Chapter Text
Kate knew she wanted Lucy back in her life, back to how it was before everything happened, but her heart and mind still carried the words “I don't love you anymore” she knows Lucy does love her, but it was going to take some time and a lot of convincing that the words were just words.
A week since their conversation, they both agreed to start slow, build back trust, hoping it would lead them to where they both want to be. With messages sent to each other during the week and short conversations in the bullpen.
It was another week before Kate started to feel ready for the next step, messaging Lucy to meet her at their spot in the hallway, Kate paces nervously as she waits for the brunette.
“Hey, I got your text is everything okay?” worried Lucy, coming around the corner and seeing the blonde full of anxiety.
“Oh yes.... Um I actually wanted to talk to you about something.... if you have time,” said Kate.
“Always, what's on your mind” softly spoke Lucy.
Giving a small smile “I was just wondering if you wanted to have dinner together, I mean you don't have to and we could just...” rambled Kate, before lucy cut her off with a gentle touch to Kate's arm, to calm the nerves and to get her attention.
Pulling away when Kate looks at her “We do this at your pace, whenever you feel ready” reminded Lucy “Are you sure you're ready? there's not pressure or timeline, I'm here, I'm not going anywhere”
“I'm ready”
Trying to hide her excitement but giving it away with a beaming smile “Okay...you tell me a place and time when you're ready and I will be there”
“Okay... I will see you soon,” said Kate.
“I look forward to it”
That night Kate headed to Janes for their weekly drinks, thankful that it was a Friday. At the start of everything Kate tried to hide away from the team and everyone else but after her talk with Lucy, she realized she couldn't hide, even from the thousands of texts and knocks on her door from each NCIS member.
Sitting on Janes balcony after dinner with Julie and Jane, the youngest Tennant headed to her father's leaving them alone to drink, which they both needed after the longest week.
“How have you been getting on?” asked Jane.
“Is this a work-related question or a personal question” chuckled Kate, knowing what Jane was like.
“Well, you decide, we will talk, then drink” grinned Jane.
Grinning back “Well work is going well, even with the longer hours” said Kate before her posture changed and she felt nervous “and the personal side I....I think it’s heading in the right direction”
“Does it have something to do with the small NCIS agents, coming back from Lunch with a big smile and a bounce to her step”
“Well, you know we are taking it slow, and I asked her to have dinner with me, I'm excited and I want to take this next step, but I just feel......nervous? Scared? I'm not really sure” said Kate, staring the view trying to calm her nerves.
“What happened between you and Lucy can't be fixed overnight, a lot of words were thrown around and people don't realize when you hear them words, there hard to forget, it's going to take time to trust her words again, but I know Lucy will work hard to regain your trust and you two will always find your way back to each other” smiled Jane, looking at Kate who is focused on the view.
“I hope so” said Kate taking a sip from her drink and turning to Jane “Thank you for being here for me, even when I tried to shut you out”
“Your family regardless of what happens with Lucy, and I wouldn't have let you shut me out completely, I gave you some time and I'm thankful you came back, because I wouldn't want to be you if you hadn't” chuckled Jane.
“Oh yeah, what would you have done?” laughed Kate.
“Thats a conversation for another time” added Jane, joining in the laughter.
Saturday morning after surfing Kate sits on her couch, deleting and rewriting text messages to Lucy, she doesn't know why she is nervous, they have lived together and spent a large amount of the past year in a comfortable and loving relationship.
Quickly typing her message and now sending it before she deletes it again, she is relived when a few moments later Lucy replies.
Lucy to Kate – I would love to have dinner with you tonight, are you sure you want to do it at your apartment and not go out?
Kate to Lucy – Yeah, we could watch a movie or just sit on the balcony, if that's okay with you.
Lucy to Kate – Definitely, I will see you tonight
Kate wanted to message back, but she knew she would end the message with I love you and that felt rushed considering they were taking it slow and building up to where they were. Putting down her phone and spending the next hours cleaning to calm her anxiety, the apartment was shining and spotless by the time her door went.
Still in her clothes that she spent the day cleaning in, she answers the door, unaware what the time was or the fact it was dark outside “Hi” shyly said Lucy, noticing the cleaning gloves and wet spots on Kate shirt.
“Umm HI, what are you doing here? you still have......” said Kate, checking her watch, which causes her face to drop “Oh crap....I....Sorry come in and excuses the outfit” rushes out Kate, trying to take off the gloves and make herself more presentable until she can change.
“Kate” chuckled Lucy “You look amazing whatever you are doing, so take a breath and get comfortable, I'm not going anywhere “reassured Lucy, moving In front of Kate, trying to not reach out to hold Kate.
“Okay” breathed out Kate, feeling her anxiety start to lower and slightly blushing from Lucy's comment “Make yourself comfortable on the couch or balcony, I will be right back” Smiled Kate, moving to her bedroom to change and wash.
Coming back out after a quick shower and feeling fresh, Kate catches Lucy sitting on the balcony, standing against the door frame, admiring Lucy, at how normal it feels and how at home she looks just by simply sitting on the balcony, Kate can't help but wish her heart would speed things up and let Lucy back in.
Lost in thought “Hey, everything okay” softly said Lucy, turning her head to look at the blonde who is lost in her mind.
“Yeah...So I ordered dinner it should be here soon; did you want anything to drink?” shyly said Kate with a small smile.
Smiling back “I'll have whatever your having”
With a nod Kate head to the kitchen knowing, trying to go slow is going to be more difficult that she thought. She knew they would get back together but her mind and body certainly were at different places.
Laughing and flirting on the balcony as they ate and spoke about anything and everything, like nothing had changed, Lucy and Kate finally head into the living room to watch a film. As they watch the film Kate can't help but watch Lucy, all night she has made Kate feel special and wanted, even if she keeps her hands to herself.
“Hey, shouldn't you be watching the film” chuckled Lucy, looking at Kate, as they both sit on the couch closer than they have in what felt like a lifetime ago.
“I'm” laughed Kate “Umm thank you for tonight” hesitating, but eventually putting her hand on Lucy's.
Beaming back “No need to thank me, I love our time together no matter what form it’s in”
Returning to the film but not in any rush to remove her hand from Lucy, they settle into a comfortable silence, unable to hide the smiles on their faces as they eventually lace them together like they have done a thousand times before.
A month had past and their weekly dinners soon became every other day, movies were the highlight of the week as they sat closer and laced their fingers together as a reminder, they both were in each other's company.
Not seeing Kate last night but excited to see her tonight, Lucy made her way to her desk excited to start the day, things were going great between them, and lucy was grateful for Kate giving her this chance to make things right.
“Hey, somebody's in a good mood” smiled Jesse as Lucy sat at her desk.
“Just happy for the sun Jess”
Watching Lucy's and Kate's sadness turn into smiles and happiness over the past month, was a relief, all the team wanted was for them both to happy and couldn't wait for them to come together as a couple again. “Happy for you luce, that smile has been missed”
Just as lucy was about to replied Tennant came in and told them they had a case, and to head to the war room, her smile only grew when Jane mentioned it was a joint investigation with the FBI team, excited to work with a certain blonde.
Standing in the war room waiting for the FBI to make an entrance, the guys had to get lucy to chill a few times, she was soon disappointed when Curtis walked into the war room instead.
“Morning” nodded Curtis to the team as he made his way to Tennent to hand over the files, just as she was about to ask where Kate was “I know this is a joint investigation, but Whistler isn't in today, so until she returns tomorrow, contact me with anything you need" smiled Curtis
Every looked at Jane then lucy, Kate was never one to take a day off without letting anyone know Jane saw lucy put her attention on her phone “Where is Whistler, is she alright?” asked Jane.
“Whistler requested the day off a few weeks back, didn't say why” replied Curtis
Looking at her phone to see if she had gotten any messages from Kate that she missed, she worried when there was an unread message from Kate, cancelling tonight.
Quickly messaging back checking if she's okay, everything starts to make sense when she realizes the Date next to the message, angry at herself for forgetting about today. Trying to focus on the briefing, her attention is waiting for Kate to text back. After what felt like the longest briefing ever lucy quickly asked to speak to Jane privately, knowing nobody else knew about Kate's brother, due to it being something she avoided to talk about.
Thankful that Jane knew a little bit about today, she was grateful, Jane gave her sometime to go check on Kate, provide she gives an update of how Shes doing. Not wasting a second lucy heads over to the blonde's apartment.
Knocking on the door she could hear Kate talking, but didn't understand what she was saying, with a few moments of Kate raising her voice she knew, the conversation she was having was not one the blonde wanted to continue.
Knocking again she could hear the blonde walk over to the door, as she got closer the blonde voice had a lot of emotion behind it, and sniffles could be heard as she said goodbye to whoever she was talking to.
Opening the door and trying to wipe her tears “Oh, Lucy aren't you supposed to be at work” tried to say Kate, without her voice breaking.
Softly giving a small but comforting smile “I am but your more important, Can I come in?” straight away lucy saw her eyes were puffy from crying and raw from the constant tissues that tried to clean the tears away, bags sit heavy under her eyes and her voice strains from trying to keep her emotions together.
“I... Don't think that's a good idea” replied Kate trying to hold everything together, she wanted to invite lucy in and just hold her but that meant being vulnerable to the brunette again, and it was hard to do that again after everything.
“Kate, it's okay, we don't have to talk, I just want to be there for you” gently said Lucy, taking a step Forward.
Eyes closed but opening the door, unable to fight back Kate lets lucy in, moving closer to the living room, Lucy notices the box of tissues half empty and filling up the bin, which has been moved next to the couch, that is now covered with blankets.
Turning to the blonde who is now shuffling around in the kitchen avoiding looking at her “Did you want anything to eat or drink, I can make you something” rambled Kate, focused on trying not to cry again.
Lucy walked to where Kate was in the kitchen and stood behind her “Kate can you look at me?”
Sighing and holding the counter facing away from Lucy, with her head down and eyes closed. “I... I can't” whispered Kate.
“Please, I want to help” softly said Lucy, moving closer, but making sure Kate wasn't boxed in.
“I want to...I'm scared...I'm scared to be vulnerable again" said Kate quietly, even though lucy heard every word.
“I know it's hard to open again, but I'm not going everywhere, I'm here, you can lean on me” said Lucy moving to the side of Kate “I want to help you, it's okay to let me in again, and let me see the vulnerable side of you, I love you and I want to take care of you”
It took a few moments before Kate started to shift, moments later lucy felt the weight of the blonde holding her tight and sobbing into her neck, reacting with lighting speed, Lucy holds Kate close rubbing her hand up and down the blondes back “It's okay, I've got you let it out” calmly repeated Lucy.
Moving to the couch still connected, Lucy laid down and the blonde got next to her with half her body on top, Lucy wrapped her arm around the blonde as she returned to her neck, exhausted from the day. Moment's past and lucy felt the steady breath of Kate who was now asleep.
Kiss the top of her head, Lucy held on to Kate, she knew when Kate woke up, she would panic about moving too fast and the position they were in, but right now Lucy knew Kate needed her like this and she was happy to provide the comfort she needed.
One step forward more to go.