Fic: Returning (Chapter 6)
Title: Returning (Chapter 6)
Author: Purerose
Fandom: NCIS
Prompt: 026 Writer's Choice (Phone Call)
Character/Pairing: Kate/Gibbs
Rating: PG
Word Count: 874
Summary: A phone call changes Kate's plans.
Authors Notes/Disclaimer: I own nothing, unfortunately Kate and Gibbs are not mine. This is AU, post-Twilight. Sorry it's been a while coming and I've not had a chance to comment on all the comments left for me, been a bit busy this past week.
[ Chapter 1] [ Chapter 2] [ Chapter 3] [ Chapter 4] [ Chapter 5]
The contents of your house are slowly relocating to the large cardboard boxes which have appeared in the corners of every room. One of the few remaining objects on your nightstand is your phone, which you are studying intently, the way that Rebel studies a tasty treat, waiting for it to ring.
Over the past few days you have come to rely on these phone calls. When the thought of moving back to Washington and starting over becomes too much, you begin planning the things you want to say to Gibbs when he calls later that day. You make mental lists of things that the girls have done that you must tell him, things you need to check before you leave to join him, questions you have that he’ll definitely know the answer to.
When the phone finally rings it’s all you can do to keep yourself from leaping across the bed to grab it.
You take a moment to compose yourself and check the caller ID before answering with what you hope is a casual “Hello?”
“Hey. You okay? You sound out of breath.” Gibbs tells you.
“Uh, yeah. I was… uh… just moving some stuff.” You lie, not wanting him to know that the highlight of your day is when he calls you.
The first points that you cover are interesting things that you think he should know about the girls. You try to describe how Elizabeth was dancing to a song on radio earlier that day, but you don’t remember what the song was and somehow you don’t think you do the story justice. Gibbs laughs all the same and the sound of his voice really relaxes you.
“I need to speak to you about something.” He says, suddenly serious. All at once there’s an awkward silence at the other end of the line. You know Gibbs is trying to think of the best way to phrase what he’s about to say.
“Is it about her?” You ask tentatively, hoping that you can prompt him into speech.
To your surprise Gibbs laughs. “Oh no.” He sounds relieved. “It’s just… there’s been a problem with the place you were supposed to be going to…”
“Problem how?”
“It’s not going to be available. I got a call from the guy about it today. Something about water damage.”
You can’t believe that he hasn’t told you about this earlier. “What!” Gibbs is actually speechless, he sputters a couple of times on the other end of the line. “Gibbs! That was the only place I could afford. I don’t know how long it’s going to be till I can get back into work… What am I going to do? I’ve got to be out of here by the end of the month.”
“It’s going to be okay.” He replies sounding irritatingly calm. You can’t understand how he can be so blasé about it, in two weeks time you and your children will be homeless. “There’s room at my place.”
“Your… Stay with… You?” You sputter.
“I just thought… it would give you a chance to get back on your feet here.” He sounds a little hurt.
“Wouldn’t it get in the way of…” You trail off, not wanting to be the one to bring up the other woman. Since the day Gibbs left you’ve been operating an unspoken agreement, neither of you speaks about her. You tell yourself that there’s no reason for Gibbs to tell you anything, there’s nothing between you, though you can’t define this odd new relationship that you seem to have developed.
“There’s plenty of space for you and the girls. I’m barely there.” He hesitates. “It might be good to have a bit of life in the house.”
You want to tell him that you need to think about it. That it’s probably not a good idea. That you’re not sure you can live with him without being with him. But you say nothing.
“I mean. If you don’t think it’s a good idea. We could make other arrangements.” He speaks quickly as though he can take back his earlier offer.
“No.” You interrupt. “If you’re okay with it I’m okay with it. Just until I get back on my feet.”
When you hang up you can’t help but think that you’re making a mistake. Moving in with a man you were close to… you cared about… you loved… when he’s moved on can’t be a good idea. You don’t really have any other option. You’re not taking that much with you, but the things you do have will need space. If you’re going to share responsibility for the girls he’ll need their things there anyway.
By the time you go to bed at last, with Rebel curled beside your hip, you have almost convinced yourself that staying with Gibbs is the right thing to do. After all, it won’t be for long.
Your last thought as you slip away from wakefulness is that you can’t believe that you’re starting over again and wondering what shape your new life will take in the city. That night you dream of your old haunts, coffe shops, the health food store, the park, but this time you are no longer visiting them alone.
Author: Purerose
Fandom: NCIS
Prompt: 026 Writer's Choice (Phone Call)
Character/Pairing: Kate/Gibbs
Rating: PG
Word Count: 874
Summary: A phone call changes Kate's plans.
Authors Notes/Disclaimer: I own nothing, unfortunately Kate and Gibbs are not mine. This is AU, post-Twilight. Sorry it's been a while coming and I've not had a chance to comment on all the comments left for me, been a bit busy this past week.
[ Chapter 1] [ Chapter 2] [ Chapter 3] [ Chapter 4] [ Chapter 5]
The contents of your house are slowly relocating to the large cardboard boxes which have appeared in the corners of every room. One of the few remaining objects on your nightstand is your phone, which you are studying intently, the way that Rebel studies a tasty treat, waiting for it to ring.
Over the past few days you have come to rely on these phone calls. When the thought of moving back to Washington and starting over becomes too much, you begin planning the things you want to say to Gibbs when he calls later that day. You make mental lists of things that the girls have done that you must tell him, things you need to check before you leave to join him, questions you have that he’ll definitely know the answer to.
When the phone finally rings it’s all you can do to keep yourself from leaping across the bed to grab it.
You take a moment to compose yourself and check the caller ID before answering with what you hope is a casual “Hello?”
“Hey. You okay? You sound out of breath.” Gibbs tells you.
“Uh, yeah. I was… uh… just moving some stuff.” You lie, not wanting him to know that the highlight of your day is when he calls you.
The first points that you cover are interesting things that you think he should know about the girls. You try to describe how Elizabeth was dancing to a song on radio earlier that day, but you don’t remember what the song was and somehow you don’t think you do the story justice. Gibbs laughs all the same and the sound of his voice really relaxes you.
“I need to speak to you about something.” He says, suddenly serious. All at once there’s an awkward silence at the other end of the line. You know Gibbs is trying to think of the best way to phrase what he’s about to say.
“Is it about her?” You ask tentatively, hoping that you can prompt him into speech.
To your surprise Gibbs laughs. “Oh no.” He sounds relieved. “It’s just… there’s been a problem with the place you were supposed to be going to…”
“Problem how?”
“It’s not going to be available. I got a call from the guy about it today. Something about water damage.”
You can’t believe that he hasn’t told you about this earlier. “What!” Gibbs is actually speechless, he sputters a couple of times on the other end of the line. “Gibbs! That was the only place I could afford. I don’t know how long it’s going to be till I can get back into work… What am I going to do? I’ve got to be out of here by the end of the month.”
“It’s going to be okay.” He replies sounding irritatingly calm. You can’t understand how he can be so blasé about it, in two weeks time you and your children will be homeless. “There’s room at my place.”
“Your… Stay with… You?” You sputter.
“I just thought… it would give you a chance to get back on your feet here.” He sounds a little hurt.
“Wouldn’t it get in the way of…” You trail off, not wanting to be the one to bring up the other woman. Since the day Gibbs left you’ve been operating an unspoken agreement, neither of you speaks about her. You tell yourself that there’s no reason for Gibbs to tell you anything, there’s nothing between you, though you can’t define this odd new relationship that you seem to have developed.
“There’s plenty of space for you and the girls. I’m barely there.” He hesitates. “It might be good to have a bit of life in the house.”
You want to tell him that you need to think about it. That it’s probably not a good idea. That you’re not sure you can live with him without being with him. But you say nothing.
“I mean. If you don’t think it’s a good idea. We could make other arrangements.” He speaks quickly as though he can take back his earlier offer.
“No.” You interrupt. “If you’re okay with it I’m okay with it. Just until I get back on my feet.”
When you hang up you can’t help but think that you’re making a mistake. Moving in with a man you were close to… you cared about… you loved… when he’s moved on can’t be a good idea. You don’t really have any other option. You’re not taking that much with you, but the things you do have will need space. If you’re going to share responsibility for the girls he’ll need their things there anyway.
By the time you go to bed at last, with Rebel curled beside your hip, you have almost convinced yourself that staying with Gibbs is the right thing to do. After all, it won’t be for long.
Your last thought as you slip away from wakefulness is that you can’t believe that you’re starting over again and wondering what shape your new life will take in the city. That night you dream of your old haunts, coffe shops, the health food store, the park, but this time you are no longer visiting them alone.