"You have to feed her three times a day and you have to sit and make sure she eats it, because otherwise she'll just let it float there. I don't know if she has weight issues or something but sometimes she just will not eat. But she likes it if you stay with her and she usually always eats when she can see you. I've left enough food for three days but enough for some treats as well. There are separate treats as well but she can only have one a day. You'll need to clean out her-" He was cut off by the familiar stinging sensation at the back of his head and rubbed mechanically, with a wounded expression.

Gibbs sighed.

"DiNozzo that was just a warning. Now, I will slap you silly if you do not get the hell out of my house and go have a good time. I can handle this…situation." He glanced down at the ornate fishbowl in his hands that contained the legendary Kate DiNozzo. Her brother, sister…whatever, had long since passed on and had been buried with great dismay. His eyes flew up to heaven at the memory of it as Kate swam rather balefully around in his hands, her beady eyes taking in her new surroundings only to forget them in a continuous three second circuit.

"Be kind to her Boss. She's going to miss me. That's all I ask."

His eyes found the clouds once more.

"DiNozzo…they have a three second memory." Tony shook his head vehemently, hovering on the doorstep with his go bag in his hands. "Actually, that theory has been scientifically debunked. It's now thought that goldfish can recall any particular event for up to five months. Which of course means if you traumatise Kate here I'm going to be the one to deal with it for five months. She's hard work as it is. Oh, one more thing Boss. When you're feeding her she likes if there's a little noise in the background. I've found that a little Elvis get's her right in the-"

He blinked as the door was suddenly slammed in his face.

"Have a good time and get off my damned porch," the voice from inside hollered, "I'll take care of your damned fish, just go!" Smiling slightly and knowing Kate was in good hands, Tony gave a farewell rap to the door and jogged from the porch to where three of his buddies were impatiently waiting for him in James' car. Sliding out of the driveway and setting the course for Vegas, Harry slugged Tony on the shoulder with a bemused expression. "You want to go back and give your aquatic rat a kiss goodbye DiNozzo? Maybe bring her back a nice fish hook? She looked pretty tasty." Speaking over the gales of laughter, Tony grinned good naturedly. "What can I say fellas, she brings out my paternal side. I love that fish. But now that I know she's in the best hands possible, let's get this trip on the damned road."

Gibbs, in a very rare bout of generosity, had given them all the week off. He hadn't mentioned that he'd been ordered by HR to do just that. Apparently he was a "slave driver" or something equally as ludicrous. Betty in accounting had had a conniption at the lack of holiday pay on his people's accounts, including his own; with the result that team Gibbs was free for an entire week. He hated it. But the troops had taken the news with glee and had dashed off here, there and everywhere. Gibbs smiled as he threw himself down on the sofa with Kate safely ensconced on the coffee table. It was good to see the team be able to just let loose and be young. He supposed, with a stab of guilt, that maybe he did work them too hard. The familiar noise at the backdoor suddenly wailed out and he rolled his eyes as he heaved himself up.

This was perhaps his deepest, darkest secret. The one he'd rather die than let it get out.

Opening the door and reaching down, he scooped up the cat with the familiarly annoying rush of affection in his gut. She had been a pure stray about a year ago, but now…she was practically his. What had started out as a grumpily given bowl of milk had turned into a rigorous and gourmet feeding schedule, three times a day. Only the best of cat produce. She was costing him a fortune but he was ridiculously in love with her. No-one knew about Sandy, as he had named her, it would be social suicide. He would never live it down. He had a carefully cultivated image to maintain and a very pretty, fluffy kitty was not conducive to maintaining it. He, not for the first time, imagined Abbs' face if she found out and his gut churned in embarrassment. The whole damn Navy Yard would know about it in a single working day.

Rubbing her silky head as she nuzzled into him with delight, he led her into the kitchen where her dinner was already waiting. Hence keeping Tony at the doorstep. Setting her down he smiled as she jangled over to her bowl, the bell he had hand crafted her swaying jauntily on her neck. Leaning against the fridge, he happily watched her devour a game infused casserole that the lady at the store had recommended. It would seem to be a top notch recommendation if the purrs of contentment were anything to go by. When she finished up, he leant down to wash her bowl out and give her the night-time treats she knew were coming. She nuzzled against his leg contentedly as she always did but suddenly, her entire body went ram-rod straight and she hissed viciously. Glancing down at her in confusion, Gibbs blinked when she suddenly darted from between his legs and dashed into the living room. He followed her, thinking with a sinking sensation that he had a rat problem, but he had a much, much bigger problem than that. A dull thunk radiated throughout the house before he could even see where she'd gone. When he did see her, the ceramic cat bowl fell to the ground with a clatter where it broke into smithereens.

The very tip of Kate's tail was just about visible in Sandy's mouth as she sat happily in a puddle of water, the fishbowl spinning dramatically and emptily in her wake.

Gibbs paled to a vampire white.

"Sandy," he croaked out, "Please…Jesus Christ….no no….spit her out….there's a good girl…."

He moved slowly towards her and she looked up at him intuitively, the thrashing tail protruding from her mouth. It felt like an eternity as he inched towards her, the soaked carpet wetting his sock clad feet as he crept along. If he could just get a hold of the tail and pull Kate out. By the trashing, she was still alive and Sandy was merely playing with her food until she was hungry enough to go for the kill. He leant down beside her, murmuring gently, reaching out his hand slowly….slowly….until he could just about touch her. His hand was a fraction of an inch away from the swinging, scaly tail. Sandy looked at him with an almost bored expression as he came within seconds of heroism.

Before leaning back and gulping down Kate with one crunching, bone shattering snap.

The yelp that escaped Gibbs was one that hadn't escaped him in many, many years.

He was a dead man.

…

TBC: One more chapter! Just fancied a break from the heavier stories! It's fun to write a panic stricken Gibbs for once!

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