"Kate is over an hour late and she's not answering her phone" McGee said, his voice laced with worry.

"Kate can look after herself McWorry" Tony replied, putting his feet on his desk and leaning back on his chair.

"Still, this is weird. Even for Kate. She's never late and even if she is, she still calls. I'm getting worried Tony!"

"Look, Timmy, she's probably at the lady doctor or something and she doesn't want us to know about it-"

"-What did I tell you about going through my PDA, Tony!" Kate growled as she entered the bullpen.

"Jeez Kate, you look like hell!" Tony laughed as Kate sat behind her desk.

The bags under Kate's eyes had been getting darker and darker all week, the fatigue in her face getting more and more obvious by the day. The past few weeks she had been less focused and more distracted, cutting work early, coming in late, calling in sick at the weekends. Vague and poor excuses for her actions. And not to mention the fact she was more stressed and on edge than normal.

"Thanks Tony" Kate narrowed her eyes and replied sarcastically.

"No...I mean, are you okay?" Tony asked with a hint of real concern in his voice.

"I'm fine, Tony" Kate huffed frustratedly before runing her hands over her face as if trying to push the obvious stress and fatigue out of her face.

"Are you sure Kate?" McGee asked, his voice full of worry.

"Yes McGee, i'm fine!" Kate growled, the tone of her voice making both Tony and McGee drop the subject.

"You're not fine Kate" Gibbs said as he rounded the corner and sat at his desk. "What have we got?"

"Well, she was over an hour late again" Tony replied.

"About the case, DiNozzo!" Gibbs shot Tony his famous Gibbs stare.

"Right, um, sorry boss. Petty Officer Julie Quinn, 27..."

Kate could feel her eyes getting heavier and heavier in her head, she had barely caught 2 hours sleep last night, the same the night before and the night before that. Before she knew it she had fell asleep only to be woken up seconds later by Gibbs' hand slamming down on her desk.

"Go home, Kate" Gibbs growled as she opened her eyes sleepily.

"No. I'm fine, I don't need to go home. I'm sorry, it won't happen again"

This was happening more and more often over the past few weeks but today was the first time she had actually fallen asleep on the job.

"You're not fine, Kate, you're far from fine. I don't know what's gotten into you lately but what I do know is that you're going home. I can't have agents falling asleep on the job!" Gibbs spat, his voice filled more with concern than anger.

"Gibbs" Kate tried protesting.

"Kate! Look me in the eye, look me in the eye and tell me honestly that you're fine. That you're 100%, that you can do your job to the best of your ability...You can't. I don't know whats going on with you, and frankly, I don't want to know but what Ido want is for you to sort yourself out! It's final, you're going home and you're going to sleep or whatever and tomorrow you're going to come back and be the old Kate!...DiNozzo, drive Kate home"

Kate grabbed her stuff and headed for the elevator. She neither wanted nor needed Tony to drive her home but she didn't have the energy to fight Gibbs on the matter. And as much as she wanted to work the thought of her bed was far to tempting.

"We'll um, take my car" Tony said in a lightly sheepish voice, not wanting to annoy Kate even more. "...and don't worry, I'll drop your car off later" he spoke again, only this time with a smile.

"You don't have to, Tony"

"I know"

The elevator doors pinged open and Kate stormed out of them, nearly knocking Ziva off her feet.

"A sorry wouldn't hurt" Ziva growled causing Kate to turn on her heels and face her.

"Excuse me?" Kate huffed, raising her eyebrows.

"You heard me"

"Oh, I heard you perfectly, Ziva, but I didn't hear you apologize either!" Kate spat. "And after all, it was you who was in my way"

"Look Kate, I don't know what's gotten onto you this past week but I do not appreciate you taking it out on the rest of us!" Ziva spat back, getting closer to Kate.

"Don't you?" Kate tilted her head sarcasically. "Well I don't appreciate the fact your brother tried to kill me and the rest of my team or the fact you just waltz in here and expect everyone to trust you"

Before Ziva had a chance to retaliate Tony got inbetween them, sending Ziva on her way and taking Kate in the opposite direction to the car park.

"What was that all about?" he asked.

"She started it!"

"Yeah well, you two are usually friendly with each other, not at each others throats. I mean, don't get me wrong, it was totally hot but thats not like you"

"Well, like you, Gibbs, McGee and Ziva think, i'm not fine" Kate replied in a sarcastic tone before sitting in the passenger seat of Tony's car.

The drive to Kate's house was awkward and silent, Tony not wanting to piss off a clearly very pissed off Kate even more and Kate not wanting to speak to Tony. Like half an hour earlier, Kate felt her eyes geting heavier and heavier in her head, and as much as she didn't ant to fall asleep again, especially in Tony's car, there was nothing she could do. Her head rested against the window as she fell into a much needed sleep.

After being asleep for a good 10 minutes, Tony pulled up to Kate's drive.

"Um, Kate" Tony whispered trying to wake her up. "Kate" Tony said a little louder, this time shaking her arm "KATE!" Tony shouted, this time successully waking his partner from her slumber. "We're here" his voice back to normal as Kate looked around sleepily.

"Oh...thanks" Kate shot Tony a half smile before getting out of his car and heading up her drive and into her house.

Kate huffed frustatedly as she looked upon her house. Closing her eyes and taking in a deep breath she leant against her front door, her head banging it slightly before she slid down the door and ended up sitting on the floor, her knee's pulled into her chest. Letting out a deep breath Kate looked at her home again. She hadn't had the time or energy to clean it in weeks. She was usually an organised person, her house was usually meticulous and nothing was out of place. She felt a lump form in her throat and her eyes fill with tears.

No. No. Get yourself together, Kate. You're an NCIS agent. You used to protect the president for God's sake! You are stronger than this. Get up and get it together!

Kate closed her eyes again, taking in another deep breath before standing up and composing herself. Quickly she wiped away the few tears that had escaped her eyes, hung up her coat and bag and began to clean her house.

Hope you liked it. Please review! What do you think Kate's secret is? Let me know! Thank you.