Hello Everybody!
For everyone who know me and my stories, Welcome back! You guys are amazing!
For those who are new. You guys are amazing too, for trying this story out. But I should tell you some things before you start reading.
This story is the THIRD story in a series/Universe called, ''Discovery Universe''
The Universe is centered around Tony and Gibbs and how they discover thinga about each other. Each story will be a little further into the seasons. Like the first was pre-series, the second had Kate and now this one will have McGee into the team as well.
The stories were supposed to be Two-Shot every time. But I found the second one (the previous one) to be longer. Which ended up 8 chapters long. This story will start out as a Two-shot as well.
So far the stories in this Universe can be read individually, but you may find yourself confused by some details, that you will find out in the first and second one. It is wisely, but not totally necessary to read those first. They are called. 'Broken Angel' and 'Resemblance'.
(WARNING: English is not my first language, I'm Dutch! Yup a Dutch girl! On top of that, I'm dyslectic, so please don't hold any possible grammar mistakes against me!)
Well that's all I have to say right now. Thank you again for trying this story and I hope you will enjoy the first part! :)
He didn't know why he canceled his traditional Christmas arrangements. He just didn't feel like it, he guessed. He wasn't sure when it changed. But the parties and getting so drunk you don't remember anything you did the night before, just wasn't what he wanted to do for Christmas or spring break, for that matter.
That was a big and complete lie! And Tony knew it. He knew damn well what happened during the last reunion. He knew too that he didn't want to go, not because he thought it was childish, but because he couldn't face his frat-buddies again. Not after what happened on the last night of their reunion.
What was complicated though, was the fact that it was now the day of Christmas eve and he just canceled during lunch break. His frat buddies were disappointed with the fact that he didn't come and with the fact that he couldn't give them a reason as to why. Also, Kate and McGee had asked him about his plans and he had bragged about it for weeks now, he stopped with that after lunch break. Luckily for him, they didn't ask to many questions then.
Now, he was in the elevator going back up to the bullpen. They were approved to go home early and especially Tony. Otherwise he wouldn't catch his plane to New York on time. But three hours later he was back at the office. He didn't know what to do with his time, so when he heard Balboa talk, to someone else he didn't recognize, about his shift on Christmas eve, Tony had volunteered to help him out, since he would be at work anyway. Balboa had looked at him for a moment, shocked to hear that, but had then nodded and walked away without a word.
The elevator doors opened and Tony walked up to his desk. Their bullpen was completely dark, except for the little light that shown through the snow covered skylights.
He swung his backpack over the desk, letting it fall on the floor with a thud and turned on his desk light. He looked over his desk. It was chaotically ordered with all his personal things. His Mighty Mouse stapler proudly stood out from the rest. He sat down behind his desk and unlocked one of his drawers. He grabbed a small pile of cold case files and sat them on his desk. He closed the drawer again and with a sigh went to work.
''Merry Christmas, Tony'' He whispered to himself, but he himself thought the sarcasm was sad.
…
A long time ago Christmas was Gibbs' favorite time of the year. That was of course when Shannon and Kelly were there to celebrate it with him. But after they had died, Gibbs couldn't bare to do anything with it. Well, not in his house. He would walk and depending on the weather, for how long. If there was snow just like now. He would go out much longer.
Why? Because they used to do that. On the evening of Christmas eve, the Gibbs family would go ice skating after their dinner. The ice rink would be decorated with lights and other Christmas decorations, there was free hot chocolate, Christmas music and there were many other kids with their families doing the same thing. The snow gave it a magical touch, together with the laughter of the carefree kids.
And just like every other year Gibbs sat on the bench, looking out on the ice rink. His hot chocolate, instead of coffee, in hand. The steam coming off it in a thin line. Some kids would come up to him and chatter about their new skates or just say merry Christmas and hello. Their parents knew Gibbs from when he was younger, knew what had happened, knew he was good man and trusted him with their children.
But this year, his mind wasn't so much on the ice rink. He took a sip as his mind wondered, not for the first time, to the hours he had spend at work.
Tony had been excited all morning about his usual trip to New York to spend it with his Frat buddies. It was the usual bragging about what he was going to do, teasing Kate that she was no fun, when she told him sternly to grow up and McGee who was telling some stories about his time at MIT, while Tony shook his head, at the geek speak.
There shouldn't be anything unusual about it. But there was. Gibbs could tell that Tony's heart wasn't in his stories and it was confirmed when Tony returned from lunch break and hadn't said anything about it at all anymore. When Gibbs told Tony he could go, half an hour before their normal early departure on the day of Christmas eve, Tony had actually sighed and looked reluctant to go.
Gibbs couldn't get it out of his head that something was not right. His gut was telling it and if you think somethings not right, then it probably is.
He pulled out of his thoughts with a loud cry. Gibbs looked up to see a girl fallen on the ice a couple of meters in front of him. Without thought he set his chocolate down on the bench and stepped on the ice. He didn't wear skates, but he did this every year so he was skilled enough to walk over the ice easily.
He knelled down in front of her, while the others kept skating around hers. ''Hey. You okay?''
The girl looked up at him. Her brown eyes, filled with tears. She sniffed. ''Hi, Mr. Gibbs. I fell'' She told him the obvious.
''I can see that'' Gibbs smirked at her. He saw how she was holding her knees. ''Come'' She stood up and held both his hands out for her. He grabbed them and he pulled her up slowly. She grimaced slightly, but didn't say anything about the pain. He helped her to the edge and sat her down on the bench he sat earlier. He grabbed his hot chocolate and handed it to her. ''Drink. Chocolate is good for everything''
''Thank you, Mr. Gibbs'' She said quietly and took a sip.
''What's your name?'' Gibbs asked her.
''Freda'' The brown hair girl answered.
''That's quite a rare name'' Gibbs commented.
''Hmm'' Freda nodded. ''Mommy named me so, because my dad comes from Germany. What's yours?''
''Jethro'' Gibbs smiled at the giggle. ''I know, its a bit silly''
''Nuh-uh!'' Freda disagreed. ''It's pretty''
''Thank you'' They were interrupted by his cellphone going off. He grabbed it and looked at the screen, narrowing his eyes to be able to do so. He resisted the sigh of relieve when he saw it wasn't dispatch. ''Yeah, Gibbs''
''Gibbs!'' Balboa's voice came from the other side of the line. ''Hey, how's your free time?''
''The usual. How's work?''
''Boring as ever. I think even the murders take a break on Christmas this year''
Gibbs grunted. ''Why are you calling?''
''Do you know why DiNozzo isn't in New York right now?''
Gibbs paused. His gut was right. Something was up. ''Why?'' He asked slowly.
''Because, one Very Special Agent is sitting in the darkness of your bullpen doing cold cases, in case I would need him''
Gibbs growled, making the girl that had been looking at him with interest, arch a cocky eyebrow while she drank his Hot Chocolate. ''Dammit, DiNozzo'' He muttered.
''I take it, you didn't know?'' Balboa realized.
''No, I didn't'' Gibbs admitted.
''Well. I do appreciate his help, but I don't really need it and he's sitting there with a face, that's mirrors one of a lost puppy'' Balboa told him.
''What do you want me to do about it?'' Gibbs asked, even if he already knew, even if Balboa himself didn't.
''It's not right for him to be here. And we know he won't listen to me''
Gibbs sighed. ''I'm on my way'' Without waiting for a response he hung up.
''That wasn't really nice'' Freda told him sternly. ''You shouldn't hang up on people like that, without saying bye first''
Gibbs looked down at her amused. ''I guess you're right. I will remember that for next time''
''Good'' Freda huffed. ''You gotta go?''
''Yup. A friend of mine is all alone for Christmas. Can't have that, can we?''
''But aren't you alone? I mean you're here everything, but you never bring a friend or family with you'' She asked innocently.
''I guess I am a little'' He admitted. He stood up. ''That's why I've decided to drag my friends buttocks out of work and take him with me'' She held out of paper cup with just a bottom of chocolate in it. ''You keep it'' He watched her as she took the last sip in one go, then threw it in the trash can next to the bench and stood up, wobbly on her skates before steadying. ''You good to go again?''
''Yup, all better'' She nodded
Gibbs smiled. ''Merry Christmas, Freda''
She smiled brightly back at him. ''Merry Christmas... Jethro'' She decided with another giggle, before stepping on the ice again and being on her way.
…
Gibbs took the stairs instead of the elevator. In his one hand he had a coffee, while the other was carrying a Apple cider for Tony. He knew that with this time of year, Tony always drank this instead of his coffee. He rounded the corner and stopped to look. Balboa was telling the truth that Tony was sitting in the dark. Above Balboa's bullpen, the lights were turned on together with the desk lights, but his bullpen was dark, except for Tony's desk light.
He regarded the younger man. Tony was buried with his head and mind in the cold case in front of him. His eyes carefully scanning the the words, the notes of the person who had written his or hers finding and/or thoughts on the case, trying to find out any mistake or missed clue, something the previous investigator hadn't seen or thought about.
He watched as Tony turned a page with a sigh and cracked his neck from side to side, before continuing. Gibbs mind raised for reasons why Tony wasn't with friends on Christmas Eve. He knew that Tony had a strained relationship with his father, his mother had died and although he talked somewhat about a uncle from England or a cousin, his relationship with the remaining family wasn't strong enough to spend the holidays with.
But his Frat-buddies were people Tony talked about many times. Stories about his adventures in college and reunions, were always intriguing to hear. Although Gibbs would never outright show he was listening or interested in hearing them at all. And apart from the sad story about Scarlet, Tony had never talked about his Boarding school years, Gibbs realized with a frown throughout his musings. But he couldn't think about that right now.
Slowly, he approached his own bullpen. He wondered if Tony would notice him before he reached the Italian man, but it seemed he was too buried into his work to do so. Gibbs stopped in front of his desk and waited a few moments, but still there wasn't a reaction. Gibbs rolled his eyes and placed the cup with Apple cider on the desk, with a soft thud.
Not surprisingly, Tony jumped in his chair, startled. ''Shit'' He gasped, then looked up at his intruder. ''Gibbs'' He said surprised. His eyes jumped to look around for a moment, then settled on Gibbs' gaze again. ''What— uhm... W-what are you doing here?'' He stammered uncomfortably.
''I could ask you the same thing'' Gibbs replied. ''I thought you went to New York this afternoon''
''I... uh, changed my mind'' Tony offered.
Gibbs rolled his eyes. ''Obviously. Why?''
''Does it matter?'' Tony sighed.
''It does when, instead of partying and having a great time, you spend your Christmas at work all alone, reading through cold case files'' Tony didn't reply and looked down at the file with a frown. His left hand unconsciously reached for the warm cup on his desk and wrapped his finger around it. ''I thought you were excited to go and meet up with your old friends''
Still no reply.
''You really want to spend your Christmas here? Alone?'' Gibbs asked.
A shrug.
Gibbs sighed and sat his own coffee on the desk. He went over to Kate's desk and pulled her chair from behind it. He rolled it towards Tony's desk. Letting go of it he went behind Tony's desk and rolled him from behind his own desk, noting Tony's lack of protest. He sat it across Kate's, before sitting down in hers. ''Tony, come on. Speak''
''Getting drunk and getting laid with a stranger isn't what I want to do during Christmas anymore'' Tony said quietly.
''It isn't what I would choose either'' Gibbs agreed. ''Though, I don't know about the getting laid part, but partying and getting drunk is something you do every time with your friends and if I'm not mistaking you did just that during summer. What changed?''
''I don't know'' Tony lied.
Gibbs raised an disbelieving eyebrow. ''Try again''
''Getting drunk to the point you can't control yourself, is stupid and wrong and it's time I grow up and stop with those childish things!'' Tony said angrily.
Gibbs eyebrow remained, though it was now from surprise. ''I would have never thought I would hear those words from you''
''Well, they did!'' Tony snapped at him.
Gibbs narrowed his eyes at him. ''Something happened while you were drunk?''
Tony recoiled at that. ''W-why do you ask?''
''I'm a investigator, Tony. I notice things. And I know you''
''N-nothing happened''
''Stop lying'' Gibbs growled, a little annoyed. ''Don't you trust me?''
''I don't think, you can trust me when I tell you''
''I'll be the one to make that decision''
Silence again. Gibbs saw that Tony was thinking things over in his mind and was calculation his options.
Finally after several minutes, Tony spoke up. ''My frat-buddies will laugh at me when I return to them''
''Why would they do that?'' Gibbs frowned.
''Because of what happened on the last night during summer'' Tony said. He took a sip from his Apple cider, then held in in his lap. With a gaze on it, he continued. ''It started out normal. Going out. Dancing, drinking, laughing at stories. As normal I started to get a little drunk, and so the dancing became even more fun'' Gibbs listened quietly, knowing it would make sense eventually. ''At some point, someone came up to me. we danced normally for a few minutes, then it turned more heated. Bodies pressing together, feeling each other up. It wasn't much later when I found myself kissing. And soon we left for my hotel room. For a one-night-stand, it was amazing and charged and I don't know, more right then I ever could imagine...'' He stopped there.
Gibbs frowned, still not quite understanding what the big problem was and why Tony seemed ashamed to meet his frat-buddies again. ''What's so different then with all the others?'' Knowing that Tony had several to quite many one-night-stands, also during going out with Abby and the team.
Tony squeezed his eyes shut and groaned. Okay, there he went. There was no turning back now. This was the moment that could give him the best relieve of his life or he would lose the one man he considered his best friend. After a minute, he raised his head and looked straight into Gibbs icy blue eyes.
He whispered, so he was certain only Gibbs could hear it. ''It was a man I slept with''
End of Part 1
Woops! Yes I dared to take that turn in this Series!
To all the readers who have read the previous 2 stories and notices somethings thatcould've lead for them to know something like this was coming, I say, 'Good for you! you guys are good!' The ones who didn't, 'Well, I did give some clues ;) especially in Resemblance! about Tony, but guess it was still quite hidded. I don't know why I wanted it out in the open so abruptly in this story, but here it is! :D
I know it's a little late for a Christmas fic, but hey! Christmas is good all the time!
Tell me your thoughts in a review. I want to know your thoughts, newcomer or not! I appreciate your thoughts on the first part of the story! :)
Update soon!
-x- Leonie
