Title: Thirty Candles

Author: Mindy

Part IV

By the time he boards the elevator in Kate's building, Gibbs is on his fourth series of second thoughts. He is not used to being impulsive. He is also not used to thinking of anyone other than himself. He must admit… he kinda likes it.

But it has occurred to him numerous times this morning, as he went about his business, that he was taking a crazy and possibily futile risk. Maybe Kate won't appreciate his gesture, understand the offer, he thought. Maybe, she already has plans for her weekend, for her birthday. Maybe, he's really over-stepping the mark here.

But he has set everything up already. It would be idiotic to bail now.

He jangles the borrowed keys sitting at the bottom of his pocket and, once again, reminds himself of why he is doing this in the first place. She cried in his arms last night.

When they were dancing, something hidden – he doesn't understand what – had made her sad. Her eyes, usually bright with life and wit and warmth and beauty, were welled up with emotion and the sight struck straight to his heart. He'd been about to ask her what the matter was – in his gut, he already knew – when DiNozzo interrupted.

Reluctantly, he had handed her over to the younger man and walked away. He'd noticed the reluctance in her own eyes as well and wondered what exactly had stirred up between them in that short, intense moment when they'd danced together.

He turned back, at the fringe of the dance floor, to watch her dancing with Tony, and all sorrow seemed to have been washed from her face. Tony was talking animatedly as he held her waist comfortably, and Gibbs watched as Kate threw back her head and laughed. He could hear the lilt of it above the music and wondered why he hadn't been the one to elicit such a reaction from her.

From the moment he had arrived at the party and spotted Kate, he recognized that she needed some cheering up. But despite a modest effort, he only seemed to exacerbate whatever she had already been dwelling upon.

Apparently, Tony had been a better man for the job. Gibbs couldn't ever remember having the effect on Kate Todd that his more exuberant colleague did. As he pondered it, he realized that, these days, the effect he seemed to have on his female subordinate was to make her nervous or worried or tired or insecure or sad. Occassionally, he made her angry -- but he quite liked her mad; it was a spectacular sight to behold.

Still, as he left her birthday celebration with her laughter ringing in his ears and her sad eyes haunting his heart, he felt a sudden desire to earn one of Kate Todd's happiest laughs. He was sure he could do it. And after a restless sleep, he awoke the next morning with what he hoped was the perfect plan.

Stepping off the elevator, he slowly makes his way down the hushed hallway to her door, carrying a paper tray holding two tall coffee cups. He hesitates momentarily, checks his watch, hesitates again and then knocks soundly.

No answer.

After a while, he knocks again, a little louder. She either isn't home or is suffering a nasty hangover, he tells himself, remembering the druggy look in her eyes the previous night. Briefly considering the time of day, he knocks again, loud and insistent.

"Coming!" he hears her shout in a croaky voice.

A minute later, the latch rattles and the door opens cautiously. A bleary-eyed, messy-haired Kate squints up at him from the narrow opening.

"Gibbs?" she croaks, blinking at him confusedly.

"Good morning," he greets smoothly, offering her a half-smile.

She shakes her head and opens the door fully, standing aside for him to enter: "What time is it?" she grumbles sleepily.

"Six-thirty," he replies breezily, striding past her and eyeing the baggy gray flannel pajamas she wears.

They look worn and comfy, but she has buttoned them unevenly, making the shirt gape at the top and expose a little too much décolletage. He sees her spy the coffees and obligingly hands her a cup of her favorite. She takes a big sip and sighs deeply.

"Is it a case?" she asks, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

"Nope," he replies, taking a drink of his own coffee. "Actually…" he murmurs, ignoring the little ball of nervousness in his gut: "I've got you a present."

Kate's eyes light up: "Really?" she sings, perking up instantly.

Her gaze runs over his figure, searching for a concealed parcel. He grins, enjoying her girlish impatience and drawing out her anticipation for a moment. He steals the coffee from her hand and puts both cups on the bench by her door.

"Go take a look out the window," he tells her softly, leaning in close to her ear and nodding towards the living room where the morning light is already streaming in from outside.

He watches as she clasps her hands together excitedly and scurries over to the window. She sweeps back the curtain, peering up the street and down again. He joins her at the window, standing close behind her and pointing over her shoulder to where his car is parked a short distance away. Hitched onto the back of it, is a small, sleek sailboat.

Kate gasps loudly: "Really?" She whirls around to face him, her mouth open and agog, her eyes aglow.

He pulls out the keys and jangles them in the air: "She's on loan," he nods, smiling: "but she's ours for the whole day."

"Gibbs!" she cries, ecstatic and unrestrained, throwing her arms about his neck and hugging him tightly.

He laughs, surprised and pleased by her delighted reaction, and returns her embrace easily, feeling her soft warmth melt against his body.

"Thank you," she mumbles into his collar, her voice a little shaky: "it's the best present ever."

He smiles softly, lowering his head and burrowing into her hair just a little: "Happy Birthday," he rumbles, breathing deeply as they hold each other.

He feels her soften slightly in his arms but she doesn't let go. He is aware that the embrace is lasting a little longer than it should, but he's not sure who's responsible. A sudden awkwardness pervades the air, but it's not enough to make him disengage.

She feels irresistible against him and addictive. He can feel the warmth of her bed on her downy pajamas. He can smell the sweet perfume she was wearing last night on her skin. He wants more of it. He wants more of her.

The same desperate desire and electric euphoria he recalls from the previous night when they danced so close crashes over him, surprising him with it's renewed intensity. Some old and dormant hunger rumbles deep in his gut and his body feels weightless with released emotion.

A long moment later, Kate pulls back, bowing her head and avoiding his gaze as she lowers to her feet, a flush painting her cheeks.

She clears her throat delicately and glances out the window: "What's she called?"

"May December," he replies, a little flustered. His friend named it after his new young wife, who's fourteen years his junior and named, coincidentally, 'May'.

"Well, c'mon--" he prompts restlessly: "it's a beautiful day, there's a good wind building. I've got coffee and sandwiches. And you--" he pulls the white cap from his back pocket and fits it on her head: "are the boss today. I'll take you anywhere you wanna go," he promises quietly.

Kate peers up at him from under the rim of her cap for a long moment, a warm smile on her lips. "Thanks Gibbs," she murmurs, her eyes glittering with affection. She lifts up on her tiptoes again and plants a soft kiss on his cheek.

She pulls back, just an inch or so, hovering close enough for him to reciprocate with something more. His hand grips her elbow gently, keeping her in place as she gazes up at him with a hesitant hope. His eyes trace her mouth, his mind racing with possibility and desire, but before he knows anything, she moves in again and places a tentative, tender kiss on his lips.

It's brief but definitely not platonic, a tantalizing trace of lust peeking through her uncertainty. Her lips are soft and spongy and slightly wet pressed against his and he lets himself kiss her back for the merest of moments before she retreats.

They can both feel the residual magic in the air, her eyes drifting over his face curiously, her hand still resting on his chest as he attempts to relocate his voice, reason and equilibrium.

He gets the distinct impression that he is a conquered man. Utterly done for. Not that he really cares.

"C'mon," he urges again after a heated silence, his voice coming out strangled and brittle. He tugs on the brim of her cap playfully: "Get dressed, Captain Todd. We've got all day to--" he glances at her lips and pauses: "celebrate."

"'Kay!" she grins widely, her excitement resurfacing as she turns and bounces towards her bedroom. She stops at the threshold, whirling back around to face him. "And Gibbs?" she sings happily, lolling against the doorframe.

He raises his eyebrows, watching her covetously from the window, something cute and seductive in her pose as she calls back to him.

"That's 'Captain Katie' to you!" she grins and disappears from the doorway, humming blithely as she begins to dress.

Gibbs smirks secretly and calls back: "Aye aye, Captain Katie…"

END.

A/N: Thank you everyone once again for reading and especially taking the time to reply. It's wonderful to get the feedback and share my ship! If you would like to read the sequel to this story it is in progress at the NCIS Fanfiction Archive (at ezyboard) but you need to be over 18 and a member to view it. You can email me if you have trouble finding it. Otherwise, a teen version will be posted here soon. Thanks! M.