Hello everyone! I've been gone for awhile and I have finally had some inspiration for a story. I will be taking this one slow due to my finals coming up for college. I hope you all enjoy this story as you read along. I'm going to try and lengthen this story a bit; I have had many requests to make the stories longer. Here goes nothing!

Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS or it's characters. They are not entitled to me.

GIBBS&TONY

It was Christmas time at NCIS headquarters. The offices were decorated with Christmas lights of many colors; garland was hung around the windows and a tree sat by the window in the big, orange room. There wasn't a person in the office at five that morning, until special agent Tony Dinozzo stepped off the elevator. He let out a big yawn as he dropped his bag down by his desk. He sat down at his desk and turned on his desktop. Surprised Gibbs isn't here, he thought as his computer booted up. His boss, special agent Jethro Gibbs was almost always in the building as early as five in the morning. Apparently, today was different. Tony checked his email and deleted anything that was spam. So quiet. I should come in earlier more often. He chuckled at the thought. He stood up to go to the break room as the elevator bell dung.

"Dinozzo, what are ya doin' in so early?" Gibbs dropped a cup of coffee off at his desk.

"Couldn't sleep boss. Thanks," he responded. He took a sip of the steaming hot liquid and sighed contently. "Perfect," he murmured.

"Good thing you're here. Got a call about a dead marine," Gibbs said as he packed up his things and left. He held the phone to his ear as he stalked towards the elevator. Tony grabbed all his gear and quickly followed after him. Gibbs hung up. "McGee, Palmer and Ducky will meet us there," he stated bluntly. Tony nodded.

"So who's the guy?" Tony asked quietly.

"Sergeant Alfonso Ricci," Gibbs stated. Tony paled at the sound of the name.

"Did you just say Alfonso Ricci?"

"Yeah, Dinozzo. Why? Ya know him?" Gibbs turned as he questioned him. Tony shook his head and looked forward. Gibbs nodded as he glared at Tony. He knew Tony was lying. He wasn't going to push it. Not yet anyways.

GIBBS&TONY

Tony took pictures and sketched out the scene before him as he took longing glances at the sergeant. Alfonso was Tony's boyfriend from a few months ago. They separated because Alfonso hated Tony's work hours. Tony understood though and they at least ended on good terms. McGee walked over to the scene and sighed tiredly. He began to collect evidence from around their crime scene. Gibbs was outside the house questioning Alfonso's sister, Isabella. "I wonder what happened," McGee stated softly.

"I'd like to know as well gentlemen. Anthony, are you finished with the body?" Ducky asked as he walked into the house.

"Yeah, Ducky, go ahead," Tony said as he took pictures with the rest of the house, along with some sketches. Ducky began to examine the body when Gibbs came inside with a glare.

"Dinozzo, get over here," Gibbs ordered darkly. Tony whimpered quietly as he walked over to Gibbs.

"Yes, Gibbs?" Tony winced as the hard slap to the head ruffled his hair.

"You've got some explainin' to do," Gibbs stated. Tony sighed softly.

"Can we do this later?"

"When we get back to HQ," Gibbs ordered as he stepped away from him. Tony rubbed his hands down his face and turned to go back to the crime scene. He finished with the photos and McGee bagged and tagged everything to be considered evidence. "McGee ride back with Duck and Palmer," Gibbs said and McGee nodded. Tony swallowed the lump in his throat as he walked back to the truck. Gibbs followed close behind him as he shot daggers into the back of his head. As Tony hopped in the truck, he waited for Gibbs to get in too. Once he did he buckled and started the truck.

"Let me explain-" Tony started off before Gibbs interrupted.

"No, you be quiet. I wanna know why Miss Ricci is blaming you for his death, and why the hell you didn't tell me that you knew the victim, Dinozzo!" Gibbs pressed his foot down on the gas.

"I dated him a few months back, okay? It was more of a friends with benefits deal than anything else." Tony looked out the window as he spoke. Gibbs looked at him for a second, then turned his eyes to the road. "No emotional attachment. I swear," Tony said.

"I thought you were straight," Gibbs mumbled.

"Masks, remember?" Tony looked at Gibbs. "I experimented in college, liked that a lot more. This isn't the point dammit! Am I going to be kicked off of this case because I knew Alfonso Ricci?" Tony asked.

"No," Gibbs responded softly.

"No?"

"No. But if at any point you can't handle this case-"

"Yeah, yeah, rule ten. I'll back off if I need to but I shouldn't. Like I said, no emotional attachment," Tony interrupted. Gibbs nodded as they pulled into NCIS headquarters. He pulled into the garage.

"Even an inkling of trouble-"

"Boss, I know. I'm good." Tony hopped out of the truck and opened the back to grab the evidence. McGee, Palmer and Ducky pulled in a moment later. They grabbed evidence and the body to bring inside. Gibbs took small glances at his senior field agent with a sigh.

"Dinozzo, find me any background information on Ricci. McGee, you can help Abby with evidence for now," Gibbs ordered.

"Yes, boss," both agents said in unison. McGee left to go help Abby with evidence and Tony went to the bullpen as Gibbs followed Ducky to autopsy.

"Duck, let me know when ya got something," Gibbs said as he let Palmer and Ducky take Sergeant Ricci away.

"I'll call you when I have something Jethro," Ducky replied. Gibbs went to the elevator and stepped inside once it arrived. He stopped it in between floors and sighed. How didn't I see this? Tony: gay. He never mentioned it to me. Ever. This changes everything, Gibbs thought. He bit his lip as a smile threatened. Maybe now, I have a chance, he thought. He turned the elevator back on. Once the doors opened, he left the elevator towards the bullpen where Tony sat at his desk.

"Dinozzo, anything?" Tony shook his head no as he continued to stare at his screen. Gibbs nodded and sat at his desk. He looked through his email and found a message from Vance. He raised from his seat and ran up the stairs towards his office. He reached his door and went inside.

"Ya wanted to talk, Vance?" Gibbs stood in front of his desk with his arms at his side.

"Gibbs, yes. Heard you got a new case this morning. Came in when I heard," Vance stated. Gibbs grunted in response. "I also heard that agent Dinozzo might know our victim," Vance replied. Gibbs glared at Vance.

"How did you find out so quickly?" Gibbs asked quietly.

"NCIS is a gossip agency agent Gibbs. Everything gets stirred up by-" he paused and looked at his watch, "-7:30 in the morning. I want an update as soon as possible with this case," Vance stated. Gibbs nodded before he turned to leave. "And Gibbs," he said which caused Gibbs to face him again. "I don't want Dinozzo on this case. He's personally involved and for what I hear, a possible suspect. I want answers agent Gibbs." Vance sat back down. Gibbs left his office angrily and stormed down the steps to the bullpen.

"Dinozzo, Vance says you're off the case," Gibbs stated as he entered the bullpen.

"What? Why! Gibbs you said-"

"Dinozzo," Gibbs interrupted. Tony crossed his arms and sighed. "Go down to interrogation, I'll question you," Gibbs said quietly. Dinozzo stood up and left the bullpen. Gibbs sighed softly as he ran a hand through his hair. He walked down to the interrogation room and looked at Tony through the glass. Tony's head was rested on the table with his hands behind his head. Gibbs opened the door and sat down at the chair across from Tony.

"It's weird being on this side of the table," Tony admitted with a chuckle. Gibbs gave him a small smile as he fiddled with a pen.

"Where were you around two this morning?" Gibbs asked.

"I was in bed trying to sleep," Tony answered.

"What time did you leave your apartment this morning?"

"I left around 0415 this morning."

"Did anyone see you leave?"

"The janitor. Michael Core."

"How did you know Sergeant Ricci?" Gibbs asked quietly. Tony bit his lip and looked down in his lap. "Tony, answer the question," Gibbs said.

"We were partners a few months back," Tony replied.

"When you two end it?"

"Beginning of November. He hated my hours that I worked," Tony said.

"He end it with you or you end it with him?" Gibbs looked up from his notepad and saw Tony's eyes water.

"He ended it with me. I was happy with what we had, but he wasn't," Tony replied quietly. He blinked once to rid the tears from his eyes.

"Okay. Thank you, Tony," Gibbs said. He motioned for the recording to be stopped then looked at Tony. "We're gonna clear you. Don't worry about that," Gibbs patted his shoulder lightly and stood up. "You stay down here for now until we can clear you. Understood?" Tony nodded. Gibbs got up and went to the bullpen. Once he arrived he found McGee at his desk.

"Hey boss, picked up Tony's work," McGee stated knowingly. Gibbs nodded his thanks and grabbed his badge. "Be back," he stated as he left the bullpen once more.

GIBBS&TONY

Gibbs walked into the apartment building and looked around. A janitor walked into the lobby and Gibbs stopped him. "Special agent Gibbs, NCIS. I'm looking for a Michael Core, you know him?"

"Speaking sir," Michael said. Gibbs nodded.

"Do you know this man?" Gibbs held up a picture of Tony. Michael nodded.

"Yeah, he's my best bud. We hang out occasionally on the weekend when I'm not working," Core responded.

"Did you see him leave this morning around 4:15?"

"Yeah. I said good bye to him and everything. We chatted for a little bit about his ex, Alfonso Ricci. How he was an asshole to Tony sometimes. I felt bad for him. Ricci was a bit rude to me because he knows I like Tony," Michael explained. Gibbs nodded.

"How was he an asshole?" Gibbs curiosity peeked at this revelation.

"Whenever they would hang out, Ricci would slap him a lot across the face. Guess he didn't like that Tony talked about his work. I would've slapped him back! Like I said, complete asshole," Core said sadly. Gibbs nodded sadly and closed his book.

"Thank you for your time Mr. Core, we'll be in touch," Gibbs said as he handed him his card. Michael nodded as Gibbs left the apartment complex. "So Tony was in an abusive relationship," Gibbs mumbled. He started his car and drove out of there back to NCIS headquarters. He thought along the way about Tony. How could he put up with that? Gibbs sighed softly drove mindlessly back to work.

GIBBS&TONY

McGee searched thoroughly through Ricci's background information. So far he didn't find anything suspicious. He looked through his bank statements, family history, cell phone records and came up with nada. He began to search through his military background and looked for any arrests and stopped. Gibbs walked in as he read through. "Boss, I've got Ricci's background and it's very interesting." McGee said.

"Fill me in, McGee," Gibbs said.

"Alfonso Ricci, 50 years old, retired from the marines with an honorable discharge. However, a few years ago he got into a few fights. Was arrested but the charges were dropped. Happened again a year later and was charged with domestic abuse. The charges were not dropped and was in jail for a year. Lastly, couple months ago in October, there was a call for domestic abuse but the charges were dropped. Caller unknown," McGee rambled off. Gibbs nodded.

"Good job, keep searching McGee," Gibbs said as he left the bullpen. He went down to the interrogation room again to see Tony. He sat silently in his chair. He opened the door.

"Hey, did you find Michael?" Tony asked.

"Yeah, said you guys talked this morning about Ricci and how he's an ass," Gibbs said and Tony looked down in his lap. "Said he was violent with you. McGee found that he's got a history as well, going back to about five years," Gibbs said as he sat down.

"I didn't know that," Tony said softly. Gibbs nodded.

"You called the cops in October didn't you?" Gibbs asked. Tony frowned without a look upwards. "Dinozzo," Gibbs ordered.

"I dropped the charges against him," Tony replied.

"I know, and you shouldn't have," Gibbs stated. "Why didn't you tell anybody?"

"It was no one's business but my own," Tony answered. "If I had told anyone at NCIS, everyone would've been down my throat about arresting him. I actually cared for him Gibbs. Just a little bit," Tony explained. "I did have some feelings for him, but they weren't strong. I know what I said earlier but I lied. Who doesn't?" Tony snorted.

"You've got a solid alibi for this morning. But your 'best bud,' might not."

"Michael? He couldn't hurt a fly," Tony said.

"Didn't sound that way. He likes you ya know," Gibbs said and Tony nodded.

"He's not my type," Tony replied. Gibbs nodded and stood up.

"C'mon let's go, Dinozzo," Gibbs stated. Tony nodded as he stood and left the interrogation room with him.

GIBBS&TONY

How's this for chapter one? Let me know ASAP. Review please!

XOXO,

Your Irish Friend