Response to Challenge #5

[Gibbsgirl]

Gibbs meanwhile, was snapping questions so fast that Tony could hardly keep up. “Kate, just hold on for a second, I need to fill Gibbs in. I’m right here though, if something happens. Gibbs, there’s been a small plane crash, shortly after 1 am. Kate’s building is somewhere in the damage path. She can see fire out of her bedroom window and her bedroom door is warm to the touch, but the doorknob isn’t hot yet. Kate? Go and check and see if that’s changed, okay?” Tony could hear her comply with his request. When she indicated that the door seemed only a little warmer and the knob now had a small amount of heat to it, he knew they were going to have to work fast. He relayed this information to Gibbs and said, “She has no way of knowing when the rescue workers are going to get to her building. She needs our help. Can you and Ducky call in some favors to find out what’s going on?”<br>
“I’ll do more than that. Stay put and stay on the line with her. As soon as I’m off the phone with Ducky, I’m coming to get you. We’ll see if we can’t get a little closer to where she is.” Gibbs hung up the phone, vaguely irritated that Kate hadn’t called him straight away. He was the team leader, she’d wasted valuable time calling DiNozzo. Oh, well, whatever the reason, the most important thing now was to get her safe. He grabbed his cell and called Ducky as he headed for the car.

“Jethro? An odd time to be calling. A body, I presume. Where shall I meet you.” Ducky sounded only slightly sleepy, but otherwise unruffled at having been woken in the middle of the night.

“No body yet, Duck. But there’s been a small plane crash and Kate’s building is in the damage path. We believe it’s on fire, and we need to find out if rescue teams are in the area or if she needs our help before she......” Gibbs had wanted to make a smart remark to take the sting out of the reality. But suddenly faced with the thought of having to watch or, God forbid, listen as Kate burned to death, trapped in her own apartment, Gibbs suddenly had to fight the urge to vomit. This was one of his own. He would never lose one of his own again. “Listen Ducky, we’ve just got to pull every string we have. Kate needs us all right now. It’s up to us to save her.”<br>
Ducky took down the address information that Gibbs gave him, Gibbs having looked it up in his dratted PDA before he left the house. He was barely on speaking terms with the device, but if the fact that he’d put his team’s addresses in it saved Kate’s life tonight, he might pardon it just this one last time. Right now, though Gibbs broke nearly every traffic law on the books to get to Tony’s.

When Gibbs arrived, the younger man was already dressed and waiting for him outside his apartment building. He carried a duffle bag with him, which Gibbs looked at questioningly, but Tony was too absorbed in his conversation with Kate to care about answering his boss just then.

“Kate? What does it look like outside the window right now? Well, just get that little fanny of yours up and go over and look!” Tony breathed a huge sigh of relief as the loud and angry retort could be heard clearly by both occupants of the car.

“You sexist pig! How dare you, at a time like this, make comments about my anatomy!” Angrily she stomped over to the window and looked out. Suddenly the fear threatened to overwhelm her again. And then it dawned on her what Tony had done. As the sounds of the fire and possible building damage had become louder she had become more and more frightened until she’d backed herself in a corner. And somehow, he knew it and made her angry enough to get up again. All right, Kate; hold on to that anger. She became aware that she had let the hand with the phone fall to her side and she could hear not only Tony, but Gibbs as well, calling her name, the worry in both their voices evident. She snapped the phone back to her ear. “I’m here, it’s okay. Thanks, Tony. I was just getting myself back together.” She took a deep breath before continuing. “From what I can see the fire is getting much worse outside my bedroom window. I’m going to take a wild guess and say that the jet lost some fuel over this way. The creaks and groans from overhead continue, but they don’t seem to be getting worse. Whatever is causing it doesn’t seem to be increasing whether it’s fire or debris. However the door is perceptibly warmer and the floor is starting to feel warm. If had to make a guess based on the little info I have I’d say we have jet fuel on this side of my building, some of an engine on the roof and we’re totally cut off from the rescue teams because of the fires in the area. I’ve heard a couple of gas explosions already and I’m afraid we’ll go up anytime.” Another breath, then, “Guys, I have to admit, I’m just a little scared here. I really don’t........” She couldn’t say it. “What have you found out.?”<br>
The two men in the car looked at each other. Tony had put his phone on speaker when they were afraid they had lost Kate, so they had both heard her recitation. The moment she had stopped speaking Gibbs had flipped open his phone and began calling some sources to find out the status of the fires and damage around Kate’s building. He knew Ducky was on the rescue teams so he concentrated on trying to find a way in to have the team as close as possible for her when they got her out. He would not allow it to be otherwise. He would not lose an agent.

[Gibbsgirl]

Tony had taken up his phone while Gibbs was on his. “Ducky is on rescue detail, Gibbs is trying to find out exactly what the status of your building and neighborhood is, and I’m here to tell you you’re going to be fine so don’t worry. I brought a duffle bag with extra blankets and some sweats so we can get you out ourselves if we have to. Don’t worry Kate. Gibbs never leaves a man behind.”<br>
It was another agonizing fifteen minutes before Gibbs and Tony had all the information they could gather and were as close as they could get to Kate’s building. For the first time they had a real look and what had happened. Tony gave a low whistle and Gibbs jaw just tightened. “Boss, her building's half gone!” Tony, carrying his duffle, began picking his way carefully toward the half collapsed wreckage nearly a block away.

Gibbs followed his teammate slowly. Ducky had talked to search and rescue and found out they had pretty much written off this whole block. What hadn’t been leveled by the plane had been taken out by gas explosions and the fires all around were proving difficult to contain. S&R’s comment when told there might be survivors was a simple, “If they’re not dead yet, either the fire or the fumes’ll get ‘em before we can. We just don’t have the manpower, and by the time we can redirect one of our units, I guarantee you, it’ll be too late. It may sound cold, but I’m saving as many as I can. Sorry sir.” Ducky had been both sick and furious at this response, but escalating the inquiry up the chain of command had elicited little more than sympathy. “Sorry, Doctor. I know the building you’re talking about. Nobody left alive in there. And if there is, they couldn’t survive for long. I don’t even think we could get S&R in there. Again, I’m sorry.” Ducky finally relayed all this to Gibbs. Gibbs nodded to himself and thanked the doctor.

“Okay, DiNozzo, we’re on our own here. S&R doesn’t think they can get in, and even if they could, they don’t think anyone’s left alive.”<br>
“Oh, she’s alive, Boss. And somewhere between ticked and panicked.” This last was said away from the handset Tony still carried. “I think we’d better figure out how to do this, pronto.”<br>
“Fine, give me the phone. First we have to figure out where she is. Then we have to figure out which is the best way to get to her. Kate? I need you to do a couple of things. We’re pretty close to your building, but we need to know where you are. Before you do that though, I need to know if the fire is actually in your apartment. So, first go to your bedroom door and very carefully peel back a tiny corner of the blanket you put there. Don’t get your face close to it, but let me know if you see a reddish glow under the door there. Okay? Go.” Gibbs held on while he heard Kate move about, but she made little sound. Was that good or bad?

“All right, Gibbs. Done. There’s a faint glow but it’s more orange-y, kind of like sunset through my living room windows. My floor is also getting pretty warm. If I had to guess, I’d say the fire’s around me right now, but maybe not my apartment yet.” Kate sighed. Adrenaline rush and fear had given way to exhaustion. Either let me out or let me die, she thought. But I can’t take much more of this tonight.

“Good job, Kate. Make sure that blanket is packed tight along the door. We don’t want to take any chances. Then get something colorful from your wardrobe, something small, like a scarf. Open your window a crack and push the item out and lodge it in the window as you close it. That’s so we know where you are. Got it, Kate? C’mon! Get up!” Dammit this was getting bad. The fumes from the fire affecting her. They had to get her out!

Kate dragged herself over to her closet. She had one bright floral scarf, a gift she didn’t particularly care for. This’ll do, she thought. She struggled back to the window and opened it a crack and let the end trail out in the breeze. She pushed the window shut as much as she could and then slid down the wall. The phone was still in her hand but she didn’t bother to bring it to her ear. “There. Done. I’m tired now, Gibbs. Gonna take a nap, ‘kay?” She slid over into a semi fetal position on the floor, the phone too far away to help her as both Gibbs and Tony took turns yelling into it.

“Dammit!” Tony ran his hands through his hair in frustration. He began walking as carefully as he could around and near Kate’s building, but the fire and debris made the going treacherous. Just when he was about to admit defeat he saw it. A faint flutter around a corner. That must be it, he thought. Now, how do I get there? No wonder Kate was freaked. Tony got his first good look at the scene Kate had from her window. Not even Dante could have created a better rendition of Hell, Tony thought. He began to try to plan a way to try to get to Kate. So much of the building was on fire, he wasn’t sure he could get in that way. Aircraft debris was strewn everywhere, but nothing looked usable for the situation at hand. “Gibbs! I found her room!” He saw the other man begin making his way over as quickly as possible. “Up there. But I don’t know how we get in.”<br>
Gibbs sized up the situation quickly and came up just about the same as Tony. “Looks like we’re going to have to use a rope.” He turned and headed off toward the car at a brisk pace. He was back in short minutes with a generous length of rope looped about his body and a large storage box.

“Boss, I hate to break it to you, but we don’t have any way to get the.....” Tony broke off as Gibbs took a small grappling hook out of the box. “Do you always carry second story tools with you?” He cocked his head as he waited for the answer.

“I do when I’m going on potential rescue missions. Now, look out.” Gibbs had expertly attached the rope to the hook and was now about to launch it up to the gutter. It took a couple of tries but it caught and held his weight. Then the two men looked at each other.

“Who goes?”

[Gibbsgirl]

“She called you, you go. We don’t have time for the debate. Besides if anything goes wrong and you both have to drop, I’m more likely to catch you both. Now get your ass up that rope!”<br>
Tony wasted no time in complying. He was terrified for Kate’s safety. He pushed the window open and found her lying on the floor immediately beneath it. Carefully, he climbed in and then maneuvered around to check her pulse and breathing. She was still breathing, but the pulse was weak. He tried to get her to wake up knowing it would be easier for them both if she did. “Kate? Kate, c'mon wake up.” She moaned slightly, and Tony took that as a good sign, until she began to wheeze. Suddenly her eyes flew open in terror and she grabbed a hold of Tony’s arms. “Slow down, Kate. Slow breaths. In and out, nice and slow.” Gradually the fear in her eyes receded, but her breathing remained very labored. Knowing she would need emergency treatment, Tony leaned out the window and relayed Kate’s condition to Gibbs. Their team leader acknowledged the situation and called for some emergency medical back up.

Tony, meanwhile had explained to Kate what they needed to do to get her out. She nodded. Thankful for the recent rappelling experience, she thought she could get down this rope to save her life with out any more panic.

Just as they were ready to go out the window, the floor by the door ignited. Kate, who had never been afraid of anything, now found she had a very real fear of fire. She scrambled to get out of the window, nearly losing her balance and tumbling into the fire below. This sent her into even more of a panic. Tony had a difficult time just holding on to her to keep her from falling, let alone throwing herself off in one direction or another. Finally when he got her calmed down again he directed her down the rope. He watched, from his vantage point on the window sill, as she made it safely to the ground and then as she skittered and hopped away from anything that looked like fire. He looked back as the blanket, a wool one, finally stopped burning. He shook his head for Kate’s losses. This building wouldn’t survive the night. Then he was down the rope and on the ground as well.

After they had packed up their bags, with Kate wrapped in extra blankets to help ward off shock, they headed for the car. Gibbs could see the flashing lights in the distance, must be the ambulance he reasoned. He said as much to his colleagues, and the men were suddenly met with Kate’s frightened eyes. Tony spoke up first. “You have to go to the hospital, Kate.” Her throat was too raw to speak, they’d figured that much out, so she responded in gesture. She tugged on their sleeves. Green eyes met blue as they considered both the request and answer. After a moment Gibbs turned back to her and replied. “Ducky and Abby are at my place waiting for news. Yes I’ve called them,” he said in response to her next look, “but they’re waiting for you, too. You have no place to go right now, so I was going to have Abby play hostess at my house for you until you get another apartment. You sure can’t sleep at her place!” Gibbs thought the idea of sleeping anywhere near a coffin right now might be more than Kate could take. “Anyway, DiNozzo can go with you to the hospital if you need and then tomorrow we’ll all help you anyway we can.”<br>
Kate tried to take all this in as they walked but she was so tired and still somewhat woozy. As they neared the area where the ambulance was the paramedics rushed over and she was glad to give herself over to their ministrations. She made sure Tony was still nearby, relieved to find him talking to one of the medics and looking over to check on her, too. She let herself drift off to sleep.

Tony arrived back at Gibbs place a few hours later. They had been gathering news from a number of sources. It was a somber group that sat around the kitchen table drinking coffee and oddly enough snacking on chips and salsa.

“Turns out that of all the apartments in that building, Kate’s might have been the only one someone could have been in and survived that long. it’s just a matter of the way the engine hit the building and splashed the fuel.” Abby had been busy on the phone while waiting to hear from Gibbs and Tony.

“Well, having seen it first hand I’m not sure I know how she was that lucky. I was pretty angry at S&R when they didn’t want to go it, but I don’t suppose I blame them. I would have thought everyone in that building was dead too. Thank God she called me!” Tony shook his head remembering how the whole thing started.

“Tell me, Anthony, why did she call you anyway? You hardly seem like the kind of person Caitlyn would call in the middle of the night.” Ducky’s curiosity had finally gotten the better of him and when Jethro had to admit even he wasn’t sure why, well, one must have all the facts.

“She said she’d heard an explosion and her power was out. She figured I’d still be up, out on a date and Gibbs would be asleep, and all things considered she’d rather bug the person who was awake for information than to wake Gibbs up because she didn’t have a battery powered radio.”<br>
The group as a whole got a small chuckle out of that. Gibbs probably would have blasted her for being unprepared. The silver haired man stopped to think. Would he have just hung up on her, or would he have helped her. Certainly DiNozzo always reacts to a lady in trouble. Gibbs rubbed his face in exhaustion and frustration. Was he always such a nice guy that his agents couldn’t come to him when they were in trouble? Something to think about, you old grouch.

Tony elected himself Kate’s transport from the hospital the next afternoon. He found her rested (finally!) and ready to leave. “I hate hospitals,” she whispered to Tony as they were leaving. He thought she was trying to share secrets and was momentarily taken aback until he realized this was all the voice she had at the moment. “The doctors say not to worry. It’ll take about a week before it all comes back. But no permanent damage.” Then she turned to look him in the eye, “Thanks to you and Gibbs, that is.” She settled back in her seat. As they reached Gibbs’ house she whispered one more thing. “Please don’t mention my fear of fire. I want to try and conquer it. Eventually.” She got out of the car and headed to the house, Tony hurrying to keep up. As he opened the door the occupants let out a hearty “SURPRISE” , including Gibbs to everyone’s astonishment. Tears slipped down Kate’s cheeks as her friends hugged her and told her how glad they were that she was okay.

Later, over conversation and profuse thanks for the thoughtfulness of her friends, the talk turned towards goings on at the office. Suddenly Abby began to laugh. “Hey Kate, I know this is like totally inappropriate black humor, but I think you just bought yourself a pass from this week’s Human Services seminar.” The goth girl continued to laugh. She couldn’t help it, sometimes the absurdity of it all just got to her.

Kate stopped to think. She should know what it is, but she was just drawing a blank. “Okay, I give. What is it?”<br>
Everyone else look down, up, out the window. No one thought this was funny. Not after what Kate had been through. Finally Abby spoke up. “Fire Safety”<br>
Kate just stared at Abby for a second. Fire Safety. Fire Safety! I’ll show them freakin’ Fire Safety, she thought. And then a giggle escaped her lips. And another. And pretty soon Kate and Abby were both laughing. It really was pretty absurd when you thought about it. Having to go to a lecture on Fire Safety when you just survived an inferno in your own building.

The three men just watched them in utter amazement. Tony looked at Ducky for some sort of medical explanation, the older man just shrugged his shoulders. Gibbs just shook his head. Proof positive, he thought, that I will never understand women.

As the females wound down with a least one unlady-like snort Kate gasped, “What’s next week’s?”

Abby, knowing the answer would set off another fit of laughter, tried for a straight face. “What’ve we got next week? Health and Hygiene.”

[jo]

LOVED IT!!

[Lelu]

There are all great!!! Loving them and thanks!!

[Kormiic]

Awesome! I could alost visualize it too, which is a feat since it's pouring rain and we're under a tornado warning. You wouldn't believe how annoyed I was that my dad called in the middle of my reading it. It was like having to put down a really good book...

[Gibbsgirl]

Thanks guys! I'm glad you liked it. There is a story behind why I wrote this particular story......I didn't just pull it out of nowhere. There's a small airport in my area which has been troubled with small aircraft crashes. 2 in the last week, and one last winter. The one last winter I was actually only minutes from seeing happen, it hit a small industrial building. Thankfully everyone on the ground survived. The other two have been into wooded areas, but the last was near housing. The area is actually a very populated area, including a mall.

When I started envisioning someone trapped in a burning building, I knew I had to write this. Thanks for giving me the space.

[middleagecrazy]

Copied it, pasted it, printed it, LOVED it!

Found your story just before I signed off last night (why my family keeps insisting they need to eat dinner, I'll never know... ). Does it have a title?

I so love long stories... And exactly 4500 words -- probably couldn't do that again if you were trying to!

:::mac begging gibbsgirl to write more:::

[Gibbsgirl]

Thank you ::blush:: I write what the muse pressures me to. For any of the newer readers who may not know it, and want to, there is another one of mine in the Response to Challenge #1 thread. Be forewarned, it's longer.

Neither story has a title, never was any good at naming my writing.

Also, I do have a piece in progress for challenge #2, but it's stalled. I figured if I was patient enough, the rest would come. So......if anyone's interested, there is more, somewhere stuck in my brain. ;D

[Star]

Sorry this has been long in coming but here it is. More of a ficlet than a full story but...


Stop, Drop and Roll by Star24

Disclaimer: The usual, Don’t own them, don’t profit from them blah blah blah…<br>
* * * * * * * * * *

“All you need to do is Stop, Drop, and Roll…"

Abby heard a slight snore next to her and without looking over, she gave Tony a hard jab in the ribs.

He sat up with a start and looked around blinking his eyes madly. “Wha..?”<br>
“Shhh,” Abby hissed, “you were about to snore loudly enough for Professor Legree up there to hear. Two hours of this stuff is more than enough for me. You know that he threatened an extra hour if people started nodding off again.”<br>
Tony gave her a look of pure innocence, “I wasn’t the only one he bored to sleep yesterday.”<br>
“But you were the one who snored loud enough to wake the dead which brought it to his attention.”<br>
Tony fell silent as Abby grinned at having the last word. The stoop shouldered, bespectacled man in the front of the room droned on happily, oblivious to the reaction of the thirty NCIS staff members in the small auditorium.

Fifteen long minutes later, the fire safety class was dismissed and the pupils eagerly jostled each other in their eagerness to leave the room. Tony and Abby caught up with Kate who was walking just in front of them, and with a grin Tony reached out and yanked Kate’s ponytail.

“Hey!” Kate turned and then shook her head as she saw who was behind her. “I should have known. No one has pulled my hair since sixth grade; it had to be you, Dinozzo.”

“This lecture is stuff I’ve known since sixth grade or before. I can’t believe they’re wasting the time of a couple of dozen highly trained special agents and staff with Fire Safety for Dummies.” Tony remarked.

“It’s something to do with government regs.” Kate said primly.

“Yeah well you know what they say about most government regs...” Tony grinned.

Kate frowned at him.

“Children, please. I already have a headache from Mr. Dull and Boring. I don’t need another one from you.” Abby interceded.

By that time they had reached the bullpen area and Gibbs was standing there waiting for them. Going by the expression on his face he wasn’t pleased. He stepped aside and the threesome saw the reason. Standing behind them was the Professor.

“sweets.” Abby said sotto voce. She made an abrupt turn and headed back to the elevator bank. “I just remembered a test that I needed to check on five minutes ago. Tell Gibbs I said hello,” floated back over her shoulder.

Tony and Kate exchanged looks as they proceeded slowly to where their boss stood.

“Hey, boss. Hello Professor.” Tony greeted them both cheerfully.

“Dinozzo. Todd. I understand there was a slight problem with today’s class?” Gibbs gave them both a stern look but Tony could have sworn there was a twinkle in his eyes.

“No, boss. No problem. Right, Kate?”<br>
“Um, yeah, No, problem, Gibbs.” Kate stammered.

The Professor opened his mouth to say something but Kate suddenly felt something hot on her arm. She looked down in horror to see flames licking at the outer sleeve of her suit jacket.

“Kate, you’re on fire! Do something!Stop, drop and roll!” Tony cried out dramatically. He gave her a shove and whispered in her ear, “Do it, damn it.”<br>
Kate stumbled and then found herself on the floor, being rolled over by the efficient hands of one Anthony Dinozzo. Seconds later those same hands smoothly pulled her back to her feet.

The Professor stood staring at the two of them, looking like a fish out of water. His gaping mouth flapped slowly as he struggled to say something.

“Gee, Professor, it’s a good thing we had your class today. What a coincidence that Kate had the opportunity to put your fine teaching to good use.” Tony blasted the Professor with a megawatt smile, as he reached out to shake his hand. Gibbs stood there watching, his face impassive.

“Well, then. Yes. Indeed.” The Professor managed to say, finally.

“I think this answers your concerns about my agents’ attentiveness to your class.” Gibbs said smoothly. “Now if you’ll excuse us, I have a case I need to brief my team about.”

Then the Professor was gone, and Gibbs stood looking at the two agents. Nothing was showing in his face.

Kate turned indignantly to Tony, “I could have been…” she started to say.

“…stuck in a three hour makeup class with the Professor?” Gibbs finished for her. “He was rather upset that two of my agents managed to fall asleep in his class today. Dinozzo’s quick thinking saved you from that.”<br>
Tony looked at Kate who flushed. “Why, Kate, how could you? Sleeping in class?”<br>
“Shut up, Tony,” she shot back.

“Take her advice, Dinozzo. I did say that two of my agents were sleeping, not just one.” Gibbs shot Tony a look. Tony did as he suggested.

Gibbs chuckled as he walked back to his desk. “By the way, Kate, I think next week’s class might be of interest to you. And you might want to go fix your hair.”<br>
“My hair?” Kate put a hand to her ponytail which was sticking straight up in the air like a fountain in the middle of her head, as a result of Tony’s impromptu fire drill.

"What've we got next week?” Tony asked, curiosity evident in his face and voice.

“Health and Hygiene,” was Gibbs response as he walked away from the two stunned agents.

Finis

[jo]

Star , your story is hilarious. and very in character.

[Kakapo]

title: “Finding”<br>by Kakapo
summary: my Kate muse wants to hurt whomever inspired Dinozzo with the phrase “seek and ye shall find”.
spoilers: none that I can think of…though the episode with the maze aboard ship does come to mind.
Response to the Challenge # 5

~~
TUESDAY:

“’Stop, drop, and roll’,” Kate Todd said as she hung up the phone. Those words had been the closest thing to a clue that she could think of, considering that it had been dropped by Dinozzo just now. Well, it certainly explained why he hadn’t shown up for work today... even when he went skirt-chasing, he managed to show up at NCIS by now.

The question was, in Kate’s mind, what did Dinozzo know? She, at least, had experience with A.F.1; but Dinozzo?

“Weird,” Abby said, sitting at Dinozzo’s computer. “And this is weirder.”<br>
“What?” Kate asked.

“Well, according to this, before he left for work today, he unsubscribed from all his e-mail groups and mazagines.”<br>
“Every one?” Kate asked, wondering if this meant she might be spared so much spam.

“All but three of them. National Geographic, Royal Geographic, and Aquatic Gardening.”<br>
“Never would have pictured Dinozzo with a green thumb.”<br>
“Black and blue, maybe.” Fingers tapping at keys quickly. “I think this might help. He emailed himself an address,” and recited it for Kate.

“Thanks. If you see Gibbs, tell him I’m bringing Dinozzo in, but I’ll let Gibbs interrogate him first.”<br>
“I’m sure he’ll appreciate that.”<br>
~~
DOWNTOWN:

“Where are you?” Kate asked, saying that under her breath. She was at the address provided - a dry cleaners - and neither Dinozzo nor anyone who might know him were in sight.

“Wait a…” Kate said, seeing a Stop sign three small stores down the road. On a hunch, she walked down to the Stop sign.

Once there, her hunch was proven right: the road split in a Y from where she was standing; and on the left fork of the Y, there was an Egg Drop Café. A small flock of yuppies were sipping drinks in front of it - “probably lattes” Kate figured.

Off to the right of the Stop sign, there was a bunch of construction going on.

Kate walked to the left, and kept herself from following the delicious aromas into the café itself. She’d already spotted the next stop: a French bakery.

Ari was sitting at a window seat, talking with someone there. Not English, Kate hazarded, judging by the way his lips moved; maybe Hebrew or Arabic.

“Can I help you, miss?” one of the café waitresses asked Kate.

“Um, yes,” Kate said, turning, trying to make it look casual, just on the off chance someone noticed her - best not to tip off any possible observers that she had recognized or even noticed Ari and…whomever.

Kate got her usual type of coffee, and drank it there.

~~
WEDNESDAY:

He placed a white thin cardboard box on Kate’s desk.

Kate looked up from her now-covered paperwork, and saw Dinozzo. “Were you kidnapped?”<br>
“Nope. What gave you that idea?”<br>
Before Kate could even try to kill Dinozzo, Gibbs intervened: “We were waiting for you, so we could take you to dinner.” He paused. “You did remember your birthday, didn’t you? Rule 27.”<br>
“We waited a little over three hours,” Ducky said.

“I followed your directions,” Kate said, glaring at Dinozzo, “and none of you were there.”<br>
With a dramatic sigh, “From the Dry Cleaners,” Dinozzo said, “down to the Stop sign, then turn right until you reach the construction site where they’re putting in a basement. After that, it’s easy enough to see the Pastry Bistro.”<br>
“We waited,” Gibbs said, drinking from a coffee cup that had a stylized cinnamon roll emblem on it’s flank. “Where exactly were you?”<br>
Kate’s mind nearly jammed itself rather than tell Gibbs where to find Ari. “I found a renovated apartment, where I was beseiged by people wanting to give me their pamphlets.”<br>
“What sort of pamphlets?” Abby asked, since Dinozzo didn’t seem too interested.

“This and that, mostly: pets and safety, perms and haircare, health and hygiene.”<br>~~
the end?

[Deleted]

My aunt and I both loved your story Gibbsgirl! I read it aloud to her on errands and she was about going nuts with the suspense! We'd stop when we reached a store and she'd act like Gibbs with Abby in the elevator on "Dead Man Talking!" (Thankfully she doesn't drive like him!)

[Deleted]

You guys can thank actual circumstances at my office for this one.

WELL-TRAINED

"All you have to do is 'stop, drop, and roll.'" Tony stared in exasperation at his screen. "What else is there to know?"

"Another online training module?" Kate asked.

Tony nodded. "Fire safety, a half hour long. And here's where it really gets good. The time we log on will be on our revised schedules. Training is today and I have yet to get a revised schedule."

Kate started laughing. "Last week I got an e-mail advising I was scheduled for online training on the 17th - and the e-mail as sent on the eighteenth."

Tony grinned. "Geniuses. Real geniuses scheduling this stuff."

"Apparently this online training is supposed to be a weekly event," Gibbs remarked.

Tony groaned. "Think anyone would notice if I came down with a weekly virus?"

"How about our computers get a weekly virus?" Kate said, eyes sparkling. "Oh, McGee..."

"Unfortunately, he's on vacation," Gibbs replied. "Till next Wednesday. Too late to get you out of the next couple of classes."

Tony groaned again. "That does it - I'm grabbing a body from the morgue and planting it at a crime scene for discovery."

"I'll call in as the body," Kate added.

"We could apply to work cold cases," Tony suggested hopefully.

"No training is that bad." Gibbs checked his e-mail, then got to his feet. "On second thought, you'll find me in the file vault."

Tony read the e-mail and moaned. "You'll find me in the body vault. What have we got next week? Health and hygiene."

THE END

[LJ]

Great job, Meg! Quite funny.