Shower Scene

Pairing: DiNozzo/Gibbs
Rating: NC-17
Words: ~5600
Disclaimer: Don't own these characters
Summary: I hate the title, but I still like the fic. First time.


One.

Tony heard the door that separated the gym and the showers open. It had a squeaky hinge that could be heard even over the sound of the shower. Tony knew it was Gibbs--Gibbs was nothing if not predictable and he always finished up his workout with some stretching and then a shower. Impressive that his head can touch his knees, Tony thought, before putting that image out of his mind. It was too tempting to let his imagination go further, but his right hand was out of commission until the gunshot healed.

He kept the sling out of the water and listened as Gibbs turned on the shower in the public area. Usually Tony would watch his boss shower through a crack in the curtain, watch the water run over an ass as high and tight as the marine hair cut he had once worn. Usually Tony would wash and dream up scenarios where Gibbs came in and caught him, dick in hand, and they'd stare at each other for a long moment before Gibbs said, "Do you need a hand with that?" Then he'd finish himself off so he didn't walk out into the locker area with a raging hard-on.

Not today, though. Today he finished showering, and wrapped himself clumsily in a towel, one handed and after sparing a long glance for Gibbs in the common showers--Gibbs eyes were closed and water streamed over his pale, well-muscled torso--Tony went to his locker. He was toweling himself off one handed when he heard Gibbs say "You need a hand with that, DiNozzo?" It wasn't quite in the seductive voice Tony had been imagining, in fact Gibbs's voice held that familiar edge of annoyance.

"Nah, boss, I'm doing fine," said Tony. He tried to sound casual, but it came out in more of a yelp. Gibbs could be damn sneaky when he tried. Then Tony's body registered the fact that a nearly naked Gibbs was standing less than a foot away from him. His face started to flush, and he felt a familiar heat gathering under his towel.

"Your back's all wet," said Gibbs, tilting his head to one side.

"You can't even see it from there," Tony answered.

"Then turn around already." Gibbs did impatient better than anyone else Tony knew. Tony turned around gingerly. This was like the bizarre-world version of his favorite fantasy. Gibbs rubbed his back with the towel he carried. The same towel that was just around his waist is now touching me, Tony tried not to think. It only lasted a moment, and then Gibbs slapped him companionably on that back.

"Yep, that's better," he said, then turned to his own locker, oblivious to the torment he had just caused.

Baseball. Hillary Clinton. McGee in a turtleneck, Tony thought desperately before dropping his own towel. He sat down on the bench and pulled his boxers and pants on one handed, then stood up and pulled them on all the way. His shirt was more tricky--he had to untie the sling again, and gingerly ease his arm through then try to retie it one-handed.

"Damn it, DiNozzo, why don't you ask for help?" Gibbs asked, without waiting for an answer. He came over and stood close enough to Tony that he could feel Gibbs's warm breath on his chest, through the open front of his shirt. Gibbs hands were sure and firm as he adjusted the sling.

"You've done this before, huh, Boss?" Tony asked. His voice felt thick, but Gibbs seemed as oblivious as ever. Why couldn't he let this go? Gibbs was just a warm caring boss, why did Tony have to long for something more?

"You're not the first person I've known to get shot in the arm," muttered Gibbs. "That's was damn stupid, you know. Don't do it again."

"I'll try boss." Gibbs seemed to be standing far too close.

"Can you get the buttons, yourself?" Gibbs asked. His voice seemed quieter, like the way he talked to frightened witnesses, not feckless subordinates.

Tony licked his lips. He didn't want Gibbs to think he was weak, but oh, to have him stand this close for a few more moments, but then he blinked and shrugged it off. "Yeah, I'm getting good at this," he said, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Don't get too good at it," Gibbs said, still in that quiet voice. "Why were you even working out anyway?"

To look at you, Tony thought. "Can't let the other arm get weak too," he said, "something called sympathetic muscle development . . ." He trailed off. The air seemed charged. "I really got it," Tony said quietly. He was half a head taller than Gibbs, and from where he was standing, so close, so close, Tony could see laugh lines and wrinkles around his eyes. He'd never been this close before. He looked down at Gibbs's hands on his shirt. They were shaking, just imperceptibly, and there were a few beads of sweat on his upper lip.

"Boss . . .?" said Tony. He didn't really know what he was asking. Gibbs's balled hands clenched his shirt hard. He seemed about to say something.

"Don't scare me like that again," he said. Tony almost couldn't hear him. He wondered briefly what it would look like if someone came in right now, but it was pretty late in the evening, and without a case to work on, everyone else had gone home. Gibbs turned his head up toward Tony just for a moment. Tony was used to seeing his eyes hard and flinty, or happy with his team. He'd even seen Gibbs look affectionate, mostly toward Abby or Kate, but he'd never seen this look.

"It was just a scratch, boss," said Tony softly. Gibbs's lips were just inches away, and Tony felt that he couldn't bear one more minute of this before leaning down to brush them his own, but as if he had sensed Tony's thoughts, Gibbs let go of his shirt, and backed away. He flexed his hands to dispel the tension in them.

"Sorry," Gibbs said, looking down. "Sorry." Tony didn't know what he was apologizing for, didn't know what had happened. All he knew was that he wanted Gibbs that close again. Come back, he thought, pleading, as Gibbs pulled on his pants, buttoned his own shirt. Gibbs turned again, at the door. "That was . . ." Gibbs put his lips together and nodded. "Be well, Tony," he said.

"Boss!" Tony called out. "Don't go!" Gibbs turned and looked at him quizzically, then put his thumbs in the corners of his belt loops and walked back over to Tony. "Don't go," Tony said again.

"Is that an order, DiNozzo?" asked Gibbs in a voice Tony knew from all his fantasies, as he walked in closer.

"Of course not, Boss." Tony felt light-headed as Gibbs came right up to him, within inches. His lips tingled with the anticipated touch. Their faces were almost touching when Gibbs stopped again.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" he asked.

"Yes, oh God, yes," Tony said. His voice nearly broke, and he thought the longing would kill him, and then Gibbs closed the gap between them. At first it was just a soft brush of lips, but then it became more insistent. Tony nibbled and tongued the bottom of Gibbs's lip, and Gibbs hooked his arms around Tony's waist and crushed their pelvises together, then kneading Tony's ass with his strong hands. Tony moved to embrace Gibbs back, and yelped in pain as he stretched his wounded arm beyond its comfort zone.

"Sorry, Boss," he said. "My arm."

"We shouldn't," said Gibbs. He was breathing fast. "You're injured."

"We really should," said Tony, and now he didn't care if he sounded weak, sounded like he was begging. "If you leave now, how do I know--" he swallowed hard, "--how do I know this will ever happen again?"

"It would," said Gibbs. He tilted his head to one side. "Come with me."

"Come home with you?" Tony squeaked. Gibbs just nodded.

Two.

Tony followed Gibbs in a separate car back to Gibbs's house, and parked a few blocks away before walking over without Gibbs even asking, as a good agent should, thought Gibbs. Or a good partner. He winced at the thought. Tony was a great agent--no one would see two cars parked in Gibbs's garage overnight and ask questions.

Gibbs waited in front of the door as Tony came loping back from parking his car. Gibbs opened the door without a word and let him in. "Tony . . .," he said, but didn't get a chance to finish the sentence, because DiNozzo started kissing him again, kissing him as if he were drowning and Gibbs could save his life.

Finally Gibbs turned on the light in the hallway, so he could look at Tony where he leaned back against the wall. Tony's eyes were slightly glazed and his lips parted and wet. I don't deserve this, thought Gibbs. Tony looked like a centerfold, a dream, a vision, but he was here in Gibbs foyer, with his eyes and his body begging for more. His face was warm and open; Gibbs thought had seen that look before, the last time Tony had followed Gibbs into a deadly firefight.

It was trust--bone-deep trust DiNozzo didn't give anyone else--and Gibbs was about to abuse that trust. Sure Tony trusted Abby, and he had trusted Kate, but they weren't in positions of authority. They weren't father figures for a man whose own father had abandoned him in every way that mattered.

"What?" asked Tony, as Gibbs looked at him for a long moment more. "Don't . . ."

"Don't what?" Gibbs asked.

"Don't get all you." Gibbs could have snapped something hurtful back at Tony--he wanted to--but Tony's expression stopped him.

"It's not right, Tony. I'm your boss."

"Do you want me to beg, Boss?" Tony asked. He stretched his head back a little, and that customary steel started to come back into his eyes, even as his voice grew more seductive. "Because you know I would." Gibbs's throat tightened. Tony would beg, if Gibbs asked, or if he delayed even a moment more. He'd do anything, follow Gibbs into hell and back, and knowing that twisted Gibbs up inside. Too late, Gibbs thought. No going back now.

"No," said Gibbs. "I want you to follow me."

They went upstairs to Gibbs's bedroom, and in the doorway started kissing again as if they'd never stopped. Gibbs turned on the light and undid his own shirt and Tony's, then untied the sling around Tony's arm.

"I think it's feeling a lot better now," Tony whispered. "You don't have to tie it back on." That's not how I want to tie you up, thought Gibbs, but he didn't say it. Instead he went to work on their pants, and guided Tony over to the bed.

"Just be careful with it," Gibbs growled, as Tony lay back on the bed. Gibbs took his time looking at Tony's face, at his skin, which was sun-kissed from head to toe. Gibbs kissed him everywhere he could reach. Tony's muscles were hard, but his skin was soft and warm as a day at the beach. His stomach crinkled up when Gibbs hit a ticklish spot, and Gibbs felt wrapped in the glow of Tony's laugh. He imagined catching Tony around the waist in his kitchen, and surprising just such a laugh out of him, while they made coffee together. It was just a momentary flash of fantasy, but it felt so safe and domestic, Gibbs wanted it to be real.

No, real was here and now, with Tony gasping under his touch, and twitching deliciously when Gibbs sucked on his nipple, even if it couldn't be more than tonight. He stopped for a moment and looked at Tony, who laid back with his eyes closed and his mouth curled in a closed-mouthed smile. Then Tony looked up at Gibbs with his eyes full of need. Gibbs had never seen him look so vulnerable, even when Tony had been locked up in jail.

He should say something, tell DiNozzo it couldn't be more than tonight, but the words wouldn't come out, and instead he gave Tony a sideways smile and moved down to his cock, which was standing alert and at attention.

"Can't I do anything?" asked DiNozzo with a gasp. He leaned up on his elbows. Gibbs pushed Tony's good shoulder back down.

"No," he said. "Just lie back." At the sound of Gibbs's command voice, Tony grew even harder in Gibbs's hand. Gibbs licked the head of Tony's penis, and then put the whole thing in his mouth, sucking hard. He heard DiNozzo's breath coming fast, and small involuntary noises, half formed words all begging for more.

"Yes, there, just there, yes," called out DiNozzo as his cock thickened further in Gibbs's mouth and he spasmed and came hard and fast. Gibbs stayed where he was until the throbbing subsided. Tony sat up and tried to move around as if to return the favor, but Gibbs pushed him down again.

"No," he said again. "You're not doing anything that might strain that arm." Tony lay back again, obligingly. He looked absurdly young for a moment, his face drained of all its usual tension. "I didn't say you could go to sleep yet," Gibbs continued.

"No, sir," agreed DiNozzo. "You could come up here, though." Gibbs clambered up and straddled Tony's chest. Tony reached behind Gibbs's balls with his good hand, and pressed there while putting Gibbs's cock into his mouth. Gibbs let this go on a few moments, even though the position wasn't the most comfortable for him, then he pulled gently back, and smiled down at DiNozzo.

Gibbs reached into his bedside drawer for some lube, and while his back was turned asked, "You're not new at this, are you?" He didn't think Tony was a virgin, in any way, but stranger things had happened. He wasn't sure what he'd do if Tony said yes. Maybe give him a peck on the cheek, a pat on the ass, and a shove out the door, but Tony did not disappoint.

"'Fraid not. I just didn't know who I was practicing for," said Tony. Gibbs had to kiss him for that, and then moved down and bit his neck hard enough to leave a mark. Then he put some lube on his finger tips and started working it into Tony's ass. Tony relaxed expertly, and tilted his pelvis to give Gibbs more access. When Tony felt nice and ready, Gibbs put on a condom, and lifted Tony's legs up until they rested against his chest, and then pushed his way in. He started slowly and gently, but Tony's hand grabbed his hip and pulled him in closer.

You've never fucked a man face-to-face before, a voice in his head reminded him. You were saving that for your wives and girlfriends. Then Tony arched his back underneath him and Gibbs couldn't think any more. He rocked back and forth harder and harder and picked Tony up by the hips to get a deeper thrust. Finally he bit Tony's calf hard as he came.

Before he pulled out, Tony reached his hand up to Gibbs's face and cupped it briefly, with a look on his face that Gibbs was afraid to try to read. His conscience was merciless: you're using him, you're playing with him, this is wrong. I'm not, Gibbs argued back. This isn't just another trick.

He pulled out and they took a shower together, kissing and touching under the spray. Gibbs felt relaxed like he never had before, like he could sleep for hours, and wake up warm and happy in Tony's arms, but that couldn't be.

"I'll help with the sling, and your shirt," said Gibbs when the stepped out of the shower. Tony's face fell, but he recovered quickly, and grinned at Gibbs like he would at Ziva or anyone else. It was an opaque grin: the mask that Tony hid himself behind.

"Aren't you worried that will start this whole thing again?" he asked.

"Don't get cocky," said Gibbs.

"What then?" said Tony, his mask slipping. He stood in front of Gibbs, naked and beautiful. He had a thin line of dark blond hair leading down his stomach, and Gibbs looked at that for a moment before looking back up at Tony's face.

"I'm your boss," said Gibbs. "This doesn't change that. You knew this couldn't be more than a one time thing." He put an edge of annoyance into his voice. Tony's face looked as if Gibbs had slapped him, and Tony bit his lip and looked away. It took every ounce of Gibbs self control not to hug him, tell him everything would be alright.

"I didn't actually know that," said Tony. His voice had gone hard, and he clipped off each word angrily. He walked back into the bedroom and found his pants. His face tightened in pain when he used his injured arm to put them on; Gibbs had to look away to keep from feeling those winces himself.

Gibbs didn't say anything else as Tony finished getting dressed and put on his shoes. "I'll see you at work tomorrow," said Tony with another hurt look before he walked down the stairs and back to his car.

Gibbs sat down on his bed and put his head in his hands. His body still hummed with pleasure, his lips were still marked with Tony's kisses, but his mind berated him mercilessly. Why couldn't he just keep his hands to himself in the locker room? How could he continue to work with Tony now that he knew what he was missing? It would be ten times worse than seeing Jenny. That was over and done with, while this had been cruelly nipped in the bud.

He lay down in bed, and wished Tony's warm body was still here with him.

Three.

"God, Tony, what is with you lately?" Abby asked when Tony came in. He wore the slightly hang-dog expression he'd been sporting for the past two weeks.

"What's with 'lately' lately?" asked Tony.

"Tell me, do watch Empire Records for the adorable dialogue or for Renee Zellweger in that tiny little apron? Anyway, the quote is 'what's with "today" today?'"

"I know, I was paraphrasing," said Tony, with a condescending grin. Abby grimaced back. "I like Liv Tyler, actually. Short skirts and combat boots have always been a winning combination."

"Tony! I didn't know you looked!" Abby smiled and spun around in her short skirt and massive platform boots, ending with a little curtsey. "You can't just charm your way out of answering the question, Mister."

"It's nothing. Gibbs just sent me in here for the lab results on the Marconi case."

"Nothing, huh?" Abby pursed her lips. "I didn't know we were reopening that case."

"You know, we review cold cases every so often. It's Marconi's turn. Again."

"Why aren't you out with Ziva checking into that private's murder?"

"She asked for McGee," said Tony into his hand, then he shrugged. "Gibbs told her to pick one of us. Anyway, there was an eyewitness who says the husband did it, and they're just bringing him in. Open and shut."

"You don't have a crush on her, do you?" Abby asked.

"Who, Ziva? God, no!" said Tony. He shuddered theatrically.

"Methinks the lady doth protest too much, Tony, but I'll choose to believe you anyway. Especially since I know your heart is given elsewhere." She fluttered her hand over her chest amd brought her other hand up to her forehead in a mock swoon.

"Abby," said Tony through gritted teeth, "you promised not to mention it. Not that you even know anything," he added under his breath.

"A locked box full of Gibbs's medals? Tony, that was the nail in the proverbial coffin. You can't fool me. The only question is when are you going to do something about it?" She looked up at Tony just then. He had a tense smile on his face, when she looked he spread his hands out and shrugged evocatively. Abby stomped around to the other side of her lab bench and smacked him in the shoulder.

"I can't believe you weren't going to tell me! Tony, aren't we friends?"

"I don't know," said Tony, "do you hit your friends?"

"Well, the people I really like, I handcuff," she said with a shake of her pigtails as she walked back to her desk.

"The thing I don't understand, Abs, is it was just a scratch," said Tony, "I've been shot, put in prison, infected with a deadly disease. Why now?"

"Well, you haven't given me any details, so what am I supposed to say?"

"I'm not going to give you any details," said Tony flatly.

"Let me guess then," she said. "He's berating you for getting yourself locked in a container, and a slap on the head turns into a hot, steamy make out session?" Abby twirled around in her chair. "That's how I've always imagined it."

"You've been fantasizing about--never mind, I really don't want to know."

"And the last two weeks?"

"You've seen him. He's barely smacked me on the head, hasn't talked to me, I dunno." Tony looked down at the ground.

"Who initiated it?" Tony gave her a look. "Come on, Tony! I want to help. You have to give me something."

"It was pretty mutual," said Tony with a grin he couldn't completely hide.

"So? Gibbs is probably just weirded out about kissing a guy."

Tony hid his smile behind his hand this time. "No, I don't think that's it." His thoughts slipped happily back to that night for a moment. It had ended painfully, but nothing could take away the feeling of Gibbs's hands all over him, his face above Tony's, his dark eyes full of lust.

"Tony!" said Abby again, shaking him out of his reverie. "I swear to God, I'm going to kill you if you don't give me a little more to go on."

Tony bit his lower lip. "Abby, I really can't," he said seriously. If he talked about it, Gibbs would somehow find a way to magically overhear, and worse, it wouldn't be just his any more. If that night was all he was ever going to get, he wanted guard it jealously.

"It was more than just a kiss, wasn't it?" she said. "Tony, you dog."

"I need those lab results, Abby," said Tony as he stood up. "If you don't have them right now, can you dig them up and leave them on my desk? I'm going to go workout for an hour."

"I thought you went after work," she said.

"I used to."

***

"I don't understand, Gibbs. Tony's been hurt before. Shot, put in prison, infected by a deadly disease, why now?" Abby sucked on her CafPow and looked at him over the top of the lid. Gibbs had come in to see her, ostensibly for the same lab results Tony had been after, but Abby knew he wanted to talk, even if Gibbs didn't know it himself.

"DiNozzo told you?" Gibbs's scowl could peel paint.

"He didn't. I guessed. I'm a pretty good investigator, Gibbs." Gibbs sighed.

"You are. You're also good at keeping secrets. Right?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Well, that's why. All that stuff. A lot's happened, and each time . . ." Gibbs rubbed his forehead.

"It got worse." Abby nodded. "I understand. I guess there's only so many times you can send someone you love out into the line of fire."

"Hang on a sec," Gibbs said, glaring. "Who said that?"

Abby smiled sweetly. "Gibbs, you can pretend with everyone else, and withhold all the information you want, but I've been working for you a long time now. And you're . . . not . . . fooling . . . me." She walked closer on every word. Her patent leather platform boots creaked with every step, and on the final word, she leaned over and kissed Gibbs on the cheek. "You've been a kind of a sourpuss to him for two weeks, but you can make up for it." Gibbs opened his mouth, but Abby held up her hand. Today she wore fingerless fishnet gloves, and the black nail polish on her fingernails was chipped. "You can probably get away without apologizing, but I wouldn't recommend it."

Gibbs narrowed his eyes again, and swiped the CafPow from her hand. She pouted. "You know I'm right, which is why you're not saying anything right now. Go away, Gibbs, and give me caffeine back. I already put the tests on Tony's desk."

Gibbs walked up to her and put the caffeine cup in her hand without letting go of it. "I'm his boss, Abby."

"Not for long," she said, pulling on the cup.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, that you should have seen him. He put on a brave face, but he looked like he was going to cry. Gibbs, you could lose him over this."

"You mean NCIS could lose him."

"I mean you could lose him! Now give me my caffeine, Gibbs, I'm not kidding!" Gibbs let go, and Abby turned back to her work.

***

It had been nothing more than a burnt scratch, although caused by a bullet, and now, two weeks later, Tony was back in fine form at the gym. He couldn't bench quite as much as before, and his pull-up count was a little low, but he could get that back in a few weeks.

The gym was fairly empty in the middle of the afternoon, which suited Tony just fine. After some weight lifting he went to hit the heavy bag. I don't know how much longer this can go on, he thought as he pounded away. Bad enough, seeing Gibbs every day and wondering what it would be like to kiss him, to cup his ass with his hands, to be in bed with him, but knowing was so much worse--knowing how good it could be, and never would be again.

"I think he's had enough, Di Nozzo," said Gibbs's voice behind him. Tony stopped and pulled off the gloves, before feeling a little light-headed and resting his arms on his knees. "Easy there, you don't want to re-injure yourself."

"Just trying to get back in fighting trim, Boss." Tony shook out his arms and stood up. He looked at Gibbs, who wore a dark blue a suit and silver tie. "I'd ask you to run with me, Boss, but you're not quite dressed for it."

"Abby said you're thinking of leaving," said Gibbs without preamble.

"I didn't say that." Tony smiled, but it didn't touch his eyes.

"Our Abby's a smart girl. She reads between the lines."

"A little too smart."

Gibbs shook his head ruefully. "Yeah, she is. I'll go running with you after work. Meet me at my place at 1900 hours."

***

By 7:00pm, the sun had been down for two hours, and the frost lined the stray leaves on Gibbs's front porch, where Tony waited in his warm-ups. "I nearly froze to death once this winter, Boss. Don't really want to do it again," said Tony when Gibbs came walking up the stairs at 7:01.

"If you're not recovered enough to go for a run with me, just say so," said Gibbs. "I need to change." He didn't wait for an answer.

Tony waited downstairs and looked around the first floor of Gibbs's house. He lingered for a moment on the wall Gibbs had pressed him up against. He'd been so cocky that night, so sure everything was finally going right.

Gibbs came down the stairs wearing track pants, a USMC sweatshirt and a stocking cap. Tony smiled at the cap. "I've got an extra," Gibbs said when he noticed Tony's grin. "Keep your ears warm."

"I'm okay, Boss."

They ran along the sidewalks of Gibbs's neighborhood. Gibbs set a good pace--a little faster than Tony was used to, but it felt good to push himself. Gibbs didn't seem inclined to talk so Tony let the endorphin rush of running fill his limbs. It was a clean and pure kind of pleasure, satisfying in its way, and seemed to exorcise some of the ache in his chest. He'd be damned if he was going to speak first, not after the way that night had ended.

"Tony, about what happened . . ." said Gibbs after they passed the three mile mark. He slowed to a walk. "I'm your boss."

"You said that before. If you just asked me out here to dump me again . . ." Tony's throat tightened, but he forced his voice to stay even.

"I just want you to understand," said Gibbs.

"What happened to 'never apologize, never explain.'?" Tony asked, suddenly letting all his hurt and anger come up to the surface. "The infallible Gibbs. You know what's right for everyone, don't you?"

Gibbs gave Tony an inscrutable look, before he said angrily: "I know you! You have a different woman every week. Getting involved with you would be stupid on every level there is!"

"You don't know me that well if you think they've all been women," said DiNozzo. He tried to keep his voice down, but it seemed to echo down the winter street.

"Obviously not!" said Gibbs. "I thought you were smarter than to confuse whatever kind of hero worship it is you have for me with, well, anything else!" Gibbs's breath made clouds in the air, and Tony could see his nose turning red in the cold.

"What's the real problem, Gibbs?" asked Tony. "Yeah, my track record sucks, but guess what? The whole time you've known me, I haven't even been free to fall for someone else."

"And that's my fault?"

"No, that's not what I meant," said Tony. His anger was starting to drain out of him. So this was how it would end. He'd give Gibbs his resignation tomorrow, and go start a new life in yet another new city. Maybe, New York this time, and try to fall in love with someone available. "Just tell me one thing, Boss," he said quietly, "if you knew what a bad idea it was, if you 'knew' that all I felt was hero worship, why'd you do it?"

Gibbs looked away. "God, DiNozzo, you have to ask?"

"Yeah, I do. Please tell me, and then I'll go, I'll leave you alone. I promise."

"Because every time I send you out, it could be the last, and I had to know, okay?"

"So, it really was just a one night stand. What did you find out?"

"I really am sorry, Tony," said Gibbs. "And you know how I don't apologize. Are you happy now?" Tony reached out and touched Gibbs's cheek.

"No, but I'll leave NCIS, if that's what you want. If you really want me to go. Tell me it wasn't fantastic. Tell me you don't want another night like that." Gibbs looked at him finally, and smiled that sideways smile Tony loved.

"You know I can't do that," he said, putting his hand up to Tony's.

"Your track record isn't the best, either," said Tony. "But I'm willing to give you a chance. Can't you do the same for me?" Gibbs smiled again.

"I don't know," he said, "but if you beat me home, I'll try to answer you." He sprang off in a sprint back down the sidewalk, with Tony hot on his heels. Tony was just a hand's breadth behind when the reached Gibbs's front steps.

"You won," said Tony. "God, it's fucking freezing out here. Can I at least come in and warm up?" He put a little extra pleading into his eyes.

"Yeah, you can come in for a little while," said Gibbs.

Inside, Gibbs put on some tea and sent Tony up to shower. "Be careful, heat it up slowly. You don't want to go into shock," he called out as Tony went up the stairs.

He heard Gibbs puttering around in the kitchen as he got undressed in the master bathroom--Gibbs hadn't said which shower to use. He was soaping his hair under the steaming water when he felt hands coming around his waist. He turned within the circle of those arms to find Gibbs looking back at him.

"Tony, look at me, I'm an old guy with three divorces. I can't promise anything, really. But I promise you can spend the night," Gibbs said.

Tony swallowed with some difficulty. The bone-deep physical exhaustion from his punishing workout, and the emotional exhaustion from the day were starting to catch up with him. "Whatever you say, Boss. We can work on the other stuff later."

His lips found Gibbs's under the hot spray of the shower, and he closed his eyes and relaxed into Gibbs's arms. It felt like coming home.


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