Aaron sighed as he raised his hand to knock on Tony's door. He paused. He was nervous, more nervous than he had been when they started dating. The meeting with the Director and with Homeland Security had not gone his way and he was being asked to do something that he really had no choice in. Well, he had a choice, but it would mean quitting, which he was not going to do. He took another breath then knocked. A moment later, the door was opening and Aaron couldn't help the wistful look that came over his face.

"Okay, what's wrong?" Tony asked as he opened the door.

"Can I come in?" Aaron asked as furrowed his brow. He hated the look that came over Tony's face, but he didn't want to have this conversation on the steps to his lover's brownstone.

"Come on," Tony stepped aside and let him in. "Aaron, what's going on? Does it have something to do with the Homeland guys that were in the building?"

Aaron huffed out a laugh, he should know by now that Tony would know something was up.

"Yes, actually." Aaron grabbed Tony by the waist and pulled him in, kissing him, more for reassurance than anything.

"Hey, what's going on Aaron? You're scaring me here." Tony pulled back and let the worry he was feeling cover his face.

"I have been assigned to a special task force that is going to Pakistan for four months. Our job is to try to interrogate some of the terrorists that have been captured. Homeland, and the military higher ups want a different approach than the current interrogators. They know that is one of my specialties because of the type of people the BAU deals with." Aaron stopped talking and laid his forehead against Tony's, "I don't want to go."

Tony swallowed hard as he tried to tamp down on his fears and that little bit of anger that welled-up inside him. But, seeing that Aaron was agitated and didn't want to go made it just a tad easier to take.

"You have no choice?"

Aaron snorted as he broke away and started to pace, "Not really. Especially after Doyle, they aren't giving me many options."

"None of that was your fault Aaron."

"No, but I did lead my team on an unsanctioned op to find Emily. I think this is their way of asserting their control. It got out of hand and we should have called in someone else, but.."

"She was one of you. You couldn't do anything other than what you did."

Aaron wiped his face and sat at the counter facing his lover.

"How are you okay with this?"

"Should I throw a tantrum? Get angry at something out of your control? I can assume your only other choice was to resign, and knowing you, you aren't a quitter, no matter what they throw at you." Tony looked thoughtful for a moment as he moved to stand between Aaron's legs, hands cupping his face, "I can guess that Haley wasn't so understanding."

Aaron closed his eyes and shook his head.

"I'm not your ex-wife. I know the job Aaron and I know the people who run the Bureaus. It sucks and I will miss the fuck out of you, but I'm here, I'm not going anywhere."

Aaron pulled Tony into his arms and let his head fall on his shoulder. The two men stayed wrapped-up in each other for a few minutes before Tony broke the hold.

"What about Jack?"

"Jessica was going to watch him for me."

Tony took a big breath and was silent for several long minutes, which worried Aaron but the next words out of his lover's mouth stunned him.

"I could watch him. I'm home most nights. Even if we get a case, it won't be far. Jessica can watch him after school, I could pick him up, bring him here. He's already got a room and clothes." He was stopped from anymore talking by Aaron's kiss.

"I think he'd love that. Thank you."

"When do you leave?"

"Monday."

"So, we have the weekend?"

Aaron smiled slowly as he bent forward kissing Tony again. Though he was nowhere ready for sex after his recent breakdown, they did share intimacy. Kissing, touching and just being with each other soothed many of Aaron's fears.

Later that evening as they were wrapped around each other Tony leaned up on his elbow and looked down on Aaron, tracing his jaw with his fingers.

"Aaron, I want to ask you something, and if you can't tell me, I'll understand. But, I'm going to make an educated guess here and ask, Prentiss is alive, isn't she?" Tony pinned him with a look that said 'don't lie to me'.

"Yes, but you cannot breathe a word of this Tone."

"Don't worry, I'm not. I'm also going to guess that it was blondie and the State Department that helped facilitate her disappearance?"

Aaron glared at him but Tony just softly laughed at the man's annoyance. "I'll say it again, that look is sexy." Tony laid a hand on Aaron's heart, "I won't do anything to jeopardize the Princess. I figured it out when you only told Jack that something happened to Emily and that she was gone, but you didn't use the word dead. You let him infer, which told me that it would make it easier when, or if she comes back."

"You're too smart, you know that?"

"Hmm, let's hear you say that after you being gone for four months and I have all that time to corrupt your son all by myself." Tony smiled mischievously and Aaron growled, pouncing on him, pinning him to the bed.

"No corrupting. At least not till he's 25, or 30, let's make that 30, okay?"

Tony laughed as he lifted his eyes up and bit his lip. "I'm going to miss you, and you better not do something stupid to get yourself hurt, or worse…" Tony wrapped himself around Aaron and buried his face against his lover's chest, "I swear if you get yourself killed….just, don't, okay?"

Aaron swallowed hard as he wrapped around Tony, the two men intertwined together, as fear for Aaron's safety sobered them both.

"I promise to be careful Tone. I'll come back, to you and to Jack. I promise."

"I'm going to hold you to that promise."

They spent the rest of the evening talking, making a late dinner, watching movies and falling into bed. There was a slightly desperate air and Tony tried to think of the danger Aaron was clearly walking into. His dreams were fraught with his worry, but he was determined to make the most of the weekend before Aaron had to leave.

~~~~~~~~~~CM/NCIS~~~~~~~~~~

"Hey kiddo, what do you want to do?" Tony asked across the table as Jack picked at his breakfast. Tony understood that he was having a hard time with Aaron being gone and frankly so was were trying to make the most of it and Jack had perked up when Tony got the Skype account set-up. Aaron had taken his laptop and Tony insisted on an internet card, just in case the base internet was spotty. The first few nights they were learning the ins and outs of the program, but it at least let them stay in touch.

Tony saw Jack look down at this food and shrug.

"There's a pretty awesome park just across the street. They have a nice basketball court, we could take some food and drinks, go spend some time there. I could start teaching you my moves," Tony plastered on a smile hoping to bring Jack around.

"Okay." Jack looked-up and smiled weakly at him. Tony knew how much the boy had gone through and how much his father being gone was affecting him.

"Hey, I miss him too, but the only way we are gonna get through this is together. Think of this time as just for us. We can get to know each other better without Dad around, huh? Scary movie marathons, late night pizza, blanket fort, what do you say?"

Tony saw a smile teasing at the corner of Jack's mouth, the boy reluctantly falling to Tony's charms.

"It won't mean that you can't miss him, you can, just I don't think he'd want us to sit here and brood, your father does that enough all on his own." Tony smiled when he heard a giggle. "So, what do you say, basketball?"

Jack looked up and nodded. Tony sighed in relief. He knew it wasn't going to be easy, kids were still a mystery to him, but he had come to care for the young boy and wanted to get closer. He hadn't lied to Aaron, he was all in, and Jack was part of the package.

It wasn't long before they were crossing the street, cooler slung over a shoulder, Jack holding a basketball in one arm and a skateboard in his other hand. Tony smiled to himself because there was a bit of a spring in Jack's steps and he was the reason. First thing they did was commandeer one of the basketball courts.

Tony spent the next couple of hours showing Jack some simple moves and how to aim so that he'd hit the basket more often. By the time they were slowing down, Jack was making baskets about forty percent of the time. Tony ruffled his hair and told him how proud he was at his progress.

The two walked to one of the benches where they had their stuff and grabbed some waters and sandwiches. They ate in companionable silence and Tony was finding he had a lot more in common with Jack than he thought possible.

"Tony." Jack looked-up as he put his water down.

"Yeah kiddo?"

"Can I go to the skate park?"

Tony looked at the things they brought and saw that Jack had stuffed his elbow and knee pads inside the bag with their other things. He also had a helmet that he must have carried with his skateboard.

"As long as you wear your safety gear, sure." Tony helped him into the gear, set his helmet on his head and gathered their other items up and led the boy to another part of the park that had been turned into a small, but nice skate park. There were several levels and though Tony knew Jack knew how to ride, he still wanted him to stay in the beginner's area, at least for now.

"Hey, look what I can do Tony," Jack yelled as he went down the small incline and did some pretty fancy footwork for someone his age. He wondered if it was all the outdoor activities he had done with his father over the years. The kid had good balance and Tony was impressed.

"Hey, I'm impressed. You're pretty good, kiddo."

"Can I go to the harder section? I promise to be careful." Jack got off his board and ran over to Tony, hope written all over his face. Tony eyed the middle section, the one for intermediate level skaters and paused. "Please," Jack pleaded and Tony really was a sucker for those wide eyes that were so like his father's.

"Okay, just don't do anything to fancy, okay? What to get you home in one piece." Jack jumped for joy as he grabbed his board and ran over to the middle section of the skatepark.

Everything was going really well. Jack was doing easy tricks and Tony was just a tad nervous about how fearless the kid was. Then he noticed Jack trying to do some more advanced moves and at one point his heart shot straight into his throat as he thought Jack was going to crash. He was gripping the railing tight and came to the conclusion that it was time to get going. He didn't think Jack should be trying such advanced stunts without someone who knew what they were doing.

"Hey Jack, I think we've been out here enough for today. Why don't we head back, watch some movies or somethin', okay?" Tony called out.

"Okay, just one more and we'll go." Jack was at the top of the highest part of the bowl. Tony was about to call out for him to stop when he plunged down. Halfway Jack lost his balance and his footing and took a serious tumble. Tony stood there, his heart pounding especially since Jack wasn't moving.

"Shit. Aaron's gonna kill me. I got his son killed, fuck, fuck, fuck. What the hell," Tony was muttering to himself as he was running down the bowl towards Jack to see what was going on. "Hey, hey kid, Jack," Tony checked him over and carefully turned Jack onto his back. He was breathing okay, no bloody nose, thank god.

"Ow," Jack cried out as he tried to sit up.

"No, no, no, no don't move, let me check you really quick." Tony was panicking and he knew it when he reached out shaking hands to roam over the boy's body looking for broken bones. When he didn't feel any he carefully let Jack sit up. Then the tears started.

"What, what's wrong? You hurt? Jack, talk to me, why you crying?"

"I want Spencer," Jack cried as he pulled his leg up showing where the pants had torn on both legs. He saw numerous scratches on his lower legs, hands and arms, but not much else.

"Hey Spencer isn't here, but I am, I'm going to lift you up so that we can get out of here, okay?"

"No, I want my Papa," Jack cried again. Tony was trying to stay calm and not freak out, but it was hard when Jack was freaking out. With shaking hands, Tony pulled his phone out and dialed his friend.

"Reid."

"SpencerI'mattheparkacrossthestreetandjackgothurtandhescryingforyouyouneedtocomerightaway." Tony was breathing hard as the words spilled from him in a jumbled mess.

"Tony, calm down, and repeat that."

Tony took a few deep breaths as Jack sat there still crying and he wasn't sure what to do.

"Jack and I are at the park across from my place and he went skateboarding and fell down and he's hurt but he won't let me move him he just keeps crying for you and I know you and Jimmy probably are out but can you come and help please and Aaron's going to kill me and never trust me with Jack again," Tony was panting hard after his one breath verbal onslaught.

"We aren't that far, we'll be there in a few minutes." Tony hung up with Spencer and tried to keep Jack calm, but the more anxious he got, the worse Jack got. This was making him doubt himself, his relationship and there even being a possibility with Jack.

They sat there boy and man unsure of each other and Tony was on the verge of his own tears because dammit this had to work, he loved Aaron too much and he wanted to work it out with Jack. This was supposed to be the time for them to connect, not push farther away from each other. He was feeling hurt and anxious that Jack didn't want his help.

Tony looked up when he heard footsteps approaching and Spencer was there.

"Papa," Jack shouted and flung himself in Spencer's arms. Spencer mouthed an I'm sorry at Tony who had to turn away.

"Tony, why don't we all go to your place?" Spencer said as he laid a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Yeah, sure, why not." He climbed up the steps feeling out of sorts and dejected. He felt like he failed somehow. Failed Aaron, failed Jack and failed himself. Jimmy was at the top of the bowl and he tried to give Tony some comfort, but he shrugged his friend off and led the way to his brownstone. He heard Spencer speaking softly to Jack and the boy calming down and that hurt more than he was willing to admit.

When they arrived Tony let them in and directed Spencer to Jack's bedroom which had it's own bathroom. He grabbed the first aid kit and took it to Spencer. He then went back to his kitchen and poured himself a glass of water, needing something cool to clear his throat. He offered some to Jimmy who politely turned him down. He was grateful that he didn't ask because Tony didn't want to talk.

Tony heard the shower turn on and he waited. It was about an hour of almost utter silence in the house and it was enough time that his thoughts turned inward and doubts, worry and guilt were starting to invade his mind. Finally, Spencer came out and sat down in front of Tony.

"I put him in his bed. He's exhausted from his ordeal. He just has some scrapes and a few bruises. I gave him a children's advil that I think Aaron put in his cabinet." Tony felt thin and frazzled. "He asked to go home with me. I told him no."

"Why? He obviously hates me," Tony dipped his head down and played with his glass. "Maybe you should take him."

"I didn't take you for one to give up so easily. This isn't going to be easy for you or for him, but he has to understand that you are here to stay. I know what Aaron feels for you and I know what you feel for him, Jack needs to know that you care about him."

"I let him get hurt. Shit Spencer, I panicked. I'm not good with kids."

Spencer chuckled softly as he shook his head, "And neither was I at one time. Tony, it is going to take time, but just show him you want to be there. I've known Jack since he was a baby, you've only known him a couple of short months. Don't give up." Spencer stood and took Jimmy's hand, the two men said their goodbye's and left Tony alone.

Letting Jack sleep, Tony wasn't even hungry anymore as he sat down on the couch and put on a mindless movie trying to get his mind off of what happened. He hadn't realized the time when his alarm went off. It was an alarm to tell him when it was time for Aaron to call. He booted up his laptop and sighed as he waited for the Skype call to come through. When it did, he really didn't feel any better than earlier.

"Hey." The smiling face of his lover did nothing to quell the anxiety he was feeling. In fact it made everything worse.

"Hey." Tony couldn't even fake a smile at this point.

"Tone, what's wrong?"

"I fucked-up. I fucked-up bad Aaron. I'm sorry you trusted me with Jack and I screwed up and I know you're never going to want me to watch him again and I know if Jack and I can't get along that's a deal breaker and it's tearing me up cause I love you so fucking much and I want this, all of this but your son hates me and it's my fault and I don't know if I'll ever understand it if you want to leave me…"

"Tony…"

"I told him it was okay he had all his safety equipment on and I swear I was watching him, trying to be careful…."

"Tony…" Aaron said more forcefully.

"I just know that if the kid doesn't like me that you aren't gonna want to be with me 'cause you're a package deal and I know that…."

"Tony!" Tony stopped in mid-tirade at the tone in Aaron's voice and the panic was back and the tears he had been holding back started to fall.

"Hey, hey Tone calm down and tell me what happened." Tony took a few deep breaths as he wiped his face. He then told Aaron what had happened and his heart was breaking because he just knew that Aaron was going to back away and want nothing to do with him after this.

"Tony, do you know how many times Jack has scraped his knees, or fallen and hurt himself? He's a boy that plays hard. He plays soccer and has gotten hurt worse than that. It sounds like he scared himself and in turn scared you even more." Aaron took a moment and saw the misery on Tony's face and wished more than anything he could be there to soothe his lover. "I'm not leaving you Tone. I love you too much. Jack is going to have to grow up a little and understand that Spencer isn't going to be the one to come over and make everything better. Next time, and yes knowing my son there will be a next time, you tell him no that Spencer can't come and you will take care of it."

"I don't know if I can do this…"

"You know I said those same words to Jason Gideon after Jack was born. I've made mistakes and so will you, but I know you can do this." Aaron gave him that look of utter patience and understanding and Tony wasn't sure if he deserved it.

"Look, I only have a few more minutes, why don't you go get Jack and I'll talk to him, okay? And Tony?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you. I love you and I know we'll get through this."

Tony swallowed hard and tried to smile, "I love you to Aaron." He touched the screen and Aaron did the same. It was the best they could do under the circumstances.

Tony nodded and went to the boys room to tell him his father wanted to say hi. Moving to his piano he gave father and son a few minutes as he sat there softly playing, trying to calm himself down. He stopped after a few minutes and laid his head down on the piano. When he felt a tug on his shirt he looked over and saw a very sad looking boy.

"Dad said you were hurt. I'm sorry Tony I didn't mean to hurt you." Jack crawled into his lap and wrapped an arm around him. Closing his eyes Tony returned the hug.

"You were scared, I understand that, I was scared to Jack. But we have to try to trust each other and that won't happen if, when something happens you want Spencer. And I have to learn not to panic if you get hurt. We got a lot to work on kiddo, but we can't do it if you want someone else around."

"Dad was mad. He said I took advantage of you. I'm not supposed to go to the harder parts of the skate park."

Tony pursed his lips and looked down at the guilty look on the boy's face.

"Well, we both made mistakes then. So, why don't we start fresh tomorrow. Say, a movie, lunch and ice cream to be safe."

Jack let out a small smile and nodded his head. He yawned big and Tony took him back to bed, read him a story, then tucked him in. The boy was out quickly, the emotional afternoon taking its toll. Tony sighed as he made his way to his room and got ready for bed himself, the emotions of the day wore him out. When he slipped into bed he was exhausted and drifted off into sleep with the hope that he and Jack could work things out.