I was going to say that this isn't my favorite chapter, but then I realized that I say that a lot. And now I guess I just did again, but anyways, the intention was pure. Well, I hope you like it! Sorry that the formatting is stupid.

I've neither the time nor the finances to attempt to own any of these fabulous shows.

Addison

My sister died my freshman year of high school. October 27. It's not a day I'll ever forget. I answered the door for the cops. The second I opened it, I knew something was wrong. They asked for my parents with faces that betrayed nothing of the tragedy they were heralding, but I knew. They didn't have to tell me. My parents called Archer and me into the family room, and they didn't even have to say anything. I just looked at them and asked, "Amy's dead, isn't she?"

The funeral was a few days later. I don't remember any of it clearly, and I don't try. My entire freshman year was spent in the fog of grief. I retreated into my books and didn't come out. Kate was the first person who tried to pull me out of it, and I'll never forget that. And then Brennan showed up and reminded me that I wasn't the only person to suffer a tragedy. They never asked about Amy and I didn't tell them. They just knew that January was bad, the week of October 27 was worse, and October 27th was absolute hell. I didn't tell them until my last year at Yale.

Normally they would call me that week, trying to cheer me up. For some reason or another, they forgot. So instead of spending my night talking to my best friends and wallowing in unnamed misery and forced jollity, I spent the day getting drunk off my ass. And none of my friends at Yale thought to take my phone away from me. So, being the brilliant drunk that I am, I ended up calling Kate. I don't really remember it, but Kate told me that I slurred my hello and proceeded to cry that she had forgotten "The Anniversary". She didn't push me, but when she mentioned that she didn't know what "The Anniversary" was, I spilled everything.

She told me afterwards that if it had been anything smaller, anything less traumatic she wouldn't have spoken to me for a year. As it was, she told Brennan and they never missed another anniversary again.

0ooo0

She wakes up with a smile on her face. A quick glance out the window shows her that the storm has literally passed, leaving behind only the memory of the pain and comfort of the night before. She has another day before the conference starts. It seems like the day is going to turn out rather well. She pads out into the living room and smiles when she sees Alex still asleep on the couch, mouth hanging open.

Silently, she steps into the kitchen and is happy to find that Kate's coffee pot is already finished making coffee. She pours two mugs and returns to the living room. She waves one of the mugs under his nose. "Time to get up," she says quietly. Without opening his eyes, he grabs the mug and takes a drink. She blinks in surprise. That took talent.

"I'm up," he replies, and opens his eyes. She notices that they don't have the blurry haze of just waking up.

"You were already awake, weren't you?" she accuses him.

"I didn't want to get up and get coffee. And I wanted to see if I could get you to get it for me."

She laughs. "Wow, I feel so… used."

"Don't worry," he assures her. "I'll make it up to you."

Her breath catches in her throat as they lock eyes. She swallows and tries to remember to breathe. Then she remembers that she needs to get control of the situation. So she cuffs him in the arm. "You'd better."

"Morning," Kate says as she exits her bedroom.

"Good morning," Addison replies. Kate shuffles over to her best friend, grabs her cup of coffee and takes a drink. "Hey! Get your own damn cup of coffee!"

"I will, but I need coffee to get to the coffee. Anyways, I have to stop into work for a few moments. But after that, I'm free all day. I was thinking maybe we could go do something."

Addison gets an idea. "Let's go surprise Tempe at work! At lunch time, so she won't totally kill us."

"Okay, sounds good to me. Do you want to just come with me? It won't take more than an hour. Plus, there's people who want to meet you."

"People? You've talked about me at work?"

"I work in a really chatty office." She turns to Alex. "You're welcome to come too."

"No, I wouldn't want…"

"Don't be ridiculous, Alex," Addison speaks up. "I'm not going to let you sit inside all day. We're going to be doing plenty of that tomorrow. Come with us."

"If you're sure."

"I am. Come with us."

"Okay."

0ooo0

An hour later, Addison, Alex, and Kate have stepped through the metal detectors and Addison and Alex have their visitor's badges. As they step out of the elevator into the surprisingly open government office, Kate rolls her eyes as that guy from Mail Fraud approaches. "Not now," she says. "I'm in a bit of a rush. Sorry!"

"Oh, uh, um, okay," he stammers.

"Who's that?" Addison whispers, leaning in.

"I don't really know, but he has a huge crush on me," Kate laughs, turning into her work area. "Um, this is my desk. That's Tony's. Just let me grab a couple of files and we can go."

"Oh my gosh, is that Addison? Hi! I've heard so much about you!" Suddenly, Addison is being accosted and hugged by a flurry of pale skin and jet black hair.

"Um, Addison, this is Abby. Abby, Addison," Kate laughs. "And that's Alex."

"Sorry, I haven't heard anything about you," Abby admits. "McGee! McGee! Look!"

Addison turns to see a clean cut, kind of geeky looking man standing, looking amused by Abby's enthusiasm. "You must be Kate's high school friend. Addison, right? She mentioned you might be stopping by today. I'm Timothy. Timothy McGee."

"Kate? Are you planning on introductions?" Addison jumps; she hadn't heard the silver haired man approach.

"Oh, um, Alex, Addison, this is Agent Gibbs. Gibbs, this is my friend Addison and her, um, intern, Alex."

"Intern?"

"They're surgeons."

"Ah."

"Hey, guys, long time no see!" Tony exclaims as he rolls in. "What? We having some sort of party?"

"You're late, Dinozzo," Gibbs growls.

"Sorry, Boss, had to get breakfast," Tony explains, holding up a breakfast burrito. "And then the girl running the coffee cart, well, had to give her my number."

Kate punches him in the shoulder. "You're a pig, Dinozzo. Can I talk to you?" Kate hisses. "Over there?"

Addison grins as she notices the signs of jealousy in her friend. She notices Alex trying not to smile too. "What?" she asks.

"Dude's going to get his ass kicked," he replies.

"I missed you last night," Tony says to Kate.

"Shh!" Kate shushes frantically. "We don't talk about it, remember? Rules? Gibbs might hear!"

They both pause a moment, waiting for the practically inevitable, "I might hear what?" but it never comes. Suddenly, Tony grins. "You're jealous!" he laughs triumphantly. "You're jealous of the coffee cart girl!"

"Don't be ridiculous, Tony."

"You are!"

"Are you even capable of a mature, adult conversation?" she snaps.

"That depends. Do you count as a mature, adult person?"

She gives him the look that says she thinks he's an idiot. "So, really bold move back there," Tony says innocently.

"What?"

"Leaving Addison over there with Gibbs. I mean, she has Abby and Probie for protection. And that Alex guy. But that'll give her maybe another couple seconds?"

"Huh?"

"Kate, think about it," Tony answers, exasperated. "This is Gibbs we're talking about. Please tell me you've noticed your best friend's hair color."

Kate's eyes are suddenly the size of saucers. She glances over to where her friend is talking to her boss. Innocently, right? "Oh no. Gibbs… he wouldn't. Would he?"

"When has Gibbs not been attractive to redheads?"

"Come on," she says, tugging him by his sleeve. "Let's go."

"Save the damsel in distress!" Tony cackles.

"Addison," Kate says rather louder than necessary. "I just need to grab a report I need to finish and I'll be ready to go?"

"Sounds good," Addison replies absently, more focused on the story Gibbs is telling than on her friend.

Tony sidles up to Alex. "You may want to get her out of here soon," he mentions.

"What?" Alex asks.

Tony nods his head towards Gibbs and Addison. "I know you're not interested in her, but… Four wives. All redheads. Just saying."

Alex tries to cover up his concern with a half-hearted laugh. "Addison wouldn't…" He trails off as Addison throws her head back and laughs. Flirtatiously?

Alex doesn't know it, but Addison is studying him out of the corner of her eye, trying to see if he reacts. She's a little disappointed when he doesn't come storming over and try to drag her out of the building.

"Okay, ready?" Kate asks suddenly.

"Mm-hmm," Addison nods, trying to hide her frustration. She hadn't expected him to drag her out by her hair or anything, but after last night, would a spark of jealousy be too much to ask for?

As they head out of the building, both Addison and Alex frown.

Kate says goodbye to her friends and follows her friends with a smile.

Addison may have missed Alex's clenched hands and overprotective demeanor, but Kate sure as hell hadn't.

I'll try to update soon, but you know me and my fail-y updating habits. Reviews are always great motivators though!

-Juli-