Well, I just wanted to thank everyone who has been following this story and a deep thank you for all of the outrageous reviews. I never knew how far a review could go, and it means a lot :) Hope everyone enjoyed the little ride.. hope to do it again real soon ;) And now.. on with the show.

Gibbs sighed as he fruitlessly went through several drawers of Kate's bathroom cabinet before he finally discovered the first-aid kit harbored in the linen closet. He slid the small, white case onto the countertop beside the sink. Opening it, he guessed that it had never been used, other than for an occasional band-aid. After locating several squares of gauze and a small roll of medical tape, he shut the miniature metal suitcase and fastened the tiny clasps. He let out a slow breath, his mind anxiously trying to catch up to and comprehend the situation they were now hip-deep in. On his way to the bedroom, Gibbs stopped in the middle of the hallway. He stood in one place, idly staring at the medical supplies he held in his hands—realizing he had unthinkingly considered it as "they"… not "me," not "I," not even as "Gibbs."

He remembered panicking at the sight of Kate's blood on his hand, the heart stopping dread that instantly coursed through his veins when she laid there still and unmoving on his chest. He was frozen in those few seconds, in his mind and in real-time; clenching his fists and wondering what exactly he would have done had Kate been anything but alive when he had lifted her chin…

The medical tape slipped from his fingers and crashed silently to the floor, rolling a foot away from him and down the hall. Not wanting to imagine the psychological or emotional implications of his mental admission, he scooped up the tape and continued to Kate's bedroom door. This isn't the time, he told himself.

Gibbs took careful but determined steps on the hardwood floor. Stopping in his tracks when he fully noticed the scene in front of him, he couldn't help but smile. Just a little. He took the time to take it in, gradually making his way over to the bed where Kate lay perfectly curled on top of the covers, asleep. Despite his efforts to make a smooth and seamless transition from standing to sitting, Kate still stirred with the slight dip of the bed.

She drowsily looked around the dimly lit room until her eyes focused on him. He could almost see the rapid calculations going through her head before offering him a soft smile. She sat up on the bed, running a hand over her forehead, and then tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear. Kate crawled over on her knees to the edge of the bed.

"How long have I been out?" She asked groggily as she offered up her arm. Gibbs slid over a bit closer as he began removing the bandage swiftly and carefully. A slight grimace passed across his face as he examined her stitches; not because of the actual sight of the wound, but at the notion that it was her wound.

"Five minutes." He kept his tone short, but the way in which he handled her arm spoke more to her than his voice. "Give or take." he continued gruffly. He kept his head down, but looked up to her, holding her bicep in his hand, "Does this hurt?"

Kate shook her head thoughtfully and murmured, "No.. Gibbs. It doesn't hurt."

They lapsed into an easy silence as he finished the replacement without incident. With the last piece of medical tape applied, Gibbs ran a careful hand over the new bandage. Kate recognized the shades of guilt that seemed to add a specific dullness to his eyes; along with an unspoken battle that was being fought behind them. However irrational his guilt was to her, she knew, in the end, that it didn't matter— Gibbs' guilt was his own. But Kate never did give up that easy.

"Gibbs.."

"I panicked." He spoke abruptly, rubbing featherlike circles on her forearm with his thumb, "I panicked when I thought you—" he looked up to her, his brow creased with intense deliberation and a heated emotion that Kate could actually feel. "…were hurt, worse than you were."

Kate's bottom lip twitched in a sort of nervousness as she laid a hand on his upper arm, squeezing a blind reassurance into his skin. "It's alright.. Gibbs, it's okay to panic sometimes…"

His eyes quietly flashed at her as he quickly stood up and began pacing the floorboards in front of her. Kate watched him, entranced and tensed with his sudden and constant movement. She envisioned a caged animal, stealthily stalking back and forth…

"It's alri—? I…" he stopped as he huffed in wide-eyed disbelief, turning to look at her and speaking forcefully, slightly raising his voice. "It's not alright to panic. You know what happens when agents panic—" Kate rose and stood in front of him, gingerly crossing her arms in front of her chest and leaning slightly towards him as she spoke firmly.

"Nobody died.. No one died because you panicked, Gibbs." She let out a breath, seeing that he wasn't going to immediately challenge her. Her demeanor softened as she saw his stance slacken, his eyes fall to the floor—she witnessed the fight leaving him. She swallowed and tilted her head to one side, looking at him intently. "I didn't die, Gibbs." She laughed so lightly, he almost didn't hear it, "You.. saved my life." She kept her hands to herself this time, wary that any physical reassurance she could offer him would be instantly shot down, and she'd have to watch him walk away. She lightly hugged her arms around her ribs as she gently nibbled the inside of her cheek.

"You saved me first." He stated, low and gruff.

"Were we having a contest…?" she asked, an amused smile softly played across her face as her eyes squinted in silent laughter. She saw his grin, gently showing around his eyes before it faintly reached his lips. Kate stepped into him, wrapping her arms around his waist and giving his middle a squeeze. She felt the quiet, low chuckle resonate deep in chest when he returned the sentiment, enveloping her small form in his arms.

She sighed calmly into his chest as he leaned his head down slightly, brushing his lips by her ear and whispering quietly into her hair, "I'm sorry you got hurt, Katie."

Her throat clenched with the sudden emotion that that single action provoked, attached with a pet name he used only on rare occasion. No one else dared to call her 'Katie' like he did. She never chastised him for it… maybe once, but he never listened. She didn't mind it.. she liked the way he said it. And she supposed that that was something.

Kate moved her head until her cheek was flush against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart. She gazed intently out her bedroom window, noticing the rain that mercilessly fell and battered against the glass pane.

"I'm not going to tell you not to be sorry." She leaned back, away from his chest in order to see his face and get a better appreciation for his reactions. She whispered, "Not because of some theoretical weakness in your character, Jethro… but because you don't have anything to be sorry for..." She smiled gently as his expression finally softened.

He placed a delicate kiss to her forehead, moving his hand to the back of her neck and cradling the back of her head. Still dangerously close, he whispered against her skin, "Say it again." He leisurely pressed his lips against her right temple as he placed his other hand lightly on her hip, inching his fingers beneath the hem of her shirt. He soothingly stroked the skin he found there.

Her eyes were closed as she felt the heat rise quickly into her face, Kate breathed deeply, "Say what.." Her hands rested delicately on his chest.

"That name.." He murmured softly by her ear, his breath tickled and meandered down the side of her neck. She never imagined 'going weak in the knees' had any real truth to it—and she was wrong. Gibbs felt her legs waver slightly as he wrapped his arm underneath her shirt and around her waist tightly.

She grinned and purred against his cheek, "Jethro..." The corner of his lips rose with a certain satisfaction and affection as he placed a faint, openmouthed kiss to the corner of her mouth. She moved a little so as to press her lips firmly and evenly against his.

Intuitively, her eyes fluttered open to see him observing her attentively between the none-existent space between them. She blinked slowly through the series of sipping kisses and grazing hands. Completely enfolded in the exposing and unnerving intimacy surrounding them, their eyes remained fixed on one another as the blush slowly overtook Kate's cheeks.

Gibbs slowly drew away after pressing a sweet kiss to her cheek, running a slow hand from the back of her neck, down the middle of her chest to her stomach. Placing her hand over his, Kate firmly held him to her, blinking rapidly to keep the years of anxious tears, the years of wanting him like this, from overwhelmingly her. Staring at his shoulder before bringing her eyes up to his, she wiped at her cheek with her free hand and laughed nervously. He just smirked at her. They were both exposed.

"Are you going to stay.." A vague mix of curiosity and uncertainty coated her voice; she tugged his hand to her stomach slightly.

Gibbs turned her hand over in his, lacing his fingers loosely with hers as he pulled her body closer. Raising an eyebrow and squeezing her hand reassuringly, he spoke quietly, low and straight-faced, "I'd like to see you try and stop me."