Friends Are There When You Need Them

Saturday, 28 February 2004
0835 EDT
Sarah MacKenzie's Apartment
Georgetown, Washington, DC

Mac heard a lot of commotion in the hall and wondered what was going on.  She finished her shower, wrapped her hair in a towel and her body in a short bathrobe, and padded through her apartment to the front door.  She looked through the peephole but couldn't see anything out of the ordinary.  She could still hear the commotion, though.  Heavy footfalls on the steps, a thud now and then... "What in the world?" she exclaimed aloud as it sounded like something was coming through the wall of her living room.

Mac opened her door and walked out into the now-empty (and very cold) hallway.  She felt a shiver run up her spine as the cold seeped under her robe.  The door to the next apartment was standing open, and it seemed that the noise was now all inside that room.  She poked her head around the door.  It was obvious that someone must be moving in.

Just as Mac was about to turn around and head back to her own apartment, two young men came out of the bedroom.  The first one was tall, black, and quite handsome in his tan corduroy jacket and brown slacks.  "Well, well.  What do we have here?" he smiled at Mac and she smiled back.

The second man was also tall, but the similarity ended there.  This man's brown hair was obviously uncombed this morning, but he wore an expensive leather jacket with blue jeans that didn't look like they'd been washed in three months.  "My, my, my," he ogled Mac in her bathrobe.  "Who's the cupcake?"

Mac glared at the second man, and turned to leave without saying a word.  But as she turned, she felt herself hit a wall of muscle.  "Whoa," he said as he caught Mac's arms as she ran into him.  "Sorry, I guess you didn't hear me come up behind you."

She looked up into a third man's face.  This man was older, probably 50... and he looked very familiar.  "Have we met?" she asked instantly.  The man smiled and his face softened considerably.  His gray hair suited him well, and Mac thought him to be just about the same height as the Admiral.  

He answered her, "I don't believe so.  At least, not in..." he hesitated and let his eyes travel down her bathrobe-clad body.  "...Not in your current state of attire."

"I heard a lot of noise... so I came out to see what was going on..." she tried to explain.

The older man apologized for the noise, "We're helping a friend of ours move in."  Mac looked instantly at the second man with trepidation.  "Don't worry.  It's not him."

Mac heard her phone ringing and excused herself to run back to her own apartment.  When she finished her phone call, she dressed and dried her hair.  By the time she finished, the moving party next door was gone.

Saturday, 28 February 2004
1645 EDT
Sarah MacKenzie's Apartment
Georgetown, Washington, DC

Mac's peaceful Saturday afternoon nap was shattered by a loud thud on the staircase.  "Good Lord!" she shook her head.  "What did they drop now?"  She rolled off the sofa, ran her fingers through her hair, and pulled her door open.  She saw the same three men; the young letch was at the top of the staircase, the other two were half way down, on the other end of a large, and evidently heavy, dresser.  "You're back.  What a shame," Mac quipped.

"Ah, the lovely neighbor.  What?  Your hair isn't actually pink?" the letch teased.

"Ha ha," she replied caustically.  "So which one of you is actually moving in here, anyway?"

"That would be Todd," he replied.

Mac smiled at the young black man.  "And I guess you're Todd?"

He shook his head, "Nope.  I'm Jackson.  Gerald Jackson."

"Would you two shut up and pick up this damned dresser?  It's heavy!!" barked the older man.

"Sorry, Boss."

The three men hefted the large dresser up the remaining stairs and into the open apartment.  Mac heard a female voice coming from the room, so she followed the men inside.  "Where do you want it, Kate?" the older man asked.

"In the bedroom, of course."

"I know that!  Where?  Which wall?" he demanded.

"The one opposite the bathroom," she replied.  She followed them into the bedroom and directed them.  "No, a little to the left... no that's too far, go back to the right a little... too much!  Stop!  Okay... good."  The men stood up and waited.  They knew Kate.  She'd change her mind.  "You know, I think it would look better on that wall instead," she said, pointing to the wall next to the bathroom.

"Actually, it won't fit there once you get the bed in here," Mac offered.  The young woman turned around and saw Mac for the first time.  "I live next door.  Have the same floor plan.  Believe me, once you get a bed in here, the dresser only fits on that wall."

"Thanks."

Mac smiled, "I met your friends this morning.  You must be... Todd?"

The woman smiled genuinely at Mac and extended her hand in greeting.  "Yes, I am.  Caitlin Todd.  My friends call me 'Kate'."

Mac nodded at the cocky fellow.  "I guess he's not a friend, hmm?"  Kate looked puzzled.  "He's the one who called you 'Todd'."

Kate laughed.  "Don't mind him.  He's just a prankster."

"Well, Kate, I live next door.  I'm Sarah MacKenzie; my friends call me 'Mac'."

"Oh, God," Mac heard one of the men groan.  She looked up and saw them all looking at the older man. 

"Something wrong, Sir?" asked Gerald.

He turned and snapped at the young man, "Don't call me that.  I'm not a 'Sir'.  How many times have I told you not to call me that?"

Mac excused herself, "I'd better get going.  You all still have a lot to do, and I'm just holding you up."  She turned to Kate.  "I'll see you around, I'm sure." 

Kate walked her to the door, "I'm sorry about the guys.  They aren't usually so rude."

Mac shook her head.  "Doesn't matter.  They're probably just tired and ready to go home."

"Still, that doesn't excuse my outburst."  The older man walked up beside Kate and looked at Mac.  "It's just... when you said your name..." he hesitated, "I realized who you are."

"Then we have met before?" Mac asked, repeating her question from the morning.

He nodded.  "Not quite a year ago."  He looked into her eyes as he continued, "Gibbs.  NCIS."

Mac's eyes widened and she stood up straighter.  "You're the bas...," she corrected herself, "...the one who tried to convict Harm of murder," she said.

Gibbs nodded.  "But if you'll remember, I'm also the one whose testimony raised the doubt that inevitably got him off."

Mac sighed.  "Yes, I suppose you did."  Then she looked at her new neighbor.  "You work with him?"  Kate nodded.  "Then you're NCIS, too?"

The two other men had returned to the living room by now, and the first one said, "We all are.  Kate and I work for Gibbs.  Gerald works for Ducky."

"Ducky?"

Gibbs answered, "The Medical Examiner.  Gerald is the Assistant ME."

"I still haven't heard your name," Mac said to the first man.

"Tony.  Tony DiNozzo."

Mac nodded but didn't say anymore to the men.  She looked at Kate.  "Welcome to the neighborhood.  I'll see you around."  And with that, she turned and left.

"Uh oh," said Tony.

"Yeah, really," agreed Gerald.

Kate looked at Gibbs.  "You really tried to pin a murder on someone she knows?"  

Gibbs nodded.  "You remember reading about the Singer murder when you first came on board?"  Kate nodded this time.  "That was the case.  The 'Harm' she mentioned is Commander Harmon Rabb from JAG.  She's Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie."

"Well, maybe she won't hold it against you that you work for Gibbs," quipped Tony.

Sunday, 29 February  2004
0715 EDT
Sarah MacKenzie's Apartment
Georgetown, Washington, DC

Mac awoke to the smell of something burning.  She leapt out of bed and ran to the kitchen.  She was certain that she hadn't left anything turned on the night before, but there was a definite burning smell and it was definitely a food odor.  She looked around the room, and didn't see anything.

Then it occurred to her.  The smell was bacon.  Burned bacon.  She knew that the kitchens in these apartments backed up to each other, so she assumed the smell was coming from her new neighbor's home.  "I guess I'd better be sure the place isn't on fire," Mac grumbled.

Kate had the front door to her apartment open, so Mac knocked on the doorframe and walked in calling, "Kate?  It's Mac.  Is everything okay in here?"

Kate peeked around from the kitchen.  "Come on in, Mac."  She went back to work at the sink.  "I forgot I'd already put the bacon in the oven and I went to get a shower... then I made a phone call.  By the time I smelled the bacon, it was too late.  Sorry if I smelled up your place, too."

"That's okay; I was just concerned.  I'll let you get your breakfast..."

"You're welcome to stay, if you'd like.  I always make too much, but I love a big breakfast on Sundays.  It's the only day I eat more than a bran muffin," she rattled on.

Mac looked at the stove and saw scrambled eggs, hash browns, and sausage links.  Her mouth started watering.  "Looks delicious."

"I'm actually a good cook, except when I forget I put something in the oven and disappear for a while," she sighed.  "I did manage to save a few pieces of bacon, though.  Oh, and there are biscuits baking now.  They'll be done in a couple of minutes."

"Wow, you really do cook a big breakfast."

Kate offered, "Coffee's ready.  Want some?"

Mac decided to stay.  "Sure; thanks."

"Have a seat," Kate smiled.  She opened the cabinet and pulled out another place setting and laid it on the table in front of Mac.

"Can I help?"

"No, everything's about ready... just have to take the biscuits out in a minute," she replied, pouring Mac's mug full of coffee and then her own.  Kate turned back to the stove and piled the food on a platter.  She put that on the table and then saw to the biscuits.  Once everything was on the table, she sat down.  "Dig in!"

Mac wasn't the least bit bashful.  She took a large serving of everything; Kate followed suit.  "So, where did you live before?" Mac asked between bites.

"I had an apartment in Arlington," Kate replied.

"What made you decide to move?"

"My lease was up, and they raised the rent again.  How long have you lived here?"  Kate took another sip of coffee.

"A little over eight years."

"Wow.  You must like it."

"I love Georgetown... especially all the little shops!" Mac grinned and ate a piece of bacon.  "I hardly ever get to them anymore, though."

"Work?"

Mac nodded.  "Yeah, we've been incredibly busy for... oh, it seems like forever," she lamented.

"Do you have to travel much with JAG?"

Mac nodded again as she buttered a biscuit and poured honey all over it.  "Yeah, in fact, we were just in Switzerland earlier this month and then on a carrier in the Mediterranean."

"Wow," Kate took another bite of sausage.  "Who's 'we'?"

"Harm," she said stiffly.  Then she added, "The 'Harm' your boss tried to convict of murder last year."

"Mac, I read the case file when I came on board last fall.  Gibbs had every reason to suspect Commander Rabb at the beginning.  From all that was in the file, he looked extremely guilty."

"Yeah, well, if Gibbs knew Harm like I know Harm, he'd have known Harm didn't do it."

"You and Harm are close, I take it?" Kate asked, taking another bite of her eggs.

"You could say that."

Kate grinned.  "Is he 'your guy'?"

Mac almost choked on a piece of biscuit.  "No!"  She laughed.  "Harm has a problem with making commitments."

"Oh?"

"Yeah.  With me, anyway," Mac said.  "But that's okay.  I'm involved with someone else right now.  Well, at least I think I still am."

Kate quirked her head, "You think you are?"

"He'd been out of town and came home on Friday.  We saw each other for about a half hour that evening before he had to leave again.  We kind of had a... disagreement as he left," Mac chose her words carefully.  She didn't want to continue this discussion, and she was finished eating, so she excused herself.  "I hate to eat and run, but I really need to go.  I have to do some research on my current case..."

"Oh, no problem," Kate replied.  "I'm glad you came over.  It was nice to get to know you."

"We'll have to do it again," Mac agreed.

Wednesday, 3 March 2004
0800 EDT
Bethesda Naval Hospital
Bethesda, Maryland

Mac took the elevator down to the first floor to leave.  She'd had her second appointment with the 'shrink' Admiral Chegwidden insisted she talk with.  Now she was finished, and she was glad.  The doors opened and she walked right into someone.  "Oh!  Excuse me," they both said at the same time.  "Mac?"  "Kate?" they recognized each other.  "What are you doing here?"  They laughed lightly as both of them spoke the same words.

Mac answered, "I just had an appointment upstairs.  I'm on my way out."

Kate replied, "I'm here to visit Gerald."

"Gerald?  The guy who helped you move in on Saturday?" Mac confirmed.  Kate nodded.  "What happened?"

"We had an incident at the office yesterday," Kate answered.  "Gerald and Gibbs were both shot."

"Gibbs, too?"

Kate nodded, "But he wasn't injured as badly as Gerald.  His arm's in a sling, though.  But Gerald is still here."

Mac motioned to Kate to step inside the elevator car.  "What floor is he on?" Mac asked.

Kate just reached over and pressed the button.  "They both took bullets in their shoulders, but we couldn't get help for Gerald right away."

"Why not?"

Kate sighed, "Because a terrorist was holding the autopsy lab hostage."

"Oh, my God!" Mac exclaimed.  "Was anyone else hurt?"

"A couple of FBI agents were killed, yeah."

"Did they bring the terrorist down?"

Kate shook her head.  "No.  He got away.  The guy changed into an FBI jacket and walked out of the building!  Gibbs saw him, but being injured himself, there wasn't anything he could do about it."

"Oh, I'll bet he was mad."  The elevator doors opened and they stepped out.  "You think Gerald would mind if I stopped in and said hello?" 

Kate smiled, "He'd love it!  He told me on Monday that he liked you."  They walked down the hall to his room.  Kate heard Gibb's voice inside, so she knocked lightly before pushing the door open.  "How's the sickie?"

"Hey!  I'm not sick!" Gerald rebutted.  "I'm injured.  There's a difference."

"Well, look who's here," quipped Tony from the far corner of the room when he saw Mac walk in behind Kate.

Gibbs noticed the look of annoyance on Mac's face.  "Go get us some coffee, DiNozzo." 

Mac smiled her thanks at Gibbs.  Then she turned to Gerald.  "Sorry to hear about what happened."

"Thanks.  But it's not as big a deal as they're making it out to be.  I'll be back up and around in no time."

"Not what the doctor says," contradicted Gibbs.  "You'll be out for a while."

Kate turned to Gibbs.  "Where's your sling?"

Gibbs shrugged his one good shoulder.  "Don't need it."  

They visited with Gerald for another 15 minutes, and then let him get some rest.  As the foursome got on the elevator, Mac commented how glad she was that Gibbs wasn't hurt worse than he was... and that Kate hadn't been involved.

"Not involved?" barked Gibbs.

"Who the hell told you that?" asked Tony.

Mac turned surprised eyes to Kate.  "Kate?"  Kate blushed slightly and looked at the floor of the car.  "Kate?  You were there?"

"Not only there, she was a hostage!"

"Almost got herself killed, too," Gibbs reprimanded her.

She looked up at her boss.  "I wasn't about to let that guy..."

"Kate," Gibbs interrupted her and put his hands on her shoulders, flinching slightly as his injured shoulder caused him pain.  He took a deep breath before continuing, "Kate, you risked your life in there yesterday.  And you didn't need to.  Ducky had it under control."

"That's why Gerald got shot?" she quipped.

"Katie, Katie... what am I gonna do with you?" he shook his head as the doors opened.  

Tony and Mac walked out, but Kate stood stock still.  'I know what I'd like you to do with me,' she thought to herself.  Her heart was in her eyes and Gibbs could see it.  Forgetting for once who and where they were, he leaned forward lowering his head to hers.  

Just before his lips touched hers, Tony turned around and blurted out, "You two coming?"  Mac jabbed her elbow in his side, but the moment was gone.

Gibbs jerked his head up and released Kate's shoulders.  "Yeah, we're coming," he barked.

Wednesday, 3 March 2004
2330 EDT
Sarah MacKenzie's Apartment
Georgetown, Washington, DC

Mac unlocked her apartment door and stepped inside.  Just as she was closing it, she heard Kate's door open.  "Mac?"  She looked back in the hall and saw Kate.

"Hi."

"You're kind of late tonight.  Everything okay?"

Mac nodded.  "Yeah.  I was at Clay's apartment."

"Ooooh, you were on a date?" Kate grinned.

"Not exactly a date.  We were... opening up, I'd guess you'd call it."  Kate looked questioningly at her.  "Want some coffee?" 

"Sure!  Actually, I have some made.  Want to just gab in my kitchen?" Kate suggested.

"Sounds good to me." Mac closed her door and they headed to Kate's place.  "So, you didn't tell me that you and Gibbs were an item," Mac started the conversation.

Kate blushed profusely.  "We're not," she denied.

"Sure looked like it this morning."

Kate sighed heavily.  "No, that was just... belated... concern," she struggled with her words.

"Belated concern?"

"Yeah.  Because of yesterday."

"I see."

"But you!  What about you?  You were with your boyfriend?  The one you weren't sure about?" Kate asked.

Mac nodded.  "Yeah.  We talked it out tonight, and he even said he loves me."

"Nice."

"Yeah, it was.  Really nice.  Because I know he meant it."

"What about you?  Do you love him?  Sounds like it," Kate observed.

It was Mac's turn to sigh heavily.  "I do.  I love him more than I realized."  She took another swallow of coffee.  "So, if you're not involved with Gibbs, who?"

"No one right now.  I'm having a dry spell," she chuckled.

"And you don't think Gibbs is interested?"

"Gibbs has a rule... no one gets involved with anyone else at the office," Kate said.

"Ah.  We have a rule about that, too... only ours is in the UCMJ.  Fraternization."

"It's a bad thing?" Kate joked.

"It's a very bad thing." Mac returned, and they both laughed.

Sunday, 9 May 2004
2330 EDT
Caitlin Todd's Apartment
Georgetown, Washington, DC

Mac and Kate didn't see each other often during the week except in passing, but they hadn't missed a Sunday breakfast together since Kate moved in.  She loved to cook, and Mac thoroughly enjoyed eating anything she made.  This morning was no exception.  "I love Belgian waffles," Mac mumbled as she took another bite.  "And these are so good!"

Kate laughed, "Thanks.  The most important thing is the syrup, you know."

"How so?" asked Mac.  "I thought syrup was syrup."

Kate shook her head.  "I use real maple syrup... medium amber.  I order it by the gallon."

"It's delicious.  Next time you order, would you get a bottle for me?"

"Sure.  I have to put an order in this week.  I'm just about out, and I told Gibbs I'd get some for him, too."

"Mustn't keep the boss waiting, hmm?" Mac teased lightly.

Kate blushed.  "You're one to talk."

"What do you mean?" Mac looked up sharply.

"Don't give me that!  I saw you when you were talking to your Admiral Chegwidden on the phone last week, remember?"

"He's not 'my' Admiral Chegwidden," Mac argued.

"Maybe not, but you wish he was."

Mac sighed.  "He's just amazing, Kate.  He really is."

"I know what you mean.  And I know what you're feeling, too."

Mac nodded.  "I know you do," she sympathized.  "You remember what happened in the hospital elevator between you and Gibbs?  The 'almost kiss'?"  Kate nodded.  Then Mac gave her a piercing look and smiled a half smile.

"You and the Admiral?"

Mac admitted it for the first time.  "Yeah.  We had an 'almost kiss', too.  Years ago now, but I still remember it.  I doubt that he does, though."

"Oh, I'll bet he does.  Where was yours?  Did anyone see you?"

"He was having a party at his house.  I went in his bedroom to go through to the bathroom... and he walked out.  I didn't know he was in there..."

"In his bedroom?" Kate almost squealed.  "Oh, my God, girl!  You KNOW the man remembers it!!"

Mac smiled.  "It wasn't like that, Kate."

"Yeah, right."  Before Mac argued, she continued, "Did he touch you?"

"He held my hands for a few seconds."

"And...?"

"And he lowered his head, just like Gibbs did... and just before we kissed, he came to his senses."

"Damn," Kate muttered.

"No, actually, it was for the best.  He'd have written himself up; I know he would have.  He's that kind of man.  And he'd have ended up in Leavenworth."

"The UCMJ is that strict?"

"Sure is."

"Wow."

"And I have Clay now."

They were both silent for a while as they finished their breakfast.  Finally, Mac looked up at Kate and said, "I have something I have to do, but I'm a little... apprehensive... about it.  Would you..."  She stopped.  "No, never mind."

Kate looked at her questioningly.  "Would I, what?"

"Nothing.  It's not important."

"Mac, it must be important, or you wouldn't have started to ask.  You know I'll help you with anything.  What is it?"  Kate got up and moved to Mac's side.  She squatted down and put her arm around Mac's shoulders.  "Mac?  What is it?"

Mac took a deep breath.  "I think I'm pregnant."

Kate's eyes lit up.  "Really?  That's wonderful!"  When Mac's eyes filled with tears, she said, "What's wrong, Honey?"

"I bought a test on Tuesday."

"But you haven't used it yet, I take it?"  She shook her head.  "Where is it?"

"In my bathroom."

"Come on; let's go," Kate said, standing up and pulling Mac with her.  They went next door to Mac's apartment and straight into the bathroom.  Kate saw the test sitting on the back of the commode.  She took it out of the box and got it ready to use.  "Have at it!" she grinned, handing the strip to Mac.  "I'll wait in the other room."

"No, don't..."

Kate turned back to Mac.  "It's okay, Mac.  Just do the test, and lay it on the counter.  Then come out to the living room.  We'll come back and look at the results together."

"Okay," Mac's voice shook.  "I don't know why I'm so nervous about this..."

"It's going to be okay, Mac.  No matter what the results are... it's going to be okay."  Kate closed the bathroom door as she walked out.  A minute later, she heard the commode flush... and then Mac appeared in the doorway another minute after that.

"Done."

"Come and sit down," Kate urged her friend.  Neither of them heard the front door open.  As Mac sat, Kate put her arm around her shoulders.  "So, what do you want?  A boy or a girl?"

Mac tried to smile.  "Clay.  I want Clay."

Kate hugged her.  "Not to worry, Mac.  That man loves you."

Mac nodded, "I know he does.  I just hope he loves me enough."

"He does."  They were surprised to hear a male voice from right over their heads.  They jerked around and saw Clay standing over them.  "And what do you hope I love you enough for, Sarah?"

Mac looked at Kate with trepidation.  "It'll be okay, Mac," Kate whispered to her calmly.  "Why don't you let him be the one to look?"  Mac's eyes opened wide at Kate's suggestion.  "I'll just go on back to my place.  You have someone better to be here with you now."  As Kate stood up, so did Mac.  "I'll see you later, Mac.  Bye, Clay."

"Don't rush off on my account," he said to Kate.  She just waved at him and closed the door behind her.  "Sarah?  What is it?"

"Come with me."  She took his hand and led him to the bathroom.  She picked up the strip and handed it to him.  "How many lines are there?" she asked.

Clay knew instantly what he was holding.  He just wished that he knew what the lines meant!  "Two."

Mac's shoulders trembled slightly as she looked up at him and smiled.  "So, what do you want?  A boy or a girl?" she asked him Kate's question of her.

Clay replied just as she had.  "You.  I want you, Sarah."

The end.