CHAPTER ONE
...
"So? What do you think?"
Tony walked each end of the sail boat from stern to bow, inspecting each detail thoroughly before turning to the boat's owner.
"It's a little run down, isn't it?"
The owner, a round robust man named Vince Henley, sporting a scraggly grey beard and a Washington Nationals baseball cap merely shrugged before lighting up a cigarette.
"Why do you think I've been advertising it for free?" he commented, flicking cigarette ash dangerously close to Tony's brand new $500 Guichi shoes.
Tony considered this; he supposed that with a little TLC he could have the boat ship-shape again - no pun intended. All it would need was a few licks of paint, the cabin detail to be completed, a brand new sail and some sanding here and there.
"What's she made of?" Tony asked.
"She's mostly constructed of green-heart and cypress," came the reply. There was brief pause as Vince took in Tony's expensive apparel.
"You know, you don't look like the type of guy who would be into sail boats."
Tony smiled and shrugged sheepishly.
"And you would be correct. I'm more of a five star Mediterranean cruise kind of guy. My husband is the real sailor of the two of us."
Vince blinked as took in Tony's casual revelation before he again eyed the younger man up and down. His reaction didn't really surprise the SFA, he was used people looking at him and the way he dressed and carried himself before jumping to the conclusion that he must be a bit of a rich, air-headed womaniser. He didn't mind though, let them think what they wanted.
To be fair, Vince managed to school his surprise rather quickly.
"I see," he said. "A bit of a woodsman, is he?"
"You could say that," Tony replied. "He likes to use his hands a lot."
Vince gave a tiny smirk.
"On you or on the boat?"
Tony gave a small chuckle.
"On either one, both of us if he's feeling generous."
Vince snorted and fished around in his pants' pocket before bringing out a set of keys. He held one copper-coloured key aloft between his finger and thumb.
"Pay attention because I'm not returning to tell you again: this key unlocks the door to and from the boat's cabin. You lose it, don't come crying to me."
He switched to a silver key.
This keys unlocks the padlock on the cabinet situated just below the boat's wheel. inside you'll find any emergency supplies in case you may need them; life jackets - four of them - , flares, emergency blankets etc. If you lose this key, I sincerely hope you can swim if the boat starts sinking."
"Uh, what are the chances that the boat will sink?" Tony asked, glancing at the boat bobbing up and down in the calm waters.
"If you treat her and the ocean with respect the chances are pretty much zero," Vince replied. "However, any sailor will tell you that out there -" he gestured out to sea - "things aren't always predictable and you need to have your wits about you. Of course, I expect you'll have your sailor husband with you, won't you?"
"Yeah, he'll be with me," Tony replied, "after I've fixed the boat up."
"Oh? I thought that your husband would have enjoyed helping you with that."
Tony nodded in agreement.
"He would, but this is Jethro's anniversary gift from me, so it's a surprise."
"Well, I'm sure he'll love it," Vince said. "What's he getting you? A jet plane?"
Tony gave a small laugh.
"Gee, I wish! He'll probably get me what he got me last Christmas...and the Christmas before that...and the Christmas before that...and on my past five birthdays."
"Which was...?"
"A bottle of bourbon. Seriously, I think he just buys me it so that he can drink it as well." Tony leaned forward towards Vince, eyes narrowing conspiratorially, "You ever meet my Leroy Jethro Gibbs don't tell him I told you this but I'm not particularly keen on the stuff, give me a nice glass of Rose any time."
"Why don't you just tell him that?" Vince asked.
Tony shrugged in a 'what can you do?' gesture.
"My husband's a bit of a functional mute, shall we say. To him, giving me a bottle of bourbon is a huge gesture, especially considering he's not much of a gift-giver in the first place." Tony shrugged, "Who am I to take that away from him? If that makes him happy them I'm happy as well."
"So you're going to do this boat up for your husband all by yourself?" Vince asked. "That's going to take some doing."
"Nah," Tony waved his hand dismissively. "I've got a couple of friends who are just dying to help me...at least, they will be, as soon as I've convinced them it'll be worth their while."
"Well, good luck with that," Vince replied as he held up the third and final key in the collection. "This is the key to the small safe, situated inside the cabin. My wife and I found it easier to lock our valuables in there; it saves you a lot of space."
Tony considered that. He supposed it would be good place to store his and Jethro's Sigs - not that he was expecting to use them on board a sail boat, of course.
"Well, that's about it," Vince took one last look at his old boat before turning and handing the keys over to Tony. "She's yours now, take good care of her."
Grasping the keys, Tony nodded solemnly.
"I'll treat her as if she were my own flesh and blood."
Smiling, Vince shook Tony's hand, then turned and headed back towards where Tony presumed he had parked his car.
As soon as Tony found himself alone, he made his way up the sail boat's gangplank and onto the vessel. Opening the door to the small cabin, he stepped inside and took a look around. There was a single bed in one corner, no where near big enough for both him and Gibbs, but the agent supposed he could use it as an excuse to get cosy with his husband.
There was also a small sink and what Tony assumed were supposed to be some cupboards, however a few of them had either fallen apart or were missing altogether. The wood was chipped and faded and Tony was beginning to think he had taken on more than he could chew with this project.
On the other hand though, the boat had been free, and he could just picture the albeit subtle delight at seeing the finished design.
Knowing that he was going to need a bit - OK, a lot - of help, Tony pulled out his cell phone and hit two on his speed dial.
It rang just three times - thank you, rule three - before it was answered.
"McGee, my man! How are you on this fine summer's day?"
There was pause on the other end of the line.
"What do you want, Tony?" McGee cut right to the chase.
"What makes you think I want anything?"
"Oh, I don't know, maybe because you didn't insult me as soon as I answered.
"Alright fine, McGrouchy, there, is that better? I've insulted you.
"Not your best, but I suppose it will have to do," Tim replied, and Tony could practically hear him trying to hide his humour. "Now, what do you want?"
"I need you to meet me at the marina." He gave McGee the address.
"What? Why?"
Tony rubbed the back of neck sheepishly, despite the fact that the gesture couldn't be seen by his younger partner. "I, uh, kind of need your help."
"At the marina?" Tim was understandably confused. "What, did you buy a boat or something?"
"No, I didn't buy a boat," Tony insisted. "Look, I'll show you when you get here. Oh, and call Black Lung and bring him with you" He gave Tim the address of the marina he was at then emulated his team leader/husband by hanging up before McGee could reply.
While he waited for the other two to arrive, Tony began making mental notes on what TLC his new vessel would need to be sail-worthy again. It was clear that a paint job on both the inside and the out was in order. The cabin also needed to be finished and Tony hoped that between the three of them they would be able to get it done.
The SFA briefly considered bringing Abby in on the project as an extra pair of hands, but then had a mental image of a jet black sail-boat decorated with little bat stencils and ultimately decided against it.
'Maybe a nice sky blue would be good,' Tony thought, to match his husband's eyes.
"I thought you said didn't buy a boat!" Tim exclaimed as he and Jimmy Palmer got out of the car.
"And I was telling you the truth," Tony said as he came down the gang plank to meet his two friends,
"Then what's that?" Tim pointed at the boat.
Tony turned around to look before facing McGee again. "It's a boat."
Tim rolled his eyes. "I can see that, Tony. A sail boat that you bought."
"For the last time, McDeaf, I did. Not. Buy. The. Boat."
"Then where did you get it from?" Tim asked. "A gift from Gibbs?"
"Other way around, Timmy my boy," Tony replied. "This boat is a gift from me to him - at least, it will be, as soon as she's sail worthy."
"If you didn't buy the boat, where did you get it from?" Jimmy asked.
"I saw an ad in a magazine," Tony answered. "Some guy was giving her away for free. See, Tim, I told you that I never bought the boat."
The younger agent rolled his eyes. "Fine, I stand corrected, but that doesn't explain why you called the two of us here."
"Like I said on the phone, Tim, I need your help." With that, Tony turned and headed back inside the boat, gesturing for the other two to follow him.
When they got inside the cabin Tim looked around and gave a low whistle. "Wow, Tony, no wonder this boat was free."
Crossing his arms, Tony frowned at the younger man. "Look, I know it's not exactly the Titanic, but -"
"Before or after it sank?" Jimmy interrupted, eyeing the unfinished cabin. He flushed when he noticed Tony glaring at him. "Uh, sorry, carry on."
"As I was saying," Tony continued, "if the three of us work together we can get this boat up and sailing in no time, what do you say? Will you help me?"
Tim glanced at Jimmy.
Jimmy glanced at Tim.
They were both thinking the same thing.
Tim turned back to Tony.
"What's in it for us?"
"Don't you want to do it out of the kindness of your own heart?" Tony frowned.
Raising an eyebrow, Tim replied, "would you do it out of the 'kindness of your own heart?'"
"Yes, I would!" Tony insisted. "Maybe. I don't know. Ok, fine, I probably wouldn't, but you're not asking me, I'm asking you, and you're a better person than I am."
Tim smiled and shrugged. "Sorry Tony, I guess I've been around you for so long that some of your bad habits have rubbed off on me."
Tony sighed. "Ok, fine, what do you want?"
Tim considered for a moment before quirking his lips up in a small smile and replying, "as you know, Delilah's birthday is coming up."
"Yeah, I know. And?" Tony had absolutely no idea where this was going, but he could tell that he wasn't going to like it.
"Well, my gift to her will be the engagement ring I'm planning on surprising her with," Tim explained, "but the other week we were out to lunch and Delilah came across this gorgeous dress, you should have seen her eyes lit up when she saw it,"
"Ok...what does that have to do with me?" Tony asked.
"Have you got anything for Delilah's birthday yet?" Tim inquired. He then paused. "You are planning on getting her something, right?"
"Of course I am!" the SFA snapped. "What do you take me for? I just haven't got around to it yet, I'm not entirely sure what to get her."
"Well wonder no more," Tim replied. "In return for my assistance I want you to buy that dress for Delilah."
"That's it?"
"That's it."
Tony considered for brief moment before sighing. "Ok, fine, I'll buy the dress for your lovely lady."
"Excellent," Tim shook Tony's hand. "The dress is available at Duchess M and costs $500."
Tony snatched his hand back as if scalded. "$500! Are you joking!?"
Tim shrugged, "Take it or leave it, Tony."
"Alright fine, I'll buy Delilah the dress, but you better do a damn good job with helping me, McBlackmailer."
Tony then turned to Jimmy. "So, Palmer, I suppose you want something for your services as well."
Jimmy averted his eyes, sheepishly. "Well, I, uh, now that you mention it, I"
"Spit it out Palmer," Tim ordered. "I can feel Tony's boat beginning to sink."
"Hey, don't badmouth the boat!" Tony demanded.
"Breena and I would like to redecorate Victoria's bedroom," Jimmy said. "She's almost eighteen-months old now and she's really good at sleeping through the night, so Breena and I have decided to get her one of those toddler beds."
"Let me guess, you want me to buy it for her?" Tony guessed.
"Uh, no," Jimmy shook his head. " I was wondering if you can put in a word to Gibbs and ask if he could make us one. He did a really nice job with her crib."
"Is that it?" Tony asked. "Really?"
"Yeah, that's it."
"Ok, Black lung, I'll talk to Jethro for you, but no promises though."
Jimmy nodded his head briefly in understanding.
"So," Tim said. "Where do we begin?"
"I think we'll need to start by having the sailboat moved on to dry land," Tony suggested. "It's going to be a little hard to repaint the outside when have of it is in the water."
"How are we going to do that? " Jimmy asked.
Tony turned to McGee. "Go and ask the owner if he has anything we can use to tow the boat out."
"Why do I have to?" Tim demanded to know.
"Because I'm captain of this here ship," Tony replied, "and I told you to." He pointed dramatically to the shore. "Now, be gone Cabin Boy, and do my bidding.
Sighing, Tim turned and exited the sailboat. Tony could hear him muttering something about it being a sailboat and not a ship.
Ten minutes later Tim was back. He was accompanied by the marina's owner, a rather chubby-looking man with a name tag that read, 'Jake.'
"I can have the boat lifted on to dry land," Jake said. "Using the hoist. I'll need help from my colleagues though."
Tony nodded. "Do what you have to do, and thanks."
"I'll give you a call when we're done," Jake replied, before turning on his heel and taking off.
After he had left, Tony turned to face the two younger men, rubbing his hands together.
"So...who wants to discuss paint samples?"
The three men walked around the sailboat, now firmly located on terra firma.
"The outside isn't to bad," Jimmy said. "A good paint job would really spruce it up a bit."
The other two had to agree.
"It's the inside that needs the most work," Tony said. "The cabin basically needs to be put together."
"Any idea what colour you're going to paint it?" McGee asked.
Tony shook his head. "Nope, I'm just hoping that Jethro has some water proof paint in his basement that I can use."
"Well, with the amount of boats he's made over the years, it wouldn't really surprise me," Tim replied.
Jimmy looked doubtful. "Doesn't he usually burn them? What would be the point in spending time painting a boat if you're just going to burn it in the end?"
"The Autopsy Gremlin has point," Tony acknowledged, "but Jethro might have something down there."
Tim suddenly had a thought. "If the boss does have paint down there, how are you going to get it out without him becoming suspicious? I mean, it's not everyday that you're husband needs to get his hands on waterproof paint."
The SFA considered that small dilemma for a moment before smiling and shrugging. "We'll just tell him that Jimmy has asked us to help him repaint Victoria's playhouse in the garden."
"And he'll believe you?" Tim asked.
"Why wouldn't he?" Tony said, "It's not that farfetched a story."
Tim had to agree. He had seen Victoria's playhouse the last time he had visited the Palmer household and it did need a new paint job. "Ok, Gibbs's basement it is then."
"We'll visit a DIY shop afterwards," Tony continued. "See if I can get any ideas on what I can put inside our cabin in terms of furniture, though I doubt a double bed will fit in there." He paused briefly before grinning suddenly, "although a single bed would give me the perfect excuse to get up close and very personal with my Jethro." He wiggled his eyebrows at the two men.
Jimmy flushed, but Tony could see a brief smirk flutter across his lips. McGee screwed his eyes shut and shuddered.
"That is not the mental image I wanted to have in my head."
"Get over it McGee," Tony snorted. "I bet you've seen far worse."
"Worse than you and the boss getting down and dirty?" Tim considered that for a moment before shrugging in reluctant agreement. "Yeah, I probably have, but that doesn't mean I have to like the mental image it brings me."
"Why not?" Tony smirked. "I like the mental image you and Delilah bring me." He winked at Tim and whispered lowly, "but don't tell Jethro I told you that."
"Tony!" Tim exclaimed, thumping his partner on the arm.
"Ow, McGee!" Tony rubbed his arm. "I was joking; the only person who has ever entered my thoughts in that way is Jethro, though I won't deny that Delilah is a lovely looking lady."
"Uh, thanks...I think," Tim muttered. "So, are we going to start this or what?"
"What's your hurry, Timmy-boy," Tony smirked. "Got a hot date with Wheels tonight?"
"No," Tim replied, "but I didn't know you'd want me to help you put a boat back together, and I told Delilah I would be home by tonight."
I think this is going to take more than one day, Tim," Jimmy pointed out.
Proving how long Tim had been on Team Gibbs, he merely gave Jimmy a 'look.'
The M.E. assistant stammered slightly. "But, uh, you already knew that.
Tony turned and made his way out of the cabin and off the boat, gesturing for the other two to follow him. "It'll take a few days to get the boat repainted," he explained. "Putting the interior of the cabin together is going to take a while too, but we can work at it when ever we have time, as long as, of course, it's ready to set sail for mine and Jethro's anniversary."
"When is your anniversary?" Jimmy asked.
Tony turned and gave the other man a mild glare. "Are you joking, Gremlin? Jethro and I have only been married for a year, how could you have forgotten our anniversary already?"
Jimmy held his hands up in defence. "I'm sorry, ok! Things have been kind of busy for me this year; Victoria needs constant watching and looking after, not to mention the workload at NCIS. Ducky's constantly got me organising and cleaning his instruments. Scalpels are all I've been thinking about day and night for the past six months!"
"Whoa!" Tony stopped his friend's tirade by putting a hand on his shoulder. "Sorry Jimmy, I didn't know you under such duress."
"That's ok, Tony, it's not your fault," Jimmy reassured the Senior Agent. He paused before continuing with, "so...when is your anniversary?"
"Three weeks today," it was Tim who answered the question.
"You remembered, McCalender-Man!" Tony exclaimed. "How thoughtful of you."
"I only remembered because you've been going on about it for the last month or so," Tim replied.
"Well it gives you plenty of time to get Jethro and I something decent for our anniversary," Tony pointed out.
"How do you know I'm getting you anything?" Tim glowered. "You've never got anything for mine and Delilah's anniversaries"
Folding his arms, Tony cocked his head to one side slightly. "Ok, first of all -" he held up a finger - "you and Delilah aren't married yet, no one buys anniversary gifts for couples who aren't hitched, that would be just like saying 'congratulations on another 365 days of not being a loner.'"
Tim opened his mouth to argue, but Tony interrupted him.
"Second of all, there's no way on this earth that you would risk incurring the boss's wrath if you don't at least get us something."
The younger agent paled slightly, but he tried to put on a brave front. "Gibbs won't care if I don't get you two a gift."
Shrugging nonchalantly, Tony agreed. "You're right, Jethro probably wouldn't care."
"See?" Tim grinned triumphantly.
"However," Tony continued. "He would know that I would care and that in itself would be enough for him. Besides, if you and Delilah were married I would definitely get you two an anniversary gift. After all, I got Jimmy and Breena gifts for all their anniversaries didn't I? "
"You gave us a check for $100 every year," Jimmy pointed out.
"And very nice checks they were too," Tony said, turning to face him. "I even drew little hearts on them."
McGee sighed, knowing Tony was right. "Of course I'm getting you something Tony, you really think I wouldn't?"
Throwing an arm around Tim's shoulder, Tony pulled him close. "That's good, Timmy, because I've got a great idea about what that gift could be."
Tim narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "What is it?" he asked.
"I'll tell you later," Tony answered. "I will say, though, that it's less expensive than the dress you're making me buy for Delilah."
Before Tim had a chance to reply, Tony let go of him and started towards his car. He called over his shoulder as he went, "I'll meet you guys at my house, We'll pick up the paint and then head back here to get started."
The two men watched him go before Tim turned to Jimmy.
"We'd better follow him or we'll never hear the end of it."
"Remind me why we agreed to this?" Jimmy asked.
"I have absolutely no idea," Tim replied, "but if you come up with an answer be sure to tell me."
Tony was the first to arrive home. He parked his car outside the house and headed inside.
He found Jethro in the kitchen, staring out the window, seemingly oblivious to Tony's arrival.
Grinning mischievously, Tony slipped his shoes off and snuck quietly across the kitchen floor. As he approached Jethro he noticed that the older man was listening to the iPod that Abby had given each of the team years ago. Tony blinked in surprise; he didn't know that Jethro even remembered that he still had it. Tony made a mental note to ask him about it later before slowly reaching out to take hold of his husband.
"Where have you been, Tony?" Jethro asked suddenly without looking up or turning around.
The younger man jumped and stepped back. "How did you know I was here?"
Turning around, Jethro smirked, wrapping his arms around his husband. "You need to work on your sneaking skills," he said.
Taking hold of the back of Tony's neck, Jethro pulled his husband close and kissed him hard. Tony sighed in contentment as he felt Jethro's velvet tongue slip between his smooth lips and explore his mouth with gusto.
As they both eventually pulled back for air, Jethro jerked a thumb over his shoulder, pointing at the kitchen window he had been staring out of when Tony had first come in.
"I also saw your reflection in the glass."
Tony peered over his husband's shoulder and caught his face staring back him in the window pane, which looked out over their back yard. He smirked and shook his head.
"Damn it, why didn't I think of that?"
"I guess espionage isn't going to be your forte," Gibbs replied as he took Tony by the hips and spun him around until the younger man's back was to the window, "don't worry though, there's still plenty of other things that you're good at."
Raising an eyebrow slightly, Tony's tongue ran across his lower lip as he leaned forward and whispered, "oh yeah, like what?"
"Well, you give good lip-service for one thing."
Pushing his husband against the kitchen counter, Gibbs grasped Tony's silk tie and tugged him into another searing kiss. The younger man closed his eyes and moaned in appreciation as his silver haired fox made the hairs on the back of his neck tingle.
After a few moments of intense osculation, Jethro pulled back and moved to nibble lightly on Tony's left ear-lobe. The SFA could feel his husband's hot breath against his ear drum as the older whispered, "if you play your cards right, I've got a much better way that you can put those lips of yours to good use."
Turning his head slightly, Tony kissed his husbands cheek and replied, "as tempting as that offer sounds, Jethro, I'm afraid I'm going to have to take a rain check."
Surprised, Jethro pulled back; it was rare that the younger man would refuse such intimacy, especially when his husband was offering it to him on a silver platter. Tony was a hedonist through and through, and nothing gave him more pleasure - usually - than when the two of them got up close and personal with each other.
"What's the matter, Tony?" Jethro asked.
"Nothing's the matter," Tony replied. "It's just that, well," - he rubbed the back of his neck - "McExProbie and the Autopsy Gremlin are coming round."
"Why are they coming round?" Jethro asked.
"You know that playhouse that you built for Victoria when she's older?" Tony said.
"Yes...?"
"Well, Jimmy told me that the paint on it has started to flake a bit, and I told him that you may have some water resistant paint in our basement...uh, you do, don't you?"
"Yeah there should be some down there, don't know what colour it is though."
Tony waved his hand dismissively. "That doesn't matter, I don't think Victoria is going to care what the colour is."
"Why did Jimmy contact you?" Jethro wanted to know. "He could have just come around and asked me."
Tony merely shrugged. "This is Palmer we're talking about, he'd be scared of your shadow if he believed that it could rear up and bite him."
"And how did McGee get roped into this?"
"Three pairs of hands are better than one, Jethro."
Gibbs frowned slightly. "Victoria's play house isn't that big, surely you don't need three pairs of hands for a quick paint job.
Tony's reply was cut off by the sound of their front door opening and closing.
"Tony? Boss?" a voice called out.
"We're in the kitchen," Tony called back.
Two pairs of feet could be heard approaching from the hallway as the two younger men made their way into the room.
"Hi Boss," Tim greeted his team leader with a smile.
Gibbs inclined his head in greeting.
Jimmy Palmer was a little less confident in his hello.
"Uh, hi, uh, Agent Gibbs. Sorry for coming on such short notice - no, wait, you don't like apologies, so I'm not sorry. Uh, hang on, that sounded rude. Sorry. Wait..."
"Relax, Palmer." Gibbs decided to put an end to Jimmy's stumbling. "Tony's told me why you're here?"
"He has?" Jimmy's eye's widened a little as his eyes darted over to the SFA.
"Yes, he has." Gibbs' eyes narrowed at Jimmy's nervousness. "He said that you three stooges needed to borrow some of my paint to recoat the playhouse I built for Victoria."
"Oh, yeah, we do," Jimmy replied quickly. "The wind and rain has, uh, rotted the paint a little, and we thought that on a nice day like today we could repaint it."
"I see." Gibbs replied. "Funny, I don't recall any wind or rain these past couple of week or so."
"It seems to have been slowly building up," McGee answered. "Each time it rained it's been getting slightly worse. We just thought we could fix it while we've got the chance, that's all."
"I used good wood for that playhouse," Gibbs commented. "It shouldn't be rotting at all."
Tony shrugged nonchalantly as he headed towards the door to the basement. "Maybe this particular batch of wood wasn't as good as you thought, Jethro. It doesn't matter though, the guys and I will repaint it and make it as good as new in no time at all, won't we?"
He received a determined nod from McGee.
"We sure will, Tony."
Jimmy merely smiled and nodded, deeming it safer to just keep his mouth shut.
"I'm telling you, Tony, he suspects something!" Tim hissed as he watched Tony lift off a grey blanket that was covering several tins of paint in the corner of the basement.
"Relax McAnxious," Tony replied. "Jethro doesn't suspect a thing, he would have confronted us upstairs if he had."
"Are you sure?" Jimmy asked. "Didn't you see the way he looked at me up there?"
"That's because you were acting more twitchy than a dying fly," Tony commented. "Is it any wonder he gave you the 'Gibbs look' after that?"
"Sorry," Jimmy apologised. "I've never been very good at keeping secrets, I get all nervous and everything!"
"Well, you're going to have keep this one, unless you want your autopsy instruments, fingers, and some super glue to become well acquainted," Tony threatened.
Jimmy made a show of zipping his lips closed and throwing away the key. "He won't hear anything from me, Tony."
"Good lad, Jimmy," Tony replied. "Now, help me move this paint will you. And grab those sanders too." The SFA indicated two sanding blocks lying on Gibbs' worktable.
Tim picked the blocks up while Tony and Jimmy took care of the tins of paint.
"Do you even know what colour this is Tony?" Tim asked. "It could be pink for all we know."
Turning one the paint tins around in his hand, Tony read the label on the front. "Says here that this one is 'Nordic Sky.' Some sort of blue colour. What's yours?
Tim read the front of the tin. "Berry burst."
"Sounds delicious."
"You do realise that there's no way that these few tins are going be able to paint the whole boat?" Jimmy pointed out.
"I'm aware of that, Gremlin," Tony answered. "We'll just have to get some more when these run out. Let's take these out to my car."
Together the three men transferred the paint from the basement to Tony's car. Jethro watched them from his perch at the kitchen table.
"Need help?" he asked.
Tony grinned at his husband and waved his hand dismissively. "We're ok, Jethro. You take it easy. We'll have Victoria's playhouse repainted before you know it, and when I get back we'll carry on from where we left off with my, uh, lip service." He winked at his husband.
"Tony!" Tim exclaimed. "Too much information." The younger agent looked horrified and was attempting to cover his ears, despite having a tin of paint in each hand.
"Get over it McGee," Tony scolded. "This is the love house, where anything goes."
"It might be the 'love house' to you," Tim pointed out, "but to us mere mortals it's simply the Gibbs-DiNozzo residence."
"I still say that you're just jealous," Tony said. "That I found a silver-fox."
"As good-looking as I will admit the Boss is, I think I'll stick with my Delilah," Tim replied.
Tony shrugged before turning and kissing his husband on the lips. "Ah well, more for me."
"Would you two please not discuss me like I'm not in the room," Gibbs growled.
"Sorry Boss," Tim apologised, while Tony just grinned at his husband.
Jethro merely shook his head in exasperation before indicating the paint tins. "How are you guys planning on doing any painting without brushes?"
Tony blinked in realisation, before dropping the paint tins he had been carrying onto the kitchen table and running down the basement stairs. He ascended two minutes later, carrying three paint brushes.
"Thanks for the reminder, Jethro. I thought I had forgotten something."
Kissing his husband once more, Tony promised Jethro that he would be back in the evening, before heading out the door with Tim in tow.
At the Marina, Tony, Tim and Jimmy set about painting the boat. Tony made the decision that they would give the boat a single coat of paint tonight, let it dry, and then return for a second coat. It was also decided that they would all paint each side together rather than splitting the job because it was deemed to be quicker.
"Are you sure Gibbs is going to like this?" Jimmy asked.
Looking up from where he was crouched down, painting the lower half of the boat's left side, Tony said, "Why wouldn't he? You know how much Jethro loves sailing."
"I know," Jimmy replied. "I just thought that maybe Gibbs would have liked to work on the boat with you, himself. The two of you could have made a day of it, you know. He would have appreciated that."
"I know he would have," Tony sighed. "But it was Jethro who taught me most of what I know about wood-working and boat building, I want this to be my way of saying, 'look at what I learned from you. Besides, I'm thinking about letting him help with the interior."
"Well, I think that's sweet, Tony." Tim said. "And I know that Jethro is going to love this."
Tony flashed a bright smile at the younger man. "Thanks Tim, but I already know that he's going to love it."
"How do you know?" Tim asked.
"Simple; because he loves me."
Tim had to agree with that simple declaration.
Jimmy stood up and stretched. "It's coming along well, guys. Even if we have only just started."
"Yea," Tony agreed. "But it's going to take a few days or so to complete the painting. I just hope that we don't get a complicated case between then."
"Don't say something like that Tony," Tim insisted. "You'll jinx us!"
"Relax McWorrywart, even if we do get a case, we can still work on the boat in the evening," Tony said. "It's summer time, that means late sunsets with just you, me, Jimmy-boy and The Minnow."
"The Minnow?" Jimmy questioned. "Like, from Gilligan's Island?"
"Yep."
"You're going to name your boat after a boat from a Tv show where said boat was shipwrecked?" Tim raised an eyebrow.
"No," Tony shook his head. "I've named her after a Tv show from Jethro's childhood."
"How do you know Gibbs was a child in the 60s?" Jimmy asked.
"Jethro's my husband, Jimbo. Do you really think that I don't know how old he is?"
"Wow, we've been trying to solve that mystery for years," Tim said. "So tell us the secret."
Tony shook his head. "No way, no how. That's my little secret and I'm going to take it to the grave with me."
"Why don't you just look in his file?" Jimmy wanted to know.
The two agents looked at each other briefly before bursting into laughter. Jimmy stared on in confusion.
"Oh Gremlin," Tony gasped through his chuckles. "You must be a braver man than I if you'd consider hacking into the boss's personal file. Even McHacker here has never done that and he could probably get into it in less than thirty seconds."
Tim grinned at the praise. "Thank you, Tony."
"Don't let it go to your head, Timmy-boy."
"I still think that you should tell Agent Gibbs what you're doing," Jimmy said. "He's going to get suspicious otherwise, and I don't want to be the one he confronts. You know he'll get something out of me, superglue threat or no superglue threat."
Tony sighed.
"Let's just get this boat painted first and then I'll think about telling my husband."
The SFA had decided to paint the exterior of his new sailing boat in blue, stating that the colour reminded him of Jethro's eyes. Tim put his finger down his throat and pretended to gag at that 'cheesy' statement. Tony retaliated by smacking the younger man lightly on the back of the head.
Time passed in relative ease as the three men worked together, and it seemed like it was only five minutes later when Tony looked up and noticed the redness of the sky.
"I think we should pack it in for tonight guys, it's going to be getting dark soon."
The other two murmured their agreement, so closing the lids of the paint cans they stored them on the sailboat ready to come back to the next day.
"I want to restart this tomorrow at 9am sharp," Tony said.
"9am?" Tim groaned. "Come on Tony, I wanted a lie in."
"You've worked for Gibbs for over a decade now, Tim," Tony replied. "You should know by now that 9am IS a lie in for us."
Tim found that he had to agree.