A/N I originally posted this under Crossovers, but stories tend to get lost there. I hope ya'll don't mind that I moved it to Regular, even though it is an NCIS Hawaii Five-0 crossover.

Stranger in Paradise

Chapter One

Bombs exploding in shopping districts had even more ramifications in Hawaii than elsewhere with the economy's dependence on tourism. The Five-0 team was working hard following leads when a pale, overdressed NCIS agent walked in and informed McGarrett he had been sent to help.

"We're pretty sure it's the same group NCIS was tracking two years ago before they went dark and the case went cold. There's a heavy cyber element to it, so my Director offered my services to the governor. What do you have?" Special Agent Timothy McGee told McGarrett when the task force leader stepped into his way, blocking access to their offices. It was obvious to Tim that the handsome Navy reservist was unhappy with a stranger showing up.

"Look, I am here to help you, so stop giving me the stare and start telling me what I need to know. I've stared down someone way worse than you, McGarrett: you don't scare me." McGee was rather surprised as he realized that what he was saying was the absolute truth. Gibbs had years of practice breaking suspects with his gaze, and McGarrett's 'head back, looking down his nose' only seemed arrogant to Tim, not intimidating.

McGarrett's shoulders relaxed and he nodded once, giving his approval that this man with his steady gaze had passed his test. This geeky haole had more stones than he'd expected when NCIS Director Leon Vance had notified him McGee was coming. Vance had said he was a field Agent on the Major Case Response Team, not one of their cyber expert mole people, but he'd still figured he'd be able to cow the man merely with his attitude, and here he was calling Steve on the attempt! He kind of liked him already. Besides, he had the prettiest eyes Steve had ever seen. That had to count for something. He jerked his chin toward the next office.

"Kono's working on the laptop we found. She hasn't been able to break the encryption so it's all yours. Get me something to take these guys down before they blow anything else up."

McGee suppressed an eye roll and followed the direction he'd been sent and settled down to work with the much more pleasant Police Officer Kono Kalakaua. She was younger but seemed to be running police specialist level decryption, and she was enthusiastic. It was great to work with people who had more than a cursory knowledge of computers. He used one of his personal decryption programs and got into the laptop in under two minutes, but then, that was why he was the expert.

"Wait... I've never seen anything like that. How did you-" Kono was agog that the man had put a thumb drive in and then was suddenly past all the barriers she'd been struggling with for the last half hour.

"It's just a program I wrote. I'll leave you a copy," Tim said dismissively, already wading through the data he'd found.

She mirrored what he was looking at on their big screen so she could watch without crowding him. He was going so fast that she kept having to bite back a request for him to explain what he'd done. He wasn't there just to teach her, but she hoped she could learn from him nonetheless. When he set a bunch of in-depth searches to run on their computers, he finally sat back from his laptop and looked around.

"That will probably take a while. So, is there a place close by where I can get a good cup of coffee?" He asked Kono with a smile.

"You've been working for three solid hours, McGee: The coffee's on me. C'mon," McGarrett interrupted. Tim gave Kono a helpless shrug, and she smiled appreciatively that he'd acknowledged her abrupt dismissal. Then he followed the team leader out.

"You broken that encryption yet?" Steve asked. McGee frowned, unsure to what he was referring. Then he realized that McGarrett had no idea how fast Tim worked.

"Yeah. There wasn't much on that computer. The most questionable thing was some possibly underaged Japanese porn. But I got a few account numbers from some budgeting software that was loaded and I ran those down."

"Shell corporations?"

"Yeah, but there were transactions routed through some satellites they shouldn't have accessed, so I've set up some sniffers while we check out associated accounts."

The nod McGarrett gave was more knowing than the blank look he would have gotten from Gibbs and he filed the information away that this man had more tech skills than Tim had expected.

"That's good work," he complimented as they arrived at the coffee cart. McGee smiled ruefully. That was what he'd done in the first half an hour.

"Tip of the iceberg. You wanna know what else I'm doing or do you just want to know when I find actionable intel?"

McGarrett reassessed McGee. He looked at him and realized he was older than he'd assumed from his baby face, probably near his own age. And he could tell he was used to being undervalued. He tilted his head. "That all your team usually wants?"

"Uh-huh. They trust that I'm getting the right info, but they don't really care how," Tim shrugged. Steve considered.

"Give me the short version. I don't want to take up your time getting updates when you could be breaking the case for us."

McGee told him briefly about all the avenues he was exploring as they walked back into the office. Steve shook his head.

"You did all that in three hours? Woulda taken us days."

Tim shrugged. It felt really good to have his skills acknowledged but it wasn't actually relevant to the case, so he changed the topic. "I thought you had a bigger team than this?"

"Lou Grover is over at the police department running something down. Chin Ho Kelly's in the hospital. Appendicitis with complications, but he's doing okay."

"He's your tech guy?"

"We all pitch in."

Tim nodded. This team already seemed more fluid than Gibbs' did, everyone able to do at least basic computer forensics as well as perform the more physical aspects of the job. Although McGarrett seemed built for the physical aspects; he was every inch the fit SEAL, not having gone soft at all since he'd become a reservist. An impressive specimen of a man with a body that made Tim's mouth go dry. They reentered the common area of the office and Tim sat back down on the folding chair he'd been using with his laptop balanced on the edge of a shelf.

"You can use my office," McGarrett offered, and McGee gratefully moved into the more comfortable space. Steve now knew he'd earned it and he even felt a little bad for how Tim had had to work for the last few hours.

But while he sat at the big desk in the comfortable chair, it took all McGee's years of practice working around DiNozzo to focus while the Five-0 team snarked at each other in rapid-fire. Detective Danny Williams and Lieutenant Commander Steve McGarrett seemed to be unable to function together without the repartee and their voices rose and fell throughout the days with very little pause, save when they were out chasing every tenuous lead. They seemed happier doing legwork than waiting for electronic intel. Grover got in plenty of shots on each of them as well, and even the quiet Kono sent a few zingers into the mix. Each night Steve dismissed them for a few hours of sleep, and Tim was grateful to get even that much rest. With a threat like this, he knew that Gibbs would have had them sleeping at their desks, unwilling to spare even the few minutes it would take for them to go home. It bothered him vaguely to feel even slightly critical of his boss, but he was too exhausted to argue with himself.

Finally, McGarrett and Williams got into a yelling match that made Tim wish he'd brought noise canceling headphones, and when Kono reported a more plausible possible lead from their friend and regular informant, a huge Hawaiian named Kamekona, Danny took off like he'd been catapulted, but with disastrous consequences. Not long after he'd left, Tim hacked a server with a large number of terrorist emails, all in a cypher that he and McGarrett figured out. They had bounced ideas off of each other and solved the riddle in minutes, and Tim was impressed with how fast Steve's mind worked, and how well they meshed. As McGarrett leaned near over Tim's shoulder to see the screen and they worked together to decode the recent emails, Tim felt his face flush at the warm closeness of the other man. By the time they'd waded through the last few days of messages, they realized Danny had gone straight into the same trap which had ensnared two previous investigators and gotten them killed in Georgia and Naples.

Williams was taken hostage rather than being killed outright by the leader of the terrorist group, his import having been reinforced by messages Tim and Steve had concocted and inserted onto the email server. Tim offered to call in Marine support from the local command, but the idea was dismissed off hand as something that would take too long. Steve was again taken aback at the quiet authority Tim displayed as he succinctly argued his point, but McGarrett knew that he was right and the lead time for a military operation would jeopardize his partner's life. As Kono, Grover, and McGarrett geared up to go for their rescue attempt, McGee insisted they take him with as a field trained addition to their team. Suspecting that it would be easier to convince Steve by adopting the same raised, argumentative tone he'd been listening to from the Commander and the Detective for the last four days, Tim switched how he'd been talking to the leader and stepped up and got right in McGarrett's face, grasping at some of the bits of personal information he'd gleaned to get his point across.

"Yeah? You lost your dad? I lost my dad right before Christmas. I know what it's like to lose family that you didn't know you were dependent on until they're gone. I also know what it's like to have your real family be people who aren't your blood. We're gonna find Danny, McGarrett. I will find Danny, then you and I are gonna do some talking. We're more alike than we seem."

"Then do it! Find him and then a steak dinner's on me, McGee," Steve snapped in response. In the heated moment, he refused to admit that Tim had been an incredible asset and that he was much more perceptive than Steve had imagined. The computer geek McGarrett had pegged him as was showing he had a steel spine in that lean, far from frail frame along with a brilliant mind, and the combination was beyond intriguing. And those eyes of his shifting color like the ocean, from green to turquoise to blue and back further roused Steve's interest, but he tucked that away to better focus on getting his partner back safe and taking down the group that was bombing tourist traps. Tim hauled his laptop with them in Steve's big truck, peripherally wondering how often the man needed such a vehicle and if he was compensating for a lack below the belt with it. Shaking off where that thought might lead, he worked on a triangulation while he strapped his bulletproof vest on as McGarrett aggressively drove in the direction Tim sent him.

To McGarrett's surprise, it turned out that McGee was also a crack shot when they got to the beef processing plant they discovered the group had been using as a headquarters. After using binoculars to identify the type of detonator being used, Tim assessed, then took out the unit as one of the terrorists was holding it up while he made a speech about why they were doing what they were doing. With the bomb threat out of the way, the Five-0 team moved in and Tim continued to cover them while they freed their teammate. SWAT arrived in time to support the final takedown, and they shared a group congratulations before EMTs took Danny to have his concussion and assorted injuries checked and the rest of them went back to the office to file paperwork.

There was so much less red tape with the special task force that McGee was honestlly shocked. He put his notes into files organized so that all his NCIS paperwork would be easier to do either on the plane or after he returned to Washington, then eagerly packed up to go back to his hotel. But instead, McGarrett ordered Tim to his place when everything settled. McGee tried to object, knowing he would be heading back to the mainland the following morning and wanting a little bit of peaceful time on the beach before he left, but Steve wasn't about to let him go easily. There was so much more to the Agent than his initial assessment had suggested, and he decided that it was time to see just how many more layers he could uncover before the man left.

In his room, Tim showered and put on jeans and a polo shirt before he drove over to McGarrett's place. He wasn't sure what the plan was, but the intensity of the look Steve had given him had Tim wondering what he was in for. Maybe he would get to see a more relaxed side of the guarded man, but it seemed more likely he'd end up working another case or chasing some lead; Steve reminded him of Gibbs with his almost pathological need to work. The opportunity to spend some personal time with the first man he'd been attracted to in a while was too strong of a lure, even if Tim resigned himself to nothing more than flirting.

When he arrived, he found McGarrett prepping a grill. Maybe Tim had read him wrong and this would be a team get together? But there were only four beef-peppers-pineapple kebobs in the kitchen as he moved through. So probably just the two of them. What was it with hard-ass men and cooking meat over open flame, he wondered. And why was it completely irresistible to Tim? He sighed as his thoughts reminded him of Gibbs and tried to redirect himself to standing firm with Steve.

"Hey," McGarrett greeted. "There's beer in the fridge." He gave McGee a nod as he went past him and picked up the tray of kebobs. Tim felt that look low in his gut, but steeled himself against his response. God, the man was gorgeous! Tim cleared his throat.

"Um, thanks, but... I'm not sure I should stay," McGee told him. He took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. Steve turned his head and looked quizzically at him. He continued moving with that perpetual motion of the active, fit, avoidant male. Tim shook his head. "I don't think we're on the same page here."

McGarrett put the kebobs on the grate and took a pull from his beer before moving to take the platter from the raw food back into the kitchen. "How do you figure?" He asked as he passed Tim, brushing by him deliberately. Tim swallowed. He was definitely reading McGarrett's intentions right. The back of the man's free hand had just barely grazed his crotch, flaming his attraction and reassuring him that he had better leave, quick, or he'd end up doing something he would regret.

"I'm leaving tomorrow, so you're looking for a quick fuck. That's not something I generally do," McGee said, keeping his voice level. Steve washed his hands and dried them before he returned to stand immediately in front of Tim. He was close, and McGee's breath caught at the sense of contained power just on the verge of release from the body bare inches from his own. If he was ever going to break his own rule against one night stands, this was the moment...

"Nothing 'quick' about it when I fuck, Tim," McGarrett informed him, quirking an eyebrow. It was a matter of fact statement, but said in a low voice that already had McGee's cock responding.

Tim smiled tightly. "I bet you don't get turned down very often. But I don't have one night stands. And I don't fuck. Maybe I was wrong about us being more alike than we thought," he said, shaking his head. He was definitely going to regret this when he went home. McGarrett was sexy and it was apparent he'd be a skilled lover. He stepped to the side to move away from him, then turned to go. A strong hand on his shoulder stopped him and he looked back.

"I bet you're not often wrong, either. What makes you sure you are now?"

Steve's voice was still low and seductive, but Tim saw a flash of vulnerability in his eyes, quickly covered by the confident façade and it made him recalculate. He raised an eyebrow in question, but didn't move away from the hand on his shoulder.

"It would be perfectly understandable for you to request a couple of personal days so you could check out the islands before you go back," McGarrett said. Tim's mouth twisted in a wry smile.

"It's still a one night stand even if it's spread over a couple of days, Steve. I'm a writer: you're not going to get away with semantics with me. I appreciate the offer, though. You should call me if you're ever in Washington. I can introduce you to the person you're likely to be in twenty years," McGee replied. Hell, he was already regretting turning McGarrett down! He huffed as he headed toward the door.

Steve really wasn't used to being turned down, and it put him into hunter mode. He wasn't sure he could actually break through the walls Tim was putting up, but he wanted to try. There was something so special about him, and he found himself needing to figure out what it was that pulled him so strongly.

"Hey Tim! You gotta eat. Stay for dinner," Steve called after him. There was something in his voice... The arrogant Casanova-persona was gone, and he just seemed to be asking for something real this time. Tim closed his eyes and grit his teeth. Damn... Sincerity from the tightly barricaded former SEAL? It tugged at his heart as well as his groin. He'd never been able to break through the military reserve he'd witnessed in the people he'd cared about who armored themselves with it, but he sensed that maybe he could with McGarrett, and he wanted to know what was behind that mask. He wanted it badly. He turned back and nodded.

"Those kebobs do look good," he admitted. The smile McGarrett gave him was worth staying for dinner with the potential awkwardness of taking his leave right after. "I'm more of a wine drinker, though. Want me to run out for a bottle?" The social lubrication of alcohol was appealing. He'd just have to make sure he didn't drink to the point of impairing his judgment, or his ability to drive himself away.

"I've got something that will go great with this. C'mon outside and have a seat."

Dinner was delicious, and Tim relaxed with the good wine and conversation. They sat in low chairs on the beach, Tim almost asking how Steve could afford oceanfront property before he realized it was the McGarrett family home. That had to be difficult with Steve's past, living in the house he'd basically been thrown out of as a teenager when he was sent to school on the mainland. So they talked shop, discussing cases, then Tim started asking about the islands and was pleased that Steve became even more animated. Better still, more of his mask seemed to slip as he described hidden waterfalls and coves accessible only by kayak or canoe. It sounded like a magical place and Tim reconsidered requesting a few more days to play tourist. His studious look and frown were obvious tells that his mind was no longer on the topic at hand, and McGarrett tensed. McGee noticed and gestured that all was well.

"You're really making me want to stay those extra days, Steve, but I don't want to give you the wrong impression. I said I'm not interested in meaningless sex and that hasn't changed, but I'm really enjoying your company and I think I'd like it if you'd show me more of your home. If we can keep things platonic," Tim said plainly. He saw the calculating look that passed over Steve's face, but it disappeared behind a charming, handsome smile, and he agreed. Tim shook his head internally. He'd get a fabulous, insider tour of Hawaii, but he was going to have to be on defense against his own attraction to someone who was more guarded than even Gibbs or Tony. He snickered a little, realizing that the consolation if he did fall to McGarrett's charms would be probably some of the best sex he'd ever had with a guy. And since a smidge of his self-respect would vanish along the way, he girded himself and made the choice to either ignore or acknowledge and dismiss any flirtation. He sensed he needed to be forthright with Steve.

McGee sent the requisite request for leave forms from his phone and checked his watch before he called when the time difference meant he was more likely to get Gibbs after he'd had some coffee to make sure his boss was okay with him staying a few more days. Tim decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth when Gibbs actually encouraged him and wished him a good vacation, sounding pleased for him, but after he hung up, he stared off, frowning, disturbed by the call. Did Gibbs suspect that he'd met someone? And what did it mean if his boss was encouraging him to follow through?

Steve slapped him on the back as he returned to the room, having excused himself to give Tim privacy for his call but stopping in concern at his expression.

"Everything okay?"

Tim nodded. "Yeah. My boss said to have a good time. It's just weird, because he's not usually all that encouraging."

"Gibbs, huh? Yeah, I've heard of him. That's who you were talking about with the stare, right?"

Tim nodded. "Uh-huh. Sorry, but after more than ten years of Gibbs, you didn't faze me a bit. Now before I joined his team, I would have been a quivering puddle from that look from you."

McGarrett smiled, trying to imagine an unsure, green McGee. "I bet you were cute. Did you stutter?"

Grinning, McGee nodded. "Oh yeah. I was fat, too. Typical computer geek. No glasses, though, but cheap suits and wide ties..." He realized he was flirting and that he was standing too close to McGarrett. He cleared his throat and stepped back. "I'm sorry. I'm not trying to be a tease. I should head back to my hotel. What time should we meet up tomorrow?"

They made their plans and Tim drove back to his hotel. He took a cold shower and went to bed. McGarrett stayed up longer and had a good wank before he fell asleep to thoughts of the dexterous fingers and calm demeanor of Special Agent McGee.

The next two and a half days were filled with wonder and beauty with only a little adrenaline as Steve insisted Tim see the view from Kalaupapa cliffs on Molokai. He'd worked hard to overcome his fear of heights but still felt the rush when confronting them. Tim snickered and arched an eyebrow at the sign to Phallic Rock, the other destination from the trail head at the base of the cliffs. Steve's smile and eye roll were more relaxed than Tim had seen since he arrived in his office, and it pleased him to see the man lowering his guard. They talked off and on while they trekked to the overlook, and Tim accepted the ribbing he got when he asked if there was poison ivy in the jungle. He gamely told his stories about his encounters with the noxious plant and enjoyed Steve's laughter, even if it was at his expense.

"You got it on your junk? Oh man! That takes days to clear up!"

"Oh yeah. So I think it's understandable that I asked about it here!"

"Yeah, I suppose. But that it happened twice! Damn, you were green."

"Eager to be accepted as a real field agent."

"Well, you've impressed me. That shot with the detonator..."

"I spend a lot of time at the range. I helped Gibbs hold off a group of Afghani men who were intent on destroying the women's shelter we were at. Never even got a thank you from him," Tim mused, his voice trailing off. But he'd known Gibbs was proud of him.

"You were in Afghanistan?"

"Yeah, on a case a few years ago."

They talked about Tim's brief time in country, and then his questions encouraged Steve to talk a little about this own time there. Lots of his ops were classified, of course, but he shared funny moments with his SEAL team at their camp and odd interactions with locals that stemmed from the people's spotty knowledge of American culture that mostly came from the entertainment industry. The language barrier had once led McGarrett's team to a laundry rather than the restaurant they were trying to find when they'd been in a city. Finding that they had the same taste in common that they'd both enjoyed the local cuisine was another warm bonding experience.

Their evenings they spent on the beach by Steve's house, and Tim thrilled at the way the other man continued to unwind and become more open with him. He even told some stories from his childhood, and the contrast of a normal (by island standards) upbringing with the way Steve's late teens had been made Tim wonder what sort of person he'd have been if he'd been able to complete school and had his mother at home. The man before him had so many emotional wounds from being so abruptly uprooted just after losing his mom, McGee was sure he'd have been an unrecognizably different person if his life's path had gone a more normal route.

On their last afternoon together, they hiked to a secluded place with a beautiful waterfall and sat and shared a bottle of wine Steve had secreted along in his backpack. Two glasses made Tim bold.

"You haven't pushed, Steve. I appreciate that. You've relaxed and I think I'm seeing a side of you not everyone gets to. What's up with that?" He asked, unsure what the response was he wanted. He shrugged mentally and decided that whatever he got was okay. Steve looked thoughtful at the question so Tim allowed him time to answer.

"I don't know what it is about you, Tim. There's something... I feel good, with you. Like...peaceful, somehow. Why is that?" McGarrett was surprised to hear himself admit what he'd been thinking ever since McGee stood up to him when he walked into the office to help with their case. The calm, quietly confident way Tim had proceeded throughout the investigation had been a good influence on his own volatile nature.

Tim considered. "I guess with me...what you see is what you get. I'm a lousy liar, so I don't lie. I think...maybe you were in the game too long. SEALs, well, you train to see and deal with the absolute worst. I'm a Navy brat but I never served. I just want to help people," he said.

Connections slotted into place in Steve's mind. "You're a Navy brat, and your dad passed away before Christmas. You're Admiral John McGee's son!"

Tim nodded and shrugged. He'd made a sort of peace with the loss of his father, but still had too many regrets to think of him comfortably.

"I had to work with your old man a couple of times. What a hard ass!"

Tim nodded and smiled sadly. A lump formed in his throat and he tried not to think too much about it. He looked over at the water cascading across the rocks, the spray making rainbows in the afternoon sun. The sussurating sound soothed him like the background static on one of his jazz records, and he tried to let his mind blank out.

Steve moved over beside him and slung his arm across Tim's shoulders. He did it without thinking, just trying to let him know he really did understand, as well as drawing some comfort from the shared pain. "I'm sorry, man. I'm sure you miss your dad. I know I miss mine."

Suspicions flared in Tim, alarm bells ringing in his mind. His self-confidence tanked at the most awkward times, an insidious voice inside him telling him that there was no way this god-like specimen of a man was actually bonding with him, geek and loser. He stood and moved away from Steve toward the edge of the pool.

"You okay, Tim?" Steve asked. His stomach clenched at the tension rippling the other man's back. His lightweight button down shirt clung to his skin and showed that Tim was suddenly shaking.

Tim shook his head and tried to talk himself out of his suspicions, but he realized that he didn't know Steve McGarrett well at all. Shit. He was leaving tomorrow either way, and he was confident he could get back to his hotel on his own if everything blew up here, so... Maybe he'd be proved wrong and the niggling temptation he'd fought down could be reconsidered. If they truly were establishing a real relationship with actual emotional ties, he'd consider adding a physical variable to the situation. There was something so familiar and right in this odd connection they had... It was worth the risk. He turned and looked McGarrett right in the eyes.

"Has this all been an elaborate ruse? I can't imagine that you could actually want me enough to be devious and underhanded, but you're goal driven and this has all been too perfect, leading up to just now, about our dads."

Steve frowned. He'd thought they were really connecting, like maybe he was making one of those friends you knew you could count on even if you didn't see him for years. "What are you talking about?"

Tears filled Tim's eyes at the shame that filled him when he considered the possibility that he'd been played like a harp. "When I told you I didn't want to sleep with you, I saw you...calculate. I know that look. God, I've seen Tony give that look when he really wants a woman... Now, these last two days, have they just been you figuring a way to accomplish a goal you set yourself? Are you really that cold, Steve?"

McGarrett's eyes widened. "Tim, no! No way." He began breathing hard. He stood and went to his friend. "God, no. I-" He licked his lips. "Tim, I told you. There's something about you. I... I trust you, and that doesn't happen like this, with me. Too much shit, too many other people have... Even the people who prove themselves, there's this tension, this doubt I can't ever get rid of. But you... You would never turn your back on a friend, would you? I'm betting you never have, in your whole life. You're... You're totally unique in my experience. I want to be your friend. I want to be...worthy of you, somehow. I can't explain it any better than that."

Tim's jaw dropped. He believed him. But he'd never imagined Steve felt that way about him, that he saw something in him so special. Steve was an amazing man. And that he found something in Tim worthy of trust and more... It was humbling.

"I'm sorry I doubted you." Tim watched the hope in Steve's eyes, showing him just how unguarded he was willing to be. All his walls were down, he was leaving himself completely open and exposed and there was no way Tim could not answer that vulnerability with something of himself. There was a trust that Steve was giving him, and not giving lightly. The swell of emotion he felt at that seemed to wash away all the reasons he usually kept himself safe and chaste. The pull to explore physically what they had been exploring mentally and emotionally with each other over these two days overwhelmed him. "Steve, if you'll still have me, I think I...want you. Then both of us can have this night in our lives when we can be ourselves with no masks and just trusting and have...joy. Together. And then we'll have the rest of our lives as friends we know we can count on, no matter what, knowing we saw each other, and we didn't back away."

"I'm not giving you the chance to second guess yourself. We're going back to my place, now." He grabbed Tim's hand and dragged him back to the truck, enjoying Tim's breathless laughter all the way.

Once Tim had made the choice to give in to the raging attraction he'd been suppressing, he found he couldn't stop grinning. At least until they got in the front door at Steve's house and he finally pulled close and kissed him. The man's mouth was like nirvana, and McGee could feel the kiss through his entire body. He felt at once desperate for more and languid, like he wanted to stay just as he was forever.

Steve broke the kiss and smiled. "Damn, Tim. I knew it would be good, but you taste like..." He licked his lips. "Butter toffee or something. What is that?"

McGee shook his head. "I have no idea what you're talking about. Just get back here." He crushed his mouth to Steve's, leaning in to press his body against the other man. The firm, muscular chest and powerful arms around him were making Tim feel buzzed.

They stood in Steve's living room kissing for several minutes, arms around each other, tongues battling and exploring, laughing a little at each other's reactions. Tim finally slid his hands under the back of Steve's t-shirt to touch his skin and feel the hard curve of his ass as he dipped his long fingers into the back of Steve's pants, and that broke the stalemate.

Moving away, Steve's warm hand ran down Tim's arm and took ahold of his. He pulled him toward the stairs and Tim felt his breath coming short as they entered Steve's bedroom. He was really doing this! He was going to sleep with someone he wasn't in a relationship with, whom he'd only met a week before... It was terrifying and hot and if this was the thrill Tony got screwing around, Tim actually understood. Although he doubted that DiNozzo ever required the emotional interaction that had brought Tim to this moment.

At the foot of the bed, Steve released him and stripped his shirt off. Tim's knees nearly gave way.

"Holy fuck!" Tim whispered, gasping. Steve chuckled and flexed just to watch Tim's eyes bulge. By the time he met Steve's gaze again, Tim was in a haze of lust for the incredible body before him. "Steve..." He took a shaky step forward. "I really wanna suck your cock," he confessed. It was Steve's turn to have his jaw drop. He hadn't expected that kind of bold language. He closed the distance between them and started tugging to untuck Tim's shirt.

"Yeah, well, I want yours, too. It's time to get naked so we can discuss it further," Steve said, his voice low and sexy. Tim snorted.

"Fuck discussion," Tim contradicted with a smile. He helped Steve pull his shirt over his head and barely let him have a glimpse of his pale skin before he plastered himself against him just to feel what that hard muscle felt like against him. His nipples hardened at the surprising softness of Steve's chest hair as he shifted back and forth to rub them against it. They kissed aggressively, and the room was filled with the sounds of moans and wet lips and tongues.

Eventually, Tim's mind resupplied him with the thought of swallowing Steve's cock, smelling him, tasting his seed, and his hands moved back around to the front of McGarrett's cargo pants. The motion kickstarted Steve as well, and he retained the practicality to know they'd be faster removing their own clothes. He pushed Tim's hand to his own jeans and broke the kiss. "Get naked. Now."

Tim grinned and did as he was told, disrobing faster even than he had when he was at Johns Hopkins and got a caustic chemical on his clothes. They tumbled naked onto the bed, and Tim immediately started moving down Steve's body.

"Nah. No no no," Steve said. Tim growled and looked up at him in question, his face flushed, eyes dilated. "I told you I want you, too. C'mon; sixty-nine, man."

"Um," Tim paused uncertainly, frowning.

"You've never done it," Steve observed. "Believe me, it's alright. Get on top, turn around. It'll be good, I promise."

Tim again obeyed, finding it awkward and rather exposed-feeling with his legs spread, but as soon as he realized he was positioned exactly to give his attention to Steve's erection, he no longer cared. Some odd part of his mind observed that Steve driving a big truck had nothing to do with compensating. The dick in front of him was a little bigger than average and just perfect for sucking. Licking the moisture gathered in his slit, suppressing a sound at the taste, then swirling his tongue around the head, he was pleased at the affirmative Steve groaned out and he got serious, taking him deep enough that when he breathed through his nose he could smell the musk of McGarrett's groin and he closed his eyes ecstatically. Being a closeted bisexual, he never got enough of men, and being with Steve was like winning the lottery.

"Ungh!" Tim's voice came out in a garbled moan as Steve started in on his cock. It was only moments before McGarrett had to grab Tim's hips so he could fellate him instead of just having his mouth gaggingly fucked. Tim pulled off for a brief apology. The hard suck Steve gave was his only reply, and McGee moaned again brokenly. Trying to concentrate on giving as good as he was getting was taking every brain cell he had, but Tim wasn't about to complain. He could feel Steve shaking under him, and a growing knotting of the fit man's stomach muscles even while his own climax was approaching like a freight train. He didn't know what Steve was doing exactly, but it was the best thing that had ever been done to him and then suddenly he came, crying out around Steve's cock, shaking and shuddering through until he could resume his own task. It was only a few moments more before McGarrett's whole body arched and Tim's mouth filled with the salty fluid. He found himself whining in little pants as he licked him clean, God, it was so good, and then he was struggling not to collapse from the boneless reaction to what they'd just done. Steve half sat up, helping Tim shift over and turn, ending up sprawled across the magnificent chest with his head on Steve's shoulder.

It was a long while before either of them had any thought beyond the stupefication of post orgasmic bliss. When Steve sighed contentedly and started stroking Tim's hair, both of them began to come back to reality, and they lay together companionably. McGarrett returned to puzzling out what it was that made McGee different from anyone else he'd ever known.

"It's your goodness, Tim. You shine with it. All the shit you've seen and you still...believe. It feels good, being around that," Steve said softly, running his fingers through Tim's hair. Tim's heart ached for him. There was a lost kid in Steve who wanted so badly to trust and love but who'd known nothing but betrayal and heartache. He raised his head and kissed him.

"You deserve someone special. Why are you so alone?"

"I'm not. I got my team, y'know. I'm alright."

Tim kissed him harder. "You're a good man, Steve. Whatever that light is that you see in me... You can find that in someone who lives here."

Steve's free hand slapped Tim's ass. "Jesus, Tim! Don't fucking talk to me about finding somebody else when we just had sex! What's wrong with you?"

Tim laughed. "Good point. I'm sorry. You should pine away for me when I'm gone. We can Skype every night. Except for the problem of the time difference. Maybe beat off together via FaceTime while one of us is at work! We could-" he stopped abruptly at the look on McGarrett's face. "Whoa, Steve! Hey, I was joking. I didn't... I..." He swallowed. "I don't know how to do this. You're... God, you're amazing. You're drop dead fucking gorgeous, and you're witty and you've been so incredible... I've never been with someone like you. It's like the president of the chess club going to prom with the star quarterback. I'm not... I want you to be happy. I want you to not be so isolated, so alone. I'd be here for you, if I could, if you'd have me. But I'm not here. I live on the other side of the planet. I'll be your friend. I'll be whatever I can be from Washington, but I can't stand to think you're going to just shut everyone out the way you do as soon as I'm gone."

McGarrett stared into the ocean-colored, guileless eyes and let himself wonder, just for a moment, what it would be like to have someone like Tim to come home to; someone who would be true and honest and good, who would completely love and accept him. To be able to relax and let go regularly with someone who'd always support and love him... Then he shook his head to clear it. That wasn't possible.

"Yeah, it's a nice dream, Tim. Let's just have tonight. You up for another round in a bit? I bet I can make you come your brains out-"

"Stop! Don't...don't do that. Don't deflect and make this cheap and meaningless. That's exactly what I don't want this to be, what you agreed it wasn't going to be. I'm not asking for promises of forever, but if this is all just nothing but physical for you after everything... Don't make me regret it. Please, don't tell me it really was all lies and seduction..." Tim's heart was beating fast and his gut was twisting. This was why he didn't do one night stands. The intimacy of sex meant something to him, and he couldn't stand the thought that Steve could be playing a game.

But looking at the other man, he saw conflict and confusion in him, not smugness or triumph. They stared at each other and slowly the tension drained away. Steve brought his hand up and stroked his fingers down Tim's cheek.

"Not cheap, and definitely not meaningless."

Tim nodded and kissed him, moving up and tugging his shoulders to allow Tim to wrap himself around Steve protectively. With reluctance, Steve settled into the foreign position, but Tim's long fingers traced soothingly across his back and neck, and he found himself melting into the caresses and actually enjoying being held.

They got up after a while and grabbed dinner, leftover ham and pineapple pizza that was in Steve's fridge, then they returned to the bedroom. Tim went back down to the living room briefly and returned with a couple of items from the day pack he'd used for their hike. Steve had sprawled back on the middle of his bed naked, and Tim's mouth went dry at the sight.

"What's that?" McGarrett asked. McGee blinked, enraptured by the gorgeous man laying with one knee cocked out. He held up a couple of condom packs and a small tube of lube. "You had that with you the whole time?! I thought you hadn't planned on having sex!"

Tim blushed and sat down on the bed facing up toward the headboard so he could focus on Steve's face instead of his body. "Be prepared," he quoted.

"You were a Boy Scout?" Somehow Steve found that the most believable thing he'd heard in a long time.

"Well, I went through Cub Scouts and became a Webelos but I never made actual Boy Scout. We moved around too much."

McGarrett grinned. "Okay, so what are you ready for now, then?"

Tim tilted his head and raised his eyebrows. "Isn't it obvious?"

"Well, yeah, but... Um, which way?"

"We'll figure it out," Tim shrugged. He put the items on the nightstand and lay down with his face propped on his bent arm. He studied Steve, running his fingers across his chest, admiring, memorizing. He was surprised that the über-masculine Navy SEAL hadn't assumed about the roles they might take and he allowed himself to consider what it might be like to top the Adonis body before him. It was a heady thought.

Watching Tim's intent look, Steve felt his mind slipping into neutral, just relaxing in a way he never let himself. With McGee here, touching him, he could let go and just exist for a while. It was peaceful and more pleasant than he'd ever thought it could be with someone in bed. It was warm and affectionate and some part of him soaked it up like one of those resurrection plants that could dry up for years but flourished again when properly moistened.

Tim leaned down and kissed Steve's shoulder lightly. He slowly shifted over and hooked his top leg over his partner's near one, applying pressure so Steve opened his hips more. He did so without resistance, and the contented look in his eyes never waivered. Tim started skimming his fingertips over Steve's nipples, watching them contract, and seeing the way his eyelids drooped over expanding pupils. He might really let Tim do this! Tim's breath caught, and he grew serious about rousing Steve's body. He dragged his lips over the tattoo on his arm, then moved to his neck and finally kissed him softly. He met Steve's gaze and raised an eyebrow as he ran his hand up the inside of his thigh and teased a finger back behind Steve's balls.

Steve was floating. His body was at once totally relaxed and in a state of heightened awareness. He was feeling something he wasn't sure he ever had before; a surrender that his instincts told him had the potential to win him everything. He found himself nodding and smiled faintly at the stain of pink his answer brought to Tim's cheeks.

McGee kissed him languorously and resumed trailing his fingers all over Steve's body. Now that he knew the destination, he could enjoy the meandering path that led to it. He didn't know if Steve had ever bottomed, but he knew from personal experience that if he got him aroused enough, even average prep would be enough for him to have an easy time of it.

McGarrett was far from docile as he returned Tim's caresses with his own. He pinched Tim's nipples and reveled in the cry that wrought. They smiled at each other and nipped and sucked and kissed and pinched and bit in their thorough explorations of each other's bodies. McGee found a hot spot along Steve's ribs on his right side and worked it until the man was gasping and twitching. In return, McGarrett sucked on Tim's sensitive fingers until he was moaning and rutting against Steve's hip. When he finally released the digits, Tim narrowed his eyes and chose to retaliate by using the saliva as a lubricant to start fingering the other man's ass. One finger was quickly joined by a second and McGee kissed Steve passionately as he slowly moved them in and out.

When he released McGarrett's lips to move to his neck and ear, he trembled at the curses and grunts Steve gave, and he twisted and spread his fingers, listening raptly to the sounds he made. When the swearing devolved into repeated groans of Tim's name, Tim reached out with his free hand for a condom and the lube. Once he had them, he withdrew his fingers and settled full-length atop McGarrett and kissed him before he spoke.

"I want to watch you while I make love to you," he said softly. Steve's eyes widened at the phrasing, and Tim's mouth quirked. "I told you I don't fuck, Steve. I'm just checking if face to face is okay with you."

McGee ignored the extra shine in McGarrett's eyes as he nodded and kissed him again for a while before he rose up and put the condom on. He lubed himself, then used his slick fingers to stretch the other man a bit more while he stroked Steve's cock with his clean hand.

McGarrett shuddered at the dual sensations, closing his eyes and letting his body just go with the pleasure. Even when he'd slept with other men, he'd maintained some control over what they did and how they did it, so this was a new experience. Without that instinctual trust he had in Tim, it would never have been possible, so he knew this to be a singular occurrence and savored it.

McGee waited as long as he could, giving Steve every chance to relish the unique feeling, but eventually gave in to the desire for the next step. He slowly removed both hands and lifted Steve's thighs, lining up with his entrance and going just until the head was inside. The heat and pressure were fantastic and Tim's whole body shook as he gave McGarrett time to adjust. When he felt the initial tension relent, he moved forward, taking his time, until he was buried completely. He waited again, and finally took up a slight motion, staying deep and just rolling his hips rhythmically, knowing he was stimulating Steve's prostate with each pulse.

It was perfect at first, rocking together like a boat, gasping, sighing. It was like the ocean, with a tide of sensation building up. Comforting, like relaxing in a hammock, lulled by motion. But a storm was coming, waves crashing over them as the intensity increased. Steve was tumbling through, couldn't find time to take a breath. It was like he'd eaten it on a freak wave; he didn't know which way was up, and the disorientation made his heart rate skyrocket, lights were bursting behind his eyes and he couldn't breathe!

"Wait...no. Tim, stop!" Steve cried and Tim jerked back, withdrawing and settling back on his heels.

"What! Steve! Did... Did I hurt you? Are you...okay?" Tim panted, trying to calm himself down enough to check in. Steve was shaking under him, and his head was still thrashing back and forth and he was gasping: nearly hyperventilating, but his eyes were shut tight, his forehead beaded with sweat and scrunched up in a frown. Tim cupped his cheeks and stopped him moving. "Steve, hey. Hey!"

His eyes snapped open and met Tim's. It took a few seconds, then he swallowed and twitched away from the hold on his face. Tim sat back, giving him space. Steve turned on his side and Tim watched helplessly as he shivered.

"Steve, I'm sorry if I hurt you. Really. I thought I was reading you right, I thought you were enjoying it, and-"

"I was!" McGarrett practically moaned it into the pillow. The incredibly vulnerable state he'd found himself in when his automatic defenses had reared up inside him berated him for allowing himself to relax into such a state. But some part of him was mourning the loss of the deeply peaceful mindset as well. For those moments, he'd been unadulteratedly happy for the first time since his family was torn apart by his mother's car "accident".

Tim lay down beside him, facing his back but not daring to spoon him. He gently stroked his hair and watched his shivering ease at the touch. He scooted forward and let his legs bend and his knees just touch the back of Steve's thighs. He twitched, then settled further, and Tim allowed his chest to meet Steve's back. He kept his hips and erection away from the other man, but the contact of his skin seemed to calm him, and he let more of their legs meet even as he rested his lips against Steve's neck.

Tim's quiet presence at his back settled the long-ingrained defensive reaction Steve had succumbed to. He wanted to reestablish the connection they'd had, so he reached back and pulled Tim's hips forward, arching his back in silent request.

"You sure?" Tim breathed the question to the back of Steve's ear. McGarrett nodded and Tim moved close, carefully pushing back into him as Steve held himself open for it. They shuddered in unison, and Tim pulled him close, holding him across the chest. Steve's arm covered his, and he twined their fingers together.

McGee began to gently rock his hips again and Steve moaned. His cock was pressing right against that spot inside him, making waves of pleasure spread throughout his torso, shooting down his legs and making his hands tingle. He tightened his grip on Tim's fingers and joined the movement, pushing back into the pressure.

"Oh, God, Steve," Tim groaned. He thrust harder and McGarrett shook with his body's reaction. They were so close to each other, with so much skin contact that they were like one being, undulating in their enjoyment of the pleasure they both felt.

Increasing the pace and pressure, Tim felt like his entire being was becoming centered on that point of connection where he was enveloped inside Steve. Heat and friction and sweat and breath... So good. So good!

"Ngh. Ohhh... Ngh!" Steve grunted and sighed and writhed. Bottoming had never been like this for him. He'd never felt like he wanted it to go on all night, or that he might be able to come just from that.

But he wouldn't have to wait and see. Tim tugged his hand free to slide down McGarrett's contracting abs and wrapped around his cock.

"Tim!" Steve gasped. His hand, bereft of its grip on Tim's, twisted into the pillowcase and tightened painfully on the fabric. Their movements increased, growing almost frantic as Tim stroked in time with his hips snapping forward. It felt paradoxical; they wanted to keep going just as they were, forever, but that sense of yearning toward completion was compulsively driving them as well.

"Steve...fuck! Yes, Steve!" McGee's voice rose as he neared climax, his rhythm breaking into stuttering, hard jabs.

"Aaahh! Tim! Tim!" Steve roared, his whole body riding the building the pressure of impending release. God! He needed to come but wanted to stay suspended in this moment, too.

Tim bit his lips and tasted copper, trying desperately to hold back until Steve came. His legs were shaking as he stroked the other man furiously, then McGarrett arced and tightened, a long groan escaping him as he spilled over Tim's hand and Tim let himself go, wailing at the sensation of Steve's ass rippling along his shaft, milking the most powerful orgasm he'd ever had from him.

They held position, both their bodies contracting in muscular spasms of ecstasy until it finally broke and they released simultaneous long breaths, every bit of tension melting out of them as they surrendered into exhausted bliss.

Tim woke to darkness with Steve stirring and shifting away from him. He was awake in an instant, grabbing for the condom and taking care of it quickly, ignoring how the dried come on his hand pulled at his skin. He rolled away from Steve to deposit the prophylactic in the wastebasket, then turned back, hoping to return to sleep holding each other. But Steve was sitting up on the far side of the bed. He wasn't moving, and in the dark, Tim couldn't read if he seemed tense and potentially upset or not. He gently put his hand on the other man's waist.

"You okay?" McGee asked quietly.

McGarrett was still processing what had happened. He rarely bottomed, and had only ever done so for a quickie, usually having been challenged into it, and laughing all the while. One of the SEAL teams he'd worked with years ago had ended up discovering they were all bisexual and the four of them had fucked in every combination possible. The sensual, drawn out encounter he'd just shared with Tim wasn't in his standard repertoire and he wasn't sure how he felt about it. It had been tremendously intense, but...

Tim sat up and moved closer. He kissed Steve's shoulder then rested his cheek there. He decided that the best way to get through to him would be to invoke his protectiveness. "You're kinda freaking me out, Steve." That roused him from his contemplation as Tim had known it would.

McGarrett turned his head and captured Tim's mouth, moving around so he could put an arm around him. The kiss was simple and sweet, and when he broke it, his smile came naturally. "Mahalo, Tim."

McGee frowned. "Doesn't that mean good-bye?" He'd heard the word said as he left stores and restaurants.

"Means thank you."

"Oh," Tim nodded in relief. He smiled and nuzzled Steve's cheek. "Well, mahalo to you, too. That was amazing."

McGarrett let out a long breath. "Mahalo nui loa. Thank you very much." Yes, gratitude was a big part of what he was feeling. He nodded and kissed Tim lightly. The rest of his confusion about his reactions could just get stuffed back in the box where all his unwanted emotions went. "Hey, let's get cleaned up and get some sleep, alright?"

Tim followed, still a little uncertain, but feeling better when Steve pulled him into the shower with him. Long, deep kisses as they stood under the spray melted his remaining concerns, and Tim leaned into him, enjoying the closeness.

They didn't stay in long, and Steve didn't hesitate to indicate Tim should sleep with him. He returned to his comfort zone, drawing the other man into his arms protectively. Tim smiled, content that they were okay and that Steve was relaxing as he listened to the already slow heartbeat get slower and his breath even out.

Laying wrapped in strong arms, McGee realized he liked it. A lot. It wasn't a sensation he ever got sleeping with a woman. He pondered that. Don't Ask Don't Tell had been repealed. And as a civilian, it had never really applied to him anyway. If he wanted to openly start dating men, well, the worst that would happen would be DiNozzo teasing him. Maybe all this time he'd spent looking for Ms Right had gotten in the way of him finding a person to share his life with. It was a comforting thought, and he drifted off to sleep to it.

When McGarrett woke in the morning, Tim was asleep with his back to him. It wasn't quite dawn, and he didn't know how late of a sleeper his companion was, so he got up and quietly went downstairs and started a pot of coffee. It hadn't quite gurgled to completion when McGee came down the steps in boxers, rubbing his eyes sleepily, making Steve grin. His hair was sticking up like a rooster's crest on one side and for the first time Steve really got to look at all the acres of pale, white skin. It was beautiful.

"Coffee?"

Tim grunted what was probably assent since he actually reached for the pot without getting a mug ready. Steve intercepted and filled a mug then handed it to him. Tim took a sip, his eyes still half-lidded. Getting himself some of the brew, Steve guided Tim to a chair and sat down beside him.

After a few minutes and more than half his cup, McGee took a sharp breath and seemed to awaken the rest of the way. He cleared his throat and looked over.

"Good morning," he said. A smile was playing around the corners of his mouth.

"Aloha," McGarrett said, leaning in for a kiss.

"Now I know that means goodbye," Tim said, his brow wrinkling.

"Hello. Goodbye. Love. Depends on context. What time's your flight?"

"1330."

"Commercial?"

"Yeah, it's better than another eight hour military flight in a jump seat." Steve shrugged and Tim rolled his eyes. "I bet you're just like Gibbs and you like military flights."

Steve flashed a quick smile. "That who you think I'll be in twenty years? Isn't that what you said about coming to Washington? You'd introduce me to the man I'm gonna become?"

McGee nodded. "Yes indeed. You two already have a lot in common." He looked at the extra strong coffee in his cup. "Even how you like your coffee."

"Breakfast?"

Tim shrugged. "Coffee's fine for now. You have any thoughts on what to do before I leave?"

Steve leaned back in his chair, extending his legs and crossing his ankles under the table. He narrowed his eyes at Tim. "I was thinking about nailing you to the mattress," he said, his tone completely conversational and casual. Tim laughed.

"Well, if you insist..."

The humor set the tone, and they joked as they headed upstairs.

"I think it's the least I can do as a good host," McGarrett said.

"Wait wait wait... How do you figure this is you doing me a favor?"

"It'll be me doing you, period, man. I've been dreaming about your ass all week!"

"Then I would say that I'm doing you the favor by letting you have it, that's all," Tim said, grinning. McGarrett shoved him back onto the bed and Tim laughed again as he bounced. He blushed when he thought about Steve on top of him, pistoning into him and shook his head. "Never mind. We're both winning here."

Steve climbed on top of him and those were the last words for a long while. They rolled around, kissing and mock wrestling, rubbing against each other at every opportunity. It was fun and felt relaxed and joyful and Tim wanted to spend hours just doing that. He was on top and had pinned Steve's hands over his head, knowing full well that the SEAL was letting him do it, when his thoughts grew serious.

"You will always be so special to me. This time, with you... Thank you, Steve. Really."

McGarrett looked up into those ocean eyes and had to swallow a lump. "Yeah, Tim. Me too."

Dropping the playfulness, Tim leaned down to kiss him like he was oxygen. Steve rolled them over and took charge, stripping Tim's boxers off and wrapping his fingers around his hard-on. He bit his ear and then whispered to him.

"You think you can come twice? I wanna make you howl, man..." McGarrett's voice was gravelly and McGee shuddered and nodded helplessly. Every nerve in his body seemed oriented toward the other man's touch, and he knew he'd do anything for Steve right then.

"Watch me," McGarrett ordered, maintaining eye contact as he stroked him, enjoying how he writhed and panted as he got closer and closer. When Tim tensed, almost there, Steve grinned an evil smile and stopped.

"Steve... C'mon..." McGee whined. Steve kissed him, silencing him with his tongue shoved into his mouth. It was a different kind of play, but one he enjoyed and that he knew would give Tim an earth-shattering orgasm. Eventually. He squeezed the flesh in his hand and gave a couple of rough strokes before stopping again. Tim moaned into the mouth on his, trying to break away, but Steve kept his lips tight on him while he edged him twice more. McGee thought he was going to go mad. That talented hand kept giving him exactly what he wanted, then snatching it away. And with his tongue in Tim's mouth, he could barely breathe, let alone voice his protest. It was diabolical, but heavenly at the same time. The next time Steve stopped, Tim finally couldn't stand it and grabbed ahold of his wrist and shook his head violently. Steve twitched his hand away and moved to bite Tim's throat as he stroked with feather lightness. Dragging air into his lungs, Tim then begged shamelessly.

"Please, Steve! God! Please!"

McGarrett moved his mouth to his ear and gave firm pressure again, sliding up and down, faster and faster. "Give it to me, Tim." He growled, and Tim howled as he pulsed, convulsing, holding Steve's shoulder with bruising force. When he collapsed back, he tried to glare at Steve, but his puffy lips and sated gasping made it absurd and they both started laughing, Tim breathlessly.

"You are a sadistic bastard, McGarrett," McGee snickered. He was sweating and shaking as his body calmed.

"I told ya I'd make you come your brains out, didn't I?"

"Oh god, did I," Tim huffed. "Jesus! Now you wanna fuck me? I'm so exhausted I'll be a cold fish!"

Steve kissed him gently and Tim let his amusement drain away. They stared at each other for long moments.

"I don't wanna fuck you, Tim," McGarrett said quietly. "I'm not sure I can do what you did last night, but what I want... It's not coming from physical need for release. I want to touch you, to hold you and slide into you and move until we both shatter because you see me. You know me, somehow, and I know you and we're always gonna have the memory of this time, together." There was a slight tremor in his voice as he spoke, and Tim reached up and pulled his face down and kissed him tenderly. When he let go, Tim's eyelashes were wet and he smiled.

"Yeah. I get that. And I want you, like that. I want to make this memory, today, right now. Don't sell yourself short. You're about to make love to me and we're going to have that forever."

McGarrett kissed him and they shifted around until Tim remembered they hadn't cleaned up after his first orgasm. "Let's take a minute to rinse off, okay? I want this to be perfect, and that doesn't involve dried come on your hand and in your chest hair."

"Now that's romantic," Steve snarked, rolling his eyes.

"Oh shut up."

They rinsed off and came back to the bed, settling down facing each other.

"Perfect, huh? I don't know if I can live up to perfect."

Tim smiled fondly. "I think you've got pretty good instincts, McGarrett, so I'd say just go with what feels right and we'll be fine."

Shaking his head at the pert response from McGee, he smiled as he leaned forward and kissed him. For Tim, the powerful orgasm he'd had had taken the edge off completely, and he relaxed and returned Steve's kisses without urgency. That seemed to settle him down, and McGarrett took his time, thoroughly mapping Tim's mouth, which still, unusually, tasted somehow like toffee to him. While he enjoyed being kissed so long and lovingly, Tim wanted to always remember what Steve's lean, hard muscled body felt like, and he ran his hands over his back and arms and chest.

McGarrett moved on to Tim's neck, then down his chest to tease his nipples. Listening to his partner's gasps made him smile. He was painfully hard, but the analytical part of his mind kept reminding him this was their last time, so he drew out the foreplay for an age before he snagged the lube and started prepping McGee.

Tim was over the moon from Steve's drawn out, sensual kisses and caresses. When one of his thick fingers breached him, McGee froze, the feeling overwhelming him.

"Ah! Wait! God!" Tim gasped in a strangled voice. McGarrett started to remove his hand from between the pale thighs, but Tim's hand moved with lightning speed and clamped on his wrist. "No! Don't-don't let go... Just... Give me a sec..."

Their eyes met and the flushed, desperate look Tim was giving him made Steve twitch, including the finger that was buried inside him.

"Aaahh! Steve!"

McGarrett felt a primal need to just roll Tim over and mount him, but he closed his eyes and breathed through it.

The vice-grip on his wrist eased, but when he didn't move, Tim started moving his hand for him, pushing against the digit to take it deeper, then slowly withdrawing only to go again. Steve moaned as Tim fucked himself with Steve's own hand. He extended a second finger and Tim cried out and threw his head back into the pillow when both entered him. The long throat so exposed gave McGarrett an outlet for his primal instinct and he sank his teeth into it as he took control of his hand back from Tim and started twisting and spreading his fingers.

McGee cried out when he brushed his prostate, and Steve made sure to do that over and over. Tim's body jumped and jerked and his head whipped back and forth on the pillow and it was just too much. Steve rolled the condom on, added lube, lifted Tim's legs toward his chest, and sank into him.

"Steve!" Tim shouted, his eyes flying open to watch his lover's bliss as he started moving in long, deep strokes. McGarrett stared down at him, his breath heaving as he plunged in slowly over and over. The expressions on both their faces were raw and ecstatic, but completely open, laid bare to each other, and Tim felt tears fill his eyes.

"Tim...oh, Tim..." He moaned. McGee grabbed him by the back of the neck and pulled him down for a sloppy kiss. When he released him, Steve propped himself up so he hovered with his face right above Tim's, watching every moment and drinking in every bit of the emotion pouring through those beautiful eyes.

"Oh, yes, Steve. Yes!" Tim panted. The motion of their bodies sliding with each other, the deep connection he felt, like Steve was touching his very soul, sent the tears in his eyes overflowing back to dampen the pillow beneath his head. Seeing the tears, Steve was catapulted into a whole new level of affection and understanding. Tim was such a sweet and gentle soul, so different from anyone Steve had ever been with. He wanted to protect him and feel safe wrapped in his arms, too. He thrust, understanding that he was making love, possibly for the first time in his life.

Physically, it was hot and tight and Tim, this guy who'd showed up and torn through his defenses and could have destroyed him but instead welcomed him and encouraged him, and they were sweating and gasping and he didn't ever want to stop, but it was too good, too right, and he was building toward a staggering climax but he needed Tim to come, too, wanted the perfection of flying apart, shattering, together, and he reached between them and wrapped his fingers around Tim's cock and stroked him and thumbed his glans and slid up and down and in and out and it was like the gears of a roller coaster clicking over, ratcheting up the tension and the top was right there, just within reach, and he looked down at Tim's amazing eyes, sea green ringing wide black pupils, staring into his soul and pouring light and love and goodness into him, renewing him, making him believe in those possibilies of life and love and goodness because he'd lost that and Tim had found him and he was giving him everything, another chance at hope and then the need coiled tight in his belly and it was echoed there in those eyes and he screamed as the bottom dropped away and he was flying, no parachute, but Tim was with him, and they'd catch each other and it was perfect, perfect, perfect...

They barely spoke at all after they'd finally roused. They shared another shower, and then Steve drove Tim back to his hotel. Tim packing, then Steve taking him to the airport, using his badge to get himself out to the gate, was both romantic and painful as their moments together slipped away. Listening to the boarding calls and watching each other like they were a lifeline was tearing Tim's heart into pieces and he could see his helpless hurt mirrored in Steve's eyes.

Finally, Tim nodded toward the gate and looked sorrowfully at Steve.

"I don't want you to be alone when I'm gone."

McGarrett looked away. He didn't want to get into this in public. McGee stood straight and looked right at him, and when Steve glanced back, he was caught by the gaze.

"I'm going to find someone. I want to know that you will, too." Tim tilted his head. "Please...tell me you'll try."

That moment he'd had, when he'd imagined how different his life could be if he had someone like Tim in it, came flooding back to him, along with the yawning impossibility of it. "It's a dream, Tim," he scoffed, his chest tightening.

"A dream people live out every day. Tell me you'll try."

And there was just no possible way to refuse that earnest, honest hope in Tim's eyes. Steve nodded.

Tim swallowed hard and gave a sad smile. He glanced to the side. "I'm boarding, my friend," he said, his voice thick and just on the edge of breaking.

They hugged, and if it lasted longer than a purely heterosexual embrace, if their bodies pressed closer than was normally socially acceptable, neither cared what anyone around them thought.

McGee's eyes were bright as he pulled back. "Mahalo," he whispered. Steve's face pinched, his forehead wrinkling and his mouth drawing into a hard line as he held back the emotion filling him.

"Mahalo, Tim. Aloha..."

Tim smiled and turned, walking away, trying to keep his step firm but feeling his stride stutter as he heard Steve's voice.

"...nui loa."

Before he passed beyond view, he looked back and smiled. "Me too," he said, knowing Steve would read his lips for the short phrase.

So Timothy McGee left the islands changed forever. He only hoped Steve McGarrett would make those changes too.

~~~NCIS/H50~~~

A/N Thank you FlyingPiglet for introducing (indoctrinating?) me into H50. I'm a huge McGee fan and have often maintained that he's the most shippable character because he'd be good for anyone. Cue challenge from Flyingpiglet when she dismissed any possible pairing of McGee and McGarrett. Thank you for the amazing Beta on this. It wouldn't be the same without your input.

This was meant to be a one shot, but these two are just so wonderful together, we agreed I had to keep going. Hope you enjoy the ride with us!.

Translations: Mahalo=Thank you; Aloha=Hello, Goodbye, Love; Aloha nui loa=Very much love.