Wake-up Call by rose_malmaison
Pairing: Gibbs/DiNozzo
Rating: Adult for language, sex
Genre: Pre-slash, slash, angst, h/c, romance Gibbs-style
Spoilers: Season 6, September 2008, up to Agent Afloat
Characters: Gibbs, DiNozzo, Ducky, Jimmy Palmer, Abby, Tim, Ziva, Vance and Balboa.
Betas: selenic76 and combatcrazy
NOTES: Written for the NCIS BigBang 2013. 50,000 words in 13 chapters. Art by kj_svala can be seen at the LJ BigBang site and my own LJ.
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CHAPTER 1
From the 1997 film Playing God
Eugene: Sometimes we all wonder how things come to be. A chain of events: A leads to B leads to C leads to Z. Each life is made up of big decisions and each day is made up of a million little decisions. What shirt to wear, what street to walk on, what to eat for lunch. Now all of these seemingly inconsequential choices may change your life forever.
October 2008
"Tony! Tony, Tony! You're back!"
Tony turned to meet Abby, who ran across the bullpen with her arms outstretched and enveloped him in the biggest hug he'd had in months. God, it was good to be home. He said as much, gave her a squeeze and then stepped back. He had to get his emotions in line before he embarrassed himself in front of everyone. They were all beaming – Abby, Tim and Ziva – and talking at the same time. Tony let it all wash over him. It felt so good, so heartwarming to have his friends around him, at last. Even Gibbs was giving him a smile, although it was slightly reserved.
Tony leaned slightly forward and spoke over his friends and teammates. "Hey, Boss. Talk to Vance?"
"Yeah."
Okay, that was sort of sour. Tony felt someone watching them and he glanced up to find that Vance was leaning over the balcony. Tony tensed at the scrutiny although it was apparent that their new director was watching Gibbs, and not him. Vance was waiting for something to happen, like a cat watching its prey. Turning back, Tony saw a glint of warning in Gibbs' eyes and he gave a small nod to show that he understood.
Abby was asking, "You're back? For reals? Like, total reals? Like... pinky promise permanent reals?"
Tony said, never taking his eyes off Gibbs, "Reassigned to D.C. effective immediately. Director just told me."
Gibbs quickly turned and sent a blistering look Vance's way. It was clear that the director hadn't told him that he was getting his senior field agent back. Vance had been playing Gibbs for no reason other than to put him in his place, which made Tony dislike the man even more. When he glanced up a minute later, Vance had retreated to his office.
Gibbs sat on the edge of a desk and looked at Tony intently as if waiting for him to make the first move, so Tony leaned forward, extending his hand. Gibbs seemed relieved. He shook Tony's hand and welcomed his agent back with a genuine smile that made the corners of his eyes crease. His handshake was warm and firm, and Tony found that the brief moment of contact almost made up for the loneliness of the past few months.
McGee caught Tony's attention and said, "Never thought I'd say this, Tony, but it is nice to have you back."
Ziva smiled and said, "I believe I missed you, too, Tony, though I am not sure why. Like McGee says, it is nice."
Abby protested, "Nice? It's, like, spectacular. I kept every one of your postcards, Tony, and I have a whole DiNozzo wall in my lab."
"It was a long four months," Tony admitted. "I've got to say it's great to be home. Not that I didn't think I wouldn't be coming back..." Tony watched Gibbs' eyes and saw them flicker. Was that guilt his boss was feeling?
"So, anyway," said Abby, "Sister Rosita, she bowled a 260 last month…"
Tony let Abby's chatter wash over him, not really listening, he was so focused on Gibbs. Tony wanted to have some time alone with him, but it looked like it was going to have to wait until things calmed down a little. The air between them needed clearing before he could move ahead, and even if Gibbs wasn't a 'talk to me' kind of guy, at least he would listen. Foremost on Tony's mind was why had it taken so long to bring him home? And then there was the matter of Director Shepard's death – the elephant in the room – and no matter how painful it might be, they had to talk about it sometime. This was a new chapter in Tony's life and he was determined to start with a clean slate.
Abby, thrilled that Tony was finally back, clung to him and wouldn't stop talking about everything that had been going on in his absence. Tony didn't have the heart to stop her but she did calm down a little after he pointed out, "You emailed me regular updates, remember?"
"I know, but it's not the same," she insisted, squeezing his arm. "It's you, really you, in the flesh. Isn't this great, Gibbs? Now everyone is home, where they belong."
Gibbs agreed, "Good to have the team back."
Jimmy Palmer joined them and welcomed Tony with a grin and a slap on the shoulder. Tony turned and found himself being hugged enthusiastically. "Hey, I thought that hugs were Abby's job," Tony joked.
"Just glad to see you," said Jimmy, with a bright smile. "I got everything ready, so whenever you want to go…"
Tony looked over at Gibbs only to find him glaring at the both of them, his eyes darkening when Jimmy slung one arm around Tony's shoulder in a casual gesture. Jimmy was oblivious to Gibbs' black looks but Tony wasn't. Jimmy's arm dropped away and he stepped over to talk to Abby, but Gibbs was still looking at Jimmy like he was itching to slap him. It amused Tony that their brief embrace, if you could call it that, managed to push Gibbs' buttons. He would have made a joke about Gibbs' prickly attitude towards the autopsy gremlin, but he was too beat to put any effort into it. It had been a long day and the flight from Cartagena had been rough. As it was, Tony had to stifle a yawn. He wished he were in bed…any bed. Even the chair behind his desk looked inviting.
The second time Tony yawned, Palmer grabbed his bag and said, "C'mon, let's get you home. I'll drive."
"Hey. Be here tomorrow at 0800 sharp, DiNozzo," Gibbs ordered.
"But Boss, I just got back. I need to a day off to–"
Gibbs snapped, "You got a problem with coming back to work here?"
Tony stared at Gibbs, wondering what had caused such a turnaround. The talking stopped – even Abby was silent – and Tony could feel his friends stepping closer, forming a wall behind him. Tony forced himself to relax and said, "No problem, Boss."
Someone touched Tony's arm. It was Palmer, who said in a quiet voice, "Let's go, Tony."
Tony refused to look at Gibbs but he could feel his eyes following him as he walked with his teammates to the elevator. When the doors began to close, Tony turned and looked across the squad room. He expected to see Gibbs still standing in the bullpen, but he had disappeared.
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During the long flight back to DC from Cartagena – when they were somewhere over Cuba, Tony guessed – he had sent off a text message to Jimmy Palmer, asking him if he knew anywhere he could stay for a short while, just until he found a place to rent. Palmer had been quick to reply that he had a pullout couch and if Tony wanted to move in with him, well, it would be nice to have the company, and also he could use a few extra bucks. So even before Tony set foot on American soil for the first time in four months, he had a place to stay and a friend who extended a helping hand.
By mutual agreement, both Palmer and Tony decided to keep their living arrangements quiet, if only to avoid all the ribbing they'd get for living in such close quarters. Keeping it a secret lasted only until the next morning when Tony returned to work at 0730.
Gibbs strode up to Tony's desk and asked abruptly, "You moved, DiNozzo?"
"Uh, not exactly." Out of habit, Tony looked around to see if anyone was within earshot, but luckily McGee and Ziva hadn't arrived yet. "McGee sublet my place for me while I was away," Tony replied slowly, leaning back in his chair. He wondered how Gibbs knew he wasn't living at his own place right now. Except, he was Gibbs, so of course he found out everything eventually. Then it struck him that Gibbs must have gone by his condo last night and discovered that someone else was living there. Tony couldn't help laughing. "You bang on my door last night and scare that nice young couple?"
A slightly guilty look passed over Gibbs' features but it was gone just as quickly as it had appeared. He said flatly, "You found somewhere else to live."
"With a friend," Tony said, uneasy about where this was leading.
Gibbs extended his hand, palm up. "Then you've got a key for me," he said, looking expectant.
Gibbs' attitude was beginning to irk Tony, so he crossed his arms over his chest and said, "Well you see, I don't have a key. I haven't had a chance to look for another place to live yet because my boss won't give me a day off."
Gibbs narrowed his eyes. "I still need a key."
"Why?" Tony asked, thinking he couldn't just hand over a key to Palmer's home, not even to Gibbs.
Gibbs blinked, apparently not expecting Tony to be difficult. "I need it for emergencies."
Like hell he did. They both knew that Gibbs was perfectly capable – and willing – to pick a lock, and if that didn't work out he could always break the door down. Except Tony couldn't recall there ever being a situation when Gibbs needed immediate access to any of his agents' homes. It was as though he was demanding a key just to make it clear that he was the boss. As if anyone had any doubt about that.
"Well, I only have one key and I can't give it to you, Gibbs." The dangerous expression that flamed across Gibbs' face induced Tony to add, "If you really want one, you'll have to ask Jimmy."
Gibbs made a throaty sound and slammed a hand down on Tony's desk, making his stapler jump. "Jimmy Palmer?"
Tony pushed his chair back and stood to meet his boss face to face. He said defiantly, "Yes, Jimmy Palmer. Is there some problem about who I bunk with, Boss? What, did you make up a rule 12-B when I was gone?"
"Just get me a key, DiNozzo, by tomorrow," Gibbs said tersely and stalked back to his desk.
Great, his first day back and he'd already made Gibbs mad at him. Exhaling a breath he hadn't known he was holding, Tony sat down and ducked behind his computer to wait for his heart to stop beating like he'd been chased across an impound lot by a guard dog. He could hear Gibbs banging his desk drawers and there was some under-the-breath swearing, and when things quietened down, Tony peeked out. Gibbs was reading some paperwork, using a flat magnifying sheet in his hand. Tony recognized the magnifier as a gift he'd given his boss last Christmas and it made him smile.
A short time later, when Gibbs got up without a word and headed towards the elevator, a man on a mission, Tony had a chance to think about what had occurred. No doubt about it, it was odd, the way Gibbs had not only insisted that Tony hand over a key, but the way he had turned surly when Tony hadn't immediately complied. Gibbs had never demanded a key before, not in this manner. He'd asked for one, but he'd never been so overbearing about it. This seemed somehow personal.
When Gibbs returned, coffee in hand, looking somewhat less bent out of shape, Tony watched him from under his eyelashes. Normally he loved a mystery, especially when it centered on human behavior – or anything relating to Gibbs. No matter how hard he tried, Tony couldn't figure out what was making Gibbs act like a bear emerging from hibernation.
Vance – it had to have something to do with Director Leon Vance. Everything had been fine right up until the point when Gibbs had discovered that Vance had been keeping him on tenterhooks over Tony's reinstatement. Gibbs had every right to be pissed with the man, but that didn't explain why he was being so testy with Tony.
Of course Vance wasn't Tony's favorite person. Right from the start, the new director had made it clear that he had considered bringing Tony up on charges for dereliction of duty, due to Director Jenny Shepard's death. It was obvious that SecNav didn't want any backlash about the shooting out in the desert, and the circumstances surrounding her death had been hushed up. Instead, Vance assigned him to the Agent Afloat position to get rid of him.
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The night Tony returned, during his reinstatement meeting, Director Vance sat at his desk and looked at his agent with displeasure. "Against my better judgment, I'm going to give you another chance, Agent DiNozzo."
"Thank you, Director," Tony said, hoping he didn't sound too relieved.
Vance raised a hand. "The frequency with which field agents are hurt on the job casts a negative light on NCIS, and the number rose to new heights during my predecessor's time." He picked up a paper on his desk and looked from whatever was written upon it to Tony, as if weighing him up. "Your name appears at the top of this list, Agent, and even while you were at sea, you were injured on several occasions. I know your type. You're a risk-taker, cutting corners in order to get the collar, not following protocol. You have been at NCIS long enough to know we don't do things that way here. This has to change."
Tony heard the 'or else' loud and clear even though Vance didn't say it aloud. Never mind that Gibbs' team had the top closure rate in the agency, and that Gibbs – and Mike Franks before him – had set the precedent for doing whatever it took to get the job done.
Vance warned, "SecNav is watching this agency closely during the next few weeks, so don't mess this up. I'm going to be keeping an eye on you."
"I'll make sure I don't step in front of any bullets or speeding cars until the review is over, Director," Tony said, thinking that he'd definitely be keeping any minor injuries to himself from now on. Well, he usually did that anyway. Unfortunately, Gibbs or Ducky noticed such things and then forced Tony to go to the hospital. He'd just have to be extra careful if anything occurred.
For a moment Vance narrowed his eyes, and then he nodded and said, "Good, Agent DiNozzo, because I intend to run a tight ship. There is no room for mistakes. Understand?"
"Understood, Director." Obviously, shipshape or ship out was the directive. One thing for sure, no way was Tony going to rock the boat now that he was home again.
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Tony chewed on the end of a pen while he thought about it. Vance had intended him to serve the full two years, only Gibbs had taken matters into his own hands and had brought him back from exile. Was Vance giving Gibbs a hard time about it, pressuring him to get rid of his lead agent?
Without looking up from his paperwork, Gibbs said sharply, "DiNozzo, if you're daydreaming about being back at sea, I can arrange a transfer at any time."
Transfer? No, he was not going back to that ship! Or any ship, for that matter. "No, sir!" Tony replied before he could think.
Gibbs raised his blue eyes and sent a hard stare Tony's way.
Tony swallowed hard. "Um, I mean, no, Boss. Not daydreaming. Thinking. Thinking without any daydreaming at all. Thinking about what I'm going to do with a hundred emails in my in-box and I…uh…I'll just go back to work now." The next time Tony dared to look up, Gibbs was striding out of the bullpen and heading upstairs in the direction of Vance's office.
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