This is set after Twilight and Kill Ari, so spoilers for that. It's meant to become a three-shot. Hope my working hours agree. Enjoy!

Oh, and I should probably throw in a disclaimer too, because I don't own anything. Just playing, and having fun with borrowed toys.

Therapy

Chapter 1.

The office is very nice, with expensive furniture and beautiful pictures on the walls. He eyes the mandatory framed diplomas. 'Certified Shrink'. 'Best of the Best'. Right.

The thick, soft carpet on the floor muffles all the sounds and this reminds him of his childhood home. He feels sick to his stomach.

As he sits down on the sofa, the divan, he gives the good doctor a lighthearted smile. He knows it doesn't reach his eyes and he couldn't care less. Still, he is met with a friendly gaze. They burn into him like beacons, those kind, brown eyes do, and he resists the urge to squirm in his seat. He'd rather deal with a Gibbs-glare than this.

"Do you know why you are here, Special Agent DiNozzo?" The voice is soft, kind even.

"Because my boss ordered me to. And it's Tony."

"All right." Those god dammed, warm eyes again. Now they're twinkling. "And why would he do that, do you think, Tony?"

"--"

His mind is suddenly alight with the images of her falling body. Of Kate's dead body.

He didn't think Ari was posing that big a threat. He had smirked at Kate when she was showing her concern over Gibbs obsession. Maybe he didn't want to take it seriously, because that would make it real. The threat against all of them.

He hadn't known that the son of a bitch was targeting Kate, and when McGee had told him that Ari had "a thing" for Kate, he had been truly shocked. He'd thought she would tell him anything. Apparently not everything.

She had been targeted and he had been slacking. If only he had…

He was clawing at the burn marks after her blood on his face. And he felt so ailing, so empty inside.

He had let her die.

"--"

"Anthony?"

"Because I killed someone."

"No, you didn't."

"I just as well could have."

TBC

Hey, Bethellie, is this angsty enough for you? ;) There will be more to come.