The week had been rough—you knew Kate was dealing with some heavy cases, and your own job hadn't been a walk in the park. But Friday night meant Antonio's Pizzeria, the usual spot since Kate had first moved to DC and started at NCIS.

You were already sitting in your usual booth by the time she arrived, slipping off a light jacket. She looked tired but smiled genuinely when she saw you. She was in a simple blue top and jeans, completely casual.

"Sorry I'm late," Kate said, sliding into the seat across from you. She immediately grabbed a slice of the pizza you’d already ordered. "Last minute, Gibbs decided that seventeen hundred on a Friday was the perfect time for an impromptu briefing. They really don't respect the sacred nature of pizza night." She took a large, satisfied bite, then looked at you, her expression softening from her earlier frustration. "So, tell me everything. How bad was your week, really?"