Disclaimer: you really don't need me to say again

Note: so because the last two were kind of short, this one should hopefully make up for it. Enjoy!

~~~~~NCIS~~~~~

Dinner went by quickly. They exchanged smiles and some minor flirts, but both men were deeply thinking about what had happened during the day and what was to come next. It was very obvious to both men that the other was attracted now. But they wondered if it was just lust the other felt or if it could possibly be more serious than that. Tony knew he wanted more than just a casual fuck with Gibbs. The past week had enlightened him to feelings he didn't even know he felt. But now that he knew, he wanted Gibbs to be with him; he had wanted that for a long time. But would Gibbs, married four times, divorced three, want to get serious with Tony? If not, what DID he want? And could Tony be able to handle being in a relationship with "Second B is for Bastard" Gibbs? Or handle not being in a relationship with him?

Gibbs knew he wanted Tony to be his mate, but there was the whole not-being-human thing. Could Gibbs have a relationship with Tony and keep his true identity a secret? He didn't think he could. Not only did he know how Tony felt about building relationships based on and filled with lies (his relationship with Jeanne had made it impossible for Tony to ever allow that again), but he respected Tony too much to keep secrets from him. But if Gibbs told Tony who he was, would that put Tony in danger to other Supernaturals? They were going to have to talk before one of them, probably Gibbs, lost control and screwed this up before it could even begin.

After they finished their dinner, they headed a few doors down to a bar. It was on the crowded side, but not packed. Luckily, there was a seat at the end of the bar, and they headed towards it. Gibbs pulled the stool out and motioned for Tony to sit on it with a warm smile. Tony beamed at his manners and sat down. They ordered a round of tall bourbons and a dry Martini, shaken not stirred, for Tony. Gibbs chuckled, "Who are you? James Bond?"

Tony smiled. "Well of course my darling," he responded sounding like Sean Connery.

Gibbs laughed and took a sip of his bourbon. Tony started doing more James Bond impressions as Gibbs laughed, making sure his body was just barely touching Tony's. Soon, Gibbs went so far as to put a hand on Tony's thigh. Tony felt an electric bolt shoot from the spot Gibbs touched him up to his groin. Gibbs smirked when he saw the arousal on Tony's face. Tony had to take a few breaths to make sure he wouldn't throw himself at Gibbs but it didn't seem to be working. Suddenly, Tony stood from the chair and stuttered, "I-I'll be r-right back." He walked a few steps before tripping over another stool's legs. Gibbs shot forward with his inhuman speed to catch Tony before he hit the ground hard. As Gibbs stood with Tony securely in his arms, they couldn't help but look in each other's eyes.

"You should be more careful Tony," Gibbs said quietly, but Tony heard him clearly over the other noise.

Tony swallowed roughly as he felt himself growing harder. Gibbs too was hard; Tony could feel it against his thigh. He blushed though at the loving care in Gibbs' blue eyes. Maybe Gibbs did have real feelings for him. Suddenly overcome with nervousness, as if he were a teenager again, he gently pushed Gibbs away. "I'll be careful. I have to pee," he explained as he walked away.

Gibbs felt his heart racing from having Tony so close. He looked around the bar but no one seemed to notice he had just shot from his chair to where he had stood with Tony. He sighed in relief and went back to the bar to drink more bourbon. While he waited, he noticed that outside, the moon was nearly full and the sky was cloud free. Maybe if he went for a quick breather outside, he could get more control over his urges. But before he could decide, a horrible stench hit his nose. His body convulsed as he gagged slightly from the sudden and unwelcome scent. It was the smell of rotting corpses and blood, both old and fresh. It was the smell of the undead. Vampires. Gibbs' heart raced with unease as his stomach flipped with hunger. He knew he would start to get hungry for his prey's blood again within the next couple of days, but his stomach saw the opportunity. He could feel his eyes burn slightly as they rapidly changed color to the bright red that defined his species. He took a deep inhale. By the strength of the smell a group of five, maybe six vamps had just entered the bar. Discreetly, he looked around.

To the normal human, a vampire didn't look much different than them. Humans could definitely notice their paler, slightly see-through skin if they looked hard enough. But most, those who had no idea of the existence of supernaturals, would match the pale skin to the dark clothing and think them Goths. If Gibbs didn't have such mistrust for them, he would say that Abby would make a good vampire since she already dressed like one. In truth though, if you looked closer, you could make out the finer details. You would notice they didn't breathe, that the white in their eyes was tinted yellow and the color of their pupils was faint, and that a lot of them bore the stereotypical two tiny holes on some part of their body from when they had been turned. The smell of a vampire wasn't noticeable to the human nose; shockingly to Gibbs, some species of supernaturals couldn't smell it either. But to a Crusnik, to Gibbs, the scent of the vampire was instinctually strong and tempting.

Following the scent of his nose and using his trained hunter's eyes, he tried to pinpoint the vampires. Crusniks had their own scent too, which thankfully is not as strong or noticeable as the vamps and only an old, worldly vampire or one who somehow knew the scent of a Crusnik would be able to detect it. With luck, none of the multiple vamps in the room would notice him. Vamps were just as strong and fast as Crusniks but could be more tempted to attack in order to survive. It was in their nature. Gibbs wouldn't stand a chance against a group of six that decided to attack. It didn't take too long to spot them. Four males and two females. They were all seated together at a table near the door. A waitress had just given them a pitcher of beer. Gibbs knew that, unlike himself, vamps can't digest human food or beverages. The beer was merely an illusion to look like any other human group. He watched as some poured themselves a glass but spilled a little at a time out into a plant box by their table. By the look of them, he knew at least four of them were younger vampires, being anywhere from five to fifty years old. Younger than five, and they wouldn't be able to control themselves; the need for blood would've caused them to attack the whole bar by now. Between five and fifty was considered "young adult" stage, like their lust for blood was their form of puberty. Between fifty and a hundred is considered "mature age". Anything older than one hundred and they were considered "elders". Elders have great skill in staying alive and undetected.

He looked closer at the two male vamps he wasn't sure about. They both gave off a vibe of confidence and ease. They were definitely either matures or elders. This guess was confirmed a moment later when the four younger vamps all latched themselves onto the elder closest to them, starting two three-way make-out sessions. If Gibbs knew vampires like he thought he did, these six were probably part of a coven, and the two older ones were the leaders, meaning they had turned the younger ones and were now their masters. A coven was definitely more of a threat. Masters and their slaves were connected telepathically, meaning masters could wordlessly order their slaves just based on a thought. Swallowing uneasily Gibbs knew he had to get himself and Tony out of there immediately.

He looked around for Tony, but the crowd had grown and he couldn't spot him. He walked towards the bathrooms and went in. "Tony?" he called. No one answered. Gibbs started to panic. Those two older vamps maybe just be old enough to know the smell of a Crusnik, and if they knew the smell then they would not only smell it on Gibbs but on Tony as well. Gibbs rushed back out into the main room. His stomach plummeted when he finally found Tony. The younger man was standing over by the jukebox, and one of the older males was standing awfully close to him. Tony smiled awkwardly a few times and was blushing. Gibbs swelled with jealousy, rage, and possession. He knew Tony's face when he was being flirted with. Without thinking about anything but Tony being his, Gibbs stomped over to Tony and the vampire man. He smiled smoothly at Tony and said, "Hey Tone. Ready to get going?" He turned to glare at the vamp. "Who's your new friend?" he growled.

"Oh. Lucian stopped me as I was coming out of the bathroom and he, uhhh. He…" Tony stammered. How could he tell Gibbs that the man was flirting with him, unwelcomingly according to Tony, without hurting Lucian's feelings or pissing off Gibbs?

While Tony tried to explain, Gibbs and the vampire man, Lucian, sized each other up. The vampire's face was harsh-looking and smooth-skinned with a sharply pointed nose. His eyes were pale green and he had a slender figure and shoulder length pale blonde hair. He was not tall or well-muscled but Gibbs knew the strength that was hidden well. Gibbs held Lucian's glare, conveying through his eyes that Tony was his and no one else's. As Lucian looked up into his eyes, he remembered too late that they were now blood red, a trait only Crusniks and Demons had. Though since Gibbs was clearly not a Demon, he knew Lucian would figure out what Gibbs was. He waited for Lucian to send a thought to the coven and for all six to attack him, but it never happened. Lucian's nostrils just flared slightly, and he plastered on a smooth, friendly-looking smile as he said, "Do not worry. I was just telling your boy that I admired his looks. He reminds me of a young Robert Wagner, does he not?" Gibbs had to rein all his self control not to growl at Lucian. He could see the calculating threat in the vamp's eyes, that if Gibbs made any kind of move, the coven would rip him to shreds and take Tony as their own. Lucian's eyes moved to Tony and said, "It was good to meet you Tony. I hope to see you around again sometime soon. Farewell." With that, the vamp stalked off to his coven. Gibbs could feel all their eyes on him and Tony as Lucian clearly explained what happened.

Not waiting around for the other foot to drop, Gibbs turned to Tony and started pushing him out the door. "Move DiNozzo. Now!"

Thankfully, Tony just allowed Gibbs to push him out the door and then into a taxi.

"Marriot on seventy-first," barked Gibbs. As the driver started to pull away, Gibbs looked out the back windshield. He was pleased when he could see the coven still at the table until the bar was out of sight. Then Gibbs turned back around, sighed heavily in relief, and sank back against the seat.

Tony was beyond confused. "Gibbs?" he asked hesitantly.

"Hotel," was all he said as if that answered all Tony's questions. But Tony could feel the seriousness within Gibbs and chose to wait until they got to the hotel to find out what just happened.

Finally, the taxi pulled up to the hotel. Gibbs' nostrils repeatedly flared and shrank as he smelled for scents. When they made it to their door, he walked up and down the hallway of their room just to be sure there was no one following them while Tony opened the door. When it suddenly occurred to Gibbs there could be someone in their room, he suddenly whizzed past Tony with his inhuman speed, continuing to sniff the room out. Just to be sure, he checked in all the closets, under the beds, in the shower, and even on the balcony. Tony just stared at him shocked that, one, he had moved so fast into and throughout the room and, two, his actions in general were so odd. When Gibbs was pleased there was no one but them in the room, he closed and locked the sliding glass door and closed the curtains. Then he swiftly went to Tony's room, grabbed his bottle of Axe body spray, and sprayed it over himself, then Tony, and then throughout the hallway outside their door. Then he came back inside and bolted all the locks on the door, before feeling satisfied that the vamps wouldn't detect them. Ignoring the way Tony was staring after him with wide eyes and an open mouth, he walked at a human speed to put Tony's spray back then start to change into PJs. He knew eventually, Tony would get over the shock and speak. He didn't have to wait long.

"What the HELL just happened?" Tony finally blurted.

Gibbs decided to be as blunt as possible. "A vampire elder was flirting with you, hoping to make you his new pet. I smelled them when they came into the bar and knew I had to get you out of there. Being a Crusnik, I can fend off two, maybe even three, of them. A whole coven though? I'd be ripped to shreds. I stepped in and got us the hell out of there. Hopefully all that body spray will mask my scent and, if they chose to try to find you, they won't be able to."

Another moment of silence. Then, "What?"

Gibbs turned to look at Tony with an expression that said 'Do I really have to repeat myself?'

Tony continued, "A vampire. Was flirting. With me?"

Gibbs knew this would be hard for Tony to grasp, but he just nodded.

"He wanted to. Make me. His pet?"

Again, Gibbs nodded.

"There was more than one?"

Nod.

Tony's mind seemed to be spinning out of control. "And you're a what?"

"A Crusnik. Or Black Angel if you prefer, which I don't. Means I'm the predator of vampires and that I'm not human. The red eyes are a symptom of that," he pointed to his eyes. "I am also faster and stronger than a human. And I come with more bodily features."

Tony had paled when Gibbs had gotten to the "not human" part. Gibbs could feel despair creeping up on his hope of keeping Tony around and of them becoming mates, but he couldn't stop now. Tony needed to know the truth. Even if he did run off with fear, never wanting to be around Gibbs again.

"B-But you look so…"

"Human?"

Tony nodded.

"I'm not," Gibbs said again.

This time, Tony didn't seem so shocked. He seemed to be thinking. Then he asked, "More bodily features?"

Gibbs winced, "Yah. But let's just leave it at that, okay?"

Tony's brow furrowed, "Why?"

Gibbs looked away with a blush. "Don't wanna scare you," Gibbs said quietly.

With those four simple words, Tony came crashing out of his shock and fear. Gibbs may not be human. But things had been happening between them recently; things had always been happening between them. And if there was one thing that Tony knew without a doubt, it was that Gibbs cared enough about Tony to do whatever it took to protect him from anything. Gibbs had done that tonight, had saved him from becoming a vampire's dinner/pet. He wasn't exactly sure what that meant, but Gibbs did. And it must've been dangerous for him to stand between a coven of vampires and Tony, just to rescue him. It didn't matter that Gibbs wasn't human. He had always trusted his life to Gibbs and that wasn't about to change. And seeing Gibbs so upset by the possibility of frightening him just made Tony even surer that he still trusted- still LOVED Gibbs, deeply and completely, with everything he had. "You won't scare me."

Gibbs' head whipped up to look at him, to see why Tony was looking at him so softly and speaking to him as if nothing changed.

Tony saw Gibbs' shock and unease and took a few steps closer to him. He looked into the oddly beautiful red eyes Gibbs' eyes had turned into and said determinedly, "Doesn't matter what you are Gibbs. You still have my six, and I still have yours… I want to see what these extra body parts of yours are."

Gibbs searched Tony's eyes a moment longer. When he could see no fear or regret, just admiration and love, Gibbs closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He shed his shirt so as not to rip it and focused all his energy on releasing his true self. He felt the skin of his back split open and his wings pop out. He felt the blood flowing through them as he stretched each one out to the side, fluffing out his midnight black feathers. Fully extended, his wings were nearly seven feet long and tall each. He felt his gums tingle as his top and bottom fangs emerged. They looked rather like a big cat's fangs but smaller, slimmer, and sharper when fully emerged. His fingertips twinged as his six-inch long, silver claws grew from his knuckles (rather like Wolverine from X-men, Tony mentally noted). Gibbs' change hadn't lasted more than a minute. He opened his eyes and they focused into his perfect hunter vision, an ability he wished his human-like eyes had so he didn't have to wear glasses. His sense of smell and hearing heightened, even though even in his disguised-form his sight, smell, and hearing are better than a human's. He gave his wings a final flex before they settled together against his back similar to a bird's. This was the real him. He looked at Tony and waited for the younger man to flee and scream and tell Gibbs to get away from him.

Tony looked over each new part of Gibbs. His eyes were wide as they took in the detail of everything. The huge black-feathered wings looked soft yet strong. The fangs and claws were a little intimidating, but Tony wasn't scared. He knew Gibbs would never use them on him. As the older man stood in front of him, his body standing straight and proud, but his red eyes full of worry and fear, Tony realized he didn't feel any different about the man. Gibbs was gorgeous with his muscled chest and relaxed wings. He pictured himself resting against the grey hair on the smooth chest and stomach while Gibbs' wings were wrapped protectively around him, keeping him warm and sheltered. It was certainly a fantasy he wanted. And he would get it, but right now, they still had talking to do. Tony had a bunch of questions; he was sure his mind hadn't completely grasped all the new information. How could he even be sure Gibbs was real, that this wasn't some weird dream? Quietly he asked, "Can I… touch you?"

Gibbs was shocked; he certainly wasn't prepared for that reaction. But he could see Tony's mind still reeling so he subtly nodded his head.

Tony slowly lifted his left hand and gently placed it on Gibbs' chest. The man sighed and fluttered his eyes from just that one touch. He honed every skill he had to maintain his control. Tony's eyes widened slightly when he realized that Gibbs was solid and real. Just to be sure, he clenched his right hand into a fist until he could feel the pain of his nails piercing his skin. Yup, he was definitely not dreaming. But he didn't want to stop touching Gibbs, so he ran his hand across the other man's chest, feeling the increase in Gibbs' heart beat. He gently grazed his hand up Gibbs' neck and to his lips, his eyes following the movement. Gibbs couldn't help as his lips pressed a gentle kiss on Tony's fingertips. Tony's eyes closed dreamily for a second before continuing. Looking into Gibbs' eyes, he silently asked him a question. Getting the message loud and clear, Gibbs opened his mouth. Tony's eyes went to his mouth as he gently poked a fang. Real. Tony's hand left Gibbs' mouth and traveled south, down his shoulder and arm until he reached the hand. Gently, carefully, he gripped Gibbs' hand and brought it up in front of his face. He interlaced their fingers and used his other hand to gently poke the claws. Real. He poked the tip of one and was surprised at how sharp they really were. Dropping their hands, but keeping their fingers twined, Tony looked over Gibbs' shoulders at the wings. Just as he went to touch them, Gibbs whispered, "Be gentle. And quick. I may lose control if you touch them for too long." Tony gave Gibbs a confused look. Gibbs further explained, "My wings are highly sensitive. Times like this, they serve as an extreme pleasure spot. It's more pleasureful than having my nipples sucked and getting a hand or blowjob." Gibbs paused and looked deep into Tony's eyes when he said, "I am incredibly attracted to you right now Tony. Always have been. But if you overload the pleasure of my wings, I may lose control."

A piece of Tony's heart, the piece that wanted-needed someone to love him, that wanted/needed Gibbs to be that someone, fell into place. He smiled as he whispered huskily, "What if I want you to lose control?" His hand moved closer to Gibbs' wings.

Gibbs gasped as he heard the raw need in Tony's voice, but he shook his head, "Want this to go right Tony. Don't want to hurt you. Don't want to lose control the night I confess my feelings for you."

"But Gibbs. I want this. I want you. And not just for one night. Please?" Tony finally closed the distance between his hand and Gibbs' wing. He landed first on the harder, boney part and was shocked to feel how velvet-like the skin there felt. He rubbed his hand up and down a few times before moving down to feel the feathers. They were softer than anything Tony had ever felt. As he petted the feathers a few times, he had the sudden urge to nuzzle his face into them. While this was happening, Tony was unaware of how it was affecting Gibbs. The older man had squeezed his eyes tightly shut and was breathing heavily through flared nostrils. His dick had filled out completely and was almost painful as the intense delight his wings were feeling was sent there. His need for Tony increased a thousand fold. He began shaking as he tried not to throw Tony against the wall or couch or floor or anywhere and fuck his brains out.

He finally knew he couldn't take much more so he gasped out, "Tony!"

Tony heard the agony in Gibbs' voice and saw how his eyes were squeezed tightly closed. He immediately retracted his hand from Gibbs' wing, thinking he was hurting him. "Gibbs? You okay?"

Gibbs swallowed and nodded tensely. After a moment, he said, "I'm okay."

"Gibbs talk to me," Tony put his hand on Gibbs face while the other squeezed the hand he was holding. "What is it like? I want to know."

Suddenly, Gibbs' eyes shot open, and he gaped at Tony in shock. "How? How could you want to know? How could you still want me after seeing this? You do understand this is real Tony?"

"Of course I do Gibbs. That's why I wanted to touch you in this first place. To know that this isn't a dream. And I want to know because it looks like you're in pain. I'm sorry if I hurt you. I just-"

"You didn't," Gibbs interrupted, "It just took a lot more than I thought it would not throw you down and take you."

"Why didn't you?" Tony looked genuinely confused.

"'Why'?!" Gibbs exclaimed, "What part of 'beyond human strength' don't you get? If I did lose control, I could do some serious damage Tony! To you! I refuse to hurt you!"

Tony melted as he saw Gibbs so troubled. Carefully avoiding touching Gibbs' wings again, he suddenly wrapped his arms around the man he loved. Hey, that's right! Tony loved Gibbs, damn it! And he wasn't going anywhere. "You won't hurt me. I'm sorry I almost made you lose control. But even if you had, I know you wouldn't hurt me. And if you did, I wouldn't care, because damn it. I love you Gibbs. I am in love with you! And I know you would never do anything to hurt me."

"How?" Gibbs' voice cracked. His grip on Tony tightening as if he never wanted to let him go, "How can you be so sure?"

Tony pulled back and looked into Gibbs eyes. "Tell me," he said. "Tell me you love me too."

"I do! I'm in love with you too. Since we met! But-"

"That's how I know you won't hurt me Gibbs. Because you love me."

Gibbs fell silent, not really sure what to say. He would do everything in his power not to let anyone, including himself, harm Tony. But he didn't know if he could promise that he wouldn't. If Gibbs forgot himself for even one second, it could cause a lot of damage, it could cost Tony his life. He would never be able to forgive himself if anything happened to his Tony.

Tony could see the war going on inside Gibbs. He knew it would take more time for Gibbs to accept that he wouldn't harm Tony or scare him away or lose control with him. And as much as he wanted to prove Gibbs of that right now with a round of hot sex, he suddenly felt very tired. He remembered all that happened that day. It seemed like a long time since him and Gibbs had started their game that morning. He pictured again when he and Gibbs had rubbed sunscreen on each other, when they'd played and flirted and chased each other by the pool, when Gibbs had taunted Tony with his body. Then he remembered dinner and then the bar, Gibbs moving fast enough to catch him, and then Tony running away like a nervous teenager. He inwardly smiled. But then he remembered Lucian, how Tony had emerged from the bathroom, looking for Gibbs, and then Lucian was blocking him. The man had started flirting with Tony as he stared at him intensely. It had creeped Tony out, and he'd looked around for Gibbs to come save him. He tried to tell Lucian he was there with someone but the man had backed him against the wall, trapping him. And Tony didn't want to be rude enough to run away. Thankfully, Gibbs had come to his rescue. Only now, did Tony realize just how much Gibbs had saved him. He hadn't just saved Tony from a really creepy guy, who had been giving off the I-won't-take-no-for-an-answer attitude; Gibbs saved Tony's life. The older man had said that Lucian wanted to make Tony his pet. It didn't sound good at all. Neither did being the vampire's dinner. Tony had read stories, seen movies; he knew what happened when a vampire got hungry! He was very abruptly hit with just how bad the situation had been.

Gibbs had been lost in his thoughts until he felt Tony's grip tighten on his arms. He noticed the far away, scared-look in Tony's eyes. He dreaded that maybe Tony had just fully grasped the last several minutes and was now terrified of Gibbs. But he forced himself to ask softly, "Tony? What's wrong?"

Tony shook his head and made himself return to the present, but he couldn't completely shake his fear. He smiled slightly and focused on the closeness of Gibbs' body as he answered, "Just remembering earlier." An unexpected yawn made Tony realize how exhausted he was. "I have a lot of questions Gibbs; I'll warn ya now," Tony chuckled, "But right now, take me to bed."

As Tony smiled at Gibbs before turning to head towards the bedroom, Gibbs stood stone-still with confusion. "Tony," he warned. But before he could say more, Tony whirled around.

With a stern expression and voice, Tony said, "Gibbs. For the final time. I don't care what you are. I may not know all of your abilities or potential problems, but I do know that tonight was rather weird and scary. I was nearly made a meal or a pet of by a vampire, one who seemed entirely too hungry for my blood, body, and loyalty at that. And since that fact gives me the total creeps, I need you to get into that bed and hold me as I sleep before I break down and scream. I want - No. I need you to make me feel protected Gibbs. I always have when I'm with you. Please?"

Gibbs took in Tony's stance, with his arms crossed in front of his chest and eyes telling Gibbs that this was indeed an order and also a plea. Gibbs could also see that Tony was speaking the truth. Gibbs didn't want Tony to feel so scared so he nodded, "Alright. Just let me change."

"Actually," Tony looked away with sudden shyness, "I was wondering if it was possible that you didn't…"

Gibbs looked at him in confusion, "What?"

Tony rubbed his neck and looked timidly at Gibbs, "Can you sleep with me not changed back?"

"You want me to stay like this," Gibbs motioned his body.

Tony nodded.

"Tony. I can't. My claws, my teeth… Not to mention that my wings are still highly sensitive."

"What if I promise not to touch them? And can't you retract your teeth and claws but leave your wings out? They're really soft, and I have the urge to cuddle with them and have them be wrapped around me like a cocoon… Like a warm shield…"

Gibbs stayed silent as he thought that over for a moment. Then he said, "That has got to be one of the least predictable things you could've said. I can retract each extra body part individually, but I'm not sure if it's a good idea. Not yet anyway. If I promise soon, is that okay?"

Tony nodded in understanding. He didn't want to press him into doing something he didn't want to do. He felt sad though as Gibbs' extra parts started to disappear. He watched with fascination as his wings just seemed to vanish. "Where do your wings even go?" Tony blurted.

Gibbs chuckled, "They go into sacks by my spine. It's a little hard to explain how they manage to sort of shrink and squeeze in there. It's just some Crusnik magic, an adaptation. I guess it would be hard to blend in if our wings made a hump in our backs like Quasimodo. Or if they didn't retract at all."

Tony nodded and was about to ask what other kinds of "magic" Crusniks had, but another powerful yawn made that impossible. Gibbs was suddenly in front of him, directing him to bed. As Tony shed his shirt and pants, he chuckled tiredly, "The speed is gonna be hard to get used to."

As they both climbed in bed, Gibbs asked incredulously, "Of all the things that have been revealed to you tonight, you pick my speed as the most difficult thing to believe?"

Tony laughed as he settled on his side, his head on Gibbs chest, "I guess so. So one last question for tonight?"

Gibbs wrapped his arms around Tony and held him close as he laughed, "Sure."

"Do you know any other Crusniks?" the word sounded funny on Tony's lips as if he was unsure if that was saying it right.

Gibbs' stomach flipped. Of course he knew some, but it wasn't really his place to out them to Tony. However, he did vow to be truthful to Tony, and he was sure that most of them wouldn't care that he knew. Gibbs sounded uneasy as he answered, "Well my mother was and my father is; I'm a fullblood. Fornell's one. A few of my Marine buddies are; we found each other by scent. Shannon and Kelly were. And… Ziva."

Tony quickly turned to look up at Gibbs, stunned. "What? You're kidding me. Ziva?"

Gibbs just shrugged.

Tony looked thoughtful for a few seconds. Then he said, "Will she be mad you told me? I won't tell her."

"She won't be mad… Just worried for your safety."

"She afraid she'll lose control around me too?"

Gibbs shook his head, wincing. He didn't want to get into this now. He would just give a general, "No. She wouldn't lose control around you. Even a ravenous Crusnik will hold off feeding if it means not being discovered."

Tony could sense there was more to it than that, but he was tired, and Gibbs was tired, so he let it go for now. He relaxed against Gibbs and sighed in contentment. They stayed silent. Gibbs started absently rubbing his hand on Tony's arm soothingly while Tony was twisting his chest hair around. Just as Gibbs was about to fall asleep, he heard Tony whisper, "I love you."

Gibbs smiled. "Love you too," he whispered back before they both fell asleep in each other's arms.