HOMECOMING

by elfin


Abby wrapped around him like bark on a tree, McGee to his right, smiling like a loon, Ziva to his left looking smug and self-satisfied, Gibbs in front of him looking....  He was home, back with the people who loved him, people he loved.  The Seahawk's captain wanted his Agent Afloat back but he would get someone else.  Gibbs had taken him without permission, Tony had realised belatedly; he'd never been so happy to be abducted his whole life.

As Abby talked, Gibbs reached over, offered his hand and Tony took it.  But that handshake paused, changed, became something else, something neither of them seemed willing to let go of. 

"I think we're due some sleep," Ziva interrupted Abby’s flow, "we should get going."

Abby picked up on her tone, glanced at Gibbs and Tony, and nodded her agreement, unwrapping herself, patting Tony's shoulder and telling him she was so happy he was back and that she would definitely see him in the morning and would definitely bring him up to date with the bowling averages over a CafPow.  Then she grabbed the back of McGee's collar and dragged him away with her, ignoring his surprise, his protest and question.  Tony blushed slightly, looked away with a smile on his face then lifted his head again and found himself staring straight into big, sparkling blue eyes.  He pulled his hand free slowly.  He needed to pull himself together again.  On the boat he'd been unable to tear his eyes off Gibbs, drinking him in like a seaman on shore leave trying to get drunk in the short time as he had; sure he would be forced once again to say goodbye and taking all he needed when he could get it to steel himself for that moment.  He was home now, he needed to get himself under control, let things get back to normal. 

"I missed you, Boss."

"I know." 

"I need to check into a hotel," Tony pushed himself off McGee's desk and stood up, "they rented out my apartment for the full term, all my stuff's in storage...."

"Don't be an idiot."  Gibbs' voice was soft, low, amused. 

"What?"

"You're staying with me." 

"I am?"  Happiness, relief flooded him for the third time in twenty-four hours.  He needed a drink or the sweet taste was going to make him sick.  "I am.  Cool.  Thanks, Boss."

Gibbs inclined his head slightly.  "You’re welcome, DiNozzo.” 

#

Tony dumped his bag on the floor and sat on the edge of the guest room’s double bed.  He was home; all he’d wanted, all he’d thought about for the last four months.  Not necessarily in Gibbs’ house but back working under the man, being part of his team, having his six.  Back on dry land in DC.  And now reality was settling in.  He needed to at least get some clothes out of storage.  He needed to remember what he used to do with his evenings.  He needed to remember what being alone was like. 

“Everything okay?”

Tony glanced up, smiled at Gibbs standing in the doorway, both hands on the frame leaning slightly inside the room.  He nodded.  “Yeah.  Thanks for this, Boss, seriously.” 

“Least I can do, dragging you back from the Seahawk ahead of time.”  There was a glint in his eyes and it dragged a tired grin from Tony.  He was starting to feel the lack of sleep now that the adrenaline was draining from his system.

“I’m so upset about that, as you can see, but when duty calls….”  He trailed off, not sure what he’d been about to say. 

“Mind if I....?”

He shook his head and frowning, surprised, he shifted across to make space when Gibbs came into the room and sat down on the bed beside him.  He sat for a minute or two, looking around the room like he’d never seen the inside of it before. 

"I've been blind," he started suddenly, awkwardly, randomly as far as Tony was concerned, "too wrapped up in the past to see what's been in front of me."

Tony was confused.  ”Boss, you know none of this was your fault.” 

“I’m not talking about the reassignment.”

“Oh.  So what…?”  He turned, found himself inches from Gibbs’ face and finally saw there what he’d been looking for and not seeing for six years.  “Oh.”   

“I had to bring you back with me.” Gibbs said quietly, Tony already lost to him.  “Once I’d got you within arms’ reach again I couldn’t bring myself to let you out of my sight.  No way was I leaving the Seahawk and leaving you behind.”

“Oh.”  It was all he could say.  He didn’t seem to be able to find any more appropriate words.  Gibbs smiled at him.  

“I know you’ve been chasing me a long time.  And you know, having someone around who worships the ground I walk on... that’s one hell of a rush, Tony.”  He felt the blush creep into his cheeks.  “But... despite the three ex-wives, I do play for keeps.  If we start something it isn’t going to be temporary.  And I don’t share.”  Tony opened his mouth but no words came out, not even an ‘oh’.  He was so used to carrying this crush, this need, around with him, deep inside, so used to it being unrequited, that he couldn’t quite believe this wasn’t just some jetlag-induced fantasy.  He was away with his own stunned shock until Gibbs said, “I’ll let you get some sleep.  I don’t need you to make a decision now, I just wanted you to know... the offer’s there, if you want to take me up on it.  Have a feeling... it always will be.” 

Tony snapped back into himself as, with a small smile on his face and his hands on his knees, Gibbs started to rise.  The movement broke the fugue in Tony’s head.  “Whoa.”  His hand shot out, grabbed Gibbs’ wrist.  “Wait!  You can’t say something like that then just leave.” 

He chuckled.  “I’m only going into the next room.  You’re exhausted.”

“Not that exhausted!”  Gibbs sat back down, patience all over his face, and Tony tried to order the chaos in his mind.  “Are you saying... you and I....”  He swept a hand back through his hair and started again, more serious than he could remember being in a long time – more himself.  “You might think I’m one big joke....” 

Gibbs shook his head.  “I don’t think that.”

“People do.”

Hands folded in his lap, Gibbs looked at him.  “Not me.  If I couldn’t see past that I’d have kicked your ass back to Baltimore years ago.” 

Tony hesitated.  “I have... wanted you, one way or another, for a long time.  If we do this... if I lose you,” he shook his head, “I’m gone.  I couldn’t cope knowing I’d blown the only chance I’ll ever have.”

Gibbs lifted one hand from his lap and touched the back of his fingers to Tony’s cheek.  “You won’t lose me.  Can’t.  I won’t let it happen again.  I know it won’t be easy, Tony; two alpha males coming together never is.  But you mean too much for me to just let you walk away.” 

“You really mean this?”

“I really mean it.” 

Gathering his confidence, Tony smirked.  “Prove it.”

Gibbs surged forward, wrapped big hands around Tony’s face, pushed long fingers into his hair, tongue delving past Tony’s lips to explore his mouth.  He used his strength to take Tony back to the bed, lying over him, and Tony finally plucked up the courage to do some exploring of his own; one hand running up Gibbs’ tensed arm while he let the short, soft spikes of his greying hair run through his fingers like sand.  He let Gibbs kiss him, moaning slightly as he lifted his head away but using the opportunity to search for some explanation of ‘why now’ in eyes he would willingly, happily drown in.  

Instead of explaining, Gibbs just asked quietly, “Sure this is okay?”

And he nodded.  “Sure.  Definitely sure, Gibbs.”’ 

“Jethro.”

He tried it.  “Jethro.”  It tasted good.  Gibbs - Jethro - felt good, lying along the length of him, hard and solid, head to toe as he leaned in again and kissed him.  Good just didn’t come close.  Perfect.  Gibbs was perfect.  Everything Tony had imagined he’d be and more.  He could only hope they both knew what they were getting into. 

#

“…someone to go undercover.” 

Tony was on his feet in a heartbeat, knowing that was his thing, his skill, and more than ready to do it.  He wanted to continue to be useful here, wanted to make sure this was where he was needed, professionally as well as personally, which he apparently really was. 

“No.”  It was bold and clear. 

His head snapped around to look at Gibbs.  “Boss?”

“Not you.  Not this time.  McGee.”   

Probie looked up, eyes wide with surprise.  “Boss?”

“Go work up a background with Abby.” 

Gibbs moved almost as quickly as McGee, trotting up the stairs towards MTAC, and at the risk of looking as if he was following the Boss around like a puppy, Tony was only a second behind him as he stepped into the large, empty room.  He closed the gap quickly and put his mouth to Gibbs’ ear, voice a barely audible murmur.

“Don’t do this.  Don’t sideline me just because....” 

Gibbs spun one-eighty, hand landing hard on Tony’s shoulder, fingers gripping, and when he spoke into Tony’s ear, his voice was just as desperate.  “I’ve only just found you, don’t ask me to let you go so soon.”

It wasn’t the response he’d been expecting.  “Huh...?” 

“We both know what this assignment might be,” Gibbs hissed.  “Don’t ask me to watch you seduce some fucking stranger when I haven’t even had the chance to fuck you myself.”

Stunned, Tony looked at him, eyes wide.  “Okay.” 

“Please.”

Gibbs needed more, he suddenly realised, shocked to the core.  This is how it was going to be – all that intensity focused completely on him.  It was going to be the best kind of drug, the worst kind of addiction.  He was going to drown and he wouldn’t even fight to stop it from happening.  “I’m yours,” he murmured, soft, meaningful.  “I would die for you.  Whatever you want, whatever you need, you just have to take it.” 

The way Gibbs was looking at him, Tony thought he must already know that and was trying to reign himself in when all he really wanted to do was lose control.  “I need McGee to do this.  I need to keep you with me, just for now, just until I’m used to this.”

Tony nodded.  “I am absolutely fine with that.” 

“Yeah?”

“Oh, yeah.” 

Gibbs’ face broke into a smile Tony thought might blind him.  He couldn’t help but grin in return.  He wanted to kiss the man right there and then, at the very least he wanted to touch, to lay claim to him, to just grab him and yell ‘mine’ at the top of his voice.  But he didn’t.  He didn’t dare.  Instead he put everything into his eyes, hoped Gibbs could see it.

The door opened and they broke apart smoothly, Tony could still feel the heat of Gibbs’ hand on his shoulder, the imprint of fingers in his flesh.  He briefly wondered if the man was more than he could handle.  Then pushed the thought out of mind. 

When they headed out half an hour later to set up surveillance on McGee, Gibbs’ typical, ‘DiNozzo, you’re with me’ took on a whole new meaning.