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Post by LJ on Feb 26, 2005 11:30:31 GMT -5
Kate approached the receptionist tentatively, unsure of what to say.
“I’m here to see Mr. Tomkins,” she said quietly, not elaborating.
“You’re Miss Todd?” the receptionist confirmed. At Kate’s nod, she ushered her down a hallway to an office with an impressive oak door. Engraved on a familiar brass plate next to the door was the name: Randy Tompkins, J.D., Family Law. Kate took a deep breath and entered the office.
“Ah, Kate,” came a smooth voice from behind the large oak desk. “It’s wonderful to see you again. Please, have a seat.” The attorney indicated the soft-looking armchairs in front of his desk. Kate took one, gratefully, and waited for him to continue.
It was a month after The Incident that she knew. She wrestled with herself, wondering if she should tell Dominic. She had a pretty good idea of what he would say and she could never do it. She had been raised Catholic and gone to Catholic school for ten years. She would have to hide it, then, not only from Dominic but from everyone. Her family could never know.
She began wearing baggier clothes, claiming that they were more comfortable. When they asked why she was eating more and tiring easily, she said it was a growth spurt. Doctors’ appointments masqueraded as visits to friends’ houses. After four months, she had become quite an accomplished liar.
She started wondering what she would do with the child after she was born. The doctor had told her it was a girl and against her better judgment, Caitlin had started playing with names. She liked Grace, and perhaps Elizabeth after her grandmother. Grace Elizabeth, then. She knew she could never keep Grace; after all, that’s why she was hiding her in the first place. Adoption was the only option.
She found Randy Tomkins through her doctor. Familiar with the plight of young girls like herself, the doctor told her that Mr. Tompkins was a kind and sympathetic man who would help her find the best arrangements for her daughter. Caitlin had worried about the fee (she could only go to the doctor because of a pro-life charity that paid her bills) but the doctor had reassured her that Mr. Tompkins often took pro bono cases like hers.
“Any questions?” Mr. Tompkins finished, watching Kate’s face carefully.
“Um, yeah,” Kate started hesitantly, still shocked by the news. “Why do I get her? Since her…since the O’Neills are dead, shouldn’t the state get custody?”
“In most cases, yes,” the lawyer confirmed. “But if you remember, we drew up special papers for you and Grace. Legally speaking, you became her guardian as of her adoptive parents’ death. Of course, you can always put her back up for adoption.”<br> “No, no.” Kate shook her head. “That’s not what I meant. The only reason I couldn’t take her the first time was because I was sixteen and not in a position to raise a child. And my parents, of course…” She trailed off.
Mr. Tompkins nodded understandingly. “Yes. Well, then, if you’re ready, just sign here and she’s all yours.”<br> Kate stared at the line on the paper, pen poised to sign just as she had fourteen years ago.
“Kate, I’d like you to meet the O’Neills,” Mr. Tompkins said in his warm voice as he led her into his office. “They’ll be adopting Grace.”<br> Caitlin shyly shook the proffered hand of the large redheaded man. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. O’Neill.”<br> “Ed,” he boomed, smiling broadly. “And the pleasure’s all mine.”<br> “Mary,” his rather smaller and quieter wife introduced herself. “Do forgive him. He often forgets he’s indoors.”<br> Caitlin smiled at the woman’s wink She liked them already, and she had become immensely distrustful since The Incident. She sat down, next to Mr. Tompkins and across from the O’Neills, in one of the comfortable armchairs that dotted the office.
“So, what do you want to know about us?” Ed O’Neill began.
Caitlin began with some basic questions. Catholic? Yes. Home? Mid-size and in a great neighborhood. Job? He was a geologist and she a substitute teacher. Then she asked the question that had been weighing on her mind since Mr. Tompkins had first told her he had found an interested couple.
“Why do you want Grace?”<br> They didn’t answer immediately. After a few moments thought, Ed spoke quietly. “We’ve always wanted children. When we found out that we couldn’t have any, we were devastated. We heard your story, though, and it was an answered prayer. We knew that God had finally given us a child.”<br> Caitlin watched them for a long moment. Finally, slowly, she nodded. Mr. Tompkins smiled kindly and handed her the first of many papers to sign.
Kate finished her signature with a shaky flourish, slightly numb with the implications of it. She had a daughter. How on earth was she going to do this?
Mr. Tompkins interrupted her thought process with a quiet inquiry. “Would you like to meet her?”<br> Kate looked up, startled. “She’s here? Now?”<br> Mr. Tompkins nodded, studying Kate’s face carefully. He didn’t want to push her too far too fast, but she was strong. He wouldn’t do it if he weren’t sure she could take it.
Kate swallowed hard, then nodded determinedly. “Okay.”<br> Mr. Tompkins smiled encouragingly as he paged his assistant on the intercom. “Could you bring Grace in, please?”<br> “Right away, Mr. Tompkins,” came the tinny, distorted voice.
Kate heard the door open behind her and took a deep breath. Turning slowly, the first thing she saw were her own eyes staring back at her.
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Post by LJ on Feb 26, 2005 11:29:43 GMT -5
Ch. 1 – Meetings and Memories
His chocolate brown eyes were hypnotizing. Blond hair, strangely matched with his eyes, framed his face with charming curls. She had always known he was hot, but up close he became irresistible. How could she say no to the cutest and most popular guy in school?
“So,” he prompted, “will you go?”<br> “Yes,” she answered breathlessly.
“Great,” he grinned. “Pick you up at eight?”<br> “Okay,” she agreed, still trying to breathe.
Tears pooled in Kate’s eyes as she drove. Memories attacked her mind, breaking out of the remote corners where she had chained them. That night, in particular, kept surfacing. She had just turned sixteen when Dominic Fleming asked her out. She had thought it would be the best night of her life.
“L’Endroit? That’s the ritziest restaurant in town!” Caitlin exclaimed.
“Only the best for you, babe,” he smirked. She gazed at the menu in awe, unwilling to admit she couldn’t read any of it. She was shocked by the prices, too. Finally, she meekly ordered the cheapest meal and hoped it would be something she liked. He kept smiling at her, his eyes twinkling. She blushed, flattered, but wished in a way he would quit staring. She was growing steadily more aware and uncomfortable of how her body filled out her dress.
“Watch this,” he winked, motioning to a waiter. “We’d like a bottle of your best wine.”<br> The waiter gave a brief nod and moved off. Caitlin stared at Dominic. His grin widened as he misinterpreted her gape.
“My dad owns Thumbelina’s,” he explained, invoking the name of the large grocery chain in hopes of impressing her.
“But…you’re only 17,” she whispered, the question apparent in her voice.
“Oh, that.” He waved a hand dismissively. “They know me here. I’ve only had to use this once.” He produced a driver’s license with his picture but, apparently, someone else’s information.
“Oh,” she smiled nervously, a very tiny alarm bell sounding in her mind. She was a little impressed, though. Using false ID to buy alcohol was daring, rebellious. She kind of liked the bad boy Dominic was turning out to be.
The wine came and Dominic popped the cork expertly. She almost objected to his pouring her a glass but kept silent, not wanting to look prudish. Watching carefully as he downed his glass, she managed to imitate his attitude and took a small sip. The stuff was nasty, but she choked it down anyway. Before she knew it, she had downed a whole glass.
Kate pulled into the parking lot of a large professional building. She took a moment to check herself in the mirror, hastily wiping her eyes and brushing her hair into a more presentable shape. Taking a deep, steadying breath, she slowly opened the car door and walked toward the building.
Caitlin grew increasingly uneasy as Dominic became more inebriated. She had imbibed only the one glass of the wine, but he had downed most of the bottle. His previously charming grin as beginning to look more like a leer and she found his eyes drifting from her face to her…other assets. Realizing that this date was not going to get any better, she decided to end it.
“Dominic,” she began hesitantly. To her surprise, he beat her to it.
“Hey, babe, let’s get out of here,” he suggested, his words ever so slightly slurred.
“Okay,” she agreed, relieved.
The air was chilly as they emerged from the restaurant and Dominic put his arm around her. She appreciated the gesture, but something wasn’t right. Suddenly, his mouth was on hers. The alcohol on his breath gagged her as she struggled to free herself from his grip.
“What are you doing?” she gasped as she wrenched away.
“Come on, doll,” he slurred lecherously. “You know you want to.”<br> “No! Take me home, please,” she begged.
“Home? But we’re having such a great time.”<br> “Take me home right now, Dominic Fleming.” She meant to sound decisive and firm but she was struggling not to cry and her voice quavered as she spoke.
He glared at her for a moment, then grinned. “Okay,” he nodded, “whatever you say.”<br> She definitely didn’t like his grin at this point, but she had no other way home. Slipping into the passenger seat, she tried to sit as far away from him as possible. She was so preoccupied with keeping an eye on his wandering hands that she didn’t notice where they were until it was too late.
“This isn’t the way to my house,” she said, her tone coming out somewhere between admonishing and curious.
“It isn’t?” he teased, gloating. “Oops.”<br> He pulled the car onto a deserted stretch of country road and she realized with dread that this was The Place they all talked about at school. She had actually been looking forward to coming here, someday and with someone special, but tonight was not the night and Dominic was definitely not the boy.
“Don’t be scared,” he reassured her. “I come here all the time.”<br> “No,” she pleaded as he began undoing his clothes. “I don’t want to do this.”<br> “Trust me, you’ll love it,” he smirked, reaching toward her.
“No!” She pulled at the door handle, but it was locked. By the time she had unlocked it and tugged again, he had her by the arm. “Let me go!”<br> “I’d say I like a girl with spirit,” he grunted, “but it’s way too cliché.”
“Please, no!” she cried, sobbing now. But he was bigger than her, and stronger, and the alcohol in her system was slowing her down.
The fight was too much for her.
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Post by LJ on Feb 25, 2005 22:07:56 GMT -5
Ties That Bind Margaret and LJ
Kate suddenly has to deal with the ramifications of an event she would rather have forgotten.
Rated: 13/14+ (Mention of an "adult theme")
Warning: This fic deals with date rape. Nothing explicit, but if you are sensitive to that sort of thing - be warned.
Thanks to Gibbsgirl and m.a.c. for their plot bunny which they kindly entrusted to us.
Highest praise is due my editor and so much more, Margaret. Not only did she find all of my mistakes, but she was the one who took the original idea and ran with it in the first place! She also kept (and continues to keep) me on track with our timeline. I never could have done this without her.
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Prologue - The Phone Call
“That still leaves us with the fact that you don’t have a date tonight…and I do,” Tony gloated.
“And I’m supposed to care, why?” Kate countered.
Tony faltered. “Because…”
“Because the testosterone is raging and you just have to tell someone about your mighty conquest? Because your every thought is about the opposite sex, so everyone else’s should be, too?”<br> Tony considered this for a moment. “Yeah, sounds about right,” he replied with a grin.
Kate rolled her eyes. “Tony, you have a lot to learn about women.”<br> “Wanna teach me?” he teased.
Tony saw Kate shake her head in disbelief. Eighteen months ago, she would have nailed his butt to the wall with a sexual harassment suit. She seemed to have grown more comfortable with (or at least more used to) his personality, though, and often gave him a taste of his own medicine. Occasionally, Tony thought, she enjoyed shoving the spoon down his throat a little too much. He could see that she was framing just such a sarcastic zinger when her phone rang.
He barely noticed that it was her desk phone, not her cell, as she picked up the receiver and smoothly answered, “Agent Todd.”<br> A smile still played across Tony’s face as he sat at his desk. She would be off the phone soon and their conversation would pick right up where it had left off. Their banter always did. Only seconds into the call, though, and he was beginning to suspect that something was not normal. He could actually see the blood draining from Kate’s face, so quickly that even her lips went white, as she listened to the caller. Aside from a few initial murmurs of assent, she wasn’t speaking at all. Suddenly, she reached out a hand to her desk to steady herself and lowered herself slowly into her chair. Fully alert now, he watched her slowly pick up a pen and scribble something onto a scrap of paper. This kind of response to a phone call was never a good sign.
“Okay. Yes. I’ll be right there. Thank you.” The last was barely a whisper, as she not so much hung up as dropped the handset into the cradle. Sluggishly, as if in a dream, she picked up the piece of paper and ran a hand through her hair almost mechanically.
Tony watched in fascination, reluctant to speak in case it would add to her misery. He assumed it was a death in the family. He’d only seen that kind of reaction twice; once when a chaplain had paid a visit to his friend’s house and once when his grandfather had called his mother. After two or three awkward minutes of silence, however, his essential Tony-ness felt compelled to speak.
“You okay, Kate?”<br> She looked at him blankly, as if wondering why other people were in this suddenly private world of hers. “I…I have to go.” She stood surprisingly quickly given her previous listlessness, gathered her coat and the piece of paper, and dashed out of the room. Or, at least, she tried to. A very solid former Marine got in the way.
“Going somewhere, Kate?” Gibbs asked offhandedly, in a tone that clearly said: Not anymore.
“I…need the afternoon off, Gibbs,” she answered quietly.
“Why?” he asked.
“I just do.” Kate’s steely tone caught Tony completely off guard. He had only heard her use it on suspects. (And, on the not-so-rare-occasion that he pushed her too far, himself.) It wasn’t the sort of tone people used with Gibbs, especially Kate.
“And if I say no?”
Kate swallowed hard. “Then I’ll have to go anyway.”<br> Tony, hazarding a quick glimpse upward, noticed that Gibbs looked only mildly surprised. Tony assumed that the look on Kate’s face had affected Gibbs as much as it had him. Even so, Gibbs was still Gibbs.
“Agent Todd, you’re not going anywhere without an explanation,” he growled in a voice that brooked no argument.
“I can’t give you one,” Kate admitted softly.
“Then I can’t let you go,” Gibbs retorted.
Kate nodded. “Fair enough. See you tomorrow.”<br> “Agent Todd!” he barked after her. She continued to the elevator, never turning around. Gibbs’ eyes stormed as he returned to his desk. “What are you gawking at, DiNozzo?”<br> “Nothing, boss,” Tony returned automatically, wisely focusing on his work. A few moments later, however, he hazarded a question. “What was that about?”<br> “I don’t know, DiNozzo!” Gibbs all but yelled. Tony didn’t hear him add, almost in a whisper, “I don’t know.”<br>
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Post by LJ on Jan 24, 2005 20:50:37 GMT -5
Wow, nikki...I gasped (loudly) when
Excellent! (Writing, I mean. I think I would die if that ever happened to me.)
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Post by LJ on Dec 20, 2004 13:24:10 GMT -5
Great job, nikki! I like it. Keep up the good work!
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Post by LJ on Feb 22, 2005 17:55:00 GMT -5
That's great, BP! I'd give it an A.
Isn't it great when you can incorporate your favorite shows into schoolwork? I debated today whether to write my TAKS essay on NCIS or Stargate; I eventually had to go with Stargate for several reasons. Even so...
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Post by LJ on Nov 9, 2004 17:04:07 GMT -5
Ooh, excellent...that kid was creepy. I like that mention of his mother...nobody ever talks about her. Good one!
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Post by LJ on Nov 4, 2004 22:55:40 GMT -5
All right, Meg! Great addition, keep it up!
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Post by LJ on Oct 25, 2004 21:10:29 GMT -5
Meg, great idea! I love this. Keep it up!
PS, I loved Gibbs in 'Split Decision'.
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Post by LJ on Sept 30, 2004 18:06:04 GMT -5
Thank you!
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Post by LJ on Sept 28, 2004 20:59:43 GMT -5
The Taming of the Coffeeholic
“Gibbs, come on!” Kate pleaded. “Please?”<br> “No, Kate,” he repeated, exasperated. “And that’s final. Now get back to work!”<br> Kate slouched back to her desk, just in time to see Tony enter the room. He strode confidently to his desk, smiling winningly at both Kate and Gibbs.
“Morning,” he said brightly.
Gibbs ignored him completely and Kate gave him a death stare. His smile faded slowly as he realized that not everyone in the room was as happy as he. He glanced from Gibbs to Kate and back again.
“Psst, Kate,” he whispered. “What happened?”<br> Kate glared at him. He pretended not to notice. Finally, she sighed and whispered back to Tony.
“Gibbs is an stubborn, overbearing fiend!” she hissed.
Tony raised an eyebrow and struggled not to grin. “You’re just figuring that out?”<br> “He won’t let me take a personal day,” she complained. “To go to my aunt’s funeral.”<br>
Tony looked surprised. “Really? Gibbs may be strict but he’s not sadistic. Why not?”<br> Kate shrugged, but Tony already had an idea. He nudged Kate and pointed toward Gibbs’ desk. Gibbs continued to be completely absorbed by the terrorist faces on his screen. Kate looked where Tony pointed but didn’t see anything odd.
“What’s missing?” Tony prodded.
Kate looked again and her eyes widened. Her eyes moved to the trashcan. Not there either. Gibbs’ desk was completely devoid of the familiar paper coffee cups that always sat in varying states of emptiness. She glanced back at Gibbs, still focused on the computer. She noticed for the first time that his eyes were red, his skin pale, and his hands shaking. She turned back at Tony.
Tony grinned. “I have an idea,” he whispered, and ducked out.
Kate turned to her computer and tried to work, but she was too curious about what Tony was doing. Fifteen minutes later, she had her answer. Tony re-entered the room exactly as before, confident and cocky, with one addition. Reminded, strangely but strongly, of Gibbs, Kate noticed the paper travel cup of coffee in Tony’s left hand. The logo pointed out and Kate recognized the Starbucks-like circle of Gibbs’ favorite coffee place. Tony smiled knowingly at Kate and swept towards Gibbs’ desk.
Gibbs didn’t seem to notice as Tony plunked the coffee onto his desk. As they waited for him to look up, Kate noticed a scrawl on the side of the cup. It looked like an order specification, the letters barristas write on cups to remind them of customers’ orders, but Kate didn’t recognize the letters. It looked like AGS, which wasn’t any coffee she’d ever heard of.
Gibbs still stared fixedly at the computer but as the steam rose from the coffee cup, his nose began to twitch. Pretty soon he turned his head, searching for the source of the tantalizing scent. Catching his eye on the coffee cup in front of him, his eyes widened and lit up like it was Christmas. Lifting his eyes from the tempting prize, he saw Tony standing in front of his desk, grinning winningly.
Gibbs squinted suspiciously at Tony. “Whaddaya want, DiNozzo?” he growled.
“Nothing, boss,” Tony said brightly, his smile never faltering. “Just thought you could use a cup.”<br> Gibbs seemed to be trying to decide whether Tony was telling the truth. Eventually the desire for coffee won out and he decided it didn’t matter. Grabbing the cup, he practically threw it down his throat. His eyes closed in satisfaction and Kate didn’t think she’d ever seen him so happy. He downed the cup in about five seconds and looked up as if begging for more. Tony grinned wisely, producing from the paper sack in his right hand another identical cup. Gibbs lunged but Tony sidestepped easily, holding the cup high.
“Give it here, DiNozzo, or your butt gets fired,” Gibbs snarled.
“Okay, boss,” Tony replied cheerily. “But first I have a request.”<br> Gibbs’ eyes narrowed and Kate wondered if Tony had a death wish. But, to her immense surprise, Gibbs conceded. Kate supposed the need for coffee outweighed his pride and authoritativeness.
“All right,” Gibbs sighed. “Name your price.”<br> “Kate gets to go to her aunt’s funeral.”<br> Gibbs looked at Kate. She tried to look busy, to disassociated herself from Tony’s demands. Again, he surprised her by agreeing.
“Fine. Now hand it over.”<br> “And,” Tony continued, milking this for all it was worth. “I get off early this Friday for my date.”<br> “Don’t push it, DiNozzo,” Gibbs warned, lunging again and this time succeeding in grabbing the coffee. He drank this one more slowly, savoring the taste.
Kate sat in shock at what Tony had just pulled off. Tony came around his desk and sat with a flourish. Putting his hands behind his head, he leaned back in his chair and grinned at Kate.
“Pretty good, huh?” he commented cheekily.
“Yeah, thanks. I just have one question.”<br> “What’s that?”<br> “What are the letters on the cup for? AGS?”<br> Tony’s smile widened. “The Agent Gibbs Special.”<br>
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Post by LJ on Sept 28, 2004 20:59:04 GMT -5
Much Ado About Java
“DINOZZO!” Tony cringed. Hastily grabbing the donut he had come for, he ran quickly back into the bullpen. Slowing as he neared Gibbs’ desk, he wondered what exactly he had done this time. Unless…but it couldn’t be! He had been too careful…<br> Flashing his mega-watt smile at Gibbs (at the same time wondering why he even bothered), he tried to look innocent. And failed. Miserably. “Wipe that grin off your face, DiNozzo,” Gibbs groaned. “Do I look like a lovesick female?”<br> Out of the corner or his eye, Tony thought he saw Kate duck behind a file to hide her smile. Straightening his face quickly, Tony tried to gauge Gibbs’ mood. Was he really mad, or was he just acting? And just how mad was he? Apparently, really mad. “Do you realize what you’ve done?” Gibbs asked quietly, dangerously. “No, boss,” Tony answered quickly. Too quickly. Gibbs’ eyes narrowed, detecting deception. Tony thought he was about to launch into a furious tirade, but he suddenly changed tack. Sighing lightly, almost regretfully, Gibbs slapped his knees and stood. “I don’t know about you, DiNozzo,” he said. “This is, what, the third?, time this week. I oughta talk to Morrow. I don’t know if I can work with an agent who so blatantly disregards my rules.”<br> Confusion flashed in Tony’s eyes for a split second before he caught on. Grinning slightly, he responded cockily. “I get it. You think I did it. Whatever ‘it’ is,” he added hurriedly. “But you don’t have the proof. Sorry, boss, but I’m not going to ’fess up.”<br> Gibbs raised an eyebrow. “You think so, DiNozzo? You don’t think that maybe I do have the proof, but a confession would save me so much time?”<br> “That’s impossible!” Tony blurted. “I was too care –” he caught himself. Swallowing hard, he looked at his feet. Behind him, he heard Kate sniggering and realized he had just walked into a trap. And a pretty obvious one at that. He kicked himself mentally and decided, since he had already admitted his guilt, to explain.
“It was an accident, boss, I swear. I didn’t mean anything by it! Honest! And – ” he stopped, suddenly catching something Gibbs had said earlier. “Hey! Whaddaya mean, ‘blatantly disregards your rules’? What rules?”<br> Gibbs glared. “Rule Number Thirteen, DiNozzo! Never, ever, touch my coffee.”<br> “It was an accident, boss,” Tony repeated, before launching into a very rapid explanation. “I was just coming around the corner, with this huge stack of files, and it was just there on the desk, and I slipped! And I knew you’d be mad, so I thought I’d just grab another one for you, ’cause you’ll never know right? Well, obviously I was wrong –”
“Yeah, you were wrong, DiNozzo,” Gibbs interrupted. He sighed heavily. “Why are you my problem child? Kate never touches my coffee, and she’s the newbie. You oughta know better.”<br> “Yeah, Kate’s perfect. Why can’t I be more like Kate?” Tony muttered under his breath.
“What was that?”<br> “Nothing, boss. Look, I’m sorry. Really. But it was an accident! I’ll never do it again, boss, I swear.” Tony gave Gibbs his ‘puppy eyes’. Like the smile, he wondered why he even bothered. Gibbs regarded him for a moment, deliberating. Finally, he waved his hand dismissively and turned to leave. “Fine. This time I’ll let you off with a warning, DiNozzo. But you even breathe within ten feet of my coffee again and I’ll have your head. Understand?”<br> “Yes, boss,” Tony replied seriously. Trying to redeem himself, he made a peace offering. “Donut?” Gibbs just stared at him before striding off to the break room, presumably for an untainted cup of coffee. Tony released the breath he had unconsciously been holding. Hearing a muffled chuckle behind him, he turned to see Kate burying her head in her hands to stifle her laughter. He wondered if she knew the answer to his one question. “How did he know? I was so careful. I wiped up the spill, got rid of the cup, even cleaned the carpet stain. Where’d I miss?”<br> Kate got serious. Tony leaned forward expectantly, half-thinking she would reveal some obvious blunder on his part and laugh hysterically at his expense. But she just shrugged. “He’s Gibbs,” she answered.
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Post by LJ on Sept 28, 2004 20:58:22 GMT -5
This is my Award-Winning ;D little humor fic. Thanks to all the people who voted for me!! The Importance of Being CaffeinatedKate glanced up from where her nose was buried in a stack of files just in time to see Gibbs walk in. She did a double take. No coffee, she thought. Is that good or bad? Across the desk, Tony raised his eyebrows at her, clearly wondering the same thing. Kate wondered whether she should say something. Before she lost her nerve, she decided to make a joke. “Quitting?” she asked lightly. Gibbs turned toward her, apparently trying to decide whether she was serious. She figured he would ignore the comment, or perhaps just grunt derisively, but as he sat he seemed almost embarrassed. “Closed,” he muttered. Kate bit back a snort of laughter. Of course such a routinist wouldn’t have a backup plan, or even want one, in case of a disruption to precious habit. She knew better than to say anything, though. Tony, on the other hand, had yet to learn the fine art of shutting up. “Why don’t you just go somewhere else, boss?” he asked brazenly. “There’s a Starbucks on the corner right outside…” He stopped at the look Gibbs was giving him. “You don’t get it, do you DiNozzo? Coffee is an art form. You can’t just go to a chain that processes millions of cups a day…” Gibbs trailed off. “Never mind. You wouldn’t understand.”<br> Kate quickly hid her face behind a file so he wouldn’t see her laughing. She was saved from Gibbs’ wrath by the phone. Gibbs grabbed it roughly, glaring at Tony, and barked, “Gibbs.” His face registered nothing as he listened, then said, “We’ll be right down.”<br> Kate and Tony stood as he hung up, expecting the directive to the basement. Gibbs stared at them strangely, particularly Tony, as if wondering who they were. “DiNozzo, what are you doing?”<br> “We’re…going downstairs, aren’t we, boss?” Tony looked confusedly at Kate for help. “We are,” Gibbs replied, motioning to himself and Kate. “You are staying up here and finishing up that work.” Kate couldn’t resist a triumphant grin at Tony as she walked past. Ducky greeted them in Autopsy. “Where’s Tony?” he asked, looking behind them. Gibbs just grunted as he walked in. “He, er, had the audacity to suggest that Gibbs go to Starbucks,” Kate provided, struggling anew not to laugh. “He didn’t!” Ducky replied amazedly, gazing at Gibbs and back to Kate. “I take it his coffee shop is closed this morning?”<br> “Yeah,” Kate nodded. “It’s going to be a wonderful day!” she added sarcastically. “Well, you know how Gibbs is about his coffee, Kaitlin.”<br> “Oh, yeah. Did you know that coffee is an art form?”<br> “Whaddaya got for us, Ducky?” Gibbs interrupted. “Ah, yes. A young Navy lieutenant, died of an apparent overdose of coffee – I mean, cocaine. Now, there is some bruising around the coffee – I mean, collar – bone, suggesting…” Kate tuned out as she watched Gibbs. With every slip of Ducky’s tongue, he twitched and reddened. It’s going to be a very long day.
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Post by LJ on Oct 25, 2004 21:13:15 GMT -5
Great job, Meg! Quite funny.
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Post by LJ on Oct 28, 2004 21:27:48 GMT -5
GG, you're getting quite good at these thread titles! It's got my vote!
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