Hey!

Ok – so this is the final chapter of this story! And I'm sad about it. HOWEVER! I am planning another sequel – but that's just if you're interested in reading it lol!

So please R&R for the last time!

Btw – I was upset that no-one knew that story that I was looking for! It's not your fault… but I REALLY wanted to read it again lol!

Tiana xXx

'You're late.' Kate murmured in her half asleep form. There was a little moan from behind her as Tony settled into bed and wrapped his arms around her.

'Blame Gibbs.' He responded, yawning. It was half two in the morning and the boss had kept the team at the HQ until the case notes were written up; which had been at 2am. As soon as they were allowed to leave, Tony left as soon as he could.

'I didn't see you earlier.' Kate added. The Director had asked for her to come in once again. It turned out to be a follow up to the previous appointment with the psychologist a month before. This time, however, it was a different psychologist.

'Interviewing suspect. Abby bring you home?' he whispered. Before that night, he had only had 4 hours sleep the night before, and 5 the night before that.

'After a lot of convincing.'

'She didn't want to take you?' Tony asked, surprised. He knew that Abby would do almost anything for her friends, especially Kate.

'Gibbs didn't. There was a lot of evidence for her. But she managed to convince him.' She gently shuffled so that she could look at Tony behind her. Her shoulder wasn't that painful at all anymore, but she couldn't sleep on it yet.

'Figures.' he chuckled. 'How did it go?' Abby had informed him that Director Shepard had wanted to see his girlfriend for another appointment, but she hadn't relayed any other information.

'She said I had issues.' Kate huffed. The entire session had gone all well until at the end, when the psychologist had summed up what she had thought of the Agent. 'An hour and she said I had issues! I don't even know what kind of issues she meant!' she grumbled.

Tony tried his best not to laugh at her outburst, and to do so, he pressed his face into her neck. When he did that, Kate frowned, not pleased with the silence.

'Aren't you gonna say anything?' she snapped. Tony stayed in his position for a moment before sighing.

'What should I say?' he asked, looking at her now.

'Well, how about "Why would she say that for?"?' Kate replied, sarcasm dripping with her words. Tony once again remained silence while they looked at each other. Well, Kate glared at him.

'Have you thought about the fact… that just maybe…' Tony paused while Kate gave him a "go ahead" look. 'That maybe she's right?'

'I don't have issues!' Kate's eyebrow rose as she stressed the second word for emphasis. 'And if you think I do, maybe you should be sleeping with her instead!' she turned away from him to go back to sleep.

Tony sighed once again and smirked. He once again wrapped his arms around her and made her fit against him, like always, although she remained stiff.

'Love you, Katie.' He whispered into her ear, and she reluctantly relaxed.

'Whatever.' She threw back to make up for the body's resilience. Tony laughed once again and was glad to be able to fall asleep.

--

The sound of a ringing cell phone was heard almost as frequently as a chirping bird when you were a NCIS Agent. It didn't mean, however, that it was a pleasant sound. Especially when it woke you up on the weekend, or at an hour too early.

Tony tried to shut it up as quick as he could, not wanting it to wake Kate up. Without even opening his eyes, he was able to find it and snap it open.

'DiNozzo.' His voice was hoarse and deep from sleep.

'DB in Norfolk. Need you in now.' Gibbs' voice came through to him.

'Boss, it's 7 in the morning! Can't I come in at 9?' he tried to negotiate.

'No, DiNozzo.' Was the only reply he got before hearing the click as the Boss hung up. Tony sighed as he placed the phone back onto the bedside table and lay on his back, an arm still around Kate.

Slowly, Tony started to extract his arm out from under Kate's waist. It was hard to do and not to wake her up. Now that she wasn't on her medication, which used to make her drowsy, Kate would normally wake up to any little thing. The break in had made her a little paranoid, although she had a hold of it now. But Tony didn't want to wake her up that early in the morning for no reason.

When the task at hand was done, he leaned over her still sleeping form just to make sure that she wasn't pretending to sleep. Glad that she wasn't, Tony pushed himself off of the bed slowly and went into the bathroom to wake himself up thoroughly.

Tony emerged from there 20 minutes later, looking as if he had stepped out of a magazine; clean and sexy. Happy to see that Kate was still asleep, he smirked as he remembered the date when he looked at his cell. Shaking his head, he went into his closet and pulled out a box that he had hid in there a couple of days beforehand.

The box was black and quite big. Lighter than it would look to be, there was a slight glimmer of silver in the corner where the word "Prada" was written. Tony placed it on the table next to the balcony in his room which was now mainly covered in Kate's everyday essential things, such as make up and sprays.

Grabbing a piece of paper and a pen, Tony quickly scribbled a note and then folded it before placing it on top of the box. He left the box on the bed next to where Kate's feet lay and then stole a kiss from her as he made sure that she was still asleep. Satisfied that she was, Tony left her to sleep and headed to work.

--

The alarm that went off at 8.15am everyday was what woke Kate up. When she realised that no one, as in Tony, was going to turn it off, she shuffled around so that she was on her back and hit the clock on the other side of the bed.

Kate now lay on her back in the empty bed with her eyes closed, trying to get her bearings, and to see if she could tell where Tony was. When she heard no movement around the apartment whatsoever, she pushed herself up to look at the time. It was then that her feet hit the box.

With her attention now focused on black box, she sat up straighter so that she could reach it with her free arm. Pulling it to her, Kate had to keep a finger on the note on top of it to stop it from sliding away when she glided it up onto her lap.

Kate bit her bottom lip as she saw her name on top of the paper. It was the handwriting of only one person, and she could tell that he was in a rush to write it. Carefully unfolding it, Kate used the morning light streaming in through the drapes to read it.

Katie

Didn't want to wake you so I thought I'd leave this here. Hope you like it. I sure did. It's for tonight – you better have not forgotten. Have fun at the hospital. I'll see if I can make it.

Love Tony

PS. You don't have any issues. You're perfect the way you are.

She laughed at the words. It was only because of two years of practice that she could read what he had written. Gently, as if it would dissolve if it wasn't handled with such care, Kate put the note on the bedside table so that she could open the box in front of her. She skimmed her fingers over the corner where the silver writing was.

Tony, what have you done? Kate sighed mentally, but she still couldn't wipe the smile off her face. Pulling the top off, Kate heard the rustling of tissue paper underneath. She separated these into half, pushing them on the side so that she could see what was under it.

Inside it was black. Kate pulled up the black material, and gasped when she saw the top half. It was a magnificent black dress. She imagined that it went down to the floor, and it was held up by thin spaghetti straps.

Once again, Kate found herself biting her bottom lip. Her hospital appointment today was so that she could get her cast removed. It was also why she and Tony were going out for dinner. But even if it was going to be removed, there was going to be a raw scar on her shoulder and arm.

Sliding out of bed, Kate finally pulled the whole dress out of the box and held it in front of her in the mirror. It was the perfect length, and she assumed that it would be a perfect fit. If there was one thing that Tony was good at, it was at clothes. And, of course, making her happy.

Turning back to place the dress back so that it wouldn't get ruined, she was surprised to see something else in the box. Kate let out a laugh when she figured out what it was.

For the rest of the morning, Kate was in a daze, thinking about what she was going to do for their date that night. It was a while since she had felt like that, but she was happy to.

When Tony texted her to tell her that he wouldn't be able to come with her to the hospital, Kate called for a cab and went by herself. Secretly, she was glad. She didn't want Tony to see her without her cast until that night, when she was going to look her best.

--

At 6pm, Kate received another text from Tony, letting her know that he probably wouldn't be let off work within the next hour. He had told her previously that the reservation at the restaurant was for 9pm. He had made it purposely late just in case Gibbs did decide to make him work that day.

So Kate decided to get ready and give Tony a surprise. It took her a little over a half an hour to get ready, seeing as she had had all day to plan what to do and wear. The cab came about 5 minutes after she was all done, and Kate was outside NCIS headquarters by 6.55pm.

A sense of nostalgia hit her when she entered the elevator to go up to the bullpen. Although she had been there the day before, she still couldn't help it.

When the elevator finally got to the floor that she wanted, Kate wasn't surprised to see that no one else was there apart from Gibbs' team. And even there, there was only Tony and the new Agent that she hadn't met yet.

'Gibbs isn't going to like this.' She heard Tony sigh as he stood in front of the plasma with Agent Lopez, as she had been told her name was.

'Maybe we should just not tell him and contact FBI ourselves.' The newbie replied. Kate saw Tony shake his head from where she stood by her desk; they had their backs to her.

'Yeah, and be murdered by Fornell instead. Not to mention that when Gibbs finds out, he'll kill us all over again.' He said sarcastically. Kate could almost see him rolling his eyes. 'No, we'll just tell him and he can handle the FBI.'

'He still won't like it. Gibbs hates it…' the rest of the sentence that Agent Lopez was saying to Tony was ignored as he turned around to head back to his desk. Instead he saw Kate. Finally.

'Hey.' She said softly. Tony's eyes went from up to down and back up again in a matter of seconds. The dress that he had bought for her was perfect. It hit the floor, but it didn't trail behind. The dip in the front was not too bad, and modest enough for a girl like Kate. And the shawl that he bought with it was wrapped around her shoulders to cover up her scars.

Agent Maria Lopez wasn't aware that her partner was no longer paying attention to her until she heard someone behind her say something. Stopping mid-sentence, she turned to see who it was. The lady with the black dress was awfully beautiful, and she was certain that was the reason why Agent DiNozzo, the skirt chasing and egoistic Tony DiNozzo, had totally forgotten about her existence.

'Wow.' Tony replied to Kate's greeting a bit later. 'Do you know how good you look?' he smirked as she tilted her head.

'Really? Me?' she asked, faking innocence.

'Yeah.' He walked up closer to her. 'So what are you doing here?'

'Well, I was meant to go out with my boyfriend, you see. But it looks like I'm going to be stuck here until then.' she sighed and leaned against her own desk.

'Poor you.' He teased her. 'Nice dress, by the way. Prada?'

'Maybe. You'll havta ask my boyfriend.' Kate winked and laughed at Tony eyed her once again. The other Agent there just watched the exchange between them, not sure what to do.

'He has good taste. No doubt good looking too.' Tony said seriously. Kate laughed.

'Wouldn't you like to know?' She winked at him once more and then finally acknowledged the other Agent. 'I'm going to see Abby. I think you should get back to work.' She nodded towards the bored, and slightly frustrated, Agent who was waiting for Tony.

Tony watched as Kate walked away, the dress clinging to her at every curve. When she was no longer in sight, he turned around, cleared his throat and went on as if the encounter had never happened.

--

The doors swished open, and Kate was greeted by the loud rock music that was always playing in the forensics lab. And she was also greeted with the sight of Abby with her arms around McGee as they typed furiously at the keyboard.

Kate waited until they had stopped with their work when she finally made her presence known.

'Hey!' she yelled. It wasn't too loud, but loud enough to be heard over the music. Immediately, Abby turned around, while McGee peered over his shoulder.

'Kate!' Abby squealed before running up to her best friend. 'I can hug you!' she exclaimed before doing so.

'You've always hugged me.' Kate replied, confused.

'Yeah, but now I'm not causing you pain. Plus, it's easier.'

'Thanks, Abby.' Kate laughed. 'Hey, McGee.' Kate greeted him.

'Hey, Kate. You look really nice. And I'm glad you're out of that cast.' He told her sincerely.

'Thanks Tim. I'm glad too. Now all that's left is convincing Gibbs to let me come back to work.' She rolled her eyes and Abby laughed.

'So show me!' she chirped jumping up and down on her spot.

'Show you what?' Kate asked.

'The scar!' Abby almost shouted as if it was the most obvious thing ever. Kate raised an eyebrow and was about the reply when McGee's cell rang. He hung up with a "yes boss" and left the lab in a hurry. 'C'mon Kate! It's just you and me now!'

'It's nothing, Abby.' She denied.

'Well, then show me. If it's nothing, then it won't matter.' Abby told her. 'Please?' she pleaded.

'Fine.' Kate sighed, giving in to her pouting face. Her right arm was still bent as the muscles were stiff and it hurt to straighten. So she was using that hand to hold the shawl on her shoulders. Now, she pulled the pieces of fabric off the right shoulder and Abby peered at her arm in awe.

'Wow!' Abby exclaimed. 'That's a nice scar.' She turned peered at the one on the back of her shoulder. 'This one too. Man, you're lucky!' she gushed.

'Lucky?' Kate asked, surprised. 'I wouldn't call this "lucky" Abs.' Kate shook her head, laughing.

'I would! The only scars I have are from childhood.' She pouted as if it were a bad thing.

'Yeah, well. It's the risks of being an NCIS Agent I guess.' Kate shrugged. She forgot how easy it was to do so. With her cast, her shoulder could hardly move.

'So…' Abby started as she walked into her "office" with Kate following. 'You look hot.' Kate laughed as she sat in Abby's chair, pulling the shawl back over her. 'Tony's been pretty excited all day, you know.'

'Yeah, I expected him to be.' Kate rolled his eyes, knowing her boyfriend's tendencies when it came to dates. God knew how many times she had heard and seen him gloat before it was the two of them.

'You should've seen him. He was worse than a child on Christmas Eve!' Abby exclaimed. 'Onto more pressing matters.' She hurried on before Kate could get a word in side words. 'Did you know that McGee had a tattoo on his butt?'

'Um…' Kate thought about the sudden question. 'Yeah, I did. Why?'

'I found out last night.' She squealed. It took a moment for Kate to realise what she meant.

'Seriously?' Kate asked, leaning forward as Abby sat on her desk. 'I thought he was here until about 2.'

'He was. And so was I.' Abby laughed. 'We were gonna go out last night, but that didn't happen. So I stayed until he was free to go, and one thing led to another.' She squealed once again as Kate scoffed, laughing.

'That's great, Abby. I think.' When Abby nodded, Kate laughed harder. 'Ok then, that's great.'

'Yeah. Though I think I scared him a bit with the coffin and, you know, the first time and stuff.'

'You mean… you and McGee… in the coffin?' Kate came out with. She didn't know how to word it. She didn't want to go into specifications. She still had to work with the guy!

'Yup! Where else? Somehow, I don't think Timmy is the kind of guy to do it in the kitchen, or the bathroom, or on the couch, or-'

'I get the message!' Kate cut her off with her hand up. 'I didn't need to know that.'

'I'm just saying.' Abby shrugged. 'I mean, it's not like he's Tony.'

Kate stared at her wide eyed at her comment.

'Say what now?' she asked, astounded.

'What?' she defended herself. 'I just get the feeling that Tony is a bit more… you know…carefree… than Timmy.' Abby shrugged as Kate shook her head.

'Ok. Well, I think I'm gonna stop this conversation here.' She told the Goth.

'Aw, c'mon Kate! I told you.'

'I didn't tell you to tell me!' Kate said, smirking as Abby's face fell.

'Fine!' Abby folded her arms and stood up. Her anger stayed with her when the two of them made their way to the main part of the lab, where the anger dissolved completely. 'Hey, has Tony seen you yet?'

'Yeah.' Kate replied and she couldn't help but to notice that her mate's face fell as she did so. She laughed and got onto the elevator to go back up once more.

In the bullpen, the first four desks were empty, but the final one, on the left hand side of Gibbs' wasn't. Seeing that the Agent was working, Kate left her to her own devices and sat at her own desk.

'I wouldn't do that if I were you.' Agent Lopez's voice came to her as she settled into her seat.

'Sorry?' Kate asked, not sure if she was talking to her or not. Maria looked up at her and nodded.

'That desk you're at. It belongs to Special Agent Todd.' She replied. Kate was confused for a second before realising that she probably didn't knew that she was Special Agent Todd.

'I know.' Kate told her. 'I am Special Agent Todd.' As soon as the words left her mouth, she could tell that the new Agent didn't believe her.

'You're Special Agent Todd?' Agent Lopez asked cynically. She had gotten up and walked over to her desk.

'Yes.' Kate nodded once. 'Why?'

'If you are Agent Todd, then why are you here?' Agent Lopez asked, still not believing her.

'Cos I'm waiting for my boyfriend.' Kate smiled politely, though it was mainly in spite to the other woman. .

'Is he an Agent?' Maria's voice low and slow as if she was talking to a kid or to someone stupid.

'If he wasn't, would I be here?' Kate replied in the same tone, still smiling. It must have been a trait that she got off of DiNozzo, because she was sure that before she knew him, Kate wouldn't have been so sarcastic nor playful.

'Do you have some proof?' Kate's eyebrow rose for the second time that night.

'Not really.' It was true. The only thing she had with her was some money and her cell phone, which were both on a small wrist purse that also came with the dress.

'Then tell me this. How did you get into HQ?' the new Agent asked.

'Because I've worked here for the past 2 years, maybe.' Kate replied, rolling her eyes.

'I don't believe you.'

'Yeah, I kinda figured that.' Kate sighed. 'Look, I don't care if you believe me or not. I'm not going to stay here for long.' When Agent Lopez didn't make to move Kate added. 'Think about this. If I weren't Special Agent Todd, then why did Tony recognise me?'. That had gotten her attention and she nodded stiffly before shuffling away to her desk once again. Kate shook her head unbelievingly.

20 minutes later, it was 8.15pm, and Tony and McGee came down from MTAC. Kate hadn't asked where the two of them were, and found it funny how they had been up there while Agent Lopez hadn't.

'I'm gonna head off. Night Tony, Maria. Bye Kate.' McGee said as she grabbed his stuff and walked off as they all replied.

'So you done?' Kate asked Tony when he sat at his desk. He winced and then smiled at her.

'15 minutes maybe?' he told her and earned a glare. 'I'm kidding! You don't think that I would let McGeek go and not myself?' Tony teased as he tidied up.

'Where's Gibbs?' she asked him while walking over to his desk and perching herself on its edge.

'Went to see the director.' He told her.

'You think there's something going on between them two?' Kate asked him. Tony looked up at her from his seat.

'I dunno. Why? You know something that I don't?' he narrowed his eyes at her.

'I'm just saying that they are a bit comfortable around each other'

'Well, they used to be partners, remember?' Tony informed her.

'Yeah I know.' Kate and Abby had spent many times trying to figure out the relationship, if there was any, between their boss and his boss. The only thing they had found out was that they had previously been NCIS partners.

'And I don't think he would cheat on Dr. Leery either.' Tony added. Kate raised an eyebrow.

'They're not going out.' She told him.

'What?' he asked. 'I thought they were.' Kate laughed sheepishly.

'Yeah, I guess I forgot to tell you that. They weren't going out at all. That dinner was a one off. It was part of the deal for letting me out early.' When Tony looked at her with disbelief, Kate smiled. 'Sorry.'

'I'm sure you are.' He sighed. 'Well, maybe they are going out then. Gibbs always had a thing for redheads.'

'Yeah. But it would be nice to know whether they were or not. Abby's going mad-' Kate stopped suddenly and without another beat carried on. '-the case must have been important though. At least it's done now, huh?'

Tony was used to such methods of cutting inappropriate conversations with anything related to work. It usually meant that Gibbs was around. And that was the case this time. Almost as soon as Kate had finished her sentence, Gibbs and the Director walked past them, not once noticing that they were there.

'Well, that was rude.' Tony commented as they got onto the elevator. Kate hit him lightly.

'You do the same thing!' she told him.

'Do not!' he replied, looking shocked.

'Do too!'

'Do not!'

'You did it before!'

'Did not!' Tony automatically replied before he thought about it. 'Ok, maybe I did, but that's different. Normally, I wouldn't have.'

'Yeah right!'

'I wouldn't have!'

'Would too!'

'Would not!' their voices had grown louder and louder until they were now talking in voice slightly louder than the normal talking one.

'Could you please be quiet?' Agent Lopez snapped at them. Both of their attention turned towards her. They had forgotten she was there. It wasn't something that they were used to.

'Sorry.' Tony whispered before shaking his head in mock disappointment to Kate. 'You should know better Katie!'

'Me?' Kate exclaimed, her voice still hushed. 'You're the one that can hardly keep quiet. Ever!'

'Now, you know that's not true, love.' He winked as he got up to grab his gun and badge.

'I don't know what that means, and I don't think I wanna know either!' Kate told him, closing her eyes as if to erase his words.

'I think someone has their mind in the gutter again, Katie-pie!' Tony chortled.

'If you don't shut up, I'll have me heels somewhere else.' Kate said suggestively. After 2 years of pissing Kate off and getting her threats, Tony knew exactly what that meant.

'You know you wouldn't carry that threat out, Kate. You have too much to lose.' He laughed as he offered a hand to her to get up.

'Trust me, you're replaceable.' Kate said matter-of-factly. Tony turned to face her with a hand on his heart.

'Ouch, Kate. That hurt!' he exclaimed, pouting and blinking rapidly as if to rid of the tears.

'Whatever!' she pushed him out from behind his desk so that they could get going.

'Bye Tony.' Agent Lopez said, acknowledging him as he left.

'Night Maria.' Tony replied before placing a hand on Kate's back and walking with her to the elevator.

'She doesn't like me.´ Kate mentioned when they got into the metal box.

'Who's that?'

'Agent Lopez. She doesn't like me. Nor does she believe that I'm who I say I am.' Kate rolled her eyes.

'Really? Why not?' Tony asked her.

'I dunno!' Kate exclaimed. 'I guess I offended her in some way. Not like I care.'

'Yeah, right.' Tony mumbled as they stepped off of the elevator on the ground floor.

'I heard that!' Kate snapped. Tony looked at her with a "who me?" look.

'Did I tell you how gorgeous you looked tonight?' Tony commented, changing the subject.

'Um... you may have mentioned it.' Kate teased him.

'Well, you do. Along with sexy and completely hot!' he held her hand as they got to his car, where he spun her gently as she laughed.

'Thank you, Tony.'

'You're welcome Katie.' Tony replied just as sincerely as Kate had been. He leant in to give her a kiss.

When they broke apart, Tony opened the door to his car to let Kate climb in. As he did, he looked around the parking lot and saw a familiar car parked there. He walked round to the driver's die and got in himself.

'Gibbs' car's still here.' Tony mentioned casually, but the effect was ruined when he wriggled his eyebrows at her.

'It doesn't mean anything.' Kate told him.

'You know it does. I wonder how long it's gonna be there for.' Tony murmured. Kate laughed at his thoughts.

'How about you wonder about how we're gonna get to the restaurant first?' she told him.

'Trust me a little, Kate!' he tsk-ed her. Kate shook her head as Tony pulled up onto the highway.

'Where are we going anyways?' she finally asked him.

'You'll see. It's a surprise.'

'Tony! You know I hate surprises!' Kate moaned.

'Which is why I've done this.' Tony teased her. When she pouted at him, he drew his arm around her shoulders to pull her closer to him. She came willingly; glad to be so close without the cast into the way. Tony was obviously thinking the same thing as he was brushing his hand over her shoulder. 'Does it hurt?'

'Nope.' She sighed, snuggling her head onto his shoulder as he dropped a kiss onto her head.

'All is good?' he asked her.

'All is good.' She sighed contently as she watched Tony take her somewhere she would probably love. All was definitely good.

And that's the end folks!

I would like to thank EVERYONE who stuck with me throughout this story –and Chicken Pox too!

I am going to write a sequel. I hope you will read it!

Please R&R for the final time and let me know what you thought of the TATE fluff!

Tiana xXx