Interrogation, Part 2
Disclaimers and other info in part 1.
Kate took a cab home. She showered and changed. After grabbing a quick sandwich, she hurried back to the hospital. The redheaded woman was still there, sleeping in the waiting room. She stirred as Kate took a seat a few chairs away from her.
"Hello," the woman said in a husky voice. "You were here for Jethro earlier, weren't you?"
"Yeah. Kate Todd," she said, holding her hand out to the woman, who shook it. "I work with Agent Gibbs."
"Rachel Perry. A sister," she said to Kate's questioning look.
"A sister?" Kate asked.
The woman nodded, smiling slightly. "Yes. There are four of us. Jethro is the oldest."
"Ah." Kate nodded. "He does have that big-brother overprotective thing down," she said. Rachel laughed.
"Oh, yes, he does," she replied. "Jethro's always been protective of the ones he loves." She gave Kate an odd look. Kate shifted uncomfortably. "My brother talks about you a lot," she said.
"Really? He doesn't talk about you at all, I'm afraid." Kate smiled. "He's a very private man."
Rachel nodded. "I can never get him to talk about his work. But whenever I see him, it's always, 'Kate this,' and 'Kate that.'" Kate blushed.
"For some reason, I don't see Gibbs talking like a teenager about me," she said.
Rachel shook her head. "Not like a teenager at all. Jethro respects you immensely. He says you'll make 'one hell of an agent someday,' and that's a direct quote, by the way." Kate blushed again.
Two women walked down the hall toward them. "Kate, this is Julie and Erica," Rachel said. "Jules, Erica, this is Kate Todd."
"Kate? The Kate?" Erica said. Rachel nodded. Erica threw her arms around Kate, who stood in shock. "Thank you for finding our brother," she said. "I don't know how we can repay you."
"Don't worry about it. NCIS just wouldn't be the same without Agent Gibbs." Kate smiled.
Julie was a bit more reserved. Actually, she was downright hostile. "Don't go getting any ideas about Jethro," she said. "He's already been hurt three times. He doesn't need another woman breaking his heart."
Kate's jaw dropped. "I wasn't thinking anything like that! And I do not like your tone of voice," she added. "Agent Gibbs is a respected colleague. Nothing more."
"Julia Catherine!" Rachel scolded. "You shouldn't say things like that! Besides, you know that Jethro is a grown man. He can make his own decisions."
"Not when it comes to a beautiful woman," Julia said snidely.
"Julie..." Rachel warned.
"Sorry." She didn't sound sorry at all. She glared daggers at Kate.
"Come on, Agent Todd," Rachel said, staring down her younger sister. "Let's go check on my brother." She practically dragged Kate away. "Don't mind Julia," she said quietly. "She's just been itching for a fight since her divorce."
Kate nodded. "She doesn't like me very much, does she?"
Rachel laughed. "She didn't like Miranda, Elizabeth, or Linda either. Jethro's ex-wives," she said to Kate's confused look. "She just doesn't seem to understand that Jethro can make his own decisions."
"I don't understand why she's so hostile toward me, though," Kate said, shaking her head. "I mean, I'm no threat." Rachel smiled, but didn't respond. She pushed open the door to Gibbs' room.
His appearance came as less of a shock this time, but Kate still winced. Rachel gave her an understanding glance. She stepped up to Gibbs' bed. "Hey, Jethro," she murmured, brushing a kiss on his forehead. She stood back so Kate could greet him as well.
Kate squeezed his hand. "Hi, Gibbs. You still not awake? Too bad. I have another installment in the 'Anthony Dinozzo Rejection' series," she teased lightly. She heard a slight laugh behind her and turned.
"He loves your drawings, you know. Though he is curious as what you drew of him." Rachel winked.
"Well, if he wakes up anytime soon, maybe I'll show him." She grinned.
"Ooh, a bribe. I think he'll like that," Rachel said. The two women watched the unconscious man in silence. "I'm going to run for some coffee. Want some?" Rachel asked.
Kate shook her head. "I'm good, thanks," she replied, her eyes never leaving Gibbs.
"Okay," Rachel said. She left the room. Kate sat in the chair.
"You are one stubborn bastard, you know that?" she asked. "We're all impatient for you to wake up, so you won't. Is that how it goes?" She tried to keep her voice light, but an undertone of fear ran through it. She picked up his hand and kissed it. "You know, Gibbs, I was the one who had to interrogate Linda. She was one twisted woman." Kate shook her head. "But she saw things that no one else has noticed. Probably part of being a psychologist." She cleared her throat. "Anyway. I kinda... um... threatened her. She was laughing about your disappearance, and I lost it. I showed my hand. Not a good thing, huh?" Kate tried to smile. "You know what she said? She said I was in love with you." Kate jumped. "Gibbs? You awake?" No response. She supposed she had imagined his hand clenching in hers. "No hurry, then. I probably ought to shut up now, anyway. If I continue, one of your sisters is going to run in here and wallop me. Julie doesn't like me much. She thinks I'm a threat to your emotional well-being." Kate sighed. "So did Agent Gregory. But she seemed to think that you were more likely to break my heart." Kate fell silent for a moment, then whispered, "I'm beginning to wonder which one of them is right."
Kate felt a tug on her wrist. She looked up. Gibbs stared at her, his brilliant blue eyes boring into hers. She blanched. "You're awake," she said, trying to smile. "Let me go get the others." A strong hand kept her in place. "You don't want me to go?" He shook his head, obviously frustrated by his inability to speak. "I need to get the doctor." He pointed to the call button. Kate smiled and pressed it. "Stubborn." His eyes sparkled in agreement. Kate imagined that he would be smirking smugly if he could.
A nurse entered the room. "Agent Gibbs! You're awake! Let me go get the doctor." She scurried off, and three women entered the room.
"Jethro!" Erica cried, hurrying toward him. "You're up!" She was about to throw her arms around him when she remembered. She settled for a peck on the cheek. Julie did the same, glaring at Kate the entire time. She subsided at a look from her brother.
The doctor came in. "Hello, Agent Gibbs. It's nice to finally meet you. I'm Dr. Oliver. If you ladies would please step outside for a moment?" The women nodded and backed away. Gibbs' hand tightened on Kate's again.
"I'll be right back in, Gibbs. The doctor needs to examine you. I'm fairly certain you don't want me here for that." Kate blushed as Gibbs' eyebrow went up as if to say, 'Wanna bet?' He loosened his grip, and she left with the others.
Julie and Kate looked at each other tensely. Kate made the opening gambit. "I don't know why he was so insistent on me being there--but I'm not apologizing," she said, raising her head. Rachel and Erica stood by, ready to intervene if necessary.
"I warned you, Todd. You hurt my brother, you deal with me." Julie's eyes glinted with an anger that reminded Kate of her own when she had spoken to Agent Gregory.
"It's Agent Todd to you, Ms. Gibbs. And I have no intention to hurt your brother in any way. If he wants me in there, I will stay. If he wants me to go, I will leave. But I will not let you chase me away."
Julie got in Kate's personal space. Kate was not intimidated--after interrogating six-foot-four Marines, she wasn't going to back down from this woman. "That's Dr. Gibbs. And leave my brother alone," the pudgy redhead growled.
"No," Kate replied in the same tone of voice.
"I'll take you down, Todd."
"Name the time and place, and I'll be there," Kate snarled. This woman really got her hackles up.
"Well, the testosterone is certainly flying here. Or should I say the estrogen?" an amused voice drawled. Kate and Julie looked over to see Tony Dinozzo leaning against the wall, watching the two women argue.
Kate rolled her eyes. "Dinozzo, do you always have to be an ass?"
"Only when you are, Katie, my girl," Tony said cheerfully.
"For the last time, don't call me Katie!" she said in exasperation.
"Why not? Gibbs does." He flashed a charming grin at the other women. "Hello. It's nice to meet you," he said, holding out a hand. "Anthony Dinozzo. I work with Agents Gibbs and Todd."
Julie took his hand first, obviously distrustful. "Julie Gibbs."
"May I buy you a coffee, Ms. Gibbs?" Tony asked, smiling again.
"Dr. Gibbs," she replied.
"I apologize, doctor. May I buy you a coffee, Dr. Gibbs?" Julie, while still suspicious, also appeared flattered by the attention. She smiled slightly and took Tony's arm.
Rachel and Erica breathed sighs of relief as the two walked away. Kate just stared in shock. Tony's relentless flirting had actually been useful for a change.
****
"Shh--he's sleeping again," Rachel whispered as they reentered the room. The three women gazed down at the sleeping man.
"He looks so peaceful," Erica said wistfully. "He never looks like that when he's awake." Kate had to agree. While awake, Gibbs was ever alert. Not that it was a bad thing--his intensity was one of the most attractive things about him.
Kate tilted her head to one side as she looked at him. What had made him even consider meeting Linda? Why hadn't he called for someone to accompany him? He knew about her violent temper. Kate shook her head minutely. Gibbs was too independent to ever admit he needed anyone's help. Stubborn, proud, insufferable man. She was startled by a soft chuckle.
"That he is, Kate," Rachel said.
Kate blushed. "Oh, God--I said that out loud?"
"Yes. But it's true. Jethro is one of the most stubborn men I know. It takes a special kind of person to be able to handle him." Rachel gave her another strange look. Kate looked away.
Gibbs' eyes fluttered open. He looked around the room sleepily. His face practically lit up when his gaze landed on Kate. She assumed that it was the drugs that let him drop his guard so easily.
"Awake again, Jethro?" Rachel said lightly. "You certainly like your sleep, don't you?" She and Erica grinned at each other when Gibbs scowled. "Oh, poor baby can't talk. How sad." He made a scribbling gesture in the air.
Kate took pity on him and handed him a notepad and a pen. 'Thanks, Kate,' he wrote quickly. She smiled.
"No problem," she said.
He looked directly at her. 'No. Thank you. For Linda. And... you know.'
Kate swallowed. "You heard me?" He nodded. "Oh, God," she said, burying her face in her hands. He tugged them down and pointed to the pad.
'Why are you so embarrassed?'
"Gibbs..." A look of irritation flashed over his face. He picked up the pen and wrote in broad strokes.
'You saved my life. Call me Jethro already.'
Kate nodded. "Jethro... I don't know what to say."
'What did you say to Linda?' he wrote. He raised an eyebrow.
Kate reddened. "Um... well, first I threatened to have her license revoked if she didn't tell us where you were."
'Kate, I never took you for someone who manipulated the system.'
"Time was running out, Gibbs. Jethro. I did what I had to do."
'And then?'
"Well, after she finally gave us your location... I... uh..." She looked away. When she looked back, Gibbs was still staring at her. She swallowed. "I told her that if you were hurt in any way, I would go after her." She looked down at her hands. She hadn't realized how territorial that sounded until just then.
He lifted a hand and stroked her cheek. Kate blinked at the display of affection. She gazed into his dazzling blue eyes, mesmerized. She had never known exactly how expressive those eyes could be. She frowned as his brow furrowed. "What is it?" she asked worriedly.
He picked up the pen. 'Kate, I' he wrote hesitantly.
Kate stilled his hand. "Don't say anything you may regret, Jethro," she whispered. "Besides, Julie will kill me. She thinks I plan on breaking your heart."
Gibbs' eyes twinkled with merriment. 'Nah. She'll just rough you up a bit.'
Kate laughed. "Well, I'm glad you find that so amusing!"
'Hey, you can hold your own against her.'
Kate shook her head. "I don't know why I put up with you," she scowled, trying to hide a grin.
'Ah, you know you love me.'
Kate bit her lip and looked away. A gentle hand lifted her chin. Questioning eyes met hers. Kate swallowed. Turning her head, she kissed his palm. No words were needed.
Twin sighs sounded in the room. "How romantic," Erica cooed. Gibbs glared at her. Kate turned. She had forgotten that Rachel and Erica were still there.
"That has to be the sweetest thing I've ever seen," Rachel added. "Come on. Let's leave the two lovebirds alone." She winked and pulled Erica out of the room.
Kate laughed and shook her head. "Are they always like that?" Gibbs shook his head and rolled his eyes.
'No. They're worse. They're going easy on me because I'm an invalid. I'm sorry about that, Kate.'
"Never say you're sorry," Kate murmured.
'Okay. I won't.'
"Brat," she said, wrinkling her nose at him. His eyes became serious.
'Do you love me?'
"I..." Kate started. His eyes never left hers. She nodded.
'Good.' His eyes closed.
"Why don't you get some more sleep now?" Kate said, standing. She turned away. She took not three steps before getting hit in the back with something. She whirled around. Looking down, she saw the notepad on the floor.
'What? No kiss this time?' Her head snapped up. She glared at the man in the bed. She knew that if he could, he would be grinning unrepentantly.
"You really are a brat, aren't you?" She leaned over and kissed his forehead. "Go to sleep." He nodded and closed his eyes again. She shook her head fondly and left the room.
