on?" he asks putting his arm around me. We've gotten good at that, looking like a married couple and sometimes acting too much like a married couple.

"Nothing, I need to use the restroom." I say, escaping his presents. I shouldn't have said the thing about his driving he has gotten better and I've stopped complaining about it.

I use the facilities and as I'm washing my hands I look at myself in the mirror. I look healthy, well rested, and not like myself. I was on the verge of tears out near the pumps and now- I don't know. I throw some water on my face, then quickly dry both my hands and face, before joining Gibbs in the store.

"I grabbed us more water for the car; is there anything else you can think of?" he asks when I join him. I can tell he's giving me a once over.

"No, water would be great; I took the last bottle a couple hours ago."

"There's some sort of sandwich shop a couple of blocks up from here. It's supposed to the best and it's not some chain restaurant."

"Ok, I'm going to go sit in the car, while you pay." I state pulling the key ring that's hanging out of his pocket. He just nods after me. I need to stop whatever funk I just got into. It could be a problem.

Shortly after I got in the car Gibbs climbs in.

"I'm sorry about the driving comment," I state not looking at him.

"Kate, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, everything, I don't know. I never thought that this assignment would last this long and I don't know."

"Would it help if after we get the house settled, maybe in a week or two you can go away and visit someone?"

"Who am I going to visit? I can't go home because -," I just wave my hands around gesturing to us, "if I run in to someone who got transferred to Norfolk from any of the places we've been. I won't go to my parents' house, their still pissed at me that I took this job."

"You have an out of the way house you can go to for a couple of days. I'll even have Abby meet you there."

"What are you talking about?"

"Your grandmother's house."

"How did you – never mind you're Gibbs you know all," I say more to myself than to him. "Maybe, I'll think about it. Just give me a couple of days to adjust to the new base."

An hour later we were back on the road and I was doing a crossword book that I had purchased when we started this assignment almost 10 months ago. Occasionally, I will read a clue out loud when I don't know what it is and Gibbs will help.

I'm not sure how long I was working on the puzzles, but when I just looked up from the book to the road I got nauseous so I quit to stare after the landscape again.

"I've never moved this much." I quietly say in the silent car.

Gibbs says nothing, which is fine, because if he interrupted me I don't think I could say it all.

"Growing up we lived in the same house, at college I lived in the dorms for 2 years and then shared apartment the rest of the time. When I moved to DC, I rented an apartment and when I could afford a house I bought the one I have. I need stability in my life; I would never make it as a military wife. I couldn't take all the moving around." I finish softly.

"Katie," he says resting a hand on my knee, "hopefully this will be the last time. We should be able to close the ring out down after this."

"Yeah." I say before closing my eyes.

(Gibbs's POV)

I have no idea what's wrong with Kate, but it's more than just the moving so many times. I decide to let her sleep and we'll discuss it further when she wakes up or once we move into the house.

I continue to drive in silence, it helps me think. I hope what I told Kate about this being the last move is the truth, because I, too, miss the stability of my normal life and...my boat.

Ever since the incident that happened two weeks in to our stay in North Carolina our dynamic has been different. Not that I blame Kate for it, the discussion that we had on it was once and short. I had a weekend off and Kate was still settling the house. I really think that she was going stir crazy. I came home after my shift to tell her that we were invited to join some of the guys and their wives at a bar later that night. One of the guys lived down the block from us and offered to drive, not one to usually give up that kind of control, I agreed. Both Kate and I drank more than we should have. I'm not sure why I did, because I know that that is the worst thing to do while working on a case. The wives were razing Kate, because they never saw us have any physical contact. And the guys were after me saying that they wouldn't ever let Kate out of their sight if they were married to her. After we were both loosened up, she ended up sitting in my lap and we had shared a few kisses. Nothing untoward, but with the physical contact and the alcohol; after we got home we ended up sleeping together. In the 7 and ½ months that we'd been living together we've been getting closer, not dating really, but like we skipped steps. At first it was kind of awkward, we were both so used to living alone and we were trying to find a balance. We started spending more of our off time together, watching movies, playing cards, and what not. But since the discussion things have been off.

The discussion we had was: no more going out for drinks, unless we were going alone; no alcohol in the house, unless it was for watching a football game with 'the guys' (that's how we got information sometimes); and finally, that what had occurred after we got home was not going to happen again and that it was an aberration, because she wasn't used to being a housewife with virtually nothing to do. She was used to going on dates and she apologized, because going on almost a year without sex had been too much for her.

We have followed all the new 'rules' since then. We still follow our cover, we just don't drink. We add more physical contact when we're out with people, so as to not have a repeat performance of 'friends' razing us.

I really hope that we can close the ring from Florida and then this can be the last move.

(Kate's POV)

"Is the truck finally empty?" I ask standing on the front porch of the new house.

"Yup, everything is in," Gibbs replies. "Did you put everything where you want it?"

"Yeah, all the boxes are in the right rooms. The living room furniture is in the room, but needs to be placed. The beds are in the rooms and the frames are up, but the headboards need to go on. Your uniforms are hanging in your closet and the rest of your clothes are in the master bedroom. It was really nice of the neighbors to help bring everything in." She says with the first smile I've seen in weeks.

"I know this is probably something you don't want to do right now, but do you want to go to the grocery store? I'll go and help if you're worried about that. Or we can order take – out and make a list and you can go tomorrow by yourself." He's asking to go to the store with me. He's never done that before. Even after all the moves, I always end up going by myself the day after we move.

"I know its 6 already, but let me rest for an hour and then we can go to the store. It'll go faster and we can grab some pre fab something for dinner." I state. Hey, if he's offering to go, I'll take him up on it.

I quickly make up my bed and lay down. Long car rides tire me out and then moving everything in. I don't know how military families to it. I know usually it's a couple of years before they move, and what I've had is several years' worth of moves condensed in to about 10 months. And we've been a little off the past few weeks and I've felt a little off myself. I'm just going to close my eyes for a few minutes and forget about everything.

(Gibbs's POV)

Its 7:15 and Kate has yet to reappear. So I go back to her bedroom and see her sleeping.

"Kate," I call from the doorway. "Katie, its time to get up." I very quietly walk to side of the bed she's sleeping on to tap her on her shoulder. I don't want to scare her, because she's a jumper.

"Katie, come on, you don't want to go to bed now you'll be up at 3."

"What!" She springs to a sitting position. "Oh God." She falls back against her pillow.

"What's wrong? Are you ok?" She's never been sick.

"I'm fine, I think." She closes her eyes again. I think she's taking inventory as to what could be wrong, because she had one hand rubbing her temples and the other is resting on her stomach.

"You sure? If you're not feeling up to it, we can save going to the store for tomorrow."

"No, I think I just sat up to quickly." She slowly rights herself.

"Take a minute to make sure, I'm going to go out the car to make sure everything is out and then I'll be back. If you're really not sure that you're ok, I'll just run out and get something for dinner, soup or something light."

"Thanks, but I think I'll be ok. I'll be out in a minute I just want to change quickly."

I nod and leave her to change.

(Kate's POV)

Oh, God I feel like hell. After Gibbs leaves I go to the bathroom to splash water on my face. I don't feel sick, but a little off. I quickly change in to jammie pants and a sweat shirt. I don't feel like wearing confining clothing right now and jeans are confining.

"You sure you're ok?" Gibbs asks when I reach the front door to put my shoes on.

"Yeah, let's just do this. We have a few boxes of pasta and other things like that. I have been shopping for vegetables and fruits week to week. We also need to get some meat, because we gave away all of our frozen meats before we left." I say walking out to the car.

"Ok, let's go Kira and do this so you can go back to bed." He states using my undercover name.

"Avery, I told you I'm fine. The drive and move just wore me out." He opens my car door and kisses the side of my head. And so it begins my new life, again.

(Gibbs's POV)

Reaching up to put the cereal away I ask, "Is all this really necessary?"

"Yes, because then all I have to do is run in for fruits and veggies every week and whatever else is needed and do it quickly. If I didn't do it that way I'd spend way more time than I care to think about in grocery stores every week."

"Why don't you go watch some TV and relax. I'll put the rest away and make something light for supper."

"You don't have to. I took that nap and I feel better than before. And besides we're almost done." I say placing the bag of apples in the fridge empting my bag. "What do you want for supper?"

"I can make something. I still want you to rest, because I don't want you to get sick." He folds the last bag and places it under the sink with the rest.

"Gibbs, really, I'm not sick. The moving just wore me out." And then the door bell rings.

(Kate's POV)

We both walk to the front door to see who our visitor is. Gibbs opens the door.

"Hi! I'm Charlotte. I live next door. My husband, James, works in personal. I brought you guys a pie and a casserole."

"Thank you," I say taking the food from her. "I'm Kira and my husband Avery. Would you like to come in for a cup of coffee?"

"No, thank you, my kids are at home and I have to get back. Stop by tomorrow and meet my husband. I just wanted to say welcome."

"Thank you for the food; it looks delicious. I don't know about tomorrow, but I'll come by later in the week to visit." I say.

"Not a problem, I'm home most days. If you need help moving furniture, just give us a call." With that Charlotte turned and left, giving a little wave.

"She seemed nice." Gibbs says as he takes the pie from me and closes the door.

"I'll stop by and talk with her in Monday."

"Great. You want to eat the casserole for dinner?"

"Not really, I think I'll just have a piece of this pie. I love fresh strawberry pie."

Gibbs just shakes his head at me and places the casserole in the fridge.

(Gibbs's POV)

After a dinner of strawberry pie for Kate and a sandwich for me, Kate curled herself in to the corner of the couch the watch the evening news. I know that she's getting sick or something, because she took a nap this afternoon and now she's dozing during the news.

"Katie, go to bed you're falling asleep here." I tell her after watching her for 15 minutes. Our interactions have been strained in the last 6 weeks. I'm trying very hard to keep us separate. It's been a long time since I've been undercover for this long, with a partner. A female partner. I know we screwed up in North Carolina, but I was beginning to like how close we had gotten.

"You just don't want to have to carry me to bed," she murmurs in the sleepy state.

I would too, if I didn't think she'd kill me first. I know how I am with the rules, but I wouldn't mind retracting the ones that she came up with. What is wrong with me? My mind is just free floating.

"Ugh, I didn't say what I think I did, did I?" she asked suddenly wide eyed.

"Yes, you did." I state trying not to smile.

"Forget what I said. I'm going to bed now." She quickly uncurls herself and flees the room.

I decide to finish watching the news and then head to bed. We have more unpacking to do tomorrow.

Maybe I should have just carried her to bed, too late now.