Gibbs and Kate lay cuddling together, slowly drifting back into consciousness. Neither on of them really wanting to wake fully, wanting instead to enjoy the morning sun on their faces while tangled together in the satin sheets. There was a pounding on the door, and Gibbs bolted upright. Kate did the same, instinctively reaching for the bedside table for her sig. Realizing where she was, she reached instead for Gibbs's arm. The both traipsed downstairs, he in his boxers and her in her panties and an 'NIS' sweatshirt Gibbs had gotten her during the night. Silently, they searched the strewn clothes for their guns and Gibbs jerked open the door.
A dumbfounded McGee stood on the other side, staring into the end of Gibbs's sig. Gibbs dropped his gun and yelled,
"Ever heard of a telephone, McGee!"
"Boss, I-I-I," he stuttered, "I called. You and Kate! All night!" McGee looked past Gibbs then, and to Kate. Recognition filled his eyes, but one glance at Kate told him not to ask anything.
"What, exactly, do you need McGee?" Kate asked.
"The wife committed suicide last night, right after confessing to her husband's murder to an NCIS operator. You guys were right!" McGee, still ignoring the obvious, said.
"That's great, but why the hell are you on my porch?" Gibbs replied, clearly out of patience.
"Oh, um, well we got a case. Ducky, Ziva, and Tony should be there by now. Captain Holcomb's daughter was kidnapped this morning." The emotions on McGee's face were clear. This was going to be a tough one.
"We'll be there in thirty minutes." Gibbs said. "Oh, and McGee, I trust you won't say anything about this." Gibbs moved his hand, motioning between him and Kate. "I'd really hate to have to shoot you."
"No sir, boss. Not a word."
"Good." Gibbs slammed the door in poor McGee's face.
He turned to Kate then,
"Good morning," he smiled.
Twenty minutes later they were in Gibbs's car driving toward the scene. Kate was wearing a pair of jeans she had left at Gibbs's house after their Christmas party last month and his NIS sweatshirt. Her hair was in a ponytail, but she had found Abby's extra makeup bag in the guest bathroom and helped herself to some foundation, but skipped the black lipstick.
Kate was humming to herself, and Gibbs reached for her hand. She smiled at him, but said nothing. Finally, he spoke:
"Kate, what are we going to do about this?"
"Gibbs, I really don't know. We can't very well keep this a secret, exactly. But, I'm not comfortable with making some big announcement. I don't even know what we are, or what you want this to be."
"Katie, how many times do I have to tell you that I want you? I want us. As long as you'll have me."
"Everyday."
"Huh?"
"You have to tell me everyday. Because everyday I'm going to wake up thinking it's some kind of dream or sick joke my mind is playing on me."
They pulled into the Captain's driveway then. Gibbs leaned over and kissed her on the lips, quickly, and said:
"I can handle that."
They walked into the house, and joined the rest of their team. Tony eyed them suspiciously, but made no mention of the situation. He did fill them in on the case though.
The little girl, Elise, had been taken sometime between 2300 Tuesday night and 0100 that morning. She was six years old, with green eyes, and curly brown hair. The captain had no idea who it could have been, but Ziva had found a jimmied window in Elise's bedroom, and concluded that was how the kidnappers had gotten in. Her mother had died when she was a toddler, and she was an only child. The captain was a complete wreck.
The team finished interviewing the neighbors and tagging evidence and packed up to leave for the Navy yard.
Gibbs was barking orders. "Ziva, you and McGee take Ducky and the evidence van back. Tony. Kate. With me."
He shook hands with the Captain and promised him they wouldn't rest until the little girl was home, safe and sound. As he walked toward the car, he heard Kate yelling at Tony.
"No, Tony. I will not ride in the back. I rode in the back all the way to Bethesda yesterday. You can sit back there for one ten mile drive to the Navy yard."
Tony was about to protest when Gibbs interrupted.
"DiNozzo, backseat." Tony crawled reluctantly into the back. He sat in the middle and leaned between Gibbs and Kate.
"So Katie, where'd you get your shirt?"
Kate really had no reply. No lie she could think of seemed believable. She knew she was starting to blush, but she had no way out. Gibbs reached for her hand then, giving her permission to tell the truth.
"Gibb's bedroom dresser, second drawer, middle stack."
Gibbs smiled at her reply, and glanced into the rearview mirror at Tony's dumbfounded face. Even with the questionable safety of this little girl hanging over him like a dark cloud, he couldn't help but feel genuine happiness to finally have the woman of his dreams sitting next to him, holding his hand.