Title: Losing Faith In Happy Endings
Summary: An unexpected death causes Tony's life to spin out of control. Special Agent Jethro Gibbs tries to help him, but you can't save a person who doesn't want to be saved. WARNING: story contains non-sexual discipline of an adult. If that's not your cup of tea, don't read!
Disclaimer: I own nothing. The following story is for fan entertainment only.
Chapter Ten: Don't Tell Me 'Cause It Hurts
It had been almost two months since Gibbs had spanked Tony after the younger man spent half a day launching M&M's at heads of his co-workers. While Gibbs had to administer the occasional head smack, with each passing day, Tony was seeming more and more like his old self.
The younger agent was more focused and more in control of himself. He was sleeping well and Gibbs no longer had to check if he remembered his phone or badge or gun. Tony had even gotten up early enough to cook breakfast on a few occasions.
It was a week before Thanksgiving and Gibbs and Tony were enjoying a quiet dinner together. They were discussing their plans for the upcoming holiday and Gibbs decided that it was time to discuss Tony's progress.
"DiNozzo, we need to talk about how you've been doing" Gibbs said, offering the younger man a smile.
"Well, I think I've been doing pretty good, Boss. We haven't had any, uh, 'discussions' lately" Tony replied. Gibbs was amused that Tony still didn't like to say the word 'spanking'.
"You're doing great, Tony. I think i'st time you started to think about moving back to your place" Gibbs said. He knew that Tony wasn't going to like what he was saying, but he wasn't prepared for the hurt look on the other man's face.
"You don't want me here?" Tony asked quietly, putting down his fork and folding his hands under the table.
"Tony, no. You know perfectly well that I like having you here, but you need to get back on your own eventually. I don't want you to end up depending on me too much. Do you understand?" Gibbs asked his senior agent.
"Yeah, yeah. You're right. Um, do I have to move out right away?" Tony asked and Gibbs didn't miss the notes of hurt in his voice.
"No, of course not. I just want you to start thinking about it. There's no rush" Gibbs asked, but Tony wasn't looking at him and he stayed quiet. He had suddenly taken a keen interest in the uneaten spaghetti on his plate.
"Hey, look at me" Gibbs said sternly but not unkindly.
Tony looked up, and the disappointment was written all over his face. He had been kinda excited about spending the holidays under Gibb's roof and he couldn't hide the disappointment that he would need to move out eventually. He actually had not given it much thought as to when he would move back to his place. He was content, happy even, living with his boss.
Gibbs got up from the table and clasped the younger man's shoulder. He put a finger under Tony's chin and tilted his head to meet his gaze.
"We're going to still take things slow, okay? We're not going to do anything until you're ready to" Gibbs said reassuringly. He patted Tony's cheek and was relieved when Tony offered him a small smile and a nod.
The next morning, Tony is unusually clingy. He spends the morning checking and double checking every move and detail with his boss. Gibbs resists commenting on Tony's behavior, figuring that Tony needed some time to process what they had discussed the night before, but his behavior is concernedly reminiscent of the early days of their arrangement.
When Tony's lunch turns into a nearly two hour absence, Gibbs starts to worry. The younger agent isn't answering his phone, so Gibbs has to resort to having Abby activate the GPS on Tony's cell.
"Um, Gibbs? I think he's at a bar" Abby says meekly, and Gibbs can already feel the anger bubbling, subdued only by his worry for the kid.
"Thanks, Abbs. Keep this between us, yeah?" Gibbs asks with a quick kiss to her pale cheek.
"My lips are sealed. Just, don't kill him when you find him?" She asks sweetly and the smile she receives from her boss is all the reassurance she needs.
When Gibbs finally finds Tony in a small pub-style restaurant nearly twenty minutes away form the Navy Yard, he doesn't expect to find his agent two beers in, chatting up a pretty blond girl at the bar.
"Excuse us, miss" Gibbs says as politely as he can as he hauls Tony up off the bar stool, and the girl takes that as he cue to leave. He reaches into his jacket and pulls out his wallet. He slaps a few bills on the bar to more than cover Tony and his new friend's drink before he grips Tony's bicep almost hard enough to be painful and drags him out to the car.
Tony doesn't say a word until they are both in the car and Gibbs is pulling away from the restaurant.
"Boss, I-" Tony starts, but Gibbs cuts him off, sharply.
"Tony! Save it. I'm taking you home, and then I'm going back to work. We'll talk about this later" Gibbs said. Tony could tell that he was in deep. Gibbs rarely raised his voice to the younger man.
Tony tried not to squirm in his seat the whole way back to Gibb's house. This wasn't exactly what he had intended to happen. He just wanted a bit of attention from his boss. He wanted to show him that he still needed Gibb's guidance. He wasn't ready to move out.
When they finally pulled into the driveway, Gibbs didn't turn the engine off or make a move to get out of the car.
"Wait in your room until I get back. Don't even think about leaving the house" Gibbs said.
Tony got out of the car and hurried into the house. Gibbs watched until the younger man was safely in side before heading back to work. He was glad they weren't working an active case. He had a few things to wrap up before returning home to find out what the hell had gotten into Tony.
A/N: Hey guys! I'm sorry it took so long for another update. Honestly, I almost abandoned this, I just couldn't get inspired to write more. It took writing some other fic to get back into this one. I really appreciate all of the positive feedback and the support I have received for this story. I planned on only having one or two more chapters before wrapping this one up, but I'm going to ask you guys what you think. Where should I take this next? Tony is going to get whats coming to him next chapter, of course, but where they go from there, I'm not sure.
Would you like to see Tony all emotionally healed up and move back into his place? Or does he need more time with Gibbs? Let me guys know what you would like to see happen. And, as always, thank you so much for reading! You guys are awesome.