Story!
Title: The Morning After
Author: reprint
Rating: T
Pairings involved: Tony/Kate, McGee/Abby, Gibbs/Jenny
Warnings: none really
Short description: Ending up in Anthony DiNozzo's bed was not at the top of Caitlin Todd's 'to do' list...
Chapter 21: Resentment
Tony looked at Kate, his mouth open. For some reason, the fact that Kate had been offered that position and not the P.A position she used to have while she was pregnant… he didn’t know what to think about it. Instead, he just grinned and hugged her.
“Well done, Katie!” He exclaimed. “That’s a huge step in your career!”
“What is, DiNozzo?”
Gibbs walked up to the two, an eyebrow raised. Tony faced him and grinned.
“Well, boss, Kate got promoted to Deputy Director of NCIS!” He said, patting her on the back.
Gibbs looked at Kate, unable to hide his surprise and shock. She just stood in front of him, smiling. She couldn’t see what he was thinking; otherwise she might have been seriously upset.
Because, at that moment, Leroy Jethro Gibbs was wondering: What the hell was Jenny Shepherd thinking?
-
“This is your new office.” Jenny said to Kate, pushing open the door. It was almost exactly the same as her office, only there was no furniture in it yet. She handed Kate a folder and smiled. “I thought you might like to decorate it yourself.”
“Wow, thank you.” Kate said, stunned. She heard Jenny walk into her own office, and stood at the door in amazement for a while. The door that led out to the bullpen and MTAC burst open and Gibbs stormed in.
“Hi Gibbs.” Kate smiled. “Looking for the Director?”
He continued walking straight past her, opened the Director’s door and stomped through, slamming it behind him. She raised an eyebrow, and within moments heard raised voices. She couldn’t hear the conversation itself, but she could hear the voices. She shrugged it off and headed downstairs.
“Hey, Kate.” McGee called out as she walked over. “Or is it Deputy Director Todd now?”
“I reckon.” Tony grinned. He gave Kate a hello kiss. “How does it feel to be Gibbs’ boss, Katie?”
Kate ran a hand through her hair. “It’s still Kate. Unless you really want to call me Deputy Director.” She added with a dazed look on her face. “And I can’t really say that I know…” She smiled. “It hasn’t sunk in yet.”
“Well, Gibbs headed up there before.” McGee said, shrugging. “Did he go to talk to Director Shepherd?”
“Nah, probably went to make out with her.” Tony laughed. He stopped when he saw the glare on Kate’s face. “What?” He protested. “McGee and I saw them at the hospital!”
“You did?” Kate asked, incredulous. “Well… Gibbs did go up there earlier… but I heard shouting.”
“Can’t think why.” McGee said, his eyebrow raised.
Kate looked at him. “Do you think it has anything to do with my promotion?” Tony and McGee both looked away. She gaped at McGee. “It does, doesn’t it?
They didn’t answer. Kate huffed and walked back towards her office. Just as she got upstairs, Gibbs came out of Jenny’s office.
“Gibbs!” Kate stopped him. He looked at her. “Are you unhappy about what’s happened?” She asked him quietly.
He looked her directly in the eye. He closed Jenny’s office door without turning around, before saying to her, “I don’t have a problem with your promotion… Deputy Director Todd.”
The conversation was over, and Kate knew it. She stepped out of his way, and he walked off, closing the door behind him. Kate stood there for a good five minutes, unable to register what had just happened.
‘I don’t have a problem with your promotion… Deputy Director Todd.’
Why didn’t he just call her Kate, like Tony, McGee and Jenny? Tears welled up in her eyes. She and Gibbs had always had a very tight friendship. Is this what it had come down to?
-
When Kate came back downstairs later to meet Tony for lunch, he could tell she had been crying. Her makeup was fine, but her face was pale and she was sniffly. McGee was nearby so he didn’t push it, but as soon as the elevator doors shut, he was on to her.
“What’s wrong, Katie?” Tony asked, running a hand through her hair. “You’ve been crying.”
Kate looked up at Tony. “Do you…” She trailed off, looking away. “Tony… this promotion that Jenny’s given me… you aren’t bothered by it… are you?”
He looked at her in shock. “Of course not!” He exclaimed. “Sure, I was a little surprised at first… but I don’t think there’s anyone who could do a better job than you.”
Tears filled her eyes again. “… Gibbs… he… he called me… Deputy Director Todd. I don’t understand it, Tony!” She cried. “He’s never called me anything but Kate, and now I think he resents me!”
He put his arms around her, and held her tightly. “You don’t have to worry about Gibbs.” He said. “I guess he’s not used to being bossed around. Especially by you.”
She giggled into his chest. “You really think so?”
Tony smirked. “I know so.”
They left the building, and headed towards Tony’s car. Kate was walking slightly ahead of Tony, as Tony’s thoughts were lingering on the gorgeous engagement ring he had seen. He had been browsing on his computer earlier that morning, and had used his earlier break down at the store. His favourite so far had been one with a silver band, and the stone was a very light pink.
He hadn’t looked at the price; he didn’t care how much it cost, as long as Kate would like it. And as long as she said yes when he asked her to marry him.
Oh, how he hoped she would say yes.
Tony had imagined the scenario in which he would propose to her… a beautiful candlelight dinner at her favourite restaurant, then a walk down the beach… where he would dramatically stop her, get down on one knee, confess to her that she was the love of his life… then ask her if she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.
He quite liked that.
“Tony? Are you listening?”
Tony stopped. He had no idea that Kate had been speaking to him. “Whaat?” He said lamely. “Were you saying something?”
Kate frowned. “I asked you if you were coming over tonight.”
He nodded. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Tony had already made up his mind. He was going to get the ring… today.
-
Jenny switched the light off in her office, and closed the door behind her. She put on her jacket, and took her purse off the table. She left the office, and headed down the stairs slowly. Almost cautiously. The only light down in the squad room was coming from Gibbs’ desk. Smiling sadly, she descended the rest of the stairs and made her way over to his desk.
“Are you leaving soon, Jethro?” She asked softly.
“Mhm.” Came the reply.
She frowned. The argument they had had that day over Kate’s promotion had been bad, but it was only natural that Gibbs was feeling slightly resentful towards his former team member.
Jenny only hoped that he would get over it soon. She had seen Kate in tears numerous times that day.
“So, I will see you at home then.” No reply. “I’ll make you dinner.”
He stopped writing, and after a few moments looked up at her. There was a huge grin on his face. “Jen, you’re going to cook?”
She sighed with relief inwardly, but quickly countered his teasing, “Are you trying to imply that I cannot cook, Jethro Gibbs?”
He saw the fire in her eyes, and chuckled. “No, not at all. Not at all…”
She smiled herself, bent down and kissed his cheek, and headed for the elevator. “If you are later than 9 o’clock…” She said in a warning tone, “I will make you sleep on the couch.”
He laughed as she stepped into the elevator, and when the doors were shut he looked at the clock on his desk. 7:30pm.
However, at 8 o’clock he decided he had had enough for one day, and packed up his things.
-
At 2am, Kate was lying on her back, still awake. She heard Tony’s light snores next to her, and was comforted by his arm, which was draped across her waist. There wasn’t a thought in her head, apart from the situation with Gibbs.
He appeared to hate her, and why?
She gently removed Tony’s arm, and got out of bed. She grabbed the phone from its stand and left her room, closing the door quietly behind her. Knowing Gibbs stayed awake at all hours of the night, she dialled his number. He answered almost straightaway.
“Kate.” He answered.
“… how’d you know it was me?” She asked quietly.
“Caller I.D.”
“… oh.”
He didn’t say anything for a while, and Kate thought he had hung up. But, he hadn’t.
“What is it, Kate?” He asked.
“I… just want to know what happened at work.” She said. “The way you reacted really upset me. You’ve always been there for me, Gibbs. What changed?”
We’ll talk tomorrow, Kate. Go and sleep.”
The line went dead, and Kate found herself once again heading in the direction of the bathroom, to wash away the tears that were streaming down her face.
Previous chapters are here.
Make a request here.
Author: reprint
Rating: T
Pairings involved: Tony/Kate, McGee/Abby, Gibbs/Jenny
Warnings: none really
Short description: Ending up in Anthony DiNozzo's bed was not at the top of Caitlin Todd's 'to do' list...
Chapter 21: Resentment
Tony looked at Kate, his mouth open. For some reason, the fact that Kate had been offered that position and not the P.A position she used to have while she was pregnant… he didn’t know what to think about it. Instead, he just grinned and hugged her.
“Well done, Katie!” He exclaimed. “That’s a huge step in your career!”
“What is, DiNozzo?”
Gibbs walked up to the two, an eyebrow raised. Tony faced him and grinned.
“Well, boss, Kate got promoted to Deputy Director of NCIS!” He said, patting her on the back.
Gibbs looked at Kate, unable to hide his surprise and shock. She just stood in front of him, smiling. She couldn’t see what he was thinking; otherwise she might have been seriously upset.
Because, at that moment, Leroy Jethro Gibbs was wondering: What the hell was Jenny Shepherd thinking?
-
“This is your new office.” Jenny said to Kate, pushing open the door. It was almost exactly the same as her office, only there was no furniture in it yet. She handed Kate a folder and smiled. “I thought you might like to decorate it yourself.”
“Wow, thank you.” Kate said, stunned. She heard Jenny walk into her own office, and stood at the door in amazement for a while. The door that led out to the bullpen and MTAC burst open and Gibbs stormed in.
“Hi Gibbs.” Kate smiled. “Looking for the Director?”
He continued walking straight past her, opened the Director’s door and stomped through, slamming it behind him. She raised an eyebrow, and within moments heard raised voices. She couldn’t hear the conversation itself, but she could hear the voices. She shrugged it off and headed downstairs.
“Hey, Kate.” McGee called out as she walked over. “Or is it Deputy Director Todd now?”
“I reckon.” Tony grinned. He gave Kate a hello kiss. “How does it feel to be Gibbs’ boss, Katie?”
Kate ran a hand through her hair. “It’s still Kate. Unless you really want to call me Deputy Director.” She added with a dazed look on her face. “And I can’t really say that I know…” She smiled. “It hasn’t sunk in yet.”
“Well, Gibbs headed up there before.” McGee said, shrugging. “Did he go to talk to Director Shepherd?”
“Nah, probably went to make out with her.” Tony laughed. He stopped when he saw the glare on Kate’s face. “What?” He protested. “McGee and I saw them at the hospital!”
“You did?” Kate asked, incredulous. “Well… Gibbs did go up there earlier… but I heard shouting.”
“Can’t think why.” McGee said, his eyebrow raised.
Kate looked at him. “Do you think it has anything to do with my promotion?” Tony and McGee both looked away. She gaped at McGee. “It does, doesn’t it?
They didn’t answer. Kate huffed and walked back towards her office. Just as she got upstairs, Gibbs came out of Jenny’s office.
“Gibbs!” Kate stopped him. He looked at her. “Are you unhappy about what’s happened?” She asked him quietly.
He looked her directly in the eye. He closed Jenny’s office door without turning around, before saying to her, “I don’t have a problem with your promotion… Deputy Director Todd.”
The conversation was over, and Kate knew it. She stepped out of his way, and he walked off, closing the door behind him. Kate stood there for a good five minutes, unable to register what had just happened.
‘I don’t have a problem with your promotion… Deputy Director Todd.’
Why didn’t he just call her Kate, like Tony, McGee and Jenny? Tears welled up in her eyes. She and Gibbs had always had a very tight friendship. Is this what it had come down to?
-
When Kate came back downstairs later to meet Tony for lunch, he could tell she had been crying. Her makeup was fine, but her face was pale and she was sniffly. McGee was nearby so he didn’t push it, but as soon as the elevator doors shut, he was on to her.
“What’s wrong, Katie?” Tony asked, running a hand through her hair. “You’ve been crying.”
Kate looked up at Tony. “Do you…” She trailed off, looking away. “Tony… this promotion that Jenny’s given me… you aren’t bothered by it… are you?”
He looked at her in shock. “Of course not!” He exclaimed. “Sure, I was a little surprised at first… but I don’t think there’s anyone who could do a better job than you.”
Tears filled her eyes again. “… Gibbs… he… he called me… Deputy Director Todd. I don’t understand it, Tony!” She cried. “He’s never called me anything but Kate, and now I think he resents me!”
He put his arms around her, and held her tightly. “You don’t have to worry about Gibbs.” He said. “I guess he’s not used to being bossed around. Especially by you.”
She giggled into his chest. “You really think so?”
Tony smirked. “I know so.”
They left the building, and headed towards Tony’s car. Kate was walking slightly ahead of Tony, as Tony’s thoughts were lingering on the gorgeous engagement ring he had seen. He had been browsing on his computer earlier that morning, and had used his earlier break down at the store. His favourite so far had been one with a silver band, and the stone was a very light pink.
He hadn’t looked at the price; he didn’t care how much it cost, as long as Kate would like it. And as long as she said yes when he asked her to marry him.
Oh, how he hoped she would say yes.
Tony had imagined the scenario in which he would propose to her… a beautiful candlelight dinner at her favourite restaurant, then a walk down the beach… where he would dramatically stop her, get down on one knee, confess to her that she was the love of his life… then ask her if she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.
He quite liked that.
“Tony? Are you listening?”
Tony stopped. He had no idea that Kate had been speaking to him. “Whaat?” He said lamely. “Were you saying something?”
Kate frowned. “I asked you if you were coming over tonight.”
He nodded. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Tony had already made up his mind. He was going to get the ring… today.
-
Jenny switched the light off in her office, and closed the door behind her. She put on her jacket, and took her purse off the table. She left the office, and headed down the stairs slowly. Almost cautiously. The only light down in the squad room was coming from Gibbs’ desk. Smiling sadly, she descended the rest of the stairs and made her way over to his desk.
“Are you leaving soon, Jethro?” She asked softly.
“Mhm.” Came the reply.
She frowned. The argument they had had that day over Kate’s promotion had been bad, but it was only natural that Gibbs was feeling slightly resentful towards his former team member.
Jenny only hoped that he would get over it soon. She had seen Kate in tears numerous times that day.
“So, I will see you at home then.” No reply. “I’ll make you dinner.”
He stopped writing, and after a few moments looked up at her. There was a huge grin on his face. “Jen, you’re going to cook?”
She sighed with relief inwardly, but quickly countered his teasing, “Are you trying to imply that I cannot cook, Jethro Gibbs?”
He saw the fire in her eyes, and chuckled. “No, not at all. Not at all…”
She smiled herself, bent down and kissed his cheek, and headed for the elevator. “If you are later than 9 o’clock…” She said in a warning tone, “I will make you sleep on the couch.”
He laughed as she stepped into the elevator, and when the doors were shut he looked at the clock on his desk. 7:30pm.
However, at 8 o’clock he decided he had had enough for one day, and packed up his things.
-
At 2am, Kate was lying on her back, still awake. She heard Tony’s light snores next to her, and was comforted by his arm, which was draped across her waist. There wasn’t a thought in her head, apart from the situation with Gibbs.
He appeared to hate her, and why?
She gently removed Tony’s arm, and got out of bed. She grabbed the phone from its stand and left her room, closing the door quietly behind her. Knowing Gibbs stayed awake at all hours of the night, she dialled his number. He answered almost straightaway.
“Kate.” He answered.
“… how’d you know it was me?” She asked quietly.
“Caller I.D.”
“… oh.”
He didn’t say anything for a while, and Kate thought he had hung up. But, he hadn’t.
“What is it, Kate?” He asked.
“I… just want to know what happened at work.” She said. “The way you reacted really upset me. You’ve always been there for me, Gibbs. What changed?”
We’ll talk tomorrow, Kate. Go and sleep.”
The line went dead, and Kate found herself once again heading in the direction of the bathroom, to wash away the tears that were streaming down her face.
Previous chapters are here.
Make a request here.