Slow Burn

Rating: Eventual MA in later chapters
Pairing: Gibbs/Tony
Category: Romance / angst
Spoilers: End of Season 9 from Missionary Position through to Season 10, Extreme Prejudice, with references back to earlier episodes in Season 9.

Summary: Can personal disappointments and professional danger help two long-standing friends and colleagues set aside their own assumptions and develop an unexpected relationship?

A/N: the original prompt for this story came from Kesterpan, so it's all her fault. She has also flung over numerous bunnies and let me bend her ear, as has Gibbsredhoodie. Hugs and cookies and ice cream to them both for the great beta help. And I hope this also cheers up my friend Bamacrush who has been nagging me for this for ages… no change there then! ;)

Each chapter is a mix of missing scenes and tags to episodes at the end of Season 9, and this first chapter starts straight after Missionary Position.


Chapter 1 – Raking Over the Coals

"I'm giving up women."

Gibbs snorted at Tony's sudden declaration, looking up from the chair he was repairing for Leyla. "That'll be the day."

Tony grinned over at him from his usual position at the foot of the basement steps. "No, I'm serious, Boss, really... After the last few months, I've realized they're nothing but trouble with a capital T."

"You only just workin' that out, DiNozzo?"

"Or maybe it's more like I should give up on manipulative women. I mean it's not been quite like Kathleen Turner in Body Heat or Stella in Streetcar, which may be more your vintage, Boss." Tony shot him a cheeky grin and Gibbs rolled his eyes. "But at times it's felt like a close run thing, if you get my drift."

"Oh yeah. I hear ya." Gibbs nodded, but didn't elaborate, conscious of Tony's curious gaze.

"I mean, don't get me wrong. I love women, always have, always will but... sometimes," Tony sighed, shrugging. "I dunno. With some, it just seems like a lot of effort for... for not a lot of return, you know."

Gibbs shot him a glance but didn't reply, merely holding up the bottle of bourbon. Tony nodded, levering himself up off the stairs and coming forward for a refill.

When Tony returned to sit on the steps again, he went on quietly, almost to himself as he gazed down at his mason jar. "And sometimes when you do put in the effort... that doesn't seem to work either. And it doesn't end up being what either of you wanted or hoped it would be anyway... Damned if you do, kinda thing..."

Tony trailed off and Gibbs let the silence drift for a while, sipping his own bourbon as he waited. He debated letting Tony leave it at that but it was the first time he'd alluded to his recent relationship with Wendy, and Gibbs was concerned for his friend.

Tony had been preoccupied since he'd arrived and Gibbs had assumed it was about the case but maybe not totally.

So when Tony continued to remain lost in thought, gazing down at his drink, Gibbs decided to push... just a little bit.

"You wanna go on?"

Tony glanced up, looking slightly surprised as if he'd forgotten he wasn't alone. He gazed at Gibbs for a moment before replying. "Not sure... Maybe... maybe not. Maybe after another few of these to get my head on straight," he grinned, holding up his drink before knocking back a large gulp.

Gibbs tilted his head in acknowledgement. "Better rack here tonight then."

"Very true, Boss. Thanks. Got my go-bag in the car and it's not a school night." Tony's bright smile reached his eyes for the first time this evening. He was silent for a little while longer as Gibbs continued working before speaking again. "And hey, look on the bright side... maybe this weekend I can work on not being such a dead weight now we're back from Columbia and the mysterious Monique."

Ah, so that was it... or partly it.

Gibbs had seen Ziva's comment strike a nerve before they left on the mission but hoped Tony wouldn't let it fester. Maybe he should've known better?

Gibbs weighed his words carefully for a moment. "Hey." He waited till Tony's head came up and deliberately held his gaze. "Never that. Ziva's words. Ziva's problem."

Tony stared at him for a moment, his expression softening as if he saw what he needed in Gibbs' eyes. "Yeah, Boss, I know... and I know she didn't mean it, not really."

"No... she didn't."

Gibbs knew Tony and Ziva had their differences and the heated banter was often more like siblings scrapping, but above all, they had each others' backs.

And over the years, Gibbs had often wondered if it would become more than that.

A comfortable silence fell as Gibbs continued working on the chair while Tony sat quietly on the stairs. After a while, Tony finished his drink and wandered over for another refill and Gibbs bit back his surprise.

When Tony came over, his SFA didn't usually have more than a couple of bourbons, even of the good stuff, so the fact that Tony felt he needed more tonight spoke volumes about his unsettled state of mind.

And also maybe how tired Tony was.

Columbia seemed to have taken more out of Tony than Gibbs had expected, although judging by his earlier comments, there was clearly something else bothering him.

Gibbs could see the dark shadows under his friend's eyes, the drawn features speaking of too much stress and too little sleep. Tony was not long in from his flight from Columbia, Chaplains Castro and Wade safely returned, the risky mission completed and he and Ziva back home safe.

So, as late as it was, Gibbs had been glad Tony had turned up tonight so he could see for himself that the younger man was okay.

It hadn't been long after Ryan left tonight that Tony had arrived. If he was honest, Gibbs was glad of the distraction from his concerns over Ryan's behaviour on this case, about how she'd withheld information and played mind games when his team was in danger far from home.

He'd experienced her brain gamer stuff previously before they'd become involved but had hoped that now they were... whatever it is they were doing... that Ryan might dial it back a bit.

She hadn't… and that both worried him and pissed him off.

But it was still early days in their relationship and he did like Ryan, finding her enough of an intriguing challenge to want to try to work it out, at least for now.

So Ryan's visit tonight had ended with them in bed, Gibbs choosing not to examine her motives too closely and from the way she eagerly distracted him, it seemed she wasn't keen on allowing him too much thinking time either after her admission about Monique, and he'd played along.

Gibbs had the feeling Ryan was testing him somehow.

He sensed there was something Ryan wasn't telling him and suspected it involved her ex-husband, which is partly what made him want to help. So he was prepared to cut her a little slack in their personal life. but he didn't like how it spilled over into their professional lives and endangered his team, as it had done this time.

Not having a sitter for her son, Parker, meant that Ryan left soon after and Gibbs was partly relieved she wasn't staying overnight this time, sensing he might get a visit from Tony when his plane landed. So he'd showered before heading downstairs to the basement to work on Leyla's chair and wait for Tony.

And Gibbs didn't totally buy that Ryan couldn't help the brain gamer stuff. Everyone had a choice how they behaved and she'd chosen that route, for whatever reasons.

So he'd ended the evening physically satisfied, mentally frustrated and emotionally wary. It wasn't a good combination.

Conscious his mind was beginning to run in unproductive circles, Gibbs paused in his work for a moment to look over at Tony, who'd fallen silent again.

"You eaten?"

Tony looked up, startled for the second time that night at the sudden question. "Yeah... got something crappy and quick when we landed." He titled his head on one side as if he was communing with his stomach. "Though I could eat."

"You could always eat." Gibbs grinned.

"It's part of my charm." Tony waited for the eyeroll he knew was coming before going on. "You eat?"

"Earlier."

"But something to soak up the bourbon wouldn't hurt, yeah, I know," Tony finished for him with a matching grin. "Maybe it's too late for takeout, even for us. So... I'll go rummage in your fridge, see what I can rustle up... assuming there's some actual food in there."

Gibbs tilted his head, smirking. "There might be."

"On it, Boss... in a bit. I'll finish this first." Tony held up his jar and then paused as a thought seemed to strike him. "Hey, did Jimmy choose a best man in the end? Damn... that was something else I missed while we were out of the country."

Gibbs chuckled. "Oh yeah... best woman."

"What?!" Tony considered for a moment before a wide smile spread across his face. "Abby."

"Yup," Gibbs nodded. "Good choice."

"That's so cool. In fact, that's real nice." Tony laughed. "Though you gotta wonder what she's gonna come up with for the bachelor party."

Gibbs grinned. "Reckon we oughta check our tetanus shots?"

"You may have a point there, Boss." Tony chuckled softly to himself. "Was she pleased?"

"What d'ya think?"

"I think that she probably knocked Jimmy to the ground when she hugged him..." Tony stared off into the distance for a minute, a smile curving his mouth. "Wish I coulda seen that too."

"Ask her... she'll give ya an action replay."

"Good idea, Boss. Really pleased for our little autopsy gremlin." Tony looked down at his jar, swirling the drink around. "Breena's beautiful, smart, funny... and for some reason adores Jimmy and we all know how he feels about her. Happy for 'em. So it looks like one of us is getting it right, huh?"

Gibbs nodded, watching the thoughtful look on Tony's face. He took a swig of his own drink as he waited for more.

"Got a minor bone to pick with you, anyway, Boss."

Gibbs merely quirked an eyebrow.

"Or should I say Cupid?"

Gibbs sighed and threw down his screwdriver, sensing they were getting to the heart of it now. "Wendy?"

Tony nodded, shifting on the step. "Yeah, Wendy. You know we split up... again?"

"You didn't say till now." Gibbs watched his friend with concern, the fidgeting and leg bouncing nervously all tells that Tony was anxious. "But sorta guessed."

"Yeah, well... it didn't work out. Again. Not for want of trying... at least I don't think it was for lack of trying but..." Tony shrugged. "Was doomed from the start, I guess."

"Why?"

"Because..." Tony ground to a halt and Gibbs wondered if he'd be treated to a deflection, but he was relieved when he got what sounded like honesty instead.

"Maybe partly coz I couldn't be sure what Wendy wanted, not this time round. Last time, it was fairly obvious, y'know... she wanted me, Baltimore, being a cop's wife, eventually a family maybe. We both wanted the same things or so I thought. Her motives this time?" Tony shook his head. "Dunno, Boss. Was it really me Wendy wanted again or a father for her kid?... who seemed to dislike me from the get go, by the way. Couldn't even be sure why she got in touch at Christmas."

Gibbs waited a moment, feeling a twist of guilt as he saw Tony's bewildered hurt before his friend clamped down on it and his face blanked. He waited till Tony's eyes me his. "My bad, Tony."

"Don't need an apology, Gibbs." Tony held his gaze for a few seconds, his eyes serious. "But just wanna understand why you did it? You were there when it went south the first time... not sure it had much chance second time round either."

"Just figured..." Gibbs began before breaking off and averting his gaze for a few moments as he collected his thoughts. When he turned back, Tony had an expectant look on his face and Gibbs took a deep breath, knowing his friend deserved his honesty too. "Aw, hell, Tony... just figured you'd be able to move on, either way. Hoped you'd be happy."

It was a second chance few couples got.

After his near death experience months ago in the diner and seeing his alternative realities, the ones that had hit him hardest had been those where Kate was still alive and she and Tony were married and they had a family. It had partly prompted him to arrange for Tony and Wendy's paths to cross again when the opportunity arose.

Gibbs wanted his friend to have that chance at a normal family again... or to get Wendy out of his system entirely and be able to move on.

Tony stared at him for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, I know, me too... and I can't fault ya for that, I guess... and as pissed as I was with ya back then, I know you had your reasons and I know you've got my back."

"Always, Tony."

"Just chalk it up to another spectacular DiNozzo failure, right? I'm good at those."

Gibbs frowned. "Can't blame yourself all the time."

Tony huffed a soft laugh. "Wish I could be sure of that... but yeah, maybe. She's not the woman I remember, that's for sure, and I don't think I'm the man Wendy remembered and thought she was getting back either," he finished softly, almost to himself before summoning up a smile. "Hope yours is going better, with Dr. Ryan, I mean. Well, I guess it couldn't be going worse, could it? So I hope it works out, y'know. You deserve that. I, er, saw her leaving as I was arriving tonight... hoped I wasn't interrupting anything."

"Nope." Gibbs sighed. He was silent for a few seconds. "Like her. Not sure I can trust her."

"Yeah?"

Gibbs nodded. "Yeah... she held back some things about the case. Things that may have put you and Ziva and the Chaplains at risk."

Tony stared at him, brow furrowing. "Didn't realize that. That's not good and I bet that pissed you off."

Gibbs tilted his head. "Oh yeah."

"Back to manipulative women again, eh, Boss?"

"Ya got that right," acknowledged Gibbs.

"Gotta be able to trust 'em, right? To let 'em get close. Trust 'em with your heart." Tony finished softly.

Gibbs stared at Tony, concerned at the hurt he could see close to the surface. Anyone who didn't know Tony well wouldn't see it but he could read the signs.

"Yeah... trust is important. And loyalty."

"Works both ways, Boss, doesn't it, and when it's not there in a relationship, it's a big problem... a bigger problem than being incompatible, I guess. That you can get round if you really want to."

"If it works in other ways, yeah, you can."

"Yeah... and you gotta have trust in the bedroom too. Don't want manipulation or brain gaming in bed either." Tony shot Gibbs a cheeky grin as he looked him over. "But you seem to have escaped intact... so far. Don't see any obvious signs of injuries."

Gibbs snorted. "Not yet anyway."

"But watch this space, huh? Hope I can say as much." Tony slugged back the last of the bourbon. "It's a good job we can trust each other, right, in everything? At least we got that."

Gibbs smiled, nodding. "It helps."

"Balances it out a bit, I guess." Tony stood and stretched, easing out the kinks in his lower back. "Knowing we can trust each other and have got each others' backs. It's a good feeling... seriously, Gibbs, it feels good."

Gibbs chuckled. "Maybe we oughta sleep together then?"

He saw Tony freeze and shoot a glance his way as he replied quietly, "Maybe we should."

Before Gibbs could reply, Tony had turned and began taking the stairs two at a time. Slightly stunned, puzzled, and more than a little intrigued, Gibbs processed the glimpse he'd had of Tony's expression.

He meant it as a joke but could see by Tony's reaction that he'd gotten a semi-serious reply... his face open and honest, the striking green eyed gaze level and serious.

What the...?


Tony stood in Gibbs' kitchen, cursing himself, feeling the buzz from the alcohol in his system.

Way to go, Anthony.

You just had to say it, didn't ya? Just coz you're tired and a bit pissed off, you had to let slip an honest answer instead of thinking first before opening that big mouth.

Tony was tempted to kick the crap out of the chair he was leaning on but figured Gibbs wouldn't be too pleased at fixing two chairs in one night. So before he could give in to it, he started pacing instead.

For years, he'd kept a lid firmly fastened on the box of his attraction to his Boss. Battened it down shut and parked it in the too difficult and definitely don't go there, Anthony, category.

Don't think about how Gibbs was just about every example of what he found attractive in a man, or how he trusted him more than he'd ever trusted any woman... and how he'd always felt more comfortable and at ease with Gibbs than with any other person in his life.

Tony could only guess and worry over what his Boss and friend had made of his comment just now.

Gibbs didn't know... or at least Tony thought he didn't know... that Tony was bi, and that lots of his short term flings and one night stands were with as many Johns as they were with Joannas.

But revealing that to his straighter than straight Marine Boss and best friend was a whole other ball game, especially if it meant that Gibbs also realized Tony was physically attracted to him.

Besides, thinking about what he might really want in life and which was well nigh impossible anyway wouldn't get Tony anything other than a lot more heartache, and he'd had enough of that lately with round two with Wendy.

So... best just concentrate on safe things, like what's in the fridge and brewing coffee, and not on a startled Marine with those blue eyes that could see everything, staring after him as Tony made his rapid escape from the basement.

As he put together enough leftovers from the fridge for a couple of sandwiches each, Tony reflected back on ten years of pushing away that attraction. His friendship with Gibbs was the most important in his life and he wasn't about to risk that by letting the guy realize what had been bubbling under the surface for ten years.

If he couldn't have Gibbs in his life as anything other than his Boss and friend, then so be it.

But had he just sunk that particular ship with his loose lipped comment?

Time to sober up and fast, lest he make it worse.

It was the first time he'd talked to Gibbs about the failure of their second attempt at making it work, he and Wendy. He'd wanted to before now but given how the Marine had obviously made efforts to set them both up, in a daft way it had felt like he'd failed Gibbs too... which he always hated doing.

He heard Gibbs' footsteps on the stairs and reached for the coffee mugs.

"Hey, Boss," he greeted Gibbs cheerfully as he came through the door, keeping his attention on the coffee pot. "Good timing, but then you always have good timing. I swear you can smell when the coffee's just brewed right and not a second before."

Conscious of Gibbs' eyes burning a hole in his back, Tony busied himself pouring coffee and picking up the plates. Taking a deep breath, he turned and shot Gibbs a quick smile, making eye contact briefly, seeing the slight intrigued watchfulness in his expression.

"You done down there?"

Gibbs nodded. "Yeah... you wanna catch the game or you had enough?"

"No... the game would be good." Tony led the way into the living room, Gibbs following behind...

… both men ignoring the slumbering pachyderm in the corner.

TBC...