A/N: I'm here! Sorry for the wait folks, but I do hope this chapter is worth the wait. It seems that this fic is running much longer than I thought it would, hope no-one minds :D I have no idea how I wrote this chapter, I guess you might say it wrote itself, but I did try to check that there are no glaring mistakes. It is kinda different from my usual writing style, but I hope it works. This was never supposed to be a case fic so there will be no detailed description of a case though there are mentions of one. Okay now I'm gonna let you guys get to the actual chapter as soon as I have thanked everyone for the wonderful feedback and all that, so thank you! Now the chapter:
The next morning as Tony rushed to get ready for work fast enough to suit his partner who was grumbling by the front door, the younger man's mind went back to the night before and the weird feeling he'd had down in the basement. But now in the light of a new morning it all felt even sillier, he was a grown man, he shouldn't be afraid of bogey mans anymore.
He laughed at the absurdly of his own thoughts and hurried his steps as he heard the front door slam and knew that if he wasn't outside within two minutes, he would have to walk to work since his own car was in the shop and Gibbs wasn't in the habit of waiting.
As he threw himself into the passenger's seat just as the other man started to back out of the driveway he caught a glimpse of the smirk the older man wasn't quick enough to hide. Oh in reality he knew Jethro would never leave him behind, but the older man enjoyed playing the bastard and knowing his partner, Tony wasn't sure if he wanted to take the chance.
Maybe if he'd known how chaotic the day would turn he would have gladly been left home. Well no not really, he really wouldn't have liked that, Tony mused as he helped his partner back into the house after two days of work with barely no time to take a break. After all, if he hadn't been there to watch his boss's back when they finally caught up with their suspect, who knows how badly the other man would have been hurt. As it was, Tony had been able to disarm their suspect, unfortunately it was only after the guy had caught them off guard and gotten a shot off that had hit Gibbs square in the chest.
Luckily the vest had caught the bullet, but it had done nothing to protect his head as the force of the shot took his legs from under him.
"I swear Boss, between the two of us, we could keep the head trauma unit running all by ourselves with the rate we're going."
The swat he unreceived for the quip hadn't lacked any of it's usual sting, which was impressive since the other man looked like a stiff breeze might knock him on his ass if Tony got the inclination of relinquishing the supporting hold he had on him.
Tony however had no such inclination and he got his partner safely into the house and laying down on the couch.
"Okay Jet, you need anything before I head back to finish at work?"
There was a grunt from the sofa that sounded like an affirmative so he just shrugged before bending down to place a quick peck on the other man's lips.
"You want me to stop by after we finish for the day? It might be late if we don't find the accomplice."
"I'll be here." Which in Gibbs speak was as good as an invitation, so Tony smiled and headed for the front door.
"Oh and remember what Ducky said, no working on the boat until you feel better, so take the meds and get some rest!" It had only been Ducky's orders that had forced Gibbs to relent and let Tony take him home, well that and the fact that Vance had seen him close to passing out in the bullpen after the effects of the concussion caught up with him and he'd reinforced the ME's orders.
Tony would have liked nothing better then to stay to look after his partner as was SOP with concussion patients, but nothing about the way Gibbs worked was SOP and besides with the boss out of commission for the day, he was the one who would have to take the lead.
And he had a murder accomplice to catch.
Coming back to Gibbs' house after a long day of work was more like coming home than if he'd gone to his own apartment. Well that was unless they decided to stay at his apartment, but those days were rare since the flat was much smaller and though there were some creature comforts you couldn't find at Gibbs', the homey feeling in the house more than made up for that.
Pulling his car to the driveway, Tony shook his head as he spotted the light coming through the basement window. To be honest he wasn't surprised that Jethro was down there, but he had hoped the man would do the more sensible things and actually get some rest.
Well Gibbs had been called many things but sensible wasn't one of them.
And that's exactly what he told the older man as he descended the basement stairs after putting his gun into the safe.
He didn't expect and answer so he didn't give Gibbs a chance to form one as he went on.
"Thought you weren't supposed to be down here tonight." He made his way closer and for some reason he felt the overwhelming need to glare at the boat, and it had been a long few days so he gave into the urge, glaring at the thing as if it was the poor boat's fault that Gibbs couldn't follow doctor's orders.
"Ducky said I can be when I feel better. Well now I feel better. " The raised eyebrow accompanying the words was a silent demand to not question his words.
But Tony found himself unable to completely cover the disbelieving snort that escaped him and that only served to make Jethro glare at him.
Which he ignored completely.
"So did you find the other perp?"
"Nope" Tony answered shortly knowing the explosion was coming.
"What? What the hell are you doing here then?" The glare was now in operation ful force, though it was obvious it wasn't one hundred percent effective as Gibbs raised a hand to rub at his temple in a rare sign of pain.
Tony frowned slightly as he got the weird feeling that if it was able, the boat would be gloating at him for being the target of the man's ire, but he shook the strange thought off. Now was not the time to be losing his marbles.
He sighed heavily and allowed his shoulders to slump in a show of exhaustion, though he didn't have to fake one bit of it, and for effect he rubbed his hand over his face before speaking.
"Look Boss, we've been at it for two days straight and the team is exhausted. I sent everyone home to regroup and get some rest before going back bright and early. Besides any leads we have won't be of any use before tomorrow morning anyhow because there's no way to get in touch with some people in the middle of the night. McGee's got his computer and cell linked somehow so if there's anything urgent from one of his searches and BOLOs, he'll know immediately and so will we. Come on, you need to get some rest and I'm wiped out too."
When he saw that the other man wasn't completely convinced thought he looked like he really needed to get some sleep, he decided that it might be time to use some dirty tricks. The older man looked like he was exhausted and the man was stubborn enough to never admit to something he perceived as a weakness. Gibbs would never say his head was hurting and he needed to lie down, but he would never deny the rest from his partner if he thought he really needed it.
So Tony took a deliberate step towards his partner and allowed the exhaustion he'd been carrying to wash over him so that his eyelids started to droop and he stumbled slightly, feeling a hand grip his arm.
"Hey, you okay?" There was worry in Gibbs' eyes and Tony didn't want him to worry too much so he smiled tiredly at his partner.
"I'm fine, just tired. Lets go to bed? I'll fill you in on the case in the morning before work."
The older man just looked at him in contemplation for a moment and then nodded his head before gently leading his partner to the stairs and keeping a hand at the small of his back as they walked up the steps.
Tony wasn't fooled, he saw the slight hesitation in Jethro's step and knew the older man needed the support more than he did, so without saying a word he allowed the other man to guide him while wrapping his own arm around his waist, as if to give himself some added stability when in reality it was all for the other man's benefit. Well mostly anyway.
In silence they got ready for bed and finally under the covers, where Tony snuggled closer to the other man. He couldn't help the tired and relieved smile at having convinced Jethro to get to bed and rest.
Sometimes Gibbs needed the quiet of the basement, his sanctuary, and he could respect that. But sometimes Jethro needed to be pulled out of the exile of his own making and Tony was more than glad he could be there to do just that and watch his partner's six.
But not everyone was as happy about that.
As Tony and Gibbs drifted off to sleep, The dark lady was seething. She was the one Gibbs had come to when he felt poorly, and now the young man had taken him away once more. She didn't like that, no she didn't like that at all.
TBC...
