They stopped a few times, on the way to Long Island, to stretch their legs.
He was impressed she hadn't complained once.
They left at 6 am, and it was now 2:30pm. He hadn't exaggerated about the trip being long.
But he figured he'd just look around for an hour, to see what was in the storage locker, have lunch with her, and turn right around to go back. They could be home by about 1 am. Still enough time for a few hours of sleep, before going back to work. He couldn't live with himself if he didn't push the limits sometimes.
They walked into the silent, cool confines of the facility, carrying their helmets, until they got to the right locker.
Tony took the key out of his jacket, putting his helmet on the floor, and opened the padlock, sliding the mechanism sideways. Then he leaned down to grab the handle, and pulled upwards as the metal panels curved towards the ceiling, like a garage door.
Maura set her helmet down on the floor next to his, and followed him in. She saw a light switch to her right. When she flicked it upwards with her finger, they were both surprised at what they saw.
The locker was a good fifteen by thirty feet, filled, it seemed with boxes, and covered furnishings. Framed artworks and other large covered items lined the walls.
"Whoa, this is a lot of stuff..." Tony said, breathless, and somewhat overwhelmed.
"Did you have any idea how much stuff your Dad set aside for you?" she asked, looking around.
"No...I just thought a few things...but wow…I have no clue where to begin."
She put an arm around his waist, and smiled at him. "Pick a spot, any spot."
He looked down at her, returning the smile, and leaned down to kiss her. It was gentle and sweet, and he sucked just a little at her bottom lip before pulling away.
"Thanks for doing this with me." His green eyes were filled with sincerity.
"No problemo, my darling." She blinked her big dark lashes at him, stroking his face for a moment.
"How about you pick a spot?"
She looked at him for a moment, then tilted her head, and pointed without looking behind her.
"There," she smiled.
He followed the pointing arm to a box.
He shrugged, raising an eyebrow, "Okay then."
He walked over and opened the top. As he started pulling out what looked to be volumes of large books, he sat on another half stack of boxes next to it. She walked over and looked at what he had on his lap.
They were photo albums.
She saw his hesitation, but then his long fingers gently turned over the cover of the first one.
There were black and whites mostly of Senior and Tony's mom. From when they were dating, and then as he slowly turned the pages, when they were newly married. She had olive skin, like Maura's, but light eyes, and her hair was a dirty blonde color. Tony delicately touched one of the photos. It was a larger shot of just his mother, at a beach somewhere, wind blowing through her hair. She was smiling and gazing out at the sea. He didn't realize, how much he still missed her, until he saw that particular photo.
"She was beautiful," Maura said, knowing Tony had forgotten she was even there.
He looked up at her, his eyes a little glassy, "Yeah, she was." he smiled sadly, and looked back at the picture.
"Tony," she said very quietly, "how did she die?" Maura felt there was a story there, maybe he needed to tell.
"She...ah, OD'd. They took her to the hospital...but, it was too late. We barely got to say goodbye..." he said the last words in a whisper.
He sighed and then turned more of the album pages, finding a picture of his mother, and most definitely the baby version of himself sitting on her lap.
"Oh no," Maura said, "tell me this cute little stinker is not you," she had to chuckle. It was the same huge smile and mischievous twinkle in the eye she saw in him now.
He let out a soft puff of air through his nose, a little amused by it himself. "Oh yeah, that's me."
He spent a while longer looking at the photos.
Senior had been so devastated by the loss of his mother, that not one photograph was kept in the house. His father couldn't bear to see her image, because he missed her so much. And thus Tony didn't have any pictures of her either, save one his aunt gave him. Tony had occasionally wondered where the pictures had all gone, but never dared ask.
He was lost for a while, in the album, since it was like finding a missing piece of his life. He felt more grateful, towards Senior, for giving them to him now.
Maura had gone to wander through the other parts of the locker, giving Tony some space to peruse the photographs. She saw the little tremble in his hands, and felt it was a good idea to let him look at them alone.
She looked at some of the furniture wrapped under cloths, surprised to see some very authentic antiques in original art nouveau and empire style. She let her fingers run over the delicious curve of a pedestal table leg, that twisted and curled just below its top in a tangle of carved lilies.
Then she saw the corners of artwork and frames along the wall, and something really huge behind them.
She lifted up one fabric covering to reveal a hunting scene painting. It was beautifully done, and had an artist's signature at the bottom. She didn't recognize the name, but had a feeling it was 17th century.
Tony's father had in a way, left him some inheritance with these antiques and arts, if Tony chose to sell them.
Something caught her eye.
A bit of gilt gold frame, with a darker piece around it, and...light reflecting…off a piece of mirror.
For some reason, she started to feel nervous, her heart softly pounding harder in her chest.
She had to know what this was...it was the most rear piece, very large, against the wall.
She started carefully moving the other art to the side, so she could take the fabric off. As she got the last piece clear, she stood in front of the approximately six foot by ten foot rectangle, and grabbed the fabric cover, pulling it down with a small tug.
She jumped initially, seeing someone stand in front of her and she gasped.
Tony looked up when he heard her, putting down the photo album.
It was her reflection. She smiled a little, feeling foolish for not expecting to see her own image staring back at her. It was just a huge mirror.
As she stepped back to take in the frame details better, Tony came to stand next to her in the reflection.
"Wow," he said, suddenly smiling, and looking up and around it, "This thing is huge. And look at the details on it. Pretty cool."
Their eyes wandered over the double frame.
The outer gold gilt frame was ornate, almost a foot wide, carved wood, a simple but flowing design. It looked like large, stacked laurel leaves, that came to a crest at the top. Inside a circle, was the letter "N", flanked by two lions.
The inner frame, was chipped but mostly intact. It was roughly eight inches wide. It looked older, a little more worn. There were designs painted all along it, and they were black images on a reddish orange ground color.
"Those look Greek..." Maura said, much to herself, though Tony had been looking at them too.
There were detailed scenes, the whole way around it, that looked to tell some kind of story. It was a lot to take in.
Armies marched with horse drawn chariots, pulling what looked to be large squares. Next, the squares sat on a cliff, with small figures of men holding them. What looked to be light beam indications blossomed out over a stormy sea. The beams were hitting ancient looking ships, which had flames coming off them, and small people jumping into the waves. There were more, varied scenes, but the one that made Maura shudder, was a small scene at the center bottom area of the frame. Three clawed creatures had the arms and legs of men sticking up out of their open, fanged jaws.
She suddenly felt lightheaded, and couldn't breathe naturally. She brought her hand to her head, swaying a little. She could swear she heard someone laughing softly...
Tony saw it in the mirror, and turned just as she grabbed onto his arm for support.
"Maura! Hey...Maura you okay?" His arms went around her protectively.
She held on to him for a minute, letting the dizziness pass.
"Yeah...Maybe I should wait outside." She stood up straighter, letting his arm go, and took in a deep breath.
"Okaaay," he said, slowly, still worried. "You sure?"
"Yeah," she looked up into the concerned green eyes. "I just need some air."
She looked again at the monstrous mirror. "You sure you like that thing?"
He looked back to it, taking in the frame and their reflection in it.
"Yeah. Why?" he turned back to her. He could see she looked a bit pale. "You have a bad feeling about it?"
She bit her lip a little, looking up at him with her huge dark eyes, and nodded. "I think so. Either that or I desperately need lunch."
He laughed.
"I really like it...what bothers you about it?"
"I can't really say, Tony. I...it just...it makes me uneasy. And maybe even a little sick. But it's your choice. You have to do what you want with the things your Dad gave you."
She sighed as he looked at it for another long moment.
He looked again at the Greek style figures painted across it, and the outer gilt ornamentation. It was very interesting. He liked it. A lot. And maybe it was worth a lot of money...who knew. It would be easier to have it appraised at his place instead of trying to meet people at the storage locker.
He'd have it shipped to his apartment. She'd get over it. It was just a piece of furniture, after all.
"Come on," he said, putting his hand on her lower back. "let's go eat. I've seen enough for now."
She ate like someone who hadn't seen food for two weeks.
It was one of the things Tony liked about her. She didn't demurely pick at a salad when they went out. She ate a lot of meat, and liked it bloody.
He watched her, smiling, and then had a thought.
He took out his phone, while she chewed and watched him curiously.
He hit speed dial "1".
"Gibbs."
"Boss."
"Everything okay, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked, knowing something had to be up if Tony was calling him now.
"Oh yeah, fine. I…was just wondering…if I could take one more day?"
There was a momentary silence on the other end.
"I mean…my back, is killing me a little, and I'm thinking to stay out here overnight rather than take the ride back tonight…"
"You took the bike." Gibbs said it with mild irritation.
"Ahh…" Tony was trying to figure out how to justify the situation to Gibbs.
"Okay."
"Okay?"
"Did I stutter, Tony?"
"No Boss. Thank you Boss. I will see you Friday morning, bright and early at my desk."
He heard the line go dead, and smiled.
"Gibbs is cool with that?" Maura asked, smiling with slightly narrowed eyes.
"Ah…yeah." Then he suddenly realized, "I didn't ask if you coul-"
"It's fine,Tony," she said, smiling. "I had a hunch so had them keep me off the schedule at the shop until Friday." Maura was one of two managers at an occult shop in DC. Plus she read cards for people, which was really where most of her income came from.
"You smart little witch, you." He grinned at her.
She laughed at him, and took another huge bite of her bloody cheeseburger.
He looked back at his phone, to find a local hotel they could stay at. This would give him time to go back to the storage locker himself in the morning, and make arrangements to have a few things shipped to his place.
They stopped for a few sundries at the local drug store, and then headed to the hotel.
When they got into the room, they barely had put their things down when he reached for her.
She knew it would probably happen like this.
The memories the photo albums brought up, were bittersweet. And left him feeling raw, and vulnerable. She could see it in his eyes, though he wasn't the type of man just to come out with it right away. She suspected he was feeling off, had heard the slightly anxious and thready tone with Gibbs on the phone earlier.
He needed her.
Needed her mouth, needed her legs wrapped around him, and her nails to dig into his skin.
Over the last few weeks since they'd met, when they had sex, it was mostly hot and sensual. She was an attentive and giving lover, as was he. But a few times...when something dark was passing through him like a storm, she knew what he needed then, too. And it was primal, and rough.
He started pulling her clothing off, as he hungrily pressed his mouth to hers, his tongue swirling, sucking, in a slow, sensual dance.
She did the same, pulling his shirt out of his waistband with one hand, while slowly rubbing the bulge growing in his jeans.
Once the shirt was all out he helped her take it off him. His gaze was full of want, his pupils like little pinpricks in his eyes.
He ripped the shirt and bra up and off her in an instant, and he quickly sat on the edge of the hotel room bed, pulling her forcefully toward him and locking his mouth around her right nipple, sucking and teasing the hardened point with his tongue.
She shivered and moaned, throwing her head back, as he positioned her in his lap, picking her legs up around his waist. She ground her ass against his thighs..
She was very sensitive, and his groping hands and hot mouth had her so excited that she already felt the moisture building up between her legs. As he switched to her left breast, she felt her hips start to convulse, grinding against his still confined erection.
He sucked harder, and she gasped with the pleasure it shot throughout her.
She suddenly grabbed his hair, and pulled his head back off her, licking and sucking at his throat and jawline.
He grunted and his hips bucked up, almost throwing her off balance.
He was heating up, sweating a little already, and started opening the fly of her jeans with deft fingers.
She suddenly pushed him away and stood up, smiling.
She looked at his now frayed hair, and the way his chest was heaving for air, and slowly pushed her pants down her thighs. She had no panties on.
He swallowed, mouth twisting a little into a smile as well, watching her.
She turned around slowly, as he followed her hourglass form, and bent over, pushing the jeans all the way down to her ankles.
"Ohhh…" he groaned at the sight, of the beautiful smooth skin over the globes of her ass, and the view of her delicious, pink lips.
He suddenly stood up, ripping off the rest of his own clothing as she turned around. His large, thick cock swung out from the jeans, hard and leaking. It made her knees tremble with anticipation.
They came together again, hands frantically groping and grasping at each other's flesh, mouths devouring each other.
She stroked him with her hands, feeling the hot, velvety skin over the steel-like hardness. He gasped and grabbed her, practically picking her up and spinning her around onto the bed.
She knew what he was thinking, and she was already soaking wet, ready to cum, on her hands and knees, as he grabbed one of the bags they had brought in, frantically tearing open the condom box. She knew that right now, he needed it this way, needed not to look at her when he went over, in case the walls came crashing down with his orgasm.
She waited, heart racing, as she heard the sound of him preparing himself.
Then she felt his hand on her ass, and his cock pushing gently into her.
She arched her back and let out a wanting cry, needing more of him, all of him inside her.
Whenever they played rough, he still always took that part slow, conscious of not hurting her, giving her a chance to slow it down if she wanted.
Her body shook around him, as he pushed himself, groaning, all the way into her hot drenched channel. He grabbed her hair, roughly pulling her head back to give her one searing kiss.
Then it became a frenzy. His hands reaching for her full, soft breasts as he thrust roughly in and out of her body. Her body, becoming slick with sweat, was bouncing off the impact of his hips. She wanted him even deeper, and after a while started forcing herself back on his cock, letting out painful sounding cries as she felt the orgasm building in her.
A finger pushed itself up against her clit. He was nothing, if not talented. He knew exactly how to torment her with pleasure, tracing little circles around the hardened nub, relentlessly thrusting into her until she finally screamed, vision going white with the force of the orgasm that passed through her in waves.
Once he heard her scream settle into a long moan, he grabbed her hips, and pulled her harder against him, pounding into her until she felt his dick suddenly increase in size, and start to pulse as he groaned out a painful. "Ah God…"
Then he stilled, breathing heavily, and slowly pulled out of her.
He flopped right down onto the bed, as she went along with him, crawling up onto his chest as he put his arms around her.
He didn't look at her right away, just had his eyes closed as he held her and she stroked the beads of sweat away from his brow.
He smiled a little, and then opened his eyes, the green now dark and mossy.
"You okay?" she asked gently, long lashes like fans as she blinked at him.
"Yeah," he said thickly, knowing he wasn't. But wasn't the guy supposed to ask the girl that question after sex?
He swallowed, gazing into her eyes for a moment, and then pulled her closer, closing his eyes again. He breathed in her cedar and fruit scent, and decided not to say anything else, because it could mean being overtaken by the flooding emotion he'd been keeping at bay.
She stroked his face and hair, feeling his breathing even out into sleep, and pulled the covers up over them.
She sighed, looking at the subtle stress lines in his face as he slept.
Tony was walking, through a forest.
Gibbs was walking behind him, only seeing some of his back through the trees.
He wondered, where was the sound?
Shouldn't there be birds singing or other sounds of shifting leaves and creatures moving about in the brush?
Gibbs called to him, but he didn't seem to hear.
He ran after him, feeling there was danger where Tony was headed.
He sprinted into the woods and over some fallen branches.
Tony still had his back turned to Gibbs, walking toward a clearing up ahead.
Something sparkled brightly beyond the trees...
It was a lake.
A black lake, with bright sunlight hitting it, glittering like stars.
He could almost reach Tony, but not quite.
Suddenly, as Tony neared the lake, Gibbs felt a strange fear as his friend turned to look at him.
Tony was naked, holding his hands out, with tears of blood streaking down his face and neck.
"Help me..." soul deep pain emanated from his words.
"Please...Gibbs please..."
Before he could respond to Tony's desperate plea, the younger man started to lower his arms down, taking backward steps into the lake.
"Tony, no!" he shouted.
The green eyes were filled with sadness, as ghostly white hands and arms reached up out of the dark water, pulling him under as he screamed.
Gibbs woke with a start, heart racing.
"Jesus," he said, wiping the sweat from his forehead. He took a deep shuddering breath to calm himself. The terrifying feel of the dream receded as he looked around the familiar sight of his darkened bedroom.
He knew it was just a dream, but somehow would feel better seeing his SFA back at his desk Friday morning.
"Even in my dreams, DiNozzo," he said quietly into the stillness, "you're still trying to give me a coronary."
