Risky Series A NCIS Fanfiction By KSL

The original picture was taken from the JPA Chicago website (www.juvenile.org)

Content: Risks and Rewards..................................................................................................... 3 Risky Discovery ...................................................................................................... 134 Risky Interlude........................................................................................................ 200 Risky Business ....................................................................................................... 220 Not Minding the Risk .............................................................................................. 251 Second Risky Interlude........................................................................................... 292 Covering the Risk ................................................................................................... 300 Framing the Risk .................................................................................................... 349 Familiar Risk........................................................................................................... 375

KSL

Risky Reward Series

Risks and Rewards Tony had always enjoyed running. He loved the feel of pushing himself to move faster, to go further, air rushing past, muscles working together to propel him forward. But he usually was running on a groomed trail or pathway, not a private woodland strewn with debris, wet leaves, thorny bushes and fallen trees. And he usually he didn't have the same incentive during a regular work out that he had today. He didn't bother looking over his shoulder; he could hear his pursuer easily enough. Couldn't out distance him, not yet. He needed to keep the big behemoth of a naval petty officer distracted long enough for the rest of the team to secure the evidence. Aaron Persun had been a busy boy, stockpiling a hell of a lot of weapons he'd already negotiated the sale of. At the moment Persun and his buddies thought Tony was on his own. They also though he'd stolen their ledger book full of contacts and delivery dates and hidden it somewhere. He needed for them to think that for as long as possible. Backup was on its way, but that would take a little time. Time Tony intended to make sure they got. He slipped, right ankle complaining painfully as he struggled to keep his balance, but Tony ignored it. Adrenaline keeping him moving. Persun towered over Tony by a few inches, something the tall former cop rarely encountered, and he outweighed Tony by more than a few pounds. Letting Persun catch him was not part of the plan, and definitely not a good idea. Tony lunged left, dodging around a tree and easily hurdling a fallen log. He heard Persun curse. He risked a glance over his shoulder, smiling slightly, slowing just a bit. Wouldn't do to lose him now. Tony put on a burst of speed to top the forested hill, knowing open ground was just up ahead and he could circle back to where Persun had stashed the goods. As he crested the rise he was blindsided in a full body tackle by one of Persun's gun smuggling buddies. Momentum carried them down the hill. Tony grunt in pain as a tree halted their progress. He saw stars when his head connected forcefully with an adjacent stump, but he still managed to slam his elbow hard into the other man's solar plexus making him lose his grip. Tony wiggled away. He struggled to his feet only to go down again when Persun's fist hit him hard in the kidneys. Tony gasped for air, trying to catch his breath, moving to scramble away from his attacker. He didn't get far when Persun kicked him in the stomach flipping him over. Stunned by the powerful blow, but not out for the count, Tony kicked out catching Persun in the knee. He felt as well as heard the joint snap, feeling a sense of savage satisfaction when the bigger man went down with a scream of pain. Still trying to get his wind back, Tony made it to his hands and knees. He tried to push himself up, ready to run once more when Persun's buddy caught him again, arm around his neck in a vicious head lock, jerking him upright on his knees. Tony struggled to break free, but knew he was loosing ground. "I should snap your neck." The man growled. "Break you like a twig...and I will." The hold around his neck tightened brutally. "But not until you tell me where you hid the book." Tony's vision started to darken and he knew too much longer he'd be unconscious. Desperate, he turned his head sideways, sinking his teeth into the other man's arm 3

with as much force as he could muster. His action caused enough pain and surprise for the grip around his throat to loosen; it was sufficient for Tony to get a small breath of air. "Why you little bastard!!" The man snarled in his ear. He shoved Tony away, backhanded fist clipping Tony's cheekbone, narrowly missing his temple. He slammed Tony into the ground with bruising force. Tony coughed, spitting out blood from where he'd bitten the inside of his cheek, his ribcage protesting the recent abuse. Feeling hands on him again, Tony tried to do something to get away, but he couldn't seem get his limbs to cooperate. He was lifted bodily off the ground and shaken. In desperation, Tony raised his hands and slapped his attacker hard on both ears popping his ear drums while bringing his head forward to slam his forehead hard against the other man's nose. Tony staggered, stumbling backward as his attacker released him to clutch at his broken and bleeding nose. Tony leaned heavily against a tree, sucking in air. Persun's buddy having gotten over the initial shock was now reaching for a fallen limb, his intent to bludgeon Tony with it clear in his bloodied face. "NCIS!!" A voice hard as nails barked. "Drop it or I'll kill you where you stand. Tony was never so grateful in his life to hear Gibbs issuing orders. He glanced up to see the former Marine above them, icy blue eyes leveled firmly on Tony's assailant, gun unwavering in its aim. Tony coughed again, sucking a lungful of air. "Good timing, Boss." He rasped out wanting desperately to just slide down the tree and close his eyes for a bit. But he had enough trouble holding on to any sort of illusion of competence around Gibbs as it was so he locked his knees and stayed upright. "You okay, DiNozzo?" "Never better." Tony managed a quick grin, before turning his head to the side to spit more blood out of his mouth. Lord but his head hurt. He was getting little messages from his chest and ankle too. Gibbs' eyes flickered over him. The younger man was surprised to see him look genuinely concerned. Gibbs wasn't known for his sympathetic nature and Tony wondered if he looked worse than he felt. Shrugging it off, he mentally chastised himself for the little thrill it gave him to think his boss might actually care. The man doesn't even like you DiNozzo, he reminded himself with a tired sigh, and he's liable to outright hate you if he finds out you got the hots for him. Tony leaned heavily against the tree, breathing shallowly as he waited for the momentary dizziness to fade. He watched as Kate, McGee and two agents he didn't know appeared and moved to secure Persun and his buddy. He hadn't even noticed the rest of the team showing up until Persun protested being forced to his feet. "You might need a stretcher for Persun." Tony offered quietly, left arm moving to support his aching ribcage. "Why?" Kate glanced over at him, her gun leveled at Persun who was still lying on the ground, clutching his injured limb. "Think I might have broken his knee."

"Nice job, Tony." She smirked before sobering, dark eyes giving him the once over. "You okay?" Tony shrugged, wincing slightly as more abused muscles made themselves known. "Yeah, I'm good." "You sure about that?" Gibbs questioned. Tony blinked surprised to find the older man only an arms length away. He hadn't realized Gibbs moved closer. The former marine was part cat, way too quiet by far. Gibbs pointed to his sweatshirt. "There's blood on your shirt." Tony glanced down, nearly regretting the action when the world spun for a moment. He was glad the tree holding him up was good and solid. Looking up, he smiled at Gibbs, striving to project an air of nonchalance. "Not mine." He pointed to Persun's friend whose nose was still bleeding profusely. "Think it's his." Icy blue eyes studied him. Tony hated it when Gibbs did that. He always felt so exposed, like some sort of specimen under a microscope, or in Gibbs case more like a target he'd gotten a bead on and was just waiting to take a shot. "McGee." Gibbs looked over his shoulder. "Yeah, Boss?" The newest member to the team looked up from where he was cuffing one of the suspects. "Tell the medics when they bring that stretcher I want someone to take a look at DiNozzo." Tony straightened, pulling away from the tree he'd been leaning against. "Now wait a min-" "You will let them look you over, DiNozzo." Gibbs' eyes were on him again, pinning him in place as surely as if he'd been tied there. "Okay." Tony recognized the 'don't mess with me' look and tone. He'd already lost the battle. Resigned to his fate, Tony resumed leaning against the tree, closing his eyes with a tired sigh. He flinched when he felt a fingers brush against his face, eyes snapping open in a moment of fear as he jerked back and away. Tony blinked, aborting his move to put the tree he'd be resting against between himself and who'd ever touched him when he realized it was Gibbs. He looked away, bit his lower lip. "Sorry, Gibbs." Tony gave him a rueful glance. "Didn't realize it was you." Gibbs frowned. He opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by an approaching medic. Tony was grateful the guy showed up when he did. It nicely cut short what was no doubt going to be an even more awkward and embarrassing moment. "You the guy they want me to look over?" "That would be me." Tony admitted. No point in denying it, not with Gibbs still standing so close by. Tony couldn't figure out why he didn't go help secure their suspects or head back the where weapons were stashed and organize the collection of the evidence. The medic nodded toward a nearby stump, likely the one Tony's head had already been introduced to earlier. "Why don't you sit down there for me?"

Since the guy was easily half a foot shorter than Tony, he figured it was a much for his convenience as it was for Tony's comfort. Sitting down didn't seem like a bad idea at the moment. He pushed off the tree and moved to sit where the medic wanted him. His right ankle picked that moment to give out on him, and Tony stumbled. He would likely have fallen if Gibbs hadn't caught him, a firm grip on his arm bracing him easily. "Thanks, Boss." Tony's arm tingled from the warmth of Gibbs' touch. He wished he had an opportunity to get Gibbs to touch more often, but the man had definite thing about personal space and maintaining a comfortable distance, at least when it came to Tony. Gibbs didn't seem to mind getting close to Kate, Abby or even Ducky. Tony sighed silently and forced himself to casually shrug out of that all too welcomed hold and limp over to the stump under his own power. The medic crouched down, making eye contact. "Ankle?" "Yeah." Tony stretched out his right leg. "Slipped earlier." The medic's gentle touch and rotation of the joint made Tony hiss in pain. The shorter man gave him an apologetic look. Tony waved it off with an understanding smile. Man was just doing his job. Not his fault it hurt. "Probably just a sprain." "Figured." Tony had sprained that ankle before, he knew what it felt like. The medic made eye contact, frowning slightly. "You hit your head?" "Once." Tony winced when the light flashed in his eyes. He hated it when they did that. "Maybe twice." He amended. "Any blurred vision...dizziness?" "Little dizzy earlier, but I'm okay now." Tony learned long ago to be honest about his condition when confronted by a medical professional. Typically they were only focused on an accurate diagnosis, and didn't care how he'd gotten hurt-at least they never had when he was a child. If they had, he might not have learned quite so much about them at such a young age. He was never quite sure if it was outright incompetence or the wealth of his family that made them overlook the obvious. He finally decided it didn't matter; the end result was the same. The medic lightly touched the bruise on his cheekbone. Tony didn't flinch. "Don't think you broke the cheekbone, but it wouldn't hurt to have that x-rayed." Tony knew it wasn't broken. He knew what that felt like too. But he didn't say anything to contradict the medic. "Your ribs bothering you?" "Only when I breathe." Tony answered with a small smile. He clenched his jaw to keep from crying out when the medic lightly palpitate his chest. He was pretty sure nothing was broken there either. Bruised, cracked maybe, but not outright broken. "What's the verdict?" Gibbs asked gruffly. Given the older man's infamous lack of patience Tony still couldn't figure out what he was still doing standing around. "I'll be fine, Gibbs." "Wasn't asking you, DiNozzo." Gibbs glared at him.

"He'll be fine." The medic reiterated. Tony's 'I told you so' smirk appeared. It vanished when the medic continued. "I definitely recommend him going to the hospital to get a more thorough check up though." Tony scowled. "No, I don't." "Sir, I really think it would be best-" "Not going." Tony stated, and stood up. He swayed dangerous, the bout of dizziness he'd experienced earlier back with a vengeance. Once more Gibbs caught him. Tony closed his eyes, and swallowed hard. "You are going, Tony." He had to be imagining the gentle tone. Gibbs never sounded like that. Ever. "I'll take you." Tony took a deep breath and then another, eyes still closed. He'd fucked up. No doubt about it. Wouldn't have gotten hurt if he hadn't. He knew that. Past experience had been a damn good teacher when it came to that. He sighed. "Tony?" Gibbs definitely sounded? worried, anxious even. Tony opened his eyes, and nodded. "Yeah. Okay." Time to face the music. He let Gibbs help him up the small hill, mostly because he was fairly certain he might not have gotten up it without assistance. He was limping more by the time they crested the top. Tony tried to move away once they reached the flatter terrain, but Gibbs simply stayed with him. He resigned himself to being tortured by the older man's presence. It wasn't like Gibbs knew what sort of affect it had. And if Tony had anything to say about it he never would. **************** ************* **************** Gibbs hated hospitals. They were an assault to the senses; the biting scent of antiseptic and sterilizing agents, harsh overhead florescent lighting gleaming painfully off white walls and stainless steel, a cacophony of sounds that felt unrelated and yet couldn't be completely ignored. The bustling activity grated on Gibbs nerves. People coming and going on mysterious errands; worried friend, parents and crying children; harried doctors and tired interns; it all made him want to just walk away and leave the bedlam behind for someone else to deal with. More than anything else Gibbs detested the atmosphere so rife with the full range of human emotion. Hope and despair, pain and relief, joy and sorrow all made their appearance, often simultaneously yet still mutually exclusive. Devastated parents who'd just lost a child juxtaposed with a housewife relieved her husband was recovering nicely from a mild heart attack. Drunken frat brothers teased one of their buddies for some act of alcohol induced stupidity, while a dock worker tried to look unafraid waiting for a doctor to decide if the cut he'd gotten was bad enough to warrant stitches. Gibbs hated the chaos, the feeling of helplessness, the lack of control. But he had to know Tony was going to be okay, his personal animosity toward medical institutions notwithstanding. So he put on the best neutral expression he could muster and stayed. If Tony could handle being here and letting them poke and prod, something he obviously detested as much as Gibbs hated the place in general, then Gibbs could certainly tough it out and stay with him.

He waited, leaning against the wall, faking patience he didn't really feel. He'd been with Tony through the initial exam; fierce, unyielding glare overriding whatever objections the doctor might have had to his presence. Tony hadn't asked him to leave---he hadn't asked him to stay either-but Gibbs wasn't planning on going anywhere until he knew for sure the younger man was all right. Tony was far too important to him for him to do anything else. He snarled in silent frustration as he glared the closed door in front of him. It led to the x-ray room. Tony had been taken in only a few minutes ago, and Gibbs hadn't been allowed to follow him there. The little blonde nurse, who might have made five feet tall if she stood on her toes had staunchly denied him entrance. She wasn't intimidated, meeting his gaze easily and holding it with an effortlessness he had to admire. Very few people managed to defy him. Gibbs told himself he'd only given in because Tony had made a shooing motion. Moss green eyes sparkling with humor as they met his dark blue counterparts. "I think she can handle it, Boss." He'd smirked. "Pretty sure she can handle you too." Gibbs' gaze had narrowed, stance clearly stating how much he resented being told to wait outside. He wanted to be there. Tony frowned at him, obviously confused by his behavior. Gibbs couldn't really blame him. It wasn't like he'd ever gotten been this before, but then he was finding his control increasingly ragged around Tony. Most of the time Gibbs found it easy to pretend he was unaffected, to fall back on his usual gruff, uncaring demeanor. Hell, on a day to day basis, he could ignore how eager he was to see Tony each morning, how much he delighted in their verbal sparring, how comfortable he found being in the former cop's presence, how much he liked watching him tease Kate and McGee and get teased in return, how it made him feel better just to see Tony smile. But then something like today happened, and he had so struggle just to make himself stay even an arm's length away. Gibbs had to keep reminding himself that Tony was a consummate ladies man; he wasn't going to appreciate his male supervisor taking a more than professional interest in him. "You gonna do like the nice lady says, Gibbs, and wait out here?" Tony's quiet question had brought him out of his reverie. "Yes." Gibbs agreed reluctantly after he'd given the nurse another hard look, one she appeared unaffected by. "You sure you don't want me to-" "I'm a big boy, Boss." Tony had smiled slightly, lips curling upward in the barest hint of a smile. "Not my first rodeo." Tony grimaced, eyes shadowed as he looked away. He cleared his throat, and made a dismissive motion with one hand. "Been there, done that. Got the t-shirt to prove it." Gibbs pondered that while he continued to glare at the door. He'd read Tony's file. Nothing it referred to more than routine physicals and occasional job related injuries akin to what he'd gotten since he started work at NCIS. There were no x-rays mentioned. Nothing that would explain the dispirited, resigned tone that was easily discernable in Tony's parting comment. The bulk of Tony's file, like that of most agents, was little more than a background search that had focused on his professional qualifications and education, along with a blurb regarding his family, friends and acquaintances. Other than the obligatory psych evaluation, the only health issues normally outlined in detail were those that

might have precluded him from doing the job, or conditions like allergies or asthma that were something a supervisor might need to know. Gibbs knew something was definitely missing. A piece of the puzzle was out of place. Ordinarily he wouldn't have been so curious?this wasn't a case, it wasn't really any of his business since it had no bearing on younger man's job performance or ability to do the job, but it was about Tony. That alone meant it was something he couldn't simply ignore. Over the past two years, he thought he'd gotten to know the younger man rather well, but there were apparently some rather substantial gaps in his knowledge. Gibbs knew, absolutely knew Tony had never lied to him when asked a direct question-he wouldn't be on Gibbs team otherwise-but that didn't necessarily mean he always told the complete truth either. Tony had mastered the art of blending the truth and lies to create a sincere, believable persona while undercover, but Gibbs never honestly considered how much of that skill might have been used on a day to day basis. He was beginning to suspect Tony let him assume things, had added the right inflection to mislead without actually lying outright, had downplayed certain things to make them seem unimportant while emphasizing others to shift focus to more innocuous details. Gibbs grimaced. He should have known better than to assume. He'd told Tony and Kate that NCIS agents don't assume, they check and recheck. Well, he was just going to have to do some checking of his own. As soon as he got the final word on Tony's condition, saw to it he was settled in for the night, he'd make a few calls, pull a few strings, and get some answers. Gibbs was relieved when the door finally opened. According to the clock on the wall it had only been twenty minutes, but Gibbs wasn't trusting it to be accurate. It had felt a lot longer than that. Tony was flirting with the blonde as she pushed his wheelchair out of the room. Gibbs had long since realized flirting as a much a reflex reaction for Tony as breathing. The former Marine didn't like it, always feeling a rush of jealousy that the other man could so easily flirt with everyone else but him. But he also realized that most of Tony's flirting was harmless. It went nowhere, and most of the women he engaged in playful banter with knew it was nothing more than good fun. Even the most hostile woman seemed to warm to Tony like ice exposed to room temperature. Gibbs didn't know what Tony said the nurse but he managed to get a smile out of her. She seemed to be treating Tony well, and that was the only reason Gibbs was willing to forgive her shutting him out of the room. She nodded coolly to him. She pushed the wheel chair into the same examine room Tony had been in earlier. "Doctor will be with you once those X-rays are ready." She patted Tony's shoulder in a comforting gesture that made Gibbs clench his jaw so tightly it ached. He wanted to snarl at her, tell her to keep her hands to herself, but he restrained himself. "Should only be a few minutes, Tony." She nodded toward the table. "You want back up there? Or do you just want to wait in the chair?" "Waiting in the chair sounds like I'm going to be executed." Tony rolled his eyes, sardonic amusement sparking the green depths. "I think I'd prefer the table." She nodded. "Lets get you up then." She pointed a finger at him. "And try not to put any weight on your right foot."

"No problem." The doctor wanted them to wait on wrapping his ankle until they'd xrayed it to confirm there was nothing more serious wrong than just a sprain. The swelling wasn't too bad, but a deep purple bruise was starting to show along the outer side of Tony's foot and around the joint. Gibbs knelt down to flip the foot pedals out the way. Tony snickered, making him look up. "If I only had a camera." Gibbs stifled a smile but knew it showed in his eyes. "Only way anyone would believe it." "Ain't that the truth." Tony laughed, but stopped abruptly, face turning pale and one arm moving to curl protectively around his ribs. "Little breathes." Gibbs coached, hand unconsciously moving to lightly rub Tony's leg. "Just take it slow and easy." "I...know...that." Tony glared at him, eyes awash with a mixture of pain, hostility and annoyance. "Done...this...before." Gibbs felt his gut clench. Definitely a piece of the puzzle was missing. He gently squeezed Tony's thigh, just above the knee. "Sorry...just trying to help." Tony nodded tiredly before smiling wanly as his breathing evened out once more. "Know that too." There was definitely an apology in his tone and a touch of embarrassment in his expression. Gibbs wasn't sure he had anything to be sorry or embarrassed about, in Tony's position Gibbs would probably have snarled like a rabid dog. The younger man's color improved, but the bruise along his cheekbone still stood out harshly in contrast to his wan complexion. Gibbs winced internally knowing just how luck was to have not had that blow land solidly on his temple. He reluctantly removed his hand and stood up, giving Tony some room. "Remind me not to laugh, will you?" Tony asked, expression rueful. "I'll make a note." Gibbs promised. "You okay now, Tony?" The nurse asked, her sympathetic look clearly indicating she was willing to wait all night if he needed her to. Tony smiled warmly at her. "I'm good, Claire, thanks." Until then, Gibbs hadn't realized Tony even knew her name. He shouldn't have been surprised. The younger man made a point of knowing who people around him were. Gibbs knew it was part of his easy charm and desire to get along with people, something Tony seemed to do better than anyone one Gibbs had ever met. Even when he was teasing Kate or McGee, Tony wasn't the sort to be malicious. Annoying perhaps, but never cruel or vindictive and the rest of the team gave as good as they got clearly feeling comfortable enough to return the favor. "Any time, honey." She gave him a warm smile that Gibbs was surprised to note included him. "Let's get you on the table." "You take the left side," Claire nodded toward Gibbs, "I'll take the right." Between them they gave Tony enough support to see him on the table safely. Tony shivered slightly. Hospital gowns weren't known for providing much in the way of

warmth. Claire turned to rummage through a small cabinet, pulling out a lightweight blanket. She offered it to Tony. "Why don't you use this until I can see about getting your clothes back." She wrapped the blanket around Tony's shoulders. "Thanks." Tony smiled shyly, reminding Gibbs of a little boy. Claire clearly thought the same thing as her expression softened, light brown eyes crinkling slightly at the corners. "You're welcome." She patted his arm again, and Gibbs once more stifled the urge to tell her to back off. "Doctor will be in just as soon as the x-rays are ready." She left and Gibbs found himself torn between being grateful she was gone and uneasy that he was now alone with Tony. He didn't know what to say, if he should say anything at all, so he opted to remain silent. Unlike Kate, Tony seemed comfortable with his silence, not reading anything into it or feeling a need to fill the void with pointless conversation. Of course, just this once he wished Tony would initiate some sort of dialog to give him a starting point. Gibbs expected the younger man to fidget, but Tony continued to sit quietly, eyes focused on the far wall. He bit his lower lip and sighed silently. "I'm sorry." Tony blinked, looking at him in confusion. "For what?" "You getting beat up wasn't part of the plan." Tony's shoulder rose in a minute shrug. "Not your fault I wasn't fast enough." "Tony you led them on chase that went nearly three miles." Gibbs stared at him. "Think you were more than fast enough." "Then I wasn't smart enough." Tony looked away. "Not the first time I fucked up, Boss. Don't worry about it. No big deal. Like I said...not your fault." Gibbs nearly growled. Tony hadn't 'fucked up'. He'd done everything he'd been asked to do?.followed the plan to the letter. And him getting hurt wasn't something Gibbs was willing to be so cavalier in dismissing. "You did a good job, Tony." Gibbs stated succinctly, wanting to be clear on that point. Tony didn't say anything. No cocky grin, no words of acceptance or even a smart comment. Gibbs blinked as he realized the younger man never said anything when given a compliment. Not that Gibbs handed out many, but looking back over it, the younger man had never acknowledged it when he'd told him he'd done well. He certainly took the reprimands to heart, rarely making the same mistake twice. Gibbs was prevented from saying anything else by the arrival of the doctor. The former Marine didn't think the guy looked old enough to shave, much less treat a patient. When they'd first arrived, Gibbs had reined in his initial desire to tell the guy to get the hell out and send in someone more experienced, like Ducky. Despite his young age, the doctor had certainly appeared to know his stuff. He seemed competent. He'd given Tony a thorough examination, checking possible injury no matter how minor. And he was gentle, touch deft and sure, something Gibbs knew Tony appreciated even if he hadn't actually said so. "Hi, Tony."

"Dr. Marshall." Tony greeted him easily, but his green eyes betrayed his wariness. Gibbs instinctively stepped closer to Tony. Marshall nodded to Gibbs. Gibbs could tell he still wasn't entirely happy to have him there, but Gibbs didn't care. Claire might have been able to keep him out of the x-ray room, but Marshall didn't have the valid argument about unnecessary exposure to radiation or even the force of will she had. Marshall posted the x-rays on the mounted light table, turning on the light. Having seen enough x-rays in Ducky's lab, Gibbs could tell Tony's ankle wasn't broken. Marshall tapped the film, finger tracing the bones for a second before he looked at Tony. "Nothing broken in the ankle." Marshall smiled slightly. "The sprain isn't too bad, so you can walk on it, but I'd recommend staying off it as much as possible for the next few days or so. Keep it elevated when you get home tonight and ice it?that should reduce the swelling. Wrap it for the next few days for added support." Tony nodded. "Sprained it before." Marshall tipped his head in acknowledgement. He pointed to the chest x-ray. "Looks like you cracked three ribs." He cocked his head to one side studying the film before pale gray eyes once more looked at Tony. "Based on the calcification I'm seeing here, I'd say this isn't the first time...or even the second time you've broken those." Tony's head bobbed once in silent agreement. Gibbs' eyes narrowed, eyes shifting from Tony to the x-rays. He wanted a copy of those. His gut was telling him there was evidence there that was part of the puzzle. Nothing in Tony's history mentioned him breaking ribs once much less twice. "Would explain why they cracked this time." Marshall nodded. "They healed well, but aren't nearly as strong as they once were." He pursed his lips. "You know the drill for them too then?" "Probably as well as you do, doc." Tony smiled slightly. Marshall arched an eyebrow. "You'll need to take it easy for a bit." "I'll make sure he does." Gibbs interjected when it looked like Tony might protest. The younger man shot him a wounded look and Gibbs steeled himself not to take it personally. "Desk duty, DiNozzo, until the doctor clears you." Tony sighed, grimacing, voice resigned when he spoke. "I hate desk duty." Gibbs hated seeing Tony's shoulders slump. He felt like he was punishing the younger man. Being assigned to a desk wasn't a bad thing, but he had a strong feeling Tony would never see it that way. But then, Gibbs had to agree. He preferred field work to being stuck in the office too. "Not like its forever, Tony." "It'll just feel like it." Gibbs smiled slightly, pleased that Tony wasn't completely cowed. He'd come to depend on that intrinsic upbeat nature, that irrepressible attitude. He lightly cuffed the back of Tony's head, keeping the slap far lighter and more gentle than he had in the past. It earned him a bright smile.

Marshall lightly tapped the x-ray of Tony's skull. "Cheekbone is intact, no fractures." He gave Tony a speculative glance. "Seeing some calcification there too." Tony didn't comment. Gibbs jaw tightened. He knew all about the power of silence, just how damning it could be, telling more than words ever would. But it still left out the details. What the hell happened that Tony had broken ribs more than once and his cheekbone? When had it happened? Gibbs wanted answers to those questions. He wanted them badly. But he wouldn't get them here?and as much as he hated to admit it, now was not the time. "You'll likely be passing blood from the hit you took to the kidneys." Marshall pointed out. "It should clear up in a few days. I want you to call me if it doesn't." "Sure, Doc." Tony agreed far too easily. Gibbs knew what he was really saying. Satan would be learning to ice skate before Tony willingly called the doctor about anything. That was okay, Gibbs would be watching out for him. "Concussion is mild, but you should still probably have someone stay with you. Monitor you for bouts of dizziness, nausea--" "And wake me up every hour or two and ask me the usual questions...my name, year and who is president." Tony sighed and shook his head, wincing slightly. "Doc, I'm fine. Other than a headache, I'm good to go. I don't need a babysitter." "I'll stay with him Dr. Marshall." Gibbs nonchalantly interjected, getting warm smile from the doctor and a dark look from Tony. "I know the drill for dealing with a concussion too." "Good." Marshall nodded, sounding pleased. "I'll make out list of warning signs, just in case, along with a prescription for a mild painkiller." Claire tapped on the door before entering. She held up Tony's clothes. "Got these back for you. Thought you might want to get dressed." "Thanks, Claire." She smiled at him, offering him his clothes. "Any time, honey." She turned to Marshall. "Got another one ready for you in room three." Marshall nodded. "Be there in a minute." He looked at Tony. "Would you like some privacy?" "Please." "You need help?" Gibbs asked, uncomfortable with the idea of leaving Tony alone. Tony rolled his eyes. "I've been dressing myself for a while, Boss, I'm pretty sure I can handle it." Gibbs nodded and stepped out with Marshall. The doctor offered him a prescription slip that was surprisingly legible. He handed him another sheet of paper with concussion warning signs to watch for. "Doubt you'll need that, but better safe than sorry." Gibbs nodded. "Can I get a copy of his x-rays?" He slipped both sheets into his pocket. "His injuries occurred during an investigation. May need them for evidence." "Sure." Marshall didn't even bat an eye. "Just tell Claire where you want them sent before you leave."

"Thank you." Marshall nodded and headed off to see his next patient. Gibbs waited a few minutes before heading back into Tony's room. The younger man was once more clothed. He'd removed the laces from his right sneaker in order to get the shoe on. "You ready to go?" "More than ready." Gibbs nodded. They'd fill Tony's prescription on their way out. Once he saw the younger man safely home and lying down somewhere with his feet up, Gibbs would be free to pursue figuring out this mystery. ******************** *********** ************** Tony sighed as he settled into Gibbs car, glad to sit down again. He was tired, his ribs ached, his ankle throbbed and his head hurt, the pounding above his eye making him feel just a bit nauseous. Tony was grateful Gibbs had forgone his usual breakneck driving as they headed out. He wasn't sure his stomach was up to that. "You doing okay?" "Not going to puke in your car, Boss." Tony replied tiredly. He knew he had to be looking a bit green around the gills. "Wasn't what I asked you, DiNozzo." Tony smiled slightly. That sharp tone was familiar, comforting. "I'm fine." "You want one of the painkillers?" Gibbs sounded vaguely guilty making Tony open his eyes too look at him. Gibbs gave him an apologetic look. "I should have thought to offer you one before we left." "If I wanted it, I'd have asked for it." Tony shrugged one shoulder, absolving Gibbs of any blame. It wasn't his fault Tony hadn't thought to find out what Dr. Marshall had prescribed or to even ask for a pill. "I'll wait until I get home." They'd stopped at the hospital pharmacy before they left, but Tony had been more focused on trying not to give into the impulse to lean into Gibbs than on what they were there for. He liked having the older man's hand on his shoulder. Enjoyed being so close to him, even though he hated the fact he had to feel like shit in order to be in that position. Tony had been reluctant to admit his ignorance of what Marshall had prescribed, and just as reluctant to take any of whatever it was. The last thing he wanted to do was take something that would knock him out or make his upset stomach worse while still in Gibbs' car. He knew from past experience his reaction to painkillers could do either depending on what he took. It was one of the reasons he avoided taking anything at all. He fully intended to flush the pills Gibbs had the first chance he got. The aspirin he had would be enough to take the edge off. It wasn't like he hadn't made do without in the past. Even driving sedately, it didn't take long to get to Tony's place. A fact he was grateful for. He wanted a very hot shower and then go to bed so he could pretend this day hadn't happen. With any luck he could get up tomorrow, go to work, take the ribbing he deserved from Kate and McGee and things would be back to whatever it was that passed for normal.

He shifted in his seat as Gibbs parked the car, turning carefully to look at the older man. "You don't have to stay, Boss." Tony smiled reassuringly. Gibbs didn't blink, blue eyes fixed on Tony with that same intensity that made him nervous every time. Tony tried not to fidget. "I'm fine." Tony sighed. "Really." He studiously maintained eye contact. He was fine. He'd had worse. The last thing Tony wanted was for Gibbs to think he was weak. He'd worked to hard to get even as little respect he did have. The older man wasn't ever going to see him as anything but a coworker, no matter how much he might want more, at the very least Tony needed him to continue to see him a competent agent. Even if he wasn't ever going to be who Gibbs regarded as his best man, but he sure as hell wanted to be thought of good enough, strong enough, smart enough to be part of his team. Tony made a meaningless gesture with one hand as though he were brushing away his thoughts. He needed to focus on the issue at hand. "I know you'd rather take care of wrapping up the case rather than baby sit me. Dot all the I's, cross all the T's, the usual stuff. Know that's more important." Gibbs' expression shifted and he almost looked embarrassed, like he was ashamed that Tony thought he'd prefer working on a case to taking care of him. Tony figured he must be mistaken. Gibbs cared about his people, but he just naturally put the job first and it was hardly something he'd be ashamed of. Besides the man wasn't exactly the nursemaid type. Tony understood that. "I've got my laptop, Tony." Gibbs stated firmly. "And my cell. I can stay in the loop here just as easily as if I were at the office." Blue eyes narrowed. "Your...ah...the health and well being of my agents does not take a back seat, Tony. I told the doctor I'd say with you and I will." Tony sighed and nodded, conceding defeat. He should have known better. Gibbs was famous for following through on doing what he'd said he would do. Tony should have never let him tell Dr. Marshall he'd stay with him. Although, in his defense, Gibbs offer had caught him by surprise. By the time he'd gotten over being pissed that Gibbs agreed with the doctor about him needing to be watched, and being surprised the older man had volunteered to do so, it was too late to say anything. Tony got out of the car, bracing himself against it for a moment when the world spun. He closed his eyes, breathing deeply through his nose. He new the dizziness would pass soon enough. This recent bout was far less intense than what he'd experienced earlier. He opened his eyes when he felt a hand on his arm. Tony shook his head, bemused to find Gibbs standing right next to him. He'd never heard him move. "You're part cat aren't you?" Gibbs' lips curled upward in the barest suggestions of a smile, but blue eyes were shadowed slightly with concern. "You okay?" "How many times you going to ask me that?" "As many times as I need to." Tony chuckled softly, mindful of his aching ribs. "I'm fine."

"Uh-hunh." Gibbs grunted. "Might actually believe you if you didn't look like a stiff wind would know you over." Tony grimaced. Hard to argue when he felt like a stiff wind would knock him over. Tony sighed and pushed away from the car. He didn't bother trying to shrug out of Gibbs' hold. He didn't think he could and Tony didn't really want to. He limped his way up to his apartment, Gibbs at his side. Tony dug into his pocket for his keys. His key chain held only the key to his car, his bike and his front door. He'd thrown away the key to his parents' house years ago. He was glad his cleaning lady, Louisa, had been by yesterday. At least he wouldn't be embarrassed about the state of his apartment. Not that he was a slob. Most of the time he wasn't home to do much other than sleep there, so Louisa didn't really have to work too hard. Run the vacuum around, dust, clean the bathroom, and check the fridge for takeout too old to be kept any longer. Tony had cleaned his other apartments himself. That fact would no doubt have surprised the hell out of Kate if she knew he not only knew how to clean, he also preferred to keep things neat. But his neighbor, Louisa, needed the extra income. At sixty-nine, she used the cash he paid her to supplement her social security check. She was a nice, matronly sort who had too much pride for charity and not so much that any task was deemed beneath her. Tony liked the spunky old woman, and if the cookies she always left were anything to go by, she liked him too. He took off his shoes as soon as he stepped through the door. His right foot felt better free of the constraint. The bruise was definitely taking on a deeper color. Tony whistled silently. It had been awhile since he'd had one that color. He was surprised to see Gibbs studying his ankle was well...but his boss looked more distressed than impressed. "Looks worse than it is." Tony offered quietly. Gibbs raised an eyebrow, expression speculative. "You told the doctor you'd sprained it before?" Tony shrugged one shoulder. "Yeah." "When?" Tony wasn't surprised Gibbs asked. The older man had a curious nature that rivaled anyone he'd ever met. At least the sprained ankle was easier to explain than other injuries he'd gotten. "First time was high school. Track." Tony preferred long distance to sprints and ended up shifting to cross country. "Second time was in college. Basketball." He'd had to wrap the joint his entire senior year to make sure it stayed sound, but hadn't had any trouble with it since. Not wanting to give the older man a chance to ask about the other, older injuries his x-rays had revealed, Tony stepped into the living room. He pointed toward the antique roll top desk in the far corner. "You can set up your computer over there if you want. Just move mine over or pull out the leaf on the right side." He looked down as his still bloody shirt with a grimace. "I'm going to clean up a bit." "Tony?" Gibbs call halted his movement toward his bedroom. "Yeah, Boss?"

"You got something to eat?" Gibbs held up the small white bag they'd gotten from the pharmacy. "Directions say take with food." Tony managed not to scowl. He hadn't planned on taking any of those damn pills, but he should have known better than to think Gibbs would have forgotten about them. Turning to look at his boss, Tony grinned. "I got milk and cookies." "I was thinking more along the lines of a real meal, DiNozzo." Gibbs stated dryly, looking decidedly amused. "You mean like the left over lasagna in the fridge?" He asked innocently, green eyes sparkling. "That'll do." He turned to head back down the hall when Gibbs stopped him again. "Don't lock the door. You pass out in there, I need to be able to get in." "McGee told me you can pick locks." Tony smirked. "So I'm thinking it wouldn't matter if I locked the door or not." It had to be the lighting that made seem as though Gibbs was blushing. Tony wondered if he asked, if Gibbs would teach him how. Probably not. "Feel free to make yourself at home." Tony tossed over his shoulder as he headed down the hall. "I'll be out in twenty minutes or so." Outside of the location, the one thing that had sold him on this single bedroom apartment was the bathroom. It rivaled the bedroom in size having both a freestanding shower stall and a deep whirlpool tub. He gave the tub a longing glance. Immersing himself in hot water while massaging jets worked their magic was very tempting but he didn't think Gibbs would be willing to give him that kind of time. Tony stripped out of his clothes, tossing everything in the laundry hamper. He turned on the shower, waiting for the water to warm up before stepping into the spray. The wide shower head he'd installed after he moved in provided much better coverage without reducing the pressure. The water was nearly scalding. Perfect. Tony moaned softly as abused muscles relaxed under the heated spray. He pulled his favorite soap from the shower caddy. The fragrance was a blend of peppermint and eucalyptus. The natural oils in it ensured the fragrance wasn't over powering, and didn't linger long after he got out. It wasn't as harsh as most commercial soaps, and was easier on his skin than anything else he'd ever used. Tony snickered thinking Kate would probably envy a lot of the stuff in his bathroom. He frowned thinking about what Gibbs reaction might be. Not that it mattered. The older man already thought he was a spoiled rich kid. And he hadn't done anything to disabuse him of that notion. The truth was harder to explain, and not something he thought Gibbs really needed to know. Tony took his time lathering up, enjoying the affect the hot water was having. He could easily spend more than twenty minutes, but if he stayed in too long, Gibbs would probably storm in thinking he'd passed out or something equally embarrassing. Tony sighed and reluctantly made quick work of washing his hair, rinsed and turned off the water. He grabbed one of the fluffy sage green towels from the heated rack and dried off. Wiping of the mirror he shook his head as he looked at his reflection. The bruise on his cheekbone was taking on an eggplant shade. At least the swelling wasn't too bad. He was glad he wasn't going to get a black eye out of it.

The kick he'd taken to the abdomen didn't leave a visible bruise. Tony figured it might take a little longer to come to the surface if it ever did. He felt more stiff than sore in that area. His lower back hurt like hell, and he had no doubt that the bruise there rivaled the one on his cheek and right ankle in terms of color. He hated pissing blood. Tony grabbed an ace bandage from the medicine chest. He sat on the small padded bench near the tub to wrap his ankle. He kept it tight enough to give support and loose enough not to constrict. "Nothing like having a lot of practice to get it right." Tony muttered to himself. He hung up his towel and slipped into the white terry cloth robe that hung on the back of the door. Ordinarily he wouldn't have bothered with the robe, but with Gibbs in the living room, he was a little too self-conscious not to. Once in his bedroom, Tony pulled out an old t-shirt and a pair of cut off sweats. He ran fingers through his hair to give it some semblance of order. No reason to really do more than that. It wasn't like Gibbs would even notice that he hadn't styled it. Something smelled good as he entered the kitchen. "Found the lasagna, I take it?" Gibbs nodded, looking up from where he was setting the table. "Figured since we didn't get lunch, now would be a good time as any to eat." Tony glanced at the clock, somewhat surprised to find it was three in the afternoon. It had taken longer at the hospital than he thought. "You call the office?" "Yes." Tony was willing to bet Gibbs hadn't even waited for him to get to the bathroom before he'd pulled out his cell phone. "Everything okay there?" "As much as it can be." Tony frowned. "That means what exactly?" "Evidence has been tagged. And Kate is reviewing the ledger you stole. She's supposed to scan it an e-mail it to me." Gibbs filled one of the glasses on the table with milk, the other was already full of water. "You did break Persun's knee. Nice clean break, but they'll have to wait until tomorrow before they put a cast on, so he's under guard and cuffed to a bed at the hospital for now. Likely won't be able to interrogate him until tomorrow or the day after. And Henderson is going to spend the night stewing in solitary, in shackles." "Henderson?" Tony didn't recognize the name, or why Gibbs seemed so pleased about the guy spending the night trussed up so he couldn't step more than half a foot at a time and couldn't raise his arms enough to scratch his nose. "Henderson is Persun's buddy." Gibbs smiled grimly. "The guy whose nose you broke." "Ah. Right. We were never formally introduced." Tony frowned slightly. It wasn't uncommon for some of the more violent offenders to be to so tightly restrained but usually only for transport. "What did he do that he ended up in shackles all night?" Gibbs jaw tightened, blue eyes taking on the color of glacial ice. "Besides beating the crap out of you?"

Tony wasn't sure why his getting a little banged up was enough to cause that Gibbs to look furious. He'd already explained that was his fault, owned up to having made a mistake. Gibbs usually let him off with a verbal reprimand, maybe a slap to the back of the head. He unconsciously backed up a step, uneasy. He swallowed nervously. "Shackles seem pretty extreme, Boss." He could have sworn Gibbs muttered, 'Lot less extreme than a bullet between the rotten bastard's eyes.' Tony shook his head. Gibbs rarely got quite so hostile toward a suspect unless a murder was involved, or someone important to him got hurt, like Ducky or Abby. "Come again?" "Henderson tried to escape when they got him back to headquarters." The older man put the milk back in the fridge. "I told the duty sergeant to restrain him, and leave him that way until I say otherwise." Tony nodded. It made sense he'd be furious that Henderson tried to escape, especially if it meant they might lose a lead on buyers not written in the ledger or if a civilian in the building had been threatened in anyway. No one at NCIS was going to question Gibbs orders, and Henderson might be decidedly uncomfortable, but he wasn't being out right tortured. If the way Gibbs looked was anything to go by, Henderson was lucky. "Lasagna should be warm enough to eat." Gibbs pointed toward one of the chairs. "Sit." "Going to teach me to roll over too?" Tony shot back as he took the chair Gibbs had indicated. "Maybe later." Gibbs smiled slightly. He put a plate in front of Tony with a generous helping on it. The former cop was glad his stomach had settled enough for him to actually be hungry. He tried not to think about how nice it was to sit down to eat with Gibbs. It wasn't like this would ever happen again, no point in his getting used to it. He frowned when Gibbs set a pill bottle down in front of him. Green eyes looked at the older man in askance. "You're supposed to take two." Tony sighed internally. He picked up the bottle, reading the label. Not a powerful drug, not really, but still one likely to make staying awake difficult for him. "I really don't--" "DiNozzo." "It's not nec--" "Two, Tony, just like the prescription calls for." Tony pursed his lips but didn't argue any more. He recognized that tone of voice. He popped the top and shook out two small white pills into his hand. Tony swallowed them with a mouthful of milk before returning the pill bottle to the center of the table. Dinner was mostly a silent affair, but not uncomfortable. Tony had long since gotten used to Gibbs less talkative nature, and he didn't feel like making conversation. Gibbs finished before Tony, pushing his plate away. "Didn't know you could get lasagna delivered."

Tony smiled. "Can if you know the cook." In addition to leaving him cookies, Louisa often left him an entree or two. She seemed to think he needed looking after. Tony had tried to dissuade her several times, but she was adamant that he should be eating more than pizza and Chinese takeout. Tony added a little extra into her cleaning salary and made sure to shovel her sidewalk in the winter time. Tit for tat. Gibbs started to clear the table. Tony rolled his eyes. "You don't have to do that." Gibbs just gave him a look. "Okay." Tony sighed. "Just load them in the dishwasher." "Doctor said for you to ice that ankle." Gibbs stated pointedly. "And to keep it elevated." Tony bit back a curse. He should have made Gibbs sit in the waiting room. Knowing arguing wasn't going to get him anywhere, Tony got an frozen gell pack from the freezer. Seeing Gibbs raise his eyebrows, Tony shrugged. "Ice makes a mess." He held up the blue plastic square. "This doesn't leak." Gibbs nodded. Tony wondered into the living room. He'd rather just got to sleep in his bed, but that seemed rude with someone else in his house. Not that he was really acting as a host since Gibbs seemed to have taken him at his word when he told him to make himself at home. Tony shook his head, lips turning upward in a wry smile. It was better to just go with the flow for now. Gibbs was bound to get tired of hanging around eventually, no matter what he told the doctor. Tony couldn't see the older man staying for long. Something more interesting, exiting or worthwhile was bound to pop up; it always did. He made himself comfortable on the sofa. Tony propped his foot up on a pillow, balancing the gell pack on his ankle before stretching out, a pillow behind him to give him an angle that was didn't aggravate his ribs. It felt good to lie down. He instinctively grabbed the remote from where it sat on the coffee table, cueing the plasma screen TV. The guide feature, courtesy of his satellite provider, allowed him to see what was available without having to channel hop. Nothing interesting was on which was hardly surprising given the time of day. Gibbs sat at the desk and powered up his computer. Figuring the older man might object to the TV, but wouldn't mind music as background noise, provided it wasn't Abby's usual heavy metal with screaming guitars, Tony scrolled down the music selection offered. He saw one he liked and thought Gibbs would tolerate. The screen listed the name of the artist and the album before going black. Gibbs cocked his head as the music began to filter through the speakers. He listened for a moment before asking, "What is that?" "The group or the style?" Gibbs blinked. "Both." "Group is Incognito. Style's what they call Acid Jazz." Tony pointed the remote toward the TV. "I can pick something else or turn it off it bothers you." "No...it's fine." Gibbs smiled slightly, looking a bit bemused. "I like it."

Tony smiled in response, inordinately pleased to have guessed correctly Gibbs wouldn't dislike the music. He picked up the book he started several days ago. He felt Gibbs eyes on him and looked at him over the top of his book. "What?" Tony smirked. "Just because I prefer TV and movies doesn't mean I don't occasionally read for enjoyment." "Just never would have figured you for the type to read a book on the history of Pompeii." Tony looked away, cheeks warming with embarrassment. He knew he wasn't the type anyone would accuse of being a genius or even smart enough to be interested in history and archeology. His father and mother had always been quick to point out his intellectual short comings. Having worked for Gibbs for two years, Tony was sure the older man knew he got by on good instincts, training and experience. There was no reason for the former Marine to expect him to engage in serious reading versus just indulging in skin magazines drooling over pictures. Kate certainly had no doubts about that. "I got to visit Pompeii a few years ago." Tony said quietly. "Sort of sparked an interest." "You liked it?" "Loved it." Tony smiled as memories of his visits to Italy surfaced. He had gone to Rome, Milan and Venice, but Pompeii was his favorite, drawing him back again and again. It just seemed to bring the era of ancient Rome more alive than anything else. There was a sense of the immediate about the place, like the people had just stepped away for a moment and would return soon. "Tell me about it." "Wouldn't do it justice, Boss." Tony shook his head. There was no way he could ever describe the way the place made him feel or how it looked. That was a task better left for someone with more depth than he could lay claim to. "Sort of place you have to see for yourself." Gibbs almost looked disappointed. Tony mentally chastised himself for projecting his own wishes on to the other man. Gibbs had never expressed in interest in hearing him talk about anything. No reason to think he was suddenly going to start now. To his surprise Gibbs turned to face him squarely. "When were you there?" "Last time was before I met you and signed on with NCIS." "Last time?" Gibbs raised an eyebrow. "How many times have you been there?" "Four." Tony shifted slightly, reaching to grab the multi-colored granny square afghan that hung over the back of the couch. He tossed it over his legs. "Finally made it to Herculaneum then." "Herculaneum?" "City not far away that was buried just like Pompeii." Tony shook his head, amazement and fascination coloring his voice. "Was just stunning, Boss. The mosaics and painting the walls look as good as they day the paint dried."

Tony's eyes glowed as he remembered the things he'd seen. "They've even found scrolls preserved in the ash. The writings are everything from poetry and letters to loved ones to legal documents." Gibbs smiled warmly. "You have a thing for archeology?" Tony was saved from having to answer that question when Gibbs computer peeped. He figured it was the documents Kate was scanning and sending. The intent focus Gibbs radiated pretty much guaranteed it wasn't spam. He wasn't surprised their conversation taking a back seat to work, he'd expected that. Tony waited to see if Gibbs would fill him in, but quickly realized that was unlikely. Gibbs would share when he was ready or thought there was something Tony needed to know. Sighing to himself, Tony went back to reading. Patience wasn't something most people thought he had much of, but working with Gibbs had certainly helped him acquire more of it. Tony settled more deeply into the couch. He yawned and regretfully closed his book after just a few minutes. He'd hoped to read more. Ah well, it wasn't going anywhere. Unlike his pointless fixation and lingering feelings about his boss, Pompeii would always be there for him, ready to reveal its secrets, to welcome him with open arms, to indulge him whenever he had time. ****************** ***************** ********** Gibbs read and reread the scanned documents Kate had sent. Persun and his crew might not have been the brightest bulbs on the Christmas tree but they certainly kept detailed records. Names, dates, amounts and items were all nicely organized and outlined in a standard log book---no encryption, no indecipherable abbreviations or shorthand. They provided ample evidence to see them locked away for some time. Gibbs wasn't entirely convinced the written documentation was complete--a name or shipment could have easily been left off. He still needed to interrogate Pesun and Henderson before he'd be completely satisfied. Although, given how exact the rest of the ledger Tony had lifted and then hidden for them to find later it seemed rather unlikely. Gibbs glanced toward the couch wanting to ask Tony just how he'd managed to snag the ledger in the first place. He smiled softly staring at the sleeping younger man. Gibbs' chest tightened as he memorized every detail not knowing when he'd get another opportunity to just drink in the sight of Tony without having to worry about the other man, or anyone else, noticing. He forced himself not to get up and brush an unruly lock of hair off Tony's forehead. He'd been astounded by the baby soft feel of Tony's hair the first time he'd lightly slapped the back of his head. Now it seemed as though his fingers constantly itched with the desire to know what it would feel like to have those silken strands slide through them. He was damn glad he'd established a habit of using that little slap as a wake up call because when the urge got to be too much he could give in, in such a way no one questioned it. Tony shifted in his sleep, a small moan escaped, his brows coming together slightly as though his unconscious mind was trying figure why such an innocent action should cause him pain. Gibbs watched intently, waiting for the younger man to settle again. He didn't breathe easily until the untroubled, open expression returned once more making Tony look far younger than his thirty-two years.

When Tony shivered, Gibbs frowned. He was up and moving to adjust the haphazard arrangement of the afghan before he even realized what he was doing. He spread it out to more fully cover the younger man, relieved that his actions hadn't disturbed Tony. Gibbs lightly fingered the soft yarn, once more curbing the impulse to run his fingers through Tony's hair. The afghan was definitely not something one bought off a shelf. Gibbs hadn't seen anything like it since his first wife's sister had made one for them as gift for their first anniversary. She'd taken it with her when she left him. He felt a sudden flash of jealousy wondering if the same woman who'd made the lasagna they'd eaten for dinner had also made the afghan. Tony's comment about knowing the cook seemed to imply something very personal. The former cop never mentioned dating anyone with ?domestic' skills, but then Tony never talked about his dates much to Gibbs. He'd overheard a few things as Tony talked about former psycho girlfriends or had mentioned who he spent the weekend with to Kate or McGee, but the younger man never directly mentioned his love life to Gibbs. Gibbs sighed softly, giving into temptation, fingers lightly smoothing over Tony's forehead to brush through his hair. Heavy, silky strands slid easily through is fingers, almost teasing him with their feather light touch. He did it again, unable to resist. Gibbs froze when Tony shifted. Sleepy green eyes blinked up at him. "Boss?" "Yeah, Tony?" Gibbs was pleased he didn't sound like he'd been caught doing something he shouldn't. "Ever'thin' 'kay?" Tony slurred, clearly more asleep than awake. Gibbs smiled, hand instinctively running through Tony's hair again in a soothing motion. "Everything is fine." "Good." Tony sighed, heavy lids held steady at half mast, reminding Gibbs of a cat about to settle in for a long nap. "Go back to sleep." "Hmmm." Tony's eyes closed completely. "S'nice." "What is?" Gibbs leaned closer trying to hear him clearly. "Playin' w' my hair." Tony's voice was little more than a whisper. "Like it." Gibbs smiled suddenly very glad he'd given into temptation. "So do I." A slight twitch of Tony's eyebrows as the only indication he'd heard the softly voiced statement at all. Gibbs continued to run his fingers through Tony's hair, finding the action nearly as relaxing as Tony seemed to. After a moment or two, Gibbs reluctantly pulled away. Having already fallen prey to one temptation, he was helpless to resist another; in a moment of great daring he leaned in to place a butterfly soft kiss on Tony's forehead. Gibbs stepped back and took a deep breath and then another, feeling decidedly guilty. He shook his head, smiling to himself at how ridiculous he was being. It wasn't like he'd ravished Tony in his sleep. Not that he wouldn't like to. And therein lay the problem.

Gibbs wandered into the kitchen. A cup of coffee would be really good about now. Something else to focus on, something else to do with his hands, and keep him the hell away from Tony. He was relieved to find Tony had a standard, run of the mill coffee maker, not some modern monstrosity that made cappuccino, espresso, and God only knew what else. Gibbs searched the counters and the cupboards, finally locating a filter and what looked to be fresh ground coffee in the refrigerator of all places. Gibbs eyed the small white bag embossed with a store name he didn't recognize. He raised an eyebrow, giving the bag a curious sniff, eyes closing as he drank in the scent. He measured out the necessary amount and set the pot to do its thing. Gibbs leaned against the counter while he waited, blue eyes drawn back to the couch. From this angle he couldn't see Tony, but he had no trouble forming a mental picture of the younger man. Stop it, he mentally ordered himself. The urge play with Tony's hair again, to touch him made Gibbs clench his hands into fists as he struggled not to give again. A flicker on the TV caught his attention for a moment. He'd forgotten it was even on having grown used to the uninterrupted soft music filling the apartment. Information about the new artist playing and the album filled the screen before it went dark once more. Tony said the style was 'Acid Jazz'. Gibbs had no idea what that meant, but he liked it. There was a more of a blend of styles and rhymes than anything Gibbs thought of as truly Jazz, but it wasn't overly harsh like the stuff Abby favored. The current selection had a Latinized groove to it, and Gibbs had no difficulty picturing dancing to it. Curious about Tony's taste in music, Gibbs found himself drawn to the extensive rack of CD's near the stereo system. He blinked, seeing titles he recognized and ones he didn't. The younger man was decidedly eclectic in his tastes. There was everything from Classical to Rap, New Age to Rock and Roll. There was even Big Band music from the 20's and 30's. The impressive collection of vinyl made Gibbs pause. The stereo looked like it had more buttons than the console of the space shuttle, but he couldn't see anything that would play the old stuff. But he wasn't sure he'd recognize what a modern version of a record player would look like anyway. Gibbs' attention wandered to the bookshelf. The titles weren't nearly as diverse as Tony's collection of music. They were all works of non-fiction that focused primarily on historical events and places, archeology and art. The former Marine frowned. Nothing was what he'd call light reading. Clearly Tony had a far more an intellectual bent in his reading than he let on. Gibbs was embarrassed that he'd never realized Tony read more than skin magazines. He consoled himself with the fact that he had no idea what Kate read for fun or McGee either. And it was best not to ask Ducky too many questions about stuff like that unless you had a lot of time on your hands. The lightly fingered the books. They were concrete proof Tony's interest in Pompeii was more than just a passing fancy. There were books on ancient Egypt, Rome, and Greece, as well as the Incas and Mayans. Nestled in among the books were guides to some of the most famous collections from around the world. Gibbs wouldn't have

been at all surprised to learn that Tony had been to most of those world renowned museums. Gibbs grimaced. He shouldn't have let the younger man downplay his interest, brush it off as insignificant. The way Tony lit up talking about it had been a blatant indicator of how much he enjoyed the subject, how interesting he found it. Gibbs mentally smacked himself. He shouldn't have let work distract him. He'd had a golden opportunity to learn more about Tony, to really talk to him, and he blew it. His jaw tightened. It wasn't like it was too late. He'd make sure of that. He glared at the computer when it peeped, indicating new mail. Steeping over to it, Gibbs checked his mailbox. It was a message from Ducky. He'd gotten Tony's x-rays. Gibbs had asked the nurse to forward them to Ducky under the heading of John Doe #21. He told Ducky to expect them and review the films, but hadn't really give the ME any more details that that. Gibbs didn't think Tony would appreciate being the subject of investigation, and he certainly didn't want anyone else on his team to know he was doing it. Or why. One of the things he liked about getting e-mail from the ME rather than talking to him directly is Ducky tended to be far more concise when he typed than when he spoke. No rambling, seemingly pointless monologues. Ducky's reports were always neat and succinct. Ducky confirmed the doctor's suspicions that John Doe #21 had indeed broken several ribs more than once. He went so far as to hazard that most of the breaks occurred when the subject was anywhere from 12 to 20, stating that fractures occurring at a younger age tended to heal cleanly without any tell tale evidence like the calcification the ER doctor noted. Based on the rate of calcification in the cheekbone it had likely been fractured at about the same time as when he last broke his ribs. The rest of Ducky's report indicated that he believed John Doe #21 was relatively healthy, but without a more complete examine or a more extensive set of xrays, he really couldn't comment in any great detail. Gibbs frowned. What the hell could Tony have been doing that would have resulted in repeated breaks to his ribs? Most children broke a bone or two growing up, but rarely repeatedly. And Tony's record didn't indicate that he engaged in contact sports like football that might have caused such injuries. Track and basketball weren't typically sports that resulted in broken bones. Sprains like Tony had told Gibbs about were more common. He glanced over to study the dozing man again. Tony hadn't ever said much about his family, at least not directly. Gibbs knew they were old money wealthy, the bulk of it having been increased through each successive generation and passed on. As an only child, Tony stood to inherit a substantial amount, but Gibbs had gotten the impression Tony's father and mother had deliberately denied him access to most of those funds attempting to prevent him from living as a 'do-nothing spoiled playboy', something Tony had claimed once to want. Looking back on it and now knowing Tony far better than he had when the younger man first made that claim, Gibbs realized that just how false it rang. Tony obviously enjoyed being a cop. He clearly delighted in the challenge the job presented, worked hard at whatever task he was assigned, and saw things through from start to finish.

He occasionally stepped over the line and made mistakes, but Gibbs didn't know any one who hadn't. And Tony rarely made the same mistake twice. Thinking it over, Gibbs really couldn't see Tony enjoying himself doing nothing. The younger man had too much energy, innate curiosity and drive to ever be content spending his time jetting around the world from one sandy beach to another with some pretty woman on each arm worrying about nothing more important than his tan. Glancing back to the bookshelf, he had no trouble envisioning Tony as a modern day Indiana Jones. So if his parents really weren't concerned with him foolishly spending money, indulging himself like a spoiled brat, why had they cut him off? Maybe they didn't realize Tony had matured. They wouldn't be the first parents to have lost sight of the fact that their children were now adults and should be treated accordingly. One thing Gibbs was sure of, Tony's parents were not a big part of his life. The first year Tony started at NCIS Gibbs had indicated that as the low man on the totem pole Tony would have to work some of the traditional holidays, like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Tony had just smiled and said, "No problem. I don't ever have plans for those days anyway." At the time Gibbs had thought it just false bravado, something to show the boss he was willing to take one for the team, but now he suspected that might have been a completely honest answer. Gibbs had found out a year ago that he was listed as Tony's emergency contact. When he'd asked Tony why, the younger man had shrugged and replied, "My parents can be hard to get in touch with." That was it. No other explanation. That in itself didn't really mean anything. Kate had Tony listed as her emergency contact, and Gibbs knew she was close to her family. Thinking about it, Gibbs was suddenly aware he didn't even have the phone number for Tony's parents. He only knew their names because they written in Tony's file. The younger man never called them by name. He consistently referred to them as his parents. Gibbs didn't think Tony could be completely cut off from them. Government employees didn't buy four hundred dollar shoes. Or suits as expensive as those Tony occasionally wore to the office. He had to have money from somewhere if not his parents. A trust fund? Something from another relative? Gibbs sighed. It would be easier just to ask Tony, but Gibbs had never expressed an interest in the younger man's past before, to do so now might seem out of character. Still, he wanted to know. Even if Tony never saw him as more than his boss, Gibbs wanted to know everything about him, wanted to at least be considered a friend. Maybe he could work in a question here or there. Tony had readily answered when he asked about his sprained ankle. That proved to be surprisingly easy. Gibbs nodded to himself. He had a plan. He just needed a chance to exercise it. He had a gut feeling the risks would be worth the rewards. The smell of fresh brewed coffee wafting from the kitchen reminded him he wanted a cup. Gibbs glanced at his watch and then back at the couch. He'd let Tony sleep another hour and then wake him up to make sure his concussion wasn't turning into anything more serious. And he'd start with his plan of attack then. ******************* ******************** ********

Tony heard someone call his name softly. He ignored whoever it was, unwilling to give up the nicest dream he'd had in a long time. He was on a beach, warm and sunny, deep blue sky overhead reflected back from waves that lapped against the shore. Gibbs was there with him, running fingers through his hair, holding him in a loose embrace as they watched the water together. It was so calm and peaceful. He hadn't been this relaxed in a long time. His name was being said again. Tony frowned. It sounded like Gibbs, but that couldn't be right. The voice was insistent, quietly demanding, impossible to ignore. Tony sighed and reluctantly opened his eyes to see a hand descending toward his head. He flinched, unconsciously anticipating a blow. He tried to scramble away, actions hampered by the back of the couch, eyes still barely open. He swayed slightly as sat up, the sudden change in altitude affected his sense of balance and his ribs objected to such violent movement. "Easy, Tony." Strong, gentle hands on his shoulders steadied him, holding him in place without actually making him feel trapped. "It's okay. Just relax." Tony shook his head slightly and blinked in confusion. "Boss?" "Yeah, DiNozzo, it's me." Tony nodded slowly, no longer trying to press himself into the back of the couch, shoulders easing out of a defensive curl. He remembered now. He'd been stupid and gotten the crap beat out of himself and now Gibbs was babysitting him. He was safe in his own living room. Nothing to worry about. No reason to be afraid. He deliberately chose to overlook the fact that it was Gibbs presence that made him feel safe not the location. "Didn't mean to startle you." The older man sounded contrite, which surprised Tony. It wasn't like Gibbs had done anything wrong. It wasn't Gibbs fault Tony had woken up a bit disoriented and out of sorts. The other man's couldn't know that his mother used to slap him awake if Tony wasn't up fast enough to suit her or that Tony hadn't forgotten the experience. It hadn't take him long to learn not to sleep late or deeply when he knew she was in the house. "S'okay. Not your fault." Tony assured his boss. He rubbed one hand over his face, trying to get the sleep out his eyes, incidentally hiding his face as he struggled to regain his composure. "You all right?" Tony really wished the other man would stop asking him that. He tried to ignore the feel of Gibbs hands on his upper arms, warm and reassuring. He couldn't quite understand why the older man hadn't let go yet, but he's grateful for the contact and the support. "Yeah." He nodded slowly. "I'm okay." His ribs ached, his head still hurt, but his ankle no longer throbbed. His heart rate slowly returned to normal. "You know my name?" Tony frowned looking at Gibbs in confusion. "Hunh?"

"You've got a mild concussion. Remember?" Gibbs smiled slightly. Concerned blue eyes offset his smile leaving him looking worried rather than reassuring. "Standard questions, DiNozzo." Tony pursed his lips, amused in spite of himself. "Thought you were supposed to ask me my name first?" Gibbs chuckled and Tony tried not to react to that light hearted sound so rarely heard. At least Gibbs didn't look worried any more. That was definitely better. Tony didn't like people worrying about him. It usually meant they were expecting him to screw up somehow. "Okay then, what is your name?" Gibbs asked. "Anthony Michael DiNozzo." Tony grinned easily. "Tony to my friends." "You know what year it is?" "2005." Tony snorted, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. "George Bush is president. Junior, not his old man." Gibbs' eyes crinkled at the corners even though he didn't smile. "When was Pompeii buried?" "August 25th in 79 AD." Tony answered promptly not sure why Gibbs would ask him for that bit of obscure information. He smirked, green eyes bright with amusement. "Doesn't this question answer stuff only work if the guy asking the questions knows the answers too?" "I might have known that." Gibbs responded gruffly. "Yeah, but you didn't." Tony smirked, completely sure of himself. When he answered Gibbs had gotten that look he only had when he was processing new information. He shifted slightly, trying not to look like he was attempting to wiggle out of the hold Gibbs had on him. It was unnerving to have him so close, too tempting by far. He was torn between being grateful and disappointed when Gibbs stepped back, hands dropping to his sides. Tony decided not to dwell on that ambiguity; his head hurt too much to figure it out now. He tossed off the afghan Louisa had made for him last year as a Christmas present, leaving it lying haphazardly at the foot of the couch. The gel pack on his ankle was now too warm to be effective. He had another in the freezer. Tony yawned, belatedly covering his mouth. "How long was I out?" "About two hours." Tony nodded, accepting what Gibbs said even though he felt like he'd been a sleep for a lot longer. He moved to stand up, neatly avoiding Gibbs attempt to help without looking like he didn't want the older man to touch him. His ankle protested supporting him but stayed sound. "Where are you going?" "Bathroom." Tony answered succinctly. He wasn't sure what to make of the way Gibbs was hovering so he opted to ignore it. It was probably just his imagination anyway. Gibbs wasn't the sort to hover; certainly not over him.

He tossed the warm gel pack on the kitchen counter as he made his way to the bathroom. Tony limped down the hall and took care of business. He made a point of not looking at his reflection in the mirror. He already knew he looked like hell, confirming it wasn't really a high priority. He gave his bedroom a longing look. He'd love to just go in, lie down and sleep until morning, but it was still too early in the day for that. A glace at his watch confirmed it wasn't quite six o'clock. And he doubted Gibbs would let him sleep uninterrupted. Tony knew concussion orders, and knowing what a stickler his boss was probably going to be about following them he was certain he could look forward to being woken repeatedly throughout the night. He sighed and headed back out to the kitchen. Gibbs was filling one of his large coffee mugs. Tony smiled. "Found everything okay?" The older man nodded, sipping the dark liquid with obvious satisfaction. "This is good stuff." Given what I pay for it, Tony thought, it should be. It was worth it to see Gibbs smile, to witness his near reverent enjoyment of it. "Glad you like it." "You want a cup?" "Nah." The pot he had only made about three large cups, and judging by the level remaining in the pot he was pretty sure Gibbs must have had one cup already. Tony had no doubt Gibbs would finish the pot and saw no reason not to let him do it. Knowing Gibbs he'd probably start another pot when that one was finished. Tony plucked the gel pack from the counter where he'd tossed it. He put it into the freezer. Spotting a pint sized container of Ben and Jerry's ice cream Tony decided he could do with something to eat. He pulled it out. Tony loved ice cream, Ben and Jerry's Phish Food in particular. Dark chocolate fish shaped fudge mixed with milk chocolate ice cream, marshmallow and gooey caramel. It didn't get any better. He saw Gibbs raise his eyebrows as he got a spoon from the drawer. "What?" "No bowl?" Tony grinned. "I'm going to eat it all, Gibbs. I don't need a bowl." Gibbs blinked. "The whole pint?" "Yep." His mother had constantly been on a diet of some kind so there were never any sweets in the house while he was growing up. Now that he could indulge himself, he did. Although, not very often. Last time he'd been to the grocery store, Ben and Jerry's had been on sale, a small temptation he chose not to resist, buying a carton or two. Gibbs shook his head. "Don't understand how you stay so skinny eating like that." "Skinny?" Tony snorted. "I'm not skinny." His mother monitored his weight along with her own most of childhood. She had insisted that he if he wasn't careful he would end up fat and ugly like her brother, his uncle Alfred. Gibbs raised an eyebrow. "I've seen your annual physical reports, DiNozzo. You consistently come in a good five to ten pounds underweight."

"Really?" Tony had never asked for specifics on his evaluations, he just wanted to know if he was classified as fit for duty. Nothing else mattered to him. "Really." Gibbs confirmed. Tony shrugged. A few pounds underweight was better than a few pounds over in his opinion. "Still don't think I'm skinny, Boss." He tried not to fidget under that appraising gaze. It didn't mean anything. Certainly not what he wanted it to mean, that Gibbs really saw him, might even find him attractive. More likely he was seeing the same faults his mother and father always saw, the same ones every one eventually spotted; physical and emotional shortcomings he just couldn't overcome long enough to establish anything meaningful. "Lean." Gibbs declared after a moment. "Lean?" Tony repeated in surprise. "Not skinny." Gibbs declared definitively. "Lean is a better description." Tony gave him a quizzical look. "And that's good?" "It's not bad." Gibbs smiled wickedly; making Tony's heart beat faster. He looked away, sure he was reading too much into Gibbs expression and statement. No way was his boss flirting with him. Or had been checking him out. "This mean I can eat my ice cream in peace?" Tony asked quietly, trying to redirect things back to more neutral territory. "Only if you share." Tony laughed softly, wincing and biting back a moan as his cracked ribs reminded him of their presence. He ignored the way Gibbs grin faded into a frown, too delighted to know the older man might just like ice cream as much as he did. Tony pointed toward the freezer with his spoon. "There's another carton in there. Help yourself." Tony wandered back into the living room. He grabbed the remote to see if there wasn't something more interesting on to watch now than there had been earlier. He tossed a pillow on to the coffee table and propped his leg up on it, sighing at the relief just being off it caused. It felt good to sit down again. Tony yawned as he ran through the list of what was available. He settled on ESPN and football highlights. He was surprised when Gibbs joined him on the couch, expecting the older man to sit at the desk and go back to work. He grinned seeing Gibbs had the container of Chunky Monkey in his hand and a spoon. "Shut up, DiNozzo." "I didn't say anything." "You were going to." "True." Tony conceded. He pulled a pillow in behind him so he could lean back more comfortably. Sigh softly in contentment has he dug into his ice cream. Damn good stuff. "You finished going over the files Kate sent?"

Gibbs nodded, swallowing a spoonful of his own ice cream. "For now. Everything else will have to wait until we can question Persun and Henderson directly." He glanced over at Tony. "How did you manage to get that ledger anyway? Not the sort of thing I'd have expected Persun to leave lying out in the open." "Had an aunt who was in to magic tricks." Tony answered with a smile, deliberately taking the round about way knowing how much it would annoy Gibbs. "She taught me a few card tricks and some slight of hand." He'd loved Sully. She was really more of a second cousin or something like that. Tony had never been able to quite figure out the exact relationship, but it didn't really matter. She'd been Aunt Sully for as long as he could remember. And she was the only one of his father's relatives he really did like, the only one who seemed to really like him for that matter. "Probably the most useful thing she taught me was how to make the most of misdirection and distraction." Tony lifted one shoulder in a small shrug. Sully was famous for her ability to simply disappear in a crowd, vanishing at family gatherings and avoiding more troublesome relatives with a deft skill Tony had admired from the time he was five. She'd taught him out to blend in with the walls when he needed to; shown him how to capitalize on a moment of distraction to slip away unnoticed and be gone before anyone even knew he'd ever been there. "Getting the ledger and hiding it was just a matter of waiting for the right moment and making the most of it." He'd never expected that posing as middle man, a new contact for Persun's organization, would be so damn easy to do. But all the schmoozing and glad-handing he'd seen is parents do over the years had paid off. Gaining Persun's confidence, at least enough to gain access to the warehouse, had proved to be fairly easy. "You were only in the warehouse twice before we set up the bust." Gibbs commented, although he made it sound more like a question. "Right moment came sooner than I expected it to." Tony wasn't sure how to explain the whole thing other than to write it off as dumb luck. There was no other way to characterize the fact that Persun was afraid of rats and that one happened to run over his foot the second time Tony at the warehouse. Persun had freaked out, scrabbling around looking for the rodent while trying to find something to kill it with. Tony was grateful he hadn't grabbed a gun to do the job given the amount of fuel and munitions stored in the building. Persun's frantic activity had been a golden opportunity for Tony to search the office in the guise of trying to be helpful. He couldn't believe his luck when he'd found they'd actually written everything down. He snickered at the memory even as he relayed the story to Gibbs, pleased to share a look of amusement with his boss. "Persun must have been an accountant in a former life or something. Anal about the details." Tony shook his head. His checkbook wasn't that well documented for crying out loud. "Just had to switch out the ledger for another book." It had taken less than a minute all told to locate and replace the incriminating evidence. There was no way to take the ledger with him---and leaving it at the warehouse to be found with a valid search warrant seemed like the best alternative. Tony had even used a small rag he'd found to handle the book just to make sure his prints weren't on it and no issue could be

raised that he'd planted the evidence. Gibbs might play a little fast and loose with the law from time to time, but Tony's time as a cop had certainly taught him the importance of following the rules to get a solid conviction. Tony knew showing up for the third time at the warehouse was going to be a little tricky. Although he didn't tell Gibbs he had any concerns; he didn't want the older man to think he couldn't do his job. Tony figured everything would be okay as long as Persun and Henderson were willing to ask questions first and shoot later. Simple. Persun had to have realized Tony was the only one who could have taken the ledger. And Tony chose to capitalize on that, playing it as though he wasn't really interested in being a business partner as much as he was a potential rival looking to steal Persun's list of clients. He made it seem as though he'd come back to replace the ledger on the sly with them being none the wiser. Running like a rabbit, ensuring they'd give chase, had been child's play. It gave Gibbs and the others time to secure the evidence with as little fuss or danger. No one wanted to risk a shoot out in that building. Not when they didn't know for certain exactly what all was stored there. Tony sighed. "Everything worked out okay." Gibbs glared at him. "You really think it worked out okay?" Tony instinctively shifted to put more distance between them, not sure why the former Marine seemed so angry. Green eyes regarded Gibbs warily. "We got the bad guys. Got the evidence we needed. So yeah, I think it all worked out okay." "You. Got. Hurt." Gibbs almost snarled at him. "Nothing serious, Boss." Tony responded hesitantly, unsure why that mattered. It wasn't life threatening. And it wasn't he couldn't be replaced. There were dozens of agents looking for a shot at getting a spot on Gibbs' team. "He could have killed you." Gibbs looked bleak, jaw muscles visibly flexing as he clenched and unclenched his teeth. "He was GOING to kill you!" The former marine raised his voice, not really shouting but not far from it. "If I'd been a second later---" "You were there in time, Gibbs." Tony interrupted quietly, hesitantly reaching out to lightly squeeze Gibbs tense shoulder. Henderson could have done some serious damage with the tree limb he'd been about to use, but he never got the chance. "Hell, boss, you're always there in time." Tony never worried about it. Gibbs was the best damn back up he'd ever had. He lightly patted the older man's shoulder before withdrawing his hand, not wanting to risk prolonged contact, afraid of revealing too much. "I don't like having you...ah, my people being threatened or hurt." Gibbs shook his head, voice getting a bit softer. Tony felt a burst of warmth. It was nice to know Gibbs cared. Tony reminded himself he should be surprised or reading anything into that. He was on Gibbs team; it didn't matter if he didn't like you, if you were on his team, Gibbs looked out for you. Tony sighed. That was probably why Gibbs was pissed. He'd never lost an agent, and Tony had come perilously close to ruining that record. "I'm sorry, Boss."

Gibbs head snapped up as he fixed Tony with a narrow eyed glance. "You didn't do anything wrong." Tony was taken aback just a bit by the quiet vehemence of Gibbs assertion. "If you say so." "I say so." Gibbs shot back firmly. "You did good." Tony wasn't sure he deserved that so rarely given bit of praise, but he knew better than to argue. He nodded his head, acknowledging Gibbs' statement without actually agreeing. He went back to eating his ice cream and watching TV, hoping to end this conversation. He breathed easier when Gibbs seemed willing to let it go. Tony smiled to himself suddenly struck by how weird this situation was. He'd have never believed in a million years that his boss, the object of many a secret fantasy, would be at his house, eating ice cream and watching TV as if he did it ever day. It was damn near surreal, and Tony bit the inside of his cheek just to be sure he wasn't dreaming. Gibbs looked at him, eyebrow raised. Tony just shook his head. There was no way to explain what he was thinking and he wasn't going to bother trying. He held up the remote instead. "Anything you want to watch?" Gibbs lips curled upward slightly in the barest hint of a smile. "I don't watch much TV." "On that archaic little thing you've got I'm not surprised." Tony smirked. "Picture quality has to suck?.so much snow you think every show is about a blizzard." Tony didn't bother trying to doge the light swat he got to the back of the head. He expected it and would have been disappointed if Gibbs didn't do it. Tony was somewhat surprised that older man used a lighter touch than normal, more of a caress than anything else, fingers running through his hair rather than over it. The gesture felt familiar, comforting, but Tony couldn't figure out why. He didn't remember Gibbs ever running fingers through his hair before. Dismissing the deja vu as being a product of his earlier dream, Tony held up brought up the guide feature on the screen. "Let me know if you see anything interesting." Tony briefly considered exposing Gibbs to the Simpsons before dismissing the idea. He didn't think his ribs could handle laughing at the older man's reaction to the likes of Homer. He was pretty sure Gibbs wouldn't tolerate the cartoon network either. "Jeopardy is still on?" Gibbs asked. "Would have thought that had been cancelled a long time ago." "Still pretty popular, I guess." Tony selected the game show. "Hasn't been on as long as the Price is Right, but pretty close." Tony didn't mind watching it. He liked trivia. He knew all the answers for the Oscars category, beating out the three contestants each time. He was astonished when Gibbs began playing along, correctly answering most of the Literature category, and several in Geography. Tony found himself keeping score as they played against each other, enjoying the friendly competition. Neither of them knew the answer to the final jeopardy question, so Tony considered it a draw.

As the show ended, Tony fought off another yawn. It had been a very long day, even with the nap he'd gotten. He hadn't slept well last night or the night before, too worried about how the bust would go down to really sleep soundly or for very long. He'd been up well before the sun rose both days and not bothered going to bed until after midnight. Tony got up, and held out a hand for the empty carton Gibbs held intent on throwing it away along with his own. "Not hard eat it all, is it?" Gibbs rolled his eyes making Tony laugh, his arm automatically curling in to support his ribs. "Ow." Gibbs checked his watch. "You should take another painkiller." "Don't need it." Tony shook his head. "DiNozzo-" "Hasn't been that long since I took the last ones." Tony countered. "The prescriptions says you can take a dose every four hours." Gibbs pointed a finger at him. "And it's been over four hours." "By what---all of two minutes?" Tony tried again. "Look, Boss-" "Take the damn pills." Tony grimaced. "You're not going to let this go are you?" "No." Gibbs' flat, uncompromising tone left no room for argument. Tony sighed softly, admitting defeat. His head hurt more than it had earlier and he just couldn't muster the energy to keep fighting a losing battle. "Fine. Pills." He limped into the kitchen, throwing away the empty cartons while he was there, spoons in the sink to be dealt with later. Tony didn't think he could handle bending over to put them in the dishwasher. He knew Gibbs had followed him, could feel dark blue eyes burning a whole in his back as he reluctantly shook out two pills and swallowed them. Tony still planned to flush them the first chance he got. Tomorrow would be his best bet. By then Gibbs would have stopped hovering and things would be back to normal. Or at least whatever passed for normal for him. The desire to lay down was nearly overwhelming now, exhaustion and pain weighing him down so suddenly it took his breath away. Tony gripped the counter, knuckles whitening. He took as deep a breath as his ribs would allow and let it out slowly. "Tony...you okay?" He could feel the warmth and weight of Gibbs hand on the small of his back. He chastised himself for his weakness. Gibbs wouldn't have to keep asking him if he was okay if he just sucked it up and acted like man the way his father had always told him to. "Yeah, I'm good...just need ta lay...down for a bit." "I think your bed will be a lot more comfortable than the couch." He nodded slowly. Tony wished he felt better so that he could really enjoy the feel of Gibbs running his hand up and down is back. "Think bed is a very good idea."

He didn't want to think about what it meant that the older man continued to touch him as they headed down the hall together. It didn't mean anything, he was sure, but it felt wonderful. Tony was almost sorry they made it to his bedroom so fast. Gibbs pulled down the comforter and Tony smiled as he sat down on the bed. "You going to tuck me in too?" "You want me to?" There was no mistaking the lighthearted tease in Gibbs tone. "Nah." Tony shook his head, laying down, tugging the blankets in place for himself. He yawned again, eyes drifting to half mast. "Don't think anyone's ever tucked me in, no reason to start now." He could just barely make out Gibbs indulgent smile. "I'm sure your mother must have put you to bed when you were little." Tony sighed, too glad to be horizontal to monitor is words. "Been putting myself to bed since I could walk. My mother didn't have time for that." Tony was already more than half asleep so he missed the way Gibbs jaw tightened and the sudden flash of anger in his expression. "Never?" Tony shook his head. "Nope." It wasn't a big deal. Not really. Not once his mother finally got rid of that canopy bed. He'd hated that thing. He sighed and settled more deeply into the bed. He figured Gibbs had mastered the coffee maker, he'd be fine on his own until he had to come wake Tony again in a few hours. Maybe by then he could convince his boss to go home. He could have sworn he felt Gibbs' hand brushing through his hair as he drifted off. Tony smiled. It was such a nice dream. Little more real than most, but not bad, not bad at all. ************************* ******************** Pacing wasn't something Gibbs did very often. Pacing only came about when there was no other way of focusing, when the only real option he had available to him was to wait and do nothing. He hated that and movement, even something as pointless as walking in circles, was a better alternative. He traversed the length of Tony's living room, back and forth, arms folded against his chest. He really wanted to hurt someone, badly. What kind of mother never tucks her child in? He must have asked himself that question more than a dozen times since Tony's sleepy revelation. Gibbs could still remember his own mother reading to him at night, getting a kiss on the forehead, a hand running through his hair. It had made him feel safe, comfortable, loved. At ten he told his mother he didn't need to be tucked in, but he still got a kiss nearly every night until he left home for the service. Hell, even now, his mother having died years ago, Gibbs still remembered her touch, still missed getting that small token of affection from her. He grimaced as he thought about what he'd dug up on Tony's parents since he'd seen the younger man safely to bed. Ordinarily he'd have assigned the task to someone more suited to it like McGee or Abby, but this wasn't something he wanted to involve the rest of the team in. And while he didn't particularly care for technology, he was not completely inept as utilizing it. With sufficient incentive he could search

the internet and track down what he was looking for. He was simply never going to be as good at it as McGee---it's why the younger man was on his team in the first place. The DiNozzo family wasn't nearly as famous or powerful as the Kennedy's, but they were sufficiently wealthy and influential that it wasn't hard to track down some information. The bulk of what the former Marine found focused on the business and not the family directly. It had taken longer than he liked but Gibbs had weeded through a lot of chafe to get to the stuff he really wanted. Tony's grandfather, Michael DiNozzo had completely turned over the reins of his company four years ago, dying only two years later. Right up until his death Michael had continued to participate actively in the day to day operations. There was some speculation that the old patriarch didn't entirely trust his children and had hung on long after he should have let go. Several rumors from different sources claimed Michael often pitted one child against the other constantly challenging them in a game of one-upmanship, make them vie for place as the new top dog of the company. Tony's grandfather had made his children compete for the coveted position holding it out like a carrot that could be snatched back out of reach at any moment. Gibbs couldn't find any thing to confirm those rumors, but he was still digging. He put in a few calls to some friends who would be able to discretely verify the rumors. Based on what he'd read about Michael DiNozzo, the old man had been a ruthless businessman who focused almost exclusively on the bottom line, pushing all his people to perform at optimum levels at all times. It didn't seem outside the realm of possibility that Michael treated his children the same way he would any of his employees or business partners. Gibbs grimaced. He was uncomfortable with some of the adjectives used to describe Tony's grandfather. Many of the same words---driven, uncompromising, tenacious, hard-had all been used to describe Gibbs at one time or another. He smirked bitterly thinking the only reason 'bastard' hadn't appeared was likely because of some federal regulation governing what could be placed in print. At the moment, the company was headed by Tony's uncle, Gabriel. Anthony DiNozzo, Sr., Tony's father, was a senior vice-president. Their younger sister, Maria, was the chief financial officer, and had by all accounts a very sharp financial mind; much of the recent success of the company was being attributed to her and recommendations she'd made regarding expansion of the business. The youngest daughter, Tony's aunt Anna, evidently had nothing to do with the company, and the only reference Gibbs could find to her mentioned her being married and residing in Italy. He wondered if she'd been ousted by the old man, if one of the siblings had done it, or if Anna had made a conscious choice to turn her back on vicious family in fighting. The business stuff didn't interest Gibbs much except for what insight it offered him into the rest of the family. He worked to glean more personal information, somewhat disappointed the DiNozzo clan seemed to appreciate the value of discretion. Had they been 'new money' Gibbs didn't doubt there would be ample information on their sex lives, drug habits and god only knew what else. As it was, what he'd been able to find was rather skimpy. He stalked over to the computer, pulling up again the wedding announcement of Tony's parents. Anthony DiNozzo, Sr., had married the oldest daughter of a wealthy,

old family friend. Anthony Sr.'s wedding announcement to Elizabeth Parducci read more like a business merger to Gibbs than any sort of declaration of love. But after three failed marriages he really wasn't in a position to judge. If it was just a business merger, then it had been more or less successful. Anthony and Elizabeth had been married for sixteen years until Elizabeth was killed in car accident when Tony was fifteen. Gibbs grimaced looking at the second wedding announcement. Anthony had married again two years after Elizabeth's death. The second wife as definitely a younger, prettier version of his first wife, what some might call a trophy wife. Based on what was in Tony's background check, the timing was too coincidental for Gibbs not to realize that she likely played some role in the younger man being shipped off to boarding school. Gibbs went back to the first wedding announcement. He had to admit Anthony and Elizabeth made for a striking couple. Tony's mother had been a statuesque, willowy blonde who had bequeathed her green eyes and lighter complexion to her son. Tony's father was tall, broad shouldered and had passed on his handsome features and dark hair. Gibbs scanned through several other newspaper clippings he'd found online. There were a number of photos and blurbs regarding Anthony and Elizabeth's attendance a high society functions, charity dinners and auctions, and a whole host of things Gibbs knew he'd have hated going to. Definitely black tie and lots of money. The same references were made for Anthony and his new wife as well, so evidently not much had changed there. He'd found similar pictures for all of Tony's aunts and uncles, at least on the DiNozzo side. Gibbs hadn't been able to track down much about the Parducci side. His maternal grandfather was still living, there as at least one uncle maybe more, and they were wealthy albeit not quite as wealthy as the DiNozzo family. Other than that, Gibbs had been unable to garner much in the way of specifics about the rest of the family. All he could find on Tony's stepmother was reference to her having been a model. He wondered what she was like and what the younger man thought of her. Gibbs had put in another call to an old friend to have some digging done there too. Gibbs had smiled when he found Tony's birth announcement. His smile faded when he read the news clipping, learning that Tony had been premature and the first week of his life the doctors hadn't held out much hope for his survival. His gut had tightened painfully when he thought about how close he'd come to having never even met Tony. He simply couldn't imagine his life without the younger man as a part of it. It was hard to remember he hadn't always been there, right at Gibbs side where he belonged. Gibbs had made note of the hospital and the attending physician listed in the announcement and had called in another marker to have someone provide him with more details. The hospital there might have more records from Tony's childhood. He wanted something to explain the history of broken bones. He was really hoping it wasn't what he thought it was, but his gut was telling him some sort of abuse occurred and his gut was rarely wrong. There was too much evidence to be anything else. Gibbs was no profiler, but understood people and even he could do the math in this case. He sighed and ran a

hand through his hair, mentally reviewing the list of things he'd notice but never really put into context. Tony's insecurity about his place on the team---after more than two years, he should know he was valued, respected, but he didn't seem to believe that. Gibbs didn't mind playing one teammate off another to encourage them to perform, but he never really thought they didn't get what he was doing, see it for what it was. He winced, belatedly realizing he might have gone further than he meant to. Although recently McGee and Tony seemed to be getting along better than they had been. It could just be the team dynamics finally smoothing out to accommodate the newest member the way Gibbs expected it to eventually. Or---Gibbs' shoulders tensed as he wondered if the two younger agents might be developing a real fondness for one another, that McGee might be competition. He took a deep breath and then another telling himself to stop being stupid. McGee was no threat to him. Hell, it wasn't as if Tony had ever expressed much interest in men---certainly not in Gibbs at any rate, no matter how much he wished otherwise. And McGee clearly had an interest in Abby. He shook his head and refocused his thoughts. Tony's constant search for approval and inability to accept praise as being genuine were yet another clue Gibbs had on his list of evidence of abuse. Tony seemed decidedly confident when Gibbs had met him, so sure of himself. The older man snarled silently, getting up from the computer to resume pacing, pissed at himself for missing what that mask hid. The way Tony repeatedly pushed the boundaries was akin to a teenager testing his parents. Even negative attention was still attention and Tony clearly needed some sort of re-enforcement that Gibbs cared enough about what he said or did to hold him accountable for it. It was only now that Gibbs realized he'd done the right thing there. If he'd let it slide all that would have accomplished was confirming Tony's innate belief that he wasn't good enough or sufficiently important to be bothered with, that he didn't matter. His mother evidently hadn't made much time for him, and his stepmother appeared to have been influential in seeing him pushed out of his own home. Although if it was Tony's father beating the crap out of him, his stepmother might well have done the young man a favor. Gibbs sighed. He hated not knowing all the pieces. Too many ifs still existed, too much he couldn't pin down for certain. Gibbs smiled suddenly remembering Tony's crack about Moby Dick when he'd been obsessed with find Ari. Whatever had happened in his childhood, the younger man still had enough backbone to stand up to him that the rest of the team lacked. McGee would never have made that sort of remark, and neither would Kate or Abby. The only one not at all cowed by his behavior during that case had been Ducky. Tony might not have all the confidence he pretended to possess but he was not as insecure as he seemed at times either. Tony would stand up to him, but had never refused a direct order. He might whine about an assignment, but never failed to put in one hundred percent. Tasks Gibbs knew he wouldn't have done himself in a million years the younger man saw through from start to finish---Tony had massaged an old man's feet and stood guard letting the elderly Marine work through memories of a time long past, he'd put up with a demented old woman's ramblings and her yappy dogs, he'd babysat a whiny, spoiled teenager, he'd fought his way out of a sewer bringing a wounded man with him.

Gibbs shook his head, honestly somewhat amazed by Tony. The younger man was capable of being light-hearted, quirky sense of humor usually rising to any occasion, but he could just as easily be focused and serious. He obviously delighted in verbally sparring with Kate but took it as well as he dished it out. He clearly enjoyed interacting with Abby, relating to her easily from the moment he met her, not put off by her gothic attire, tattoos or strange view on life. Yet, he could just as comfortable chatting up some socialite. The paradoxes that made up Tony DiNozzo were as much an attraction to Gibbs as the physical beauty of the man. Gibbs rubbed a hand over his face, stopping his pacing in the middle of the living room. This wasn't getting him anywhere. He glanced at the clock. It was time to wake up Tony again and make sure he wasn't slipping into a coma. It was highly unlikely, but Gibbs was determined to follow the doctor's orders, just in case. Gibbs hesitated in the doorway of Tony's bedroom. He didn't want to startle the younger man this time the way he had the last time. It still bothered him that Tony had flinched away from him clearly expecting to be hit. The memory of that look of fear on Tony's face still left a bad taste in Gibbs' mouth. He sighed and squared his shoulders, entering the dimly lit room. Gibbs sat on the edge of the bed, just studying Tony for a moment. Tony was sleeping peacefully, breathing deep and even. He looks so young, Gibbs thought. The age difference between them didn't seem that great during the day, but right the moment Gibbs felt like he was robbing the cradle to be even considering what he'd like to do with Tony. It didn't look like Tony had moved since he laid down. The lack of animation made Gibbs frown slightly. He'd always assumed the younger man would be a restless sleeper. Gibbs was somewhat surprised to also note Tony didn't snore. Very gently Gibbs reached out to cup Tony's cheek, mindful of the bruise. His fingers lightly caressed the smooth skin, reassured by the normal temperature he found, wondering if Tony's skin felt as good everywhere else. He smiled when Tony sighed, nuzzling his hand, clearly comfortable with his touch. He moved to lightly run his fingers through Tony's hair, once more giving into the temptation to just play with it. He couldn't get over how soft it was. He was reminded of petting one of the stupid plush toys his second wife collected. She'd loved those damn teddy bears, probably more than she loved him. "Tony." Gibbs didn't whisper, but kept his voice low. "Tony...I need you to wake up for a minute." He continued to run his fingers through Tony's hair. He thought his mistake the last time was not touching the younger man to start with. Gibbs had to admit that if he woke up to see a hand coming at him, he'd have probably flinched too. "Tony...It's Gibbs." He thought maybe if he identified himself, even though still asleep, Tony would recognize he was safe. "It's been a couple of hours and I need to make sure you're okay." Tony's eyelids fluttered and he shifted slightly. He winced, and Gibbs felt bad for disturbing him. Green eyes blinked blearily at him, a small frown forming between his brows as he stared at Gibbs. "You awake?"

"Yeah." Tony's voice was raspy from sleep, and Gibbs shivered slightly suddenly grateful the younger man didn't sound like that at the office. He'd have never been able to hide his interest otherwise. "Can you answer a few questions for me?" Tony smirked, eyes blinking sleepily. "Thought I just answered one." Gibbs smiled. "So answer another." "Okay." Tony agreed easily, sighing softly, eyes drifting closed. "You still with me, DiNozzo?" "I'm here." Tony didn't open his eyes, but there was a sense of alertness that had been absent before. Gibbs could almost see the usual intensity and energy he associated with Tony coalescing around the younger man. "Name?" Tony blinked, eyes sparkling with mischief as they opened again. "What? Don't tell me you forgot it already?" Gibbs smiled. "Just answer the question wiseass." "Anthony Michael DiNozzo." Tony replied crisply and Gibbs felt faint pang of loss as Tony's voice smoothed out into his usual tenor. "And you are Leroy Jethro Gibbs. A more redneck name I have yet to encounter." "I'm not a redneck." "Parents had to have been." Tony argued a smile playing about his lips. "Why does everyone call you Jethro anyway? I mean you're first name is Leroy." "I was named after my father." Gibbs shrugged one shoulder. "Was easier to avoid confusion if I went by my middle name." Tony nodded his head slightly. "Have to admit I can't see you as a junior." Gibbs wasn't sure why but he was pleased by that statement. He cleared his throat. "You know what year it is?" "Yeah." Gibbs waited. Blue eyes pinned Tony with a hard look even as he struggled not to smile. Every once in awhile it paid to be reminded that if he wanted the right answer he had to ask the right question. "And what year is it, Tony?" "2005." Tony answered, expression nicely innocent. Only the twinkle in his eyes gave him away. Deciding to push just a bit, Gibbs asked, "What's your parents' phone number?" "Why?" Tony's expression shifted so fast to wary neutrality it was virtually impossible to see the transition. One second he was open, readable, the next Gibbs might as well have been staring at a stranger. "You planning to call them?" Gibbs blinked in surprise. "No, I'm not planning to call them." At least not just yet, he amended silently. And he was definitely leaning more heavily toward showing up on their doorstep and beating the shit out of them. "Then why do you want to know the number?"

"It's not listed in your file." Gibbs answered honestly. The fist time Tony had gotten hurt on the job, Gibbs had the personnel department check to make sure there wasn't someone else Tony might have named as a point of contact, someone else who should be informed. There was a number listed but when Gibbs had tried rang to a message service not a live body. He hadn't given it much thought at the time since Tony's injury had been minor and he hadn't needed to call since. Tony snorted. "No reason to list it." There was no self pity in his voice, just a bald statement of fact. Gibbs waited a beat, getting his own thoughts under control, keeping his expression bland before asking his next questions. "What if I had been too late this time?" He shuddered internally at the images that brought to mind. "How was I supposed to let them know you were dead?" Tony's lips curled into a bitter smile, far more telling than anything Tony might have said. The younger man clearly didn't think his father and stepmother would care that much. Green eyes assessing Gibbs in a way that confirmed what the older man suspected...under the right conditions, Tony DiNozzo would be a damn fine interrogator. "You tried the one in the file, didn't you?" "Yes, I did." Gibbs answered honestly. "First time you got hurt." "More than two years ago, Boss." Tony observed casually. "Yeah." Gibbs had expected Tony to ask him why with the injuries that had occurred since he hadn't asked before now, so the he was a bit surprised by what the younger man asked instead. "You leave a message?" "No, I didn't." He made a meaningless gesture with one hand. "I hate talking to machines, and not knowing who the hell I'm talking to." Tony studied his face clearly assessing his honesty before nodding once. He smiled slightly. Tony gave Gibbs a bemused, tolerant look that he remembered getting a lot from his first wife the first year they were married, back when things were good between them. "Machine's won't bite, Gibbs. You do know that, right?" "I still want to talk to a live body damn it." Gibbs ground out, hiding how relieved he was that Tony seemed more amused than upset with him. Tony shook his head. He sighed, suddenly looking very tired. "This time of year my stepmother is probably at some resort in the Caribbean worried about tan lines and eying up some unsuspecting pool boy like he was on the lunch menu. I never had a permanent number where she could be reached." His tone made it clear Tony hadn't wanted one either. "And my father has his calls screened at the office. And he never answers the phone at home. So if it's not important, you aren't going to talk to him." Tony seemed vaguely ashamed and uncomfortable about that admission, looking away from Gibbs. "And believe me if it doesn't involve business or the status of his next martini, it's not important." Gibbs clamped down hard on the rage that suddenly arose. He really wanted to beat the shit out of Tony's father. Just corner him somewhere and hurt him a lot. Nothing

was more important than Tony. He got control of his rage in time to catch Tony's next statement. "Best thing to do is leave a message with the service and either Andrea or Denise will pass it along. It's why I gave that number to personnel." "Andrea or Denise?" "Personal assistants." Tony replied tiredly. "Andrea has been with my father for more than fifteen years. Denise has been working for my stepmother for about four." He snickered darkly. "Never understood what she needed an assistant for exactly, but I guess someone has to make sure her manicure appointment doesn't interfere with her getting her hair done." The earlier inscrutable expression was suddenly back. Gibbs was betting Tony just realized he said more in the last few minutes about his family than he had in the last two years. "We done playing twenty questions?" "Yeah." Gibbs knew pushing at this point was not an option. He patted Tony's shoulder. "I'll be back in a few hours to wake you again." "You could just go home." Tony offered. "I'm fine, Boss." "Not going to happen, DiNozzo." Gibbs said firmly. "I take care of my own. And you are definitely one of mine." He wanted to make damn sure Tony never thought Gibbs would think a fucking drink to be more important than he was. It was bad enough Gibbs had messed up and Tony seemed convinced he took a back seat to the job. He needed to correct that impression, but he wasn't sure how. He knew he'd said the right thing, at least gotten some of his point across, when Tony's eyes took on a glow they only got when something or someone really pleased him. "Thanks, Boss." "You're welcome." Gibbs ruffled Tony's hair affectionately before he stood up, not wanting to give into the temptation to stay right where he was. "I'll be back in another two hours." Tony grinned. "I'll be here." ************************ ******************* Gibbs sipped his third cup of coffee, savoring the rich, robust flavor. It was darker and richer than his usual fare, but it wasn't quite as strong as what he normally drank. He had to admit the flavor was better though. Gibbs wouldn't mind drinking whatever it was on a regular basis. He frowned at the empty pot. Why the hell anyone would have a pot that didn't make at least half a dozen cups was beyond him. He sighed, resigned to having to start a new pot. He paused to study the bag of fresh ground coffee he'd pulled from Tony's fridge. Other than the name emblazoned on the white bag in large black letters there was nothing else to indicate where the coffee had come from. He'd have to ask the younger man where 'Manny's Mud' was located and see about getting some for himself. He just finished setting the coffee maker to brew a second pot when his cell phone rang. Gibbs snapped it open and answered in his usual curt fashion. "Gibbs."

"Hello, Jethro." Gibbs smiled slightly. He immediately recognized the gravelly voice that bespoke of too many cigarettes and more than a few shots of whisky packed into one lifetime. "What have you got for me, Sam?" Sam's rough chuckle carried easily through the phone. "You know, a little 'hi, how are you?' wouldn't be a bad idea, Jethro. A little chitchat about the weather, some of that make nice small talk you always here so much about. Heard tell making nice goes a long way." Gibbs snorted, one eyebrow arching. "Since when do you give a rat's ass about that crap?" Gibbs had met Sam when he was a raw Marine recruit, and Sam was working as a homicide cop considering early retirement. The old detective turned private investigator had never cared about social niceties any more than Gibbs had. "I've given a shit about that stuff since Julie's been on my ass about etiquette, won't let me smoke in the house anymore and is insistin' I eat somethin' green and leafy with at least one meal a day." Gibbs smirked. Sam and Julie had been married for nearly thirty years. It still amazed Gibbs that they appeared to love one another as deeply now as they did the day he'd met them. "She's good for you." "Yeah, she is." Sam agreed with a smile Gibbs could hear in his voice. There was a faint sound of expelled air letting Gibbs know Sam was smoking, probably finishing off his first pack of the day. He knew Julie had been working on getting him to cut down, trying to reduce his two pack a day habit down to one a day. But at 62, having smoked more than half his life, Sam wasn't likely to change is ways any times soon. "So you wanna know what I found out so far?" Gibbs rolled his eyes. "No, Sam, I want to hear all about your love life. Maybe catch up on old times." His tone was dripping with sarcasm. Sam chuckled again. "Nice to know you haven't changed." Gibbs waited while there was a sound of a striking match and indrawn air. Sam sighed softly, and Gibbs had no trouble picturing the faint cloud of smoke swirling about his old friend. "This guy?.Tony DiNozzo, he important to you?" "Very." Gibbs answered honestly. He trusted Sam---never would have asked him to research the information otherwise. And the old P.I., semi-retired, now specialized in gathering information for younger, greener investigators, showing them ropes so to speak. He was fast, thorough, and outside of Gibbs' team there was no one better at ferreting out information. Gibbs couldn't actually see Sam nod in response to his one word answer, but knew the other man well enough he knew he was doing it. A sound of understanding carried through the line letting. "Didn't figure you'd ask me to check into his medical records real quiet like if he wasn't. Nice to see you takin' an interest in someone, Jethro." "Sam." Gibbs growled, losing his patience, not wanting the older man to delve into his reasons for digging into Tony's past. "Tell me what you found out."

"Okay." He heard Sam sigh heavily. "Tracked down what you wanted. Wasn't really hard." There was a faint click of ice against glass, and the sound of gurgling liquid as it was being poured. Gibbs knew Sam was having his usual nightly shot of whiskey. "Was convenient the hospital being just an hour from here." The location was another reason Gibbs had asked Sam to do the digging. He lived close to Tony's home town. "Hell, Jethro, did you know the doctor you mentioned retired a good ten years ago? By all rights they should have shredded everythin'." A faint snort of disbelief sounded, and Gibbs could almost see Sam shaking his head. "But they kept everythin', and I mean everythin'. Got it all on microfiche, microfilm, or whatever they call it." Sam huffed out a breath. "Just had to make a trip to the tombs where they keep the old stuff. God bless the little anal retentive shit who had everything filed by year and alphabetized. Guy even cross referenced all the records." Sam sounded unmistakably impressed. "Everyone should have a guy like that on their staff." Gibbs bit his tongue to keep from trying to push Sam along, struggling to curb his impatience. The old P.I. wasn't one to be rushed. "And before you ask, yes, I got copies of everythin' and I'll send that along to you tomorrow. Knowin' you, I thought you'd want to hear it all as soon as possible, and since it wasn't even nine o'clock I figured I might as well call." "Thank you." "You're welcome." Sam returned easily. Gibbs heard anther faint clink of ice and knew Sam was sipping his drink. "First bit of info you already know about. Kid was about a month premature. Must have been tough little shit to have survived. Thirty years ago they weren't as good as they are now at that sort of thing." Gibbs unconsciously tightened his grip on the phone. He was still trying to come to terms with the realization Tony might have died before he had the chance to meet him. Gibbs took a deep breath and then another, keeping his focus on what Sam was saying. "Records are blank for a couple of years other than the usual immunization shots." Gibbs could hear rustling and knew Sam was flipping through paper. His fingers itched to be able to see and touch that information for himself. "About the time the kid was seven there is more." Sam cleared his throat. "At seven he was in with a busted arm. Mother said he'd fallen off his bike, but it was a spiral break to the radius, so I'm thinkin' that story doesn't wash." Gibbs jaw tightened. He knew breaks like that were indicative of someone twisting a child's arm. They were typically a red flag for child abuse. "At eight he was in for stitches, a split lip and a black eye. Statement says it was a scuffle at the park with another child." Sam's tone clearly stated he didn't believe that either. "At nine he was in for a broken hand. Report says he got it caught in a car door." Sam muttered darkly. "Probably did with a little help." Gibbs gripped the counter, his knuckles whitening as he held on to his rising fury. "Why the hell wasn't any of this reported to child services?" He ground that out

between tightly clenched teeth. Repeated injuries like that were supposed to alert medical professionals that there was something wrong. "DiNozzo family has a lot o' money, Jethro. Well known around here. Likely the administration didn't want to rock the boat by saying anythin'." The sound of Sam swallowing created a pause, and Gibbs really wished he had something stronger than coffee. "Hospital got itself a new wing. Got some new equipment, and chance to do more research." "Hush money." Gibbs snarled. "Maybe." Sam hedged. "Got notes here that a couple of ER physicians contacted social services but nothin' came of it. So if it wasn't the hospital, could easily have been the government bureaucracy messing up or getting paid off. Wouldn't be the first time." "Doesn't make it right." "Didn't say it did." Gibbs could almost see Sam rub a hand over his face. "You want the rest?" No. He didn't want to hear it but he needed to. "Yes." "At ten he was in twice. First time was for a concussion. Second time was for dehydration...bout of the flu that must have gotten pretty damn severe. He was in the hospital for three days." Either incident could have been innocent. They could have been the product of a normal childhood, but in light of the history of injuries Gibbs doubted they could be so blithely ignored. Sam's next comment confirmed his suspicions. "When he had the flu, the kid was brought in by the housekeeper. She said his parents were out of town for the week and had given her the weekend off. She found the kid passed out in his bed looking like death warmed over so she brought him in. Said she hadn't found him until noon because she usually saved cleanin' his room for last and she thought he'd gone to school. Kid was probably alone from Friday after school until she found him." "Jesus." Gibbs cursed quiet vehemence. "Yeah." Sam agreed quietly. "Housekeeper was an illegal immigrant. She was deported a week later." Gibbs jaw tightened. "No witness to interview." "Can't prove it but I'm betting it was the mother who called INS. She's on every other report. Old man isn't mentioned...Ever." Gibbs considered that statement and the emphasis the P.I. placed on 'ever'. Sam wasn't the type to jump to conclusions. There was likely a definitive pattern of some kind in the documents he had, something he wasn't relaying in detail, that would make him suspect Tony's mother was the abuser. Gibbs new child abuse wasn't exclusively the purview of men, any more than it was limited to poor families. He still couldn't fathom what sort of mother would willfully hurt her child. He grimaced. The same sort who never tucked her child in, obviously. He could hear Sam take another long drag on his cigarette. "At twelve he was in for a broken elbow and busted ribs. His mother said he fell down a flight of stairs."

"You believe that?" "Hell no." There was a rush of air as Sam blew out smoke. "Stairs might have been involved, but I'm thinking he didn't just trip." Sam sighed, and faint sound of him crushing his cigarette in what was probably an already overflowing ash tray could be heard. "Kid crackin' some ribs again at thirteen might be legit. That happened at school during a baseball game. Kid was playin' third base. Was a pile up when a runner slide into him. Coach took him to the hospital. Note says his parents couldn't be reached so he went home from the hospital with another relative." Gibbs frowned. "Who?" "Signature says Suzanne DiNozzo." Gibbs wondered if that might not be the Aunt Sully Tony mentioned. He made a mental note to track down this Suzanne. She wasn't listed with among his father's sisters. Tony seemed to regard her fondly but if she knew about his mother beating the crap out of him, Gibbs intended to have a few words with her too. "Last record I found was when he was fifteen." Ice clinked against glass again as Sam shifted his drink. That would have been about the same time Tony's mother was killed. It made sense if she was the abuser that trips to the hospital would stop with her being dead. Gibbs could hear the sound of more papers ruffling. "Found a news clipping on the accident that I'll send you with everythin' else. Drunk driver hit them at an intersection. Kid was lucky to get away with a couple of broken ribs, a fractured cheekbone, and a concussion. Needed the jaws-of-life to get Elizabeth DiNozzo's body out of the car. Cause of death for her is list as blunt force trauma?guessing she bled out internally before they could get her out of the car." Gibbs swallowed hard. He hadn't realized Tony was in the car with her when that happened. It was yet another incident of how close he'd come to having never met Tony. He made a note to light another candle the next time he was in church. It wouldn't hurt to continue to pray for Tony's well being and let God know just how grateful he was he'd been given the opportunity to get to know the younger man. Of course, if he and the almighty ever met, Gibbs fully intended to express his displeasure with how Tony had been treated while growing up. "Nothin' else in his records from that point on." Sam coughed, the harsh hacking sound of a long time smoker. "I'll have this in the mail to you tomorrow." "Thanks, Sam. I owe you one." "Don't owe me a thing." Sam countered. "Always happy to help out a friend." There was a brief pause. "Let me know if you need anythin' else." "Will do, Sam." Gibbs ended the call. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He really wanted to hit something. If he were home, he'd be in the basement putting his anger and frustration to work on building his boat. Gibbs shook his head. He forced himself to sip his coffee and relax his shoulders. He unconsciously started pacing again, thoughts churning as he worked through all the

details Sam had given him striving for analytical distance, to not view the repeated incidents as happening to someone he care for. He was suddenly overcome with the urge to make sure Tony was all right, to know he was where Gibbs could protect him. Gibbs headed down the hall to the younger man's bedroom without conscious thought. He left his now empty mug on the counter has he passed by. He hesitated inside the door way, blue eyes seeking Tony. He had expected to find the younger man the way he had the last time, stretched out on his back, sleeping soundly. Instead, Tony was curled into a tight ball, huddled against the headboard, shivering. Gibbs winced knowing that position had be wreaking havoc with Tony's cracked ribs. He stepped closer, intent on waking the younger man, getting him into a more comfortable position. He frowned as he heard Tony whispering, his voice sounding almost childlike. "I'm sorry..I'm sorry...I didn't...please Momma...Please...I'll be good." Tony ducked his head as though avoiding a blow, breaths coming in harsh pants. "Shouldn't run...Not in the house...Know better... sorry...don't...please." Gibbs sat on the bed, reaching out to touch Tony's shoulder, maintaining the contact even when Tony flinched away from him and huddled closer to the headboard. "Shhhhh...easy, Tony...It's me, Gibbs...You are having a nightmare." Tony stilled, face turning blindly toward Gibbs. "Boss?" "It's me, DiNozzo." Gibbs rubbed Tony's shoulder, not liking the tension he could still feel wracking the younger man's lanky frame. Or the fact that Tony didn't appear to be awake. He didn't want him to stay trapped within his nightmare. "I don't want to be here." Tony whispered. "Then come with me." Gibbs offered, the plea in Tony's voice nearly undoing him. "I can...go with you?" He sounded so desperate, so eager. "Yes." Gibbs stated firmly inordinately pleased that Tony placed that much trust in him, wanted to be with him even if it was simply to escape a nightmare. He raised his other hand to softly caress Tony's cheek. "You are one of mine, remember? Of course you can come with me." "Can we go back to the beach?" Tony smiled shyly, eyes still closed as his posture uncurled slightly. "Loved it there." Gibbs raised an eyebrow not sure what Tony was talking about, but he figured it didn't matter. As long as it got Tony wasn't afraid any more and relaxed he was fine with it. "Sure, Tony, we can go to the beach." Tony sighed and uncurled completely. He moaned, one arm wrapping around his ribs. Gibbs helped him stretch out. He pulled the comforter back up around Tony, wondering if he shouldn't wake the younger man completely and get him to take another painkiller. Gibbs shifted to pull away, but Tony had a firm grip on his shirt. The younger man made a soft sound of distress, clearly troubled by the Gibbs attempt to leave. Unwilling to upset him any further, Gibbs sighed and opted to stay put.

He ran his fingers through Tony's hair, smiling when Tony sighed and relaxed even further. He continued to play with Tony's hair, letting the action soothe them both for several minutes. Tony's breathing was again deep and even, the earlier stillness Gibbs had noted once more settling over him. Gibbs shifted when the slightly hunched over position he'd been in started to bother his back. The grip on his shirt tightened. "Easy, Tony...it's okay. Just need to find a comfortable place for me." To his surprise, Tony moved over on the bed, an unconscious invitation. Gibbs debated with himself for less than a second before simply giving in and lying down next to Tony. He couldn't believe how satisfying it was to have the younger man curl into him slightly, the hand gripping his shirt shifted to wrap around his stomach, head moving to rest on his shoulder. Gibbs sighed. He hadn't been this comfortable in a long, long time. It was wrong--hell, Tony was injured, vulnerable, had suffered through a nightmare likely related to childhood trauma---Gibbs knew he should not be taking advantage of this situation. But he wanted this. Desperately wanted this moment of intimacy, of shared comfort. He turned his head to lay his cheek against Tony's hair, nuzzling him, enjoying the fragrance that teased him. He was unable to stifle the sudden rush of simple joy when Tony reacted to his touch by moving even closer. One hour, he promised himself. One hour. Then he'd wake Tony again like he was supposed to. No reason the younger man even needed to know about this. None at all. ********************* ******************** ***** Tony resisted the idea of waking up despite the steady insistence of his full bladder that he do so. He was warm and comfortable. He felt safe and secure, like he hadn't felt since he was six when his mother fired his nanny and flatly refused to hire another. His nanny, Rosita Manuel, hadn't particularly maternal, any more than is own mother was. But she saw to it that Tony got enough to eat, a bath every day and was always neatly dressed and well behaved when his parents were around. She didn't object to him playing in the dirt outside or entertaining himself in the numerous rooms of the house as long as he didn't interrupt her soap operas or damage anything. And while she drew a firm line at doing any more than the minimum for or with Tony, she didn't have any reservations about doing whole lot more for his father. Elizabeth DiNozzo was willing to turn a blind eye to her husband's dalliances most of the time. It was one thing for him to fool around at the office with a secretary, but quite another to disrespect her within confines of her own home, in her own bed no less. When she found out about Rosita and her husband, she put her foot down. Rosita was out the door so fast she barely had time to dress. Tony didn't understand the fight he'd overheard between his mother and father until years later, but even at he age of six he was smart enough to realize the phrases 'gold digging whore' and 'drunk horny bastards always looking for perky tits' were not good things. When he asked about Rosita---once and only once--his mother told him he was too old for a nanny and he was never to speak of her again. Tony readily understood the argument was far more likely the reason Rosita was gone.

Without her, his mother woke him for school in the mornings. He'd learn quickly that she had no patience for him, usually more concerned with ensuring her hair was perfect and her makeup flawless before she left the house. By the time he was seven he was up and out of bed, had eaten his breakfast and was ready to go when his mother was prepared to leave. He dreaded having to face her wrath for making her late or embarrassing her in front of the other mothers at school by not being dressed appropriately. He shifted restlessly, memory of his earlier nightmare surfacing. He froze when he felt someone's touch; a hand ran lightly down his chest in what was clearly intended to be a soothing gesture. Tony didn't remember going to bed with anyone, the lack of memory terrifying him for a moment. Memory gaps usually coincided with painful events. Like when he was twelve and had awoken at the hospital after his mother had met him at the top of the stairs, livid at him for running through the house and making so much noise. He vaguely remembered trying to dodge her slap, something that always made her even angrier, then losing his footing and a sensation of falling, but after that everything was a blur. Tony kept his eyes closed, now wide awake, assessing his surroundings. Warm and comfortable, he easily recognized the feel of his own bed and linens. He had paid an exorbitant sum for a high quality mattress with just the right blend of resistance and give. Tony had yet to encounter another bed as comfortable as his own. The thousand count Egyptian cotton sheets and down comforter were soft as silk, and as distinctive as his mattress. He listened intently, keen hearing focused on what was going on around him. The usual silence of his bedroom was broken by the sound of a light snore---not loud, more like just someone breathing very deeply. It was oddly familiar to him, as though he'd been hearing it for awhile and simply hadn't recognized it. Everything else was as it should be. He kept his breathing slow and even, scenting his surroundings at the same time. Tony had always had a good sense of smell and had used it to his advantage on more than one occasion. He could easily make out the faint lavender and sandalwood scent that permeated his linens. He caught the faint citrus smell from the cleaner Louisa used when she dusted, and the barest hint of her delicate gardenia perfume. And right next to him---sawdust, something faintly spicy and coffee. Tony unconsciously smiled. The combination of scents could only mean one thing, Gibbs. His smile faded into a frown. Why would Gibbs be in his bed? Maybe he was still dreaming. He vaguely remembered Gibbs coming to get him, rescuing him from his parents' house and taking him back to the beach. But that wasn't real. He knew that. It couldn't be. The older man had never been to his parents' place, and he had never been to a beach with Gibbs. It was just a very pleasant fantasy. He'd tried once to find a substitute for Gibbs, thinking maybe if he just got a chance to get it out of his system the attraction would go away, but that had been a dismal failure and he never tried again. The other man had looked a bit like Gibbs. He had Gibbs' build, gray hair and blue eyes, but he hadn't sounded, smelled or acted anything like the former marine. They'd ended up with Tony sucking the man off and leaving almost immediately afterward. The other man hadn't seemed to notice or

even care that Tony hadn't really been turned on or gotten off during their blessedly brief encounter. Steeling himself, Tony sighed and opened his eyes, ready to find out who his bedmate was and find out what it would take to get him to leave without too much fuss. He rarely invited anyone home with him, almost never in fact. He flirted a lot, dated a great deal but very few of his dates really ended the way he let his coworkers assume. Tony was genuinely surprised to encounter the object of his fantasies curled up next to him, soundly sleeping. Tony blinked---Gibbs was still there. He studied the older man's face, enjoying the opportunity to so without having to censure himself. Usually when sleeping, people appeared younger. Gibbs simply looked like himself-a bit more approachable, more relaxed, but essentially the same. Tony hesitated to even think the older man looked ?unguarded', feeling somehow disloyal for even considering that adjective. Tony bit his lip to keep from giving into the urge to lean in and kiss Gibbs. He didn't know why the former Marine was in his bed, but he was sure it had to be something innocent, platonic. Kissing him would be a huge mistake. Monumental. Gibbs had been married three times, Tony reminded himself brutally. Even if Gibbs was interested in a relationship with a man it wouldn't be someone like him. A one off thing maybe---hell that was pretty much all Tony really expected from most of his sexual encounters. His own mother couldn't stand him for very long, there was no reason to expect anyone else would either. As much as he craved and enjoyed being cuddled, he simply couldn't fathom Gibbs being interested in doing that with him. There had to be some nicely logical reason for him to be in Tony's bed. Just because he couldn't figure out what it might be didn't mean there wasn't one. Tony shifted, trying to move away, to put distance between himself and the older man. Resisting temptation had never been his strong suit, so it was better to practice a policy of avoidance. If he stayed where he was too much longer he'd be unable to keep from kissing Gibbs and most likely attempting a lot more. Best thing to do was put distance between them. And his bladder was still insisting he get up and take care of business, now certainly seemed as good a time as any. His attempt to move away was halted by Gibbs arm around his waist tightening. The older man mumbled something and curled in closer to him. Tony wiggled a little more smiling slightly as he tried to escape the older man's hold without waking him. Gibbs likely thought he was sleeping with one if redheads. Tony blinked in surprise when Gibbs whispered his name. "Sssshhh...s'okay, Tony." Gibbs patted his chest. Well, I guess he knows who he's sleeping with, Tony thought with a small smile. Still didn't explain why Gibbs was in his bed, but it was nice to know that he didn't seem to mind being there. His bladder complained, and Tony tried again to slip out of Gibbs' grasp. Again the older man tightened his grip. This time it caused Tony to gasp softly, reminded anew of his cracked ribs and why Gibbs was at his house. Tony, closed his eyes, taking a few shallow breaths, riding out the little flash of pain.

He opened his eyes to find himself looking into Gibbs' clear cerulean counterparts. Tony smiled uncertainly. "Hey." Gibbs' brows pulled together slightly. He looked as confused as Tony had felt when he woke to discover Gibbs in his bed. "Hey, yourself." His voice was a gravelly, far less smooth than normal, and Tony quivered internally as it the rough words seemed to almost tangibly ghost over his skin. He memorized the feeling, filing it away for reference, where he could find if later and use it to embellish future fantasies. "You cold?" Gibbs asked, already reaching to pull up the comforter that had slipped down in response to Tony's efforts to pull away. Tony shook his head, taking advantage of the older man's movement to roll away toward the other side of the bed. "Need to get up." He made a vague gesture with one hand, unwilling to risk looking at Gibbs again. "Didn't mean to wake you." "I shouldn't have been sleeping in the first place." If he didn't know better, Tony would have said Gibbs sounded embarrassed. This would be a great time to ask what the older man was doing in his bed, but Tony couldn't quite bring himself to voice the question. Discretion was the better part of valor, he told himself. Tony levered himself out of bed; he ignored the faint chill of the bedroom that contrasted sharply with the shared warm of the bed he'd just vacated and caused goosebumps to appear almost immediately. His ankle, still wrapped, protested supporting his weight and he would have fallen if Gibbs' hadn't suddenly been there to offer support. Tony could feel the heat in his face, and was grateful the small lamp on his night stand didn't cast enough light to reveal his mortification. "Thanks, Boss." "You okay now?" Gibbs asked, sounding genuinely concerned. "Fine." Tony let himself enjoy the thought that Gibbs might really care about him as more than just a member of his team before his internal voice told him to stop being stupid. He was damn lucky to have a place on the team, and it would be best not to forget that. He shrugged off Gibbs hand and limped toward the bathroom. He shut the door, glad to have the privacy the bathroom afforded him, taking the opportunity to regain some of his composure. Tony took as deep a breath as his ribs would allow, letting it out slowly before doing it again. He flipped on the light, and flinched, holding one hand up to shield his eyes from the bright light. He stared at his reflection, wincing at the ugly bruise on his cheek. At least his head didn't hurt any more, a fact he was grateful for. He took care of the pressing issue that got him out of bed in the first place. Tony washed his hands. Not liking the taste in his mouth he brushed his teeth as well realizing he had forgotten to do that before he went to bed. He grinned to himself, amused that if he'd known before hand Gibbs would end up in his bed, he'd have made sure he was better prepared.

He snickered. Stupid concussion must still be messing with his head. Not like he'd have had the courage to kiss Gibbs anyway. Stupidity maybe, but not the courage. And Gibbs sure as hell wasn't likely to just plant a big wet one on him, mores the pity. He grimaced remembering what he'd said about his mother and father when Gibbs had woken him before. Maybe Gibbs wouldn't remember that. Tony snorted. Would be easier to imagine the former Marine forgetting his own name. It wasn't like it what he said was a lie, but Tony had learned a long time ago that the truth wasn't necessarily what people wanted to hear. It was better to tell them what they wanted to hear, or couch things in the right way to let them assume whatever they hell they wanted to since they would most likely do that anyway. At least he hadn't told Kate anything definitive about his family. She'd want to talk about it, analyze it, would no doubt use it against him. Better to simply keep her guessing as he'd been doing. He trusted Gibbs----more so than he ever had anyone else in his life---so if he had slipped up and say more than he should, it was better to have done with Gibbs. A soft tap at the door startled him. Tony shook his head. He must have spent too much time thinking. Gibbs wasn't known for is patience. "Tony...you okay in there?" Tony sighed. It was time to go face the music. He opened the door. "Fine, Boss." He knew his tone made it clear he was tired of answering that question. Maybe Gibbs would take the hint and stop asking, but Tony doubted it. Tony smiled slightly at Gibbs wrinkled, slightly disheveled appearance. He could count on one hand the number of times he'd seen the other man with even a hair out of place. It was nice to know he wasn't always perfect. Tony filed that bit of information away for future reference. "You should go home." "Think we've already had this discussion, DiNozzo." Tony snorted, unable to stop himself. He was pretty sure ?discussion' wasn't exactly the right adjective for what they'd done. Although, if Gibbs thought Tony suggesting something and him flatly refusing was a real discussion it went a long way to explaining why he'd been divorced three times. Tony nodded, accepting that Gibbs was still set on staying. He didn't quite understand it, but there was a lot about the other man he didn't get. Tony was learning to be comfortable with the experience. "You want another painkiller?" "No." Tony shook his head. He felt pretty good at the moment. A little achy, still very tired, but nothing he couldn't handle. Blue eyes raked over him, clearly assessing him, before Gibbs slowly nodded. "If you're sure-" "I am." Gibbs nodded. "Okay." Tony as pleased that Gibbs wasn't going to force any more pills on him. He yawned, still feeling the need for more sleep, eyes unconsciously seeking the antique mantel

clock that sat on his dresser. The small numbers posed no problem for him, even in the faint lighting. "Did I sleep through a concussion check?" Tony asked, confused to find it was nearly midnight. The last check he remembered had been around eight. Gibbs looked rueful. "No...I...ah...I fell asleep and forgot." Tony chuckled softly and waved a hand in a dismissive motion. "Happens." He hadn't really thought being woken ever two hours was really necessary. Feeling more certain of himself now that they weren't actually in bed together, Tony couldn't resist teasing Gibbs. "Know my bed is more comfortable than the couch, but I didn't think it was irresistible." He waggled his eyebrows. "Unless of course it was me you couldn't resist." Tony was astounded to see Gibbs blush. He figured it had more to do with the former Marine being embarrassed he'd fallen asleep when he was supposed to be on duty than anything else. He immediately felt bad for teasing him knowing how seriously Gibbs took any responsibility he assumed. "Don't sweat it, Boss. No harm done." "You don't mind that I-" "Fell asleep in my bed?" Tony interrupted with a smile, not wanting to make a bigger issue of it than it was or embarrass either of them. It wasn't like anything had really happened, certainly nothing like what he wished had. "Like I said, no big deal." He turned back to the bed, wanting to lay down again; he missed the relieved, faintly hopeful look on Gibbs face. Tony slid back under the covers with a quiet sigh, glad to once more have weight off his ankle. He already missed the weight and warmth provided by the older man, feeling chilled and lonely in spite of the residual heat and the fact that Gibbs hadn't left the room yet. He shivered, stifling a faint moan that action caused. "You're cold." The statement made him look at Gibbs again, piercing blue eyes holding him in place, almost demanding an explanation. The room really wasn't that chilly, certainly not enough to cause Tony to shiver under normal conditions. The younger man wanted to ignore Gibbs' look, reluctant to admit to anything that might make the other man think less of him, but another shiver racked him making that impossible. Tony sighed. At least his teeth weren't chattering this time like they did when he was stuck in the hospital. "Sometimes, when I get hurt, I have trouble staying warm." Tony reluctantly told Gibbs, unable to not answer the unvoiced question. After the car accident that had killed his mother, a doctor had explained to him that the chill he felt could be akin to delayed shock or possibly physiological need for temporary comfort. Tony preferred to think of it shock rather than the product of fear. Gibbs frowned. "This has happened before?" "Yeah." Tony admitted hesitantly, refusing to say how often since he didn't think Gibbs needed to know that or would care. "Look...It's not a big deal. I'll warm up eventually." He should have turned up the heat, but had forgotten about it until now.

He opened his mouth again to say what he wasn't quite sure, but stopped abruptly when Gibbs moved to get in bed with him again. "What are you doing?" "Making sure you're warm enough." Gibbs answered, tone very matter of fact. Another small shiver made him wince. "Boss, you don't have to do-" "Shut up, DiNozzo." Gibbs ordered gently. "Told you before, you are one of mine, and I take care of my own." Tony knew he should argue, resist the temptation being offered, but he wanted the warmth, wanted to share space with Gibbs again and actually be aware of it this time. He smiled to himself as Gibbs made himself comfortable in Tony's bed wondering why he even thought he had a choice in the matter. "Comfy?" He couldn't resist asking. Gibbs gave him a cheeky smile and made a show of settling, like a little kid. It surprised grin from Tony who was always delighted to learn there was a playful side to the older man even if it was often at his expense. Tony rolled his eyes and laid down, instinctively shifting closer, drawn to Gibbs heat and the feeling of safety that he always associated with him. "Name?" Gibbs asked abruptly. Tony snickered, both amused and reassured that Gibbs was determined to continue with the required concussion twenty questions routine. "You know I think it's safe to say I've answered that one enough we could take it off the standard question list." Gibbs rolled on his side, facing him, not quite as close as Tony would like him to be, but closer than he was really sure Gibbs should be. "Okay---I'll ask you something else then." Resigned to the situation, Tony nodded. "Fire away." "Tell me more about your Aunt Sully." "Don't think that's a question, Boss." Tony couldn't resist pointing out, his irrepressible sense of humor making itself known, lips quirking upward in a wise ass smile. He was rewarded with a light tap on his forehead that morphed into Gibbs running his fingers through Tony's hair. It was likely the best he could do given that the back of Tony's head was on available. The younger man felt himself relaxing under that touch, wondering vaguely why it felt so familiar, so natural. "Just tell me about her, DiNozzo." Gibbs commanded softly, his hand running through Tony's hair once more before pulling away, leaving Tony feeling a bit disappointed by the loss of contact. "Sully." Tony smiled, as he always did whenever he thought of her, not really curious as to why Gibbs wanted to know about her. She was definitely a better topic of discussion than the rest of his family, the only one he really had more good memories of than bad. He didn't mind talking about her at all. "Her real name was Suzanne, but I don't think anyone ever called her that. At least not that I know of. Not sure when or why she got the nickname but it was pretty much all she used." Tony yawn, instinctively moving even closer to Gibbs enjoying the warmth too much to really question his actions. He chose not to think about how natural having Gibbs

in his bed felt, how comfortable and safe he felt with him there. "She was really a second cousin or something like that, but I always called her Aunt Sully. She was cool---a bit of a free spirit I suppose." Compared to the rest of the usually staid, and oh so proper in public DiNozzo family, Sully was definitely unique. She was energetic and engaging. And she had an innate sense of how to navigate the rough waters of family politics, able to converse and interact with the most pompous and pretentious as well as with the young children and disaffected. She never married or had children of her own, but there was no way he could ever think of her as a spinster. Sully had too much life for that title to ever fit. Tony shook his head slightly. "Sully was one of a kind. Never knew for sure what color her hair would be when you saw her next, had a tattoo or two, and would try anything once, twice if she liked it." "Sounds like Abby." Gibbs commented quietly. "A bit." Tony smiled sleepily. "Might be what Abby will be like in another twenty years or so." Assuming Abby ever learned how to blend in as well as stand out while still being herself at all times. It was a trick he really wished he'd learned. "You spend a lot of time with her?" "Almost every summer from the time was seven until I was seventeen." Tony answered honestly. He never quite understood why she made the offer to take him on when there were so many other kids in the family to choose from but he was grateful. It got him away from his mother and father, gave him something to look forward to, and she seemed to enjoy spending time with him. It was Sully who'd taken him to Disneyland. She took him hiking in Yellowstone and whitewater rafting in New Mexico. She also took him to the theatre on Broadway and Art at the Louver. It was with her that he was introduced to Pompeii for the first time and became fascinated with history. She encouraged his interests sending him books each year for his birthday. Many of which were on his bookshelf, the small notes she'd written in the front cover of each one still evoked many fond memories. God, but he missed her. "Where is she now?" Gibbs soft question interrupted his thoughts. Tony sighed softly. "She's dead." Sully had died a week after he'd graduated from high school, and he grieved for her far more than he ever had for his mother. "I'm sorry." Gibbs' apology sounded genuine if a bit awkward. "Not your fault, Boss." Tony closed his eyes, burying that old sense of loss back where it belonged. "Happened along time ago." "I shouldn't have asked." "Sully is worth talking about." Tony countered quietly. "Doesn't hurt to remember her." It hurt to think of her as gone, a void being left, but it never hurt to think of her personally. Sully was one of the few people he'd known who had really lived her life. She'd reveled in it, throwing herself into each new adventure. In the letter she left for Tony she'd stated quite clearly that she had many joys and only a few regrets, and didn't want him thinking how tragic it was her life was cut short---she believed a tragedy would have been to have died without really living. She also made it clear that her

biggest regret was that she'd been unable to keep him for longer than three months a year. Although they'd never discussed what went on in his house, Tony knew she knew and had done her best to help---he didn't hold it against her. All his aunts and uncles likely knew but none of them had bothered to do anything, she'd at least given him a safe place every year. And she left him enough money to be able to be able to do anything he wanted, a means of escaping the family business the way his Aunt Anna had years before. He'd paid for college, and had enough invested that the interest supplemented his income so that he could indulge himself once in awhile and didn't have to rely on his father and stepmother for any financial support. "How did she die?" "Cancer." It had been so far along when it was diagnosed there was nothing the doctors could do. She'd never said so, but Tony suspected she'd hung on as long as she did because she wanted to see him graduate, determined to be there when he walked across the stage, proud of him even if he wasn't valedictorian. "Anything else you want to know?" Tony knew his tone clearly implied the right answer was 'no', verbally erecting barriers again, but he didn't care. "Not right now." Gibbs answered softly, one hand patting his arm in a soothing gesture. "I can...go to sleep?" Tony asked, wanting to be sure, although at the moment he wasn't sure he'd be able to stay awake if Gibbs said no. "You warm enough?" He was likely asking that as in preparation of getting out of bed and letting Tony sleep alone. Tony shivered, unconsciously reacting to the thought of Gibbs leaving. The older man moved even closer. "Guess not. I'll stay for a bit yet then if that's okay?" "Sure." Tony whispered, drowsily, relieved he didn't have to ask the other man to stay, grateful Gibbs was willing to make the offer. "Go to sleep, Tony." Now that was one order he'd have no trouble following. ****************** ***************** ********** Gibbs roused himself, coming awake and aware in a moment. He instinctively checked Tony, making sure the younger man still okay. Tony was sleeping peacefully, his breathing slow, deep and even, just has he had been since the last concussion check. Gibbs sighed and glanced toward the clock on Tony's dresser, squinting to read the numbers. Why they hell Tony didn't have an alarm clock on this night stand was a mystery. Although, Gibbs had to admit he rather liked the faint chime that the antique clock used to mark each hour and half hour. It was four forty am. For getting less than six hours, and most of that broken into two hour blocks, Gibbs felt more relaxed and rested than he had in a long time. Tony's bed was definitely better than his, no doubt about that.

He knew it was more than the bed that made for such a refreshing night's sleep. Gibbs always found he slept better with someone than when he was alone. It was one of the reasons he'd remarried so quickly after each divorce-he craved being able to curl next to warm body, to be able to relax and be near another person. The craving to be close to another human being was something he could control or at least ignore during his waking hours. But at night, on his own, Gibbs found the craving for the comfort that could only be found with someone one else kept him from sleeping deeply or for more than a few hours. That he could help Tony by sleeping with him---ease those shivers that had made him wince in pain---well that was an added bonus making last night a win/win in Gibbs opinion. He stretched slightly, muscles flexing and twitching. Gibbs sighed, enjoying the novel feeling of heavy limbs and lack of tension. He shifted again, careful not to disturb Tony. He would love to wake up like this every morning. Gibbs sighed softly, studying the younger man's profile. He couldn't believe how easily Tony had accepted his presence in his bed. Gibbs had expected more ribbing over his falling asleep in the first place, and a lot more awkwardness between them. It was heartening to know Tony really didn't seem to mind sharing space with him, wasn't offended or nervous about it at all. Would be a bit more of a leap to think he'd want to do more in bed with Gibbs than just sleep, but older man couldn't quite stifle the bit of optimism that rose within him. Gibbs glanced at the clock again. Ordinarily he'd be getting up in another twenty minutes or so. He liked to get in some time working on his boat before going to the office. Gibbs would never admit it out loud but it was a form of meditation for him, something that it helped him focus and get ready for the day, unwind from a less than relaxing night. He also used the work to get centered, to be firmly in control before he encountered Tony each morning. It was too easy to slip up otherwise, and give into the desire to pin Tony up against the wall and ravage him. Especially after some of the more vivid, erotic dreams he'd been having lately. It was getting hard to ignore those, to pretend it didn't mean anything that he dreamt about getting well and truly fucked by the younger agent. Gibbs shook his head, relieved that those dreams hadn't made an appearance last night. It was dangerous to even think about them in his own home or at the office, but here in Tony's bed, lying next to the object of his fantasies---it was close to suicidal. Gibbs shuddered and told himself to behave, to shut those thoughts and dreams safely into the back of his mind. He trusts me, Gibbs told himself savagely, don't you even dare think about betraying that. Based on what he'd learned about Tony's childhood that trust was far more of a precious gift than Gibbs had realized. He didn't want to lose that. Not now. Not when he thought he might, just might have a shot at more. He needed more time to figure out just how good a shot---time to repair the damage he'd done without realizing it, time to ease the old hurts both emotional and physical inflicted by Tony's mother. He wasn't sure, but he had a feeling if he moved too fast he'd lose a shot at the reward he was planning to risk it all for. Gibbs sighed regretfully. He wasn't good with temptation; and right now Tony was one hell of a temptation. Most people would never believe Gibbs had a weakness, that he ever wanted anything he didn't just take or had issues with controlling himself-

and he worked hard to maintain that impression but it was still just an illusion, one that was fading fast. Even as he told himself to stop, Gibbs found himself playing with Tony's hair. It was innocent enough, he told himself, harmless. He could do this, just this. Tony hadn't objected before. In fact he seemed to sleep better for the attention. Gibbs loved the way the silky strands slid through his fingers. It was almost as though the soft locks were caressing him in turn. He closed his eyes to better focus on the sensation, memorizing it, knowing he might never get another chance. Gibbs smiled when Tony made a soft sound of satisfaction that the former Marine could only think of as purring. He leaned in to breath in the scent of the younger man. The former Marine could never pin down the exact fragrance, but Tony always smelled good, appealing. He'd managed to grasp components of the scent---a little mint, a little musk, something light and sweet like tree ripened peaches he'd eaten as a child-but he had yet to pin down what it was exactly. Gibbs had mentally labeled the combination 'Tony' and let it go at that. Remembering his moment of great daring when Tony was asleep on the couch, Gibbs placed a whisper soft kiss on younger man's forehead. Tony sighed and moved a bit closer. Gibbs smile deepened, innately pleased that the younger man responded favorably even though still asleep. He cupped Tony's face, enjoying the feel of light early morning stubble brushing against his palms, reveling in the new sensation he could add to his growing collection of things he'd mentally marked as belonging to the younger man. Gibbs held his breath when Tony turned his head to nuzzle one calloused hand. It could have been just his imagination, wishful thinking on his part, but Gibbs would swear that Tony placed a kiss in his palm. The rush of heat to his groin suddenly brought his usual morning hard on painfully to his attention. Struggling for control, Gibbs slid out of bed. He was not going to ravish Tony in his sleep. He shuddered, hands curling into fists. He was not going to abuse the trust he'd been given. He'd never taken advantage of someone he cared about before, he wasn't going to start now. He ignored the faint sound of loss Tony made, ignored the disappointed sigh as the younger man moved restlessly for a moment. It was as though he already missed Gibbs presence. Gibbs forced himself to back away. He made his way silently to the bathroom. He closed the door quietly behind him and leaned against it. He took a deep breath and then another. It was no good. The whole bathroom smelled like Tony. His hands still tingled from touching his hair, the feel of Tony's skin. Gibbs recognized a losing battle when he saw one. He undid his pants, and shoved them aside to give him enough access to his hard cock. He moved away from the door, biting his lip to keep from crying out as he stroked himself. He kept his stokes quick, his touch just right to get him off quickly. This wasn't really about pleasure, it was simply the need for release. He couldn't really even pretend it was Tony's hand---every sensory memory he had of Tony it was Gibbs who did the touching, so while he knew what the younger man felt like, he had no idea what it felt

like to have Tony touch him. He'd thought about it often enough. Dreamed about it. But still, he had nothing concrete to draw on. Not that it mattered at the moment. He stifled a moan as he remembered the feel of Tony's hair, the softness of his skin, that rough ?I just woke up' voice, the tantalizing and oh so alluring scent of him, the warmth and weight of him so close as they lay in bed together. Gibbs unconsciously called up the crystal clear memory he had of seeing Tony naked. God...he'd never been so damn grateful for iguanas before in his life. He desperately wished he'd had more time to memorize the vision of Tony naked, to take in all the details. He had suspected the younger man was solid, nicely toned and defined, but finding out for sure had been---breathtaking. Gibbs stifled a moan as he used the pad of his thumb to rub across the head of his cock on each up stroke. He gripped the vanity, knuckles whitening as he rode out another wave of pleasure, desperately wishing he had more than a fantasy to draw on at this moment. His widened his stance as his hips started rocking in time with his stroke. There were white flashes behind his tightly closed lids and he knew he wouldn't last much longer. He didn't want to; made no effort to hold back giving himself over to the breaking wave. Gibbs bit his lip to keep from crying out Tony's name as he came hard, cum splattering in the sink Gibbs shuddered, drawing in a shaky breath as he recovered, leaning against the vanity waiting for his knees to stop shaking. He swallowed hard and took a deep breath, holding it before letting it out slowly. One more deep breath and he opened his eyes, deliberately avoiding looking at his own reflection as washed away the evidence of his climax. He washed his hands and face as well. He straightened his clothing, tucking himself back in, grimacing at the wrinkles and the vaguely grungy feeling. Gibbs shook his head. He needed a shower. He had a change of clothes with him in the car. Now might be a good time to go get them--before Tony was awake. It would be easier to face the younger man, especially after this, if he could at least pretend that he had it together He stared at his refection for a moment. "Okay...step one, get a change of clothes. Step two, shower, shave and pull yourself the hell together. Step, three a damn big cup of coffee. Then wake Tony and..." He took a deep breath. "And then I start figuring out how to find out if he'd wants what I want." Gibbs nodded to himself. He could do this. It didn't matter if he wasn't entirely sure how. He'd figure it out. It's what he did for a living---and Tony was worth it. *********************** ******************* The soft chime from the mantel clock woke Tony at six just like it did every day. Having owned the clock since Sully bequeathed it to him more than a decade ago, Tony had long since learned to subconsciously tune out those chimes that didn't matter and key into the ones that did. Ordinarily he'd be up and headed for the gym, but he knew it would be awhile before the cracked ribs and sprained ankle were up for a regular work out. He sat up with a soft sigh, one hand rubbing sleep from his eyes. Sleeping in had stopped being an option when he was seven; habit kept him from being able to

capitalize on the opportunity as an adult when he was afforded a chance to do so. He glanced around the room, disappointed to find himself alone. Tony couldn't clearly remember but he thought he might have heard the shower running earlier. That had to have been Gibbs. He didn't really begrudge the older man a chance to freshen up, nor was he surprised to find the former Marine was an early riser, but he'd been hoping for the chance to wake up next to him again. Tony just filed that hope away with all the others he knew didn't stand a snow ball's chance in hell of happening. He did a few limited stretches, working to get rid of some of the kinks yesterday's events had created. The cracked ribs kept him from doing anything to strenuous, but the activity still felt good, limbering his joints and easing left over aches. Satisfied, Tony limped his way to the bathroom, wincing at the bright lighting when he flicked the switch. The only indication Gibbs had used the bathroom was the still damp light blue towel hanging neatly from the rack. Guess he found everything okay, Tony thought, shrugging to himself. He knew he wouldn't win any awards as a host, but then Gibbs was hardly the sort who seemed need catering to. Tony stripped out of his t-shirt and sweats. He hated sleeping in clothes but he was damn glad he'd bothered to last night. One more layer of protection between him and Gibbs had probably been a good thing. He deftly undid the ace bandage around his ankle. The swelling wasn't too bad. He'd seen it a lot worse. In another day or so it would be back to normal. A glance in the mirror at the bruises decorating his torso made him purse his lips in a silent whistle. It had been a long time since he'd had ones that color. It would be a week or better before those faded. Tony stepped into the shower with a sigh. The hot water felt wonderful, easing residual aches and pains. He grimaced as he washed his hair, belatedly remembering he had a few sore spots there to be wary of. At least the main affects of the concussion-the headache and dizziness---hadn't lasted long. He knew he'd still have to be careful about what he ate for the next day or so---nothing too heavy or anything that would hurt on the return trip just in case the nausea returned. Tony shaved while he was in the shower. It was just as easy to do it there as over the sink in his opinion, especially with a water proof electric razor. And there was the added bonus of no nicks to worry about. He'd never been able to grow much in the way of a beard. Not that it mattered since most of his dates seemed to prefer him to be clean shaven. Tony turned off the water and stepped out of the shower, bracing himself carefully until he was sure his ankle would hold. He dried off, hanging his towel next to the one Gibbs had used. He smiled slightly wondering how surprised Gibbs would be to learn he was one of only a scant handful of other people who'd used his shower. Tony rewrapped his ankle before heading back to the bedroom to dress. A suit was out of the question since he'd never be able to get his dress shoes on with his foot and ankle wrapped. He opted for a pair of black jeans, a black knit turtle neck that fit like a second skin and a dark green v-neck sweater. It would qualify as office casual, and wouldn't look too out of place with his sneakers.

He finger combed his hair. Styling it could wait until after he'd eaten breakfast. By then it would be mostly dry anyway. Best thing about getting it cut shorter. Tony wasn't surprised to see Gibbs at his kitchen table in a fresh set of clothes. He knew the older man kept a change of clothes in the car as well as at the office. Tony had started doing likewise not long after he joined NCIS. It just paid to be prepared. He was mildly disappointed to not have the chance to again see a rumpled Gibbs. Gibbs had a mug of coffee in hand and Tony's morning paper spread out in front of him. Tony was confident it was not the other man's first cup of the day. He made a note to run by Manny's and get more coffee. He normally didn't drink more than a cup or two at home, and he hadn't really planned on having a coffee hound like Gibbs in his house or he'd have stocked up. Gibbs looked up from the paper, arching an eyebrow and glancing toward his watch. "Wasn't going to wake you for another hour, DiNozzo." Tony shrugged as he pulled a mug for himself from the near by wooden tree. "Get up the same time every day, Boss." He poured himself some coffee leaving room for cream and sugar. He breathed in the fragrance, eyes half closed, an unconsciously sensuous smile forming as he allowed himself this moment of simple pleasure. He opened his eyes to find Gibbs staring at him. The younger man froze for a second, thinking he must have done something wrong to warrant that laser beam look although he couldn't fathom what. Tony thought he saw an appreciative, hungry-wanting---expression on the other man's face but it had to be his imagination. He swallowed nervously. "Boss?" Gibbs blinked, and his expression was blandly neutral. He cleared his throat. "Yeah?" Tony really wanted to ask what the other man had been thinking, why he was looking at him that way, but he just couldn't bring himself to do it. Instead he held up a loaf of bread for Gibbs to see. "You want toast?" Gibbs nodded. Tony popped four pieces into the toaster. "I have cereal if you want." "Kid stuff?" Gibbs looked skeptical. Tony grinned. He actually kept an assortment of cereal in the house. It was quick, easy, and Tony liked it. He opened a cupboard door. "I got Fruit Loops, Captain Crunch, Raisin Bran and Shredded Wheat." Tony opened another door. "Got oatmeal too if you'd rather have that." It was just instant but it would do in a pinch when it was cold outside and he wanted something filling. Gibbs looked surprised. "Raisin Bran?" Tony shrugged. "I like raisins." "So do I." Gibbs lips twitched in the barest suggestion of a smile. "I'll have a bowl of that." Tony nodded, setting the box on the table along with a bowl and spoon. He put the milk within easy reach. "You're not having any?" Gibbs' blue eyes assessed him. "Toast will be plenty for me this morning." Gibbs eyes narrowed. "You feeling sick?"

"No." Tony resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He'd be so glad when Gibbs got over this uncharacteristic 'mother hen' mode. "Just not that hungry this morning." "I don't think I've ever known you not to be hungry." Gibbs stated dryly. "I'll be hungry later." Tony shrugged. He normally didn't eat in the morning until after he worked out. He figured it just took awhile for his appetite to wake up. The toasted popped. Tony placed two pieces on a plate for Gibbs before getting a plate for himself. He left the butter and jam in easy reach for the other man before he took a seat at the table. "Can I have the funnies?" Gibbs separated the paper and offered Tony the section he'd requested. Tony always read the comics first. It seemed like the news was universally bad, and the job often reflected the worst of human nature, so Tony liked starting his day on a lighter note. Once done with the funnies, he moved on to the crossword puzzle. Aunt Sully liked doing crosswords. It was something they often did together and it was now a habit he rarely gave much thought to. Tony reached out and pulled a pen from the small catch all bowl in the middle of the table. He worked his way through the crossword puzzle as he sipped his coffee, filling in the words and crossing off clues as he went. Feeling Gibbs gaze on him, Tony looked up. "What?" "Didn't know you did crosswords." "Just the easy ones." Tony shrugged dismissively. He wasn't smart enough for the really hard ones like what was in the New York Times. He'd bet money that Ducky or McGee could do those easily. "Shouldn't you do those in pencil?" Gibbs looked slightly amused. "I get it wrong, no one's going to come check my work, Boss." Tony pointed out with a smile. Sully had always used pen, laughing about mistakes, challenging Tony and herself to find alternative words that would work with the error. He'd developed a genuine appreciation for the monster dictionary and numerous thesauruses she had. Tony finished the puzzle, neatly folding that section of the paper before setting it aside. "You finished with the first page?" Gibbs handed it over before he got up for another cup of coffee. Tony found himself enjoying the moment---the quiet, comfortable interaction of eating breakfast and sharing the paper. He'd never done this with anyone but Sully before, but he imagined a lot people did it on a regular basis. Tony sighed softly, regretting that he probably wouldn't have the chance to do it again with Gibbs. Tony turned his attention back to the paper, skimming the articles, focusing mostly on the headlines. The only section he really read in detail was the stock market and the sports page. But he usually did that after work since he seldom had time in the morning. Knowing Gibbs was not what anyone would call patient Tony finished quickly, downing the last of his coffee. He got up and put the dishes in the dishwasher. "I'll be ready to go in ten, Boss." "No rush, DiNozzo."

Tony mentally snorted. Right. Just because Tony liked having Gibbs around didn't mean the older man enjoyed his company. He knew a ?just being polite' statement when he heard. God knows he'd heard them often enough from his family. The former Marine was likely eager to be gone. Gibbs had already lost enough time from work, from his own home and hobbies volunteering to baby sit Tony, no reason to make him lose any more. Tony headed for the bathroom to finish getting ready. He put a little gel in his hair and styled it roughly. The end result was what a long time friend had called 'an order chaos of spikes'. He grinned to himself, still amused by the oxymoron and unable to find anything that really fit better. He brushed his teeth and checked his appearance one last time. Not much he could do about the bruise on his cheekbone. At least it didn't look any worse than yesterday, and it would fade long before those on his torso. All he needed were shoes, and he was ready to go. He headed back to the foyer for the sneakers he'd left there yesterday. Bending over to tie his shoelaces hurt, making him clench his teeth. Tony took a careful breath before straightening up, bracing himself with one hand against the wall. He caught Gibbs giving him another of those assessing glances but decided to ignore it. Tony was grateful that at least Gibbs wasn't asking him if he was okay any more. He slid into his leather jacket, smiling easily at his supervisor. "You ready, Boss?" Gibbs nodded. He had his laptop packed in its case slung over one arm and a small duffle bag that probably held his dirty clothes. The only thing missing was his ever present cup of coffee, but Tony was pretty sure they'd be stopping somewhere along the way. Gibbs had just started the car when he looked over at Tony. "Is Manny's on the way to the office?" "Not really." Tony blinked. "Why?" "Wouldn't mind another cup of that coffee." Tony grinned. "Like it better than your usual sludge?" "Maybe." Tony snickered. "You made at least three pots of it, so I'm thinking that's more a yes than a maybe." Gibbs frowned. "How do you know how much I made?" "Bag is in the fridge, Boss." Tony reminded him. He'd seen it earlier when he'd gotten the milk, butter and jam out of the fridge. "Can tell just looking at it how much you used." The bag which had been nearly full yesterday was now less than half. "You need a bigger pot." "Maybe you should drink less." Tony chuckled softly at the glare he got from Gibbs. "Or maybe not." "Directions, DiNozzo." Gibbs ordered.

Tony gave them easily. He could always pick up more for himself while he was the there and save a trip after work. Gibbs gave him a surprised look when they pulled up to an unassuming, plain store front. "Manny likes to keep things simple." Tony answered the unvoiced question. Manny had no desire to compete with the upscale, trendy coffee shops or become the next Starbucks. Once inside, Gibbs looked over the choices available. "What was it you have at your house?" Tony pointed to the menu board. "Blue Hawaiian." Gibbs frowned. "Pricey." It was easily the most expensive option, but Tony never really paid any attention to the cost. It was a minor indulgence. He mentally winced. He should have known Gibbs would think differently. "My treat, Boss." Tony offered. It was the least he could do to repay the recent kindness the older man had shown him. Tony didn't give Gibbs a chance to argue, ordering two cups of coffee to go as well as another half pound of coffee to replace what the older man had used at his house. "You don't have to-" Tony handed Gibbs a cup with a smile. "You can think of it as a more successful effort at sucking up." Most of the time those failed miserably simply because Gibbs wasn't the sort to be bought. Not that Tony was trying to buy the older man's approval. He was just looking for a way to make the older man happy, a little less inclined to yell at him, maybe even like him rather than just tolerate his presence. "Thank you." Gibbs smiled before sipping his coffee. Tony nodded, pleased to have the gesture accepted. He took his own coffee, cup and bag, and followed Gibbs back to the car. He tried to ignore the contented feeling the simple act of riding to work with Gibbs engendered. It wasn't like it was going to happen again, Tony told himself, no reason to get used to it. Gibbs parked next to Tony's jeep. Tony hadn't worried about leaving in the lot overnight. He left it there all the time when they had a case that had them out of the area. It was safer at the office than it was parked as his place. He didn't see Kate's car or McGee's either. That wasn't surprising. Tony was usually one of the first one's to the office. He might be late with his reports, or take a long lunch, but he was never late to start the day. "You going to question Persun and his buddy today?" Tony asked as they rode up in the elevator. He wondered if Gibbs planed to let Persun's buddy out of restraints when he had him brought into interrogation. Gibbs sipped his coffee. "Doctor said he'd be able to put the cast on and let Persun go sometime this morning. The guard on his room will bring him here when the doctor gives the all clear." Gibbs smiled, but it wasn't what Tony would call a warm expression. "Henderson will be brought up when I'm damn good and ready."

Tony figured that meant Henderson would be in shackles for most of the day. It seemed a bit excessive, but Tony couldn't bring himself to feel sorry for the guy. "I want your report on my desk by this afternoon." Gibbs ordered as he sat down at his desk. Tony nodded. He'd expected that. While waiting around in the hospital he had already drafted the basic outline in his head. Tony's reports were always late, but not because he was lazy or procrastinated. After having Gibbs send his first effort back to him five times, Tony was something of a perfectionist, determined to give an accurate and thorough accounting of the events and evidence. He usually incorporated details other team member's reports, essentially creating points of reference and a simple means of navigating the entire case file. He knew Kate and McGee would be astounded to learn how meticulous he was---not that he was ever going to tell either of them. He preferred to have them believe he was just lazy rather than too paranoid to think Gibbs would accept anything less than perfection. Although, Gibbs hadn't commented on anything in his reports since the first one, Tony wasn't taking any chances. And he really didn't want his teammates to know just how long it took him to finish a report, sure that either of them did the same thing in half the time it took him. He had been pleased and astounded when he learned from other sources that Gibbs often submitted Tony's reports and summations of a case to the director for final filing. Knowing that hadn't really lessened his paranoia. Tony didn't want Gibbs to ever send another one back to him. Nor did he want to do anything that might jeopardize the faith the older man had evidently put in the quality of his work. Tony logged in. The initial part of his report was already on file describing the case and his role in it. "Boss?Can you email me the ledger Kate sent you last night?" "Yes." Gibbs looked over at him. "Be sure to document how you got it." "Will do." He'd already planned to. Tony frowned slightly as he considered how to describe his bout of dumb luck. He smiled remembering the whole scene with the mouse. He snickered as he envisioned Persun's dance and little shriek when the rat appeared. He looked over at Gibbs. "Boss?" Blue eyes met his. "Yeah?" "You're going to question Persun to see if he might have left details out of this ledger, right?" "So?" "Was just thinking you might find his little phobia useful." Gibbs frowned and then smiled like a child who was just found out Christmas came early. It made Tony's heart beat a little faster to see it, and to know he'd put that look of delight there. He recognized that calculating look that took its place. "I know a guy who runs a pet store." Tony offered with a sly smile. "Could have you a white rat to play cat and mouse with if you want." Gibbs didn't even hesitate. "Set it up."

Tony reached with the phone when Gibbs calling his name stopped him. "Yeah, Boss?" "Good job." Tony nodded, but didn't otherwise react to that compliment. If he said something, Gibbs would probably take it back, or somehow dismiss it, and Tony didn't want that. He wanted to enjoy thinking Gibbs thought his idea a good one. He memorized that bit of praise and the small flash of pride just as he had every other time Gibbs bothered to tell he'd done well. He might not be a computer whiz or top notch profiler, but Tony still contributed to the team. He knew that counted for a lot with Gibbs. The former Marine didn't tolerate fools. Tony spoke to his friend, working out arrangements. He cupped his hand over the receiver. "Boss...Gary says he can drop off a cage with a couple of white rats for you around eleven. That work?" "That'll be fine." Gibbs grinned. It reminded Tony of a wolf bearing his teeth. Persun wasn't going to have a good afternoon. Tony really couldn't bring himself to feel sorry about that. He heard Gibbs mutter what sounded like 'teach that miserable prick to mess with one of mine'. He tried not to smile. It was nice to know Gibbs cared. He might not care as much as Tony would like him to, or quite the way he dreamed about, but this wasn't a bad second choice. Gibbs took care of his own?.better than Tony's parents or family ever had?and that was worth a lot to Tony. It was priceless. **** ********* *********** ************ ************ Gibbs managed to contain his laughter until he left the interrogation room. God. He leaned against the wall and gave into the nearly uncontrollable laughter, doubling up as he tried to breathe, setting the cage containing two rats on the floor. He had never enjoyed an interrogation so much before in his life. Persun, with his leg in a cast, couldn't really move well or fast. Especially not when Gibbs made certain his crutches were well out of arms reach. Walking in to the room with a cage containing two white rats had Persun practically hyperventilating in his haste to tell Gibbs everything he wanted to know. Any time it looked like the man was going to slow the flow of information or baulk at answering, Gibbs just toyed with the latch on the cage door. The implication was clear, and more than sufficient to start Persun talking again. Gibbs hoped the sound tech was able to catch all that rapid fire, panicked spouting off. Although, he wouldn't have any trouble doing this sort of thing all over again if it was necessary. Not one bit. The crowning moment had been when Gibbs opened the door and removed one of the rats. Persun nearly pissed his pants. The terrified man had frantically shoved himself away from the table. Persun would likely have hurt himself in his haste to put distance be himself and the rat Gibbs held if Gibbs hadn't opted to return it to the cage. He kept laughing, nearly crying as he remembered the look on Persun's face. He'd never seen anyone so afraid of something so damn harmless. If it had been a

poisonous snake or a live grenade Gibbs would have better understood the man's terror. He now grasped how it was so easy for Tony to get the ledger. Dumb luck indeed. Only Tony would have had the good sense to capitalize on that situation. Gibbs would have likely slapped Persun for his histrionics rather than take advantage of them. Kate had been nearly as freaked out by the rats as Persun when Tony's friend showed up with them. She'd controlled it better, but Gibbs knew she'd never taken her eyes off the cage the whole time it sat on Tony's desk and her hand kept straying toward the drawer where she kept her gun. McGee wasn't the sort to really appreciate the opportunity presented by Persun's distraction. Gibbs took deep breath and wiped his eyes. Finally getting control of himself, Gibbs headed into the observation room still carrying the cage. Kate and Tony had been watching as usual. At some point he was going to have to let them handle the interrogations, but for now, it was going to remain his purview. She was a damn fine profiler, but Kate rarely got the finer points of an interrogation. Her expertise was observation, not interaction, and a good interrogator needed to be able to do both. Tony excelled at the interaction, and was far more intuitive in understanding people than Kate would ever be, but Gibbs still thought his observational skills and control needed a little more work. Kate's expression was devoid of humor, but Gibbs didn't really care. She was far too uptight to see the hilarity in this situation. Gibbs was half tempted to turn the rats loose to see if he could maker her scream the way Persun had. Tony on the other hand was grinning, green eyes alight with merriment. He had one arm wrapped around his torso telling Gibbs the younger man had likely been laughing at some point. The former Marine knew first hand laughing with cracked ribs was not any fun. Gibbs gave him a quick once over to make sure the younger man wasn't in serious distress. "DiNozzo?" "Yeah, Boss?" "Call your friend and tell him he can pick up his little buddies." "Gary'll be back in about half an hour." Tony smiled easily. "Didn't really think we'd need them for all that long." "Thought right." Gibbs nodded. He snickered involuntarily. "Can't believe he's that afraid of rats." "Phobias, are irrational by definition, Gibbs." Kate pointed out dryly, dark eyes flickering to meet his before focusing back on the cage he held. Gibbs resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Whatever. "You get it all?" "Yep." Tony nodded. "Might have to run it at half speed to understand it, but we got it all." Gibbs struggled not to start laughing again. He cleared his throat. "Nothing new that wasn't in the ledger." "Didn't sound like it." Kate agreed. "But then he did say he wrote most of it down because he couldn't remember it all."

"Damn good thing he's just as afraid of computers as he is rats." Tony pointed out quietly. "Would have taken me a lot longer to down load the information, or hack the system, than to hide that ledger." Kate snorted. "Like you could hack into anything, DiNozzo." Gibbs fought down the desire to intervene. He didn't like the flash of insecurity he saw in Tony's eyes at her comment. Sometimes he thought Kate cut a bit too deeply, but then he was guilty of the same thing from time to time. Tony recovered quickly, and shrugged off the insult with a small smile. "I got into your PDA." He pursed his lips. "Really shouldn't use your mother's maiden name for your password on everything, Kate." "Tony-" "Kate." Gibbs neatly cut off her outburst, stepping into her personal space when she looked ready to jab Tony with her elbow. He wasn't going to allow that. Tony's ribs weren't up to her usual expression of anger. He wondered sometimes if Kate had no sense of self preservation. Tony allowed her to hit him when she felt a verbal barb wasn't sufficient to express her displeasure, but he was still twice her size. Special training or not, if the younger man wanted to, he could hurt her. And if Tony retaliated in the same fashion, Gibbs had no doubts she'd have him up on assault charges in a heart beat. "Kate." Gibbs repeated her name, making eye contact and holding it, subtly making sure she was aware he was in charge, commanding her attention. "Take Persun back to his cell and bring Henderson up. I want to make sure their stories match." He glanced toward Tony. "DiNozzo, I want your report on my desk in an hour." "Sure thing, Boss." Tony's unhesitating answer and easy eye contact told Gibbs the younger man was likely already finished or very close to it. He nodded, pleased. When Tony joined NCIS Gibbs had made him redo his first report five times. There was never anything wrong with it the first or the fourth time; Gibbs had simply wanted to make a point-he was in charge and nothing was finished or good enough until he said it was. In hindsight, Gibbs realized his actions had been overkill, but Tony had seemed so damn cocky, he'd just wanted to take him down a peg or two. He wasn't really unhappy with the results, Tony turned in the best documentation on the team, but he was somewhat disappointed in himself. He should have realized Tony's cockiness was in large part an act---or the former cop wouldn't still agonize over every damn detail of his reports even after two years. "It'll be back with Henderson." Kate headed for the door. "Kate?" "Yes, Gibbs?" She looked over her shoulder. "Leave him in the shackles." Her eyes narrowed, clearly not pleased but she didn't argue. Henderson had attempted to escape before, Gibbs wasn't going to risk giving him a chance to hurt another of his team. And he still hadn't gotten over being pissed at the man for

coming so close to doing serious, potentially fatal damage to Tony. That just wasn't forgivable. He'd exact as much revenge as the situation allowed. Gibbs offered the cage to Tony. "I don't so suppose you know if Henderson has a phobia or two?" He'd love to make Persun's buddy squirm too, shriek like a little girl. "Sorry, Boss. Never really spent much time with him." Tony shook his head as he gently took the cage, careful not to jostle the occupants. The apology was genuine. Tony clearly thought Gibbs expected better of him. Gibbs sighed. He hadn't meant for the comment to be taken as a though he were finding fault. "Guess I'll have to do it the old fashioned way then." Tony smiled, a quicksilver shift of emotion from apologetic to amused admiration. "I'm sure you'll muster through somehow." Gibbs grinned savagely. "Oh, definitely." He was looking forward to spending some quality time with Henderson. Gibbs was pleased to learn that being tightly restrained had a similar impact on Henderson that the rats had on Persun. The man didn't suffer from a particular phobia, but he wasn't far from it either. He was more than willing to tell Gibbs anything he wanted to know just to regain less restricted use of his hands. The man's desperation didn't amuse Gibbs the way Persun's fear had. He readily understood and even shared Henderson's desire for freedom of movement. Any feeling of empathy or compassion though was readily vanquished by the image of Tony on the ground, Henderson standing over him with club in hand ready to take away from Gibbs someone he cared for deeply. He took his time and made sure he got from Henderson what he needed. The ledger was a complete accounting of there clients and sales. Fortunately, Persun and his crew had spent more time stockpiling the weapons than selling them. Total loss of munitions was far less than it could have been. Gibbs had Kate send Henderson back to a cell, sans the restraints. He also told her to make sure the ATF had a list of what had been sold. As much as he hated to admit it the ATF would likely have more contacts and be better equipped to track the missing weapons. With the weapons on the market it would be irresponsible not to involve other government and law enforcement agencies. He headed back up to the bull pen. Gibbs didn't deliberately keep his steps light but force of habit had him moving silently. He paused to listen. Everything was nicely focused on business. That was?disappointing. He liked catching his team unawares, to keep them on their toes. He also liked the opportunity it afforded him to watch Tony without having anyone, especially Tony, know he was doing it. He stepped around one of the cubicle dividers, positioning himself so he could see his team, but they wouldn't be able to see him. Kate wasn't back yet, and he didn't really expect her for a bit. McGee was typing, far more slowly than his usual speed. He kept shooting concerned, vaguely guilty glances toward Tony. Gibbs frowned, blue eyes studying Tony, searching for what had McGee looking at him that way. Tony appeared focused on his work, eyes moving back and forth between something on his computer screen and several sheets of paper he had in front of him. He looked a little pale, but otherwise fine. Gibbs gaze narrowed, taking a closer look. Tony's left arm was wrapped around his ribs and there were fine lines of pain around his eyes.

Gibbs frowned. The doctor had said Tony should take it easy for a few days, and Gibbs hadn't thought of anything they did today as being particularly strenuous. But then, Tony had been out of his sight for the last hour or so. God only knew what he'd been up to. "Tony?" McGee called out quietly. "You sure you're okay?" Tony sighed. Gibbs was fascinated to see his entire expression shift, adopting a carefree nonchalance, any evidence of pain fading as he turned his chair to face McGee. He'd never realized just how good Tony's acting abilities were. "I'm fine. No harm done." "I really didn't mean to-" Tony smiled. "Relax. It's not like you knocked me down a flight of stairs." "I really didn't see you." McGee insisted, expression earnest, baby face reminding Gibbs of a little boy who'd broken the neighbor's window and was doing his best to apologize. "I know." Tony shrugged. "Stuff like that happens, McGee. No one trips on purpose. Don't worry about it." "You're sure?" "I'm sure you didn't mean it." Tony rolled his eyes. "If you meant to do it, you'd have hit me harder." McGee looked surprised and then chagrined. "I would not-" "Would too." Tony waggled his eyebrows. McGee snickered, the set of his shoulders relaxing. "Well, maybe-" "Knew it." Tony grinned. "Hope for you yet, Probie." "You're sure-" "I'm fine." Tony huffed out, waving his right hand in dismissal, looking annoyed. "Better get that cross reference on the buyers Gibbs asked you for done before he finishes grilling Henderson." Gibbs saw that has his cue, striding forward to sit at his desk, effectively ending the conversation between Tony and McGee. He had the gist of what had happened, and while he wasn't happy about it, there wasn't much he could do about it either. They might fight like siblings most of the time, but Gibbs was confident McGee hadn't deliberately done something to hurt Tony. Unless Tony or McGee decided to tell him what happened directly, Gibbs wasn't going to call them on it. He rarely got involved in disputes, and at this point, there wasn't one. They'd seemed to have settled the matter without any fuss. He had to respect their burgeoning friendship at least so far as it improved the working of the team. The question that he struggled with was what to do about the fact that Tony was definitely in more pain than he'd been when the day started. His jaw clenched. He hated the idea of the younger man in pain. Gibbs was angry with himself for not remembering to make sure Tony took one of the painkillers or see to it he brought the pills with him.

Gibbs reached for the coffee cup sitting on his desk, considering his options and was surprised to find his drink was still warm. He took a sip. Gibbs was disappointed to find it wasn't the one he'd started the day with. It was his usual. Damn. It really wasn't as good at that 'Blue Hawaiian' stuff. Damn sight cheaper, but not as good. Gibbs eyed Tony and then McGee wondering which one of them thought to get him a fresh cup. Tony was not looking at him, attention once more back on whatever he'd been working on when Gibbs had walked in. McGee was giving him covert glances making it a safe bet it had been the junior agent who'd supplied the beverage. From McGee, Gibbs knew it wasn't an act meant to curry favor. The younger man just wasn't the type---and even if he was, it didn't matter, Gibbs wasn't the sort of man that sucking up bought his subordinates much of anything. McGee had mostly likely gone on a coffee run for the entire team. There was a cup on Kate's desk, and one on Tony' as well. Gibbs spotted Tony's report was on the center of his desk. Good. Nothing the younger man had to do today in wrapping up this case that couldn't be done by someone else. The doctor had said Tony should take it easy for a few days. "DiNozzo." "Yeah, Boss?" Green eyes met his in askance. "You're with me." Gibbs got up, taking his coffee with him. He knew Tony would follow without question. He noticed that Tony's limp was just a bit more pronounced than it had been, and he was moving slower than normal. It wasn't unexpected but Gibbs still hated to see it. It wasn't until they were in the elevator that Tony's curiosity got the better of him. "Where we going, Boss?" "I'm going to talk to Abby." Gibbs sipped his drink. "You are going home." "What? Why?" "Doctor said you were to take it easy for a few days." "I can do my job." Tony's jaw clenched. "Yes, you can." Gibbs agreed calmly, projecting his confidence in Tony's abilities in that simple statement. "Then why-" Gibbs held up a hand, cutting off Tony's argument before he really could get started. He'd known Tony would fight him on going home early. That's why he wanted the conversation to be relatively private. "You got your report finished. Got Persun to give us everything we needed. McGee and Kate can handle the wrap up. You are hurting." He pointed a finger at Tony. "Don't even try to tell me differently." "It's no big deal." Tony waved it off, and Gibbs wanted to shout at him that it was a big deal. That Tony was too damn important to him for it not to be. He shook his head. "C'mon, Boss-" Gibbs stopped him with a hard look. He repeated his earlier statement, adding emphasis to make it an order. "Doctor said you're to take it easy for a few days."

"Not like you've ever followed a doctor's orders." Tony muttered. Gibbs smiled grimly, not denying it. "Not about me." Tony sighed. Gibbs hated seeing that defeated slump in his shoulders. He reached out to lightly squeeze the nearest one. "Don't get used to lollygagging, DiNozzo. I'm expecting you back up to speed as soon as possible." Tony nodded, looking resigned but not quite so defeated. "Okay, Boss." Gibbs felt like he was kicking a puppy. Why the hell did doing the right thing always have to be so damn painful? "Would it help if I promise to make you bust your ass tomorrow?" Tony's smile was small, but genuine, green eyes shifting from wounded to impish. "Maybe I should put in for time off then? Ensure a complete recovery." Gibbs rolled his eyes, pleased that Tony was once again his usual upbeat self. The rapid change of moods was something he loved about the younger man. Tony was never down for long. Gibbs cuffed the back of his head, fingers thrilled to be reacquainted with those heavy, silken strands. He regretted not have the option of actually running his fingers through Tony's hair but he was willing to settle for having at least this much for now. They parted company when the elevator stopped. Tony headed for the garage. Gibbs watched to make sure he was really going. He wouldn't put it past Tony to try and sneak back up stairs. Satisfied Tony was really leaving, Gibbs went to Abby's lab. She had been analyzing a number of prints found on the recovered weapons. He was hoping she might shed more light on any members of Persun's crew they might not have located yet. He doubted she'd have anything new to tell him given how quickly and freely Persun had answered every question Gibbs asked. He snickered just thinking about the man's face. God. He'd have to write a commendation for Tony's file. The rats might not have been regulation, but they were a damn good idea. And it had been Tony's quick thinking that gave them the evidence they needed to put Persun and his crew away for a long time. The rest of the afternoon passed slowly as Gibbs kept his team to work wrapping up the rest of the details of the case. All the I's were dotted and T's crossed. He reviewed Tony's report, not surprised to find it thoroughly documented the entire case even as it down played the younger man's role in it. Verbally Tony might brag about his abilities, argue his right to take the lead on a case, but in his reports told another story. If Gibbs hadn't known what Tony was personally responsible for, he'd never know from what the younger man wrote. One more paradox that kept him interested in the enigma that was Tony DiNozzo. Gibbs sighed in satisfaction at five. He really wasn't disappointed to be finished on time for once. He waved off Kate and McGee, pleased to be able to send them on their way at a normal hour for once. He slid into his car, really wishing there was some way he could get a repeat of last night. Spending time with Tony had been fun. He'd found out so much in the space of twelve hours he'd never known, and not just about Tony's childhood. Hell, he never would have figured the younger man would be so good at something so trivial as

Jeopardy or had an interest in history. Or that he liked ice cream as much as Gibbs and did crossword puzzles in pen. He grimaced, wishing he had some legitimate excuse to spend more time with Tony, something that wouldn't make the younger man immediately suspicious or scare him off. He glanced over to the passenger seat and smiled. Like a gift from god there sat his answer?.the bag of coffee Tony had gotten this morning. He must have forgotten to take it with him. Gibbs grinned. He could drop it off. Just helping out a friend. Maybe he should pick up a little dinner along the way. Wouldn't do to show up empty handed and Tony probably hadn't eaten yet. He'd never seen Tony turn down food. It was an easy in and Gibbs had no qualms about taking it. ***** ***** ****** **** ***** ***** Tony sighed, comfortably ensconced on his sofa. He'd debated with himself for several minutes when he got home before finally deciding to take one of the painkillers. He knew it was stupid, irrational even to be worried about being coming addicted, but the worry was there nonetheless. It was one of the main reasons he shied away from any sort of medication. Having witnessed his father's steady, near constant consumption of alcohol had firmly cemented Tony's distrust in his own ability to avoid succumbing to some sort of addiction. And he'd seen enough junkies when he worked as a cop, he never wanted to be one. Was better not to even start. But getting hit by McGee, even accidentally, had hurt like hell, and he desperately wanted the relief the painkiller would give him. So he took one and flushed the rest, not sure if he felt better for taking the pill or getting rid of the temptation. At least his ribs weren't screaming at him every time he breathed. He was genuinely grateful Gibbs had sent him home early, uncertain of his ability to maintain the facade that everything was okay. It was an accident, and McGee already felt guilty enough. While he enjoyed teasing the junior agent, even delighted in annoying the other man, he really didn't want to have those wounded puppy dog eyes on him all afternoon. Tony started reading, engrossed in his book for nearly an hour before the painkiller made him drowsy. His reaction to medication was just one more reason to hate taking pills. At least this stuff didn't make him ill. He put his bookmark in place and dropped his book on the floor. He could pick it up later. Tony shifted carefully, not wanting to dislodge the gel pack he'd put on his ankle when he settled in on the couch or reawaken the pain in his ribs. He was warm, comfortable and drowsy. Staying awake wasn't really an option. Tony drifted pleasantly, dozing more so than sleeping deeply. His eyes fluttered some time later when his sharp ears caught the sound of his door opening. A faint crease formed between his eyebrows. He could have sworn he locked the door. He always did. "DiNozzo?" His frown deepened when he recognized Gibbs calling his name. He'd given the older man a key to his place not long after he'd joined NCIS. Tony figured it was only prudent to make sure his boss had access to his home. Gibbs could get in if Tony

was sent undercover---water the plants and collect the mail, or more likely have Kate do it. And if Tony died on the job...well, he figured Gibbs was as good a choice as any to box all his stuff and send it off to goodwill or whatever. God knew no one from his family would likely give a damn. To his knowledge Gibbs had never used the key. "DiNozzo?" Gibbs called out again. Sitting up he looked over the back of the couch toward the door. "Boss?" Gibbs turned to look at him. "What are you doing here?" "You left your coffee in my car." Gibbs held up the white bag Tony had bought that morning. Tony raised an eyebrow. Gibbs sounded almost nervous, like he needed an excuse to stop by. Tony smacked down the surge of optimism that rose thinking Gibbs had just gone out of his way just for him. His boss held up a pizza box as though he were making a peace offering. "I brought dinner." "No anchovies?" Tony's eyes twinkled. Gibbs smirked. "Since I wanted a piece too...no." "Don't understand what you have against anchovies." "You mean besides the fact that they smell funny and are slimy?" Tony grinned at Gibbs' expression of distaste as he levered himself up off the couch. He didn't really love anchovies either, but ever since he found out that his teammates actively despised the little fish he'd made a point of ordering them on his pizza to tease the others. Anchovies weren't the worst thing he'd ever eaten and it was worth it to see that look on the others' faces. Tony grabbed the gel pack, motioning Gibbs toward the kitchen. Gibbs gave the gel pack a pointed look and Tony shrugged one shoulder. "Just icing the ankle like the doctor said I should." Gibbs nodded. "Ribs feeling better?" "Yeah." Tony grabbed a couple of plates from one of the cabinets, offering one to Gibbs. "You want something to drink?" "Coffee." "Right." Tony chuckled softly. "Should have guessed that." He set up the coffee maker, using the coffee from the fridge. He put it and the bag Gibbs brought in the fridge when done, pulling out a bottle of water for himself. "I could have picked up my coffee tomorrow." Tony tossed out, making it more of a question than a statement, curious to see what Gibbs would say as he turned to look at the older man. "Given how much of your supply I of that obscenely expensive stuff I drank while I was here," Gibbs almost looked sheepish, "least I could do was make sure you didn't have to go without tomorrow." Tony snorted. "I don't drink gallons the way you do." He cocked his head to stare at the older man. If he didn't know better he'd swear Gibbs was fidgeting. Wanting to ease whatever made the older man seem uneasy, Tony smiled warmly. "Thanks for bringing it by...and dinner too. Nice not to have to cook."

Gibbs raised both eyebrows. "You can cook?" "Up to a point." Tony admitted. He usually just ordered take out or picked up something on the way home, but once in a while it was nice to actually make something for himself. Louisa had even given him a few quick and easy recipes in an effort to encourage him to cook more often. "Won't qualify as a gourmet, but I'm not likely to starve either." He cocked his head to one side. "You?" "Me, what?" Gibbs frowned. "Can you cook?" "Better than average." Gibbs grinned. "Hunh." Tony sipped his water. "Might have to make you prove that." "You doubt me?" Gibbs expression of overdone wounded outrage made Tony damn glad he'd already swallowed his drink or he'd have risked snorting it through his nose. He didn't know what was responsible for the older man's uncharacteristically lighthearted demeanor but he was grateful to have the opportunity to witness it. "Can't make a claim like that and not be expected to back it up, Boss." He smirked. "Check and recheck. NCIS agents don't assume, they verify." Tony quoted, mimicking Gibbs gruff, authoritative tone easily. Gibbs laughed lightly. It was a nice laugh, Tony decided. Warm and open. It was a shame the older man didn't do it more often. Tony cleared his throat and tried to ignore how good it felt to be the one to make Gibbs laugh, to see him relax and enjoy himself even if only for a moment. He reached to put two pieces of pizza on his plate, making a 'help yourself motion' offering the rest to Gibbs. "You want to watch TV?" Tony nodded toward the living room as he picked up his plate. "News should be on." "I'll be in as soon as I get my coffee." Tony shook his head. He wondered how the hell Gibbs slept at night drinking so much coffee. Tony usually stopped drinking anything with caffeine by mid-afternoon or he found himself tossing and turning half the night. He settled in on the couch, turning on the news. Tony was secretly thrilled when Gibbs came in and opted to sit next to him rather than in the recliner. Gibbs' shoulder didn't quite touch his, but he was closer than had to be. Close enough that Tony could feel his body heat. He could easy smell that delightful blend of coffee and spice, the fragrance of wood not quite absent but only a trace remained, a clear indication that Gibbs hadn't worked on his boat recently. Tony was struck by how oddly normal all this seemed. He rarely hung out at his place with anyone. Dates were usually out at a club, a restaurant, the movies, never just a simple night at home in front of the TV. Most of his long term friends lived out of the area so when they got together there were places to go, sites to be seen, things to do that involved more than spending time at Tony's place. He wondered if he should be worried, unconsciously anticipating something going wrong and upsetting this delicate balance. It wasn't like he and Gibbs were really friends. Some days he wasn't sure the other man even liked him. Mentally shrugging, Tony decided to just go with it and enjoy the camaraderie while it lasted.

"Everything wrap up with the case okay?" Tony asked as he finished off his second piece of pizza. "I's dotted. T's crossed." Gibbs nodded. "We get anything new?" "Not yet." Gibbs delicately nibbled his pizza, tongue working to pull the hot cheese smoothly into his mouth. Tony had to look away. He used his empty plate as an excuse to get up. "You want more?" "I'm fine." Tony initial reaction to that statement was to look the older man over with a leer and agree, but he stifled it. He slapped down the small voice in his head that told him to push it, to find out for sure the other man really wasn't interested. At the moment it still seemed preferable to just suffer by being close to Gibbs than to be fired. H could always get another job, but as cliche as it sounded Tony wasn't so sure he'd be able to survive without at least seeing Gibbs every day. He headed into the kitchen and refilled his plate with just a nod to Gibbs. Tony took a deep breath, releasing it slowly as he stifled the moan that wanted to escape as his ribs reminded him what a bad idea that was. If nothing else, Tony thought ruefully, that little bit of pain definitely works to keep me in line. He headed back to the living room. The nightly news was nearly finished. "Think Jeopardy is on if want to watch that." "Sure." Gibbs agreed easily. Tony sat down again, unconsciously narrowing the earlier gap just a little more. He aced the category on geography, answering all but one. Gibbs got that one, giving Tony a satisfied smile when he said, "What is Kuwait?". Tony bumped Gibbs shoulder with his own. "Helps that you've been there." Gibbs shrugged. "Were you ever to Peru?" That had been the answer to the previous question. Tony shook his head. "Closest I've ever gotten has been courtesy of the Discovery Channel." Gibbs raised an eyebrow, blue eyes shifted to stare pointedly at the bookshelf. "You've got a few books on it too." "Like reading about the Incans. Amazing civilization." Tony sighed. "Wouldn't mind going to see the ruins some day." He hesitated to say anything more. The last thing he wanted was for Gibbs to ridicule or belittle his interest in archaeology the way his father had. His father had been certain Tony wasn't smart enough to pull of 'such an intellectually demanding occupation', and thought Sully indulging him was a complete waste of time. "Always wanted to go to Chaco Canyon myself." Gibbs commented philosophically, sipping his coffee. "Really?" Tony grinned, excited by the prospect Gibbs might have even a passing interest in something he found fascinating. "I've been to Mesa Verde." "Been there too." Gibbs smiled. "Sort of the reason I wanted to get to Chaco Canyon, just haven't had the time."

"You got plenty of vacation time on the books, Boss." It was something of an open secret at the office that Gibbs hadn't taken a vacation in years. "Well, I sort of thought the experience would be better if I had someone to share it with." Tony nodded. He told himself he was being stupid for reading too much into the way Gibbs made eye contact when he said 'someone'. There was no way he could mean Tony. Tony bit his lip, hating himself for what he was about to say. "You could take your lady friend." "Lady friend?" "The redhead." Tony kept his voice neutral, careful not to give away anything. He tried not to be jealous of that woman, tried not to resent her or hate her. He didn't know if she was someone special to Gibbs or not. Hell he didn't even know her name. "Michelle? She's an old friend but not someone I'd want to go see Anasazi ruins with." "Old friend with benefits?" Tony asked, not sure if he was glad to have a name for her or not. Gibbs snorted. "Michelle has never been interested in me that way." Tony had trouble believing anyone who'd ever meet Gibbs didn't find him attractive. "But you-" "Never thought of her that way either." Gibbs shrugged. "Not once I found out she's a lesbian. Sort of made thinking about hooking up with her pointless." "She's gay?" Tony tried not to sound happy about it. She wasn't competition. "Yep." "How long have you known?" "About a year after we'd met and she introduced me to her girlfriend, who also happened to be my second wife's sister." Gibbs chuckled. "They broke up about the same time we did actually." With a long time lesbian friend, it was reassuring to know Gibbs likely wouldn't see anything wrong with Tony's bisexual tendencies. At least he no longer ran the risk of being fired if Gibbs found out he ?played for both teams'. That had been a real fear with more than one of his bosses in the past. It was one of the reasons he was always careful to firmly cement his ?skirt chasing ladies man' persona in the minds of his coworkers. He'd damn near blown that over the incident with Voss, but in hindsight it had worked out better than he thought. Kate and McGee were totally convinced that kissing a man had grossed him out, that he was close to being a confirmed homophobe. Abby knew differently, having run into him at a club one night. She thought he should just be honest, but understood his fear and agreed not to say anything. Her Goth attire, hyper nature and numerous tattoos had incited similar biases before. If she hadn't been so good at her job some of ?the powers that be' would likely have pressed for finding a reason to dismiss her. Abby was about as close to irreplaceable

as anyone Tony had ever met, but he knew they could find someone else to take his place in a heartbeat if they wanted. He figured Gibbs was just as fooled as Kate and McGee, something he wasn't sure if he should regret or not. Just because Gibbs was tolerant of alternate lifestyles didn't mean he'd care to actively participate in a relationship with Tony. The commercial break was over and Tony couldn't decide if he was relieved or disappointed that Gibbs attention was once more back on the game show. He would loved to have continued their discussion but knew better than to push it. Tony was used to finding out about the older man in bits and pieces. In some ways it reminded him of doing a crossword puzzle, answer to one clue got him close to the answer of another. The bit of mystery was one of the things that made Gibbs so interesting. Their scores stayed essentially even until the final round. Tony knew the answer, Gibbs didn't. He couldn't quite resist looking smug, delighted to get one up on his boss, even if it was as pointless as knowing on minor bit of trivia. He lightly bumped Gibbs shoulder. "Beat you." Gibbs rolled his eyes. "They call it trivia for a reason." Tony chuckled. "You're just sore because you lost." "Last night was a tie." Gibbs pointed out, surprising Tony. He hadn't realized the other man had kept score. "Really should do a best out of three." Tony smiled. "I'd like that." He wasn't going to pass up another chance to spend a relaxing evening like this, even though he doubted it would actually happen. He got up, holding out a hand for Gibbs' empty plate. "You want more?" "No." Gibbs followed him into the kitchen. "I should...ah...I should probably go." Tony was surprised by how reluctant Gibbs sounded. He bit back the instinctive urge to ask him to stay. He nodded, following Gibbs to the door. The whole thing felt like the end of a nice date. Tony smiled. Gibbs gave him a look, the same one he got at the office that demanded an honest answer. Tony shrugged, unable to not give Gibbs what he silently asked for. "Feels like I should kiss you good night." Gibbs smiled, such a warm and soft smile Tony had never seen before. "Maybe you should." Before Tony had the chance to process that as a real statement and not just a tease, Gibbs lips were pressed against his. The kiss started out light and delicate like the touch of a flower petal. He sighed, opening his mouth in response to the hesitant nibbling, the tentative request for entrance. Tongues met, like old friends saying hello after a long time apart, natural and easy. Coffee was the dominate flavor of Gibbs mouth...coffee and something uniquely Gibbs. Tony tilted his head for a better angle, desperate to get more of that tantalizing, addicting flavor. He instinctively raised his hands to cup Gibbs' face, wanting to keep him from breaking the kiss even though the other man didn't seem intent on pulling away. He didn't resist the arms wrapping around him, reveling in the added contact. Tony wanted to be closer, to connect as completely as possible before this impossible

moment ended. His hands moved to slip through Gibbs' hair, thrilled to let the silver strands caress his fingers. It was a bit coarser than his own, fingers cataloging the differences even as he enjoyed the simple freedom of being able to touch. The need to breathe broke them apart. Tony opened eyes he didn't remember closing to stare at Gibbs stunned expression. He immediately backpedaled, heart pounding in sudden fear as he continued to back away until he bumped into the wall. "Oh shit." Green eyes impossibly wide as what he'd just done sunk in. "Sorry, Boss. Sorry...That was...I didn't mean-" His desperate babbling was cut off when Gibbs stepped forward, placing one finger against his lips. "DiNozzo...Tony, look at me." Tony stopped trying to find an escape route and reluctantly met piercing blue eyes. He expected anger, disappointment, maybe even insulted dignity in Gibbs gaze. Instead, the older man looked calm, maybe even a touch relieved. "It's okay." Tony pulled his head back, trying to escape Gibbs feather light touch. He could sympathize with how deer must feel caught in the headlights of a car. Gibbs moved closer, effectively pinning Tony against the wall, halting any further efforts to escape. He raised a hand moving to cup Tony's cheek. "It is okay." Gibbs repeated, voice gentle. "I kissed you, remember?" "But..you didn't mean it...couldn't mean it." Tony swallowed hard. It had to have been a joke. There was no way Gibbs could have meant for the kiss to get that out of hand, for it to have been what it became. Tony had fucked up again, acted without thinking. Gibbs smiled, expression a blend of affection and amusement. "Why do you think I didn't mean it?" "Because---" Tony made a frustrated gesture with one hand, as though trying to latch on to something he could verbalize effectively. "You've been married three times!" "And you've chased a lot of woman." Gibbs' thumb stroked his cheekbone, the action calming him as much as the gentle tone. "Doesn't mean a thing." "You don't even like me." "Where the hell did you get an idea like that?" Gibbs frowned, shaking his head. "Don't answer that." Tony smiled sardonically, understanding all too well why Gibbs didn't need an answer. "Second 'b' is for-" "Bastard." Gibbs finished that sentence for him with a sigh. "Ducky's right. I really do need to learn how to communicate better." He muttered as he shook his head. Gibbs rubbed the back of his neck in a nervous gesture Tony had never witnessed before. It was more reassuring than anything the older man had said. Tangible proof the Gibbs was at least a bit unsettled by the kiss---maybe not as much as Tony, but still not as in control as he normally was. "Look...can we sit down? We need to talk."

Tony nodded, waiting for Gibbs to head back into the living room before following. He took a seat on the opposite end of the couch facing Gibbs. He watched him, still a bit wary despite Gibbs earlier assurances that it was okay. Gibbs took a deep breath, and Tony nearly smiled to see him square his shoulders. Whatever the other man had to say it was clearly something he was bracing himself for. Blue eyes captured his, Gibbs expression earnest. "I've been attracted to you almost from the day we met." Tony brow creased. He had trouble picturing that, but Gibbs had never lied to him before. Omitted details now and then, but never outright lied. "It's been a long time since I was interested in another man. Years in fact." Gibbs shrugged one shoulder. "And there you were...handsome, intelligent, funny. Hell, I smiled more in the first two months you were on board than I had in the two years prior." Tony absorbed that bit of knowledge silently. He couldn't decide if he was flattered he'd managed to strike a chord in Gibbs or disappointed that he'd never noticed doing so. Gibbs held up a hand, ticking points off on his fingers. "You're my subordinate... technically off limits. You're fifteen years younger than me. I suck at relationships. And you didn't seem interested in guys, although, I got the feeling the whole 'skirt chaser' bit was more of an act." Gibbs shrugged. "Couldn't see you not catching what you went after." Gibbs leaned forward slightly. "With all that...action on what I felt seemed like one hell of a risk. I tried to just ignore it, repress it, redirected it...anything. I kept hoping it would go away eventually." Tony swallowed hard. No one he'd ever dated stayed interested for long. Eventually they all moved on to someone who could give them whatever it was Tony inherently lacked. It hurt to hear Gibbs say he actually wanted that interest to wan, actively worked to kill it. If what Gibbs said was true, his attraction to Tony had already lasted longer than anyone else's ever had, and they hadn't even gotten close to having sex. Maybe that was why Gibbs kissed him. Eliminate the temptation and thereby erase any appeal it had. There was only one way to know for sure "So this was," Tony waved a hand back toward the door referencing the kiss without actually mentioning it, "just an experiment on your part?" His throat hurt. "A way to exorcise the demon? Force those feelings you mentioned to go away?" "No." Gibbs shook his head, reaching to ensnare one of Tony's hands, entwining their fingers. "That was about me seeing an opportunity and for once in my life not wasting it. About finally screwing up the courage to risk being rejected. To suck it up and find out if my being older really mattered. To say the hell with rule twelve." Gibbs squeezed his hand. "I kept trying to figure out what would be the perfect time when I finally realized there wasn't going to be one." "What exactly are we talking about here?" Tony asked. He didn't want to misunderstand what Gibbs was really after. He had no trouble thinking Gibbs just

need to relieve a little tension. The man probably wasn't looking for anything more than that. "You just want a fuck buddy...that it?" "No." Gibbs snorted. "Never been all that good at casual. Bit too old fashioned." His lips quirked upward in the ghost of a self-deprecating smile. "Or more likely a bit too possessive." His gaze assessed Tony. "I want more than being a fuck buddy. Pretty sure you want more than that too." Tony bit his lower lip. What he wanted never mattered. "It won't work." "Why not?" Gibbs stared at him. Tony sighed silently as unbidden a quote about the definition of insanity came to mind, 'trying the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome'. His own mother hadn't loved him and his father barely even acknowledged him any more. None of his girlfriends ever hung around for more than two months. And his experience with male lovers amounted to one night stands. Sex was all they'd ever wanted, all he had to offer, and Gibbs just said he wanted more. The older man thought he sucked at relationships, but at least he'd gotten three women to say 'I do'. Tony hadn't even gotten anyone to agree to six months. "If you weren't interested, you wouldn't have kissed me back." "Never said I wasn't interested." Tony shook his head. "I said it won't work." "Why not?" Tony was tempted to tell him the truth, but he'd never really won an argument with Gibbs before, so maybe it would be better to let him find out on his own. Tony could have the silent, petty satisfaction that came with ?I told you so'. If he was lucky, he'd get that and a few good memories out of it when it was all said and done. He was being offered what he'd dreamed about for so long, and even though he was sure it wouldn't last, he was willing to risk the heartache he knew would come of agreeing to this, just to have what he wanted for a little while. "You're sure about this?" Tony asked instead of answering Gibbs question. Sky blue eyes held his easily. "Never would have kissed you if I weren't." Calling himself a fool for even considering this, Tony nodded. "Okay." "Okay?" Gibbs eyes lit up. "I'm game if you are." Tony smiled, pleased to know his answer made Gibbs happy, even if only for the moment. He'd probably be game long after Gibbs decided to call it quits. He just had to make sure Gibbs didn't know that. He silently vowed when Gibbs said enough already he'd let him go without making a fuss, or acting like an idiot. He wouldn't be some sort of clingy, stalking, psycho like Gibbs third ex-wife had been for the first year after the divorce. Gibbs leaned in, narrowing the gap between them. Like the first kiss, this one started out gentle, sweet. And to Tony's surprise it stayed that way, a promise of more to come rather than a passionate declaration. It was one of the most powerful things Tony had ever experienced. Gibbs pulled back, resting his forehead against Tony's. He smiled, blue eyes sparkling in a way Tony had never seen before. "I know you don't believe me." Gibbs whispered. "Know you think I'm going to change my mind. That I'm going to mess it up and this is probably a huge mistake."

Tony opened his mouth, not sure if he should admit to his doubts or deny them. Gibbs once more placed one finger against his lips. Gibbs pulled away to place a kiss on his cheek. "It's okay. I get it." He spoke softly, breath tickling Tony's skin. "We'll make it work. Together." Tony closed his eyes. "I'm not good at this." He needed Gibbs to know that. Wanted him to be prepared. When things went south, it had always been his fault. "Neither am I." Gibbs kissed his cheek again. "Maybe we can teach each other." Tony opened his eyes when he felt Gibbs pull back. With anyone else, he'd have invited them to spend the night, acted on that sparkle of interest, feeling of mutual attraction, that low grade background hum of arousal. Gibbs smiled and shook his head. "Dinner tomorrow night. My house." "What?" "Dinner." Gibbs smile broadened. "I'll prove it to you I can cook." He lightly squeezed the hand Tony had forgotten he was even still holding. "We take it slow. Do it right." Tony blinked. He found himself smiling back. "You think slow is the way to go?" He couldn't help the innuendo that laced his words, his voice unconsciously dipping a bit lower, taking on a roughness. "Definitely." Gibbs shivered, pupils dilating. Tony loved knowing he had that effect. He liked feeling the older man's pulse jump when he stroked his thumb across his palm. Gibbs sighed, and slowly disentangled their fingers. He cleared his throat. "I should go." Tony chuckled. "I think that's where this got started." Gibbs laughed. "True." He stood up and leaned down to place a light kiss on Tony's forehead. The gesture should have felt paternal, but it was decidedly more intimate. "You're ribs aren't up to more." "Think you should let me be the judge of that." Tony argued. "No." Gibbs shook his head, one finger running down Tony's forehead, over his nose to rest on his lips. "Want it to be about pleasure, not enduring pain. Want us both to have a good time...not just me." Tony shivered, responding not just to that strangely erotic caress but also the Gibbs declaration. No one had ever cared that much. He pursed his lips to kiss that fingertip before dipping his head slightly, accepting Gibbs decision. Gibbs stepped away. "I'll see you at the office tomorrow." Office. Oh shit. "About that...We'll have to play it cool there, right? Nothing changes. No one knows, right?" Tony didn't want the others to know anything about this. Kate would no doubt think he was trying to sleep his way to the top. McGee would probably see it as a desperate bid to stay on the team since the rest of them had skills Tony couldn't hope to match. Abby would be delighted, happy for him, not seeing the inevitable end as clearly as Tony could. And Ducky would likely tell some long winded story that had no bearing on the situation at all. But when Gibbs broke it off, Tony knew it would be

a lot easier for him to act like everything was normal if the others never knew things had ever been any different. Gibbs hesitated, sharp eyes measuring him. Not wanting the older man to think he was ashamed or embarrassed, Tony latched on to an earlier statement Gibbs had made about why he hesitated to act on his feelings. "You're still my supervisor. Director would take me off the team or fire me if he found out." Tony shook his head. "Not worth ruining your career over, Gibbs." Gibbs frowned. "Don't give a rat's ass about ruining my career." His gaze narrowed. "But if that's how you want it-" "It is." Gibbs nodded slowly. "Nothing changes at the office." Tony nodded, breathing easier, grateful Gibbs had agreed. He didn't really think Gibbs career would suffer. The man was damn near a legend at NCIS, but that didn't mean he wouldn't take some flak for getting involved with a subordinate, especially a male one. "Walk me out?" "Sure." Tony got up and followed Gibbs to the door. He wasn't sure what to expect this time, but the warm embrace wasn't it. He found himself relaxing into it, head resting on Gibbs shoulder as he soaked up the feeling of safety, comfort and welcome. If he could spend a lifetime in the circle of Gibbs arms he would. He didn't know how long they stood there, entwined, breathing in sync, before Gibbs pulled away. "Dinner at my place. After work." "You want me to bring anything?" Gibbs grinned. "Ice cream." Tony smiled. "Sure." He leaned against the door after Gibbs left. He chuckled to himself. At least things in his life were never dull. He wondered what Sully would have made of this new development. He had no trouble picturing her grinning, green eyes so much like his own alit with eager anticipation. She'd say 'go for it', 'nothing ventured, nothing gained'. Maybe she was right. He sure as hell hoped so. ***************** ******************** ********* Gibbs hit the alarm clock and sat up without opening his eyes. He sighed and rubbed a hand over his face, yawning tiredly. God, he hated sleeping alone. He'd had spent one night in Tony's bed and he already missed it. He smiled. Last night had gone so much better than he'd hoped. It made him feel foolish for not taking the risk a lot sooner. He snorted, amused in spite of himself as words his grandmother told him came back to him, her voice just as clear in his memory as if she were in the room with him. "Leroy Jethro Gibbs, you are such an impatient child. Things happened in their own time, in their own way. When it's ready, you'll get it. And not before." At the time she'd been talking about his trying to filch a cookie fresh from the oven, and she'd smacked his knuckles with the wooden spoon she wielded with an accuracy his drill instructor would have envied. But Gibbs was beginning to see

where that bit of advice had more use than just in the kitchen. It had taken him three failed marriages to realize that sometimes rushing ahead wasn't the best option or the wisest course of action. He already knew rushing would ruin what he was trying to achieve with Tony?and he now had an even better idea of why. He sighed and shook his head, remembering the file that had been waiting when he got home. Good as his word, the documents Sam had promised to send were all there. Gibbs couldn't believe it hurt more to read than it had been to listen to Sam's recitation of the details. But then he hadn't had the pictures to go along with that laundry list of abuse. God. Gibbs rubbed at his eyes wishing he'd gotten more sleep. He'd seen war, atrocities and crime scenes that still gave him nightmares, but nothing had ever affected him as much as one picture of Tony DiNozzo as a child, sporting a split lip and black eye. Those world weary green eyes far too old for that young face, looking back at the camera with an odd blend of defeat and defiance in his expression just made Gibbs chest hurt. There was no mistaking the resignation there, the knowledge that this would happen again, and that no one was going to do a damn thing about it, that no one really cared enough about him to bother. Christ. He'd seen that bleak look before on the faces of orphaned children in war torn Bosnia, and it hurt to think Tony had ever looked like that. Fragile wasn't a word he'd ever thought to associate with Tony, but Gibbs was beginning to understand he shouldn't confuse resilience and determination to survive with being unbreakable. Tony had been hurt, more than just physically. Gibbs saw that for himself in the way the younger man had doubted him last night, had been briefly frozen with fear. He knew Tony expected him to abandon him in the future, to walk away like everyone else had, to hurt him and not see anything wrong with having done so. Well that wasn't going to happen. Come hell or high water, for once in his life Gibbs was going to get it right. He shook his head, forcing his hands to unclench from the painfully tight fists they curled into, and levered himself out of bed. Gibbs dressed in his running gear and headed out for his usual jog. The early morning routine cleared his head of remaining cobwebs. Ordinarily he didn't push as hard as he used to. He understood all too well the toil his age had taken and that he couldn't match what he did at eighteen, but today he drove himself ruthlessly, trying to banish those pictures from his mind. He wanted to work out the rage at Tony's family, at anyone else who'd hurt him before he got to the office. It wouldn't be right to unleash all that anger on innocent bystanders. He was gasping for breath when he finished his run, his knees loudly complaining. Gibbs grimaced. He really should know better than to do that. But at least he wasn't quite so pissed any more. Showering for work, he realized in some ways Tony's strength of character was far greater than he'd given him credit for. The younger man could easily have internalized all what had happened to him, becoming sullen, angry and hostile to women in general---an abuser in his own right. Tony used humor more often than not as a weapon rather than his fists, seldom lashing out in anger. He treated women with more respect than distain, although Kate saw his behavior as juvenile and demeaning to women, Gibbs doubted any of the women Tony dated saw it that way.

And the younger man retained a measure of confidence and more than his share of backbone that made him damn good at his job and a good fit for Gibbs' team. Gibbs shaved and got dressed, sipping at his ever present mug of coffee. Mastering the timer on his coffee pot still ranked as one of his best technological achievements. His coffee was ready every morning when he got back from his run. He'd already decided on the dinner menu. An old fashioned meat and potatoes sort of meal, the kind he was fairly certain Tony hadn't gotten much of and would honestly appreciate. Gibbs grinned a he got out the crock pot. There was nothing better than a slow done roast. It was something his grandmother had taught him. Virginia Gibbs, Ginny to her friends, never used a recipe, but if you were willing to spend the time in her kitchen she'd show you how to cook. Gibbs learned how to cook intuitively, following her example of just doing something until one developed a feel for it. He'd let the roast marinate overnight, careful to season lightly. Tony didn't seem mind spicy food, but Gibbs didn't want to risk ruining their first meal together---well, their first as a date. He couldn't help grinning at that thought. He was whistling as he drove to work. Pulling into the parking lot he sobered as he took the spot next to Tony's Jeep. The younger man didn't want anyone at the office to know. And while he was sure there was more to that request than the reason Tony had vocalized last night, Gibbs had agreed and he intended to respect the younger man's wishes. He took a deep breath and then another, removing all traces of his good humor from his face. He'd never walked into the building smiling before, starting now was bound to draw unwanted attention. Gibbs grabbed his cup of coffee and headed in, greeting the security guard the way he did every morning. Taking the elevator up to the right floor, he was glad Tony was usually there early. He'd get the chance to see the younger man alone before the others got in. He fought to curb the smile that thought engendered. His effort was wasted when he spotted a cup with Manny's label on the side sitting on his desk. He glanced around, frowning when he didn't see Tony. He relaxed when he saw the younger man strolling around the corner from the general vicinity of the rest rooms. Tony's lips curled upward in an easy smile. "Morning, Boss." Gibbs tipped his head, smiling slightly. "Morning, DiNozzo." He wanted to say more, to move closer, but Tony made the smallest shake of his head. Green eyes looked up, darting toward where the security camera hung from ceiling. For the first time Gibbs resented the security that was intended to keep the building safe. Some days he agreed with Abby's assessment of 'Safety sucks'. A little risk is so much better than having someone looking over your shoulder all the time'. But he'd agreed to beefed up security after Ari, it would be hypocritical to get pissed about them now. Gibbs sighed and nodded infinitesimally, letting Tony know he got the message. Resigned to business as usual, Gibbs headed for his desk. He tossed his still half full coffee cup in the trash in favor of the one Tony had placed on his desk. Tony grinned but didn't comment as he went to his own desk, booting up his computer.

McGee was the next to appear. Tony greeted him cheerfully, but Gibbs gave him little more than a grunt of acknowledgement before asking fore the cross reference he'd assigned the junior agent yesterday. He knew he was a bastard for enjoying seeing McGee get flustered and try to explain why he hadn't managed to finish it. There was just something so entertaining about making people squirm. "I want it in an hour, McGee." Gibbs ordered, effectively ending the computer expert's dithering. He didn't miss the looks that McGee and Tony traded. Gibbs wondered just what the hell that was about. He frowned, as Tony went back to focusing on whatever he was working on. All he had to do yesterday was finish his report and that was done before Gibbs had sent him home. The cross reference was necessary, but tedious. The background check on names mentioned in Persun's ledger would take time, and two people working on it would make it much easier. Gibbs hadn't prohibited cooperation on the task, but he hadn't suggested it either. He was confident McGee hadn't asked for help, which meant Tony had offered. Gibbs wondered just how long the two younger men had been helping each other. He knew that lately they were getting along better, working as team more so than in the past, but he wasn't clear on the extent. He reined in that instinctive knee jerk reaction of jealousy. McGee was not competition, Gibbs reminded himself forcefully, he is dating Abby. Although, how the hell anyone could ignore Tony's appeal was beyond Gibbs. Gibbs shook his head and focused on clearing paper off his desk. He signed his own report on the case, filing it with Tony's, Kate's and McGee's. He sipped his coffee, appreciating the flavor, giving Tony a quick smile before moving on to the next order of business. He barely acknowledged Kate's arrival. Gibbs knew his just being at his desk stifled the normal back and forth banter between his staff. Sometimes he hated knowing that he cowed them somewhat, although never completely. At other times was damn glad they knew better than to goof off in his presence or at least not get so carried away they forgot to knock it off when he told them to. Gibbs finished off a commendation for Tony's file, ready to submit to the director. He grinned internally, wondering what the younger man's reaction would be if he knew this wasn't the first one Gibbs had entered in his file. His good humor vanished as he considered the fact that Tony didn't know Gibbs had officially documented just how good a job he thought the younger man did at least five times. Given that they were now ?dating', Gibbs realized he couldn't say anything. He knew Tony well enough to know what the younger man would assume...the commendations were not genuine, they were just a means to an end. Tony would overlook the dates as being unimportant. He'd seen enough backdated documents to make those meaningless. Gibbs grimaced. He'd traversed mine fields with greater ease than this. He glanced over to watch Tony covertly, a skill he'd had to master two days after the former cop started working for him. He couldn't help but take in the masculine beauty of the younger man, the graceful movements as he typed, the intent expression as he studied what was in front of him----Gibbs nodded to himself. Tony was worth it.

Gibbs went back to 'killing trees', wanting to clear as much off his desk as possible. Never knew when they might get a call. And it kept him nicely focused on not spending his time just staring at Tony, which was clearly far more preferable, but not nearly as productive. It wasn't like he didn't have practice in keeping himself focused on the job and away from the younger man. He'd been doing it since Tony was hired. He glanced up when McGee appeared in front of his desk. "Yeah?" "The cross reference you asked for." McGee offered him what looked like a spread sheet. "Most were known arms dealers?.legitimate, the more shady operators, and those suspected or convicted by other agencies in the past five years. Not much new there." McGee cleared his throat. "There are a handful in Persun's ledger that may just be starting in the business or---" "More likely simply haven't popped up on someone else's radar before now." Gibbs finished for him. "Good job, McGee." McGee nodded, smiling, the set of his shoulders relaxing. "Thanks, Boss." Gibbs mentally contrasted McGee's reaction to that brief compliment to Tony's usual response. McGee reminded him of a puppy eager to please, tail wagging when he got it right. "Touch base with ATF and local law enforcement on these possible neophytes. I'm sure they'll want to know if there are new players out there." "Already on it, Boss." Tony pointed to his computer screen, giving Kate a smug smile. Kate shot him a dirty look. Gibbs had told her to give ATF a heads up on the weapons-serial numbers, as well as makes and models. By all right she should have followed up with the rest. Tony had probably gotten the idea when he'd offered to help McGee with the cross reference. It was always possible someone new would pop up, someone that should be watched in the future but would likely fall outside their jurisdiction. It's why he wanted McGee to check the names in the first place. Gibbs smirked slightly, but didn't say anything about Tony beating Kate to the punch. The younger played up brownnosing from time to time, but Gibbs understood that was more to tease and compete with Kate and McGee than any real effort to curry favor. Tony never really tied to parlay his good work into any favors or special treatment. The former Marine didn't really mind their competition, or efforts to impress him since more often than not it resulted in his people excelling at their jobs. Gibbs was torn between wishing they'd get a call, anything to keep busy, and being glad the phones remained silent. He didn't want a case to interfere with his plans for the evening. It had been ages since he had plans that involved more than just working on his boat. He was looking forward to dinner with Tony. Gibbs shook his head, trying to remember the last time the clock had moved so slow. He could now better understand Tony's propensity for watching the clock on Fridays. God, it was going to be a long day. Gibbs grimaced at his coffee cup, disappointed to find it empty. He was going to have to drink the weak-as-well-water shit in the break room or walk down to the coffee shop on the corner. At least the walk would get him outside, give him a chance to do something that got him away from the temptation of Tony. He got up and caught

Tony's amused glance. He pointed a finger at the younger man, knowing the smile lurking around his mouth and eyes ruined the warning effect. Tony tipped his head in an abbreviated bow. It was an oddly refined gesture, something that would have been right at home in Victorian England. It was a reminder that Tony's background was not just affluent, but old money. While he didn't do them very often, those gestures of casual courtesy and polite respect were probably ingrained from the time he learned to walk; there was no other way to execute them with such innate grace. Learning them as an adult always made them seem forced, planned rather than natural. Fortified with another cup of coffee, biggest one he could buy, Gibbs headed back to the office. He didn't consciously sneak in, but he did lighten his step as he got closer to the bull pen. He learned a lot by eavesdropping. "Meditating again, Tony?" Kate asked dryly. Gibbs could see her eyeballing Tony's desk. He couldn't see Tony from where he stood, but Gibbs had no difficulty picturing what the younger man was doing. He still had trouble figuring out just how he could actually balance himself in the chair that way; somehow the younger man managed. "Yes, Kate." Tony answered, his voice just a bit deeper than normal. It wasn't quite as deep or rough as Gibbs knew it got when Tony just woke up, but it still made the older man shiver in response to it. It might be what he sounded like as he drifted off. "You should try it some time." Tony sighed, softly, a sound of contentment that Gibbs wouldn't mind hearing again. "Might help loosen you up a bit." Gibbs sipped his coffee, privately agreeing that Kate could do with learning how to relax. She took things way too seriously. He supposed it was a side affect of guarding the president, of having a single purpose objective. God knows he never wanted his job to be so limited in its focus. "You know Gibbs will be back soon." McGee tossed out. "I know, Probie." Tony sounded like he was smiling. "Five bucks says he's already in the building. Another ten says he's already on our floor." McGee glanced around, smirking. He obviously thought he'd be getting one over on Tony. "Done." Gibbs shook his head. Fools bet. Although, how exactly Tony knew he was there was definitely something he wouldn't mind knowing. Sneaking up on Tony was getting harder to do all the time. Gibbs strolled out into the open where he could be seen. He suppressed the urge to smile at McGee's disappointed expression. Gibbs had no doubts on who would be buying Tony's lunch today. Tony rotated easily in his chair, sitting up like he'd never been prone. He didn't look guilty, but then, he hadn't been doing anything wrong so there was no reason he should. Gibbs noticed a slight hesitation in Tony's movements. His ribs probably still bothered him, and likely would until they healed completely. Gibbs was grateful they hadn't gotten a call. Tony was desk bound until cleared for field duty. Gibbs grimaced realizing it would be three weeks, maybe four, before Tony cleared to do more than ride his desk. He hated the idea of leaving the younger man behind.

Mercifully the day came to an end. No calls. No last minute meetings. Nothing to keep Gibbs from enjoying the evening he had planned. He glanced at the clock. "Okay people...go home." He wondered if he ought to mark the calendar. Two days in a row they were going to leave on time. Kate gathered up her things, and not for the first time did Gibbs wonder why she needed so much stuff. Or why the hell she didn't just leave a bag at the office the way he did. He shook his head. Three failed marriages had proven to him rather concretely he knew nothing about women. McGee followed her out, no doubt having planned something with Abby. Gibbs privately thought they made for an odd couple. Abby was far more of a free spirit than McGee appeared to be. But he must have something to hold her attention, and Gibbs couldn't argue with that. Tony shrugged into his jacket. Gibbs walked with him to the elevator, unconsciously walking in step with the younger man. He hadn't gotten to ride up with him that morning, but going down with him wasn't a bad choice. And there were no cameras in the elevator. He'd made sure of that. There had to be one place in the whole damn building where he could have a private conversation. He was tempted to stop the elevator, but resisted. He smiled when Tony reached out to do it for him. An impish grin lit up the younger man's face before he leaned in and kissed Gibbs. The kiss didn't last nearly as long as Gibbs would have liked. He growled when Tony pulled back. Gibbs followed, pushing Tony against the wall, pinning him there as he dove in to see if he could find the tonsils Tony's medical records said had been removed. Tony moaned, and Gibbs stepped away quickly recognizing more pain than passion in that sound. Oh shit, he'd forgotten...three cracked ribs. Pinning Tony like that had to hurt. "Sorry, Tony...Shit, I didn't mean-" "It's okay, Boss." "I didn't mean to-" "I know that." Tony reached out and cupped his face, green eyes warm as they met Gibbs' sky blue counterparts. Tony's touch and expression were as reassuring as his words. "Kind of does nice things for my ego." Tony waggled his eyebrows, grinning. "Maybe I can get you to forget your name next. Wanna try?" Surprised laughter bubbled out of Gibbs. "Yes. Not just yes, hell yes." Tony leaned in and ever-so-gently warm, moist lips met Gibbs'. The kiss was soft, but no less passionate for that. He opened his mouth to suck Tony's questing mouth into his own, reveling in the taste of the younger man. It was weird letting someone else control the kiss, but Gibbs found himself enjoying it nonetheless. There was just something so damn erotic about stolen kiss, a cheap thrill he hadn't let himself indulge in for years. He was dizzy and panting when Tony ended the kiss. Lord. He had to reach to rearrange himself, pants uncomfortably tight. Gibbs could feel his face warming a bit

as Tony watched him, a faint smirk appearing. He couldn't remember the last time he'd gotten hard so fast from just from a kiss. "Glad I'm not the only one." Tony said with a sly smile. Gibbs licked his lips, trying to recapture the lingering flavor. He watched Tony's eyes follow his tongue, pupils so large as to make his eyes seem black. Was probably a damn good thing they hadn't ridden up in the elevator together. He'd have never made it through the day. His throat suddenly felt incredibly dry. He reluctantly stepped back, not wanting to risk losing control again. Tony gave him a wry smile, and Gibbs felt better knowing the younger man understood. Gibbs cleared his throat and started the elevator again. "So...you are still coming to my place for dinner?" "Yes." Tony chuckled. "Still have to find out if you really can cook." Gibbs found himself laughing lightly. Leave it to Tony to ease tension and make things normal again. The younger man had a gift for doing that. Gibbs had appreciated it on a professional level, often recognizing when Tony ran interference when he was pushing too hard and keeping things from getting out of hand. He shook his head, never thinking he'd find himself grateful for that skill on a personal level. "What flavor of ice cream to you want?" Gibbs blinked. He'd forgotten he'd even asked Tony to bring any. He gave the younger man a sly look. "Surprise me." Tony grinned. "Think I already did that." "Well, then doing it again shouldn't prove to be too difficult." Tony snickered. "You are so easy." "But I'm not cheap." Gibbs countered as the elevator doors opened. "I'll be expecting you in an hour." Tony nodded. He still looked a bit uncertain, but not nearly as scared as he had last night. Gibbs thought that was progress. He just had to work on convincing Tony that the risk was worth the reward, that he wasn't going to walk away. Gibbs knew good things took time. He nodded once to himself, reaffirming what he'd thought earlier?.Tony was worth it. Now he just had to convince Tony of that. ***** ****************** *************** **** Tony neatly laid the utensils on his now empty plate, and sat back with a soft sigh of satisfaction. The last thing he'd ever expected from Gibbs was an old fashioned, meat and potatoes sort of meal. Although, in some ways he probably should have. It had been delicious. It was the sort of meal he'd seen Harriet make for Ozzie in reruns he'd watched a hundred times but until now something he'd never actually had himself. "You get enough to eat?" Gibbs stood, holding his own plate and eyeing the one Tony had

Tony chuckled, offering his plate to Gibbs. "Any more and I'll burst." He finished off the last of the wine that Gibbs had poured for him. When Gibbs held up the bottle in a silent offer for more, Tony shook his head. "So, can I cook?" Gibbs asked, a teasing glint in his eyes as he poured for himself a another glass of wine. "Well, I can say for certain that you can make at least one superb meal." Tony grinned. "Can't confirm yet that your cooking skills are actually better than average. Not enough evidence." Gibbs gave him a speculative look, a smile hovering about his mouth as he sipped his wine. "So another dinner together must be in order." "So it seems." Tony tipped his head in agreement. He'd enjoyed both the meal and the company and would love to make a habit of this, but he wasn't going to say so out loud. In spite of his decision to go with the flow, to enjoy this while it lasted, he still worried he'd do something or say something to jinx it. Thinking now was a good time to change the subject, Tony glanced toward the basement door. "You make much progress on the boat lately?" "You want to see it?" "I'd love to." Tony had only seen the boat once, about a year after he started working for NCIS. Back then it was little more than a skeleton, just a frame that had yet to be fleshed out. Until now he'd never felt comfortable enough to ask to see how much progress Gibbs had made since then. "You know anything about boats?" Gibbs asked as he waved Tony to follow him to the basement. "If a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, then I verge on lethal when it comes to boats." Tony said with an easy smile. He'd gone sailing a time or two. And Sully had been fascinated by wooden ships, taking him to see everything from Viking dragon boats to the USS Constitution. But he knew little about practical construction of a boat. He let out a low whistle when he saw how much progress Gibbs had made. Tony could now easily envision what the boat would look like when it was finished. He reached out hesitantly to touch the wood, wondering if it was as smooth as it looked. He halted his reach, looking askance at Gibbs, seeking permission before taking liberties with something so obviously important to the other man. Gibbs smiled. "You can touch her." Tony ran his fingertips lightly over the wood, following the grain. It was as smooth as glass. He wondered just how long it took to achieve that finish without the benefit of power tools. "You have a name for her yet?" He asked. Gibbs shook his head. "Will wait to name her until she's finished. Bad luck otherwise." Tony chuckled. "Never took you for a superstitious sort, Boss."

Gibbs lightly smacked the back of his head, the gesture morphing into a gentle caress as fingers found their way through his hair. Tony sighed, enjoying the touch. He unconsciously shifted his weight, silently asking for more. He tilted his head forward when Gibbs fingers found their way to the back of his neck. Tony was genuinely surprised when the older man stared a light massage, both hands moving to work his shoulders. He moaned when strong fingers found a tight spot, and worked out the tension. "I'm only going to give you the rest of my life to stop that." "A lifetime." Gibbs chuckled warmly. "Like the sound of that." Tony smiled, sighing softly as Gibbs continued the massage. "You're good at this." "I've had practice." Tony frowned. He knew he wasn't Gibbs first. Hell, he'd even met two of his ex-wives. And it wasn't as if Gibbs was his first either, far from it in fact, but it still hurt to be reminded that the older man had done this for someone else. "You okay?" Gibbs asked, his hands still. "Fine." Tony summoned up a smile before turning to look at Gibbs. He didn't want his moment of insecurity to ruin whatever was growing between them. He glanced around the basement, looking for and finding a way to change the conversation. "How the hell are you going to get her out of here when you get her finished?" Gibbs shook his head, biting his lower lip. "When I started her, I just needed something to focus on. Something to get my mind off---" He trailed off, shrugging one shoulder. Tony figured out easily enough what Gibbs needed to get his mind off...ex-wife number three. He made a small sound of comprehension, encouraging Gibbs to continue speaking. Gibbs lightly stroked the boat. "Just sort of got started, and wrapped up in the details of the whole process." Tony nodded. "Lost sight of the big picture." Gibbs gave him a sheepish look, making Tony chuckle. "Wouldn't be the first person that's happened to. Sort of doubt you'll be the last." "I do have a plan." Tony arched an eyebrow. "A plan." He repeated. "Yeah." Gibbs nodded. "Basement was originally supposed to be a garage." He pointed to the far wall. "Just have to take that out, and frame it for doors." "And the need to get the boat out will prompt that eventual remodel?" Gibbs laughed. "Well, no real hurry to have a garage. Its waited this long." He shrugged, hand moving to once more stroke the boat. "It's taken me two years to get this far on her....might take another two before I get to the point where I have to worry about getting her out and on the water." He smiled softly, hand once more moving to lightly curl around the back of Tony's neck. "Good things take time."

Tony shivered, unable to stifle the ripple of pleasure at the implication in Gibbs statement. Maybe this would work-or at least last for far longer than he expected. Tony snickered internally, his inner voice observing, 'the man just spent more than two years working on a life size ship in a bottle, can't say he doesn't have experience with the power of persistence or lacks endurance'. He asked Gibbs about the building process, curious about how the parts he saw lying around would become part of the whole. He found himself enjoying just letting the older man talk freely, surprised by how eloquent Gibbs could be, hands moving to practically diagram his words as he indicated what went where and why. It was fun to see him so animated. "No nails?" Tony observed. "No." Gibbs held up several wooden pegs. He looked a bit sheepish. "Wanted to do it all the old fashioned way as much as possible, right down to the very last detail." Tony chuckled. "You got this obsessive compulsive thing down, don't you, Boss?" Gibbs snorted, blue eyes twinkling. "An attention to detail is not a bad thing." "Guess it depends on what details you are paying attention to." Tony looked at Gibbs coyly from under his lashes. He didn't resist when Gibbs backed him into the boat, gently leaning up against him in a move that held him in place but didn't put any pressure on his still healing ribs. He sighed, enjoying the careful ravishing of his mouth. As Gibbs' tongue thoroughly and completely mapped every bit of his mouth, Tony had to agree that attention to detail was definitely a damn good thing. Gibbs hands' moved to wrap around his wrists, pinning his arms when Tony wanted to move things further than just kissing, pulling at the older man's shirt trying to get it to the skin beneath. He got the message, relaxing and letting Gibbs take control and set the pace. Tony found himself enjoying this unhurried exploration, no pressure to do anything more. It brought up fond memories of necking as a teenager in the back seat of his father's car, back when kissing was the goal, before he really had the guts to do any more. When Gibbs moved his attention from Tony's lips to his neck, Tony tipped his head back to give him greater access. He shuddered when Gibbs found that spot under his ear. Tony whimpered when the older man nibbled there before soothing that tiny hurt with lips and tongue. Tony widened his stance, hips rocking against Gibbs in a lazy rhythm. The friction felt so good. He moaned, deep in his throat when the older man sucked hard on his neck. That was bound to leave a mark. And he knew it was deliberate, not an act of careless passion when Gibbs growled, 'mine'. Tony tried moving his hands again, but Gibbs tightened his hold. He lifted his head enough to make eye contact with Tony. "Stay still." Blue eyes darkened with what Tony recognized as guilt. "Don't want to hurt you again." "I...won't break...Boss." Tony argued, trying to control his breathing. His sense of control felt about as substantial as wisps of fog. "Wanted to take this slow." Gibbs whispered, voice hoarse. "Wanted to do it right." Tony smiled. "From where I stand, you haven't done anything wrong yet."

Gibbs raspy chuckled ghosted over his skin as a nearly tangible thing. He rested his forehead against Tony's. "You could tempt a saint to sin." "That a good thing?" Tony asked, enjoying the feel of Gibbs leaning against him. He felt less like he was going to burst into flames, but no less aroused. There was something so damn grounding about being near Gibbs, something he'd never experienced before. Gibbs sighed. "I want to-" "So do I." Blue eyes held his, so close, so intense in their gaze. "You sure?" "Oh yeah." Tony executed a sensual roll of his hips, rubbing their groins together, pleased when Gibbs' eyes drifted closed in an expression of exquisite pleasure. Gibbs nodded once, decisively. "Let's take this somewhere more comfortable." Tony breathed out a silent sigh of relief. He was half afraid Gibbs was going to say no. Gibbs linked their hands, placing a kiss on Tony's knuckles. "We do this my way." Tony smirked. "Is there any other way?" Gibbs laughed lightly and tugged him toward the stairs. Tony followed eagerly, trailing after Gibbs all the way to his bedroom. Gibbs flipped on a bedside light, giving Tony his first look at the other man's private domain. He wasn't surprised to find the room tasteful, definitely masculine. The furniture was all Mission Style, simple and elegant, and about what he'd have expected from Gibbs. Nothing like the gaudy, French inspired furniture Tony's mother had favored. Solid, muted colors created a feeling of comfort and relaxation. He was grateful there were no busy floral patterns that his step mother had added to nearly every room once she started decorating the house. This was not a room any of Gibbs' ex-wives had a hand in decorating. Gibbs worked the buttons on his shirt, placing kisses on each bit of newly exposed skin. He knew Gibbs had spotted the rather impressive array of bruise still darkening his torso when the older man gasped, hands stilling. Tony cupped Gibbs face, tilting it upward so he could make eye contact. "It's okay." Gibbs searched his face. "Maybe we should---" "Shhh." Tony kissed him. "I want this." He smiled, moving one finger to trace a line from Gibbs forehead, over his nose, to rest on his lips just like Gibbs had done to him the night before. "I need this." Blue eyes searched his face and Tony held his breath waiting. Gibbs smiled and then nodded. He went back to undoing Tony's shirt. Soft kisses were carefully placed on each bruise, as though Gibbs was trying to erase or diminish their presence with his lips. Tony swallowed hard. No one had ever shown him that much care and attention. He gasped when Gibbs lightly sucked on one nipple. His hands rose automatically to hold the other man in place, chest arching into that wonderful sensation, trying to encourage more. He shuddered when Gibbs fluttered his tongue, teasing taut flesh

before applying his teeth just enough for the contrast between soft and wet and hard and wet to register. "God." Tony ground out, hands clenching tightly in Gibbs hair when the other man subjected his other nipple to the same treatment. Worried he might have unintentionally hurt the older man, he forced himself to uncurl his fingers. Tony ran them through Gibbs silver strands in a soothing gesture, smiling when the older man sighed. The sound reminded Tony of a purring cat. He did it again, committing that sound of pleasure and contentment to memory. With shaking fingers, Tony worked to divest Gibbs of his clothing. He was suddenly desperate for that sense of connection he'd only ever found in skin to skin contact. He was delighted to have free rein to roam over Gibbs' chest, pleased to find the older man was nearly hairless. "You feel so good." Tony whispered, awed. He'd always known Gibbs was in good shape, but he'd never expected him to be so solid or his skin so soft. It was like caressing steel wrapped in silk. "Glad you approve." Gibbs' raspy chuckle, was another thing he committed to memory. The older man nipped his earlobe before sucking on it. "Bed. Now." Gibbs backed away toward the bed, leading Tony there with a soft smile. He pushed down the dove gray comforter before lying down. He gave Tony what had to be the most sensuously look he'd ever gotten. Gibbs patted his thigh in an inviting gesture. "C'mere." Tony grinned. He lowered himself slowly to cover Gibbs completely, leaning in to kiss him. Tony took his time, exploring that tantalizing mouth all over again. Gibbs tasted as good as he felt. He moaned when Gibbs rocked against him, their hard cocks brushing against each other. Tony wanted more of that delicious feeling. He found himself effortlessly following the pace Gibbs had set. He growled in frustration. It wasn't quite enough. He wanted more. Needed more. "I want you to fuck me." Tony froze, staring at Gibbs wide-eyed. "You want-" "You. To. Fuck. Me." Gibbs repeated, punctuating between each word with a kiss. Tony grinned. "Somehow that wasn't....quite what I thought you meant...when you said we'd be doing this...your way." Gibbs smiled slyly. "Disappointed?" "Disappointed, no....surprised, yeah." Tony's voice dipped an octave just thinking about it. He didn't miss Gibbs reaction to his voice. "You want me to talk dirty to you?" Gibbs groaned, eyes closing. He nodded jerkily. "Please...god...you can say anything you want...just keep talking." "So you want me to fuck you, Sailor." Tony rolled his hips, nibbling on Gibbs throat. "Yes." That one word came out as one long hiss.

"Face to face?" Tony tried to ignore how good it felt to have Gibbs hands on his ass, kneading him and all but begging him to keep moving. "Back to front....doggy style?" "Too damn old to...bend far enough for face to face." Gibbs sighed, regret coloring his tone. "Not too old." Tony countered, kissing the older man sweetly. Christ guys half his age weren't as in good as shape as Gibbs was now. "On our sides?" He suggested, wagging his eyebrows. "Can still see me. And I want to see you with my cock buried in your ass." He whispered roughly. "See you when you lose it." Gibbs shuddered, a small whimper escaping him. He was already moving, sliding out from under Tony. Tony knew the little shimmy the older man did was a deliberate tease, not something done just to make changing positions easier. Tony lightly swatted Gibbs ass before running his hand up and down the older man's hip in a calculated caress. He'd noticed earlier the hollow of his hip was a personal hot spot for the older man. Tony used his thumb, massaging that erogenous zone in slow, steady circles. "I need something slick." Tony nuzzled the back of Gibbs' neck. "You got anything?" Gibbs nodded jerkily. "Nightstand." Tony reached for the drawer, grunting when his ribs protested the stretch. That little twinge wasn't enough to stop him. He snagged the handle, pulling it open and reaching inside. He grinned as found the lube and condoms. He left the lube lying on the bed while he made quick work fo the condom. Lots of practice came in handy there. He hadn't had sex without 'protection' in years. He'd had too many partners not to be careful. Tony held the lube, offering it to Gibbs. "You want to do the honors....or do you want me to?" He leaned in to nibble on the pulse point he could see throbbing Gibbs' neck. "I could stretch you out....get you ready....make you squirm...hold you near the edge." He loved feeling Gibbs' heart rate jump, hear his breath catch, his whole body almost quivering with eagerness. "Just say the word." Tony whispered. "Tell me what you want...Jethro." He honestly couldn't remember if he'd ever used Gibbs first name or not, but he didn't want to call him by his surname while they were naked. "God." He could feel Gibbs swallow hard. It was so damn heady to know he was having such an effect on the older man. It was only fair-Gibbs had the same effect on him. "You....do...it." Gibbs turned his head, bringing there lips together in a sloppy, passionate kiss. Tony popped the top on the lube, slicking his fingers with a generous amount. Gibbs bent one leg at the knee, tilting his hips to give Tony easy access. That willingness allayed any doubts he might have had that Gibbs really wanted this. Not wanting to rush this, Tony rimmed Gibbs tight entrance getting another of those purring sighs for his trouble before he penetrated with one finger. He shivered thinking out having that tight heat surrounding him. Tony bit his lip to distract himself. He wanted this to last, wanted them both to get there together.

The little mewling sounds Gibbs made when he added a second finger nearly undid him. He had no idea the older man could sound like that. So damn needy, so eager. God. He shivered when Gibbs raised a hand to cup the back of his neck, playing with his hair. "Want you in me." Gibbs managed to make that sound as both a plea and an order. "You sure?" Tony didn't want to move to fast and hurt the other man. Given Gibbs' reaction, Tony knew he wasn't a virgin to this. He was way too eager and knew how to relax into it for him to be a virgin. But Tony had no idea how long it had been since Gibbs had done this, and he was willing to bet it had been awhile. "I'm sure." Gibbs' smiled, blue eyes nearly black with passion. "Please." There was no way to resist that. Maybe ?please' really was a magic word. Tony tilted his head to taste that smile, not at all surprised to find it just as sweet as it looked. He used his already slick fingers to slick his leaking cock. He pinched the head just hard enough to take the edge off, to ease back from the brink a bit. Tony had been so focused on Gibbs he'd lost sight of just how close he'd gotten. He pressed in slowly, drawing out that exquisite pleasure for both of them. "So hot...god, Jethro...so tight....damn good." Gibbs rocked back, encouraging Tony to go faster, deeper. It reminded Tony of dancing. Although, in this case he really had no idea who was leading. It didn't matter. He reached around to stroke Gibbs cock, matching his stroke to the rhythm they'd established. He could hear someone moaning and it took him a moment to realize it was him. The soft little pants and whispered words of encouragement, 'harder, faster, deeper', were coming from Gibbs. Tony could feel small tremors ripple through Gibbs. Muscles clenching and random spasms. Those seemed to touch off something inside him, like an erotic feedback loop. He ducked his head, nuzzling Gibbs neck. He breathed in deeply. Spice, sawdust, coffee and musk. If he could bottle that scent, he'd make a fortune. "So close....Tony...don't...please...don't stop." He couldn't stop even if he wanted to. And god knew he didn't want to. The tingling at the base of his spine started, the harbinger of his own climax. Their joined pace picked up, the timeless action taking on an urgency as they neared completion. Tony tried to slow down, control his breathing and make this last, but Gibbs wouldn't let him. The older man continued to push the pace, and Tony had no choice but to match him. They shared another kiss, tongues mimicking their other more intimate actions. Gibbs broke the kiss, a soft cry of Tony's name as he came, warmth coating Tony's hand. That sense of being caught in a feedback loop remained as Gibbs climax triggered his own. Tony cried out silently, his throat so tight it was nearly painful as he came. They lay together, panting in unison. Tony would almost swear their heartbeats matched. It was the singularly most powerful moment of his life. Rather than scare him, he felt nothing but awe, and a fierce desire to experience this again.

He sighed, and reluctantly withdrew, already regretting the loss of that intimate union. Tony raised his hand and licked it clean, eyes closing as he took in the flavor, enjoy the unique taste. He stopped when Gibbs gasped, freezing in place. He glanced up, green eyes silently asking what was wrong. "You got to promise me not to do that when I'm in no position to do anything about it." "Hunh?" Tony looked at him in confusion. "That is the most erotic thing I've seen in a long time." Tony looked away, embarrassed and flattered at the same time. He wasn't sure what to say or do. He hadn't felt that confused since he was a teenager. He looked up when he felt a light touch under his chin. "Relax, Tony. It's not a bad thing." Gibbs gave him a sweet, nearly chaste kiss. "Okay." Tony chuckled, already feeling the tension and uncertainty draining away. He shook his head, realizing just how conditioned he was to following Gibbs orders. He yawned, belatedly covering his mouth. "You have a change of clothes in the car?" He blinked. "Always. Why?" "So you're staying the night?" Tony's brow furrowed. "You want me to?" Somehow he hadn't really expected that. Although, he wasn't sure why. "Yes, I want you to." Gibbs smiled, fingers moving to smooth Tony's brow. Tony nodded. He really wanted to stay, to snuggle in with Gibbs. Wanted to recapture that feeling of safety and security he'd gotten from just sleeping with the other man. Gibbs pulled away from him. Tony immediately thought that the other man had changed his mind. He must have made some sound, given away his disappointment in some fashion because Gibbs turned to look back at him. "Just need to get something to clean us up." Gibbs reached out to cup his face, thumb caressing his cheekbone. "I'll be back in a minute." It took less time than that for Gibbs to clean them up, dispose of the condom and settle back into bed. He opened his arms and Tony willingly snuggled in, head resting on Gibbs shoulder. He kept waiting for this to feel awkward, to feel nervous, but the overwhelming lassitude and naturalness of it made it unbelievably easy to just relax into Gibbs hold. Tony felt Gibbs tip his head to place a kiss in his hair. He smiled, slipping easily into a boneless state. He could get used to this. ****************************** ************** Gibbs' eyes opened abruptly and he searched the dark bedroom seeking what had brought him out of a sound sleep. He focused, fighting off the lethargy that made his limbs heavy and mind sluggish. His cell phone was ringing. Damn. That had to be work related. He reached for where his phone lay on the nightstand.

He snapped it open, wanting to turn off the ring tone before it could disturb Tony. He didn't quite bark his name as he normally did, but the quiet tone didn't mask his terseness. Whoever was on the other end had to know he wasn't pleased. "Sorry to wake you, Gibbs." He could almost see her wincing. With Tony on desk duty until the doctor cleared him, she was on call. Gibbs smirked thinking at least Tony always sounded wide awake when they got an early morning call. Kate sounded even less alert than Gibbs, like she was the one just woken and not him. "We've got a case." Kate sighed. The way her voice drifted from the phone Gibbs guessed she was getting dressed. Why the hell she didn't wait to call him until she was ready to leave mystified him. "Where?" "Hotel room in Newport, Virginia. Body of Marine Lance Corporal Kevin Hembury was found after an anonymous 911 call." Gibbs nodded, sighing regretfully. He lightly patted Tony and tried to move away. The younger man mumbled and shifted to pull him in closer, nuzzling Gibbs chest in a way he found decidedly distracting. He tried to roll away, determined to put enough distance between them so he could concentrate. Tony made a soft sound of distress and Gibbs immediately stopped his efforts to put space between them. "Shhhh...S'okay." He ran his fingers through Tony's hair. "It's all right. Just the phone." It wasn't until Kate went completely silent that he realized she'd heard him talking to Tony. "Sorry, Gibbs, I didn't mean to interrupt anythin-" "Save it Agent Todd." He scowled. There was no way she could know who he was with. Tony hadn't said enough to make his voice distinguishable, or even allow her to identify the gender of who Gibbs was with. Gibbs wasn't ashamed or embarrassed, but Tony had asked that the rest of the office not know, and he'd agreed to respect that. "You call the others?"Gibbs asked, bringing himself on task, making sure Kate's focus stayed on the case where it belonged, and off his personal life. "Not yet." The ?sir' was implied. "Thought you'd want to know first." "Good." He lightly placed a finger on Tony's lips when the younger man raised his head to look at him, eyes open and curious. "Call them. Have everyone at the office in twenty." Gibbs shut the phone, terminating the connection in his usual curt fashion. "Where's your cell phone?" He asked Tony before removing his finger. "Should still be on my belt." Tony answered without hesitation. Gibbs was glad Tony could go from sound asleep to wide awake in a second. It was a good skill to have. "Kate's going to call." Tony nodded. He rolled smoothly to his feet with a fluid grace Gibbs couldn't help but envy. The younger man had his cell phone in hand just as it started ringing. He let it ring again before flipping it open. "Yeah?" Tony rubbed at his eyes, yawning. "It's four in the morning, Kate, most people are asleep at this hour." He nodded his head, smiling at something she said.

"Twenty minutes?" Tony sounded incredulous but looked amused. "Yeah, yeah, I'll be there." He snapped his phone shut, laughing lightly. Tony pointed his finger at Gibbs. "You really should work on those deadlines, Boss." "They motivate people." Tony snorted. "More like scare them shitless." Gibbs shrugged. He wasn't going to apologize for using what worked. He wanted results from his team, and setting tight deadlines usually go them. He sighed regretfully, eyes lingering on Tony's naked form. He wanted more time to appreciate the masculine beauty before him. Gibbs had envisioned his day starting out so differently, especially given how the previous night had ended. He silently cursed Kate. Even though he knew it wasn't her fault, he already decided she'd get the shit detail on this job. "Don't do it." Tony's statement interrupted his thoughts. "What?" "She's just doing her job, Boss." Tony pointed out as he slipped into the pants he left on the floor last night. Gibbs was once more momentarily distracted, mesmerized by the ease and fluid grace that marked every movement the younger man made. He'd never seen anyone make getting dressed a turn on before. Tony had a gift for turning the most mundane activity into something decidedly erotic. Tony bent to grab his shirt from the floor, and Gibbs swallowed hard. He tried not to look at the younger man's ass, but failed miserably. When Tony pulled on his shirt but didn't button it, Gibbs curled his hands into fists to keep from reaching out to touch. That bit of skin, lightly covered in hair was somehow even more enticing than it was when totally exposed. "If you want to make Kate's life miserable, wait until she's actually done something wrong." A quicksilver grin appeared as Tony buttoned his shirt, deftly tucking it into his pants. "Pretty much a given she or McGee will piss you off for a good reason before this case is solved." Shaking his head to dismiss his wandering thoughts, Gibbs arched an eyebrow. "And you won't?" Tony grimaced. "Not while I'm riding a desk." Gibbs frowned, dressing quickly. He had a feeling he was going to hate Tony's being trapped at the office almost as much as the younger man would. He'd come to rely on the younger man being there. Tony often made insightful observations. He wanted to tell Tony that, but had a feeling the younger man wouldn't believe him. He was more apt to ignore the compliment the way he did all the others. So instead, Gibbs said, "I wouldn't bet on being behind a desk as being enough to keep you out of trouble." Tony shrugged, green eyes shifting away from him. "Keeps things interesting." Not liking the other man's tone, Gibbs stepped forward. He cupped Tony's face with both hands. "I like interesting." He declared firmly before kissing Tony.

He moaned when Tony opened his mouth, readily granting Gibbs access. How the hell Tony could taste so good first thing in the morning was just one more mystery that fed Gibbs' fascination with him. He ravaged that sweet mouth, reveling in the way Tony melted into him. Tony pulled back and Gibbs growled, resenting the loss of contact. He only just managed to keep himself from reaching out to clutch Tony to him. He hadn't forgotten the reason the younger man was on desk duty, or that he'd hurt him before when he lost control in the elevator. "Wish you'd set a longer deadline." Tony sighed deeply, expression full of regret and disappointment. "Can't start this when we don't have time to finish." Gibbs nodded, reluctantly agreeing with both statements. He really should have given them more time. "Next time." Gibbs whispered, kissing Tony again, gently, almost chastely. "I'll make sure we have plenty of time." "Next time?" Tony grinned, green eyes aglow with delighted pleasure. It was a look Gibbs rarely saw, and wouldn't mind seeing more of. The former Marine was glad Tony clearly realized the significance of what he said. This was not a one time thing. He never intended for it to be, but Gibbs wasn't sure Tony got that. At least the younger man was beginning to understand. Convincing him would take time. Undoing the damage done by his parents and family wouldn't happen over night. Gibbs wasn't worried. He'd already signed on for the long haul. Gibbs patted Tony's face, smiling gently. "There will definitely be a next time, DiNozzo." Tony eyes dipped shyly, a bit of color rising in his cheeks. He cleared his throat. "We...ah...we better get going." "Yeah." Gibbs sighed. "To work, to work, to buy a fat pig." "Home again, home again, jiggity, jiggity, jig." Tony laughed lightly. "Never would have figured you for a nursery rhyme, Boss." Gibbs raised both eyebrows. "Never would have figured you to know that one." Tony shrugged. "Dated a girl who was an education major. She loved those things." Gibbs nodded, ignoring the reference to the former girlfriend. He had people in his past too, he wasn't going to hold Tony's against him. Unless one of them made an appearance that challenged him in some way for Tony, then all bets were off. His first wife thought he was jealous of anyone who spoke to her or even smiled in her direction. But then Gloria never understood what being a ?harmless flirt' meant. She always flirted with the intention of having it go somewhere. And Gibbs thought his suspicions were justified when he found out she was cheating on him. They headed to the office in their respective vehicles. Gibbs shook his head wondering how he could miss having Tony ride in with him when the younger man never had. Maybe the next time he'd find a way to work it out so they could have those last few moments together. Gibbs shivered in the early morning chill as he got out of his car and headed inside, studiously not looking toward where Tony had parked. He waited inside though, unable to resist having the chance to ride up in the elevator. Tony smirked at him as he went through the metal detector and nodded to the security guard on duty.

"Going my way, Sailor?" Tony didn't quite whisper the question as he joined Gibbs at the elevator, but pitched it low enough only the other man could hear him. "Always." Gibbs affirmed, with the barest of smiles. He was sorely tempted to push the emergency stop but didn't. If they didn't have time at his house they really didn't have time in the elevator. He looked at Tony and the younger man gave him a sympathetic, understanding smile before turning away to face the doors. Gibbs was somewhat surprised to see Tony's expression and stance change. It was subtle, but the younger man was almost visibly putting on his game face. Gibbs was once more confronted with the knowledge that Tony was more complex and capable of playing far more roles than he'd ever expected. Even though he genuinely liked and enjoyed the persona the former cop adopted at the office, Gibbs was damn glad he'd had the chance to meet the real Tony DiNozzo. Kate was at her desk. Her hair was up in a pony tail that Gibbs knew was done for the sake of simple expediency rather than fashion. He'd never understood, given some of the disgusting things they'd encountered on various cases, why she didn't wear her hair up more often. But he'd long since given up trying to figure out why women did anything. She nodded to him, unable to make eye contact, a delicate blush dusting her cheeks that wasn't the result of makeup. Gibbs found that amusing, biting the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. He narrowed his eyes, not quite glaring at her, but making sure she knew he wasn't happy. It was a look he'd given everyone of them on more than one occasion. "You have a summary for me yet?" Gibbs asked. When Tony got a call he always pulled together as much information as possible. Having it ready for Gibbs when he got in. Kate blinked. "I...ah...I don't know much more than what I'd told you over the phone." She straightened her shoulders just a bit. "Marine Lance Corporal Kevin Hembury was found dead in a hotel room after a 911 call this morning around 2 a.m. First responders were paramedics from Newport General Hospital and the local police. An officer Reilley called when they found his wallet and service identification card inside." Gibbs grunted, and arched an eyebrow, pleased to see her flush darken with a different sort of embarrassment. He wasn't being deliberately nasty or unreasonably cruel by insinuating Kate hadn't done a thorough job. She hadn't. The person on call was responsible for pulling together preliminary information so that the team arrived on the crime scene with as much detail as possible. What she'd just supplied was far from sufficient and he was making sure she knew it. When Kate had initially come aboard she'd made no secret of the fact that she thought it ludicrous that a former cop, with no special training, technically outranked her. Gibbs wondered if this morning might not prove to be a wake up call for her in more ways than one. If she was going to be working as his right hand man, then she was damn sure going to be up to the same standards he held Tony too. "You've got five minutes, Agent Todd." He tipped his head to her. "I'll have my coffee by then and I expect you to have more to tell me."

He strode away, heading for the break room. Just as like it was aboard ship, the coffee pot was never empty at the office because the office was always open. A skeleton crew held down the fort after hours most days. He got his cup and took his time, mentally ticking off the seconds. He'd given her five minutes, she'd get the full time allotted. Next time she'd know better to take the five minutes before she called him and be prepared when the team arrived. "How do you like being on call, Kate?" Gibbs couldn't see Tony smirking but he could hear it as he left the break room. "At least I'm not wearing the same clothes I was yesterday." Kate sounded snippy. "Never make it home, DiNozzo?" Tony's soft, throaty laugh sent shivers up Gibbs spine. He loved that sound. He hesitated, waiting to hear Tony's rejoinder to Kate's comment. "Yeah, well, some of us have lives." Gibbs could see Tony's desk from where he stood and didn't miss the mischievous expression lighting up Tony's face as he turned away from his computer to look at Kate. "Oh, and they may be yesterday's clothes, but at least I got all the buttons in the right holes." She looked down at herself, looking back up with a glare. "Leave it to you to notice that." "Attention to detail Agent Todd." Tony shrugged one shoulder. "And you've got ten seconds to have something for Gibbs." Her jaw tightened, lips pursing in annoyance but she didn't say anything else. Gibbs stepped back into the open, sipping his coffee. Kate was saved from his asking for her progress report by the appearance of McGee. "You're late." "I'm....sorry, Boss, but...there...it wasn't..." McGee's shook his head, squaring his shoulders. "It won't happen again." "Good." Gibbs nodded accepting what should have been the first words out of the junior agents mouth. He wasn't interested in excuses. Unless McGee's being late had something to do with the case, it wasn't important. "Tony...I want a copy of that 911 call and everything you can get me on our victim." Gibbs directed calmly. "McGee get the truck ready to go. Kate...You can brief us on the way. Ducky will be right behind us, I'm sure." Kate grabbed her purse, and McGee headed back the way he'd come with satisfying speed. Gibbs caught Tony's eyes, trying to convey his personal good-bye without actually saying anything. He knew Tony got it when he smiled slightly, not the usual carefree, teasing grin. "Be careful out there, Boss." Gibbs nodded, welcoming the sentiment implied in both the words and the tone. He could get used to having similar moments on a regular basis. Kate looked over her shoulder, clearly expecting to find him immediately behind her. Gibbs sighed silently, and headed for the elevator. He called over his shoulder. "I'm expecting a call with information in an hour, DiNozzo." "Will do, Boss."

****************** ******************* ***** Tony rubbed tiredly at his eyes. He had a new found respect for McGee's ability to spend hours in front of a computer pulling information from it the way a magician pulled rabbits from a hat. He sighed. Being office bound for another three weeks was going to suck....big time. He could probably get cleared in less time. He'd done it before-a little selective hiding of details, a little flirting, careful obfuscation. But then no one cared about his health one way or another as long as he could do the job and back up his partner. Tony knew Gibbs would not let him back in the field without x-rays. Those he couldn't fake, and the in house doctor wasn't one he could snow. Tony sighed and went back to pulling together information. He'd stayed in touch with the team via Gibbs' cell phone, but it wasn't the same as being there. He hated feeling like he was one step removed, even though he'd managed to supply a number of pertinent details and give them more than one lead on what had happened to Lance Corporal Kevin Hembury. Tony had started his investigation with getting a copy of the 911 call to Abby for examination. The caller had been a woman, clearly hysterical. Tony had gotten one bit of information from the initial listen through before passing it on to Abby that had seemed worth pursing. The woman, in her upset babbling, had said she thought Kevin knew what he was doing. She'd repeated that statement several times, crying quietly, whispering that she'd have never brought the stuff if he hadn't said he knew what he was doing. Since Ducky had pinpointed the cause of death as an overdose, Tony took the anonymous caller's statement to mean there was a possibility their victim might have had more than a passing familiarity with recreational drugs. So, Tony dug into Hembury's background. Knowing Gibbs wanted a thorough review, Tony went as far back as possible. Noticing their dead Marine had been born in raised in Baltimore, Tony had called in an old marker to see if there was anything criminal in Hembury's past. The Lance Corporal had been arrested as at 15 for drug possession, serving a minimal sentence in a juvenile facility. He'd entered the Marine Corps when released, and as far as Tony could find Kevin Hembury had been clean ever since. The cynic in him said that Hembury had just figured out how to avoid getting caught, because if he had a habit he likely hadn't given it up. It was possible Hembury was a novice at hard core drugs or that he hadn't used in a while so his susceptibility to an accidental overdose was be higher. Tony made no assumptions nor did he pass judgement on the young Marine. The team kept digging so they could be sure of the real cause of his death. McGee had interviewed the hotel owner who had also been on duty as the desk clerk when Hembury checked in. The place was well known in the area as a rent by the hour sort. Such places weren't exactly rare near the naval bases. The desk clerk remembered Hembury. Evidently the Lance Corporal had made himself memorable by paying for the entire night in cash. He'd also had a woman with him. A working girl the clerk knew worked in the area, but he didn't know her name. They did manage to pull a grainy still shot of her from the surveillance camera in the hotel office.

Tony would have given his eye teeth to have seen Kate's reaction to having to go with Gibbs interviewing call girls and streetwalkers to see if any of them were their 911 caller. She'd no doubt been the epitome of professional, and just about as warm as a glacier. Her attitude had turned off most of the working girls, Tony was sure of that. They'd be more inclined to see Kate as looking down her nose at them. Gibbs had charm, and the look of most of their clients, so Tony was pretty sure the older man had no trouble finding out what he wanted to know. The former Marine never had trouble getting what he wanted-charm and looks not withstanding. Tony snickered, thinking determination likely got Gibbs further. Tony had tracked down several guys in Hembury's unit. All of them said the same thing. Hembury was a quiet guy, never caused any trouble. A junkie might have been the sort who could have been unreliable or volatile, but not always. Tony's father was an alcoholic but he still managed to do his job with better than adequate skill and no one at the office suspected he was dependant on drinking three shots for breakfast just to leave the house. Ducky's preliminary exam didn't show any signs of habitual use-height and weight ratio were normal, no track marks, no raw tissue in his nasal passages to indicate snorting, needle mark was fresh. The tox screen had come back positive for a high grade smack, likely far higher than Hembury ever had a chance to use before. It was certainly potent enough to do serious harm to even a habitual user. Ducky also hadn't uncovered any sign Hembury was restrained or forced to ingest the drugs in anyway. The more digging the team did the more it looked like this had been an accidental overdose, but Gibbs wanted to be sure. So more questions got asked, and Tony kept digging. He rubbed at his eyes again, tired of staring the computer screen, tired of another senseless act of stupidity. A wry smile formed as he wondered if Hembury getting murdered would have made more sense. He sighed deeply. No, it wouldn't have made more sense, but it would have seemed less senseless in a way. Dieing from an act of deliberate malice was preferable in Tony's opinion than being a victim of one's own stupidity. He glanced up when the elevator dinged. Tony felt the tension drain out of him as the rest of his team walked off the elevator safe and sound. God, he really hated being stuck behind a desk. Hated not being there to back them up. Hated not being there to make sure Gibbs was okay. The former Marine didn't seem to realize he wasn't immortal. Kate and McGee looked like they'd been put through their paces, and Tony was glad to know he wasn't the only one. Gibbs still seemed fresh and ready to go. Tony wondered if there was some trick to that he could learn. "What have you got, DiNozzo?" Tony stood up. He always did to address Gibbs, although he couldn't quite say why. It wasn't like coming to attention, but not far from it. "So far, Boss, all the evidence still points to an accidental overdose." Tony ticked off the points Ducky had noted in his preliminary autopsy. Sited briefly the main points the team had uncovered so far. Summarized his own digging into Hembury's past.

Gibbs nodded, his expression grim. Tony knew everything was circumstantial. They couldn't prove it was an accident. But they couldn't prove it wasn't either. The key to being able to do so lay with their 911 caller. "Sorry, Boss." Tony shrugged one shoulder, sensing the other man's frustration. "Not your fault, DiNozzo." Gibbs turned to Kate. "Go back out on the street and canvas the area again." He glanced at his watch. "More of the regulars will be out by now. Find the hooker. I want to know exactly what happened in that room." "But Gibbs? that could take all night!" Kate protested. "Not going to happen any faster standing here, now is it?" Gibbs arched an eyebrow, blue eyes assessing her and almost physically taking her down a peg for daring to disagree with his order. She flushed, eyes dropping. Tony didn't even think of speaking on her behalf. He'd argued against Kate getting a shit detail, sympathetic to her situation because he'd been in similar ones before himself, but this was just a part of the job. Neither the look nor the assignment was out of the norm from the former Marine. Gibbs smiled slightly. "Take McGee with you." Tony gave McGee a sympathetic smile. He honestly felt sorry for the junior agent. "Have fun, Probie." McGee glanced at Kate, taking note of the set of her shoulders and the tight look around her mouth before he rolled his eyes at Tony. The former cop wouldn't trade places with McGee for all the tea in china. Kate would likely make the junior agent's night miserable. For the first time Tony was glad he wasn't cleared for field duty. "DiNozzo, you're with me." Tony nodded, ingrained habit kept him from asking where they were going or hesitating to move. He simply followed the older man into the elevator, waving cheekily to Kate as he did so. He knew he was going to enjoy needling her tomorrow. If things worked out right he might even be able to get McGee to join in. In the elevator, Tony looked askance at Gibbs. "Where we going, Boss?" "Home." Gibbs smiled warmly, hand moving to capture Tony's, entwining their fingers. "Nothing more to do on the case until Kate and McGee get that hooker." Tony noticed fine lines around the older man's eyes and the slight slump to shoulders, proof that the day had been just as taxing to him as it was to the rest of them. He squeezed the hand holding his. Not sure quite what Gibbs meant by home, he asked, "Your place or mine?" "Your place is closer." Gibbs sighed, shifting his weight just enough to rest his shoulder against Tony, leaning in a little. Tony found he liked the idea of Gibbs just assuming he'd support him more than he expected. "Okay." Tony nodded. He ducked his head to place a quick kiss in Gibbs' hair before the elevator doors opened to the garage. He squeezed the older man's hand once more before pulling away. "I'll see you there." "Definitely." Gibbs reached up to lightly stroke the back of Tony's head, fingers carding through his hair in an affectionate gesture. Tony preferred it to the slap, but would take either one when offered.

Tony drove himself home, yawning widely has he pulled into his usual parking spot. He rubbed his eyes hoping to dispel the gritty feeling that always came with staring at the computer screen for too long. He could never quite figure out why being desk bound was more draining than being in the field, but a day at the office always wiped him out. He sighed and levered himself out of his Jeep. Tony didn't feel like cooking. If he was lucky he wouldn't have to. Louisa should have cleaned his place again. She likely put something in the fridge for him. He left the door ajar for Gibbs. Tony hung up his coat, and slipped off his shoes before heading for his bedroom. Gun and badge were placed in a beautiful birds-eye maple wood box he'd bought for just that purpose. It didn't lock but all Tony had wanted something attractive as well as utilitarian. He striped out of his suit coat and tie, wincing when his ribs protested the abrupt movements. He shook his head. He should have moved more during the day, sitting still made him stiff. Tony did a few careful stretches, feeling better for doing so even though it hurt. He sighed, wishing he had time to grab a quick shower to wash off the stale feeling that always seemed to come with spending an entire day inside. But Gibbs couldn't be more than five minutes behind him, if that. Maybe he could talk the other man in to sharing one with him. Tony wasn't surprised to find Gibbs perusing his refrigerator when he wandered back out to the kitchen. "Anything good in there?" He asked with a smile. Gibbs looked up with a faint frown. "You call someone today and have food delivered?" "Nope." Tony reached around Gibbs to pull a bottle of water from the fridge with an easy intimacy he opted not to think about. "Never call. Louisa is by twice a week." "Louisa?" Gibbs stiffened, blue eyes narrowing as he fixed his gaze on Tony. "She's old enough to be my grandmother, Boss." Tony sipped his water. He was genuinely surprised to realize Gibbs might really be jealous. No one else had ever thought him worth keeping long enough to worry he might stray. They were usually glad to have him gone. He ducked his head, feeling a blush warming his cheeks, toying with his water bottle before leaving it on the counter. "She thinks I'm a good Italian boy who needs someone to look after me." Gibbs smiled, one hand reaching to cup Tony's face, gently forcing him to look up and make eye contact. "She's right." Tony laughed softly. "Not sure you're what she had in mind." "Probably not." Gibbs agreed with a quick grin. "But am I what you had in mind?" Gibbs tone and emphasis on ?you' made the question more serious than playful. Tony found it reassuring to know he wasn't the only one with a few insecurities. "And are definitely what I had in mind. All that and then some." Tony whispered before he leaned in for a kiss. The taste of coffee was rich and delicious in Gibbs' mouth, and Tony was willing to bet Gibbs had a cup not more than an hour ago. He

had a feeling he was never going to be able to drink coffee again without thinking about the older man. Tony moaned softly as the kiss deepened. He unconsciously moved closer, welcoming the warmth as Gibbs' arms wrapped around him. He was grateful for that strong, gentle hold when they finally broke apart, dizzy and panting for breath. "Was thinking?a shower?would be a good idea." Tony offered, shivering as Gibbs lips found their way to the pulse point on his throat. He sighed when the older man nibbled delicately, enjoying the attention being lavished on that sensitive area. "Shower?" Gibbs raised his head, blue eyes dark with desire. "Uh-hunh." Tony nodded. His hand were already busy working to strip Gibbs out of his clothing, deftly undoing buttons, eager for more intimate contact. He liked the way the other man arched into his touch, satin smooth skin sliding easily under his exploring hands. They left a trail of clothing behind them as they traded kisses and heated caresses, traversing the short distance from the kitchen to the bathroom. Tony couldn't help laughing as he nearly tripped trying to get out of his pants. Gibbs caught him, holding him easily, blue eyes sparkling with an emotion Tony wasn't sure he could identify. Not wanting to ruin the mood they had going by asking what Gibbs was thinking, Tony kissed him deeply instead. He was fascinated by how soft and inviting Gibbs' mouth was. It seemed so at odds with the nature of the man himself. They stumbled into the bathroom, neither willing to let go of the other long enough to make a graceful or smooth entrance. It didn't matter. All that mattered to Tony was they made it. He pulled away long enough to turn the shower on. He gasped a bit when Gibbs pulled him in before the water had warmed up. The water wasn't really cold, but it was a shocking contrast when compared to the warmth that had radiated out from every bit of skin the older man was in contact with. He moaned when Gibbs raised both hand to force his head back under the spray, exposing his neck to that talented mouth. His hands found their way to Gibbs ass, kneading those firm hemispheres. Tony shuddered as they rocked against each other, surprised to find himself so close to the brink. He felt like he should say something, do something to slow this down, prolong the moment, but he didn't want to. It felt good to be out of control for the moment, to just let things happen naturally, easily. And it was made even better to know he wasn't the only, that Gibbs was right there with him, matching each thrust, breathing ragged, hard cock sliding against his. It was like they were making up for lost time. Capturing the opportunity denied because of the early morning call. His climax took him almost by surprise, washing over him like a breaking wave, leaving him gasping and shaking. The bite to his shoulder and hiss of his name from Gibbs was the only thing that made Tony aware he wasn't alone in his climax. Gibbs had gotten there too. He leaned into the other man, smiling as the Gibbs leaned into him as well. Tony liked how they held each other up. The passion spent, but not lost. It was not a feeling Tony could remember experiencing before.

Tony sighed softly and reached for the soap. He turned them, chest tightening at the level of trust Gibbs showed by following his move without resisting. He kissed Gibbs temple, trying to convey the same level of trust and affection. Finding it easier to let his hands speak for him, Tony set so lovingly washing Gibbs, careful to map every inch of his lover. He kept his touch light enough to be soothing and heavy enough to border on a massage, enjoying the way Gibbs responded to his ministrations. Muscles relaxed, breathing deepened, and an expression of pleased bliss graced the older man's face. Gibbs kissed him gently, a simple ?thank you'. It was another novel experience for Tony. He had a feeling Gibbs would keep introducing him to things that should have been familiar a long time ago. He wordlessly passed the soap to Gibbs when the older man held out his hand. He sighed, head tipping forward when Gibbs turned him to wash his back, hands massaging his neck and shoulders. Kinks and knots were worked loose under that skillful touch. Tony no longer cared when Gibbs learned this or who he'd practiced on before, he was just grateful to have the opportunity to experience it again. The touch was lighter on his chest and abdomen, mindful of fading bruises, but no less pleasant and relaxing for that. He was fairly certain he'd died and gone to heaven when Gibbs washed his hair. Strong fingers rubbing his scalp raised goosebumps along his spine, skin tingling in sympathetic response. He could easily spend hours enjoying this, but the water started to cool. Tony sighed, and reluctantly turned off the water after one last rinse. He offered a towel to Gibbs before grabbing one for himself. He grinned when Gibbs looked surprised to find the towel was warm. Tony nodded toward the rack. "It's heated." Gibbs arched an eyebrow. "Decadent." "Little pampering is not a bad thing." Tony shrugged one shoulder, feeling oddly defensive about indulging in such an unnecessary luxury even though Gibbs hadn't sounded like he was passing judgement as much as he was making an observation. "Not bad, no." Gibbs agreed with a smile, fingertips lightly running up and down Tony's spine in a light, calming gesture. "Not bad at all." Tony ducked his head slightly, trying to hide the pleased flush he could feel warming his cheeks. It was silly, but knowing Gibbs didn't disapprove made him feel better about indulging himself. "You?ah?want dinner?" "I could eat." Tony nodded. Getting dressed again seemed pointless, but wandering around naked with Gibbs wasn't something Tony felt completely comfortable doing yet. So he offered Gibbs the robe that hung on the back of the door, a blue silk he'd picked up a few years ago. It matched Gibbs eyes beautifully. Tony bit his tongue to keep from voicing that thought, not sure how the former Marine would take such a compliment.

He had another robe in the linen closet; a white terry cloth one that he wore before he bought the silk one. Tony wasn't sure why he'd kept it, but was glad now that he had it. He slipped into, loosely belting it closed. He neatly hung the towels up before nodding toward the door. "Let's go see what Louisa left us." ******************** *************** ********* Gibbs shook his head, dumbfounded by the meal Tony was laying out on the table. This was more than just simple leftovers. Louisa certainly took providing a good meal for Tony seriously. "Was she expecting you to bring someone home?" Gibbs' eyebrows climbed, impressed with the amount of food, his curiosity about this woman rising another notch. Turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and half a loaf of homemade bread were all present and accounted for. It looked like Thanksgiving. "No." Tony chuckled. "Louisa only comes by twice a week?so she always leaves enough for more than one meal. Think she's convinced I'll waste away to nothing if she doesn't stock my fridge." Green eyes twinkled as they met blue, long fingers deftly removing foil from dishes. "She's been trying to fatten me up since she met me." Gibbs didn't think she'd have much luck in that endeavor since Tony hadn't gained any weight in the two and a half years he'd known the younger man. It wasn't something Gibbs had never given much thought to until lately. The minutiae of Tony's health and well being were becoming increasingly important to him. The rest of the team teased Tony about his eating habits, but Gibbs noticed the younger man didn't so much eat large quantities as he was more in the habit of partaking in frequent light meals or snacking throughout the day. Gibbs couldn't blame Tony for opting out of healthy, tasteless stuff Kate would prefer they all ate. The former Marine wouldn't willingly eat that crap either. Tony didn't overindulge as much as Kate and McGee thought he did. It was more smoke and mirrors, just another illusion Gibbs knew Tony created even though he wasn't quite sure why the younger man bothered to. He suspected it had a lot to do with Tony's childhood. Gibbs didn't think for a moment that the run down Sam had given him covered everything his lover had gone through. "You want a beer?" Tony asked. If he was going to drink, Gibbs' preferred bourbon to beer. It didn't look like Tony was going to have one, so Gibbs just shook his head. "Water is fine." Tony nodded. He filled two glasses and put them on the table. Tony waved Gibbs to a chair. It was an unconsciously graceful, polite gesture Gibbs rarely saw anyone execute outside of an expensive restaurant. He took his seat, feeling a bit self-conscious wearing just the borrowed robe. The silk was so light he felt nearly naked. But it did feel wonderful against his skin, and he couldn't bring himself to feel bad about wearing something of Tony's. It was?nice?intimate. Definitely something he'd never done with anyone else before. "Can I ask you something?" Gibbs hesitated after several minutes of companionable silence.

"Think you just did." Tony's lips quirked upward in a slight smile. "But feel free to ask me something else." Gibbs rolled his eyes, but couldn't quite stifle the answering smile. "What got you interested in archaeology?" Tony looked surprised. "You really want to know about that?" "I really want to know." Gibbs savored the pleased glow his answer caused in Tony's eyes before the younger man shyly looked away. Need to remember just how little it takes to make him happy, Gibbs told himself. "When I was ten Sully took me to several museums in New York." Tony smiled fondly. "We didn't just walk around and look at stuff?.she told me stories. Stuff about what we were seeing and the people who owned it." He chuckled softly. "I thought she was making them up because some of it was?well, a bit over the top to my ten year old mind, too fantastic to possibly be real. She challenged me to prove her wrong. So I started digging into textbooks and the library. Sully even helped." Tony grinned, eyes dropping self-consciously. "She made it seem like a treasure hunt. And I was hooked. Liked looking for the details, trying to fill in the gaps and connect with the people who lived then." Gibbs could understand that. Mysteries, whether they were two thousand years old or two days old, just naturally drew Tony. It was what made him a good investigator. And his desire to relate to people, to connect, made him far better able to comprehend people's actions and motives than his outwardly upbeat, childish behavior would suggest. Tony looked up from under his lashes. "When did you get interested in archaeology?" "When I was in basic." Gibbs wiped his mouth with the linen napkin Tony had placed under the eating utensils when he set the table. "Big part of Marine training is on tactics, strategy and military history. And military history covers a lot of ground. Found myself interested more than just the outcome of battles like Thermoplyae. I wanted to understand the Spartans. Understand what made it possible for them to face down an army four times their size. And once I got started-" "It snowballed." Tony finished for him with a warm, understanding smile. "Has a way of doing that." "Yeah." Gibbs smiled, pleased they had this in common. The conversation naturally drifted to cover places they'd been, ancient events and people they found the most interesting, things they'd most like to have been alive to witness. Gibbs couldn't remember the last time he enjoyed a discussion more. No one else he knew, not even Ducky, liked letting him talk about his theories and ideas. "I still think Atlantis was the isle of Thera." Tony stated firmly as he got up, taking the empty plates to the sink. "Too much fits for it not to be." "It is supposed to be in the Atlantic." Gibbs insisted stubbornly, moving to help clear the table. "Yeah, and the world was supposed to be flat too." Tony snickered. "No one ever believed it was flat. That's a stupid myth." Gibbs tossed back. "Archimedes knew it was round."

"Fat lot of good it did him." Tony arched an eyebrow. "Roman Centurion gutted him as I recall." Gibbs sighed, conceding that point, but not feeling bad about it. Tony challenged him to hold his own, and that wasn't something Gibbs would ever think of as a bad thing. "Shame he died then. No telling what mathematical discoveries Archimedes might have made if he'd lived longer." "Senseless waste." Tony sighed deeply, shoulders dropping slightly. Knowing where the younger man's thoughts had probably gone, Gibbs wrapped his arms around Tony from behind in a warm hug. "No thinking about work." Tony snorted, head tipping back to rest on Gibbs' shoulder. "Ironic coming from you." "I know." Gibbs placed a soft kiss on Tony's temple. "I'll do enough thinking about it for both of us, if it makes you feel better." Tony laughed softly, rolling his head enough so he could make eye contact. "I appreciate the offer, Boss." "Maybe I should give you something else to think about?" Gibbs whispered, voice rough. He loved the little shiver it caused to ripple through Tony. "Don't think?I'd object?to that." Tony moaned when Gibbs hands undid the knot holding his robe closed and worked their way inside to caress his chest and abdomen. "Let's go get comfortable?" Gibbs suggested, fingers toying with Tony's nipples before backing away, eliciting a faint sound of distress from the younger man. Gibbs continued backing away, heading for the bedroom and that sinfully comfortable bed. He loved the faintly predatory look in Tony's eyes and the lithe way he moved as he followed where Gibbs led. It was flattering to be the focus of that lusty gaze, to know Tony wanted him as much as he wanted Tony. Gibbs let Tony catch him in the hallway, their lips meeting in a heated kiss that literally stole his breath. He reveled in the way Tony leaned into him, heat passing easily through the silk of the robe he wore. As nice as the silk felt against his skin, it wasn't anywhere near as good as the feel of Tony's skin was, and he wanted skin to skin, right now. Gibbs growled in frustration as he struggled to shuck the robe without losing contact. Tony pulled back, head cocked to one side, a faintly confused expression on his face. "Not you." Gibbs spoke quickly, hands tugging on the belt holding the robe stubbornly in place. "This." "Ah." Tony grinned. Rather than give Gibbs space to wiggle free, Tony ducked his head to lave one of Gibbs nipples through the robe. Gibbs arched his chest, head tipping back to thud dully against the wall as the feeling of wet silk against sensitive skin made it hard to think, blood rushing south. Tony's hands were busy roaming over Gibbs. His actions added to Gibbs inability to concentrate beyond the immediate, tantalizing him with heat and near contact that was prevented by the frustratingly substantial sheer fabric. He was absently glad he didn't own anything made out of silk. After this, he'd never be able to wear it again.

He gasped when Tony mercifully undid the knot, hands finding their way to caress his bare skin. He sighed, eyes blinking open when he heard Tony's soft huff of laughter. Green eyes met blue easily, a blend of humor and passion in their depths. "You sound like a purring cat." Gibbs wasn't sure if he should be offended or flattered. He decided it didn't matter. He'd make whatever noise Tony wanted as long as it kept those wonderfully talented hands busy touching him. Tony placed a gentle kiss on Gibbs lips, before tilting his head enough to lay his cheek against Gibbs. He sighed softly, his warm breath making Gibbs shiver. "Bedroom." Gibbs nodded. He had no problem with that suggestion. None at all. He wasn't entirely sure how they actually made it down the hall. Gibbs was more focused on just maintaining as much contact with Tony as humanly possible. He couldn't believe how much time he'd wasted, how much he'd missed out on. Gibbs didn't realize they'd made it to the bedroom until he felt the bed against the back of his legs. He wanted to just fall back into that incredibly comfortable bed with its sinfully soft bedding and pull Tony in with him, but he didn't. The bruises on Tony's abdomen had faded, but Gibbs hadn't forgotten why he'd spent an excruciatingly long day in the field without him. Tony laughed, kissing the tip of his nose. "I won't break, Boss." "Not if I have anything to say about it." Gibbs countered with a grin not really surprised Tony knew what he was thinking. Tony smiled, green eyes bright. He very carefully untangled himself from Gibbs grasp, lying down on the bed with exaggerated care. He waggled his eyebrows as he neatly managed to position his open robe into something that left nothing to Gibbs imagination and provoked it at the same time. He licked his lips, shrugging out of his own robe before accepting the younger man's blatant invitation. He neatly executed a slow reverse push up, lowering himself to cover Tony completely, reveling in the feel of full body contact. Tony's head tipped back, eyes closing. "God?you feel good." "So do you." Gibbs nibbled Tony's neck, seeking that spot he'd found before that made Tony gasp and shudder. He was careful not to leave a mark when he found it. Not that he didn't want Tony wearing his brand; Hell he wouldn't mind proclaiming ownership to any and all, but Tony had never come to the office with visible hickeys before and Gibbs really didn't think now would be a good time to start. He grinned wickedly, marking Tony where he knew his shirt collar would hide it. Tony moaned, tilting his head back further. Gibbs wasn't one not to take what was freely offered. He sucked hard, applying teeth and then tongue to soothe the pain. Gibbs worked his way up Tony's neck, this time aiming for his ear. He located another spot near the lobe that sent a rippling shiver through the younger man. It was nicely gratifying to get such an honest reaction.

Tony's hips were moving in a distracting rhythm. Gibbs found himself thrusting to match, hands busy touching every bit of smooth skin he could reach. But it wasn't enough. It wasn't the total immersion Gibbs needed. "I want to be in you." Gibbs whispered, a desperate edge adding a raspy edge to his voice. "Would you?can I-" Tony's hands cupped his face, a sweet smile gracing his features. "Condoms and lube are in the nightstand." Gibbs grinned, giving Tony a fierce kiss that left them both breathless. He pulled the drawer open grateful it was within easy reach. He blindly felt for the items he sought, somewhat surprised to find they were the only things in the drawer. Tony grinned up at him. "I keep the other toys in a box of their own." Gibbs' struggled to regain the breath he lost at the thought of just what sort of toys Tony might have. Next time, he promised himself. Next time he'd find out what sort of toys Tony had and what games he liked to play. Tony gave him a coy smile, green eyes peeking through impossibly long, dark lashes. "Face to face?" A slow, sensuous roll of Tony's hips punctuated the question. "Doggy style?" Another of those maddening, teasing thrusts. "On our sides again?" "Face to face." Gibbs nearly growled. He wanted to see Tony come, wanted to be able to share his breath, taste his skin, bury his nose in Tony's neck until that wonderful scent obscured anything else. Tony took the condom, opening it with an ease that bespoke of a lot of practice. Gibbs was tempted to protest, to not use protection, wanting nothing between them, but he didn't. This was still too new for him to risk challenging Tony on so small an issue. He shivered, biting back a moan when Tony neatly slid the condom over Gibbs' erection. Long fingers teased him with feather light touches. Gibbs hands fisted the comforter, trying not to give into the urge to just hump Tony like some poorly trained dog. Tony chuckled, a deep, rough sound that was nearly as tangible as his touch had been. He lightly patted Gibbs chest. "Easy, Boss, don't want to miss out on the main event." Gibbs captured that teasing smile in a bruising kiss. He hadn't felt this out of control since?.well, since they showered together a little over an hour ago. It was like being a teenager again. He popped the top on the lube, squeezing out a generous amount on his fingers. Preparing Tony was as heady an experience as everything else had been. The younger man was so responsive---soft sighs, moans, Tony willingly opened himself up mutely begging for more, fucking himself on Gibbs fingers. "You ready?" Gibbs knew the answer, but he asked anyway. He wasn't going to risk hurting Tony. He knew first hand how vulnerable letting another man fuck him could make him feel, and he didn't want to do anything that might damage the trust Tony had placed in him. Tony wordlessly reached up to grip the headboard, arching his back as he rolled his hips. His long legs curled upward, effortlessly putting himself in a position that gave

Gibbs the answer he needed. The older man gave silent thanks that Tony was so limber. Gibbs bit his lip as he slid slowly home into that tight, welcoming heat. He breathed deeply, giving them both time to adjust. His hands unconsciously moved soothingly up and down Tony's chest even though the younger man hadn't made any indication of discomfort or distress. Gibbs kept his thrusts long and slow, letting the moment build. He enjoyed the nearly languid moment of everything feeling good that always came before the urgency that followed. He reveled in the way Tony matched him, long legs wrapped easily around him. Gibbs leaned in to capture Tony's lips, tongues naturally mimicking movement of their hips. He worked a hand between them to stroke the younger man. Tony whimpered, breaking their kiss to gasp for air. Gibbs nuzzled Tony's neck, once more taking what was freely offered, breathing in deeply that wonderful, musky scent. Gibbs wasn't sure which of them increased the pace, thrusts coming faster as passion built. He shuddered when Tony's hands found their way to his chest, tweaking his nipples hard enough to verge on painful. The little mewling noises of pleasure he made would have been embarrassing if he actually gave a damn. The tingle at the base of his spine told him just how close he was. Tony's soft cries and barely intelligible stream of words let him know his lover wasn't lagging behind. Gibbs changed the angle of his thrust slightly, aiming for the sweet spot. He knew he'd found it when Tony's lanky frame quivered, his hands once more reaching for the headboard, knuckles whitening as muscles flexed convulsively. Gibbs willingly gave into Tony's panting demands for harder and faster. He forced himself to keep his eyes open, memorize the wanton expression on Tony's face, the flushed skin beaded with sweat. Tony was gorgeous. He teetered on the edge, so close, so very close, struggling not to give in just yet. Gibbs waited for that quiet keening cry, a nearly silent sound that had so far been the harbinger of Tony's climax. He didn't have to wait long. Small tremors graduated to an almost fully body spasm as Tony came with a cry of Gibbs name. Gibbs made another thrust, burying himself completely before he came so hard he saw stars. When he came back to himself, Gibbs head was resting on Tony's shoulder. He could feel Tony's hands moving up and down his back. Being held was a novel experience for Gibbs. Usually he was the one doing the holding. "You with me?" Tony whispered. "Yeah." Gibbs sighed, enjoying this moment as much if not more than everything that had come before it. He smiled when he felt Tony place a kiss in his hair. Gibbs stretched carefully, reluctantly pulling away. He wasn't fat, but he was no lightweight either and it couldn't be easy for Tony to breath with him lying on his chest. He eased himself out of Tony, immediately missing the intimate connection. Gibbs struggled to get to his feet to dispose of the condom and find something to clean them up. He felt like a newborn foal. Lord, he was grateful the bathroom wasn't far away. A warm wash cloth made quick work of cleaning up both of them.

Gibbs tossed the wash cloth in the direction of the bathroom to be dealt with later. He snuggled into Tony's bed, sighing deeply with contentment when Tony curled into him, his head on Gibbs' shoulder. Gibbs arranged the comforter so that it covered them both. "Should get one of these things for my bed." "Next you'll be wanting a heated towel rack." Tony teasing, clearly amused tone was muffled as he affectionately nuzzled Gibbs' chest. Gibbs tipped his head to place a kiss in Tony's hair. "That's not a bad idea." "Not hard to get used to good stuff, is it?" Tony asked around a sleepy chuckle. Given that he considered everything about Tony to be ?good stuff', Gibbs had no trouble agreeing with that sentiment. No trouble at all. ****************** *************** ***************** Tony woke at four a.m., frowning at the feeling of d骠 vu. It wasn't Gibbs cell phone this time, it was his. The Loony Tunes theme song ring tone was definitely his. Gibbs had a standard ringer. He raised his head, reluctantly pulling away from the solid warmth of his lover's shoulder. He cocked his head listening for the ring again, trying to remember where he'd left his phone. Tony wanted to track it down before the noise woke Gibbs, but judging by the slow, even breathing, Gibbs was well and truly down for the count. He never would have pegged the older man as being a deep sleeper. He tracked his phone to the dresser, not where he usually put it, but then last night had been far from his usual. He sighed deeply as he tried to pull away from Gibbs. The other man tightened his hold. "Gibbs?.Gibbs." Tony whispered, although he wasn't quite sure why when the goal was to wake Gibbs enough to get him to let go. "Boss?Phone. You have to let go." "Not my phone." Gibbs mumbled. Tony grinned. "My phone, Boss." "Your phone?" Gibbs blinked dully, a small frown forming between his brows. "Who's calling you?" "I don't know." Tony bit his lip to keep from laughing. Somehow he didn't think Gibbs would see the humor in this situation. "I need to get up to answer?which means you have to let go." Gibbs looked like a pouting child told he had to let his mother wash his favorite plush. Tony gave him a quick kiss before wiggling free. He knew he wasn't going to actually be in time to answer the call, but no one called at four in the morning unless it was work related. He flipped open his phone to see one missed call from McGee. Tony didn't bother listening to whatever message the junior agent had left. He hit the speed dial listing and called McGee back. "Tony?" "Yeah, Probie." Tony resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He knew full well McGee had a caller ID feature on his phone. "You called?"

"We found the hooker." "Good job." Tony was impressed. He hadn't expected they would actually manage to do that in one night. "You call Gibbs?" "Well?not yet?I was sort of..." McGee cleared his throat. "I know he wasn't happy with Kate?and I'm not exactly his favorite person?.I don't think he's forgiven me for spilling his coffee." McGee sighed, and Tony had no trouble picturing him pacing or gesturing wildly with his free hand. "I was-" "Hoping I'd call him for you?" Tony asked, trying hard not to laugh. Gibbs really had McGee well and truly terrified. "He hates me, Tony." "He doesn't hate you, McGee." Tony countered. "If he hated you, you'd already be off the team." He chuckled already knowing he was going to let McGee off the hook. "I should make you suck it up and take it like a man." "Thanks, Tony." He could hear the relief in McGee's voice. "I'll buy you breakfast." "And lunch." Tony added. No reason McGee should think he was getting off easy. "Done." Tony snapped his phone closed. He yawned widely, glad they'd gone to bed as early as they had. At least he didn't feel quite so much like he was suffering from sleep deprivation. "They found the hooker." Tony told Gibbs, answering the question before he could ask. Gibbs nodded and slipped out of the bed. Tony tried not to watch, not wanting to give into the temptation to do a lot more than look. Even though no firm deadline had been set this morning the way it had been yesterday, Tony still didn't think they'd have time to mess around. Damn shame. Tony rifled through his closet, tossing a simple white shirt to Gibbs. At the raised eyebrows he got, Tony shrugged. "Didn't think you'd want to show up wearing the same clothes you had yesterday." "I have a change of clothes in the car." "You really want to waste time getting dressed to run out and get them?" Tony arched an eyebrow. "Because you are just going to have to come back in to get undressed again so you can get redressed." Gibbs grimaced. "Good point." "I thought so." Tony smiled. "You want boxers or briefs?" "You have both?" "Never know what I'll be in the mood for." Tony shrugged, not embarrassed by his choices in underwear. He never understood why most guys limited themselves to only one option. He didn't bother to mention thongs figuring Gibbs for a traditional sort. "Good to know." Gibbs smiled. "Boxers." Tony dug out a silk pair from the dresser and tossed them to Gibbs as he pulled out a pair for himself. He noticed the former Marine's hesitation. "Problem, Boss?"

"They're silk." Tony frowned. "So?" "Never mind." Gibbs cleared his throat and Tony could have sworn he was blushing. Tony mentally shrugged. Maybe Gibbs didn't like to wear anything but cotton. He certainly hadn't objected to the silk robe Tony had offered last night. "I got others if you'd rather wear something else." "It's fine." Gibbs didn't quite make eye contact, and Tony decided not to press the issue. Gibbs stared at him as he got dressed. The older man had done the same thing yesterday. Tony could understand the attention if he was stripping off his clothes or making a genuine effort to tease or entice Gibbs, but something as mundane as getting dressed didn't seem to warrant intense scrutiny. It was a harmless quirk so Tony did his best to ignore it. He wasn't that much taller than Gibbs, but that height difference was mostly in his legs. There was no way any of Tony's pants would fit the older man. He doubted anyone would notice that Gibbs was wearing the same pants from yesterday. "You want a tie?" Tony waggled his eyebrows knowing full well the answer would be no. Gibbs hadn't worn one in all the time he'd known him. Tony grinned at the look he got. "I need coffee." Gibbs growled. "Have to get it on the way." Tony sighed, giving Gibbs an apologetic look. He'd forgotten to se the timer on his coffee maker last night, and even if he had it still wouldn't have started perking for another hour. "Manny's isn't that far out of the way." Tony nodded, knowing better than to argue. "No, no it isn't." He never would have expected Gibbs to develop such a fondness for good coffee since the former Marine seemed inclined to drink coffee more akin to road tar. He smiled suddenly thinking he might just have more influence on Gibbs than he thought. "What?" Gibbs' blue eyes pinned him with a piercing look. "Nothing." Tony shrugged. "We better get going or we'll be late." "Late?" Gibbs shook his head, expression darkening. "They should have found her hours ago." Tony pursed his lips, accepting that statement without comment. Gibbs expected the best of his people, all the time, every time. It was one of the reasons he cycled through so many agents, but Tony had grown up pressured by high expectations, he was used to it, felt uncomfortable with anything less. If he could achieve the goals set, or lived up to the expectations, it usually meant the bar hadn't been raised high enough. Tony was caught by surprise when Gibbs leaned in and kissed him. It was a gentle kiss, somehow more intimate than the passionate ones they'd shared the night before. "Good morning, Tony." Gibbs smiled as he pulled away. "It is now." Tony gave Gibbs a kiss of his own. His sigh was full of regret as he pulled away. "We have got to stop getting these early morning calls."

"Definitely." Gibbs shook his head. "Sooner we get this thing done, sooner we can get back to picking up where we left off." Tony had a feeling that might become a running theme for them. Assuming they lasted long enough to establish a pattern. Tony didn't have that much faith, his good mood suddenly dimming. He knew Gibbs said they'd take it slow and do it right, but Tony wasn't sure it would be enough. Gibbs was different from anyone else he'd ever dated, but that didn't mean he was going to stay for the long haul. No one else ever had. Something in his expression must have given away what he was thinking because Gibbs was appraising him with another one of those intense gazes. "You okay, DiNozzo?" "Fine." Tony smiled easily. He had a lot of practice at denial and fooling other people. No reason for Gibbs to know so soon he was a needy, insecure loser. Gibbs studied his face, and Tony tried not to fidget. It was another reminder that Gibbs wasn't like other people. He couldn't be misled easily, always managing to see past the surface. "I'm going to let this go for now." He raised hand to cup Tony's face, thumb stroking Tony's cheekbone. "But we are going to talk." Gibbs leaned in again, and rested his forehead against Tony's. "And before you get the wrong idea, talking is not a bad thing." "You sure about that, Boss?" Tony hated how uncertain he sounded. "Positive." Gibbs smiled gently. "Every conversation we've had has been pretty good so far. This one won't be any different, Tony." Tony nodded. He'd put his trust in Gibbs from the day he'd met him---he didn't see any reason to stop now. "Okay. We'll talk. Later." Tony turned his head to place a soft kiss in Gibbs palm. "We got us a case to finish first." "We put the case to bed." Gibbs nodded. "Then we talk." His tone declared he wouldn't tolerate any argument or be sidetracked. Tony wasn't sure why he found that so damn reassuring, but he did. Maybe?.maybe this time would be different. ************** *************** ************* Gibbs grimaced as he finished his report on the Hembury case. He wasn't surprised by the hooker's story. Disappointed---without a doubt, but not surprised. Everything had pointed toward an accidental overdose and the hooker's story confirmed that. Hembury's death was a tragedy but it wasn't criminal. Gibbs would have liked to arrest her on general principle, but there wasn't anything they could charge her with that fell within their jurisdiction. Kate looked decidedly pissed when Gibbs had her turn the hooker loose. He didn't care. He wasn't happy either. No reason she should be. Finding the hooker hadn't been some pointless undertaking, or just him assigning her a shit job because he was pissed at her for calling him and ruining his morning plans with Tony. They needed to make sure Hembury's death hadn't been the result of foul play, and the hooker was the only one who could confirm that. Arresting her for selling her ass or supplying drugs to a willing user wasn't their job. Gibbs sighed. It was a sad state of affairs, but not every case they worked on resulted in a conviction. Not every criminal they encountered would be prosecuted.

Gibbs had tried to come to terms with the fact that some times the only reward to be had was finding the truth. He thought Kate would do well to cultivate a similar understanding. With his report finished he could call it a day. Leaving early held a lot of appeal. He wanted to talk to Tony. Needed to make sure that the younger man understood that he meant it when he told him that he wanted to do this right, that he was in for the long haul. He tried to curb his uncharacteristic impatience. He rarely left early, almost never in fact. Breaking his habit wouldn't be a direct violation of his promise to Tony that no one at the office know about their relationship. The rest of the team didn't need to know why he was sending them home early?..and it wasn't like he had to give them a reason. He didn't explain himself any more often than he left early. And it wasn't like it was all THAT early. An hour at most. More like a normal time really. He gave his empty coffee cup a dirty look wishing he had more of Manny's good stuff to help see him through what was likely going to be the longest afternoon of his life. Gibbs sighed again. He glanced up to find Tony looking at him, amusement and understanding sparkling in those wonderful green eyes. He raised a finger in warning, getting a quick grin for his trouble. "You have your report finished, DiNozzo?" He barked out, fighting hard not to return that grin. Tony held up a sheaf of papers and then pointed toward Gibbs' computer. "E-mailed it to you as well, just in case you had any edits." Gibbs nodded, before looking toward McGee. "McGee, your report?" "Just finished, Boss." McGee's head snapped up from where he was focused on his computer screen. The junior agent looked exhausted. Gibbs hadn't forgotten he'd been up all night. Sending him with Kate had been about McGee getting more experience in the field. He turned to look at Kate. She held up her report, shadows under her eyes mute testimony of two days with little or no sleep. "Okay, then. Let's call it a day." "Boss?" McGee looked uncertain, wary. "If you feel some need to stay, McGee, be my guest." Gibbs kept his tone dry. "But this case is finished. We don't have anything new, and I don't see any reason for you to get paid for trying to look busy or falling asleep at your desk." McGee swallowed hard and nodded. "Right, Boss." "Go." Gibbs made a shooing motion with one hand, looking at Kate as well. She didn't need to be told twice. She held the elevator for McGee. It was a blatant sign of how tired she was that she didn't notice neither Tony nor Gibbs had even moved from their desks yet. Gibbs snickered, shaking his head. "Am I ever that wrung out?" "Not that I've seen." Tony shrugged one shoulder, placing his elbows on his desk and leaning into them a bit. "But then, you usually have other people to run ragged." "Delegation is a good thing." Tony snorted. "For you."

Gibbs arched an eyebrow, manfully suppressing a smile. "Rank has privileges." "So I've been told." Tony smirked. Gibbs stood up. "Let's go." Tony pushed himself up from his desk. The movement was made with an easy grace and fluid motion that Gibbs envied. Gibbs had always moved with confidence and a sense of power, but never had the same ease of movement or innate poise that defined nearly everything Tony did. He was relieved to see the younger man's injuries were no longer having a noticeable affect on him. But he hadn't forgotten just how much damage had been done. Gibbs knew he'd never stop giving Tony a thorough look at least once a day even after he was back up to one hundred percent; his lover's health and well being was a number one priority even if Gibbs found verbalizing the sentiment extremely difficult. His first two wives had complained about his habit of visual assessment, but they'd always assumed he was looking for flaws, short comings or evidence of affairs. Given the basis of those relationships had been just physical, and that both women had cheated on him, it was not an illogical assumption on their parts. His third wife understood what he was doing but resented his assumption that if she was physically fine then she should be emotionally fine as well. Gibbs hoped like hell he'd learned enough from her not to make the same mistake twice. Because he really needed to have his shit together to talk to Tony. He thought he'd gotten it right when they talked before they'd taken the step toward a physical relationship. Was sure he had. But he should have known it would take more than one conversation to convince Tony he really was interested in forever; that he wanted more than just a good fuck for a few weeks before he dropped Tony like a hot rock. Hell, he had ingrained bad habits and assumptions. There was no reason to think Tony didn't have a few of his own. With a little luck, some determination, and a bit of love, Gibbs thought they could work through that. "Boss? You okay?" Tony was giving him a concerned look. He smiled, not wanting Tony to worry. "Just gathering wool." Tony arched an eyebrow. "Making a sweater?" Gibbs chuckled. "Maybe." "Man of many talents?I like that." The innuendo laced in Tony's tone was accentuated by the sly look he gave Gibbs. Gibbs shook his head, surprised to feel the warmth of a blush across his cheeks. He hadn't blushed in years. "C'mon, let's go home." Tony smiled walking in step with Gibbs to the elevator. "And which home are we going to?" "Mine, I think." Gibbs hit the button, pleased to have the doors open immediately to reveal an empty car. "Was thinking I'd make dinner." "You want me to bring anything?"

"Just yourself." Gibbs smiled, and reconsidered that statement. "Stop by your place and grab a few changes of clothes. No reason for you not to keep a few things at my house. Next time I'll bring a few things to yours. Then I won't have to spend the day in your underwear. It's just too damn distracting." He knew Tony had understood the significance of his statements and suggestion when he got a nearly incandescent smile. It was wonderful to be caught in the full force of that smile. It was like stepping out from under a cloud and into the sun. "Distracting?" Tony raised an eyebrow. Gibbs tried not to blush a second time. He should have realized Tony would catch that as well. "It's just?.well they're yours. And they're silk?which is-" "Yeah it is." Tony grinned saving him from having to explain any further. He gave Gibbs a sloppy salute. "I'll swing by my place and pick up some things." Gibbs couldn't figure out how that off the cuff gesture carried more respect than those he'd ever gotten in the Marines. Tony was just a walking paradox. One that Gibbs freely enjoyed even if he didn't exactly understand. He was sorely tempted to halt the elevator but didn't get the chance to act on it before the doors opened on another floor. Gibbs tried not to growl at the woman who got on. It wasn't her fault she had no idea what she'd almost interrupted. He did step closer to Tony, subtly indicating she should back off when she smiled a bit too warmly at Tony. Tony arched an eyebrow, looking askance at him. Gibbs shrugged, knowing he couldn't explain his actions, not with the woman right there. He wasn't ashamed of his possessive nature; he just didn't want to embarrass Tony with any obvious display. Tony rolled his eyes, shaking his head in a slight, yet obvious chastise. It was weird to find his actions called into question and then dismissed the way he had so often done to Tony in the past. Oddly, Gibbs wasn't bothered by this turn about. He watched Tony pull out of the parking garage, following him until the younger man turned to head to his own apartment. Gibbs was sorely tempted to follow him. He wanted to just forget about dinner, forget about how damn hard it had been to concentrate on work every time he realized that he was wearing Tony's underwear, forget about doing anything but doing all over again what they'd done last night. He sighed, and stayed the course, driving to his house. Gibbs gave his pantry a thorough look and opted for stir fry. It was a quick and easy meal, and something he knew Tony liked. He had a beer as he cooked, letting the chore relax him. It was one of the reasons he liked to cook; the natural flow and pace of it was so different from his usual day to day activities. He used cooking to center himself, working through what he wanted to say to Tony. And how to say it. He knew Tony was sharp enough to focus not just on the words but also the inflection and intent. He cocked his head when he heard the door open. Gibbs couldn't see Tony but had no trouble picturing the younger man toeing out of his shoes, and hanging his jacket on the rack near the door. He smiled, enjoying the homey picture that presented. "Hi, honey, I'm home." Tony called as he entered the kitchen. "Smells good in here."

Tony moved toward him, hesitating only slightly before leaning in for a quick kiss. Gibbs sighed, enjoying the chance to reconnect, however brief. He would have liked to have prolonged the kiss, but Tony pulled back before he could act on that thought. Tony smiled softly, one knuckle caressing Gibbs' cheek. "Don't want to ruin dinner." Gibbs snorted. "Fuck dinner." "Would rather fuck you." Tony responded with a bright grin. "After dinner." Gibbs tried not to react to the idea of having Tony take him like he had that first night. He knew he failed miserably when he saw Tony's eyes darken, pupils enlarging to nearly block out the green. He thought they might well skip dinner when Tony's stomach rumbled loudly. Gibbs couldn't help but laugh. "Another country heard from." "Lunch was a long time ago." Tony shrugged one shoulder. "And they haven't restocked the vending machine yet." Gibbs never ate anything from the vending machine but he knew Tony regularly had a snack in the afternoon. That habit was one of the reasons Kate considered Tony a bottomless pit. Gibbs knew better. The younger man actually ate rather sensibly most of the time, in smaller portions than the former Marine would have expected given Tony's height and activity levels. "You want a beer?" Tony nodded. Gibbs pulled one from the fridge, twisting off the cap and handing it to him. He deliberately did not watch as Tony took a long drink, throat working as he swallowed. "Anything I can help with?" "You can set the table." Tony nodded. He set the table with a neat efficiency. Gibbs hadn't realized Tony had been in his place enough to know where everything was kept. But Tony was nothing if not observant, so once was likely more than enough to have learned how Gibbs organized things. They sat down to eat, conversation centering on neutral topics. Gibbs wasn't quite sure how they managed to seem so opposite and yet have so many interests in common. But he rather liked the process of discovery. He'd forgotten how much he enjoyed that part of dating someone. He hoped it would continue for years. He made eye contact and held it for a moment, making sure he had Tony's undivided attention. He reached out to capture Tony's hand, holding it gently. "I love you, Tony." It wasn't quite what he'd planned to say, but Gibbs thought it a good opening?honest. "I need to make sure you know that." Tony blinked, and Gibbs was reminded of a deer caught in the headlights of a car before Tony's expression settled on something politely neutral. "You don't have to say that, Gibbs." Gibbs had no trouble reading what Tony was thinking. They had already started a physical relationship, saying ?I love you' was almost clich頡nd expected at this point, and could easily be perceived as meaningless. He tightened his grip on Tony's hand.

"When have you ever known me to say something I didn't believe?" Tony frowned, thoughtful. "Never." "So why would I start now?" Tony sighed softly. "Wouldn't be the first person to say stuff they thought I wanted to hear." Green eyes were shadowed with old pain. "Wouldn't be the first person who didn't mean it either." "Then let me the first one to mean it." Gibbs insisted quietly, torn between being pissed that anyone had ever toyed with Tony's feelings and desperately wanting to reassure him that he was sincere. "I'm not like them." "Not like anyone else." Tony agreed with a smile, shadows lessening in his eyes as he shook his head. "But---" "No buts." Gibbs squeezed the hand he held. "I mean it when I say I love you. I meant it when I said I wanted to do this right. I want to spend the rest of our lives together. I don't want you to doubt that, to doubt me." "I'm trying." Tony winced, looking apologetic. "Not easy." "I know." Gibbs smiled tenderly, thumb caressing Tony's knuckles. "For me either. Got some ugly history too." "Quite a pair, aren't we?" Tony looked away, voice failing to achieve the light tone Gibbs knew he was trying for. "I'd like us to be." Gibbs returned honestly, not letting Tony dismiss or avoid this moment. "I'd like that too." Tony bit his lip. "But-" "No buts." Gibbs shook his head, tightening his hold on Tony's hand. "I know I'm a bastard. Hell, I've had three wives that could give testimony to just how difficult I am to live with." Gibbs was pleased to see the set of Tony's shoulders relax. "I want you to promise me that no matter how far up my ass I manage to get my head you will talk to me when you get scared, when you have doubts, when I do something you don't like, whenever you need me to listen for whatever reason." "Quite a way with words you got there, Boss." "I mean it, Tony." Gibbs insisted. "I know how bad things get if two people aren't honest with one another." Tony took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "You?.won't get mad?" Gibbs saw Tony wince and knew the younger man hadn't meant to sound so plaintive. "I won't get mad. Just tell me you need to talk, and I'll understand. I promise." Tony nodded slowly. "I promise to be as honest as I can be." Gibbs nodded, accepting the implied caveat. He didn't expect Tony to agree completely?.at least not yet. That would take time. More than just a week, when Gibbs had a life time of experience to counteract. More than ever he wanted to meet anyone who'd ever hurt his lover and beat them senseless. "We're okay, then?" Gibbs asked, needing to be sure whatever had upset Tony this morning had been adequately addressed. He didn't want to give those insecurities

any more ammunition or room to fester. And he didn't assume for a minute that this would be the last time they had this conversation. He just wanted to make sure they continued to move forward each time. Tony smiled, pulling their linked hands up and leaning forward to place a kiss on the back of Gibbs knuckles. "Think so." "Good." "So does this mean we can do more than talk?" Tony's voice dipped an octave, rough and needy. "Maybe take care of that distraction you had all day?" "Yes." Gibbs grinned, willing and eager. "Not just yes, hell yes." ********************************* "You are clear for active duty, Special Agent DiNozzo." Tony grinned, stifling the urge to mutter ?about damn time'. He felt like he'd been waiting forever to hear that magic sentence. No more being desk bound while the rest of the team was in the field. "You want to write that down for Gibbs, doc?" Tony asked as he buttoned his shirt. "He's kind of a stickler for some things." The doctor snorted delicately. "Only about things that don't apply to him." Tony chuckled. "Know him well, do you?" "Better than I'd like to." The doctor's lips curled in a rueful smile, his tone dry. "I was the one who suggested he needed glasses." Tony blinked. "You do his annual physical." Although not a question the doctor answered him anyway. "Yes." The doctor sighed. "No one else is willing to volunteer to take my place." Tony arched an eyebrow. "I'm guessing you didn't volunteer either." The doctor rolled his eyes. "Volunteer? Hell, no, I lost a bet." "Can't find anyone else, eh?" The doctor snorted. "The man's reputation precedes him, and--" "They already know better than to bet with you." Tony smiled, shaking his head. The doctor touched his index finger to his nose. "Got it in one." He handed Tony a sheet of paper that clearly indicated his fitness for field duty. "You could do with a few pounds but you're otherwise in good health." Tony rolled his eyes. He hoped to hell the doctor didn't add that to his file. He'd never worried about what went in his file before, but then he knew Gibbs read it now. He was damn glad a lot of his medical history wasn't in his official NCIS file. There was too much he just didn't want to try and explain, too many questions he didn't want to have to answer. He slipped on his jacket after tucking his shirt into his pants. "Thanks, Doc." "Have a good weekend." Tony grinned, waving as he sauntered out of the doctor's office. He planned to celebrate this weekend for several reasons. Not only was he cleared for duty, but he

and Gibbs had an anniversary of sorts. One month wasn't a long time in the grand scheme of things, but it was definitely a milestone for Tony. Tony whistled as he headed outside into the sunshine. He tilted his face upward, eyes closed as he took a deep breath. The past month had definitely been one of the best of his life---being desk bound not withstanding. "DiNozzo, quit lollygagging and get in the damn car." Tony sighed, unable to completely suppress a smile. "You know, it wouldn't hurt you to relax and enjoy the day a bit, Boss." Gibbs shot him a dirty look, but his eyes twinkled. "I am relaxed." Tony snorted as he got in the car, sliding easily into the passenger seat. "Right." "What did the doctor say?" "You want me to tell you or show you?" Tony asked, holding up the sheet of paper the doctor had given him. "Tell me." Gibbs ignored the paper Tony offered. "I'm cleared." Tony grinned. "Fit as a fiddle." "Good." Gibbs nodded. He reached out and caught Tony's hand, weaving their fingers together. "You ready to go home?" "Your place or mine?" It had become something of a habitual question between them over the past few weeks. Where they ended up was usually a function of how long a day it had been; Tony's place was closer. Or how recently which one of them had done laundry and had clean clothes. "Mine." Gibbs smiled, raising their joined hands to place a quick kiss on Tony's knuckles. "Got steaks thawing in the fridge." Tony ducked his head shyly, pleased that Gibbs liked to cook for him. The older man hadn't been just blowing smoke when he said he was a good cook. Between Gibbs' cooking and Louisa's, it was a good thing he'd been able to sneak in some gym time over the past month or the doctor would have been telling him to go on a diet rather than worrying about him being underweight. "Think we'll have the whole weekend free?" That hadn't happened in quite awhile. Tony was hoping the law of averages was finally going to tip in their favor. Maybe he'd finally paid off some of his karmic debt. Gibbs sighed, neatly avoiding a slower driver with a move that no longer surprised or worried Tony. "I'll turn off my phone." "Fat lot of good that'll do." Tony snickered. "They'll call me, not you." Both McGee and Kate were still leery of calling Gibbs. And not with out good reason. This past month had been hell on any morning plans he or Gibbs might have had. It had made Gibbs decidedly surly with the rest of the team. "You could turn yours off too." Tony stared at him. "Okay?who are you and what have you done with the real Gibbs?" "Is it too much to ask for one fucking uninterrupted moment?" Gibbs growled.

"Thinking it is more like one uninterrupted fucking moment." Tony chuckled, squeezing Gibbs hand lightly. "And no, it's not too much to ask. Just not terribly likely given what we do for a living." Gibbs sighed. "True." "It's not like we don't get time together." Tony offered as consolation. He was still not sure how long this thing would last, but he was already growing very comfortable with the day to day casual contact and intimacy. Little things like sharing coffee in the morning to making space in his medicine chest for Gibbs stuff to figuring out which side Gibbs' bed was his. Gibbs was more an integral part of his life than anyone else had ever been. In honest moments of reflection, Tony knew Gibbs had been even before they started sleeping together. He'd never had a boss quite like Gibbs before. It was the main reason he'd stayed with NCIS as long as he had. "Don't get enough time." Gibbs smiled at him. "Not nearly enough." Tony felt his face warm and he dropped his eyes shyly. He wondered when Gibbs saying stuff like that would stop having an effect, if it ever would. He never would have guessed the former Marine was a romantic at heart. Tony bit his lower lip. He had yet to say ?I love you' to Gibbs. It wasn't that he didn't love the older man. Tony knew he did, had for more than a year. But somehow not verbalizing it just seemed safer. He'd never said it to anyone else. He'd never been willing to risk actually putting himself out that far with someone. Not saying it made it a lot easier to pretend it didn't hurt when he got left high and dry, made it easier to fake a smile and laugh it off when yet another person passed out of his life dismissing him as no more important than yesterday's news. "What's wrong?" Gibbs gave him a concerned look. "Nothing." "You sure?" "Yeah." Tony smiled. "I'm sure." His smile grew a bit when he realized that statement wasn't just something he'd said to Gibbs to pacify him, he meant it. Nothing was wrong, in fact everything was very right for the first time in his life. Maybe, just maybe, he should tell Gibbs that. It wasn't the sort of detail he wanted to share in the car. Not the way Gibbs drove. It was just a bit silly, but being a momentous moment for him, a first, he wanted a bit more ambiance before sharing that detail. Do it right. Over dinner, he decided would be the best time. Gibbs parked the car in front of his house before pulling Tony to him, leaning in for a quick kiss. That kiss was something Tony had come to expect. He made a point of giving Gibbs one before they left in the morning, and Gibbs always gave him one when they got home. It was another part of that casual intimacy Tony found so decidedly comfortable. "You going to grill the steaks?" "Best way to do them." Gibbs grinned.

"You want a salad?" Tony asked as he got out of the car. Neither of them objected as much to green and leafy as they led Kate to believe. But Tofu didn't qualify as green or leafy and sure has hell didn't taste good. "Sure." Gibbs agreed easily. "I'll bake a few potatoes too." Tony grinned when Gibbs patted his ass as they entered the house. He wasn't really surprised that Gibbs was an ass man. Tony gave his lover a sly look over his shoulder. "You want to maybe have dessert first and eat dinner later?" Gibbs eyes widened slightly, and he licked his lips. "They tell me life is uncertain." He wrapped his arms around Tony, pulling him back against his chest. He whispered into Tony's ear, voice low and rough. "Best to east dessert first. Might miss out otherwise." Tony shivered when Gibbs nibbled on his earlobe. He tilted his head to one side, automatically giving his lover more access. He sighed when Gibbs sucked gently on the spot behind his ear that made him go weak in the knees. "God, you smell good." Gibbs' whispered, breath warm against his skin as he nuzzled Tony's neck. "Been wanting to do this all day." Tony shrugged out of his jacket, not caring that it was ending up in a heap on the floor. He let Gibbs undo his tie and buttons of his shirt, glad to be rid of them. He turned in Gibbs arms, impatiently working to strip his lover, wanting skin to skin contact. He moaned as Gibbs hands moved with confidence over his chest, agile fingers finding all those personal trigger points. Before getting involved with Gibbs, Tony had never known about that spot just to the left of his navel or the one an inch above his heart. He sighed softly enjoying the attention. He returned the favor, long fingers moving to ghost over Gibbs' back and shoulders in a touch so light it would tickle most people. Tony had been delighted to find a feather light touch turned the older man on like nothing else. He reveled in knowing he could get that purring sigh out of Gibbs every single time. "Let's move this?.to somewhere more comfortable." Tony grinned. "Definitely." They'd done sex against the wall before, hard and fast, and Gibbs' back had bothered him for a few days. Not that he'd said anything, but Tony knew just the same. How they made it to Gibbs' bedroom without ever letting go of one another Tony wasn't quite sure. He couldn't seem to stop kissing Gibbs, enjoying the taste and feel of his lover. He never got tired of it, found himself craving it throughout the day like some addict looking for his next fix. Shucking out of the rest of their clothes wasn't graceful, but Tony didn't give a damn as long as they were finally, blessedly naked. He broke their kiss long enough to lick and nibble his way along Gibbs' jaw and down his neck. He grinned when he realized how sweet Gibbs tasted. "You been using Honey Dust?" He was delighted to see the faintest of blushes appear on Gibbs' face. The older man tried to shrug a shoulder nonchalantly. "Well, you sent it to me."

"Yeah, I did." Tony grinned. It had been an accident, but then a lot of things in his life were so much the product of dumb luck, he wasn't going to complain. He gave Gibbs a sly look. "You use it everywhere?" "I followed the directions." Gibbs' smile was more of a leer. "You want to taste me to see?" Tony shuddered. "Oh hell, yes." No way he was going to say no to an invitation like that. Tony shoved Gibbs toward the bed, laughing a bit when the older man fell back with a quick grin and small bounce reminiscent of a little kid. He liked it when Gibbs got playful. It didn't happen often enough in his opinion. Tony cocked his head to one side, studying his lover for a moment. Gibbs was lean, strong and solid. He must have been absolutely amazing when he was younger to still be this breathtaking now. Gibbs made a ?come hither' motion with two fingers. Tony smiled. He moved to start with Gibbs' feet knowing it would surprise his lover. He massaged the soles of Gibbs' feet, strong fingers working easily to erase tension spots before bending down to kiss the instep. He worked his way up one leg and then the other. Always massaging as he went before applying tongue, lips and teeth. He deliberately ignored the gasping noises Gibbs made. He focused on the wonderful feel and taste of his skin, on the way his muscles twitched and respond to his touch. He by passed Gibbs' groin, hands sliding easily over his hips and up his chest. Tony hovered over his lover for a minute before laying out full length, resting his weight against Gibbs as he leaned in for a passionate kiss. He let Gibbs win the tongue dual, enjoying the way the older man took control of the kiss. He moaned when Gibbs' hands found their way into his hair, running through it with casual familiarity. Gibbs' hips rocked against his in a slow, sensual movement that reminded Tony he'd been just as turned on by what he was doing to Gibbs as the other man had been receiving it. He wasn't surprised when Gibbs rolled them over, pinning him to the bed. Gibbs sat up, still rocking his hips and groin against Tony's. "I want to go for a ride." Blue eyes nearly glowed as they met green. "You up for it, Cowboy?" Tony grinned. This was one way they could do face to face where being limber definitely wasn't an issue. It was one of Gibbs' favorite positions and was rapidly becoming one of Tony's as well. "I think I can handle fucking you." Having discovered how much Gibbs liked him to talk dirty in bed, Tony made sure he indulged his lover when ever possible. He arched his chest slightly, hands moving to curl around the lower rung on of the headboard as he worked his hips just enough to mimic a post trot. "Want to bury myself in you." Tony whispered, voice deep and hoarse. "Feel that tight heat. Hear you scream my name when you come." Gibbs breathing quickened, his eyes closing. "Where?where did we?put the lube?" "Nightstand, I think." Tony's hands were busy again roaming over Gibbs chest, tweaking rosy nipples. "Condoms too."

Gibbs growled low in his throat, but it wasn't an angry or annoyed sound. Tony liked that noise almost as much as he liked the purring sigh. He stifled a sound of loss when Gibbs shifted his weight to reach the night stand. Tony's hands drifted to rest on Gibbs' thighs, unconsciously helping him balance as he stretched, fingers scrabbling to find the sought after items. He grinned triumphantly as he held them up for Tony to see. "You want to do the honors?" "My pleasure." Tony smiled softly, taking the tube offered, leaving the condom on the bed for later. "I tell you how much I love your eyes?" Gibbs leaned in, resting his forehead against Tony's. "They change color all the time." Tony blinked. "They do?" "They do." Gibbs declared. He kissed Tony, a soft, nearly chaste meeting of their lips. "Like them best when they are almost black?like they are right now." Tony figured that meant his eyes must look a lot like Gibbs' own did. Dark with passion and lust, pupils so large they nearly obscured the iris color. If his looked like Gibbs', he could understand why the other man liked them. He popped the top of the lube and coated his fingers. He lightly circled Gibbs' entrance with his slick fingers, while he nuzzled the older man's neck. He sucked hard at the hollow of Gibbs' throat, applying teeth before soothing away that small hurt with his tongue. Gibbs rocked back on Tony's fingers, a faint mewling noise escaping as he easily took in two digits. It wasn't the sort of sound he ever expected from a hardened marine, but then Tony tried not to think much about the noises Gibbs elicited from him. He tore open the condom package with one hand and his teeth, offing it to Gibbs. His lover hesitated for just a second before using it to sheath Tony's erection. Tony bit back a moan when Gibbs lightly stroked him, teasing him with that touch bringing him closer to the edge. "You ready?" Tony asked, the rough, needy quality of his voice taking him by surprise. "More than ready." Gibbs kissed him fiercely, hands cupping his face. Tony withdrew his fingers from Gibbs, swallowing the faint groan of disappointment and loss his lover made. He wrapped his hand around his cock, jacking himself once and then twice, making sure there was enough lube to keep Gibbs from feeling any pain. Tony didn't mind a little burn, enjoyed the fleeting bit of pain that rapidly morphed into pleasure, but never wanted to cause Gibbs any pain or do anything his lover didn't want. They'd done this enough for him to know how Gibbs liked it. He sucked in a breath, trying not to thrust upward as Gibbs centered himself and eased down on Tony's cock. He knew Gibbs was teasing him by going slowly, deliberately prolonging the moment, silently challenging Tony to let him take the lead. Tony didn't mind. It didn't matter to him who was in control because they'd both get what they wanted in the end. This was the first relationship, the only one he realized, where he could actually say that. He trusted Gibbs.

He moaned when he was finally all the way in, still amazed by how good this felt, how right and natural. Gibbs rocked slightly, smiling down at him. "You okay, Tony?" Tony wasn't sure why Gibbs asked him that; it wasn't like his state of mind and body wasn't blatantly obvious, but he liked the way hearing the question made him feel--cared for, important?.loved. He raised a hand to stroke Gibbs chest in gesture intended to calm and reassure rather than arouse. "Shouldn't I be asking you that question?" "I'm good." Gibbs smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly. Tony loved that smile. "You?" "Never better." Tony rolled his hips, thrusting just a bit. "You ready to ride?" "More than ready." Matching movements with Gibbs was so very easy. It always reminded Tony of dancing except that he was never sure who was leading and who followed. It was amazing to be so in sync. That feeling alone was almost as good as having sex. The pace started out slow, languid and easy. Tony knew Gibbs liked let things build. That was fine with Tony; he enjoyed those unhurried moments of just feeling good, knowing there was no urgency, no need to rush to the end. Getting there was just as much fun. He moaned when Gibbs hands moved over his chest, playing with his nipples. The older man braced himself, allowing Tony to make deeper, more powerful thrusts. Tony's could hear little moans and sighs, not realizing for a moment those breathy sounds were coming from him. "Come on, Gibbs, come on." He whispered, encouraging his lover to go harder, faster. "Please?yeah, just?like that." One hand gripped Gibbs' thigh, fingers flexing in time with the movement of the muscles underneath; the other hand circled Gibb's erection. His had moved in time with each thrust, the pad of his thumb sliding over the head of Gibbs' cock on each up stroke. By now he knew just how much pressure to apply, how tight, how fast, to bring his lover that much closer to the edge. Gibbs tilted his head back, exposing the long column of his throat, mouth open as he panted for breath. Tony tried to memories the moment, to indelibly capture the beauty of the man. Gray hair darker now with sweat, skin flushed and glistening in the faint light streaming through half drawn blinds, muscles flexing and moving fluidly. Tony could feel a warm tingle starting as the base of his spine and he shuddered. So close. So very close. Eyes closed involuntarily as he gave into the sensations washing over him. He heard a small keening cry, not comprehending for a moment that he was the one who made it. His thrusts were losing rhythm, muscles tensing as his back arched. Tony's head tipped back, tendons standing out in harsh relief. He came with an open mouthed, near silent gasp of completion. Gibbs' hoarse shout of his name, intense internal spasms milked Tony, and wet warmth splattering his chest let him know his lover had climaxed with him.

Gibbs rolled forward, head resting on Tony's shoulder as he gasped for breath, elbows braced on either side of Tony's ribcage. Tony ran a hand up and down his lover's curved spine, fingertips tracing out the vertebrae in a light touch he knew Gibbs enjoyed. He was struck by how even now they were breathing together, panting in unison as they recovered. He could almost feel Gibbs heart rate slowing right along with his own. Gibbs raised his head, and kissed him. Tony enjoyed the thorough, leisurely exploration of his mouth, sharing a breath or two before Gibbs finally pulled back. Blue eyes searched his for a moment before Gibbs smiled. "Damn good ride." "Yeah it was." Tony laughed, grinning. "First time I ever really understood ?rode hard and put away wet'." Gibbs chuckled. "Don't think this is what they meant." "Probably not." Tony agreed. Gibbs shifted his weight, moving to lie next to him, head pillowed on Tony's shoulder. Tony sighed, already missing the more intimate contact but still too comfortable to really be upset by the loss. He stretched, careful not to dislodge his lover. "I think we need a shower." He could feel Gibbs' spunk drying on his skin. "Yeah." Gibbs lightly patted his chest before raising his head. "I'll wash your back, if you do mine." "Deal." Tony rolled away, getting to his feet before offering a hand to Gibbs. Not that the older man needed it, but Tony liked the implied courtesy of the gesture. He knew Gibbs understood from the way he smiled and took his hand. He got a quick kiss and a pat on his ass for his trouble too. Despite being naked, there was nothing erotic about them sharing the shower. Tony liked knowing they could be together and simply be together, no pressure or expectation to do anything more than that. It gave him the chance to indulge in his near constant craving to touch and be touched in return. "You really need to invest in a bigger hot water heater, Boss." Tony shook his head as they finished up, far too soon for his liking. "Yeah. Probably." Gibbs tossed him a towel as he grabbed one for himself. "Should look into one of those wider spray shower heads like you have and maybe a heated towel rack too." Tony blinked, surprised by Gibbs' agreement and faint appreciation for the set up of Tony's bathroom. It was a close at the older man had ever come to admitting he liked a little pampering. Tony hid a smile as he used the towel to dry his hair. Maybe he could pick up the new shower head and rack this weekend, if they didn't get called out on a case. It would give him something to do while Gibbs worked on his boat. Tony pulled on a pair of faded blue jeans and a t-shirt. He had gotten used to the way Gibbs watched him when he dressed and no longer even noticed it. One of these days he was going to break down and ask him why, but that could wait until later. Gibbs pulled on a pair of dark blue sweat pants and matching sweat shirt, both had a Marine Corps emblem on them. "How do you want your steak?"

"Medium rare." Tony didn't mind a little pink, but he didn't want it bloody. And he didn't really care for it to be well-done, which was Gibbs' preference. While Gibbs fired up the grill on the small patio, Tony made a quick tossed salad. He used the Italian dressing Louisa had made for him. He wasn't sure if Gibbs had taken it or if he'd brought it along at some point. Not that it mattered. Louisa had already put another bottle in his fridge. He chuckled to himself thinking what a domestic pair they made. Kate would never believe it. But then Tony wasn't sure he believed it himself at times. It was a novel experience for him, and a good one. He never expected to feel so comfortable with another person. Tony ducked his head outside. "You want a beer?" "Yeah." Gibbs had the grill going and was just putting the steaks on. Tony handed him a beer, before moving to wrap the potatoes in foil, handing them to Gibbs to put on the grill. He sat on the swing. Gibbs had told him it was one of the first things he'd ever made, and the only thing he'd really fought to keep from his first marriage. Tony smiled when Gibbs joined him. He shifted so he could rest his back against Gibbs' chest. It was nice to have a place sufficiently secluded they could to this without worrying about neighbors or people passing by. He sipped his beer, sighing softly. He felt Gibbs lightly brush his cheek against his hair. Tony took a slow, deep breath when Gibbs free hand found his, fingers entwining naturally. "Love you, Tony." Gibbs whispered before he kissed Tony's temple. Tony knew Gibbs wasn't expecting him to say anything since never had before. He smiled, turning his head to place a soft kiss on Gibbs' chin. "I love you too." Gibbs didn't say anything, he just hugged him tighter, accepting that declaration as though Tony had been saying it all along. In way, maybe I have been, Tony thought. Actions spoke loudly to a man like Leroy Jethro Gibbs. There were still a lot of things he needed to stay. Stuff he needed to tell Gibbs about his family and about his childhood, about his life in general. And there was stuff he wanted to ask Gibbs about his. Tony decided one momentous step was enough for now. They could get to the rest; Tony knew they'd have plenty of time. Years in fact. Tony smiled, relaxing into Gibbs, enjoying the shared warmth and contentment. There was still a risk---he could still get hurt, it could all still fall apart, but that didn't scare him as much as it once had. Somehow Tony was sure the rewards were going to be worth it.

Risky Discovery Timothy McGee never considered himself to be particularly good with people. Computers, yes, those he was good with. Electronic gizmos and gadgets he could handle with ease. But then those things always came with instructions and manuals so it wasn't like it was really all that hard to learn or decipher. Electronic things were nicely predictable, logical and orderly, not like people. And if he got stuck at some point, confused, or lost, well thousands of other people did too on a daily basis, so it wasn't like he was alone in that regard. It was hardly something to be ashamed of. Thinking about it, McGee always figured his lack of people skills was the one thing he actually had in common with most of the team he worked with. The team was a group of specialists. No doubt about it, but they didn't specialize in people skills; at least not in the conventional sense. By nature, McGee was a list maker, a methodical sort. Just thinking about his teammates had him mentally ticking them off on his fingers, assessing each one. He always started with the one teammate never far from his thoughts, Abby. She dressed in Goth attire, sported a dog collar, tattoos and had a penchant for seemingly mindless yet often pointedly direct babbling. She was a free spirit who didn't exactly fit any particular mold, reminding him of a square peg in a round hole. She didn't seem to want to blend in, and likely couldn't fathom why anyone would want to. Abby was so comfortable in her own skin, something McGee envied and strove to emulate. Abby had no doubts about herself or her abilities. She was sure of her place on the team. McGee wondered how long he'd be working with them before he felt the same level of confidence. A little over a year and he still felt like he was struggling to fit in, still trying to find his place. Shaking of those thoughts, McGee moved on to the next person on his list...Dr. Mallard. Ducky was definitely comfortable with being himself. Honestly, McGee couldn't imagine the man any other way, but his profession alone tended to make other people a bit wary. And his stories?dear lord, the man could talk. McGee was never sure if the older man was telling the stories for his own amusement, gauging his audience's reaction to his eccentric behavior or if he was just naturally prone to rambling. McGee wasn't sure if he should even include Palmer as part of the team. He was more like an extension of Ducky. And his lack of ability with the living made McGee wonder if that wasn't what prompted his interest in being a Medical Examiner. It was petty, but after that incident with the super glue, McGee liked knowing Palmer was a bit afraid of him. Which was in some ways further proof Palmer wasn't good at reading the living?no one else on the team considered McGee much of a threat. Kate, for all her skill at profiling people, still seemed as awkward as McGee at times. He couldn't see a distraught witness or family member turning to her for comfort, confiding deep personal information or willingly opening up to her. Count on her to kick some one's ass, sure. Expect her to understand or share their fear, regret, loss...no, McGee couldn't picture that. Kate struck him as someone far more comfortable staying inside the box. She liked things to be black and white, right or wrong with out the messy middle ground. Working for Gibbs had to be a challenge for her because the former Marine was

nothing if not creative. McGee was pretty damn sure Gibbs didn't even know there was a box, much less how to think inside it. Gibbs really should have been the first person on his list. But for reasons McGee didn't want to think about, the team leader was next to last. He was still wary of the man...okay, outright scared if he was being honest with himself, but he respected him, even admired him. Gibbs was definitely not a warm and fuzzy people person. He was smart and effective at his job, but McGee didn't have any trouble understanding why he'd been divorced three times. He wasn't entirely sure how the man even managed to get married three times?but then McGee readily admitted he didn't know much about what made women tick. Tony DiNozzo was last on his list because the other man confused the hell out of McGee. He couldn't really decide if Tony liked him or not, and couldn't honestly figure out why it mattered to him one way or another. But it did. Not as much as getting Gibbs approval but it definitely ran a close second. To his surprise he learned a lot from Tony. The taller agent had good instincts and insights. The former cop could be so easily dismissed as a harmless, immature goofball if it weren't for the fact that he clearly did his job so well. No way Tony would have lasted on Gibbs team if he wasn't better than average. McGee had seen for himself the former marine didn't suffer fools gracefully. He knew Tony was good at ferreting out information. He might not approach a situation logically the way McGee did, utilizing the process of elimination or tracking a paper trail, but he definitely could see patterns and pinpoint people's actions with uncanny accuracy. More than once, Tony's insights into why people did the things they did had given them a break in a case they probably wouldn't have found any other way. And Tony was naturally charismatic, tall and handsome. He got people to open up, to provide him with details they wouldn't normally give to anyone. McGee envied Tony's ready smile and little boy charm that had most total strangers warming up to him like ice cubes exposed to room temperature. Because of his lighthearted, easy going demeanor, and frequently immature behavior Tony wasn't who McGee would have immediately pegged as being able to assist someone in coming to grips with a tragedy. But he'd seen the serious side of Tony?knew the senior agent had far more depth than he typically showed. And of all of them Tony was the best at empathizing with a victim. He could talk to people. They talked to him. He understood and could relate the way the rest of the team simply couldn't. Today it was not a skill McGee envied. It shamed him to admit it, but McGee was honestly glad Tony had gotten assigned the task of bringing grieving parents to the morgue to identify the bodies of their children. He would never have known what to say or do. McGee wouldn't have known how to act. He'd have either ended up stuttering and fumbling, embarrassing himself or appearing remote and uncaring because he had no words of comfort to offer. McGee sighed silently, rereading the case report. A fifth-grade class school trip to the Smithsonian ended in tragedy. The driver of a fully loaded Semi plowed into the bus

in an intersection, killing ten and injuring over a dozen more. It was their case because the class was from a naval base school near Newport. For the first time since he took the job, McGee realized how much he could come to hate it. This wasn't a crime of passion or even planned malice; it appeared to be just a senseless, stupid accident. He wished it fell to some other department, to some other agency better able to deal with this sort of situation. Massive clean up wasn't something they were equipped to handle, particularly not when that clean up involved so many dead children. He'd actually said as much out loud to Tony when they'd arrived at the scene. Tony studied him for a second, as serious as McGee could ever remember him being. A tight smile formed that the junior agent knew had little to do with amusement or humor. "It's not a question of sufficient body bags, Probie." Tony's eyes were bleak as he studied the small body Ducky was zipping into one as they spoke. "No one is equipped to deal with a situation like this." McGee was ashamed to realize Tony was right. No amount of equipment and know how could possibly prepare someone to deal with telling parents their children were never coming home. McGee swallowed hard and focused on the list of students who were on the bus. There were no assigned seats. Not that it would have helped to identify any of the children, the force of impact had tossed them around like ping pong balls. The parents coming to the morgue to identify their children were those who had been unable to find their progeny at the hospital. Ducky had muttered something that sounded like, ?abandon all hope ye who enter here' when McGee had called down to let him know Tony would be arriving with the first set of distraught parents. One look at their faces was all it took for McGee to realize just how fitting Ducky's statement had been. These people had already searched every hospital in the area?.this was their last stop. McGee sighed as he reviewed the hospital admission list, cross checking with the list the school had provided. Of the ten bodies in the morgue, nine had been identified. Process of elimination made Randall Krezminski the last one to be officially tagged. "Where are we, McGee?" McGee did his best not to start at Gibbs' suddenly appearing out of nowhere to lean over his shoulder. He didn't think the man ever just asked a question, demanding answers was more his style. Definitely. "Nearly finished, Boss. Tony's with the parents of the last one now." Gibbs nodded. McGee breathed easier when the older man turned his attention to Kate, and stepped out of his personal space. "Kate?" She looked up. "Toxicology report on the Semi driver confirms he was clean. No drugs or alcohol in his system. Ducky's preliminary autopsy agrees with the ER doctor's assessment that he had a massive heart attack." She looked both apologetic and relieved. "So far no foul play has been indicated."

The elevator dinged and Tony stepped out a second later. The former cop usually reminded McGee of a hyperactive two year old with a seemingly endless supply of energy and enthusiasm, but now he looked as tired and worn out as McGee felt. The characteristic bounce in his step was conspicuously absent and his shoulders slumped. "DiNozzo?" McGee might have imagined it, but Gibbs didn't sound as though he barked Tony's surname the way he normally did. This was softer, almost a genuine inquiry rather than a demand. "Yeah, Boss?" Tony straightened his spine, head coming up and shoulders squaring in a reaction that seemed almost instinctive. "They finished?" Tony nodded. "All present and accounted for, Boss." "Good." "Boss?" Tony bit his lower lip. He looked uncertain, wary. It wasn't something McGee was used to seeing from the taller man. "Yeah, Tony?" "I told them we'd be releasing the bodies so they could make arrangements." "The investigation isn't finished, DiNozzo." Blue eyes narrowed, and McGee stifled the urge to duck under his desk. "It is for them." Tony argued quietly, expression painfully neutral, spine straight. "We know how they died. No reason to hold the bodies of their children hostage while we work out the why." Gibbs blue eyes narrowed. He nodded slowly. McGee released a breath he hadn't been aware he was holding. He hadn't expected Tony to stand firm, but then he hadn't expected Gibbs to agree with Tony either. McGee was impressed, but not surprised that Tony had thought to try to find some way to ease the parents' pain as much as possible. "McGee, finish your write up." Gibbs barked out, looking over his shoulder to pin McGee with a narrowed eyed gaze. McGee managed not to flinch. Not for the first time did he wonder if the former Marine had eyes in the back of his head. "I'm on it, Boss." "Kate, I want you to go see Ducky and get that final autopsy report." "I don't think he's done yet-" "Then go wait for it." Gibbs countered quietly, tone leaving no room for argument. She swallowed hard and nodded, getting up from her desk. McGee knew it was petty, but he liked knowing he wasn't the only one Gibbs slapped down. The team leader did it to all of them. He was nicely even handed that way. "Tony...Come with me." The older strode purposefully away, heading for the break room.

Tony sighed softly and nodded, following the older man. He moved stiffly, lacking his usual grace and ease of movement. McGee wanted to say something, anything, but he had no idea what to say. Unsure of what Gibbs planned to do, McGee got up slowly and followed. He suspected Gibbs intended to privately chastise Tony for authorizing the release of the bodies. Outside of one of the interview rooms, the break room was one of the few places on their floor that actually offered a modicum of privacy. At this time of day, it was rarely used. While he thought getting dressed down in private was better than in public, McGee didn't believe Tony deserved it at all. In spite of their differences, he liked Tony. It had taken him awhile to believe Abby's ascertain that Tony's teasing meant he liked him too, but he did now. And he didn't want to let a friend down. He hesitated outside the break room, taking a deep breath. It wasn't every day he eavesdropped on Gibbs. Hell, he'd never eavesdropped on Gibbs. "You holding up okay?" McGee blinked. That was Gibbs voice, but he'd never heard him sound...gentle, genuinely concerned, at least not when it came to dealing with one of the team. "I'm good. Fine." Tony's voice was flat, devoid of inflection. It was so different from his usual speaking voice that for a moment McGee hadn't been sure it was Tony speaking. He wondered if Tony's expression and body language matched his tone. He edged nearer to the door. "Liar." Gibbs firm assertion told him the former Marine didn't believe Tony any more than McGee had. What surprised him though was that there was more affection than heat in Gibbs declaration. "Yeah, well...I will be. Eventually. So it's not a lie, Gibbs. More like a...time delayed truth." McGee raised his eyebrows, amused in spite of himself at Tony's explanation. Some how he didn't think Gibbs would buy that. "I'm asking about right now, DiNozzo." "Now?" "Now, Tony." McGee recognized that tone of voice. Gibbs wanted an answer and he was damn sure going to get one. McGee hoped to have a tone like that some day. In the brief silence, McGee could picture Tony thinking about it, picking his words with care, weighing them in his mind before voicing them. Although, why he would even consider hedging the computer whiz honestly couldn't understand. But then Tony had a lot more history with Gibbs and he was inclined to push the line harder than McGee had ever even considered doing. "Now...I would really like to beat the shit out of someone." Tony's sigh sounded deep and painful. "It probably is just the accident it appears to be...so there is no one to blame, just bodies to bury. So, I'm thinking going home and getting drunk enough to forget my own name is looking like an attractive alternative."

McGee's curiosity went up another notch when nothing else was said. He leaned forward enough to peek around the doorway. He hoped like hell no one noticed him lurking there. Especially not the two men he was spying on. He caught a glimpse of Gibbs standing in front of Tony, both hands cupping the younger man's face. It could easily have been just a friendly gesture brought on by the need for physical contact to get Tony to answer him. McGee had seen Gibbs do that before...although, only once, and only with Tony after he'd been rescued from the sewers. But this was different. Their eyes were locked. A whole conversation was going on with no words being said and McGee felt decidedly like a peeping tom. He couldn't shake the feeling he was watching something unquestionably intimate although he couldn't for the life of him say why. "I shouldn't have left you to handle all of them." Gibbs nearly whispered when he spoke, regret evident in both his voice and the set of his shoulders. Tony sighed, eyes closing. He seemed to be rubbing his cheek against one of Gibbs' hands. "It's a shitty job, Boss. Spreading it around wouldn't have made it any less so." "Doesn't mean it should have been entirely up to you." "Was better me than someone else." Tony sighed, eyes opening. McGee winced. It was easy to forget that Tony wasn't as selfish has he pretended to be. He now felt even more guilty about his being glad it was Tony and not him who'd dealt with the grieving parents. "Louisa stops by today, yes?" Gibbs asked quietly, one thumb lightly rubbing Tony's cheek. Tony smiled slightly. "It's Tuesday." He said that as though it should explain everything, and maybe it did given the way Gibbs nodded. McGee frowned. Tony's statement implied whoever Louisa was, she stopped by regularly...at least every Tuesday. He couldn't remember Tony ever referring to any of his dates by that name. And a steady girlfriend seemed decidedly unlikely. That left him wondering who Louisa was, how Gibbs knew about her when the rest of them didn't, and why it mattered if she'd stopped by or not. "Not sure a good meal is a substitute for a good scotch, Boss." Tony gave Gibbs a rueful look. Gibbs pulled his hands away slowly enough McGee could tell he was reluctant to let go. "You can drink. I'll eat." Tony nodded, his eyes alight with amusement. "Good plan." McGee slipped back. It sounded like Tony and Gibbs were about to wrap up their conversation. He didn't want to get caught trespassing on what was clearly a more private moment than he'd expected to encounter. He headed back to his desk trying not to look like he was skulking. He made sure he kept his gaze fixed on his computer. Less likely to look guilty that way.

McGee tried to focus on his report, but what he'd overheard and what he'd seen kept replaying in his mind's eye over and over again. He was missing pieces. Of that he was sure. He was sure he hadn't mistaken the implied closeness. Or the fact that Gibbs knew more about Tony than he or Kate did. That shouldn't be surprising given how much longer Tony had worked for Gibbs, but this struck McGee as different...personal, intimate even. Gibbs wasn't a touchy feely sort. McGee didn't count the head smacks he gave Tony?those were clearly a reprimand. But the way he'd cupped Tony's face in the break room was clearly an expression of something more than just friendly concern. How much more, McGee couldn't really say. He frowned. This...whatever it was, was clearly not something Gibbs wanted to be common knowledge. He never would have had the conversation in the break room otherwise. So, he should leave this alone. Ignore his desire to find the missing pieces, abandon his curiosity about this new mystery and focus on just doing his job. But it was so tantalizing. Especially when Gibbs and Tony reappeared acting the same way as they always had?like the interlude in the break room had never occurred. McGee sighed. He was an investigator, inquisitive by nature. He knew he wasn't going to just ignore this. He also knew he wasn't going to say anything to anyone until he had more of the pieces to the puzzle. A faint tingle of excitement coursed through him the way it always did when he was confronted with a complex problem. Gibbs picked up his ringing phone and barked out his name. McGee flinched and forced himself to refocus in his attention on the case. Satisfying his curiosity would have to wait until later. ***** **************** ************************ **************** McGee sighed, relieved to be back in the comforts of his own quiet apartment. He knew his decor gave away the fact a techno geek lived there, but he really didn't care. He was a techno geek. He pursed his lips wondering what Tony's place would look like as he retrieved a beer from the fridge. Kate was of the opinion that he was probably a slob and that he had some sort of cliche bachelor pad. McGee shook his head. He couldn't see Tony with a faux tiger skin bed spread or a mirrored ceiling no matter what Kate said. Tony had too much fashion sense for that...if the way he dressed was anything to go by. Besides, he knew she'd never been to Tony's place. She claimed she never wanted to go there, but McGee got the distinct impression her saying that was a case of 'methinks she doth protest too much'. She had to be curious. It was her nature to be. And it was a safe bet Tony knew that...which is probably why he'd never invited her there, even in jest. McGee was equally certain Tony had been to Kate's place. The taller agent had picked her up for work a few times. McGee knew Tony wasn't the sort who'd have waited in the car. The former cop made a habit of ferreting out information about his coworkers. There was no way he'd have let an opportunity to see and snoop around Kate's place pass without taking advantage of it.

McGee frowned, one hand toying with his beer as he loosened his tie. Tony knew about McGee's younger sister, his grades in school, his hobbies, the dream car he'd totaled, about wetting the bed as a kid, his favorite color, his tattoo...but McGee could tally up personal, pertinent details he knew about Tony on the fingers of one hand and still have a few left over. He wasn't counting the stories about Tony's sex life. Those always focused on his partners, not on him. So what did that leave him with? And how did that fit into the mystery he was still itching to solve? No time like the present he told himself. McGee walked over to the dry erase board that was mounted on the far wall. He liked using it to outline his thoughts, order things where he could see them clearly. He picked up a black marker and wrote Tony, then underlined it. Under Tony's name he started to write in bullet points what he knew about the other man. Movie buff, particularly horror films. Old TV show fan. Mother dead. Parents rich. McGee frowned. Parents, as in plural. Had his father gotten remarried? Tony never mentioned a stepmother, but then, he hadn't mentioned his mother either. Gibbs had. And he'd also been the one to say Tony's parents had cut him off from the money. How did Gibbs know that? McGee shook his head. He'd get to Gibbs in a minute, but he made a note on the other side of the board wanting to remember that thought. Under Tony's name he added...Attended Ohio State. Major--Physical Education. McGee snorted. Tony was definitely a jock, but he was no idiot. Although, for reasons he couldn't quite fathom, Tony tended to down play his intelligence. It still bothered him that when it came to figuring out the whole 'fight club' case it was Tony with his 'straight 80 average' who'd managed to do what McGee couldn't. He added intelligent to his list for the sake of being thorough. He wrote down taste for quality, designer clothing next. It begged the question of just how Tony paid for those things. They weren't cheap. And McGee had taken it upon himself to find out just what the standard government salary should be for someone based on Tony's education level and years of service. It wasn't enough for him to buy Armani suits, or those Vigotti shoes he liked so well. McGee frowned. If Tony had the sort of money where he didn't bat an eye at buying a one hundred dollar tie then why was he working for NCIS? For that matter why work as a cop at all? He wrote down civic responsibility, nodding to himself. Like being intelligent, Tony also hid his genuine desire to make the world a better place. And despite his cynical stance on a lot of things, McGee was pretty sure Tony liked the idea of being one of the 'good guys'. He sipped his beer, head cocked to one side as he reviewed the board. He was tempted to write womanizer, but somehow it didn't really fit. Tony definitely saw the sexual aspect of women. Most of the women he flirted with clearly had no objection to his attention and McGee wasn't so naive as to think every woman wanted a husband. Plenty of women were looking for some fun and excitement, 'Mr. Right Now' until 'Mr. Right' came along. And for all his focus on physical attributes, Tony never seemed to see all women exclusively as sex objects. He had to see Kate as an equal or better. There was no reason to compete with her otherwise. And he gave Abby more respect and

consideration than he did to McGee most days. Agent Paula Cassidy and Lt. Commander Faith Coleman were two other women that Tony had worked with reasonably well. Paula clearly fell within the realm of 'date material' while Commander Coleman was someone who likely got classified more as a 'worthy opponent'. McGee sighed. He decided on 'flirt', adding it to his growing list. Tony flirted with every woman he met. It was almost some pathological compulsion, but seemed harmless. Mostly harmless, McGee amended with a snicker as he remembered Voss. He moved to write homophobe, but stopped, hand hovering as he considered that. After the case was over, the whole team, sans Gibbs at any rate, teased Tony about the incident. And he hadn't seemed to handle it well. But McGee wasn't honestly sure how he'd have handled that sort of teasing. He had no idea how he'd have answered Kate's question about what it was like to tongue kiss a guy. Tony walking out was likely the only real option. It didn't necessarily mean Tony had problems with kissing a man. Homophobe implied fear and hatred of gays and lesbians. In all honesty, McGee had to admit he hadn't seen Tony uncomfortable around someone openly gay. He might not care to be labeled as 'gay' himself, but he didn't appear rabid about defense of his masculinity. Unless all his stories about the women he dated were just stories. McGee shook his head. No, not all Tony's stories were just stories. Couldn't be. McGee had seen too much evidence of women responding to Tony, had overheard numerous conversations on the phone, read a few e-mails the former cop had gotten. Too much evidence corroborated Tony's prowess with the ladies. But did that mean he was totally straight? McGee blinked, surprising himself with the question. He'd met enough of Abby's friends to know a preponderance of focus in one gender did not equate to exclusive interest. And his sister's self-professed lesbian friend from high school now had two children she gleefully claimed had been conceived the old fashioned way. Tony might not be homophobic, but McGee knew there were enough bigots in law enforcement to make the prospect of being openly gay decidedly unattractive. And being bisexual was probably as bad or worse than being gay in some circles. So if Tony had any interest in men, he probably had a lot of practice in hiding it. Just like he had practice in hiding his intelligence, his reasons for wanting to be a cop, and the real reason he had changed jobs so frequently before joining NCIS. "Hiding in plain sight." McGee muttered to himself, tapping the marker against the board. McGee sighed. None of this was conclusive. All he'd learned so far was that he really didn't know much about his teammate beyond what Tony apparently wanted him to know. He sipped his beer again. He was sure that what he had overheard in the break room and what he'd witnessed was far more intimate than it appeared on the surface. Two people did not have an entire conversation with just their eyes without a lot of familiarity. Admittedly, Gibbs and Tony had worked together for awhile, but McGee couldn't shake the feeling it was more than that.

He capped the black marker and picked up a red one. He wrote Gibbs name on the board. McGee didn't expect his list of what he knew of the former Marine to be any longer than what he knew about Tony, but started the list just the same. Caffeine addict. That wasn't exactly personal, but it was definitely the first thing he learned about the team leader. McGee suspected it was the first thing most people learned about Gibbs. Hardass was probably a very close second. McGee respected the older man for his uncompromising position on cases. He was like gold in McGee's mind...rare and incorruptible. He wrote 'integrity' and 'determined' next. Demanding and obsessive. No one McGee had ever met had higher expectations or tighter focus when it came to the job. Those traits likely helped explain the fact the man had been divorced three times. McGee frowned. Tony knew at least one of Gibbs' ex-wives, and a fair bit about the others. So knowing more about each other than the team knew about either wasn't one sided. Gibbs knew things, Tony did too. Interesting. And Tony was by far the best of the team at predicting Gibbs' reactions. He didn't always peg it completely right but he definitely anticipated Gibbs' thought process better than McGee or Kate did. Might well be one of the reasons Gibbs' offered Tony a job when he could have gotten someone with better qualifications. "Qualified to do what, McGee?" He asked himself. He couldn't remember a time when Tony hadn't held his own regardless of the former cop's lack of Kate's prestigious credentials or McGee's own impressive educational background. There was certainly something to be said for 'street smarts' something Gibbs no doubt knew and appreciated. The former Marine had his own in spades. Gibbs thought process seemed to focus more on gut instinct than outright intelligence or logic but he was no dummy. That was for sure. So McGee added intelligent to Gibbs' list. Technology phobic went up next. Gibbs barely mastered using his cell phone, something McGee simply couldn't comprehend. Most of his waking hours were spent around things that plugged in and lit up. He couldn't imagine not liking computers. His aptitude with computers had gotten him a shot at being on Gibbs' team. Although, he knew full well, if he hadn't made meaningful contributions along the way, Gibbs would have sent him packing. McGee wrote carpentry on his list for lack of a better word. Gibbs definitely liked wood working. McGee wondered if the boat he was building in his basement was the only thing he'd ever built or tried to build since the boat wasn't finished. Absolutely no interest in or knowledge of pop culture. McGee chuckled. Gibbs might as well have missed everything on TV for the past decade or two. And the influence it had on people. He added married three times because it showed Gibbs had no real fear of commitment. If anything the man was probably too committed. He didn't know how to do anything half way. McGee's gaze shifted from one list to the other. He was mildly surprised to note what he'd written about Gibbs was a far better description of the character of the man than what he'd written about Tony.

Did the two have anything in common other than the job and street smarts? McGee sighed. He didn't know enough about either man's hobbies or interests to really say for sure. Tony had to do more than flirt with women and watch old movies, and even Gibbs couldn't spend all his time working on a boat in his basement. Gibbs being married didn't preclude him from being interested in Tony any more than Tony's flirting meant he didn't find men attractive. So it was possible. But was it probable? What he'd heard and seen seemed to suggest the answer was yes. McGee added a column between Tony's and Gibbs', opting for the green marker this time. He titled it evidence, unable to not give it a heading of some kind. What he really needed was more concrete proof; something more than one conversation, and a moment that seemed to suggest intimacy. He wrote physical contact and added a question mark. Tony was the only one Gibbs slapped up side the head. Not exactly what McGee would call an action of physical affection but it was something exclusive. Tony didn't let anyone else do that. Ducky had mentioned once that Kate had tried it and was...rather quickly disabused of the notion that she could accost him 'the way Gibbs is wont to do'. And Gibbs didn't do it to anyone else. McGee frowned. Tony had slapped him up side the head a few times, and even though he didn't care for it, he couldn't say he felt insulted by it. In some ways it seemed to express a certain fondness, or at least tolerance. He nodded to himself. Gibbs was at least physically demonstrative with Tony and Tony allowed him liberties he permitted no one else to take. It wasn't a hug or even as conclusive as a kiss, but it qualified as viable evidence. McGee erased the question mark. Sharing of personal information went up next. Gibbs might have learned a lot about Tony simply from his file and background check. But Tony wouldn't have access to Gibbs' file so he had to have learned what he knew either from direct conversation, observation or snooping. McGee didn't think even Tony was ballsy enough to snoop through Gibbs' things so he mentally crossed that off. And he couldn't see Gibbs saying much about himself, although he let pieces drop now and again. One had to be quick to catch them. Tony was nothing if not quick and observant. He was bound to have picked up on anything Gibbs let slip. And remember it too, the same way he remembered details from Kate's PDA and knew McGee's PIN number. McGee put down his now empty beer bottle to pick up the black marker and add that to Tony's list. His eyesight, hearing and sense of smell were all better than average. Gibbs was so often sneaking up on people, McGee suspected he might have a similar advantage ...well at least where hearing was concerned. The man used glasses now, but McGee was willing to bet the older man never had to before. Which meant McGee had been very lucky that neither man noticed him lurking outside the break room. He knew he wasn't sufficiently quiet or graceful enough to get away with spying very often. The fact that he had gotten away with it this time added evidence to his theory. They were so wrapped up in each other they hadn't noticed him at all.

He went back to the green marker, adding loyalty to the evidence column. Admittedly some of the cases they'd tackled were down right bizarre but that couldn't be the only reason a job jumper like Tony had stayed longer with NCIS than he had anywhere else. Tony wasn't loyal to a job or ideals the way Gibbs was. Tony stayed because of Gibbs, that much McGee was completely sure of. He added trust to the list after thinking it over. It wasn't something exclusive between Tony and Gibbs...both men trusted their teammates to do their jobs and watch their backs. But trust was definitely a part of what McGee had witnessed in the break room. Tony never would have honestly answered the question about how he was holding up if McGee or Kate had asked. They'd have gotten a flippant response, one designed to reassure or annoy them into walking away without getting the information they'd sought. McGee could just chalk it up to the force of Gibbs' personality, his position as Tony's supervisor, but that didn't ring true. For one thing, if Gibbs was just acting as Tony's supervisor, he'd have never asked the question at all. It wasn't like he routinely inquired about team members' well being---as long as they were mobile and working that was all Gibbs seemed to need to know. And McGee had seen Tony back down from Gibbs, but he was never cowed or caved completely. Gibbs forceful approach wasn't the reason Tony answered the question. McGee tapped the marker against the board as he thought about what he'd heard some more. Gibbs had said, 'You can drink. I'll eat.' It implied they'd be spending time together after work. He wrote dating and added a question mark. Tony hadn't mentioned anyone new in his life recently. McGee suspected that meant he wasn't seeing anyone he was willing to talk about more than any sort of ?dry spell'. Given how willing the former cop was about sharing details of his dates with women, his recent silence about his love life could mean he was seeing a man. Knowing how private Gibbs could be about his personal life, it could mean the man in question was Gibbs. Gibbs' preference for privacy not withstanding, if he and Tony were dating, keeping it a secret would be essential if they wanted to continue with their current working relationship. Issues with them being gay and the possible repercussions from that aside, Morrow could not let two agents who were romantically involved stay on the same team. Hell, Kate had nearly gotten fired over her involvement with a fellow secret service agent, Timothy Kerry. But then, McGee mused, Kerry regularly carried nuclear launch codes so that wasn't exactly a normal 'office romance'. McGee arched his eyebrows suddenly realizing the mysterious red-headed woman Gibbs was occasionally seen with hadn't been around in a while. While Tony might not express an interest in an exclusive relationship, Gibbs was the sort who nearly demanded it. The former Marine wouldn't cheat on his partner any more than he would accept being cheated on...so if he and Tony were dating it had to be exclusive. None of this explained who Louisa was. Because from the sounds of it she was some sort of regular in Tony's life. A woman he wasn't romantically interested in? McGee chuckled. Kate thought there was no such thing?but then she didn't count herself or Abby. McGee snickered, still amused by Kate's cluelessness over her male friends wanting to sleep with her. And he actually believed Tony when he said he found Kate attractive but he wasn't interested in her because he knew her...probably better than

Kate realized. Their working relationship was confrontational and competitive on a good day, something being romantically involved would likely just exacerbate. Kate would be a hard woman to date for nearly any man, McGee decided. She had some decidedly high expectations, impossible even. She wanted to be treated like a lady, accorded all the same level of respect and still be regarded as one of the guys...an equal or even better. "You either open your own damn door, Kate, or you let someone open it for you." McGee muttered to himself. "Can't have it both ways." Gibbs and Tony butted heads, but sparks didn't fly between them the way they did between Kate and Tony. Tony respected Gibbs and deferred to his judgment and experience, and Gibbs clearly held Tony in high regard. Tony wouldn't still be on the team if he didn't, and Gibbs gave Tony far more latitude than he gave anyone else. Gibbs seemed to find Tony's antics more amusing than annoying. The former cop could get him to smile the way no one else did. McGee wrote humor down under the evidence column. McGee's own parents said the fact that they made each other laugh was one of the reasons they'd be celebrating their fortieth anniversary this year. Gibbs brusque, hard line approach tended to put people off, but it didn't seem to bother Tony. The former cop appeared to thrive knowing where the boundaries were and how hard he could push them. And if what McGee had seen in the break room was anything to go by, Gibbs wasn't as heavy handed in private as he was in public. He'd seen Gibbs be gentle before...although that was usually with children or widows of service men, the man was capable of it when the situation required it. McGee stepped back from the board. He studied what he wrote, memorizing it before moving to erase it. He did a mental tally. So far he'd learned he knew less about Tony than he should. Knew more about Gibbs character than specific details about his life. And both men had enough in common they could probably have a viable romantic relationship if they were so inclined. Unfortunately, he hadn't proven satisfactorily that they were romantically involved. How did he prove that? McGee pondered the question as he headed for the kitchen and something to eat. And what did he do with the information if he did prove it? The second question was easier to answer. He knew he wasn't going to talk to Gibbs about it that was for sure. Tony, maybe?probably. Tony was definitely the more approachable of the two. He wasn't going to talk to anyone else though. He liked the team dynamics the way they were and couldn't see turning the whole thing topsy turvy for no good reason. If they were involved, it didn't seem to affect the job any, and until it did, a romantic liaison didn't constitute a good reason to McGee. Technically it was a violation of the codes of conduct. And if Tony wanted to, it could be construed as a sexual harassment case since Gibbs was his supervisor. But McGee couldn't see Tony doing that. Hell he had a case for abuse just from Gibbs repeated smacks to the head and he'd never pursued that. And as far as violations and law breaking went, McGee knew his own hacking into the Pentagon and the FBI were far greater offenses. If he had to guess he'd say whatever was going on between Gibbs and Tony was relatively recent. He figured it only dated back to when Tony stopped talking about his dates and that was?he frowned?.three, maybe four months ago. McGee knew his

timing could be off for two reasons. One: Tony had worked several cases undercover during that time so his interaction with the team was minimal at best; he wasn't around to tell stories or have dates to go on. Two: He was assuming the stories themselves were significant in some way, it was possible their absence didn't mean a thing. He nibbled his bottom lip as he went back to pondering his first question?How to prove it? Today's observations were the product of being observant...well, actually they were more the product of his desire to help a friend, but the end result was the same. The key was really to watch, listen and learn. McGee laughed. He was pretty sure he'd heard that somewhere before. He shook his head. Okay. He had a plan. He was going to start watching more closely at the office. It was where he'd gotten his first break, and likely where he'd get another. He felt a faint surge of excitement as he considered staking out Tony's or Gibbs' house. McGee laughed again. Tony would be so proud. But he'd wait on that for a bit. He had serious doubts about his ability to get anywhere before Gibbs in time enough to set up somewhere inconspicuous. And even if he did, he didn't have the equipment to eavesdrop from a distance. Signing it out from the office would raise too many eyebrows. Buying his own would be too expensive. Tailing them wasn't a practical option either. Gibbs or Tony would probably spot him in a heartbeat. And he didn't want to even try to explain why he was following them...at least not until he had something more concrete to go on. If he got something more at the office to go on, he'd consider upping the ante. McGee whistled as he popped a frozen dinner in the microwave. He was already looking forward to tomorrow. *************** ************** ****************** As he ran, McGee amended his mental list of things he knew about Tony. The taller man might be a braggart about things from time to time, but he hadn't exaggerated when he said he was faster than McGee. Staying close enough to act as back up was proving to be more of a challenge than he'd expected. Their suspect in a two-day old rape and homicide, Eric Wilson, a third year cadet at Annapolis, had made like a rabbit and ran as soon as he saw them. Tony had taken off after him like a champion greyhound, leaving McGee to follow. He'd been impressed with Tony's leap down the last flight of stairs. The move had narrowed the gap between him and Wilson, but it wasn't one McGee was willing to follow, especially not when he saw Tony stumble on the landing. He was even more impressed when the former cop simply let his momentum carry him forward to execute a diving forward roll that had him back on his feet, and after their quarry less than a second later. McGee grimaced as the chase took them outside into the rain. At least the quad was deserted. They wouldn't have to worry about dodging innocent bystanders or losing Wilson in a crowd. The steady downpour had started sometime late last night and showed no signs of stopping any time soon. Tony gained on Wilson. Wilson looked over his shoulder, stumbling as he did so, and making it easy for Tony to bring him down with a neat tackle that landed them both in

a large puddle. McGee belatedly remembered Tony saying something about playing football in college. It didn't look like he'd forgotten anything. Tony released Wilson, rolling away from him to come up on one knee. He had his gun out pointed at Wilson's chest, and gave him a savagely joyful grin. "Tag. You're it." McGee bit back a grin of his own as he came to a halt nearby, his own gun drawn and covering Wilson from another angle. He made sure he had enough breath to speak clearly before he opened his mouth. He didn't want to sound as winded as he felt. "Eric Wilson, you have the right to remain silent." "And I strongly suggest you do so." Tony added as he got to his feet with a grimace. "You okay, Tony?" McGee glanced over but didn't take his eyes completely off Wilson. The cadet was on his knees now, breathing hard, watching them both warily. "Other than being soaked and dirty...I'm just peachy, Probie." Tony shook his head spraying water. He looked more amused and resigned than angry. He was the only one of them who didn't seem at all winded by their mad dash. "Finish reading the man his rights." Tony nodded toward Wilson. "We're not getting any drier standing here." McGee rolled his eyes, and finished as Wilson got to his feet. Tony pulled out his cuffs and made a turn around motion with one finger, giving the cadet a pointed look Wilson complied, clearly understanding he'd lost his only opportunity to flee. Tony holstered his weapon, and secured the cuffs, trapping Wilson's hands behind him. McGee holstered his gun as well, moving to stand beside Wilson as they headed for the car. He tried to ignore the way his shoes squished as they finally left the lawn and made it to pavement. Tony sighed heavily. "At least I wasn't wearing a new pair of shoes." "You have a change of clothes at the office?" Tony nodded. "More than one." Tony rubbed a hand over his face, flicking excess water off his fingers before looking up at the still leaking sky in annoyance. "Don't remember which rule but I'm sure Gibbs has one about being prepared." McGee smiled. "I think it's in the top ten." "Well if it's not, it should be." Wilson didn't say anything as McGee helped him into the back seat. The computer whiz hoped he'd stay quiet on the way to the office. Tony or Kate typically took the lead when it came to interviewing a witness or victim, while Gibbs usually took the lead on interrogations. McGee felt like he had a long way to go before he was even half as good at reading and understanding people as the rest of the team. Tony slipped into the driver's seat, waiting for McGee to buckle his seat belt before he pulled out of the parking slot and headed back to the office. He turned on the heat a few minutes later, directing it toward the floor. The heater in the sedan didn't put out much in the way of real warmth, but McGee was grateful for even that little bit of heat on his feet and knew Tony likely felt the same.

Tony shifted in his seat and rubbed one shoulder. McGee frowned. "You sure you're okay? That tuck and roll you did on the landing looked like it might have hurt to do." Not to mention the tackle that followed, McGee thought, but didn't say it. "Not going to score a ten for that." Tony chuckled. "Although, I'm pretty damn proud I even remembered how to do it at all." "When did you learn-"" "College." Tony smiled. "My roomie in the fraternity was a gymnast." McGee blinked. He was surprised a fraternity would let in someone who was in a sport that wasn't 'manly' enough. The traditional football, baseball and basketball seemed like a far more likely home for a fraternity than gymnastics. Something in his expression probably gave away what he was thinking. "Little shit was tough as nails." There was no mistaking the admiration in Tony's voice when he spoke. "Still is." McGee wondered what sort of hazing ritual the guy had to go through to prove he was fit for the fraternity. He shuddered internally just thinking about it. He wasn't sure it would be worth it. "Thomas Thompson the third." Tony laughed softly. "T was what everyone called him." Figuring Tony would know, McGee asked, "What does he do now?" "He's a financial analyst for Bank of America. Works out of one of their regional offices and pulls down a six figure salary." Tony didn't sound jealous, more like he was proud of how well his frat brother and former roommate was doing. "Used to win beer money betting on him." Tony laughed softly. "Won fifty bucks this year at Spring Break betting he could still do a handstand on the rings." McGee was not surprised Tony had bet on a friend's ability to do something. He did it all the time among the team. And since McGee often bet with him, as well as with Abby, it wasn't something he could find fault with. He kept hoping some day he'd actually be right and win one. McGee wasn't sure where that habit of betting on people's reactions fit on his list, but he added it just the same. And he now knew Tony had probably been practicing his skill for some time. That bit of information made him feel a little bit better about losing so often. He could excuse his losses as the product of being a beginner. The trip back to the office took longer than it would have if Gibbs was driving, but not by much and McGee didn't really mind. Riding with Gibbs was an experience that tended to leave him feeling like he should start going to church more often. Gibbs would no doubt inspire a similar feeling in Wilson the minute the cadet was in the interrogation room. They got some interesting looks from people as they headed inside. Tony and Wilson were both still soaked and muddy, while McGee was just damp. McGee wished he could be as calm and unruffled about his own appearance as Tony seemed about his. Gibbs met them as they stepped off the elevator and headed for their area of the bullpen. He blinked once, taking in the tableau. "DiNozzo!"

"Yeah, Boss?" McGee noted Tony's posture straightened just a bit as he addressed Gibbs. His own did likewise. McGee tried to look inconspicuous without looking like he was trying to. He was never sure if he wanted Gibbs to see him or not...sort of depended on what he thought the older man's mood was. "What the hell happened to you?" Kate asked, beating Gibbs to that question as she stepped around the divider. She smirked as she took in their appearance. "We played tag in the rain." Tony answered without batting an eye. "Could have ended up as a game of hide and seek, but Wilson," Tony patted the cadet's shoulder, "isn't fast enough for that." Wilson glared at Tony but kept his mouth shut. Gibbs cocked his head to one side studying the young man. McGee could feel Wilson wanting to back up. He sympathized. He'd felt like that more than once when confronted with that intense gaze. Kate snickered, dark eyes still on Tony. "Was rolling in the mud part of the game?" Tony shrugged, grinning. "I hear mud baths are good for the skin." He waggled his eyebrows at her. "Weren't you going to have a mud bath when you went to the spa?" She shot him a dirty look. Kate was clearly still upset that she and Abby didn't get to go on that weekend trip. Abby had gotten over it, but then she wasn't the sort to hold a grudge, particularly when the person at fault was Gibbs. "Could save yourself a lot of money, Kate." Tony grinned wickedly. "Just go outside and find yourself a good sized mud puddle." Kate glared at him. She opened her mouth to deliver what was likely to be some cutting retort but Gibbs neatly intervened. "Kate, take Cadet Wilson to interrogation room one." Gibbs looked Wilson over again. "And see if you can find something to dry him off a bit. He's dripping all over the carpet." "Sure, Gibbs." Kate rolled her eyes but took the suspect by the arm. He moved to shrug out of her hold, but one hard look from Gibbs was all it took to make the younger man subside and move docilely. Kate didn't say anything, but McGee could tell from the set of her shoulders she resented the silent assistance. She likely saw it as some sort of commentary on her ability to do her job. It could be that he'd read it wrong, but McGee was fairly certain Gibbs didn't think Kate was any less capable than the others---he'd have never kept her on the team if he didn't think she was up to snuff. Gibbs would probably have given Wilson that same look no matter who was handling him. "Wilson isn't the only one dripping all over the carpet, DiNozzo." Tony sighed. "Right, Boss." He pointed his thumb over his shoulder to the elevator. "I'll change and be back in five." "Make it fifteen." Gibbs said softly, frowning as he studied Tony. "Boss?" Tony looked at him in surprise. McGee could feel his own eyebrows climbing upward at the unusually generous time allowance.

"Your lips are blue." Gibbs pointed out. "Hot shower. Dry clothes. And then get your ass back up here." McGee was once more astounded by Gibbs powers of observation. He hadn't picked up on the telltale sign Tony might be cold from being soaked to the skin, even though he should have thought of it. He'd felt a slight chill himself and he was no where near as wet as Tony. Tony tossed off a sloppy salute and headed back to the elevator. McGee was tempted to follow, wanting to change out of his own damp shoes and soggy socks, but he stayed where he was to see what task Gibbs would assign him. He caught the narrowed eyed look that followed Tony's departure. "McGee?" McGee tried not to shiver at Gibbs' tone of voice. It wasn't threatening exactly but it definitely had him on high alert. "Boss?" "Why is Tony limping?" Icy blue eyes pinned him with a compelling stare. "Well...uh." McGee swallowed hard. He hadn't noticed that either. "He sort of...ah...leaped down a flight of stairs when he was...when he ran after Wilson." "And?" "He didn't quite stick the landing." McGee winced at the way Gibbs jaw tightened and the older man glared at him. He didn't step back even though he wanted to. "Didn't slow Tony down any." McGee was quick to reassure the former Marine although he wasn't sure why he felt the need to. Gibbs looked more pissed than concerned, but McGee didn't pause to answer his internal question. "Tony tackled Wilson in the quad." McGee tried not to fidget under the weight Gibbs' stare. "I asked him twice if he was okay...he said he was fine." Actually, McGee realized with a sudden flash of memory, Tony hadn't answered him the second time he asked if he was all right. The former cop had neatly sidestepped the question, diverting his attention elsewhere. Gibbs grimaced, eyes moving to glare in the direction Tony had gone. "Tell Kate to sit on Wilson for a few minutes." "Will do, Boss." McGee didn't need to ask where Gibbs was headed. He passed off the message to Kate before heading for his locker to change his shoes. Hopefully he'd be there in time to see or overhear Gibbs and Tony interact without them being aware they had an audience. And if they saw him, his presence could be explained as a coincidence. McGee hesitated at the doorway to the locker room, just listening for a moment. There was no water running so Tony must have either finished his shower or went without one. He couldn't see Tony skipping a shower?not when Gibbs had expressly ordered it, and Tony might not have been overly pissed about his being dirty, but he certainly wouldn't voluntarily stay that way. McGee glanced at his watch...seven minutes since Gibbs had sent Tony down here. Meant Tony had to have taken a very quick shower but Gibbs had only given him fifteen minutes to get back upstairs. McGee lightened his step as much as possible, trying to make no noise as he made his way to his locker. He knew Tony's locker was out of sight of the door and on the far left of the room, while his own was on the far right. With a bank of lockers

between them he wouldn't have a direct line of sight to Tony's locker, but the mirror at the end of the row would give him a glimpse if he stood on his toes and stretched his neck a bit. Nice thing about metal lockers and tiled shower rooms, McGee thought with a smile, they had good acoustics. Voices carried easily, echoing slightly. "Why the hell didn't you tell me you'd gotten hurt?" That had to be Gibbs. He sounded...McGee wasn't sure if he could even label it. Pissed, concerned, exasperated, maybe...an odd blend of all three seemed to fit. "When?" Tony simply sounded confused. "When you ran down Wilson." More anger and exasperation this time, less concern. Tony snorted. "I didn't get hurt." McGee heard a faint grunt as though Tony had bent over to retrieve something. McGee couldn't quite see him in the mirror. All he really had a glimpse of so far was Gibbs' back. "So you are wrapping your right ankle as some sort of fashion accessory?" The sarcasm was sharp. "I landed wrong." McGee couldn't see Tony do it but he knew he was shrugging one shoulder and waving a hand in dismissal. "Right ankle isn't as strong as it should be. Hasn't been in years. You know that already." McGee frowned, considering that bit of information. He knew Tony had sprained his ankle three months ago on the Persun case. But it sounded like that wasn't the first time Tony had injured it. And Gibbs clearly knew some of the history. Gibbs had gone with Tony to the hospital after they'd rounded up Persun and his buddy, and stayed with Tony afterward, so maybe that was when he found out. Or maybe he'd seen it in Tony's file or they'd discussed it while passing the time during a stakeout. No way to know for sure. "You still should have told me about today." Gibbs growled. "It's no big deal, Boss." McGee could readily picture Tony smiling, trying to brush off any concern. It didn't work. "It is to me." Gibbs' tone was more than just firm and uncompromising. It was warm. McGee might have even gone so far as to label it tender, if it had come from some one other than Gibbs. "I'm okay, Jethro. Honest." McGee blinked, mouth open in surprise. He'd never heard anyone, other than Ducky, call Gibbs by his first name...well, second name. Evidently no one ever used 'Leroy', at least not that McGee had met. "I just need to keep it wrapped for a day or two, and it'll be good as new." McGee could now see Tony. The computer expert figured he'd been sitting down on the bench to wrap his ankle. Tony's shower must have been even shorter than he'd thought. The former cop was dressed, although his shirt wasn't buttoned and his hair was wet. Tony was looking at Gibbs, his expression open, honest. "Not like I haven't had worse."

Tony said that without any show of bravado or self-pity. Why that bald statement would make Gibbs stiffen McGee didn't know. He knew Tony had experienced more severe injuries on the job. Concussions, cracked ribs, getting drugged, shot at and threatened more than once. And that didn't count what he might have gotten while working as a cop. Maybe Gibbs just didn't like being reminded that his people had been put in harms way. The man took the well being of his team seriously. But McGee figured it was more than that, especially when Gibbs pulled Tony to him in a tight embrace. McGee added another mental notation to his list of evidence. There was nothing sexual about the hug, but it was definitely outside the realm of what constituted normal for Gibbs or Tony. He could see Tony whispering something in Gibbs ear, and Gibbs nod his head in response. The way the older man's shoulders relaxed, tension almost visibly draining from him, McGee desperately wished he knew just what Tony had said to him. McGee bit his lower lip and pulled back, suddenly unsure of his course of action. He shouldn't be doing this. He shouldn't be watching them like some sort of peeping tom. The first time he'd eavesdropped could be excused as being an accident, but this was deliberate, planned. He made a conscious decision to invade their privacy. There was nothing right about that. But his inquisitive nature still goaded him to find out more, to pin down the specifics of this mystery. He simply couldn't leave it alone. Not now. Not when there were still so many questions left unanswered. Were Gibbs and Tony really involved? It certainly looked like they might be. Although, that hug could be nothing more than a platonic gesture?one way out of character for either man, but still. McGee sighed silently, frustrated by his need for conclusive proof to satisfy his curiosity. And if they were involved just how close were they? Fuck buddies or genuine lovers? Friends with benefits or were they picking out accessories and buying rings? Tony didn't seem like the sort to commit, but Gibbs wasn't the sort to accept anything less. As far as McGee knew they weren't living together, but then he readily admitted he didn't know much. How long had this been going on? So far what he'd witnessed had taken place where no one else should have been watching. Except for the sudden dearth of stories from Tony and the absence of Gibbs' red-haired lady friend their public personas and interaction were the same as it had been the day McGee started working at NCIS. For all he knew they could have been in a relationship from the day Tony was hired. McGee leaned out, once more on his toes to see Gibbs and Tony. Gibbs had pulled back, one hand cupping Tony's face. Tony tilted his head and it looked as if he'd placed a kiss in Gibbs' palm. They were once more having an entire conversation with just their eyes. It was fascinating. McGee cursed in a whisper when three agents chose that moment to boisterously enter the locker room. Gibbs and Tony moved out of his line of sight. Any hope of finding out more was lost and he knew it. McGee sighed and stepped over to his locker. He might as well take care of changing his shoes and socks. No point in wandering around with wet feet.

He sat on the bench, thinking as he pulled off his wet things. He felt guilty for spying. Somehow this whole exercise seemed easier in his head. McGee sighed. He couldn't let this go even though he knew he should. It was one of the reasons he found detective stories so fascinating, why he wanted to investigate crimes in the first place?.to find the answers, to put together the clues and have the world make sense even if the people in it weren't always logical and precise like machines. McGee pursed his lips and nodded his head as he came to a decision. He wouldn't stakeout their houses. That was definitely going beyond what his conscious would let him do, particularly in light of how guilty he felt doing what little he'd just done. Studying a stranger for clues on a case was one thing, this was another matter entirely. Observations at work then were okay, he told himself unable to give up entirely. They were likely things he would ordinarily notice anyway once he knew what to look for. And his knowing what to look for was the product of his desire to help Tony---and he didn't want to lose sight of that. McGee blushed, ashamed of himself for getting so wrapped up in this mystery he forgot he liked Tony. They were friends after a fashion. He owed it to the other man to at least make an effort to respect his privacy while he satisfied his inquisitive nature. McGee put his wet shoes and socks in his locker before tying the laces of his sneakers. He briefly considered talking to Tony about this, taking the direct route to learning what he wanted to know, but McGee dismissed the idea. He would have to admit to spying and he wasn't ready to do that. If working with Gibbs had taught him anything it was to know as much as possible before confronting anyone or being confronted by them. McGee closed his locker and headed back upstairs. They still had a case to work. He didn't want Gibbs to think he was slacking off or giving the job less than his full attention. If he happened to notice other things along the way, that was just a bonus. ************** ************** ************* McGee sighed and rubbed his forehead tiredly. He really missed Tony. The former cop had only been gone three days and it felt like an eternity. McGee glanced over at Kate and smirked internally. He'd bet even money that she was sorry she'd won the coin toss with Abby about which of them would have to go to the week long interagency cooperative training seminar in Atlanta. At the time, Kate thought she'd come out ahead. But after the past few days, McGee knew she would kill to be bored out off her mind, trapped in a hot, stuffy room with two hundred other government agents listening to some monotonic speaker who didn't know the first thing about actually working with people. McGee had never realized what a balancing influence on the team Tony had. The former cop's outrageous stories helped to pass the time; they entertained and diverted attention keeping boredom and frustration to a minimum when there were no cases to focus on. The usually playful and occasionally heated banter between Tony and Kate served to keep her from being wound quite so uptight. McGee knew she enjoyed the verbal sparing as much as Tony did, always looking for a chance to get one up on him.

McGee would readily admit he liked it too. Although, he didn't win all that often, he savored every victory, enjoying the chance to play more than the victory itself. It was proof positive he was part of the team. Tony didn't tease people he didn't like. McGee figured the person on the team Tony liked best was probably Abby. He indulged her like she was a favorite little sister. McGee knew he often took time out of his day to visit with her just to talk. They had a mutual, deep-seated interest in movies and pop culture and a light hearted outlook on much of life. Abby's lab was sort of a second home for Tony. Abby said gossiping and playing with Tony for a little while each day reduced the stress of working in a demanding and frequently high pressure job. He grimaced. Most of the demands and pressure were courtesy of Gibbs. The man was wound tighter than an eight day clock on a good day. And it hadn't really been a good day since Tony left. He saw the vaguely longing glance Kate sent toward Tony's empty desk. He figured she was beginning to appreciate the advantages of having him around. If nothing else he gave the former Marine a ready target, someone else to glare at. McGee was beginning to suspect Tony gave Gibbs a lot more than that. Gibbs had never been quite this short tempered before, snapping and snarling at people like a junkyard dog. Every comment seemed to be heavily laced with sarcasm, every action carried with it a sense of impatience and restlessness. Abby quaintly described the older man's attitude as 'cranky' but McGee thought 'being a world class bastard' fit better. This was more than just his knee bothering him. It had to be. When not working a case, the only other time McGee could remember Gibbs coming close to being this bad was when Tony had been gone for Spring Break. And that was more of a long weekend than a true vacation. Since they weren't on call that weekend, officially, Tony was only out of the office for two days. For those two days Gibbs had just seemed a bit more on edge, twitchy more than outright mean. What struck McGee now as he thought about it was that Gibbs hadn't even acknowledged Tony's return, acting like he'd never left. Gibbs' recent nasty disposition lent more credence to his theory that whatever was going on between them was relatively recent. McGee frowned as he thought about that. It really was probably a matter of degree. Maybe whatever it was had been brewing for awhile. It made sense. Being attracted to a male coworker wasn't the sort of thing one just acted on without due consideration; particularly not when that coworker was also a subordinate and as prone to chasing women as Tony seemed to be. And Gibbs being Tony's boss and married three times, not to mention his lady friend, would likely have made Tony hesitate to act on anything. It made for a long dance, McGee decided. McGee smiled to himself, amused that it had never even occurred to question if they would find each other attractive. Gibbs didn't fit the ?type' Tony usually dated; but then just being male sort of put him outside that 'type'. With just Tony's taste in women to go by, there was no way to know what his 'type' for men might be. The same held true for Gibbs. All McGee knew about were the three ex-wives and the red-head. He really had no idea what either man might look for in another man.

From a purely aesthetic standpoint there was no denying both were very good looking men. Neither man seemed to have any trouble getting attention. Half the women in the building routinely eyed them both wherever they went. And, McGee noticed a few men doing the same thing, albeit with more discretion. His earlier thoughts about what they might have in common came back to him. They certainly had the basis for more than a physical attraction. He couldn't see Gibbs being such a pain in the ass now simply because he hadn't gotten laid in three days. He added the older man's more extreme behavior to his mental list of evidence. McGee looked up to see Kenny, the interoffice mail man, strolling through the bull pen. He was carrying a small bouquet of flowers neatly arranged in a coffee mug and a colorfully wrapped box. Kenny placed both neatly on Gibbs' desk before moving on. McGee looked around warily before getting up to take a closer look. Kate joined him a second later. She leaned down to sniff the flowers, eyes closing slightly in appreciation of the fragrance. They were pretty, some sort of daisy he thought, colorful and simple. "Think Kenny got the wrong desk?" McGee hazarded a guess. He really couldn't imagine anyone sending Gibbs flowers. The former Marine just didn't seem the type to appreciate such things. "Could be." Kate plucked the card from the little plastic holder, careful not to disturb the flowers. She read it before holding it so McGee could see the envelope. In neat calligraphy was L.J. Gibbs. "Definitely for him." "Who would send Gibbs flowers...and a present?" Kate tapped the little envelope, clearly debating the merits of opening it to find out. "Is there a reason you two aren't busy at your own desks?" Gibbs' pointedly dry question coming from directly behind them made Kate start. It was unnatural how silently the man could move. Gibbs moved around them, clearly not expecting an answer. He pulled his chair out but hesitated, looking down at his desk, silver eyebrows rising. Icy blue eyes rose from the offerings to pin Kate in place. "Why are flowers for YOU on MY desk, Special Agent Todd?" "They're not." Kate asserted strongly, before flushing under Gibbs steady gaze. "I mean...they're not for me." Kate stuttered, looking uncharacteristically uneasy and guilty as she offered Gibbs the purloined card. "They're for you." He plucked it from her fingers. The look he gave her made McGee very glad he wasn't the one who'd had it in hand. He was also glad she hadn't had the chance to open it. Getting blood out of the carpet would take forever. Gibbs opened the card. He squinted at it before holding it further away. He smiled and then chuckled as he read whatever was written on it. McGee blinked, stunned by the amount of warmth and delight in the older man's expression. Gibbs' mimicked Kate's earlier action, bending down to sniff subtly at the flowers. His smile widened, eyes crinkling at the corners. His fingers moved to delicately brush several petals.

McGee realized he'd misjudged the older man. He clearly appreciated getting flowers. And no doubt the sentiment behind the gift if his reaction to the card was anything to go by. "Are you going to open the package?" Kate asked, showing far more daring than McGee would have. But then she usually did. Gibbs eyed the colorful wrapping before shrugging one shoulder. He pulled a small pocket knife out and neatly slit the tape. He removed the ribbon and paper, setting both aside with more care than McGee would have expected. The aroma of coffee gave away what was in the box as Gibbs opened it. Emblazoned on the white bag inside in neat black letters was, 'Manny's Mud Special Blend Blue Hawaiian'. Gibbs grinned. "Damn good timing. Used the last of it yesterday." He muttered as he breathed in deeply, clearly savoring the heady aroma of the makings of his lifeblood and favorite beverage. McGee knew Manny's was a place Tony frequented. They'd stopped in there once on the way back to the office for Tony to replenish his supply. He'd even treated McGee to a cup, and the junior agent had to admit it was some of the best coffee he'd ever had. It was a shame it was so expensive. He hadn't until just now even known Gibbs had ever tried it, much less had a supply. The man seemed to favor coffee that could be used to pave roads. Something of the quality and expense of Manny's, particularly the Blue Hawaiian blend, didn't seem like something he'd be interested in. McGee mentally slapped himself. He'd been wrong about the flowers, so he shouldn't be surprised by being wrong about the coffee. And there was really no reason to the think the man might not want to treat himself to the good stuff. Everyone indulged themselves once in awhile. Gibbs glared at McGee and Kate. "Don't you two have work to do?" The question wasn't nearly as sharp as it could have been. It was softened by the warm glow in Gibbs' eyes that belied his stern expressions, but they both were quick to get back to their desks just the same. They hadn't caught a new case yet this week. Gibbs saw that as a perfect time to reexamine unclosed cold cases, reviewing them with fresh eyes, hoping to spot some near avenue of investigation. So far it had been a tedious exercise, but one McGee knew needed to be done periodically. And he wasn't going to argue with Gibbs about it...not the way the man's mood had been; a mood which had noticeably lightened at the appearance of such simple things as a few flowers and a bag of coffee. He glanced up from his computer screen to see Gibbs lightly fingering the card, a smile hovering about his mouth. Gibbs tucked the card back into the little plastic post. He picked up the bag of coffee, fingering the bag like an addict in desperate need of a fix. McGee started a silent countdown. He reached five before Gibbs was up and headed for the break room. He had no illusions that Gibbs would share; the man was fully capable of drinking the entire pot himself. The former Marine had a travel size mug that held as much as the man probably intended to make. There wouldn't be any left in the pot, McGee was sure of that.

It was a safe bet the coffee was from Tony. It had to be. And McGee had to compliment Tony on not only his gift but the timing. An offering of a gift, one so clearly tailored to the receiver's preference, was definitely worth adding to his list of evidence. The flowers still seemed a bit out of character, but maybe Tony and Abby had sent them together. He stifled a flash of hurt at thinking Abby had sent something to Gibbs and not to him. It wasn't like they were a serious couple, but still, she could have called or something. She and Tony were probably having a great time in Atlanta. He had no trouble picturing them sitting in the back row of the classroom, whispered comments flying back and forth between them fast and furious as they bounced from one topic to another. They had no doubt critiqued the instructor, snidely listed fellow federal agency shortcomings, envied other agency toys, covered old movies and new ones, and rehashed the office gossip all before noon on the first day. He glanced up when he saw Kate leaving her desk. She cast a furtive glance around before heading for Gibbs' desk. McGee couldn't believe she was actually going to read the card that came with the flowers. He wanted to call her on it, chastise her for invading Gibbs' privacy. But he'd snuck down to the locker room to eavesdrop just last week so he knew he didn't have any claim to the moral high ground. Kate, however, didn't know that. "What are you doing?" He hissed in a whisper, outrage coloring his voice. She shot him a dirty look. "What does it look like I'm doing?" She'd been as curious as Tony and McGee when it came to Gibbs' red-headed lady friend. So he really wasn't surprised she'd take this opportunity to get a closer look at Gibbs' personal life. Kate carefully removed the card and opened it. She looked it over, frowning in confusion. "Who's it from?" McGee asked quietly, unconsciously glancing around to make sure Gibbs was still well out of sight. He was really more interested in the message. It had to be something good to make Gibbs smile. But asking what it said rather than who it was from might tip Kate off to the fact that McGee had his own suspicions on the identity of the sender. "I don't know." She waved a hand in frustration, returning the card with the same care she'd taken to remove it. "It's written in Spanish." McGee blinked. Spanish. Abby didn't speak Spanish. If she'd sent the flowers there was no way she'd have requested a message in that language. Tony spoke the language fluently. And so did Gibbs. Confirmation of his suspicions, he added another bit of evidence to his list. "No name?" McGee asked. The language wouldn't affect that feature. 'Tony' would be recognizable as 'Tony' no matter what language. "There is no name, McGee." Kate sighed, obviously disappointed. "Just two lines in Spanish." McGee raised an eyebrow. The use of a foreign language and lack of a name pointed to an effort at discretion. McGee upped his estimate of Tony's intelligence, and his knowledge of his teammates. He had to know the gift would incite curiosity and had planned accordingly, finding a way to send it anyway.

Kate frowned. "No florist name on the envelope either." McGee knew what she was thinking; if she knew where the flowers came from she could track down who'd sent them. He was almost relieved there was no obvious clue for her to use. He wasn't sure if he wanted Kate to suspect or know for certain Gibbs and Tony might be involved. He wasn't sure what her reaction would be. Would she be judgmental? Hostile? Derogatory? Accepting? Tolerant? There was no way to know for sure. If she went to the director, Tony could find himself looking for a new job. McGee couldn't see Morrow firing Gibbs...a reprimand maybe, a black mark near his name to go with a dozen others that were probably already there. Even if she didn't say anything to the higher ups, McGee had no trouble envisioning her using that information to get one up on Tony?.an ace card, so to speak, something she could pull out any time she wanted to put him in his place. Not quite blackmail but not far from it either. McGee sighed. He was beginning to see why Gibbs and Tony had elected to keep their relationship a secret. A lot could be lost here; more than just a career. He knew first hand that friendships had fractured for far less. The team dynamics could be irrevocably damaged and that could be deadly especially since trust and faith in one another were critical when push came to shove. He bit his lip. Did they harbor similar doubts about him? Were they right to? McGee shook his head. He would never consider going to the director or fail to back up Tony or Gibbs because they were bisexual. He didn't think less of them for who they slept with. But maybe they didn't know that. No reason Tony would, McGee grimaced with a moment of insight. He regretted joining Kate in teasing Tony about that incident with Voss. His discomfort with the whole situation had been too good to pass up, but it had also implied that McGee found the whole thing worth making fun of. His actions suggested that specifics of Tony's love life and indiscretions were fodder to be played with whenever he felt the need to get one up on him. Gibbs hadn't done anything to rein in their banter, but McGee knew the older man well enough to know he hadn't completely ignored it either. He probably thought McGee and Kate both had issues with gays and lesbians?.that they were okay in general principle but not to work with. McGee knew his teasing Tony when they'd found that dead Petty Officer in drag had certainly made him seem less than professional and dismissive of a dead seaman because he was a transvestite. That probably had pissed Gibbs off more than when he spilled the man's coffee. He sighed silently. How did he convince them he was trustworthy without letting them know he'd already violated a level of their trust? Damn. This was why computers were so much easier than people. He watched Kate make her way back to her desk, relieved she was willing to settle for being disappointed. Why couldn't he settle for that, he thought. McGee shook his head regretfully. He had in a way. He would never have even risked reading the card, even though he'd learned more from it than Kate had. And he had drawn the line at spying on them outright. It didn't quite make up for what he'd already done but it had to count for something. He hoped so.

McGee refocused his attention on the cold case file in front of him. He added a new column to his internal lists. How to let them know he could be trusted joined the headings of what he knew about Tony and Gibbs, and evidence they were involved. Gibbs returned, sipping his coffee. It wasn't until he finished his cup that he barked out their names and started asking for an update. McGee sighed. The reprieve had lasted longer than he expected, but not as long as he'd have liked. Only another two days until Tony got back. He could survive that long. *************** ******************* *************** McGee was disappointed that Tony didn't show any obvious signs of the passionate reunion McGee suspected had taken place when the former cop had gotten home from Atlanta. The computer expert really didn't think Tony's wearing a turtle neck sweater two days in a row counted. It was chilly after all, and Tony had worn those sweaters before. Although, McGee thought with a smile, he probably had bought them at some point to conceal a hickey or two. Gibbs didn't show any obvious signs either; other than being a bit more relaxed and less inclined to snap at people. And in his case, McGee was willing to consider that significant. No one else seemed to have that impact on the former Marine. Gibbs seemed more rested somehow. Not that the man ever really appeared tired or run down that McGee had noticed, but there was definitely a bit more of a bounce to his step. It was something McGee realized now had been conspicuously absent the week Tony had been gone. Not even getting called into Director Morrow's office to review a complaint filed in Atlanta regarding Tony and Abby's behavior did much to alter Gibbs disposition. Evidently the 'terrible two' had joined forces with a couple of ATF agents out of the Denver office and had made things difficult for several speakers. To their credit, the disruptions weren't juvenile antics like throwing paper airplanes or spitballs, but rather took the form of intelligent questions and commentary geared toward pointing out flaws in logic, outdated technological information, errors in procedural requirements, mistakes in jurisdictional boundaries and misrepresentations of agency duties and responsibilities. Abby had recounted their time to McGee. She'd been both appalled and amused by the ineptitude and ignorance of several of the speakers. And she was positively delighted with the allies she and Tony had garnered in their effort to make their points. He tried not to be jealous when she talked about the 'cute ATF guys'. They evidently had joined Tony and Abby in going to dinner and hitting a few bars. Tony and one of the ATF agents had taken on some of the locals in nightly pool games, winning enough to pay their tab every time. McGee was not surprised they'd made friends. It seemed to be Tony and Abby's forte. And he wasn't surprised to know Tony played a mean game of pool. Tony had good eye-hand coordination, and a real world understanding of physics and geometry even if he couldn't figure out the math on paper; he could make the shot without necessarily having to know how or why it worked. He would have liked to spend a week in Atlanta with Abby. It would have been fun, even if the bulk of their time was spent in boring lectures. McGee sighed. Next time something like this came up he'd probably be going with Kate. It wasn't that he didn't

like Kate, he did, but he couldn't picture her making snide comments in class, bar hopping with total strangers, or betting on pool games. And even if she did, he doubted she'd invite him along. Tony might tease and harass him, but other than that trip to Paraguay, he rarely left McGee out. He sighed again and refocused his thoughts on their latest case. Shady government contractors, financial improprieties, and attempted murder were definitely the makings of a good novel. Although, in this case, the people involved didn't seem particularly clever. Stacey McClain had apparently been cooking the books for years, bilking the government out of millions. An auditor from the Department of Defense, David Joyce, discovered the theft. It looked as though McClain had tried to kill Joyce rather than allow him to reveal what he knew to the authorities. But he had ended up shooting a Naval Lieutenant Junior Grade, Janet Stoddard, who also happened to be Joyce's girlfriend, which is what got the case tossed to NCIS. Joyce had pointed them in the direction of McClain as a suspect for the shooting even though no one had seen the shooter. He certainly looked like he had motive. And he had the means as well. McClain had a registered hand gun of the right caliber, make and model to match the bullet they'd recovered from the wall in Joyce's apartment where it ended up after passing through Stoddard's bicep. A car similar to his had been spotted in the area. But so far no one had been able to locate McClain. None of the airlines reported McClain as having bought a ticket. Same was true of the railroad and bus lines. His car hadn't turned up either. McGee was hoping for a hit on McClain's credit cards or cell phone would lead them to him. "Why are you even still looking at those?" Kate asked Tony. The former cop had been going through the financial records for the past half hour while she and McGee had focused on ways of locating McClain. "Because something still doesn't add up." Tony shrugged one shoulder as he continued to study the documents. "Stacey McClain was cooking the books, Tony." Kate retorted dryly. "They aren't going to add up." "Yeah, but they should." Tony looked up with a smile. "Otherwise you don't need to cook them." Tony picked up a pen and began to play with it. "If he was really as sloppy as this stuff says he was, Joyce should have caught him a long time ago. Because, hell, if I can tell this," Tony tapped the financial sheets with his pen, "isn't right, you know someone with an accounting degree should have been able to as well." "They only audit every other year." Kate pointed out thoughtfully. "Records make it look like he was stealing for better than ten years." Tony frowned. "That's at least five audits that didn't catch anything wrong. Seems a bit odd no one caught on before now." "Joyce only started at DOD last year." McGee offered hesitantly. "Maybe the previous auditor wasn't as good as he is." Tony pursed his lips. "Could be he wasn't as good or-" "McClain was paying to keep him quiet." Kate interjected.

"Which begs the question...If McClain was willing to pay off one, why not another? Why try to kill Joyce?" "Couldn't afford it?" Kate tossed out. Tony shook his head. "Not according to what's in those records." Tony rifled through a few sheets and held up one. "His personal financial statement shows him as having good liquidity and plenty of assets." "So what are you suggesting?" "Don't know for sure." Tony shrugged. "But our assumption McClain had motive for trying to kill Joyce hinges on the fact that he was blatantly stealing from the government for years. I think a conversation with the previous auditor might be a good idea to find out why DOD didn't catch on sooner." "Because maybe there wasn't anything to catch on to." Gibbs said, startling McGee as he appeared as if by magic. "Why would someone falsify accounts to look like McClain had been defrauding the government?" Kate asked, incredulous. "That's what I want to know." Gibbs glared at her before turning his attention to McGee. "McGee, locate McClain." Gibbs ordered as he pulled his weapon from the top drawer of his desk. "I want him in an interrogation room when I get back." "Kate, find out how many people had enough access at McClain's company to tamper with the records back ten years or more." Gibbs ordered. "And pull their financial records. Let's see if someone else had a hand in the cookie jar." He tossed the keys to Tony. "Tony, get the sedan. You're with me." Tony grinned. He nodded to Kate as he shrugged into his leather jacket. "Might want to start with his personal assistant." "Why?" "Odds are good she'd have access to files and passwords. She'd have most of the receipts and invoices too. And if she's anything like Andrea, she probably signs his name more than he does and knows all his bank account numbers." Kate raised both brows. "Andrea?" "My father's personal assistant." Tony answered casually after an infinitesimal pause before he headed for the elevator. Kate rolled her eyes as she picked up the phone. "Bet he was a spoiled rich brat." She muttered. "What am I saying...he still is." McGee saw Gibbs' jaw tighten and his fist clench. He wondered why Kate's comment might upset the older man. It wasn't the worst thing she'd ever said to or about Tony. It was relatively mild in comparison to some of the stuff she'd already said just since the day started. It had to be the reference to Tony's family that bothered him. McGee filed that away for further reference as Gibbs stalked off after Tony. He also filed away the fact that since Tony had gotten back, Gibbs had taken him every time they had to leave the office. That itself wasn't unusual. Unless Gibbs was subtly punishing Tony, he seldom left him behind. But the fact that he was using Tony's first name more than his surname was definitely unusual. McGee added it to his list of evidence.

He went back to work trying to track down McClain. That task got a lot easier when a call from local police came in saying they'd found him. Or rather his body, in his car, in a vacant lot not far from the warehouse where the bulk of his company's supplies were kept. McGee grimaced. Gibbs was not going to be happy. He knew he was being a coward about it, but McGee opted to call Tony's cell phone instead. McGee waited for the usual two rings, knowing Tony would pick up. "DiNozzo." "Tony...I found McClain." "Good work, McGee." McGee stifled the urge to preen at getting a compliment. His next bit of news would probably erase the kudos he'd just been given. He sighed. "Not so good...he's dead." "Damn." He could picture Tony rubbing his temple and heard him relay the information to Gibbs. He heard Gibbs curse. "Ask him if we have a cause of death? And did he get the body to Ducky?" He didn't need Tony to repeat Gibbs questions. "Body is on its way to Ducky as we speak. Cause of death was a single gun shot to the temple. " "They recover the weapon?" McGee nodded even though he knew Tony couldn't see him. "It was in the car with the body. I'm having ballistics test it against the bullet we recovered from Joyce's apartment. I've also asked for the photos from the scene since we didn't get immediate access." "Good thinking, Probie." McGee felt a rush of warmth over getting another compliment. He heard Tony relay the details, and another curse from Gibbs. He was glad he wasn't in the car with the former Marine. His driving skills went even more down hill when he was pissed. "Suicide doesn't jive." He figured Tony was thinking out loud when he heard him murmur. "Guy had the wherewithal to skip the country, so why not run? And if he hadn't done anything wrong...why off himself?" The former cop's voice was clearer and louder when he spoke again. "Have Ducky test his hands for GSR." "Will do." McGee just managed not to add 'boss'. It was uncanny the way Tony's inflection could mimic Gibbs' at times. McGee's response to it was almost instinctive, but he didn't feel bad because he'd seen Kate react the same way. "Did we get the car?" Gibbs' question came through clearly, curt and impatient as always. "Tell him it's already on its way to Abby." Their voices weren't distinct enough for McGee to hear everything that was said as Tony and Gibbs talked. He waited, knowing better than to hang up. Another reason he called Tony was that Gibbs usually just hung up on people letting the dial tone speak for him, Tony was usually more polite than that, offering some sort of closing statement if not a good-bye.

"We're still going to check out the other auditors. See if anything pans out there. Tell Kate she's got two hours to have everyone who had access to the books and accounts at the office, ready to be questioned. Once Ducky pins down a time of death, check everyone's alibis." Tony directed. "Check their alibis against the shooting of Stoddard at Joyce's place as well. See you in two hours, McGee." McGee hung up and passed on the deadline to Kate. She didn't look happy, but she didn't complain either. It wouldn't do her any good. McGee called Ducky to let him know McClain's body was on its way and what they needed to know and when. He always felt a little silly telling Ducky what to look for. The ME had likely forgotten more than McGee would ever know. He called Abby and let her know McClain's car would be in the garage for her to examine. He could hear music blaring in the background and it made him wince. He wasn't sure how she could concentrate with that much noise, but she did. One hour and fifty nine minutes later, McGee was glad he had a report ready for Gibbs. He didn't want to disappoint the former Marine. Gibbs wasn't one who suffered fools gladly. "McGee!" Gibbs barked out as he entered the bull pen with Tony just a half step behind. "What have you got for me?" "The gun found with McClain is registered in his name and ballistics positively matched it to the bullet we pulled from Joyce's apartment. So it was definitely the weapon that wounded Lieutenant JG Stoddard." McGee stood up, squaring his shoulders. "It was also definitely the weapon that killed McClain." McGee swallowed nervously, wishing Gibbs wouldn't stare at him that way. "Initial photos from the scene show McClain in the driver's seat, seatbelt on. No defensive wounds or signs of a struggle. There was a typed note found in the car confessing to theft and attempted murder." Tony frowned. McGee knew he'd like the next bit of information. "But there was no GSR on his hands. And his prints were on the gun but not the bullets." McGee thought it was a stroke of genius that Abby had thought to check the remaining rounds for prints. "Meaning he didn't fire the gun or load it." Tony stated with a confident smile. Some one had wanted it to look like a suicide but whoever it was hadn't quite covered all the bases. "Abby got a set of partials from the bullets that she can use for comparison?once we get her someone to compare them to." McGee added. Tony shared a look with Gibbs. "To get that close without arousing suspicion-" "Had to be someone he knew and trusted." Gibbs finished his sentence. "Kate?" He turned to look at her. "What have you got?" "Other than McClain, five people had access to the necessary passwords and every account. Two have ironclad alibis as far as the shooting of Stoddard and murder of McClain." "Ironclad?" Gibbs arched an eyebrow. "They've been overseas for the last month with DOD personnel reviewing field tests."

Gibbs nodded. "And the other three?" Kate triggered the plasma screen. A picture of an older, balding man with glasses appeared. Tony moved to stand closer to Gibbs, staring at the screen. McGee absently noted the two men were close enough their shoulders touched. "Arthur Karpinsky." Kate nodded to the screen. "He's got several degrees in engineering and has been with the company from the beginning. He and McClain reportedly argued?A lot." "What did they argue about?" "Money." Kate sighed. "Evidently McClain patented one of Karpinsky's designs last year under the company's name essentially cutting him out of any profits." "Ouch." Tony winced. "Can see that being motive." Kate clicked a button, and a new picture appeared. It was a young, beautiful blonde woman with dark blue eyes. Kate identified her as Lydia Markish. McGee estimated her age to be in her early twenties. He saw Tony cock his head to study her picture. He whistled silently. "Very pretty." Gibbs raised a hand and lightly slapped the back of Tony's head. "Focus on the case, Tony." McGee surprised to note Gibbs' action really wasn't so much a slap as it was the older man brushing his hand through Tony's hair. Instead of the move taking less than a second, McGee could have sworn Gibbs hand lingered at the nape of Tony's neck, becoming more of a caress than a reprimand. And while his tone was sharp, it wasn't angry or impatient. If Gibbs had really meant it as a serious chastisement he'd have called Tony by his surname. McGee bit his cheek to hide an inappropriate smile. Hiding in plain sight, he thought. He had to give them credit. Tony habitually made comments about women. And Gibbs had slapped Tony countless times before with varying degrees of force. So this looked like business as usual, except for the subtle new twist most people wouldn't even notice. Kate definitely hadn't if the smirk she gave Tony for his getting slapped was anything to go by. Kate cleared her throat and continued speaking. "Lydia started working for McClain eighteen months ago. I haven't been able to pin down exactly what her duties are or any qualifications she might have that would have gotten her hired in the first place. Office gossip says she's McClain's mistress." She made a small moue of distaste. "The fact that he's paying her lease and bought the car she's driving suggests there's more than just a bit of truth to the rumors." "Killing the cash cow wouldn't be too smart." Tony observed thoughtfully. Kate snorted. "You're assuming she's got any brains at all." "Crime of passion?" McGee suggested. He'd seen a lot of people 'cut off their noses to spite their face'. "This wasn't neat, but it was far from sloppy." Gibbs countered, shaking his head. "McClain was set up to look like he'd been stealing and attempted to murder Joyce to cover it up. Then they killed him and tried to make it look like a suicide."

Gibbs gave the screen a grim look. "What about our third suspect?" Kate brought up the last photo. It was a woman in her mid to late forties, attractive, but not stunning the way her coworker, Lydia, was. Kate identified her as Carol Edsel. "Carol has worked for the company for almost eighteen years. She's been the office manager and McClain's personal assistant for the last twelve years. As far as I can tell, she's well liked by her coworkers. Does her job well and never complains." "She benefit from McClain's death in any way?" Tony asked. "Not really." Kate shook her head. "None of them benefit directly." "Who ever took the money definitely reaped a benefit." McGee interjected quietly. "We still don't know where the money is." Kate pointed out. "None of these three have off shore accounts. And no suspicious activity in their domestic accounts." "Cash might not be king any more, but its still good everywhere." Tony observed casually. Kate laughed. "You think who ever took it has the money in a mason jar or stuffed in their mattress?" "Safer than the stock market. And less traceable too." Gibbs remarked dryly. "Let's get fingerprints of these three to Abby. Narrow the field." McGee was on the phone ordering the prints and getting them to Abby even as Gibbs stalked off toward the break room. He was due for another cup of coffee. McGee was somewhat surprised the older man hadn't walked in with one. The bag of Blue Hawaiian he'd gotten last week was probably already gone. Not that he would have shared anyway. Gibbs wasn't generous with his coffee, no matter what brand he had. Tony looked at Kate. "Ten bucks says Lydia didn't kill McClain." Kate rolled her eyes. "Just because she's pretty doesn't mean she isn't lethal, Tony." "I know pretty things can be deadly." Tony smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "And I didn't say she couldn't kill him, I said I don't think she did." "I think it's Karpinsky." McGee stated. "He was owed money and probably felt he deserved it. Stealing the money and framing McClain for it was icing on the cake." "I agree." Kate gave him a smile. Tony shook his head. "Don't think so." "He's got motive and opportunity, Tony." Kate argued. "Yeah, but did he have access to McClain's gun?" Tony asked. "We don't know where he kept it, just that he had one." Tony shrugged. "My money is on Carol." Kate snorted delicately. "She had nothing to gain." "She didn't have anything to lose either." Tony headed for his desk, leaving them to ponder that observation.

McGee really wasn't surprised when Abby called to say the prints were a match to Carol less than half an hour later. Disappointed, but not surprised. He handed Tony his ten bucks. Kate reluctantly did the same. The former cop understood what made people tick far better than he did. Better than Kate, despite her profiler status and experience. More than once that level of comprehension had led him to places the rest of them would have overlooked. McGee recalled clearly before Tony and Gibbs had left to talk to the auditors, Tony had suggested the personal assistant as a starting point. He'd referenced his father having an assistant, so Tony likely had first hand knowledge of what sort of relationship McClain might have had with Carol, and what could turn an otherwise unassuming individual into a killer. He was beginning to think Tony's home life wasn't at all what Tony let them think it was. They turned Karpinsky and Lydia loose. There was nothing to hold them on. And Carol admitted to acting on her own when Gibbs began to question her. "Why?" Kate stared at Carol through the one way mirror of the interrogation room. "Why would she do it?" "Think we're going to find out." Tony responded, green eyes intent on Gibbs as the older man leaned forward in his chair. Gibbs had already lined out the evidence for Carol, letting her know they had enough to see her spend the rest of her life in jail. They had who, how, and when. Only 'why' remained, and Gibbs was nothing if not thorough. Carol had waved her right to an attorney. She looked both relieved and resigned. She sighed, dark eyes meeting Gibbs' blue counterparts easily. "Eighteen years I worked for that company. Twelve with Stacey directly." She shook her head. "Never thought I was the sort to be vindictive, petty or outright mean." She smiled ruefully, the expression making her appear younger before the smile vanished leaving her looking tired and drawn. "But years of wiping that man's ass sort of wore me down." She drummed her fingers on the table before releasing a breath in a soft huff. Her fingers curled into a fist. "I was the one who made sure he didn't forget his appointments. Made sure orders were handled on time while he schmoozed with clients playing golf and taking two hour lunches. I took care of the day to day stuff?.payroll, purchasing, accounts receivable...Hell I did it all. I even balanced his damn checkbook." She grimaced. "I picked up his dry cleaning. Sent his wife flowers for her birthday. Found the perfect anniversary present. Made him coffee. And kept his liquor cabinet stocked." Her fist clenched tighter, knuckles bleaching white. Her voice remained soft, conversational, but McGee had a feeling she really wanted to be shouting. He was impressed that she still retained enough self-control to not just let loose. But then from the sounds of it she'd been practicing maintaining her self control for a long time.. "In eighteen years, Agent Gibbs, I never showed up late, never left early, never got more than a week's vacation at a time." Carol took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"I worked overtime without pay, weekends and holidays to make sure that sorry excuse for a man wouldn't make a fool of himself." Her lips curled in to a snarl. "Did I ever get a little recognition? A little show of gratitude? No. Not even a single thank you from that self-centered, selfish bastard." "Ouch." Tony whispered. McGee had to agree. He could definitely see how Carol Edsel had snapped. Carol licked her lips, expression sardonic. "He hired Lydia to help me out?take over some of my responsibility." Carol snorted. "Funny how my work load didn't get any lighter with her there. But then fucking the boss on the couch in the office wasn't really part of my job description." "But she wanted it to be." Tony murmured. Kate gave him a disgusted look. "Just because you're always looking to get laid doesn't mean she was." Tony rolled his eyes. "I'm not saying she just wanted to get laid Kate, but she definitely wanted to be special to him. To get noticed. To be more than just his gofer." Tony arched an eyebrow, looking down to make eye contact with Kate. "Would you do all that shit for your boss just for a paycheck?" "No." She answered. McGee couldn't see her picking up Gibbs dry cleaning or making him coffee?ever. Tony sighed softly. "She didn't just hate McClain. She probably loved him too. McGee called it right when he said it was a crime of passion." McGee blinked. "But Gibbs said-" "She let it build for years before it exploded." Tony shrugged. "She had time to plan it out, but there was nothing really cold about her actions. She called it herself...vindictive, petty and mean." "I haven't had a raise or even a Christmas bonus in more than three years, Agent Gibbs." Carol stated quietly drawing their attention once more back to the interrogation room. "But Lydia...she's waltzing around in Prada and pearls. He's buys her a car and I'm clipping coupons, shopping at Wal-mart." "Was that when you decided to steal the money?" Gibbs asked. "Oh, Stacey had been skimming the books for years." Carol chuckled, waving a hand in a dismissive gesture. "Nothing too obvious, mind you, never too much, but definitely not all above board. I made sure it was all well hidden. Books always balanced. Auditors never suspected a thing." She looked proud of that. And in a weird way McGee thought she should be proud. Not everyone could pull off that sort of creative accounting without getting caught and Carol had done it for years. "He didn't appreciate my doing that for him either." She shrugged, looking away from Gibbs. "So I just undid the things I'd done to hide his theft." Her grin was wolfish, more of a baring of her teeth than a real display of humor. "This time I made sure the embezzlement was obvious...so damn blatant the auditors would have to be blind to miss it. And I got a piece of the pie too while I was at it."

She laughed darkly. "I knew who they'd blame for it. And it wasn't going to be some little assistant Stacey barely took notice of." "What did you do with it?" She smirked. "Couldn't find it, could you?" "We will." "No you won't." Gibbs raised an eyebrow. "Sure of that?" "Very." She nodded firmly. "Anonymous cash donations to charities aren't something you can track. And they sure as hell won't give you the money back." "So you didn't keep any of it?" "Not a dime." The honestly rang true in her statement. "It wasn't about money, Agent Gibbs." "It was about getting even and sticking it to McClain." Kate observed quietly, sipping her coffee. "Why kill him?" "Because maybe he wasn't supposed to know she was the one who stuck it to him." Tony half smiled. "And if she'd pulled off making it look like a suicide, she could have walked away free and clear. Closest you can come to having your cake and eating it too." "Think we'll be able to find the money?" "Might get what McClain was skimming over the years since he had assets that we can use to pay it back, but what she took...nope. Think we can kiss it good-bye. And of course there is no way to know for sure just how much she got since it's the company and McClain's estate that's really on the hook." Tony's smile grew. "Got to hand it to her. She thought it through rather well for an amateur." "Only you would be impressed with that." Kate gave him a dark look. "She tried to kill Joyce, remember? He was just the poor schmuck who had misfortune to be assigned to audit McClain's company. And she's still going to spend the rest of her life in jail." Tony sighed but didn't argue. "You want to process her? Or you want me to?" "I'll do it." Kate gave him a sly glance as she headed for the door. "You could use the extra time to work on your report. Maybe turn it in on time for once." Tony made a face but didn't otherwise respond. He rubbed at his eyes and yawned. "Long day?" McGee asked sympathetically. He felt a little worn down himself. Normally solving a case gave him a little rush but this one was just...just...McGee gave up trying to find a word for it. "Short night." Tony countered with a quick smile. McGee bit his lip, debating internally for a second. Deciding to go for it he asked, "Anyone I know?" Tony smiled over his shoulder as he headed for the door. "I don't kiss and tell, Probie." "Not any more you don't." McGee muttered to himself, waiting until Tony was safely out of ear shot before voicing that thought. There was a time when he knew more

about Tony's love life than he did his own. Now Tony was mostly mum on the subject. McGee spoke with the tech for a moment, making sure they got a transcript of the interrogation and a copy of the tape before he left. He started down the hall, ready to get back to his desk and get the report on this case finished, but stopped when he heard voices. They were coming from just around the corner in front of him. "Was a good call, Tony." That was Gibbs. McGee waited, holding his breath. "You had it pegged from the start." "Ah don't read to much into it, Boss." Tony sounded overly casual, like he was trying to brush off the compliment. It was weird to hear him sound that way. "Wasn't that big of a leap for me. Especially in light of what I know about what Andrea does for my father." "You think she feels like Carol?" It was more of a statement than a question. "Don't think she's pining after him or anything like that. But I'm sure she does some days she's frustrated, resentful and seriously pissed off." McGee could hear Tony sigh. "It's why I make a point of sending her flowers ever few months and a present for Christmas." "Trying to keep her from bringing down you father?" "No." Tony laughed softly. "Just...no one should ever be made to feel unappreciated, or have their efforts left totally unacknowledged." In spite of the laugher there was an underlying seriousness in Tony's tone. McGee knew he wasn't the only one who heard it. "If I ever make you feel-" "You don't." Tony's tone was warm, open and honest. McGee had never heard him sound like that. "But if I do---" "You won't." There was so much confidence and trust in that statement. It amazed McGee, left him speechless. He wondered if it had the same effect on Gibbs. There was another light laugh from Tony, his tone playful, teasing when he spoke again. "No one who fills his freezer with my favorite flavor of ice cream is ever going to make me feel unappreciated or unloved." McGee heard the elevator announce its arrival and bit back a curse. He shook his head, realizing he should count his blessings. So far simple observation and dumb luck had told him more than he ever thought possible. He smiled to himself thinking, you really could learn a lot if you just paid attention. He really no longer had doubts Tony and Gibbs were involved. The question of how to prove he could be trusted with that knowledge remained. McGee sighed. One thing at a time his mother always told him. He'd just have to be patient and find a way. For now he had a report to right and a case to put to bed. ******************* ******************* ************** McGee decided Tony was right. They were being punished. He wasn't sure why, and it probably didn't really matter. Odds were good it wasn't something McGee had done, but more likely something Gibbs had done. Gibbs had a habit of pissing off the

higher ups. And it wasn't a huge stretch of the imagination to think one of them probably thought jerking the former Marine around a bit would get him to toe the line better. McGee snorted. The man toed his own line; which is why sending him and his team half way around the world to handle a Mickey Mouse case that should have and could have been handled by the NCIS agents on board the U.S.S. Enterprise didn't work the way the higher ups probably thought it would. Instead of just twiddling his thumbs and taking the assignment as the chastise it was no doubt meant to be, Gibbs had them work the case, solving another related to illegal drug trafficking while they were at it. McGee didn't think Gibbs had pissed off a rear admiral on purpose, but it was hard to tell. The Admiral had gotten in Gibbs' way. And the Admiral had been responsible, indirectly, for the black eye and split lip McGee now sported. Gibbs took the health and well being of his team personally. McGee sighed and tried to get comfortable. Gibbs might wax nostalgic for canvas seats and cold cargo holds, but McGee agreed with Tony when it came to flying. Commercial was definitely better than taking a military transport. Especially when on a commercial flight they'd have been home by now. They'd crossed the international date line at some point, McGee knew that, but he was clueless as to what day it was or even what time. He wasn't even sure what time zone they were in. The layover in Japan, then Alaska, and California had muddled his perceptions a bit, dragging out an already interminable trip. They were finally on the last leg of the journey, and in another four hours he should be home in his own bed. The cots set up for troops to sleep on in transit weren't the most comfortable things to lay on, but they definitely beat trying to tuck in on the airport floor or sleep sitting up. McGee pulled the thin blanket up higher and tried to relax. He shifted again looking for a more comfortable position, unwilling to give up. "You doing okay, Probie?" Tony asked, his voice pitched to carry to McGee but no further. McGee opened one eye, the only one he could open, to look at Tony lying on the opposite cot. "I'm just-" "Tired, frustrated and uncomfortable." Tony filled in for him with an understanding smile. "Yeah." McGee nodded. He now had more sympathy for cattle being shipped to slaughter. When he said as much Tony chuckled. "Amen, brother." Tony shifted, a soft groan escaping as several vertebrae announced their presence. McGee winced. It sounded painful, but didn't seem to bother Tony at all. "I'm going to stretch my legs a bit." Tony sat up, one hand ruffling his already messy hair. McGee resented the fact it was a good look for the other man. He was pretty sure his own looked as greasy and tired as he felt. "You want anything?"

A lot of things came to mind...a heavier blanket, his pillow from home, a shower, a change of clothes but none of those were really possible. "No. I'm fine." McGee shook his head, resigned to just waiting it out. Kate was sleeping on another cot further down. She said she didn't want to sleep anywhere near Tony and made a show of putting her gun under her pillow. Tony had just leered at her, laughing when she realized her choice put her next to a nervous private who was clearly enamored with her. McGee watched Tony weave his way up the aisle, moving easily around the confined space. Tony didn't seem to have any trouble maintaining his balance even when they hit a spot of turbulence that left McGee wishing he hadn't already used the last of his Dramamine. Tony smiled and chatted with the soldiers as he made his way through the plane. Most of them were fresh out of basic and on their way to Iraq. McGee doubted any of them realized Tony wasn't in the military. Tony definitely had the jargon down, and even in civilian clothes he fit in with the troops easily. But then Tony fit in easily pretty much wherever he went. It was a shame the same could not be said for the rest of them...Gibbs in particular. McGee grimaced. Gibbs definitely fit in on this flight. He was the only who hadn't complained or even acted uncomfortable. Thinking about it, McGee realized Gibbs didn't so much fit anywhere on a regular basis as make everyone else shift to accommodate him. A square peg and a round hole came to mind, making McGee smile to himself. Whereas Tony spoke with people, being personable and friendly so they couldn't help but like him and want to help, Gibbs was direct and straightforward, efficient and professional, commanding respect without even trying. People generally didn't like him but they usually gave in, seeing the wisdom in letting him have his way. It didn't hurt that Gibbs wore an invisible mantel of authority as natural as breathing. McGee looked at Gibbs. The former Marine was sitting in one of the canvas seats. He had a book in hand, stocking feet propped up on the cot that Tony had been laying on just a moment ago. McGee focused on the title and blinked in surprised. Gibbs was holding what looked like a book on the history of the Russian Empire. McGee expected the older man to read books on boats and woodworking, or maybe a weapons manual. Gibbs' fingers marked his page as sharp blue eyes followed Tony's progress, the same way McGee had. McGee saw him smile just a little as Tony made his way back. Gibbs looked happy...content even. McGee memorized the older man's expression, filing it away for future reference. Not wanting to get caught staring or draw attention to the fact that he knew about them, McGee put an arm over his eyes and tried once more to get comfortable. He was so tired, but he couldn't sleep. He'd never really been able to sleep in a moving vehicle. Even with medication the queasiness made it hard to really relax. He was grateful that he could at least lie down and stretch out. He heard Tony sit down on the cot. They were so close together, he could almost feel the cot shift under the other man's weight. "He finally fall asleep?" He heard Tony ask quietly.

"Looks like." Gibbs answered with a soft grunt. "Bet Kate is wishing she hadn't picked a cot so far way." McGee didn't have to see the smirk to know it was there. "I'm sure her admirer is glad she didn't." There was no mistaking the amusement in Gibbs' tone. "I think she gave the poor kid a permanent stutter." Tony laughed softly. "Well if he's going to make it as a Marine, he'll have to get over that." McGee heard someone sigh and shift position. He thought it might have been Tony but he couldn't tell for sure. He moved his arm slightly so he could sneak a peek. "You like it?" Tony pointed to the book Gibbs held. "Yes." "Figured you would." Tony grinned. "How far are you?" "Up to Ivan." "The great or the terrible?" McGee unconsciously raised his eyebrows. He wasn't aware there was an Ivan the Great in Russian history. He stayed silent, curiosity not so great he wanted them to know he was listening. "Ivan the Great." Tony nodded. "Always was impressed with his wife. Felt sort of bad for her too." "Why?" He saw Gibbs frown. "She came from Byzantium, Boss." Tony said as if that explained everything. He lay down, facing McGee, resting his head on a bent arm. McGee wasn't sure what happened to his pillow. Maybe there weren't enough to go around. "So?" Gibbs nudged Tony with one foot. Tony opened his eyes and tilted his head so he could look up at Gibbs. "Byzantium was the most civilized, refined place in the entire world. In 1472, Russia was backward as hell by comparison. Talk about culture shock." Tony yawned, rubbing tiredly at his eyes. "She spoke several languages, was literate in them as well and her husband could barely sign his own name. She was used to an ornate marble palace and silk clothes and ended up in the equivalent of a glorified shack wearing furs. Must have been one tough cookie to have not only survived, but thrived. She had a huge influence on Ivan and on how Russia developed." McGee barely managed to keep his mouth from gaping open in astonishment. He never would have expected Tony to know so much about history, much less have this discussion with Gibbs. Clearly they had more in common than he realized. And Tony was every definitely far more intelligent than he usually let on. "Read to me." Tony requested, eyes once more drifting closed. To McGee's surprise Gibbs did just that. The older man kept his voice pitched low so that it didn't really carry all the way to McGee. All he could really hear was an indistinct murmur of words. It was oddly comforting, soothing. He wondered if that was why Tony had asked him to read aloud.

McGee drifted for awhile; he wasn't sure how long. He hadn't thought sleeping was possible until he found himself waking up. He blinked open his one good eye trying to figure out what had woken him. He instinctively looked for his teammates, his sleep deprived mind trusting that one of them could explain things to him. He saw Gibbs leaning over Tony, one hand on his shoulder, the other softly carding through his hair. It could easily have been mistaken as just a friendly gesture but for the uncharacteristically gentle expression on Gibbs' face. It made for a vaguely intimate and yet strangely unassuming tableau. "Rise and shine, Tony." Gibbs shook Tony's shoulder. Green eyes opened, bright and alert, like the other man had never been asleep. It was a neat trick. McGee wished he knew how to pull off. Abby had commented that he woke looking every bit as groggy and slow as he felt. She found it decidedly amusing. McGee could hear other people moving around him, belatedly realizing that was what had woken him in the first place. They must be approaching Dulles. The cots they were on doubled as seats, requiring just a bit of assembly to restore them to their original configuration. Sergeants and squad leaders were moving among their troops, waking them up and putting them to work reassembling. McGee sat up, fingers fumbling to neatly folded the blanket he'd been using. He watched, bleary-eyed as Tony and Gibbs made short work of the cot Tony had been using. He was impressed with how easily they worked together, no words needed between them. "You okay there, Probie?" Tony asked, eyes sparkling with amusement. McGee just grunted. He couldn't form words yet, and probably wouldn't be able to for another ten minutes. He still needed to get his mind in gear. "Tony, get Kate up and moving." Gibbs ordered. "Will do, Boss." McGee turned to watch Tony moved toward Kate's cot. How she could sleep with so many people moving around was a mystery to him. Maybe she was even more exhausted than he was. Tony bent down to shake her shoulder. He pulled back with admirable reflexes when she came up swinging. McGee figured he was lucky she hadn't pulled her gun on him. "Damn it, DiNozzo, don't do that!" "Do what?" He held up both hands, palms out. "Scare me like that." She glared at him. When she raised her hand again, clearly intending to reach out and smack him, intentionally this time. McGee saw Tony flinch and move back a step, putting himself out of her reach. McGee really couldn't blame him. Tony usually tolerated her elbowing him in the gut, but she typically did that in retaliation for something he'd said or done that had probably warranted getting hit. In this case, Tony hadn't done anything wrong.

McGee wasn't even aware that Gibbs had been watching them too, until the Marine barked out an order. "Kate, get that cot turned back into a row of seats. You have 60 seconds to get it done." Icy blue eyes gave her a look that spoke volumes about his displeasure. "Tony," Gibbs' tone of voice softened just a bit, "help McGee with his." For all his ability with electronic things, mechanical aspects baffled him on occasion, so McGee was grateful for the assistance. He knew Kate was sometimes no better at it than he was, and suspected Gibbs had ordered Tony to help him deliberately leaving Kate to struggle on her own as a form of subtle punishment. The level look Gibbs gave Kate's young admirer kept him from doing it for her or even offering to help. His working with Tony wasn't quite as smooth as when Tony had worked with Gibbs, but they still managed to get the job done. A quick glance at his watch showed they were easily under the one minute deadline the former Marine had issued. Kate took nearly twice as long to get her cot put back together and ready for landing. McGee tried not to be amused by that, but the knowing smirk Tony sent his way made it very hard. He managed not to laugh, feeling better and far more alert as he took his seat and buckled himself in. Tony and Gibbs sat next to him on the left, leaving Kate the seat on McGee's right. She leaned forward just enough to see around him. Kate gave Tony an apologetic look, her expression letting him know she knew she was out of line and hadn't meant to snap at him. Tony shrugged one shoulder and smiled, and just like that McGee knows she's forgiven. Tony didn't seem capable of holding a grudge, at least not that McGee had ever noticed. Gibbs on the other hand was another matter. McGee wondered if Kate even knew why Gibbs had been pissed. He shook his head slightly, deciding that she likely didn't have a clue. Gibbs was testy on a good day, and the last few days had been anything but good. McGee was glad the landing was smooth. He hated turbulence. Kate seemed to share is relief, while Tony and Gibbs were indifferent. As the only ones disembarking from the plane it took only a few minutes for them to find themselves off the plane and on the tarmac. McGee was glad all any of them had were their carryons. He really wasn't in any mood to wait around in baggage claim. With their luck their luggage would end up staying on the plan anyway and spend a few months in Iraq until someone could be bothered to locate it. Finding the sedan was easy enough to do. Although, McGee was glad it wasn't up to him to locate the car. He was so tired and out of sorts he wasn't sure he could remember his own name at this point, much less where they'd parked the car five days ago. Or was it six, he wondered to himself. He figured Tony must be part homing pigeon, moving with unerring accuracy toward where they'd left the car. He was glad traffic was light on the way from the airport to the office. McGee wasn't sure he could handle Gibbs' infamous short cuts. He didn't want to die this close to being home and getting to sleep in his own bed. He breathed a sigh of relief when they made it to the parking garage of the office. He knew Kate did the same. She'd had a death grip on the door handle the entire way.

Tony looked like he was dozing in the front seat, but it was always hard to tell when the former cop was genuinely asleep and when he wasn't. Kate was the first one out of the car, collecting her bag from the trunk. She didn't seem inclined to stick around and McGee couldn't blame her. They had tomorrow off. Or rather today, McGee thought, as he tried to process the fact that it was one in the morning and already a new day. He got his own bag, moving sluggishly toward his own car after saying good night to his teammates. He briefly thought about offering Tony a ride. The former cop still hadn't replaced the one that had been stolen and then totaled in a high speed chase with police. Glancing back over his shoulder he saw Gibbs and Tony moving toward Gibbs' car. McGee smiled to himself. It looked like Tony already had a ride. He tossed his bag into the back seat. He sighed as he settled into the driver's seat, glad to finally be in a position of control. He put the key in the ignition and frowned when nothing happened. He tried again. Still nothing, not even a flicker from the dash lights or clicking sound from the engine. McGee dropped his head to the steering wheel, saying a prayer as he turned the key one more time. He pursed his lips, biting back a curse. When it rained, it poured and it seemed like his life was now in the midst of a monsoon. He suspected the battery was dead. And when he realized he'd left the lights on, he was sure of it. Not wanting to be late when Gibbs had called with the case he'd been distracted, and must have forgotten to turn the lights off. With a resigned sigh, McGee got out of the car, taking the keys with him out of habit. McGee rubbed tiredly at his face, wincing when he came into contact with still swollen flesh around his left eye. He grimaced thinking the metaphorical rain just kept falling. If he was lucky Tony and Gibbs wouldn't have left yet. Maybe Gibbs could give him a jump. Assuming he had jumper cables. McGee rolled his eyes. Of course Gibbs would have jumper cables, the man believed in being prepared for anything. "Anticipate, McGee." He muttered to himself, making a note to buy his own set of jumper cables. He headed away from his car toward where Gibbs normally parked. There were no assigned parking spaces but no one was going to take the spot Gibbs habitually used. There wasn't anyone brave or foolish enough to get away with it in McGee's opinion. Not that Gibbs' spot was a prime location or anything, far from it in fact. Why Gibbs liked the dark, out of the way corner was a mystery to McGee. The man was usually the first to arrive at the office so he could park anywhere. It wasn't the only thing he didn't get when it came to Gibbs, so McGee just added it to the pile of stuff in his head he'd already collected and labeled as better left alone. He hadn't see Gibbs car pull out, but then he wasn't sure he'd have noticed if it had. He sighed and shook his head. It would be just his luck. Getting a cab this time of night would be impossible. McGee stepped around one of the concrete pillars, hoping they were still there, and stopped dead. His mouth dropped open and he couldn't help but think there was no way he could have anticipated this. Gibbs had Tony pressed up against the car,

holding him there with his full weight, while he ravaged the younger man's mouth in what had to be the hottest damn kiss McGee had ever witnessed. McGee sucked in a breath, unable to tear his eyes away. He suddenly understood the appeal of Gibbs' parking spot. Lost in the shadows, the security cameras couldn't see it...or them. He watched as Tony gave as good as he got. One long leg had moved to wrap itself around Gibbs, pulling him impossibly closer. McGee bit his lip, feeling a blush creep up his neck. Definitely needed to leave now. McGee swallowed hard and started to back away. He didn't want to embarrass them or himself by getting caught. This wasn't just some snippet of conversation to be overheard...no, this was a hell of a lot more than that. He bit back a curse when his hold on his keys slipped and he lost them completely. They fell to the pavement with a loud jingle. He looked up from where he looked helplessly at his keys just in time to find himself facing down the barrel of Gibbs' pistol. He added to the list of things he knew about Gibbs. Catching him unaware was a bad, very bad thing. "I?ah?my car?" McGee gestured back over his shoulder, trying to keep his hands in plain sight and not make any sudden moves. He didn't really think Gibbs would shoot him but right now he wasn't sure. That uncertainty made him feel awkward and scared, hardly a novel experience around Gibbs. "My car...I didn't mean...I didn't know...that is...look let's just...I'm-" "McGee!" Gibbs barked. "Stop blithering." "Yes, Boss." His jaw snapped shut with an audible click. Gibbs holstered his weapon. He gave McGee a dark look that wasn't hard to interpret. The man was definitely pissed. If looks could kill, McGee had no doubt he'd be on one of Ducky's tables. Tony's expression was as shuttered and remote as McGee had ever seen it, making it impossible to decipher. He expected Tony to be sheepish or hostile, but this?this frigid neutrality was almost more frightening than Gibbs' gun had been. Green eyes watched him steadily, reminding him of a cat ready to pounce and that was even more unnerving. McGee took a deep breath, mentally preparing to speak before he opened his mouth this time. He had to make amends here. "I didn't mean to-" "I sure as hell hope you didn't mean to." Gibbs snarled, icy blue eyes glittering in the dim light. McGee hadn't missed the way he placed himself in front of Tony. His posture was protective and defiant. "You better have a damn good reason for-" "Easy there, Boss." Tony laid a hand on Gibbs shoulder. "Let him talk." Tony's voice was soft, but that wasn't terribly reassuring. Tony didn't yell when he was angry, or at least he hadn't the few times McGee had witnessed him actually come close to losing his temper. "My car won't start. Battery is dead, I think." McGee blurted out, not wanting to waste any time in explaining, especially when he wasn't sure how much time he'd be given. "I was hoping you had jumper cables."

Gibbs grimaced, and sighed. He rubbed a hand over his face, shaking his head. He looked at Tony, and McGee could almost see the conversation taking place between them even though neither man said a word. Tony looked briefly unhappy and then resigned before his countenance morphed back into that blandly neutral expression which seemed so out of place. He nodded once, clearly reluctant but agreeing with whatever Gibbs had silently asked him. "Get in the car, McGee." Gibbs directed. McGee froze, his natural instinct to obey stifled by wariness. He hadn't expected that order. And he wasn't sure what it meant. "Relax, Probie." Tony gave him a tight, painful smile that didn't reach his eyes but was still oddly reassuring. It was enough to let him know Tony wasn't mad at him?.and he wouldn't let Gibbs hurt him. Why he was so sure of that he couldn't say but he was. "Gibbs doesn't have jumper cables." Tony said quietly. "And we need to talk." "T-t-talk?" McGee cursed his stutter, wishing he didn't do that under stress. "Yes, talk." Tony's gaze narrowed. "You aren't going to just forget what you never should have seen in the first place. So...we need to talk." Tony's eyes shadowed with regret before he looked away. And McGee suddenly understood this was a conversation Tony really didn't want to have but was going to anyway. He didn't entirely understand why. Tony certainly didn't seem ashamed of being involved with Gibbs. And he clearly wasn't embarrassed at being caught in a lip lock with a man. But the set of his shoulders, his posture, reflected someone bracing himself to deal with something that was likely to be painful, very painful. In a moment of insight, McGee realized Tony was already expecting this to conversation to go badly. He was already anticipating that McGee would be all of those things he worried Kate might be if she found out once he got over his shock--judgmental, hostile, manipulative, planning blackmail or worse. Shit. And there was no way he could tell them he wasn't all that shocked, that he'd already suspected they were involved. Gibbs growled. "Get. In. The. Damn. Car." McGee bent down to retrieve his keys, before moving quickly to get in Gibbs' car. He didn't want to give the man any more reason to be angry with him. God, he really wished he could take back the last few minutes. Since that wasn't an option, he had to find a way to convince them he wasn't a threat. That he could be trusted. McGee grimaced. Somewhere he was sure fate was laughing?.adding a hurricane to the monsoon that was his life at the moment. "Where?" Gibbs asked, looking over at Tony as he put the car in gear. "My place." Tony rubbed his temple. "I've got better booze. And I'm not doing this without a stiff shot of something." McGee wanted to second that statement but wisely kept his mouth shut. He had less than half an hour to figure out what the hell to say. He sent a prayer to whatever deity might be willing to listen. He knew he needed to do this right the first time because he wasn't going to get another chance.

******************* **************** ******************* The half hour drive to Tony's place was quite possibly the longest thirty minutes of McGee's life. He finally understood what the expression 'pregnant silence' was really all about. And he was beginning to dread the conversation it was going to give birth to. He sighed soundlessly, and forced himself not to fidget. McGee never would have thought a quiet Tony was a bad thing. Or that silence could be so damn loud. He shoved his hands in his pockets to keep from biting his nails. He'd broken himself of that habit years ago and he wasn't going to start doing it again now. Gibbs pulled into the lot at Tony's building. Both he and Tony got out, still without saying a word. McGee knew better than to hope they'd simply forgotten he was there. He scrambled out when he saw the impatient expression on Gibbs' face. Gibbs had popped the trunk. He grabbed both bags before shutting the lid with a soft click. McGee followed them up the stairs to Tony's apartment. He felt like a third wheel, and cursed his own clumsiness. If he hadn't dropped his keys?if he hadn't left the lights on?if he'd just minded his own damn business. Tony unlocked the door. He flipped on the overhead light. Although not overly bright, it still had McGee blinking painfully. He rubbed tiredly at his eyes and saw Tony do the same. He was surprised to see both Gibbs and Tony remove their shoes. Both pairs were placed neatly on a low shelf clearly intended for that purpose. McGee hesitated to do likewise until he got a pointed look from Gibbs. Gibbs moved past him and headed down the hall. McGee assumed he was going toward the bedroom, probably to put their bags somewhere out of the way. McGee waited for more instructions, feeling indecisive and uneasy, like an intruder even though he'd more or less been ordered to be here. Tony smiled slightly. "C'mon." He headed for the kitchen and McGee followed, gratefully, glad to finally have something that approached normal. "You want a drink?" McGee nodded. He didn't trust himself to speak. He was half afraid he'd end up sounding like a frightened mouse. He'd already embarrassed himself enough for one night. "What's your poison, Probie?" McGee licked his lips. "I'll...uh...I'll have...w-w-whatever you're having." "Relax, Tim." The use of his first name startled him almost as much as the warmth in Tony's voice. "Take a deep breath or something." Somehow the gentle concern was almost harder to take than if Tony had been condescending or insulting. Those he was familiar with. He knew how to handle that. This was something new. He swallowed hard and nodded once, taking a slow deep breath. Tony pulled three tumblers from a cupboard. He dropped several ice cubes in each before pouring a generous mount of an amber colored liquid into them. McGee couldn't tell what was in the bottle, but the rich, smoky flavor gave him a hint.

"Scotch?" "Single malt." Tony tipped his head. "Older than I am." McGee raised both eyebrows. "That's...expensive." Tony flashed him a quick grin. "Life is too short to drink bad booze, Probie." Tony picked up two glasses in one hand and gestured for McGee to take the remaining one. The former cop took the bottle with him as well, heading for the living room. McGee followed. Tony flicked on a table lamp, brightening the room. Glancing around McGee realized he'd been right to assume Tony's decor would be tasteful. Nothing gaudy or overly ornate could be seen anywhere. And just like Tony's wardrobe there was a suggestion of affluence. The plasma screen TV probably cost more than McGee made in a month. The same was no doubt true of the top of the line stereo system. He idly wondered if the roll top desk was an antique. McGee nervously perched on the loveseat, when Tony told him to make himself comfortable. He tried not to read anything into the fact Tony had taken a seat on the couch that put as much distance between them as physically possible. He stifled a flinch when Gibbs entered the room, his silent tread and smooth gait reminded McGee of a big cat on the prowl. The computer expert found himself hoping Gibbs had left his gun in the bedroom. Gibbs sat next to Tony, taking the tumbler when it was offered, blue eyes never leaving McGee. Tony neatly knocked back his drink, downing it in one long smooth swallow before he refilled his glass and placed the bottle on the end table. McGee took a sip from his own drink, enjoying the rich flavor, and the faint burn. It really was good scotch, very good. "Ask." Gibbs ordered, breaking the silence. "Excuse me?" McGee blinked not sure what Gibbs was telling him to do. "You've got questions." Gibbs studied him, gaze unwavering. "So ask." Right, okay, McGee thought. He better understood how subjects during an interrogation with Gibbs felt. He bit his lip nervously, and took a deep breath. "How long have you two been--" He hesitated not sure what to characterize their relationship as. Did they think of themselves as 'fuck buddies', 'friends with benefits', or 'lovers'. The last thing he wanted to do was insult them. "How long have you been involved?" McGee finally asked. "Two months, eighteen days." Gibbs answered without hesitation. McGee absentmindedly wondered if Gibbs knew how many hours too. He had a feeling the older man just might. He congratulated himself on being right about the approximate timeline. "Have you always been interested in men?" Gibbs shrugged. "In varying degrees." McGee frowned, not quite sure what to make of that answer, but he didn't really want to ask for clarification either. He looked to Tony. The former cop's eyes were shuttered and wary.

"When it comes to sex, I've always been ahead of the learning curve." Tony said quietly, taking a sip of his drink. "So all your stories-" "Aren't even close to being all my stories, McGee." Tony's lips curled in a sardonic smile. "Is that how you got your fraternity pledge name?" "No." McGee knew the finality in Tony's tone meant that line of questioning was firmly closed. His pledge name was definitely a sore spot with Tony. McGee still didn't know exactly what Tony had on Kate to get back at her for telling it to everyone, but whatever it was had to have been juicy for her to have actually apologized. Not that her apology had been truly sincere; she was just saying whatever she thought Tony wanted to hear to get him to give up whatever he was holding over her. McGee didn't know if he had given it up or not but nothing more had been said on the issue. He sipped his drink, thinking. McGee had a sudden insight into the theory of relativity. Just a second ago asking the other two men about their relationship was the scariest thing he'd ever done, now it seemed relatively tame in comparison to asking Tony anything more about his pledge name. He cleared his throat. "So you're...exclusive?" "You asking because you want to play?" Tony's arched an eyebrow. "Maybe take a walk on the wild side?" "No!" McGee could feel himself blush furiously. "Tony." Gibbs made that one word a warning. Tony ducked his head. "Hard to resist jerking his chain." "Try." Gibbs didn't cuff him, it was more like he ran his hand through Tony's hair in a familiar caress. The gesture was affectionate. "Yes, McGee, we are exclusive." Gibbs answered him, blue eyes meeting his squarely. There was no mistaking the possessiveness in the older man's look and posture. It was more confirmation of McGee's theories?Gibbs didn't share. McGee didn't think the older man knew how to share anything, much less someone he was sleeping with. Their earlier by-play in the car about where to go to have this discussion prompted him to observe, "You're not living together." "Little soon for that." Gibbs told him casually, sipping his drink. For most people, yes, but McGee never thought of his boss and coworker as being like most people. He couldn't see Gibbs caring about convention if he wanted Tony to move in. It was a logical assumption that it would be Tony that moved since he leased and Gibbs owned his house, and maybe, McGee thought that was why Tony baulked at the idea of moving in together so quickly. McGee could understand if Tony wasn't comfortable giving up too much of his independence and space all at once. Just being exclusive for so long had to be a novel experience for Tony, if the stories he told were anything to go by, and by Tony's own admission McGee hadn't heard all his stories.

"Living together would be a problem at work." Tony pointed out quietly. McGee frowned. He'd forgotten that rule about fraternization. He could date Abby as a coworker because they were never sent into the field together and they were essentially equal. But Tony and Gibbs weren't just frequently in dangerous situations on the job, Tony was also Gibbs' subordinate, and a relationship between them was expressly forbidden in the regs. The rule was put in place as an effort to reduce or eliminate grounds for sexual harassment, prevent any blatant displays of favoritism or any other misuse of authority. Tony had a strong enough personality McGee didn't think for a minute he'd been coerced or seduced into anything. And Gibbs didn't show favoritism to anyone. Ever. "Which raises the next logical question." Tony's expression was once more unnervingly dispassionate. McGee blinked. "It does?" "What are you going to do?" "What do you mean 'do'?" "What do you think he means, McGee?" Gibbs snapped. "You just found out your boss and one of your teammates are involved in a relationship that violates one of the main tenants laid out in the rules of conduct and official standard of ethics. You don't think that warrants some action on your part?" McGee answered honestly. "Depends." "On what?" Gibbs nearly snarled, clearly unhappy with that answer. McGee sat back, instinctively putting some distance between himself and the older man. "Easy, Boss." Tony put his hand on Gibbs leg. "Just calm down." "I am calm!" Tony raised an eyebrow, his expression readily conveying his doubts about that assertion. "Always figured if one of us was going to freak out, it would be me." Gibbs grimaced, shaking his head slightly. He shifted so he could look fully at Tony. "We had an agreement." McGee wondered what sort of agreement they'd had and what did it have to do with Gibbs' reaction. If he didn't know better he'd say Gibbs sounded almost guilty. He couldn't quite fathom what the older man thought he'd done wrong. Tony smiled sweetly, green eyes alit with a glow that made McGee suddenly aware of just how truly handsome a man Tony was. Tony raised a hand to cup Gibbs' face. "Not your fault." Obviously Tony had no problem figuring out what Gibbs was talking about. And again there was that easy forgiveness. Just like Tony had granted to Kate on the plane. It looked as though Gibbs leaned into Tony's light touch. The older man raised a hand to cover his. "I shouldn't have kissed you-" "I'd have been disappointed if you hadn't." Tony chuckled. "Yeah?" "Yeah."

It was simple and heartfelt reassurance. And McGee found himself wishing he and Abby could communicate that well. Sometimes he had no idea where he stood with her. There was no way they could have conveyed so much to one another with so few words. Tony took a deep breath and looked away, pulling his hand back. McGee could almost see him refocus his attention. The former cop sipped his drink. The ice clinking against the glass sounded surprisingly loud. "It's a hard secret to keep, Jethro. Knew that going into it." He sighed deeply. The wealth of regret in that soft sound was almost painful to hear. "Didn't last nearly as long as I'd hoped." Before Gibbs or McGee could respond Tony's lips quirked upward in wry amusement. "At least we didn't get caught because I puked on your shoes." McGee knew through office gossip that Kate's indiscretion when she was with the Secret Service had come to light because she'd come down with the same illness as her lover. He also knew now he'd never be able to tell them that the kiss wasn't what gave them away. No, the kiss was just confirmation of what he already knew. And it wasn't like they'd been blatant about their relationship...if he hadn't overheard that first conversation, he'd have never put it together. And the first one only got him thinking about it. It was the second, deliberate bit of eavesdropping that led him to think he wasn't crazy to wonder if they were involved. Tony hunched one shoulder in a gesture McGee was starting to realize was a 'tell'. He only did it when he was uncertain about something he was going to say or do, something he was sure wasn't going to be well received. It was almost an instinctive, defensive action. "Polishing my resume won't be hard to do." McGee stared at him. What the hell....no, Tony couldn't mean what he thought he meant by saying that. "Not like anyone really expected me to stay as long as I have." Tony's smile was selfdeprecating. "Finding someone to take my place should be a snap. Just have-" "No." Gibbs shook his head. "Not just no, hell no." "Be reasonable, Gibbs." Tony sounded agonizingly calm. "It makes sense-" "The hell it does." Gibbs growled. McGee had never seen that muscle flex in his jaw like that before, but he was betting it couldn't be a good thing. "It's not like-" "I said no, damn it." Gibbs sat forward and slammed his still half-full tumbler on the coffee table. "You are not quitting. If anyone has to go, it'll be me." Gibbs tone softened. "It's not like I don't have enough time in to retire." "Are you nuts?" Tony countered. "You love what you do." "And you don't?" Gibbs snorted. "Uh...Boss, Tony?" McGee interjected hesitantly. "What!!?" Gibbs glared at him.

"I think...resignations are a bit premature here." McGee held up a hand in a placating gesture. "I'm not telling anyone anything." "Come again?" Tony stared at him. "I'm not going to tell anyone." Gibbs frowned. "You're just going to ignore the regs?" Gibbs made it sound like it was impossible to do just that. In a moment of great daring, McGee observed, "Well, you are. Any reason I couldn't do the same?" Tony laughed. "He's got a point." "Why?" Gibbs asked, intense gaze locked on McGee. "Why what?" Gibbs gave him a hard look. "Don't be obtuse. It's not a good look for you." "Okay." McGee nodded slowly. He hadn't really been acting clueless, but he wasn't going to tell Gibbs that. "Why are you volunteering to keep our secret?" Tony asked. Green eyes narrowed, his gaze nearly as intense as Gibbs', but more suspicious than hostile or aggressive. "Are you looking for payment of some kind to keep your trap shut?" "What?" McGee's mouth dropped open in surprise. "No!" He wanted to be insulted, but he'd thought the same thing with regards to what Kate might do with this sort of information. McGee really couldn't blame Tony for expecting the worst. It wasn't like he'd given him reason to expect better of him. It was time to rectify that. He made eye contact and held it. "I wouldn't do that to a friend. I like working with you. I've learned a lot from you. And I've got a lot more to learn." He shifted his focus to Gibbs. "Technically, your relationship is a violation of the regs, but I think you've upheld the spirit of them. And it is the spirit of the law, not the letter of it, that I think matters in this case." He took a deep breath. "You've trusted me on the job...to watch your backs. You can trust me with this, too. Because I really don't see it as being any different." Tony cocked his head to one side, green eyes assessing him for a moment before he smiled warmly and saluted him with his tumbler. "Well done, Tim. Very well done." McGee didn't breathe easily until Gibbs signaled his acceptance with a quick nod and small smile. He took a swallow of his drink, feeling like he'd just passed a huge test. The release of fear and tension left him feeling even more exhausted than he'd been on the plane. "If you don't mind my saying...you seem rather comfortable with the whole 'two men having sex' thing." Tony pointed out. It wasn't quite a question but he was asking for more information just the same. McGee sighed and relaxed back into the loveseat. It was a very comfortable piece of furniture. "Well...I'm dating a woman who sleeps in a coffin so two guys together is almost normal in comparison." Tony laughed. It was a delighted peel of honest amusement. "Good point."

"And you're not the first gay couple I've ever met." McGee shrugged, smiling. "Not gay." Gibbs shook his head. "Bi." "Whatever." Tony rolled his eyes. "The label doesn't matter." Somehow, even knowing what he now knew, McGee was still surprised Tony didn't have an issue with being labeled as something other than a red-blooded, heterosexual male. He shook his head. He was really too tired to think any more, and the little bit of scotch he'd had wasn't helping. Tony yawned widely, his jaw popping. "Damn." He rubbed his face. "Long, long day." Gibbs smiled at him fondly. "More than one, Tony." McGee wanted to second that. He couldn't remember ever being so tired before. Sinking deeper into the love seat and just closing his eyes for a month or so was starting to seem like a really good idea. He hoped they'd settled things enough for now. He desperately wanted to lay down. "Right. Long week." Tony downed the remainder of drink. He yawned again as he set the empty tumbler on the table next to the bottle. McGee wondered if he the shadows under his eyes were as dark as the ones under Tony's. He decided that they probably were. McGee thought now would be a good time to ask if one of them would give him a lift home or if he should call a cab. If he waited too much longer he wouldn't be able to move. He finished his drink first though. He knew it was a bad idea but he wasn't going to waste the scotch since he couldn't afford anything this good. "You want to sleep on the couch?" "Hunh?" He blinked, not quite understanding the question being asked. "Do you want to sleep in the couch, Probie?" Tony asked again, lips quirking upward in amusement. "It's comfortable and it'll take a lot less effort to get to than driving you home." "I can take a cab." McGee mumbled around a tired sigh. If he was lucky he might just make it home to his own bed before the sun rose. He was very grateful they didn't have to work tomorrow?today?whatever. Gibbs shook his head. "Couch." It wasn't quite an order, but it wasn't far from it either. McGee frowned. "I don't have anything to sleep in." Tony rolled his eyes. "Not like you haven't already slept in those clothes." It was hard to argue with that. And he really did just want to lay down some where and sleep for as long as he could. "You sure?" "I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't." Tony returned matter-of-factly. "Okay." McGee couldn't see him winning this anyway, because it looked like Gibbs was getting ready to jump in again. It was better to give in gracefully. "Good." Tony nodded. He moved to stand up and swayed when he gained his feet. If Gibbs hadn't been there to catch him McGee didn't think he'd have stayed upright.

"Never should have sat down in the first place." Tony leaned into Gibbs. Gibbs snorted. "Shouldn't have had that scotch on an empty stomach either." "Yeah, yeah." Tony pulled away, offering a hand to McGee. "C'mon, McGee, up and at 'em." McGee struggled to his feet. Tony's strong grip on his hand and the added leverage were definitely needed. He wasn't sure he'd have made it on his own. Just getting to the couch took every bit of balance and coordination he possessed. He lay down with a sigh, so grateful to be horizontal. The pillow was definitely better than the one on the plane had been. And Tony hadn't lied about the couch being comfortable. McGee thought it might well rival his bed when it came right down to it. He was surprised when Gibbs pulled the afghan from the back of the couch and neatly placed it over him. It was vaguely reminiscent of being tucked in as a child, except that Gibbs didn't kiss his forehead or say good night. "See you in the morning...or afternoon...whenever." Tony got out around another yawn as he turned off the light, bathing the room in darkness again. He couldn't see the other two men, but he had no trouble envisioning them moving toward the bedroom, leaning on each other. McGee snuggled into the couch. He knew they hadn't really covered everything that they'd need to talk about, but it was enough for now to know they trusted him. They could hash out everything else when all of them were thinking clearly. ***************** ************************** McGee blinked, staring uncomprehendingly at an unfamiliar ceiling. He frowned trying to remember where he was. A slow look around the room brought it back to him with stunning clarity. He sat up, struggling to untangle himself from the afghan. Tony hadn't lied about his couch being comfortable. It rivaled McGee's bed and made him want to ask Tony where he got it. McGee probably couldn't afford it. Not if it cost anywhere near as much as everything else in Tony's living room probably had. If this was what it meant when people said 'you got what you paid for' McGee thought Tony's money was well spent. He rubbed his face, grimacing at the stubble he could feel. He felt grungy and in desperate need of a shower. He hated sleeping in his clothes. The sunlight streaming in through the partially drawn curtains and blinds made him glance at his watch. He blinked. Not sure he had his watch set for the right time zone he doubled checked the time against the LED display of the DVD player. He grimaced. His watch had been right. It was 12:16 pm. He sighed. It was too much to hope for that Gibbs wouldn't already be up. With any luck the former Marine wouldn't say anything about him sleeping so long. McGee realized he could smell coffee. Good coffee. He folded the afghan, putting it over the back of the couch and headed into the kitchen, desperate for a shot of caffeine. Tony was pouring himself a cup of coffee and smiled at McGee when he stopped in the door way. "Morning."

"It's afternoon." McGee mumbled Tony sipped his coffee. "You ever work the graveyard shift, Probie?" Not sure what to make of that non-sequitur, McGee answered it anyway. "No." "Then trust me," Tony grinned, "Morning is not a time of day. It's whenever you get up." Tony's hair was still wet and McGee realized he probably had showered not long ago. Bare-foot, wearing faded jeans and a t-shirt, Tony looked well rested and far more at ease than McGee expected. He had thought some level of unease would carry over, that Tony might be anxious or nervous given what was revealed and discussed last night, or rather earlier this morning. But so far things were...normal. Tony poured a second cup of coffee and offered it to him. McGee breathed in the rich aroma before taking a sip. He might have to start working the good stuff into his budget. "You want a shower?" Tony asked. "Would love one, but I don't-" Tony pointed to the counter. "Got a pair of shorts that should fit okay. Anything else I have would probably be a hair too long for you." Tony was only an inch or so taller than McGee, but most of that height difference was in his legs. McGee was glad Tony had thought of that. He really didn't want to look like a little kid playing dress up in his big brother's clothes, even if only for a little while. "The T-shirt should be okay." McGee notice the T-shirt was black with a slogan in white. He stifled a smile when he realized it read ?If you can't speak softly, make sure you have a stick.' He almost asked if the shirt was Gibbs'. It looked like a sentiment he could appreciate. "Wasn't sure what you wore in the way of underwear so I gave you a pair of boxers." Tony shrugged one shoulder. "Let me know if you'd rather have something different." McGee wasn't sure what to say, surprised by both Tony's thoughtfulness and his thoroughness. He opted for a simple, "Thank you." "Bathroom is down the hall, first door on the right." Tony took another sip of his coffee. "I left a clean towel and wash cloth on the rack for you." McGee gathered up the clothing. He looked over his shoulder at Tony. "Where is Gibbs?" "He went running." Tony waved a hand vaguely toward the door. "Should be back in about half an hour or so." McGee nodded and headed down the hall. He was further impressed with Tony's ability as a host when he saw a toothbrush, still in its packaging, and a new razor lying on the vanity. The hot water felt wonderful. McGee wished he could spend hours letting it wash away the past few days. He knew that wasn't really an option. Tony said Gibbs would be back in half an hour and the last thing he wanted was for his boss to be banging on the door telling him to hurry the hell up.

He sniffed at the soap he found, surprised by the light, spicy fragrance. McGee couldn't place it but found it a lot more appealing than his usual brand. He shook his head. So far every room in Tony's house held something he found himself envying. He finished up in the shower, reluctantly turning off the water. He was somehow not surprised Tony had a heated towel rack. Abby had one too. It was a little bit of luxury McGee had decided to indulge in himself after using hers, but he hadn't gotten around to actually buying one yet. He wiped condensation off the mirror so he could see himself to shave. The bottle of shaving cream he found on the vanity didn't look like it had ever been used. And having seen the waterproof electric razor in the shower caddy it was a safe bet Tony rarely saw the need for shaving cream. McGee shrugged. Maybe it was for Gibbs. He finished and washed his face, manfully resisting the temptation to peek into the medicine cabinet. Tony had already made him feel more at home than he expected. Going through his things, even just a quick look, seemed like a betrayal of the level of trust and friendship being shown. Dressed and feeling a lot better, McGee hung up his towel before gathering up his dirty clothes and leaving the bathroom. He hoped Tony had a bag or something he could borrow to get his stuff home. It really wasn't that much. He could just carry it if he had to. As he headed back to the kitchen, McGee started to ask, "Tony, do you have-" Tony met him in the doorway and handed him a small duffle bag. "Figured you might need that." "Thanks." McGee stuffed his things inside without bothering to fold them. They all needed to be washed anyway. "No problem." Tony stepped back into the kitchen. "You want something to eat?" McGee's stomach rumbled loudly and he blushed. Tony chuckled. "I'll take that as a yes." He expected Tony to offer him toast or maybe cereal, but it looked as though the former cop was in the midst of preparing a real meal. Tony deftly cracked a few eggs, whisking them neatly in a glass bowl. "You want anything special in your omelet?" McGee blinked. "I didn't know you could cook." "I'm okay with the simple stuff." Tony shrugged. "If you want something fancy, you'd have to ask Gibbs to do it." "Gibbs can cook?" McGee stared; that was a skill it never occurred to him the former Marine might posses. "In his words, he's better than average at it. And I have to agree he's a hell of a good cook." Tony pointed to a few ingredients lined up on the counter. "Anything there you don't want?" McGee glanced at the choices, surprised to find a rather complete array. "No peppers. No onions." "Okay." Tony nodded. "There's juice on the table if you want it."

McGee belatedly noticed the table was set. There were three place settings. "We waiting for Gibbs?" Tony shook his head, casting a quick smile over his shoulder as he continued cooking, neatly flipping the omelet. "I got orders to make sure I ate something and that you did too." McGee arched an eyebrow, but didn't question any further. The omelet smelled great and he was too hungry to really want to consider waiting for Gibbs to get back. He felt weird just sitting doing nothing. "You want me to help with anything?" "Butter the toast when it pops." Tony pointed to the toaster, which popped just a second later. McGee wasn't surprised to find Tony had real butter, not margarine. Butter tasted so much better. And Tony was hardly the sort to worry about the fat content of anything. Not that he really needed to. McGee knew Kate liked to tease Tony about his physique; she occasionally made pointed comments that were clearly meant to be jabs to his ego. But in spite of everything he'd seen the taller man eat on a daily basis and what Kate might have to say, Tony was in no immediate danger of gaining weight or being considered soft. If anything, Tony was probably a bit underweight. In a surprisingly short time, McGee found himself sitting down to eat. His ham and cheese omelet was light and fluffy, nearly perfect. The bacon was crisp without being crunchy. Tony was a far better cook than he let on. McGee said as much. Tony chuckled and shook his head. "For all you know, this is all I know how to make." Curiosity piqued, McGee couldn't resist asking, "Is this all you can make?" "No." Tony grinned. He waited for Tony to offer more and was a bit disappointed when he didn't. He wanted to ask, but wasn't sure if it was okay to do so or not. McGee still felt like he was stumbling around blind looking for the boundary lines that marked things as off limits. "Relax." Tony directed softly. "I'm not going to bite your head off." He smiled. "You can ask anything you want." Summoning his courage, McGee decided to take Tony up on his offer. "What was the agreement between you that Gibbs mentioned last night?" Tony wiped his mouth with a napkin, neatly placing his fork on his plate. For a moment McGee was worried he'd just taken a running leap over a boundary line, but Tony didn't look angry or offended. It was more like he was simply taking time to consider his answer. "No one at the office was supposed to know about us." Tony raised one shoulder in an abbreviated shrug, right hand reaching for his coffee mug. The casualness wasn't completely forced but it wasn't entirely natural either. "I didn't want anything at work to change because of us being together so we agreed to keep things the same there. Nothing anyone would notice or question." McGee nodded. Knowing they'd actually talked about keeping their relationship under wraps nicely confirmed his suspicion that they hadn't undertaken getting involved lightly. McGee knew them both well enough to know they wouldn't have even saw the

need for an agreement if it was going to be a short term thing. He wasn't certain why, but it was reassuring to know they were actually planning for the long term even though neither man had actually come right out and said as much. Just the fact that both of them were willing to quit if need be spoke volumes. Tony sipped his coffee. "I owe you an apology." "For what?" McGee frowned, finishing his toast. "I never should have implied you'd resort to blackmail. Or be anything less than a good friend." Tony looked away, eyes focused on something only he could see. "If it's any consolation...that wasn't about you." McGee didn't miss the flash of old pain and disappointment in Tony's eyes. "Who was it about?" "Doesn't matter." Tony sighed and shook his head. "Let's just say that not every one is open to alternative lifestyles and they don't have any trouble letting their opinions be known." McGee stifled a wince. He knew that law enforcement wasn't exactly what one would call an accepting profession. Any more than the military was. "Don't ask, Don't tell" didn't guarantee freedom from harassment or protection from hostile coworkers. "Once bitten, twice shy." McGee murmured softly. Tony nodded once, his sharp ears easily picking up that nearly whispered statement. Tony turned his coffee mug between his hands, long fingers curling around it as though seeking warmth. Green eyes focused sharply on McGee, pinning him in place for a moment. "I know I rag on you, probably more than I should?.but you know it's not personal. Right?" Tony's expression was earnest. "You know I wouldn't...I would never leave you hanging in a dangerous situation. That I would never not be there to back you up. You know that right?" "I know that." It had honestly never even occurred to McGee that Tony wouldn't have his back. And while they might squabble like siblings, jockeying for superiority, he never had any doubts that he could trust Tony with his life. They were friends...better friends than he'd ever expected to be. Tony teased everyone, and it wasn't like McGee didn't return the favor. McGee cocked his head to one side. "Did...did that happen to you because-" "Never really had anyone at work know for sure about my being," Tony made a vague, meaningless gesture with one hand, "guess the best label really is bisexual." He sighed. "But there were rumors that generated some backlash." Tony shifted in his seat. "Little digs and insults. That kind of thing." McGee had the feeling there was more to it than that, and he was just as sure he wasn't going to get any more details. He wondered if Gibbs knew about this. "And my lieutenant left me out in the cold once." Tony admitted, quietly, looking away. "Out in the cold?"

"No back up." Tony supplied, eyes taking on a bleak cast turning the normal jade green to a dull gray. "He made sure I knew why and that I wasn't welcome on his squad any more." Christ, McGee swore mentally. Once was all it took. Given all the hairy situations they'd been in over the past two years, without back up, anyone of them could have died. He couldn't even fathom anyone on the team deliberately leaving him in a risky situation to sink or swim on his own. "I jumped ship the first chance I got. Left Peoria and never looked back. Made damn sure no one would ever have reason to question I was anything but who and what I wanted them to believe me to be." Tony's smile was self-deprecating when it appeared. "Proved to be good training for undercover work. Lot better than I expected it to be." McGee now knew why it was so easy for Tony to create an image of immature, fun loving goofball no one took too seriously and who seemed far too focused on sex with women and not smart enough to ever solve a case to be truly trusted with much responsibility. Tony didn't just create that image, he managed to make sure it persisted in the face of all the things he'd did or said that were contrary to it. It was?impressive. It raised his estimation of Tony a notch or two, and Gibbs as well for seeing through all the smoke and mirrors when so many didn't. "You know you don't have to keep up that image." McGee pointed out quietly, not sure if Tony had realized that. The team wouldn't judge him or leave him out in the cold. "We aren't like your old lieutenant or your old squad." "Stays up all by itself, McGee." Tony chuckled dryly. "Twenty bucks says you couldn't convince Kate I'm anything but a horny teenager with a badge and a gun." McGee had to concede defeat there. He really couldn't see her changing her opinion about Tony; it was nearly set in stone. She assumed every change he made, every new interest he showed in anything was related to a woman. She thought any effort Tony made on a case was done just to brown nose or suck up. She dismissed his insight as dumb luck, and routinely failed to see he was good at reading people. "What about Abby?" "Abby is a tough one to fool." Tony smiled and sipped his coffee. "She never takes people solely at face value. Don't think she ever has. But then she's enough of a nonconformist, I wasn't too worried that she might start pointing fingers." McGee's eyes narrowed as he considered that. Abby clearly liked Tony, and she definitely didn't harbor any doubts about his ability. She knew he was smarter than he let on?had even said as much to McGee and he was ashamed to admit he hadn't believed her then. But did that mean she also knew about his sexuality? Tony just said he wasn't 'too worried', he didn't say he wasn't worried at all. There was only one way to know for sure. "She knows about that you're-" "More bent than straight? Yeah, she knows." Tony shrugged. "She saw me clubbing." "Should know better than to visit places like that but--" Tony made another vague gesture with one hand leaving the sentence unfinished.

Tony sighed ruefully, another self deprecating smile appeared. McGee was beginning to hate that look. It wasn't like Tony had done anything wrong. No one should be made to feel like being himself was a bad thing, a mistake. For all McGee's own insecurities he'd never thought there was anything wrong with simply being him, had never seen the need to wear a mask and pretend to be someone else. He cleared his throat. "Does she know about you and Gibbs?" "No." Tony leaned forward in his chair, resting his elbows on the table. "And you aren't going to tell her." It was not a request; it was a statement of fact. McGee found himself nodding in agreement anyway. He said he wouldn't tell anyone, and he'd meant it. If they wanted Abby to know, it would be Gibbs or Tony who told her. "What about Ducky?" "Not sure what he knows or doesn't know. He's a cagey one." Tony chuckled softly. There was no arguing with that. McGee was convinced Ducky knew damn near everything some days. The ME was a bit like a grandfather figure in a lot of ways. "Gibbs probably has a better handle on Ducky than I do." Tony said calmly. "Or ever will." McGee nodded. He didn't know for sure how long Gibbs and Ducky had known each other but there was no doubt they'd been friends for a long time. Thinking about long term friendships, McGee had to ask, "Are we okay?" He wasn't sure how much longer they'd have to talk before Gibbs returned and he wanted to know for certain things were good between him and Tony before adding the former Marine into the mix. "Think we might just be better than we were before." Tony smiled warmly. "Cool." McGee felt his own smile forming. "Nothing at work changes." Tony stated clearly, unequivocally, green eyes level with McGee's. "Nothing changes." McGee repeated, as though making a promise. With what he knew now, he didn't blame Tony for wanting to be sure. He wanted a chance to prove he could be trusted, he'd been given that and he wasn't going to let Tony down. And he didn't want to alter things at work...he liked how they worked together. Tony grinned. "You want another cup of coffee?" McGee glanced at the pot, noting how little was in it. "There won't be any for Gibbs." "He had a cup already." Tony rolled his eyes. "And I can make more, McGee." "In that case," McGee grinned, "I'll have another cup." He wasn't going to let this good coffee go to waste any more than he'd wasted last night's scotch. He had a feeling he'd be having a similar, one-on-one conversation with Gibbs before too long. It would be best if he was well and truly fortified for that. *** ***** *************** ************ *** *** ******** Tony's prediction that Gibbs would be gone for half an hour wasn't entirely accurate. It was close to forty-five minutes when the older man strolled into the kitchen. McGee was helping Tony clean up the dishes they'd used for breakfast, and if he hadn't been

facing the door, he'd have never even been aware of the other man's arrival. McGee thought Gibbs had to be part cat given how silently he moved. He nodded in acknowledgement of the older man, not sure what to say, opting for silence over stuttering. He got a nod in response. To his surprise, Tony seemed to know Gibbs was there, even with his back to the door and without seeing McGee's mute greeting or Gibbs' reply. "Have a good run?" Tony asked. He didn't even look over his shoulder from where he was bent over neatly arranging in the dishwasher the plates McGee had rinsed off and handed to him just a second before. "Very." Gibbs ran a hand through Tony's hair in a familiar, fond caress before resting it lightly on the nape of his neck. "You ate?" There was genuine interest in that question. McGee wasn't sure why it mattered to Gibbs, but he had a feeling it was another way the older man showed affection. Given their respective age differences it could have come across as parental, but didn't. "Yeah, we ate." Tony straightened up, wiping his hands on a nearby dishtowel. The older man looked around the kitchen, blue eyes seeing ingredients still ready on the counter. "Omelets?" "Had the time." Tony smiled warmly, shrugging a shoulder. "I can make something else if you don't want that." Gibbs grinned. "Have I ever passed up one of your omelets?" "Not yet." Tony's green eyes sparkled. "But there's a first time for everything." "Not today there isn't." Gibbs countered with a chuckle. "You want it same as last time?" "Yes, please." Gibbs pulled a water bottle out of the fridge, before heading down the hall. "I'll be out in ten." "It'll be ready then." Tony said. "Fresh pot of coffee too." "Thanks." Gibbs' voice drifted down the hall. McGee blinked at the simple courtesy coming from Gibbs. Please and thank you...it boggled the mind. That had to be proof of love, because the man never, ever said them at the office. At least not that McGee had heard. And he never said them to anyone else. McGee suddenly felt like he was intruding again. Would Gibbs have given Tony a kiss if he hadn't been there or shown some more intimate display of affection than he had? Would Tony have joined Gibbs in the shower? It would have been okay with him if they acted like any other couple, but McGee understood they were both still adjusting to his knowing about them. For all Tony's flirting, he had rarely been physically demonstrative in public that McGee could remember, and Gibbs was equally discrete. A bit of time and space for them probably wouldn't be a bad idea, especially in light of how little time alone they'd gotten over the past week. "I...ah...I should call a cab."

Tony looked at him, arching an eyebrow as he cracked several eggs into a bowl. "Why?" "I'm...I don't...that is-" "Take a deep breath. " Tony shook his head. "Thought we'd already cleared the air and you were okay." Tony began whisking the eggs, his expression sobering, jade eyes fixing McGee with a level stare. "You are okay with this, right?" "I'm fine with it...you and Gibbs, I mean. I am." McGee quickly reassured him. "I just...well, I know you guys didn't get a lot of time alone recently," he could feel himself blushing, "and I don't want to...well, cramp your style...any more than I already have." "Don't worry about it, McGee." Tony laughed lightly. "My style is just fine." "What about Gibbs?" Tony snorted. "Have you ever known Gibbs to not let you know he wanted you to do something?" Tony rolled his eyes. "The man is about as subtle as a sledgehammer. If he wanted you gone, you'd know it." It was hard to argue with that assessment. McGee was fairly certain he'd have gotten a glare rather than a nod if the former Marine had felt he'd over-stayed his welcome. But he still felt like a third wheel. "Go find something to watch on TV." Tony instructed, nodding toward the living room. "Gibbs said he'd take you back to your car after breakfast." "When did he say that?" "This morning." Tony shrugged one shoulder. McGee frowned. "I don't remember--" "We talked." Tony shrugged again. "Before you woke up." It made sense that they would. And McGee had the feeling they'd decided to give each other a chance to confront him alone. Oh he was sure Gibbs normally went for a run, but he had a feeling the man wasn't usually gone so long. And Tony had just said Gibbs would take him back to his car, not 'we will take you'. Shit. He knew he was going to have a one-on-one conversation with Gibbs?had been expecting it. But he'd been hoping to have that discussion in a more stable setting, not the car. Talking to Gibbs in a car was a nightmare. The man didn't seem to care about other drivers or feel any need to watch the road. "You okay, Probie?" Tony snickered. "You are looking a little pale there." "Damn it Tony." McGee hissed, not happy his friend was amused at his expense. "You know what being in the car with him is like." "Yeah." Tony pointed to the upper cupboard near the refrigerator. "I got Dramamine if you want it." "I was thinking more of Prozac." McGee muttered. "Or Valium." Tony grinned. "It's not that bad." McGee gave him a dark look. "Says you."

"Well, in all honesty, it did take me about six months to get used to it." Tony admitted with a wry glance at McGee. "Sort of like riding a rollercoaster. Once you get past that initial 'I'm going to die' feeling, it can be a lot of fun." "I hate rollercoasters." McGee sighed. He headed into the living room, resigned to a nightmare ride with Gibbs. He sat down on the love seat, snagging the remote off the coffee table. At this time of day McGee suspected there wouldn't anything on worth watching, but knowing Tony there would be at least two hundred channels he could waste time running through to confirm his suspicion. The faint murmur of voices coming from the kitchen let him know Gibbs was out of the shower before he'd gotten through even half the channels. McGee turned up the volume just a bit, hoping to give them an illusion of privacy. He was sure if there was something they wanted him to know, they'd make a point of including him in the conversation. After a run through of all the channels, McGee settled on A & E. He liked Cold Case Files and it looked like they were running some sort of marathon. It would do for now, and it never hurt to brush up on forensic details. He might learn something useful. He yawned, rubbing at his eyes, not really surprised to find himself still tired. It would take a day or two before his body clock was back in sync with Eastern Standard Time. It would also take more than one night's sleep to make up for what he'd lost on this last case. Tony never seemed to have any trouble adjusting, so maybe there was a trick to dealing with sleep deprivation and jet lag. He'd have to ask him sometime. He slouched further into the love seat, eyes drifting to half mast without conscious thought. He tried to follow the program but it seemed to take more effort than he could muster. The case they were working didn't seem even half as complex or interesting as some he'd worked with NCIS since signing on. But then, he mused silently to himself, you don't get a lot of guys getting shot after they've been dead for years or bodies bursting into flames to cover a cardiac surgeon's mistake. That was probably a good thing he decided. McGee wasn't sure but he must have dozed off, lulled by the affects of a good meal and being warm and comfortable. The next thing he was aware of was Gibbs shaking his shoulder. "Up and at 'em, McGee." He was on his feet almost before he was fully awake. "I'm up. I'm up." "Easy, McGee." Gibbs' lips curled in a half smile. "You always this jumpy?" "No...not always." McGee blushed. He hated how little it took for Gibbs to metaphorically knock him off balance. "Okay." Gibbs shook his head, clearly more amused than annoyed. "You ready to go?" McGee almost asked, 'go where' before he thought better of it. He nodded. "Sure, Boss." He rubbed his eyes, hating the strange gritty feeling that always came with not getting enough sleep. "I just need to get my stuff." "It's already by the door." Gibbs walked away, leaving him no choice but to follow.

McGee grabbed the handles of the borrowed bag, looking around for Tony so he could say good-bye. Not seeing the former cop, he frowned. Maybe Tony was going with them and was already at the car. Or maybe he was just as tired as McGee was and went back to bed. "He went to talk to Louisa." Gibbs said as he put on his shoes. McGee recognized the name from the first conversation between Gibbs and Tony he'd overheard. She sounded like something of a regular fixture in Tony's life, although the former cop had never mentioned her directly. McGee couldn't resist asking, "Who's Louisa?" "One of the neighbors." Gibbs answered as he opened the door. "She's sort of adopted Tony." McGee could feel his eyebrows rising. Tony could be juvenile and childish from time to time, but none of the women McGee had seen him interact with had ever seen Tony in a strictly platonic or maternal light. They seemed to lump into either 'date material' or 'pain in the ass' with little or nothing in between. Gibbs must have noticed his surprised expression. His blue eyes gave away his amusement even though he didn't smile. "Louisa thinks he needs looking after." It was on the tip of McGee's tongue to ask just how close did Louisa look after Tony. Gibbs said they were exclusive, but that didn't mean Louisa knew that. Hell, they'd only just told McGee they were involved. Most of the time, women Tony didn't flirt with flirted with him. It seemed sort of cruel not to tell Louisa she was going nowhere with Tony. "She's Ducky's age, McGee. She bakes him cookies, makes sure there is always something in his fridge to eat and cleans his apartment. He shovels her sidewalk in the winter, takes out her trash and makes sure she doesn't forget to take her medication." Gibbs rolled his eyes. "Don't ever take up poker." "Yes, Boss." McGee ducked his head and tried not to look as chagrined as he felt. He tossed his bag in the back seat when Gibbs unlocked the car and made sure his seat belt was securely fastened. McGee was sure anyone who'd ever ridden with the former Marine came away with a new appreciation for safety restraints. He smiled grimly to himself remembering when Tony told him the seatbelt wouldn't save his life. He could still see the other man's grin as he said, 'The way Gibbs drives, all that belt will do is make sure your body stays with the wreckage so we can identify it later'. He'd scoffed at the time...but that was before he'd actually ridden with Gibbs. Seat belt or no, a head on collision would probably kill him, but he felt better wearing it anyway. He wondered if Tony had passed on that observation to Kate. Probably not. To his surprise and relief, Gibbs pulled out of the parking lot and merged with traffic with less than his usual speed. It was positively sedate by comparison. Maybe he only drove like a maniac when on a case. "You and Tony talked?" Gibbs asked baldly, eyes moving from the road to focus on McGee. He wasn't really surprised Gibbs would just come right out and ask. The man gave blunt a whole new meaning. Tony's description of ?subtle as a sledgehammer' definitely fit.

"Yes, we did." "And?" McGee was glad he had some inkling of what the older man wanted. The longer it took him to answer the more time Gibbs would be driving without actually watching where he was going. He'd already learned that lesson the hard way and suspected Gibbs did it on purpose to make him talk faster. "Things are good between us." McGee tried not to look away from Gibbs intense gaze afraid the former Marine might think he was lying. "Things might even be better than they've ever been." Shared secrets tended to do that, McGee thought with unexpected insight. Tony clearly didn't think of him as just a likeable enough coworker any more, but some one he trusted with things he didn't tell just anyone. Tony had let him see beyond the smoke and mirrors of the image he routinely presented to people. McGee suddenly realized just how lucky he was. Something of that realization had to have shown itself in his expression because Gibbs nodded, giving him a satisfied smile before turning his attention back to the road. He wove around someone that he apparently thought was taking too long to execute a turn and darted back into the correct lane narrowly avoiding a pick up truck. McGee clutched at the door handle and tried not to curse. "You got any questions?" McGee considered that, studying Gibbs' profile. "Are you happy?" "Very." Gibbs' smile when he gave his abrupt and undeniably honest answer was one McGee wouldn't mind seeing more of. The man looked younger, more at ease and nearly joyful. It was good to know Tony could inspire such a look. In McGee's opinion, Gibbs could do with more happiness and satisfaction in his life than what just the job could provide. "Do you love him?" "Yes." McGee nodded. He hadn't asked Tony that question. He hadn't needed to. There was no way Tony would have committed to what was probably the longest relationship of his life or been so willing to quit a job he so clearly loved if he didn't have strong feelings for Gibbs. He didn't have to ask Tony if he was happy either. That had been obvious. "You were the one who started the relationship? That was you, wasn't it?" Gibbs hesitated for a second, glancing at McGee and then away, before tipping his head in acknowledgement. "It was me." McGee had expected as much. Given what Tony had said about his experience with previous supervisors he couldn't see him risk taking the firs step. In a lot of ways this was far more a risk for Tony than it was for Gibbs. He would bet money that Tony had weighed out the options, considered the consequences before he accepted what Gibbs had offered. Illusions and image notwithstanding, Tony rarely undertook any action without examining the situation

completely. Gibbs, on the other hand, tended to have a more ?damn the torpedoes, full-speed ahead' approach. It usually worked for him because more often than not he was right, but it was likely yet another reason he'd been divorced three times and why no one in authority other than the director really liked him as an agent, no matter what his success rate. Tony might have a reputation as a ladies man, and good time guy, but McGee seriously doubted Tony had broken any hearts. He was fairly certain Gibbs couldn't say the same. "Tony's a bit more fragile than he lets on?and you aren't exactly known for your light touch." McGee said quietly, forcing himself to make eye contact and hold it when Gibbs looked directly at him. He made a conscious effort to ignore the traffic moving rapidly all around them. "Meaning?" Gibbs arched an eyebrow. "Don't break his heart." Gibbs' eyes narrowed, and McGee knew the older man realized he meant that statement as both a threat and a warning. Gibbs smiled, clearly pleased by McGee's decision to stand with Tony if things didn't work out. It was always a weird feeling to know Gibbs thought more of him for challenging him and speaking his mind rather than conforming and keeping his mouth shut. "Understood." Gibbs turned away, once more watching the road. "Anything else?" Not wanting to push his luck any further than he had, McGee said no. There really wasn't anything else he needed to know. Oh there was a lot of stuff he wanted to know. Like was Tony as good in bed as he claimed or did Gibbs ever bottom for Tony?but those were a bit too personal for him to ask. He smiled to himself. Abby wouldn't have hesitated to ask. Kate wouldn't even think to. And Ducky would probably already know the answers. He had no idea what Palmer might do. It was a rather diverse bunch he worked with, and he really wouldn't have it any other way. Gibbs pulled into the parking lot, neatly swerving into the in spot in front of McGee's car. McGee shook his head, only now remembering that his battery was dead. Before he could even open his mouth, Gibbs reached down and popped the hood of his car. "Pop the hood on yours." Gibbs instructed. McGee stared at him. "You don't have jumper-" "I didn't last night." Gibbs gave him an exasperated look. "I do now." Right. Silly of him not to expected Gibbs to be prepared to deal with the problem. They wouldn't be here otherwise. He nodded and quickly popped the hood on his car watching as Gibbs attached the cables with a neat efficiency that readily conveyed his familiarity with how to use jumper cables. It took less time than McGee expected for him to actually be able to start his car. He still intended to have the battery replaced, not entirely certain it would continue to hold a charge having been almost completely drained. But he could worry about that later. A bus could get him to and from work tomorrow if need be. The car would get him home now.

Gibbs disconnected the cables and slammed shut both hoods. He cocked his head to one side looking at McGee. "Nothing changes here at work." It was clearly an order and not a request. And McGee wasn't surprised both Gibbs and Tony would issue essentially the same directive. He made the same promise to Gibbs that he had to Tony. "Nothing changes." "Good." Gibbs nodded, satisfied with his answer. "Call if it won't start tomorrow." "If nothing's changed, I won't be calling you." McGee snickered. "Abby, or Kate, maybe, but not you." Gibbs chuckled before giving him an apologetic look. "Sorry." McGee waved a hand in dismissal. "Just the way it goes." "Some times the way it goes sucks." Gibbs said sounding remarkably like Tony. He shook his head. "See you tomorrow, McGee." "Have a good night....er...day, Boss." He was astonished when Gibbs laughed and winked at him. "I will." He watched Gibbs pull out of the lot with his usual speed and squealing of the tires. At least now McGee understood what the other man was in such a hurry for. If he had someone like Tony waiting at home for him, McGee knew he wouldn't be hanging around either. "Get your ass in gear, McGee." He muttered to himself. It was time to go home. Maybe he'd give Abby a call, see if she was up for telling him about her week. No matter how bizarre hers had been, it was going to seem down right normal by comparison. Epilogue: Heading for his desk the next morning, McGee was surprised to find a cup of Manny's Mud on his blotter and his favorite pastery. He grinned, looking over at Tony and getting a quick grin in return. Tony saluted him with his own cup. McGee couldn't help but notice Tony was once again wearing a turtleneck. He waggled his eyebrows at Tony and lightly rubbed a finger along his own throat, silently signaling he knew how Tony had probably spent the better part of yesterday when Gibbs got back. He was shocked, and delighted, to see a faint blush dust Tony's cheekbones. The former cop neatly refocused his attention on Kate when she walked in a second later. Their easy, teasing banter was the same as ever. It gave McGee time to savor his coffee and Danish in peace. Gibbs stalked through the area, carrying his usual cup full of caffeine. McGee was quick to note it was one of Manny's as well. The older man nodded once to him in silent greeting. Gibbs stopped at his desk just long enough to pull out his gun and holster it. He told everyone to get their gear. They had a case. McGee grabbed his bag, making sure not to spill his coffee. He grinned. Everything had changed, but nothing was really any different. Life was good.

Risky Interlude Watching Tony sleep is a favorite pasttime for me. He just�I don't know, radiates calm when he's asleep. Like everything has to be all right or he wouldn't even be here much less dead to the world. He rarely moves much. Just sort of gets comfortable and then it's lights out. I envy that�a lot. I'm a restless son of a bitch even on a good day. I've sat still for hours, hell days even when I was a sniper, but when I sleep I'm all over the place. Only time Tony gets restless is when he's having a nightmare. They aren't common, thank God. And he rarely wakes up from them, so I don't think he knows that I know about them. I think he'd be embarrassed. Hell, I know he would. I have nightmares about teammates dying because I couldn't save them, psycho killers and war�he has nightmares about his abusive mother. No man is ever going to willingly admit his mother, the one person on the planet who should love him and take care of him, beat the shit out of him on a regular basis. It's the reason I'm reluctant to even tell him I know about his childhood. Well that�and I don't quite know how to fess up that I fucked up and dug into his past without asking first. I've got privacy issues of my own, and I'd be so pissed if he did that to me I'd be chewing nails and spitting tacks. It shames me, but I have to admit I'm scared to death to open up a can of worms that might well ruin the best thing that's ever happened to me. I think he thinks he deserved a lot of what she did to him. That it really is his fault she treated him like crap, that he deserved to get smacked around, was somehow not worthy of anything better. I think it's why he had so much trouble believing me when I told him I wanted more than just a quick fuck. I'm not entirely sure, even now, if he really believes I love him, that I want to be with him forever. I think he's still half expecting me to walk away. I don't think it would surprise him at all if he woke up one day and I just told him, "hey, it's been fun, but I'm done with this now". Disappoint him, sure, hurt like hell, definitely, but it wouldn't surprise him. And that just pisses me off. I understand it's not about me. I get that. It's about what he thinks he deserves, about what he's learned to expect from other people. It is irrational, but I hate his mother. The woman is dead, and I still despise her. She should be damn glad we've never met. I'd show her just what abusive really means. I'd show her what it meant to be thought of as nothing. Tony shifts in his sleep. Shit. I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. I'm not sure how, but even though I haven't moved, my anger communicates itself to him. He's tuned into me in ways my ex-wives never managed. I don't want to wake him, so I make a conscious effort to let go of my anger and relax. Dr. Pitt said he needs rest, and a lot of it. He wasn't too keen on letting Tony leave the hospital so soon but Tony was insistent. He didn't want to stay and was threatening to check himself out. I had to all but swear a solemn oath that I'd personally see to it Tony took it easy, didn't try to do too much too soon. I run my fingers through his hair, and smile a bit when he settles again. It's only his first night home and I want it to be a good one. The ease with which he falls asleep

reminds me of something my grandmother used to say about the innocent. Tony is no innocent, but his conscience is a hell of a lot cleaner than mine. I know he has regrets. Everyone does. He leaps before he looks from time to time, but he's learning not to, and his heart is in the right place. He doesn't have any reason to lie awake at night and question his motives or second guess himself. Me�I'm typically in it for revenge or pride or some other selfish reason. I'm a bastard, and most of the time I'm proud of being one. But at night, when it's all said and done, then I start thinking about people I didn't give a damn about at the time in my pursuit of the truth. That's when I start to think I could have handled things differently, should have taken more time, would have been nicer if I had it to do over again. He might just sleep better because of all the energy he uses up during the day. He's no more inclined to fidget when awake than he is sleeping, he just doesn't really sit still much either. All he needs is a direction, something to focus on and he's off like a well trained bird dog. Saw that the first day I met him. Was one of the reasons I hired him. He was willing and eager to do what was necessary. He didn't give up or let go. All he really needed was a little guidance on how to apply himself. I know for a fact he typically runs on less sleep than most people. It wasn't a huge surprise to me to see him on the security video working at two in the morning. I knew he logged a lot of hours even before we started sleeping together. He really is a night owl, doing some of his best work when the rest of the world has called it quits. Somehow he manages to keep going all day long in spite of being up half the night. Probably another reason why when he lays down he crashes so hard. Twenty hour days are exhausting, and we have more than our fair share of those. Doesn't seem to matter to me how long the day has been, I can't sleep worth a damn on my own. Never have. Which was one of the reasons I kept getting married even when I knew it was a dumb idea. You'd have thought the second one would have clued me in but some how I managed to overlook the obvious for the sake of a good night's sleep. Sleeping with Tony�it's like curling up next to a big teddy bear. It sounds stupid and juvenile, but doesn't make it any less true. I've got comfort, security and warmth when I lay down with him. I trust him. More than I have anyone else in my life. It is like his being relaxed and comfortable is contagious. It has to be. I can relax, let down my guard and sleep just because he can. I don't even move as much as I usually do. It's weird but after three months together, I don't question it any more. I was starting to take that bit of security for granted�taking him for granted. Then he got infected with the plague, damn near died, and�my breath catches just thinking about it. Jesus. I have never been so scared and angry in my life. I can still see him in that isolation unit. Stupid ultraviolet lights made him look worse than the corpses on Ducky's tables. They told me he'd been coughing up blood. I didn't need a medical degree to know how bad that was. Could see that just looking at him how close a call it was. I damn near lost him forever.

I shudder. It doesn't matter how close it was, I tell myself. It doesn't matter. Not going to worry about what might have happened. All that matters is he's alive. Pitt said he'd be fine, would recover completely in time. I nearly belted the man when he added, almost as an after thought, that Tony would probably be more susceptible to lung ailments like bronchitis and pneumonia in the future and would need to be careful. He said it like it was no big deal. I mean, in relation to damn near dying, it is minor. But no one should be so dismissive of my lover's health and well being. No one. Tony shifts in his sleep again and his breathing changes. I know what that means. He's dreaming and judging by the furrow between his brows it's not a good one. On the job, I have no doubts about how to handle things, never hesitate, never consider the consequences until afterward. But here, I worry I'll mess up. I worry that I'll do something wrong and hurt him. It's easier when he's talking in his sleep. Then I get some clue as to how bad it is, an idea of what to say to get him out of that horrible place. He whimpers, and I can't help but flinch. I can't leave him there. I call his name softly, knowing better than to touch him before he's recognized me at least on a subconscious level. He shivers, curling in on himself. I call his name again, and carefully run my fingers through his hair. Tony gasps, and sits up suddenly, startling me. His eyes are wide and wild, one arm rising in a defensive gesture. I'm not sure he's really awake yet so I give him a little more room. Don't want to crowd him or scare him more than he already is. Before I can say or do anything else he starts coughing. It's a harsh and painful sound. I move to support him, and pat his back like Pitt said should be done to break up the congestion and help him breathe. The coughing continues and he reaches blindly for something to spit into. I snag the basin from the nightstand Pitt said to keep on hand for just this purpose and hold it for him. He stopped coughing up blood two days before leaving the hospital, but I check for it anyway just to be sure. I keep rubbing his back, waiting for him to catch his breath. I put the basin back on the nightstand, reminding myself to empty it later and offer him a glass of water. Tony takes a sip, and then another. "Thanks." His voice is little more than a rough, raw whisper. "You okay?" There are shadows in his eyes that worry me. I'm asking about more than his health here, but I know he won't tell me what he was dreaming about. He rolls his eyes at me, a ghost of a smile hovering around his mouth. He's doing his best to make everything seem normal. Shame of it is just how damn good he is at it. No one gets that good without a lot of practice. "Never better, Boss." "Liar." I can't keep myself from calling him on it. "Time delayed truth," Tony waggles his eyebrows at me. He's used that line before. It still makes me want to smile, but I keep my face in order. "Now, Tony, not later," I remind him, standing my ground. I ask again, "Are you okay?" Tony sighs and grimaces. "My chest and throat hurt. And I got a headache."

I shake my head. Pitt sent several bottles of pills with him. I'm sure painkillers were in one of them. "Stay here." Tony snorts. "Where would I go?" I get up and take the basin with me. I rinse it out in the kitchen, using bleach to make sure it is really clean, sterile. The little bag of pills is on the counter where I left them earlier. I rifle around in it until I find the painkillers. Tylenol with codeine. Pitt had wanted to proscribe something stronger but Tony argued against it. He has a thing about pills. Can't say that I blame him. I have a thing about them as well. Seen way too many addicts in my time to ever want to be one. I wrestle the stupid child proof cap off and shake out two for him. I stuff the bottle back in the bag and then hide them in one of the cupboards in a mixing bowl I don't think Tony even knows he owns much less has a reason to look into. If I leave the pills where he can find them, he'll flush them. I know he's done it before. I head back to the bedroom. I offer him the pills. He just looks at them blankly. I glare at him until he takes them from me. I offer him the glass of water again. Tony sighs and takes a drink to wash down the medication. "Not taking any more." He says, a stubborn expression on his face. I don't bother arguing. He'll take them if he needs them. He knows it. I know it. Nothing to argue about. "Lay down." I tell him. "You need more than," I glance as the clock, "four hours of sleep." Tony shakes his head. "Harder to breathe laying flat." That explains why his bed at the hospital was always elevated. I frown at the pillows. There aren't enough of them and they aren't firm enough to do the same job. "Scoot forward." He arches an eyebrow but moves forward. I fluff the pillows a little before I slide in behind him. I lean back into the pillows, then wrap my arms and legs around Tony and pull him back into me. I place a soft kiss on his temple when he rests his head on my shoulder with at tired sigh. "Better?" Tony grins tilting his head enough to look at me. "Much." In spite of his bright eyes and grin he looks exhausted. The dark smudges under his eyes don't help any. He's normally so full of life and energy, it is almost physically painful to see him any other way. I pull him closer to me, wishing like hell I could have saved him from all this. "Not your fault, Jethro." Tony whispers. He weaves the fingers of his right hand into mine, squeezing once. "I should have known better than to open the letter." "Fucking thing shouldn't have been delivered in the first place." I counter. Or if delivered it should have ended up on my desk. All the mail does now�no exceptions. I made damn sure everyone knows. Threatened to kill anyone who didn't

comply. I know where to hide bodies so they'll never be found. And everyone knows that. "Why did you open it?" I ask quietly. That little question had been bugging me for days. "Thought it was from one of my old girlfriends." He shivers and pulls the blanket up. Love that down comforter of his. "One of your old girlfriends?" I know he hasn't been with anyone else since we got together, but the jealousy is almost instinctive and I can't help asking. "Not love notes, Boss." He squeezes my hand again and I know I failed miserably at trying to sound neutral. "Got a few that send hate mail once in awhile. Let me know what a shit I am. How much better off they are without me. That kind of thing." I rub my cheek against his hair and hug him closer to me. How the hell anyone would think they were better off with out him is a mystery. Those women must be even bigger idiots than most people. Tony clears his throat. He sounds nervous and ashamed. "Didn't want anyone else to read that." "Can understand why you wouldn't." Taking a breath I make a conscious decision to share a bit of my past. "My ex-wives have sent me a fair share of hate mail I wouldn't want anyone else to read." "Yeah?" "Yeah." I sigh softly. "By ex-wife number two I realized what they were saying in those letters didn't have a lot to do with me. It was just about their need to vent. Get it off their chests without having to actually look at me to do it." "Hunh." Tony shakes his head, his voice soft, contemplative. "Never thought of it that way." My jaw tightens. He probably took that all the vitriol being spewed like it was gospel. He would take that crap to heart. I know he would. He'd believe they were right to think he's a horrible person, that he deserved to be insulted and hurt, wasn't worth more to them than just a good time and they are glad to be rid of him. Goddamn his mother. Tony yawns. He settles more deeply into me. "Tired." "Then sleep." I tell him. I adjust the comforter a bit so it covers both of us. He gets chilled so easily when he doesn't feel well. "Doesn't seem fair to you." He chuckles, a raspy sound of amusement. "I'm no lightweight." "I'm fine." I'm more than fine. Holding him I can feel his heart beat, feel him breathing, can wrap myself around him�I know he's okay without even opening my eyes. And he's not that heavy. I can tell he lost weight. Nearly dieing does that to a person. "You sure?" The question slurs a bit and I can tell he's not far from nodding off. "I'm sure." "Okay." He sighs.

There's a faint rattle in his chest before his breathing evens out and deepens. I place a soft kiss on his temple and try to imprint this moment on my senses, make it an indelible memory. I close my eyes. Maybe now I can get a few hours of sleep. Maybe. I'm not betting on it though. ******************* **************** ********************** I love my job. Never had to force myself to go to work. Never played hooky or tried to sneak off early. Hell, I can count on one hand the number of times I've called in sick. But today I was seriously tempted to stay home, to call off, to just pretend I couldn't come in. It was almost physically painful to leave Tony home alone. I know he's an adult and he's been looking after himself for years, but he's still not fully recovered. But he's no more likely to spend an entire day in bed than I am. Stubborn fool. He was awake at his usual time when that antique mantel clocked chimed out the hour. The chime really isn't all that loud. I didn't think it would be enough to wake him. Should have known better. He told me he's been getting up with it for over ten years. Habits like that don't disappear just because he isn't at his best. Damn it anyway. I told him to go back to sleep. Didn't do any good. He rolled his eyes and told me he could sleep later. Said it wasn't like he had anything else planned for the day. He better not have anything else planned or there will be hell to pay when I get home. He joined me for breakfast. Not that he actually ate anything. His appetite has been off since he got sick. Pitt said not to worry about it, that it would take time for Tony to recover his usual enthusiasm for food. Pitt is an idiot. He has no idea how much fuel it takes to keep Tony running. He doesn't appreciate how little it takes for him to lose weight. I can tell Tony's already lost a good ten pounds. It worries me. Just like I worry about how little sleep he got and that horrible sounding cough he still has and how he's probably not going to take any of the pills he's supposed to take. I manage to avoid picking up the phone and calling him. Mostly I succeed with that because the director had some torturous meeting I had to sit through all morning, and we didn't have a new case yet. Otherwise, I'm sure I'd have called him every hour just to make sure he wasn't overdoing it. Louisa was supposed to stop by today. She was very worried about him. I'm still not sure if she knows about us or if she just thinks I'm a good friend of his. I mean, it's not like she knows what we do when I spend the night. Or at least I hope she doesn't. She reminds me a little too much of my mother for me to feel comfortable with her knowing intimate details about my sex life. The only one at the office who knows about us is McGee. It sort of surprised me that it was him who found out. Kate's a trained profiler, Ducky knows me better than anyone else and if anyone can appreciate an alternative lifestyle it's Abby. I always expected it to be one of them who figured it out. In all fairness, McGee did stumble on to us in a lip lock in the parking garage so it could be he just got lucky. I have my doubts about that though. Sort of got the feeling he knew beforehand. He was not nearly as shocked as I would have expected. And he was way too accepting of us for it to be a complete surprise. Not sure what we

might have done or failed to do that gave us away. I'm not too worried since the only one to notice so far has been McGee. I check my watch again for the thousandth time. Day isn't moving any faster. Fuck. I didn't think it would be so hard to focus without Tony here. Without Tony everything at the office is just�off. I don't know when he came to define normal and right, but he does. It was probably the day he started, if not the day I met him. Was so damn subtle it just snuck up on me and I didn't notice until he wasn't here. I'm not the only one missing him. Kate and McGee look a little lost. I had half expected them to call Tony yesterday. They had to know he was getting out of the hospital. McGee probably thought he'd be intruding. He's got a good head on his shoulders that way. I give it a day or two before he calls or stops by. I know Tony will be glad to see him. Kate�now she's one I can't quite figure out. She'd stayed with Tony as long as possible while he was in that isolation unit, and I'm grateful he wasn't alone even though I resent like hell it wasn't me in there with him. It hurts to admit it, but it was better that it was her than me. I'd have gone nuts in there knowing there was nothing I could do to help. Given what she did, risking exposure to the plague and all that, you'd think she'd be just as eager to see him recover. That she'd want to see him back on his feet. But she seems almost too eager to dismiss the whole thing. I recognize denial when I see it. She thought he was a goner, and now doesn't want to even consider what might have happened so she's ignoring it and pretending everything is back to normal even though we all know it's not. Not yet. Won't be until Tony is back at his desk where he belongs. I sigh. And force myself not to look at his empty desk. I already caught myself looking over my shoulder for him at least a dozen times. Had to stop myself from barking out his name a few times too. Finally, it's five o'clock. I send my team home. It's early for me, but I really don't care. I've left Tony home alone long enough. I don't curse the other drivers when they slow me down, but I'm thinking it loud enough to be heard. None of them know how the hell to drive. I hate stupid people. I let myself into Tony's place. I know it's perverse to be glad he locks his door when I don't lock my own, but I can't help it. I don't have anything anyone would want to steal. I'm mean enough to shoot first and ask questions later. And hell until recently I didn't sleep much or deeply so it wasn't like anyone was going to catch me unaware. I leave my shoes in the rack by the door. Rather a civilized set up. It cuts down on the dirt that gets trafficked through the place. And I never have to wonder what I did with my shoes. I can hear music coming from the living room. I frown. He should be in bed. Not that I really expected to find him there, but I'd hoped to. I don't exactly tiptoe into the living room, but I do make a point of being quiet. There was a time when I didn't walk soft, when it didn't matter if I made noise, but it seems

like ages ago. Back before I was the mean old man I am now. Back before I was trained so well to kill people. Back before I learned silence would give me a chance to live and noise was certain death. The TV is showing the blue screen that always comes up after a few minutes when Tony's using the satellite radio he gets from his service provider. It's better than the crap that's usually on TV to watch. Reality TV has got to the dumbest thing I've ever seen. I got enough reality in my life�I don't need to see a bunch of people acting like morons trying to win a chance at their fifteen seconds of fame. I'll pass, thanks. I smile when I spot Tony on the couch, fast asleep. He looks better than he did this morning. He's still a bit too pale, but the shadows under his eyes aren't quite so dark. At least I don't think so. Could just be wishful thinking. He must have brought the comforter out from the bedroom. I frown. The two times I've seen him nap on the couch, he's just curled up under the afghan Louisa made for him. The heavier blanket tells me all I need to know about how he felt when he settled in on the couch. I should let him sleep. But I'm betting he didn't eat much today, if at all. He needs to eat, and I want to talk to him. It's only been one day�a measly eight hours but I've missed him. I shake my head. I've got it so bad, no denying it. I sit on the coffee table and lean forward whispering his name. Know better than to touch him until he knows it's me. I call again and he blinks sleepily at me. I reach out to lightly run my fingers through his hair. "Hey." He smiles. His voice is a little rougher than it usually is when he just wakes up. It has been like that since he got sick. "Hey, yourself." I move to kiss his forehead. It's not just a show off affection; I'm checking his temperature just like my mother used to do to me. I frown when I find he's a little warmer than he should be. "I'm okay, Jethro." He rolls his eyes at me. He knew what I was doing. "You're warm." I point out. "Yeah, and I'm still hacking up hairballs." He says dismissively before he yawns. "Brad said it would be like this for awhile." "Brad?" "Dr. Pitt." Tony snickers. "Damn glad I don't have to go through life with a name that makes people think of someone else rather than me." I smile. "There is only one Tony DiNozzo." He sighs, green eyes looking away from me. "Well, technically that's not true." "Technically?" I blink not sure what to make of that statement. "You weren't the only one named after your father." I don't know what expression I've got on my face so I'm glad he's not looking at me. That simple, honest statement caught me completely off guard. Tony rarely ever talks about his family, barely mentions them in fact. And when he does he usually is careful to couch things in a way to create false impressions. Kate thinks Tony is a spoiled rich kid, a trust fund baby. Pretty sure McGee thought the same thing for

awhile, although I don't think he still does but I don't know what caused that to change. Abby knows Tony better than they do. She's willing to play along, accepting the illusion rather than challenge Tony on it and possibly damage their friendship over such a minor thing. Her willingness to accept him is a big reason they are such good friends in the first place. I knew his old man was also named Anthony DiNozzo. It's in his file. So it's technically information I should already have and not be surprised to hear. But it didn't really hit me until I did my own digging into his background. Then the name took on a whole new significance when I realized I hated the fucker for not looking after his son the way a father should. I hate him for not protecting Tony, for not putting his son higher on the list of important things than his fucking drinks. If he and I ever meet, it will not be pretty. I can feel my jaw clench and hope Tony can't hear my teeth grinding. Remembering what he'd said when I told him I went by my middle name to avoid being confused with my father, I manage a genuine smile. "Can't see you as a junior." He flinches and I realize I said something wrong. "Neither can he." I don't quite know what that means until Tony says, "My father named me after himself and my grandfather. He always expected me to just follow in their footsteps." "I'm glad you decided to take your own path." I place a kiss softly on his temple. "Never would have met you if you hadn't. And you make a damn good agent, Tony DiNozzo. You are one hell of an investigator. I wouldn't have you on my team otherwise." He smiles and gives me a fond, tolerant look. I know he doesn't really believe me. Not quite, not completely. But I can tell what I said helps ease an old hurt. I keep thinking if I say it enough he'll finally start to realize it's the truth. He's a damn good detective and I am lucky to have him on my team�lucky to have him. I have to remind myself I have a lifetime of shit to counteract. Like his habit of getting up with the soft chime of that antique clock, his opinion of himself and his value won't change overnight. He reaches out and lightly caresses my cheek with one knuckle. "You are definitely one of a kind." I kiss him. I am very careful to keep it light. I promised Pitt I wouldn't let Tony do anything strenuous and if I let this kiss turn into something more I'd be breaking my promise. Tony looks disappointed when I pull back. "Not until you're feeling better," I tell him. "I feel better," he says with a quick grin. The cough that follows proves him wrong. It's not as bad as it was last night but it still leaves him winded and struggling to breathe. Sitting up helps. So does patting his back, which I do without hesitation. "Okay?" I ask when he's done. "Yeah." He nods and swallows painfully. "You take your medicine?" "Louisa sent me on a guilt trip about not taking care of myself." He gives me a dark look. "Did you really have to tell her what I was supposed to be taking and when?"

"Would you have taken them?" "No." "Then yes, I really had to tell her." "Mother hen." He sounds more amused than mad about it. He kicks the comforter off and swings his feet to the floor. He shivers, and I have to fight the urge to dig out a thermometer. I don't know if Tony even has one. Maybe I'll pick one up tomorrow. Just to be on the safe side. "You hungry?" Tony grimaces. "Not really." I frown at him. "Wrong answer." "Nothing tastes good." He's not whining. He's also not arguing, he's just stating a fact. Funny how easy it is for me to be able to hear the subtle nuances now. "Louisa leave food in the fridge?" "Yeah." Tony sighs softly, resigned. He gives in with more grace than I ever have. "Must be a gallon of soup in there." He stretches a little, vertebrae popping. That sound gives me the willies. Abby does it to. They both say it doesn't hurt, but it sure sounds painful. "Hate it when you do that." "Feels good." Tony looks at the digital display on the DVD player. "You're home early." "Not early," I counter. "Just on time for a change." He grins playfully, eyes sparkling. "I'm a bad influence on you." I cup his face with both hands. "Oh you are an influence all right, but I wouldn't say bad." I lean in and kiss him again, gentle and heartfelt. "Definitely not bad," I whisper against his lips. I love it when he blushes. He does it so rarely. Just a little bit of color across his cheekbones. It's endearing. He clears his throat. "Must have been a slow day." "Interminable." I don't mind admitting that. "No new cases. Meetings all morning." "Ugh." Tony turns his head to place a kiss in my palm. I like how frequently he uses physical contact as a way of offering consolation. "Worst thing was you weren't there." I smile at him, soft and warm. "I missed you." "Really?" He brightens. It takes so little to make him happy. Everyone should be this easy to please. "Really." I pat his cheek. "Now let's see about warming up that soup. You need to eat." He scowls but doesn't protest. I steady him when he gets to his feet even though he doesn't need it. I just like the idea of being close to him and I'm not ready to let go just yet. Even before we became lovers I got to touch him throughout the day, got to

talk to him, got to look at him. I'm some sort of addict in need of a fix. Fortunately, Tony doesn't mind. I keep a hand on his back when we head into the kitchen. I point to a chair, silently telling him to sit. He snickers and tosses off a sloppy salute, but doesn't say anything as he sits. Soup is in the fridge just ready to be heated. Tony was right; there is probably a gallon in there. Good. He can have some tomorrow too. Knowing he's not going to want much, I use a mug for Tony and a larger bowl for me. I want him to eat, but I don't want him to over do it either. Forcing him to eat too much will just make him sick. I cut up some cheese and neatly fan out some saltines on the same plate. It's a simple meal, but it should be enough to tempt Tony's appetite. "You want something to drink?" "A beer." "Try again." Pitt said Tony needed plenty of fluids, just like anyone recovering from a cold or the flu. Alcohol doesn't count. Tony gives me an annoyed look. "Water." I hand him a bottle of water from the fridge, and take one for myself. I wouldn't mind a beer, but if he can't have one it just seems cruel to drink it in front of him. When the microwave dings I offer him the mug before I take the seat across from him with my bowl. Louisa knows chicken and dumpling soup is his favorite. That woman dotes on Tony. Pretty sure she made this from scratch. Haven't had soup this good since my mother died. We talk about what is going on at the office while we eat. Tony misses being there as much as I miss having him there. I know he's not going to take the full two weeks of sick leave. On one hand, I want him to. Want him to take all the time he needs, to recover completely. But on the other hand, I want him where I can keep an eye on him. Want him where I can make sure he really is okay. He eats most of the soup, but nibbles on the cheese and crackers eating about a third of them. I'm not going to give him shit about not eating more. Not today. Tomorrow, yeah, I'll start riding his ass harder. He's got to be doing better by the end of the week if he's planning to come back to the office. I already know we're going to argue about that at some point. And it sucks knowing I'm going to lose. I decide I'm not going to worry about it right now. "You have a good day?" I ask him. "I slept for most of it." He looks embarrassed. Contrary to what most people think, Tony is anything but lazy. I can see where he'd think sleeping the day away was something to be ashamed off. I reach out to catch one of his hands. I love his hands, and I run my thumb over his knuckles in a light caress. "Doing what's needed isn't wasteful or lazy." I weave our fingers together and squeeze once. "You need the rest to get better. So don't feel bad about it."

He nods. I know he's just doing it to appease me, he's not really agreeing. He does that better than most�.smooth the waters, unruffled feathers without really ass kissing or committing himself. "You done?" I point toward his mug and plate. "Yeah." He fidgets. He doesn't do that very often and it's a sure sign he's uncomfortable. "Sorry." "It's okay." I don't want him to feel bad about this. It's not like he can help it. Doesn't mean I'm not going to keep trying to force food on him until he's back to normal. I'll probably be handing him something every chance I get. "Go pick out a movie." I smile at him. "I'll be in as soon as I clean up here." He grins. This has gotten to be a ritual for us. We almost always watch a movie when we spend the night at his place. He's got such a huge collection and I'm fairly certain I'll never see the same one twice. He loves introducing me to his favorites, and to be honest, I don't mind watching them. There is something decidedly appealing about the old black and white films. When we spend the night at my place, he does crossword puzzles, reading the clues out loud so I can play along while I work on my boat. Every once in a while I can convince him to read out loud to me from whatever book he's in the middle of. I know he likes me to read to him, but I'm not sure he realizes how much I enjoy it when he returns the favor. I get the kitchen cleaned up and then head into the living room. I sit down and wrap my arms and legs around Tony to pull him back against me. It's the same way I held him last night. It's comfortable for both of us. Love the way he settles against me. "What are we watching tonight?" "Strangers on a Train." Hitchcock. I like him. I rest my chin on Tony's shoulder, more content and relaxed than I've been since I left this morning. I could spend the rest of my life just like this. I close my eyes and memorize the way it feels to hold him. I want to permanently imprint him on my senses�the scent and sound of him, the way he feels�all of it. I'll need that to get through the next few days at work without him. ******************* ****************** **************** The first day with Tony out of the office on sick leave was damn near endless. The rest of the week wasn't a whole hell of a lot better. I was snapping and snarling at people for no reason other than being out of sorts. Fortunately, I'm enough of a bastard most wouldn't even think to question my surly demeanor. Abby was brave enough to mention it. Once. I just glared at her. I'm pretty sure she's convinced it's my knee bothering me. It does bother me from time to time. And it's a plausible an excuse as any. Not like I can just say�'hey, people, I'm sorry I'm being an ass, but my lover nearly died and not being able to keep an eye on him is driving me nuts.' That would go over about as well as a lead balloon I'm sure. At least McGee gets it. And he's doing his best to keep his head down and be inconspicuous. Kate made one half-hearted effort to get me to talk. She was just

about as successful as she was when she tried that when Tony was on the run chained to a killer. Snort. Do I look like the sort who just spills his guts? Ducky, bless his heart, didn't even ask. I think he might actually suspect. But then again, he's seen me get this bent out of shape over things before�Ari being one of them. Hell he's seen me through a divorce and a few other ugly moments. The man might not know why I'm acting like a bear with a sore paw but he's got enough sense to leave me alone. As weird as the office felt to not have Tony there, it was ten times worse when we got a case. Christ. I never realized just how much shit he does. Don't think Kate or McGee did either until now. I mean I know he's good at what he does. And I appreciate it now more than I ever have. Kate and McGee were doing their best, but I can't help but think if Tony had been working the damn thing wouldn't have taken four days to solve. He'd have realized the best friend had more to tell or seen the significance in the matching pendants. He'd have picked up on the pattern of phone calls or understood the fury seething under the surface. He's good at picking up on details like that, good at putting the last piece of the puzzle in place to complete the picture. I sigh and rub my hand wearily over my face. Four fucking days. And honestly it wasn't the time�or the quality of my team's work even without Tony. No. What really had me wound up was the fact that this case was one we had to travel for. Four goddamn days away from Tony. We talked on the phone. He'd call me every morning at 5:30. Just checking in. I never listened so closely to another person in my life before. I was trying to glean how he was doing knowing full well he wasn't going to tell me the whole truth. Hell, I don't even admit to having ever been sick. Can't see him saying, �Yeah, I still feel like crap, boss'. Most of our conversation focused on the case. Which probably sounds bad to most people. Haven't seen each other in days and most of what we talk about is work. But it was new territory for us. Normally, he's with me on a case, at the office or in the field, so we don't have to talk about work. I know how much he misses the job. I wouldn't want to be talking about the weather and painting the bedroom or picking out drapes or whatever if he were out working on a case. I'd want to know what the hell was going on. So I had to respect his desire to stay connected. Doesn't mean I didn't down play the affect of his absence. Last thing I want is for him to rush coming back to work or think the team can't survive without him. I don't tell him that it was going over the case with him that finally had me putting all the pieces together. I probably should tell him at some point. And I will. Once he's better and back on the job. But if I can find a way to convince him to take all the sick leave Director Morrow offered, then I will. Right now I'm just eager to be done and gone. Flight back was uneventful. And all the connections were on time. Amazing. Don't think that's ever happened to me before. Kate looks relieved to be back home. And McGee looks damn glad just to be back on the ground. Tony sent him a package of Dramamine and a barf bag via FedEx. They

had to have been in touch at some point even though neither one had said anything about it. They have a good friendship. I have a feeling it might some day grow to mirror the one I have with Ducky. Hard to say for sure. I sort of hope so. I'm not sure I'd have made it through some of the rougher periods in my life if not for Ducky. Tony should have someone like that to count on. McGee too. Someone more than just me. I haven't forgotten the age difference between us. I expect to be the one to die first. Which is another reason why that whole plague thing scared me so badly. Tony is going to out live me. Come hell or high water. Off the stupid plane and get the car. I know I'm driving even faster than usual, but neither Kate or McGee say anything about it. I think Kate's afraid to, and McGee knows better. Traffic is lighter this time of day. Commuters are all home where they belong. Lucky bastards. I don't turn the car off when I let McGee and Kate out. McGee better hope he doesn't have car trouble this time. He's on his own. Kate too. I just grunt when Kate says good-bye. McGee gives me a tight smile. He hesitates before getting out, making sure Kate is out of ear shot before he whispers, "Tell Tony thanks for the Dramamine. And I'm glad he's feeling better." "Will do." I give him a real smile. "I know I've been a little-" "No worse than usual, Boss." He shrugs. "Don't worry about it." I nod and he gets out. At least he's not totally pissed at me for being a real bastard. Not that it would matter one way or the other, but it's still nice to know. I like my team. I don't want to alienate all of them. I wave to Kate as I pull out. She waves back looking just a bit confused. Good. I like keeping her a bit off balance. The drive to Tony's place I could do in my sleep if I had to. Which is probably a good thing given how little sleep I've gotten in the last four days. It gets harder and harder to sleep without him. Didn't help that I kept having nightmares about him dieing. Nothing like waking up in a cold sweat, scrambling around a strange bed trying to find him. Hours from midnight to five never seemed so damn long before. I pull into Tony's parking spot. He still hasn't replaced his car. I wonder if he's going to go for another one of those racy sport types or stick with something like the sedan the insurance company has given him to use. Really can't see him staying with something so sedate. Can't say I blame him there. A sports car suits him better. If I could afford a Ferrari like he's said he always wanted, I'd have gotten it for him. Funny thing, I think he could buy one of those for himself. I know he got some money when his Aunt Sully died, but I have no idea just how much. Has to be enough that buying $400 shoes and Armani suits doesn't faze him much. No way he could afford that stuff on his salary alone. But then those things, even as expensive as they are, still cost a hell of a lot less than a Ferrari. I grab my bag, lock the car and head up to his place. I nod to a few people I see in passing. They've seen me around enough they probably think I live here. I know Tony's already been at my house enough to make nice with my neighbors. Hell I

didn't even know those people until Tony started coming by. Now they wave at me and smile. Go figure. I unlock the door. I take a deep breath and let it out slowly, reveling in the scent of home. Know it's odd, hell maybe even crazy, but there is something about the way his place smells. It has to be him, not the place really, because I can smell that wonderful fragrance at my place now although it's diluted there by sawdust and coffee. I take another deep breath. Can feel myself relaxing a little. That tension headache I'd been sporting since I knew I was leaving is finally starting to ease off. I leave my bag and my shoes in the foyer. There is no sound coming from the living room, but I double check it just to be sure Tony hasn't fallen asleep on the couch. There's a �sleep' feature on his TV that shuts it off after two hours or so. No Tony. I'm a little disappointed since I'd called to let him know what flight we'd be on and when I'd be home. Had sort of hoped he'd be waiting for me. But if he's in bed, that's okay too. I don't think he's back up to 100% no matter what he's told me over the phone. I pad into the bedroom, frowning slightly when I realize there is a light on. Not a light I realize with some surprise, it's candles. A row of white candles are lined up on the dresser. Their light reflected by the mirror so it seems like a lot more of them. My breath catches when I see Tony on the bed, naked. Lord. He is so�so�god, the only word that fits is beautiful. He's got his hands behind his head, legs crossed at the ankles. He looks like my own personal fantasy come to life. I swallow hard. If I'm dreaming, I don't want to wake up. He smiles at me, warm and welcoming. "Hey." "Hey, yourself." I would like to think I sound casual, but I know I don't. I can hear the hunger and need in my voice and I know he can too. Just being away for four days was only part of it. We hadn't done anything more than share a few kisses since he got sick. "You�ah�just going to stand there?" He moved one hand from behind his head to pat the bed, stroking the comforter in a sensual manner. "Plenty of room right here." I am moving before I even realize I am. No way would I refuse an invitation like that. I am almost shaking with the need to touch him. I force myself to stop and strip out of my clothes, tossing them off with careless abandon. I don't want anything between me and him. Not now. And once we get this party started, I don't want to stop for anything. He grins at me. "Good thinking, boss." "I'm more than just a pretty face." "That you are." He licks his lips. "That you are, indeed." His eyes ghost over me from head to toe with a nearly tangible touch. The look is appreciative, openly admiring and so much more than a leer. I don't think anyone has ever looked at me quite the way he does. It is more than just lust or admiration for the

physical. Leaves me breathless every single time to know he really sees me and loves me anyway. I close the distance between us, sitting on the bed and leaning in to capture his mouth. So warm and wet and delicious. I love his mouth, love the way he tastes. Familiar and unique. There is a bit of mint, something like cinnamon this time and something I've never been able to truly identify but find myself craving every day. I cup his face, holding him in place. Not that he's trying to escape. No, far from it. He's wrapping arms and legs around me, pulling me closer. The warmth of his skin against mine is as delicious as his mouth. I sigh. I missed him�missed this. I release his mouth and bury my face against his neck, and just breathe him in. He runs a hand up and down my back. Have yet to figure out how he can touch me and have it be soothing and arousing at the same time. It's just one more paradox about Tony that I've come to appreciate. I nibble on his neck seeking that spot that always makes him shiver. Love the way he rubs against me. Reminds me of a big cat. Can't quite decide if he's marking his territory, rubbing his scent on me, or simply trying to encourage even more contact. Either works for me. His little shiver tells me when I've located the right spot. I suck hard and apply my teeth. I lick away the little hurt I've caused. I want to mark him as mine. Want the whole world to know he's taken no matter how much he flirts. I work my way down his chest. He's making those breathy little sighs I like so much. He's never really loud, but he's definitely vocal. Like that�a lot. No doubt about what he enjoys or how much. He's got his hands in my hair, not quite holding me in place but definitely encouraging me to take my time. I am more than happy to lavish some serious attention on his nipples. It turns me on to play with them almost as much as it turns him on to have them played with. Like some sort of weird feedback loop. I can feel his fingers massaging my scalp and I moan. God. You'd think I'd have known before meeting him how much I like that. You'd think I'd have known how damn good it feels. He's rubbing against me. The silken slide of his skin against mine is a heady thing. I can't think when he does that. Can barely breathe. Even this close, I'm still too far away. I want more. I need more. "Tony�Lube�we need-" "No we don't." He pulls my head up, green eyes sparkling. "Took care of it already." It takes a little longer than it should for me to understand what he's saying. But when I get it, I kiss him senseless. I don't have any trouble imagining what he looked like preparing himself for me. Long fingers working their way in and out, skin flushed with heat, soft sounds of pleasure. Christ. I moan into his mouth, my hips rocking against his.

Ruthlessly I pull away from that delectable mouth. He grins at me, raising his hips in a blatant invitation. I am so damn grateful he's so limber because I love taking him this way. I caress his chest and hips. Never met anyone with skin as nice as his. It's like petting warm silk. I shift a bit, helping to hold him in the right place. I close my eyes as I sink into him. God. He's so hot and tight, and it feels so good. He does one of those purring sighs as I hold myself still to let us both adjust. He wraps those long, lean legs around me. His heels rub against my back and ass. Didn't know that was a turn on either until I met him. But then none of my female lovers were as tall as he is and I didn't do this with many men. "Move." His voice is deep and raspy. "Please�Jethro." I don't make him ask twice. I start slow, letting it build. Know he likes me to take my time. Makes it feel like all that matters is this rising intensity, this growing urgency, that the whole universe is working toward one timeless moment. He reached for his own cock and I block his hand. "Mine." He looks at me, eyes wide and trusting, smile warm�.my very own debauched angel. He could tempt a saint. "Yours." I stroke his cock, matching the movement of my hand to the thrust of my hips. He arches his back, eyes closed. A mewling sound of pleasure escapes him. It makes my toes curl to hear it. This is the experience I was so hungry for I felt like I was starving. This�.all of it; the feel of him, the scent, the sound, even the taste of him�all of it is what I wanted so desperately. Nothing between us now, we're even breathing in sync. This is what is home for me now�this is what makes me whole, complete. I'm moving faster now. Can't help it. We're both panting now. He's urging me on. Harder. Faster. More. God. Please, just a little more. Can feel those little tremors starting to wrack him. And the base of my spine is tingling. We are both so close. I roll my hips a little to change the angle so I'm hitting his prostate. Tony cries out something. No idea what. Not sure it's even English. His muscles flex and twitch. I can feel his orgasm building. His is carrying me as well. It's a bigger rush than riding an ocean wave. More like taking on a tsunami. I'm so close, so�close. I'm pretty sure I see a few stars when I finally slip over the edge. I know I call out his name, and I can hear him calling mine. His whole body is so taut it is nearly vibrating as warm spunk coats my hand. I managed to catch myself with one hand. Don't want to just collapse on him. I lean in a little so I'm sharing his breath, catching it as he exhales, giving it back to him when he inhales. When he opens his eyes, I feel like I'm drowning. He lifts his head enough to kiss me. This one is gentle, soft. It is so different from our earlier desperation and hunger, but no less powerful for all that.

He slowly unwraps his legs from around me, letting me slip free even though I'm not really ready yet to lose that intimate connection. He sighs, muscles flexing in his legs as he stretches, toes curling and uncurling with a faint popping sound. He grins. I open my mouth to say something, but he's lifting my spunk covered hand to his mouth. My breath catches as he starts using his tongue to clean my fingers. I have to close my eyes when he sucks my fingers into his mouth. God. He really could tempt a saint. "You wanna take a shower?" He kisses the pads of my fingers before releasing my hand. I'm half afraid I'll fall on my face trying to stand, but I'm not saying no to that invitation. I lever myself up and offer him a hand. He doesn't really need my help, but I love that he takes my hand anyway. He comes to his feet with an easy grace I can't help but admire. I pull him in for another kiss, just enjoying this moment of closeness. When I release his mouth he hugs me, head resting on my shoulder. The soft sigh he releases is warm against my skin. I could stay like this forever, but I don't resist when he pulls away. I follow him into the bathroom. Not ashamed to admit I'm admiring the view. Tony has got the most beautiful ass. And the way his broad shoulders narrow to his waist set it off real well. I stroke his ass fondly, earning me a heated glance over his shoulder. "You missed me?" "I did." More than I could ever put into words. He smiles, turning his face away, but not before I get a glimpse of that little bit of color in his cheeks. He turns on the water. Tony usually sets the water for hotter than I really like, but I don't complain about it. I follow him in, enjoying the bit of sting from the pulsing showerhead. He must have changed the setting. Ducky said muscle soreness would be part of his recovery, so I'm guessing that's the reason for the pulsating massage selection. He reaches up to change it, but I stop him. "Feels good." It will do wonders to get rid of the last bit of tension and stiffness I can still feel. "Leave it." "Okay." Even when we aren't doing anything but getting clean showering with him just feels so damn good. Like being able to put my hands anywhere, like the way he responds to my touch�soft sighs, muscles relaxing, eyes at half mast. I never thought I'd ever say this, but the best part is him washing my hair. Hell, no one has washed my hair since I was a kid. Not even my barber. Marine barbers just buzz it off; no fuss, no muss. But Tony takes his time, fingers massaging down from my head to my neck, working the shoulders. I moan when he finds a knot. He works it loose and I hang my head a bit, letting the drumbeat of the water relax me even further. I think he might have missed his calling. Tony could make a killing as a masseuse. In a way I'm damn glad he doesn't do it for a living. Not sure I could handle him touching anyone else like this. "Better?" He asks.

"Much." I turn to give him a kiss. I yawn when we pull apart. He smiles at me, one hand cupping my face. "C'mon. I think I can hear the bed calling your name." I roll my eyes. "I'm not-" Another yawn interrupts me. "Right." Tony chuckles. "Humor me." "You going to join me?" I hope to god I don't sound as plaintive as I think I do. "Planned on it." Tony gives me a quick kiss on the forehead. He reaches around me and turns the water off. Even though it's too hot for my taste I miss the heat almost immediately. Tony hands me a large fluffy towel before taking another for himself. I keep telling myself one of these days I'm going to buy towels like these. Not that I really have to. Tony brought a few of his to my place for when he stays there. I admit, I bought the heated towel rack. Might well be one of the best damn things I've ever splurged on. When we head back into the bedroom, I turn down the blankets and he puts out the candles. I pull him close when he slides in next to me. He pillows his head on my shoulder, one arm and a leg draped over me. I am content for the first time in days. I know it's silly, but I missed the weight of him. I nuzzle his slightly damp hair, enjoying the feel of it against my face as I breathe in the fragrance of his shampoo. I still have no idea what the scent is exactly�it's more of a blend. There is something of a musk, sandalwood, and possibly a mint of some kind. The only label on the bottle said it came from some place called �Bubbles'. So far I haven't been able to find out where Bubbles is, but I'm still looking. I'd like to be able to get Tony more of it. Something for his birthday maybe. My reverie and near sleep is interrupted when he coughs. It's not the hoarse, grating one he had. This doesn't steal his breath or last very long, but I tense just the same. "Thought you said you were better?" He raises his head, eyes searching mine in the darkness. "I am better." I recognize the look on his face and the tone. He's not going to back down. I raise a hand to cup his face, my thumb caressing his cheekbone. "You sure?" "I'm sure." He leans into my touch. I take a deep breath. "You're coming in on Monday then?" "Yeah." Even though I'd rather he take another week, I'm not going to argue about it. Just being a way from him for four days was torture. Not sure I could stand any more time a part. And even though he hasn't said so outright, being home alone is driving him nuts. Tony needs people. Needs that interaction. I'm not going to deny him, even thought I'm still not sure about his coming back so soon. "Don't expect me to be happy about it." He grins. "I know better."

"And I'm probably going to be reminding you for a few days that you still have another week you can use." "Duly noted." He turns his head to place a kiss in my palm. He lays his head on my shoulder again, and I pull him in closer to me. "Don't do anything dangerous for at least a week�okay?" "Copy that." I know he'll do his best. Hell it wasn't like any of us expected opening a letter to be lethal. I'll just have to be on my guard a little more, that's all. I won't let anything happen to him. He should be safe enough at his desk. No protocols, extra security measures should see to that. "Don't leave me at the office, tied to my desk." Tony sighs. "I've been staring at enough walls, Boss." I try not to be surprised by how well he knows what I'm thinking. I purse my lips and fight down my instinctive response. I know I can't wrap him in cotton and locked away where I can protect him. I have to treat him as the capable man he is. Treating him as anything less could endanger our relationship. I don't want him to hate me or resent me or, God forbid, see me as anything like his family, I can't risk that. "No desk." I agree reluctantly. "Thanks." He settles in more deeply against me. "You know, most people would not be grateful for getting a chance to risk their lives." Tony laughs, a soft huff of sound that I feel more than hear. "Most people are idiots." I can't help laughing at that. I hug him. "You are one of a kind." "So are you." "Go to sleep." I plant a kiss in his hair. "Night, Jethro." "Good night, Tony." I lay still and wait for him to fall asleep. I can feel his heartbeat and take comfort in the steady cadence. There is still a faint hitch in his breathing but it's not as bad as it once was. I let the calm that seems to envelope him when he sleeps wash over me. I'm looking forward to the best night's sleep I've had in days. It will be good to be back to normal. Or at least what qualifies as normal for me, for us. I'm not sure his coming back to work so soon is a good thing. But I am sure our being together is the best thing that's ever happened to me. So for once in my life I'm going to just try and be grateful for what I've got, and not worry about tomorrow. I'll do my best to keep him safe, and hope like hell my best is good enough. It will have to be.

Risky Business Gibbs kept his eyes focused on his own reflection staring back at him from the dark window. Rain continued, unabated. It seemed some how fitting that the sky should be mourning Kate's death. That it would cry when he couldn't. "Do you think Mohamed Esfiri killed Kate?" Gibbs asked quietly unable to look at Tony. He could almost feel Tony hesitate to answer. "I think it's possible." Gibbs tried not to flinch. Everyone seemed hell bent on proving him wrong about Ari, on confirming that rat bastard's innocence when Gibbs knew in his heart and soul Ari was their shooter. He'd hoped Tony had more faith, that his lover would trust his judgment on this. "Someone went to a lot of work to make it look like Esfiri was our sniper, but I don't think he was." Gibbs blinked. He turned to look at Tony. Blue eyes met green searching. "Why?" It was contrary of him but he didn't want this to be just some show of faith in him. He wanted Tony to confirm his own belief. Tony sighed softly. "It doesn't add up." "What doesn't?" "I think we can agree that McGee being alive is as much a matter of dumb luck and timing as anything else. But there's only one reason we didn't die on that roof right along with Kate." Tony bit his lip. "She was the intended target...and it was personal." Playing the devil's advocate, Gibbs asked, "Maybe he lost his nerve or ran out of time." "If he managed the first shot, he had more than enough nerve to make two more." Tony snorted; jade green eyes awash with too many emotions for Gibbs to identify all of them. "And there was more than enough time for him to take out all three of us. We were sitting ducks." Gibbs nodded. He'd thought the same thing but hadn't said so. He was still ashamed of his reaction time. If he'd been faster, more alert, better prepared?if this, if that...it changed nothing. Kate was still dead and he'd have to learn to live with that. "Shots fired at Abby's lab weren't random either." Tony shook his head. "It was too personal for that. No way that was the act of some barely old enough to shave wanna-be bad ass raised in Ohio." Tony smiled grimly. "If Esfiri was looking to make a statement or do some damage, he would have been taking shots at people leaving through the front door." "Abby's lab had the evidence so maybe it was an attempt to slow us down, keep us from finding him." "He didn't police his brass on purpose, Boss." Tony countered calmly. "Doesn't wash that he'd suddenly worry we'd figured out who he was. And he'd have to know it was in her lab and that she was the one working on it. Not like there's a sign on the building pointing to it." "He could have had enough information on my team to know where to look."

"Could have," Tony agreed. "But that again suggests something personal." Tony held up his hands as though balancing a scale. "And the only one with a personal grudge was Ari." Gibbs nodded. "Anything else?" Tony's jaw tightened. "The shots fired at your car were all aimed at the passenger side." Gibbs frowned. He didn't see the immediate significance of that. "If he really wanted to get away he'd have spread his shots." Tony shrugged one shoulder stiffly. "He'd have made damn sure to take out both you and the director." Gibbs gave Tony a searching look. There was more emotion present than he expected. His eyes narrowed. "You're pissed about that?" "I'm glad you had back up." Tony looked away, the muscle in his jaw flexing. "Just not sure she was the best choice." "There wasn't anyone else." Gibbs wasn't defending himself, he was just stating the facts. "You were tailing Ziva. McGee was here to protect Abby and help work the case." "There are other agents, Gibbs." Tony cocked his head to one side. "Qualified field agents." "She is qualified." "No, she was qualified." Tony placed a clear emphasis on the past tense. "You don't know if she's even passed shooting range test in the last year, much less anything about her ability to perform in the field." Gibbs hated to admit Tony was right. He'd worked with Jen Sheppard. Had trained her and assumed she was still field ready. It was an assumption he should not have made. But he hadn't wanted to risk any other members of his team. He had needed to keep them as safe as possible. Picking Sheppard had been a last minute decision, but not a careless one. "I needed for her to believe me about Ari." He wasn't going to be able to go after him otherwise. "Yeah, I know." Tony reached out to touch him before aborting the move much to Gibbs' disappointment. They were still at the office, albeit they were alone for the moment. There was no telling how long they'd have the bull pen to themselves and they weren't completely out of view of the surveillance cameras. Tony smiled wryly. "And you still need her to believe you." "Yeah." Gibbs didn't quite snarl but he wanted to. It was so damn frustrating. Sheppard was ready to write Kate's murder off as solved, her killer shot by Gibbs. And she wasn't going to trust his gut the way his team did. Working up the history and details on Esfiri, Gibbs knew his team was just being thorough; good investigators like he'd trained them to be. Tony had already shown they didn't believe him to be the killer any more than Gibbs did. But he doubted Sheppard would even give his team the benefit of the doubt. She was more likely to assume they followed his lead, or were just backing him up if they started pushing to

keep going after Ari. It was disappointing that she didn't have more faith in him or them. They wouldn't be on his team if they weren't the best out there. But hell, he couldn't really blame her either. They hadn't seen each other in years. It was possible she wasn't making the same assumptions about his team's ability that Gibbs had made about hers. "Do you trust Ziva?" Gibbs asked suddenly. Tony arched an eyebrow. "Not that many people I do trust, Boss." Gibbs nodded, accepting that as the simple statement of fact that it was. If Tony trusted more people, the office wouldn't be so convinced he was as straight as an arrow or that he was some spoiled, rich kid. He came by his distrust honestly. Gibbs didn't blame him for it. "Can we trust her?" "She said she was Ari's handler. But she gave him the information he needed to get a handle on us." Tony took a deep breath, eyes focusing on the window. Gibbs could almost see the wheels in his mind turning as he worked through his answer. Tony shook his head slightly. "Her divulging our personal information doesn't really mean anything because Fornell could have just as easily passed on the same details and probably did." Tony grimaced. "FBI dropped the ball on this one, but at least Fornell is willing to admit that. Albeit grudgingly. Which is a damn site more than I think you'll ever get from Ziva David." Gibbs had to agree with Tony's assessment. Ms. David was very sure of herself with regard to Ari. Maybe too sure. Hell, Kate didn't kill him when she had the chance because she thought he had ?kind eyes'. Ziva could have been just as easily fooled. At least her being conned hadn't resulted in a shot to the head...yet. Kate had been a colleague, a member of his team, someone he should have been able to protect, someone he cared about. Ziva...he didn't even really know her. Wasn't even sure he should care. But he didn't want her to be another victim of Ari either. Tony ran a hand through his hair. "Can we trust Ziva...probably. Up to a point." He made eye contact, expression uncertain. "I'm just not sure where the point is." Gibbs wasn't sure either. But he had a feeling he was going to find out. He looked at the window again, unable to look at Tony. "I have a plan." He could see Tony's face reflected in the glass. The younger man raised an eyebrow. "I got a feeling I'm not going to like it." Gibbs' lips curled in a wry smile. He wasn't sure he liked it either. But at this point, he didn't feel he had much choice. "Ziva is the key to getting Ari." "Figured that." Gibbs blinked and turned to look at Tony. Tony chuckled softly. He shrugged and shifted his weight a little. The stiffness with which he moved reminded Gibbs that it wasn't all that long ago Tony had damn near died, had been caught in an explosion, and spent more than one night out in the pouring rain. He wanted to apologize for being so careless with the one person he valued above all others, for asking so much and expecting Tony to deliver, but Gibbs couldn't bring himself to do it.

"It was the whole reason you had me tail her. I remember." Tony sighed tiredly, one hand rising to rub at his eyes briefly. "She knows how to contact him. Passport and fake papers were proof of that. She's got to have a number to reach him. She's his ticket out of the country?no way he wouldn't take a call from her." Tony's expression shifted into something hard. "He's got her fooled...which means, once she's not useful anymore, she's a liability and she's toast." Gibbs nodded. That was his take on it too. Although, he doubted he'd be able to convince her of that. He took a slow, deep breath. "Ari still wants me dead." "Not going to happen, Boss." He smiled at Tony's quick, confident assurance. His smile faded as quickly as it had appeared. He hesitated for a second, bracing himself for Tony's response. "I want to give him another chance at it." "Excuse me?" Tony stared at him. "I'm going to be bait to draw him out." "That's...pretty much what I thought you said." Tony's tone was surprisingly calm. Gibbs had expected an explosion, one complete with yelling and hand gestures. Tony just looked?resigned. There were shutters in place in his eyes Gibbs had never seen before. He reached out to touch Tony, uncaring of the cameras and possible consequences, but Tony stepped away. "You're planning on doing this thing solo." It wasn't a question, but Gibbs answered anyway. "Not exactly." Tony snorted, his mouth forming a moue of distaste. "Let me guess?Madam Director again then?" That eerily calm tone still resonant in his voice. "No." He couldn't, wouldn't use Sheppard. As Tony had been so quick to point out, he really didn't know if she was qualified. He wasn't going to make the same mistake twice. And he really didn't want to give Ari any more chance of succeeding in killing him than necessary. "Who?" There is only a mild curiosity in Tony's voice, like he already knew the answer and was just waiting for confirmation. And Gibbs hated this. He'd rather have Tony rant and rave. Would rather he lash out at him than somehow manage to be miles away when he was really only just over an arms length from Gibbs. "Look...I know you're pissed-" "Yeah, but you don't get why, do you?" Tony shook his head. This conversation felt familiar. He was sure he'd had it before with one of his exwives. "I don't have time-" "No you don't." Tony squared his shoulders. His gaze shifted to where Director Sheppard was coming down the stairs. Gibbs wasn't even sure how he'd known she was there. Tony started to step away, but Gibbs grabbed his arm. "We're not done."

Tony stiffened and looked down at his hand before traveling up the length of Gibbs' arm, the weight of his gaze clearly telling the former Marine to let go. It was the first and only time he could remember Tony ever not welcoming his touch, not wanting him to linger. Green eyes were still shuttered, his expression decidedly neutral. "You don't have time." Gibbs nearly growled. He didn't want to leave things like this between them. He still wasn't sure what the hell he'd done wrong. But he knew it had to have been him. He just needed a chance to figure it out and make it right. "Later then." It wasn't a request. Something flashed in Tony's eyes. Something Gibbs couldn't quite read. "I hope so, Jethro." It was little more than a whisper. Gibbs gave him a sharp look. He wasn't sure what that meant. Was Tony saying he didn't want to settle this? Was he that pissed? Couldn't he see killing Ari was necessary? Gibbs couldn't let that bastard live. The first time they'd met Ari he'd been content with threats and injuries. The second time he'd escalated to killing Kate. There was no telling what he might do in the future. He couldn't risk leaving Ari out there to do more damage. He'd never survive if it was Tony who was the target the next time. Gibbs couldn't handle losing him. Kate was bad enough. Tony's lips curled into a sad half smile. He shook his head, an undercurrent of fond exasperation shading his voice when he spoke. "We don't get the chance to settle this later it'll be because you're dead. It won't be because I walked away or didn't get it, you dumb shit." Tony was the only person who'd ever been able to read him so well. And other than Ducky, the only one who could get away with being so blunt. But, Gibbs had to admit, blunt worked. He finally began to understand Tony wasn't just angry, he was worried and maybe a little scared. "Be careful." Tony directed quietly. "Please." "I will." Gibbs promised. There was too much at stake to be careless. He wanted to say more, wanted to touch Tony in a more intimate fashion?a kiss, a hug, anything. He wanted desperately to know his touch was still welcome, that he was still welcome. Needed assurance he'd get a chance to make it right. Tony pointed his index finger at Gibbs, then made a fist and covered his heart with it. Gibbs smiled, feeling immeasurable relief and repeated the gesture. It wasn't traditional sign language for ?I love you' but it was close enough. "Go do what you need to, Boss." Tony jerked his head toward Sheppard. "We'll talk later." Gibbs nodded. He'd feel better about his plan, a lot more confident of success if it was Tony backing him up, but he just couldn't risk it. Couldn't risk him. He'd just have to make do. He was going home to Tony when it was done, safe and sound, just like he promised. He had too much to lose to not confront his nemesis. And he had too much to live for to not survive his last encounter with Ari.

********** **************** **************** ************* Tony sighed softly and rubbed at his temples. His head hurt. It had since he came back to work. He should have taken that extra week off. But he was damn glad he hadn't. If he had, McGee and?Tony hesitated over her name before forcing himself to finish the thought. McGee and Kate would have died when the car exploded. As it was, Kate was still dead. Tony tried not to dwell on the irony of that. It hurt too much. "You okay, Tony?" Tony looked over at McGee. He didn't want to lie, and telling the truth seemed like a bad idea. That left?silence. He shrugged, stifling a wince as his muscles protested the movement. With his body sending him little reminders like that it was hard to lose sight of everything that had happened in the last four days. Lord. Tony sighed again. Had it only been four days? He mentally counted. Day one had been back to work and a case complete with two dead sailors and a bomb in the car. Spending the night at the office, sleeping in a chair hadn't helped ease the lingering muscle aches. Day two was spent stopping a terrorist attack and ended with Kate dieing on that damn roof. Not really a good day, Tony decided. Definitely not a good day. Day three was trying to find that bastard Ari. If he never had another stakeout in the rain it would be too soon. His fingers and toes were still cold. And today?well, today was going to see the end of it, one way or another. He wondered if God would listen if he prayed for Gibbs to be all right. Tony wasn't sure if God would honor a request that was basically a prayer for someone else's death, because for Gibbs to be all right meant Ari had to die. He was a bit rusty on his catechism but he was pretty sure that was a violation of something. Not that it mattered. God had never answered a single prayer that Tony knew of?or if He had, the answer had always been no. Tony told himself he didn't need to worry. Gibbs always came out on top?.except when it came to Ari. Ari already succeeded in shooting Gibbs once before. Gibbs had returned the favor Tony reminded himself. This time?.well, this time one of them would be going home in a body bag. It just remained to be seen which one. Tony's gut clenched painfully at that thought. He knew talking Gibbs into taking him as back up wouldn't work. Gibbs was nicely predictable that way. People who mattered to him had to be protected, kept safe. At least Gibbs hadn't completely lost sight of Tony's ability to take care of himself. If he had, Tony would have been confined to the building the way Abby had been, and Ducky was supposed to be. Tony knew Gibbs wouldn't have assigned him the task of tailing Ziva if he didn't think it was relatively safe. She was their best link to Ari, and Ari knew it. It was unlikely Ari would get too close. He couldn't afford to be linked to any more deaths?not when he was working so damn hard to make it look like someone else had shot Kate. Tony didn't resent having to tail Ziva, even knowing it was also Gibbs way of keeping him safe. She was their best shot at finding Ari. He knew that. He just wished Gibbs had trusted him enough to let him be his back up when he'd gone after Ari last night. Taking Sheppard was a mistake. One he knew Gibbs realized now. He'd seen it in the former Marine's face. It was to his credit that he assumed people he'd worked with were just as good as they ever were, but it was a stupid thing to do.

Tony wondered if he should be jealous Gibbs had taken Sheppard. Rumor had it they'd been more than just coworkers a few years ago. That could just be dismissed as office gossip, but Tony was fairly certain there was a kernel of truth to it. Something in the way Gibbs looked at her, and she looked at him, suggested their history had been intimate at one point. Tony was too good at reading nuances in body language to miss that. What he couldn't be sure of was if that old flame had burned out entirely. This was his longest relationship to date and it was the first time Tony had ever felt even remotely jealous. Oh he'd been worried about Stan Burley realizing he'd made a mistake in leaving Gibbs' team and retaking his place, or Kate usurping his position on the job as Gibbs' right hand man. But as far as relationships went, Gibbs was the only one who'd ever been interested in something more than just a good time. Everyone else had been just a quick fuck and 'see you around some time'. It was weird to feel like he might even have the right to be possessive, that he might have some real claim on Gibbs. It hurt to think of all he might lose. He wasn't really jealous of Gibbs taking Sheppard for his back up. Gibbs was doing his best to protect people he cared about...mostly by keeping them either as far from him as possible or shut up at the office. Taking Sheppard with him made Tony think Gibbs didn't value her as highly as he did the rest of his team. At least, he hoped that was what it meant. Tony rubbed at his temples again. This time he knew Gibbs would take someone who knew when to shoot and wouldn't miss. He tried not to let the thought of Gibbs out there facing Ari scare him, but he knew he was failing. He rubbed his gritty eyes and tried to ignore the way his hands trembled. He wished he had something else to focus on. Even paperwork would be a godsend about now. "Tony?" He looked up, blinking in surprise to find McGee standing directly in front of him. "Yeah?" "I want to go see Kate." McGee swallowed hard, looking a bit green but resolute. "I know it's stupid, but I don't want...I mean, would you-" "I'll come with you," Tony cut him off gently. There was no reason to leave McGee stuttering or feeling worse than he already did. Tony regretted lashing out at him the night Kate died. It had been uncalled for. It wasn't McGee's fault and he shouldn't have let his temper get the better of him. He'd told McGee more than once that he should go see Kate. It would help. And he owed it to the junior agent to see him through this. No one should have to do it alone the first time. Besides, going with McGee would give him something to do to take his mind off the fact that he knew Gibbs was out there doing something potentially dangerous and probably stupid. He should have fallen in love with a more sensible sort. But then, Tony doubted a sensible sort would have fallen for him. He stood up. Tony gripped his desk tightly for a moment when the room tilted. He really should eat something. Other than two pieces of pizza Gibbs had given him the other night, Tony hadn't eaten much. He hadn't really been hungry, Kate's death affecting his appetite even more than the plague had.

He wouldn't mind going home and taking a shower. Tony was mildly surprised to realize he hadn't been home in four days. It was a good thing he kept more than one change of clothes at the office. He ignored the worried expression on McGee's face. He must look about as worn down as he felt. Not a good thing. Was probably another reason Gibbs didn't take him along. He wished it didn't make more sense that Gibbs left him behind because he might be more of a hindrance than help. It was stupid, wishful thinking to assume Gibbs had left him behind to keep him safe. The former Marine more than likely just wanted him out of the way. A voice in his head that sounded a lot like Kate quietly chastised him, "Tony, your insecurities are showing. Gibbs loves you. The man said so...and he never says things he doesn't mean. Ever." Tony saw Kate standing just past McGee's shoulder, still wearing her Catholic school girl outfit. He wanted to argue, tell her she was wrong, but he really wanted her to be right. She smiled brightly at him, a look of victory on her face. "Gibbs is just dumb enough to think it's better to risk himself than to let you help." She shook her head, an expression of annoyance on her face showing what she thought of Gibbs' way of handling things. She pointed a finger at Tony, her countenance shifting into something stern. "You mark my words, Tony, if he didn't think so much of you, you'd have never been on his team in the first place, much less in his bed. He is just so?well, not used to doing things the right way. The man has been divorced three times for a reason." Tony really wished she wasn't a figment of his imagination. It would be nice to hear her voice for real again. It would be really nice if what she'd said turned out to be the truth. "Tony?" It took him a second to realize that it was McGee who'd said his name. He focused on the junior agent when the image of Kate vanished. "Yeah, McGee?" McGee eyed him with open concern. "You're looking a little...well, peaked." Mentally, Tony snorted. He'd have to give McGee points for tact. Gibbs would have said he looked like crap. And he'd be right. He felt like crap? drained and empty, stiff and sore, scared and anxious. That would do it every time. "Just tired, McGee." He smiled wanly, trying to offer some assurances. "It's been a long couple of days." "You still have a week of sick leave." "So people keep telling me." Tony shook his head. "Let's go see Kate." Together they headed for the elevator. Tony really wanted to lean against the wall but forced himself to stay upright, squaring his shoulders. McGee needed him to be strong for him. It was the least he could do. Tony let McGee lead the way into the morgue. He stopped just outside the doorway. Tony had suggested this visit, and prodded McGee into it, told him it was a good thing to do, but he didn't want the other man to feel like he was being forced. Tony wanted this to honestly be the other man's choice. He waited, giving McGee enough space to back out, letting this be his decision.

McGee never faltered or hesitated as he made his way to the drawer where Kate was. Tony could see him bracing himself; a deep breath in and out slowly, a faint twitch of his shoulders before he grabbed the handle. McGee pulled the drawer open, and even though Tony couldn't see his face, he was fairly certain the other man's eyes were closed. Tony stepped quietly into the room, and made his way to stand behind McGee. He waited until he knew McGee had given in and looked at her. "Told you she looked good." He walked around to the other side of the drawer. Kate looked like she was sleeping. He resisted the urge to reach out and touch her not wanting to feel a chill on skin that should be warm. "Probie wouldn't believe me, Kate." He cocked his head to one side, glad she looked like herself. Talking to her just seemed right, natural. "He thought you'd look like, Return of the Living Dead." "Did not." McGee protested softly, eyes still on Kate. "Don't lie to the dead, McGee." Tony shook his head. "Not nice." McGee shrugged his shoulders a little, shifted his weight, a sure sign he was giving in. "I was a little afraid." "Kid was terrified," Tony whispered. Everyone is the first time, Tony thought suddenly feeling a lot older than thirty-three. "But it took a lot of guts to come down here, alone." McGee glanced up at him. He hadn't really come alone, but Tony knew he would have. Eventually. It was good that he didn't have to. The former cop smiled slightly. "Showed how much he cared for you." Tony wanted McGee to understand he hadn't urged him to do this just because he was a prick. This was about closure. For both of them, really, Tony admitted to himself with an honesty he'd never verbalize. Maybe now he'd stop seeing Kate and hearing her voice. Maybe now McGee would sleep without nightmares. Not that he'd admitted to having any, but Tony knew he did. Hell, they all did. "I really did like you," McGee said once more looking down at Kate, eyes bright with unshed tears. "A lot." "She knew." Tony whispered. She had to have known they liked her. She was too smart not to have gotten that, not to have understood they were just pulling her pigtails the way little boys do. "I'm going to miss her." "We all will." Tony reached for the sheet. McGee did likewise. Together they covered her again. He closed the drawer gently. Even knowing Kate wouldn't feel a thing, he didn't want to jar her. Tony laid his palm against the drawer, leaning in a little, head hanging. He closed his eyes, a half forgotten memory bringing a prayer to mind. It was the sort of thing she'd have appreciated. Kate was a fair better Catholic than Tony was or ever would be. His lips moved soundlessly as he repeated what he remembered in Latin. 'Veni creator spiritus, mentes tuorum visita; Imple superna gratia, quae tu creasti, pectora.'

McGee laid a hand on his shoulder. "You okay?" Tony nodded tiredly, not really focused on McGee. He really wished he could remember the entire prayer. Several stanzas were missing. Unconsciously he muttered the next bit he could remember aloud. "Hostem repellas longius, pacemque dones protinus; Ductoresic te praevio, vitemus omne noxium." "What?" McGee squeezed his shoulder. "I don't-" "Far from us drive our hellish foe, true peace unto us bring," Tony translated. "And through all perils guide us safe, beneath thy sacred wing." He wasn't sure if the last bit was for Kate or for Gibbs or all of them. It would certainly fit. He wondered if Ari qualified as a hellish foe in God's eyes. He hoped it didn't matter that he couldn't remember the rest. The sentiment had to count for something. Tony didn't want to put any more people he cared about in these stupid drawers. Ever again. He sighed. He levered himself away from the wall of cold stainless steel. "Time to go, McGee." McGee blinked at him. "Go where?" "Home." "Oh." McGee nodded slowly. "You need a ride?" Tony smiled, touched by the simple offer. "No, I'm good." He still had the rental car the insurance company gave him. At some point he was going to have to think about actually replacing his car. "You sure?" "I'm sure." Tony patted McGee on the back and ushered him toward the door. Unless he was mistaken, and he didn't think he was, he'd heard the sounds of someone else in the morgue. It was most likely Ducky. The ME would understand better than anyone the need to visit with the dead. Tony didn't want to intrude on the older man's time alone with Kate if he was simply waiting for them to leave. "You are going home, right?" McGee asked him in the elevator as they headed back up to their floor. Tony arched an eyebrow. "Where else would I go?" He never went to Gibbs unless the other man was there. And since he really had no idea where Gibbs was at the moment, Tony's own apartment was the best place to be. Gibbs would look for him there when this business with Ari was finished. McGee frowned at him. "You're not staying here, is what I meant. Abby said you were on the surveillance tape at two in the morning." He wanted to just brush that off as some sort of fluke, a one time thing, but the look on McGee's face told him it wouldn't fly. He gave McGee a rueful smile. "Not a secret anymore, hunh?" "Not sure why it ever was, but no, it's not a secret anymore." McGee looked concerned. "So...you are going home...you're not spending another night here?" "I'm going home." Tony rubbed at his eyes.

"You're going to eat something? I know you haven't been eating much lately." Tony chuckled. "You're turning into a mother hen." McGee blushed. "Don't want to lose you too," he mumbled, looking away. Tony was stunned. He didn't think McGee meant for him to hear that. He patted McGee on the shoulder. "I'll eat something," he promised. He had no idea what, or when, but he'd eat something. They both grabbed jackets, keys and backpacks before heading out again. Tony was glad McGee didn't ask about Gibbs. He was still trying very hard not to think about where his lover was and what he was doing. He waved to McGee as he got into the rental sedan. Tony closed his eyes for a moment before starting the car. He forced himself to think positive. Gibbs would be home in a few hours, by sunrise at the latest. Then Tony could kick his ass?figuratively, if not literally, for making him worry, for leaving him behind, for treating him like he was fragile. Tony grimaced. He should have fallen for a sensible sort. Shame he wasn't a sensible sort or he would have. Must mean he and Gibbs were really meant to be together. He gripped the steering wheel hard enough to whiten his knuckles. "Miserable bastard had better come home." Tony resolutely ignored how much his statement sounded like he was praying. He took a deep breath. He trusted Gibbs. Tony reminded himself that he had more faith in him than he'd ever had in anyone else. Now was not the time to doubt that. Gibbs would be home. And Tony would be waiting when he got there. (A link to the full prayer http://www.truecatholic.org/venicreator.htm)

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************** *************** *************** ******** Gibbs stared down at Ari's body. He wanted to feel some sense of satisfaction, vindication or justice. He thought maybe he'd feel a little relief that this was finally finished, but all he felt was tired. Gibbs sighed softly and turned away. He looked at Ziva. She hadn't hesitated. Had shown herself to be capable of doing what was required. No mean feat given that what she had to do was kill her brother. Gibbs had suspected there was a connection between them, but he hadn't known for sure. If he'd known for certain, he'd have found someone else; picked another agent to back him up. But in some ways, it was better like this. She had been so sure Ari wasn't a double agent, that he hadn't betrayed Israel, hadn't betrayed her. Ziva needed to know he wasn't the trusted agent she thought he was. She needed to know he wasn't her loving, older brother. Hell, her father probably wasn't quite who she thought he was either. It made Gibbs feel ancient to see her disillusioned. He couldn't remember the last time he'd put that much trust in anyone. Well, until recently. His team, Tony in particular, were the only people he had any faith in. It was another reason he couldn't risk any more of them?couldn't risk Tony. Not here, not with this, not now.

Gibbs watched Ziva's expression shift...sorrow, disappointment, resolution and pain. He reached out and carefully took the gun from her. Gibbs didn't have any words to offer. He was sorry for her loss, but he wasn't sorry Ari was dead. It was poetic justice that he died the same way Kate had?at the hands of someone he'd trusted, never even knowing who'd fired the shot. Gibbs had planned it that way. He told people he was a bastard, and he meant it. Gibbs shook his head. Ziva wouldn't want to hear what he had to say. It was best to simply let her deal with this her own way. He moved past her and up the stairs. Gibbs called Sheppard. He didn't tell her who shot Ari, just that he was dead. He knew she'd assume he'd shot the bastard, and that was fine with him. It was better for everyone involved if that was the ?official' story. Sheppard told him a crew would be to his house in ten minutes. They'd take care of the body and the blood. He'd worry about the rest later. He turned to look at Ziva when she came up the stairs. She swallowed hard. "What...what happens now?" "The director is sending a crew to-" "No." She shook her head. "I meant to...him." Ziva waved a hand toward the basement. "I want...I want to take him home." She squared her shoulders, making eye contact. "He should have a proper burial." Gibbs didn't know if Ari was Jewish or Moslem at this point, and he wasn't sure it mattered. Funerals were more for the living than the dead. It was doubtful Ari would actually give a damn what rites were said over his grave. And if having the wrong rites said meant his soul suffered a little more, Gibbs wasn't going to lose any sleep over it. And he certainly wasn't going to argue with Ziva over her right to bury her brother. "I'll make sure they release the body to you." She bit her lower lip. "I'll need to make?arrangements." "Talk to Jen," Gibbs told her, his tone gentle. "I'm sure she'll know who to speak with about getting transport." He wondered vaguely if Ziva would want Ari's coffin draped in Israel's flag. Ari wasn't really a fallen soldier. Gibbs wasn't sure exactly what the hell he was...a rogue agent, a terrorist, or just plain insane...any or all would fit. "When she gets things settled...call me." Gibbs patted Ziva's shoulder. "I'll go with you to the airport and make sure everything goes smoothly." He felt like he owed her that much. She nodded sharply, dark eyes bright with extra moisture. He knew she wouldn't cry. Not in front of him. Maybe not ever. He was very glad now that it was her and not Tony who'd shot Ari. Tony had been messed up for weeks after killing Jeffery White. It hadn't been anything obvious, and the rest of the team didn't seem to notice, but Gibbs had. Tony was capable of violence, would protect those he considered important, but he wasn't ruthless or hard. Death still bothered him in ways it hadn't affected Gibbs in years. To be honest, Gibbs didn't want his lover to become like him...bitter, mean and angry. He needed that upbeat, sunny smile. He needed Tony's irrepressible humor and

lighthearted demeanor. Tony balanced him like no one else ever had; reminded him he was still capable of love and laughter. Gibbs thought Ziva was better equipped to handle the aftermath of cold bloodedly shooting someone in the head. And even if she wasn't, her problems weren't something he'd have to deal with. It was a harsh assessment, but no less true. He opened the door when someone knocked. He nodded to the 'clean up team' as he'd privately dubbed them. Gibbs recognized them even though he didn't know what their names were. His house was basically a crime scene now. Gibbs was glad Tony was waiting at his place for him. It would be at least a day or more before Gibbs' house was cleared. He sighed softly and rubbed at his eyes. He was tired. The last good night's sleep he'd gotten was the night before Tony came back to work. It seemed a lot more than four days ago. One of the crew approached Gibbs. "It'll take us-" "Just call me on my cell or at the office when it's done." Gibbs cut him off. He didn't need the details. "You have somewhere to go, Sir?" The guy looked nervous and uncertain. He reminded Gibbs of McGee. Gibbs knew he had that affect on people. Liked having it. "Yeah, I got somewhere." Gibbs glared at the other man. The guy swallowed hard and shifted his weight. "You...you want us to...to lock up when we leave?" "Just close the door." Gibbs hadn't locked the door in years. At this point he wasn't even sure if he could find the key to the house. "Yes, Sir." "And stop calling me, Sir," Gibbs snarled. He hated being called sir. Gibbs left. They could take care of the mess in his basement without an audience. Ziva would make certain they did a thorough job. He was sure of that. Gibbs drove to Tony's place. He could feel a nervous flutter in his gut. It was a flutter he hadn't felt since he'd come home to find his third wife had left, her closet empty, her cat gone and a message in lipstick scrawled across the bedroom mirror. He hated knowing he'd pissed Tony off. Tony didn't get angry very often. Had never been angry with him, and Gibbs wasn't sure how to handle it. Tony wouldn't be bought off with an apology. Especially not when Gibbs really couldn't say he was sorry. He wasn't sorry. He was doing what he thought was right and he'd do it again. Gibbs gripped the steering wheel hard. It was exactly that attitude that had gotten him a golf club to the head. Tony could do a lot more damage than that if he wanted to. Gibbs really hoped Tony didn't want to. Gibbs took a deep breath as he parked the car. The digital clock said it was one am. As late, or early, as it was he knew Tony would still be awake. He felt a stab of guilt.

Tony should be getting a good night's sleep. This wasn't the quiet week of desk duty he'd planned for Tony to have. Gibbs grimaced. Hell, it wasn't a week he'd have planned at all, for any of them. God, but he was tired. He got out of the car. Gibbs hesitated at the door. He had a key. He knew he was welcome. Well, most of the time. Right now, he wasn't so sure. He wished the hell relationships were as easy as dealing with the likes of Ari had been. He stepped back involuntarily when the door suddenly opened. Tony leaned against it, green eyes looking at him in concern. "Let me guess...You lost your key and forgot how to knock?" Under the humor in the question was a wealth of other emotions, concern and relief being the easiest to identify. Gibbs smiled. "Something like that." "C'mere." Tony held out a hand. Gibbs took it without hesitation. He didn't resist when Tony pulled him inside and into a tight embrace. Gibbs reveled in the feel of Tony's arms wrapped around him; the hard, strong body, warm and alive against his own. "I'm so damn glad you are alive," Tony whispered clutching him tighter, "but I am still pissed at you." "Okay." Gibbs buried his face where Tony's neck and shoulder met, breathing in deeply. He understood Tony's relief. He'd felt the same way when Tony had been infected with the plague, and had come so close to dying. He'd been pissed too that something so simple and stupid as opening a letter had been what had put Tony's life at risk in the first place. Gibbs sighed and reluctantly let go when he felt Tony start to pull away. Tony raised both hands to cup his face, jade eyes searching light blue. "You're okay?" He turned his head to place a kiss in Tony's palm. Physically he was fine. Emotionally ?well that was up to Tony at this point. He wasn't sure how to articulate that so he settled for, "I'm okay." "Liar." Tony smiled softly. "Time delayed truth," Gibbs countered with a soft smile of his own. Tony snorted and rolled his eyes. "Like that's going to work." He stepped back tilted his head toward the living room. "C'mon. We need to talk." Gibbs winced. He knew they needed to talk even if he wasn't quite clear on the why. He hated having to talk. Unless it was an interrogation or issuing orders, Gibbs sucked when it came to words. He followed Tony into the living room. Other than the bedroom, this was his favorite room in Tony's place. It was homey and comfortable, warm and welcoming the way his own never seemed to be.

Gibbs had joked with Tony early on about the state of his apartment, and Tony had gone along with him, but it was always neat and organized. Tony played up the whole frat-boy, bachelor image, but like a lot of things it wasn't the whole truth, or even close to it. Gibbs knew it wasn't Louisa who kept the place tidy. He knew she spent less than an hour at Tony's place running the vacuum around and dusting. It gave her more time to bake him cookies and leave dinner in his fridge. There was something soft and melodic coming from the stereo. Gibbs didn't recognize the music but then he didn't know most of the stuff Tony had. He'd grown accustomed to that background noise always being present; so much so that he had the radio or TV on at his place most of the time even when Tony wasn't there. "You want something to drink?" Tony offered. He'd love a stiff drink, but somehow Gibbs didn't think that would help. He shook his head. "No. Thanks." Tony nodded and sighed. He rubbed at his eyes. Gibbs winced internally at how tired Tony looked. "You should be in bed." Tony snorted. He gave Gibbs a hard look. "If I were out facing down a killer...and you didn't know where I was or who I was using for back up...would you be able to sleep?" Gibbs opened his mouth and then snapped it shut. When Tony had been on the run, chained to Jeffrey White, even before Gibbs had known Jeffrey was a killer he'd been nearly frantic. Not that anyone could tell. Gibbs had too much control for that. He couldn't even admit to Kate that he was worried. Saying it out loud would have validated his concern, would have made the fear more real. Kate never understood that. "No." Gibbs finally said, sitting down on the edge of the couch. "I wouldn't be sleeping." Tony cocked his head to one side. Gibbs tried not to feel uneasy under that intense scrutiny. He'd done this to suspects but Gibbs had never realized just how unnerving it could be to be on the receiving end. "You almost got it." "Got it?" "Why I'm mad at you." Gibbs frowned. Tony sighed heavily and sat down on the opposite end of the couch. He shook his head. "You...Leroy Jethro Gibbs are not invincible or immortal." "I know that." "Do you?" Tony arched an eyebrow. "You sure don't act like it." Gibbs grimaced. He thought Tony understood that getting Ari was necessary. It had to be done. "Look, I know you don't like that-" "Did you mean it when you said you love me?" Tony neatly cut him off.

Gibbs blinked. "Yes!" He reached out to grab Tony's hand. He couldn't have Tony doubting that. "Hell, yes I meant it. I love you, Tony. You have to believe that." Tony nodded slowly, eyes never leaving his. "Did you believe me when I said I love you?" Gibbs felt his breath catch, unsure of where Tony was going with this line of questioning. "Yes, I believe you." "Then why would you think your death would hurt me any less than mine would hurt you?" The question was gentle, Tony's expression an earnest quest for understanding. He squeezed Gibbs' hand. "Why would you think I wouldn't want you as safe and sound as you want me to be?" Gibbs stared at him. It had never even occurred to him. Although, in hindsight, he realized it should have. Tony moved closer. "You never got left behind, did you? Never sat at home with nothing more to do than wait, worry and pray?" Gibbs was used to being the one on the front lines, the protector, the defender, active and focused on getting things done. It was a role he'd been comfortable with since he joined the Marines at eighteen. He hated feeling helpless and he should have known Tony would share that feeling. He'd gotten a taste of what it was to have a loved one deliberately placing himself in danger when Tony was chained to Jeffrey, but just a small taste. He could do something to help, was actively working the case and doing his best to get Tony back. The same was true when Tony was infected with the plague. There was a case to work, clues to follow, a chance of finding an antidote. He'd nearly gone insane when quarantined by Ducky, unable to do anything to help. He'd actively avoided thinking about what might happen to Tony, focusing exclusively on the thought that his lover would live. "I just wanted you to be safe." Gibbs whispered; being out of the line of fire equated to safe in his mind. "Taking on all this shit alone, keeping me at a distance from the action...it won't keep me safe." Tony reached out and cupped Gibbs' face with one hand, his thumb caressing Gibbs' cheek. "I nearly died a few times before I met you, you know." Tony looked away. "There was a car accident when I was fifteen." Gibbs jaw tightened. It was undoubtedly the same accident that had been fatal for Tony's mother. Gibbs wasn't sorry that woman had died?If she'd been abusing Tony as he suspected, then she got off easy in Gibbs' opinion. But it hadn't occurred to him that Tony's own life might have been at risk in the same accident. "There was a jumper who nearly took me with him when I worked in Philly." Tony leaned in a little closer. "A meth addict with a knife in Baltimore." Gibbs flinched. He couldn't imagine his life without Tony as part of it. Didn't want to even contemplate what it would be like if he'd never met the younger man. Tony smirked. "Ours is a risky business, boss." "That's a stupid cliche," Gibbs glared at Tony. He shouldn't make light of this.

"Doesn't make it any less true." Tony shrugged, an unrepentant look on his face. "Pacci was just following the money. Voss looked harmless enough and she gutted him." Gibbs winced. Voss could easily have done the same to Tony. Nearly had. And Voss wasn't the only one. Tony had been at risk, in harm's way, a lot over the past four years. "And you were there for all of it." Tony pointed out clearly able to see where his thoughts had gone. "I trust you to be there for me, to have my back when it comes to all the crazy shit we get into." Tony bit his lip. "I wish you trusted me to do the same for you." "I do." Gibbs insisted. "I do...it was just...damn it, Tony, I can't lose you." His voice broke. He'd lost too many, lost too much already. "And you think it would be easier for me to lose you?" Tony shook his head. Gibbs felt a bit like a light bulb should suddenly be shining over his head as he made the connection Tony had clearly been trying to relay. He was damn glad Tony was better at expressing himself and far more patient than his former wives had been. But then, he had more common ground with Tony than he had with them. So maybe it wasn't all their fault he didn't quite get what they were saying. Tony's countenance was a mixture of affection and exasperation. "You are such a dumb shit some times, you know that." Gibbs found himself smiling. "Does this mean I'm forgiven?" "Depends." Gibbs froze, smile fading. "On what?" "You going to pull this crap again?" Tony's eyes shuttered, becoming unreadable. "I'd rather sleep alone than have you out there without reliable back up." Gibbs hesitated. He couldn't promise not to put Tony's safety ahead of his own. Couldn't promise he wouldn't try to handle things solo when he thought that was best. But he had to say something here. "I'll try not to," Gibbs finally said, unable to lie outright. "Okay." Tony nodded. Gibbs blinked. What the hell did that mean? Had he just fucked up and given the wrong answer? Should he have found a way to lie? "Okay, what?" "I wanted honesty, not for you to tell me what you think I want to hear. And you gave me that." Tony smiled. "You always do." Tony shrugged one shoulder and made a vague meaningless gesture with one hand. "I know you didn't think it through this time. You didn't get it. Now you do." He pointed a finger at Gibbs. "You'll try...and from you, that means a lot more than it does coming from most people, Jethro." Tony leaned forward and rested his forehead against Gibbs. "And just so we're clear, I'll ride your ass about it again at some point when you don't try hard enough." Gibbs smiled. He could live with that. "Okay." "We'll make it work."

"We'll make it work." Gibbs repeated, giving the statement the weight of a promise. Gibbs felt tension draining out of him like water released from behind a dam. He sighed and leaned more heavily into Tony. He could spend the night right here, just like this. "But you aren't going to." Gibbs blinked, not realizing he'd even spoken aloud until he heard Tony's comment. Tony smiled, and kissed him gently. Tony stood up and offered him a hand. "C'mon. Let's go see about working on eight hours of sleep. Things will look better in the morning." Gibbs was tempted to dismiss that bit of optimism. It was as cliche as Tony's earlier statement about their jobs being a risky business. But he really didn't want to dismiss it. He wanted to believe things would look better in the morning, and was going to do his best find the truth in that old cliche. He followed Tony into the bedroom. The younger man placed a hand on his chest, stopping him in the center of the dimly lit room. With gentle care, Tony stripped him out of his clothing, leaving him in just his underwear. Goosebumps rose, and Gibbs found himself leaning into Tony's warmth. Tony led him to the bed and together they lay down. Gibbs wrapped his arms around Tony, pulling the younger man closer to him. It had only been a few days, and he'd missed being able to do this. Gibbs hadn't even realized just how much he'd missed it until this moment. He shivered thinking how close he'd come in the past few days to never being able to do this again. Tony placed a kiss above his heart. "Stop thinking." Easier said than done, Gibbs thought with a smile. He nuzzled Tony's hair, enjoying the way the silken strands felt against his skin. "I'll try." "Good 'nough." Tony mumbled, yawning. Gibbs closed his eyes and centered himself in the moment. What was done, was done. And he'd deal with tomorrow when he had to. For now, it was enough just to be content. ********************** ****************** ************** Gibbs heard the soft chime of the clock, unconsciously counting them. It felt like he'd only laid down a minute ago, but the clock was announcing six. He sighed silently. He'd really like to just stay right where he was. Hell, he'd already slept in half an hour past his usual wake up time so a little more wouldn't really hurt anything. He opened his eyes when he felt Tony nuzzle his neck. A soft kiss was placed on that spot just under his ear that always made him shiver. He automatically tilted his head, stretching to give Tony more room and greater access. Tony nibbled on his ear lobe, sucking gently. Gibbs moaned quietly. He'd never known his ears were so damn sensitive before meeting Tony. "Morning, Jethro," Tony whispered. His usual smooth tenor was rough with sleep and desire. Gibbs loved it when Tony sounded like this.

"Morning." Gibbs cupped Tony's face, pulling him up for a proper kiss. He'd never quite figured out how Tony managed not to have morning mouth, but he always tasted good. Gibbs moaned into Tony's mouth. He'd never figured out how Tony did that thing with his tongue either, but the man was talented that's for sure. Gibbs hated having to breathe; it meant he had to lose contact, even if only for a moment, from that delectable mouth. Tony smiled at him. He waggled his eyebrows before ducking his head to place a kiss at the hollow of Gibbs' throat. Gibbs was convinced at times like this Tony was part octopus; his hands seemed to be everywhere?stroking, caressing, teasing, arousing and massaging. God. That clever, talented tongue was now doing things to his right nipple that made it hard to think. Gibbs' fingers clenched in Tony's hair, holding him in place, mutely demanding more. Tony gently applied his teeth, tugging on the hard nub. Gibbs moaned, arching his back in response. Tony released his hold, the broad pad of his tongue passing over the sensitive flesh making Gibbs whimper. Tony nipped and licked his way to the left nipple, giving it the same treatment he had the right. Gibbs bit his lip to keep from making embarrassing little mewling sounds of pleasure. Gibbs instinctively began moving his hips, thrusting lazily against Tony. The brush of cotton against his skin created a delightful friction. He knew skin on skin would be better and not for the first time did Gibbs regret that he hadn't made a habit of sleeping completely naked the way Tony did. Everywhere Tony touched him was like being touched by a flame. But rather than burn him, it just made him hungry for more. He wrapped himself around Tony, trying to do the impossible and pull him even closer. He breathed in deeply, taking in Tony's scent, cataloging each bit of the fragrance he could identify. There was sweat, spice, musk and something that always reminded him of dark chocolate... bittersweet. That not quite definable, almost like chocolate component was always strongest in the morning. It was lost during the day under the stronger scents of Tony's soap, cologne and hair products. Gibbs loved thinking it was something about his lover reserved just for him. He ran his fingers through Tony's hair and down his back. Gibbs enjoyed the smooth feel of Tony's warm skin under his fingers. It was like silk and he didn't think he'd ever get enough of just touching Tony. He was rewarded with one of those rumbling sighs that sounded so much like a cat purring. He wanted to take his time, slow down and enjoy each and every sensation. But somehow morning sex always seemed more urgent to him, as though he were sneaking some forbidden delight. In the back of his mind lurked a half forgotten fear that something or someone might interrupt, ruining the moment before letting it come to its natural completion. So in spite of himself, Gibbs found his hips thrusting harder against Tony. He was breathing in harsh pants; hot, hard and hungry for as much as he could get as fast as Tony could give it. Tony met him easily, matching him move for move, reminding Gibbs anew that the younger man knew how to dance.

Gibbs was torn between wanting to create enough room between them and escape the confines of his boxers and never, ever letting go. Everything just felt so good?.every touch, every kiss, each sigh and moan, every whispered eager word of encouragement. Stopping or even slowing down simply wasn't an option. He captured Tony's mouth in a kiss that was nearly savage in its intensity. Their tongues dueled for dominance even though Gibbs didn't give a damn about who won. He caressed the roof of Tony's mouth with his tongue, enjoying the way it made his lover shiver. He swallowed Tony's gasp of pleasure, already seeking more. Without thinking, his assault on Tony's mouth began to mimic the same rhythm their hips had already established. Back and forth, give and take, asking and demanding...it was impossible to know who lead and who followed. He gripped Tony's arms, fingers clenching and flexing as he searched for purchase, something to hold on to as his orgasm began to overwhelm him. Gibbs wanted to protest, not wanting this glorious moment of mutual pleasure and satisfaction to be over so soon. But the bliss enveloped him with the force of a tidal wave making it hard to regret anything. He felt Tony tense, muscles constricting, twitching randomly. There was this timeless, suspended moment that happened every time, right before Tony came. Gibbs didn't really believe in auras, but at that moment, he would swear he could almost see the rush of ecstasy flow over Tony like a ray of white light. Tony seemed to just melt into him, boneless now in comparison to the rigid tension of just a moment ago. Gibbs welcomed the added weight. He liked how solid Tony felt. Tony was durable and strong, not someone he had to worry about being careful not to hold too tightly. Tony sighed, and rubbed his face against Gibbs' chest. The morning stubble he usually sported prickled, but Tony's was a lot softer than his own tended to be. He'd never gotten beard burn from Tony. Gibbs forced himself not to resist when Tony shifted and started to pull away. Tony looked down at him and grinned. He kissed the tip of Gibbs' nose. "Good morning." "Very good morning." Gibbs felt an answering grin spread across his face. Tony chuckled. It was a deep, raspy sound that created the same delightful shivers down Gibbs' back as his 'just woke up' voice. "Think we need to get cleaned up and get moving." He wanted to argue. But he knew it wasn't really an option. The realization that Kate's funeral was today hit him like a slap in the face. Gibbs couldn't believe he'd actually forgotten that. Tony rested his forehead against Gibbs'. "It's like getting kicked in the gut. I know." Gibbs sighed. Blue eyes studied green. "You okay?" "Getting there." Tony managed to shrug without losing contact. Gibbs didn't like the shadows he saw in Tony's eyes. It would take time for them to fade. Gibbs knew they'd never totally disappear; they never did, they just became less obvious.

Gibbs hesitated to ask if Tony needed to talk about Kate's death. He didn't have the words for this sort of thing. He didn't like to talk about shit, hated to in fact. Didn't want to dwell on it, and everything he should have done, on everything that went wrong. But he owed it to Tony to give him the option of talking about it if he wanted to. "Tony...about what happened to Kate-" Tony shook his head, and carelessly pushed back the comforter, rising smoothly to his feet. It was an effective signal he wasn't interested in talking about Kate's death. Where Gibbs usually opted for silence and a cold stare when confronted with things he didn't want to talk about; Tony usually chose distraction. The younger man could avoid things he didn't want to talk about with the best of them. "C'mon." He held out a hand to Gibbs. "I can hear the shower calling." Gibbs took his hand, letting Tony pull him to his feet, opting to drop it for now. At the office, pushing worked. It was his job there to demand more. But here, pushing would be a mistake. Here, it was Jethro and Tony, not just Gibbs and DiNozzo, a distinction Gibbs worked very hard not to lose sight of. He had to trust that Tony would come to him when he was ready, the same way he'd go to Tony. Connecting with Tony on a physical level, even without the added element of sex was always an enjoyable pastime. Showering with Tony gave Gibbs free rein to explore, to openly admire the toned muscles and smooth skin. Gibbs found he often needed to touch...to ground himself, to communicate when words failed him as they so often did. And it was clear Tony liked and needed to be touched. The younger man obviously craved contact. It made Gibbs feel good to give something so simple and yet meaningful to his lover. Gibbs suspected it wasn't just that Tony was a hedonist. No, he thought it far more likely that Tony simply hadn't gotten enough contact as a child. It made his gut tighten when he realized Tony had probably gotten hit by his mother more often than he'd been kissed by her. And God only knew what his father had done. More likely had simply ignored his son the way he'd ignored the obvious signs of abuse. Gibbs really hoped he and Anthony DiNozzo Sr. never met. He'd kill the son of a bitch. They didn't talk much in the shower. Gibbs was content to let his actions speak for him. And he didn't think there was much to be said at this point. Dealing with the upcoming funeral was going to be difficult whether they talked about it or not. Wrapping a towel around his waist, Gibbs was glad he'd moved things to Tony's place. He wouldn't have to go back to his place for a dark suit and tie. He grimaced when he realized he probably couldn't even get back into his house right now anyway. "What?" Gibbs blinked. "What, what?" "The look on your face." Tony clarified with a small frown. "What's wrong?" "My house is a crime scene." Tony raised both eyebrows. "Come again?" Gibbs belatedly realized they hadn't talked about what happened last night. He stared at the younger man in bemusement. "You never asked about Ari?"

Tony shrugged. "He's dead." Green eyes narrowed. "Right?" "Yes." Tony hesitated for a moment and Gibbs could almost see him putting the pieces together. "In your house." It wasn't a question but Gibbs answered anyway. "Yes." "You kill him?" "Report will say I did," Gibbs returned evenly, never breaking eye contact. Tony arched an eyebrow, but didn't comment. Gibbs knew he was savvy enough to understand what he was and wasn't saying. Unlike most people, Tony knew when not to ask for more information, not to demand everything be spelled out, to let implication stand for fact and let it go at that. "Single shot to the head." Gibbs owed him that much. Tony smiled knowingly. "Just like Kate." Gibbs nodded. "He followed me to my house. Threatened me. And now he's dead." "Neat and clean." Tony snorted, dark amusement in his eyes. Nothing was ever that neat and clean and they both knew it. Gibbs nodded slowly. He wasn't going to tell Tony everything Ari had said. Why he became a terrorist wasn't really important nor was his relationship with his father. And he would no more reveal Ziva's secrets to Tony than he would tell her Tony's. Claiming responsibility for Ari's death had seemed like the best option to Gibbs. He didn't owe Ziva any loyalty or favors, but somehow he didn't want her to have to explain to Mossad or her father how it came to be that she shot her brother. "As long as it's done." Tony sighed quietly. He leaned in and chastely kissed Gibbs' mouth. "None of this had better come back to bite you in the ass." "From your lips to God's ear." It was an expression Gibbs' grandmother had used a lot when he was growing up. "Amen," Tony breathed out softly. And just like that Gibbs knew this conversation was over. Nothing more would be said about it, no more questions would be asked. Gibbs wasn't sure he'd be able to do the same if he was in Tony's position. He was grateful his lover was far more sensible and understanding than he was. One of us has to be, he thought ruefully, or we wouldn't have made it this far. Tony moved away and started to dress in a dark suit. Ordinarily, Gibbs would have indulged himself in watching Tony dress. There was something nearly irresistible about the graceful movements working to conceal that beautiful body beneath layers of fabric. But today, he really didn't have time to indulge himself any more than he already had. Resolutely looking away, Gibbs donned his own dark suit. His cell phone rang as he was finishing the knot on his tie. Tony handed him the phone as he headed for the kitchen. "Coffee should be ready." Gibbs nodded his understanding, frowning at the caller ID display on his phone. He didn't recognize the number. "Gibbs," he snapped out his usual response as he answered the call.

Somehow he wasn't surprised to find the call was from Ziva. "Gibbs, I need your help." "Go on." He listened as she outlined her problem with some bureaucratic bullshit. Gibbs hated politics on a good day, and even though the day had started out wonderfully, it wasn't going to be a good day. He closed his eyes and counted slowly, marshalling his patience. "I'll be there in twenty minutes." Gibbs told her, projecting the same calm authority he always used. "I'll get it straightened out." He snapped the phone shut and headed for the kitchen. Tony offered him a cup of coffee. He breathed in the rich fragrance before taking a long swallow. "Problem, Boss?" Gibbs grimaced. "Need to clear up some details so they can release the body to Ziva." Tony arched an eyebrow. "Shouldn't that be something the Director handles?" "Sheppard is already on her way to Indiana. She wanted to meet with the Todd's before the funeral." Tony snorted, expression cynical. "She didn't even know Kate." Gibbs resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Politics played out even during death. There was no avoiding it. Tony shook his head. "You think you'll get it squared away in time to fly with us?" "I hope so." Red tape was a black hole of time consumption. He really had no idea how long it would take to clear up. Tony reached past him to pull a sheet of paper free from the magnet holding it to the fridge. He offered it to Gibbs. Gibbs set his cup on the counter, glancing at the paper. He smiled. It was a listing of later flights that would still get him out in time to make the funeral. "When did you-" "Last night. Wasn't sure how soon you'd wrap things up." Tony shrugged. "Figured you might need that...just in case." "Good thinking." Tony nodded. He gave Gibbs a quick kiss. "We better get going." Gibbs caught his arm as Tony started to move past him. Tony cocked his head, the question on his face so clear he didn't have to ask. "Thank you." Tony blinked. "For what?" "Everything." Gibbs captured Tony's mouth in a gentle, heartfelt kiss. He tried to let that kiss convey all the things he couldn't put into words; to let it articulate for him how much he loved Tony, how grateful he was for the younger man, how happy Tony made

him. He knew he'd succeeded when he pulled back and got an incandescent smile from Tony. "You're welcome." Tony's gaze flicked away shyly, a faint blush coloring his cheekbones. He cleared his throat and pointed toward the door with a thumb over his shoulder. "We need to-" "Yeah." Gibbs folded the flight list and shoved it in his pocket. "Time to go." He grabbed his coffee mug, taking another deep swallow before following Tony out the door. He was definitely going to have to get some sort of travel mug one of these days. Letting the rest of that pot of sinfully good coffee go to waste was a crime. "I'll be there." He promised as he and Tony headed for separate cars. "I might be late, but I'll be there." Tony nodded, taking him at his word without question. "I hear you, Boss." Gibbs really hoped the crap with customs or immigration or whoever could be cleared up easily. He wasn't going to miss the funeral. He owed it to Kate?to the others. He already had enough guilt to handle; he wasn't taking on any more. Not today. ************* ************** ************* *********** Tony decided the nice thing about Catholic funerals that included Mass was they were long, drawn out affairs. It gave a person time to not only reflect, but to actually be damn glad the whole thing was over and done with. He didn't think Kate would be upset if she knew his mind had wandered away from the homily and the eulogy, especially not when he spent that time remembering her. He hadn't always appreciated or understood her uptight, almost prudish views on sex and life in general but he'd liked her. She was smart, capable and beautiful. Kate usually gave as good as she got too. He was going to miss her. A lot. He stifled a smile when he thought of how pissed she'd get every time he rifled through her desk and her purse. Other than his phone, Tony had learned not to keep anything of personal significance at the office. She really should have learned to do likewise. His good humor faded when he thought about having to go through her things. Gibbs would likely do that the same way he went through Pacci's desk. Having seen what Kate kept in hers, there would be no unpleasant surprises for her family. He sighed softly, moving to kneel and then stand in the appropriate places. Tony was sure Kate would have appreciated all the symbolism and formality, but he was tired of it. He hadn't set foot inside a Catholic church in years, and it would probably be years before he did again. At least he hoped so. Tony found himself looking around discretely. The architecture was typical of nearly every Catholic church. A vaulted dome ceiling arched overhead like heaven itself, designed to make those below feel humble in God's house. Stain glass windows muted sunlight, creating rainbows and showcasing the lives of different saints at the same time. The wooden pews felt solid, heavy and immutable. Marble tiles created an intricate pattern on the floor, drawing the eye to the alpha and omega mosaic in front of the alter.

The paintings were exquisite. He found his gaze fixed on the likeness of the Virgin. Deep, soulful eyes seemed to be looking down on Kate's coffin with compassion. He instinctively found himself reciting the Hail Mary and hoping She really would look after Kate. Tony did his best to ignore the way Kate's mother wept quietly through the whole service. She was so much like her daughter it hurt to look at her. Kate's father seemed to draw as much support from his wife as he gave to her. They reminded Tony of the Ozzie and Harriet type couple he'd always idolized. He really couldn't see his own death ever devastating his father and stepmother the way Kate's seemed to have affected her parents. His jaw tightened, clamping down hard on the bitter, sour feeling that always rose whenever he thought of his mother and father. Tony took a slow, deliberate breath and refocused his attention on the service. He was startled when Gibbs slipped soundlessly into the pew to stand next to him. Gibbs ignored accusing glances sent by the other mourners and the curious looks from Abby and McGee. Tony just tipped his head in acknowledgement. Tony was glad Gibbs managed to make it. He didn't think the older man could handle any more guilt, and he had no doubts that Gibbs would feel guilty if he'd missed the funeral entirely. Hell, Tony had plenty of his own guilt to deal with too. It was just one more thing he didn't want to think about. He took a slow deep breath and then another. He really hated funerals. Tony felt better when Gibbs' fingers brushed his. It was a subtle caress, something few would even notice and could easily appear to be nothing more than accidental. Tony returned the gesture. He breathed a soft sigh of relief when the mass was finally finished. All that was left now was the graveside bit. The cemetery was just across the street. It was a lovely spot of neatly manicured green, with shade trees strategically placed to suggest something more like a park than a city of the dead. The headstones were all an older style, ornately carved granite or marble. Kate would have loved it. Tony gave it all a jaded look, hating the lack of contact with the living and the rest of the world it seemed to convey. It was a lot like where his mother was buried. He'd only ever been there once and never saw any reason to go back. His aunt Sully had been cremated and had requested he spread her ashes among her favorite places. She said she wanted to become as much a part of them as they'd been a part of her. He needed to update his will to have the same done for him. No matter how pretty it was, Tony never wanted to be lost in a place so sterile, remote and unused. He wanted his remains to be left somewhere messy, vibrant and alive. Gibbs walked in step with him for a bit before falling back to speak to the director. Tony assumed he was telling her about taking care of getting Ari's body released to Ziva. He suppressed a snort. He understood her need to be present at the funeral; it would have been an insult if the Director hadn't shown up to offer condolences to the family for their loss, but she'd seemed just a bit too eager to shirk the duty of seeing all the I's dotted and T's crossed on the case. At the very least, she should have assigned someone to handle releasing Ari's body, seen to it that things were taken care of, not simply left Ziva to fend for herself. Tony wondered if Ziva realized whatever friendship she claimed with Sheppard took a

huge back seat to politics and appearances for the agency. She likely did given it was Gibbs she'd called to cut through the red tape and bureaucracy. Tony stood next to McGee as the pallbearers settled the coffin in to place. He wasn't surprised Kate had requested her coworkers in the Secret Service act as her honor guard. She hadn't worked with NCIS even half as long as she'd worked there. And he knew she was still good friends with them. Tony eyed the bagpipers warily. He was all for tradition...just not for him. Tony made a mental note to add them to the list as one more thing he didn't want at his own funeral. Tony smiled softly when it was time to leave and Abby asked for permission to play something for Kate. Now that was a tradition he had no issues with. A little jazz was never a bad thing. He waited until people started to leave, wanting a moment to be alone with Kate. He'd tracked down a florist in the area who had tea roses. The thorns were nearly as big as the small, red flowers. The bouquet was held together with a simple white silk ribbon. "Tea roses, Kate." Tony spoke quietly, wary of being overheard. He wanted this moment to be private. "Not big, or flashy, but my aunt Sully told me giving them to a woman used to mean 'I'll always remember'." He held them to his nose and took in the scent, enjoying the light fragrance before deliberately pricking his fingertips on the thorns. "Pleasure and pain...the stuff of life, Kate. You were both. And I will remember you." He placed the tea roses neatly on top of her coffin. They looked good among the lilies her parents had left there. Tony blinked rapidly several times, refusing to cry. He hadn't cried in years, he wasn't going to start now. "Tony?" "Yeah, Boss?" He instinctively squared his shoulders, not quite coming to attention as he turned to look at Gibbs. Gibbs stepped closer, narrowing the distance between them. "You okay?" "Fine." Tony nodded to the coffin. "Just saying good-bye." If Gibbs wondered about the addition of the roses he didn't comment on it. He laid a hand on Tony's shoulder and squeezed once. "The others are waiting at the car." "Right." Tony cleared his throat, and wiped his eyes, relieved to find they were just as dry as he hoped they were. "C'mon." Gibbs hand moved to rest on his lower back, urging him toward where the others waited. "Where are Ducky and Palmer?" "I sent them on to the airport with the Director." "She piss you off?" Tony smirked thinking about her being subjected to one of Ducky's long winded stories. "Or did they?" "A little of both," Gibbs admitted with a rueful look.

Tony already had an idea of what Sheppard had done. Gibbs hated cleaning up other people's messes, and he ranked red tape right up there with one of the seven deadly sins. But he had no idea what Ducky or Palmer might have done. He arched an eyebrow in askance. "Palmer made a comment about my late arrival." "Ah." Tony nodded. Palmer tended to annoy Gibbs just by breathing, and he had a real knack for saying things better left unsaid. But Ducky liked him, so the ME had probably volunteered to go with him rather than let the Director leave the younger man with a permanent stutter. "You rent a car?" Tony asked, realizing Gibbs had to have gotten to the church somehow. "Cab." That alone would explain his late arrival. Tony doubted cabbies in Indiana were much like those in NY or DC. They might actually obey the speed limits; view them as genuine mandates rather than mere suggestions. At the car, Tony tried not to let Abby's watery gaze get to him. He bent down and kissed her cheek. "It'll be okay, Abby," he whispered in her ear. "Eventually." She nodded and hugged him hard. He wasn't sure, but he thought this was probably the first time Abby had ever lost anyone this close to her to violence. Old age, illness or an accident, sure, but it wasn't every day a friend was lost to a terrorist with a personal grudge. He sighed softly and pulled away from Abby. Tony patted McGee's shoulder, but didn't say anything to him. He had no idea what to say. Tony walked around the car, taking the front passenger seat automatically. Gibbs slid in behind the steering wheel, while Abby and McGee took the back. He didn't have to look in the rearview mirror to know that McGee was holding Abby, and rocking her gently. Gibbs lay a hand on top of his where it rested on the seat between them, strong fingers curling around his in a gentle hold. It was such a simple thing, and yet so very reassuring. Tony leaned back and closed his eyes, the contact between them warming him as much as the sunlight streaming through the windows. Tony wasn't sure but he thought he might have actually dozed off on the way to the airport. Riding in a car with nothing to do usually had that affect on him. There was something relaxing about being in motion. The ride from the church to the airport certainly seemed shorter than from the airport to the church. He chalked that up to Gibbs' driving. If the other man knew short cuts here, Tony really didn't want to know about them. He was hoping like hell to never return so the knowing the short cuts wasn't something he really needed to learn. Tony arranged his expression into something blandly neutral when they pulled into the rental return area and the Director was waiting for them. She didn't look pleased, lips tightly compressed. Having been trapped in a car with Ducky before, Tony could understand that. Although, he had to admit from time to time he enjoyed listening to Ducky ramble. The ME had a nice voice.

Tony just didn't feel like dealing with her, and whatever baggage existed between her and Gibbs. Not today. So he simply stepped over to where the shuttle bus waited and found a seat. Avoidance was something he was intimately familiar with. Abby took the seat next to him, and McGee sat next to her. She took one of Tony's hands in her's, and McGee's in the other before laying her head on Tony's shoulder. Tony tilted his head to place a kiss in her hair. Gibbs followed them on a moment later. Tony didn't know if he'd talked to Sheppard or not, but he was glad the older man elected to sit in the open seat next to him. There was no room left then for anyone else. Ducky and Palmer sat next to one another. Ducky was still telling some story that involved a platypus, several young seamen and a surfboard. Tony half wished he'd heard the beginning of that one. The only seat left for Sheppard was across from Ducky. Tony unconsciously conceded black was a good color for her. Shame she'd elected such a severe hair style. He shook his head at his own thoughts, but he'd always appreciated the efforts women put into looking good. Since they were only in for the funeral, none of them had traveled with luggage and E-tickets made for a quick and painless checking. Tony briefly considered upgrading to first class when he saw there were seats available but he didn't follow through. He didn't think he could convince Gibbs it was worth the added expense, and Tony had no intention of sitting by himself. And Sheppard was flying first class. He really didn't want to share much space with her at the moment. She wasn't part of the team. She hadn't known Kate. And Tony didn't think she'd fully understand just what they'd lost. This wasn't about closure for Sheppard, this was an obligation, a duty, a demand of her new position. Besides, he didn't like the looks she kept giving Gibbs so the further away she sat the better as far as Tony was concerned. Airport security wasn't as easy to navigate as checking in. Tony had grown used to the time delay. There was no point in being pissed about the situation or with security for just doing their job. So he stood in line patiently, watching other people and playing 'I Spy' with Abby. Once through security, they had just over half an hour to wait until they could begin boarding. It was good timing. Tony hadn't realized when McGee asked about the possible length of the funeral service that he was actually planning their return trip. "Good job with the tickets, McGee," Tony belatedly complimented him as he stared out the window at the tarmac. "Real good timing." McGee gave him a small smile, clearly pleased by the praise. "Thanks." Tony wandered over to one of the few vending machines in the area. They were rare in most airports, usually because the restaurants and bars had a captive clientele and they wanted to keep it that way. Tony fed it, paying for the overpriced water and two sodas. He offered one of the sodas to Abby. "Not your usual, but I figured-" "Thanks." She beamed at him.

Tony handed another to McGee. He ignored the surprised look in McGee's face. He didn't know if it was because McGee didn't think he could be generous or if it was because he hadn't realized Tony knew his favorite soda was Code Red. "Thank you." "Welcome." Tony gave Gibbs an apologetic look. "You want coffee?" "Maybe later." Gibbs shook his head. "Ducky? Palmer? You guys want anything?" "Thank you, Anthony, but no." Ducky smiled at him. Palmer just shook his head jerkily as though afraid to speak. He looked at the Director. She was on her cell phone speaking to someone in hushed tones. Tony shrugged. He sat next to Gibbs, sipping his water. He hadn't eaten since yesterday, but he wasn't really hungry. Tony was relieved when they finally began boarding. It was one step toward getting closer to home. The faint brush of Gibbs' hand on the small of his back was a quiet, welcomed reminder that home meant a lot more than it used to. Tony settled into his seat behind Abby and McGee, sighing softly. With his long legs he usually hated taking a window seat, but with Gibbs seated next to him, Tony didn't mind the close quarters. He closed his eyes and without thinking let his head roll to the side to rest on Gibbs' shoulder much the way Abby had done to him earlier. "You okay?" He heard Gibbs whisper. "Just tired." Tony had forgotten how exhausting funerals could be. And they hadn't really gotten that much sleep last night. Or the night before that. Or the one before that, Tony thought wryly. A hell of a lot had happened in the last few days. He reached out to take Gibbs' hand and entwine their fingers, but the Captain's announcement about closing the cabin doors and preparing for takeoff forcibly reminded him they were in public. He could get away with pretending to have fallen asleep on Gibbs' shoulder; holding hands was definitely pushing it. Tony curled his hand into a loose fist, aborting his earlier movement. He told himself to be grateful for what he could get and just let it go. He flinched when he felt something light being draped over him, opening his eyes in surprise, moving instinctively to press against the wall. "Shhh...it's okay," Gibbs soothed. "It's okay. Just a blanket." Tony avoided looking at Gibbs, embarrassed by his reaction. It was a habit he couldn't seem to quite break. The former Marine didn't comment. His hand found Tony's under the blanket and squeezed once. "Go back to sleep." Tony sighed, his head once more coming to naturally rest on Gibbs' shoulder. "Sneaky," he murmured just loud enough for his lover to hear. "Sometimes sneaky is good," Gibbs returned quietly, thumb moving to lightly caress the back of Tony's knuckles. Tony smiled. Sneaky could definitely be a good thing. No doubt about it.

He slept through the stewardess offering drinks and pretzels. He slept through the bit of turbulence they encountered. Tony didn't stir until he heard Gibbs calling his name in hushed tones meant to get his attention without startling him. He blinked. Tony rubbed at his eyes, hating the gritty feel. He yawned, straightening up. "We there?" Gibbs started folding the blanket. "Landing in ten." Tony grunted in acknowledgement. He glanced at his watch. They should be able to avoid most of the usual traffic; he hoped. His stomach growled, startling him with its volume and intensity. "You eat today?" "Wasn't hungry." Gibbs frowned at him. "Tony-" "I'll eat when we get home," Tony promised. Louisa had left something in the fridge he was sure. Something that might even be tempting enough he could keep his promise. The plane landed smoothly and taxied into the gate. Tony waited in his seat while people around them immediately stood up, impatient to be gone. He knew it would be a good ten minutes before the aisle cleared enough for them to even think about getting off the plane. Once there was enough space, Gibbs stood up and Tony followed. Abby and McGee made their way down the aisle in front of them, Ducky and Palmer just a few paces further ahead. Tony wasn't really surprised to see the Director waiting for them as they left the ramp and entered the concourse. "Jethro we need to talk a-" "It will all in my report." Gibbs cut her off. Her eyes flashed. "Somehow I doubt that." He gave her a hard look of his own, but didn't contradict her. Sheppard's mouth tightened in a look Tony knew likely didn't bode well. He wondered what the odds were they'd get into some heated discussion right here and now. His money was on Gibbs not making a scene but he couldn't see the former Marine backing down either. Palmer was sticking close to Ducky, like a second shadow. McGee eyed both Gibbs and the Director warily, while Abby looked on with avid interest. Tony knew whose side she'd be betting on. Tony's stomach rumbled again, neatly cutting through the tense tableau. "Didn't get breakfast or lunch," he offered with a small shrug when Sheppard glared at him. "Are you still feeling poorly, Anthony?" Ducky asked, his expression concerned. "I'm fine, Ducky." Tony was quick to reassure the ME. There wasn't anything the older man could do to fix this. Only time would do that. "Just...today. You know?" "I do indeed, my boy." Ducky's tone was a blend of understanding and sadness. "I believe that is a sentiment we all share."

He looked pointedly at the director. "Whatever needs to be settled, my dear, can wait another day, I'm sure." His gaze shifted to take in the milling crowd of people moving around them. "And airing one's laundry in public is best left to a clothes line, wouldn't you agree?" Sheppard had the good grace to look embarrassed. It had to be Ducky's British upbringing, Tony decided. The man could put people in their place and still sound so damn polite about it. "Tomorrow. Nine. My office." She ordered Gibbs. "Yes, Ma'am." Gibbs responded smoothly, no hint of disrespect or anger in his voice. Tony thought it was a neat trick. She turned neatly on her heel and walked away. Tony traded a look with McGee, mutual agreement passing between them. Sheppard was nothing like Morrow, that was for certain, and avoiding her was definitely going to be the best way to go. Without bags, getting through the airport and to the parking deck was decidedly easy. Ducky's classic vehicle stood out as an exotic, gleaming thing of beauty among the boring, indistinct sedans parked around it. It made Tony miss his old car and realize he really did need to start seriously looking for a new one. Gibbs' car was in the row behind where Ducky had parked, only two spaces away from McGee's. The utilitarian, no frills, reliable vehicle suited Gibbs, Tony thought. He couldn't see the older man driving anything flashy or developing the same affinity for a car that he had for his boat. "Please remember to eat something, Anthony." Ducky requested as he keyed open the driver's side door. "It won't do for you to get sick." "I'll make sure he does, Duck." Gibbs responded. He used the remote key mechanism to unlock the doors to his car. "Get in, DiNozzo." There was no arguing with that. Tony waved to McGee and Abby. He nodded to Palmer as the assistant ME got in to Ducky's car. Tony settled into the passenger seat, what he privately thought of as his spot. Gibbs got in but didn't immediately start the car. He waited until the others had pulled out before turning to face Tony. "Boss?" Gibbs leaned over, hands cupping Tony's face. Blue eyes searched green. Tony had no idea what Gibbs was looking for, so he simply waited. "I love you, Tony DiNozzo." "I know." Tony smiled. "Love you too." "Good." Gibbs kissed him chastely. "Let's go home." If home was where the heart is, well, then in every way that mattered, Tony was already home. The sentiment was just a bit too mushy for Tony to actually say aloud. So he opted for simply kissing Gibbs back. "Yeah. Let's go home."

Not Minding the Risk Gibbs sighed tiredly as he closed the door behind him. The silence and stillness of Tony's apartment was disquieting. Whether at Gibbs' house or Tony's place, usually the younger man beat him home, which meant there was always some sort of noise. The stereo, the TV, or the sounds of Tony puttering around the house doing God only knew what, but always something, some sign of life filled the rooms. Gibbs left his shoes on the rack near the door, and hung his jacket on one of the hooks nearby. He padded into the living room. He eyed the remote on the coffee table suspiciously. Tony had shown him how to use it, had told him there was no way to really screw it up, but Gibbs wasn't entirely convinced. Technology hated him, and he hated it. But the silence felt so strange in Tony's apartment, forcing Gibbs to reluctantly pick up the remote and hesitantly key the power button. He smiled in relief when the large screen TV responded, soft sounds of music quietly drowning out the unnatural silence. His eyebrows rose when the menu bar indicated it was set for big band and swing. Just when he thought he'd come to terms with Tony's eclectic taste in music, he ended up being surprised all over again. Gibbs glanced at his watch. It would probably be another hour before Tony made it home. He'd volunteered to drop off Paula Cassidy. Tony would probably stay for a bit to make sure she was settled in okay. Gibbs grimaced. Tony had a brief relationship with Paula, and they seemed to have parted on good terms, neither expecting anything more permanent. But Gibbs didn't like reminders that Tony had been with other people. And he really didn't like the way Paula had gotten to Tony. He could easily picture her leaning over Tony's desk. She'd smiled and flashed her cleavage at him, making sure to let him know she thought her new boyfriend was better than Tony. The new guy was a lawyer, good looking and wealthy with all the rich boy toys meant to impress. Tony was right when he told her money wasn't everything. The problem was Paula nicely re-enforced Tony's insecure belief that he wasn't anything, that he would never be enough just as himself. Damn his mother, Gibbs thought savagely. And damn Paula for knowing what buttons to push, for knowing how to hurt Tony without even really trying. Hell, she probably hadn't even realized just how easy it was to do. She probably thought he'd just brush it off as the joke she meant it to be. It made Gibbs want to slap her. He settled for cuffing Tony upside the head. Tony should have known better than to listen to her. But Gibbs knew a lifetime of habit was tough to overcome. ?Don't let her get to you', he'd ordered Tony, reminding him that Paula's opinion didn't matter. That no one else's did. He was enough for Gibbs. More than enough. Tony just needed to be reminded of that from time to time. Gibbs wandered into the kitchen. He knew Tony kept a bottle of bourbon above the sink for him. He could use a stiff drink. He filled a small tumbler and tossed it back, relishing in the burn. It helped to wash away the foul taste of having to deal with the likes of Kyle Boone. Gibbs shuddered. The man was?Gibbs wasn't even sure what to label him. Evil didn't seem quite right.

He wasn't some demon from hell; although, he probably seemed like that to the women he tortured and killed. No the man was really some twisted psychopath, sadistic and unusually cruel, but still decidedly human. And that fact was what made him all that more frightening. He didn't have fangs or horns or cloven feet. Anyone on the street could be him. Gibbs cursed softly. The miserable fucker had made more of himself, crafting a protoge to stave off his own execution. At least Paula had managed to put that sick puppy down. And the state would take care of Boone. Gibbs took a deep breath and held it. He really didn't want to think about what would have happened if they'd lost Paula. Abby had said what they all were thinking. Losing another agent, another team member, even one only temporarily assigned, would have been devastating. Paula had held her own though. She was smart, tough and capable. Gibbs was proud of her for that, even if he still didn't like her much. He was glad the Director hadn't suggested her as a replacement for Kate. She was a good agent, but he didn't want any of Tony's old flings hanging around. It was hard enough dealing with his own old fling. Gibbs cursed quietly and took another slow deep breath. The only good thing about this case was it had given him something to vent his anger on. He had something else to think about other than Kate's body lying on that damn roof. It gave him something else to deal with other than the Director. It provided someone else to be mean to instead of the people around him who didn't deserve his hostility or need to bear the brunt of his anger. He poured another shot and then capped the bottle. A drink or two was fine, but getting drunk was not going to help. Gibbs knew that. He took a sip before returning the bottle to its usual place. He sighed, and rubbed tiredly at his eyes. Tony would be home soon. That would help more than the bourbon had. He headed back into the living room. Tony's couch was a very comfortable piece of furniture, and Gibbs found slouching into it as natural as breathing. If he was sure he could figure out the stupid remote he'd flip the TV to the news. He was still wary of Tony's entertainment setup, so Gibbs settled back and put his feet on the coffee table, content to just relax and enjoy the music. He frowned when his cellphone rang. He glanced at the caller id, frown deepening to a scowl when he didn't recognize the number. It had better not be some salesman or another idiot calling about a volkswagon bug. "Gibbs," he kept his tone curt and unwelcoming. "Gibbs...it's Corporal Yost." "Ernie?" Gibbs blinked. He hadn't heard from the older man since they'd cleared up his mistaken belief he'd killed his best friend on Iwo Jima. He did a quick mentally tally...and came up with nearly eighteen months having passed since that case. "Yeah, it's me." A quiet chuckle sounded clearly through the phone. "Good to know you remember me."

"How could I forget you?" Gibbs laughed softly. It wasn't every day he helped clear a Congressional Medal of Honor winner of a crime had hadn't committed. "What can I do for you, Ernie?" "Well, I just wanted to make sure the kid was okay. Figured if anyone would know it would be you." A soft deprecating sigh carried easily through the line. "Took me forever to find that card with your cellphone number or I'd have tracked you down yesterday." Gibbs grip on his phone tightened wondering if this was another episode of post traumatic stress. He was hesitant when he asked, "The kid?" "DiNozzo," Ernie clarified. "You know...tall, lanky Italian. Works for you." There was a small pause. "He does still work for you, doesn't he?" "Yeah, Ernie, Tony is still on my team." Ernie huffed out a breath in obvious relief. "Then you'd know if he was okay or not." "Why wouldn't he be?" Gibbs tried not to snarl, worry and fear suddenly showing up in equal measure. "Well, he usually stops by once a week. Or calls me. When I didn't hear from him I got a little worried. S'why I called you." Gibbs' eyes widened in surprise; he hadn't known Tony stayed in touch with Ernie. Tony never said anything about it. But then Gibbs hadn't asked, so maybe Tony just assumed he already knew. After working with each other for four years, there was a lot Tony assumed Gibbs knew about him. "He said something about being out of town for a funeral last week." There was a clink of ice against glass and Gibbs knew Ernie was sipping a drink; probably scotch. "I liked her, Gibbs." The fondness in his tone was obvious. "She was a pretty girl...a real sweetheart. Kind enough to dance with an old man. Reminded me of my Dorothy. " It was a mark of how tired Gibbs was that it took him a moment to figure out who Ernie was talking about. "Tony told you about Kate?" "Didn't tell me much." There was a soft snort. "Just said she got killed in the line of duty and that you got the miserable prick who'd killed her. Good job, by the way." The last was delivered as casual praise, honest and easily given; Gibbs was reminded of his father for a moment. "He let me know where the funeral was so I could send flowers if I wanted to. Sent her a bouquet of daisies. Kid said they were her favorite." There was another soft clink of ice against glass. "When I didn't hear from him this week...I called and left a message." The concern was evident in his voice. "He usually gets back to me in a day or two." "Tony's fine, Ernie." Gibbs was quick to reassure the older man. "Was a busy week." And they'd been spending more time at Gibbs' place so Tony might not have gotten the message. Feeling guilty, Gibbs looked toward the answering machine on the end table. The message light was flashing. "That's okay then." Ernie sounded relieved. "Kid gets himself into all sorts of trouble. Who the hell gets the plague for crying out loud?"

Gibbs hadn't thought anyone outside of the office knew about Tony's brush with the Black Death. "He told you about that?" "Kept him company one day when he was home on sick leave. Rest of your team was out of town. Kid sounded a bit lonely when he called so I stopped by to check on him." Gibbs flinched. He'd suspected that had been the case, but Tony hadn't said anything. He hadn't complained or led Gibbs to believe he wasn't okay on his own. Unless he had an audience he thought expected him to, Tony didn't whine or bitch about things. It was something Gibbs should have realized sooner. His thoughts were interrupted when Ernie chuckled. "DiNozzo plays a mean game of gin rummy, but sucks at poker. Eyes give him away, every time." Gibbs knew Louisa had stopped by but Tony had never even mentioned Ernie. While he was glad Tony hadn't been completely on his own those few days, he wished his lover had bothered to say something then. He might have worried less?but he doubted that. Worrying about Tony was just second nature. "I'll tell him you called, Ernie." "Ah that's alright." He could hear the older man's smile, and knew the man was waving a hand in a dismissive gesture. "No need to bother him. Kid doesn't need to know I was checking up on him. I'm sure he'll call when he gets a chance." There was a moment of hesitation on the line. "You...ah...don't happen to know if he's got this Saturday free?" Gibbs arched an eyebrow. "Why?" "Well, I was hoping he could stop by." Gibbs could hear the smile in the older man's voice. He sounded just a bit sly, like someone planning a surprise when he spoke again, "Got something I'd like to show him. See if he's willing to do an old man a favor." "If nothing comes up, he should have the day off." Gibbs' curiosity was piqued, but he kept himself from asking for more details. He was fairly certain Ernie wouldn't tell him anyway, although he wasn't sure why. "Great." Gibbs could hear the grin in the older man's voice. "Thanks again. Sorry to bother you, but well," there was a moment of embarrassed silence, "I can't help worrying about him, you know?" Oh, I know, Gibbs thought. He knew all too well. "I understand, Ernie." "He's a good kid." There was a wealth of affection in that simple statement. Gibbs shook his head, slightly bemused by how quickly and easily Tony endeared himself to people. It was a gift. Hell, even people who shouldn't like him, who had reason to detest him, still thought he was a good guy. "Have a good night, Gibbs." "You too, Ernie." Gibbs closed the phone, his expression thoughtful. Should he mention to Tony that Ernie called him to check up on the younger man? No. He shook his head. It was better not to mention that. At least not until he knew for sure why Tony hadn't

mentioned staying in touch with Ernie. And not just in touch, it sounded at though they'd become good friends. He finished his drink, absentmindedly toying with the glass. He and Tony had only been together for three months. It wasn't like the younger man had to tell him everything, but it still hurt a little that he'd been left out. Gibbs liked Ernie. Surely Tony didn't think he'd object to his visiting the older man? But then Gibbs had essentially stopped thinking about Ernie Yost once the case was settled, so maybe Tony thought he hadn't cared enough to bother mentioning staying in touch with Ernie. He blushed, suddenly ashamed of himself for not putting forth the effort to help the old marine. Since his wife died Ernie didn't have anyone. Gibbs was familiar with that feeling, but he'd always had the Corps and then the job to fall back on. Maybe that was why Tony had started calling Ernie and stopping by. He likely understood better than most what it was like to be lonely, to feel lost. And he had seemed to really bond with Ernie, getting him to open up about why he thought he had a reason to kill his best friend. That was something Gibbs knew the rest of his team wouldn't have been able to do. It was the main reason he'd assigned Tony to look after Ernie in the first place. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the front door opening. Gibbs instinctively tensed, reaching for the weapon he hadn't removed. He relaxed immediately when he recognized Tony's tread and heard his voice call out. "Hi honey, I'm home." Gibbs rolled his eyes, amused in spite of himself. He got up and met Tony in the hallway. They'd developed the habit of greeting each other with a kiss, and Gibbs enjoyed how connected to Tony that simple gesture made him feel. When he pulled back, Tony frowned at him. "You've been drinking." "Yeah," Gibbs admitted quietly. "Just two." Given what little Tony had said about his father's drinking habits, Gibbs wanted to make sure his lover knew he hadn't been overindulging. "Was that kind of case." Tony smiled gently, one hand moving to cup Gibbs' face. "I'm sorry you had to relive all that." Gibbs winced. The driving need to catch Boone the first time had destroyed one marriage. It had also changed him. He couldn't fathom how seeing those dead women, or meeting someone like Boone could NOT change a man. The days just didn't seem nearly as bright and promising; no one seemed as open or innocent as they should be any more. In some ways that case finished the changes in him that had started with the loss of his wife and daughter. They were changes slowly being undone by the man in front of him. He was still hardnosed and driven, but Gibbs was also happier than he'd been in a long time. He was able to smile more and feel a lot more positive in his outlook. If it hadn't been for Tony, he'd have never been able to face Boone without killing the man. Gibbs turned his head to place a kiss in Tony's palm. "I'm okay."

"Sure?" Green eyes sought blue. The question was a simple, straightforward request for reassurance, not a questioning of Gibbs' assertion. The distinction was subtle but it was definitely there. "Yeah." Gibbs leaned forward and rested his cheek against Tony's. It was, in some ways, a gesture more intimate than the kiss they'd shared earlier. "What about you? You okay?" Tony sighed softly, a warm brush of air that felt good against Gibbs' skin. "Getting there." "You hungry?" "Yes." Tony stepped back. He looked vaguely annoyed. "Ducky took away my lunch." Gibbs eyebrows rose. "He took your lunch?" "He was saying something about good cholesterol and bad." Tony rolled his eyes. "Then he took my pizza." Tony sounded a bit put out by that, but not overly upset. Everyone gave Ducky more latitude than they would anyone else. "Never did get to his point because...well, the case and everything, so I'm not sure what the hell he was trying to say." Tony shrugged out his jacket, hanging it on the hook next to Gibbs'. "I'm sure there is a lecture in my future somewhere about a balanced diet and eating more green, leafy things." Gibbs chuckled. "I've gotten the same lecture." "Really?" Tony gave him a bright smile. "Good to know I'm not the only one he singles out." He headed into the kitchen. "You check the fridge?" Gibbs shook his head. It was a safe bet Louisa had left something in there. Probably enough to feed a small army. Louisa seemed bound and determined to fatten Tony up. "Cool. She made my favorite." "Everything she makes is your favorite." "True." Tony grinned. He pulled out a casserole. "Heart attack in a dish." "What?" Gibbs leaned against the door jamb, frowning in confusion. "Ham, potatoes, cheese...god only knows what else. If Ducky thought pizza was bad for me, he'd never let me have any of this." Tony's tone made it clear Ducky would never find out about this particular favorite. And he certainly wouldn't get away with taking it as easily as he had Tony's lunch. "You'll like it. Trust me." Tony neatly pulled the cellophane off. "Grab a couple of plates, will you?" Gibbs moved to hand Tony two plates. Tony piled a heaping portion onto each one, before placing one in the microwave. He replaced the cellophane before putting the dish back in the fridge. He grabbed a beer, then nudged the door shut with his hip. Cocking his head to one side in a pose that clearly signaled he was listening to something, Tony looked at him in confusion. "Why aren't you watching the news?"

Gibbs hesitated for a moment before admitting, "I still don't feel comfortable using your remote." Tony chuckled. "It won't bite you." No, Gibbs thought, the damn thing might explode or worse yet blow up that sinfully expensive plasma screen TV. No way in hell was he paying to replace that. It wasn't something he could just reboot. "I'll change it for you." Tony shook his head, leaving his beer on the counter as he headed into the living room. "I keep telling you, you can't hurt anything." Gibbs stifled his snort of disbelief. Technology hated him. Plain and simple. If there was a way for it to go wrong and for him to be blamed for it, then Gibbs was sure it would happen. Tony picked up the remote and hit a few buttons, the local news seamlessly appearing as if by magic. Tony bowed and made a flourish toward the couch, inviting Gibbs to have a seat. Gibbs bit the inside of his cheek to stifle a smile. Tony lightly tossed him the remote before turning to head back to the kitchen when the microwave peeped. He hesitated for a moment, apparently catching sight of the blinking light on the answering machine. Gibbs waited silently, trying not to look at his lover. He wondered if Tony would put off playing the messages because of him. Gibbs was relieved when Tony hit the play button without even looking at him or any hesitation. The first message was some Disneyland promotion that Tony deleted almost before it started. "Wished they'd quit with those things," he muttered. The second was from Andrea. She was his father's personal assistant and executive secretary. It was a thank you for the birthday gift Tony had sent her four days ago. She sounded nearly ecstatic about tickets to the New York Ballet. Her obvious delight and gratitude made Tony smile brightly. "Don't think Mark is going to be as happy as she is." Tony murmured quietly, shaking his head. "Mark?" Gibbs asked, unable to resist. "Andrea's husband. He hates ballet." Tony flashed him a quick grin. "I sent her tickets for box seats at a Nextel Cup Race for their anniversary last year. He was thrilled. Andrea, not so much." Tony chuckled. "But it did make him happy, so she was okay with it." The third message was from Ernie. "Tony...it's Ernie...If you've got Saturday free, do you think you could stop by? It's nothing important, so if you've already got plans this'll keep. Just give me a call when you get a chance." "Damn," Tony cursed softly. "I forgot to call him this week." Gibbs waited to see if Tony would fill him in on his friendship with Ernie, but the younger man just glanced at his watch and reached for the phone. He hit number four on the speed dial. Gibbs couldn't help but wonder who held the first three spots. "This will just take a second." He gave Gibbs an apologetic glance, shrugging one shoulder. "He worries if I don't call."

It was said so nonchalantly Gibbs realized the younger man had to have assumed he already knew that Tony had been staying in touch with Ernie. Some days it really was a negative to have his team believe him endowed with more skills, abilities and knowledge than he actually possessed. Gibbs racked his brain. Had Tony actually said something to him at some point? He might have. Something said in passing while Gibbs was focused on other things, or perhaps something Tony had said to one of the others on the team and thought Gibbs had overheard. "Hey, Ernie." Tony smiled easily, with obvious affection. "Just got your message. Sorry I didn't call sooner." The apology, although casually delivered, was an honest expression of regret. Tony nodded at something being said even though there was no way Ernie could see him agreeing. "You asked about Saturday?" There was a small pause, and Tony looked amused. "A favor? I'm betting it's got something to do with cleaning the gutters." Tony shook his head, and rolled his eyes as he listened to whatever the older man was saying. "The doctor told you not to climb up and down ladders, Ernie. Hell, he's not even all that keen on you using the stairs. And it's not a big deal for me to...Oh. Something else then." Tony sounded as curious as Gibbs felt. Just what the hell did Ernie want Tony at his place for? He waited to see if any clues would be forthcoming. He caught Ernie saying something about cleaning the garage and making arrangements with goodwill. "You going to need a U-haul? Maybe a semi-truck?" Tony laughed, eyes twinkling. "That was not a silly question. I've never been in your garage, Ernie. You could have Jimmy Hoffa in there for all I know." Tony just laughed harder at something Ernie said that Gibbs couldn't hear. "Yeah, yeah. Okay. If nothing comes up, I'll be there Saturday. If something does...it's not like mean for....Stuff just---" Tony finally nodded and stopped trying to finish his sentence and offer an explanation for why the job came first and he might not be able to make it. Tony looked relieved Ernie obviously understood. A lot of people didn't, Gibbs knew. It always amazed him just how few people realized Tony took the job seriously. As a cop, Tony had brought down mobsters, child molesters and murders. That took a lot of dedication and was anything but the usual nine to five. His work ethic hadn't changed just because he now worked for NCIS. "Thanks....I'll call and let you know." Tony snickered. "Riiight. I'll believe that when I see it. See you Saturday." Tony hung up. He grinned at Gibbs. "What to help clean out Ernie's garage? Could be untold treasures there, Boss." Tony waggled his eyebrows, eyes alit with merriment. "Just imagine it...Newspapers from the forties. Mismatched bolts. Snarled strands of Christmas lights. Fishing poles that haven't seen the light of day in decades. Spiders the size of small dogs." Gibbs chuckled, amused at the description, wondering just how close it was to the real state of Ernie's garage. He had the distinct feeling the older man wanted Tony

there for something other than long overdue cleaning. So as much as his curiosity clamored for him to say yes, he shook his head. "I'll pass this time." Gibbs promised himself, no matter what came up, Tony would have Saturday off to go visit Ernie. He was too interested in what the older man might have in store to let anything interfere. "That mean you'll come along the next time?" The questions was almost indifferent, teasing, but an undercurrent of seriousness gave away the fact it was a hopeful, genuine invitation. Just how long hah he been waiting to ask me that, Gibbs thought with a mental shake of his head. His lover shouldn't hesitate to include him, shouldn't feel that he wouldn't be interested in his friends. He couldn't see himself fitting in with Tony's frat brothers, but he wouldn't mind meeting them. And Ernie was definitely Gibbs' type, so he shouldn't have been someone Tony had to worry about his lover getting along with. Gibbs knew he really needed to improve his communication skills. "Next time." He smiled. "Definitely." "Cool." Tony beamed at him. "Pick out a movie, will you? I'll be back with dinner." Gibbs continued smiling at Tony's retreating form. It took so little to make him happy. And the rewards for doing so always made Gibbs wonder why more people in Tony's life hadn't made the effort. Gibbs shook his head, and got up to browse through Tony's extensive collection of DVD's. Dinner and a movie. It was not exactly a date, and yet it still had that same feeling. A bit of anticipation and excitement, tempered with comfortable familiarity. If any of his ex-wives had managed to make something so normal and ordinary feel special, he'd probably still be married. For the first time, he was glad second and third marriages hadn't worked out. They weren't failures. They were just practice runs for this. And he was damn sure going to get it right this time.

Tony tapped his fingers against the steering wheel and the dash, easily matching the song on the radio while he waited for the light to change. He only indulged himself in this particular hobby when alone. Too many people found it annoying and disruptive for him to do it when others were around. It was strange, when he thought about it, because it was for the annoying, disruptive quality that he first developed the ability. His mother had wanted him to take music lessons, to learn to play something refined like the piano so she could have him show off at her social tea parties. But in a moment of calculated rebellion he'd signed up for drum lessons instead. It had earned him a black eye, but it was worth it. They weren't an instrument she'd ever ask him to play for her friends, performing like some trained monkey. Practicing an hour a day had forced his father to notice him, something that Anthony Sr. hadn't appreciated. He'd retaliated by making Tony attend his trips to re-enact Civil War battles. Tony actually enjoyed the historical aspect. He suspected his father knew, and that was why his father made sure he got assigned as degrading a task as he could think of.

But carrying around a latrine bucket for the 'soldiers' and being dubbed 'poo boy' hadn't kept him from continuing to play the drums. In fact, it only made him more determined to improve his ability, even broadening his interest. By the time he'd finished school he'd learn to play every percussion instrument; from the triangle to the xylophone he'd mastered them all. The light changed, and Tony drove forward, still tapping softly with this thumbs. He glanced at the digital display on the dash. He'd told Ernie he'd be at his place around ten. All the joking he'd done with Gibbs about the state of Ernie's garage aside, he was honestly curious as to what he'd find. The old marine had some neat memorabilia in his house, and had delighted in sharing the stories about how he'd acquired each item. Ernie was a great storyteller, in spite of the fact he sometimes lost track of where he was and what he was doing. Tony wondered just how much they'd actually manage to get rid of. He had a feeling once Ernie started going through things, he'd start taking trips down memory lane and very little would actually be sorted and sent to goodwill. Not that it mattered. There wasn't any real deadline. He felt briefly guilty for hoping it would take more than one day. He liked spending time with Ernie, enjoyed his reminiscing. His own grandfather never had time for anything but business, so visiting with Ernie was like having the opportunity to capture something he'd missed out on as a child. Tony turned right on to Merry St. Something about the name always made him chuckle. He figured the man who'd picked the name had to be an optimist. Turning left on Delightful, he snickered. It had to have been the same guy who named that one. Tony figured it was a step up from tree streets. There had to be an oak, elm, maple and pine in every town and city in America. But he was pretty sure there weren't many Delightful or Merrys to be had. Ernie had told him his wife had picked the house. She'd been pleased with the street names. It was hard to imagine anything bad ever happening on Delightful Avenue. Although, the cynic in Tony was quick to point out a happy street name was no more a valid talisman against bad things than a crucifix. There were probably just as many people cheating on their spouses, beating their children or considering murder as any other neighborhood in America. But it was still nice to think the street names created some illusion of peace and contentment. Tony pulled into Ernie's driveway and parked the car. He sighed, giving it a critical look as he got out of the car. The sedan was nice enough. It handled well, was fuel efficient and fairly comfortable, but it wasn't HIS car. It was bland, nondescript, and had absolutely no style. The Vette had been a graduation present from Sully; the last thing she'd given him before her death. It was the only vehicle he'd ever owned, and he'd never wanted anything else. The insurance check from his Vette was sitting in his bank account, waiting to be spent. He'd put off looking for a car as long as possible, feeling somehow disloyal or unfaithful for even considering getting a new one. He felt like he'd let Sully down; he should have taken better care of her gift. He ignored the fact that he'd had it detailed

once a month, kept it tuned up and in pristine condition for more than a decade, and that he wasn't the one who'd totaled the car. He still felt responsible. Tony knew if he could call Sully on the phone to tell her about the Vette the first words out of her mouth would be, 'Are you okay'. Material things were replaceable. She must have said it to him a hundred times if she said it once. To her, a car was just a means of transportation, and as long as it did the job, what it looked like was immaterial. She'd gotten him the Vette because she knew Tony cared about style, that he wanted something sporty and fast, something that made a statement and turned heads. She had a knack for giving gifts that suited the recipient. Tony patted the roof of the sedan. He couldn't see himself driving something like it around for the rest of his life. He just needed to find the right car. Sully would expect him to. He nodded to himself. Between the job, spending time with Gibbs off duty and with friends like Ernie, his time had been limited. But he really couldn't put it off too much longer. He grinned. Maybe he'd ask Ernie to go with him to look. Gibbs certainly had no patience for it. Tony sauntered up to the door. He knocked and waited. Eye wandering over the neighborhood, noting the well kept lawns and the neatly trimmed shrubbery. It was suburban America at its best. Ernie opened the door. He pointed a finger at Tony. "How many times do I have to tell you...don't have to beat on my door. Just walk in. You're welcome to come in any time." This little tirade was the main reason he kept knocking. It was nice to hear repeatedly that he was welcome in Ernie's home. The novelty had yet to wear off. Tony kept his expression innocent, smiling brightly, deliberately ignoring the chastisement. "Hi, Ernie." Ernie rolled his eyes but smiled back. "You can just put that 'butter wouldn't melt in my mouth' face back in your pocket. It doesn't work on me." "Sure it does," Tony countered. "It works on everyone." Ernie snorted and opened the door wider, a clear invitation to enter. "You keep telling yourself that, kid." "It works on people who don't know me." "Better." Ernie chuckled. "You want a cup of coffee?" "Sure." Tony had about half a cup before he'd left his place. That was all of the pot Gibbs had left him. He was going to have to buy a bigger coffee maker. Ernie's coffee wasn't as good as what Tony's, but it wasn't a bad second choice. Tony was just grateful Ernie didn't like the road tar consistency that Gibbs favored when his favorite selection of Manny's Mud ran out. The former cop made sure they didn't run out again. Tony followed Ernie into the kitchen. He took the cup offered, leaning against the counter as Ernie took a seat at the table. He sipped the hot beverage slowly,

enjoying the taste, relieved the older man hadn't added his usual liquor flavoring to Tony's mug. As always, Ernie asked about his week, and Tony obligingly filled him in. He left out the more gory aspects, and skimmed over the minutiae of the case. It was nice to be able to talk about things without being pressed for details. And Ernie got a lot of what he wasn't saying anyway. The only other people who would understand so well were his teammates. But he couldn't talk to Gibbs. The older man never talked about cases, seemed immune to a lot of the crap they dealt with. Tony didn't want to appear weak and needy in front of his boss, so outside of work, cases were rarely a topic of conversation. He suspected Gibbs talked with Ducky, if he spoke to anyone at all. It was a fact which mentally had Tony checking the ME off his list of possible confidants. He didn't mind sharing his life, his bed, even his coffee?but sharing a personal sounding board was where he drew the line. Although he wasn't quite sure why, he felt like he should be there for McGee. That he should be the one to offer a shoulder for McGee to lean on, be the person the junior agent talked to when it got to be too much, the one to tease him when he got a little too pensive or serious about things. He knew he didn't always do a very good job of it, but he was trying to do better. And doing better meant it wouldn't be right to burden McGee with his own problems or difficulties in dealing with a case. The probie had enough to deal will all on his own. Abby wasn't really an option either. For all her Goth attire and fascination with the macabre, Tony really didn't think she'd care for the humanized aspect of the darker side of things. She saw pictures of the dead girls, not their bodies. She saw them as evidence not as people, and he wanted her to be able to keep doing so. While he appreciated Paula's offer to talk, he'd never take her up on it. He couldn't. She'd want to make everything better, fix it much the same way Kate would have tried to do. And Tony wasn't sure he trusted any woman to make it all better, make everything all right. His mother certainly hadn't been able to, or even seemed to want to. His stepmother wasn't much different from his mother in that regard except she was less inclined to hit him. None of the women he'd ever dated had been able to. Not that any had tried very hard. Honestly, no one could make him believe it would be ?all right'. He wasn't that na‫ﶥ‬ any more, if he ever had been. What he needed was someone to tell him it would be okay eventually, someone who'd survived it, someone who knew it was enough to deal with things the best way he could and move on. Ernie was perfect for that. He didn't press, didn't judge, didn't interrupt. He was willing to take as much or as little as Tony was able to give. The older man understood better than most. His best friend had been dead for more than forty years before he managed to actually discuss the details of how Wade had died. Tony had a feeling Kate would be dead at least that long before he ever managed to come to terms with losing her. Tony finished his coffee. "You ready to go tackle the garage?" "Kid...about that?" Ernie shot him an apologetic look. "What?" Tony raised an eyebrow. "You change your mind?"

"Not exactly." Ernie leaned forward resting his elbows on the table. "See...the garage doesn't need cleaning. Not really. There's just one big thing taking up space that I want to get rid of." Tony blinked. "Tell me it's not a grand piano." "Piano?" Ernie snickered, sitting back in his chair. "Nothing like that." "Thank God." Tony brushed a hand across his forehead in a dramatic sign of relief. He grinned. "So what is it that you want to unload?" "I don't want to just unload it, Tony." Tony froze, sobering. It was rare that Ernie called him by his first name. He usually called him ?kid' or DiNozzo. For a while he wasn't sure the older man even knew he had a first name. "What do you want to do with it?" He asked quietly. "I want to give it to you." "Me?" Tony stared at Ernie. He wasn't expecting that. Even not knowing what it was, he still felt the need to protest. "Don't you have family that-" "I got a couple of nieces that live on the other side of the country. Haven't seen them in nearly fifteen years." Ernie snorted. "Got more than half a dozen great-nephews, but I wouldn't know them if they walked up and slapped me one." "What about," Tony hesitated for a moment before continuing with the question. "What about Dorothy's family?" "None of them left." Ernie smiled sadly. "Besides, I wouldn't want any of them to have it." Blue eyes met green. "You will take care of it for me, won't you? I know you'd appreciate her, give her the respect and attention she deserves." She? Tony felt both eyebrows climb. "What are we talking about here, Ernie?" "C'mon, I'll show you." Ernie got up and headed for the door to the garage. He flipped a switch, florescent lights flickering before illuminating the garage. Tony had to agree the garage didn't need cleaning. Ernie had applied the same sort of order to it that dominated the rest of the house. Lawn tools hung neatly from hooks in the wall. The tool bench was spotless. Tony suspected all the hand tools were lined up in their appropriate place inside the bins and drawers, arranged according to size and type. Old paint cans were stacked underneath the bench, nestled snuggly against a few old wooden crates full of recyclable items; newspapers, cans and plastic bottles. A snow shovel leaned against the wall, not far from the overhead door, ready and waiting for winter. In the second bay, under a tarp was what had to be a car. Ernie stepped over to it and flipped the tarp back to reveal what lay beneath. It left Tony breathless. "A 1966 Mustang," Tony's whisper was reverent. He moved toward the car, unable to resist the pull of the classic beauty in front of him. The finish was immaculate, gleaming dully. The color had to be a more recent custom job. That shade of metallic green hadn't been available in the 60's.

Tony reached out hesitantly, fingertips barely brushing the smooth finish. It was cool to the touch, but he could almost feel the spirit of the car warming, eager to move. This was not a vehicle meant to stand still. "Beautiful, isn't she?" The pride in Ernie's voice was unmistakable. "Very," Tony readily agreed. The car was a work of art. "I was in my forties when I bought her." Ernie looked away, a faint blush dusting his cheeks. "Dorothy said I was just being foolish. Said I didn't need a car like this." Blue eyes rose to meet green. "Today they'd call it a mid-life crisis." Ernie snorted. "Crisis hell. Wasn't about getting older or reliving my glory days. I saw her in the show room?and I couldn't resist taking her out for a test drive." Ernie lightly stroked the hood, caressing it the way one might a beloved family pet. "Fell in love with her the minute I got behind the wheel." The older man's eyes lit up as he clearly remembered that moment. "She purred like a kitten." He grinned at Tony. "Still does." Tony had no doubt about that. The car was too well kept to be anything less than perfect. "Still has the original motor." Ernie reached inside the driver side window and popped the hood latch. "289 cubic inch, 235 horsepower, V8 with a 4 barrel carburetor." "Shelby engine?" Tony asked, helping Ernie lift the hood. "Yep." Tony whistled in appreciation. In his day, Shelby had turned out some of the best racing engines known to man. Tony was not at all surprised to see the engine was as pristine as the outside of the car had been. Tony was impressed with the elegant simplicity of the design. Everything was exactly where it should be. In 1966 there was no such thing as cruise control, or remote door locks, or even power windows, so the electronic components in newer cars were absent. There was nothing in the engine compartment that wasn't related to moving the vehicle forward and running smoothly. "Want to fire her up?" "I'd love to." Tony wasn't about to pass up an opportunity like that. "Keys are in her." Ernie stepped back, dropped the hood in place and gestured to the driver's side door. Tony hesitated, his hand on the door handle. Even though Ernie had offered, he still felt a bit like he was trespassing. He'd had this car for longer than Tony had been alive, and she was obviously his baby. Ernie rolled his eyes at him. "Get in already." Tony slid into the driver's seat, settling into the butter-soft beige leather with a sigh. He stroked the steering wheel, eyes roaming over the dash. All the instrumentation looked to be as original as the engine. "Had a few things upgraded over the years. Nothing much though." Ernie leaned in, forearms resting on the door, hands hanging just inside the open window. "Redid the carpets and the upholstery a couple of years ago when I had her repainted in the

80's." Ernie chuckled fondly. "Let Dorothy pick the paint. Green always was her favorite." Ernie pointed to the middle of the dash. "Got a new radio put in just before the pricks at the DMV took my license away." Tony glanced over, surprised to see a state of the art CD player instead of a vintage radio. Whoever had done the installation had done an outstanding job. The new feature blended seamlessly, almost as though it had been factory standard. "Go on, fire her up." Ernie patted Tony's shoulder. Tony turned the key. The engine came to life with a soft growl, idling smoothly. He could almost hear the car begging for a chance to escape the confines of the garage. "Let's take her out for a spin." "You sure?" Tony bit his lip, uncertain. Ernie hadn't said so, but Tony was fairly confident no one else had driven this car since the day Ernie bought her. "Sure, I'm sure." Ernie growled. He walked over and hit the button to open the garage door. It rose smoothly, bright sunlight flooding the interior. Ernie walked back and eased into the passenger seat. He grinned at Tony. "What are you waiting for?" Shaking his head, Tony put the car in gear. Driving this car was like driving the Vette again. She accelerated so smoothly Tony found himself constantly checking to make sure he wasn't exceeding the speed limit by too much. On a case he didn't care, but the last thing he wanted was to get pulled over on his day off. Ernie had rolled his window down. Despite the faint chill in the air it felt wonderful. It was almost like flying. Next best thing, Tony thought with a smile. He was really going to hate not being able to take Ernie up on his offer. There was no way he could accept this car. She was the older man's pride and joy, he couldn't take her. "I missed this." Ernie gave him a quick smile. "Haven't had her out on the road for far too long." He patted the dash affectionately. "She missed it, too." Ernie nodded to himself. "Doing the right thing giving her to you." "Ernie...about that-" The older man gave him a sharp look. "Can't tell me you don't want her." "It's not that I don't want her." Hell, he'd already fallen in love with her. He wanted this car like he wanted air to breathe, but it would be wrong to accept such a gift. "It's too much, Ernie." "Bullshit," Ernie countered gruffly. "She's my car. My choice what to do with her. And I'm giving her to you." "But-" "But nothing." Ernie shifted in his seat so he faced Tony more directly. "They took away my license. All she does now is sit in that garage. She deserves better. She was meant to be driven, DiNozzo." "Ernie-"

"Don't Ernie me." Ernie's eyes narrowed. "I saw how you were with the Vette. You'll take good care of my baby." "You know what happened to the Vette." Tony winced. It still hurt to think about what happened to that car, but Ernie had to realize he couldn't trust Tony with the Mustang. "I know that wasn't your fault." Ernie reached out and laid a hand on Tony's arm. "How long did you have that car?" "Sixteen years." "And she still looked as good as the day you got her." Ernie patted his arm. "You treated her right. Not your fault someone else abused her." Tony pulled over, parking the car before turning to look directly at Ernie. He couldn't drive and argue effectively. It was too easy to let the smooth ride and responsiveness of the Mustang convince him to take Ernie up on his offer. "This car is a classic." Tony tried to sound reasonable, encouraging. "She's worth a bundle. You could sell it-" "I don't want to sell her." Ernie folded his arms over his chest. He looked like a petulant two year old. "Ernie, you could use that money." The older man was on a fixed income. Tony knew for a fact that social security and his pension barely covered the necessities. "There are plenty of people who would pay top dollar for-" "I don't want her going to some collector who'll just put her in storage." Ernie shook his head. "If I wanted that, I'd leave her in the garage. And if I wanted to see her just on display, I'd park her out on the street in front of God and everyone." "Ernie you've had this car longer than I've been alive." Tony rubbed a hand over his face. "You can't just-" "Like hell I can't." Ernie glared at him. "I'm an adult for crying out loud. I many not be playing with all my marbles all the time, but damn it?" Ernie paused, and took a deep breath. "Look?I'm going to be 79 in a few months, Tony. Just how much longer do you think I'm going to live?" Ernie gave him an annoyed, exasperated look. "I want her to go to someone that will treat her right. Appreciate her for the thing of beauty she is. Don't want her to be something relatives I barely know fighting over when I'm dead and buried." Tony bit his lower lip. He instinctively wanted to protest Ernie planning for his death, but the older man was right. No matter how much Tony liked him, and wanted more time, Ernie wasn't going to live forever. If he were dieing, Tony would want the same option of seeing his possessions, things he valued, being passed on to people he cared about. Tony sighed. "You're really sure you want to-" "Hell yes." Ernie made eye contact and held it easily. "I'd have never even suggested it if I didn't want you to have her." He gave Tony a vaguely wounded and confused look. "I thought you'd be happy to take her."

"I am." Tony stroked the steering wheel lovingly. "I just---Jesus, Ernie, I never expected...just being your friend...it's enough, more than enough. I don't need-" "I know." Ernie gave him a warm smile. He shrugged one shoulder. "It's another reason why I want you to have her." "Are you really sure about this?" Tony felt obligated to give Ernie another chance to back out. "I mean, maybe you should think about this awhile. It's not a decision you should be hasty with." Ernie laughed. "Kid, I have thought about this. For weeks." Tony blinked. "That long?" "That long," Ernie confirmed with a firm nod. "First time you showed up in that stupid sedan." Ernie rolled his eyes. "God, Kid, how did you stand driving around in that thing? It's got no style at all." Tony chuckled. That wasn't quite what he'd expected the older man to say. He'd seemed far too practical a sort, too much like Gibbs, to have given the style or lack thereof any thought. But then, Tony reminded himself, Ernie owned a 1966 Mustang. He understood style when it came to cars. "It works well enough." Tony shrugged, looking away. Ernie made a 'pfft' noise. "So does a bicycle." Tony threw his head back and laughed. He lightly punched Ernie in the shoulder. "You are such a pain in the ass." Ernie grinned. "Yeah, well, we all got to be something." "True." Ernie sobered. "So you'll taker her?" Tony hesitated for a second. He knew what other people would think?that he'd befriended Ernie just to milk him for anything valuable he might own. It was an old story and far too common. It wasn't true, but that wouldn't matter to most people. "Tell you what...I'll buy her," Tony offered. He'd been looking for a way to help Ernie out financially that wouldn't seem like charity. This would be perfect. "I want her to be a gift, Tony." "I know." Tony sighed softly. He was flattered, and even proud that Ernie had picked him. "But it's too much." "The only way you'll take her is if I let you pay me?" The older man didn't sound insulted, but Tony still felt the need to apologize. "I'm sorry, Ernie, but I just can't-" Ernie held up his hand. "I get it. I do." He smiled and lightly patted Tony's face. "You're a good kid." Tony could feel himself blushing. "I am not." "Yeah, you are." Ernie grinned. "We'll negotiate the price back that the house." Tony had a feeling that could take awhile, but he already knew he'd be seeing to it that Ernie got at least the amount of the insurance check sitting in his checking account. More if he could convince the man to take it.

Ernie waved a hand toward the road. "For now...I still want to let her run." "Okay." "And this time, let her really fly." Tony grinned. "Can do."

Gibbs kept his movements smooth and even, sanding the wood carefully. He loved the feel of it giving way, turning rough lumber into something more. The beauty of the grain as it was revealed never failed to entrance him. The familiar, soothing fragrance of sawdust enveloped him as he worked. The first boat he'd started was therapy of sorts. It gave him something repetitive, but not mindless to focus on when the problems of life and his job got to be too much. It was even therapeutic when he'd burned it. He couldn't imagine sailing her when his daughter couldn't go with him. Starting the boat before this one had been more a force of habit. He missed the feel of wood beneath his hands, the scent of sawdust, and the beauty of the lines as it began to come together. It was a way of establishing something with his new wife, starting over, a new beginning. Burning it was a necessity. Diane had tainted everything about that one. This one?this one, had a lot of memories and emotion worked into her too. Most were inspired by good people like Ducky, Abby and McGee. Some were just painful, the loss of Pacci and Kate, and Gerald no longer on the team. And some were?simply outstanding like Tony. The younger man was a source of joy and sorrow, pride and shame, delight and pain, love and fear in equal measure. His lover was a significant part of this boat even though he'd never laid a hand on her. She might actually see the water some day. Assuming Gibbs could get her out of the basement. He lightly ran his fingers over the wood, feeling for invisible imperfections. Gibbs smiled when he didn't find any. She was definitely coming together nicely. Gibbs stepped back, picking up his coffee mug, admiring his handiwork. He took a sip and grimaced when he realized his coffee had grown cold. A glance at his watch told him he'd been in the basement for several hours. He stretched. Gibbs' back protested, reminding him it had been a month since he'd spent so much time working on the boat. Tony had told him more than once that power tools would make the process faster and easier, but Gibbs liked the slow, careful process. And Gibbs disliked the noise of power tools. He sighed softly and headed upstairs. He expected Tony to show up soon. The younger man said he'd be back in time for dinner. Gibbs poured his cold coffee into the sink. He wondered just how much stuff they managed to clean out of Ernie's garage. He was more curious about what surprise the old Marine had in store for Tony. He grinned to himself. Knowing Tony, Gibbs wouldn't even have to ask. He was fairly certain his lover would start talking the minute he got home.

Gibbs checked the fridge. He needed to make something for dinner. Meatloaf, he decided, baked potatoes and green beans. The beans weren't leafy, but they should be green enough to satisfy Ducky. He appreciated his old friend's efforts to modify both his and Tony's diet, but he didn't think the ME would have much luck. "Good cholesterol, bad." Gibbs shook his head. "Like I really need to worry about a heart attack being what kills me." He snorted, washing his hands before starting dinner. It was far more likely he'd get killed in the line of duty. He gripped the edge of the counter tightly, knuckles whitening as the image of Kate lying dead, a bullet hole in her forehead, suddenly overwhelmed him. She'd eaten healthy, worked out, was young and strong, smart and capable. And she was still dead. Gibbs took a slow, deep breath and let it out. He wasn't angry any more. No, that emotion he'd dealt with. Mostly. It was the guilt he couldn't quite seem to get a handle on. It wasn't as if Gibbs had pulled the trigger, but he still felt her death was his fault. He should have realized Ari would target her. Gibbs shook his head banishing the image and the emotion that went with it. He never spent time dwelling on things he couldn't change and he sure as hell wasn't going to start now. Forcing himself to let go of the counter, Gibbs started making dinner. Ten minutes after the meatloaf was in the oven, he heard the door open. The hinges squeaked, and Gibbs hadn't oiled them on purpose. The faint noise made a good early warning system. "Hi, honey. I'm home." It was rapidly becoming Tony's standard greeting, and it never failed to make Gibbs smile. "I'm in the kitchen." Tony wandered in, sans shoes. He smiled warmly at Gibbs, leaning in for a kiss. Gibbs loved these moments of casual intimacy. They were so comfortable, so natural, and definitely not something they could do anywhere but in the privacy of their own homes. Tony pulled back and breathed in deeply. "Meatloaf?" "Meatloaf," Gibbs confirmed. He was always impressed with Tony's sensory ability. The younger man had better eyesight than most, and his sense of smell was well above average. His hearing wasn't quite as good as Gibbs' but he was no slouch there either. Tony leaned toward him again and breathed in deeply a second time. "Sawdust," he murmured with a soft, pleased smile. "You work on the boat all day?" "Not all day." "Long enough for your back to bother you." Tony rolled his eyes. "I can tell just from your posture." Gibbs resisted the urge to roll his shoulders. He couldn't really say anything. It would sound too much like he was admitting Tony was right. "You get Ernie's garage taken care of?"

"Smooth subject change there, Boss." Tony snickered, stepping back and turning to look in the fridge. "We got any juice?" Gibbs was unable to resist staring at Tony's ass when the younger man bent over and reached for something inside the fridge. It had to be one of the nicest butts he'd seen in a long time, hell in his entire life. It never failed to get Gibbs' attention, and it just begged to be petted now. Gibbs let his fingers run lightly over the tight denim, enjoying the feel of hard muscle underneath. "Well, hello, Jethro." Tony looked coyly over his shoulder. "You just browsing or were you looking for something specific." Gibbs patted Tony's ass firmly. "Oh, I think I found what I was looking for." Tony chuckled, straightening up. "We got time before dinner?" His voice dipped an octave, rough and sexy. It made Gibbs shiver. "Plenty." He didn't care if dinner burned to a crisp at this point. He couldn't seem to get enough of Tony. Tony smiled, green eyes nearly incandescent. "Good." Tony captured Gibbs' mouth. The kiss they'd shared earlier had been a simple greeting, an expression of welcome and affection. This kiss?this one was far more than that. Gibbs moaned, reveling in the unique taste that was Tony. How his lover could always taste good was a mystery. It was a mystery which Gibbs really wanted to spend a lifetime trying to solve, exploring at every possible opportunity. He raised his hands to cup Tony's face, tilting his head for a better angle. Gibbs was determined to find those tonsils Tony's medical history said he still had. He didn't mind Tony returning the favor. The need to breathe forced him to release that delectable mouth for a moment. Gibbs knew from experience a moment would be enough for Tony to start focusing elsewhere. The younger man nibbled along Gibbs' jaw toward his ear. Tony sighed, his warm breath caressing the sensitive skin of the lobe made Gibbs shudder. Tony nipped him, then licked away that small flash of pain almost before it registered. The younger man's hands were busy undoing the buttons of Gibbs' shirt. Gibbs tried to help, but gave up when he realized he was just slowing the process down. Tony was amazingly quick and deft when it came to revealing skin. Gibbs avoided thinking about just how much practice Tony had to have gotten to develop that particular skill. Gibbs didn't even bother trying to match Tony's efficient ability. He settled for pulling his lover's shirt up, shoving it out of the way so he could have access to the smooth, warm skin beneath. He loved the feel of the silky expanse of Tony's back, the lightly furred chest, the way hard muscles along his sides flexed in response to Gibbs' touch. He briefly wondered if he should be at all concerned they were apparently planning to have sex in his kitchen. Gibbs wasn't a prude, but sex in his home other than in the bedroom wasn't something he'd made a habit of. None of his wives had ever been overly adventurous, and Gibbs hadn't pushed it. Tony, on the other hand, had remarkably few inhibitions.

Tony's hand rested on the bare skin of Gibbs' chest. He smiled before he stiff-armed the former Marine, pushing him back. Gibbs stifled the nearly instinctive urge to resist. Instead he let Tony force him back a step and then another until he was up against the counter. Tony gave him a wicked grin before sliding down Gibbs' body and coming to rest on his knees. Green eyes looked up at him coyly as Tony undid Gibbs' belt and zipper. Gibbs sighed in relief as his hard cock was freed from the confines of his jeans and boxers. Gibbs loved getting a blowjob from Tony but he preferred lovemaking that was satisfying for both of them. It felt selfish to indulge himself in something he loved at the expense of Tony's own enjoyment. He opened his mouth to protest, but all thoughts of arguing vanished the moment he felt the broad pad of Tony's warm, wet tongue glide over the length if his cock. "Jesus." The curse slipped out in a reverent whisper as Gibbs' head tilted back to rest against the cabinet door behind him. Tony's soft chuckle vibrated through him, heightening the erotic sensation. "No, just Tony." Gibbs snickered in spite of himself. He lightly pet Tony's hair, blue eyes looking down to meet jade green. "Smart ass." "You love my ass." "No, I love you," Gibbs corrected, his hand moving to cup Tony's cheek. "Your ass is just icing on the cake." A faint blush rose to color Tony's cheekbones. Gibbs loved seeing Tony blush. It happened so rarely. Tony licked his lips. Gibbs' eyes followed the movement of that tantalizing bit of pink flesh, a moan escaping as he thought about just how talented Tony was with it. The man could tempt a saint. No doubt about it. Tony took the head of Gibbs' cock in his mouth. The tip of his agile tongue began stroking up and down, playing gently with the sensitive flesh. Gibbs sucked in a breath in a gasp, locking his knees to stay up right as an unexpected rush of pleasure hit him hard. Gibbs pet Tony's hair with one hand, the other moved to grip the counter behind him. He tried not to thrust into the welcoming heat of Tony's mouth. Soft whimpers escaped him as Tony took more of his cock, starting a stroking rhythm guaranteed to drive Gibbs closer to the edge. He growled, eyes opening in surprise and frustration when Tony suddenly released him. He opened his mouth to ask what the hell was wrong, but the question died unvoiced as he watched Tony rise smoothly to his feet with enviable grace and ease. The shirt Gibbs had rucked up earlier was casually discarded. Tony smiled softly at him. He dropped his eyes for a moment, looking uncharacteristically shy before agile fingers quickly undid the button fly of his jeans. He executed a neat roll of his hips that would have made an exotic dancer proud, shimmying out of his remaining clothing.

Gibbs swallowed hard. God but Tony was beautiful like this. Gibbs pushed himself away from the counter, desperately wanting to make contact again. He'd dreamed about moments like this for so long before they'd gotten together sometimes the only way he could convince himself they were real was to touch. Tony held up a finger, silently asking him to wait. Tony did a neat pirouette. He looked over his shoulder, before bending over to brace his hands against the island. That ass Gibbs had been admiring only a few minutes ago was now presented to him in a blatant invitation. Gibbs reached out and ran his fingertips down Tony's back, running from the edge of his hair line all the way to the curve of his ass, admiring the smooth skin and taunt muscles. He kept his touch light but firm enough not to tickle. Tony sighed, his head dropping forward as his back arched upward like a cat. Tony widened his stance when Gibbs' hands came to rest on his hips, fingers flexing as his thumbs massaged the small depressions at the base of Tony's spine. Blue eyes searched the kitchen for something to use as a lubricant. Spit would help, but it wasn't enough. He wasn't going to hurt Tony. He grinned, suppressing a chuckle when he spotted a bottle of extra virgin olive oil that he'd left out on the island. He'd used it earlier to make more salad dressing. It was sitting not far from Tony's right hand. That'll do nicely, Gibbs thought. He reached for it, laying his chest against Tony's back, nibbling the nape of his neck. He left a trail of kisses down the younger man's spine, placing one on each vertebra. Tony made one of those long purring sighs Gibbs loved to hear. He unscrewed the cap of the bottle, careful not to spill too much on to his fingers. Tony whispered something soft in Italian when Gibbs inserted one finger. He thrust back into Gibbs' hand, hips rolling in a move that was obviously a request for more. Gibbs ran his other hand down Tony's spine again. He wasn't sure if the gesture was meant to sooth or arouse. Gibbs decided it didn't matter; Tony wasn't complaining either way. He loved touching his younger lover nearly as much as Tony seemed to enjoy being touched. Gibbs added a second finger. The low moan Tony made raised goosebumps along the older man's arms. Tony rocked back and then forward, slowly fucking himself on Gibbs' fingers. The former Marine bit down on his lip, his control sorely tested. Gibbs withdrew his fingers. He stroked Tony's spine again when the younger man made a faint sound of loss and disappointment. "Shhh...It's alright." "Jethro...per favore." The soft plea in Italian was close enough to Spanish for Gibbs to grasp what Tony was saying please. "Ti voglio bene." Tony looked over his shoulder, eyes heavy lidded, the pupils so large as to nearly eclipse the green. "Subito...per favore...interno me." Gibbs shuddered, captivated by the hoarse, hungry sound of Tony's normally smooth tenor. He had only a vague idea of what the words meant, but the meaning was clear. One of these days, he promised himself, he was going to learn Italian. Gibbs nodded slowly, petting Tony again. He ran his slick fingers over his achingly hard, leaking cock. Gibbs gripped himself at the base, tightening almost painfully for a second, forcing himself back from the brink. Making this last was not really going to be an option, but he still wanted to make it very good for both of them.

He impatiently shoved his pants and boxers further down and out of the way as he positioned himself to enter Tony. As Gibbs moved forward Tony pressed back into him, joining them together in one extraordinarily perfect moment. Gibbs sucked in a harsh breath, holding still for as he tried to adjust to the amazing tightness and heat that now surrounded him. No matter how many times they did this, it took never failed to take his breath away. Gibbs pulled back and thrust forward, hands holding on to Tony's hips. He knew his grip had to be bordering on painful but Tony didn't complain. The younger man just moved with him, encouraging him to go harder, faster and deeper. "Touch yourself, Tony." Gibbs didn't even recognize his own voice; it was so raw and breathless. He knew that directive would subtly shift the dynamics, letting Tony set the pace for them. Gibbs wasn't completely sure how or why it happened that way, but it always did. Gibbs' breathing was coming in harsh pants as he kept pace with Tony. He closed his eyes, letting the sensations take over. Faint tremors rippled over him, and his lower back tingled?telltale signs he was close, so close. Gibb wanted to hold it off longer. He loved that feeling of balancing on the edge of a cliff, hanging there for an infinite and yet all too limited moment in time. He could almost feel a surge of energy rippling over him, through him, leaving his skin tingling, his muscles flexing and taunt, breath lost. He heard Tony cry out his name. The internal contractions of Tony's orgasm pulled Gibbs' own from him. He came with a silent cry, shaking with the intensity of the moment. Gibbs leaned forward, resting against Tony's back, eyes still tightly closed as he struggled to slow his breathing. He blindly placed a kiss on Tony's shoulder blade. His arms moved to wrap around the younger man, his left hand resting just over Tony's heart. He could feel the rhythm of Tony's heart, strong and steady. Tony sighed. "If I get this kind of reunion every time...I'm leaving you home alone more often." Gibbs smiled, placing another kiss on Tony's shoulder. "Could have done this if you'd spent the day here too, you know." Tony chuckled. "I sure as hell hope so." Gibbs reluctantly released his hold and took a careful half step back. He kicked free of his pants, ruefully wondering how he'd managed not to fall on his ass. Tony straightened up, and raised his arms over his head in a spine popping stretch. Gibbs stared, mesmerized by the play of muscle and bone. He shook his head. If he were younger, he'd have been hard again just watching Tony move. "You wanna clean up the mess here and join me in the shower?" Tony asked, halfturning to look at Gibbs. Green eyes flickered to the cum splatter on the side of the island. "Or I can clean up and you can go warm up the show." "I'll warm up the shower." Gibbs gave his lover a quick smile. Tony knew Gibbs liked the water cooler than he did, and to his surprise, Tony never complained about the temperature when he picked something less than his lovers preferred ?hot enough to scald'.

Gibbs had taken to stocking Tony's brand of soap and shampoo. He found he liked the fragrance of both. And he liked knowing they smelled like each other. It was a subtle mark of ownership; Gibbs enjoyed knowing he could get away with at least that since marking Tony as his in a more obvious fashion really wasn't an option. Tony slid the glass door back, and stepped in behind him. "Want me to wash your back?" "Please." Tony never just washed his back. Those clever, talented fingers always worked in a massage at the same time. Gibbs sighed when Tony's hands started kneading the sore muscles of his shoulders. "You really should take a break now and then when you work on the boat, Boss." "Yeah." He knew that. It wasn't like he lost track of time on purpose. It just happened. He flinched when Tony found a particularly tender spot. Tony immediately lightened his touch. "Sorry." "It's okay." Gibbs knew from past experience the best massages were sometimes a little painful. Sometimes that was what it took to get rid of the knots. "You get Ernie's garage cleaned out?" He asked, relaxing as he could feel his neck and shoulders unkink under Tony's continued efforts. Tony laughed softly. "In a manner of speaking." Gibbs could feel both eyebrows rise. "Which means what exactly?" "Well," Tony drew out that word slowly, "there was really only one thing he wanted to get rid of." Gibbs blinked. So cleaning the garage had been just a ploy to get Tony to visit. Not that a ploy seemed to be needed if Tony was in contact with Ernie as often as the old Marine had said. "So?what did he want to get rid of?" "His car." Gibbs turned around to look at Tony. "His car?" "Yeah." Tony grinned, affection and disbelief were evident in his tone and his expression. "A 1966 Mustang, Boss. Can you believe it?" Gibbs didn't know anything about cars, from the look on Tony's face the idea of getting rid of a 66 Mustang was unfathomable. "It still runs?" "Run?" Tony gave him a disgusted look. "It purrs, Jethro." Tony's face adopted a dreamy expression, eyes half closed, a soft smile forming. "She's pristine. Probably looks better than she did the day he bought her and runs even better." "He gave it to you?" Gibbs asked even though he was fairly certain he was right. Tony shook his head in denial. "He wanted to." Gibbs arched an eyebrow. "You didn't want it?" "Are you nuts? Of course I want her." Tony rolled his eyes. "But I can't let him give me something like that. Jesus, Gibbs, do you have any idea what that car is worth?"

His lover knew he didn't know or care enough about cars to be able to answer so the question had to be rhetorical. But from the way Tony asked, Gibbs guessed it was worth a lot. Tony sighed heavily. He rubbed a hand over his face and through his wet hair. "Ernie's on a fixed income that barely meets his needs now. I couldn't let him give me something that selling could let him live a lot more comfortably. You get that right?" Gibbs nodded. He should have realized Tony would see it that way. No matter what sort of love at first sight feelings he had for the car, Tony wouldn't do anything that would leave someone he considered a friend high and dry. Ernie must have been so disappointed, Gibbs thought. It was obvious Tony loved the car being offered, so it was probably hard for Ernie to understand why he wouldn't take it. He opened his mouth to say something, but snapped it shut when Tony grinned at him. "Couldn't let him give it to me, but doesn't mean I couldn't pay him for it." Tony laughed softly. "I told him I'd buy her instead." "Buy it?" Tony nodded, still grinning. Suddenly Gibbs didn't think Tony's remark about what a 66 Mustang was worth was a rhetorical question. If Tony hadn't been willing to just take the car when offered, Gibbs couldn't see him paying Ernie less than he thought it was worth either. "Can you afford---" Tony waved a hand in dismissal. "I still have the insurance check from the Vette." Gibbs had no idea what the blue book value on the Vette was or what Tony had it insured for. He had an idea that the car had been worth more for sentimental reasons than monetary, but he'd never asked outright. It didn't seem right to ask for details about Tony's past if he wasn't willing to return the favor and offer details from his own. And Gibbs was still worried he might reveal he knew far more about his lover's childhood than Tony would probably want him to know. "Ernie said he's thought about this, but I wanted him to be really sure. I'm pretty sure he won't change his mind, but I still want him to have that option. He's had her longer than I've been alive--" Tony shrugged one shoulder and made a meaningless gesture with his hand, finishing the sentence rather eloquently by leaving it hanging. "It's a lot to let go of," Gibbs murmured, appreciating how hard it would be to give away something owned for so long. If Ernie regarded the car as being as special as Tony evidently did, he had to have a lot of memories wrapped up in it. "Definitely." Tony nodded, clearly following Gibbs' thoughts. "I told him if he was still sure about the deal that we'd be by to pick her up next weekend. Hell even if he isn't?you have to see this car, Boss. She's just gorgeous. The engine is--" Gibbs laid a finger against Tony's mouth, halting the flow of words. "Next weekend?" Tony pulled back enough to speak. "I mean, if we don't have a case. Or I can always take a cab over or something if you'd---" "It's fine, Tony." Gibbs realized his request for clarification had come out wrong. He hadn't meant to make Tony feel like he didn't want go or wasn't interested. It still caught him by surprise sometimes how insecure about some things his otherwise brash and confident lover could be. "Next weekend is fine."

"Cool." Tony smiled broadly. "Thanks." He leaned in and gave Tony a quick kiss. "We better hurry up and finish in here before all the hot water runs out." Tony snickered. "Hey, I'm not the one who started all the talking." Gibbs laughed, and very lightly bopped Tony on the forehead. "Let me do your back." "Sure." They shifted around each other, moving easily in spite of the confining space. Languid movements gave way to brisk and efficient but were never cold or impersonal. Gibbs was glad he'd installed a larger water heater. He found he no longer cared to shower alone any more than he liked to sleep alone. Gibbs turned off the water when they were finished. He handed Tony a towel before grabbing one for himself. He grimaced, missing the heated towel rack at Tony's place. "Tomorrow we're going to pick up one of those for here." He hadn't realized he'd spoke aloud until Tony looked at him in askance. "What?" "A heated towel rack." Gibbs' chin came up in a silent challenge, daring Tony to comment. "I want one." Tony dipped his head in an abbreviated bow, manfully suppressing the smile Gibbs new wanted to break free. "Sure thing, Boss." Tony's stomach rumbled. Gibbs arched an eyebrow. "Another country heard from." Tony shrugged. "I'm a growing boy." He finished drying off, hanging the damp towel neatly on the rack. "Besides, we need to eat to keep our strength up for later." He gave Gibbs a lascivious look over his shoulder as he headed out of the bathroom completely naked, hips swaying in a blatant invitation. Gibbs closed his eyes, and took a slow deep breath, struggling for control. First, they'd eat. Then he could nail Tony to the mattress. Or maybe Tony would nail him. Either or both would do.

Tony glanced at the clock. Another few minutes and the day would be over. And damn what a long, boring day it had been, Tony thought with a silent sigh. Paula was back aboard ship somewhere. Tony was genuinely sorry to see her leave. She was fun to talk to, and to tease. It was what he'd found attractive about her to begin with. He was also sorry to see her leave because that meant the Director would be pushing harder for Gibbs to replace Kate. Sheppard had been pushing ever since she'd taken the job. Gibbs was resisting fiercely, but Tony knew his boss would lose. He'd seen enough politics growing up to know how pissing contests always worked out. Top dog always won, and in this case she was top dog. Sheppard might be new, but she definitely knew how to wield her authority and play hardball when she had to. She'd made sure the SecNav was around to order Gibbs

to interview Boone when Gibbs had turned down the governor. Gibbs being forced to do something he'd flatly refused to do wasn't something Tony had ever expected to witness. Tony had a new appreciation for just how crafty and determined Sheppard was. Not that he'd said anything to Gibbs. He was too smart to tell the older man his money was on the Director deciding when they'd end up with a new team member. He didn't think Gibbs would take it well. If they got lucky, they'd have some say in who would replace Kate. Tony didn't have much faith in luck. He was betting on Sheppard picking for the team. He just hoped like hell whoever it was would be at least as good an agent as Kate had been. The ringing of his cell phone pulled Tony from his reverie. He eyed the caller ID before grinning. "Hey, Joe. What's up?" Joe was a frat brother, one of the three he stayed in touch with regularly. The other two, Vinnie and Mark had gone to spring break with Tony last year. Getting together had been a blast. If his teammates had known how they'd truly spent the weekend, they wouldn't have believed it, which was why he let them assume his time had been spent chasing Coeds and drinking. In reality there had been only one night of serious drinking. Most of the time was spent reminiscing and catching up with each others' lives, goofing off at the beach playing volleyball, body surfing, and building one hell of a sand sculpture. Vinnie was a conceptual architect and no trip to the beach was ever complete without attempting to construct something monumental. Last time it had been a 1/50th scale model of the Tower of London. This time it was the Jefferson Memorial. "Tony." The smile was evident in Joe's rich baritone. "Man, it's good to hear your voice.. Been way too long." "That it has." Joe was a lot like the older brother Tony wanted when he was growing up. They didn't get together nearly as often as either man would like. "How's Gloria?" "Gloria is just fine. As always." Joe chuckled. Tony had been the one to introduce them. They were a great couple, and some day Tony was sure they'd get around to tying the knot. "Hey, man, reason I called is because I wanted to know if you're free this weekend?" "Maybe." Could be some day was sooner than I thought, Tony grinned. "Why?" "Max is going to do it." "It?" Tony frowned in confusion. "He asked the wicked witch to marry him." "No way." Tony knew his mouth was hanging open. He didn't care. He was just too stunned. Max had appalling taste in women, and the girl he'd been dating for the past two years hated all his friends, didn't like his family, and didn't seem at all interested in Max's hobbies. "Way." Tony could easily picture Joe shaking his head in dismay. "How drunk was he?" "Sober as a judge." Joe snorted.

"Damn." "Exactly." Joe chuckled. "Figured we should get together before she sets a date. You know it'll be the last time we see him. And we should send him off right." Tony would have liked to accuse Joe of being overly dramatic, but he knew better. It wasn't really a huge loss. Tony liked Max, but he wasn't as close to him as he was to Joe, Vinnie and Mark. Never seeing any one of those three again would be devastating. "I'll have to get back to you about getting together, " Tony told his friend. He still had plans to pick up the Mustang. Tonight in fact, after work. Ernie had called and wanted him and Gibbs to come for dinner. "You got a date?" "Something like that," Tony admitted with a smile. He'd told Joe he had been seeing someone regularly for the past few months, but he hadn't mentioned a name or gender. Joe was one of the few people who Tony had told he was bisexual. His friend hadn't even batted an eye. But then Joe had an uncle who'd been in a long term relationship with another man, and a stepsister who was a Lesbian. He was a pretty open minded guy. "Same one you been seeing?" "Yeah." "Good for you." The warmth in Joe's voice was unmistakable. "Bout time you got yourself a good one." "Thanks." It was nice to know someone was happy for him. "One of these days you'll have to introduce us." Tony winced. Yeah, one of these days he would. He just wasn't sure Gibbs would like his friends. Or that his friends would like Gibbs. He'd wait a bit longer on that. Until he was sure Gibbs was really planning to keep him around for the long haul. They hadn't even made six months yet. It was way too soon to start trying to merge their lives more completely?.no matter how much he wanted to. "If it works out...I'll introduce you." Tony promised, knowing Joe wouldn't be put off with anything less. "Fair enough." Joe accepted the promise and the caveat easily. He always knew when to push and went to let got. It was one of the reasons Joe was a damn good psychiatrist. Joe chuckled. "Hopefully it will happen sometime before I'm old and gray." Tony snickered. "Rate you're losing your hair man, I'm thinking gray won't be a problem." "Oh shut the hell up." Good humor carried through Joe's tone easily. Joe's hair had started to thin even before they'd graduated. But it had never bothered him much. He'd just kept it buzzed short enough to make a Marine proud. "Gloria thinks I'm sexy bald." "She's biased." "Your point?"

"Don't let her get away." "Don't plan to." That last was as much a promise as a statement of intent. "Call me?" "Will do." Tony was already making a note in his PDA to remind himself to call Joe tomorrow at the latest. He'd check with Gibbs and make sure there wasn't anything else his lover had planned for the weekend. They didn't spend every day together. Although, lately they spent more time together than they did apart, Tony never just assumed he'd be welcome. "Take care of yourself, brother." "Yeah. You too." "Always. Later." Tony snapped his phone shut, still smiling. McGee was looking at him in askance. Tony shrugged one shoulder, "College buddy." McGee nodded. "This the guy who can do handstands on the rings?" "No. That's 'T'." Tony couldn't help grinning at the idea of Joe doing anything even remotely related to gymnastics. He was taller than Tony and a good fifty pounds heavier. Joe wasn't fat, he was solid, and definitely not the sort anyone would expect to do a floor routine. "What's tea?" Gibbs asked, rounding the corner, startling both of them. "Besides a piss poor substitute for coffee?" "Not the drink, Boss." McGee offered before snapping his mouth shut, clearly thinking better of having spoken at all. Gibbs raised both eyebrows. He eyeballed McGee clearly wanting more information. Tony shook his head. "'T' is a nickname for a friend of mine, Boss." "His nickname is a letter?" "His real name is Thomas Thompson the third." Tony shrugged one shoulder. Gibbs pursed his lips. "Can see why he'd rather use a letter than that name." "Yeah." Tony always figured T's father was a sadistic man to pass on that kind of torture. "Anything happen while I was in with the Director?" "No." They hadn't gotten a call since dealing with Boone. Tony suspected that was part of the Director's influence showing. Tony had a bet with McGee they wouldn't get a case until they got a new agent. "Okay, then. Let's call it a day." McGee didn't even bat an eye. It was a sure sign to Tony that the junior agent had something to do tonight too. "Have fun, Probie." Tony grinned. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do." McGee rolled his eyes. "Is there anything you wouldn't do?" "It's definitely a short list." Tony laughed, waving at his friend as the other man grabbed his back pack and headed out. He turned back to Gibbs. "You ready to go?" "Yes." Gibbs powered down his computer. "Rental agency pick up the sedan?"

Tony shrugged into his jacket, pocketing his cell phone. "They got it at noon." He wasn't sorry to see it go. It had been a serviceable vehicle, it just wasn't his. Not really. Gibbs grabbed his own coat, folding it over his arm. Tony fell into step with him. He was often tempted to hit the stop button on the elevator and sneak a kiss but refrained. He couldn't afford to get a hard on every time he stepped into the thing. He saw Gibbs reaching for the button, but the older man pulled his hand back with as sigh. Tony stifled a smile. It was nice to know it wasn't just him. He followed Gibbs off the elevator when they got to the garage. Tony slid into the passenger seat, securing his seatbelt out of habit. He never rode without the thing, especially not when Gibbs was driving. "Ernie is expecting us around six, right?" Tony nodded. "Told him if we were going to be late, or couldn't make it, I'd call." With the job it was impossible to know when something might come up. Although, given the Director's latest control effort, Tony hadn't been surprised the week was as slow as it had been. He wanted to ask how Gibbs' meeting with her had gone, but neatly reined in that question. Tony had made a point of not asking for information when it came to Sheppard. It didn't seem wise to bring her up. She was part of Gibbs' past, and the older man rarely confided much about his past to anyone. It was something Tony tried to accept. He wasn't willing to push the boundaries Gibbs had established. The innate fear he might go too far, might do irreparable damage, always lurked in the back of his mind. He didn't want to appear needy, demanding or pushy. Wanting too much never failed to kill a relationship. Tony knew that first hand. And there was a lot about his past he hadn't shared with Gibbs either. It didn't seem fair to ask if he wasn't equally willing to share. "It'll be good to see Ernie again." Gibbs smiled as he deftly worked his way through traffic. Tony hadn't realized until last weekend that Gibbs hadn't known he stayed in touch with the old Marine. He just assumed Gibbs knew and hadn't seen any need to comment on it. It wasn't like Tony had hidden his contact with Ernie. In a way Tony was glad Gibbs hadn't stayed in touch with Ernie. It made Ernie a friend of Tony's, someone he knew his lover could relate to and would like. Kind of the way Tony knew Ducky was Gibbs' friend and liked him. Tony was ready to offer directions if Gibbs needed them, but he didn't think his lover would. The older man knew the area like he knew the back of his hand. It had initially impressed Tony, but now he took it for granted. Tony grinned when Gibbs cursed a driver in front of them before swerving into the other lane to accelerate around the other car. The former cop wondered sometimes if a warning shouldn't go out every time Gibbs got behind the wheel. "Shut up." Tony laughed. "I didn't say anything."

"You were thinking it." "Yeah." Tony admitted, still laughing. "We aren't on a case, Boss. Ernie won't care of we aren't there exactly at six." "It's rude not to show up on time." Tony snorted. "Dying en route would be worse, I think." "I'm not that bad." "Thinking that the little old lady in the Intrepid might disagree." "The speed limit is fifty-five," Gibbs pointed to the sign posting the speed limit. "People who can't do at least that shouldn't be on the road." "Yeah, and a double yellow line usually means no passing." Tony bit the inside of his cheek to keep from smiling. He loved playing like this, but rarely got the chance to do it with Gibbs. Gibbs snorted, but his eyes twinkled. "Those lines are just a suggestion." "Right. A suggestion." Tony arched an eyebrow. "That would be why cops are authorized to write tickets for doing what you just did." "I haven't had a traffic ticket in over twenty years." "Twenty years?" Tony blinked. "Hunh...I figured you had a drawer full of them somewhere." Gibbs reached over to lightly cuff the back of Tony's head. "I am NOT that bad." "If you say so." Tony was still grinning. "I say so." Gibbs retorted with a hard look that was ruined by the smile Tony could see lurking at the corners of his mouth. They pulled into Ernie's drive way, next to where the Mustang sat. Tony sighed, eyes lovingly tracing the clean lines of the car. She was beautiful. He might have to consider getting her repainted. Green wasn't really his color, but it looked good on her. "So that's the car?" Gibbs asked. "Isn't she pretty?" Tony grinned, getting out of Gibbs' car. "Wait until you hear her purr, Boss. She was born to run." His fingertips caressed the Mustang's fender, appreciating the smooth finish and aerodynamic line. "Love to run, don't you baby?" Tony asked the car softly. "It's a car, DiNozzo." Gibbs sounded amused, his arms crossed over his chest. "It's not alive." Tony rolled his eyes. "And your boat is just wood, right?" Gibbs paused, head cocked to one side, clearly thinking about the question. "Point." Tony nodded, pleased they had established some sort of common reference. He didn't expect Gibbs to get excited about the Mustang, but he did want his lover to show her the respect she deserved. She was a classic, not some run of the mill clunker.

Tony looked up when the front door opened. Ernie stepped out, a grin on his face. "About time you got here. Was beginning to think you'd changed your mind." Tony snorted. "Oh yeah, like that would happen." He grinned, once more looking at the car. "She's perfect." "Yeah, she is." Ernie agreed with a warm smile. Tony looked for any signs of regret or second thoughts on the older man's part, and was relieved when he didn't find any. "Good to see you again, Gibbs." "Likewise, Ernie." Gibbs held out his hand, getting a firm shake in return. "C'mon inside." Ernie pointed to the house over his shoulder with his thumb. "Dinner should be about ready." Tony was curious what dinner would be. Dorothy had done most of the cooking when she was alive. Since she died Ernie preferred to simply eat out or live on frozen entrees. Even with Gibbs stopping by his apartment, they still couldn't eat everything Louisa made, so rather than let it go to waste, Tony had taken to bringing the extra to Ernie. At least that way he was sure the older man was getting something decent to eat once in awhile. Stepping inside Tony took a deep breath. "Lasagna?" Tony smiled. "Smells good." "Dorothy's recipe." Ernie shrugged one shoulder, self-effacing. Tony had a feeling the older man had probably read the directions at least a dozen times before actually daring to make it. Tony thought the new challenge was good for Ernie. It gave the older man something to focus on and still feel like he could learn a new trick or two. Ernie held out a hand, and Tony automatically slipped out of his jacket, giving it to Ernie to hang up. Gibbs had left his coat in the car. The man rarely seemed to need one, but Tony had noticed he always had one on hand. He assumed it was just a matter of always being prepared. "You boys want something to drink?" "Sure." Tony agreed easily. Gibbs seemed a bit thrown for a second by being lumped in with Tony as one of the ?boys'. He grinned before nodding once, accepting the offer. "He makes them a little strong," Tony warned Gibbs with a near silent whisper as Ernie headed for the small bar at the other end of the living room. "I can handle my liquor." Gibbs shot back just as quietly with an amused expression. "Just giving you fair warning." Tony shrugged one shoulder. The first time Tony had stopped by to visit Ernie after settling the issue of what happened on Iwo Jima, he'd ended up spending the night. Just two of the old Marine's drinks were enough to make him question his ability to drive. Ernie offered them both a glass. Tony knew the high quality cut crystal had been a wedding present. Ernie said Dorothy had insisted they make use of the glasses rather than putting them away to collect dust and seen only on special occasions. The set was now far from complete, but Tony was pretty sure Dorothy would have considered good memories a fair trade for broken glass. His own mother, and even his step mother, would never have seen the value of that trade.

"How are things at NCIS?" The question was directed at Gibbs, so Tony let his boss answer. He liked hearing Gibbs' take on things. They often saw things from completely different ends of the spectrum. It was reassuring to hear Gibbs comment on their new director and not sound impressed by her. Abby hadn't thought much of her, and McGee was basically mum on her. Until now Tony wasn't sure how Gibbs felt about her. "You find it hard taking orders from a woman?" Ernie asked. It was an honest question, not chauvinistic or insulting. Gibbs grimaced. "I've been married three times." "Thinking that might be a yes then." Ernie barked out a laugh. "If you could handle taking orders from one you'd still be married." He grinned looking toward Tony. "What about you, Kid?" "I still get my marching orders from him." Tony pointed to Gibbs with his thumb. "But I don't have any issues with women in charge." It wasn't Sheppard's gender that had him disliking her. No, it was her claim to a past with Gibbs that Tony knew nothing about which made it hard to like her. Conversation between Gibbs and Ernie flowed easily into casual reminiscing about the Corps. Tony didn't mind that the topic excluded him slightly. He liked listening to them talk, and it wasn't something either man could really talk to him about and expect him to fully understand. In spite of being marginally closer in age, having served and seen combat, Ernie and Tony had more in common than Gibbs and Ernie did. Tony's love of old movies, classic cars and willingness to listen to stories about the good old days gave them a lot of common ground to cover. If Tony had a tendency to treat Ernie like the grandfather he'd never gotten to know, Ernie balanced it by treating Tony like the grandson he'd never had. The oven buzzer sounded softly. Ernie grinned, setting down his drink. "Dinner." "You need me to set the table?" Tony asked. It had become his usual task whenever he managed to stop by for dinner. Ernie nodded. "You know where everything is." Tony took his drink with him, leaving at his usual place at the table. He had only sipped it cautiously and probably wouldn't finish it until after dinner. Gibbs trailed after him, helping to set the table as though they had done this dozens of time before. Tony grinned, noting the level of liquid in Gibbs' glass. His lover hadn't done more than sip his drink either. "You were right." Gibbs smiled at him and shrugged one shoulder. Tony chuckled quietly. It was rare that he heard Gibbs say that. He could count on one hand in fact the number of times he'd heard it. "Hurt to say?" "No." Gibbs' smile broadened. Tony nodded, accepting the answer and letting it go at that. Ernie had done a good job with the Lasagna. And the garlic bread. Tony complimented him on mastering his wife's recipe.

"My Dorothy was a hell of a cook." Ernie stated with obvious pride. He liked talking about his wife, and Tony encouraged him to do so. Some day he hoped to be able to talk about Kate with the same sense of affection and pride, without pain or guilt. Dinner was a light-hearted affair. It made Tony glad Gibbs had agreed. Ernie didn't have that many friends to interact with; most of them had either passed on or lived out of the area. Tony wanted the older man to have someone else to talk to if he wasn't around. They lingered over their drinks, laughing and talking about everything from politics to the weather. Tony glanced at his watched surprised to find they'd been sitting at the table for nearly two hours. He shook his head. Losing track of time around Ernie was something of a habit. "Better get what's left in the fridge." Ernie said, covering a small yawn. Tony knew the two drinks Ernie had consumed to their one were probably one of the reasons the older man was starting to run out of steam. Unlike with his father, Tony didn't mind that Ernie drank. The older man wasn't violent, sarcastic or dismissive when he was drinking; Tony never doubted that his presence was welcome. Tony suspected that unlike his father Ernie only really started drinking regularly in the evenings after his wife died. He hadn't used it as a lifelong crutch. Tony knew Ernie started his day early. It was as much a matter of habit for him as it was for Tony and Gibbs. Being retired hadn't changed that lifelong habit. It made for a long day. Tony and Gibbs both helped clear the table, ignoring Ernie's protests. "You cooked. We clean." Tony told him with a quick grin. Ernie rolled his eyes but didn't protest. While Gibbs was straightening the table, Tony handed Ernie a check. The older man didn't even look at the amount, he simply pocketed it. "You don't cash that, I'll know." Tony reminded him quietly. He wouldn't put it past the older man to simply not cash it on purpose. Ernie gave Tony an exasperated look. "I already got plans for it." "Good." Ernie tossed Tony the keys. The key chain was a Marine Corps emblem. Tony grinned. He'd be keeping that. Ernie clapped him on the shoulder, ushering him to where Gibbs waited. "We should do this again." "We will." Gibbs said with a smile, giving Ernie's hand in another firm shake. Tony shrugged into his jacket. "I'll call you this week." Ernie nodded. "You take good care of her." "I will." Tony gave the older man a quick hug, slapping him lightly on the back as he pulled away. "Stay out of trouble, you hear?" "I don't get into trouble, Kid, that's your job." Ernie laughed. He pointed his finger at both of them. "You be careful driving home." "Will do."

"Goodnight, Ernie." Gibbs stepped out on to porch. Ernie held open the door, leaning against it. "Goodnight." Tony patted his shoulder again. Ernie smiled. "Enjoy your new ride." Tony grinned. "How could I not?" He waved once as he headed for the Mustang, watching as Ernie closed the door. "I'll follow you." Tony said softly, nodding once to Gibbs as he passed him. His lover smiled and nodded. He still had to ask Gibbs about the rest of the weekend, but for now all Tony really wanted to do was drive his new car. Tony grinned. Sliding into the driver's seat was like coming home?.familiar and comfortable. The engine came to life with a soft growl. "Hello, baby." Tony pet the steering wheel, lightly stroking the leather. "Ready to go see your new home?" He knew other people would think he was being silly or stupid talking to the car, but Tony didn't care. She wasn't just a car, any more than Ernie was just some guy. She already had a lot of memories invested in her. Tony was looking forward to investing a few more. Tony wondered if he could persuade Gibbs that having sex in a car wasn't just for teenagers. Tony laughed quietly. It would be fun trying to convince him.

Gibbs sighed. He'd been staring up at the ceiling for the last hour. He rolled over on his side, hugging Tony's pillow to his chest. He wasn't sure when the pillow actually became Tony's, but it had to have been about the same time that side of the bed became his as well. Gibbs breathed in deeply, seeking traces of his lover's scent on the obscenely expensive linens Tony had brought over to his place about a month after they started seeing one another. Until then, Gibbs hadn't realized thread count made a difference. Now, he couldn't imagine sleeping on the cheap cotton sheets he still had in the closet somewhere. Not that he was sleeping much now anyway. God, he hated sleeping alone. He missed Tony's warmth. The younger man radiated heat like a furnace. He missed the sound of Tony's deep, even breathing. It still amazed him that Tony didn't snore, or at least not often, but then Tony had a tendency to curl into him, sleeping on his side most of the time. He missed the sense of peace that seemed to wrap itself around Tony when he was down for the count. Gibbs shook his head. It was stupid. He'd been able to sleep alone before. Admittedly, he never slept well, but he'd done it. He rolled over, trying his right side. He should have lied when Tony asked if he had anything planned for the weekend. Should have made something up that would have kept his lover at home. But he'd answered honestly when Tony asked. "No, no plans. Why?"

He thought Tony was going to suggest they do something together. Instead Tony mentioned getting an invitation to get together with some of his college fraternity buddies. They were the same guys Tony had been on spring break with. Gibbs had worked hard to squash his instinctive jealous reaction. Refusing to let Tony see his friends would have been stupid and hurtful. Gibbs didn't like thinking of himself as being that petty or controlling. He also had to stifle the strange feeling of being left out. He wanted to meet Tony's friends but was leery of pushing for an invitation. How the hell was Tony supposed to explain his presence? "Well, he could tell them I was his lover," Gibbs muttered to himself, snorting at his own insecurity. He didn't even know if these friends knew Tony played for both teams. Although, he suspected at least one of them had to know. He couldn't imagine Tony keeping everything about himself a secret from guys he'd stayed in touch with for so long. Gibbs grimaced. And why the hell did they have to meet up in Baltimore of all places? Why couldn't it be here? Where he'd know Tony was okay. He could hear Tony's voice in his head answering those questions when he'd asked them aloud earlier. "Baltimore is kind of central, Boss. Joe lives just outside the city limits, about half an hour from the airport. Vinnie is in New York and Mark's in Pittsburg. Max lives in Richmond, T is in Phillie and John just moved to Shepherdstown." He could see Tony smiling. "Joe's got this big old house he inherited from his grandparents. It's got room enough for everyone to stay." Gibbs frowned remembering the next bit. "Being closer to Joe was one of the reasons I took the job in Baltimore." So who the hell was this Joe? Gibbs resisted the urge to do a background check. If the man was someone Tony was in love with, Gibbs didn't think he'd have ever been able to woo Tony away from Baltimore in the first place. No, he was just a good friend. A good friend Gibbs had yet to meet. There was no point in reading too much into that. He knew Tony wasn't ashamed of him or their relationship. Hell, when McGee found out about them, Tony was ready to quit a job he loved to protect Gibbs. That wasn't an act of shame or cowardice. Far from it. And it wasn't like Gibbs had gone out of his way to introduce Tony to his friends. Gibbs grimaced. Other than guys he'd served with, he didn't have any close friends. And somehow he couldn't see his Marine buddies being accepting of his younger, male lover. Not when they didn't know he swung that way. The shock alone would probably guarantee they wouldn't accept Tony. There was Ducky though. He and Tony seemed to get along well. Gibbs grinned. That had to count for something. Hell, Tony handled Mrs. Mallard and her pack of Corgis better than Gibbs did. Gibbs sighed deeply, glancing at the clock. It was early for him to be in bed, but he'd hoped to maybe fool himself into getting a few solid hours. Working on the boat didn't hold any appeal. He'd already spent several hours on her and his back was telling him that was plenty. He hated watching TV alone, too used to Tony's presence to

enjoy mindless entertainment on his own. He'd left his reading glasses at Tony's place and didn't feel like digging around for the spare pair he had lost somewhere in the house. The ringing of the phone startled him. It was the landline not his cell. He reached for it, picking up on the second ring. "Gibbs." "Hey, it's just me." Gibbs smiled. It was good to hear Tony's voice. "You made it okay?" "Yeah. Got in hours ago." There was a note of apology in Tony's voice. "Sort of lost track of time." "Figured it might be something like that." Gibbs kept it low key. He didn't want to make a big deal out of Tony having left at ten in the morning and how he hadn't bothered to call until nearly twelve hours later. It wasn't like Tony had promised to call. Gibbs was not going to act as though he'd been pining away like some love sick fool. He sure as hell wasn't going to admit to waiting around hoping to hear the phone ring; it was too juvenile. He also wasn't going to say anything about the police scanner being on most of the day and his listening for any reports of accidents. "Everyone else get there okay?" It was only polite to ask. "Everyone but Mark. We have to pick him up at the airport soon." Tony laughed. "I can't wait to hear exactly what happened that he had to take a late flight." Tony had mentioned that Mark habitually had travel issues. Delayed flights, lost luggage, and messed up reservations seemed to be the norm. It was one of the reasons he was never allowed to make plans for the rest of the group. "Once we get Mark, we'll meet up with Max, John and T. They're already at my favorite old haunt, holding down the fort for us." Gibbs winced. He mentally translated ?favorite old haunt' to strip club. His hand clenched around the phone. "Can't wait to find out if Vinnie is any better at pool. He says he's been practicing." Tony snickered. "How the man can understand geometry and physics so well and not grasp the basics of angles and force with balls on a felt table is a mystery." Gibbs' eyebrows rose. Pool? Did they have pool tables at strip clubs? He didn't think so. "Mark said he was bringing his darts." Gibbs could hear the anticipation in Tony's voice. "John and T both joined a steel dart league last year. Still pretty sure I can kick their asses?all that time on the firing range pays off in more than one way." Steel darts? Most bars didn't even have real dartboards any more, opting for the electronic ones that used darts with a plastic tip and kept score for the players. They definitely weren't going to a strip club. Gibbs breathed a silent sigh of relief. Tony hadn't given him any reason to worry, but he couldn't help feeling just a bit uneasy at the thought of Tony around scantily clad women. "Sounds like fun." Gibbs clamped down on the instinctive desire to say he'd wished he was there.

"Usually is." There was no mistaking the smile in Tony's voice. There was a slight pause on the line and Gibbs heard Tony take a deep breath. "I...ah...I was thinking of spending Sunday night up here too." "Oh?" Tony hadn't mentioned that when he left. Gibbs had been expecting him back tomorrow. "Yeah." Another small hesitation. Gibbs could almost picture his lover fidgeting. "I don't really get to see these guys all that often and well, since we don't have a case or anything...I mean, you said we didn't have plans, so I kind of thought it would be okay to spend the whole weekend...I can be in the office Monday morning, no problem...It's only a little over an hour from here to there...but I can always cut it short if you'd rather--" "Breathe, Tony." Gibbs ordered softly, halting the stream of words. "It's okay." He shook his head. Did Tony really think he'd begrudge him time with his friends? Well, he did, but shit, he wasn't going to actually tell his lover no. He wasn't that much of a bastard that he'd make Tony give up time with people whose company he obviously enjoyed. "Monday morning is fine." Gibbs was proud of himself for sounding relaxed and calm. It wouldn't do for Tony to know how much it cost him to let the younger man out of his sight for so long. He'd gone months overseas without seeing his wives, but the thought of two days without Tony seemed like an eternity. "Thanks, Jethro," Tony nearly whispered. The genuine gratitude in that statement made Gibbs very glad he hadn't demanded Tony come home tomorrow or said no to his leaving in the first place. A rich baritone voice Gibbs didn't recognize filtered easily through the line even though the speaker was probably some distance away. "Hey, Tony, you done whispering sweet nothings? We gotta go." "Be there in a sec, Joe." Tony had to have turned his head away from the phone, his voice less distinct and fainter than before. Gibbs guessed the baritone had to be Joe. He added it to the short list of things he knew about the man. "Must be serious about this one." Another voice, a light tenor with a New England accent. "Tony's never called one of his sweethearts when we got together before." Gibbs felt a little surge of warmth and reassurance at finding out Tony's calling him was an exception. And it didn't hurt to know that Tony's buddies considered him someone special, even though they likely had no idea who the hell Tony was talking to. "I have to go." Tony sounded reluctant to end the conversation. "I'll see you Monday." Gibbs made that statement of fact. Tony had better be in the office Monday morning or there would be hell to pay. "I'll make up for lost time when I get back." Gibbs could almost hear Tony's easy grin. "Promise." "Looking forward to that." Gibbs smiled. Tony didn't have anything to make up for, but Gibbs wasn't foolish enough to turn down a promise like that. "Love you," Gibbs said quietly. He didn't want Tony hanging up before he could say it.

There was a minute hesitation on Tony's end before he responded. "Love you too." In the time they'd been together, it had gotten easier for Tony to say those words, but he still didn't say them very often. For all his immature behavior and flippant attitude, Tony really did appreciate the significance and power of words. Probably better than Gibbs did. The former Marine treasured those heartfelt words, understanding it wasn't easy for Tony to say them. The difficulty saying them made Gibbs confident Tony meant them. "See you Monday, Jethro." Gibbs waited for the click that terminated the call before he hung up the phone. He'd wanted to tell Tony he missed him, but hadn't been able to bring himself to do it. He didn't want to sound needy or weak. And he didn't want Tony to feel guilty for enjoying himself. Gibbs sighed. He looked at the clock again. Giving up on the idea of sleeping, Gibbs got up. He might as well start looking for his spare pair of reading glasses. Gibbs finally located them in the living room atop a small stack of DVD's. He shook his head. They were further proof Tony spent a lot of time at his place. Proof of Tony's presence was everywhere. The book on the coffee table that Gibbs had been reading was Tony's. The TV now in his living room was Tony's. It was not as big or as expensive as the one in Tony's apartment, but it was certainly newer and better quality than Gibbs had ever owned. The afghan draped over his couch was one Louisa had made for him because he was a friend of Tony's. The coffee in his fridge was one of Manny's special blends. Hell, even the linens on his bed were because of Tony's influence. Gibbs shook his head. He'd been here when all those things appeared and yet they still surprised him. They were subtle for the most. Unlike his second wife's penchant for buying expensive status symbols that served no real purpose and cluttered the house, or his third's habit of radical redecorating, nothing Tony had brought to his house was anything Gibbs objected to. Anyone stopping by his house wouldn't immediately notice the changes, but they were glaringly obvious to Gibbs. Everything Tony had added made Gibbs' life more comfortable, richer, and definitely better for having him in his life. "One of these days I'm going to have to tell him that," Gibbs muttered to himself. Tony probably already knew, but saying it out loud wouldn't hurt. He should have done it a long time ago. Gibbs picked up the book and sat down on the couch. He shook out the afghan and tossed it loosely over his legs as he settled in. Maybe he could sleep out here. It was definitely better than falling asleep on or under his boat. Gibbs lightly tapped the cover of the book with one finger. His thoughts drifted to Monday and just how far away it was. He stopped himself from actually counting the hours. Forcing himself away from thinking about Tony, Gibbs opted to think about something else?like finding a replacement for Kate. No way in hell was he spending another week at the office without something productive to do. Sheppard had suggested several people. Gibbs knew it was an opening gambit. She was testing the waters to see how open he was to suggestions, trying to pin down

who he might be willing to accept on his team. Not that he expected her to give him a real choice in the matter. It was a reason he'd turned everyone down so far as being unsuitable. He was pushing Sheppard to make her move. It was obvious she had someone in mind. Gibbs just wasn't sure who. God, he hated politics. All this dancing around was a waste of time. Gibbs wished she understood him better. How in the hell could they have worked together and slept together with her not understanding him any better than she did? Tony had worked with him less than a month and knew the boundaries and limits of what he would tolerate, and what he expected of the people around him. Tony pushed the line deliberately from time to time, but Sheppard didn't even seem to know there was a line. Gibbs rubbed his forehead. It wasn't all one sided. He didn't understand her either. She'd been a good field agent. But being director was a different situation. He really didn't think she'd be able to stay in MTAC and stay away from field work. And that would just get?messy. Politics didn't belong in the field. Maybe the reason they didn't understand each other was just one of those male female things. It was as good an explanation as any. Gibbs shook his head. He couldn't see Tony ever brining up a past history in an effort to curry favor or control someone. Letting her bring up Paris and think it still meant something to him meant she had no reason to suspect him of sleeping with Tony. Morrow knew enough not to fix something that wasn't broken and wouldn't have questioned the situation if he knew. Gibbs couldn't see Shepard letting it slide. No, she'd have Tony reassigned or worse, fired. Gibbs made a mental note to call Michelle. Maybe having the woman he knew most of the office had dubbed ?Gibbs' mysterious redhead' visit periodically would keep Shepard from getting any ideas about re-igniting their old flame. Keeping her off the trail of his relationship with Tony was one thing, but he drew the line at actually giving her any reason to expect they would pick up where they left off. He knew getting involved with Tony came with risks. Gibbs didn't mind the risks, not when the rewards had made it more than worthwhile. He didn't regret anything, and he didn't plan to start now. Nodding to himself, Gibbs opened the book. Come Monday morning, he'd go through the list of candidates again. He'd pick one and see if he or she worked out. Maybe a trial run of two weeks or so. That would be long enough that Shepard couldn't accuse him of not giving the agent a fair chance. Picking out a new agent could wait until after he had a chance to touch base with Tony; that would definitely be the first order of business Monday morning. Gibbs grinned. Tony being gone for two days meant he could have one hell of a reunion planned. It would, of course, have to wait until after work. All he was liable to get at the office was to see Tony, maybe sneak a quick kiss. The rest would have to wait, but being a sniper had taught Gibbs the value of patience. Anticipation would make the reunion that much sweeter. Gibbs settled more deeply into the couch. Being without Tony was certainly teaching him the joys of being with him. It renewed his determination to succeed with this relationship. He was going to get it right this time. Come hell or high water.

People were always saying three was a lucky number. It was looking more like four might just be his. Gibbs smiled. Yeah, four was definitely his number.

Second Risky Interlude Today did not go at all like I wanted it to. I had this plan. It was simple, straightforward. I should know better. I really should. Nothing ever goes exactly according to plan. Tony was gone all weekend. So this morning was going to be the first time I got to see him in almost two days. Figured, I'd bark out something?didn't really matter what, I just had to act pissed enough to keep anyone from asking questions. Once I got Tony to follow me to somewhere sufficiently secluded and private, I planned to steal a kiss or three. Simple. Piece of cake, right? Wrong. I get off the elevator, and there is Ziva David with orders to report to me in her hand. Jesus Christ on a crutch. I thought I'd seen her for the last time when I helped her get Ari Haswari's body on a plane bound for Israel. Would a little advance warning have been too much to ask? Evidently, Jen is really upping the ante. I knew she had someone in mind, I just didn't think it was Ziva. While I have no doubt Ziva is talented, smart and capable of being a good agent, she's got no training as a detective. My team investigates crimes; we don't plan assassinations or overthrow governments. What the hell am I supposed to do with a spy? Shit. Train her, Jen says. Yeah, okay. And since she's Jen's little protoge, that should be a walk in the park, right? Snort. Riiiight. Jen was a damn good field agent, but she never really understood what it took to make her one. There is a lot more too it than just learning my rules. Hell, Tony still doesn't know half of them, and he's a better agent than Jen ever was. I have no illusions where Jen thinks David's loyalty should be. But I know Jen doesn't know Ziva killed Ari. Ziva owes Jen less than she owes me at the moment. That is only reason I didn't kick harder to get rid of her. If I need to, I can have her gone with just a phone call. She knows it. I know it. Only one who doesn't is Jen. Thinking it should stay that way for a bit. No reason to show all my cards just yet. Of course, now that I've got Ziva, I have to deal with her. I don't get to steal a kiss, or do anything more than trade a look or two with Tony. And that makes me even more irritable. 'Cranky' Abby would say. Unfortunately, being pissed makes me thoughtless with people I care about. I really need to work on that. I knew Tony knew a lot about the Civil War. Two months after he started working for me we'd caught a case near Antietam. The body was found on the battlefield grounds by one of the park guides. Tony had flirted with her shamelessly. I found it annoying, but since he was so effective putting her at ease enough to give us far more information than we'd have gotten otherwise, I didn't call him on it. They'd discussed the battlefield at length. And I admit I was impressed by how much he knew. Dates, generals, maneuvers; Tony knew it as well as she did if not better. "Big Civil War fan, DiNozzo?" I asked him later in the car, keeping my tone just shy of being outright insulting. I wanted him to know I was not happy with the time he'd wasted talking to her. "I hate the Civil War." Tony stated firmly, green eyes turned away from me, looking out the window at passing scenery.

"Sure seem to know a lot about it." I opted for casual that time, curious but unwilling to ask outright. "More than I'd like to." Tony didn't say any more. That in itself was unusual enough at the time for me make a note of it. Even that early in our working relationship, I knew he was something of a storyteller, so I expected him to brag or expound on how he'd come to know so much. The silence piqued my curiosity even more, but I got sidetracked by the case and never got around to asking. His knowledge of the Civil War came in handy again eighteen months later. We were recruited to help the FBI track down some artifacts stolen from the Naval Military History Museum in Annapolis. I still don't know how Tony knew a replica rifle from the real thing, but that knowledge made his cover as an avid collector of Civil War Era weaponry very authentic. The case was solved in record time. Almost as though Tony couldn't be done with it fast enough. There is a commendation in his file for it from the director, but he never talks about that one. Ever. This case, with a fresh body in a sealed coffin from the Civil War, brought those incidents to mind. I still don't know why I told Tony about the case way I did. Thinking about it, I suspect I did it because I was pissed at him for being away this weekend. Pissed that the Director sprung Ziva on me. Pissed that Tony seemed insecure again over his place on the team. Why the hell he would think anyone could take his place is a mystery. Even though I didn't have the specifics, I knew something about the Civil War was a sore spot for him, and I knew I could hurt him with him with it. The words weren't hurtful...no, not exactly, but the tone was. I can be sarcastic, sharp and dismissive with the best of them. Goddamn, but I really am a bastard. I knew bringing it up at all was a mistake. I saw him wince, smile fading even as his expression closed off. But by then it was too late. It wasn't until later I had some inkling of why it bothered him. I should have known. It's only his family that generates that kind of response. One hard look from me was all it took to put an end to McGee or Ziva even considering bringing up Tony's 'poo boy' comment. I wasn't going to let them tease him about that. Not letting them say anything to him wasn't just about keeping them from being mean or petty. I know Tony can take their teasing. McGee isn't usually the type to be cruel and Ziva isn't secure enough in her position on the team that she'll go too far just yet. Besides, Tony usually gives as good as he gets. No, my shutting them up wasn't just about keeping them in line. It was more about how in the four years he's worked for me, this is the first time I can remember him volunteering anything about his family. Everything I know about his family I got from his file, his supervisors or the digging I did on my own, not from him. If they started in on him about it, even just lightheartedly, he'd never say anything else. And I didn't want him to shut down about his family. I don't believe in all that therapy crap, but I can see where for a guy like Tony talking about things is really the first step. And maybe if he keeps talking, little by little he'll

tell me about the stuff I already know. Snow balls chance in hell there, but I'm not so cynical as to have no hope at all or think even I might never catch a lucky break. I sigh silently and shake my head. I think I owe him an apology. Just not quite sure how to offer it, or even how much to confess to when I do. I wasn't any worse than usual today. Which is small consolation. I'm brusque and mean on a good day. But usually I'm saying or doing things to get him to focus, not to deliberately hurt him. Thinking about it, I realize there is one hell of a fine line there. Just because I can see the difference, doesn't mean Tony can. What really bothers me about the whole thing is that Tony will probably forgive me whether I say I'm sorry or not. Hell, he probably doesn't even think I did anything wrong. The only time he's ever found fault with me that I know of was how I handled Ari. If he ever has before, he's never said anything. Jesus, what did I do to deserve that much faith and loyalty? I wish Tony had gotten home before me. Then I wouldn't be thinking about this shit. Could just shove it all in that mental closet full of crap I don't think about and forget it. I check the clock. He said something about going running after work. That usually takes him about an hour; longer if he's upset about something because he'll tack on a few extra miles. I'm guessing it will be longer. I need to make something for dinner. Or order in. Something. If I can't say I'm sorry, I can at least show him. Words, I'm not good at. But action, I can handle. First things first, I check the freezer. His favorite ice cream? Check. Wasn't like I had any real doubts. We were a couple for a week when I started making sure I had plenty of ice cream in my freezer. Opening the fridge, I'm suddenly aware that I don't pay as much attention as to what is in it as I do with the freezer. There is nothing in it that gives me any ideas for dinner. Okay. Plan B. Order in. Pizza. Not my favorite, but definitely one of Tony's. So an order of extra cheese, sausage and pepperoni. I reach for the phone, and then hesitate. I don't know how long it will be before Tony arrives. Pizza will only take about half an hour or so to get here. Shrugging, I make the order. Tony will eat it hot or cold. He doesn't seem to really care. That done, I head into the living room. I eyeball the stack of DVD's he's got piled near the TV. Over the past few months, Tony has exchanged a few here or there so I never know for sure just what I'll find in the stack. I run my fingers down the sides as I read the titles. Most are geared toward my taste, which means the majority are action films. There are a few older black and white ones that showed up after I confessed to liking Casablanca. Tony wouldn't own them if he didn't like them, but tonight I want to pick a movie with him in mind. I raise my eyebrows when I spot 'The Court Jester'. I hate musicals. But I vaguely remember that one. Danny Kaye was a pretty good actor?for a guy who did a lot of singing and dancing. So what the hell? We'll watch that. I set it on coffee table for later. I hear the door opens and wait for Tony's greeting. "Hi, honey, I'm home." Still makes me smile. "I'm in the living room."

"Hey." He grins when he sees me. He gives me a quick kiss. Hunh. Not letting him get away with that. No quick peck. Hell no. I want, no I need more than that. I cup his face so he can't pull back. Then I take my time and ravish that sweet mouth. God, I'd forgotten how good he tastes. Forgot how hot and wet his tongue is. I only pull away when I can't ignore the need to breathe any longer. I'm dizzy and panting. It's gratifying to hear him gasping a bit for breath too. I rest my forehead against his. With my eyes closed I can smell the tantalizing fragrance of him. It's missing some of the usual components. No aftershave or styling products; just his soap, shampoo and something that is uniquely Tony. I love that scent. "I'm making a wild guess here, but I think you missed me." Beneath the cocky confidence and good humor in that statement I can hear an undertone requesting reassurance that he's right. For once, I don't hesitate to offer what he needs. "Yes, I did." I open my eyes and kiss him again gently, chastely this time. "Very much." Recently, I've started to classify his smiles. The one he gives me is one I don't see often. It's soft, warm, almost shy and reserved almost exclusively for me. I wish I could make him smile like that more. "Missed you too." Tony pulls me into a hug as warm as his smile. I love having him wrapped around me, the feel of the hard planes of his chest against mine, the sense of completeness that it always engenders. I lean into him, relaxing when he rests his head on my shoulder and sighs. It is still a novel experience to be comforted this way rather than the comforter. I nuzzle his neck, placing a kiss on the soft spot just beneath his ear. I'd mark him there if I thought I could get away with it. It's not a place that he can hide easily. I've developed a real appreciation for his collection of turtlenecks. They give me liberty to still mark him as mine if not always where I'd like to. This close to him, I can hear a faint wheeze in his breathing. "How far did you run?" I ask quietly. "Just eight miles." I resist the urge to snort. 'Just'. That explains the wheeze. Whenever he pushes himself too hard it shows up. It's proof he's still not one hundred percent after his exposure to the plague. He was wheezing a bit earlier today when we ran down our suspect. That is probably the only reason I got to the guy before Tony did. Dr. Pitt said it might take up to a year before the wheeze went away; if it ever did. It wasn't enough to restrict Tony's field duties, or warrant some sort of inhaler like a severe asthmatic might need. Pitt said it was a good thing Tony didn't have any allergies. Those would likely exacerbate the problem. Eight miles is three miles more than Tony usually does. Tells me something about his state of mind. I pull back to make eye contact." "Everything okay?" "Yeah. Everything is fine."

I know he's telling the truth when his eyes are clear and hold mine easily. I nod, accepting that even though I want to push him for more. I want to know more about his childhood, to hear specifics from him, to know the details that made him tack on three extra miles. I want to find a way to help him deal with it that doesn't involve him doing things that seem as some sort of self-inflicted punishment. It might work as a therapy of sorts. Same as the boat does for me. But I wish he'd find another way to exorcise his demons. His stomach rumbles and Tony gives me an apologetic, rueful look. "Sorry, Boss." I roll my eyes. "Dinner should be here in about," I'm interrupted by a knock at the door, "now." Tony grins. "Good timing." He bounds over to the door. It was supposed to be my treat, but I let him pay for it. Short of wrestling him to the floor, I couldn't beat him to the door anyway. I'll treat him another time. < He comes back, holding the pizza box, grinning. "You got my favorite." "Of course." It still amazes me how little it takes to make him happy. "You want something to drink?" "Water's fine." "Put in the movie," I point to the coffee table before I head for the kitchen. "I'll be right back." I grab a beer for me and a bottle of water for him. Tony gives me a quizzical look when I come back. "What?" "The Court Jester?" "You brought it over." Jesus, I hope I don't sound as defensive to him as I do to myself. "Yeah." Tony arches an eyebrow. "But I sort of figured I'd be watching it alone some night while you worked on the boat." He frowns. "Are you not going to watch?" "I'm watching the movie." I really am a bastard; one more thing to add to the reason why the name fits so well. I offer him the bottle of water. "You said it was a classic. Thinking it's something I should see then." "It is." Tony laughs softly, green eyes bright with pleasure. "1956. Danny Kaye, Glynis Johns, Basil Rathbone, Angela Lansbury. Man, she had a great figure then." I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from commenting. Tony has always had an appreciation for the female form, and beauty in general. And something about actresses from a bygone era really appeal to him. He thinks Gene Tierney was a goddess. Who am I to argue, even if I do think it's weird she spelled her name like a guy. We settle in on the couch as Tony cues up the DVD and starts the movie. I resign myself to at least pretending to enjoy it. I'm surprised as hell to find myself laughing right along with Tony. Hell, I even enjoy the stupid songs and find myself trying to say the tongue twisting rhyme for the 'brew that is true'.

Tony, naturally, has no trouble reciting the whole thing while I find myself nearly stuttering like Danny Kaye. Tony laughs so hard at my efforts he's practically crying. I'm enjoying the sight of him flushed and happy too much to really be angry about it. God, he is so beautiful. And suddenly I don't care about the movie any more. I force him back into the couch, straddling his hips, sitting in his lap as I cup his face and ravage his mouth. I swallow his moans, enjoying the way he responds to me, humor morphing seamlessly into passion. His hands are busy pulling at my shirt. I reluctantly release my hold on him long enough to let him tug my shirt off over my head. I'm glad he's wearing a button down. I undo each button, placing a soft kiss on each bit of tantalizing flesh revealed. I love the breathy little sounds he's making in response to my touch. I am making some sounds of my own when his hands find their way to my chest. The light touch he uses, fingertips ghosting over my skin, makes me shiver. He smiles up at me shyly before moving to lave my right nipple. I bury my hands in his silky soft hair, holding him firmly in place. I hiss softly when he nips me, my back arching in response. I like it when he uses his teeth. He resists my hold just enough to move to my left nipple. I moan when he sucks and nips hard enough to leave a mark. I love wearing his mark. If I own him, I want him to own me too. I force him back, and nuzzle his neck. I leave a mark of my own where I know any of his shirts will cover it. I get one of those purring sighs for my trouble. My pants are uncomfortably tight. I shift trying to ease the pressure, and gasp when Tony moves his hips, brushing his groin against mine. I can't help rocking against him, enjoying the friction. It's not enough, but it feels too good to stop. Tony moves and I follow him, unwilling to lose contact. Somehow we end up flat on the couch, and I decide this is much better. Full body contact is never a bad thing. The feel of his skin against mine is just...lord I don't have any words for how damn good it feels. I kiss him again. Can feel his hands burrowing between us, and he breaks the kiss. I know he wants this as much as I do, so I resist when he tries to create space between us. "Too many...clothes." His breath is warm against my skin; his voice rough and needy. "Need just a little...room, Jethro." Right. Clothes. Definitely better with those out of the way. I groan when he wiggles against me. I grin when he groans too as I shimmy out of my pants making sure to rub against him as much as possible as I do it. "Bastard." It isn't an insult or a curse when he says it like that. I grin savagely at him. "You knew that before we started this." "Reason I agreed to it." He grins back at me. We are now blessedly naked. I can't believe how warm he is. I'd missed his heat the last two days, missed being next to him. I missed everything; the sight, the sound, the smell of him. God. I want to imprint him on my soul. Hell maybe I already have.

I am touching and kissing every bit of him I can reach, desperate for more. He's whispering things that sound like encouragement. I have no idea what he's really saying, but I kind of like it when he slips into Italian. I hadn't really planned on us humping against each other like a couple of horny teenagers. Had sort of expected to at least get to the bedroom, take our time and do it right. Although, everything feels way too good to be really wrong at the moment, and I'm not sure I could stop even if I wanted to. From the sounds Tony's making, he doesn't want to stop either. He's got one leg wrapped around me, rubbing against my ass in a rhythm that matches the movement of our hips. I am not sure what the hell he's doing with his hands, but his touch alone is enough to have me whimpering and begging for more. I hiss when he bites my shoulder and then licks away that momentary flash of pain. He does it again, hips rocking against mine, both of us breathing hard. I can feel him trembling and I know he's close. So am I. My whole body tingles for a moment as I thrust against him, muscles clenching so tightly I can almost feel my bones flex under the strain. I come so hard I'm seeing stars. I'm only vaguely aware of him arching against me, and calling my name as he comes too. I'm not really sure how long it is before I make it back to myself. First thing I'm aware of is that I'm lying on Tony, my ear over his heart. I listen for an endless moment. That strong, steady beat is decidedly reassuring. Now I understand why he likes to lay on me this way sometimes. He rubs one hand down my spine repeatedly, kind of like he's petting me. I sigh, enjoying his touch. None of my wives or girlfriends have ever touched me like he does. Thinking he's got magic fingers. I feel him place a kiss in my hair. "You with me again?" "Think so." I can feel his chuckle as well as hear it. "Don't sound too sure." I raise my head to look at him. "I'm here." He smiles. I've labeled that one his 'happy for no reason' smile. It's nice. "You up for round two?" He waggles his eyebrows at me. I can't help but laugh. "Only if round two involves the shower." The cooling mess between us is going to become uncomfortable before too long. "A shower?" Tony adopts an overly thoughtful expression. "I think I can live with that." "You think?" I snicker. I give him a quick kiss before levering myself up. I offer him a hand to help him. His eyes move over me in a blatantly appreciative way, and I try not to blush. I'm a grown man for crying out loud. Having him look at me like that shouldn't make me blush like a school girl. He takes my hand and rises gracefully to his feet. Find myself wondering if he's ever taken dance lessons. Had to have at some point. I pull him into another hug because I already miss being close to him. No doubt about it, I have got it bad. He places a kiss on the pulse point of my neck and murmurs

something that sounds a bit like, 'me too'. Guess I said that bit out loud. Should probably say it more often. Tony pulls away and I reluctantly let go. He offers me a hand. I find myself taking it, and following him to the bathroom. Things didn't go quite the way I planned. At least this once, that isn't all bad. Nope. Not bad at all.

Covering the Risk Ziva David had assumed Tony DiNozzo was a lightweight. Nothing she'd learned about him had led her to believe any different. The research that she'd done for her brother had revealed him to be from a wealthy family. She expected him to be the quintessential spoiled rich boy. He was probably denied nothing while growing up. She assumed he knew nothing of pain or loss, neglect or hunger, strife or struggle. He'd completed high school at an elitist Northeastern finishing school. She figured that he had probably been sent there at the result of expulsion from a public school for juvenile high jinx. His rich family had no doubt suppressed the incident, making sure to leave no record for anyone to find. His academic ability certainly hadn't been anything special. Tony was an average student at best, nothing remarkable or impressive. His major in college was nothing more than fluff, a platform for showcasing his athletic ability. By all accounts he was talented in that area, but she seriously doubted he could have made it as a professional. Every athlete believes him or herself to be better than they really are. Law enforcement was likely not his first, or even his second or third, career choice. Ziva had assumed he played at it, treating the job like an adult version of the child's game 'cops and robbers'. He would probably end up working at his family's company when he tired of playing. Until joining NCIS, Tony hadn't been able to hold a position in law enforcement for more than two years. While his file didn't say so outright, she assumed it was incompetence or perhaps some sort of sexual harassment lawsuit that had him moving so frequently. She'd thought he had some sort of political leverage or perhaps Gibbs had some unique, unlikely soft spot for him. There was no other way for Tony to have made it as long at NCIS as he had. She'd conveniently overlooked the commendations in his file. Those didn't mean anything. It wasn't like he'd worked alone. Everyone on Gibbs' team had commendations in their files. DiNozzo having more commendations than his teammates could be explained away as political. It could be another effort to curry favor with his family, or simply due to his length of tenure. No one else had been on the team as long as he had. After she started working for Gibbs, she realized how wrong she'd been about DiNozzo. Gibbs didn't suffer fools. He would have fired Tony if wasn't up to the older man's exacting standards. For all his childish antics and effort spent on entertaining himself, Tony was no fool and more than capable as an investigator. He might not work consistently, and play more than he should, but there was nothing wrong with the final product. Tony ferreted out information as well as she did. And he had an uncanny ability to put together the pieces. She'd never met anyone who could recognize a woman just by her ass. Hell, he'd only seen that Marine's wife, Jamie Carr, on a soft core porn video when she faked her death, but DiNozzo still knew who she was. Dyeing her hair hadn't helped her out at all. He'd recognized another woman, Laura Osgood, just by her jaw line and cheekbone. Osgood had later yielded to pressure from Ziva during an ?interrogation'. While the

information Ziva had gotten had certainly helped crack the case, they wouldn't have known who to ask if not for Tony. Small comments clued her in that Tony's childhood might not have been quite what she'd thought. McGee obviously knew something because he'd made a statement about unresolved issues between Tony and his father on the very first case they'd worked together. But unlike stories of Tony's love life, McGee hadn't supplied specifics. Tony's own casual revelation that his father had abandoned him in a hotel for two days, forgetting about him until getting a room service bill, made her wonder even more about his childhood. For all her father's faults, he'd never abandoned or forgotten her. Tied to a chair, listening to that big hulk of a man hit Tony repeatedly, had definitely caused her opinion of him to change. They were without backup, cut off, and he hadn't panicked or ever lost sight of the mission. He held up his end admirably. It had left her momentarily stunned when he'd suggested she barter for her freedom to get back to their room, hopefully getting help there, while he stayed behind. He was decidedly blas頡bout his own potential death, simply stating that no plan was perfect. She never would have expected him to be so cavalier. It was not false bravado. She'd seen enough of that to know the difference. He seemed to genuinely believe that his death was a minor issue; the case was more important. She'd never admit it, but the large knife their captor had held worried her. A lot of damage could be done with such a weapon in the hands of an expert. And she had no doubt about their captor's abilities. She hoped she hadn't looked as relieved as she felt when Tony put his plan in motion, saving her from any injury. She hadn't thought he'd even liked her. In hindsight, she realized he was a better agent than she. He didn't have to like her to put her well being first. She was a teammate, a coworker, a comrade in arms. That was enough. It was Tony who'd actually bonded with their captor. She hadn't known what to say when he'd asked how far along her pregnancy was. She'd been so sure Sofia Renee knew she was pregnant, but hadn't known enough to pick a time frame. Tony's ?three month' assertion had drawn their captor's attention back to him and away from her. Tony had gotten the man to reminisce about his own children. She wasn't sure what to expect when she and Gibbs burst into the room 356. The sounds of another beating carried easily through the door. She felt a surge of rage at the son of a bitch for hurting Tony more than he had already. She was prepared to shoot the bastard, once in the chest and once in the head, just for good measure. She'd been relieved to find it was Tony kicking the shit out of the guy and not the other way around. The ferocity of Tony's attack was a bit disturbing, but not all together unjustified. That he'd managed to best the brute while still tied to a chair had Ziva upping her estimation of Tony's abilities again. She'd tried not to take it personally that the first person he spoke to was Gibbs and that was to demand a divorce. Even though it had been just a cover, she couldn't deny the simple fact that she'd enjoyed spending time with Tony. He'd made her laugh.

Gibbs moved quickly to cut Tony loose, forcing Ziva out of the way. He'd cupped the younger man's face with a gentleness she found surprising. She knew he could be kind, but Ziva hadn't expected to see him display such open concern. "You okay, DiNozzo?" Tony smirked, looking down at the man at his feet, still trapped beneath the chair. "Better than he is, Boss." Gibbs cocked his head to look at the prone man. He pursed his lips in a silent whistle. "Did a number on him." "Sorry, Boss." Tony didn't sound or look at all apologetic. Ziva couldn't really blame him. And from the looks on Gibbs' face, he didn't either. "McGee," Gibbs called over his shoulder, "order an ambulance for this guy. Think he's going to need it." Blue eyes gave Tony a critical once over. "He might not be the only one." "I'm good." Tony shook his head. He swayed dangerously when he made it to his feet. If Gibbs hadn't moved fast enough to catch him, Ziva was certain Tony would have ended up on the floor. "I think you better let someone else decide that." Gibbs' tone was sharp, but Ziva could hear the anxiety in it clearly. Sheppard had told her Gibbs looked out for his own, and took the welfare of his team very personally, but this was the first time she'd gotten to see it first hand. Ziva was somewhat surprised to realize how gratifying it was to know she was now one of Gibbs' people and would receive the same consideration. Although, she got the feeling Tony somehow received the lion's share. She wasn't sure why she had that feeling, she just did. "I'm okay." Tony made a half-hearted effort to shrug out of Gibbs' firm but gentle hold on his arm. Ziva frowned. It worried her that Tony still didn't seem entirely steady on his feet. "How many fingers?" Gibbs asked, raising just one digit on his right hand so that Tony had a clear view. "If I'd known there was going to be a test, I'd have studied," Tony muttered. "DiNozzo." Gibbs barked, his voice softer than Ziva would have expected but no less commanding. "How many?" Tony squinted, one eye closing. "Two?" "You are definitely letting someone look you over." Tony sighed, and closed his eyes. It was a clear sign of capitulation. Ziva could see him leaning more heavily into Gibbs, the older man easily supporting his weight. "Can I lie down until they get here?" "Sure." Gibbs moved with Tony, helping him lay down on the bed. Tony flinched, his breath hitching as he stretched out. He swallowed hard. Ziva recognized the greenish cast to his skin and looked for a trash can just in case. "You okay, Tony?" He'd definitely come out worse for this case than she had, and Ziva couldn't help feeling a little guilty. It wasn't her fault, but she still felt bad about it.

"M'fine." Tony gave her a small smile. He winced as he shifted on the bed, his right arm curling around his abdomen. Ziva had forgotten he'd taken a few shots to the chest and stomach. You miserable prick, she thought giving the man on the floor a dark look tempted to kick him again for good measure. Punching Tony in the gut hadn't been necessary to get him to comply with the order to sit in the chair and allow himself to be tied. "Cuff that son of a bitch." Gibbs ordered, tossing Ziva his hand cuffs. The venom in his voice didn't really surprise her. It was probably a good thing he was focused on Tony and not the downed man. She was fairly certain she hadn't been the only one to enter the room prepared to shoot first and ask questions later. Ziva smiled darkly as she complied with the order. He was unconscious and unlikely to cause any trouble now, but it was better to be safe than sorry. She made sure the cuffs were tight enough to be uncomfortable. The paramedics could work around them if they had to. "Ambulance is on its way, Boss." McGee offered quietly. He looked uncertain, glances darting nervously around the room before flittering back to Tony. "Everything okay in here?" A bald man Ziva didn't know asked as he leaned in through the doorway. She trained her gun on him as a precaution. "Just fine, Fornell." Gibbs glanced up to make eye contact, one hand still resting on Tony's shoulder. He made a stand down gesture to Ziva. Ziva nodded, lowering her weapon as she recognized the name. She'd never met Tobias Fornell, but she'd heard of him. And looking at him, she realized she'd seen a few photos of him in various case files. He was better looking in person. By all accounts, Fornell and Gibbs didn't like each other, but Ziva wasn't sure she trusted those reports. An entire conversation seemed to pass between Gibbs and Fornell in that one look. They didn't seem like bitter enemies to Ziva. "Damn, DiNozzo, you look like hell." Fornell grimaced as he looked Tony over. He seemed genuinely concerned. Ziva realized she'd underestimated Tony again; most people who'd met him seemed to honestly like him. "Still look better than you." Tony retorted, smirking back at the senior FBI agent, green eyes a bit glassy. The bruise along his left cheekbone and jaw was starting to darken. The blood on Tony's chin and upper lip was a stark contrast to his pale complexion. Fornell rolled his eyes. "Good to see your ego is undamaged, DiNozzo." The FBI agent offered Gibbs a clean handkerchief. Gibbs used it to very gently wipe the blood off Tony's chin before holding it under his nose. It could have just been dismissed as basic first-aid, but Gibbs was once more show more compassion than Ziva would have expected from him. "Tip your head back a bit," Gibbs instructed, carefully pinching Tony's nose to help stop the bleeding. Tony grimaced but did as he was told. "Ziva, McGee, get back down stairs and take care of the two we left in the other room." Ziva frowned. "I would rather---"

"That was not a request, Officer David." Icy blue eyes fixed on her added emphasis to his no nonsense tone. It was clear Gibbs wasn't going to tolerate any argument from her. "I'll go with Tony to the ER." Ziva's jaw tightened in displeasure. She'd wanted to be the one to go with Tony, to make sure he was okay. He'd been her 'husband' for the last two days; he'd stuck his neck out for her, it was the least she could do. "Don't worry, Sweet Cheeks." Tony pushed Gibbs hand away from his face, sitting up slowly. "We'll meet up with you back at the office once the docs give me the all clear." She gave him a dirty look for the pet name. She knew he called her that just to annoy her and seriously doubted he'd use such an endearment with one of his ladies. It was also his way of reassuring her he was okay. Ziva wasn't sure why he thought it better for her to be pissed than concerned. Gibbs shook his head, his expression a strange mix of pride, affection and exasperation. "DiNozzo--" "Abby will be worried, Boss." Tony softly interjected, shrugging one shoulder, looking apologetic and determined at the same time. He licked his split-lip, wincing. "She'll want to see for herself I'm okay." After losing Kate, it was almost a ritual among them to visually check in with one another when any sort of life threatening situation had been encountered. It was another thing that made Gibbs' team so different from what Ziva was used to. They were nearly family?a crazy, dysfunctional family, but family nonetheless. She was surprised by how much she wanted to be a part of that. Fornell traded a look with Gibbs, before the FBI agent dipped his head and left. She saw McGee looking warily from Gibbs to Fornell, the set of his shoulders relaxing only after Fornell had stepped out of the room. Clearly the junior agent still thought Gibbs and Fornell were just barely tolerating each other. "Go." Gibbs gave her a pointed look. "Now." Ziva headed for the door with a disgruntled sigh. She glanced back over her shoulder and could have sworn she saw Gibbs leaning forward to hug Tony. Before she could be certain of what she saw, McGee stepped forward and neatly blocked her view, pulling the door half closed behind him. There was something almost protective in his stance, and she got the feeling he'd blocked her view on purpose. "We, ah, better get back upstairs." McGee nodded toward the elevator. Ziva nodded, letting him herd her away from room 356. There was a mystery there. There had to be. McGee wouldn't have moved to hide something unless something needed to be hidden. Ziva filed it away for further consideration. She liked puzzles.

Gibbs lightly cupped Tony's bruised face, unable to stop touching the younger man now that they were once more in close physical proximity. The temptation to hug him fiercely had nearly overwhelmed him earlier. He hadn't given in completely, but he knew he'd taken a few liberties in the level of concern appropriate for a supervisor to show a subordinate. He'd have to remember to thank McGee for running interference

and keeping Ziva from seeing any more than she already had. She had probably seen too much as it was, but Gibbs couldn't bring himself to care. It had been a very long weekend; nearly interminable, minutes and hours dragging by without Tony being where he belonged. It hadn't just been worry that had kept Gibbs up at night. He couldn't sleep without Tony there, without knowing he was safe. He missed the comfort of his steady heartbeat, the warmth, his scent, the feel of Tony's skin, the sense of peace the younger man generated that seemed to envelope the former Marine. Gibbs wondered if Ziva even realized just how damn lucky she was getting the chance to spend a night with Tony. Probably not. She certainly didn't see Tony the same way Gibbs did, and he was damn glad of it. He was also damn glad Tony was professional enough not to lose sight of the objective. He trusted his lover to stay focused even when pretending to make love to Ziva. Even though he trusted Tony, Gibbs had very nearly agreed when his lover asked if he wanted them back in the squad room after they'd missed their first shot at who had haired Jean-Paul and Sofia Renee. He had mixed emotions about Tony continuing to play Ziva's husband, but the case was too important not to see it through. The only saving grace was being in contact for most of the weekend. Gibbs could see and hear Tony if not actually touch him. It had almost been enough, until the last few minutes. Gibbs grimaced thinking about everything that could have happened in those eternal moments when he had no idea where Tony and Ziva were. Finding out the couple they were portraying were the targets ranked as one of the worst in his life. God, but he'd been terrified he'd find them too late. "Knew sending you in blind was a bad idea," he muttered to himself. "Like there was a choice." Tony opened his eyes, giving Gibbs a vaguely disgruntled look. "It worked out all right." Gibbs eyed his lover's face critically, inventorying the bruises, split lip and still bleeding nose. "You call this all right, DiNozzo?" The question held too much concern to have his usual sarcastic bite. "We got the bad guys." Tony shrugged one shoulder, wincing. He shifted on the bed to a more comfortable position. "Was kind of nice to know no one at the ball was ever in danger though." Gibbs nodded slowly. It was reassuring to know the dignitaries at the Marine Birthday Ball were never in danger, but finding out he'd made Tony a target hadn't been an acceptable alternative to Gibbs. He wished to hell his lover didn't always assume that the case came first. It didn't seem to matter how often he told him differently, Tony clearly didn't believe his own well being was a primary concern. Tony's gaze narrowed, green eyes meeting blue. "We did get the bad guys, right?" "Yeah." Gibbs nodded. "We got them." "It's all good then." Gibbs sighed. He'd have to find a way to convince Tony he was more important than anything else. Eventually he'd succeed. Diligence paid off.

Tony grunted, moving to sit up. Gibbs put a hand on his shoulder and held him in place. "Wait for the paramedics." Tony rolled his eyes. "I don't need them." "Think we already covered this." It was reassuring to have Tony fight him on getting check out. It was his lover's normal reaction. Tony sighed. "I'm fine." "When they say so," Gibbs countered firmly. He glanced to the floor where the perp Tony had beaten unconscious still lay, securely cuffed. The man moaned softly, but didn't seem to be coming around. Gibbs wondered if he should be worried the man was still out. He figured the paramedics would deal with that when they arrived. The man wasn't dead, that was good enough for Gibbs. He instinctively reached for his gun when there was a soft knock on the door. Fornell pushed it open and looked in. He nodded once to Gibbs before his gaze drifted to Tony. "Paramedics are here," Fornell said quietly, once more making eye contact with Gibbs. Gibbs knew Fornell genuinely liked Tony. The FBI agent shared Gibbs' fondness for people with enough strength in their convictions to challenge him when the need arose and sufficient intelligence to know when to shut up and follow orders. He shared Gibbs appreciation for people who had the knack for immersing themselves in the job without losing themselves to it completely. The FBI agent respected Tony's ability and dedication, and Gibbs knew Fornell envied his having Tony on his team. He'd commented more than once that Gibbs was damn lucky the Bureau hadn't found Tony first. Fornell held the door open for the paramedics. Gibbs eyed them, instinctively trying to gauge their ability by their appearance. Looking competent didn't necessarily mean they were, but it certainly didn't hurt. Gibbs pointed the man on the floor between the beds. "That one has been unconscious for about fifteen minutes." The blond medic nodded once, moving to check the perp. His partner, a petite African-American woman, gave Gibbs a wary glance. He didn't know if she was assuming he'd beaten the other man and he didn't really care. For what the guy had done and could have done to Tony, he was damn lucky to be alive. "This is Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo." Gibbs gave her a hard look, mutely ordering her to provide him with the best possible care or deal with the consequences. Her gaze flickered toward her partner. "You okay on your own over there, Jason?" Jason's attention was focused on his patient; he responded without looking up. "His breathing is fine. Heart rate solid." Jason gave Gibbs a cursory look. "Can I get someone to uncuff him?" "No." Both Gibbs and Fornell answered. Jason glanced from one to the other. He pursed his lips in annoyance, but didn't argue. "Okay, I'll work around them then." He

gave his partner a reassuring smile. "Go ahead and check on Agent DiNozzo, Liz. I'm fine here." Liz nodded and moved toward Tony, setting her kit on the floor beside the bed. She gave him a genial smile. "Hello, Agent DiNozzo." Tony returned the smile with a friendly one of his own. "Call me, Tony." Gibbs stifled the urge to smack his lover. He knew Tony was not intentionally flirting with her. It was just Tony's usual warm and disarming way of approaching people. It was one of the things that made it so easy for them to like Tony. Gibbs reluctantly moved off the bed to give Liz more room to work, watching her like a hawk. The slow and uneven reaction of Tony's pupils to her pen light just confirmed what Gibbs already knew. Tony had a concussion. "Any dizziness?" "A little." Tony admitted, waving a hand in a dismissive motion. Gibbs jaw tightened. Tony had nearly fallen earlier. That was more than a 'little' dizzy. "Blurred vision?" Liz asked as she delicately checked the bruises on his face. "No." Tony winced at her touch but didn't pull away. "Nausea?" "Not really." "Yes or no, DiNozzo," Gibbs directed. He wasn't letting the younger man get away with any more half-truth answers. "Yes," Tony rolled his eyes, "I was a little nauseous before, but I'm okay now." "Did you lose consciousness at any time?" "No." Tony sighed and moved to sit up. Gibbs bit back the urge to move, uncertain if he wanted to help or hinder the process. He was at Tony's side the second his lover swayed, offering support and helping him stay upright. Liz frowned. "I think a trip to the ER is in order. Just to be on the safe side." Tony started to shake his head and then stopped abruptly, one hand rising to rub at his temple. "That's not necessary?" "I'll take him." Gibbs cut him off, not giving Tony the chance to argue. "What about?" Tony pointed to the perp still being examined. "I'll take care of getting him booked and processed once he's cleared medically," Fornell interjected. He smiled tightly. "Joint operation and all. It's the least I can do." Gibbs knew if Fornell booked the guy then the FBI would get credit for the bust, but he didn't give a damn. They probably had plans to book the others if they hadn't already. The targets hadn't really been anyone in NCIS jurisdiction anyway, and Gibbs had more important things to focus on. He simply nodded to Fornell, accepting his offer. Gibbs helped Tony stand, pleased the younger man didn't look so much like he was going to collapse this time. He wrapped one arm around Tony's waist. He noticed the infinitesimal flinch and made a note to make sure the ER checked Tony's abdomen and ribs.

The elevator ride to the lobby was made in silence. Tony rested more of his weight against Gibbs when they exited. The slightly greenish cast to Tony's features worried the former Marine. He knew the look. "Don't puke on my shoes." "Wouldn't dream of it, Boss." Tony offered him a smile. It was a pale shadow of the bright one he usually gave Gibbs. Tony swallowed hard a few times, and managed not to actually throw up as they made their way outside. He leaned against the car, taking several slow, deep breaths before moving to sit in the passenger seat. Tony raised hand and wiped under his nose, cursing softly when he noticed fresh blood. "God, I wish it would stop that." Gibbs handed him several paper napkins from the stash he kept in the console. He reminded himself that bloody noses had a tendency to bleed like most head wounds. He wasn't going to panic over a little blood. Gibbs drove to the hospital at a more sedate pace than usual. He definitely didn't want to make it any harder for Tony keep from losing his lunch in the car. And he certainly didn't want to cause his lover any more pain. Tony never should have gotten hurt in the first place. Gibbs clenched his jaw. The fear and rage of losing Tony resurfaced with a vengeance. Even though he knew a room by room search wouldn't have found Tony and Ziva any faster, he still felt guilty over following Sheppard's lead. Waiting for Ziva to make contact might well have been the right choice, but he couldn't shake the lingering fear of what might have happened if she hadn't. Tony reached over and captured Gibbs' right hand, neatly interrupting his thoughts. He entwined their fingers, squeezing once. "Not your fault." "What?" Gibbs glanced over at Tony in surprise. That wasn't what he was expecting Tony to say. "The way this operation worked out," Tony sighed, his head tilting back against the seat, eyes closed. "None of that is your fault." Gibbs grunted. He'd ordered Tony and Ziva into harms way, sent them in blind. There was no way it could any of this couldn't be his responsibility, no way he wasn't to blame. Tony squeezed his hand, turning his head to look at Gibbs. "Repeat after me...I am not omniscient." Gibbs glared at him. "I don't think I am." "Then it won't hurt to say it." Tony laughed softly, green eyes sparkling before he sobered. "I knew what I was getting myself in for when I signed on the dotted line, Boss. I'm a big boy. I know the risks." Gibbs swallowed hard and looked away, eyes once more focused on the road. Shannon and Kelly had known the risks too, albeit not the same way Tony did. They had understood what he did for a living was hazardous, but they were never supposed to be touched by it. They were never supposed to understand first hand the concept of collateral damage, much less be classified as such.

"I was in charge," Gibbs ground out. "No, the director was in charge." Gibbs snorted. "Splitting hairs." "Mine to split." Tony shrugged one shoulder. "Besides I trust you to keep me safe whether you're officially in charge or not." "Maybe you shouldn't." Gibbs stopped the car at the red light, and turned to look directly at Tony. Tony blinked in surprise. "Haven't let me down, yet." "Yet," Gibbs repeated, adding emphasis to the word. "I'm not omnipotent either, Tony." "Close enough." Tony grinned. He raised their joined hands, kissing the back of Gibbs knuckles. "After four years, I'm willing to take my chances." He'd been married to Shannon for longer than that. Kelly had been almost eight when she'd been taken from them and everything fell apart. It was on the tip of his tongue to say it aloud, to tell Tony his trust might be misplaced, but he fought it back, keeping it inside. Instead, he made a silent promise to do better this time. This time he'd be worthy of that trust, come hell or high water. Gibbs told himself things were different. Tony wasn't like Shannon or Kelly. He was a trained agent, capable, smart and well informed. He'd handled everything the job had thrown at him, including nearly dieing and losing a partner. Gibbs trusted Tony to watch his six like he'd never trusted anyone else before. He shook his head, belatedly realizing he shouldn't be too surprised that the trust went both ways. "There ought to be a light bulb over your head." Tony smirked. "Shut up." Gibbs was unable to stifle his grin. "Light's green." Tony pointed out with a smile, once more closing his eyes and resting his head against the seat. He didn't relinquish his hold on Gibbs hand. Gibbs was glad the ER wasn't busy. He hated to wait. And he was in no mood to see Tony take a back seat to anyone not in critical condition. Tony seemed resigned, his expression closing off to something carefully neutral. He wasn't upset or nervous, but he certainly wasn't comfortable or happy to be there. Gibbs followed him into the exam area when Tony's name was called, coolly ignoring the doctor's protests. The guy could tell it to the wall for all Gibbs cared. He wasn't letting Tony out of his sight. "Might as well give it up now, Doctor." Tony took a seat on the table. "This is highly irregular." The doctor frowned, bushy gray eyebrows pulling down as he glared at Gibbs again. "Exams are private." Tony shrugged, his expression conveying a subtle amusement. "Think of it as saving time." "Saving time?" The doctor reached for one of Tony's wrists, taking his pulse. "You won't have to repeat everything to him later." Tony nodded to where Gibbs stood.

Gibbs had folded his arms and leaned against the wall, watching everything with an eagle-eyed gaze. He smirked coldly when the doctor looked at him again. The doctor just sighed and shook his head, resigned to accepting Gibbs' presence and clearly not happy about it. The doctor's exam wasn't much different from what Liz had done in the hotel room with the exception of his recommending a head CT. Gibbs neatly overruled Tony's protests that it wasn't necessary. He reassured himself the CT was only a precaution, something the doctor ordered only after he heard the story of how Tony had come to be injured in the first place. Gibbs made sure to tell him Tony had taken a few hits to the ribs and abdomen. Tony gave him a dark look but didn't argue. He shrugged carefully out of his sweater. Gibbs stifled a wince when he saw the bruises that had already formed. It was no wonder Tony had flinched earlier. Gibbs regretted not getting a few kicks of his own in to the miserable prick who had hit Tony. "Bruised, but nothing broken," Tony declared calmly, green eyes meeting Gibbs' blue easily. It bothered Gibbs that his lover would be able to tell the difference with so much confidence. He nodded once, accepting Tony's assertion. But he made sure the doctor seconded Tony's opinion, just in case. The head CT came back normal. Gibbs ignored the smug 'I told you so' look Tony gave him. He resisted the urge to smack the back of the younger man's head. No reason to give the doctor any more cause to keep shooting him dark looks. Gibbs snatched up the prescription for painkillers the doctor offered Tony. He knew full well what would happen to that little slip of paper if Tony got it. It would be conveniently lost or misplaced, and Gibbs wasn't about to let that happen. Tony glared at him but didn't protest. Tony neatly recited to the doctor the standard techniques for monitoring a concussion victim. Tony shrugged off the man's surprised look as he pulled his sweater back on. "Not my first one, Doc." The man grunted, expressing his displeasure and concern in equal measure. "Perhaps you should consider a less hazardous profession." Tony arched an eyebrow. "My first concussion wasn't job related, so I'm thinking what I do for a living really doesn't matter all that much." Gibbs resisted the desire to ask how Tony had come by his first concussion and when. Fortunately the doctor had didn't feel the same need to hesitate, looking askance at Tony. "Fell out of a top bunk when I was six." Tony shrugged, eyes suddenly focused on a spot on the far wall. "Never was very graceful as a child." The muscles along Gibbs' jaw flexed as he clenched his teeth. He didn't know if Tony was telling the truth about how he'd gotten the concussion, but the bit about being ungraceful was probably a lie. Tony might have been awkward or clumsy at points in his life, but no one was so much of a klutz they amassed as many injuries in their youth like Tony had without some help.

Tony thanked the doctor. He somehow managed to make it sound as though he was apologizing to the man for wasting his time. The doctor shook his head, clearly bemused by the whole situation. "You ready, Boss?" "Yeah." He helped Tony into his coat. Once in the car, Gibbs fixed him with a stern look. "You'll be at the office just long enough to let Abby know you are okay. And then you are going home." Gibbs could see the protest forming when Tony opened his mouth. He placed a finger against his lover's lips and shook his head. "Not one minute more. We clear?" Tony pursed his lips to kiss Gibbs' finger before pulling back. "Crystal." "Good." Gibbs nodded, starting the car. He felt some of the lingering tension ease when Tony once more captured his hand. He squeezed lightly once. "Love you, Jethro," Tony murmured softly. "Love you, too," Gibbs raised their joined hands to place a soft kiss on Tony's knuckles.

McGee drove the Mustang with exaggerated care, more out of concern for his passenger than for the car. He glanced over at Tony. "You okay?" "Yes, McGee, I am okay," Tony said with deliberately slow emphasis, letting McGee know he was tired of being asked that question. "Sorry." "S'okay." Tony gave him a wan smile. He winced, tongue flicking out to touch the spot where his lower lip had been split. "Thanks for driving. Not sure I could handle having Ziva take me home." McGee grimaced, nodding in agreement. Gibbs drove like he was always on the verge of being ten minutes too late for something of critical importance, but at least he knew the rules of the road, he just didn't obey them. McGee wasn't so sure Ziva even knew the rules of the road. When he'd shown her around D.C. she had a disturbing tendency to want to drive on the left. McGee was somewhat surprised Ziva had been willing to give up the notion of driving Tony home. She'd seemed rather adamant when they were standing around Tony's desk. A little fast talking on McGee's part, and a few not so subtle insults with regards to her driving ability from Abby, had more or less convinced Ziva her driving Tony home would be a bad idea. But what McGee thought really sealed the deal was Tony's own quiet request made in the elevator. Even though they had been monitoring everything in the hotel room, McGee still felt like something happened there he didn't quite understand or had missed. Ziva and Tony appeared to be getting along better than they had before the assignment. And she seemed more concerned about him than she ever had before. "You didn't really sleep with Ziva, did you?"

"Sleep? I didn't get much sleep, Probie." Tony snorted. "Ziva snores like a drunken sailor with emphysema." "That wasn't what I meant and you know it." McGee scowled. "Those FBI agents seemed pretty sure you'd gone all the way." "They were pretty sure we were really Jean-Paul and Sofia too." Tony chuckled. "Foundation of a good illusion is to appear to be what people want to see. It's all smoke and mirrors, McGee." "I'd have been content to watch pay per view. It was her idea to pretend to be making love." Tony shrugged. "I went along with it, because it added to the cover. Arguing would have meant moving the mirrors and generating more smoke." He looked at McGee, green eyes fixing him with a pointed look. "Even if Gibbs hadn't been watching, I was not going to mess up the best thing in my life for a piece of ass who wouldn't give me the time of day once the job was done." McGee winced. That was a harsh assessment, but he wasn't sure Tony was wrong. Ziva had been a spy, and McGee had no trouble envisioning her using sex as a weapon or tool for getting the job done. McGee had never slept with anyone who didn't see sex as being something intimate or at the very least a mutual expression of affection, and he wasn't sure he wanted to. McGee didn't want cold and meaningless, ever. Given the number of partners Tony admitted to having before Gibbs, it was a safe bet he'd done meaningless, but McGee doubted he'd ever had sex for any reason other than mutual pleasure and satisfaction. McGee thought Tony was way too warm and personable to really ever treat sex as a means to an end. Not that he'd ever tell Tony that. "If I was going to whore myself, I'd have done it years ago. For a hell of a lot better return than this job." Tony sighed softly, something unreadable in his eyes. "I'd have made nice with all those wealthy debutants, who were just about as interesting as watching paint dry, that my father thought I should ingratiate myself with." McGee blinked. "Didn't even know there were such things as debutantes any more." "Kind of like unicorns." Tony snickered. "More myth than reality, but trust me, they still exist." McGee nodded. Tony's stories were often just stories, but when he said 'trust me' it was usually safe to do so. "Is that why you and your father don't..." "Let's not go there, Probie, hunh." Although worded like a request it was a clearly not a suggestion. McGee swallowed hard, recognizing the tone, and being smart, he let the subject drop. He knew better than to challenge Tony when he sounded like that. It reminded him of Gibbs. He concentrated on the road, and trying to shift smoothly. He rarely drove a standard, hadn't in years in fact, and the last thing he wanted to do was grind the gears in Tony's baby. He wasn't sure Tony wouldn't hit him for that. But he was pretty sure he'd deserve it if Tony did. The Mustang was a thing of beauty. "Listen to the engine," Tony instructed quietly. "She'll tell you when its time to shift."

"I'm?ah?I was never very?good with stick shift." He gave Tony an apologetic glance. "Relax." Tony slouched further into the seat, giving McGee a far more understanding look than he expected. "Just takes a little practice." "Abby's good at stick." McGee cautiously shifted, pleased to have the car accelerate smoothly through the intersection. "Yeah, I know." "Should have let her drive," McGee muttered. He was unaware Tony heard his soft comment until he patted McGee on the arm. "You're doing fine." Tony lightly tapped his wrist with two fingers, signaling it was time to shift again. "Abby wouldn't have left me at home alone. And I'm not sure how to explain Gibbs coming by." "You could just tell her you guys are a couple," McGee suggested. "She'd understand. Hell, she'd probably be thrilled." "Yeah." Tony sighed deeply. "Probably." He shrugged. "Think that's more Gibbs' call than mine." McGee knew Gibbs and Abby had a long history and a strange relationship that was akin to father and daughter, but it wasn't like she wasn't Tony's friend too. He frowned. When he'd discovered Gibbs and Tony were a couple, they'd mentioned something about an agreement, but they'd never gone into specifics. "Is that part of the agreement you two have? Keeping Abby in the dark?" "Not exactly, no." Tony rubbed at his temple. "Might need to talk to Gibbs about it. Could be time to rethink the whole thing." McGee nodded, opting to just pretend he understood what Tony was talking about. It wasn't really his business. While he liked being in on their secret, McGee was uncomfortable being the only one. He worried that he might slip at the wrong moment. And it would be good to know he had back up for moments like what happened at the hotel. He'd nearly missed his cue to usher Ziva out of the room and block her view. He winced when he stalled out the Mustang at a red light a block from Tony's place. Tony shook his head. Rather than yell at him the way McGee expected, Tony calmly talked him through restarting the car and getting it through the intersection. "Long as you don't grind the gears or burn the clutch, I'm not going to yell at you." Tony patted the dash. "She's too fine a lady to be abused like that." "Where did you get this car?" Tony shook his head. "Story for another night." McGee's curiosity was piqued. Tony had evidently not found the car at some dealership, in the newspaper or online. It wouldn't have much of a story if he had. There was only so much embellishment even Tony could add to something so mundane. McGee pulled into Tony's parking spot, neatly cutting the engine. He tried not to feel overly proud when Tony gave him a quiet ?good job, McGee'. He kept thinking that eventually he'd stop looking forward to those little words of praise, or even

acknowledging them. So far, they still made him want to puff out his chest a little. Getting them from both Tony and Gibbs made for an exceptional day. Tony levered himself out of the car. McGee was pleased the taller man was now steady on his feet. There was something strangely unnerving about seeing Tony at less than his best. It was unexpected, kind of like Gibbs giving him coffee. McGee preferred things to be predictable. McGee tossed Tony the keys without even thinking. He was impressed in spite of himself when Tony deftly caught them, almost without even looking. McGee might excel at video games but he didn't have the same degree of eye hand coordination as his teammates. Time in the field had certainly improved his ability but it wasn't as natural for him as it was for Tony, Gibbs or Ziva. He followed Tony up to his apartment. McGee toed out of his shoes, leaving them next to Tony's on the small rack in the front entry way. Even though the former Marine hadn't said so, McGee knew he was expected to stay with Tony until Gibbs arrived. "You want something to drink?" McGee shook his head. "I'm good." He wondered if Tony might actually take Ducky's advice and pour himself a stiff drink. He really didn't think alcohol was a good idea. Not with a concussion. McGee was relieved Tony grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge instead and headed into the living room. Tony didn't so much sit on the couch as settle into it. He stretched out his long so that his feet rested on the coffee table. He made a graceful gesture with one hand, inviting McGee to make himself at home. "What do you think of the Director taking Ducky to the ball?" Tony asked. McGee grinned, leaning back into the recliner. "I'm thinking he'll have a lot more fun than she will." "Probably." Tony snickered. "Betting Ducky knows damn near everyone there." "Definitely makes him a good escort choice. He can introduce her." "Point." McGee sat forward. "So what did you think of her dress?" Tony sipped his water, pursing his lips. "I think she's a beautiful woman who has no idea how to dress." McGee blinked in surprise. Being involved with Gibbs had not lessened Tony's vocal appreciation for a woman's assets. He'd have thought the tight fitting, push up dress would have met with Tony's automatic approval. "You don't think she looked good?" Tony shrugged. "Wasn't exactly the sort of gown that would give her the image she should be going for." McGee cocked his head to one side. "What image should she be going for?" "One that makes people realize NCIS is more a force to be reckoned with than they think or expect."

McGee raised both eyebrows, unsure of how a dress would help or hinder that impression. "How would--" Tony pointed a finger at McGee. "She's the director of a lesser known federal agency with a mid-range budget and limited jurisdiction. It would be better for her to look like an intelligent, capable woman who is in control and just happens to be good looking. Rather than trying to attract attention to herself as a good looking woman." Tony looked rueful. "Right or wrong, guys in charge tend to be dismissive of women on general principal. No reason for her to give them more fodder by appealing to their less intellectual side from the outset." Tony shifted on the couch, wincing as he resettled into a more comfortable position. "Marines and navy types will respect the office, or so I'm told, but that doesn't mean they will automatically respect her. And even the office doesn't get much respect from other law enforcement agencies. So she's got to work at leveling the playing field." Tony took another sip of water. "She should have gone for something classy with a bit less cleavage. Maybe a shorter skirt rather than the whole floor length thing. Could have still done sexy, just should have been something more like Katherine Hepburn or Princes Diana. Simple, elegant and understated rather than flashy." McGee stared at him. He never would have expected that sort of intellectual commentary from Tony in a million years. The man was definitely smarter than he let on. "Politics is about appearance more than substance." Tony rolled his eyes. "More smoke and mirrors, Probie. Just smoke and mirrors. But when the stakes are high, every little bit counts. And the stakes can't get much higher than when it comes to establishing your credibility." Tony sighed, tipping his head back to rest on the couch. He looked pale and tired under his bruises. McGee had a feeling Tony knew more about politics and proving himself than just from having worked at NCIS. Hell, McGee had worked at NCIS for several years and still wouldn't have made the same observations Tony just had. He wondered if Kate would have or Ziva. Neither had ever shown much skin on the job, and both actively tried to downplay their gender unless the situation required them to draw attention to it. "You want something to eat?" McGee asked hesitantly, looking for a safer topic of conversation. Something he hoped wouldn't surprise him quite the way the last one had. He didn't think Tony had eaten anything since breakfast, and he knew he hadn't. They could probably order in easily enough. Pizza or Chinese would work well enough. Tony grimaced, eyes drifting closed. "Not sure I want to risk the stomach just yet." McGee nodded. Concussions could be like that. He winced. He should have known better than to ask about food. McGee blushed when his stomach rumbled loudly. Tony chuckled, opening his eyes. "Just because I'm not hungry doesn't mean you can't eat, Probie." He took a sip of his water before pulling his feet off the coffee table. He moaned softly, repositioning his weight in preparation for getting up. "Think there's something in the fridge---"

"Just stay put. I can look." McGee interrupted quickly. Gibbs would probably have his balls in a vice if he found out McGee had let Tony wait on him after he'd gotten hurt. Tony nodded slowly, giving in graciously. He moved so that he was reclining on the couch, pulling the colorful afghan from the back as he did. "Should be a Tupperware container on the top shelf. Louisa probably left something in there." McGee remembered Gibbs telling him about Louisa the day after he'd found out about them. She was an elderly neighbor that seemed to have taken a shine to Tony. It had amazed McGee to find out that the feeling was mutual. The fondness in Tony's tone whenever he mentioned her made that very clear. McGee had yet to meet the woman, but he was looking forward to being introduced some day. He opened the container he found on the top shelf. A careful sniff confirmed it was tuna noodle casserole. McGee selected a cupboard at random, pleased he'd guessed right when he found the plates. It took two guesses to locate the silverware. He spooned out a modest amount of casserole onto a plate and put it in the microwave. When he put the Tupperware container back in the fridge he grabbed a bottle of water. McGee didn't think Tony would object to him in eating in the living room. Tony had turned on the TV. The icon at the bottom of the screen indicated it was the Turner Classic Movies. McGee frowned, trying to figure out which movie it was. He didn't know much about current films much less classics. "Crest of the Wave." Tony obligingly filled him in. "Was filmed in Scotland in 1953 and released in England the same year. Didn't make it to the states until 1954." Tony pointed to the man just stepping on screen. "Gene Kelly." He pointed to another. "Jeff Richards." McGee had a vague idea of who Gene Kelly was, but Jeff Richards didn't ring any bells. He shrugged. If he asked, Tony would probably fill him in, but it didn't matter at the moment. He took a bite of the casserole, appreciating the flavor. Definitely home made. "This movie isn't one of my favorites, but it's not all bad either." "War movie?" McGee took another bite of the casserole. "Sort of." Tony rearranged the afghan a bit so it covered his feet. "Set during world war two. They are working on building a new type of torpedo." McGee settled into watch. The movie didn't have any of the special effects he'd come to take for granted, but the story was engaging. He was beginning to see some of the appeal old movies had. Tony would periodically identify other actors, occasionally adding another film name they'd been in. McGee mentally filed away the names for future reference. He looked over to ask Tony about a still unidentified actor when he realized the other man had fallen asleep. He briefly considered turning the movie off, but Tony had fallen asleep with it on, the silence would likely disturb him more than the noise. He checked his watch. Gibbs should be arriving soon. Hopefully, he wouldn't object to letting McGee stay long enough to see the end of the movie. He really wanted to see how it turned out. And he wouldn't mind having the chance at seconds of Louisa's casserole.

Gibbs rubbed his thumb over the names of his wife and daughter one last time before slipping the flask back into his pocket. At times like these, he missed his old family something fierce. Not a day didn't go by that his daughter didn't come to mind, when he didn't wonder about what she'd be like if she'd lived. And part of him still wished things between himself and Shannon had worked out better. Shannon blamed him for Kelly's death; no more than he blamed himself. Guilt and recriminations created a rift between them that got wider and wider. Ultimately, it proved to be a span neither of them could bridge. And in all honesty, neither of them tried very hard. It was easier, less painful to simply accept that without Kelly there was no reason to rebuild their lives together. It was easier for both of them to simply walk away and start fresh somewhere else, with someone else. Gibbs wasn't terribly unhappy with his life now, but that didn't mean he didn't miss what he had once. Occasionally he caught himself wondering if Kelly would have liked Tony. He thought she would have. Gibbs sighed. He glanced around the empty bull pen, eyes instinctively coming to rest on Tony's desk. He smiled softly. Gibbs was more satisfied and content than he could remember being in a long time. It had taken him awhile, and a few mistakes in between, but he'd finally found the right one. Nodding to himself, Gibbs got up, grabbed his coat and headed for home. Everything at the office was in order. There was no reason to stay any longer. There hadn't been any reason to stay as long as he had, except that it made for good cover. He never left before his team, ever. Gibbs shook his head, pushing the button for the elevator. He'd have preferred to be the one to drive Tony home. Not that he didn't trust McGee to handle things, he just would have felt better doing it himself. Gibbs sighed and rubbed tiredly at his eyes. He hated politics. He hated the need for secrets even though he understood very well the reason for them. But he wasn't about to give Sheppard any more fodder for disrupting his team more than she already had. She'd already included herself on a number of cases. Hell, she'd assigned Ziva to the team, and still thought Abby having an assistant was a good idea. Ziva was proving to be a good addition, but Abby hated putting up with Chip. No one seemed to really like the guy. Gibbs just couldn't see that ending well. And if there was one thing he hated more than politics, it was picking up pieces. Gibbs pursed his lips. He wouldn't mind including Abby in the circle of informed people. But he'd promised Tony that nothing at the office would change. Maybe now, with relationship past the six month mark, Tony would be open to telling Abby?and Ducky. It would be good for McGee to have back up. Would be good for Gibbs and Tony too. Although, Gibbs wasn't entirely sure he could convince his younger lover of that. For all his irrepressible attitude and general upbeat outlook, when it came to personal things, Tony was decidedly pessimistic at times. He nodded to himself, pulling out of the parking lot with a squeal of the tires. It couldn't hurt to ask. If Tony said no, nothing changed. If he said yes, Gibbs didn't think much would change there either. He trusted both Abby and Ducky to know how to be discrete when the situation called for it, and neither had ever expressed any

homophobic tendencies. If anything they were two of the most open minded people Gibbs had ever met. It was late enough most of the rush hour traffic had long since cleared out. Gibbs still used every shortcut he knew of to get to Tony's place. He hadn't trusted Tony enough to let him take the prescription pain killers with him; the younger man was too fond of just tossing them away. He hadn't appeared to be in much pain when McGee had taken him home, but enough time had passed Gibbs knew Tony could be hurting now. He cursed softly, hating the need for secrets anew. If he'd been able to take Tony home like he wanted this wouldn't be a problem. He pulled into the lot for Tony's building. He wasn't sure who was supposed to have the parking space next to the mustang, but no one had objected yet to his using it. The lot was never completely full so maybe no one cared if there were one or two more cars than usual. Gibbs took the steps two at a time. He was glad it hadn't snowed recently. The overhanging roof wasn't enough to keep snow and ice from accumulating on the stairs. As far as Gibbs knew, the only one who ever made an effort to keep them clear was Tony. He slipped his key in the lock, opening the door to step silently inside. Gibbs could hear voices from the living room, frowning when he recognized what had to be a British accent and music. Movie, he decided with a smile. He toed out of his shoes, leaving his coat on his usual hook. It still gave him a momentary flash of happiness to realize his lover had so casually given him the right to stake a claim on anything at all. He had his side of the bed and his pillow, a coffee mug that was his alone to use, a selection of his favorite channels were bookmarked on Tony's satellite under Gibbs' name. He stepped into the living room. McGee's gaze drifted away from the TV almost immediately to meet his. The younger man didn't look startled to see him standing there. Either he was losing his touch or McGee was getting better. Gibbs hoped it was the latter. "Where is--" McGee pointed to the couch, drawing Gibbs attention to the long, lanky body resting there under the brightly colored afghan Louisa had made. The flickering blue light from the TV danced over Tony's pale and bruised features. It reminded the former Marine just a little too much of the ultraviolet lights used in the isolation chamber at Bethesda. He stifled a shudder. "Did he eat anything?" Gibbs asked quietly. "Said he didn't want to risk it." McGee shrugged apologetically when Gibbs raised his eyebrows. "He wasn't sure it would stay down." Gibbs nodded. He could just let Tony sleep, but he didn't think it was a good idea to let him skip a meal. Or two really. He hadn't gotten lunch. His stomach should have settled by now?and if it hadn't that was likely a sign the concussion was more serious than the doctor thought. Better to wake Tony now, Gibbs decided. He could do a quick round of concussion check related questions, make sure he was okay with eating, feed him and put him to bed.

Gibbs flicked on the lamp on the nearby end table, letting white light banish the shadows. It could have been the faint click or the added light that made Tony frown, eyes squinting open before closing again. Gibbs smiled down at him. Tony looked so much like a toddler waking up from a nap. He quietly said Tony's name before carefully moving one hand to run his fingers through his hair. He didn't want to startle or scare him. He waited for Tony to open his eyes again. "Hey." Tony smiled. "Hey, yourself." He sighed and started to stretch but aborted the move with a small groan. "You okay?" "Sore, little stiff, but otherwise fine." Tony blinked owlishly, one hand rubbing carefully at his eyes. "What time is it?" He mumbled around a yawn. "Almost eight." Tony grunted an acknowledgement. He sat up, fingers moving to rub at his temple. "Head still hurt?" Gibbs sat down next to him. "A little, yeah." Tony admitted. Gibbs held out a small pill bottle, offering it to Tony. Tony eyed it warily for a moment. "It's just Tylenol with codeine," Gibbs assured him. "You can just take one. Should be enough to take the edge off." It was a fine line to walk getting Tony to do what Gibbs thought was good for him while still letting him make the decision. Tony nodded reluctantly, taking the bottle. With greater ease than Gibbs had ever managed Tony popped the top off and shook one out. He closed the bottle and set it on the coffee table. He grabbed a bottle of water that had only a swallow or two left in it and downed the pill. "Louisa leave anything in the fridge?" Gibbs asked even though he knew she likely had. She stocked Tony's fridge on a regular basis. "Tuna noodle casserole, I think." Tony glanced at McGee. The computer whiz nodded. "It's very good." Everything Louisa made was good. And she always made a lot of it. Gibbs still wasn't sure if she knew they were a couple or not, but she did seem pleased that he was around to eat with Tony several nights a week. To his knowledge she'd never questioned where Tony went on the nights he didn't come home. But then even before he and Tony were dating, Tony's active social life and the job likely kept him from making it home every night, so she might not have even noticed any changes to his schedule. "You up for eating some of Louisa's cooking?" Gibbs was pleased Tony nodded without hesitation. The younger man rose to his feet easily without swaying once upright. It was another good sign. "You want more, Probie?" Tony asked with a knowing smile. McGee grinned, unashamed. "I wouldn't say no to seconds." "Figured." Tony smirked. "Reason she always makes plenty."

Gibbs headed into the kitchen, knowing Tony and McGee would follow. He dished out casserole for all three, making eye contact with Tony to confirm just how much the younger man wanted. It was less than he usually ate, but not so little Gibbs had to worry about Tony eating just to humor him. "You get everything taken care of at the office?" Tony asked as he sat at the table. The answer varied but the question was always the same, part of their usual routine. Tony asked even when he already knew the answer. The familiar question was reassuring. It was more proof Tony was okay. Gibbs nodded, answering the query. "Yeah, everything is taken care of." McGee looked askance at him. Given that the case had been closed before everyone else had left, it was natural for the younger man be curious about what the hell he'd been doing at the office. Gibbs didn't offer an explanation, just giving McGee a firm look, daring him to verbalize the question. McGee looked away. It was one of the things that Gibbs truly appreciated about his lover. Even on his first day, Tony would have risked asking. He naturally pushed the boundaries whereas McGee, after some encouragement, was slowly learning to the same. The thing that amused him at the moment was if McGee asked, Gibbs would tell him the truth; tonight he'd just been killing time until he could come home to Tony. Green eyes met blue in a shared look of amusement. Tony hid a smile. Gibbs lightly bumped his lover's knee under the table with his own. He loved how often frequently they were on the same page. "What did you think of the movie?" Tony asked McGee, eating more slowly than he usually did. "Not bad." Gibbs listened to the younger men discuss the merits of a film he'd never seen. At the office, he'd slap down references to movies and pop culture, but at home it was fun to listen to Tony expound on the value of the classics. Gibbs had to admit he was far more 'with it' as Abby would say than he'd been before he and Tony started spending so much time together. Not that he let that show at the office either. Even eating slower than he usually did Tony still finished first. Gibbs arched an eyebrow, silently asking if he wanted more. Tony shook his head. He belatedly covered a yawn with one hand, and Gibbs fought off the urge to yawn himself. It had been a long couple of days. "I should call a cab," McGee said, looking a bit sheepish as his gaze darted from Tony to Gibbs and back. He clearly thought he should have said something sooner. "You sure?" Tony yawned again. "You can sleep on the couch if you want." He smiled. "Not like you haven't slept there before." McGee looked warily at Gibbs as though he expected him to object. Gibbs just shrugged, letting the younger man know he had no opinion on the matter. It was still Tony's place. He could extend an invitation without Gibbs' permission. It wasn't like he planned to do anything tonight that would embarrass himself or Tony. Tomorrow morning might be a different story. He stifled a chuckle. Course anything they did likely wouldn't embarrass them but that didn't mean it wouldn't embarrass McGee. If the comments Abby had dropped occasionally were to be believed, McGee had a greater sense of propriety and modesty than either he or Tony had.

Gibbs' eyes met Tony's. His lover had no trouble reading his mind, none at all. Tony dropped his eyes coyly, smiling suggestively. It was a good look for him; a little tease and a lot of promise. "I'll...ah...I think I'd rather...is...It's probably better if I just go home," McGee got out, a faint blush coloring his cheeks. "You sure?" Tony's expression morphed seamlessly into something open, friendly and innocent. It was a neat trick. "I'm sure." McGee cleared his throat, pushing back from the table. "Thanks for dinner." "Any time." The offer was casually made, but genuine just the same. "Louisa always makes enough to feed a small army." McGee smiled. "I'll remember that." He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and called for a cab. Gibbs wasn't sure if he had the number memorized or kept it on speed dial. He chose not to ask, deciding it didn't matter. Tony saw McGee to the door while Gibbs made short work of cleaning up the kitchen. He heard the TV shut off and knew Tony was turning off lights they'd left on in the living room. On a normal night it would be early for them to even think about going to bed, but tonight wasn't exactly normal. Tony leaned against the door jamb, watching him do the dishes. He never questioned why Gibbs preferred to wash by hand rather than use the dishwasher. It was another thing Gibbs liked about Tony; he could go with the flow, accepting Gibbs' quirks without batting an eye. "Should have talked McGee into staying." Tony grinned. "Let him see you elbows deep in soapy water. Not every day he gets to see you in all your domestic glory." "He lit out of here like he was on fire." Gibbs rolled his eyes, still amused by the younger man's chagrin. Some days McGee was just so easy. "Not even a chance to see my 'domestic glory' could have convinced him to stay." "True." Tony chuckled. "You want help?" "I got it." Gibbs waved him off. "Go get ready for bed." Tony tossed off a sloppy salute. Gibbs quickly finished up with his self appointed task, leaving the wet dishes in the rack to dry. He'd put them away tomorrow. Gibbs flicked on the small night light that was plugged in near the toaster. It cast just enough illumination that neither of them had to worry about stubbed toes first thing in the morning. Gibbs had installed another one just like it at his house. He stopped in the bathroom, taking care of his own nightly rituals before heading into the bedroom. Gibbs smiled, seeing Tony already under the covers waiting for him. He striped down to his boxers, and quickly joined him, turning off the bedside light. Tony sighed and snuggled into him, his head coming to rest naturally on Gibbs' shoulder. Gibbs rubbed his cheek against the silken strands, eyes closing in silent gratitude to whatever divinity had seen fit to give him this. "I should ask you a few standard questions before you go to sleep." He'd meant to do that earlier. "Make sure your concussion isn't worse."

"I think I've already proven I'm okay." Tony chuckled. "I knew you when I woke up. Knew McGee. Remembered what Louisa had put the fridge. Remembered the movie I'd been watching. Think I'm as mentally stable as I ever was." Gibbs laughed softly. Tony had a point. Asking him who was president seemed a bit redundant now. Feeling Tony shiver, Gibbs frowned. He hadn't forgotten that Tony sometimes got chilled when he'd been injured. "You warm enough?" "Getting there." Tony wrapped an arm and leg around Gibbs, using him like a body pillow. Gibbs rolled into him slightly, pulling him in even closer, and making sure the comforter was pulled up far enough to cover them both. Tony's soft sound of pleased contentment made Gibbs smile. Gibbs could almost feel Tony's heartbeat. He reveled in the weight and feel of his lover, something he'd sorely missed over the past few days. He took a slow, deep breath and soaked up the feeling of well-being. "McGee thinks maybe we should tell Abby about us," Tony said after several minutes of silence. With his face tucked into the hollow of Gibbs' shoulder his voice was muffled, the statement little more than a whisper against Gibbs' skin. Gibbs ran a hand up and down Tony's bare back. He placed a kiss in Tony's hair. "And what do you think?" He could almost feel Tony weighing his thoughts, picking his words with care. Gibbs expected Tony to answer the question in a round about way. He had a tendency to do that when he was nervous or uncertain. "She already knows I'm not as straight as I pretend to be." Gibbs caught Tony's hand, keeping him from fisting it as he wove their fingers together. "And she was okay with knowing about you?" He was pretty sure Abby was fine with Tony's bisexual nature, but it never hurt to be sure. Tony nodded, the soft strands of his hair tickling Gibbs skin. "She's okay with me being bi." Tony raised his head, the glow from the streetlamp filtered through the blinds to provide enough light for Gibbs to be able to make out Tony's pensive expression. "Don't know how she'll feel about you and me together." Gibbs raised both brows. "Why would that be a problem?" "Cause, I'm just a friend. But you're more...a father figure." Tony bit his lip. "She has higher expectations of you. Wants better for you?more than me." Gibbs seriously doubted Abby would ever think Tony wasn't good enough for him. It didn't matter if she did. The only way Gibbs was ever going to give up Tony was if the younger man asked him too, and even then he probably couldn't walk away. He gave Tony a chaste kiss. "I think you are more than enough. And in this case, all that matters, is what I think. Understand?" "Yeah, Boss." Tony gave him a tentative smile. "Abby loves you like a brother, Tony. Don't think you need to worry about us meeting with her approval." He squeezed the hand he still held. "She wouldn't worry about you if she didn't love you. And she sure as hell wouldn't have shared that stupid farting toy with you."

Tony snickered, countenance lightening to something joyful that was beautiful to see. He dropped his head to Gibbs' shoulder again, settling in once more. All the tension Gibbs had felt in him fading away. "So?are you okay with telling her?" Gibbs asked, not sure the original question had been answered. "If you want to, I'm okay with that. If you don't want to, I'm okay with that too." Naturally, he bounces it back to me, Gibbs thought with a grimace. Okay. Then he'd go with his gut. "I want to tell her." "Okay." Tony rubbed his cheek against Gibbs' chest. "Okay?" No discussion. No comment. "That's it? Just okay?" "You want me to make a fuss?" Tony raised his head again, a smirk appearing. "No...but I sort of thought a bit more?" "Why?" Tony shook his head. Even in the dim lighting Gibbs would see his eyes sparkling with glee. Tony kissed him softly. "You got to learn to accept it when things come easy." Gibbs snorted. "Hello pot, I'm kettle." Tony laughed, a delighted peal of amusement. "I love you, Leroy Jethro Gibbs." "Love you, Anthony Michael DiNozzo." He kissed the tip of Tony's nose. "And don't you forget it." Tony smiled shyly. "Will try not to." "Good." Gibbs cupped the back of Tony's head, gently forcing him to lay it on his shoulder again. "Go to sleep." Tony snuggled in with a soft sigh. Gibbs ran his fingers through Tony's hair. The repetitive, familiar gesture soothed both of them into slumber.

When Tony came to work wearing a turtle neck and singing, it was a sure sign he'd had a good night. Or more likely a good morning, Abby thought with a smile. Given the shape he was in last night, she seriously doubted he'd been up to much of anything. She'd known for awhile now he was seeing someone. He was happier, more balanced and his flirting was more playful, less aggressive and lacked obvious intent. She had no idea who he was seeing, since he hadn't seen fit to actually say anything to her, she wasn't sure if she should ask. She wanted to, had hinted a few times trying to give him an opening to tell her, but he hadn't taken her up on it. Damn it. She was going to have to try harder. Knowing he had someone in the wings was one of the reasons she hadn't put up more of a fight to be the one to take him home. She knew he'd convince McGee to leave him alone. But that didn't mean he'd be alone. And from his cheerful mood and smile, it was obvious someone had made it a good morning for him.

The same someone had no doubt taken good care of him last night. So whoever it was, Abby approved of him or her so far. That could all change if this mystery person didn't continue to take good care of Tony. He deserved to be happy. If this mystery person hurt him, Abby knew how to hide a body, and make sure it was never found. The bruises on Tony's face were more obvious than they'd been last night. Abby winced in sympathy. At least he didn't look like they bothered him, and he was steady on his feet. She found that decidedly reassuring. She hadn't liked seeing members of her family getting injured on the job before Kate's death, now she really hated it. The thought of possibly losing another friend was just too painful to contemplate. "Good Morning, Abby." Tony grinned as he offered a Caf-Pow, breaking her out of her dark thoughts. "Thank you, Tony." She smiled back, happy to see him looking so much better. He bowed. "Always aim to please." Tony usually brought her first of the drink of the day. "You look better." She couldn't resist commenting. "Thanks." He gave her a warm, genuine smile. It told her just how pleased he was she'd noticed. "Feel better too." Chip gave Tony a dirty look when he entered the lab. Both Abby and Tony ignored it. She wasn't sure what his problem was with Tony, but she had thought he was getting over it. He'd really been part of the team on the last case. Abby just added Chip's continued hostility to the list of why she didn't need him as an assistant. No one hated Tony. They might dislike his immature attitude and juvenile behavior, but no one outright hated him. And if Chip couldn't work with him, or the rest of the team, he really needed to find a job somewhere else. She waggled her eyebrows at Tony as she took a long sip of her drink. "So anything going on upstairs?" "McGee is probably going to spend the morning trying to clear up crap from having his identity stolen." Tony leaned against the table, arms folded. "Getting all that off his credit is likely going to take a few months." Abby nodded sympathetically. "Told him a secure server isn't always secure." Tony shrugged. "It could be worse." She raised both eyebrows in silent question. Abby hadn't thought there was much worse that could happen to a person than having his identity stolen. Well, at least in terms of catastrophes that didn't involve life and limb. "He could have been declared dead," Tony pointed out. Abby winced, nodding. She'd forgotten about that paperwork snafu. It had taken Tony forever to his personnel file straightened up after that. She knew Gibbs had taken several people to task to fix the problem. Abby actually thought it rather sweet the way the former Marine had quietly and forcefully ripped into the admin department. Being declared dead stopped being funny when Tony couldn't even get in the building and was threatened with being pulled from active duty. The final straw came when Gibbs found out Tony wasn't getting his pay check. Given that it happened around Tony's two year anniversary with NCIS, Gibbs had been worried the whole

thing might be enough for Tony to get wandering feet and look for greener pastures. Not that he'd actually said so, but Abby could tell. The boss man always got a little meaner when he was worried. So he leaned on a few people and got the problem fixed faster than Abby had thought possible. "Ziva is still having problems with her computer." Tony's gaze sharpened, letting Abby know he knew she had something to do with it. "That's too bad." She tried to sound sincere, but knew she failed when Tony shook his head, green eyes twinkling. He wouldn't call her on it, which meant she owed him one. Ziva and her stupid spy ware impressed McGee. And that annoyed Abby. Not so much that she'd done anything irreparable to Ziva's computer, just enough to slow it down, make more temperamental. If Ziva was all she claimed to be, then she should be able to fix it or at least be smart enough to ask for assistance. "Any new cases?" "Not yet." Tony shrugged. "But you know how quick that can change." He glanced at his watch. "Speaking of which, I better get my ass back up there before Gibbs notices I'm gone." "Too late." Gibbs strolled in, startling Chip but not really surprising either Abby or Tony. He didn't look pissed, Abby noted. More like...relaxed. At least as relaxed as Gibbs ever got. It was good to see him looking less stressed than he had for the last few days. She was pretty sure he hadn't gone home the whole time Tony and Ziva were under cover. And she really doubted he'd slept much. "Good morning, Gibbs," Abby greeted him with a bright smile. "Good morning, Abby." He sipped his coffee before looking at Tony. "Didn't I tell you to go see Ducky and let him look you over?" Tony rolled his eyes. "Boss, it's not---" "Ducky, DiNozzo. Now." "On it, Boss." Tony sighed. No one argued with Gibbs when he used that tone. "Catch you later, Abby." He waved to Chip as he left. Chip didn't respond or acknowledge him. Abby gave him a hard look and caught Gibbs doing the same. She signed with the ease of long practice, 'What is up with Chip?' Abby shook her head, dark pigtails flapping. 'He is a seriously weird dude, Gibbs.' 'I know.' Gibbs signed back, setting his coffee cup next to her Caf-Pow, freeing both hands to speak. Intense blue eyes met hers. 'Do you have plans for Friday night?' Abby raised both eyebrows. 'Plans?' Yes, plans.' He glared at her, impatient as ever. His hands moved faster. 'Are you doing anything Friday night?' 'No.' She cocked her head curious where he was going. If it was related to a case he'd have just told her to cancel whatever plans she had. It was months until her birthday or his.

'I want you to come to dinner. My house.' Abby grinned. ?What's the occasion?' 'No occasion.' She assessed him. He gave off vibes that from anyone else she would have read as nervous. Whatever it was, it was serious and important to him. And it was also obvious that he wasn't going to go into details in the lab, which made it personal. His opting for sign language rather than speaking outright indicated that as well. 'O.K.' She took a sip from her Caf-Pow. "Formal or casual," she said aloud. "Casual is fine." Gibbs smiled. He gave her a quick kiss on the forehead before leaving. Abby immediately sent an e-mail to Tony. If anyone knew what was up or was willing to help her find out it was him. On the off chance that anyone was looking over his shoulder, which she knew happened, she used his personal account and signed it Naomi. The name was the product of a rough case. She'd wanted to forget for a little while that there were horrible people in the world, doing horrible things. She wanted to pretend to be someone else for a little while, someone without cares or worries. Naomi seemed like the sort of name someone unspoiled and na‫ ﶥ‬would have. She'd run into Tony at a club after she'd already introduced herself to the bartender as Naomi. He'd played along, not even batting an eye. Of course, he was there under an assumed name as well. Given the nature of the club, it was a safe bet most names were aliases of one kind or another. Abby cued the CD player, ignoring Chip's wince. He stilled called her ma'am, gave Tony dirty looks, thought she should be nicer to Ziva, and was rude to Palmer the other day. He could put up with her music. It seemed fitting. As she usually did during moments of down time she worked on an article she was hoping to get published. Abby liked the idea of being respected in academia, and contributing to the body of knowledge out there. Science was her religion after all. She needed to stay in touch with the other faithful. She smiled when her email announced an incoming message half an hour later. Her smile grew wider when she saw it was from 'honey buns'. The nickname started out in jest, something she'd done in an effort to annoy him once when he'd been particularly immature one day, but rather than be offended or insulted Tony seemed to enjoy it. She frowned. Tony was one of the few people she knew who always managed to sound exactly like himself whether writing or speaking. And he was definitely being evasive in his response. So he knew about Friday. Damn. Had he come down to warn her or feel her out to see what she knew and Gibbs showed up before he could say anything? She shrugged. Only way to find out was to ask. She sent a response. Abby grinned. Naomi might be innocent and naive, but she was persistent and learning fast. She laughed softly when Honey Buns fired back another message. Abby could almost hear Tony singing, "I know something you don't know". The little shit, she thought fondly. He knew she loved a good mystery.

She couldn't resist starting a game of twenty questions. Abby used instant messenger instead of e-mail, wanting a 'real time' conversation. She began with the traditional first question. "Animal, vegetable or mineral?" She murmured out loud as she typed. "Ma'am?" "Go away, Chip." She rolled her eyes. "I'm busy." She'd forgotten he was even there. "Is it something I can help with?" "No." Not just no, hell no. Her dialog with Tony was private. "Go find something to do," she instructed absently with a wave of her hand, relieved when he walked off. She didn't care where he went or what he did, just as long as left her alone. She had no trouble picturing Tony's smirk when he responded to her first question. Not that the brief one word answer gave her much to go on. She sipped her Caf-Pow. This was going to be fun. It took three questions before she thought to ask the most obvious ones. Was anyone else invited? Was Tony going to be there? Abby bit her lip when there was a noticeable hesitation in his answer. She could almost see him with his fingers poised over the keyboard. Maybe something had come up. A case or Gibbs had walked in. Both or either would stop their conversation. The rapid 'gotta go' didn't really tell her what had caused Tony to sign off but she could guess. Gibbs. Damn it. He knew she'd talk to Tony. "Damn, Silver Fox." She snickered, amused in spite of herself. "Foiled me again." Well, she had a few days to keep digging. She wasn't going to concede victory to the Silver Fox just yet. Despite evidence to the contrary, Gibbs couldn't be everywhere. She sent another e-mail to Tony telling him they'd continue the game later, when he was Gibbs free. Nodding to herself, she went back to work on her article. She could think about what else to ask Tony while she did. Being able to multitask was definitely a blessing. She grinned, sipping her drink. Even if she didn't know before Friday what was going on, she'd definitely know by then. It was a win, win all the way around.

"Honey buns?" Gibbs asked, blue eyes tracking Tony as the younger man went through his usual work out with weights. "Yeah?" Gibbs hid a smile at the careless, natural response. Tony was clearly answering as though he'd called his name, deliberately overlooking the real question Gibbs was asking. Time to try a different approach. "Who's Naomi?" "One of Abby's aliases." Tony huffed out as he worked through a lat pull down set. Gibbs tried not to watch too closely, but found his eyes drawn to the effortless play of muscle just the same. Tony's long, lean form was admirably well defined without the

bulk usually associated with serious weight lifters. Gibbs fought off the temptation to touch the smooth, sweaty skin. He was damn glad Tony had set up a universal and weight bench in the spare bedroom of his house rather than going to the gym. Gibbs really didn't want other people watching his lover working out. "One of Abby's aliases?" Gibbs cleared his throat, frowning slightly as he brought his attention back to the conversation. "Just how many does she have?" "Never asked, Boss." Tony grunted as he started another set. "Not sure I really want to know." "Why?" Tony huffed out a small laugh. "Because if she has people out there referring to her as 'Queen of the Damned' I'd rather not know about it." Gibbs snickered. Tony had a point. "Why does she call you 'honey buns'?" When he first read the ID names on the instant messenger dialog, looking over Tony's shoulder, Gibbs had managed to control the instinctive rush of jealousy by the skin of his teeth. He was very glad he hadn't said anything stupid before he realized the actual messages were a game, not some sort of bizarre code or romantic liaison. Just moving into Tony's line of vision at the time had been enough to kill the conversation. It wasn't until later that Gibbs understood what it had been about. He was not at all surprised Abby would try to ferret out what he wanted to come to dinner for. She was far too curious to let it be until Friday. "Not sure why she calls me that now." Tony shrugged, before getting up to change the weight setting for a new exercise. "Started out as a joke." "A joke?" Gibbs raised an eyebrow. "Or an insult." Tony grinned. "Could have been either one or both at the time." Tony didn't seem upset about it. He'd probably been teasing or annoying Abby and she'd retaliated. They reminded him of siblings at times the way they played. Although, at one time, Gibbs had thought there might be more between them. If there had been, he really didn't want to know. The last thing he wanted to ever worry about was seeing Abby, someone he thought of as a daughter, as a possible romantic rival. "So you don't care that she calls you 'honey buns'?" If it bothered Tony, Gibbs would tell Abby to knock it off. Tony sighed softly, eyes half closed as though he were pondering some half forgotten memory. "Sully always told me it didn't matter what you were called. What mattered was what you answered to." He gave Gibbs a quick smile. "She never answered to her given name that I knew of. Or when her step-sister called her 'bitch'." "Good philosophy," Gibbs admitted. He really wished he'd had the chance to meet Tony's Aunt Sully. "Wouldn't want just anyone calling me 'honey buns'," Tony admitted with a small shake of his head, "but from Abby, it's okay. Honestly, I think it's kind of cute from her." He rolled his shoulders, flexing and stretching for a moment before once more grasping the weight bar. "And it's a hell of a lot better than some things I've been called."

Gibbs' lips curled in a wry smile. He could easily say the same thing. His ex-wives had called him a number of things over the years. The only one he admitted to being was a bastard. Not many people would consider the term a compliment, Gibbs thought with an internal smirk. He watched as Tony started another set, muscles working smoothly as he raised and lowered the bar. The tank top he wore was damp with sweat, and clung to his skin. It made Gibbs fingers itch to touch. He stifled a wince when he noticed the thin bruises running across Tony's biceps and just above his elbows. They were from the ropes that had tied him and Ziva to the chair. The bruises had already faded to the yellow-green stage and Gibbs knew they'd be gone in another day or two. The ones on Tony's cheek and abdomen were still a rather dark shade of blue and purple. It would take longer for them to disappear. Gibbs sipped his coffee. If they were at the gym at the office, the former marine would have joined Tony in working out. But here at home, he preferred to watch. He liked having the chance to just observe, without having to worry about someone seeing him taking more than a passing interest in Tony's form. Here he could revel in the simple pleasure of taking in the beauty of his lover; he could openly appreciate the lithe, hard body that was now his alone to fully enjoy. Tony struggled through the last few lifts, veins appearing in ropy patterns along his hands and forearms. Gibbs held himself in check, not interfering or offering to help. Tony never used free weights without a spotter, but with the universal he was in no danger of finding himself pinned if he lost control of the weights. Gibbs knew Tony liked to push himself. The former marine was willing to let him as long as he didn't hurt himself. Tony wasn't always the best judge of his own limitations, but then Gibbs realized he had similar problems when it came to his own. Blue eyes narrowed, measuring the faint tremors he could see as Tony struggled to complete the set. He nodded. Tony would be sore tomorrow but he could handle it. Gibbs shuddered in reaction to Tony's panting breaths and soft grunts when he exhaled the final time before letting the weights settle to the resting level. Gibbs swallowed hard. Tony sounded almost exactly the same just before he came. "You about done there, Honey Buns?" He'd meant the question to be lighthearted, but the roughness and hunger in his voice made it something else entirely. Tony gave him a teasing look before dropping his gaze coyly. "You got something in mind, Sweet Pea?" Gibbs grinned wolfishly at the endearment. "Yes, I do, Baby Doll." "Baby doll?" Tony snickered. He arched an eyebrow, struggling to keep his expression serious. He stood up and sauntered toward Gibbs so gracefully the older man wasn't sure Tony's feet were even touching the ground. "This plan of yours, Sugar Plum...is it something I'm going to enjoy?" Gibbs licked his lower lip, nearly groaning when he saw Tony's eyes track that small movement. "Definitely, Sweet Cheeks." Tony placed his hands on the wall, framing Gibbs' shoulders, leaning in until he was a hair's breath from kissing Gibbs. "Awfully sure of yourself there, Cupcake."

Gibbs set his mug down on the nearby shelf, empty hands coming to rest on Tony's hips before sliding down to cup his ass, pulling him closer. "I've got reason to be." He'd have tacked on an endearment, but at the moment he couldn't think of any. He just wanted to touch and taste. He captured Tony's mouth in a kiss that was nearly bruising in its intensity, unable to resist any longer. Gibbs welcomed Tony's tongue, greeting it with his own like a long lost friend. He dueled lazily with the younger man, not really caring who won. Tony's tongue caressed the roof of Gibb's mouth, making him moan. He loved it when Tony did that, the gentle slide back and forth reminiscent of a more intimate act. Gibbs didn't understand how it was Tony could always taste so good. The flavor of the man was as addicting and heady as Gibbs' coffee. He was dizzy and breathless when Tony broke the kiss. Gibbs was damn glad he had been leaning against the wall when they started this. He was fairly certain he'd have ended up on his ass otherwise. Tony nibbled his way along Gibbs' jaw line. Gibbs turned his head, tilting it to give his lover greater access. He tried not to whimper when Tony found that spot just below his ear that always made him weak in the knees. God?Tony had a talented tongue. "I was thinking a shower sounded good." Tony nipped Gibbs' earlobe. "You up for one?" Given how uncomfortably tight his pants had gotten, Gibbs was up for just about anything. He pulled Tony's hips forward to rub himself against the other man. He was pleased with the breathless little sigh the action elicited. "Yeah, I'm up for a shower," Gibbs whispered against the pulse point of Tony's neck. He buried his face in the hollow of Tony's shoulder, breathing in the other man's scent, unconsciously classifying each component. There was clean sweat, soap, faint traces of Tony's aftershave, and that hint of something uniquely Tony that always reminded Gibbs of dark chocolate. It made him hungry for more. He instinctively clutched Tony closer to him when the younger man started to pull away. He wasn't ready to let go yet. Full body contact, so close and comfortable, that was so right and easy, had been a long time in coming and Gibbs wanted to enjoy it. Gibbs sighed deeply when one of Tony's hands moved to massage the back of his neck, long fingers caressing his skin. He felt Tony turn his head and place a kiss in his hair. He tried to memorize this moment, file it away forever so he'd have it later to draw on for strength or patience. This last case had been close. Too damn close in Gibbs' opinion. He could have lost him again?Jesus, again. Like it nearly happening once wasn't enough. It hurt to even?no, he wasn't going to think about that. Not now. Not ever. Tony was fine. He was alive and whole, warm and breathing. "You okay?" Gibbs lifted his head, smiling. "I'm good." It wasn't a lie. Not exactly. Green eyes searched blue. Tony nodded, the pad of his thumb moving to lightly stroke Gibbs' cheekbone. He dropped a quick kiss on the tip of Gibbs' nose. "C'mon. I can hear the shower calling." Tony took one of his hands, pulling him after.

Gibbs followed easily. He gave into his earlier desire to touch, hand moving to lightly travel up and down Tony's spine before coming to rest on his nicely rounded ass. Gibbs squeezed once. Tony cast a demure look over his shoulder that was totally out of place with the heat in his eyes. "A tempo debito, L'amore." Tony smiled. "Sii paziente." Gibbs wasn't sure what Tony had just said, but he liked it when his lover slipped into softly accented Italian. One of these days he was going to have to learn. Tony flipped on the small vanity light in the bathroom. Gibbs squinted in response to the sudden illumination even though it was not really that bright or harsh. He was belatedly aware of how dark the rest of the house had been. The vanity light was an addition that Tony had talked Gibbs into. It was something of a minor miracle since none of his ex-wives had ever managed to convince him the bathroom needed one. He was glad Tony had suggested a bulb that was far less glaring and intense than the 100 watt ones in the overhead fixture. Tony neatly shrugged out of his tank top. He balled it up and used an overhead toss to nonchalantly drop it into the hamper. The natural grace of the movement spoke of hours of practice. Not for the first time did Gibbs wonder how disappointed Tony had been to lose out on a career as a pro athlete. While he'd never wish Tony any pain, Gibbs was selfishly glad the younger man had to opt for a career that made meeting him possible. You are a lucky bastard, Gibbs thought to himself. "You going to join me?" Tony asked, looking over his shoulder as he turned on the water. His voice took on that husky quality that Gibbs found impossible not to respond to. He nodded once, firmly. Gibbs stripped out of his own clothes, no caring where they ended up. They could be dealt with later...much later. Tony grinned. He'd beaten Gibbs in the race to get naked, but he usually did. Gibbs was beginning to think all his clothes came with emergency escape zippers. Tony stepped into the shower. He held out a hand in invitation to Gibbs. Gibbs felt his face warm, unaccountably flattered by the simple, genteel request. It was blatant proof Tony wanted him there, and that he wasn't taking for granted that Gibbs wanted to be there. Not that there was any doubt about either one, but it was nice to be asked. Gibbs smiled, taking Tony's hand. It should have felt ridiculous when Tony raised his hand, bowing slightly, to kiss Gibbs' knuckles, but the heat in those beloved green eyes as they met blue made the gesture anything but silly. Gibbs never would have thought the back of his hand was an erogenous zone before, but it sure as hell was now. Tony stepped back, pulling Gibbs gently forward into the shower with him. The water was warmer than he preferred but still cooler than Tony normally set it for. Gibbs raised an eyebrow in silent question. Tony shrugged. "Hot water will last longer this way." "Plan on taking some time?" Gibbs leaned in, nibbling on the strong column of Tony's throat.

"Yeah." Tony's answer was more of a long sigh than a word. His head tipped to the side, mutely giving Gibbs free rein. Gibbs couldn't resist marking Tony again, in the same spot he had just that morning. Tony would be wearing a turtle neck again tomorrow. The small moan Tony made in response had nothing to do with pain. Gibbs blindly reached for the soap. He still had no idea what brand it was or the exact fragrance, but he loved knowing the two of them wore the same scent now every day. It was another subtle mark of ownership and commitment; a mark that didn't need to be hidden or explained like the hickey he'd just left on Tony's neck. Gibbs lathered his hands before running them over Tony. He kept his touch balanced between a gentle caress and a deeper massage. He could feel the taut muscles stretching and relaxing under his touch, releasing the tension built up during Tony's work out. Tony moaned, back arching when Gibbs shifted focus to his nipples, playing with them. Soap slick skin moved easily under his fingers, nubs hardened in response to repeated stroking and pinching. Tony's skin flushed with color that had nothing to do with the hot water. Gibbs leaned forward, rubbing his chest against Tony's. The younger man's chest hair teased his nipples, making him sigh in response to that exquisite, almost tickling pleasure. His arms wrapped around Tony, giving his hands access to that incredible smooth skin of Tony's back. The lather that clung to his hands, allowed him to glide over Tony's skin, muscles bunched and flexed under Gibbs' fingers, quivering in response to his touch. He kneaded Tony's ass. The well rounded flesh fit neatly into his hands as though they'd been made for him alone. Gibbs bit Tony's shoulder, licking away the small hurt, before moving on to leave a trail of small nips up the younger man's neck. Tony raised one long leg, wrapping it around Gibbs waist, pulling him closer. Gibbs moaned when their groins met, hard cocks rubbing against each other as Tony rolled his hips in a sensuous move that a striper would have envied. Tony's hands ran along Gibbs' arms, up to frame his face before pulling him in for a passionate kiss. Tony sucked Gibbs' tongue into his mouth. They shared a breath, back and forth. They were both gasping when they broke apart. He bit back a whimper when he felt one of Tony's fingers teasing his entrance. Gibbs shivered as the pad of Tony's finger very lightly circled his hole, taunting him with the promise of more. He rocked forward, rolling his hips, rubbing himself against Tony. Tony murmured something too low and indistinct for Gibbs to understand it as anything more than encouragement to do more. He followed Tony's lead, tracing the rim of the younger man's puckered opening with one finger. He kept his touch just as light as Tony's, moving at the same speed. Tony lay his cheek against Gibbs'. Panting breaths, small gasps and moans letting the former Marine know just how good this was for him. "Favore...piu....Gibbs...piu." Gibbs wasn't sure what Tony was asking for until he felt the younger man's finger slip inside him. A single digit didn't leave him feeling as stretched and full as Tony's cock

would have but it was still enough to make Gibbs shudder with pleasure. He breached Tony's entrance in turn, sliding in and out slowly. "Cristo...proprio cosi." Tony groaned. He nibbled Gibbs' earlobe. "So good... so...damn good, Boss." Gibbs turned his head to capture Tony's mouth again. He swallowed those little noises, claiming them for his own. Hips and hands continued to move, working with each other, gliding and thrusting them toward climax. Tony trembled, his whole body quivering as he pulled away from the kiss to gasp for breath. He turned slightly and worked a hand in between them, long fingers wrapping around their aligned cocks. Gibbs bit his lip as Tony jacked them both once and then again. He thrust forward into Tony's hand, hips snapping in a broken rhythm. Tony's finger slide further into, easily following his jerky movements. Gibbs' breathe caught, mouth open for a timeless moment as his orgasm crested and broke over him. Tony's body clenched around him, muscles tightening so hard he was nearly vibrating. The younger pulled in a shallow, desperate breath with a sound similar to a sob. He released it with a soft, guttural cry of Gibbs' name, his come spurting over his hand and Gibbs' stomach. Tony leaned into Gibbs, random twitches ghosting over him like aftershocks as he struggled to catch his breath. Gibbs sighed, hand moving to cup the back of Tony's head, fingers getting lost in the younger man's damp hair. Gibbs could feel the shaking in his legs gradually fade away, heart beat slowing to normal. "Wow," Tony whispered, turning his head to place a kiss on Gibbs' temple. Gibbs chuckled, raspy and breathless. "That good?" "Oh yeah." Tony grinned at him, eyes heavy lidded and sated. "Definitely." Tony slowly unwrapped himself from Gibbs. The former Marine watched as Tony stretched; his movements languid and graceful. The younger man reached for the soap, and started to clean Gibbs. His movements were punctuated with lazy, random kisses. Gibbs returned the favor when Tony was finished. He was glad he had installed a bigger water heater last month. The old one wouldn't have held out long enough to take their time and enjoy the afterglow. Gibbs shut off the water as it reached a point cooler than even he cared for. Tony handed him a towel before snagging one for himself. Gibbs deliberately looked away when Tony bent over to pick up their scattered clothing and toss it all in the hamper. His ass was just way too tempting by far, but the loud rumble from Tony's stomach meant dinner was in order before Gibbs would act on that temptation. Tony hung up his towel in a haphazard fashion. Gibbs fought down the compulsion to rearrange it, reminding himself to be glad his lover didn't leave it lying on the floor. He hung his own towel neatly. Tony pulled his forest green robe off the hook on the back of the bathroom door, shrugging into it before belting it loosely closed Gibbs bought it for him to wear when he stayed at his place. He wanted Tony to feel comfortable and welcome in his home.

Tony offered him the old flannel robe he'd had for years. It was well worn and very soft. Not that he'd admit it out loud, but Gibbs liked the silk one at Tony's place better; it was just as soft, but came with the added bonus of having been worn by Tony for a time. He pulled on the offered robe, before padding barefoot after Tony into the kitchen. "Should be some leftovers in the fridge." They weren't really leftover so much as never eaten. Gibbs had gotten some Chinese while Tony was undercover with Ziva, but hadn't really been able to eat much, too worried about his lover to bother with it. Giving up on the whole thing he'd just shoved them in the fridge and headed back to the office. Tony nodded, pulling out two cartons. He opened one, giving it a cautious sniff, something that take out usually warranted, and then offered it to Gibbs. Gibbs liked shrimp fried rice, but it wasn't usually Tony's first choice. Tony opened the other carton, nodding to himself. It was cashew chicken. Gibbs knew that one was definitely on Tony's favorite list. Gibbs offered Tony a fork while he fished out a pair of chopsticks, both of them taking a seat at the kitchen table. "You think Abby will keep asking questions?" Gibbs snorted. "The pope catholic?" "Right. Silly question." Tony snickered. "She is persistent." "That going to be a problem?" "No." Tony shrugged. "Not really." He smiled. "I want you to be the one to tell her so keeping my mouth shut won't be hard to do." Gibbs studied his lover. "You are okay with this?" If Tony changed is mind, Gibbs wouldn't fight him on it. He could still make dinner for Abby; he'd just have to find something else to talk about. Not a big deal. "I'm okay with it." Tony looked away, a faint blush coloring his cheekbones. "Don't mean to seem like such a chickenshit about this." "You aren't." Gibbs lightly chucked him under the chin with one knuckle. He smiled gently. "Can't really fault you for being cautious when most of the time I'm worried you're too reckless." Tony laughed softly. "Good to know." "Finish your dinner, Honey Buns," Gibbs ordered, managing to achieve the light, teasing tone he couldn't quite get earlier when Tony had been working out. Tony grinned, eyes bright with amusement and affection. "Only you and Naomi can call me that." "Fair enough." Gibbs had no issue with that. He didn't want anyone ever using anything sounding even remotely like an endearment when addressing Tony. Tony was his. He didn't share. "Eat," Gibbs ordered, giving Tony a leer. "You need to keep your strength up." "You got more plans, Pumpkin?" Gibbs smiled. "Always."

"Good." Tony waggled his eyebrows. "Glad I'm not the only one." Gibbs laughed. He dug into his food, eager to be done with it and move on to better things. An encore was most definitely in order.

Abby stared into her closet. Gibbs said casual, but she couldn't help thinking she should dress up a bit. Whatever this was, it was important to him. Important always translated into better than casual. Her mother taught her that. But if it were formal, he'd have said so. No ball gowns then, or the funeral dress. Which still left her with no idea what to put on. Damn. She sighed. If Tony had just been a little more forthcoming, she wouldn't have spent the last half hour unsure of what to wear. Who knew the little shit could be so good at keeping a secret? Abby had even tried to enlist McGee's help, but he was proving to be just as difficult. Although, McGee was no where near as cagey as Tony, he'd been avoiding her with astonishing ease. She grimaced. She'd never realized McGee was sneaky in his own right. And she couldn't decide if she was pleased or pissed by that revelation. She was sure that he knew something about tonight. When she told him about Gibbs' invitation, McGee had smiled. He looked happy and way too smug to not know something. She was pretty sure it wasn't bad news. McGee wouldn't have looked happy if it was. That was one worry off her mind. She didn't even bother asking Ziva. If the Mossad officer knew about whatever it was before Abby did, she'd have to kill someone. It was better not to know. At least not just yet. Abby finally pulled out a pristine white silk, button down shirt. It had been a gift from Gibbs for her birthday the year after she started at NCIS. It looked good over her black leather bustier. Her below-the-knee length black leather skirt was long enough to be demure if one overlooked the thigh high slits on either side. She opted to leave her hair down, but secured it at the back of her neck with a silver barrette decorated with a spent .22 casings. Abby kept her leather wrist bands. She selected a pair of dangling cross earrings that had been the inspiration for the large tattoo on her back. The earrings had been a gift from grandmother. She regarded her reflection in the mirror. Abby smiled at herself. She looked good. It was not exactly formal, not quite casual, and definitely not what she wore to the office every day. She grinned down at her shoes. The lace up granny boots with their small heel were not high enough to qualify as a fetish but they were definitely sexy as hell. She didn't get to wear them nearly often enough. She grabbed her leather motorcycle jacket on her way out. Abby had found the heavy coat at a secondhand store. The various buckles and snaps, and the death head skull design on the back sealed the deal. There was no way she could have left it behind in the store for someone else to take home. Abby drove to Gibbs' house, head bobbing along with her music. She wasn't surprised to see Tony's mustang parked in the driveway when she turned in. She'd known he was going to be there, but she expected him to be late, not early. Tony

was never so late as to be rude but he was rarely on time either, unless it was work related; then he was always prompt. She bounded up to the door. Abby frowned when she found it locked. Gibbs had never locked it in all the time she'd known him. He'd mentioned not even knowing where the keys were when she'd asked him for one, in case of emergencies. He had one to her apartment; he had one for everyone on his team's place of residence, just in case. She cocked her head studying the door knob. It looked new. Maybe he'd finally wised up and realized leaving the door unlocked all the time was simply not safe and replaced the old locks. Hell, Ari Haswari had gotten in without difficulty. Bastard could probably have picked the lock or broken the door down, but still, there was no reason to make it so damn easy for him to have gotten in. Abby knew even Madame Director had shown up uninvited at least once. She nodded to herself. It was definitely a good idea for Gibbs to start locking the doors. Abby made a mental note to ask Gibbs for a key, before knocking on the door. Tony answered, smiling in greeting. "Hey, Abby." He was wearing a green gray sweater that did nice things for his eyes and those gray slacks she liked. They made his ass look great. Abby had always appreciated the aesthetic appeal of Tony. The man was definitely easy on the eyes. Abby considered herself to be too mature to be attracted to someone solely on the basis of looks, so it was a good thing Tony was smart too. And funny, charming, and liked the same horror movies she did. He was too much of a friend for her to consider a serious sexual relationship. Although, she'd have been more than willing to indulge in a little casual sex with him if he'd ever made the offer, but for all his comments to Kate about friends sleeping together, Abby knew Tony never slept with a good friend. Casual friends?sure. Those were people he wouldn't miss if everything was ruined or got hinky because of the sex, but good friends, people he'd miss, never. Abby considered it a compliment that she fell within the category of someone too valuable to lose for a moment of gratification. It definitely put her a step above the likes of Paula Cassidy. She stretched up on her toes and gave Tony a quick kiss on the check. "Hi, Tony." He made a small bow and made an inviting gesture with one hand. Abby smiled. She loved it when he got formal and proper. She didn't know any one else who could pull it off with as much natural grace and ease as Tony did. "May I take your coat?" "Please." She turned her back to Tony, letting him slip the jacket from her shoulders. He hung it on the small rack near the door, treating the garment like it was of a fine fur rather than distressed leather. He gave her outfit an appreciative once over that she took as the compliment she knew he intended it to be. It was always nice to know she looked good enough to warrant more than a passing glance. "Where is the Silver Fox?" "Kitchen." Tony tipped his head. "Anyone else coming?" Abby asked quietly. "No."

Abby nodded. The only other person she really expected might be there was Ducky. He was probably one of Gibbs' oldest and best friends. And he had been part of the team for longer than anyone else. She tried not to think about how the original team was no longer intact, and never would be again. She headed for the kitchen. Abby knew Gibbs could cook; they'd shared meals infrequently over the years. She never really knew when he'd invite her over or what he'd make, but she'd always enjoyed their time together. Thinking about it, she realized it had been months since Gibbs had invited her over. She took a deep breath, savoring the aromas coming from the kitchen. Gibbs was one of the few people she trusted to do a good job with Cajun Cuisine outside of New Orleans. She loved his chicken Jambalaya, and she was delighted he'd made it for her. Abby stepped into the kitchen, noting the table was set with what she'd jokingly called Gibbs' good china. As far as she knew, he didn't own any real china: good, bad or indifferent. But he did have at least one set of plates and flatware that matched. Gibbs looked up from what he was doing at the stove and smiled. "Good timing. Just need another minute and dinner will be ready." "Would you care for a glass of wine?" Tony asked from over her shoulder. "Sure." Her tastes tended toward hard liquor when she drank, but Abby didn't mind an occasional glass of wine. She blinked in surprise when she took the glass of white wine Tony offered her. She was expecting one of Gibbs cheap glasses not expensive cut crystal that would likely ring with a clear tone. Abby studied the glass, watching the light play along the delicate facings and intricate design etched into the side. She was savvy enough to grasp instantly that the 'DN' she saw most likely stood for 'DiNozzo'. "Yours?" She asked anyway, sipping the light, semi-dry beverage. Tony nodded. "Mine." Interesting, Abby thought. She knew Tony's relationship with his family was estranged to say the least. It was odd that he would have anything with a family emblem on it at all, much less something he'd bring to set Gibbs' table with. Tony smiled softly, looking at his own glass as he swirled his wine. "My aunt Sully had them commissioned on one of her trips overseas." He shook his head, smile fading. "Used to be a set of twelve. There are only seven left now." The way Gibbs' gaze sharpened as he looked at Tony, Abby realized he was hearing this for the first time the same as she was. Gibbs frowned, blue eyes darting to the glass on the table. "Maybe we shouldn't--" "Of course we should." Tony's smile brightened again. "Sully always said they were meant to be used, not sit in a cabinet and collect dust. She made me promise to use them when she willed them to me." "Are you sure?" Abby interjected softly. She had no idea who Sully was, but she was clearly someone important to Tony. And Abby understood the value of mementos left by a lost loved one.

"I'm sure." He smiled. "I wouldn't have brought them by if I wasn't." He reached out and lightly tapped her glass with his own. The soft ping resonated just like she thought it would. "Salute." "Salute," she returned the toast. It was on the tip of her tongue to ask about what happened to the other five glasses and for more information on Tony's aunt. It was so like Tony to just drop a tidbit about his family and not fill in any of the really important details. "Sit." Gibbs ordered, neatly cutting her off before she could voice her questions. She shot him a look, which he ignored with practiced ease as he deftly placed the food on the table. Damn, Silver Fox doesn't miss a trick, Abby thought with an internal smile. He definitely kept her on her toes. And in her place. Letting Tony offer the information was one thing, but asking was quite another. As much as her insatiable curiosity begged for answers, her affection for Tony made her realize Gibbs had been right to stop her from asking. His family wasn't quite taboo but it was within spitting distance. And she wasn't sure if talking about Sully was a painful subject for him or not. It was better to leave it alone. Tony held out her chair for her. She smiled, and took her seat. He took the seat on Gibbs' right. It was, Abby thought, his rightful place. He was Gibbs senior agent, quite literally his right hand man. Stan Burley never assumed that role even half as well as Tony did. Conversation began as a lighthearted affair, which Abby had expected. Getting Gibbs to open up about anything wasn't done easily. It took time, and usually had to be approached in a round about way. She could be patient. Abby didn't mind reminding Gibbs how frustrating she found being assigned an assistant she didn't need, or thanking him again for getting the Director to rescind the stupid dress code. And she always enjoyed discussing favorite movies and bands with Tony. She was okay with talking about the weather even, but eventually she had to force the conversation to the real reason she was here. Abby had a suspicion if she didn't, Gibbs might never get to it. She'd been patient long enough. Tony had sent several nervous glances toward Gibbs since they'd sat down to eat. He was almost as anxious for the moment to break as she was. Abby figured she owed it to the both of them to move this along. Finished with her meal, Abby pushed her plate forward enough so she could easily rest her elbows on the table. She held her wine glass loosely between her hands. Better to take the bull by the horns had always been her motto. Or in this case, Gibbs, she thought wryly. Cocking her head to one side, she made eye contact with Gibbs and held it. "You know, I love having you cook for me. And the food was delicious, as always." Her gaze flicked to Tony. "And I love sharing a meal with good company." She sipped her wine, taking her time and making sure she had their complete attention. "But if all we were getting together for was eating and talking, you would have said as much, Gibbs. And you wouldn't have been so antsy about it." "Antsy?" Gibbs scowled. "I have never been antsy."

Abby rolled her eyes. She'd known him long enough to know antsy when she saw it. She pointed a finger at Tony. "And you wouldn't have been so evasive." Tony looked away, a bit of color rising to his cheeks. "Busted." Abby grinned. "I may not be a field agent, but I'm a damn good investigator in my own right." Taking another sip, she looked at Gibbs once more. "So, you want to tell me why it is you wanted me here?" Gibbs smiled softly. "I wanted to tell you that I'm seeing someone. And it is serious." Abby hastily put down her wine glass so she could hug him awkwardly, leaning precariously over the corner of the table to reach him. "Gibbs...that's great. That is just so awesome." He returned her hug. Too excited to stay still she pulled back and searched his eyes. She knew he had been lonely, or at the very least in need of company, more than just at work. The mysterious red-head hadn't been seen in weeks. "You really found someone special?" "I really found some one special," he confirmed. She grinned and hugged him again. This was wonderful news. Her grin faded as it suddenly occurred to her just who he might be seeing. It would certainly explain Tony's evasiveness and those earlier nervous glances toward the former Marine. She pulled back and pinned Gibbs with a firm look. "Please tell me you aren't doing the wild thing with the director?" A blind man could tell there was a past between them. "That would just be so not right, Gibbs. I mean, I'd be happy for you and all if you're happy, supportive of a friend and all that, but I just can't see how you would---" "Abby, I'm not dating Jen." Gibbs glared at her, clearly offended by the idea. "We might have gotten together...For a case." Gibbs' emphasis on 'for a case' and terse tone made it clear whatever he'd had with Sheppard it was not his idea or anything he cared to repeat. "I do not now, nor have I ever wanted to have a long term, meaningful relationship with her." Gibbs growled. "Not just no, hell no." "Okay...good." She bounced in her chair, clapping her hands. That was settled. She felt much better about knowing Gibbs wasn't interested in the Director. That would have just been so wrong she didn't even have enough words to articulate how wrong. "So who is she?" Abby waved her hands. "C'mon, spill. I've been in enough suspense already." "She's a he." Tony injected quietly. "It's me, Abby." Abby started at him momentarily stunned. She felt like such an idiot. Why else would Tony have been there for dinner? And brought fine crystal classes as well. Or been so nervous and evasive. Sheesh, talk about missing the obvious, she told herself wondering if she should give herself a head smack for being so dense. She already knew he batted for both teams; it has just never occurred to her that Gibbs might as well. Abby was also belatedly aware that Gibbs was holding Tony's hand, and had been since she asked if he was dating Sheppard. She really did need that head smack.

She slowly realized her silence and open mouth was creating the wrong impression. Tony's posture had gone stiff, and his expression was nearly impossible to read. Abby would have been her salary he was getting ready to toss it all off as some sort of joke, already trying to pull his hand from Gibbs' grasp. She couldn't let him deny this. And she definitely couldn't let him think she was anything but deliriously glad for him to have found someone who would treat him right. Abby quickly left her seat and moved to Tony's side of the table. She hugged him hard before pulling back and kissing him soundly on the mouth. "Congratulations. I am so happy for you." He looked a little dazed. She wasn't sure if it was her enthusiastic hug and kiss or her easy acceptance. She smacked him on the arm. "You should have told me before you told McGee. We've been friends for years. Years, Tony." "Hey." Tony rubbed his arm. "It wasn't like we planned to tell him." "But he knew before I did." She pouted. "How do you know he knows?" Gibbs asked, eyebrows raised. "Because, I asked him if he knew what was up with this dinner invite." She put both hands on her hips. "He started avoiding me. McGee never avoids me without good reason." She snorted delicately. "You didn't really think Tony would be the only one I asked, did you?" The vaguely sheepish look on his face made it clear that was exactly what Gibbs had thought. Abby shook her head. "I do listen to you, you know." Gibbs smiled, and saluted her with his wine glass. "I do now." She laughed. Abby kissed Tony's cheek. "I really am happy for you." She looked at Gibbs. "Both of you." If any two people deserved to be happy it was them. "Thanks, Abs." "Now, I want to know all the details." Abby took her seat again, leaning in. "Details?" Tony swallowed hard. "You know, details." Abby waggled her eyebrows, waving a hand. "The why I already get." She leered good naturedly at Tony and then favored Gibbs with a saucy wink. It wasn't hard to see why they'd be interested in each other. The only one who wouldn't find either man worth lusting after was dead. "But I'm still missing the how and the when." Abby grinned. "And feel free to expound on favorite sexual positions. Locations. Kinks. Whatever." Gibbs held up a hand. "Not going into our sex life with you, Abby." "C'mon Gibbs, I'd tell you." He stared at her before shaking his head. "That is not the point." "Prude." She giggled, unfazed by his glare. Abby knew he wasn't going to budge. She hadn't really expected him to; it was just so much fun to tease him. "Okay, fine." Abby smiled. "Have it your way." She could afford to give in. Tony might just spill if she could get him alone at some point. "But I definitely want to know when you got together and how."

Tony man tipped his head to Gibbs, clearly signaling he was willing to let the older man tell the story. She tapped her wine nearly empty wine glass, asking for more. Tony smiled and poured it for her, filling his own and Gibbs' glass as well. Abby wasn't surprised to find out it Gibbs had been the one to initiate the relationship. It made sense. Hell, she hadn't known Gibbs was into men, it was unlikely Tony would have. Tony was always careful never to hit on any man he thought was straight or might rebuff his advances. He'd hinted once at something bad that made him cautious but he'd never given her specifics. And for all his bravado, Abby knew Tony was about decidedly insecure about his ability to maintain a relationship. If he wouldn't risk his friendship with her for a quick roll in the hay, there was no way he'd risk his place on the team. Working at NCIS, with Gibbs and the team, was everything to Tony. What did surprise Abby was just how long they'd been a couple. Oh she'd known Tony was seeing someone for a some time, but she would never have guessed he and Gibbs had been together for more than six months. As far as she knew that was a high water mark for Tony. None of his relationships had lasted that long. And Gibbs?well, he was clearly deeply in love with Tony. He worried about Tony more than he did anyone else on the team. He made a point of touch him. She knew that head smack thing definitely meant as much as a kiss. Made sure Tony ate well. Made sure he wasn't staying at the office until two in the morning any more. Tolerated his childish antics, even encouraged them from time to time. Gibbs was certainly more in love with Tony than he'd ever been with his last ex-wife. That woman was proof positive Gibbs was better off playing for the other team. No doubt about it. She was a head case. "So how long has McGee known?" She sipped her wine. "And just how did he find out if you didn't plan to tell him?" Gibbs cleared his throat and looked away. Tony blushed. Abby stared. "Is that why you started locking the doors?" She chortled. "He walked in on you in flagrante delicto?" "Not quite." Tony shrugged one shoulder. "And not here." "At the office?" Abby nearly choked. "Are you out of your minds?" Not everyone was as open minded as she and McGee were. Good lord. Stuff like that could get them fired or ruin their careers or worse. "Have you any idea?" "It was two in the morning, Abby." Tony was quick to cut her off, expression earnest. "And it was a kiss. In the parking garage." "We'd just gotten back after that case on the Enterprise," Gibbs added quietly, his hand still holding Tony's. Abby nodded. She remembered that case. The whole team had been gone for more than a week. She'd hated having them all gone and being stuck in the lab. "No time alone for you guys?" "No." They answered in unison. That had to be just a bit frustrating. "Guess I can understand how you might get a little?well, stupid about where you were and what you were doing." Tony snickered, trading a look with Gibbs. "Didn't seem stupid at the time."

"Never does, Tony," Abby pointed out. She'd had her own moments of insanity when getting off was more important than good sense. "We haven't done it since, Mom." Tony rolled his eyes at her. "Good." She nodded, giving him an approving look and a smile. Not that she wouldn't mind getting the chance to witness the two of them in a lip lock, but at the office?it was just too risky for that, there was too much they could lose. "We know what's at stake, Abby," Gibbs stated calmly. Gibbs might be careless with himself from time to time, but Abby knew he'd never be careless with Tony. He would not risk the younger man's career or his well being. She patted his arm, letting him know she understood. "And that's kind of why we wanted you to know about us." Tony bit his lower lip. "This last case was a little...intense." That was definitely something of an understatement, but Abby wasn't sure she had a better descriptor. Nearly losing Tony had scared the hell out of her. She couldn't imagine what it must have been like for Gibbs. Or how he'd have felt finding Tony bloody and bruised in that hotel room. Pretending to just be his boss would have been a lot to ask of anyone in that situation. "We...ah...it seemed like a good idea for us to have more than McGee to--" "Gotcha." Abby nodded, touching her thumb to her nose. It was the signal that Redford and Newman had used in The Sting. Tony smiled brightly, clearly recognizing the gesture. "I love you, Abby." "Love you, Tony." She gave Gibbs a fond look. "Love you too." "Never had any doubts, Abby." "So just McGee knows?" Both men nodded. Abby was decidedly pleased to have been invited into the inner circle. She was damn good at keeping other people's secrets, and she looked forward to helping them out whenever they needed it. "We've considered talking to Ducky." Gibbs lightly squeezed Tony's hand. "Just haven't worked out the how and when for that yet." "Sweet." Abby grinned. She was delighted to know she ranked higher in the order of priority for sharing the good news, but it wouldn't be right to leave Ducky out for long. He was too good a friend to be kept in the dark. And she and McGee would likely need more help if Tony kept getting into dangerous situations. "You ready for dessert?" "Oh yeah." Abby laughed. "Definitely." She wondered just how much more information she could get them to share before she left. Abby just loved a challenge.

Gibbs finished washing the dishes, leaving them in the rack to dry. He'd put them away in the morning. Tony had seen Abby to the door while Gibbs took care of cleaning up. He could hear their voices but had no idea what was being said. He wasn't worried. Things had gone too well at dinner for him to be concerned now.

Wiping down the counter one more time, Gibbs decided the kitchen was restored to order enough to suit him. He split what was left of the second bottle of wine they'd opened between his glass and Tony's before heading into the living room. He knew that was where Tony would have headed after seeing Abby to her car and locking up. He offered Tony his glass, taking his usual seat at the corner of the couch. Tony smiled, accepting his glass with one hand before resting his back against Gibbs' chest, head on Gibbs' shoulder. It was their usual position and Gibbs loved the feeling of warmth, trust and closeness it engendered. "You could have told me how important these glasses are," Gibbs said quietly, rubbing his cheek against Tony's hair. "Didn't really think about it." Tony patted the hand Gibbs had placed on his chest. "Sully always used them for anything she considered a special occasion. I've tried to do the same since she passed them on to me." He tilted his head to look up at Gibbs. "Thought tonight qualified." "Yeah." Gibbs smiled. "It did." Openly and deliberately sharing their relationship with someone else was definitely special. "It went well," Gibbs observed, sipping his wine. Abby's reaction hadn't been exactly what he'd expected, but it wasn't far from it either. She was naturally supportive of her friends and loved ones. And she wasn't judgmental, living to close to the fringe to really feel the need to judge anyone by the usual standards. "Now that is an understatement." Tony chuckled. Gibbs stifled a snicker. Yeah, it was, he admitted to himself. But he wasn't sure how else to describe it. "You got any thoughts on how to tell Ducky?" Tony asked. Gibbs shook his head. "Not entirely sure he doesn't already know." "You think so?" Tony shifted, turning so he could look more fully at Gibbs. Gibbs lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. "He's known me for years. Knows I'm not exclusively into women." Tony nodded slowly. "Kind of like Abby knew about me." "Well, he never saw me clubbing." Tony laughed. "Hell, I can't even imagine you at some of the places I've been to with Abby." Gibbs bit back his instinctive jealous reaction in favor of satisfying his curiosity. Striving for casual, he asked, "What sort of places did you go to with her?" "Mostly places with loud music. Dance clubs, mosh pits and leather bars." Tony shrugged. "Tried a fetish club once or twice but it wasn't really my scene." "You miss it?" "It?" "Going out to clubs?" As far as Gibbs knew Tony hadn't been out like that since they got together. "No." Tony leaned back into him with a contented sigh, settling in again. "Wouldn't mind taking you to my favorite blues bar, but the others, no I don't miss them."

"Blues bar?" Gibbs was intrigued. He liked blues and jazz. Didn't care for it all the time, but they were both definitely styles of music he could relate to. "Yeah." Tony waved a hand. "It's got great atmosphere. Kind of place you'd expect to see Sam at the piano, and Rick Blaine tending bar." Gibbs smiled recognizing the reference to Casablanca. "Sounds like an okay place." "We'll have to go some time so you can see for yourself." Tony sipped his wine. "Could take Ducky. Bet he'd feel right at home there too." "Good idea." Tony looked up at him. "I do have them now and again." "Yes, you do," Gibbs admitted easily. He tightened his hold on Tony hugging the younger man closer to him. He depended on Tony's good ideas, relied on him to act as his second, and trusted him to watch his back. He felt as well as heard Tony take a deep breath. Gibbs waited wondering just what it was his lover was bracing himself for. Tony cleared his throat. "You...ah...you said that...you and the director were together...for a case." The statement was really more of a question. Tony's tone and hesitation made it clear he wasn't sure if he was crossing some unseen boundary. Gibbs made a conscious decision to share a piece of his past. If he wanted Tony to come clean about his at some point, he had to be willing to do the same. He loved Tony; he owed it to him to show him how much, and letting him know that it was okay to ask him anything was definitely a part of that. "We were working in Paris." Gibbs laid his cheek against Tony's hair. He patted Tony's chest, not sure if he was reassuring the younger man or himself. "They were expecting a couple." He didn't go into who 'they' were. That part was still classified. "So we had to play the part." "Kind of like me and Ziva on this last case?" Tony asked softly. "Kind of." Gibbs sipped his wine. "Only this case went on for nearly a year. And we didn't have the option of just pretending." "Back up team for us wasn't as close to us as we were to you and Ziva." Gibbs sighed. "We didn't have the electronics equipment or twenty four hour support. The ops had been deliberately kept small so it had a better chance of sliding in under the radar and succeeding." Gibbs shook his head. It was a fly by the seat of your pants sort of job. The kind he wouldn't even consider now. But back then...Gibbs grimaced thinking about it. He'd taken the job because Diane had already handed him divorce papers and working overseas on a high risk assignment was preferable to listening to her rant at him or try and take another swing at him. And reconciliation with her was out of the question after he found out how many others she'd been with while married to him. "We had to make sure everything was exactly as it appeared to be." And that meant having sex with Sheppard. It wasn't a hardship at the time. She was young and beautiful and just as willing as he was to do what it took to get the job done. But in hindsight it was certainly something Gibbs regretted. Everything between him and Sheppard had changed after that, and not all for the better.

"Probably should have handled it differently, but without better information or backup all the time to cover--" "Best bet is always to play it straight...all or nothing...in a situation like that," Tony cut in with quiet conviction, the voice of experience. "Even when they were there, I'm betting your backup wasn't as good as you are either." "Not all that good. Came close to losing you this time." Gibbs argued, his throat suddenly tight, unsure Tony's faith in his ability to provide competent backup wasn't misplaced. The memory of losing contact and not knowing where Tony was rose up to steal his breath. "Close doesn't count." Tony captured Gibbs' hand and entwined their fingers. It does with hand-grenades, Gibbs thought inanely, remembering a comment made by his drill instructor at Paris Island. Not really seeing the point in arguing about it, Gibbs kept his mouth shut. Short of asking Tony to give up the job he loved and wrapping him in cotton batting there was no way he could be sure of the younger man's safety. He couldn't ask Tony to quit. Gibbs needed him there as much as Tony needed to be there. He just had to trust that the younger man could and would take care of himself, hold his own in any situation. He wasn't sure he even still believed in God, but Gibbs sent silent prayers heavenward every morning asking for Tony's continued safety. And he sent one every night in gratitude that Tony was still in one piece. "Does she know you only slept with her for the case?" Tony asked, drawing Gibbs attention back to their conversation. "I don't know." Gibbs bit his lower lip. "Thought she did, but lately, I'm not so sure." Tony nodded, his hair tickling the sensitive skin of Gibbs' face. "Kind of got the impression she was looking for more from you than just a supervisor subordinate relationship." "Yeah." Gibbs scowled. Damn. He had hoped he'd misunderstood. It wasn't the first time he'd read the signals wrong. "Wish I knew what the hell to do about it," Gibbs muttered more to himself than Tony. "Could always cite rule twelve." Gibbs snickered, hugging Tony to him. "Would make me a hypocrite." "Only if she finds out," Tony pointed out reasonably, tilting his head to give him a slanted look of amusement. "And keeping Sheppard or anyone else from finding out was kind of the whole point of telling Abby, remember?" "True." With Abby and McGee covering their six, and eventually Ducky...they had damn good backup. "Might have to keep an eye on Ziva too." Gibbs blinked. "Ziva?" "I know I wasn't firing on all cylinders in the hotel room, but I'm pretty sure we said or did something that made her look twice." It was more likely Gibbs had done or said something, not Tony. Tony hadn't been up to much of anything at that point. Damn, Gibbs cursed silently. Some of his anger at himself must have communicated itself to Tony.

The younger man pulled away so he could look more directly at Gibbs. He brought joined hands up and kissed Gibbs' knuckles. "S'okay, Boss, think McGee covered pretty well." "It's not okay." Gibbs almost growled. He'd made a promise to Tony that no one at the office would know if he didn't want them to, and god damn it he'd already failed twice. Once with McGee, and now possibly with Ziva. At least with Ziva he thought he had something he could use to keep her in line. All it would take was a phone call, but blackmail had never been his style. And he hadn't covered for her killing Ari just so he'd have something to use against her?at least not at first. The thought only appeared later on when he found out she'd been assigned to his team. It was unlikely he'd go against his own honor and integrity to use the information against her. She probably knew that. But if she posed a genuine threat, unlikely didn't equal impossible. He'd sacrifice a lot more than his honor for Tony if that's what it took. "If I knew for sure where her loyalties lay," Gibbs ground out in frustration. Tony shrugged. "Every game's got a wild card. Sometimes more than one. Ziva and Sheppard may well be ours." "This is not some game, DiNozzo." Gibbs glared at him. "Sure it is," Tony countered. "It's one with real high stakes, and no do overs. A winner takes all sort of thing." Gibbs had to admit Tony had a point. He'd known going in just what sort of risks were involved. He didn't have any regrets. Finding ways to mitigate those risks, to cover their asses was just part of the deal. "Suggestions?" Gibbs unconsciously asked it the same way he did when he wanted input on a case, seeking theories and ideas for consideration. "We continue as we have." Tony shrugged one shoulder. "We add Ducky into the mix just to be on the safe side. Give us one more ally. And we really need to work on a contingency plan for what to do if someone like Ziva or Sheppard figure out we're a couple." Gibbs tried not to get sidetracked by the sudden flash of delight at Tony's reference to them as a 'couple'. Not him and me, but we, Gibbs thought with an internal smile. He fought off the emotion and focused on the issue at hand. "Contingency plan?" "Yeah. Was probably something we should have had awhile ago." Tony smiled ruefully. "Like before McGee saw us kissing." "I've got enough time in," Gibbs offered tentatively. He'd made the offer before when McGee had found out about them and Tony had flatly refused to let him quit. "I could retire without much fuss." "Thinking if you leave NCIS, I couldn't stay." Tony sighed softly, shaking his head. "Not sure I'd want to work for anyone else." "You could head your own team." Tony had more than enough time in. He was smart, capable and could easily take Gibbs place if it came to that. Hell, he had already done it once or twice.

"I don't want my own team." Tony rolled his eyes. "I don't mind taking over in a pinch, but I've never really wanted to be the guy in charge full time." Tony shook his head. "And I'm not sure I could trust someone else to watch out for me like you do." He grinned, bright green eyes meeting blue. "You spoiled me for anyone else." Gibbs couldn't help feeling just a bit smug, knowing it wasn't just the job Tony was talking about. "Spoiled?" "Rotten to the core." Tony's grin widened, unabashed. He shrugged one shoulder, grin fading a bit. "Thinking the only solution is for us to both quit." "What would you do?" Gibbs asked. Tony had too much life and energy to sit around doing nothing, and he was nowhere near close enough to draw retirement. "Not a clue." Tony didn't sound concerned. "But I was looking for a job when I found this one, so I'm thinking it'll work out okay." Gibbs chuckled. He wished he knew how to be that adaptable. But then the Corps had been his life for so long, and then NCIS, he'd never need to even think about what else he'd be doing. "We could travel." Tony's eyes lit up. "Maybe go see all those places people are always meaning to go." "You mean treat it like a vacation?" "Sure." Tony looked at him. "Why not? We could figure out everything else along the way." Why not, indeed, Gibbs thought as he considered the suggestion. He hadn't had a vacation, a real vacation in years. And if it came down to where neither of them were working there was no good reason not to. He nodded. "Okay." "Just okay?" "You want to argue about it?" Gibbs arched an eyebrow. "No." Tony laughed and kissed him. "I don't want to argue about it." "So we have a plan." "A damn good plan," Tony agreed with another quick kiss. It wasn't much of a plan in Gibbs opinion, at least not yet, but it definitely was a start to covering all the bases. They could work on refining it later. He smiled. "You think we can maybe move on to something better then?" Tony returned his smile with a sweet one of his own. "You got something in mind?" Gibbs gave Tony a heated once over. His voice deepened, dropping to a rough, needy whisper when he spoke, "You bet your sweet ass, I do, Honey Buns." Tony shivered, eyes darkening. Gibbs knew full well what that tone of voice did to the younger man. He ran his fingers through Tony's hair. "You want to come play with me?" Tony rolled easily to his feat, placing his empty wine glass on the coffee table and then doing the same with Gibbs'. He offered his hand to the former Marine. He winked at Gibbs, waggling his eyebrows. "C'mon, sailor, let's see what you got."

Gibbs took Tony's hand, letting him pull him up. Once on his feet he drew Tony into him, kissing him deeply. He only pulled back when the need for air made him. He rested his forehead against Tony's, making eye contact and holding it. "Showing you what I got is going to take awhile." Tony's eyes sparkled with good humor and affection. "Rest of my life?" Gibbs loved the hopeful, happy tenor of that question. He cupped Tony's ass with his hands, squeezing once as he pulled the other man's hips closer to his own. "A lifetime sounds just about right." "Good." Tony smiled, and playfully shoved him toward the bedroom. "Let's go make some noise." Gibbs led the way to the bedroom, one hand wrapped around Tony's wrist to make sure he didn't lag too far behind. "Good thing I got a lock for the door." "Oh yeah." Tony chuckled, patting his ass with his free hand. "Don't want any interruptions. Especially not when I make you scream." "Scream?" Gibbs looked over his shoulder. "You've never made me scream." Tony's eyes glowed with merriment and promise. It was a wicked combination. "All that means is I just haven't done it?yet." Gibbs shivered, already anticipating what that promise might entail. Tony was a very, very talented lover. "And if you can't?" He couldn't resist firing back a challenge. "Well then," Tony leaned in, nibbling his earlobe, "I guess I'll just have to keep trying. Got a lifetime for me to work it out, right?" Gibbs swallowed hard when Tony's tongue started doing whatever the hell he did to that spot below his ear that always made him weak in the knees. He really didn't think it would take Tony long to figure out how to make him scream now that he'd put his mind to it. No, not long at all. But making him work for it was going to be a hell of a lot of fun. And turning the tables would be too. Yeah, a lifetime sounded just about right.

Framing the Risk It was a nightmare. It had to be. Gibbs kept wanting to pinch himself, use that little bit of pain to wake himself up. There was no way in hell Tony had murdered some woman, dismembered her and left her legs at Quantico. No fucking way. Not that Tony wasn't capable of murder or violence; Gibbs knew everyone had the potential for such things. His stint in the Marines, and as an investigator, had certainly shown him that damn near anyone could commit murder and acts of cruelty. And he'd seen Tony use his weapon with lethal force on more than one occasion. But the younger man had only ever done that in the line of duty, in self-defense or in defense of another. Tony just wasn't the type to ruthlessly kill another without a lot of provocation. If he were the sort to get off on power plays and abuse, Gibbs was sure he'd have noticed that trait after four years of working with the man. And even if he had somehow overlooked it, Kate wouldn't have. That was something a trained profiler should have spotted. Assuming even Kate was blind to homicidal inclinations at least one of the many women Tony had dated probably would have noticed. If all the women Tony dated were like Paula Cassidy, one of them was bound to have caught on to any violent, abusive, psychopathic tendencies. Paula was certainly strong enough, physically and emotionally, to have lodged some sort of compliant or filed a charge of some kind if she'd ever considered Tony to be a threat. The others were likely to have equally strong minded. But there were no complaints against him recorded anywhere. Gibbs had never seen him use excessive force on a woman, not even when given reason to. Hell, Lt. Pam Kim had certainly given Tony reason to smack her around. Just egging his beloved car would have been enough incentive, never mind her posting his name on the Herpes website. But Tony hadn't even filed a complaint against her. Ignoring all that, Tony simply hadn't had the opportunity to kill anyone. The longest Tony had been out of Gibbs' sight in recent months was the trip he'd made to Baltimore to visit with his frat brothers. While it might have been possible for them to have killed some nameless woman and for Tony to transport her body back to Virginia, it was highly improbable and decidedly unlikely. The state of decay, or rather the lack thereof, meant whoever the victim was, she hadn't been dead for weeks. And her legs certainly hadn't been lying at Quantico for more than a day or two at the most. Someone would have noticed. The area might be restricted but it sure as hell wasn't deserted. In addition to that, Tony hadn't dated anyone other than Gibbs for nearly eight months. Not that Gibbs could tell the Director that. Or the fucking FBI either. Tony's many dating stories were common fodder around the office, so it was natural for people to draw the conclusion that this dead woman might have been one of Tony's recent conquests. It wouldn't be enough for Gibbs to give Tony an alibi; if they could ever pin down a time of death, Sheppard wouldn't believe him without proof. McGee, Abby, and even Ducky being able to vouch for them as a couple would mean nothing because they were on Gibbs' team and Tony's friends. It wouldn't be unrealistic to think they'd be willing to lie to keep him out of jail. A lie that might ruin his career and Gibbs' might

see a bit excessive, but certainly not out of the realm of possibility. And given how firmly entrenched Tony's 'ladies man' persona was at the office, Gibbs had no real doubt about how many people would assume he was lying if he told them he and Tony were a couple. It was all moot. The former Marine couldn't see Tony letting him do anything that would voluntarily ruin Gibbs' career. Not even to keep Tony from being convicted for a crime he hadn't committed. No, the best option was to prove that Tony hadn't killed this woman. That he was being framed by someone who knew a hell of a lot about crime scene investigation. It was somewhat distressing to learn just how many people fell under that heading. Narrowing it down to three of the most likely prospects didn't mean they'd really pinned down the only ones capable. That little detail was making it hard for Gibbs to breath easy. Tony in a cell was another. At least Fornell didn't really think Tony was guilty. Gibbs wasn't sure why exactly...if it was because he had faith in Tony or if it was faith in Gibbs. Tobias was on their side either way and that was all that mattered. Hopefully, they'd have the proof needed to get Tony released before Tobias' reasons were put to the test. Ziva's faith was another thing Gibbs wasn't sure he could rely on. So far she'd proven her worth and seemed to genuinely believe Tony to be innocent. If asked to articulate why she thought him innocent, she might start to question it rather than just follow Gibbs' lead. It was better to just go with it. McGee, Abby and Ducky could be counted on. Although, at the moment, everything they found was simply digging the hole deeper. It was aggravating and maddening for all for all of them. Gibbs sighed. He picked up the pizza he ordered. Tony's favorite. He'd need something to tempt his lover's appetite. Tony had a troubling tendency to not eat when worried, nervous or stressed. Gibbs walked through the halls. He nodded casually to people he passed, grateful there weren't very many. He wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone. Blue eyes flicked upward noting the location of the security cameras and the guards stationed nearby. He wanted a moment alone with Tony, but he knew that wasn't really going to be an option. He offered the pizza to Tony. Gibbs stifled the urge to wince as Tony blithely tossed it aside. Damn. He'd hoped for a better reaction, especially when Tony told him he'd been able to smell it coming all the way down the hall. It was small consolation that Tony was still talking. Him shutting down completely would have scared the hell out of Gibbs, but what he was saying wasn't much better. Tony would be prosecutor's dream; there was no denying it, especially not the way the younger man laid it out. Lot of dating, commitment problems, hostility, mommy issues...Gibbs clenched his hands into tight fists, forcing himself to not ask the questions about Tony's mother that were on the tip of his tongue. Those would have to wait until the case was solved and Tony was safely back where he belonged. Gibbs wasn't going to let this go to trial. Christ they didn't even know who Jane Doe was yet, much less when she died. He hadn't given up and he wasn't going to let Tony give up either.

Gibbs didn't have all the words he needed to reassure Tony, and likely never would, but he was good with actions. He motioned Tony over to him, waiting until he was close enough to touch. A kiss or even a hug was out of the question, but a light tap under the chin wasn't going to raise any eyebrows. Neither would a smack to the back of the head. Gibbs knew he'd gotten it right when Tony smiled; a soft, genuine smile for him alone. The quiet, ?thanks, boss, I needed that' was further proof. Tony had just needed to vent, to voice his fears. He needed someone to listen, to know he was just a little scared about how things might turn out, to understand why he had good reason to be worried about how things might play out. Tony hadn't lost his faith in Gibbs or the team. Gibbs waited just out of Tony's line of sight, making sure the younger man actually ate something. His lips curled in a slight smile when he saw Tony reach for the pizza and pull out a piece. It would be too much to hope that his lover would actually be able to get some sleep. Hell, Gibbs didn't plan to get any either. Gibbs headed upstairs. He needed a progress report, needed to find something that was going to get Tony the hell out of that cell. He wasn't happy to find out one suspect was dead. It narrowed the possibilities but that wasn't exactly helpful if they were looking in the wrong direction. "Ziva, get Kim in here." Ziva blinked. "She's on her honeymoon." "Your point?" "I'll get her." "McGee," Gibbs barked, "find Stewart." McGee opened his mouth and then snapped it shut. He nodded once. "On it, Boss." Gibbs wanted to hurry things along, but forced himself to be patient. He waited for Ziva to bring him Kim. He was glad she hadn't bothered to knock or wait for Kim to finish with her new hubby. If Gibbs wasn't enjoying himself, she sure as hell shouldn't be either. Kim's connubial bliss could wait, especially if she had anything to do with Tony currently being behind bars. Unfortunately, as far as Gibbs could tell, she wasn't guilty of being anything but a vindictive bitch. It made him wonder what the hell Tony had seen in her in the first place. At least she had the good sense to acknowledge the fact that she owed Tony one. He should have pressed charges for harassment. It was petty, but Gibbs took some satisfaction in knowing he'd ruined her honeymoon. Vindictive bitch that she was, Kim was one more dead end. Damn it. Gibbs wanted to punch the wall; he stifled the urge knowing it wouldn't solve anything and would hurt like hell later. He was glad he had when the Sheppard met him outside the interrogation room. He was in no mood to be lectured about anger management. Gibbs couldn't keep himself from getting pissy with her. Morrow would have found a way to keep Tony out of a cell. And failing that, he'd have kept the FBI out of it and stayed the hell out of Gibbs way. He was grateful for her providing Stewart's location, but he couldn't bring himself to express it. Or to apologize for his ?ass kissing' remark. It rankled that she took it

upon herself to get involved with his cases. She didn't seem inclined to do that with any of the other teams. What made his so special? Jesus. He never thought he'd regret having sex with anyone so much since his third ex-wife. Letting Ziva take the lead with Stewart was satisfying. It didn't make up for failing to get a look in the freezer or a list of Jane Doe's, but it came close. They needed to identify the body. He hoped like hell Abby could figure it out. He knew Abby was pushing herself hard; there was a lot of pressure on her. Part of him wanted to tell Abby to take a break, to back off for a bit, but he couldn't do that. Not with Tony's freedom on the line. Gibbs didn't think she'd listen to him anyway. Tony was her friend too. Gibbs wasn't sure quite how Abby thought to check the bone marrow registry. She muttered something about a bony ass, but the former Marine didn't want clarification on that. Her thought processes were a mystery best not explored without a good night's sleep and a lot of coffee. Finding their DNA match alive and well was a bit disconcerting. It would have also been damned frustrating if her being alive hadn't provided them with the real name of their Jane Doe and proof that she hadn't been murdered; she was an accident victim. Tony couldn't have killed her. All they had to do was figure out who the hell had framed Tony and mutilated the corpse of a young woman to do it. Gibbs sent McGee to get Tony sprung while he and Ziva had another chat with Stewart. Stewart was hardly a font of intelligence or ingenuity. He was malicious and resentful enough to want Tony in jail for murder, but it nagged at Gibbs that the evidence used to frame his agent weren't things Stewart would have ready access to. The bite mark matched Tony's teeth perfectly. The finger print and glove they found also matched up to Tony. The carpet fiber they found was definitely from Tony's mustang. Stewart had to have had help to somehow collect all those things. Gibbs grimaced. He hated lose ends. At least they'd found enough to get Tony out of jail. He was eager to see his senior agent back where he belonged. They could tie up those lose ends a together, as a team. It didn't click immediately when he opened the file Sheppard handed him. The picture of Chip took a moment to register, but when it did, Gibbs was off and running. That miserable son of a bitch had motive, means and opportunity?and he was in Abby's lab. Gibbs didn't even need to look to know Tony was on his six. He might not know why Gibbs had taken off at a dead run, but that lack of information wouldn't slow Tony down. The younger man never lagged too far behind when it came to following his lead. They entered Abby's lab, urgency warring with caution, guns drawn. Gibbs breath caught for a moment when he saw her slumped on the stool. He didn't really relax until she turned to look at them. "Now can I work alone?" she asked pointing to where she had Chip bound fast with what had to be close to a full roll of duct tape. Gibbs couldn't help but smirk. He looked toward Sheppard. "Well?"

Sheppard cleared her throat. Her chagrined expression spoke volumes for her. "Yes, Ms. Sciuto, I think that can be arranged." She glared at Tony when he snickered. "See to it Charles Sterling is read his rights and charged." "Yes, Ma'am." Tony dipped his head in an abbreviated bow. The gesture conveyed the same respect his tone had. It was amusing to watch her try to figure out if he was being serious or sarcastic. "Ziva, McGee, take care of Chip." Gibbs ordered. He wasn't ready to let Tony out of his sight just yet, and definitely not with the little bastard who tried to take him away from Gibbs forever. Ziva pursed her lips looking down at Chip. "Removing all that tape will be?painful." One could only hope so, Gibbs thought savagely. He resisted the urge to beat Chip while he was down and vulnerable. He was rather proud of Abby for kicking the little weasel's ass. McGee and Ziva manhandled Chip to his feet and started dragging him out of the lab. Gibbs hoped they dropped him once or twice along the way for good measure. He had no doubts that they would both enjoy unwrapping the son of a bitch. Gibbs stepped over to Abby, pulling her into a hug. He placed a kiss on her forehead. "You did good, Abby. Real good." She was shaking as she returned his hug. He pulled back to look at her, searching her face. "You hurt?" "No." She shook her head, pigtails flying. "I'm fine." She raised a hand to wipe at her eyes. "You sure you're okay, Abby?" Tony asked, stepping closer, eyes expressing his concern as he looked her over. "Tony!!" She launched herself at him. He caught her with a soft 'oomph'. "Miss me?" Tony laughed as he hugged her. "I wasn't gone that long." "God, Tony. I nearly put you in jail for life." She didn't quite wail that sentence but her tone was still enough to make Gibbs wince. "I'm so sorry, Tony. You have to believe me. I just lost my way for a bit. I doubted science which I never should have done. It won't happen again. Believe me?" "Abby?you need to breathe." Tony cut her off, hands moving to cup her face, gently holding her still. "In and out, nice and slow?okay. In and out." Abby nodded, her eyes closed as she followed Tony's instructions. Gibbs could almost see the tension draining out of her as she started to calm down. It would take more than this for her to really relax, but it was definitely a start. He made eye contact with Tony. Tony smiled and nodded. He'd take Abby home, keep her company and make sure she unwound as much as possible until Gibbs could send McGee over to take his place. Gibbs still wasn't quite sure exactly what sort of relationship McGee and Abby had, but at the moment he didn't care. Whatever they had it was enough for her to be able to count him. "Let's get your coat and get out of here," Tony suggested to Abby, his thumbs lightly caressing her cheekbones, smoothing away the few tears that had escaped. Abby nodded tiredly, leaning heavily into Tony to hug him again.

Gibbs could tell the hug meant as much to Tony as it did to her. He wasn't really jealous, but he did envy her having the freedom to hug Tony. He'd like to be able to do the same thing and resented having to wait until they were alone. Gibbs sighed, resigned to the fact that it would be awhile before he could really touch his lover the way he wanted to. Sheppard opened her mouth to say something; Gibbs cut her off with just a look. If it was about wrapping up the case or cleaning up the mess in Abby's lab, he'd take care of it. Anything else could sure as hell wait until tomorrow morning. She pursed her lips in annoyance but wisely remained silent, turning on her heel to leave. He was hoping that this latest fiasco would be enough to convince her to stop meddling with his team, but Gibbs didn't hold out a lot of hope for that. He usually regarded persistence was a good thing as an agent, but her continued interference wasn't persistence; it was more ego and pride than anything else. She messed with him and his team because she could, not because she should. Gibbs didn't believe for a moment that she tracked down Stewart or had given him the case file in an effort to get Tony cleared. No, she'd done those things to prove she could do what he couldn't, that she was still a qualified field agent. If she'd really given a damn about the case or her people, she'd have looked at the file before she'd given it to him. She'd have known before Gibbs that Charles Sterling had framed Tony. Christ. She should have at least done a thorough background check on Chip. He wasn't qualified to even work for NCIS much less in Abby's lab. Gibbs rubbed a hand over his face. He was going to have to find a way get Sheppard to stop looking over his shoulder all the time. It had nearly cost him two people. Gibbs watched at Tony helped Abby into her coat, one arm curling around her shoulders to hold her close. She gave him a tired smile. Tony placed a kiss in her hair. "You ready?" "Yeah." Her answer was little more than a sigh. Gibbs walked with them to the elevator. He couldn't help resting a hand on the small of Tony's back, reassured by the solid muscle and warmth beneath his fingers. Knowing he was out of sight of the surveillance cameras, Gibbs slowly trialed his fingers up Tony's spine. He lightly cupped the back of Tony's neck, massaging the tight muscles he found there. Tony's head tipped forward slightly, letting Gibbs know he appreciated the effort. A full massage might be in order to really help Tony unwind. It would go a long way to helping Gibbs too. It would reassure him that the younger man was physically fine, and gave him the liberty of touching him everywhere, reconnect on a basic level. "Your place?after McGee gets to Abby's," Gibbs leaned in to whisper when the elevator doors opened. He thought Tony would be more comfortable in his own space, among his things. Tony had massage oil there as well as that huge bathtub for a good long soak. Tony nodded once. As he and Abby got on the elevator, Tony looked at Gibbs, jade green eyes questioning, hopeful and expectant.

Gibbs smiled, fighting the urge to get on the elevator with them. "Be there as soon as I can." The set of Tony's shoulders eased a bit more. He pointed at Gibbs before patting his chest just over his heart. Gibbs made the traditional ?I love you' sign back. Gibbs sighed heavily when the doors closed, taking Tony and Abby away. He grimaced, glancing around the mess in Abby's lab. He reached for his cell phone. First order of business would be to get someone to clean up the place. Then he'd see if Chip survived his trip to booking with Ziva and McGee. After that he'd see what shit had accumulated on his desk. He glanced at his watch as he dialed the number for maintenance. He'd be at Tony's place in an hour. Come hell or high water.

Being wired and tired was a bad combination, Tony decided. His body might be ready to crash but his mind was still going a mile a minute. He hated feeling so out of sync, so scattershot and lost. It was probably worse for Abby, but at least Tony knew what to do to help her. He'd done it for her before, although, he'd never seen her quite this bad. Hell, he'd never been quite this out of sorts himself either. It wasn't every day someone tried to frame him for murder. A hot shower would help Abby unwind. A long bubble bath would be better, but she vetoed the suggestion saying it would take too long and she didn't want to be in the bathroom when McGee arrived. Given that McGee had already seen her naked at least once, Tony wasn't sure what the big deal was, but he knew better than to argue with her. A hot shower would still give her mind a chance to slow down while relaxing tired muscles. A cup of chamomile tea moved the process along another step. Tony couldn't stand the stuff himself, but he knew Abby liked it, so he obligingly made a cup for her while she was in the shower. She only drank it at night after a particularly grueling day. The habit associated with a cup of tea, combined with the warmth and natural relaxing properties helped to slow down her still racing thoughts and unknot aching muscles. She curled up on the couch in her flannel pj's, leaning into Tony as he wrapped his arms around her. He wondered where in the hell she'd managed to find pajamas covered with glow in the dark bats, but resisted the urge to ask. It would ruin the mood. He could always ask another time. He cued the stereo to play a little bit of instrumental music that few would suspect Abby of even owning. It wasn't heavy metal, screaming guitars or jazz. She'd stopped by his place not long after he started working at NCIS and had mentioned like the CD, so he bought her a copy. It was mostly percussion and flute, sounding almost tribal in the rhythm and cadence. The beat was constant, measured and soothing, rather like a steady heartbeat. "Feeling better?" He placed a kiss in her still damp hair. Tony wished she'd wear it down more often. "Much." Abby sipped her tea and sighed. One hand moved curl around Tony's fingers. She squeezed once. "I really am sorry."

"Nothing to be sorry for." He squeezed back. "Not your fault Chip was a nut job out to get me." Tony grimaced. He should have paid more attention. Chip had seemed vaguely familiar but Tony hadn't given it much thought; certainly not enough to worry about placing his face or name. It was his own damn fault that the little shit had even been able to frame him in the first place. Just like it was his fault for being so stupid he open a poisoned letter, had kissed Pacci's killer, incited his mother's wrath...Tony shook his head. Better to just not think about all that right now. Abby shifted so she could look at him. "You okay?" He smiled. "I'm fine." It wasn't a lie. Not really. He'd be fine. The only thing that had happened to him was spending a few hours in a cell. Hardly the worst thing he'd ever experienced, and definitely not something Abby should be worried about. Not right now. Tony was glad the only one who'd witnessed his little breakdown in the jail cell had been Gibbs. No one else needed to know he'd been so damn scared he'd gotten diarrhea of the mouth and started babbling about stuff better left buried. Gibbs seemed to understand, thank god. At least he hadn't called him on it or asked any questions. Not yet, but Tony had no illusions. Gibbs would ask eventually. Tony would do the same thing in his place. He sighed softly, not looking forward to that conversation. "You can go home if you want," Abby offered, her expression serious as light blue eyes studied him. "Been a long day for you too." Tony shook his head. "I'll wait for McGee." Gibbs was probably still at the office, and Tony really didn't feel like being alone. Although, he did give going for a run serious consideration. Exercise helped him shut off his brain for awhile; let him focus on just moving and his breathing. It was as close as Tony ever came to true meditation. Abby finished her tea, placing the cup on the coffee table. She slouched down further, head coming to rest in Tony's lap. Abby sighed, yawning widely. "Go to sleep, Abby." "You make a good pillow." Tony chuckled, fingers brushing through her hair. "So Gibbs tells me." He lightly massaged her scalp. She hummed in appreciation. Tony smiled softly, knowing she'd be down for the count in just a few minutes. Once she was out, Abby would sleep soundly until tomorrow morning. Tony had never met anyone who slept as deeply as Abby. He was pretty sure she wouldn't wake up if a bomb went off. Tony assumed her sleep habits were probably one of the reasons she had so much energy. He carefully shifted out from under her, substituting a nearby pillow for his lap. Tony cocked his head as he studied her peaceful expression. She really was lovely. He placed a kiss on her forehead. "Love you, Abby," he whispered. Other than his frat brother, Joe, Abby was his best friend. He saw more of her than he did of Joe, but there was still a lot Joe knew that Abby didn't. Maybe some day he'd consider telling her some of those things.

He looked up when there was a soft knock at the door. Tony opened the door. "Hey, Probie." McGee smiled hesitantly. "I'd have been here sooner but--" "You're right on time." Tony made a sweeping gesture, inviting McGee into Abby's place. "She just fell asleep a few minutes ago." McGee nodded, glancing toward the couch where Abby lay unmoving. "Down for the count then." "Yep." McGee gave him a searching look. "You okay?" "I really need to find a mirror," Tony muttered, not realizing he'd said that aloud until McGee frowned at him. Tony rolled his eyes. "People keep asking me that." "Well, given that you were nearly on death row, it is sort of a logical question." Tony snorted. "I was not nearly on death row." "Abby seemed to think so," McGee offered hesitantly. "You really think Gibbs would have let it go that far?" Tony arched an eyebrow. His faith in the cell had wavered a bit, but he'd never fully lost it. Not really. Gibbs has saved him from the Black Death for crying out loud, Tony should have known better. "No, I don't really think Gibbs would have let it go that far." McGee shrugged, his expression apologetic and doubtful as he rubbed the back of his neck. "But Gibbs is not omnipotent." Omnipotent, no, not really. But Tony hadn't met anyone else who so often made the impossible seem easy. "Close enough to it for me, McGee." McGee laughed softly, raising a hand for a high five. "Amen, brother, Amen." Tony grinned, lightly slapping McGee's hand. He looked over at Abby. Now that she was asleep, it probably wasn't absolutely necessary for someone to say, but Tony would feel better if McGee was there. And he knew Gibbs would want someone to make sure Abby had really shaken off the affects of the last two days. "You okay with staying the night?" Tony didn't want McGee to feel obligated to stay if he wasn't comfortable doing so. "I'm fine with it." Tony nodded, accepting the easy answer. He wasn't entirely sure about the nature of Abby's and McGee's relationship. Good friends having casual sex or casual friends having good sex, Tony mused with an internal shrug. It wasn't his place to judge. And unlike Gibbs, Tony knew Abby could more than hold her own. If anyone was going to get hurt, it would most likely be McGee. "You heading home?" McGee asked as Tony grabbed his jacket, shrugging into it. "Yeah." Tony rubbed tiredly at his eyes. "Been a long day." "That it has." McGee gave him a sympathetic look. "About choking you...earlier...through the bars," Tony cleared his throat, forcing himself to make eye contact. He couldn't quite bring himself to apologize; he wasn't

really sorry he'd done it at the time, but he knew he shouldn't have done it. It wasn't McGee's fault he'd gotten himself framed. "It won't happen again." McGee nodded slowly, clearly understanding what Tony wasn't saying. He smiled easily. "Didn't think it would happen again. Not really expecting to see you behind bars in the future." Tony grinned. "Your lips to God's ear, Probie." "I thought you weren't sure there even was a god?" "Nothing wrong with hedging my bets." Tony shrugged, patting McGee's shoulder. "See you tomorrow." "Good night, Tony." "Night, Tim." Tony headed out. He hoped Gibbs wasn't expecting too much from him when he got to Tony's place. Helping Abby had definitely helped Tony unwind a little. A shower, maybe something to eat, and some mindless movie entertainment was about all Tony thought he could handle. He would love a massage. Gibbs had demonstrated a real skill for giving them. Knowing his lover was good at it had prompted Tony to restock his supply of oils not too long ago, but he wasn't going to ask for one. It just seemed so damn?needy. Tony knew it was stupid and insecure of him, but he was leery of asking Gibbs for too much, of appearing weak in his lover's eyes. Maybe he could talk Gibbs into a bath with him. He knew the former Marine loved the big sunken tub at his place. It wouldn't seem overly selfish to suggest something he knew Gibbs enjoyed. Tony enjoying it at the same time could be considered a side benefit. Tony yawned as he got into his car. He was damn glad he'd been able to get her out of the impound lot. She should never have been subjected to having strangers climbing all over her looking for evidence. He patted her steering wheel. "Sorry, baby." He started the car, letting the engine warm up. He hoped Gibbs would already be there, but wasn't really expecting him to be. Gibbs hadn't changed his habit of staying late at the office wrapping up loose ends. It wasn't usually a problem since Tony often stayed late himself, or went running after work. Just this once Tony wished they'd altered their routines. "Can wish in one hand, piss in the other, and guarantee which one will get wet." He said to himself, snickering as he remembered the first time Ernie said that. Waiting for Gibbs wasn't exactly a hardship, so he'd just have to suck it up and quit wishing for things to be different. He lightly stroked the dashboard. "Let's go home,girl."

Gibbs left the office fifteen minutes before McGee did. It was the first and hopefully only time he'd left the office before all members of his team had headed home. He'd always made a habit of being the last to leave, making sure everything was taken care of so that his team could start fresh the next day. But tonight, he needed the

extra time if he was going to have things ready before Tony got to his place from Abby's. Gibbs didn't believe in the benefits of aromatherapy. It was just so much new age bullshit as far as he was concerned. But he liked the scented candles Tony would light from time to time. The light fragrance would subtly permeate the apartment, lingering long after Tony extinguished the flames. It was soothing and comfortable in its familiarity; it was the scent of home, and Gibbs wanted Tony to have that sense of security have spending time in a cell as a murder suspect. So the first thing Gibbs did when he got to Tony's place was light the candles. There were three his lover typically used. Gibbs wasn't quite sure what the actual fragrances were or why it took all three to create the one scent he wanted, he just lit the ones he'd seen Tony use the most often. The reddish colored one was always in the living room. It sat on the top of the entertainment center in what looked like an antique silver bowl. The reflective metal was enough to brighten the small flame, adding to the soft glow. Tony periodically moved the pale green one around the apartment. Gibbs wasn't sure why; he'd never asked. He was just glad he had no trouble finding it the small bookshelf. It was in a similar silver bowl as the reddish one, and the light it cast added illumination to both the living room and the hallway. The third was a light purple. It was always in the bedroom, usually the last one Tony extinguished at night. Instead of a silver bowl the candle was set inside what looked like very thinly carved alabaster globe. It cast a pattern of light and shadow on the wall that resembled twinkling stars. Gibbs moved on to checking the fridge to see what Louisa stocked it with. He wondered some times if the woman was psychic. She always seemed to know when Tony's appetite would need a little extra tempting. The top shelf had a Tupperware container filled with Tony's favorite comfort food, spaghetti and meatballs. He set the table but didn't warm anything up yet. Gibbs wasn't sure if Tony would want to eat right away when he got home. Knowing his lover, he'd want a shower first. A good long soak in hot water would be better. It shouldn't be too hard to convince him a bath would be a good idea, Gibbs decided with a smile, especially not if I offered to join him. Tony seemed to really like sharing the tub. Gibbs liked it too, more than he ever expected. His ex-wives usually regarded baths as solo affairs. They were interested in their own personal down time, something he wasn't often included in. He knew he wasn't the easiest person to live with, and tried to be understanding of their need for time away from him. But Tony...he seemed to regard time alone with Gibbs as something precious, something to be savored. Gibbs was most definitely part of the younger man's down time. Maybe it was because they so rarely had the chance to let down their guard with each other. All the time spent at the office was as teammates, not as lovers. So much care had to be taken not to overstep the lines of propriety. When they had the chance to just be themselves, neither man really wanted to spend time apart. Whatever the reason, Gibbs was just very glad the feeling was mutual.

Gibbs would wait to draw the bath until Tony got home. No point in having the water get cold. Or all the bubbles to lose their foam, he thought with a small laugh. Kelley had loved bubble baths, and he found Tony's similar enjoyment just as endearing. Gibbs grabbed one of the larger towels Tony had and took it into the bedroom. He placed it and the bottle of massage oil on the nightstand in plain sight. He knew Tony loved having a massage, but his lover never outright asked for one. Hell for that matter, he rarely hinted he wanted one. Gibbs wasn't sure why; he added it to the list of things he needed to ask Tony about. At least with the massage oil and towel sitting where Tony could see it would be obvious Gibbs was offering him one; all the had to do was say yes. Shannon had often asked Gibbs for a massage. He even went so far as to take a class or two when she was pregnant. The doctor suggested it as a way of helping Shannon deal with lower back pain and swollen feet. Satisfied that things were as ready as they were going to get, Gibbs striped out of his clothes. He shrugged into the robe Tony had given him. Being in the robe would give Tony another clue that he was more than happy to take a bath and relax with him. Words he wasn't always so good with, so Gibbs was working on getting better at letting his actions speak for him. He ran his fingers lightly over the sleeves of the robe. Gibbs loved the feel of it against his skin. He sighed, enjoying the smooth silk. He really needed to look at getting one for his house. Gibbs headed back out to the living room. He eyed the TV warily. He moved on to the stereo, feeling more confident of his ability to use it. All he had to do with the stereo was hit the power button and cue up the right CD. It held a selection of over 60 CD's that Tony occasionally shuffled with the rest of his collection. But he always kept the styles in the same order. Gibbs knew the first twenty would be a mix of old and new rock and roll. From there, up to thirty-five, would be blues and jazz. After that it was big, band and swing. The last ten would be would be something instrumental. They could be new age or classical. Gibbs never knew for sure what exactly he'd find there, but those were the ones he wanted. Something light, melodic, that could easily become background. He smiled when the soft stains of an alto flute began filtering through the speakers. There was a time when Gibbs hadn't even known there was such a thing as an alto flute much less be able to recognize the sound of one. Tony had done more to broaden his musical horizons than anyone else in his life ever had. He turned when he heard the door open. He watched his lover slip inside, blue eyes narrowing as he gave Tony a thorough examination. Gibbs winced seeing the lack of animation in his lover. It was unnatural to see his shoulders slumped, his expression painfully neutral as though he were forcing himself to not think or feel. Damn. Tony tiredly shrugged out of his jacket, carelessly hanging it on a hook. He kicked off his shoes with a sigh. The shadows under his eyes were so dark they almost looked like bruises. Fine lines bracketed his mouth; lines Gibbs was sure hadn't been there when he left the office. "Hey," Gibbs called out softly as he approached his lover.

Tony's head came up immediately, shoulders squaring. Gibbs almost hated to see him do that. He was momentarily worried it meant the younger man was going to try and hide the effects of the last few days rather than willingly let Gibbs help. But then Tony smiled. It was a smile Tony reserved just for Gibbs. It was a strange blend of hesitancy and welcome, brassy and shy. "You're home." Tony sounded delighted and relieved. "Yeah." Gibbs pulled him into a hug. Tony went willingly, wrapping his arms around Gibbs to burrow in closer, head resting on Gibbs' shoulder. Gibbs hand rose to cup the back of Tony's head. He lightly stroked the short, soft hair. "You hungry?" Gibbs asked quietly, fingers moving to rub Tony's neck. "Not really." Tony raised his head. "Was thinking a bath first." "Sure." Gibbs agreed easily. "You want to join me?" Tony waggled his eyebrows, patting Gibbs' silk covered chest. "Know you like that big old tub, Jethro. I'll even let you play with my rubber ducky." Gibbs chuckled, like he had to be lured into it. "You don't have a rubber ducky, Tony." Tony laughed, eyes warming to moss green. He leaned in, lips just a hairs breath from Gibbs. "Well, okay...I don't have a ducky, but I'm sure I can find something for you to play with." Gibbs captured Tony's mouth in a fierce kiss, unable to resist the temptation being offered. Even though he initiated the kiss, Gibbs wasn't in control of it. Tony's hands moved to cup his face, tilting his head for a better angle, his tongue caressing the roof of Gibbs' mouth and making him moan. He'd never realized what a hot spot that was for him until meeting Tony. His young lover seemed to take delight in locating every spot on his body that made him gasp, moan, or shudder. Tony found an impressive number of them, and had an astonishing ability to remember each and every one. He was gasping when Tony finally pulled back. Tony rested his forehead against Gibbs'; his breathing uneven and ragged. "God, I missed this." "Me too." Technically, it had only been a day and a little more since they'd last kissed. It had felt like a lifetime, especially when they didn't know for sure when, or if, they'd get the chance to be this close ever again. "C'mon." Gibbs tugged on Tony's arm. He wasn't going to think about what might have happened. And he definitely didn't want Tony to dwell on it either. "Let's get that bath." Tony followed him easily. He hesitated for a moment in the hallway making Gibbs look over his shoulder, raising an eyebrow. "You lit the candles." "Yeah." Gibbs answered even though it was more a statement than a question. Tony's smile was soft, his eyes taking on a glow that only appeared when something surprised and pleased him. "Thanks." "You're welcome." The older man was constantly amazed at how little it took to make Tony happy.

Gibbs started the bath water, making sure to set the temperature for what Tony preferred. As stiff as he felt, Gibbs didn't think he'd mind the heat much himself either. He tossed in a handful of bath salts. He had no idea what the hell they were supposed to do, but they smelled nice and Tony liked them. Tony reached around him to pour a generous amount of bubble bath into the tub. It began to foam immediately, reminding Gibbs of the froth generated by wave action against a rocky shore. It was just part of the appeal, he thought with an inner smile. Gibbs shrugged out of his robe, hanging it in the usual place on the back of the door. He watched as Tony striped out of his clothes, carelessly tossing them into a pile rather than into the hamper. Gibbs raised an eyebrow in askance. His lover wasn't overly neat, but he rarely missed the hamper, and certainly not on purpose. "Was thinking I'd rather burn them than wash them." Tony looked away, hands making a helpless gesture. "Haven't made up my mind yet." Gibbs understood the desire to get rid of things now tainted by a negative association, but he wasn't sure if he should argue or agree. He opted for what seemed like sound, neutral advice, "Sleep on it." Tony looked up, once more making eye contact. "I'd planned to." Gibbs nodded. He tested the temperature of the water with his fingers. It was more than hot enough. He turned off the water. They'd found out the hard way just how much was too much. Gibbs chuckled. Having to mop up the bathroom floor hadn't ruined the mood any, but it had nearly resulted in a change of venue. "What?" Tony asked, arms wrapped around Gibbs waist, a soft kiss placed on his shoulder. "Remember the first time we did this?" Gibbs raised his hands to capture Tony's, pulling him in just a little closer. Tony snickered. Gibbs could feel his lover hiding his face between his shoulders. "That was not my fault." That declaration was mumbled against his skin. "You could have said something." "I did," Tony protested, pulling away. Gibbs looked over his shoulder. "Before we got in the tub." Tony rolled his eyes, a smile lurking about the corner of his mouth. "Picky, picky." Tony waved a hand. "Get in already." Gibbs stepped into the tub, hissing in response to the hot water. His toes were definitely more sensitive to the temperature than his fingers had been. He eased himself into sitting down, adjusting to the heat before offering a hand to Tony, inviting the younger man to join him. Tony grinned, taking Gibbs hand. He stepped into the tub, moving carefully to situate himself between the older man's legs. He leaned back, resting against Gibbs' chest, huffing out a playfully breath so that some of the bubbles became airborne. They made it to the edge of the tub, reflecting rainbows briefly before popping against the side. Gibbs grabbed the washcloth. He lathered it before taking Tony's right hand in his. He very carefully washed each of the long, elegant digits, massaging as he went. He

spent time just rubbing the fleshy area between Tony's thumb and forefinger. Gibbs had found out by accident that it was something of a personal trigger point; massaging that area almost always got Tony to relax even when he didn't want to. Gibbs loved the level of trust implied when more of Tony's weight settled into him. Tony's head tipped back to rest on Gibbs' shoulder. The older man couldn't resist nibbling on the pulse point of Tony's neck. Tony turned his head, clearly giving him permission to continue. Gibbs sucked hard enough to leave a mark. He released Tony's hand to lazily rub the washcloth up his arm. He bypassed his lover's chest in favor of giving his left hand the same treatment he'd given the right. Tony released a breath with a long sigh of contentment, tension easing out of his shoulders. "Love it when you do that." Gibbs smiled. "I know." He sucked on Tony's earlobe, then blew across it. Goosebumps rose along Tony's skin in reaction. He moved the washcloth to Tony's chest. Gibbs rubbed in slow circles, gradually zeroing in on one of Tony's nipples. He played with first one than the other, enjoying the way his lover responded to him. Tony arched his back, mutely asking for more. Gibbs abandoned the washcloth, pinching and rolling those tight little nubs between his fingers. He sucked on Tony's earlobe, nipping with his teeth before licking away the small hurt he'd caused. Tony moaned, his hands gripping and releasing the sides of the tub. His hips were moving lazily, brushing his ass and lower back against Gibbs' hardening erection. The play of hot water and then smooth skin over the head of his cock was a delightful torture. He found himself mimicking Tony's relaxed thrusts, moving easily with him. Gibbs moved his hands down Tony's soapy torso, caressing his abs, brushing his hips and tops of his thighs, skipping his groin before heading back up. Tony whimpered, clearly wanting more. "Touch yourself," Gibbs whispered hoarsely. "Show me how you like it." Gibbs was intimately familiar with just how Tony liked to be touched; he knew how rough to be, how tight to hold, how fast to move. But he also liked to watched Tony do it himself. "You...are a closet...voyeur." The smirk was obvious in Tony's breathless voice. "Just for you." Gibbs nuzzled Tony's neck. He didn't care if he ever saw another picture of a naked body or porn film. Tony was who turned his crank. "And you like to show off, don't try to tell me different." "Just for you." Tony echoed Gibbs earlier statement, shifting just enough to be able to capture Gibbs lips in a sloppy, passionate kiss. Tony pulled back. The wicked gleam in his eyes the only warning the older man got before Tony turned around so that he faced Gibbs, somehow managing to pull it off without ever really losing contact. The water sloshed wildly for a moment, bubbles rolling with the motion, but never quite escaping the confines of the tub. Tony wrapped his legs around Gibbs' waist and pulled him forward a little. It brought their groins as close together as possible without Tony actually sitting in Gibbs' lap.

"No reason why I can't do us both," Tony grinned, long fingers of his right hand encircling both their erections. Gibbs nodded, unwilling to trust his voice. The water and bubbles alternately added and eased the friction as Tony started to stroke them both. Tony moved his other hand around Gibbs back, fingers drifting south until they lightly brushed against his opening. He rimmed the sensitive area with his tips of his fingers, teasing with the promise of more. Gibbs bit his lower lip, trying to hold in the little whimpers of pleasure that fought to escape. "Like that?" He just wasn't sure he could get anything that resembled words out, so Gibbs opted for a jerky nod. Like it? Oh he more than liked it. Gibbs whimpered, too caught up the moment to care how needy and desperate he sounded. Tony continued to stroke their aligned cocks, movements deft and sure. Gibbs moaned, head tipping forward to rest on Tony's shoulder when one finger breached his entrance, massaging the tight ring of muscle. Gibbs hips rocked backward and then forward, torn between the two sensations, both sparking jolts of pleasure through him. Wanting to give Tony as much as he was getting, Gibbs reached around to caress the younger man's back before migrating to his ultimate goal. He fingered the small puckered opening, easing his way in and out, moving with his lover's lazy hip thrusts. His other hand focused on Tony's left nipple, alternating pinching and pulling, matching his movements to the hand stroking their cocks; up, pinch, down, pull, back and forth, in and out. Tony murmured something indistinct against Gibbs' ear, his voice husky and raw. All Gibbs could make out was ?please', the rest was in Italian, but message was clear enough. He wasn't sure who was leading now as they began moving faster, touches less teasing and more aggressive, focused and intent. Gibbs could feel small tremors starting to ripple though Tony. Muscles twitched and flexed at random, tightening with a familiar, well loved intensity. Gibbs could feel himself reacting to Tony's burgeoning orgasm as though caught in a feedback loop. He loved that feeling, knowing he was in sync with Tony. Gibbs gasped when Tony added a second finger, chest arching in surprised pleasure. He shuddered. "Please...Please...Please," Gibbs wasn't even sure exactly what he was asking for, but he couldn't stop repeating the request. Tony seemed to understand. The spiral of rising ecstasy continued to build. Gibbs could feel the tingle at the base of his spine, could feel it rising and spreading until it flashed white behind his eyes. He bit Tony's shoulder, muffling his cry of completion, clenching Tony tightly to him. He felt as well as heard Tony's own climax a moment later. Gibbs struggled to get his breathing under control. He ran his hand up and down Tony's back, soothing away the aftershocks that often flowed through him after a very intense orgasm. Gibbs kissed the bite mark he'd made, glad he hadn't done any more damage than create a bruise that would fade in a day or so. "You okay?" Gibbs whispered. "Okay?" Tony laughed quietly. "I'm golden, Jethro."

Gibbs grinned. He placed a soft kiss on Tony's temple. "Good." "Very," Tony agreed with another soft laugh. He sighed. "Water is getting cold." He nodded. It wasn't really cool by Gibbs' standard, but it was definitely by Tony's. Gibbs turned on the hot water, reaching for the wand as he pulled the plug. He rinsed away the evidence of their love making and the bubbles. Tony rose gracefully to his feet, offering a hand to Gibbs. He took Tony's hand, making a conscious effort not to look at him. A naked, wet Tony was a thing of beauty, but if he looked, they'd never get to dinner. The rumbling growl from Tony's stomach was enough to let Gibbs know he'd made the right decision. "Hungry?" Tony shrugged, looking a bit sheepish. "Yeah." "Louisa left spaghetti and meatballs in the fridge." Gibbs tossed him a towel before grabbing one for himself. He was still fond of that heated towel rack, enjoying the feeling of the warm terrycloth against his bare skin. "Awesome." Tony grinned brightly. Gibbs felt his heart beat a little faster just from the simple, open joy on Tony's face. He never tired of seeing that expression. "I need to send her flowers or something." You're not the only one, Gibbs thought with a smile. He grabbed his robe. "C'mon. Dinner's waiting."

"Did your mother really make you wear a sailor suit until you were ten?" Tony froze, his fork poised halfway to his mouth, totally caught off guard by the question. He closed his eyes, swallowing hard. He should have expected it. Should have known it was coming eventually. It wasn't like Gibbs would have forgotten all the crap Tony had spewed forth while in that cell, more than a little afraid he'd be spending the rest of his life in one. No, Gibbs wouldn't forget it?no matter how much Tony wished he would. He took a slow, deep breath, and put his fork down carefully, working hard to keep his hand steady. He had expected Gibbs to ask questions about his family at some point, just not so soon. Not after the older man had done so much to make coming home such a pleasant, comfortable experience. Tony thought he might get a short reprieve, at least a day, maybe two. "Tony?" Gibbs sounded hesitant and unsure, so unlike himself. "I didn't mean to...look, just forget I said anything. I shouldn't have brought it up. I've got lousy timing. I always have. Just...I'm---" "It's okay." Tony opened his eyes, reaching across the table to take one of Gibbs' hands. He didn't bother trying to smile, knowing it would look forced and unnatural. Tony wasn't sure where to start. Honestly, he didn't even want to, but he didn't really think Gibbs would let it go. The man was a bit too much like a bulldog. He'd gotten his teeth in; there was no going back now. It was better if Tony told him than if he started digging on his own. At least this way, he could try and explain things, maybe make Gibbs understand.

There was no way he could lie, and pass it off as some sort of joke. The details he'd let slip in the cell were just a bit too honest. And his reaction to Gibbs' question only cemented that it wasn't something Tony could make light of or just dismiss easily. No, it was better to go with the truth. He just wished he was sure what the truth was. Joe had spent a lot of time trying to convince Tony that he hadn't deserved bearing the brunt of his mother's wrath. Joe had told him time and again he hadn't deserved to be hurt, that abusing a child was not an act of love. Intellectually, Tony understood. Spanking and discipline were one thing, broken bones and bloody knuckles were definitely another. As a cop, Tony had even counseled victims of domestic violence that they were not to blame; that something would always set off the abuser, it wasn't the victim's fault. But when it came to his own life, sometimes it was hard to comprehend how it couldn't have been his fault. At the time, it always seemed that way. He'd done or said something to warrant getting hurt. "You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to." Gibbs lightly stroked the back of Tony's knuckles. "I should have waited for a better time." Tony winced. There was no good time to ask about things like that. Probably never would be. Tony bit his lip. He took a breath and looked away, unable to maintain eye contact. It wasn't like Gibbs didn't already know he was a first class screw up. So telling him this story shouldn't make him think any less of him. He tried to withdraw his hand, but Gibbs tightened his hold, squeezing gently. "Tony?" "It's okay." Tony repeated dully. It wasn't Gibbs fault he'd been an idiot and run off at the mouth. He sighed. It was probably best to just start at the beginning and get it over with. "She didn't make me wear it." Tony kept his gaze on his half empty plate. "She just threatened to make me wear it until I was ten." "Why?" The one word question was soft and encouraging. "Because when I was seven?.I was in this school play." Tony cleared his throat, wishing he'd opted for a beer with dinner instead of water. "I was scared to be up in front of people and my teacher thought the play would be a good chance for me to work through it. She gave me a speaking part. Was only one line. No big deal." He clenched the hand Gibbs wasn't holding into a fist, hiding it under the table. Tony was afraid his trembling would be too obvious otherwise. Even after all this time, the memory still bothered him. "I had to wear a costume...little sailor outfit." Tony shook his head, thinking about the damn thing. He'd looked like the cartoon character on the Cracker Jack box. He took a deep breath and forced himself to pick up the story again. "I wasn't expecting my mother to be there." "Why not?" The question sounded like Gibbs was clenching his teeth. Tony resisted the urge to look up and find out for sure. He cleared his throat. "Normally, she didn't bother with school functions. Wasn't really her thing"

Not much of his childhood had been his mother's thing. But the play was a fund raiser, a charity gig that all her society friends were going to. With Tony being in the play, all her friends expected her to be there. Appearances meant a lot to his mother, so she'd been in the audience for the first and only time that Tony could remember. "I got stage fright." Tony bit his lip. "Just froze up. Couldn't say a word." He swallowed hard, still remembering that moment of looking out over a room full of people and seeing his mother in the crowd. He hadn't been able to move or speak. He was grateful he hadn't pissed his pants; it had been a close thing at the time. "My mother was...well, embarrassed." Tony hedged. What she'd been was ashamed of him, and absolutely furious that he'd been unable to do such a simple thing that every one of her friends' children had no difficulty with. It hadn't helped matters when he started crying. She hated it when he did that. She must have told him a thousand times, 'real men don't to cry'. He risked a quick glance at Gibbs. His lover seemed to be listening intently. Tony wasn't quite sure what to make of his expression. At least there was no condemnation or disappointment?yet. "My mother came up and ushered me off stage." She'd actually put on a pretty good show of her own at the time. No one but Tony realized how angry she was, or how much trouble he was in. To the rest of the crowd Elizabeth DiNozzo looked like a mildly embarrassed, caring and understanding mother. "It was later?when she was dragging me to the car after everything was all over that?she broke my arm." It had taken years for him to actually say ?she broke' rather than 'I broke' placing the blame for the injury squarely on his mother. "Jesus," Gibbs whispered, his face tight with anger, blue eyes flashing. Tony immediately pushed his chair back, tugging on his hand to free it, instinctively trying to put space between himself and Gibbs' fury. He knew he should have just lied. Even a bad lie was better than this. At least then Gibbs would have a good reason to be pissed. He wouldn't be angry with Tony for shit that happened more than twenty years ago. If he'd lied then Gibbs wouldn't know what a chicken shit coward he'd been. "It was my fault. She didn't mean to. I was just being stubborn and stupid. You know me, Boss, not the sharpest tool in the shed." Tony nearly babbled in his haste to fix the situation. "If I'd just said the line like I was supposed to. Or if I'd gone out to the car like she wanted, it wouldn't have happened." He should have been less of a big baby and not been afraid to go with her. She only had pull and twisted his arm, jerking him almost off his feet in the process, to get him to stop crying and behave. Gibbs got up from the table. Tony continued to back up, attempting to put even more space between himself and the older man. Gibbs still looked so pissed. He had to find a way to fix this, to make it right. "Tony?" "It wasn't like it was a bad break or anything. I only had the cast for three weeks." "Tony?"

"And I knew better the next time there was a play. I made sure not to get a part. Wasn't really cut out to be an actor anyway." His mother never came to another school function again, but Tony had learned his lesson. "She only kept the costume to make sure I didn't forget how I'd screwed up. How much I'd embarrassed and disappointed her." Tony stopped himself from admitting how just having his mother mention the damn suit would make him blush and stammer. "Tony." Gibbs trapped him against the counter. He raised one hand, and Tony flinched, telling himself he'd been stupid to believe Joe. No one else was going to understand. It was his fault, it always had been. He should have just said so and Gibbs wouldn't be so angry now. Gibbs would never blame someone else for his mistakes. He'd take responsibility for his actions, and it was only right for him to expect Tony to as well. Instead of the slap he was anticipating, Gibbs lightly cupped his face, eyes no longer spitting fire. He looked...worried. "Breath," Gibbs commanded softly. "In...and out." Tony obeyed automatically. He hadn't realized until that moment just how ragged his breathing was, how close he was to hyperventilating. He looked away, embarrassed by is near panic. Gibbs patted his cheek, drawing Tony's focus back to him. "I'm not mad at you." Tony searched Gibbs' eyes, not entirely convinced. "You are mad," he countered warily. He knew the signs too well. "Yeah, I am." Gibbs' seemed to struggle to keep his voice even. "But not with you." "Okay," Tony stretched the word out, not so much implying agreement as asking for clarification, green eyes still scanning Gibbs' face anxiously. "I am angry with your mother." Tony blinked. Gibbs was angry with his mother? "You...I don't--" "You were seven, Tony." Gibbs smiled gently, blue eyes holding green. His expression hardened. "Stage fright isn't something to be ashamed of. And it sure as hell isn't something worth breaking a child's arm over." Tony shook his head, torn between wanting to believe Gibbs and the firmly ingrained belief that it was his fault. He found himself repeating what his mother told him on the way to the hospital the next day. "Should have just said the line. If I wasn't such a coward---" "You were a child, Tony. You. Were. Not. And. Are. Not. A. Coward." Gibbs emphasized each word, eyes daring Tony to contradict him. Tony struggled to comprehend that Gibbs didn't think it was his fault. That he wasn't blaming him. It seemed almost surreal. Tony felt like pinching himself to make sure this wasn't a bizarre dream. Gibbs gaze softened. "It is okay to be afraid once in a while. Everyone is." "You're not." Tony could feel his face warming. He sounded childish to himself, but he couldn't quite fathom Gibbs being afraid of anything. Okay..uneasy maybe, or wary of say a ticking bomb or a coiled rattlesnake, something genuinely dangerous. Gibbs never seemed to be at all afraid of anything, and certainly not people.

Tony hadn't even realized he'd said the last bit out loud until his lover responded. "Not now," Gibbs admitted, "but I used to be." Tony stared at him. "You were really," he hesitated, unwilling to accuse Gibbs of being scared. He licked his lips. "You were really?uncomfortable with being in front of people?" "I really was." Gibbs nodded, his smile turning rueful. "Basic training took care of that for me." Basic was intended to not just teach combat skills but to also build confidence. Tony smiled hesitantly. He should have signed up for a stint in the military. He probably would have if Sully hadn't been so adamant that he go to college. "Unless I'm addressing troops, I still don't like being in front of a crowd." Gibbs shrugged. "It's one of the reasons I don't accept that stupid award every year." Tony found himself chuckling weakly, leaning into Gibbs'. He sighed when Gibbs pulled him into a hug, welcoming the embrace, dropping his head to his lover's shoulder. "And all this time, I thought you didn't accept them because you thought they were stupid." "They are stupid." Gibbs snorted, one hand rubbing the back of Tony's neck. "It's not a competition. It's our job?our duty. I don't want or need an award for doing it." "They like to acknowledge you're hard work." "I'm part of a team, Tony." Gibbs squeezed his neck, shaking him gently. "Don't do it by myself." "I should have been wired." Tony snickered. "No one will ever believe me if I tell them you said that." Gibbs lightly slapped the back of his head. His lover immediately tensed and started to pull away. "Shit, Tony, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have--" "S'okay, Boss." Tony grabbed his arm, green eyes meeting blue. "You said a smack to the back of the head is a wake up call." He smiled, not wanting Gibbs to feel bad about something so minor, something he'd come to expect and rely on. "Slap to the face would be an insult, right?" "Right." Gibbs still looked apologetic. "I don't mind, Jethro." Tony knew the head slaps were just Gibbs way of making his point. They were proof that what he did and said mattered enough for Gibbs to actually make note of, expecting him to give his best and not let him get away with less. They were proof Gibbs gave a damn even before they started sleeping together, and their sleeping together hadn't garnered him special treatment on the job. Gibbs frowned. "I don't want you to think I'm like your mother." Tony shook his head. "Don't see how I could." Gibbs wasn't anything like her. "She hurt you." Gibbs looked torn between being stricken and pissed. "I hurt you?" "It's not the same thing." Tony countered. Gibbs had never really hurt him. "And you know it." "Do you?" Gibbs asked. "Do you know it's different?"

Tony hesitated for a moment, giving the earnest question the serious consideration Gibbs' tone demanded. Gibbs and his mother had nothing in common. Gibbs barked, his mother had shrieked. Gibbs wanted him to do his best; nothing Tony did was ever good enough for his mother. Gibbs made him feel safe; his mother had always made him feel anxious and uneasy. Gibbs only smacked him when he genuinely deserved it, and Tony knew he deserved it. The head slaps weren't hard enough to bruise, much less break bones. His mother hit him whenever she felt like it, and never cared if she hurt him or not. She never seemed overly concerned with the injuries she'd inflicted unless they were likely to be noticed by someone else. "Yeah." Tony smiled, feeling like he suddenly understood what Joe had been trying to tell him. "I know it's different." "Good." Gibbs nodded. The tension drained out of his shoulders. "We're okay, then?" "Yeah, we're good." Gibbs leaned in and kissed him. It was a feather light meeting of their lips, chaste and sweet. "You want to finish dinner?" Tony rested his head on Gibbs' shoulder again, grateful that the older man was willing to redirect the conversation. He knew the topic of his childhood and his mother would probably be revisited, but he just wasn't up to talking about more of it. Not tonight. "Tony?" Gibbs patted his back. "Dinner?" "Think I'm done." Tony closed his eyes. He was exhausted. The day had been one hell of an emotional roller coaster. "Okay." Tony hugged Gibbs loosely, relieved that he wasn't going to push it. Food could wait until tomorrow. He sighed. Tony really wanted to just go to bed and forget about the rest of the world for awhile. But he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep yet. There was still too much crap swirling in his head. "You want to watch a little TV with me?" Tony could go for something mindless, something that had nothing to do with real life or him or Gibbs or anything at all. "Sure." Gibbs kissed his temple. "Go turn on that technological monster you call a TV. I'll clean up in here." Tony smiled. "Thanks." "You're welcome." Gibbs stepped back. "Go on. I'll join you in a few minutes."

Gibbs' eyes drifted from the TV to Tony. The younger man rested against him, his back against Gibbs' chest, his head on Gibbs' shoulder. Tony was solid and heavy, all long bones and lax muscle. His breathing was deep and even, green eyes closed, fine lines around his eyes speaking more of exhaustion than age. Gibbs was not surprised Tony had dozed off. It had been a rough day to say the least. He placed a kiss on Tony's temple, fingers sliding through his lover's hair. Tony sighed softly, a muted sound of contentment.

Gibbs glanced at the TV. He really had no idea what the hell he was watching. He'd spent more time concentrating on his lover, senses attuned to Tony rather the flickering screen. Cocking his head to one side, Gibbs frowned unconsciously trying to place the action he was seeing as he continued to run his fingers through Tony's hair. It was definitely not one of those idiotic reality TV shows. Thank god. Gibbs got enough of stupid people on a daily basis. The last thing he wanted was to watch morons via for their fifteen seconds of fame. He grinned when he finally placed what he was seeing. He wasn't entirely sure how he could have missed Tom Selleck or the red Ferrari. Tony had the entire Magnum series on DVD. He wasn't quite sure he understood the appeal, but he didn't really need to. Tony liked it and Gibbs didn't mind watching it. Gibbs eyed the remote and debated turning off the TV. The sudden silence would wake Tony. It always did. And Gibbs wasn't sure he wanted to wake him just yet. Gibbs bit his lip. He was such an idiot for bringing up Tony's mother. He should have waited. Although, he wasn't sure there would ever really be a good time to talk about that bitch and what she'd done to Tony. He was sure there were times that were better than others; there always were, he just never realized it until after the fact. God, my timing stinks, Gibbs thought with a silent sigh. Still, he'd gotten an honest answer to his question. He just wished he'd been better prepared to deal with it. Even knowing what to expect hadn't made it any easy to hear how Tony's mother had berated him and broken his arm when he was seven. Jesus. His rage had been so white hot that for a moment Gibbs hadn't been able to breathe or think clearly. He'd scared Tony with his anger. In all the time they'd known each other that had never happened before. Gibbs never wanted it to happen again. Gibbs shook his head. The medical history Sam had given him supplied him with some of what Tony had gone through, but it didn't cover everything. The why and how were definitely details Gibbs needed to know, and Tony was the only one who could provide those. Gibbs was relieved that Tony was willing to talk to him about what had happened. It was certainly a start. And it was an astonishing display of trust. Gibbs kissed Tony's temple again. He wasn't sure he'd be able to do the same thing if Tony ever confronted him about his past or his family. How the hell Tony could ever think of himself as a coward was beyond him. The younger man was a lot stronger than he gave himself credit for. Gibbs knew he'd have to be careful when he brought the issue up again. Letting it go wasn't really an option. It was obvious the damage done had been more than just physical. He knew it wasn't uncommon for victims of abuse to blame themselves, to believe it had been their fault, but it had never occurred to him that Tony might fall into that mindset. I am such an idiot, Gibbs though, resisting the urge to smack himself. While Gibbs didn't really believe in therapy or spilling his guts, he did see the value in it for other people. Tony had been revealing more and more details of his childhood and Gibbs was astute enough to know that meant the younger man needed to talk about things, was finally ready to start dealing with them. Marriage counseling and job required counseling sessions had taught him that much.

Gibbs wasn't entirely convinced he was the right person to help Tony, but he couldn't see his lover trusting very many people with the details. And he knew himself well enough to know, he didn't want someone else to help Tony. He wanted to be the one to make Tony feel safe. Gibbs wanted to be the one to make Tony feel loved and valued. He was determined to do the best he could and hope like hell he didn't make too many mistakes. Gibbs smiled wryly. No pressure. None at all. He was damned lucky Tony was so forgiving. Hopefully he wouldn't test the younger man's limits. Gibbs sighed. He bit his lower lip, uncharacteristically uncertain of himself and his course of action. He weighed the options and nodded to himself. He'd have to be patient, wait for another opportunity to bring up Tony's mother and his childhood. Not for the first time did Gibbs wish his timing and instincts were better when it came to emotional stuff. He was getting better?or at least he thought so. Tonight certainly hadn't been a complete disaster. It had actually turned out better than he expected given Tony's initial reaction. His jaw tightened as he thought about what Tony had said. God damn woman, Gibbs cursed mentally. She was lucky to have been killed in a car accident. He hoped there was a vengeful god torturing her soul. Tony shifted restlessly, at though he sensed Gibbs' mood. The former Marine had forgotten how in tune to him Tony could be at times. It was uncanny. Gibbs forced himself to take a slow, deep breath and unclench his fists. He'd already let his anger get the better of him once tonight scaring the hell out of Tony in the process; he wasn't going to make that mistake again. Gibbs took another deep breath, holding it for a count of ten, waiting for Tony to settle again Feeling calmer, Gibbs glanced at his watch. It was late, later than he was usually up unless he was working on the boat. He rubbed at his eyes, wincing at the gritty feel. He hadn't slept much last night. Only seemed fair since he was certain none of his team had either. Gibbs yawned widely. They really should get up and go to bed. Tomorrow would be coming soon, and they'd need to get ready for another day. Hopefully one that was a lot less stressful. He pointed the remote toward the TV, hesitating for a moment before reluctantly hitting the power button. He breathed a soft sigh of relief when the plasma screen went dark rather than blowing up. Just as he expected, Tony's eyes opened immediately. "Boss?" "I'm here," Gibbs whispered. He carefully wrapped his arms a little tighter around Tony so his lover could feel as well as hear him. "Wha' time is it?" Tony mumbled, rubbing at his eyes. "Time for bed." Tony's chuckle was a warm, raspy sound. "You woke me up to tell me to go to bed?" "Yes, I did." Gibbs hugged him. "I like this couch, but I prefer sleeping in your bed." "Yeah." Tony yawned. "Me too."

Tony rolled smoothly to his feet. He stretched, arms over head, back arching into a tight bow before releasing to bend forward and touch his toes. Gibbs envied him the ease of moment. It had been a few years since he'd been able to stretch like that without joints popping, muscles and tendons protesting. Tony straightened and offered him a hand. Gibbs took it, smiling slightly. He didn't need help getting up, and he knew Tony knew that. It was just an automatic offer, a way for them to stay connected. He used their joined hands to pull Tony into a hug. Gibbs liked the way they rested against each other, drawing and giving strength at the same time. The closest he'd ever come to a similar feeling had been with Shannon. He sometimes wondered if Tony had ever felt the same way with someone else, but he had never been able to bring himself to ask. Tony patted his shoulder before stepping back. He walked over to the candle that was still burning and blew it out. Gibbs become so accustomed to the scent and flickering light he'd actually forgotten it was even still lit. He turned off the small lamp on the end table. They headed for the bedroom together, fingers and shoulders brushing as they moved. They parted at the door to the master bathroom. Gibbs let Tony take care of his own nightly ritual, heading into the bedroom. Gibbs regretfully placed the massage oil back in the nightstand drawer. He didn't think either of them were really up for it now. He'd offer Tony a massage tomorrow. Make up for missing out on it tonight. "Bathroom is all yours." Gibbs nodded. He quickly brushed his teeth and gargled some of Tony's sinfully expensive mouth wash. Stuff had to be worth it because Tony never woke up with morning breath that Gibbs had ever noticed. Not that it mattered much if he did. It would take more than morning breath to keep Gibbs from kissing him. Gibbs wasn't comfortable sleeping naked. Too much time in the Marine Corps sharing space with a lot of people, and then having a daughter in the house had made him leery of going to bed without something on. He had grown accustomed to sleeping in a pair of Tony's silk boxers. Tony had bought him several pair of is own, but Gibbs preferred the ones he'd stolen from his lover. He left the nightlight on in the bathroom and the door open enough to allow the dim light to filter into the bedroom. Tony had gotten the small light after Gibbs had caught his little toe on the dresser one night. The layout of the room and location of everything was now as familiar to Gibbs as his own bedroom, but he liked having that little bit of light just the same. It was one more thing he'd grown used to. Tony held up the comforter in an open invitation. Gibbs slid into his side of the bed. He sighed when Tony curled in close, head on Gibbs' shoulder. Gibbs rubbed his cheek against Tony's hair, pulling the comforter up so that it covered Tony's back and shoulders. "You warm enough?" "I'm good." Tony patted his chest in a gesture of affection. Gibbs smiled. "Love you, Tony." Saying ?Love you' was almost a ritual way for him to end the day. He'd missed being able to say it yesterday. God damn little weasel,

Gibbs thought, hoping like hell Chip was finding his new accommodations at NCIS terrifying. Tony tilted his head, placing a light kiss on Gibbs' chest. He didn't vocalize it as often as Gibbs, but the older man knew the kiss was Tony's own ritual of expressing his love. Gibbs closed his eyes and breathed out a silent prayer of thanks to any deity who cared to listen. He was grateful for the man in his arms, for the chance he'd been given to know him, to love and be loved by Tony. Tony was a blessing he never wanted to take for granted. "Stop thinking," Tony mumbled against his skin. "It's too loud." Gibbs laughed softly. "Sorry." "S'okay." Tony curled in closer. "Sleep now. Think later." Gibbs smirked, relaxing further. Tony rarely gave him orders to do anything. Sleep now. Okay. He could do that. Not like he had any plans to argue with Tony about ordering him to do something he was already planning to do?eventually. They could always argue about it tomorrow. And maybe work in a little make up sex while they were at it. Gibbs smiled. Yeah, that was a good plan. Definitely. A damn good plan.

Familiar Risk Gibbs eyed his lover of nine months. Tony DiNozzo was taping his fingers against the table, keeping time with the drummer of the band on stage. His lips were curled upward in a tiny smile, eyes half closed as he enjoyed the soft blues music that managed to fill the bar without making it impossible to carry on a normal conversation. He appeared to be totally immersed in the moment---it was a good illusion, but Gibbs knew better. "Ducky said he'd be here." "I know." Tony nodded, sighing softly. He gave Gibbs a sheepish look. "That's kind of the problem." "It is going to be okay." Gibbs captured Tony's restless fingers, discreetly trapping them with his own. "Just like it was with Abby and McGee. Nothing to worry about." "You're sure?" He and Ducky had been friends for years. He was sure the older man would have no trouble accepting them�.well, reasonably sure. Tony didn't need to know he had any doubts, however minor. So Gibbs made eye contact and held it, making certain his voice held nothing but confidence. "I'm sure." Tony nodded again. He squeezed Gibbs' hand. "Not really nervous�just, well, it's not like we do this every day." Gibbs raised an eyebrow. "You think it would get easier if we did, Honey Buns?" He knew using Abby's pet name for Tony paid off when the younger man grinned, relaxing back more into his seat. "It might." Tony's green eyes were no longer pensive. "I mean, practice makes perfect and all that." "We could plan a daily regimen." Gibbs offered, fighting back a smile of his own. "Start small." Tony chuckled. "One a week for a few months." "Work our way up to three a week." "One a day," Tony offered. Gibbs snickered. That sounded like a vitamin. "Maybe there's a pill we could just take instead." Tony laughed, before his expression shifted to one of mock seriousness. "Nuh-hunh. Only way to truly get fit is diet and exercise. No magic pill. No miracle cure. No trendy diets. None of that stuff works." Gibbs rolled his eyes. "Should have known you watching infomercials with Abby would be a bad idea." "Not much else on at three in the morning." Tony shrugged. "Well, other than B movies. And we've seen all of them before." More than once, Gibbs thought, with a mental snicker. How Tony could watch Godzilla take out Tokyo several times was a mystery. Gibbs got tired of the bad acting and poor animation in less than ten minutes. Although, he had to admit, listening to Tony and Abby create their own dialog had been pretty damn funny.

Gibbs took a sip from his bourbon. "Why in the hell did you have the TV on in her lab anyway?" "Cause the mass spec will do its thing without anyone watching it." Tony frowned. "Not that I know what it does exactly." He made a meaningless hand gesture. "And staring at the computer while it runs through the zillion fingerprints on file is about as exciting as watching paint dry. So we had to find something to do while we waited." "You couldn't find something more productive to do?" His tone was mild. They case had been nearly closed by that point. They were just seeking confirmation and double checking results; there wasn't really anything else Tony had needed to be doing, or Gibbs would have made sure he'd done it then. As it was, the most useful thing for Tony to be doing at the time was keeping Abby company. "I'd already beaten her at Midieval II." Tony shook his head. "Course that was after she kicked my ass at Alien Vs. Predator." Gibbs raised an eyebrow. "No elf lords?" Tony laughed. "No, we leave that to McGee." Gibbs knew when Tony sobered and pulled his hand away that he'd spotted Ducky entering the bar. The younger man hadn't really ever taken his eyes off the door for long since they'd taken their seats. It had been another indicator that Tony was anxious. Ducky smiled warmly when he spotted them. He wove his way among the tables, excusing himself whenever he crossed between seated patrons and the stage where the band continued to play. "Hello Jethro, Anthony." Ducky greeted them both, shrugging out of his overcoat. "Hi Ducky." Tony replied with a smile. Gibbs just nodded, saluting Ducky with his glass. "What's your poison, Ducky?" Tony signaled for the waitress. She was a pretty thing, Gibbs had noted earlier. She flirted with Tony when they'd first arrived, but when he failed to return her interest, she accepted it with good grace, backing off. Didn't mean Gibbs wasn't going to keep an eye on her. They might not advertise they were a couple, but no one was going to make a move on what Gibbs considered his. "Hello there." Ducky smiled at her, getting a warm smile in return. It was rare that people didn't respond positively to the ME's friendly manner and accent. "Macallan. Neat, if you please. Mineral water on the side. No ice." "Coming right up." She looked at Gibbs and Tony, her eyes lingering a bit longer on Tony. "Refills?" "I'll have another beer," Tony told her, smiling, but not making eye contact with her. Gibbs shook his head, holding his hand over his glass. He wouldn't mind another, but if Tony was having a second, Gibbs would be driving them home. And one was really more than enough. Ducky glanced around the bar as the waitress walked away. "Lovely little pub," he said.

Gibbs had to agree. He'd been surprised the first time he and Tony had come here. He wasn't entirely sure what he'd been expecting but the simple elegance of the place had been immediately appealing. The dull sheen of polished maple hardwood floors was broken by red and black area rugs under each table. The tables themselves were simple, unadorned save for a single candle, and carefully arranged to ensure everyone had a good view of the stage. The stucco walls were painted red and decorated with black and white prints of Blues musicians like Muddy Waters, Bessie Smith, Louis Jordon, Nina Simone and Etta James. The acoustics of the place made it easy to enjoy the music without having it be overwhelming, and the customers ran the gamut of social strata; everything from businessmen in suits and ties to construction workers in jeans and t-shirts. "Rather reminds me of a place I used to frequent when I lived in Bristol." Ducky tipped his head toward the stage. "Minus the style of music, of course. Not much in the way of Blues to be had there." "Really?" Tony blinked. "I always thought Blues was universal." "The melancholy and angst that inspires it is universal, my dear boy." Ducky chuckled. "But the style is uniquely American. Oh, we have something similar in Britain now, but personally, I feel it is still better done here." Gibbs let them talk music, enjoying listening to their conversation. Ducky was an aficionado on a number of subjects, and Tony was no slouch when it came to areas of personal interest to him. Music was one of those. Movies, cars and history were others where Tony showed a level of knowledge that easily equaled Ducky's. Gibbs smiled to himself, belatedly realizing how much his lover and his old friend had in common. They both drove classic cars. They both enjoyed people and telling stories�albeit Tony's were usually shorter than Ducky's and easier to follow. They were both rather forgiving of their friends' faults and foibles. And they were both naturally charming, gaining trust with a ready smile and approachable demeanor. If he were honest with himself, it was that character trait Gibbs envied at times. It was actually one of the reasons he'd hired Tony. The younger man put people at ease where Gibbs just made them nervous. Simple one on one with witnesses or victims was something Gibbs didn't feel he excelled at to the same degree he did with interrogations. He preferred to let Tony or someone else on the team handle those. Ziva and McGee were getting better at it, but they still had a long way to go. Sometimes Gibbs helped them out when they floundered; he could only remember having to help Tony once. After several minutes of discussing the evolution of Blues to Jazz and then to Rock and Roll, Ducky sipped his scotch before pinning both Gibbs and Tony with a sharp eyed look. "While I appreciate the invitation, gentlemen, and have enjoyed both the ambiance and the conversation, I got the distinct impression you'd asked me to this lovely pub for more than that." "We did." Gibbs instinctively captured Tony's hand, offering reassurance when he saw the younger man's shoulders tense, and getting reassurance in return. "We have something we want to tell you." Ducky smiled, looking pointedly at their joined hands. "I am being welcomed into the fold then?"

Gibbs arched an eyebrow. "The fold?" "The lucky few you have trusted enough to reveal your relationship to." "You knew?" Tony gaped at him. "I've known Jethro for a very long time, Anthony. And I've come to know you almost as well." Ducky's smile was gentle, almost paternal. "I may not be a detective, but I am an astute student of human nature." He sighed, blue eyes glowing behind his glasses. "A blind man could see you two love each other." "Shit." Tony cursed softly, looking suddenly uneasy. "What did we do wrong?" "Wrong?" Ducky shook his head. "You did nothing wrong." He leaned forward, expression earnest, tone soothing. "Anthony�Tony, please, I didn't mean to imply either of you are careless or blatant in displaying your affection." Ducky clucked his tongue. "On the contrary, you've both been decidedly circumspect. As is fitting, given your professions. Not to mention your being supervisor and subordinate on the same team. You are to be commended for taking such care." Tony frowned. "But you said�" "To those who know you, yes it is obvious." Ducky assured him. "And I know what to look for. I have seen Jethro involved in other relationships." Ducky pointed a finger at Gibbs. "I do think, however, that what you have with Tony is far better than anything else I've had the opportunity to witness. He is definitely good for you." Gibbs grinned. "I think so to." Tony ducked his head, a bit of color rising in his cheeks. Ducky reached out to pat Tony's forearm. "And you, my dear boy, seem far more settled. More comfortable in your own skin than when you and I first met." Tony smiled shyly. "Thanks, Duck." "Familiarity and keen observation aside, I am trained you know." Ducky's smile broadened. "I've been doing quite well with my course work." "Didn't think forensic psychology applied to the living," Gibbs said dryly. "Studying what the dead were like when they were alive is useful on many levels, Jethro. It can be applied to more than just what I am paid to do, as you are fully aware." Ducky shot him a dark look. "Much the same way your being sneaky has worked well in more arenas than just as a sniper." Gibbs dipped his head, accepting the chastisement. He hadn't meant to belittle Ducky's continuing education. He just didn't see it as necessary. Ducky was already one of the most capable, intelligent men Gibbs had ever met. Going after another degree seemed a bit like �hauling coals to New Castle ', as Ducky might say. Although, Gibbs was willing to concede the classes Ducky was taking had paid off on at least two occasions. Ducky's expression brightened again. "So, am I in good company?" "Hunh?" Tony blinked.

"Who else knows?" Ducky asked, waving a hand in an encouraging gesture. "Just Abby and McGee." "No one else?" Ducky seemed surprised. "I thought for certain you'd have said something to the Director." Gibbs shook his head. "Not sure that's a good idea, Duck." "Ah, yes." The older man nodded sagely. "Past history there would affect things, I suppose." "You knew about that too?" Gibbs stared at his old friend. He shouldn't be surprised. Abby had pointed out that his history with Shepard was something of an open secret, and that bothered him more than he cared to admit. "Subtle you are not, my friend," Ducky told him. "However, it was not anything you said or did that made the past you share with the Director so clearly identifiable. No, I'm afraid it was she who let the cat out of the bag with how she has acted around you." Tony grimaced. "Pushy broad." "I'd say you'd insulted a lady, but unfortunately you may well be right." Ducky chuckled, lightly touching his glass of scotch to Tony's beer. "Being pushy no doubt got her where she is today. No mean feat for a woman to be head of a federal agency." Ducky sipped his drink. "What about Ziva?" "Don't know yet if I trust her that much," Tony said, shrugging one shoulder, looking apologetic. "I like her�just�" "Say no more. I understand." Ducky pursed his lips. "It should not matter who one loves, provided both are consenting adults, but it is an issue that tends to be divisive among people in general. Strange that it should be, but then there is much about human nature I continue to struggle to fully comprehend." "You seem okay with us." Tony's statement was more of a question. He had obviously expected a reaction more akin to what they'd gotten from both Abby and McGee�a little shock and a lot of curiosity. Gibbs was expecting something similar. He suspected Ducky might know, but he still thought the older man would have more questions. "When you've lived as long as I have, you start to realize what is important and what is trivial." Ducky chuckled. "Believe me when I say your happiness is far more important than any bias I might consider indulging." He cocked his head to one side. "Besides, you are my family. How could I not accept your choice when it so clearly is good for both of you?" Tony's smile went a little stiff at the mention of family and Ducky's correlation to it and easy acceptance, but he relaxed a moment later making Gibbs think for a second he'd imagined it. Given what he knew of Tony's parents, Gibbs knew better. And other than his Aunt Sully, family was likely not something Tony saw as a positive thing. Maybe it was time to work on his definition of family, Gibbs mused. Abby was like a little sister, McGee a geeky cousin, Ducky a kindly grandfather. They didn't make for any more dysfunctional a group than any other family.

"And it isn't as if your being together comes as a total surprise to me." Ducky smiled. "I could see the attraction between you years ago." "Really?" Both Gibbs' eyebrows rose. "Yes, really." Ducky laughed softly. "I told you before�you are not subtle." Tony chuckled. "Busted." Ducky saluted him with his glass before finishing his scotch. "I am, deeply grateful that you trust me enough to share something so precious. For that, I thank you." "You don't have to thank us, Ducky." Tony ducked his head. "We should have said something sooner." "Better late than never." Ducky laughed, giving Tony a wink. "I am well known for my patience. Unlike either of you." Tony grinned. "Thanks, Duck." "You are most welcome." Ducky patted his arm again. "And how long have you two been together?" "Seven months." "I rather expected it was longer. A year at least." Ducky blinked. "Perhaps you have more patience than I gave you credit for." It wasn't patience, Gibbs thought with a mental grimace. It was lack of nerve. He resolutely told himself he was not going to dwell on how long it took him to finally make a move, or on the time that was lost. Tony opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by his cell phone. "Excuse me," he murmured, pulling it out to check the caller id. He frowned. "Problem?" Gibbs asked when Tony didn't answer the call. "Area code is familiar, but I don't recognize the number." Tony shrugged, tucking his phone back into his belt. "It's not work related. Probably a wrong number." "You have don't have a Volkswagon for sale, do you?" Tony laughed. "Hell no." Gibbs struggled to keep a straight face. "Not your kind of car?" "Jethro, please." Ducky rolled his eyes. "Those have absolutely no style. Nothing like the beautiful mustang Tony currently possesses." "Or your Bentley." Tony raised his beer to Ducky. "Indeed." The older man smiled. "She is an amazing lady." Gibbs shook his head as he listened to them debate the merits of different cars. He should have known better than to get them started. God help him if Ernie Yost ever got to talk to both of them at the same time about cars. He'd definitely need more than one drink. Ducky finished off his water, glancing at his watch before giving them both an apologetic look. "While I'd like to continue our fine evening, I'm afraid Mother gets worried if I'm not home at a decent hour." "No problem, Ducky." Tony stood with him. "About time we got headed home too."

"We'll have to come here again." "Sure." Tony grinned. "We'll bring Abby and McGee." "Wouldn't think this was Abby's sort of place," Gibbs said. It seemed a bit too tame for her. Tony lightly punched his arm. "She's into more than leather bars and screaming guitars." "She is rather eclectic in her tastes." Ducky agreed as he shrugged into his overcoat. "True." Gibbs had never met anyone with as wide ranging interests as Abby seemed to possess. He followed Ducky and Tony as they headed for the door. He placed his hand on the small of Tony's back, the gesture almost unmistakably possessive. The waitress smiled resignedly when she passed by, tipping her head to him, letting Gibbs know she'd gotten the message. "Glad you're not a dog or my dry cleaning bill would be huge," Tony said with a laugh after wishing Ducky a good night. "She started it," Gibbs replied as he got into the driver's seat. "What are you�five?" Tony snickered, settling into the front passenger seat. He leaned in close to give Gibbs a quick peck on the cheek. "You don't need to worry. She's not my type." "No?" Gibbs gave him a slant eyed, teasing look. "And what is your type, DiNozzo?" "I got this thing for a bad-ass Marine with silver hair and blue eyes." Tony's voice dropped, husky and warm. "Take me home�and I'll show you." Gibbs shivered, gripping the steering wheel hard. He swallowed hard. "Put your seat belt on." "Already done." "Good." Gibbs floored it. From here, on a good day, they could be home in twenty minutes. Gibbs intended to get there in less than fifteen.

Tony yawned widely, rubbing sleep from his eyes. He stretched, groaning softly as stiff muscles protested the movement. He smiled thinking about how he'd gotten so sore in the first place. It might be worth it to get Gibbs a little territorial again. No�.Tony's smile grew to a grin, it would definitely be worth it. Absolutely and positively worth it. He rolled on to his back, turning easily in Gibbs' loose hold. Green eyes met blue. "Good morning, Jethro." Gibbs smiled. "Morning, Tony." "You sleep okay?" Gibbs nuzzled his cheek. "Very."

Tony sighed. He snuggled in closer, enjoying the feel of Gibbs' sleep warmed skin. He was glad they had the day off. There was no rush to get up and get moving, no need to cut their time together short. "We should do this more often." "Not going to argue," Gibbs placed a kiss on Tony's shoulder. "Getting the rest of the world to agree to let us could be tricky." Tony laughed softly. "Just a trifling detail." "Trifling?" Gibbs lifted his head. "You have been spending too much time with Ducky." "He makes damn good scones." Whenever he could get away, Tony liked wandering down to Ducky's domain around three in the afternoon. He didn't really care for tea, but the food and pleasant company was always a draw. "Tea and biscuits in a morgue." Gibbs rolled his eyes, looking exasperated but sounding amused. "Is there a reason no one I work with is normal?" "Dunno." Tony's eyes twinkled. "Maybe because you're not normal either?" Gibbs growled, pinning him down. His nimble fingers found the spot along Tony's ribs that left him laughing helplessly. Tony struggled, squirming in an effort to escape. He gasped for breath, pushing ineffectually at Gibbs' hands. Gibbs grinned, continuing to tickle him. "Stop�Gibbs�c'mon." Tony panted, skin flushed, giggles making speech difficult. A noticeable hitch in his breathing caused him to hiccup. "P..p..please." Gibbs halted his assault, pulling Tony closer to him. He lightly stroked up and down Tony's back, the gesture meant to calm and sooth. When Gibbs had discovered where Tony was ticklish the first time, he'd been delighted with how freely he could make Tony laugh. Unfortunately, not long after that, Gibbs got a bit carried away and Tony had laughed so hard he'd stopped breathing. It was only for a minute, hardly anything to be worried about, but Tony knew that brief bout of apnea had scared the older man. Tony had to work hard to reassure Gibbs that it was okay. He enjoyed having a chance to laugh uncontrollably; it made him feel good, relaxed and happy. Not that he wanted to be completely at the mercy of Gibbs' agile fingers on a daily basis, but Tony made sure his lover knew that being tickled once in a while wasn't going to hurt him. Since then Gibbs was decidedly careful, paying attention to all physical cues signaling Tony had enough before he got to the no longer breathing stage. Tony's breathing was ragged for several minutes, stray chuckles escaping intermittently. "Bastard." The word lacked any real heat. Gibbs kissed his forehead. "Never said otherwise." "Nothing like an honest man." Tony snickered. He hiccupped again, wincing when the muscles of his abdomen protested. Gibbs pulled back, blue eyes assessing him closely. Tony smiled, raising his hands to cup Gibbs' face. "I'm fine." "You sure?"

"Hard to be sure," Tony gave him a sly look. "Might need to have you shower with me to be completely certain." Gibbs grinned, before his expression shifted into mock seriousness. "A shower?" "A shower," Tony agreed, nodding sagely. "Hot water therapy." Gibbs arched an eyebrow. "Good for what ails you." "Absolutely." Tony slipped out of Gibbs' hold, standing up and then offering a hand to his lover. Gibbs took his hand with a smile, rising easily. Together they headed into the master bath. Tony was glad Gibbs had made some upgrades to the room, making it more than simply utilitarian. The heated towel rack with oversized, fluffy towels and the very soft, fuzzy bath mat that felt so good under bare feet were nice additions. The new, larger mirrored cabinet above the sink with room for both their personal care items was definitely a nice upgrade. But the improvement Tony most appreciated was the oversized, massaging shower head that replaced the older, serviceable, low pressure head that Gibbs had used for years. The newer water heater in the basement capable of providing huge amounts of hot water was another plus. Showering together was an opportunity to indulge in the need to physically express their affection for one another. It wasn't about sex. Sex was great between them and always an enjoyable experience, but Tony never got tired of having the chance to simply touch and be touched. There weren't many times in his life when he could remember indulging in a luxury most people seemed to take for granted. His family had never been physically demonstrative. Only his Aunt Sully ever seemed inclined to hug Tony, ruffle his hair, kiss his cheek or pat him on the back. Everyone else treated him like a pariah, staying at arm's length. His mother and father�.Tony forcibly shut of that line of thought, preferring to focus on the feel of Gibbs' soap slick hands massaging his neck and shoulders. Tony groaned when Gibbs worked loose several knots. "God�that feels good." "You're welcome." Tony sighed as Gibbs continued working down his arms. He never realized how far the tension he routinely carried around with him could spread. He often felt the tightness in his shoulders, noticed the headache building when it got bad, but until getting a massage from Gibbs, Tony had no idea how much of the day to day stress showed up in his lower back, arms, legs, hands and feet. Ducky had explained the benefits of therapeutic massage once in a long winded dissertation on stress and fight or flight induced reactions. But that was in relation to a spa trip Kate and Abby had planned, and Tony hadn't really paid very much attention. He'd been more interested in teasing Kate about getting naked in front of total strangers. Tony mentally conjured an image of her laughing, brown eyes bright and lively, dark hair blowing gently in the warm air---the way he'd seen her just moments before she died. He still missed her, often catching himself looking for her to be at the desk Ziva now used. She'd been so vibrant when alive it was hard to think of her in the past tense.

"Something wrong?" Gibbs asked softly, hands stilling. "No." Tony turned around to face him, forcing himself to smile. "Why do you ask?" Gibbs stared pointedly at him, clearly not buying the illusion Tony was trying to create. He said Tony's name quietly, but firmly, insisting on an honest answer. Tony's smile slipped away. "Was just thinking about Kate." Gibbs took a breath and nodded slowly. "Hard to believe it's been almost six months." Tony closed his eyes, leaning into Gibbs. "Still miss her, Jethro." Gibbs wrapped his arms around Tony, pulling him closer. "Me too." They like that for several minutes, offering and receiving comfort in equal measure. With a soft sigh, Gibbs stepped back. He cupped Tony's face, kissing him sweetly. "Know you don't think so but there is a limit on what that new hot water heater can do." Tony chuckled, before kissing Gibbs back. "Okay, so lets finish up in here and you can make breakfast while I do the laundry." No matter whose place they spent their days off household chores were usually a part of the routine. "I could do the laundry." Tony snorted. "No." Gibbs rolled his eyes. "I can't believe you are still pissed about that Armani shirt." "That one was my favorite." Tony scowled. "And you've ruined more than one." Gibbs was an above average cook, but the man seemed incapable of doing laundry without shrinking, staining or destroying something. Usually the �something' belonged to Tony since most of Gibbs' clothing was selected more for durability and convenience than fashion. He didn't seem to grasp the idea that not everything was meant to be washed in hot water or dried at the highest possible setting. And he never read labels, not understanding why some things needed to be dry cleaned and others didn't. "You really don't want me in the kitchen anyway," Tony told him. "I don't mind having you in the kitchen." "As long as I don't touch anything while you are cooking." Tony laughed, giving Gibbs a quick kiss. "C'mon, the water is getting cold." Gibbs turned off the water. Tony handed him a towel before grabbing one for himself. He sighed as the warmed fabric touched his skin. It often sparked memories of good times with Sully. When he was a child, she would pull his PJ's fresh from the dryer for him to snuggle into before they'd stay up late and watch movies together. Gibbs handed Tony his towel. "Breakfast will be ready in twenty." "Okay." Tony nodded, bundling up his towel with Gibbs. After he got dressed, he started a load of whites. Once the machine was doing its thing, he began gathering up their colors for another load. He walked down the hall, picking up clothing scattered from last night's

activities. Tony grinned. It hadn't taken much to get Gibbs to forget ingrained basic training about neatness. Tony grimaced when he spotted his cell phone still clipped to his belt. He really should have picked that up before now. If they'd gotten a case�.he'd have never heard it ring from the bedroom. He shook his head. He made a note not to be so careless in the future, regardless of how distracting Gibbs was. Out of habit he checked for missed calls. He frowned as he saw two listed. It was the same number that had shown up on his caller ID at the blues bar. The area code�he stared at it as he finally placed it. It had seemed familiar last night. Tony grimaced when he realized why. Long Island. The only people he knew there were his relatives. Tony bit his lower lip. The only reason anyone from there would call�it wouldn't be good. He ignored the way his hand shook as he dialed the code to check his messages. He swallowed hard as he listened to a voice he hadn't heard in years but instantly recognized. His uncle Gabriel, his father's older brother, was a big man, beefy and square, but his voice was a light tenor, nearly feminine in its quality. That incongruity made an indelible mark on Tony's memory. "Anthony, this is your uncle Gabriel." There was the sound of a throat clearing and a soft sigh. "It is important that you call me as soon as you get this message." He annunciated a phone number with far more care than most people typically used, pausing between each number. That more than anything else told Tony whatever Gabriel had to say it was definitely important. The second message was from his father's assistant, Andrea. According to the time stamp, she'd called half an hour after Gabriel, and she sounded�nervous, uneasy, distraught�Tony wasn't sure. He'd never heard her sound this way. "Tony, it's Andrea. Gabriel DiNozzo asked me for your number. I gave it to him." There was a clear apology in her tone. "He said�he said he wanted to be the one to tell you. He is family�and I know that this is supposed to be the sort of thing family does, but well, I know your relationship with your father is�was�well, not exactly �Father Knows Best' material." Tony could almost hear her wince. "If Gabriel hasn't called you when you get this, call me, please." Tony leaned against the wall, feeling weak in the knees. He stared at his phone uncertain of what to do. Andrea mentioned his father�Tony closed his eyes. He hung his head, praying silently. Please, God, please, don't let him have killed a family while driving drunk. Tony shook his head. He was being stupid. If it had been his father killing innocent bystanders, he'd never have even heard about it�unless it made the papers. Gabriel wouldn't have bothered to call him---the family attorney, yes, and a team of investigators to make it look like someone else was at fault, definitely, but not Tony. Besides, his father normally had a driver. Tony could count on one hand the number

of times he knew his father had been behind the wheel since the accident that killed his mother. He bit his lip nervously. For Gabriel to call, it had to be bad. Maybe all that drinking finally caught up with his father and the miserable son of a bitch needed a liver transplant. What he knew of his aunts and uncles, they wouldn't offer to be a donor. Not without one hell of a lot of compensation. Or it could be cancer. There was a history of it in the family. Tony stared at his phone. Putting off finding out for sure wasn't going to make it any easier. With a resigned sigh, Tony dialed Andrea's number. If this, whatever it was, had to do with his father, he'd rather hear about it from her than his uncle. He hung up without leaving a message when her voicemail picked up. Tony took a deep breath, swallowing hard. It would have to be Gabriel then. The last time he'd spoken to his uncle was after his mother's funeral. They'd barely said ten words to one another. He couldn't honestly say he even knew his uncle that well then, and he sure as hell didn't really know him now. Tony struggled to remember the number Gabriel had rattled off in his message, forgetting it was still available on the ID display. Trying to hold the phone steady his fingers clutched the phone so hard his knuckles bleached white. He couldn't even pin down what he was feeling that was making this so much harder than it should have been. He wasn't afraid, or even worried. At least he didn't think so. Tony jerked back blindly when he felt a hand on his shoulder, ducking to avoid a blow that never fell. "Easy, Tony." Gibbs soothed, concerned blue eyes searched Tony's face. "What is it?" Tony stifled the urge to laugh hysterically. He shook his head, unable to answer Gibbs' question. He didn't know. He hadn't made the damn call yet to find out. "Tony? You're as white as a sheet." Gibbs stepped closer, one hand rising to rest on Tony's shoulder. "Why are you shivering?" Tony suddenly realized he was cold. He shuddered, leaning in to Gibbs, instinctively seeking the warmth and safety the older man represented. His family didn't matter. They hadn't mattered in years. They shouldn't matter now. He had had Gibbs� friends�a job he loved. It was more than he'd ever hoped for or expected to have. It was more than he thought he deserved, but was all he ever wanted. "Tony? Talk to me." Gibbs gently forced Tony's head up. "You're scaring me here." "Sorry." Tony mumbled. "Phone." It was all he could say by way of an explanation, handing his cell phone to Gibbs. Gibbs took the phone with a frown. He replayed both messages, listening intently. His eyes watched Tony the entire time. While Gibbs listened to the messages, Tony took a deep breath and let it out slowly, and then took another. He mentally listed the fifty states in alphabetical order as he focused on breathing. It was a calming technique his frat brother, Joe, had taught him years ago. If the states weren't enough, he'd move on to reciting the alphabet backwards and then counting down from one hundred in Italian, then Spanish. "Has to be bad news," Tony told Gibbs when the older man closed the phone. He was pleased by how steady his voice was.

"How do you know?" Gibbs asked quietly. "You heard them. Did that sound good to you?" "No." Gibbs grimaced. "But it�" "I haven't spoken to my uncle Gabriel since I was fifteen." Tony's lips curled in a bitter smile. "Only reason for him to call now is because someone died. Given what Andrea said, I'm guessing it was my father." It was oddly calming to say it out loud. Labeling it lessened his anxiety, made it easier to handle. He'd dealt with death before�on the job---and personally---his mother, Aunt Sully, Kate. He wasn't a novice at this. Tony blinked, realizing with sudden insight that his father's death wouldn't, couldn't, have the impact of the loss of Sully or Kate had. His father hadn't played a significant roll in Tony's life in years. In all honesty, Tony wasn't sure his father had even played a meaningful roll in his life. He thought he'd gotten over being angry about that, had moved on from disappointed to resigned, but now Tony wasn't so sure. Gibbs jaw tightened, muscles flexing in his cheek. Tony was surprised he didn't hear the other man's teeth grinding. Tony held out his hand, mutely asking for his phone back. "I need to call Gabriel." Gibbs' eyes narrowed. "I could call for you." Tony smiled, warmed by the offer. He leaned in to lay his cheek against Gibbs'. "I appreciate that, but I doubt he'd tell you anything. And I really do need to do this for myself." "Okay." Gibbs turned his head to place a kiss on Tony's temple. He handed Tony his phone, keeping his other arm around Tony's waist. "How about you sit down to do this?" Tony knew that wasn't really a suggestion. Given that his knees were still a bit shaky, it wasn't an idea he really saw any need to argue with. He headed for the living room, grateful for Gibbs continued support even when he no longer needed it. He sat on the couch, resisting the urge to curl in on himself. It smacked too much of being weak. He wasn't a child afraid of the boogey man. Gibbs sat next to him, placing an arm around his shoulder, encouraging Tony to lean into him. Tony smiled. "You don't have to�" "I want to." Gibbs lightly tapped him on the back of the head. "Make your call." Tony took a breath. Realizing Gabriel's number was still on his caller ID, he dialed. Tony leaned more into Gibbs as he waited for his uncle to answer. "This is Gabriel DiNozzo." "It's Tony, Gabriel." Tony used his uncle's first name, shrugging to himself. He wasn't sure of how he should actually address the man; Mr. DiNozzo seemed a bit too formal, and Uncle Gabriel was too familiar for a man he hadn't seen in almost twenty years. Using his first name seemed like the best choice. Tony forced himself to keep his tone neutral, his voice unhurried. "I got your message."

There was a brief pause. Tony waited. He didn't know his uncle well enough to be able to read anything into the moment of silence. "Tony�thank you for calling back so quickly." Tony held in a snort at Gabriel's overly polite response. And it wasn't quick. The message had been on his phone for a good twelve hours, but he wasn't going to quibble. "I'm not entirely sure how to--." "Best option is usually just to say it," Tony interjected quietly. "There really is no good way to give bad news." As a cop, he'd made similar speeches often enough to know. Some ways were better than others, but none were truly good. "Quite." Gabriel cleared his throat. "Two days ago, your father, suffered a minor heart attack." Tony nodded, forgetting for a moment that Gabriel couldn't see him. He waited for the rest. There had to be more. He wanted confirmation without having to ask for it. "While at the hospital last night, he had another. This one was massive�and fatal." Tony blinked. He had no idea what to say. Tony hadn't seen to his father since that fateful day when he told him he was accepting the sports scholarship to Ohio State. And other than the decidedly inappropriate, obligatory birthday presents that came every year, they hadn't been in contact. Was he supposed to say he was sorry? Should he offer his uncle condolences even though he always thought the two men despised each other? "Tony?" "I'm here." He'd evidently been quiet too long. "I'm just�" "I'm sure this is a shock to you." Tony rolled his eyes at the understatement. Given that he'd always expected to find out about his father's death via an obit in the newspaper, and that he thought the man would go as a result of liver failure, this was definitely a surprise. "Do you need me to do anything?" Tony asked, thinking that question seemed safe enough. "No. Arrangements have already been made. The funeral will be held on Wednesday." Tony nodded again. "At Immaculate Conception?" The church had been the DiNozzos' traditional parish for several generations. The last Tony had been in it was for Sully's funeral. "Yes." Gabriel seemed as uncertain as Tony about how to proceed. "I can arrange for the corporate jet to be available for you, or Andrea can get you first class tickets if you'd rather fly commercially." Tony blinked. "Fly?" "I thought it might be easier than driving from D.C." Gabriel clarified.

It would be easier to fly than drive, but Tony didn't want anyone else making travel arrangements for him. He could do that himself�assuming he was even going to attend. "Thank you, but I prefer to handle those arrangements myself." "Very well." Gabriel paused and then added, "The reading of the will has been scheduled for Thursday morning." Tony frowned, his free hand seeking and finding Gibbs', holding it tightly. "Do I need to be there for that?" From the time he was twelve, his father had essentially cut Tony financially, and had sworn he wasn't going to leave him a dime. "Anthony made a regular habit of changing his will." A thread of annoyance was clear in Gabriel's voice. "I have no idea what it contains, but his attorney has made a list of people requested to appear and your name is on it." Tony bit back a curse. He'd have to call his own lawyer and make sure he had legal representation for the reading. When Sully's will was read, it had felt more like skinny dipping with hungry sharks than a simple legal formality. Many of the family in attendance had been expecting her to leave them something and were prepared to fight tooth and nail to get it. He wasn't going to make the mistake of thinking the reading of his father's will would be any better. It was best to go in prepared for the worst. "Let me know when you will be arriving and I'll make sure the staff has a room ready for you at the house." Tony didn't even hesitate to refuse that offer. He wasn't sleeping in that house. Not just no, hell no. There were way too many bad memories and negative associations there. "I appreciate the offer, but I think I'd be more comfortable staying at The Towers." The Towers was a high end resort the family often used when they wanted to impress corporate clients. "As you wish." Tony couldn't see Gabriel dipping his head, but he had no trouble picturing an abbreviated bow, signaling acceptance of his decision. "A number of rooms have already been booked for people coming in from out of town. I'll have one reserved for you." "Thank you, Gabriel." Tony waited for a moment to see if there was anything else. He was more than ready to terminate the call when Gabriel spoke again. "I am sorry for your loss, Tony." Tony raised both eyebrows. Whatever he'd lost had been lost a long time ago. It was hardly something for Gabriel to express sorrow over now. He managed to keep the surprise and bitterness out of his voice when he responded, but a bit of honest sarcasm leaked in despite his best efforts. "A greater loss for you than me, I think." There was another brief pause as though Gabriel wasn't quite sure what to say. "Contact Andrea with your travel information. She'll make sure you have transportation from the airport to the hotel." "I will." Tony had already planned to call Andrea. She'd know who was coming, when, and how long they'd be staying. She probably even knew the contents of his father's will. "Good-bye, Gabriel." Tony hung up without giving Gabriel a chance to respond.

Tony sighed. He shook his head before resting it against Gibbs' shoulder. "Was it your father?" Gibbs asked. "Yeah." Tony closed his eyes. "Heart attack. Last night." "You okay?" A soft chuckle escaped. "I really don't know." Tony bit his lower lip. "I just�I haven't seen or spoken to him in years. Not really sure how I should feel right now." "You feel what you feel�not what you should feel or what other people expect you to feel." Gibbs placed a kiss in his hair. "It isn't something you have to explain or apologize for." Tony snuggled in closer. "Thanks." "Any time." Tony opened his eyes and titled his head so he could look at Gibbs. "Funeral is Wednesday." "Plenty of time to ask for leave." Gibbs raised a hand and gently forced Tony's head back on to his shoulder. "You are entitled to the whole week if you need it." "I know." Bereavement leave gave everyone five days. Tony's jaw tightened. He'd only taken one for Kate, and she meant a hell of a lot more to him than his father had. Working had helped then. It was good therapy. And Kate would have understood; she knew what they did was important. His father---his father never thought Tony's profession was worth anything at all. He saw being a cop and even a government agent as �a demeaning civil servant job'. "Not sure I want more than Wednesday and Thursday." "Okay." Gibbs ran a hand up and down Tony's back. "That's what we'll put in for then." Tony blinked, and then raised his head to look at Gibbs. "We?" "I've got plenty of vacation time on the books." Gibbs regarded him steadily. "I'll be coming with you." Tony looked away. As much as he appreciated and needed Gibbs' support, he didn't want his lover subjected to his family. Wasn't sure he wanted Gibbs to know what they were like. "You don't have�" "I want to." Gibbs kissed him. "You are one of mine. I take care of my own. Understand?" His earlier epiphany about his family not mattering came back to him. All that mattered was the man before him. Tony smiled. "Thank you." "You're welcome." Gibbs' blue eyes held Tony's green. "Forever and always." Tony blushed, looking away. He patted Gibbs' chest, above his heart, trying to express a similar sentiment without having to actually say the words. He knew he got

it right when Gibbs wrapped both arms around him in a warm embrace, cradling him securely. Safely held in Gibbs' arms Tony believed it would be okay. Somehow. Eventually. Everything would be all right.

After speaking with his uncle, Tony seemed okay. And he was okay, if Gibbs was willing to overlook how the usual weekend chores morphed into a belated, nearly monumental exercise in spring cleaning. Everything that could be vacuumed, dusted, and washed was. Nothing was left untouched. The entire house practically sparkled and the air was lightly scented with lemon. Gibbs understood how the need to stay busy, to just not think beyond the moment could become an almost obsessive compulsion. That same need was how he ended up building a boat in his basement before it occurred to him there was no obvious means of getting it out when finished. So he didn't comment on Tony's actions, didn't question his motives or reasoning, didn't really think it all that odd for Tony to suddenly want rust stains and soap scum he'd ignored for months to be gone. Gibbs just helped move furniture when asked, threw away whatever they'd agreed had out lived its usefulness, got more bleach when they ran out, and tried not to look overly concerned. He'd harbored a faint hope that all this frenzied activity would keep Tony from having a restless night. Gibbs suspected Tony hoped the same. Unfortunately, it wasn't a peaceful night for either of them. Tony's nightmares weren't something he ever talked about. And Gibbs never pushed him to explain them, mostly because the former Marine wasn't sure what to say. Words had never been his strong suit. He was better with actions. It worked most of the time; all Tony seemed to want or need was for him to be there, to have Gibbs ground him, reassure him he wasn't lost in whatever night terror or memory had risen up to haunt him, that he was safe; Gibbs could do all that without ever saying a word. And if Gibbs did push Tony to talk, forced him to tell him about what made him whimper in his sleep, struggle to breathe, shiver, cry out in pain, curl into a defensive ball�.Gibbs worried that he might end up admitting he knew a lot more about Tony's childhood than his lover had seen fit to share. He didn't want to irreparably damage the trust Tony so obviously had in him by admitting he had secretly dug into his lover's past. He didn't want to fracture Tony's faith in him by letting it slip that a PI friend had provided Gibbs with a detailed medical history from the time Tony was born until he graduated from high school. He knew about Tony's mother being physically abusive while daddy dearest was either too drunk to care or simply never gave a damn to begin with. Gibbs was betting on the later. The miserable fucker had abandoned Tony in a hotel room for two days never even realizing his son was missing until he got a room service bill. Gibbs had even called in some favors and researched Tony's other family members, assessing them as possible targets if and when the time for retribution arose. First rule of combat was to know as much about the enemy as possible. He hadn't expected to have to use the knowledge quite so soon, but he wasn't going to face off

against the DiNozzo clan unprepared. He was determined to take no prisoners to protect Tony from these people. Gibbs found himself praying that the Catholic Nuns who'd told him all about the torments of Hell in an effort to coerce good behavior hadn't gotten it wrong. He wanted Elizabeth and Anthony DiNozzo Sr. to be writhing in agony. It wouldn't bother him one bit if the rest of the family ended up there too. Pricks. Sunday, Gibbs thought maybe Tony was doing better. His normally lively green eyes were dulled, showing the effects of too little sleep, but he seemed calmer, more settled. He ate breakfast, albeit not as much as he usually did. It worried Gibbs, but that was a normal reaction. Tony's appetite always suffered when he was stressed. Gibbs wasn't going to give Tony any grief over it until he failed to eat anything at all. As long as he was making the effort, Gibbs wasn't going to force the issue. Tony waited until nearly noon to call Andrea. He got the details on the time of the funeral, reading of the will, who would be there, and what to expect. Gibbs had stayed close, shamelessly eavesdropping. It earned him a look of fond amusement and a wry smile from Tony. The younger man has just tilted the phone so it would be easier for him to hear her for himself. Tony gave Andrea their flight information. They'd fly out Tuesday night, first class, and back Thursday night. Gibbs got Tony to agree to ask for Friday off as well. The younger man might not think so, but Gibbs was pretty sure he'd need the long weekend to recoup. If he needed a distraction, they could always clean the house again. Andrea didn't seem at all surprised to hear Tony wasn't coming alone. Gibbs didn't think she new they were lovers or that Gibbs was his boss. His assumption was confirmed later when Tony explained later that most of his family, as very wealthy individuals, routinely traveled with a small entourage. Personal assistants, nannies, lawyers, bodyguards---they all had someone in tow. Gibbs grinned wolfishly, realizing most would assume he was Tony's bodyguard. They would have little idea that he was much, much more than that, or just how vigilant and dangerous it would make him. Tony was his, and he took care of his own. Always. Tony called his lawyer after speaking with Andrea, making sure his legal representative could be there for the reading of the will. Overhearing only part of that conversation, Gibbs realized Tony was probably good friends with his lawyer. Tony's voice was far warmer than it would be if he were speaking to someone he had an exclusively professional relationship with. And no attorney Gibbs had ever used accepted a work related call on a Sunday---but then he only had experience with divorce and criminal attorneys. Maybe those that did this sort of civil stuff were a different breed. Gibbs thought Tony was handling things well enough�.until he went running. Tony going running wasn't unusual. It was part of his typical routine. But Gibbs couldn't shake the feeling that his lover might use the exercise the same way he had the simple chores the day before. Forty five minutes after Tony left, Gibbs found himself looking from his watch to the door, impatiently waiting for the younger man to appear. After an hour, he was pacing the living room. Tony's usual run was took an hour or less�assuming he went for his

usual five miles. Gibbs knew his lover added miles when upset. When Tony had been gone an hour and a half, he had his coat on, and keys in hand. He cursed with quiet vehemence as he drove. Tony had several routes he ran whenever he stayed at Gibbs' place. Assuming his lover would pick the hardest one, Gibbs headed up the street toward an area of steep hills. He knew when Tony ran this way he would always do a lap or two around the small park at the cul de sac at the end of the street. If Tony wasn't there, Gibbs hoped the elevation would give him a good vantage point to see where he was. The suspension of his car protested when Gibbs crested the hill faster than was wise. He turned into the small parking area, blue eyes scanned the green space in front of him anxiously. He slammed the car into park when he spotted Tony sitting on a bench looking out over the pond in the center of the park. Gibbs growled, torn between being pissed and relieved. He turned off the car and got out, striding purposefully toward the younger man. He stopped several feet away, taking a deep breath and releasing it slowly. It wouldn't help if he blew up at Tony, especially when his fear and worry would only sound like anger. "When I was a kid," Tony spoke softly without turning around, "all I ever wanted was for him to notice me. Wanted to have that kind of father son stuff with him I saw on TV. Just wanted him to give a damn about what I thought�what I wanted�how I felt." Gibbs frowned. He shouldn't have been surprised Tony knew he was there, but he was. He stepped closer, sitting down next to Tony. Gibbs watched Tony warily, unsure of what to make of the carefully controlled tone, and painfully blank expression. He waited patiently for more, understanding instinctively that Tony only wanted him to listen. "I don't remember a single time he ever asked. Not once." "Asked what?" Gibbs questioned softly after Tony remained silent for several minutes. "How I managed to split my lip and get a black eye." Tony sighed. "He never asked�.Never wanted to know how I managed to break my arm or fall down a flight of stairs." Gibbs' hands curled into tight fists. He struggled to contain his rage. Tony didn't need that right now. He was finally talking, and he needed Gibbs to listen�not to pass judgment or interrupt. Tony shook his head. "I think I was twelve when I finally figured out I wasn't ever going to be what my father wanted for a son. I wasn't good enough�was never going to be important to him. It's why he found it so easy to ignore me. Forgetting I was even around if I didn't force him to see me." Gibbs' eyes narrowed. "How did you�" Tony laughed gently, a sound of genuine amusement. "I learned to play the drums." Gibbs found his own lips curling in a wry smile. "Atta boy."

"Was Aunt Sully who recommended percussion instruments." Tony shifted, resting his shoulder against Gibbs. "Think I'd have liked her." "You would have." Tony sighed deeply. "She helped me understand that it wouldn't matter what I did or didn't do, I was never going to make my parents happy. She told me it was best if I focused on making myself happy." "Good advice," Gibbs murmured quietly. "Wasn't until I met Joe and we talked�a lot�that I really started to believe it wasn't about me." Tony grimaced. "Least I thought I started to believe. And then�shit�then suddenly I'm back where I started. Like some sort of dog chasing my own tail." Gibbs wrapped an arm around Tony, pulling him closer. He knew Joe was one of Tony's frat brothers, and was still one of Tony's best friends. It was gratifying to know his lover had someone to talk to----even if it wasn't him. "Weird how having the son of a bitch die made me realize how little I'd actually come to terms with." Tony rubbed a hand over his face. "It's like there is all this unfinished crap between us that now will never be finished." Gibbs wished Ducky was here. He'd know what to say. Something profound and meaningful that would reassure Tony his feelings for normal. That death often made people feel at loose ends. Tony was certainly not unique in his feelings. "Thing is�most of the crap is his�or was. None of it is really mine. At least that's what Joe tells me." Gibbs definitely wanted to meet Joe. He sounded like a smart man. "Sully told me that my father had the chance to leave the family business. Could have struck out on his own. Been his own man instead of what my grandfather had in mind." Gibbs blinked, unsure how that fit. "And?" "He didn't have the balls to stand up to my grandfather. He was too chicken shit to take the risk." Tony snorted, shaking his head. "My father opted for the easy way and picked the gilded cage. Married the woman my grandfather selected, took the job at the company grandfather made for him. He started drinking and never really stopped." Understanding how Tony's father became the man he was didn't make Gibbs feel any less hostility toward him. Anthony DiNozzo Sr. had made his choice. He had no right to make his son suffer for his own self-induced unhappiness. He could have made the best of the situation, found something redeeming in his choice that made it worthwhile. Instead, he punished everyone around him for his inability to be man enough to stand up to Michael DiNozzo and make a life for himself he wanted. It was ironic he should raise a son who managed to do what he couldn't. "I keep thinking I should be sorry he's dead. I should feel some sense of loss." Gibbs nearly growled. "Why?" "Cause he was my father." Tony shrugged one shoulder. "Seems like I should care he's dead. But honestly, I care more about people I've never met. Like the homicide

cases we work on. They mean more to me than he ever has or will. Not sure what that says about me." "Never met your father, but I hate his guts," Gibbs said conversationally, keeping his hostility inside where it belonged for now. "And I know what it says about me." Tony looked at him, a small smile forming. "What?" "That I love you, Tony DiNozzo." Gibbs smiled warmly back. "Your father was a fucking moron not to see that there is nothing more important than you. Nothing." He made eye contact and held it. "You are a damn good man. How you feel or don't feel about your father doesn't change that." Tony ducked his head. "Thanks." "Welcome." Gibbs felt Tony shiver and noticed for the first time how damp his sweatshirt was. It was warm enough for a fall day, which meant it was too cool to be sitting around in wet clothing. It wouldn't take much for Tony to catch a cold. He cocked his head to one side. "How far did you run?" "Don't know." Tony frowned thoughtfully, forehead wrinkling. Gibbs knew that meant Tony had probably been moving on autopilot. He'd done that himself enough to know what it was like. Tony shrugged. "I was on my way back when I got a stitch in my side. I walked around the park to work it out. Just got to thinking and�well, lost track of time." Gibbs nodded. He was betting Tony had pushed himself harder than he usually did and likely went farther than his normal five miles. But given his willingness to talk, Gibbs thought it was probably just what the younger man had needed. Certainly had worked better than cleaning the house had. "C'mon, let's get you home." Gibbs ruffled Tony's hair. "Thinking you need a little more hot water therapy." Tony grinned. He stood up, a soft moan escaping. He rubbed absently at his quads. "Thinking a bath." "My tub isn't as nice as yours." There was no denying the wistful envy in Gibbs' voice. Tony laughed softly. Gibbs was pleased to green eyes sparkle with familiar good humor and mischief. "Maybe not as nice, but it is clean." Gibbs chuckled, wrapping an arm around Tony's shoulders, leading him toward the car. "It is at that." Gibbs figured with the run and a hot bath, he wouldn't have any trouble convincing Tony to lay down for a nap. They could both do with a little more rest. Monday morning was going to come with another set of challenges to be faced. Those would be best met with a clear head. "Thanks for coming to get me." The look he gave Gibbs made it clear Tony was grateful for more than the ride. Gibbs nodded, accepting the gratitude even though he didn't think it really necessary. Unlike the DiNozzo family, Gibbs knew the value of the treasure he'd been given.

There wasn't anything he wouldn't do for Tony�and he hoped some day his lover would realize that. He fought bad guys, bullets, bombs and the plague for him, Gibbs sure as hell wasn't going to back down in face of Tony's fucked up family.

Tony eyed the flight board before looking at his watch again wondering why the time wasn't passing as slowly as it usually did. He wasn't eager to get on the plane. In fact, he was seriously considering not going at all. "You already paid for the tickets." "It's only money." Tony grimaced, giving Gibbs a dirty look. "Not even yours." "True," Gibbs agreed, looking up from the book he'd brought with him. He appeared to be his usually calm, unruffled self. It made Tony want to hit him, except that he counted on the other man's unflappability. He relied on it shamelessly for the past two days to balance his own wildly fluctuating emotions. It was hard to be pissed at someone who consistently provided just what he needed when he needed it. "You could call Andrea and tell her you've changed your mind." "Yeah, I know." Tony sighed, laying his hand on Gibbs' arm in a brief, wordless apology. "It's just�" "I know." Gibbs' lips curled in a small, understanding smile. "You'd think after all the shit I've seen and done as a cop and an agent this kind of thing wouldn't make me--" Tony hesitated, not sure how to describe what he was feeling. A little nervous, uneasy, angry, disappointed, even scared. No one word seemed to describe it adequately. And scared wasn't one he even wanted to admit to even if it fit the best. "Ducky says going to see his family gives him the willies." Tony chuckled, remembering some of the older man's anecdotes about his family members. Like most of his stories they were a bit long winded and round about, but most were amusing. And Tony found it comforting just to listen to Ducky talk. The ME had been amazingly supportive when he found out Tony was requesting time off for his father's funeral. Ducky hadn't offered any meaningless platitudes or useless reassurances. He'd nicely refrained from saying he was sorry for Tony's loss, seeming to understand Tony's mixed emotions about what if anything he'd lost with his father's death. Instead, Ducky simply asked if there was anything he could do to help. "You already did it, Duck," Tony had assured him. Abby didn't say a word when he told her he'd be taking some time off and why. She just wrapped her arms around him in a breath stealing hug. Tony had hugged her back, hanging on for a long time, soaking up the comfort and warmth being so freely given. How anyone could ever think her exuberant affection qualified as sexual harassment he couldn't begin to guess. McGee knew Tony's relationship with his father was anything but stellar. He didn't know the particulars, and if Tony had his way McGee never would. The younger

agent had started to say he was sorry, but something in Tony's expression stopped him before he could to more than open his mouth. Ultimately, like Ducky, McGee simply asked if he there was anything he could do. And like Ducky, his just making the offer had been enough. Tony debated with himself for several minutes before opting to tell Ziva as well. Not that he really wanted to, or felt the same degree of connection with her that he shared with his other teammates, but she was a teammate and deserved to know why he was taking time off. Besides, not telling her would have made it seem like a bigger deal than it really was. She had stared at him with dark eyes that seemed to look through him. He had no idea what she was looking for but whatever it was seemed to satisfy her. She didn't offer to hug him, which he would have found more disturbing than comforting, nor did she offer condolences. She just nodded once, relaying a wealth of understanding without saying a word. It made Tony wonder what her relationship with her own father was like. Given that Daddy David raised his son, Ari, to be a double agent, using him as a tool�Tony could see where the man might have a lot in common with Anthony DiNozzo Sr. If that was the case, then Ziva's relationship with her father probably wasn't much different than Tony's was with his. The Director had offered the usual polite condolences when Tony submitted his request for bereavement leave. And for that, Tony was almost grateful. It kept her firmly in the realm of bystander in his life. She didn't know he wasn't sorry his father was dead, didn't know he had no real reason to be. And that was fine with him. She suggested he take the entire week, but Tony declined. Three days was already more than he'd originally planned. But Gibbs was right. After dealing with his family, a long weekend might well be necessary. It could take that long to get his head screwed on straight and he didn't want it affecting his work. Gibbs had put in his request for three days leave not long after Tony submitted his. As usual, the man didn't explain himself. But Abby, Ducky and McGee knew why, and each had offered their own subtle approval of his going with Tony. Ziva would be the only teammate not in the know. Tony had a bet with McGee and Abby over how long it would take her ask one of them Wednesday. He really hoped Ziva had the self-restraint he thought she had. He'd make a hundred bucks if she held out until ten. McGee had the nine am slot. Abby went with eight. Both could equally and honestly claim Gibbs hadn't said anything to them about why he was taking the time off or where he was going. Gibbs didn't offer any explanation to the Director either. With all the time he had on the books, a reason wasn't necessary, but Tony would bet a month's salary Shepard asked anyway. He knew Gibbs had a ready excuse if he saw the need to offer one. Tony was fairly certain Gibbs didn't give it though. The man could be decidedly tight lipped about things he didn't consider anyone else's business. If Shepard had forgotten that from when they'd worked together before, Tony figured this was a refresher. She might be in command of the agency, but that didn't mean she was in charge of Gibbs. Tony didn't think anyone could really lay claim to that.

Tony sighed when the gate attendant called for first class passengers to board. He debated ignoring the call. Gibbs stood up and looked at him, clearly letting him know the choice was his. Tony grimaced, then nodded. He wasn't a child any longer. He could do this. "You want the window or the aisle?" "Aisle." Tony laughed. "Figured." He offered Gibbs the carryon while he took the suit bag. For two days, neither of them felt a need to bring much. And Tony refused to check any luggage. Too much stuff had been lost too often for him to trust that his bags would arrive at his final destination if let out of his sight. So, if it couldn't go on the plane with him, it didn't go. The stewardess smiled warmly at him, giving him an appreciative once over. Under other circumstances, he might have flirted with her, but having not slept well since hearing of his father's death, Tony really couldn't summon the energy to feign interest. He gave her a polite, distant smile, not making eye contact. Gibbs waited for him to take the window seat. There was a bit less leg room than Tony would have liked, but still more available than there would have been in coach. And he really didn't mind having Gibbs between him and everyone else. It was one more way the older man looked out for him, and Tony was grateful. Tony watched the other passengers board. He amused himself by guessing what their reason for traveling might be. There were a lot of vacation homes in the Hamptons and it was a safe bet half the people boarding were going to either close up the house for the season or using up the last of their vacation time. Some were obviously business travelers. Suits and ties were a dead give away. Tony smiled at the little girl who was babbling excitedly to a woman who had to be her mother about the cookies grandma had promised to let her help make when they arrived. He wondered for a moment what that might be like. He couldn't remember either of his grandmothers ever baking cookies, much less letting him help with the process. Gibbs gave him a look, and Tony shrugged. He wasn't sure how to explain feeling nostalgic about a childhood experience he never had. And he really didn't want to try to explain being jealous of a child. Gibbs smiled. "I know how to bake cookies." Tony arched an eyebrow. "Do you?" Gibbs nodded. "When we get home, I'll even let you help." Tony grinned. He really loved this man. Not having any privacy to give Gibbs a kiss, Tony settled for briefly caressing the back of the other man's hand. Gibbs smiled. He pulled one of the dog-eared airline magazines from the pouch in the seat in front of him. "Find the crossword." Tony nodded. The flight was only going to be a little over an hour. They could easily finish the puzzle in that time. And it gave them a great excuse to sit closer together, to brush against one another, to ignore everything else around them.

When the beverage service was offered, Tony opted for water. He would have preferred a stiff drink, but he decided against it. He wasn't like his father. Tony enjoyed a good drink, but he didn't have to have one. Gibbs got his usual coffee. He made a face when he sipped it. There was no way what they offered could be as good as Manny's Mud. And even if it was, they likely didn't make it as strong as Gibbs preferred. "Should have brought some from home," Gibbs muttered. "Don't think security would have let you bring it." Given how tight things had become of late, anything liquid was a big no-no. And coffee beans would likely have set off alarms somewhere because they were off used to disguise the smell of drugs from security dogs. Gibbs eyes narrowed. "I have my gun." Tony chuckled. He had no trouble picturing Gibbs facing off with a security guard over whether or not his cup of coffee or bag of beans could be allowed on the plane. His loyalty said Gibbs would win that showdown, but his better sense knew Gibbs would be outnumbered in no time. "Don't think the Director would be pleased to know you'd started an incident in the Dulles International Airport." "Wouldn't be the first time." "No." Tony agreed with a smirk. "Kind of my point, Boss." Gibbs moved his hand. Instead of the light head smack Tony was expecting, Gibbs ruffled his hair, before massaging his neck lightly. Tony sighed, soaking up the comfort that relaxing touch engendered. Together they focused on the crossword puzzle. For most of the flight Tony lost himself in the familiar activity, pretending they were at his kitchen table working the Sunday puzzle. Or that they were sitting on the basement steps together, Gibbs taking a break from working his boat to look over his shoulder. Tony winced when the Captain's voice crackled over the intercom announcing they were ten miles out and requesting they fasten their seatbelts. He hated the loud static that always punctuated any comments from the cockpit. It reminded him of trying order through the archaic drive thru things. Tony stuffed the magazine back into the seat pocket. Next person would have to ask for another if they wanted to do the crossword. He tried hard to maintain a calm fa�ade. He took a deep breath and released it slowly. He wasn't even sure why he was nervous. It wasn't like his aunts, uncles, or cousins could do anything to him. He'd been living without any active family support since Sully died. If his father chose not to leave him anything in the will, Tony was no worse off. And if one of his relatives was foolish enough to try and hit him, Tony was confident he could handle it. And if for some reason he couldn't, Gibbs would probably take whoever's hand off at the elbow. "You okay?" Tony tried to smile before letting the effort die still born. "I'm okay." Gibbs hand was on his shoulder, squeezing once. "I got your six, Tony."

"I know." He suddenly found it a lot easier to smile, stepping confidently into the aisle, ready to leave.. Another thing Tony liked about first class was being the first to deplane. He always despised the impatient jostling that was a usual occurrence in coach. It was definitely nicer to be able to just stroll off the plane. Gibbs kept pace easily, walking beside him as they made their way though the airport. Tony almost regretted not having any bags to claim, knowing that process would slow them down. He mentally slapped himself for seeking ways to delay the inevitable. Putting it off wouldn't make it any easier. And more often than not, it just made things worse. Heading for the exit, Tony scanned the area. He wasn't sure who he should be looking for. Andrea had only told him a car would be waiting. That could mean anything---a limo, a cab, a chartered shuttle, or even a company car and driver. He assumed someone would be holding a placard with his surname on it. Gibbs nodded toward a young man in a dark suit who Tony had spotted at almost the same time. "Our ride," Gibbs murmured. "Sure looks like it." The younger man smiled broadly when they approached. Tony thought he didn't look old enough to shave, much less drive. He wondered if Gibbs thought the same thing. The kid held out his hand. "Anthony DiNozzo?" "Tony," he corrected as he shook hands. The only person Tony didn't mind calling him �Anthony' was Ducky. The driver man nodded. He looked askance at Gibbs. "And you, Sir?" Blue eyes narrowed as he assessed the younger man. Tony gave the kid points for not backing up under the weight of that intense stare. "Gibbs." The kid nodded again. "I'm Daniel DiNozzo. You can call me Danny." Tony frowned trying to place the name. It clicked a second later. "Gabriel's youngest?" "Yep." Danny grinned broadly. "Didn't think you'd remember me." Tony wasn't going to admit that he didn't. Not really. He just smiled and shrugged one shoulder. "You look like your father." With his broad shoulders, dark hair and hazel eyes, Danny was a younger version of Tony's uncle. The expressive face and manner was clearly Danny's. Tony couldn't remember his uncle ever grinning, or appearing quite so approachable. Danny had been five or six the last time Tony had seen him. It gave Tony a new sense of just how much time had passed since he'd encountered any of his relatives. "Yeah," Danny sighed, "People tell me I look like my father a lot." It didn't sound like he was particularly happy with the comparison. But Tony chose not to read too much into it. There weren't a lot of kids Danny's age who wanted to be thought of as a miniature version of their fathers�even if they liked and respected them.

"If you'll come with me�The car is this way." Danny led them to where he had parked. Anywhere else, the Lincoln Towncar would probably have towed for being left in the drop off and immediate pick up zone, but the DiNozzo family had a lot of influence. More than enough allow parking where others couldn't. Danny popped the trunk. He offered to take their bags, but Gibbs shook his head. Danny frowned but didn't protest when Gibbs put the carryon and garment bag in the trunk himself. He opened the door for Tony. Tony got in. He was amused when Gibbs chose to open the other door for himself, sliding in on Tony's left. Leave it to his lover to make a point without saying a word. He saw Danny roll his eyes. That alone told Tony Danny wasn't used to playing chauffer. If he was�he'd have either controlled the impulse, or he'd have made sure Tony couldn't see him do it. Tony wondered if the kid had pulled the short straw to get stuck with picking him and Gibbs up. Or maybe it was punishment of some kind. As Danny pulled away from the curb, he cast a glance over his shoulder at Tony. "The Towers?" "Yes, thank you." Danny nodded. His eyes met Tony's in the review mirror. "My father said you're a federal agent." It wasn't exactly a question, but Tony could hear one in the statement. He didn't see any harm in indulging Danny's curiosity. "I am." "Which agency?" Danny asked eagerly. "NCIS." Danny frowned. He'd likely been expecting something more famous, with more panache like FBI, CIA or NSA. Tony waited to see if Danny would ask the question he'd gotten used to answering ever since he'd taken the job. The younger man didn't disappoint. "What does that stand for?" "Naval Criminal Investigation Service. We handle crimes involving Naval and Marine personnel." "So you're a navy cop?" Danny flashed a grin. "Something like that." "Do you like it?" "I do." He more than liked it, he loved it. He wouldn't have stayed so long if he hadn't. "Must be exciting." "It has its moments." He and Gibbs traded amused looks at his understatement. Their cases were far more interesting and complicated than Tony expected when he took the job. But then even his movie plots couldn't compare to some of the cases they'd handled. "I wanted to be a cop for awhile." Danny sounded a bit wistful. Knowing Gabriel, he had probably mapped out his youngest son's life for him, much the same way Tony's father had. Being a cop hadn't exactly been high on Anthony

DiNozzo Sr.'s list of career choices any more than attending Ohio State had been considered an acceptable university. Gibbs shifted slightly so he was closer to Tony, mutely offering support of his decision to defy his father. Tony bumped Gibbs' knee with his own. "Pay isn't great and the hours are lousy," Tony told Danny, unsure if consolation needed to be offered or not, but wanting to offer it to the younger man just the same. "Oh, I know." Danny laughed softly. "Was kind of the reason I gave up the idea when I was sixteen. But getting to carry a gun, be one of the good guys�it still looks like fun." "It can be." Tony wasn't going to deny that. He enjoyed his job. And he was proud of being one of the good guys. "Hours aren't much better as a doctor, but the pay is." "You're a doctor?" Gibbs asked, sounding as surprised as Tony felt. "Not yet," Danny shrugged. "I'm a lowly med student at the moment." Tony wondered if that career had been Danny's choice, or something his father thought would have sufficient panache to be worth letting Danny do. It seemed a bit too personal a question to ask, so Tony opted instead for satisfying another detail that had piqued his curiosity earlier. "How did you end up playing chauffer?" The real question was why a family member and not someone hired but it seemed rude to put it hat way. "I volunteered," Danny said with refreshing candor. "Lot of relatives coming in from out of town for the funeral. Most of whom I've never even laid eyes on. I thought this would be a good way to meet them." "Could do that at the funeral." Danny snorted. "You ever try to talk to people at a funeral?" Tony had to admit he had a point. Other than speaking to his friends at Kate's funeral, he hadn't said much to anyone. Dealing with is own grief was hard enough, he didn't want to try and handle that of others. And with his family---he was fairly certain most of them would use the moment to size up competition or look for a weakness they could exploit. He didn't plan to speak to them any more than absolutely necessary. Had he met Danny there first he likely wouldn't have given the younger man more than a passing glance. "So you live in D.C.?" "Just outside actually." "Have you been to see all the monuments?" "Several times." Tony smiled, trading another look with Gibbs. They'd recently done a tour of them. It had been one of his most memorable visits. "The best way to see them is at night." "I am hoping to get to see them sometime." "You've never gone?" Tony could feel both brows rising. DC wasn't that far away. Most grade school students within a days drive went at some point.

"Mother is a bit�" Danny waved a hand helplessly as though not sure what would to chose. He knew first hand how his aunt could be. She never wanted him anywhere near her children. He remembered her firmly declaring�"With all the bruises and cuts on that boy he's a walking disaster area. I won't have him hurting my children with his clumsy antics." Shaking his head, dismissing the memory, Tony offered what he thought would be an acceptable adjective. "Marissa is a bit�overprotective." "Like a rabid pit bull." Tony smiled at the dry statement. It was hard not to like Danny. He seemed like an okay kid. "But she's my mother, so I try not complain too much." Gibbs snorted quietly. Tony knew what his lover was thinking. To the former Marine, no matter what Danny's age, he was definitely not an adult if his mother was still dictating his actions. Danny definitely lost points in Gibbs' evaluation. "So are you staying in town for long?" "No." Tony couldn't help how curt he sounded. If it hadn't been for Gabriel's reference to the will and Andrea's assurances that he needed to be there, Tony wasn't entirely certain he'd be here now. There hadn't been anything for him here when he was eighteen, and he doubted there was anything for him here now. Danny bit his lower lip, clearly aware he'd touched a sore spot. He nodded his head once. Tony gave him points for not apologizing. He hadn't done anything wrong, but if Gabriel had mentioned Tony's profession, it was a safe bet why Tony hadn't been back in almost twenty years had probably come up as well. "Your old man know you volunteered for this gig?" Gibbs asked. Only long hours observing Gibbs during interrogations made Tony aware of the edge of suspicion in the older man's voice. "No." Danny shook his head. "My parents don't approve of family members performing menial tasks." That sounded almost like something Danny had memorized by rote. Hazel eyes met green. "You won't say anything to my mother or father about this, will you?" Tony's jaw tightened for a moment remembering past punishments for disobedience. Gibbs placed a hand on Tony's thigh, squeezing his once, reminding him he wasn't at his family's mercy any more, that he had made a life for himself he could be proud of. He tipped his head in agreement of the request to keep Danny's small rebellion a secret. He barely knew the younger man, but he didn't want him to suffer for his minor defiance. "If anyone asks, all I know is there was a car and driver to pick me up. We had no reason to speak to one another." "Thanks." Tony smirked. "Don't mention it."

Danny chuckled. "Mum's the word." Tony was almost sorry to see the hotel. On one hand he'd have liked to talk more with Danny, and on the other he desperately wanted to get away from him. There was probably a lot Danny didn't know, which could engender more questions Tony didn't want to answer. And Tony really didn't want to know just how much the younger man might know. There was still so much he hadn't been able to tell Gibbs yet; Tony sure as hell didn't want to be talking about it in front of him with a kid who was still basically a stranger, blood relative or not. Danny pulled into the half round drive, parking under the stately portico. It was oddly comforting to see the hotel looking so much like he remembered it. Tony knew a lot had to have changed over the years; it was good to know some things were constant. The uniformed doorman approached and opened the door, standing almost at attention. "Welcome to The Towers." "Thank you." Tony slid out, waiting for Gibbs to join him. When Danny popped the trunk, Gibbs got the bags, shooing the doorman a �back off' look. The doorman didn't bat an eye, simply allowed Gibbs to do as he so obviously wanted. Tony wasn't quite sure why Gibbs needed to take responsibility for their things. It could be a hold over from the job. No one else but one of the team handled their gear. It could be just his being independent and used to doing it for himself. But Tony suspected it had more to do with Gibbs being territorial. He didn't want anyone else handling what he considered his or what might be his by extension, ie. Tony's bags. Danny got out of the car, approaching him. Tony expected a hand shake and a �nice to have met you' good-bye. Instead Danny gave him a look he couldn't quite read. "I didn't think federal agents got bodyguards." He spoke quietly, making it clear he didn't want to be overheard. "They don't." Tony grinned, not surprised by the younger man's initial assumption. Everything about Gibbs actions and manner suggested he looking out for Tony�it just didn't reveal why. Danny frowned, looking at Gibbs. "He's not your lawyer." There was no doubt in the younger man's voice. "No." Tony's smile widened. "In Gibbs' line of work, cutthroat is still a verb." Danny raised both eyebrows, obviously not sure what to make of that statement, and clearly at a loss as to exactly what role Gibbs played. Tony didn't feel any need to enlighten him. The kid would either have to ask outright, or settle for not knowing. Tony held out his hand. "It was nice to see you again." "You too." Danny shook his hand. "A limo will pick you up tomorrow." "I expected as much." Danny seemed reluctant to leave. Tony could sympathize with his desire to know more about a cousin he might never get one on one time with again, and he knew the younger man still had a lot of questions. But he was tired, and no longer in the mood to indulge Danny. D.C. wasn't that far away. If the kid ever grew balls big enough to seriously defy his parents, he was welcome to visit Tony on his own turf. Danny had gotten their flight information and arrival time from Andrea, he could just as easily get

Tony's phone number. If Danny really wanted answers, he should be willing to work for them. "Good night, Danny." It was a clear dismissal. "Yeah�good night." Gibbs gave him a questioning look as Danny drove away. Tony waved it off with an �I'll explain later' gesture. Right now all he wanted to do was check in and get away from anyone else who, like Danny, might be looking to grab a moment of his time or sneak a peak at Anthony DiNozzo Sr.'s only son. The luxury room that was waiting for them was being paid for on someone else's tab. They might as well make the most of it. Tony would have a bottle of something very expensive sent up, and with a stiff drink in hand, he'd answer whatever questions Gibbs wanted to ask.

"You don't care for bourbon." Gibbs waited to make that comment until they were alone in the elevator heading up to their room. Tony had ordered a bottle of what Gibbs knew had to be very, very expensive bourbon sent up to their room when they'd checked in. "I know." Tony sighed. "But you like it." Gibbs raised an eyebrow. He hadn't asked for a stiff drink, but Tony thinking he might need one didn't bode well. "So the scotch is for you?" "Yeah." Gibbs nodded. Definitely didn't bode well. All he'd really intended to ask Tony about was what he and Danny had been talking about so quietly when they'd arrived at the hotel, but Tony clearly was expecting him to ask harder questions. And he was obviously prepared to answer them�with a little fortification. "You don't have to." He wasn't going to force Tony to confess anything. "I know." Tony's lips curled upward at the corners creating the barest hint of a smile. "I've already told you enough you can probably fill in the blanks on your own. But I think maybe it was time I told you just how big a cluster fuck you volunteered to get into the middle of." Tony sighed. "Probably should have told you long before now." Gibbs winced at the blend of guilt and fear he could hear in that statement. He moved to stand in front of Tony, leaning into his personal space, speaking quietly but forcefully. "You. Do. Not. Have. To. Tell. Me. Anything." He raised a hand and cupped the back of Tony's neck, squeezing once. "Nothing you say will make me love you less, you got me?" Tony leaned in to rest his forehead against Gibbs', green eyes drifting closed. "Promise?" Gibbs didn't hesitate, even though that whispered question hit him in the gut hard. He knew the doubt and insecurity wasn't about him, but it still hurt. "I promise, Tony."

"I love you, Leroy Jethro Gibbs. So much it makes me crazy some days." Tony gave him a light kiss, green eyes earnest when they opened to meet blue. "Know I don't say it enough. I mean to. Just hard for�" "I never had any doubts about how you feel." Gibbs smiled. "Never." Tony's eyes took on that glow Gibbs didn't see often enough. It only appeared when the younger man was decidedly pleased by something Gibbs had said or done. The former Marine often found himself looking for ways to make that glow show up more often. Tony stepped back when the elevator dinged and announced their arrival on the 15th floor. "Let's finish this conversation in our room." Tony stepped off the elevator, moving unhesitatingly down the hall to the right. Gibbs followed. The plush carpet muffled their footfalls. The walls were painted a neutral tone. Brightly polished brass door handles and number plates gleamed in the muted hall lighting. They passed several pieces of original artwork which added spots of color, highlighting the understated opulence of the hotel. Tony slipped the key card in the slot, opening the door on the first try. Gibbs knew there had to be a trick to that. He couldn't get the damn door to open with less than three tries. What the hell was wrong with the old metal key system? It worked for years. Gibbs whistled soundlessly as looked around the suite. It was large enough to qualify as a small apartment complete with a living room, two bedrooms and baths. The furniture was tasteful and obviously good quality. He would bet good money the cherry wood armoire and end tables were solid, not veneer. The plasma screen hanging on one wall likely cost more than he made in three months. Walking into the master bedroom to set down their bags, Gibbs eyed the California king sized sleigh bed. He hoped the damn thing had a mattress as nice as the one Tony had. Not that it mattered. If Tony had as restless a night as he'd had the last few, Gibbs wouldn't be getting much sleep anyway. He flicked on the light in the attached bath. The darkness of black marble double sink vanity was offset by glossy silver fixtures and pristine fluffy white towels. The tub could easily qualify as a small swimming pool. "Nice place," Gibbs commented as he walked back out to the living room where Tony still stood. Tony looked around, before giving Gibbs a wry smile. "Nothing but the best." Gibbs cocked his head to one side, studying his lover. "You ever stay here before?" Tony shrugged one shoulder. "The block of rooms the family has is usually reserved for out of town guests and business clients." Gibbs raised an eyebrow. He was far too used to picking apart what people said and didn't say to let that statement pass unchallenged. Tony had talked around his question, he hadn't answered it. There was a strange emphasis on �usually', which meant there were occasionally �unusual' circumstances. And Tony was far too familiar with the layout of the hotel for it to have been just a rare or casual visitor. "But you did stay here, didn't you?"

Tony nodded. "Yeah." Gibbs knew Tony grew up in this town. Why would he need to stay at The Towers? The only way to know was to ask. Gibbs squared his shoulders, hoping he wasn't about to bring up any painful memories when he asked gently, "Why did you stay here?" "When I was ten, my parents went on a cruise." Tony licked his lips nervously as he gestured meaninglessly with one hand. "It was during the school year and I wasn't doing well with math, so taking time off wasn't really a good idea. And it wasn't like they wanted me to go along anyway. So I got left behind." Gibbs fought not to clench his hands into fists. "They left you alone?" "Well�the housekeeper was there. Or at least she was for part of the time." Tony looked away, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "Would have been okay� I mean I was old enough to take care of myself�most of the time that is." Tony sighed. "I got the flu. It was�bad." Gibbs struggled to keep his tone neutral. "How bad?" "I spent a couple of days in the hospital." Tony looked at him, green eyes shuttered. Gibbs jaw tightened. He knew about Tony's stay in the hospital for dehydration. It was in the report his PI friend, Sam, had given him. If the housekeeper hadn't found him, Tony might have died. Gibbs quelled the urge to hit something. He didn't want to scare Tony with his anger. Instead, he waited, giving Tony time to decide if he wanted to expound or not. "After that�if they went anywhere I stayed here." Tony cleared his throat, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "And there were times when going home, well, let's just say, it was better to be here than there. The doorman�not the guy we met, but another guy�older�Carl�he knew the family was paying for the rooms anyway, and if they were empty when I asked, he'd get me a key and let me stay." Gibbs wondered where Carl was now. He had this urge to thank the man for giving Tony access to a safe place to stay. It was heartening to know Tony had at least one refuge when he was growing up. The fact that he needed one at all made Gibbs' desire to throttle Tony's parents that much more intense. A soft knock at the door had Gibbs reaching for his gun. The reaction was ingrained, nearly instinctive. Tony gave him a faintly amused look. Gibbs grimaced, glaring at Tony without any real heat. "You just were adjusting your belt, right, DiNozzo?" He'd seen the younger man reach for his gun too, coming far closer than Gibbs to actually drawing it. If they were both that twitchy a drink might not be a bad idea. Tony held up both hands, palms out. "Guilty." He pointed toward the door with his thumb. "You okay if I get that?" "I'll get it." It should just be room service, but Gibbs wasn't trusting that it would be. He wasn't letting his guard down just yet.

A kid in a bell hop uniform was on the other side of the door, hand poised to knock again when Gibbs opened the door. The kid was holding a tray with two bottles, two fine cut crystal glasses and a silver ice bucket. He smiled brightly at Gibbs. "I have the drinks you requested, Sir." Gibbs looked past the kid, making sure he was alone before opening the door wide enough to grant him entry. The kid set the tray on the coffee table. Tony handed him a twenty, getting a quick grin and �thank you, sir'. The kid looked like he might want to make some sort of polite small talk. Gibbs would rather he left now. The look he gave the bellhop told him so in no uncertain terms. Tony chuckled as Gibbs shut the door on the rapidly retreating young man. "You're already scaring the locals." "Wouldn't want to lose my touch." Tony rolled his eyes. "A kid barely old enough to be legal is hardly a challenge for you." Gibbs shrugged. He wasn't sorry, and he sure as hell wasn't going to apologize. He was willing to compromise. "I won't do it again." At least, not tonight anyway. The look Tony gave him made it clear he heard what wasn't said. "Fair enough." Tony took off his shoes, leaving them next to the couch. He shrugged out of his coat, carelessly draping it over the back of one of the wingback chairs. He opened the bourbon, pouring a shot into one glass. He put two ice cubes into another class before he opened the scotch and poured enough to cover the ice. Tony offered the bourbon to Gibbs before taking a seat on the couch. "So, what else would you like to know?" Gibbs took the drink. He wanted to relax on the couch the way they did at home�with Tony nestled between his legs, resting against him. But the tension he could see in Tony's face and shoulders Gibbs knew that wasn't going to happen, at least not yet. He elected to sit at the opposite end of the couch so they could look at one another. "What were you and Danny talking about downstairs?" Tony smirked. "He asked me how a government agent warranted a body guard." "Bodyguard?" "Well, it was either that or you're my attorney." Gibbs snorted. "Are those my only two choices?" "I considered tell him you were my sex slave, but I didn't think you'd care for that option either." Gibbs gave him a lecherous look. "Oh, I don't know�it's not far from the truth." Tony laughed, relaxing back into the couch. He sipped his scotch, sighing quietly. Gibbs was betting it was every bit as good as the price tag would indicate it should be.

"I don't really want to tell them anything at all about you." Tony made eye contact. "Not because I'm ashamed or embarrassed. I just�hell, the last time I saw Danny he was five or six years old. Most of these people are basically strangers to me. Feels weird letting them know anything at all about me. Especially the best thing in my life." Gibbs could feel his face warm. It always made him feel such a rush of warmth whenever Tony mentioned how much Gibbs meant to him. He never thought for a second Tony was ashamed or embarrassed. Being a decidedly private person himself, Gibbs could readily understand not wanting to share intimate details with strangers. Hell, they'd only just told Ducky about their relationship, and they'd both known him for years, trusting him implicitly. Gibbs frowned, refocusing on what Tony had said. "You haven't seen any of them�not one of them�in years?" "Nope." Tony shook his head. "I was something of a�pariah before turning my back on them. Going to Ohio State and becoming a cop essentially sealed the deal." "Why?" "You heard Danny. The DiNozzos do not approve of family members doing menial labor." "Not that." Gibbs waved a hand in dismissal. "Why were you a pariah even before you left for college?" "When I was a kid�I thought it was because�well, there was something wrong with me. That I wasn't good enough." Tony swallowed hard and looked away. Gibbs wanted to reach out and touch him, but hesitated, unsure if he should. If he offered the comfort Tony so clearly needed, it might stop the flow of words. This was obviously something the younger man so clearly wanted to share, Gibbs thought it would be better to let him and be ready to pick up the pieces when the time came. Tony took a breath. "Joe told me it was more likely they felt guilty about knowing what was going on and not doing anything about it. They were so busy actively ignoring or hiding their own issues that dealing with mine just wasn't an option. So if they didn't have to look at me, or talk to me, or acknowledge just how many times I said I'd run into a door�then they could go on about their lives without having to do anything." "Bastards," Gibbs cursed, unable to stop himself. "Yeah." Tony toyed with his glass, the ice clinking against the sides. "Wasn't just me though. The whole family is�god, dysfunctional doesn't even begin to cover it. They lived most of their lives overlooking a lot." "Like?" "My father's alcoholism. My uncle Gabriel was addicted to painkillers. My aunt Anna was bulimic, might still be for all I know. My aunt Maria has some serious OCD going on." Tony bit his lower lip. "But most of those things you can hide." "Hide?" Gibbs inched closer, narrowing the gap between them. He put his still untouched glass on the coffee table.

"No one ever saw my father blind stinking drunk. He didn't slur his words, didn't puke or pass out. Made it easy to just pass off his always having a drink in his hand as something social." Tony grimaced, looking at the drink in his own hand before putting it on the coffee table next to Gibbs'. "Same for Gabriel. If you didn't know how often he got that prescription refilled you wouldn't know he had a problem. Wasn't like anyone saw him popping pills a dozen times a day. Not sure how he got clean, or if he even did. Not like he was going to check into the Betty Ford Clinic. Would disgrace the family name." Tony rolled his eyes. "If you didn't hear Anna in the bathroom puking, you'd never know she had a problem�just avoid the hallway for a bit, give her some space. And Maria�she's a CFO. Smart and detail oriented. No one is going to get too upset if all her pencils have to be sharpened to point or carries a back up for her back up blackberry." Tony shook his head. "Splints and casts and black eyes aren't so easy to hide or overlook." "Shouldn't be overlooked," Gibbs growled. He didn't care that these people had problems Everyone had problems, but nothing should ever super-secede the needs of a child. That they were too weak to deal with their own issues was not an excuse Gibbs would accept. "Yeah, I know that now." Tony sighed. "Just�I didn't then." "Joe helped you understand?" "He's trying." Tony chuckled dryly. "Can't say I made it easy for him, but he is trying." "Have you considered seeing a professional?" Gibbs winced, unable to believe he was crass enough to ask that. Tony just laughed, reaching out to take Gibbs' hand. "Joe is a professional, Jethro. He's got a thriving psychiatric practice in Baltimore." "Oh." Gibbs could feel his face warm. "Don't sweat it." Tony raised their joined hands and kissed Gibbs' knuckles. "It's not like I mentioned it before. Probably should have." Tony shook his head. "And it's not like I've really seen him in a professional capacity. More like well educated, good friend helping out kind of thing." It was obvious everything Tony discussed with Joe was done solely because he trusted his friend. He wouldn't spill his guts to just anyone any more than Gibbs would. Even just helping out as a concerned friend, Joe had clearly made it possible for Tony to put the childhood abuse he'd experienced into some perspective. It had obviously made a difference, helping him become the man Gibbs had fallen in love with. But it hadn't been just Joe who'd helped out, Gibbs recalled. Tony only met Joe in college. Sully had been around when Tony was a child. She seemed like she had her life together enough to intervene. "Why didn't Sully�" "Do more?" Tony asked, arching an eyebrow. "Like calling the cops or social services?"

Gibbs nodded. He wasn't surprised to have Tony follow his thoughts so closely. He'd actually come to rely on the younger man's ability to do just that. "Sully knew how to pick her battles." Tony shrugged. "Meaning?" "Calling the authorities wouldn't go anywhere." Tony's lips curled into a bitter smile. "Not in this town and not if your name was DiNozzo. Different rules apply." Gibbs knew that from his research as well. It made him want to beat the shit out of someone. He couldn't accept that someone Tony thought so highly of would have done nothing. It didn't make sense. Tony squeezed Gibbs' hand. "Just because she didn't call in the cavalry doesn't mean she didn't do anything, Jethro." Gibbs searched Tony's face. "What did she do?" "Every summer from the time I met her when I was seven until I graduated from high school, I spent with her." Tony smiled fondly. Those times were clearly good ones for him. "It was about as close to �normal' as I've ever come." Tony's smile faded and he bit his lower lip. "She never said so outright, but she hinted that she'd asked to keep me for longer. My father wouldn't go for it." He grimaced. "He might not have wanted me, but he didn't want Sully to have me either." Gibbs ground his teeth together. He was sorry Anthony DiNozzo Sr. died from a heart attack. The man should have died by inches, as slowly and painfully as possible. Tony tugged on Gibbs' hand drawing him from his thoughts. "It's okay, Jethro." "No, it's not." "All right, it's not okay." Tony sighed. "But it is done. You can't undo it now." Gibbs bit back his instinctive response. He was �fixer' damn it. He made things right for other people all the time. He should be able to do this for the one person in the world who mattered the most. "Being with you helps," Tony told him. "You know that, right?" "It doesn't feel like it's enough." Tony smiled gently. "You are used to being on the field�so watching is a bit foreign to you, I know. But what happens on the sidelines can still win or lose the game." Gibbs snorted. "I hate sports analogies." Tony grinned. "I know." Gibbs leaned in and kissed him, wanting to taste that grin. Under the strong essence of scotch lay that unique flavor that was all Tony. He enjoyed the way Tony opened up, let him in, let him take control of the kiss. He pulled back when the need to breathe was too much to ignore. "You'll let me know when I can get in the game, yeah?" "You're here." Tony smiled, eyes glowing. "You're already in the game."

"Was thinking more as an active participant." Tony shook his head. "You can't kill anyone." "Spoilsport." "I didn't say you couldn't maim anyone." Tony chuckled. "And you can scare anyone you like�no matter what age." Gibbs grinned savagely. "I can live with that." "Thought you might." Tony's smile was swallowed up by a yawn. He shook his head, expression chagrined. "Sorry. Long day." "More like a short night." Four hours of sleep was far from enough; for either of them. "That too." "C'mon." Gibbs stood up, pulling Tony to his feet. "Bed time." "Will you read to me?" The question was hesitant, just like always. Gibbs lived for the day when Tony would ask him something of him and not expect to be denied. Gibbs placed a kiss on Tony's temple. "Of course, I'll read to you." It was an activity that helped relax both of them. Something they both needed. And with any luck it would work tonight better than it had last night. They'd need to be sharp tomorrow.

Given what he'd be facing today, and everything he and Gibbs had talked about last night, Tony had expected to sleep badly, if he slept at all. To his surprise, he'd found himself waking at his usual time, feeling decidedly well rested having slept a solid six hours. Maybe Joe had been right all along, talking about it did help. Although it was probably having someone he trusted to talk to that made the biggest difference. It was certainly easier than he'd expected to share bits and pieces of his past with Gibbs. Neither of them had needed the drinks he ordered. But Tony wasn't sorry he gotten them. After the funeral, he might well need some fortification. Out of habit more so than need Tony checked his appearance in the full length mirror to make sure everything was exactly as it should be. The simple white shirt he wore was starched just enough to keep it crisp despite being packed in the garment bag for hours. Its pristine color was a stark contrast to the solid black of his pants and jacket. The silver threads in his vest matched the small silver diamond decorations on his otherwise black silk tie. Freshly polished black Italian leather shoes completed the ensemble. Tony wondered if he'd be keeping the suit or burning it later. He decided he'd wait to see how the funeral went before deciding. "You ready?" Tony glanced to where Gibbs waited. Like Tony, the older man had on a black suit with a white shirt. Gibbs had forgone a vest but his tie had a pattern similar to the one Tony wore. Instead of silver diamonds it had light blue which was nearly identical to

the color of Gibbs' eyes. That was the reason Tony had bought it in the first place. He loaned it to Gibbs one day and after deciding it looked better on the older man than it did on him, he never bothered to ask for it back. Tony sighed. "I hate funerals." "No one likes funerals." "True." Tony looked at his reflection one final time. He was glad he'd gotten his hair cut a week ago. Keeping it shorter had been a good idea. Tony squared his shoulders, unconsciously shifting so he could feel the weight of his gun securely holstered on his hip. His jacket had been specifically tailored to hide the weapon so there was no revealing bulge or tell-tale sign he had it. Tony didn't expect to need it; he just couldn't bring himself to leave it behind. He had gotten so used to the weight and feel of it, without it he felt exposed, under dressed no matter what he was wearing. Like his badge, it just went everywhere with him. "Tony?" Gibbs put a hand on his shoulder, squeezing once. "I'm ready." Or as ready as I'll ever be, Tony amended silently. Gibbs nodded. He squeezed Tony's shoulder again before letting go. They left the room together taking elevator to the first floor. There were a number of people in the lobby, all dressed in shades of gray or black. More mourners for the funeral no doubt, Tony thought with a silent, derisive snort. Some he knew had to be business associates and a few were definitely out of town family. And he doubted any of them were truly sorry Anthony DiNozzo Sr. was dead. Tony shook his head. When his time came, he really hoped his own funeral was attended by people who gave a damn when he was alive or no one at all showed up. Either was preferable to this grand, meaningless display. It would only get bigger when the got to the church, of that Tony was certain. Gibbs raised an eyebrow. Tony shrugged one shoulder, eyes flicking around the room to encompass all the people milling about. Icy blue eyes measured them all with a glance and clearly dismissed them as unimportant. It made Tony smile a little at how rapidly his lover came to the same conclusion he had. As they headed for the front door, Tony let Gibbs take the lead, slipping into his usual place a half step or so behind the older man. He kept an eye out for anyone he might recognize while trying not to look like he was scoping them out. He didn't want to attract attention, and he sure as hell didn't want to talk to anyone. Several people looked their way, but no one seemed to really notice either of them. No reason they should. And Tony wanted to keep it that way. He wasn't involved with the family business nor did he have access to the family fortune. There was no real point in anyone who was seeking favor or attention on those fronts to bother with him. Tony hoped his father's will hadn't left him any interest in the company; getting rid of it would be a major pain in the ass. But keeping it wasn't an option Tony would entertain. Pain in the ass or not, anything his father had left him wouldn't be in Tony's possession for long. Money at least could be readily disposed of. Tony already had a number of charities he regularly donated to. Whatever his father might have left him would make for a bigger than usual contribution.

The limo was waiting for them outside. The driver stood by the passenger side door. He tipped his head to them, clearly having been briefed on who his passengers were to be today. "Good morning." The driver greeted them politely, a hint of a southern accent coloring his voice. Tony just nodded to the man, accepting his greeting but not returning it. Gibbs did the same. The driver opened the door for them. Tony eyed the dark interior warily. He distrusted vehicles with tinted windows. They'd held too many surprises in the past. He slid in, relieved to find no one else would be sharing the limo with them. Tony wouldn't have put it past any of his relatives to use the ride to the church as a way to get a look at the possible heir to his father's fortune. Danny wasn't the only one who likely harbored curiosity about the only son no one had seen in years. And while Danny hadn't had any ulterior motives, Tony was sure other family members wouldn't be so neutral. Most of them had no doubt forged alliances and plans of action for how to challenge the will if it didn't give them all they felt they were owed, or how to jockey for a coveted position with the new power broker. It made him tired just thinking about it. Gibbs sat next to him, waiting until the door was closed to take Tony's hand. He wove their fingers together. They didn't speak on the way to the church. Tony knew his silence worried Gibbs. He'd been far quieter than normal ever since he'd gotten up, but he just didn't have much to say. His lack of appetite worried Gibbs too, Tony knew. He had picked at his breakfast, unable to do more than eat half a piece of toast and finish a small glass of orange juice. Tony looked out the window. He felt like he should know the area, but after so many years, it didn't look familiar. So much had changed in the time he'd been gone. Oddly, that observation didn't bother him. He may have grown up here, but it wasn't home anymore. No�home was really with Gibbs. And the people who mattered were McGee, Abby and Ducky. Tony squeezed Gibbs' hand. He resisted the urge to lay his head on Gibbs' shoulder. He wasn't worried about being seen---the smoked glass between them and the rest of the world and even the driver was enough to ensure privacy. He was afraid if he leaned on Gibbs now, he wouldn't be able to stop. "It's going to be a typical Catholic funeral," Tony said quietly. He couldn't remember if he'd told Gibbs that or not. But it was something the man should probably know. Catholic funerals could be long, drawn out affairs. Gibbs grunted. "Mass and all?" "Yeah." Tony sighed. A full Mass wasn't required for every funeral and many people opted out of it, finding the full regalia unnecessary and exhausting. The hypocrisy of his father wanting all the pomp and circumstance the Church could provide when he rarely attended Mass wasn't lost on Tony. At least Kate had been a true believer. She'd deserved to have whatever she thought essential to see her soul to heaven.

"Won't matter what kind of funeral he has." Gibbs whispered. "He's still going to burn in hell." Tony was pretty sure the older man hadn't meant for him to hear that so he ignored it. It wasn't like he hadn't thought similar things himself. He wasn't sure when he'd realized Anthony DiNozzo Sr. wasn't a good man or even a good father. For much of his early life, Tony had been rather shy, wary of people in general. He wasn't nearly as outgoing then as he was now, so he didn't get invited to spend time in his classmates' homes which gave him little opportunity to compare his family to anyone else's. All he'd known was that his family wasn't anything like what he saw on TV and in the movies. At some point Tony adopted characters like Thomas Magnum as his role model, deciding he liked him better than he did his father. Magnum certainly embodied more of what Tony came to think of as defining a �good man'. The limo slowed. Tony took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Gibbs leaned over and placed a kiss on his temple. "It'll be okay." "Just stay close." "Planned to." Tony could feel some of the tension in his gut drain away. It wasn't like he hadn't known Gibbs would be right next to him. It was just reassuring to keep hearing him say it. When the limo came to a stop in front of the Immaculate Conception, Gibbs released Tony's hand and opened the door, not giving anyone else a chance to do it. Tony hid a smile. It was so like his lover to take as much control of the situation as humanly possible. Gibbs waited for Tony to get out and closed the door behind him. Tony was glad most people arriving had the good sense to just enter the church and save any gawking for later. The cynic in him was quick to point out it would be easier to see everyone arriving from inside than out anyway. Tony walked up the steps, doing is best to look like he wasn't dragging his feet. He knew there would be a place reserved for him in the front. As the only son, there was no way they could relegate him to the back. He wondered how many of the hangers on among the family were fuming about that right now. He'd gladly change places with any one of them. Tony entered the church, feeling a moment of awe that the building never failed to inspire. The arched ceiling of traditional gothic architecture drew his eyes upward while the stained glass windows sent shafts of colored light bouncing off the inlaid marble floor and crisp white walls. The scent of beeswax filled the air, mingling nicely with that of flowers placed in each window recess and at regular intervals in the nave. Tony dipped the first two fingers of his right hand in the holy water font and blessed himself with the sign of the cross. Gibbs did the same. Together they made their way down the center aisle to the front pew. Tony ignored the feeling of being watched, and simply kept his focus straight ahead. He ignored the not quite silent whispers as well. He reminded himself that nothing being said mattered.

His uncle Gabriel, along with his wife and three children, was already seated in the first pew. Tony kept his expression neutral with an effort, genuflecting out of habit. Gibbs genuflected as well, before neatly positioned himself so that he sat between Tony and his uncle, making sure to leave plenty of space. What the other man might have made of that Tony didn't care. He was just glad Gibbs was between them. With all of them seated this way, no one else could fit into the pew leaving Tony's right sit open to the aisle and him feeling less claustrophobic. His aunt Anna, her husband, and their three children were in the pew across the aisle. Tony couldn't remember where in Italy they lived, or if they even still lived overseas. His aunt Maria sat next to Anna. As far as Tony knew she'd never had any sort of lasting relationship, too focused on her job to really consider getting involved with anyone. Next to Maria was his step-mother, Monique. Monique was still strikingly beautiful, but Tony was quick to note she had the unnatural look to her skin and expression that were hallmarks of plastic surgery and botox treatments. Tony wondered where in the congregation Andrea had found a seat. He was sure she'd attend the funeral. He hoped he'd get a chance to speak to her today. He wanted to make sure she was okay. Her position as personal assistant wasn't one that would guarantee continued employment with the company, but she had enough time in, Andrea would probably retire. Assuming she could afford to do so. Tony eyed the casket sitting in front of the altar. He was glad it was closed. Tony didn't feel any real pressing need to view the body of his father, although some morbid curiosity lingered as to whether or not he'd even recognize him. If is his uncle Gabriel was anything to go by Tony decided he probably would recognize his father. Gabriel didn't look much different. At little more gray in his dark hair, a few more lines on his face, a bit more weight around his waist, but essentially unchanged. Tony went through the motions of the Mass; standing, kneeling, sitting when appropriate, saying the words by rote. He wasn't entirely surprised to realize he didn't recognize the man giving the eulogy. Not that it mattered. He wouldn't have known it was his father the man was talking about�honest, forthright, considerate, generous were not terms Tony would ever have used in the same sentence with his father's name. Guess his hypocrisy really knew no bounds, Tony thought with a mental snort. He wouldn't have put it past his father to have written his own eulogy, not trusting anyone else to do it right. He felt Gibbs' shoulder brush his own. Tony sighed, leaning in just a little. The incense was starting to give him a headache. Tony was relieved to hear the final strains of the closing hymn. He didn't know the pallbearers. They'd probably been picked out based on business connections. Tony didn't actually give a damn who carried his father. He was just thankful it wasn't him. It wasn't an �honor' he really felt any desire to have. He stepped out of the pew, following the procession with slow, measured steps. He ignored his step-mother moving at the same pace across the aisle from him. He was glad it was Gibbs behind him; Tony didn't feel hemmed in with at least one person he could trust at his back. Tony took a deep breath when he stepped outside. The crisp, fresh air was just want he needed to stave off his burgeoning headache. He glanced skyward. Clouds had

rolled in while the service was going on. It seemed appropriate that it might rain. Sunshine wasn't something he ever associated with his father. Tony headed for the limo that was parked just behind the hearse. He hoped the graveside portion would be short. He was beginning to wish he'd eaten more for breakfast. "Tony?" "Yeah, Boss?" Tony stopped, raising an eyebrow. Gibbs handed him a miniature chocolate bar. Tony smiled slightly. His lover knew him well and prepared accordingly. And he was grateful for that. Tony took the candy as he got in the car, unwrapping it and popping it into his mouth. The smooth milk chocolate melted on his tongue. It wasn't much but it would be enough to hold him until he could get something more substantial. Gibbs slid in next to him. He was about to close the door when Tony's uncle leaned in, blocking the opening. Tony grabbed Gibbs' arm, stopping his instinctive reach for his gun. Gabriel's dark eyes cast a wary glance toward Gibbs before focusing on Tony. "May I ride with you to the graveside service?" Tony's eyes narrowed, but he nodded. If there was something Gabriel had to say, Tony would rather it be done in private. And the cemetery was less than two miles away. Whatever Gabriel wanted to talk about he'd have to be fast. "Thank you." "Don't mention it." Tony smiled wryly. Wasn't that long ago he'd said the same thing to Danny. Gabriel cleared his throat. "It is good to see you again." Tony just tipped his head, acknowledging the statement. He couldn't really return the sentiment or actually believe his uncle meant what he said, so Tony opted for silence, waiting patiently for Gabriel to get to the point. He could feel Gibbs measuring the man, assessing him the same way he would a suspect in an interrogation room. Gabriel's eyes flickered toward Gibbs. Tony could see him trying to work out just who Gibbs was and why he was with Tony. He was equally certain that his uncle wouldn't ask outright. And if he didn't ask, he clearly didn't need to know too badly. "Was there something you wanted?" Tony asked, trying to urge Gabriel along. "I wanted to extend an invitation to you�and your guest�for a family gathering after the funeral." Tony's stomach clenched. The last thing he wanted was to spend more time with these people. "I appreciate the invitation, but I'm going to decline." He raised a hand to rub at his temple, partly for affect and partly because the headache he thought gone was back. "It's been a rather long day already." "Family is important, especially at a time like this." Dark eyes measured Tony. "You should make the effort to�"

"As I recall, family wasn't that important to you when your own father died." Tony's tone was clipped and cold. His father's hypocrisy he couldn't do anything about, but that didn't mean he had to tolerate Gabriel's. Gabriel looked away, color rising in his cheeks. "That was�" "Uncalled for." Tony glared at his uncle. "Being all but ordered not to attend my grandfather's funeral, in writing no less, was an unnecessary, and no doubt, calculated insult." Gibbs' gaze sharpened. If looks could kill Gabriel might well be ash. "Your grandfather would not have wanted you there." "So you took it upon yourself to ensure I wasn't." Tony sneered. "You could have asked and saved your secretary the effort. I hadn't planned on attending." His green eyes were glacial as they bored into his uncle. "I buried the only DiNozzo I gave a damn about when I was eighteen." Gabriel licked his lips. "Suzanne." "Sully." Tony corrected. He cocked his head, studying his uncle. "Was there something you really wanted? We'll be at the cemetery soon, so you might as well get to it and stop wasting time carrying out this farce of family bonding." Gabriel's eyes narrowed. "Watch your mouth." "Or you'll do what?" Tony snorted. "I'm not ten any more, Gabriel." Gabriel actually raised a hand, but Gibbs caught it before he even came close to doing more than threaten. Gibbs executed a neat joint lock; it was a torque of the hand at the wrist turning it back in on itself straining muscle, tendon and bone. The move took little effort and was capable of inflicting a great deal of pain. "That was not wise," Gibbs told him, his voice soft. Gabriel flinched, and tried to pull his hand away, but Gibbs' hold was firm, unyielding. He continued to apply pressure, making the other man gasp. Tony touched Gibbs' bicep. "Let go." "You sure you want me to?" Tony nodded. "I'm sure." Breaking Gabriel's wrist might be satisfying but it wouldn't be helpful. Gibbs let go. Gabriel sat back, rubbing his wrist. Gibbs have him a nasty smile. "You can abuse your own children all you like, but you will not hit Tony." Gibbs told him, voice broking no argument. "I have never struck any of my children," Gabriel declared hotly. Gibbs gaze narrowed. "You seem awfully quick for someone who's never done it before." Gabriel flushed. "My children know their place." "Safely under your thumb, no doubt." Tony smirked at Gibbs' comment. If Danny was anything to go by, that was a fair assessment. The kid probably hadn't ever though to do anything his parents didn't

approve of. Given his uncle's temper, that was probably the only thing that saved them from a childhood similar to Tony's. That temper was one thing Tony's father didn't share with his brother. He had let his wife do the hitting. It was, in hindsight, probably because he preferred to have her hit Tony rather than him. Gabriel shot Tony a dark look. "Leave it to you to employ someone so insolent." Tony laughed. He couldn't help it. "I believe it was you who told me like called to like." The car slowed. Tony glanced out the window. They were nearly at the cemetery. "Was there anything else?" "The will is being read tomorrow." "I am aware of that." Tony arched an eyebrow. "Your point?" "I want to know if you plan to contest it." "You could have asked that without ever getting in the car," Tony pointed out calmly. "Or bothering to invite me to a family gathering." "One attracts more flies with honey." "Yeah, and if I ever want to attract flies I'll keep that in mind." Tony smiled coldly. "For future reference, you'd do better to just be direct." Gabriel's eyes narrowed. "Are you going to contest the will?" Tony leaned forward. "And had you asked before insulting both of us by pretending to actually give a damn about me, I might have answered you. As it is, I think you can wait until I know exactly what is in the will that I might have grounds to object to." Gabriel's jaw tightened. "The company needs�" "I don't really care." Tony fought down the urge to roll his eyes. "We employ thousands." "If I thought you were asking out of concern for them, I'd be inclined to tell you what I know you want to hear." Tony shrugged one shoulder. "Unfortunately, you haven't changed in the last twenty years." "Neither have you." Gabriel glared at him. "Good of you to notice." Tony smiled as the limo stopped. "I believe this is where you get off." Gibbs opened the door. Gabriel eyed him warily before stepping out. Tony couldn't help finding their non-verbal exchange amusing. Once Gabriel was out of the car, Gibbs looked at Tony. "He hit you before, didn't he?" "He didn't make a habit of it, but yeah, he hit me." Tony reluctantly admitted. It had only happened twice, both times were because Tony had mouthed back to him. Gabriel didn't tolerate dissention well. "You should have let me break his wrist," Gibbs growled. "Trust me�hurting his pride worked better than breaking his wrist would have." Tony smirked. "Will have a more lasting impact too."

"Not so sure about that." Tony snickered. "Yeah, well, knowing him, you my get another chance." "If he even thinks of hitting you, I'll break more than his wrist," Gibbs growled. Tony didn't bother trying to reason with Gibbs. His heart really wasn't in trying to dissuade his lover. "C'mon. Let's finish this." An irreverent thought about how his father wasn't getting any deader flittered through Tony's mind making him fight hard to suppress an inappropriate grin as he followed Gibbs out of the limo. He was glad there were not chairs by the grave site. Standing meant he wouldn't have to be any closer to anyone than he felt comfortable with. And once again, Gibbs acted as a buffer, putting himself between Tony and the rest of the family. Tony discreetly scanned the crowded. There were fewer people than had been present at the church. He suspected it was more the threat of rain than any respect for the family that was the cause for the reduced numbers. He spotted Andrea with her husband in the back. While Tony had stayed in touch with her over the years, sending flowers and gifts for birthdays and anniversaries, he hadn't actually seen her in some time. He was startled to see how much she'd aged. Her hair was as gray as Gibbs' and she was wearing glasses now. His attention refocused on the priest as he went through the final act of the funeral. Tony waited for the coffin to be lowered before throwing in the obligatory handful of dirt. He had lingered at Kate's funeral, wanting to have one final moment with her, but after doing his duty for his father, Tony simply walked away. He didn't have anything to say to his father. The gulf that stretched between them when his father was alive was still there and no last minute words were going to fill it. Tony ignored his family, stepping over to greet Andrea. She smiled at him, warm and open, brown eyes looking him over. "Tony�It is so good to see you again." Tony smiled. Unlike his uncle, she genuinely meant that. He bent down and kissed her cheek. "Good to see you too, Andrea." He nodded to Andrea's husband, Mark, holding out a hand. Mark took it, his grip strong without being over powering. It was hard to believe the man was a car salesman. He just looked too honest for that profession. "Hello, Tony." "Mark." Tony grinned. "You enjoy the races?" "Have I ever not enjoyed the races?" Mark grinned back at him. "Thank you." "You're welcome." Tony reached out and motioned Gibbs closer. The older man had hung back a respectful distance, once he'd seen how Tony had greeted Andrea. She was obviously no threat to Tony. "I'd like you to meet a very good friend of mine. Andrea, Mark, this is Jethro Gibbs. Jethro, this is Andrea and Mark." "It is a pleasure to meet you," Andrea said, giving Gibbs another warm smile. Gibbs smiled at her. "Pleasure is all mine."

Andrea nodded, giving Tony a concerned glance. "I had so hoped Tony wouldn't have to come to this alone." Mark made a face, giving the slowly departing family members a suspicious look. "Especially with this lot." "Mark," Andrea chastised him gently. "That isn't polite." "Not any less true," he muttered. Gibbs smiled, shaking Mark's hand. "I am fully aware of the caliber the DiNozzo family." Mark gave Gibbs an approving nod. Tony wasn't really surprised that they would bond over mutual dislike of his family. "They aren't all bad." Andrea stated with a tone that made it clear she and her husband had discussed the topic many times. She took one of Tony's hands in both of hers. "Although, there is no denying that this young man is certainly the best of the lot." Tony blushed. "You are just saying that because I sent you flowers." "Not just for the flowers." Andrea winked at him. "There was the opera and the ballet." Tony laughed softly when Mark groaned. "Sorry man." "No you're not." Mark smirked good-naturedly. Tony opened his mouth to respond when the sky opened up. He ducked reflexively when the cold drops hit his head and neck, flinching from the sudden onslaught. "Would you like to join us for lunch?" Tony asked instead, instinctively glancing skyward trying to gauge the intensity and possible duration of the storm. "You're staying at the Towers, yes?" Andrea asked as she started for the parking lot, Mark moved with her, an arm around her waist. Tony nodded, moving to follow, Gibbs on his left. "Preferred that to the house." Andrea gave him an understanding glance through her rain spotted glasses. "We'll meet you at the hotel, if that's all right?" Tony looked askance at Gibbs, getting a small nod. "Perfect." Andrea and Mark got into a Dodge Charger. Tony smiled when he saw the car. He should have known a man with such an avid interest in racing would drive a muscle car. Tony shivered when he got into the limo. It hadn't been raining hard enough to do more than dampen his hair and shoulders, but the temperature dropped enough for Tony to notice. Temperature always affected him more when he was less than one hundred percent. Several days of little sleep and not eating well certainly qualified. Gibbs turned up the heat. "You got any more of that candy?" Gibbs handed him several pieces before wrapping an arm around his shoulders. Tony leaned in with a sigh. "No comment on ruining my appetite or spoiling my lunch?"

Gibbs smiled, and kissed his temple. "I'll let Ducky do that when we get home." "Let?" Tony snickered, popping a piece of chocolate in his mouth. "Don't think he needs permission, Boss." "Okay�then I won't stop him." Gibbs arched an eyebrow. "Happy?" "With you�yeah." Tony smiled shyly. That earned him a gentle kiss. "Good." "Very."

Gibbs ran his fingers through Tony's hair, smiling gently at his dozing lover. The couch in their suite was long enough for the younger man to stretch out like he did at home, his head in Gibbs' lap. The TV was on; the volume low enough to provide comfortable background noise. Gibbs sighed softly, fingers playing with Tony's hair again. His lover had nodded off not long after Andrea and Mark had left. They'd opted to have room service rather than dine in the hotel restaurant. It was certainly more private in their room, and without having to worry about distant relatives or business contacts that were also staying in the hotel it was definitely more comfortable. Gibbs couldn't help but like Andrea and Mark. They were genuine and friendly. It certainly didn't hurt that they were obviously fond of Tony. Tony was equally fond of them, chatting about their hobbies, their twin daughters, the grandson they were expecting next month, and vacation plans. He even touched briefly on Andrea's retirement plans, clearly relieved that she wasn't going to experience any financial problems if unable to continue working for the company. Gibbs was delighted to see the return of a lively, animated Tony. Having his lover so somber and quiet was unsettling. It was good to see Tony do more than pick at his food too. The younger man hadn't really eaten well since finding out his father was dead. After Andrea and Mark left, they'd put the room service cart outside the door and settled in on the couch. Gibbs wasn't surprised Tony dozed off. He'd sort of hoped that would happen. One good night's sleep wasn't enough to offset several nights of too little. And given the stress of the funeral, a nap certainly wouldn't hurt. The shadows under Tony's eyes weren't as deep as Gibbs had seen them in the past, but it was still worrisome. While Tony probably hadn't actually lost much weight, Gibbs thought he was starting to look a little gaunt. Hopefully when all this was over the younger man's usual healthy outlook and appearance would return. Tony shifted, eyes moving under his lids and he mumbled something indistinct. Gibbs ran his fingers over the younger man's forehead, soothing away the faint lines that appeared. He had hoped Tony's nap would be as restful as last night had been, but hadn't honestly expected it to be. They may have been able to put the encounter with Gabriel behind them while Andrea and Mark were there, but Gibbs knew better than to think it would be out of mind for good.

Tony's hands curled into fists. His breathing hitched, losing the steady rhythm of just a few moments ago. Gibbs cursed quietly. He shook Tony's shoulder. Better to wake him than leave him trapped in a nightmare. "Tony." Gibbs spoke quietly, shaking Tony's shoulder again. "Tony�time to wake up." Tony curled in on himself, pulling away from Gibbs' touch. One arm moved in an instinctively defensive gesture, covering his head. Gibbs knew better than to touch him again. If he did, Tony would most likely try to scramble away from him, and the couch wasn't big enough for him to go very far without falling off. That wasn't how he wanted Tony to wake up. "Tony." He raised his voice a bit, adding a stern note of command. It was how he talked to Tony at the office. "Up and at �em. I don't pay you to sleep." Tony sat up abruptly, green eyes wide and blinking. "I'm up, Boss. I'm up." Gibbs caught Tony's shoulder before he toppled off the couch, halting his automatic movement to get to his feet. He waited a beat, letting Tony get his bearings. "You with me now?" He asked softly. Tony took a deep breath before nodding. He rubbed a hand over his face. "Didn't mean to fall asleep." Gibbs hated the way Tony made it sound like he was apologizing. Napping wasn't something he should be sorry for doing. They weren't on the clock, and it was obvious Tony needed the rest. Gibbs laid a hand on the back of Tony's neck and shook him gently. "I don't care that you fell asleep." Tony frowned, cocking his head to look at him. "Then why did you sound�" "You were snoring," Gibbs told him. He hoped that if he didn't mention the nightmare outright, that having caught it soon enough, Tony might not remember it at all. No reason to call it to mind if he didn't have to. "I don't snore." Tony's eyes narrowed, suspicion readily apparent in his gaze. He no doubt suspected this was a ploy, and even if he didn't know the reason for it, he was obviously willing to go along. "How would you know? You're asleep." Gibbs rolled his eyes, hiding his relief, grateful for the trust Tony placed in him. "I do not snore," Tony insisted. "T would have mentioned it." Gibbs frowned before placing the reference. Thomas Thompson the third, �T' to friends and family, was Tony's roommate and frat brother in college. Like Joe, T was another friend Gibbs knew about but had yet to meet. "And if he hadn't said something, Vinnie sure as hell would have." Tony snickered. "That man was the lightest sleeper on the planet." Tony's cellphone started ringing. It wasn't the usual Looney Tunes ring tone Gibbs had become familiar with. This one was some sort of Irish jig.

"Speak of the devil," Tony muttered with a grin, reaching for his phone. Gibbs knew Tony had specific ring tones for different friends, but had the same tone for anyone work related. He offered to do the same thing for Gibbs' phone, but the former Marine was leery of having his phone be that damn complicated. "Vinnie, you better not be calling to cancel." Tony had mentioned expecting his attorney to put in appearance so they could be prepared for the reading of the will tomorrow. Gibbs had only found out last night that Vinnie was also a frat brother and lived in New York City. "Little late for me to cancel since I'm already in the lobby of this swank hotel you're staying in." Gibbs could just barely overhear Vinnie speaking, and shifted closer to Tony. He could pick out the trace of a New England accent in the light tenor. Tony gave him an exasperated look before tilting the phone further from his ear so Gibbs could hear more easily. "They won't let me go upstairs to your room." Vinnie sounded annoyed. "Apparently I look more like a paparazzo than an attorney. Definitely going to have to work on upgrading my wardrobe." "Don't think it's the wardrobe." Tony chuckled. "You are packing a camera, aren't you?" "Well, yeah." Vinnie sounded amused. "You know I never leave home without it." After getting together with his frat brothers in Baltimore a few months ago, Tony had shown Gibbs a photo album of trips he and his frat brothers had gone on together. He'd mentioned Vinnie having taken most of the photos. He was their official camera man whenever they got together simply because he never forgot to pack his camera. In fact, of the photos Gibbs had seen, he couldn't recall seeing Vinnie in any of them. Tony sighed. He raised a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. "Think you could have left that at home this time. I don't think this is going to be a scrapbook sort of occasion." "No, probably not." Vinnie's tone sobered. "Was just habit." There was a note of apology in his voice. "Don't worry about it, man." Tony smiled slightly. "I get it." Vinnie cleared his throat. "I need you to call down to the front desk and tell the lovely young lady running it that it's okay for me to come up." Part of the hotel security required a room key to operate the elevator. Gibbs thought the whole thing a bit overkill, but until Tony started staying at his place he hadn't bothered to lock his own door. Tony frowned. "Just hand her your phone." Vinnie made a rude noise. "Given that I made this call, I rather doubt she's going to trust it's you I'm actually talking to." "Point." Tony grimaced, shaking his head. "I'll call the front desk." He snapped his phone closed, ending the call. He reached for the room phone, dialing zero. "Yes�this is Tony DiNozzo. Standing in front of you should be my attorney, Vincenzo Shaunassey. He'll have ID if you really feel the need to ask for it.

I'd appreciate it if you'd give him my room number and a key to access the elevator. Thank you." "Vincenzo Shaunassey?" Gibbs asked when Tony hung up. The two names didn't seem to go together. "His mom's Italian. Dad's Irish." Tony shrugged. "He was named after her grandfather." Gibbs nodded. Well that certainly explained it. A soft knock at the door announced Vinnie's arrival. Tony opened the door, leaning casually against it. He laughed quietly. "Okay�so maybe it was the wardrobe." Vinnie flipped him off, but he was grinning as he did it. Dressed in black jeans, a tshirt that sported the statement �if I got smart with you, how would you know?' and a brown leather bomber jacket with a small digital camera slung around his neck, Gibbs could understand why the front desk might have been suspicious. Vinnie definitely didn't look the part of a high priced attorney. Gibbs frowned. Vinnie was probably Tony's age but could easily pass for a good five years younger. He looked like he should still be studying to take the bar, not practicing law. The former Marine was immediately skeptical that this�kid�would be able to hold his own in a room full of sharks---until he took a closer look. The jeans were some designer label and the jacket probably was as well. Short dark hair was roughly styled in a way that no doubt cost a small fortune. Clearly Vinnie had a bankroll, one he'd probably earned. And golden brown eyes that reminded Gibbs of those he'd seen in the lions caged at the National Zoo didn't miss a thing. They assessed Tony, Gibbs and the hotel room in only a few seconds. There was no doubt about it, Vinnie was smart, sharp, and probably ate other sharks for lunch. Gibbs shook his head. He should have trusted Tony's judgment. "Man, you look like hell." Vinnie leaned in to rest his forehead against Tony's, one hand cupping the back of Tony's neck. "You holding up okay?" "I'm good." "Un-hunh." Vinnie rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "You are still a lousy liar." Tony scowled, pulling back. "I'm getting better." "That isn't the sort of thing you should be proud of." Vinnie pointed a finger at Tony, expression stern. "It's the kind of thing guys like me are supposed to be proud of." Tony rolled his eyes. "You can't lie worth shit either." "I know." Vinnie grimaced. "I blame my mother. Woman always knew. Sort of made it pointless to even bother." He grinned, eyes sparkling. "But it has made me a better lawyer. So it's a fair trade off." "Fair?" Tony snorted. "You just like the challenge of playing by the rules."

"That I do." Vinnie laughed. His eyes flicked toward Gibbs and then back to Tony in an obvious request of an introduction. "Oh...right. Sorry." Tony blushed. "Vincenzo, this is a good friend of mine Leroy Jethro Gibbs. He prefers Jethro." Tony stepped closer to Gibbs, a hand on his shoulder. "Jethro, this is another good friend of mine, Vincenzo Shaunassey. He prefers Vinnie." Gibbs held out his hand. "Nice to meet you." Golden eyes sized him up for the second time, but Vinnie didn't hesitate to shake his hand. Gibbs wasn't sure if that meant he passed muster or not. Vinnie had a firm grip. He did more than push papers around, but whatever it was didn't leave calluses. Given how fit Vinnie looked Gibbs figured that meant time in the gym. He probably played some sort of sport too. Most of Tony's stories certainly implied that his frat brothers were athletic, even if they didn't posses the same talent Tony had in college. "Always a pleasure to meet another friend of Tony's. Glad he didn't go through this solo." "Not something anyone should have to do alone." "Agreed." Vinnie turned to look at Tony again. "You get the old man planted this morning?" Tony frowned. "Your mother would not approve of you being so disrespectful." "The man was a rat bastard." Vinnie gave Tony a hard look. Gibbs was beginning to think he might like Vinnie. The man was obviously not a bad judge of character. "Vinnie�" "He never came to a single game. He never called. Not once." Vinnie's lips curled derisively. "He couldn't be bothered to come to your graduation. Never visited when you got shot or stabbed or nearly pulled off a damn building. Christ, you nearly died from a disease out of the middle ages and he doesn't even send flowers. My mother would have eviscerated him and worn his guts for garters." Gibbs thought he might like Vinnie's mother too. She'd still have to get in line though. If anyone could deliver serious pain, it was Gibbs. He'd really wished he had the chance to hurt Anthony DiNozzo Sr. "I know." Tony waved a hand in a helpless gesture. "But�" "He was your father." Vinnie sighed, expression softening. "I know. And for your sake I will not speak ill of the dead." "I appreciate that." Vinnie smiled gently. "Figurati." "Since you mentioned her�how is your mom?" Tony asked. It was not the smoothest change of subject, but Vinnie was clearly willing to allow it. That earned him a few points in Gibbs estimation.

Vinnie's smile grew into a grin. "She is trying to marry me off in the hopes of getting more grandkids, but otherwise good as gold." Tony snickered. "The woman already has half a dozen." "That means nothing to her and you know that." Vinnie shook his head. "She firmly believed there is always room for one more." "You want anything to eat or drink?" Tony asked. "We just finished lunch a little while ago, but room service could deliver anything you want." Vinnie shook his head. "I'm good, thanks." "Make yourself at home." Tony motioned for Vinnie to take a seat. "Take of your coat and stay awhile." Vinnie shrugged out of his coat, folding it over the arm of the loveseat and sat down. He leaned back, glancing around the suite. "Nice digs." Tony shrugged, letting the comment pass as he sat down on the couch, facing Vinnie. Gibbs sat next to him. If Tony had wanted to talk to Vinnie in private, he'd have asked Gibbs to leave. Since he didn't, Gibbs fully intended to stay close. "You got a place to stay here in town?" Tony asked. "Plenty of room here if you�" "No worries." Vinnie held up hand. "I got it covered." Tony arched an eyebrow. "What's her name?" "Ellie Sands." "Doesn't sound like a good Italian girl." Vinnie gave Tony a pointed look. "I don't want a good girl." Tony smirked. "And you wonder why your mother wants to marry you off." "Hey, just because you found your someone special�who you have yet to provide me with a picture of or even introduce me to, I might add, does not mean the rest of have stopped looking." Tony bit his lower lip, a blush beginning to color his cheeks. He reached out and took Gibbs' hand with deliberate care, intertwining their fingers. "Vinnie�I just introduced you to my some one special. And you got your own damn camera so you can take a picture yourself if you need to." Gibbs was sure who was more surprised by that admission, him or Vinnie. He hadn't been expecting Tony to just take the bull by the horns and come right out and say it. Particularly in light of how uncertain he'd been about telling Abby and Ducky. But then, Tony obviously knew Vinnie for far longer and clearly trusted him not to be upset about his being with another man. And judging from Vinnie's expression he wasn't at all surprised to find out Tony's love interest was a man. No�he obviously knew his friend wasn't completely hetero. It looked more like he was surprised to have Tony just baldly state it. Vinnie's eyes danced as he sat forward, grinning. "Wait until I tell Joe I got to meet your SigO before he did."

Tony shot him a dirty look. "You really are five, aren't you?" Vinnie laughed. "Hey, growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional." Tony rolled his eyes. "I never should have said anything." "Too late." Vinnie almost sang that. He cocked his head, studying Gibbs. Gibbs met his gaze, unflinchingly, waiting to hear what the younger man would say. His being a man might not have been a surprise, but his being older than Tony probably was. Gibbs wondered if Vinnie knew he was also Tony's boss. Vinnie looked back to Tony. "He a Thousandth Man?" Gibbs frowned, unsure of the reference. Was that a compliment or an insult? Tony was obviously not confused by it. He just nodded. "He is and then some." "Excellent." He held out his fist and Tony bumped it with his knuckles. "About damn time you got a keeper." Tony snorted. "Hello, Pot." "Shaddup, Kettle." Vinnie sat back. "Your family know?" "They don't even know I swing that way." Tony shook his head. "Wasn't that long ago, counting you and everyone else, I wouldn't have needed all the fingers on one hand to total up the people I'd shared that detail with." Worry lines made an appearance as Tony frowned, eyes darkening with shadows Gibbs hated to see. "I don't want my family to know any more about Gibbs than absolutely necessary." "With your family�totally understandable." Vinnie pursed his lips. "You want him in the room tomorrow?" "Yes." Both Gibbs and Tony answered. "Definitely a Thousandth Man," Vinnie murmured quietly, giving Gibbs an approving look. Gibbs made a mental note to find out what the hell that meant. Vinnie took a deep breath, frowning thoughtfully. "How have you explained him being here so far?" "I haven't." Vinnie raised both eyebrows. "Come again?" "So far the only one to even come close to asking outright was my cousin Danny. And he assumed Gibbs was my bodyguard." Tony shrugged. "My uncle made the same assumption. Don't really know what other the rest think since none of them have deigned to speak to me." "Okay." Vinnie bit his lower lip. "We'll just keep going with that. But if they ask," he made eye contact with Gibbs, "the story is you're one of my associates." "Why?" "Because that entitles you to be in the room when the will is being read." Vinnie gave him a feral grin that assured Gibbs his assessment of the younger man's ability to eat other sharks wasn't wrong. "We can play it as you being a senior partner�keeping

an eye on me, the young pup, to make sure I do right by our client. No one will expect you to say anything. Just do that whole silent confident thing you got going on so well and glower now and again." Gibbs nodded. He wasn't sure about pretending to be a lawyer, but he would do whatever it took to make sure Tony wasn't left to face his family without back up. What Vinnie asked him to do wasn't out of the ordinary for him anyway. And it didn't preclude him from maiming people if the opportunity presented itself. "I got a list of who the executor invited to this thing." Vinnie pulled a slip of paper from his pocket and offered it to Tony. "Let's run down that so I got a better idea of who these people are." "You already did a background check on all of them, didn't you?" "I did." Vinnie admitted with an easy candor that Gibbs was coming to appreciate. "But little insight couldn't hurt. And you need to know who is going to be there so you can be prepared for any surprises they might spring." Tony took the list. He held it were Gibbs could see it as well. There were seven names on it. Tony read of each one, describing their relationship to his father, and what he remembered of them personally. He also referenced for Gibbs where they'd been in the church. Gibbs already knew who they were from his own research, but didn't interrupt. Tony frowned, reading the last name. "I don't know who Sandra DuPre is." He looked at Vinnie. "But if I had to guess I'd say she was my father's latest mistress." "Seems that way." Vinnie gave Tony an apologetic look. "I knew from the time I was six he wasn't exactly what anyone would call faithful." Vinnie winced. "I'm beginning to regret promising not to speak ill of the dead." Gibbs was damn glad he hadn't made a similar promise. He bit the inside of his cheek to keep from saying anything. Ranting about what a fucking worthless prick Anthony DiNozzo Sr. had been wasn't going to be helpful at the moment. When they got home, Gibbs promised himself time on the shooting range with the man's picture on the target. "Did you find out why I'm even in his will?" Tony rubbed a hand over his face. "I thought I was permanently disinherited." Vinnie shook his head. "Couldn't get anything out Litiz�.that's your old man's attorney, by the way, Joseph Litiz." Vinnie made a meaningless gesture with one hand. "He's not with the firm your father's corporation normally uses, but his reputation is solid." "Is that unusual?" Gibbs asked. "To go outside the normal firm, I mean." If there was something significant about that, Gibbs wanted to know what. "Yes and no." Vinnie sat forward again, resting his elbows on his knees. "Having personal legal representation that is separate from business is not a bad choice if confidentiality issues were a concern. And if ever in need, it is better to have a lawyer who works for you directly than for the company first and you second. But most people want an attorney they trust to handle all aspects of their affairs whenever possible. That tends to simplify things a bit. So while not unusual to have more than one attorney, it is not exactly the norm either."

Vinnie made a helpless gesture with one hand. "Having Litiz is contrary to how the rest of the family handles their personal legal affairs. They all have attorneys working at the company firm." Gibbs nodded. Gabriel had mentioned his brother changing his will frequently. So maybe the man had picked another lawyer to simply hide the details of his will more effectively. It could also have been something of a power play to differentiate himself from his siblings. Vinnie pursed his lips. "I wasn't able to officially access his medical records, but what little I could find, I'd say your father knew his heart was dodgy. He had been scheduled for cardiac related tests before his first heart attack. I'm guessing he redid his will to hedge his bets in case he couldn't do it later if the tests confirmed he might actually be dying. Litiz alluded to your father mentioning you in the will was probably just another way to make it difficult for you to contest it." "Why the hell would I�" "Not saying you would." Vinnie held up a hand. "But as his only son, and presumed logical heir, you not being mentioned at all, would definitely provide legitimate grounds for you to contest it. Especially if you wanted to claim he wasn't of sound mind when he wrote it." "Just covering his own ass," Gibbs growled. "Not like anything in his life was ever about me," Tony whispered bitterly. And it was then Gibbs realized his lover had held out some small hope that his father might have mentioned him in the will as a statement that he had genuinely cared about his son, as a gesture of affection or request for forgiveness of past hurts. Gibbs freed his hand from the hold Tony still had on it, wrapping an arm around his shoulders, and pulling him close. He didn't care if Vinnie saw or not. Tony needed this. Tony buried his face against Gibbs' neck, hiding for several moments. Vinnie looked away, obviously trying to give them some privacy, and clearly understanding that his getting up to leave would only embarrass Tony. Gibbs good see the same anger and concern flashing in Vinnie's eyes that likely resided in his own. When Tony raised his head, green eyes were overly bright but no tears had been shed. He squared his shoulders, and pulled away from Gibbs' hold. "I am not going to contest his will." He made eye contact with Vinnie. "I don't want his money. Never did." "If that's what you want." Vinnie agreed easily. "And if someone else gets pissy?" "Let them fight it out." One of Tony's hands curled into a tight fist. "I want no part of some long, drawn out legal battle for shit I never wanted in the first place." "You sure?" Vinnie asked. "I could make their lives hell for you." Tony snorted. "I can't afford you." "Pro Bono." Vinnie countered. "You are my friend�For that alone, I would find a way to strip them of everything they consider valuable." There was no mistaking his readiness to do it. Gibbs decided; he definitely liked Vinnie.

"That you are willing is enough." Tony smiled. It was a little shaky but it was there. "You are no fun at all." Tony chuckled. "Some day we are going to talk about your definition of fun." "Preferably over a good meal and a fine bottle of wine." "I can do that." "Good." Vinnie hesitated for a moment. "You still want to give away whatever he did leave you?" "Absolutely." "All right." Vinnie nodded. "Anything else you think I should know before we leap into the lion's den tomorrow?" Tony rubbed a hand over his face. Gibbs bit back a curse. Tony looked more tired than he had before taking a nap. "Can he call you�if he thinks of anything?" Gibbs asked. Vinnie nodded, a look of understanding passing between him and Gibbs. It was nice to know he had a formidable ally here when it came to looking out for Tony. Andrea and Mark were good people, but Vinnie was likely better prepared to take on the DiNozzo family and win. Tony stood up when Vinnie did. He stepped closer and pulled Vinnie into a hard hug. "Thank you." "In my book, I still owe you." Vinne slapped Tony lightly on the back. "So you don't have to thank me." When Tony released him, Vinnie smiled at Gibbs. "You take care of him, okay?" "Planned to." "Good man." Vinnie gave him a tight smile that was a clear endorsement of Tony's choice. "I'll be here tomorrow at ten am sharp." "We'll be ready," Tony told him. Gibbs really hoped they would be. No matter how tomorrow went, he had no doubts it wouldn't be a walk in the park. Normal families got stupid when it came to inheritance. The DiNozzos would probably set a new standard for selfish, greedy behavior.

Checking his reflection in the mirror, Tony grimaced at the feeling of d�j� vu. He promised himself when he got home he wasn't wearing a suit for at least a week. Casual would be the order of the day. He straightened his cuffs. The emerald green of his silk shirt was a striking contrast to the dove gray Armani suit coat and pants. Tony had packed the outfit on Abby's recommendation. "It's a power suit for you, Tony," she'd told him with authority. She'd even picked out the matching gray tie with green stripes.

He could feel Gibbs watching him. Tony turned and offered the older man a smile. "I'm okay." Gibbs nodded even though he didn't look like he actually believed Tony. The fact that he hadn't slept well and refused breakfast weren't helping his case, Tony was sure. But the thought of eating now just made his stomach clench. Better to go without than puke at an inopportune moment. Tony's eye darted toward the door when he heard a soft knock. He glanced at his watch. "That's probably Vinnie." "I'll get it." Gibbs made a stay motion with one hand. Tony shot a look of fond exasperation at Gibbs' back. It wasn't like he couldn't take care of himself. He had been doing it for years. Still�Tony couldn't deny the warm rush it gave him every time Gibbs made it obvious he was looking out for him. Gibbs checked the peep hole and then opened the door, keeping it between him and whoever was outside. Tony knew Gibbs stance was not a real indication of danger on the other side of the door. It was habit; just like their carrying their guns at all times. Vinnie nodded to Gibbs as he walked in. Tony whistled as he looked over his long time friend. "Nice." Vinnie grinned and did a little pirouette, showing off his deep blue suit. The color complimented his dark hair and light olive complexion his mother's Italian heritage had given to him. And it had obviously been tailored to fit. "If you'd worn that yesterday, they wouldn't have thought you were scum," Tony pointed out with a small laugh. Vinnie frowned. "Common courtesy should not be dependant on what one is wearing." "Your mother told you that." "She did." Vinnie smiled brightly before pointing a finger at Tony. "Doesn't make it any less true." True or not, Tony knew appearances mattered. It was the reason he was wearing the Armani today. It was likely the main reason Vinnie was in Saint Laurent when any other suit would have worked. Even Gibbs had opted for the Pierre Cardin suit Tony had talked him into buying. The basic black was too good a look for Gibbs for Tony to let him pass on it. It had been worth listening to him bitch for an hour about the cost just to see him in it. "You ready?" Vinnie asked quietly, golden brown eyes studying him closely. "Not really." Tony shook his head. "But it's not like I have a choice." "Sure you do." Vinnie countered, expression serious. "I am your official representative. I could legally do this without you." Tony was tempted by the offer but shook his head. "Wouldn't send you into the lion's den alone." Vinnie pulled him into a quick hug. "And you aren't going alone either." "Thanks." Tony whispered. It wasn't like he had ever thought he was alone, but it was nice to have confirmation just the same.

"Hey�I've been waiting for years to get a glimpse of your messed up family." Vinne stepped back, grinning. "They should make mine look positively ordinary." Tony laughed. "I don't think that's possible." "You only say that because you've met my family." Vinnie looked at Gibbs who had moved to stand next to Tony. "You ready for this, Jethro?" Gibbs nodded. "I am." "Good." Vinnie raised a hand. "Couple of ground rules before we go." He gave both of them a pointed look. "Once we are in that room, I do all the talking. If there is something that needs said, I'll be the one to say it. You keep your mouths shut until I tell you otherwise. Capisci?" Tony felt Gibbs stiffen, and he didn't even have to look at the older man to know what his expression would be. Gibbs was far more used to giving orders than taking them, but that didn't mean he couldn't let someone else be in charge when necessary. The former Marine nodded, accepting Vinnie's restriction. "This is going to be like playing poker." Vinnie reached out and straightened Tony's already perfectly straight tie. "They only need to know what we want them to know, when we want them to know it, and not one second before." Vinnie patted Tony's jacket, smoothing out non-existent wrinkles. Tony stifled the urge to giggle when Vinnie neatly stepped in front of Gibbs, adjusting his tie and smoothing his jacket as well. That Gibbs allowed it was something else Tony found both surprising and amusing. He never thought he'd see that in a million years. But then Vinnie's ability to face down practically anyone and act as if getting his way was a foregone conclusion was one of the reasons he made such a damn good attorney in the first place. "No losing your temper and going off half cocked�either of you." Vinnie looked at Tony before once more making eye contact with Gibbs. "I know it will be tempting� believe me, I know, but I need you to let do my job. Killing anyone will make that harder to do. Not impossible mind you, but definitely harder. And I'd rather do this the easy way." "Not impossible?" Gibbs asked, raising an eyebrow, a smile lurking in his eyes. "Definition of justifiable homicide is a little looser these days." Vinnie winked at him. "But I'd still rather not have to defend you in court. In my line of work, I prefer the bloodshed to be metaphorical, not something I actually need a mop and bucket to clean up." "What if I just maim?" Gibbs' grin was feral. "And don't spill any blood?" "Maiming�bloodless�" Vinnie made a show of thinking about it, eyes sparkling. "Definitely easier to work out. Just try and save that for when there are fewer witnesses." "Do not encourage him." Tony smiled in spite of himself feeling more relaxed than he had before Vinnie's arrival. Vinnie grinned. "We ready then?" Gibbs nodded firmly. "Let's do this."

Tony could feel his expression morphing into his game face. It felt odd to wear it outside of work. And he would have felt self-conscious if he hadn't seen Vinnie and Gibbs doing the same thing. In Vinnie's case that meant he looked friendly enough but not someone who would be easily swayed. Gibbs just looked like pissing him off would be a really bad idea�it was the face he usually had on when going into an interrogation. The valet must have been keeping an eye out for Vinnie because they didn't have to wait long for a midnight blue BMW to be brought around. Of his frat brothers, Vinnie was the only one who placed the same emphasis on having a car with style that Tony did. Vinnie had been just as heartbroken as Tony was when his classic car was totaled. Tony elected to sit in the back. There was less leg room, but he wasn't going to fight Gibbs for the front seat. And he wanted a little space to himself. While he appreciated Gibbs' being nearby, he wasn't used to the near constant attention he'd been getting for the past few days. Tony leaned back and closed his eyes. He tried to imagine inhaling the silence, absorbing it and letting it settle into his bones. He pictured exhaling his insecurities, worries and fears so all that was left behind was quiet confidence. He used to do this sort of meditation before joining NCIS, back when he went undercover for more than a few days at a time or he wasn't sure he could rely on his back up if a situation got hairy. Tony didn't open his eyes until Vinnie parked the car. Vinnie probably thought he was sleeping, but Gibbs always seemed to know when he meditating. Tony wasn't sure he wanted to know how Gibbs knew. Tony glanced around. He didn't recognize the location, but he hadn't really expected to. Until Vinnie mentioned Joseph Litiz yesterday, Tony had never heard of the man. Vinnie's BMW looked right at home with the Lincolns and Cadillacs filling the lot. The custom color was the only thing that made the Beamer stand out, which was likely one reason Vinnie had selected it. Tony got out of the car. He kept pace with Gibbs as they went up the stairs to the front door, letting Vinnie lead. It was a huge relief to know he didn't actually have to do anything. This was Vinnie's show. Tony suppressed the urge to roll his eyes at the opulence of the front entry. Everything from the furniture to the lighting had obviously been done with the intent to impress Litiz's clients with his success. It was a not so subtle way of saying he was worth the small fortune he was charging for his services. They stopped in front of the receptionist. She appeared to be closer to Gibbs' age than Tony's and smiled at them. "May I help you?" "We're here for the DiNozzo will reading," Vinnie told her. She nodded, flipping through a small sheaf of papers in front of her. "And you are?" "Attorney Shaunassey and my associate Gibbs." Vinnie waved a hand toward Tony. "We are representing Anthony DiNozzo Jr."

She looked up from where she was scanning a short list. Reading upside down, Tony saw it was the same list Vinnie had with him yesterday. At least there shouldn't be any surprises. She frowned. "I wasn't aware Mr. DiNozzo would have more than one legal representative." "I wasn't aware there would be a restriction on my client having all the representation he felt necessary," Vinnie told her with a smile. Tony knew Vinnie had purposefully phrased his statement to make it sound as though she were trying to deny him a right to counsel. His friend had always been good at subtle implications�and not so subtle when the situation called for it. Vinnie looked pointedly at his watch while the receptionist struggled to figure out how to respond to him. "The reading is scheduled to begin soon." He smiled politely at her again. "We really don't want to be the ones to delay the proceedings. Everyone else is present, yes?" "Yes." She cleared her throat, standing. "If you'll follow me." "Certainly." Vinnie's smile warmed considerably, and she blushed in response. Gibbs rolled his eyes. Personally, Tony thought his boss could learn a thing or two about taking a soft approach to getting what he wanted. But then the hard line way Gibbs did things got results too�he just usually left more pissed off people in his wake than Vinnie did. The receptionist led them to what Tony assumed was a boardroom. The heavy, solid core doors with brass knobs looked too pompous to be anything else. That and if every one on the list brought at least one attorney, a boardroom would be the only place big enough to house them all. She knocked once before opening the door. "Anthony DiNozzo Jr., Sir and his representatives." "Send them in, Carol." She opened the door wider in an obvious invitation. Vinnie dipped his head, thanking her. Tony did likewise, giving her a small smile. Gibbs just strode into the room. A man who looked to be a little younger than Ducky approached them. He ignored Gibbs and Vinnie both, holding out a hand to Tony. "I'm Joseph Litiz, your father's attorney." Tony shook his hand as a matter of form. "Tony DiNozzo." He gestured toward Vinnie and Gibbs. "And my representatives. Gibbs and Shaunassey." "Call me Vinnie, please." Vinnie smiled, holding out his hand. Litiz shook it, eyeing the younger man as though trying to place him. "You're with the Carterson firm?" "I am." Litiz nodded, looking impressed. And well he should, Tony thought. The Carterson firm had made a name for itself in New York City.

Litiz raised an eyebrow, adjusting his nez pierce glasses. "I wasn't aware they handled civil matters." "On occasion we do�.for the right client." Vinnie smiled, not quite baring his teeth but there was definitely an edge to his expression. Carterson was better known for its criminal work and represented several big name clients often working closely with the district attorney's office. Tony knew this sort of civil thing wasn't Vinnie's specialty. But he wanted someone he trusted to navigate his minefield of a family, and knew his friend wouldn't leave him wanting. Mr. Litiz nodded, stepping back. He offered his hand to Gibbs. Gibbs ignored him, blue eyes scanning the room and people already seated at the table. Gibbs stepped forward to one of the open chairs and pulled it out. He looked at Tony. Tony bit the inside of his cheek to keep from saying the first thing that came to mind. Teasing Gibbs now wasn't a good idea, certainly not in front of this audience. Instead, he simply sat down. Gibbs sat at his left, Vinnie took a seat on his right. They pulled their chairs back up to the table in unison. Tony hadn't overlooked that Gibbs' seat put him directly across the table from Gabriel. He was sure that was deliberate. The narrowed eyed gaze that Gibbs locked on Gabriel signaled the former Marine's willingness to continue yesterday's confrontation. Tony was amused to see his uncle shift uneasily under the weight of Gibbs' stare. The man on Gabriel's left looked vaguely familiar to Tony. He couldn't place him, but figured it was safe to assume he was Gabriel's attorney. He was probably someone Tony had encountered as some family gathering he'd been forced to attend as a child. Next to him sat Gabriel's oldest son, Carmen. Like his younger brother, Danny, Carmen looked a lot like his father. Carmen was only two years older than Tony, but if he hadn't known that Tony would have put him closer to ten years older. The premature gray at his temples and lines of stress aged him considerably. Seeing him made Tony very glad he he'd never wanted to be involved with the family business. One seat away from Carmen sat another cousin. This one was from his mother's side and Tony really knew him only by name, Andrew Parducci. According to Andrea, Tony's father had been grooming Andrew to take his place within the company. The man gave Tony a smug, dismissive glance. Tony returned the look with a smirk of his own, green eyes hard and calculating as they measured the younger man. If Andrew thought he'd taken something away from Tony he was sadly mistaken. The seat Gibbs selected put him between Tony and the other members of his family sitting on the same side of the table, and ensured an open seat between them as well. His Aunt Anna and Maria sat next to one another. Tony assumed the unfamiliar severe looking woman in a sharp looking pinstripe navy blue suit on their far right was their attorney. Probably from the usual firm the family used. Across the table from Vinnie sat Tony's step mother, Monique. Her attorney was a young man that would have looked right at home on the cover of GQ. Assuming his step mother was still acting true to form, she'd picked him more for his appearance than skill or knowledge. That didn't preclude him from being capable, but Tony was

fairly confident the guy was more interested in sleeping with Monique than anything else. At the far end of the table sat a lovely young woman Tony assumed was Sandra DuPre. She was the only one who looked obviously uncomfortable, her fingers playing with the bracelet on her right wrist. Long artificial nails were painted a blood red that clashed slightly with her tight burgundy blouse. She certainly fit his father's type when it came to mistresses: barely legal age, blonde, and beautiful. It wouldn't have surprised Tony at all if she mentioned working in a strip club at one point. Those had been trolling grounds for his father for years. She sent an anxious glance toward Gabriel. Tony wondered if his uncle had said something to scare her. Knowing him, it was certainly possible. Litiz sat down at the head of the table. He tapped a sheaf of papers against the polished wood, unnecessarily evening out the already ordered stack. "Since everyone is present, if there are no objections, I'd like to begin." Tony wasn't surprised no one objected. He was fairly confident the others didn't want to be here any more than he did�not really. They wanted their piece of the pie but didn't care to linger over the formality. In some ways Tony was honestly surprised they hadn't tried to schedule reading the will before the funeral. But then appearances and form counted. And Litiz looked to be old school enough to not permit the reading to take place before his client had been properly buried. Tony wasn't surprised that the will addressed business matters first. The company was a dominating force in his father's life. It was of primary concern to at least Gabriel, Maria, Carmen and Andrew. Tony doubted Anna, Sandra or Monique actually cared any more than he did, except for what money it might give them. "With regard to my shares in DiNozzo Enterprises, to my brother, Gabriel, I bequeath�" Tony tuned out the number of shares and what not related to the company. He couldn't care less. Watching Gabriel's face he knew his uncle was pleased with what he was getting�.at least until he heard what Maria was being given. When Michael DiNozzo had stepped down as company president he'd essentially given three of his four children equal shares in the company. They each held 22%, with various board members holding the remaining interest. What Tony's father had given Maria essentially gave her controlling interest, by only 2%, but it would still be enough for her to call the shots from here on out---assuming she had allies on the board, and Tony knew she had those already well in hand. The remaining shares were divided among Carmen and Andrew, enough to make them full fledged members of the board, but not enough to really give them the sort of clout either one had obviously been expecting. Tony could see Gibbs watching Gabriel and Maria, Carmen and Andrew. He could probably tell which one of them was about to lose control. If it were just him and Vinnie in the room, Tony might have offered odds and taken a bet on it. Tony's money would be on Andrew. The younger man had the least experience, and looked the most shocked by the news. Tony sighed silently disappointed for having called it wrong when it was Carmen spoke first.

"That can't be right." Carmen hissed, his expression outraged. "I assure you, Mr. DiNozzo, this is was my client clearly stipulated�" "Bull--" "Carmen." The sharp reprimand came not from Gabriel but Anna. She took him down several pegs with just a measuring look from her hazel eyes. A formidable woman in her own right, Tony thought, feeling more respect for her than he had in years. She had to have had some serious strength of character to have defied her father's wishes and run off to live in Italy. "Before you begin your protests it would be best to allow Mr. Litiz to finish reading the rest of the will." Anna had no interested in the company, but Tony's father had substantial personal assets. She was only keeping Carmen from doing anything until she knew what she might stand to lose. Litiz cleared his throat. "If I may continue then?" "You may." Anna tipped her head in a regal fashion. Tony stifled the urge to roll his eyes, but traded an amused look with Vinnie. They'd both encountered people with an overblown sense of self importance before, but his family certainly was in a class all of their own. To Tony's surprise, his father hadn't left Anna anything. Instead sizeable trust funds had been established for each of her children. She seemed pleased with that. Or at least, not unhappy. More money was bequeathed in the form of trusts to Gabriel's other children. Tony wondered if Danny would be pleased to know his college education wouldn't cost him anything. Not that it was likely costing him anything now. Maybe he'd use the money to escape the clutches of his family, but Tony doubted that. He decided not to think about it. Monique got the house on Long Island. She also got the vacation home in Hilton Head. And more than enough money to live on even if she didn't manage wisely, which she likely wouldn't. She looked pleased, smiling like a cat that ate the canary, until Litiz got to what was being left to Sandra. It probably didn't help matters that his father had chosen to identify Sandra as his lover. No one ever said his father was ever tactful when it came to family. Anthony DiNozzo Sr. left Sandra a million dollars. It was a pittance in comparison to what he'd given his siblings' children, but it was a not so subtle insult to his wife�.and possibly to Sandra if her expression was anything to go by. She probably expected a much better pay off. Her fingers clenched into fists, but to her credit she kept her mouth shut. "And finally to my children�" Both Tony's eyebrows climbed upward. He could feel Vinnie and Gibbs both tense beside him. Children? As in plural? He wouldn't have put it passed his old man to have a bastard or two out there. The man slept with a lot of woman over the years,

and Tony doubted it occurred to the arrogant son of a bitch to ever consider wearing a condom. For him to acknowledge another child now was�interesting. It got even more interesting when reference was made the fact that Tony's brother or sister hadn't been born yet and the need for a paternity test to confirm the father. Monique wasn't pregnant. Tony was sure of that, which meant it had to be Sandra. Virtually everyone reached the same conclusion at the same time, and they all turned to look at her. She lifted her chin, smirking at Monique and then giving Gabriel a sly, spiteful look. Tony was willing to bet she'd slept with him too based on that expression alone. She probably had before sleeping with Anthony, and mostly likely because Gabriel dumped her in his usual abrupt fashion. Why she would see that as getting even was anyone's guess. But her timing was impeccable. It had, after all, gotten her a seat at the table. "Yeah, that's right." The sneer she sported made Tony wonder why he'd thought her attractive at all. "I'm pregnant with the old man's bastard." "It does not appear my brother was confident your claim is entirely valid," Maria spoke quietly, arching one eyebrow. "The will bears a stipulation for proof." "Oh it's his alright." "No funds will be dispersed for the child's care to maturity or education until paternity is proven," Litiz said calmly. The amount mentioned to be given to this child was double what had been left to various nieces and nephews. And was a damn sight more than Tony's father saw fit to leave him. $250,000 had obviously been intended as an insult. And it would have been in light of what everyone else had received�if Tony actually gave a damn about any of it. Sandra's gaze narrowed as she looked at Litiz. "I will not endanger my child's life with any tests until after it's born." "Yes, the child's health being your primary concern�and not the added clause that allows you to live in the Manhattan apartment receiving the best medical care until a test confirms the father." Monique's voice was dry and mocking, malice underlying every word. The bickering escalated from there. For the most part Tony simply watched it all, letting them hurtle insults at one another, amazed on some level by how spiteful they were capable of being. It was�educational to say the least. He had expected some hostility, but thought it would be expressed in a more restrained way than this. Something led by the attorneys filled with legal threats and lawsuits. It was starting to make Tony feel decidedly uneasy. And judging by the way Vinnie was watching everyone, he was equally unnerved by the growing chaos. Carmen snarled something at Andrew, and if looks could kill Andrew would have been a pile of ash. Andrew for his part was glaring daggers back at his cousin, hissing something equally hostile. Monique seemed ready to sharpen her nails on Sandra, referring to her as little more than a gold digging whore who wouldn't see a dime of DiNozzo money. Sandra for her part seemed equally willing to take her on telling her she was no better, spreading her legs for anything that moved. Anna watched it all with distain, probably wishing she'd stayed in Italy. Gabriel told Maria

that she would never have control of the company. Maria shot back she'd been in control for years while her brothers indulged themselves with drugs, booze and women. Gabriel stood up and Tony instinctively pushed his chair back, recognizing the rage he saw in his uncle's eyes and the danger it presented. It was then that Gibbs stood up and slammed both hands on the table, effectively silencing the entire room and drawing everyone's gaze to him as icy blue eyes pinned them in place. "That is ENOUGH!" "My colleague is right." Vinnie stood as well, laying a restraining hand on Gibbs' arm. "This legal proceeding degenerating into a circus and not something we, or our client, care to continue participating in." Tony stood, moving to step behind Gibbs. He wasn't using Gibbs as a shield as much as he was taking his usual position, backing his boss' play. He kept a wary eye on everyone, hand not quite on his weapon but close to it. "I'll leave my contact information with your secretary, Mr. Lititz. When you've managed to resolve this�this�" Vinnie looked around the room, disappointment and dismay dominating his expression, which Tony knew wasn't entirely for show. "This cluster fuck into something resembling an organized dissolution of property, just let me know." They stepped back in obvious preparation to leave when Maria halted him with a simple request to wait. "Ma'am?" Tony kept his tone polite, more than ready to just walk away. Her gaze rested on Tony. "Anthony�" "Tony," he corrected her sharply. "Tony," she conceded with a nod. "You have voiced no objection to the will." Tony arched an eyebrow. "Would you have heard me if I had?" He shook his head, damn glad he'd walked away from these people years ago. "I don't have a dog in this fight. And honestly," he looked at each one, measuring them and dismissing each in turn, "I don't want one. If I never see any of you again, it'll be too damn soon." He looked at Litiz. "Mr. Shaunassey has full authority to speak on my behalf. Contact him if you need anything from me." Maria started to ask another question but Gibbs neatly cut her off. "Direct contact from any of you with Tony DiNozzo will be considered a hostile action." Blue eyes snapped fire as they raked everyone in the room once more. "You can expect an appropriate response in that event." "Is that a threat?" Gabriel asked defiantly. "More like a promise." Tony was impressed by how much malevolence Gibbs could inject into that simple statement. He managed not to smirk when he saw Gabriel discreetly rub his wrist. Checkmate. He walked out of the room, and didn't look back. Gibbs and Vinnie flanked him. He paused only long enough for Vinnie to leave business card with the secretary.

Gibbs got in the back seat with him when they got to Vinnie's car. He offered Tony a piece of candy but his hands were shaking so badly he couldn't open it. "Tony?" "I'm okay." Tony handed the candy back to him. "Just�" "I know." Gibbs nodded and opened the candy for him. Tony was grateful he didn't have to explain. Not eating breakfast, being so worried about this confrontation and then having it end in such an anticlimactic fashion left him reeling a bit in the aftermath. "You want me to stop somewhere to get something to eat?" Vinnie asked, concerned eyes meeting his in the review mirror. He knew as well as Gibbs how Tony could get when he didn't eat. "Would rather just have room service at the hotel." Tony preferred the privacy it afforded, especially after meeting with his family. They had use of the room until their flight out tonight. Not having to check out at noon was a concession the hotel had made in deference to the DiNozzo name. There was really no reason not to make the most of it. And they could debrief in private there. "Hotel it is."

Gibbs settled into the couch, pleased to have Tony lean into him. After that �clusterfuck' of a will reading as Vinnie called it, he wanted the younger man to stay close. The shakes Tony had in the car had passed, but Gibbs knew a few pieces of candy weren't anywhere near enough to keep them from reappearing. Room service had been ordered and once it was delivered Gibbs planned on making Tony eat a full meal. "So what happens now?" Tony asked, looking at Vinnie. It was a good question; one that Gibbs wouldn't mind hearing the answer to. Nothing had been resolved at the will reading that he could see�with the possible exception of ensuring any one in that room would think twice before trying to contact Tony directly. And God help them if they were stupid enough to ignore his warning. Gibbs was in no mood to be lenient with any of them. "If they have any sense�and from what I've seen they don't�" Vinnie grimaced shaking his head. "Man. I have never seen a family self-destruct so fast or so spectacularly before." He gave Tony a commiserating look. "Your family makes mine look normal, and I never, ever, thought I'd say that." Tony snorted. "I warned you." "Yeah, you did." Vinnie took a long swallow from the scotch Tony had poured when they got back to the hotel. Gibbs hadn't objected. A stiff drink seemed to be in order. Although, Tony had yet to touch his drink and Gibbs hadn't done more than sip from his. "Like I was saying, if they have any sense, they'll give you the $250,000 your father left you, and ask that you sign a no contest agreement. With the amount of money

being talked about, the two fifty is a pittance and something the estate could easily part with without really affecting anyone else's share significantly. They could still fight over the rest at their leisure. Paying you off would simply eliminate one more person from the fray." Tony frowned. "I was never in it." "True." Vinnie shrugged. "But they didn't know that until today. Which is I suspect at least one reason why your Aunt Maria asked if you had any objections." "Another reason being her compulsive need to know where every player stands before letting them out of her sight." Tony rolled his eyes. "It is a trait that probably works well at the office." Vinnie sipped his drink again. "I mean, she is the chief financial officer of a successful company. And based on the crap she was saying to your uncle, not to mention what's been reported in some of the trade magazines about her, I'm guessing she does a damn sight more than just her job at the company." "She does." Gibbs heard Tony's near silent sigh and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. He got a small smile in return as Tony settled more heavily against him. "You think she deserves to run the company?" Tony asked. "Not my call." Vinnie shrugged noncommittally. "But it looks like your father might have thought so." He pursed his lips. "Or given how messed up everyone is�he did it to set them at one another and hoped to see some fur fly as a result." Tony held up his hands as though balancing something. "Want to lay odds on the latter?" "No." Vinnie grimaced. "Hell, no." His lips turned upward in a rueful smile. "Kind of glad we didn't bet on who would break first either. I'd have lost." "S'okay. I would have too." Tony chuckled dryly. "Who'd you pick?" "Thought it would be Gabriel. He sure looked ready to explode when Litiz got to the part about what Maria was getting." Vinnie sighed. "I was not expecting it to be the next generation that blew first." Gibbs arched an eyebrow. He'd expected any outburst to come from the younger two men. Carmen and Andrew clearly didn't have the same level of experience when it came to controlling themselves as their elders. But then, Gibbs thought to himself, the rest of the family doesn't seem to know a lot about self-control either. Or if they did, they didn't see the need to practice it. Vinnie sipped his drink. "I thought your cousins would be more like you, Tony." Tony frowned, cocking his head to one side as he studied his friend. "Why?" "I assumed that because you are roughly the same age, they'd act more like you than they would the rest." Vinnie shook his head, holding up a hand. "Stupid thing to assume, I know. Won't happen again." Vinie's expression was sober as golden eyes met green. "If no one has mentioned it to you before, my friend, allow me to be the first. You are leaps and bounds ahead of your family in all the things that really matter."

Gibbs was delighted to hear Vinnie give Tony that matter of fact compliment. He'd thought the same thing himself but wasn't sure how to say it�or whether or not Tony would believe him if he did. He watched the blush rise in Tony's cheeks in response to Vinnie's compliment. Tony ducked his head. "Thanks, man." "You're welcome." Vinnie finished his drink, setting the glass on the coffee table with a sigh. "Do you want more?" "No." Vinnie waved off the offer. "I have to drive later." "You still okay with dropping us at the airport?" Tony asked. "It is a bit out of your way." Vinnie have a hand in a dismissive gesture. "I'll just add it to the bill." Tony snorted delicately. "You're doing this pro bono, you schmuck." Vinnie grinned. "I do have a charity or two that I could add to the list if you really feel the need balance the scale." "Sure. Why not?" Tony shrugged. "Might as well share the wealth." Gibbs wondered just how many charities were on the list now. Tony hadn't actually mentioned any to him directly. But then, Gibbs hadn't come right out and asked either. "I could hold out for more than the two fifty if you like." Tony's brow furrowed. "You think they'd pony up more?" "Won't know until they offer." Vinnie shrugged. "If they offer that is." "You said it was the sensible thing to do," Gibbs interjected quietly, not sure he would see anyone who'd been in that room doing the sensible thing, "what would be the stupid thing to do?" "They could try to cut Tony out entirely." "Why would that be stupid?" Tony frowned. "I don't even want anything." "They may not believe you really meant what you said today. So they might try to force the issue." Gibbs wouldn't be surprised if that was in fact the case. The two hundred and fifty thousand was nothing when there were millions on the table, but that likely wouldn't register with Tony's family. They'd probably fought over less, and were greedy enough to lose sight of the big picture. "But I represent you now. All those people heard you say so yourself." Vinnie's smile was all teeth, wild and feral. "So when it comes down to just us legal types, arguing over fine points of law and not a boardroom masquerading as a circus, I will see to it that you get a piece of the pie." His eyes hardened. "I'm not going to let these people try to fuck you over, Tony. Certainly not without making them pay for it." Tony sat forward, pulling free of Gibbs' loose embrace. "Vinnie, you don't have to�"

"No, I don't have to. I want to. Besides, I'm not being entirely altruistic." Vinnie's smiled warmly at Tony. "I've got my own reputation to protect after all. I couldn't let them just get away with something like that. It wouldn't look good for me." Gibbs grinned. Oh yes, clearly, Vinnie was worried only about his reputation. It was good that Tony's friends didn't lie any better than he did. "Like I'm going to believe that." Tony laughed softly. "Just promise me one thing." "Name it." It spoke volumes about their friendship that Vinnie didn't hesitate, nor did he ask what Tony wanted him to promise before agreeing to it. "Don't do anything that will get you arrested or fired." Vinnie snickered. "You'd bail me out." Tony gave Vinnie a hard look. "Not the point, Vinnie." "And Joe has room so I could stay with him." Tony rolled his eyes. "Again, not the point." "Love you too, Tony." Vinnie grinned. Tony glared at him, but Gibbs could tell the look lacked any real heat. "Just promise." Vinnie held up his right hand in the traditional boy scout salute. "I promise not to do anything that will get me arrested or fired." "Thank you." Tony reached out with a fist and Vinnie bumped it lightly with his knuckles. The gesture obviously sealed the deal between them. "Were you a boy scout?" Gibbs asked, wondering if the salute wasn't any more valid for Vinnie than it was for Tony. "My younger brother and I both made it all the way to Eagle." Vinnie told him proudly. "And my little sister is a den mother now. It is just about the only thing we still have in common, truth be told." A knock at the door announced the arrival of room service. Vinnie got up, waving at Tony and Gibbs to just stay seated. Gibbs kept a sharp eye on the door, just in case. Vinnie pulled a wheeled cart into the room, politely telling the bell boy additional assistance was not needed. Gibbs saw him tip the kid, but couldn't tell how much Vinnie gave him. If the kid's smile was any indication, it was at least a twenty. Vinnie nudged the door shut with one foot before he brought the cart over to where Gibbs and Tony were still seated. He set the food out on the coffee table, offering both of them utensils wrapped in linen napkins before sitting down again. Gibbs cut up his steak, pleased it was cooked just the way he liked it. The mashed potatoes were not as good as he could make for himself, but he wasn't going to complain. He took a sip from the cup of coffee that had been included with his meal, watching Tony. The younger man was spending more time moving things around on his plate than eating. Gibbs reached out to lay his hand on Tony's forearm halting the latest round of shuffling bits and pieces of his meal. "Something wrong with your food?" Tony gave him a startled glance before he shook his head. "It's fine."

"And you can tell that just by looking at it?" Gibbs arched an eyebrow. "Usually you have to taste it to make that call." Tony took a few bites, clearly intended to appease Gibbs. Gibbs sighed. He thought their conversation would have helped settle Tony's nerves enough that eating wouldn't be hard for him to do. He thought Tony had started to relax. Obviously, he missed something. Gibbs mentally reviewed everything said and done since they'd gotten back to the room. Tony's mood had steadily improved until Vinnie mentioned his brother and sister. Something about that reference had caused a subtle shift in his lover's expression and body language, one Gibbs had overlooked when they'd been interrupted by the arrival of lunch. "Talk to me, Tony." Gibbs spoke softly, but made it clear he wasn't asking. Tony sighed. "Kind of just hit me." "What did?" "I may be an older brother in a few months." Gibbs shared a look with Vinnie. In the chaos of people arguing over who deserved to get what, they'd both forgotten why Sandra DuPre had been there. And what that might mean for Tony. Damn. "It could be you'll just be getting another cousin." Vinnie said quietly. Tony gave him a rueful smile. "Caught that, did you?" Vinnie shrugged one shoulder. "Was hard to miss." Gibbs grimaced. He'd seen the look Sandra had given Gabriel as well. There was definitely a history between them. One that likely wasn't too dissimilar than the one she'd shared with Tony's father. Vinnie wiped his mouth with his napkin. "And given her past occupation�.you really can't write off the idea the child might not be related at all." "Past occupation?" Gibbs' eyes narrowed. He suspected what Vinnie was hinting at, but it was always better to be sure. "Looked into her background the same way I did everyone else." Vinnie gave Tony an apologetic glance and got a forgiving look in return. It wasn't like Vinnie hadn't already mentioned having done research. Judging by his expression, Tony suspected the same thing Gibbs did. "What did you find?" Tony asked, sounding resigned. "She spent a few years working as an exotic dancer before going to work for a high end escort service. Last year she was busted twice for prostitution. Tony raised a hand to rub at his temple. "Drugs?" Gibbs thought that was a fair question. Drugs and prostitution didn't necessarily go hand and hand, but they were often found together. Some girls needed a little hit to be able to turn their first trick, and before they realized it they were hooking to make money for another hit. Vinnie shook his head. "No mention of drugs in her records."

"Thank God for small favors," Tony whispered. It wasn't conclusive proof she wasn't a user but it certainly implied she might not be. If Sandra was clean, at least the child, DiNozzo or not, wouldn't be born with an addiction. "Let's not borrow trouble just yet, Tony." Vinnie leaned forward, expression earnest as he made eye contact with Tony. "You can decide how you feel about becoming a brother for the first time at age thirty-six once you know for sure the child is actually your sibling." Tony worried his lower lip, gaze shifting from Vinnie to Gibbs. "Boss?" "Vinnie's right." Gibbs reached out to caress Tony's cheekbone with the knuckles of his hand. "There's no reason to worry about it until you know if you need to be." "I just�I don't---" Tony closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I don't want my little brother or sister to have a childhood like mine." Gibbs winced. That was a sentiment he could understand. Hell, it was one he shared. No child should grow up like Tony had. "If the child is your brother or sister, we'll make sure he or she is taken care of," Gibbs promised. While Gibbs had every intention of following through on that promise he had no idea how to make it happen. He gave Vinnie a look, silently asking for his support and assistance. Vinnie tilted his head in agreement. Gibbs might not know how to fulfill that promise now, but with Vinnie's help, he was sure they could figure it out. "I'll get in touch with some experts on child custody and welfare law." Vinnie said. "When we know for sure the child is your sibling, we'll be ready to do what it takes to make sure the kid gets a fair shake." Tony nodded. "Thank you�both of you." "You're welcome." Vinnie replied, smiling warmly. Gibbs echoed the sentiment. He moved his hand to cup the back of Tony's neck and squeezed gently in silent support. "Anything else you need to talk about?" Tony's lips curled upward in a small smile. "I think that covers it." "Good." Gibbs lightly cuffed the back of his head. "Eat your lunch." "I'm not really�" "Eat it or I'll tell Ducky and Abby you were skipping meals." Gibbs was not above calling in reinforcements when necessary. Tony stared at him. "That's not fair." "I know." Gibbs pointed to Tony's plate. "Eat." Tony muttered something about pushy bastards, but the set of his shoulders was relaxed again. He didn't eat with any real enthusiasm, but Tony ate without any difficulty or obvious reluctance. Gibbs mentally put a check mark in the win column. As he finished is own meal, Gibbs considered the situation, reviewing options and possibilities. It pained him to admit it, but all that was left for them to do was wait. Until Sandra's child was born there was no way to say for sure if it was Tony's sibling,

cousin or unrelated. And the rest of the family might want to wait on confirmation of that detail before they made an offer to Tony. Although, Gibbs couldn't see anyone involved in the company being willing to have control of the business put on hold for six months. He was damn glad they could let Vinnie handle negotiations with the family for the most part. Gibbs was relieved they weren't spending another night. Distance from those people was definitely a must. He wanted to be firmly on his own turf if they were foolish enough to try and contact Tony. Or were stupid enough to threaten him in any way. Getting back to the familiar surroundings and usual work routine would give them both something else to focus on. And it would go along way toward making Tony feel comfortable in his own skin again. Gibbs hated how tense and uneasy his lover had been since they'd gotten on the plane to come to Long Island. Gibbs made a note to call Abby, McGee and Ducky when they got back. If anyone could help Tony stay on an even keel until everything with his family was completely settled it was those three. And they would need to be filled in just in case back up was needed. "You okay, Jethro?" Vinnie asked. Gibbs blinked. "Yeah, why?" "You got awfully quiet." "Just thinking." Tony grinned. "Planning world domination again, are you?" Gibbs grinned back. "Just my little corner of it." "Business as usual then, Boss?" Gibbs nodded, giving Tony a wink. Looking out for his own was definitely business as usual.

Even though he'd promised not to go more than five miles, Tony knew his going running would worry Gibbs. Until getting the plague, how far he went hadn't ever been a serious issue. And it wasn't much of an issue now�most of the time. Tony shook his head. It wasn't like he meant to lose track of how far he'd gone or deliberately pushed himself too hard. Most of the time, when he over did it, he hadn't made a conscious decision to do so. He got into a rhythm and simply shut his brain off, moving on autopilot. Or he would be so focused on what had him running in the first place Tony forgot everything else, concentrating on the problem not on how far or how fast he ran. Tony turned off the street and on to his usual path through the park, stride still relaxed and easy as he jogged. His breath fogged in front of him. The chilly air burned slightly with each inhale. It felt good to be back on his home turf. Geographically it wasn't that far from New York , but for all intents and purposes, D.C. might as well be on the other side of the world as far as his family was concerned. They'd seemed content to ignore him for

years, so Tony didn't think even with the dissolution of his father's estate still unsettled any of them would be willing put for the effort to get in touch with him. Especially not in light of Gibbs' promise to treat any attempt to contact him as a hostile action and respond accordingly. Tony was confident no one in that room had any doubts about Gibbs' ability to make good on his promise. Memories of that moment still gave Tony a heady sense of security and confidence. To have someone like Gibbs in his corner had been decidedly reassuring. It was better than knowing he was armed. And he was grateful Vinnie knew how to handle the rest. He trusted Vinnie to know what to do with his family's attorneys. At least they hadn't acted like toddlers throwing temper tantrums over having to share their toys. He wondered if the other attorneys been as surprised as he was by how quickly the DiNozzo family's behavior had degenerated in Litiz's office. Given how quiet they'd all been, it was possible. It was also possible they were afraid to get into the ring while their clients were still going at one another. Tony couldn't really blame them. It was rather like watching a train wreck happen in slow motion. Tony didn't think anyone other than Gibbs could have brought a halt the growing chaos; everyone else was either involved in the fray or dumbfounded by it. Tony idly wondered what happened after they left. Part of him really didn't care one way or the other. He'd washed his hands of them and he had no regrets. Vinnie had promised to keep in touch when he dropped them off at the airport. There hadn't been any news the first week. It made Tony think that maybe his family had decided to wait to find out if Sandra's fetus was a DiNozzo before they did anything, or maybe they were still squabbling with one another and hadn't gotten around to considering what to do with Tony. The second week, Vinnie had called to let him know the family had begun negotiating more seriously, but no firm offer was made. He also sent an article in the Wall Street Journal which mentioned Anthony DiNozzo Sr.'s death. It quoted a company spokesman who stated that control of the company was still firmly held by various family members with a long history in the business. It was the typical sort of noninformation Tony expected to see in print. It reassured the stock market and stock holders that it was business as usual no matter who was at the helm. He picked up his pace, legs stretching out to reach further and faster. The team had worked three new cases during those two weeks and had helped another team close a fourth. Staying busy made it easy to forget the passage of time. One day morphed so smoothly into another he could ignore the lack of news and pretend nothing had really changed. Tony smirked to himself, veering off to the left when the path forked. It had taken three weeks to convince Abby hacking into his family's financial records and ruining their credit or draining their bank accounts was not a good idea. McGee had joined Abby's side. He had argued rather effectively for the idea. Although the techno babble McGee used to showcase not only how it could be done and that they wouldn't get caught lost Tony after a few seconds. Ducky had even joined in, startling Tony with his uncharacteristic hostility. It wasn't like the older man to harbor so much antipathy toward people he'd never met�unless they'd done something that resulted in putting a body in Ducky's morgue.

In hindsight, Tony realized he shouldn't have been so surprised by their reaction to hearing about how his family had behaved during the will reading. Gibbs had invited Ducky, McGee and Abby over the day after they returned from New York and had given them a rundown of events. Their outrage on his behalf was heartening�and not a little frightening when he let himself think about what they could and would do for him. He was glad Gibbs had sufficient discretion not to share anything Tony had told him about his childhood even though he hadn't directly asked the former Marine to stay silent on the subject. Tony knew the others understood his childhood was far from ideal, but he still wasn't comfortable with them knowing the specifics. He didn't want any pity, or for them to treat him differently because of it. And Tony wasn't sure he could have talked Abby out of doing something really drastic, especially if Gibbs gave her anything that even hinted at permission. The one who'd truly astonished him was Ziva. He wasn't sure how exactly she knew she hadn't been invited to the gathering Gibbs had called, but she definitely knew about it. While she hadn't said anything to him directly, it was obvious she'd been hurt by the exclusion. The way she'd looked at him made him feel like a heel. He might not completely trust her when it came to the true nature of his relationship with Gibbs, but Tony couldn't help feeling like he owed her more. She was a teammate�someone he liked, almost a friend. She'd offered silent understanding and support when he'd requested the time off for the funeral. The least he could do was let her know how it went. So he'd invited her along on a coffee and Caf-Pow run during one of their slower mornings, and took the opportunity to fill her in on what happened in New York. It was oddly therapeutic to do so. Gibbs had done most of the talking when it came to bringing the others up to speed, and while grateful at the time, Tony found having a chance to talk about it with Ziva allowed him to more fully express how it all made him feel. The others thought his father was an ass and deserved to rot in hell. And for the most part they were right. The man's death didn't represent any great loss, but he was still Tony's father. Ziva's mixed emotions toward her own father gave her a more personal understanding of his ambiguous feelings about Anthony DiNozzo Sr. She didn't think it odd that he felt vaguely guilty for not caring more that his father was dead. Nor did she wonder why Tony had regrets about not making peace before his father died even though he didn't have a clue what he'd have said to the man if given the chance to actually speak to him. She got that he didn't hate his father, any more than he loved him. And she could empathize with how bizarre it felt to be more concerned with the welfare of strangers than he was about his blood relatives. When Ziva heard about Abby and McGee's idea to sabotage his family's finances she thought it an excellent suggestion. Although, her proposed modifications to the plan were a bit more direct�and bloody. Tony was glad she hadn't voiced those when the others were around. It was far too likely they might agree. Tony remembered Ziva's angry look when his mouth gaped in blatant surprise at her being so hostile on his behalf. She'd glared at him. "What? You don't think I could do it?"

"Didn't think you would," he had told her without thinking. That she was capable of lethal action was never in doubt. "Why not?" Her anger faded, leaving her looking hurt. "You were not surprised by Abby or McGee willing to go to club for you." "Bat," Tony had corrected her automatically. "Go to bat for me." He'd shaken his head, amused by her continuing struggle with colloquialisms. He shrugged one shoulder when she demanded an answer to her question. "They actually like me." She'd sat back, eyes wide. "You think I don't like you?" "Not well enough to kill for," Tony had told her honestly. It wasn't like she shared secrets with him or they had common interests. She'd never said so directly, but Tony was sure she'd dismissed him as a lightweight, a jock getting by on good looks and luck alone. Her surprise at how well he handled himself while they were undercover as married assassins was proof of that. Her expression had gone painfully neutral. Her eyes had dropped when she disclosed she was sometimes at a loss for how to really fit in with the team. She wasn't used to working with people for longer than a few weeks at a time. Being the daughter of a high ranking Mossad officer made her unwelcome for long because other people feared receiving greater scrutiny from above. And they often assumed she was there to spy on them for her father. It had made establishing any sort of real rapport with her coworkers decidedly difficult to do. Tony was stunned when she apologized for not telling him before that she enjoyed working with him. She told him she liked how he made her laugh, something she hadn't done much of before joining NCIS. Ziva even went so far as to tell him she respected his ability as an agent. It had been literally a new beginning for them. And Tony considered it one of the better things that came out of his father's death. Tony pushed himself to maintain the same pace as he headed uphill. He was breathing hard but still moving easily. He wished he was as close to settling things in his mind as he was to reaching the maximum distance Gibbs had imposed on his run. After a month, he'd put the will and his father out of his mind�mostly. Conversation with Vinnie focused more on their usual topics of sports, work, and friends. He trusted Vinnie to tell him anything he needed to know when he needed to know it, which was what had him running now. There was a message on the machine. It wasn't long, and didn't say anything specific, but the tone in Vinnie's voice made it obvious whatever he wanted to talk about was important. Tony needed a clear head before the talked to Vinnie. He needed to be ready whatever Vinnie had to tell him. Tony added a burst of speed as he crested the hill and the ground flattened out. Being totally cut out of the will wouldn't be the worst. Vinnie would fight hard against it, but Tony didn't really want that. It wasn't like he'd expected to get anything at all. Nothing much in his life would change if he didn't get any money. And nothing much would change if he did get any. Anything he received was already earmarked for charity. St. Jude's Children's Hospital, The Cancer Research Foundation, American Museum of Natural History,

Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation would all benefit. It was just a question of how much each one would receive. The money wasn't what worried him. No. What really worried Tony was Sandra DuPre's unborn child. Vinnie said she was in her second trimester. It would still be months before Tony knew if her child was his sibling, cousin or unrelated. That left things hanging�because the outcome would affect what they could do for the child. Having to fight his family to make sure his sibling didn't grow up the way he had would be tough. He couldn't see them actually giving a damn about the child; they would only want control of the money and real estate the child inherited. Tony knew Sandra would fight tooth and nail to maintain control of that largesse too. The child was clearly nothing to everyone else but a payoff, which made the possibility of Tony getting custody decidedly unlikely. He didn't think Sandra would object to visitation though. A small child would no doubt cramp the lifestyle she wanted to become accustomed to. He was hoping he could be there for the child the way Aunt Sully had been there for him. Child welfare laws had more teeth now than they did when Tony was a child. If he saw or heard anything that wasn't kosher, he could do more to ensure the safety of this child than just summers away from home. He found himself looking forward to showing the kid all the neat places Sully had shown him every summer; national parks, museums, monuments, Disney World. He might even get a chance to spend holidays and birthdays with him or her. Tony hadn't said anything to Gibbs. He'd stayed silent about it not because he didn't think Gibbs would help out or want to spend time with a little kid. His lover was great with children. It was more that he was afraid of getting his own hopes up. And saying anything out loud might jinx everything. If the child proved to be his cousin, things would be harder. There was no guarantee Gabriel would claim the child. If he didn't, what Tony could or couldn't do depended heavily on Sandra. Tony was pretty sure he could still look out for the child, arrange some sort of visitation�with financial compensation. She was too much of a gold digger to turn down money when it wouldn't cost her much of anything. If Gabriel did claim the child as his, Tony wasn't sure he'd have the money or standing to argue with him. Or if he should. He'd washed his hands of the rest of his family, barely knew any of his cousins. He wasn't sure it was wise to get involved over this one. But he'd been a child himself when his other cousins had been growing up. There wasn't much he could have done to help them. He was an adult now. He couldn't see himself voluntarily allowing this child to suffer when he could do something about it. Even if the child wasn't related to Tony, he felt like he owed it something. Sandra had probably planned to get pregnant to extort money from Anthony DiNozzo Sr. The child would never have been conceived if she hadn't been hoping to use it as the key to the kingdom. He didn't want another innocent to suffer for his father's actions. But if unrelated, Tony knew he'd have no standing for visitation and no claim for custody. Vinnie had been working on options. He might be able to convince her to relinquish any parental rights to the child, essentially allowing Tony to foster the child�for the right price. No matter what Tony was able to get from his father's estate, short of

nothing at all, his payoff would be more than Sandra would get if the child wasn't a DiNozzo. Basically buying the baby would be less valid than adoption, but had a better chance of success. Unmarried with a career in law enforcement with no real experience with children didn't exactly make Tony a promising candidate for adoption. Gibbs had plenty of experience with children, his own home and including both their incomes they would qualify financially to adopt as a couple, except for them being gay. As a gay couple, their chances of adopting were even worse than Tony's chances alone. There was so much unknown. Tony wasn't sure what he was really hoping for. He thought running would help him figure it out, but so far he felt more like he was just covering the same issues over and over again. Tony considered running longer, but he'd promised Gibbs. He looped back through the park, hurdling one of the benches with ease. Running hadn't helped him settling anything but at least he felt calmer, a little more ready to face whatever it was Vinnie had to tell him. Tony slowed to a walk as he neared Gibbs' house. He did a few stretches before heading inside. He was somewhat surprised not to see Gibbs pacing the floor. Tony cocked his head, listening. He could hear sounds coming from the basement. Unable to decide if that was good or bad, Tony hesitated at the top of the stairs. The former Marine had been every bit as edgy as Tony since hearing Vinnie's message. Discretion was the better part of valor, Tony told himself with a wry smile, choosing to take a shower rather than head into the basement. The pipes made enough noise Gibbs would know he was home. Tony would have preferred to linger in the shower, but he knew that would be just putting off the inevitable rather than actually enjoying himself. So he kept it short, staying in only long enough to ensure he was clean before getting out. He toweled off before heading into the master bedroom to get dressed. He picked out a pair of heavy, fleece lined sweatpants and a USMC sweatshirt that had belonged to Gibbs before Tony claimed it as his own. He pulled on a pair of thick wool socks and then headed out to the living room. He wasn't surprised to see Gibbs already there, coffee mug in hand. "You have a good run?" "Was all right." Tony sighed. He would have liked to have gone longer, and still felt an urge to just�move�but he'd promised. Gibbs put his coffee down on the end table and pulled Tony into a hug. "It'll be okay." "I know." Tony hugged him back. As long as he had Gibbs, friends, his job, he could handle everything else�eventually. "At least�maybe�now it will be settled and done with." Not that he really believed that but he hoped for it just the dame. "You want me to call, Vinnie?" "I'll do it." Tony kissed Gibbs' cheek before pulling away. He'd gotten Gibbs a newer phone not long after he started spending more time at his house. The old rotary thing his lover had was an antique. Gibbs had agreed to a cordless with a caller ID display but wanted no other �stupid gizmos'. Tony had

gotten the simplest one to be found, and he was grateful it had a speaker option. It would save having to repeat what Vinnie told him. Tony sat on the couch. He was relieved when Gibbs sat next to him. He had wanted to ask, but he didn't want to appear too needy. Vinnie answered on the second ring. "This is Vinnie." "Vinnie, it's Tony. Hope you don't mind, but I have you on speaker." The speaker often gave everything an odd echo sort of quality that some people hated, and Tony thought it only fair to warn his friend. "Speaker is fine." Vinnie hesitated for a moment. "Gibbs with you?" "I'm here." "Good." Tony winced. That didn't sound positive. For Vinnie to think Gibbs needed to be present meant it was definitely bad news. Might as well get it over with, Tony thought. "Tell me the bad news." Vinnie sighed. "I'm not sure what constitutes bad in this case." Gibbs frowned heavily. Tony leaned heavily into him when Gibbs wrapped an arm around him. "Explain that," Gibbs ordered. Tony didn't have to see Vinnie to know he was biting his lower lip. He was obviously looking for a way to word what he wanted to say. "Vinnie�just start at the beginning." "I got a call today around one. Sandra DuPre had been admitted Mount Sinai Hospital. She was bleeding heavily." Tony froze. If it was a cut from a broken glass or something equally minor Vinnie wouldn't have called. This had to be more serious. Had she been in an accident? Mugged? Attacked by one of his family? He opened his mouth to ask, but no words came out. It was Gibbs who asked what he needed to know. "What happened?" "She had a miscarriage." Tony took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He knew, intellectually, those happened. During a case a few years ago that focused on an ensign who'd killed herself because she'd lost her baby Ducky rambled at length on the statistics which showed an average of one in five pregnancies ended with a miscarriage. It was estimated that nearly 800,000 each year happened in the United States alone. Tony shook his head. It didn't seem possible. In all his thinking about this child, it never occurred to him it would be anything but whole and healthy. "Is Sandra okay?" Tony asked, his voice sounded tight in his own ears. "She'll be fine. Believe me." There was something in Vinnie's tone that prompted Tony's next question. "You went to see her?" "Yeah." Vinnie cleared his throat. "She was more pissed at a golden opportunity lost than upset over the death of her child. She was insisting on a DNA test. She wanted proof the child was still an heir. And how much she was still entitled to."

Tony's jaw tightened. "Was it�" "He," Vinnie inserted clearly aware of what Tony wanted to know. "The baby was a boy. And no, he was not your brother or you cousin." Tony shook his head. It was hard to adjust his mental picture. In his head, the child had been a little sister with little blonde pig tails and bright green eyes, always happy to see him. Or maybe a little girl with dark hair in a braid, blue eyes lighting up when she saw her favorite uncle. He swallowed hard. "DNA takes longer to confirm than just a few hours," Gibbs stated. If anyone knew how long it took it was Gibbs. The man hounded Abby constantly for quicker results. "DNA , does, yes. But blood type, no. The child was B Negative. Sandra is O Positive." "Same as my father and my uncle." Tony whispered. There was no way the baby could be either of theirs. It would have been O Positive as well. Vinnie sounded like he was grimacing when he spoke again. "Doctors think that mismatch in RH factor was what caused her to miscarry. If she'd gotten it checked they could have given her something to help her carry the child full term." Tony frowned, recalling more details Ducky had been spouting off. It really was astonishing how much of what the ME went on about stuck with him. "But for that cause a miscarriage that would mean she�" "Had a child before," Vinnie finished for him. "She did. Gave it up for adoption six months after giving birth. Probably did that one a favor. I'm sure it was better off being raised by someone else." Tony couldn't help but agree. Sandra was probably more like Tony's mother than not. He closed his eyes. Tony raised a hand to absently rub at the dull ache that formed in his chest. The loss of his fantasy about being a big brother or a favorite uncle hurt worse than losing his father. It wasn't until now he realized just how much he'd been looking forward to that. It was probably better this way, he told himself. While he thought he could be as good as Aunt Sully, but there was no way to know for sure. Little kids hated him. He was okay with teenagers�in small doses, but he didn't know anything about small children. At least nothing worthwhile. He could make sure there were good memories of Halloween, maybe give advice on clothes and cars, but he didn't know anything about the important stuff. No�Tony took a deep breath�it was definitely better this way. It had to be the right thing to hurt this much. He shivered, curling in closer to Gibbs. He was vaguely aware that Gibbs and Vinnie were still talking, but Tony had no idea what was being said. All he really understood was Gibbs telling Vinnie he'd call him back, and Vinnie saying something about taking care of him. "Tony?" "Yeah?" "You okay?"

Tony wanted to say he was fine. He just shook his head, burying his face in Gibbs' chest. His eyes watered, and he struggled to hold in his grief the way he had so many times before. He kept waiting for Gibbs to say something, to tell him to suck it up and quit being such a baby. The loss of a child he never knew shouldn't have this level of impact. Gibbs just held him, rocking back and forth in a soothing rhythm, one hand patting his back. "I know, Tony. I know." That gentle compassion undid him. Tony's control evaporated, silent tears streamed down his face to soak Gibbs' t-shirt. He cried for the dream he'd lost. He shed tears he'd never felt he could for Sully and for Kate. For every time his mother hurt him and no one seemed to care. For having never said good-bye to his father. For the overwhelming terror of nearly dying several times and being unable to give into it because he needed to be strong. Tears for nearly losing Abby to her stalker exboyfriend, and Paula being taken by a serial killer joined the mix. For the first time in his life, Tony cried himself out, safe in the warm embrace of someone who understood.

Gibbs shifted carefully. He didn't want to wake Tony, but his arm had fallen asleep and the numbness was beginning to border on painful. He grimaced at the pins and needles feeling that made his fingertips tingle. He shook out his hand carefully, breathing a sigh of relief as the tingling faded. He automatically ran fingers through Tony's hair when the younger man's eyelids fluttered and he began to mutter something indistinct. Gibbs relaxed as Tony settled in again with a sigh. He lightly stroked Tony's cheeks with his thumbs, wiping away the tracks left by his tears. Gibbs had never known any one who could cry so hard and never make a sound. That silence had been more unnerving than the tears. It was how Gibbs knew this cathartic release wasn't solely about Sandra DuPre's miscarriage. To cry like that, the heartbreak and overwhelming sense of loss spoken so eloquently without saying a word, had to be the product of more than the death of a child Tony had never gotten the chance to meet. And he knew his lover had more than his share of things to weep for. Far too long a list as far as Gibbs was concerned. He sighed softly, fingers moving through Tony's hair again, wishing there was more he could do. Gibbs studied Tony's face. Other than the lingering signs he'd been crying, Tony looked peaceful now. That had to count for something. At least Gibbs hoped so. He considered calling Ducky but dismissed the idea. There wasn't anything the ME could do for Tony right now that Gibbs wasn't already doing. And Tony would be embarrassed enough by his breakdown, the last thing he'd want would be more people knowing about it. Gibbs' gaze shifted to the phone. He should have called Vinnie when Tony went running. Although he was pragmatic enough to realize knowing what the lawyer had to say before Tony wouldn't have made it any easier to deal with. He hated knowing it wasn't a blow he could have softened or shielded Tony from.

Tony had never said anything to him directly about his dreams for a relationship with Sandra's child, but Gibbs knew his lover had been thinking about it a lot. And Gibbs had spoken with Vinnie several times. He knew the lawyer had walked a fine line between maintaining the confidentiality of his client and doing his best to keep his friend's lover in the loop as much as possible. Gibbs wasn't sure he was ready to be a father again, but he'd promised Tony the child wouldn't grow up like he had. If that meant pushing for custody or even adoption, Gibbs wouldn't have hesitated, no matter what his own misgivings might have been. He would not let an innocent suffer simply because he was afraid of getting hurt again. Kelly was never far from his thoughts, and it had taken years before thinking about her didn't make his gut clench in pain. No one had ever taken her place in his heart�but he knew that if he had room enough for Tony, there would have been room for another. Tony shifted in his sleep, his brows furrowing. Gibbs smoothed away the lines, crooning softly. Tony's breathing hitched and then resumed the familiar, steady rhythm Gibbs had come to know intimately. At some point he'd have to wake Tony, see to it he ate something, but Gibbs thought letting him sleep was the best thing for him. Crying was exhausting. And Gibbs had a feeling tonight wouldn't be restful. Although he hoped that having let out all that sorrow Tony might actually get a reprieve, that tonight might be free of nightmares. It would be the first night since they gotten back from New York if it was. Gibbs eyed the phone again. He'd have to call Vinnie back at some point. He had promised to let Vinnie know how Tony was doing. And Gibbs wanted to know if there was any news from the rest of the family. He was betting with Sandra no longer in the picture the rest of the others would be focusing their attention to removing any other obstacle�namely Tony. Gibbs wondered who would get what was supposed to go to Sandra and her child before he decided he didn't actually give a damn. Gibbs wanted to ask Abby and McGee if fucking with their credit was still an option. He wanted to hurt those people, and the only way he could think of doing real damage was to nail them where they would feel it the most�their wallets. Gibbs grimaced. While he had not problem with them breaking the law in pursuit of justice, he couldn't condone them doing it for revenge. No matter how good it might feel. He'd heard the best revenge was living well. And to some extent he believed that. Tony had certainly made a life for himself away from his blood relatives. It was a life Gibbs thought his lover should be proud of. It was definitely a life Gibbs was proud to be a part of. Gibbs smiled fondly at his sleeping lover. Tony would never be worth more to him dead than he was alive. Given the way Anthony DiNozzo Sr.'s family had behaved during the reading of the will, that wasn't something he could lay claim to. No one at the funeral or the will reading seemed to be genuinely sorry the son of a bitch was dead. And it was a continuing sad commentary on the family that the only one who likely shed any tears for Sandra's child was Tony. He was definitely better off away from those people. Gibbs squinted to read the clock on the wall. Damn numbers seemed to be getting smaller all the time. Tony had been sleeping for over an hour. Not nearly long

enough, but too much longer and Tony would baulk at eating anything so close to going to bed. While on a case, or at the office, Tony didn't seem to care what he ate or when, but once at home, the younger man's appetite seemed to vanish the closer it got to his usual bed time. He ran his fingers through Tony's hair. "Tony," Gibbs whispered, not wanting to startle him. Tony frowned, eyebrows pulling together. Gibbs waited. He whispered Tony's name again, moving his hand to cup his cheek. "Boss?" Tony mumbled, eyelids fluttering. "You with me?" Gibbs asked as blue eyes met green. "Yeah." Tony sighed. He leaned into Gibbs hand nuzzling his palm. "You up for dinner?" Tony grimaced. "I have to?" "Yes." "Then why bother asking me?" Gibbs chuckled, giving Tony a quick kiss on the forehead. "Just trying to be polite." Tony snickered. "Experimenting with something new, are you?" Gibbs rolled his eyes. "I can do polite." "Not that I've seen." Tony laughed softly. "You're better at being dictatorial and delegating." "Up and at �em then." Gibbs cuffed him lightly, making the gesture more of a caress than a reprimand. Tony sat up, moving slowly with far less grace than he usually did. Gibbs knew the stiffness was likely the by product of Tony being curled up so tightly for so long while he cried. Even when he'd fallen asleep, Tony hadn't relaxed much. Tony winced as he stretched his arms overhead, vertebrae in his back popped softly. Gibbs shook his head. Even though Tony said it didn't hurt, it still bothered Gibbs to hear that sound. Tony offered him a hand. Gibbs took it out of habit more than any real need. As he got to his feet, he wasn't surprised when Tony pulled him into a hug, holding him tightly. "Thank you," Tony said softly, voice barely louder than a whisper. He was tempted to tell Tony thanks wasn't necessary, but he didn't want to seem dismissive of the obvious gratitude so apparent in his lover's voice. Gibbs opted for a simple, �you're welcome' instead. He knew that would be all that would be said about Tony's minor meltdown. It wasn't in either of their natures to talk about stuff like that in detail�at least not with each other. Gibbs suspected Tony would be more inclined to talk to Joe than him. And while part of him was jealous, another part was grateful. Words were not Gibbs specialty, and the last thing he wanted was to hurt Tony by saying something wrong or stupid. He'd

gotten a nine iron to his head for making that mistake once before with an ex-wife. Once was enough for him to learn his lesson. He kissed Tony's cheek before pulling away from him. "C'mon. Dinner awaits." "And what are we having?" Tony arched an eyebrow. "I didn't smell anything cooking when I got back from my run." Gibbs shrugged. "I still have stuff Louisa made." "Oh�forgot about that." At some point Tony's neighbor realized Gibbs was a regular visitor and started adding to the already copious amounts of food she routinely left in Tony's fridge. To make sure it got eaten, Tony started bringing containers to the office and from there to Gibbs' house. Not only did Tony often forget what he brought, he usually forgot to return the empties. Gibbs routinely gathered up various Tupperware containers and made sure they made their way back to Louisa. Gibbs pointed to a chair as a silent order for Tony to sit. Tony rolled his eyes, but didn't argue. Gibbs handed him a bottle of water from the fridge knowing the younger man had to be thirsty, and not just from crying. He hadn't seen any signs that Tony had anything to drink after he got back from his run. Given the way Tony downed half the bottle in one long swallow it was a safe bet he was feeling more than a little dehydrated. Gibbs checked one of the containers Tony had placed in the fridge two days ago. Meatloaf would be good. The scalloped potatoes in another container would go well with it. Nothing green or leafy but Gibbs figured one meal without shouldn't upset Ducky any more than usual. Gibbs portioned out the food and loaded the microwave. He was glad he'd gotten one of those little trays Tony had suggested that made it easy to put two plates in at one time. While their dinner heated, Gibbs handed silverware to Tony. He got out ketchup for Tony knowing the younger man wouldn't eat his meatloaf without it. Tony smiled at him. "Thanks." "De nada." Gibbs sat across from Tony. He waited until Tony actually started eating before he dug into his own meal. Tony didn't eat with any real enthusiasm but at long as he ate, Gibbs wasn't going to make an issue of it. He expected the younger man's appetite to be off. He'd have to make sure the crew responsible for the candy machine at the office had it fully stocked for the next few days. Tony would no doubt be looking for something sweet for awhile to make up for what he wasn't eating in regular meals. A candy bar wasn't exactly the good nutrition Ducky insisted on, but it was better than nothing. And snacking during the day would ensure Tony didn't loose much weight. Some day Tony's metabolism would slow down, but Gibbs doubted that would happen any time soon. The DiNozzo family was foremost in Gibbs' mind, but it wasn't a topic he really wanted to discuss. He suspected Tony felt the same way. So they ate in silence. It wasn't exactly normal for them to not speak, but it wasn't uncomfortable either. Tony finished his bottle of water and got up for another. Gibbs knew that also meant the younger man was probably done eating as well. He bit his tongue to keep from

saying anything about how much Tony left on his plate. Tony had eaten less than half of what Gibbs had given him. Tony gave him a look as he sat down again. "You're going to hurt yourself one of these days." Gibbs arched an eyebrow. "Come again?" "Not like you're a big talker to begin with, Jethro." Tony smiled, twisting the top off his bottle of water. "Holding in what you want to say when you finally find the words has got to be painful." Gibbs snorted, amused in spite of himself. He pointed to Tony's plate. "You should eat more." Tony rolled his eyes. "Food is not a panacea." "Eating well will keep you healthy," Gibbs argued, trying to ignore the irony of saying what Ducky had said to him when arguing with Gibbs over eating more vegetables and less meat. "Yeah, yeah. Apple a day and all that." Tony smirked, pointing a finger at Gibbs. "And that might actually work if it wasn't pot giving the speech to kettle." Gibbs chuckled. "Just because I don't�" "I know." Tony grinned. "Just because you don't practice what you preach doesn't make it any less true." He reached across the table and captured Gibbs' hand. Green eyes held blue. "I'm not going to waste away. I'm fine." "You're sure?" "I've got plenty of meat on my bones." Tony smirked. "So, yeah, I'm sure I won't waste away." Gibbs glared at him. "Tony." Tony sighed and squeezed his hand. "I'll eat more tomorrow, I promise." Gibbs nodded, accepting the compromise. Tony was good about keeping his promises. Gibbs made a mental note to make the younger man promise not to run more than five miles tomorrow. He knew Tony chafed under that restraint, but the chilly air could do real damage to his lungs. Dr. Pitt had said they had no way of knowing what sort of long term impact the plague might have had to Tony's lungs, so Gibbs thought it was better to be safe than sorry. Tony took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "There is a silver lining." Gibbs arched an eyebrow. He knew Tony was talking about his family, but asked for clarification. "Silver lining?" "Yeah." Tony grimaced. "No child means this whole crappy situation with my family should resolve itself a lot faster." "You think so?" "Hope so." Tony picked at the label on his water bottle. "And with any luck, I'll never hear from any of them ever again." "That's more a gold lining."

Tony winced, looking away. "True." Gibbs tugged on Tony's hand, drawing his eyes back to him. "I am sorry about�" "I know." Tony gave him an understanding look. "But I'm not sorry about kissing your fucked up family good-bye for good." Tony laughed. He brought their joined hands up, bent his head, and kissed Gibbs' knuckles. "Neither am I, Jethro, neither am I." Gibbs sobered, making eye contact and held it. "I love you, Tony DiNozzo." After everything that happened, it seemed like the sort of thing he should tell the younger man as often as possible. Tony's eyes took on the pleased glow Gibbs had come to treasure. It didn't happen nearly often enough in his opinion. Some day he would find a way to make Tony look that happy all the time. Tony brought Gibbs' hand to his cheek. The action spoke loudly of his mutual affection, saying more than words could. Tony smiled warmly. "You done eating, Boss?" Gibbs nodded. If he wasn't before, the blatant invitation in Tony's question sealed the deal. "I'm finished." "Good." Tony tugged on their still joined hands. "Let's go to bed." Gibbs grinned. "Little early." He knew Tony wasn't talking about going to bed to sleep, but he couldn't resist playing a little, especially given how upbeat his lover's mood was now. He might not be used to how quickly Tony could change gears but he had yet to be disappointed by it. "Early?" Tony arched an eyebrow, eyes still glowing, fingers caressing Gibbs' knuckles. "You sure you don't want to?" Gibbs made a show of thinking about it. "Depends." "On?" "What you plan on doing when we get there." Tony got up and leaned in close to whisper in Gibbs' ear. "I'm going to show you how much I love you." "Think that should be my line," Gibbs said as he got up from the table, moving to follow Tony. "Not yours. Not mine either really." Tony shrugged, looking over his shoulder. "More like ours." "I can live with that." "Sure as hell hope so." Tony laughed. He spun around and with one neat move pinned Gibbs against the wall. Gibbs shivered, stifling the instinctive urge to fight back, enjoying the feel of Tony's solid weight gently holding him captive. Tony tipped his head and captured Gibbs' mouth in a deep, passionate kiss. It wasn't often the younger man was aggressive, but Gibbs enjoyed it when Tony was. He moaned softly, letting Tony ravage his mouth, his tongue dueling with Tony's but not really trying to win.

Gibbs worked his hands under Tony's shirt, trying to push it up and out of the way. He wanted skin�warm, smooth, silky skin against his own. He growled in frustration when he realized he needed more room to get rid of the offending clothing. He pushed against Tony, trying to get the space he needed. Tony leaned in harder, holding him still. Tony chuckled, low and raspy as he released Gibbs' mouth. He nibbled along Gibbs' jaw line, stopping when he got to the older man's ear. "Problem, Jethro?" "Too many clothes." Gibbs hissed. "Need room to get rid of them." Tony responded by rocking his hips against Gibbs, their groins brushing against one another, clothing adding friction that made Gibbs gasp. "Ask me nice," Tony whispered in Gibbs' ear. Gibbs jaw tightened. He was tempted to do just that�but doing so would mean Tony might stop playing. And he wasn't quite ready for that. Not yet. "No." "No?" Tony chuckled again. He sucked on Gibbs' earlobe, applying his teeth delicately as he moved his hips again. Gibbs whimpered, hands clutching at Tony's back. "You sure you really mean no?" Gibbs swallowed hard. He loved that passion roughened voice. He tilted his head when Tony started working his way down Gibbs' neck, licking, biting and sucking. Gibbs shuddered. "How about now?" Tony's warm breath raised goosebumps along Gibbs' skin. He had worked his way under Gibbs' shirt, and into the waistband of his pants, thumbs moving in slow, maddening circles in the hollow just above the older man's hip bones. Gibbs bit his lip, trapping a whimper. No one had ever gotten him as hot and bothered as fast was Tony did. No one. He was finding it hard to focus on anything but how good everything felt. Tony shifted his weight, moving side to side. The action rubbed the soft cotton of his t-shirt against Gibbs' hardened nipples making him arch his back, mutely asking for more. The soft moan Tony made and the way he pressed closer was a clear indication that he enjoyed the action too. Unable to stand any more, Gibbs took advantage of Tony's shift in weight to push off from the wall. He spun them, trapping Tony the same way Gibbs had been held only a second earlier. His hands moved to hold Tony's head, taking his mouth in a kiss that was nearly brutal in its intensity. It was only the need to breathe that forced him to release that tantalizing, amazing mouth. "Please," Gibbs whispered against Tony's kiss bruised lips. Tony grinned, eyes sparkling. "Think�that should�be my line." Gibbs laughed softly. Given the way he'd reversed their positions, Tony was probably right. "Ours," he said instead. "Ours." Tony agreed, leaning in for another kiss.

This one was gentler, but no less passionate. It was the sort of kiss Gibbs remembered getting and giving when kissing was the only objective. Making out had been fun then, and it was no less enjoyable now�except that he knew even better stuff came next. Gibbs started to encourage Tony to move toward the bedroom. Sex against the wall had been great when he was younger. But he wasn't interested in hearing his back complain for days, or having their love making be quick and dirty. He'd rather they were comfortable and took their time. Gibbs wasn't sure exactly how they finally made it to the bedroom. There were more than a few stumbles as they struggled to make headway, trying to strip out of clothing without letting go of each other or stopping their slow forward progress. A couple of breathless curses were made when contact with the walls and door frame was harder than expected. Soft laughter was interspersed with moans and sighs as busy hands and lips explored newly exposed skin. When they bumped into the bed, Gibbs pushed Tony backward. The younger man let himself fall, clearly trusting Gibbs not to allow him come to harm. That display of trust made Gibbs' throat tighten. He never wanted to lose that. Tony looked up at him through his lashes. His long, lean frame was gloriously naked. Gibbs stared at him, memorizing the moment. He was one lucky bastard. Tony held out a hand and moved his fingers in a �come here' gesture. Gibbs trailed his fingertips up one leg, enjoying the little shiver his touch caused. As he bent down to kiss Tony, Gibbs braced his weight on his hands and feet, slowly lowering himself to cover the younger man with his body completely. Not for the first time was Gibbs glad to be sharing his bed with someone strong enough to welcome his weight rather than have to worry about crushing his partner. Gibbs shifted to straddle Tony. He sat up, smiling down at his lover. His hands combed through the light covering of hair on Tony's chest. Gibbs fisted his hands, catching a bit of hair and tugging gently, rhythmically. Tony tipped his head back in response, baring his throat. Unable to resist marking him, Gibbs used his tongue and teeth to worry the delicate skin at the base of Tony's throat. Gibbs released Tony's throat to move further south. He sucked one hard, pert point into his mouth before applying his teeth. Tony murmured something in Italian. Gibbs didn't understand the words but the meaning was clear enough. He kept Tony's nipple trapped between his teeth, flicking his tongue back and forth making Tony squirm, his breath coming in harsh pants. "Per favore�." Tony whimpered when Gibbs gave his other nipple the same attention while pinching and rolling the one he'd left with his fingers. Tony's hands kneaded Gibbs' ass. Gibbs sighed, unable to not move in response to that touch. Their hips worked against each other rubbing and caressing sensitive areas against each other over and over. Gibbs reached for the nightstand drawer. He fumbled to grab the lube there, cursing his suddenly clumsy fingers. He popped the top and quickly coated his fingers. Tony watched him with hungry eyes as Gibbs used the lube on himself instead of his lover. "Planning to go for a ride, cowboy?"

Tony's deeper than normal, hoarse voice ghosted over his skin, making Gibbs shiver. He bit his lip, nodding once, forcing himself not to lose control. He liked being taken from below even if it was hell on his quads. Gibbs sighed at the pleasant sensation his slick fingers created as he moved them in and out a few times. He didn't bother with much preparation, not really wanting or needing it. Too much, he'd go off too soon and he enjoyed a little burn that came with tight penetration. He stroked Tony's cock, lightly coating it and making Tony moan in response. Tony moved, wiggling sinuously to make it easier for Gibbs to position himself. Gibbs rose up on his knees, bracing himself on Tony's chest before sinking down on Tony's hard cock, taking the full length in one smooth motion. Their mingled cries of pleasure filled the room. Gibbs' breath escaped in a hiss as he settled himself. He rocked a little, shuddering as Tony's cock brushed his prostate. Tony's hands moved up and down Gibbs' thighs, massaging the tight muscles. "You�okay?" "Golden." Gibbs leaned forward to kiss Tony, raising himself up and sinking down again slowly. Tony moaned into his mouth, hips moving in counter point to Gibbs. Gibbs could control the speed, but Tony's answering thrusts made for deeper penetration, adding to Gibbs' pleasure. Gibbs gasped when Tony started stroking his leaking cock in time with their movements. The younger man knew just how to tight to make his grip to push Gibbs to the edge. He knew how to add a little twist and run the pad of his thumb over the swollen head to tighten the rising spiral of ecstasy. Wanting to return the favor, Gibbs pinched and twisted Tony's sensitive nipples, being rewarded with small sighs and gasping Italian words for his trouble. Gibbs unconsciously moved faster, instinctive need pushing him toward completion. Tony kept pace, sweat building on his skin. Gibbs could smell the wonderful, unique fragrance of the younger man. He could feel each thrust meeting him with greater force, letting it take him closer to the edge. He heard whispered endearments and encouragement in a language he didn't really understand. He opened his eyes to watch Tony's expression of dreamy contentment shift to one of pleasure so intense it bordered on pain. Gibbs shuddered. "So�close�god�Tony�please." He wasn't sure what he was asking for, but he trusted Tony to know and to be able to provide it. He had no real idea what Tony did. But whatever it was, it was exactly what he'd asked for, exactly what he needed. Gibbs' orgasm rolled over him like a wave, stealing his breath, sparking white light behind his eyes. Gibbs collapsed against Tony, shuddering though the aftershocks and breathing hard. He was aware of Tony doing the same and smiled, pleased that Tony had climaxed with him. He'd be sore tomorrow, but right now, his whole body was singing with satisfaction.

"Was�that�worth�going to�bed early for?" Gibbs lifted his head, laughing softly. "Definitely." He kissed Tony, stealing the breath the younger man had worked so hard to reclaim. Tony sighed. Gibbs could feel him relaxing a near boneless state of post-coital bliss. "Don't go to sleep yet." "Hmmm?" Tony opened his eyes. "Why?" "Need to clean up a bit. And get under the covers." Tony blinked at him, sleepy green eyes reminding Gibbs of a content cat. "Okay." Gibbs reached for the small hand towel and baby wipes they'd taken to keeping in the night stand. He cleaned Tony's stomach, removing evidence of his release. He cleaned himself as well. Tony wiggled, pushing and pulling to get the comforter out from under them. It would be easier to just get up, but Gibbs didn't think either of them had the coordination or energy necessary to stand upright. Once the comforter was free, Gibbs pulled Tony to him, snuggling under the blanket. He ran his fingers through Tony's hair, enjoying the way the younger man cuddled in closer in response. "Love you, Tony." Tony placed a kiss on Gibbs' chest, just above his heart. "Love you, Jethro." Gibbs sighed, relaxing. There was still a lot they'd have to deal with. But he was content to let it all wait. Tomorrow would be soon enough.

Tony glanced around the small blues bar. The place never seemed to change, and yet there was always something new. It was one of the reasons he liked the place so well. Coming here had been a good idea. Two days ago, Vinnie had informed Tony he'd bargained a payout of three quarters of a million dollars. It was more than double what the will had originally given Tony. All he needed Tony to do was sign on the dotted line if he agreed. Accepting it meant he was relinquishing his right to any more. Given that he hadn't wanted anything at all, Tony had no problem with that. The only thing Tony asked for in return was if Vinnie could add a clause that would prevent further direct contact with his family. In the future, he wanted any communication to come through legal counsel, even if it was only a Christmas card. Vinnie's answer was sort and sweet. "Already done." Tony hadn't hesitated to sign. After nearly a month of having the monkey of his family on his back, it was a relief to be done with it. It was liberating, and he wanted to celebrate. A night out with good music and friends had seemed like the perfect option. Tony smiled watching Abby and Ducky dance. She hadn't been able to get McGee to dance with her but Ducky had volunteered, more than happy to indulge her. They'd made an odd couple; mismatched in height and attire, yet graceful and fluid in their

movements, leading and following each other as though they'd practiced a routine for years. "You're going to regret not dancing with her, Probie." "I can't dance." McGee sighed heavily, toying with this drink. "Not like that anyway." "Could take lessons," Gibbs pointed out. McGee gulped. "Please don't suggest that to Abby." "Why not?" "Because she'll make me go." McGee groaned. "And you know she won't be happy without me being dressed in the right shoes and a stupid costume." Tony snickered. He was right. Abby wouldn't go half way with something like that. And she'd love competition ballroom. Still�if McGee wanted to dance with her, it wouldn't be a bad way to go and do it up right. He said as much. McGee glared at him. "Like you would ever--" "Already have." Tony grinned, sipping his beer. "Even own a pair of real dance shoes." "You do not!" "Do." Tony countered. Sully had convinced him dancing would be fun, signing him up for classes one summer. And she'd been right. He'd enjoyed it; so much so he kept taking classes after she'd died. Every semester in college, Tony had signed up for a class: ballet, jazz, ballroom, swing, Latin, square dancing, clogging�he'd taken them all. Dancing was a nice in with the ladies. Every woman appreciated a man who was not only willing to dance, but also knew how. And it had taught him how to be comfortable in his body and move gracefully, something that came in handy when he was involved in sports. McGee shook his head, pointing a finger at Tony, doubt still apparent in his expression. "Then why didn't you dance with Abby?" "Because she's not the one I want to dance with." Tony gave Gibbs a warm smile and was pleased to see the older man's cheeks darken. The lighting was dim enough that he doubted McGee could see it. "And she didn't ask me." "Who didn't ask you what?" Ziva asked, returning from the ladies room. She still didn't know about Tony and Gibbs being a couple, but her status as a teammate and her support over the last few weeks made it easy to invite her to join in the celebration. The only one missing was Palmer. He had a date with Lee, and Tony could understand the junior Medical Examiner bowing out to spend a little alone time with his sweetheart. "Abby didn't ask me to dance." Ziva smirked, dark eyes sparkling as she took her seat. "Are you disappointed?" "Naturally." Tony affected a pout. Ziva held out a hand, smiling brightly. "Dance with me?" "You know how?"

"Of course, I know how." She rolled her eyes. Tony hesitated. Gibbs was the one he really wanted to dance with, but he knew that wasn't going to happen. Not in public at any rate. They'd never danced in private either for that matter. Tony had never broached the subject, and neither had Gibbs. "Are you too much of a turkey to dance with me?" "It's chicken, Ziva, not turkey." Tony laughed softly. "And no I'm not too chicken to dance with you." "Perhaps you are afraid you can not keep up?" Her chin went up in a clear challenge. "Maybe your skill is lacking?" McGee smirked. He obviously wanted to see Tony prove his claim. Tony wasn't one to back down. Still he hesitated. He looked toward Gibbs, not quite asking permission but unwilling to proceed without it. Gibbs grinned at him. He slapped Tony on the shoulder. "Go show her how it's done." Tony grinned. He took Ziva's hand. As they stepped onto the dance floor, Tony told her, "Follow my lead." Tony was glad they band was playing something with a faster tempo than usual. He didn't want to dance anything too intimate. Something like the Rumba was too sensual for him to really do well with anyone but someone he genuinely wanted to sleep with. That dance had been best described to Tony as the vertical expression of a horizontal desire, and he agreed wholeheartedly. The Cha-cha-cha was a definitely more acceptable. It was faster, and allowed for more space between partners, without a lot of serious hip action. It was a relatively easy dance to do, if he didn't add any tricks. And since he didn't know how good Ziva was, he opted to play it straight. She followed his lead well enough, although Tony could feel her hesitate from time to time. She wasn't quite as good as he was, and if she trusted him completely, that wouldn't have mattered. As it was, she still made a better than average partner, and Tony enjoyed dancing with her. He wasn't totally surprised to find Abby waiting when the song was done. He knew she wanted to dance with him even though she hadn't asked earlier. She was just respecting the fact that he was here with Gibbs. Dancing with Ziva clearly indicated neither Tony nor Gibbs would mind. Tony made a sweeping bow. "Would you like to cut in, Miss?" "Yes, yes I would." She grinned, pig tails waving as she bounced on her toes. "I even asked the band to play us a song." Tony laughed. That meant they'd be dancing Jive. Abby loved it, but it wasn't a dance that Ducky would be able to do. It was far too energetic and demanding for a man his age, especially if Abby wanted to do any lifts or flips. And she always wanted to. When Tony had told Gibbs he and Abby went clubbing he hadn't meant that was all they did. Dancing, really dancing, was something they both enjoyed. Although, since contracting the plague, and Abby finding out Tony and Gibbs were a couple, they'd gone a lot less often.

The familiar strains of "Jump, Jive and Wail" started. Tony held out his hand to Abby. They'd done several routines in the past, each one decidedly fun and challenging. Tony picked the one with the most tricks since it was the one they'd spent the most time on and the one Abby liked the best. Tony didn't really notice that the rest of the dancers had cleared the floor, ceding it them without hesitation. He also didn't pay much attention to the fact everyone was watching them. He just gave himself over to the dance, focusing more on Abby and matching her than anything else. That she could pull off the complicated steps in her platform boots never ceased to amaze him. Her unconditional faith in him with each lift or throw was heady. No one, not even Gibbs, had ever shown such absolute trust in him that way. But then, he'd never tried to toss Gibbs into the air or assist him in a back walk over. Abby was grinning from ear to ear. She practically glowed. Tony had forgotten how much he liked seeing her so brilliantly happy. He was totally unaware that he looked much the same way. They finished the dance, ending with a lift and a full body drop that had Tony catching Abby only inches from the floor. Both were breathing hard and sweating, but Tony felt wonderful. He'd missed this. Tony blinked in surprise at the applause. Most of the time when he danced with Abby they weren't the only ones on the floor or the only skilled dancers in the room. For just a moment, he'd forgotten where they were, and that their dance routine would attract attention. Tony neatly brought Abby to her feet. They shared a look before bowing to their audience. The way McGee's and Ziva's mouths gaped open in awe and Ducky was smiling like a proud grandfather made Tony laugh. But what really made Tony's heart beat faster was the open appreciation and admiration on Gibbs' face. It wasn't often he did something to warrant that look�at least not in public. Waving off demands for an encore, Tony escorted Abby back to their table. He pulled her chair out. She kissed his cheek before sitting down. "You really should rethink taking dance lessons, Probie," Tony stated as he sat down next to Gibbs, discreetly taking his hand under the table. "I think you'd have a blast." "Tim!" Abby squealed, punching him in the arm with enough force to make McGee wince. Although whether it was the pitch of her voice or the actual hit that made him wince, Tony wasn't sure. "You never said you were thinking of taking dance lessons." Abby bounced in her seat excitedly. "This is the kind of thing you should tell me." "I'm�That is�" McGee shot her a wide-eyed look that reminded Tony of a deer caught in the headlights. "I know the perfect place. Not that Tony doesn't know of some good studios. He's obviously a great dancer, and could give you some pointers." She shot Tony a quick warm smile. "I just meant that if you were looking for a partner to go with you, I'd be happy to. And it's not like I don't know how. So I could coach you a bit too."

Tony ducked his head to hide his smile at McGee's inability to get a word in as Abby continued speaking in her usual rapid fire, animated way. Gibbs bumped his shoulder with his own. Blue eyes meeting green in a sly look. "That was mean," Gibbs whispered. "Not mean." Tony whispered back. "He will have a good time." "Looked like you certainly enjoyed it." "I did." Tony readily admitted, taking a long drink from his beer. There was no point in denying it. "When did you learn to do that?" Ziva asked Tony, giving Abby's ongoing monologue on merits of different dance styles to McGee a wary eye as though afraid to attract her attention too. "Took lessons when I was a kid and just sort of stuck with it." Tony shrugged. That was essentially the truth, if a little watered down. "Very commendable, Anthony." Ducky raised his glass in a silent toast. "Why didn't you dance with me that way?" Ziva asked. Tony looked at her in surprise. She sounded�envious. "I didn't know you could do Jive." It seemed a safer response than to say he doubted she'd have enough faith in him to trust he'd catch her. "I've never really gotten to try it. My father considered dance a frivolous waste of time. But if I was going to insist on taking lessons, he was adamant I focus on more traditional dances. He would have preferred I stick to just ballet, only reluctantly permitting me to try others." She frowned, dark eyes drifting to focus on the dance floor. Her expression turned wistful. "It looked like fun." "Maybe you and McGee could go together, my dear. Never too late to learn something new." Ducky smiled brightly, patting her hand. "We all could. I wouldn't mind brushing up a bit. Although, I am not sure I could match the display Anthony and Abigail gave us." "Duckman, that would be awesome." Abby grinned, her attention turning away from McGee. The younger man looked decidedly relieved to no longer be her sole focus. "That would be a great team building exercise." She didn't quite clap her hands in delight but Tony could tell it was a near thing. "Would be better than sexual harassment training," Gibbs offered dryly. If it weren't for the sparkle in his blue eyes, and the way he'd squeezed Tony's hand, Tony would have thought Gibbs was putting down the idea. "Do you dance, Gibbs?" Ziva asked, sipping her wine. "Not as well as Tony." Tony felt his cheeks warm at the praise he could hear in Gibbs' simple statement. He hoped he was still flushed enough from dancing that no one would notice. "All it takes is a little practice," Tony said, modestly down playing a skill that had literally taken years to acquire.

"More than a little, my dear boy," Ducky smiled at him. "But to learn the basics is not so hard. Not really. Anyone can." "When did you learn, Ducky?" McGee asked. Tony figured he had to be desperate to keep Abby's attention diverted from him to be asking Ducky for a story. It took a lot of willpower to stifle the snicker as the expression �any port in a storm' came to mind. It was actually pleasant to let Ducky ramble about how as a lad he'd been desperate to impress a young woman he'd fancied. "I was a rather shy lad, a little awkward and not terribly good at sports. And Eloise was well�she was the raving beauty of the day. Positively enchanting." Ducky smiled fondly in memory. "She was very popular with everyone. Especially the captain of the soccer team." At the time, dancing was still part of the school curriculum and Ducky thought it was a golden opportunity to attract her attention, to lure her away from the brawny sort she seemed to favor. And it might have been a good plan, if he hadn't been so nervous during his first opportunity to dance with Eloise in class that he'd tripped over his own two feet, breaking his wrist and tearing her new dress in the processes. Ziva covered her smile with her hand. "Oh Ducky." "Oh yes, my dear, it was quite a spectacle." Ducky chuckled. "So while Eloise now knew I was alive, I'm afraid I garnered more distain and disappointment than affection or admiration." "She wasn't worthy of you, Ducky," Abby said, throwing an arm over his shoulder. "Thank you, Abigail." Ducky kissed her cheek. "But the story doesn't end there." "Of course not," Tony murmured to himself. Ducky's stories never ended in a predictable fashion. It was what made them interesting at times. "Another lovely young woman named Deidre took pity on me. She was a bit of an outcast herself�far too focused on her studies to be thought of as fun. And regarded as a little too smart to be considered beautiful." Abby huffed. "That's just stupid." "Agreed." Ducky nodded his head. "But you know what young men are like. Many find intelligent women intimidating." Ziva rolled her eyes and gave Tony a pointed look, implying he likely fallen into that category. He just stuck is tongue out at her. Sully had taught him early that smart women could be a lot of fun. But when he'd learned how homophobic his chosen profession could be, he'd adopted a cover as a playboy interested in only one thing. She still didn't know how much of an act that was. Tony wondered what her reaction would be if she found out. He decided to table that thought of some other time. "Deidre was kind enough to work with me for hours after class." Ducky's blue eyes sparkled behind his glasses. "We were the hit of the spring formal, and were named king and queen as a result." "Way to go, Duck." Gibbs raised his glass in salute. Tony lightly tapped it with his beer. McGee, Abby and Ziva did the same with their drinks. Conversation drifted, as others around the table reminisced about moments of triumph. Tony wasn't entirely surprised to find out McGee scored a game winning

home run once. He might not possess Tony's own experience with sports, but there was no way he could get through childhood without getting roped into at least one game or two. And everyone got lucky once in awhile. Nor was he entirely surprised to find out Ziva had managed to win a music competition with her piano playing when she'd been playing for less than half the time as the other students. Or that Abby would consider her greatest triumph from her youth to be convincing the entire cheerleading squad to get tattoos. As he relaxed more, enjoying the music, the stories and good company, Tony could feel himself getting sleepy. He yawned. It wasn't early by his standards, but it had been a long day, and a longer month. "Getting old, Tony?" Ziva teased, smirking at him. He flipped her off. She just laughed. "Think it's time to call it a night," Gibbs said, blue eyes assessing Tony. Tony tried to wordlessly relay he was fine but knew yawning again ruined it. Gibbs knew exactly how little sleep he'd gotten lately. "But we having heard a story from you or Tony yet," Abby protested. "You've heard plenty of DiNozzo's stories, Abbs." Gibbs snorted. "Haven't heard any of yours, Boss," McGee countered. McGee winced and pushed back a little from the table when Gibbs glared at him. "And you aren't going to, McGee." "Right, Boss. Forget I said anything." Tony was tempted to laugh, but knew better. It wasn't like he hadn't gotten similar chastisements from Gibbs in the past. And he likely would again. "It is late. Mother will be wondering what's become of me." Ducky stood. He offered a hand to Abby. "Do you need a ride, my dear?" "Hearse in the shop again, Abby?" Tony asked as he stood up. Having come with Gibbs, Tony hadn't given much thought to how everyone else was getting to the bar or how they were going home. She nodded glumly. "I think she might be on her last legs." "If we don't get a case this weekend, I'll go car shopping with you." She gave him a breath stealing hug. "Thanks, Tony. You're the best." Tony hugged her back, placing a kiss on top of her head. "Any time, Abby." "Not sure that's such a good idea, Abby," Ziva said, shaking her head. "Tony's Mustang is in the garage too. Perhaps he's not the best person to advise you on a reliable automobile." "She's not in the shop," Tony corrected her. "I'm having her detailed. There is a difference." "Something more fuel efficient�" "Not everyone wants to drive wind up toy." Tony shook his head. "Simply because a car is not a gas chugger.--."

"Gas guzzler." Tony grinned. "It's gas guzzler." "Whatever." She waved a hand. "Something efficient should at least be a consideration." "Think the way you drive, body armor should be a consideration." "I do not drive that badly." McGee muttered something under his breath that Tony couldn't quite catch. He was willing to bet it hadn't been an agreement to Ziva's claim. It sounded more like something about the number of tickets she'd gotten in the last year. They continued to debate the merits of various vehicles as they headed for the door. Ducky, Abby and Tony declared personal style and quality to be the most important factor. Ziva favored fuel economy and durability. McGee thought safety features and consumer report ratings should be considered. Gibbs stayed mute on the subject, giving Tony a look that said he found the whole discussion decidedly amusing. As they passed the bar, the waitress from their last visit gave them a speculative glance. She was obviously confused by Tony and Abby walking hand in hand, with Gibbs only a step behind looking relaxed and easy. Tony gave her a wink and a smile, adding to her confusion just because he could. Although, they hadn't planned it, having Abby go with Ducky, and Ziva riding with McGee rather than take a cab or the metro, made Tony leaving with Gibbs seem unremarkable. It was in hindsight something they should have planned since Ziva didn't know they were a couple. But Tony figured he and Gibbs could have easily come up with something if asked so it didn't really matter. Tony sat back, settling in with a sigh. He smiled when Gibbs found has hand and held it. "So you really think dance lessons would really be a good team building exercise?" Gibbs chucked, raising their joined hands to his lips to place a kiss on Tony's knuckles. "Wouldn't mind seeing you dance again." "What about dancing with me?" Tony asked without thinking. Gibbs glanced his way, a slow, warm smile appearing. "Thought you'd never ask." "The Rumba." Tony growled softly, voice readily conveying his desire. "When we get home." Gibbs shivered. "You going to lead?" "You want me too?" "For tonight." Gibbs nodded. "I'll lead tomorrow." "Deal." Tony grinned. He was getting used to this easy give and take, to their settled, steady relationship. But Tony really hoped he was never so foolish as to just take it for granted just because it was familiar. The last thing he wanted to do was to forget how precious having someone like Gibbs in his life was. There weren't many like him. "I love you Tony DiNozzo," Gibbs said softly. "Always and forever." "Love you too, Jethro Gibbs." Tony squeezed the hand holding his. "Forever and always."