Kendreague A NCIS AU Fanfiction By Callista Mythol
Content Part 1 .......................................................................................................................... 3 Part 2 ........................................................................................................................ 13 Part 3 ........................................................................................................................ 29
ii
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
Part 1 1955 17th March Leroy Jethro Gibbs swung his small legs mindlessly as he dangled them from his place on the rickety swing in the back garden. He was dressed in a black suit with a white shirt along with a black tie and he tugged at it again. He hated wearing it but his momma said he had to, that it was a sign of respect to his daddy. He felt his heart clench just at the thought of his daddy. ‘Asleep,’ his momma said, ‘asleep and that he can’t come back.’ The fact she’d had glistening eyes and pain etched into her face told him everything. His daddy was dead. He may be four years old but he wasn’t stupid. He knew a little about death, how when someone good died they went to Heaven and when someone bad died then they went to Hell. And he knew with complete certainty that his daddy was in Heaven. He wondered if wishing his daddy was with him rather than in Heaven made him a bad person. His heart thudded against his chest painfully and he scrunched up his face trying to hold back the tears. Tough boys didn’t cry, they didn’t. He wasn’t a sissy. “Crying doesn’t make you a sissy.” Jethro gasped and opened his eyes again. His jaw dropped at what he saw when he did. There was a man crouching down in front of him as he remained seated on the swing. He was dressed head to toe in black, black sweater, trousers and trench coat. But what really caught Jethro’s attention, what had him mouthing silently in shock were the large white wings protruding from the man’s back. They were folded in a comfortable manner but moved every now and again in lazy twitches, similar to how one would flex their fingers. When he managed to pull his eyes away from the magnificent feathers he then took in the handsome features of the stranger. Hazel eyes twinkled with spots of green and dim gold as they regarded Jethro, brown hair shifting slightly with the wind blowing through it. The stranger had a kind smile and it was this that quelled any more negative thoughts from Jethro. “You’re an angel,” he said in a matter-of-fact way that only children seemed to be able to pull off. It caused the stranger to chuckle and Jethro felt warm at the sound. “I am,” the angel said clearly amused. Jethro cocked his head to one side as he jumped down from the swing. He moved slowly forwards until he was standing close to the angel. “I thought angels only came for you when you died? That’s what Grandma said3am I dead? Will I see dad again?” He didn’t know how but Jethro could feel the air around him and the angel become a little colder, a little sadder and he dropped his head. He didn’t need the angel to answer, that feeling was enough.
3
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
When he felt a hand on his cheek however he looked up again. The touch was warm and he couldn’t resist leaning into it with a sense of deep affection and protectiveness washing through him. “Not today,” was the quiet answer and he nodded solemnly. Ducking his head again he scrubbed at his eyes angrily but his hand was removed and placed back at his side. “You can cry Jethro, I won’t tell anyone.” Looking up again he found the angel smiling at him and he managed to hold on for a couple of seconds before his face crumpled again and a sob escaped him. He followed unquestionably when a pair of hands pulled him in and he was encased in a hug, arms and wings surrounding him as he cried quietly. He didn’t cry out or scream but he curled further into the warm embrace and whimpered every now and again as tears continued to fall. He became vaguely aware of music reaching his ears and he turned his tear-stained face up to find the angel smiling gently down at him, singing softly as he continued to stroke Jethro’s hair. “I am stretched on your grave, and I'll lie here forever If your hands were in mine, I'd be sure they would not sever,” Jethro could feel his body relaxing at the soft words even though he couldn’t really focus on them. “My apple tree, my brightness, its time we were together For I smell by the Earth, and I'm worn by the weather.” The angel’s arms tightened around him as though in answer to his new found trust in the stranger. “When my family think, that I'm safely in my bed Oh, from morn until night, I am stretched out at your head.” The angel seemed to realise it was the tune more than the words that relaxed the boy in his arms and so continued the haunting tune by merely humming it. He slowly began to rock back and forth whilst continuing with his smooth strokes through Jethro’s hair. They may have been there minutes, maybe hours but either way it felt like an eternity later when Jethro managed to pull back a little so he was face to face with his angel. And he was his, regardless of whether he had to return to3wherever he came from, Heaven probably. That’s where his Grandma said they came from. His tiny hand settled on the angel’s cheek and he watched as the angel smiled at the gesture. He then slipped his arms around the angel’s neck and hugged him tightly. “Are you going to go away too?” he whispered and he felt the angel chuckle. “I’m with you until you don’t want me anymore,” came the soft response and Jethro managed to smile brightly at that. “Forever.” The angel, amused, smirked and nodded. “Forever it is then.” 4
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
Jethro giggled before he cocked his head as another thought struck him. “What’s your name?” Smiling the angel tapped his nose once. “I’m3”
1957 17th March Jethro crouched low hidden behind the bushes. He peeked over the top carefully and when he deemed it safe he charged out, rolled and hid behind another bush. He kept a tight hold on his wooden sword and pulled it close to him as he darted for more cover. Motionless he listened for any kind of movement but was met with only silence. Deciding to risk it he ever so slowly peeked around the tree he’d taken cover behind. He jumped a mile when he was met with a grinning face and yelped as he fell backwards. The man laughed and helped him stand, grinning even wider when Jethro frowned at him. “That was mean My Angel!” Chuckling the angle ruffled his hair affectionately. Laughing Jethro dodged away but found himself encased in arms and wings shrieking with more laughter when hands started tickling him. “I told you, you can’t outdo an angel,” the angel said over his loud yelps of hysterics and even joined in after a moment. “I can outdo anything, I’m a Gibbs!” “Oh is that right? Well get out of this without moving,” the angel challenged and Jethro froze confused. “3I can’t do that, I need to move.” The angel smirked again and squeezed the boy lightly. “I can, I don’t even have to flinch,” he said smugly causing Jethro to roll his eyes. “You’re an angel,” he said obviously and sighed as he struggled. Soon though the tickling fingers were back and he was laughing once more. “Ah is that your excuse is it?” “Yes, leggo!” Jethro cried but was soon shrieking again in delight. He yelled happily when he was suddenly thrown into the air and caught in protective arms. “Always catch you,” the angel said softly and Jethro smiled at him whilst rubbing mud off his face from their games. “I know.” “Good,” angel said again and chuckled as he once again twirled the boy.
5
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
1961 17th March Jethro curled his arms around his legs as he sat on his bed in the dark bedroom. He could feel tears prickling at his eyes but he refused to let them fall. He was ten now, he had to be more grown up. Crying was for girls and he wasn’t a girl. He wasn’t a baby either and he’d prove it to Simon Franks tomorrow. “You shouldn’t think things like that.” Jethro jerked but refused to look round at his0no0he just refused to look. “Jethro?” “Go ‘way,” he said sharply and he winced internally when he felt the room shift. That happened sometimes when the ‘thing’ was shocked. “Thing? Jethro?” When he caught movement out of the corner of his eye he quickly closed them knowing that ‘it’ was moving into his line of sight. He buried his face into his arms and clapped his hands over his ears. ‘Jethro please, what’s wrong?’ The same voice was in his head now and he growled as he pushed his hands harder against his ears. “Go away!” he said again, louder this time. When he felt a hand reach for him, when it settled into his hair and stroked it back he wanted to cry at the gentle warmth that filled him. He jerked back and came face to face with the ‘thing’ in his bedroom. “DON’T TOUCH ME!” he cried and tried not to cry out when ‘it’ pulled its hand back in shock. “Jethro, what’s wrong?” it said urgently and made to move closer but something inside of Jethro finally snapped and he stood up on his bed. The ‘thing’ stood too and Jethro quivered at the height it still had on him but refused to back down. His hands balled into tight fists and finally finding his voice he started yelling. “YOU’RE NOT REAL! YOU’RE NOT!” ‘It’ reeled back as though it had been slapped and some part of Jethro was crying out to him, holding his arms out to hugged all over again but he quickly crushed it angrily with his ‘big boy’ voice. “EVERYONE SAYS I SHOULD GROW UP, THAT YOU’RE NOT REAL! THEY SAY I’M NOTHING BUT A BABY FOR HAVING AN INVISIBLE FRIEND BUT I’M NOT! I’M NOT!” ‘It’ was frozen as he watched Jethro. Angrily Jethro picked up a pillow and hurled it at the ‘thing’ growling when the object went right through the it. “Jethro0please0” a hand reached forwards and inside Jethro was crying at the tear now making a track down that handsome face instead he just screamed out angrily and slapped the reaching hand away. “I HATE YOU, I HATE YOU! GO AWAY, I DON’T NEED YOU ANYMORE! GO AWAY!” His voice broke on the last word and he collapsed onto his bed sobbing. He curled up again, hating the fact he was doing a ‘childish’ thing but curled even tighter all the 6
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
same. He flinched when a gentle kiss touched the crown of his head and he determinedly ignored the little droplets of tears that fell into his hair. “I never meant to hurt you Jethro.” And just like that the room went cold. Staying how he was for a moment longer Jethro then uncurled to find himself alone. But there was something noticeably different as he placed a hand to his chest in confusion. Usually he could feel something like a warm hug in his chest, he didn’t know how else to describe it. But panicking he ran his hands all over his chest and he sobbed silently when he couldn’t find it. Shaking he dropped his head back letting the tears finally come. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it. Come back,” he whispered brokenly but when nothing happened he curled in on himself once more.
2005 17th March Tony ducked when an empty polystyrene cup flew past him and was accompanied by a growl coming from his boss’s desk. “And a good morning to you too Sir,” he said lightly and smirked when he was rewarded with a glare from the silver haired man. “Unless you have something worth hearing DiNozzo then I really don’t want to hear a peep from you,” he threatened lowly but Tony merely placed his things down and strolled towards Kate’s desk where he placed a fat ugly looking toy resembling a cherub. Gibbs wasn’t even going to pretend to understand what pissing game DiNozzo and Kate had going on. “I always have something worth hearing Boss, you just aren’t always that interested in it,” Tony said smugly but quickly darted back to his desk when another glare was fired his way. He resisted the urge to snigger: Gibbs may be one scary bastard but he couldn’t deny it could be fun to wind him up every now and again. That man was hot when he was pissed. “Just get me those files I asked you to look for yesterday,” he heard Gibbs mutter and Tony managed a sloppy salute as he powered up his computer. “Yes Sir.” The minute he knew Gibbs was back looking at his computer screen he looked up from under his eyelashes at the man. There was a pinched look to Gibbs’s face and he looked like he was remembering a past hurt but Tony was pretty certain that should he ask he’d be greeted with nothing more than a snarled command to mind his own business. Twisting his lips in thought he noticed something absent from Gibbs’s desk and like a light bulb going on over his head he stood and headed out of the room with the feeling of Gibbs’s eyes on his back. It took no more than five minutes but he returned carefully a moment later with his tongue between his teeth as he concentrated on his footsteps. Once back in the bullpen he headed for the older man’s desk and carefully placed the mug of coffee down trying not to flush when he realised Gibbs hadn’t taken his 7
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
eyes off him the entire time. Ignoring the look he headed back to his own desk and set to work once more. The air surrounding his boss seemed softer after that. He wasn’t sure but he thought he heard Gibbs mutter his gratitude but that could’ve been his imagination. He may not know what was wrong with his boss but at least he could offer that small bit of comfort.
“Abby, my darling, my sweet!” Tony laughed when Abby jumped up with an excitable grin and hugged him tightly. He lifted her a little and kissed her forehead gently before placing her down again. “Any reason why you hugged me?” he asked in amusement and she shrugged with a grin. “Your hugs are always warm,” she said as though it answered everything and he supposed that in a way it did. Together they headed back to her workspace and he leaned over her shoulder as he watched her work. “How’re the bullets doing?” he asked as he alternated his gaze from her nimble hands hard at work and the large screen above them running a match to the gun used. “Ducky just sent over the one he got from our dead guy so unfortunately I haven’t got a comparison yet. However I can tell you that our first bullet came from another case about six years ago involving two Marines shot in their beds. There was speculation that they may have been lovers making it a possible hate crime but it was unsolved.” Tony shook his head at that piece of information and leaned back out of Abby’s personal space again. “Mustn’t have been one of ours then, we would’ve caught the son of a bitch,” he stated and Abby giggled as she shook her head. “Your unwavering belief in our Boss man never ceases to amaze me Tony, it’s kind of sweet actually considering how much you pine for the guy,” she nudged him with her elbow as she said her piece and Tony swatted her arm away irritably. “I told you that secret for you to keep it like that: a secret! And I don’t pine, I0admire from a distance.” “Pine.” “0Yes alright but can’t you think of something a little more masculine than ‘pine’.” She grinned and patted his hand reassuringly. “Lust?” “Yeah, that’ll do,” he said returning the grin before leaning in again. “Speaking of Gibbs, you wouldn’t happen to know what’s wrong with him would you? He seems0” “Pissed?”
8
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
“No, more upset. There’s a difference. Pissed means he just snaps at everyone and makes the higher ups piss their pants. It’s more like he’s hurting about something and, well, let’s face it, he isn’t going to let me help anytime soon.” Abby patted Tony’s hand again this time in genuine pity. She knew it hurt Tony everytime Gibbs snubbed the younger man’s words or attention and she hated the flicker of hurt that flashed in the green eyes when she was present to see it happen but Tony seemed to be able to live with it and so she chose not to crowd him with her worry. “What’s the date?” she asked after a moment and Tony hesitated for a moment. “March 17th,” he said quietly and Abby watched him carefully for a moment. She could see a flicker of recognition when the man recited the date but it was gone a moment later and he was watching her curiously once more. “Well,” she said stretching the word out reluctantly. She tapped her fingers indecisively on the table before coming to a conclusion. She made to open her mouth but was cut off when Tony leaned back and started heading towards the door. “You know what Abs, its cool. I think I just realised something. Catch you later,” and he was gone. Abby stared at the door a minute longer before her eyebrows shot up. “Okay, that was a little weird.”
Gibbs rubbed at his eyes tiredly before resorting to pressing the heels of his palms into them instead, leaning back in his chair as he did so and releasing a heavy sigh. Moving them to slide back through his hair he sighed heavily before leaning back in to look at his computer, the report he was writing glaring at him. He really hated this day. Groaning he made to stand and go get himself some more coffee having already finished the one Tony had, out of the blue, brought him. A gesture that touched Gibbs more than he was willing to admit. As he did though Tony himself came round the corner and they bumped lightly. A shock of warmth ran through him and Gibbs froze as he simply absorbed it. Tony however quickly held up one hand as he continued on his hurried way. “Sorry Boss.” Gibbs was still standing stock still, his shoulder tingling pleasantly and he turned to watch as Tony disappeared around the corner again, stunned. Mindlessly he reached up to rub at his shoulder before softly whispering, “No problem.”
Thankfully the day ended reasonably calmly and Gibbs all but fled. He could still feel that comforting warmth running throughout his body from where Tony had bumped into him and it was driving him mad. He’d felt it before but for the life of him he 9
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
couldn’t remember where. It was driving him insane and he mentally clawed at the feeling trying to keep it within him. He’d started off the day filled with remorse. The anniversary of his father’s funeral but it wasn’t that that caused his heart to ache this time every year. No it was something else, something from his childhood that hovered at the edge of his memories but never really came clearly to mind. It drove him mad every year as he tried to recall why he always felt such a loss inside and he had a feeling it wasn’t entirely about his father. He’d been four years old, he’d barely remembered the man, as bad as that sounded. It felt like he’d lost a friend, a loved one and a comrade. He couldn’t explain it, never had been able to explain it but he knew that, when he really sunk deep and fell into the mind of his child self, that it caused horrendous heartache. He always hoped on every anniversary that that would be the year he remembered. That way he could make things right with whatever was wrong and he wouldn’t hurt quite as much. Sighing heavily he made to fall into his sofa but instead decided to grab a beer. Standing straight once more he headed towards the kitchen when there was a knock on his door. Growling he ignored it and continued on his way to the fridge. Another knock sounded and Gibbs mumbled something less than polite but simply kicked the fridge door closed behind him whilst twisting off the lid of his beer. Thankfully there wasn’t another knock and letting out a relieved breath he made his way into the living room. Being a Marine was probably the only thing that stopped him from outwardly jumping when he came face to face with one Tony DiNozzo. One nervous looking Tony DiNozzo. One deservedly nervous looking Tony DiNozzo who better have a damn good excuse for coming in uninvited. “Don’t really have one,” Tony said suddenly and Gibbs jerked his head back in surprise. “You spoke out loud,” Tony said with a faint smile before it slipped back into the anxious look again. Gibbs frowned and as he passed the younger man he growled. “Go away Tony, I can’t be dealing with you and your tales of the women you’ve fucked tonight.” Tony stepped back for a moment, a genuinely hurt look on his face and something about it made Gibbs’s gut twist painfully. He hated that look on the younger man’s face it didn’t belong there. It tugged at something inside him and he didn’t like that at all. Moaning a little as he dropped his head forwards he exhaled heavily. “I didn’t quite mean it like that. What was it you wanted Tony?” As close to an apology as Tony was going to get. It worked either way because Tony strode forwards and settled into a seat. “I0um, okay this idea seemed better when we were at work0” Gibbs found himself huffing out a laugh and Tony smiled sheepishly as he did. Rubbing the back of his neck he continued. “Something was clearly bothering you and I’m not here to make you spill it,” he said cutting Gibbs off when the man opened his mouth to object, “but I know you have a tendency to wallow in self pity and I thought if I was here to distract you then you 10
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
might at least make it through the day with a smile at the end0. told you it sounded better else where.” “You’re right about that,” Gibbs said dryly as he swallowed a mouthful of the cool drink. Scrubbing the back of his hand over his mouth he leaned back in his seat and dropped his head back to stare at the ceiling, “But you’re here now.” Tony nods slightly before he shifts in his seat, indecisive for a moment then moves to sit beside Gibbs on the sofa. He leans back and simply offers his company for a while in silence. Both men stare almost peacefully at the ceiling, Gibbs lifting his drink to his mouth every now and again but otherwise quite content as they were. To be fair Tony, whilst doing nothing, was indeed taking Gibbs’s mind off of the memories associated with the day. No, instead his thoughts were filled with the younger man sat beside him. He could smell Tony from here, all rich cologne and musk and it attacked his senses. It was the kind of smell that lingered in a room even after Tony had left, faint and yet reassuring in its own strange way. Meant the smell was fresh, meant Tony was still there and not dead or missing like so many agents within the company were. Thankfully so far Gibbs hadn’t lost an agent yet and he’d be damned if he started now. There was also something familiar about it, not so much the cologne but definitely the simple muskiness that was all Tony. Gibbs frowned a little though when Tony’s arm dropped down, brushing his own in an ‘almost-not-there’ sort of way. It could hardly be considered a touch but Gibbs could feel that same warmth he’d felt earlier when he’d bumped into Tony now begin creeping up his arm and, oddly, into his chest. He rubbed absent-mindedly at the sensation, his fingers dancing over his chest for a second before he lowered it again. He felt rather than saw Tony drop his head sideways to look at him. “Do you feel any better?” Gibbs mirrored the younger man’s action and stared at Tony silently. Well he could hardly say ‘Yes’, that would be giving in and letting Tony know he’d done what he’d set out to do without saying a word. The boy already had an ego the size of Texas, no need to help inflate it any more so. For some reason Tony smirked and so Gibbs settled for a shrug. It only made Tony grin wider as the younger man dropped his head back with a faint chuckle. “You were born stubborn and you’ll die stubborn,” he said shaking his head slightly and Gibbs resisted the urge to smirk. “And how would you know that?” he challenged and Tony laughed lightly again. “Just a hunch.” “Go get a beer and shut up,” Gibbs said chuckling and smirking Tony stood with a slap to his thighs. He moved into the kitchen and as he pulled open the fridge door he hummed a vague tune mindlessly whilst fingering various bottles, reading the labels trying to decide on which he’d prefer. So concentrated on the bottles he was in fact that he failed to notice when Gibbs tilted his head as though trying to hear something better. He turned his ear to hear Tony’s tune better and for a moment his heart faltered before his eyes widened when a memory flashed across his mind’s eye. 11
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
He didn’t cry out or scream but he curled further into the warm embrace and whimpered every now and again as tears continued to fall. He became vaguely aware of music reaching his ears and he turned his tear-stained face up to find the angel smiling gently down at him, singing softly as he continued to stroke Jethro’s hair. “I am stretched on your grave, and I'll lie here forever If your hands were in mine, I'd be sure they would not sever,” Jethro could feel his body relaxing at the soft words even though he couldn’t really focus on them. “My apple tree, my brightness, its time we were together For I smell by the Earth, and I'm worn by the weather.” The angel’s arms tightened around him as though in answer to his new found trust in the stranger. “When my family think, that I'm safely in my bed Oh, from morn until night, I am stretched out at your head.” The angel seemed to realise it was the tune more than the words that relaxed the boy in his arms and so continued the haunting tune by merely humming it. He slowly began to rock back and forth whilst continuing with his smooth strokes through Jethro’s hair. Gibbs didn’t even hear the dull thud as his bottle hit the floor when he stood abruptly. He whirled round and stared in mute shock as Tony re-entered the living room still absently humming the tune. When Tony glanced up he faltered and came to a full stop at the look of pure shock he was getting from Gibbs. Nervously he shifted on his feet until he made to take a hesitant step forward when he suddenly froze himself. The tune he’d been humming. Tony’s eyes widened in panic and he opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out. ’Shit shit shit shit! he thought when still nothing left his mouth. “I0” Gibbs inhaled sharply and tried again, his mind in disarray as flashes of past memories flew in, “I0every year0every year I try to0I lost0” Tony felt his eyes burn as Gibbs backed away a little. He blinked back any of the itchiness he felt in the tear ducts at seeing Gibbs pull away from him0 0Again. Gibbs’s hand twitched as though he wanted to raise it and finally he managed to breath out a question. “My Angel?”
12
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
Part 2 Both men were frozen where they stood, neither moving forwards nor backwards and simply staring at one another: One in shock, one in a blind panic. Tony cursed himself in several languages mentally for not being more careful, for revealing himself to someone who had, for all intents and purposes, banished him from their precense. So much he wanted to move towards Gibbs, towards Jethro but the memory of their last encounter as boy and angel still rang throughout his mind, the pain of it too much sometimes that he indulged in extremely stupid mortal dalliances. “Tony? Anthony, my0” Gibbs faltered on his sentence and Tony had to resist wincing at the furtive shake of the other man’s head. Well like the saying said, in for a penny in for a pound. Calmly Tony placed his bottle down on the nearest flat surface and then, for lack of anything better, he shoved his hands into his pockets to face Jethro. “Hello Jethro,” he said in a painfully defeated tone. “Jesus Christ,” Gibbs breathed out and Tony managed a small smirk. “Blasphemy in front of an angel probably isn’t a good idea,” he joked weakly but quickly sobered when Jethro shook his head minutely. “This isn’t0you can’t be real,” Gibbs said almost furiously and Tony had to close his eyes at the words. ’Just please don’t call me a ‘thing’ again, please,’ he thought desperately and clenched his hands still inside his pockets. Exhaling shakily Tony opened his eyes and carefully considered the man in front of him. “I’m real, you can see me, you can touch me,” he watched as Jethro quickly headed to a seat and sat down heavily with his head buried in his hands, “You’ve been ‘feeling’ me all day.” Blinking Gibbs slowly touched his chest and laid it out flat over his heartbeat. He could still feel that comforting warmth in his chest and let his wary glance flicker to Tony. “Like a hug,” he mumbled but then quickly shook his head again, “But that isn’t possible, angels aren’t real!” “Good thing I’m not a fairy, that could’ve killed me,” Tony mumbled quietly before speaking up again, “Says who? You? You believed in us0in me once.” “I was a kid who had just lost his father, I’m pretty sure I would’ve believed anything if it made the pain go away,” Gibbs said angrily and glared at Tony. Tony straightened his back a little and looked down at Jethro. Gibbs had to marvel at how something in side of him cowed at the look of faint disappointment in those usually so careless and gentle eyes. Just like when he’d been a kid and Angel had disapproved of something he’d done. “For six years?” Tony said quietly and Gibbs closed his hands into fists at the sadness tainting those words. He even felt the room change in temperature and glancing up again at Tony (who was looking down at the floor now distraught) he swallowed heavily.
13
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
“Say I believe you,” Tony looked up carefully at that point so Gibbs continued, “Say that you are indeed My Angel0why haven’t I felt you? Or the changes in your emotions, because I remember that happening. The entire room would change, I think I’d notice if it happened at work.” Tony huffed out a humourless laugh and lifted one hand to his hair to run it through the strands. “You stopped believing in me, you wouldn’t be able to ‘feel’ me until you believed again.” “That can’t be right,” Gibbs said as he frowned and Tony looked at him quizzically. “Why not?” “Because the room just changed and I can’t believe in0in such things.” Tony slowly lowered his hand and Gibbs had to look away from the tiny flicker of hope he saw in those hazel eyes. Clearing his throat he returned his gaze to the floor and leant forwards, his arms resting on his knees as he clasped his hands together. “And0and you’re younger than me, but you were, back then, you were0” he looked up and gestured wildly at Tony, “You were like that!” “I don’t age,” Tony faltered now and scrubbed the back of his head again, “well, I didn’t at least. Now I probably will.” Gibbs shook his head again in confusion. “Why?” “I sort of0fell but not.” Tony winced at that explanation and wasn’t surprised when Jethro looked at him bemused. “Excuse me?” Sighing Tony moved forwards and dropped into the seat across from Jethro. Linking his fingers together he gathered himself, pulling his mindset out of his more mortal self and back into that of his heritage. “You stopped believing in me Jethro, and I’m not entirely sure it was by choice. One day you loved me unconditionally and the next you were banishing me,” he said in the calm tone he was used to using from all those years ago and he watched as Jethro flinched. “The thing is, I wanted to be with you then, to protect you through anything but there wasn’t going to be a way for me to do that without angering you further,” he raised a hand when Jethro made to cut him off, “Please, let me finish?” Gibbs stared at him silently for a moment before he nodded once. “So I,” he sighed, “Jethro, I couldn’t just leave you. Kahree angels, we were created to love and protect and we are forever linked to the same soul in all its lives from the moment that we are first joined. I’ve always loved you, to be apart would kill me emotionally, if not physically.” “Kah0” Gibbs cleared his throat and tried again, “Kahree angels?” He was trying not to feel his heart hammer at his chest at the thought of Tony dying because of his rejection and another part of him wanted to berate that same fear for actually beginning to believe Tony’s words. It was impossible, all of it, it had to be. Funny how that argument seemed to be getting weaker inside of him. 14
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
“Yes, sorry, Kahree angel is basically guardian angel but in an older tongue. ‘To love’ I believe is the translation.” “That makes it sound like there are different, you know, types of0you know0” Gibbs gestured towards Tony and Tony nodded solemnly. “That’s because there are. Kahree is the overall name for guardians but there are different names for male and female guardians. I’m a Kendreague, ‘Loving male’, and females are Kariads, ‘beloveds’0are you still okay with this?” Tony said anxiously and Gibbs leaned back a little rubbing at his temple. “Yeah, I need to have this make sense. Carry on,” he said in a voice just above a whisper and with another worried glance Tony continued. “There are the muses that go by the name Aislinns, that basically translates as ‘Vision or inspiration’. They’re the ones who place the whispers of ideas in people’s heads but they aren’t assigned to one person. They feed off the level of energy coming from a person’s mind and help bring down the walls blocking the ideas.” Tony stopped for a moment to gauge Jethro’s reaction but the man did seem calmer, if only minutely, to have information he could gather and analyze. That he could try to understand and study to create his own opinion. Taking a deep breath, he continued. “Then of course you have the Warriors who defend Heaven when it is called upon.” “Like an army?” Gibbs said looking up and Tony managed to chuckle lightly. “Figured that’d get your attention, yeah like an army. Overall they’re called the Adalardo, ‘the Nobles’, but again there are different categories. There are the Saeths, Bowmen of Heaven if you will, and Cadmons who act as the Infantry. A Commanding Officer is known as the Caedmon, ‘Wise Warrior’ and the difference with these angels to say, ones like the Aislinns, is that when a human dies he can become a Cadmon.” “What about you?” Gibbs said quietly and both men looked at each other, “Were you always like this or did you0” “I was human once, such a long time ago now. Humans can become Kahrees and Cadmons but the muses, the Oracles, the Archangels, they’re all born as angels.” Gibbs moaned and dropped his head forwards into his hands. “This is too much at once isn’t it?” Tony said quietly and Gibbs sighed loudly. “I don’t know, yes, no. But, you said you fell. I mean, Christ Tony, you were alive, you died, you were a, a0” “Kendreague, and I still am.” “What? But you said you fell. I was always taught that was when an angel was removed from Heaven,” Gibbs was frowning at him now and sighing equally as heavily as Jethro had a moment ago Tony leaned closer to him. “I kind of fell. I wasn’t punished or removed from Heaven, I just decided that since I couldn’t protect you as an Ethereal being that I might as well do it as, as um, a human. It just means that I have to stay here on Earth until you die, in which my bonds to this Earth are then broken and I can return ho0back there.” “But that means you’ve trapped yourself,” Gibbs said incredulously and Tony shook his head. “No, I enjoy my life here. I chose to have it this way, I knew what I was doing.” 15
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
“You just can’t go home.” Tony’s brow furrowed slightly at the saddened tone in Jethro’s voice and standing he put his hands back in his pockets and moved to stand beside Jethro’s seat. “I can one day.” “0So you’re completely human then? Right now?” Gibbs said looking up curiously at Tony and frowned again when Tony shifted nervously from one foot to another. “Yes and no.” “Can’t you give a straight answer?” Gibbs growled and Tony managed a weak smile at that. If Jethro was growling it meant he was getting some sort of equilibrium back. “I can bleed, I can feel pain, and I can even come close to death. But I can’t die, not until you do. Just hurts like a bitch if I get shot.” He lowered himself down so he was crouching beside Jethro’s chair and greatly resisted reaching out to touch the man in front of him. Tony could still see that boy he loved so dearly in the grown man’s eyes but his love had evolved since then, matured and in some sense, become more human in some aspects. Gibbs watched him silently, his eyes drifting around the handsome face like it had so many times before when he was just a boy and he felt his hand twitch as though to move towards Tony’s face. Something flickered across his thoughts and he glanced at Tony’s shoulders. “Do you still have wings?” he whispered and Tony swallowed as he stood again. “Yes but0not today Jethro, you’ve received too much of a shock already. I don’t0don’t push me away again, please?” Gibbs scrubbed both his hands down his face and rubbed tiredly at the corner of one. “I need to process this all,” he said and Tony nodded despite the itchy feeling of tears in his eyes as he did so. Breathing in deeply he stepped back. “Of course. I’ll be in work tomorrow but, if you need me before then0” “Summon you?” Gibbs said and Tony chuckled a little wetly. Putting his hand to his face he closed it into a fist but extended his pinkie finger and thumb in an imitation of a phone. “Or call me, some of us angels are in with the times.” Tony smiled when it had the desired effect of making Jethro laugh, even if it was weakly. Stepping back again he watched Jethro with a look of pure love and understanding before he closed his own eyes when Jethro blinked. “Tony0” Gibbs looked up but was let with nothing but an empty room. Sitting there for a moment longer Gibbs then fell back into his seat and groaned loudly. 0
Gibbs banged loudly on the door in front of him and paced as he waited. He pulled his coat tighter round him and bounced on the balls of his feet until finally the door opened to reveal one groggy looking Abby Sciuto. She rubbed tiredly at her eyes and glared at Gibbs grumpily. 16
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
“Unless you have a damn good excuse for waking me up then I’m going to be forced to poke you in the eye,” she said through a yawn and Gibbs smiled as he stepped forwards to place a kiss on her forehead. “I’m sorry Abby, but I really need your Internet and your diverse mind,” he said and brushed past, smirking a little when Abby mumbled something about a monkey wrench before she closed the door behind them. “Gibbs, you have GOT to get yourself up to date at home. Where’s your laptop?” “Left it at work, didn’t think I’d need it tonight.” “Fine, fine. Coffee I take it is on the books?” “Yes please, thanks Abby,” Gibbs said absently as he powered up Abby’s computer, smirking at the system she’d installed that made it howl when he did and settled himself down in front of the screen. He tapped his fingers agitatedly on the desk it sat upon, glancing between the kitchen and the screen until finally he could get a window open for Google. “Abby,” he said cautiously as she returned with his drink, one for herself also in tow, “You’re very open-minded.” “I’m not sleeping with you Gibbs,” she teased and Gibbs did smirk a little at that. “Damn. No, Abby0what’s your policy on0on0” he growled a little and closing his eyes in a resigned manner he bit out, “On angels?” Abby watched him for a moment before she gently nudged Gibbs to one side so that she was now in front of the screen. “Which one is it you’re looking for> A Cadmon or a Kahree?” Gibbs’s jaw almost dropped and Abby grinned wickedly at him. “Apparently they’re the only two that start out as humans, or so I’m told,” she said continuing before looking at the screen again fingers poised over the keyboard. “How the hell do you know about them?” he said in an almost angry tone but Abby merely quirked an eyebrow at him. “Because I kept mine around, she’s fantastic. Of course, you can’t see her, not with her not being yours and all. Apparently she was the one that sent me the nightmares about being on the Autopsy table to stop me from going down there when he was down there. Protecting me in her own quirky way, she reminds me of you.” Gibbs lowered his forehead to the desk and banged it lightly for a moment before sitting straight again. “Fine, I suppose that makes things easier with you understanding. I need you to find mine now please.” “Sure thing Gibbs, do you have their name?” This time Gibbs did falter, trying to gauge how Abby might take the next piece of news. Okay so she knew about the Angels but what would her reaction be to knowing who Gibbs’s was. “Yeah, it’s um,” he cleared his throat, “it’s Anthony DiNozzo.” He watched as Abby’s cup fell to the floor. Wincing as it shattered he looked up again to find Abby wide-mouthed and practically spluttering. 17
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
“But, but I can see him! I touch him and I hug him0HUGS! Oh, I said only today that he gives warm hugs! Like he’s0” “Reaching inside of you,” Gibbs finished and Abby jumped up with an excited yelp. “He fell didn’t he? Holy Shit! Moira, my Angel, she told stories as a kid about Angels who fell to protect their beloveds!” Suddenly her face changed and it softened as though she’d just seen the cutest thing in the world, “He fell to protect you. That is so beautiful!” “Not if you knew the whole story,” Gibbs muttered and took a moment to marvel at how such a strange thing had suddenly become a normal conversation between himself and Abby. “What’d you mean?” she said frowning and sitting down again. Gibbs suddenly felt ashamed and couldn’t explain why as he scrubbed at the back of his neck nervously. “When I was kid I, well, I mentioned him a lot. Apparently. Anyway, I started getting told off and picked on when I was ten for believing in such things and I, I um0” “0Please don’t tell me you banished him,” Abby said dangerously and Gibbs closed his eyes. “Wow, that Moira taught you everything about their culture huh?” When no answer was forthcoming he made to open his eyes but instead yelped when he received a sharp slap across the back of his head. He opened his eyes in shock and stared at a now furious Abby. “I can’t believe you banished Tony! Tony of all Angels! And he fell for you, because he loved you and wanted to protect you and you still give him a hard time!” “It’s not like I knew it was him! And I was a kid, a stupid kid who cared that others took him seriously alright? It was hard, I didn’t know how else to react, I was being bullied for such fanciful things and I reacted the only way I know how Abs. I’m sorry, I am but that’s what happened.” Gibbs blinked at his own confession and sat backwards. He glared at the screen in front of him, hating the silence surrounding him and told himself not to flinch when Abby tentatively touched his hand. “Sorry Gibbs,” she said quietly and Gibbs glared for a moment longer before he looked over at Abby. She looked upset and sighing he pulled her into a sideways hug kissing the top of her head in apology. “What did I say about apologising?” he said trying to filter in some humour. It worked as she giggled faintly. “That we shouldn’t do it because it admits to doing something wrong.” “Good girl.” They squeezed one another tightly for a second then leaned back into their own seats. Abby, suddenly all business, clicked one knuckle and began typing into the search engine. “One Anthony DiNozzo coming up0or something along those lines, I can’t imagine that DiNozzo was his birth name. Moira told me that the Big Guns upstairs tend to sort out a fake history for these guys when they fall.” “Except we have no paper trail to follow,” Gibbs said and Abby laughed. 18
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
“Well I could always try and hack into heavensgates.com but I highly doubt they’ve purchased any computers up there.” Gibbs couldn’t help it; he smiled at the image of a group of haloed, winged angels talking to one another on one of those daft chat rooms. “This could take a while Gibbs, I think you should maybe go home and get some rest for now,” Abby said reasonably whilst still looking at the screen, “Remember I’ve got quite a few history records to look through before I can even begin to hope to find anything out.” “Abby you don’t need to do this for me, I was grateful enough that you’re lending me the computer for the night.” Abby looked at him then in a ‘don’t argue with me’ kind of way and rolled her eyes. “Trust me, this won’t be chore. Go, sleep. I’ll report as soon as I have something. And make up with Tony,” she added as an afterthought that had Gibbs rolling his eyes this time whilst he stood. “Alright, alright. You win, as always.” On a spur of the moment Abby stood and threw her arms around him. A little stunned he returned the gesture and patted her head awkwardly. “I’m glad someone else knows about them,” her muffled voice said and Gibbs smiled as he hugged her closer. “Me too,” he said quietly.
Tony finished typing the last paragraph of his report before, with a flamboyant gesture, he pressed in the final full stop and smiled over at Kate who rolled her eyes at him. “Congratulations Tony, you actually completed a report. Give yourself a pat on the back,” she said with a smirk and it was with great restraint that Tony resisted sticking his tongue out at her. “You know, you act like I do nothing around here but would Gibbs keep me around if I was actually that useless?” he asked, actually curious to her answer when said man walked in. Tony couldn’t help the way his heart pumped harder and he quickly leaned into his seat properly. Gibbs, cradling a coffee in one hand, caught his eye and for a moment the intense gaze captured Tony. He still had no idea how Gibbs was handling everything (‘Was it really only the night before?’) but either way that fact that the man could look at him had to be positive on some aspect. “Morning Boss,” he said hesitantly and he watched as Gibbs slowed a little, licked his lips and then all of a sudden Tony could hear a familiar voice in his head. ’Can you still hear me when I think? Biting his lip Tony gave the smallest nod. Gibbs looked off to a point over Tony’s shoulder and then another sentence curled into Tony’s mind. ’Can you0not, whilst we’re at work? 19
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
It was so hesitant, shy almost that Tony smiled a little sadly. How foolish a man, to think that Tony would be upset because Jethro wanted to keep his private thoughts, well, private. ’Like you need to ask.’ he thought in return and watched as Gibbs visibly relaxed. ’Thanks.’ Gibbs then carried on to his seat and settled in ignoring Kate’s confused look and Tony’s curious one. All three of them jumped (although Gibbs was more discrete about it) when Gibbs’s phone went off and with a quick movement he grabbed it. “Gibbs.” He was silent, clearly listening for a moment before he nodded. “On my way Abby.” Hanging up he moved back round his desk and headed towards the lifts to get to the lab. “Abby has some leads for me on a cold case, I want both your reports on my desk when I get back, and check them people.” With that said he was gone again leaving two very confused agents in his wake, although both confused for entirely different matters.
“Abby,” Gibbs said as he stepped into the lab but skidded to a stop at the sight before him. Abby was quickly dabbing at her eyes, clearly trying to hide the fact that she’d been crying from Gibbs and sniffed loudly as a result. Striding forwards Gibbs grabbed her by the shoulders. “Abs, what’s wrong?” he asked frantically and Abby laughed in a pitying sort of way as she waved away his concern. “It’s nothing, sorry. I found Tony, how he originally died and everything. Just makes me sad thinking about it. S’nothing.” Gibbs could feel a curl of anxiety in his gut now and he quickly tugged a stool that was behind him forwards with his foot to sit on it. He rubbed at Abby’s shoulders comfortingly for a moment then pulled her gaze up to his. “What’d you find Abby?” Rubbing one last time at her eyes Abby moved the screen so they could both see it. Gibbs stared at it for a moment before glancing back at Abby, silently asking her to state what she’d found. “Turns out Anthony Pariseau died on March 17th 1916 during the First World War. He was one of the hundreds who died when called to go over the side of the trench walls into certain death,” Abby sniffed again and wiped at her eyes whilst Gibbs felt his gut clench tightly. “Oh Tony,” he whispered and watched as Abby opened another window. It was this though that caught his eye as he stared at the screen in numb shock. The image was clearly a scan of a very old picture and there, in faded black and white was Anthony DiNozzo, or as the picture’s blurb said, Brigadier General Anthony Pariseau. 20
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
“I can’t believe he was a Brigadier,” Abby said with a fond smile and looked at Gibbs, “Surely that would mean he should know as much as you?” “Different times,” Gibbs said reasonably, “He said he fell after I rejected him and before that he was protecting me so I doubt he had time to immerse himself into how the rankings worked today. And lets not forget, he died in a War0” “Must be tired of fighting,” Abby finished and nodded. Gibbs nodded as well but remained staring at the photo. His heart ached with all the new knowledge he was receiving. He ran a hand through his hair and closed his eyes, trying to imagine what it must’ve been like and inwardly groaned at the times he’d looked down at Tony, assuming he couldn’t begin to know what it was like being a fighting soldier. Turns out he did know, he’d died knowing. “Where’s he buried Abs?” he asked quietly and Abby twisted her lips slightly in thought. “There’s no record of his ‘official’ burying, which means he’s more than likely one of the 368 soldiers buried in the Flanders Fields.” “This is insane,” Gibbs said burying his face into his hands, “We’re talking about him as though he’s dead, which he is kind of, but he’s not because he’d winding Kate up back in the Bullpen.” “You’re trying to think too logically Gibbs. Just0do you want him around? As more than just your subordinate now? Because I know you too have the hots for one another0” “Whoa, hang on. What?” Gibbs said pulling his face back up and Abby smiled in a smug manner. “Don’t even try and deny it, sometimes it gets really boring down here and you learn to observe people for fun. You two have been dancing around one another for years, although now I’m beginning to think Tony doesn’t just fancy you. He genuinely loves you, Hell he fell for you!” “Abby0” “Gibbs, you can live in denial all you like but you have a chance to have something no one else does! You can love someone who won’t die before you, who genuinely will be with you to the end and oh, bonus, happens to be your own personal Kahree0” “Kendreague,” Gibbs corrected automatically making Abby grin wider. “And lets face it, you can’t complain and say he’s too young for you because technically you’re too young for him! He’s,” she stopped and did a quick sum in her head before she started laughing hard, “He’s 67 years older than you!” Gibbs’s eyes widened before a huff of disbelieving laughter escaped him. “This is fucked up.” “Tony is 121 years old and still has the body of a 30 year old! Fantastic! Oh Gibbs, you’ve got to give this a chance, please!” “Abby0”
21
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
“Gibbs, look, talk to him tonight and then come in and tell me you don’t feel the same way. And then tell me that some part of you isn’t completely in love with the fact that he, in every sense of the word, belongs to and with you. Because its not often I get to call you a great dirty liar and that’s what you’d be.” Shaking his head Gibbs fell back into his seat with his eyes closed and with so many thoughts of trenches, Soldiers, Angels and Tony swimming around in his head. Opening his eyes he stared at the ceiling above him before he made a quick decision. ”Tony? he thought quietly and flushed slightly feeling like an idiot at ‘speaking through minds’. There was silence for a moment before there came a tentative response. “Yes Jethro?” ”Come round tonight, you and I need to talk. If he was on a phone this would be where he’d hang up but he wasn’t actually sure how one ‘hung up’ a telepathic conversation. He frowned for a moment before giving the smallest smile at the sound of Tony laughing in his head. ”Oh shut up.
Gibbs linked and unlinked his fingers as he stared at his front door waiting. One of his knees bounced nervously as he did so before he growled and attempted to control it. Scrubbing his hand over his face he glanced around his living room again and had a moment to wonder at the fact he was worrying about what Tony thought of his house. It wasn’t like he’d never been there before, but this time Gibbs was acutely aware of the fact that Tony was something more than he was, say, last week. When a knock sounded he jumped up but restrained himself enough to walk calmly to the door where he pulled it open. Tony was stood there looking just as nervous as he was and he couldn’t help smiling at the ridiculous new caution in their relationship. “You couldn’t have just, uh, appeared in my living room?” he said, mildly teasing and Tony smiled in return. His wary offer had been accepted. “Thought it would be politer to knock, plus you might’ve shot me if I’d surprised you.” “Probably,” Gibbs said stepping aside and when Tony walked past him he shut the door, not turning yet but talking towards the door as he addressed Tony. “Why didn’t you keep the name Pariseau?” he said and felt a shift in the air as Tony turned clearly unsurprised at Gibbs’s question. “I take it you looked me up then,” he said quietly and Gibbs did turn then with a curt nod. “Abby helped, turns out she wasn’t as stupid as I was when I was a kid and kept her0what was the females one again?” he asked sheepishly and Tony laughed a little. “Kariads, and that would be Moira then?” “You can see them too?” Gibbs asked genuinely curious and failed to notice how he’d instinctively stepped closer to Tony. 22
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
“Yep.” “Oh, right.” “Is that all you wanted to ask?” Tony said quietly and Gibbs, suddenly feeling a little shy (and when was the last time that had happened?), shoved his hands into his pockets with a shrug. “I have too many questions in a way. Like why aren’t your wings on show? Why’d you stay with me after what I said? What was it like in the trenches? Were you scared? What was it like dying? What was it like coming back? Why0” Gibbs inhaled shakily and this time looked directly at Tony before he took a step forwards. He opened his mouth but nothing came out at first so instead he raised his hand and cupped Tony’s cheek, surprising them both. Tony closed his eyes in pure enrapture, sighing heavily and biting his lip at the touch. Gibbs could feel the heat travelling up though his hand and felt Tony’s emotions moving with it; contentment, heartbreaking happiness, pure undiluted bliss. All because of his touch, a willing caress from a man that used to be the boy that an angel adored. He felt the guilt swamp through him again as he realised how much it had hurt His Angel when he rejected him all those years ago. “0Why do you love me so much?” he whispered and moved in to be closer. Tony’s eyes opened at that point to look at him in genuine confusion. He shook his head minutely, not enough to dislodge the hand still cupping his cheek and he brought his own up to hold it in place. “Because you’re Jethro,” he said in a tone, which clearly stated that that was reason enough. Gibbs felt his eyes narrow slightly in an effort to control any escaping emotion that might show through them but knew it was futile. No one, not one of his wives except for Shannon had loved him so unconditionally and in many ways it was a shock to his soul. His grip tightened and deciding to follow instinct rather than what was proper he pulled Tony forwards until he had him wrapped up tightly in arms. He smiled shakily when he felt familiar arms encase him tightly, holding him close and he chuckled brokenly when he felt the same deep affection and protectiveness that came from Tony the same as it had the very first time he’d ever touched him. They stayed like that, both refusing to let go and Gibbs didn’t even pull back when he felt a wetness on his cheeks from where Tony had his pressed against him. He did feel his heart clench though the same way it had always done in the past when he’d made His Angel cry. “Hug me like you used to,” he whispered and after a moment chuckled delightedly when he could feel a pair of wings wrap around him. He rubbed his cheek up and down, before he threw caution to the end and nuzzled his face into the side of Tony’s neck. “I take it back, what I said then, stay.” His whispered command was followed by a shudder of Tony’s shoulders in what was probably a silent sob. He felt the same emotion that flowed through Tony suddenly engulf him and he smiled. Completion. 23
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
Yeah, that pretty much summed it up. Completion. Because that ache he always felt every year, that hopelessness as he tried to remember what was missing was gone. Nothing was missing, it was here in his arms and breathing in deeply he pulled back to fully take in Tony’s tear-stained smiling face. He reached up and carefully wiped away any remaining tears that clung to Tony’s face and found himself a moment later staring at Tony’s lips. He found he just couldn’t take his eyes off them and instead he closed his eyes as he leaned forwards. His lips landed on Tony’s pliant and currently unmoving ones but he didn’t care, simply pressed closer until finally he felt a pressure in return. It was almost chaste in a way, close-mouthed but still passionate as they kissed lightly. He could hear Tony’s shaky breaths inbetween every second long break as they moved to another angle, coming forwards again and again but always pressed closely together as they did. Some part of him was screaming inside, wondering what the hell he was doing, that he was going to ruin everything but he ignored it and finally tilted his head in a way that suggested he wanted to deepen the kiss. The tip of his tongue was met with Tony’s own and he faintly groaned as they simply touched, twisting gently around one another before they both opened their mouths and moved to be more intimately locked. Tony’s tongue massaged his own and he returned the favour as they traded dominance back and forth until they gently separated, eyes opening and lips an inch away from one another as they breathed heavily. Tony’s hand reached up to cup his cheek and Gibbs couldn’t help smiling. Tony returned it and out of the corner of his eye Gibbs saw something move. Glancing over he blanched before he felt one side of his mouth turn up. He’d forgotten he’d told Tony to ‘hug him like he used to’. The white wings were as magnificent as ever but there were some grey wings here and there that caught his attention. He reached up to stroke the closest one and smirked when the entire wing quivered at the touch. “I don’t remember these, I remember them being all white,” he said and Tony looked at them too. “Getting old,” he said in answer and Gibbs looked back to his face. “Yeah, we did the math today, me and Abby0And here I thought I was getting on.” Tony laughed and cringed slightly. “Looking good for a man two decades over a century old huh?” he said and Gibbs closed his eyes as he laughed, shaking his head slightly as he did. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that. Or the fact that you were a Brigadier0it’s too weird.” “Then think of me as Tony DiNozzo. It is who I am now even if it wasn’t who I was first. Trust me, you try and think logically about this and you’ll get all kinds of turned around.” “Sure thing grandpa.” Tony laughed and on a spur of the moment pulled Gibbs close again hugging him tightly with arms and wings. Gibbs basked in it, one hand wrapping around Tony’s waist and the other stroking over the brilliant wing wrapped around him. When he
24
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
pulled back again he placed another chaste kiss on Tony’s lips. Tony watched him carefully before he cradled Gibbs face in both hands. “Do you know what you’re asking for?” he said quietly and ran his thumbs soothingly over Gibbs’s cheekbones, “ I already love you with everything in me, and that’s a lot. Can you handle that?” Gibbs stepped back and took in the entirety of his Tony, his Angel. Tony stood there with his arms at his side, wings stretched partially out and was watching him silently as Gibbs came to his own conclusion. Could he give as much as Tony was? Probably not, these Kahrees were created to love, were made from it and probably had endless supplies of it coursing through them. But0he would give Tony as much as he carried inside of him, human maybe but even he could love endlessly. Even if it didn’t match Tony’s he would give everything he had. Smiling he nodded and moved back into the long missed embrace. He pulled Tony into another consuming kiss and they stayed there for what felt like hours, pressed closely together and simply being.
Gibbs was spread out on his bed on his back, arms tucked under his head and still fully clothed as he calmly regarded Tony who sat cross-legged beside him with his wings still out. He would every now and again move one so that it ran down the length of Gibbs’s body and Gibbs always bit the inside of his cheek when it tickled over his sides. “Still ticklish then,” Tony teased and shuffled around until, with a cheeky grin, he was straddled over Gibbs’s hips. “Try it and I’ll show you how much bigger I’ve gotten,” Gibbs growled and Tony chuckled. He rested his hands on Gibbs’s chest; fingers splayed and watched them quietly. As a result Gibbs could feel that oh so desired warmth flow through him and smiled when he pulled one hand from behind his head and placed it over one of Tony’s, fingers gently massaging. Tony moved his gaze to Gibbs’s face and smiled at him. He stretched out his wings, the great length of them almost touching from wall to wall as they did so before he curled them back in. He dropped them a little until the tips rested on the bed lazily and the entire time Gibbs hadn’t taken his eyes off them. He reached one hand up to stroke Tony’s wing, the downy feathers sliding in between his fingers as he moved his hand downwards and then ran just his fingertips in aimless patterns over the powerful limb. He shifted his gaze when he felt Tony’s shuddery gasp and found the angel with his eyes closed, wet lips parted slightly and, deciding to experiment he lightened the touch to a tease. As a result Tony’s hips jerked quickly before he settled again. “Sensitive?” he asked gruffly and still with his eyes closed Tony nodded. “But I touched your wings as a child, you never acted like this.” “Different dynamic. As a child I loved you like one, like a brother would his younger brother. But I wasn’t with you throughout your teenage years Gibbs, Mercy I wanted 25
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
to be but you were too angry, would’ve known I was there. So I waited until your memory of me wasn’t as strong but by that point you were a man0” Tony opened his eyes and looked down at Gibbs making him shudder at what he saw there: Love and lust, heat for him and desire. “0And what a man,” Tony finished with a small smirk, “I still loved you but0By God, you were beautiful.” Gibbs flushed at the breathed out words but kept his eyes on Tony’s as the man continued. “The thing is with falling is that you begin to feel like a human does: Hunger, thirst, pain0” “Lust,” Gibbs finished croakily and Tony nodded. “Is that okay?” Tony said after a moment and Gibbs laughed lightly as he tugged him down to kiss him again. “I’m sure I’ll get over it,” he teased before kissing him again. Licking at the seams of Tony’s lips he moved his hands down over Tony’s spine until he came to the man’s jeans (and wasn’t that a strange thing to consider? Angels wearing Levis) and tucked his hands down into the back pockets. He added pressure until finally his and Tony’s hips were pressed tightly together. They very gently rocked together, soothingly almost and continued to kiss as Gibbs kept pressing down. The only time he’d ever explored anything sexual with another man was during his younger days in the Marines. Even then it was a quick hand-job or more, never a relationship and as he thought this he jerked his head back not to discourage but to quirk an eyebrow quizzically at Tony. “Two men? Doesn’t God disapprove?” and it was weird enough talking about God as though he might sit down with a drink with his angels to discuss humanity. The image caused him to smile fleetingly as Tony chuckled. “He calls it Free Will for a reason you know.” “What’s he like?” Gibbs asked and rolling his eyes Tony groaned as he moved his lips to Gibbs’s neck trailing soft kisses down the length of it. “He has a great sense of humour,” he said in a muffled voice and Gibbs laughed. “What makes you say that?” “Have you seen the platypus?” Gibbs laughed loudly and moved his hips up again when Tony nipped at his collarbone. Moving down Tony carefully undid Gibbs’s shirt, kissing as he went even though Gibbs was still chortling away and Tony couldn’t help smiling against his lover’s chest. A thought suddenly struck him and looking up he asked tentatively, “Do you want me to put my wings away?” “God no,” Gibbs said and pulled Tony back up to start undressing him. They stripped reasonably quickly, kissing any newly revealed flesh until finally they were kissing furtively, naked bodies pressed together and encased within two wings. Gibbs, lips still attached to Tony’s, sat up until he was cross-legged with Tony in his lap. The position meant they were pressed closely together and Tony could wrap them both up with his wings. “Need protection?” Gibbs asked breathlessly and Tony shook his head. 26
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
“I can’t catch anything and you’re clean. Trust me, I know.” “Ready?” Gibbs said after a moment and with eyes locked they rocked until Gibbs finally thrust up, Tony’s mouth dropping open as it did and closing his eyes as he was filled. His hands gripped Jethro’s shoulders tightly and his wings trembled violently as he arched. Gibbs himself groaned through gritted teeth and wrapped one arm around Tony’s waist and the other pressed straight against Tony’s spine with his hand inbetween his shoulder blades. They were moving hard and fast now, Tony capturing Jethro’s lips again in a fierce kiss before pulling back, lips resting comfortably together before Tony started humming brokenly. Gibbs moaned and pulled him closer as Tony licked at his dry lips and began to whisper the song he’d sung all those years ago with a throaty, husky voice. “I am stretched o0on your grave, And I'll0I’ll lie here forever,” His fingers tightened on Jethro’s back again and he whimpered for a moment before gritting out the next sentence. “If your hands were in mine, I'd be sure0”he moaned before continuing in a hoarser tone, “0they would not sever . My apple tree, my brightness, its time we were together.” He gave up after that and hummed in a shaky manner, moving harder against his lover’s thrusts and Gibbs couldn’t resist running his hands up to rest them on the shoulder blades of the powerful wings now stretched out and shaking almost uncontrollably. “Jethro,” he whispered and cut off a great yell before it could escape. In return Gibbs kissed the underside of Tony’s jaw. “My debauched angel,” he muttered and something about the way he said it obviously got to Tony because with a great yell and shudder he found completion, his wings curling in and then flying out just as fast causing various objects such as picture frames and books to be knocked off their shelves and dressers when they connected. Gibbs laughed delightfully at the noise of the room being trashed by the brilliant white wings and threw his head back as he climaxed. Both moaned tiredly and Gibbs fell backwards bringing Tony with him so that the limp angel was sprawled on top of his body, arms and wings motionless as he melted quite contently against Gibbs’s chest. “I think I just died,” Tony mumbled and Gibbs laughed again as he ran his hand through Tony’s sweat soaked hair. “Lets hope not otherwise I’m screwed.” Tony let out a breathless puff of a laugh before he groaned, pushed himself up enough to collapse on his front next to Jethro. Gibbs in turn rolled over so he had his hand resting on the small of Tony’s back and his head buried in the space between Tony’s neck and shoulder. Clearly using up all the energy he had Tony lifted one arm and one wing to drape it over Gibbs’s body, pulling him in closer until he was safely encased against his side. “Angel?” Tony felt a pleasurable shudder run down his spine at the old name and opened his eyes to find Jethro’s blue ones only inches from his own. 27
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
“Yes my Jethro?” “0If I tell you to go away because I’m pissed off again, ignore me. That’s an order.” Silently Tony reached up his hand to cup Jethro’s face and pulled him closer until he could place a chaste kiss on the silver-haired man’s forehead. “Yes Boss.” Relief running through him Jethro smiled and after one final kiss he moved forwards until he could hardly tell where he finished and where Tony began. He listened until Tony’s breathing evened out before he opened his eyes to watch over his new lover, his old friend and his forever beloved.
28
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
Part 3 I waited for you today, But you didn't show, No no no I needed You today, So where did You go?
Anthony Pariseau ducked reflexively and scrunched his eyes shut against the flying debris. When he opened them again he swore loudly and pushed his helmet more firmly onto his head and pulled his musket closer to his chest. Glancing around at his men, all tensed ready against the tall damp walls of the trench he breathed in deeply. A young soldier, no more than an 18-year-old boy, caught his eye and Anthony could see the fear in them. He reached out his hand and clamped it reassuringly on the boy’s shoulder where he squeezed it gently. “What’s your name kid?” he said and the boy stuttered at first before managing a weak “A-Abraham Dyers, Brigadier Sir.” “You scared Dyers?” he asked calmly and the boy hesitated before nodding. Clearly a boy not trying to earn points by acting macho. Anthony appreciated that. “Me too kid, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It means you’re a man.” Dyers stared at him for a moment before the tiniest smile tugged at one side of his mouth. It was nothing more than a flicker but the boy seemed to find something inside himself as he tilted his helmet back into place. Anthony grinned at Dyers then tilted his head to the sky. The black clouds rolled angrily across the sky and Anthony couldn’t help feeling they were appropriate. He closed his eyes in bitter acceptance as the first loud shrill of a whistle filled the trench. You told me to call, Said You'd be there And though I haven't seen You, Are You still there? It was getting harder to breath and Anthony kept wondering ‘Why?’ His vision seemed blurred round the edges, his breathing laboured and his body was screaming in agony, its centre point seeming to be his chest. All around him he could hear cries of pain and battle, guns firing everywhere and mines exploding but it wasn’t crisp, the sound was muted as though he had water in his ears. Tiredly he let his head fall to one side and watched in numbed horror at the scene of War surrounding him. Bodies were strewn out across the vast dead field, soldiers still coming together with cries of anger, of pain and men were being shot down as they ran to meet their enemy. Rolling his face back to the sky his breathing seemed to fill his ears in loud, harsh gasps. His arm sluggishly reached up to his chest, slow as though he was moving it through tar and he touched his chest where he then screamed in agony. Lifting his hand up he stared at it fascinated. His fingers were soaked red, brilliant vibrant red and he curled his fingers slightly inwards watching in morbid curiosity as a river trail of the colour followed the movement until a drop clung to the tip of his nail desperately. It hung there for a moment, balancing dangerously before it fell in what felt like slow motion. It cut through the air until it landed like a teardrop on his cheek. 29
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
Anthony’s hand begun to shake until with a gasp he lost the energy to hold it up. It dropped as though it were made of lead back onto the ground and Tony arched his back as blinding pain shot through him. He gritted his teeth together almost painfully until with one last hoarse cry Anthony finally gave up the fight. The second he did he felt his body encased in warmth. I cried out with no reply, And I can feel You by my side So I'll hold tight to what I know, You're here and I'm never alone
Anthony stared at the mirror in front of him with wide eyes. To be fair it wasn’t really a mirror, at least not in the traditional sense. A huge Celtic arch stretched over and around it, twining round the edges like ivy and the wiry patterns stretched backwards into the wall where it then made a large image of the Celtic Tree of Life, a motif that looked proudly over the Great Hall he stood in. Anthony though had merely glanced at it as he’d first entered the room before his gaze had fallen on the mirror. Wings. He had wings. Great white ones protruding from his shoulder blades and stretched out similar in the way a bird’s does when threatened. Still staring at his reflection Anthony reached back awkwardly until his hand fell onto the strong joint of the wing shoulder blades. Surprised he gave a muted yelp and pulled his hand back. “Holy shit,” he whispered as he placed a hand to his mouth. He heard a deep chuckle from behind him before he whipped round to come face to face with a tall black man. He was bald and his brown eyes were alight with amusement as he moved towards Anthony causing the black jacket he was wearing to swirl slightly and, much to Anthony’s shock, wings that stretched from his back twitched from the movement. Anthony as a reflex took a step back. “It’s alright man, I’m not going to hurt you although I will say that blasphemy like that is frowned upon up here. Name’s Doctor Jack Hallows,” he said, a chuckle still evident in his voice as he held out his hand and cautiously Anthony took it. “Brigadier General Anthony Pariseau,” Anthony said and was relieved that his voice was steadier than he felt. Doctor Hallows shook it before leaning back again with a wide smirk on his face. “I imagine you must be quite curious about them there wings,” he said still grinning and Anthony looked at him in disbelief. “The thought had crossed my mind, yes.” “Brigadier, you may want to take a seat. Let me tell you about Kahrees0” And though I cannot see You, And I can explain why Such a deep, deep reassurance, You've placed in my life Anthony felt his heart break at the sight before him. The boy, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, was clearly biting back all his tears and grief, which was ridiculous. If a boy wasn’t allowed to mourn his father then who the Hell could? Anthony could feel a breeze around him ruffling his feathers and causing his coat to billow ever so slightly. He had his hands in his pockets as he moved closer and every step added more and more cracks in his heart as he neared the boy, his ‘Beloved’ from now on. The boy’s thoughts flooded his head like he had an entire mob of 30
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
people yelling at him and Anthony strongly resisted clapping his hands to his ears. He’d protected mortals before, not really becoming their Kendreague as such but protecting them from harm but he knew by just looking at this tiny boy, hurt and confused about a matter he was far too young to have to understand, that he had found the one he’d pledge his life to. ‘Daddy is dead3’ ‘I’m Four, not stupid, I know a little about death3’ ‘Daddy!’ ‘Is he in Heaven?’ ‘I’m a boy, I can’t cry! Only sissies cry!’ “Crying doesn’t make you a sissy,” Anthony said finally, not able to bear hearing anymore of the anguished words. Already they’d buried themselves deep in his soul and he’d be damned if he would let this boy continue to feel such pain. If he had to he’d take it into himself. There was a flash of fear in Jethro’s eyes when he looked up that for just a second he reminded Anthony of another boy, of Abraham Dyers who died for his country, and his resolve to protect this one became stronger. He couldn’t help the smile that came to his lips when he felt the fear evolve into curiosity and finally speculation. He was crouched before Jethro and he remained silent allowing the boy to draw his own conclusions. Finally Jethro managed to find his voice. “You’re an angel,” he said in a tone suggesting he was telling Anthony this strange new fact. Unable to help himself Anthony chuckled in amusement, smiling wider when Jethro relaxed even further at the sound. “I am,” Anthony clarified and he chuckled a little more when Jethro cocked his head like a puppy. It was all Anthony could do not to pull the boy close and hug him simply for being him. “I thought Angels only came for you when you died? That’s what Grandma said0am I dead? Will I see dad again?” Instantly Anthony’s good mood fell away and his heart once again felt for the remorse in his Beloved. Never would he wish death on the boy but he so wanted to grant Jethro his wish to see his father. Clearly though he didn’t need to say a word as Jethro’s face became stricken and he dropped his head to hide it. Anthony reacted purely on instinct and reached out to cup Jethro’s small cheek trying to project as much love as he could into the touch. Jethro leaned into it slightly and Anthony found the strength to answer from that small gesture. “Not today,” he said softly and sighed sadly when Jethro nodded. Soon though Jethro reached up to rub at his eyes, warding away tears angrily so Anthony reached up to gently grip the tiny hand in his and moved it back to the boy’s side. “You can cry Jethro, I won’t tell anyone,” he whispered. Jethro’s flushed face looked up at him and Anthony smiled as lovingly as he could through the pain he was feeling from such grief. He saw the moment in Jethro’s stunning blue eyes when the dam finally broke and Jethro’s face fell. The loud sob went right through Anthony and made him reach out to pull Jethro to him. He wrapped him tightly in his embrace, 31
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
arms and wings both, as he held his Beloved. Jethro was crying quietly, almost silently at this point. His hand moved on its own as it stroked through Jethro’s brown hair, holding the boy close as he rocked him gently to calm him. It was then that a song floated through his mind, the one his mother used to sing to him when he was afraid or upset as a boy and softly he began to sing to his Jethro. He smiled a little when he felt the small body in his arms lose the tight tension of pain and relaxed marginally. In answer Anthony tightened his hold. Eventually Jethro pulled back but not far enough out of Anthony’s arms. He felt a shiver of happiness run through him as he heard Jethro’s possessive mental claim on Anthony as his own, his angel, his protector. Jethro resisted telling him that it was so from the minute he stood before the little boy on the wing mourning his father. Jethro’s hand moved to rest on his cheek and Anthony smiled at the gesture. Such a short period of time had passed and already Jethro had complete control over him, already he had the power to bring immeasurable happiness to this angel through a single touch. Jethro’s arms then slipped around his neck and Anthony moved his arms to steady his Beloved better. “Are you going to go away too?” Jethro asked hesitantly and Anthony couldn’t help but chuckle. Like he could leave willingly anymore, this little creature in his arms enthralled him with phenomenal amounts of courage that coursed through his veins. “I’m with you until you don’t want me anymore,” he promised and for the first time that day Jethro smiled brightly. Anthony smiled in return finding the boy’s grin entirely infectious. “Forever,” Jethro demanded and Anthony smirked again in amusement. “Forever it is then.” The giggle that came from Jethro earned him a little squeeze from the Angel until he cocked his head curiously once more. “What’s your name?” Jethro asked and Anthony reached up to gently tap the boy’s nose. “I’m Anthony, your angel.” “My Angel,” Jethro said firmly before he squeezed Anthony’s neck again in a tight hug. We cannot separate, ‘Cause You're part of me And though You're invisible, I'll trust the unseen Anthony exhaled slowly through his nose, thoroughly relaxed and opened his eyes. He was led on his side and he smiled gently as he found Jethro’s messy brown hair on the pillow next to him. The seven year old was deeply asleep, his mouth open slightly and his body pressed into Anthony’s side. Carefully, trying not to wake his Beloved Anthony curled his wing round and covered Jethro’s slumbering form with it like a blanket. He gently kissed the boy’s forehead and leaned his cheek against the mess of brown hair and quietly hummed their tune. Jethro had stolen his heart a long time ago and he would do anything, whether it was wrong or not, to protect this strong-willed child. Anthony had never had a son when he was human and he thought that maybe Jethro could be considered the closest thing he would to having one. But there was 32
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
something more, something even stronger between them, he already knew that. He already knew the other Kahree Angels whispered about their closeness, some admiring, some envious but he couldn’t bring himself to care. Jethro owned him, heart and soul. If it were possible, he’d die for this child. “Angel?” Anthony looked down at Jethro and found bleary blue eyes looking back up at him. He smiled gently and brushed some of Jethro’s fringe out of his eyes. “Yes Jethro?” “Can’t you sleep?” “Don’t really need it,” Anthony admitted and smirked when he heard a mumbled ‘Lucky’. “Am I thinking too loud?” he asked and Jethro shrugged. “Can’t hear you silly.” “Really?” Anthony said amused and then, without moving his mouth he said in his mind, “How about now?” Jethro’s eyes widened before the boy grinned widely (or as widely as a sleepy boy could manage) before mumbling an awe struck “Wow!” “You try, think something. I’ll hear you,” Anthony said smiling again and he watched as Jethro scrunched up his face trying to think extra hard. Anthony laughed and reached up to smooth out Jethro’s forehead. “Don’t try to hard, just think normally, like you would if I hadn’t told you about this.” “Oh.” Jethro flushed but relaxed his face again. At first Anthony couldn’t hear a thing but then, like a whisper he heard “Come in Angel one, do you read me?” Anthony laughed loudly and Jethro grinned happily as the angel rolled onto his back. “Goodness me, do you ever NOT think about the army?” Anthony managed to gasp out before yelping out a giggle when Jethro, now fully awake, jumped on him. “Nope! I want to be a Brigadier like you were!” Anthony sobered instantly and he could see that Jethro picked up on it. Moving his arms around Jethro’s waist Anthony sat up with the boy still in his lap. He gazed kindly at his Beloved as he brushed some hair behind Jethro’s ear and sighed inaudibly. “Jethro0” he started but Jethro silenced him by wrapping his arms around Anthony’s neck and hugged him tightly. “Its okay, I’ll stay safe.” “You can’t know that,” Anthony whispered but Jethro’s arms tightened. “I can. Because I have you.” Strange really, how Anthony suddenly felt like crying. I cried out with no reply, And I can feel You by my side
33
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
So I'll hold tight to what I know, You're here and I'm never alone
Anthony clapped his hands to his ears and gritted his teeth as tears continued to run down his face. He curled further into the wall of the darkened room and tried to stop the angry words from consuming him. “Go away!” He sobbed loudly and shook his head. How could this happen? Jethro had promised him forever and forever hadn’t come. Why would he0 “DON’T TOUCH ME! YOU’RE NOT REAL! YOU’RE NOT!” His body ached with pain, so much pain and he felt like he was dying all over again only this time it wasn’t from a hole in his chest. No, the hole was carved out of his heart and it threatened to shatter his soul, which already teetered on the edge waiting to break into irreparable pieces. “I HATE YOU, I HATE YOU! GO AWAY, I DON’T NEED YOU ANYMORE! GO AWAY!” The same Angels that had envied him now pitied him and he hated them for it! He hated them for not feeling the same pain as he was, he hated them for looking at him in that way but as soon as this flickered across his mind he groaned in grief and begged for forgiveness. He didn’t hate them, couldn’t and wouldn’t ever hate them, but God he hurt! His arms ached to hold his Beloved close, and he flinched when the memory of Jethro’s physical rejection, slapping his hand away as though it were evil flashed across his mind’s eye. Why had Jethro done this? They were eternal, they could both feel it. The sobs clawed at his throat like nails and he finally allowed himself to cry, the sound escaping him like a wounded animal as he curled in further. He cried for their loss of friendship, he cried for their loss of love and he cried for his pain. But he cried for Jethro’s too because even though he’d been banished, even though he couldn’t hear his Beloveds thoughts, he could still feel both their hearts breaking. Dying was easy compared to this. We cannot separate, you're part of me And though you're invisible, I trust the unseen
“That’s a long way to fall.” Anthony looked over at Jack before he looked back down at the endless sky beneath their feet, the glass floor holding them up as they both stared downwards. He nodded solemnly and felt rather than heard the other Angel sigh beside him. “Brigadier,” Anthony smiled slightly at the title, a term of endearment between them both as he still called Jack ‘Doctor’, “Are you sure about this? Leroy Jethro Gibbs banished you. How do you know he won’t do so again? He’s a man now, he won’t be as accepting as he was as a child.” “Because I trust him,” Anthony said simply, softly. 34
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
“You trust an uncertain theory and a memory. Look, I know you two were close, Hell I would’ve said you were soul mates if you were mortal0” “Do they exist?” Anthony said and Jack glared fondly at him. “Yes, stop changing the subject. You know I just want what’s best for you0” “Then you know I must do this0Jack, this isn’t living for me0” Jack looked hesitant before he sighed heavily and looked down. He watched the clouds rolling underneath them silently for a couple of minutes until he nodded slowly and addressed Anthony again. “I know. I’ve watched you mourn for too long friend and it’s killing me,” he glanced up and looked at Anthony seriously, “I’ve been waiting for something like this.” “I need to do this,” Anthony said firmly and again Jack nodded. They stood there for a moment before Jack pulled Anthony forwards into a tight hug. Anthony was momentarily shocked before he relaxed into the embrace and returned it. “The minute you two pop your clogs I’m coming to get you. It’s going to get lonely up here without you Brigadier, I might actually have to start behaving like an Angel for once.” Anthony barked out a laugh and patted Jack’s shoulder. “No more poker nights.” “Well not without you around to convince the Kariads to play strip poker anyway. I never was that charming.” They squeezed one another harder before stepping back their hands still gripping one another’s shoulders. After another squeeze Jack stepped back and gave a curt nod. “Make it count Brigadier.” “Yes Doctor.” With a breathless laugh Jack began to fade until finally only Anthony was left standing on the glass. He looked up squinting at the sunlight surrounding him from the sky before turning his gaze back to the rolling clouds beneath him. Closing his eyes momentarily he felt his wings fold in and his back itched as they buried into his skin. With them no longer out on show but still there Anthony inhaled shakily and nodded before opening his eyes. “Do it,” he muttered. The glass beneath his feet shattered loudly and he gasped as he began to fall. Everything felt as though it was in slow motion and he watched fascinated as the glass shards turned to water around him, as they turned to raindrops. The Heavens had opened and it mourned as another Angel fell. I cried out with no reply, And I can feel You by my side So I'll hold tight to what I know, You're here and I'm never alone
35
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
Tony stretched slightly as he sat up, his wings extending before he growled happily to finish. He looked down at Gibbs lying beside him on the bed and blinked in surprise at the intense gaze his lover had fixed him with. “What?” he said and Jethro, without warning, sat up cupping the back of his head. He pulled Tony forwards until their lips were pressed together in a passionate kiss and despite giving a yelp of surprise Tony followed it with a moan and kissed back. Gibbs’s hand ran down the length of his side until it moved round to his front touching his chest. Tony watched as Gibbs pulled back to stare at his own fingers resting on Tony’s body and carefully he moved a wing round to brush over Jethro’s side. “You okay?” he asked quietly and for a moment Jethro remained silent, his eyes now shifting upwards to look into his lover’s. After a while though Gibbs cleared his throat and opened his mouth to say something. He hesitated but soon found his voice and spoke in a hoarse tone. “I had a dream last night,” he said slowly and Tony cocked his head whilst raising his eyebrows. “Want to talk about it?” he asked confused and again Gibbs hesitated. He licked his lips nervously before pulling Tony forwards again into a tight hug. Instinctively Tony wrapped both his arms and wings around Gibbs in a comforting manner waiting for Jethro to find the strength to carry on. “I0I think I saw your life0parts of it at least.” Tony pulled back just enough to see Gibbs’s face and reached up to stroke a cheek. “What makes you say that?” “I saw,” Gibbs cleared his throat again, “I saw you in the trench with Abraham Dyers0I saw you die0Jesus, I saw you die Tony0” Understanding appeared on Tony’s face and he uttered a soft drawn out ‘Oh.’ He pulled Jethro closer again and cradled him protectively. “Jethro0” “I saw,” Gibbs interrupted him again, “ I saw Doctor Jack Hallows, I saw when we first met. I saw0” He stopped and looked up at Tony anxiously. Smiling a little Tony nodded for him to continue which he did shakily. “0I’m so sorry Tony. I saw you, after what I said, I saw you. I didn’t realise0” “It’s in the past,” Tony said gently but firmly, as though they weren’t to speak of it again. Gibbs knew though that Tony would talk about it if Jethro so wished but Jethro didn’t really feel all that compelled to remember the extent of Tony’s grief. The fuzzy memory alone was enough to fill him with guilt. “And I saw you fall Tony. You fell for me.” “You already knew that,” Tony said confused but Gibbs shook his head. “Hearing and seeing are two different things. I’ve always assumed it was a metaphorical fall, not a literal one!” Tony laughed and simply because he felt like it he kissed Gibbs again. They savoured the taste of one another, neither really willing to give it up for air. Jethro’s arm tightened around his lover, holding him closer to his body and carefully he 36
Callista Mythol
Kendreague
moved backwards until he was stretched out beneath Tony. He slid his hands upwards until he came to the strong joints of the wings on his lover’s back where he ran his fingers through the feathers covering it. He felt Tony moan and returned the sound when Tony pressed down against him. He pulled his head back and moved his hands round to cup Tony’s face between both of his gently. Tony seemed to know he needed this and remained silent as Gibbs’s blue eyes darted over his features, drinking the sight of him in to forever imprint it in his memory. His thumbs moved in slow circles before drifting over Tony’s now closed eyes. “I love you,” Jethro whispered and Tony smiled brightly as he opened his eyes. There was a glimmer of amusement in them as he answered. “I fell for you ages ago.” Jethro laughed as he simultaneously groaned before he lightly tapped the back of Tony’s head making the angel flinch. “How did Doctor Hallows put up with you?” he asked and Tony grinned widely. “Easy, we were the only two angels that appreciated the joke about the two Nuns who went into a brothel0” “Tony?” “Yes Jethro?” “Shut up.” “Yes Boss.” Grinning Gibbs drew Tony back in for another kiss.
37
