(no subject)
Title: Returning (Chapter 2)
Author: Purerose
Fandom: NCIS
Prompt: 010 Secret
Character/Pairing: Kate/Gibbs
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1058
Summary: Kate is reunited with Gibbs after two years.
Authors Notes/Disclaimer: Set AU, post-Twilight. I own nothing... well, I own some things, but I doubt whether anyone would be interested in them.
Although this is the tenth prompt in the table it is the second chapter of the story, in case you've missed it you can find Chapter 1 here:
Chapter 1
Rebel lets out a little whine, sounding almost disappointed that you’ve not given him permission to attack this stranger. The truth is, you couldn’t set him on this man, this stranger, even if you had wanted to. Then the whine falters, becomes a high-pitched yip and his tail begins to wag. Another figure appears behind him, for a moment you tense again but then you recognise agent Larry Ingram. You raise your hand and he nods in your direction.
As usual Larry remains serious, but there’s a smile playing on his lips and a twinkle in his eyes. Your throat feels dry and you have the briefest suspicious that you know why he’s here.
“Can we come in?” He asks. You look from Larry to Gibbs, it’s as though you’ve stepped into some sort of surreal alter-world. When you open your mouth to reply you find that your voice has gone AWOL. “There’s something we should discuss.” The stress that he places on ‘something’ tells you that your suspicions are right.
Finally you find your voice, “You’d better come inside.”
Larry nods at you and then looks to Gibbs who moves up the garden path towards you. As he advances Rebel begins his warning growl again but this time you place your hand on his head to quiet him.
Passing you Gibbs touches your arm. You need that contact. You need to know that he is really here. He is.
You slip in after him, completely ignoring Larry who slips in behind you and shuts the door. The two men standing in your hallway couldn’t be more different; Larry, young, enthusiastic, jeans, baggy t-shirt, and Gibbs, jacket, trousers, tennis shirt, looking like he’s come straight from work. Larry is a regular fixture in your house, in this new life he’s a friend from college, he looks comfortable in these surroundings.
Gibbs is another matter. It’s been almost two years since you last saw him. He looks a little older, a little more weather-worn, a little greyer around the temples, but he’s still Gibbs. The same Gibbs who held you briefly almost two years ago. The same Gibbs who broke all his own rules with you. The same Gibbs you had to leave without saying goodbye, for your sake and his.
“How? You’re… You… I…” You stutter, still unable to form a coherant sentence, still barely acknowledging Larry’s presence.
“We should take a seat.” Larry suggests, looking from you to your former boss. “This could take a while.”
Gibbs’ expression doesn’t change, he’s still smiling at you, his own brand of disbelief etched on his face. Larry’s voice has interrupted your study of him and you nod dumbly. You take a deep breath and try to speak once more. “Have a seat. Coffee?” You ask pointing towards the living room. It’s only four words, but it’s a start.
The men comply. You follow them into your own living room where Gibbs takes a seat on the floral print, two-seater couch. Larry takes one of the matching armchairs, pulling one leg onto his knee and generally makes himself at home. You head on through to the kitchen. Mechanically you make coffee, Larry’s is a no-brainer, you make him coffee often enough. Remembering how Gibbs takes his coffee is amazing but you’re not in the mood for marvelling at the ability of the human memory.
As the drink brews you consider what he is doing here. It is late and he has come with Larry. That means that your whereabouts is no longer hidden. Your mind goes into overdrive, maybe you’ll be able to go home, maybe you can stop hiding, maybe all the secrets can end. The coffee finishes but it takes you a moment to compose yourself. Finally you head back to the living room.
Rebel is resting his head on Gibbs’s knee, submitting to a thorough nose-scratching. Some guard dog you think, setting down the coffee on a coaster, or maybe he has realised that Gibbs is someone you’re comfortable. You take a seat opposite him, in a large comfy chair covered in a blue throw - you placed it there to hide a large stain, a few months ago it matched the couch.
For a few moments you simply study the pair. It’s surreal having Gibbs sititng in your living room after so long. After a moment he pauses, reaches forward for his coffee and cups both hands around the mug. Rebel looks most disgruntled at this blantant show of neglect.
“So… why? How?” You try again, pause, sigh, make a second attempt. “What’s going on?”
“It’s over.” Gibbs says simply. You look from him to Larry, half expecting this to be revealed as a joke, or to learn that you’re just not following the conversation.
Larry seems to read your disbelief. “We’re making arrangements. We figured that you’d have some things to discuss with Gibbs here.” He drains his cup of scalding coffee, you’ve never understood how he can drink it like that.
“I…” You begin, but he cuts you off.
“I’m afraid I’ve got to run Katie. I expect you’ve got a lot to catch up on.” He winks at you, your cheeks flush and you stare pointedly at him, not letting your eyes meet Gibbs. “I can make my own way out.” He tells you as he gets to his feet and strides out of the room before you can speak.
An awkward silence descends between you. On the one hand two years is no time at all, yet at the same time it seems like an eternity. How does one ‘catch up’ with an eternity? You don’t know where to begin.
Unfortunately Gibbs seems a little unsure of where to start too. It’s one of the few times you’ve ever seen the man lost for words. To cover the silence Gibbs lifts his coffee and takes a long drink. You mimic him and sip your own. As you drink a small white box in the corner of the room gives a squawk. Rebel paces towards it, grumbling, reminding you of it’s presence.
“I… I have to get this.” You mutter, pushing yourself up from your seat and making for the doorway. You know that Gibbs is following you but you say nothing. Now is as good a time as any to begin ‘catching up’.
Author: Purerose
Fandom: NCIS
Prompt: 010 Secret
Character/Pairing: Kate/Gibbs
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1058
Summary: Kate is reunited with Gibbs after two years.
Authors Notes/Disclaimer: Set AU, post-Twilight. I own nothing... well, I own some things, but I doubt whether anyone would be interested in them.
Although this is the tenth prompt in the table it is the second chapter of the story, in case you've missed it you can find Chapter 1 here:
Chapter 1
Rebel lets out a little whine, sounding almost disappointed that you’ve not given him permission to attack this stranger. The truth is, you couldn’t set him on this man, this stranger, even if you had wanted to. Then the whine falters, becomes a high-pitched yip and his tail begins to wag. Another figure appears behind him, for a moment you tense again but then you recognise agent Larry Ingram. You raise your hand and he nods in your direction.
As usual Larry remains serious, but there’s a smile playing on his lips and a twinkle in his eyes. Your throat feels dry and you have the briefest suspicious that you know why he’s here.
“Can we come in?” He asks. You look from Larry to Gibbs, it’s as though you’ve stepped into some sort of surreal alter-world. When you open your mouth to reply you find that your voice has gone AWOL. “There’s something we should discuss.” The stress that he places on ‘something’ tells you that your suspicions are right.
Finally you find your voice, “You’d better come inside.”
Larry nods at you and then looks to Gibbs who moves up the garden path towards you. As he advances Rebel begins his warning growl again but this time you place your hand on his head to quiet him.
Passing you Gibbs touches your arm. You need that contact. You need to know that he is really here. He is.
You slip in after him, completely ignoring Larry who slips in behind you and shuts the door. The two men standing in your hallway couldn’t be more different; Larry, young, enthusiastic, jeans, baggy t-shirt, and Gibbs, jacket, trousers, tennis shirt, looking like he’s come straight from work. Larry is a regular fixture in your house, in this new life he’s a friend from college, he looks comfortable in these surroundings.
Gibbs is another matter. It’s been almost two years since you last saw him. He looks a little older, a little more weather-worn, a little greyer around the temples, but he’s still Gibbs. The same Gibbs who held you briefly almost two years ago. The same Gibbs who broke all his own rules with you. The same Gibbs you had to leave without saying goodbye, for your sake and his.
“How? You’re… You… I…” You stutter, still unable to form a coherant sentence, still barely acknowledging Larry’s presence.
“We should take a seat.” Larry suggests, looking from you to your former boss. “This could take a while.”
Gibbs’ expression doesn’t change, he’s still smiling at you, his own brand of disbelief etched on his face. Larry’s voice has interrupted your study of him and you nod dumbly. You take a deep breath and try to speak once more. “Have a seat. Coffee?” You ask pointing towards the living room. It’s only four words, but it’s a start.
The men comply. You follow them into your own living room where Gibbs takes a seat on the floral print, two-seater couch. Larry takes one of the matching armchairs, pulling one leg onto his knee and generally makes himself at home. You head on through to the kitchen. Mechanically you make coffee, Larry’s is a no-brainer, you make him coffee often enough. Remembering how Gibbs takes his coffee is amazing but you’re not in the mood for marvelling at the ability of the human memory.
As the drink brews you consider what he is doing here. It is late and he has come with Larry. That means that your whereabouts is no longer hidden. Your mind goes into overdrive, maybe you’ll be able to go home, maybe you can stop hiding, maybe all the secrets can end. The coffee finishes but it takes you a moment to compose yourself. Finally you head back to the living room.
Rebel is resting his head on Gibbs’s knee, submitting to a thorough nose-scratching. Some guard dog you think, setting down the coffee on a coaster, or maybe he has realised that Gibbs is someone you’re comfortable. You take a seat opposite him, in a large comfy chair covered in a blue throw - you placed it there to hide a large stain, a few months ago it matched the couch.
For a few moments you simply study the pair. It’s surreal having Gibbs sititng in your living room after so long. After a moment he pauses, reaches forward for his coffee and cups both hands around the mug. Rebel looks most disgruntled at this blantant show of neglect.
“So… why? How?” You try again, pause, sigh, make a second attempt. “What’s going on?”
“It’s over.” Gibbs says simply. You look from him to Larry, half expecting this to be revealed as a joke, or to learn that you’re just not following the conversation.
Larry seems to read your disbelief. “We’re making arrangements. We figured that you’d have some things to discuss with Gibbs here.” He drains his cup of scalding coffee, you’ve never understood how he can drink it like that.
“I…” You begin, but he cuts you off.
“I’m afraid I’ve got to run Katie. I expect you’ve got a lot to catch up on.” He winks at you, your cheeks flush and you stare pointedly at him, not letting your eyes meet Gibbs. “I can make my own way out.” He tells you as he gets to his feet and strides out of the room before you can speak.
An awkward silence descends between you. On the one hand two years is no time at all, yet at the same time it seems like an eternity. How does one ‘catch up’ with an eternity? You don’t know where to begin.
Unfortunately Gibbs seems a little unsure of where to start too. It’s one of the few times you’ve ever seen the man lost for words. To cover the silence Gibbs lifts his coffee and takes a long drink. You mimic him and sip your own. As you drink a small white box in the corner of the room gives a squawk. Rebel paces towards it, grumbling, reminding you of it’s presence.
“I… I have to get this.” You mutter, pushing yourself up from your seat and making for the doorway. You know that Gibbs is following you but you say nothing. Now is as good a time as any to begin ‘catching up’.