CHAPTER 11

Closing the file, Tony wanted to scream FINALLY, but didn't have the energy. They'd been on the case for close to fifty-two hours without sleep and he'd barely had a few hours Monday night with Gibbs. All he wanted now was to go home, crawl into bed, and sleep until he had to be back at work tomorrow. Well that wasn't all he wanted...

"Are you coming?" Abby asked as she and Ziva walked into the bullpen.

"Where?" Tony asked.

"Gibbs'. Jack leaves today so we're all going over for pizza."

"He leaves today?" He should have known that, why didn't he know that? Probably because he was too busy worrying about...other things. "And Gibbs is okay with this?" His eyebrow went up, he found it hard to believe Gibbs wanted a house full of people after a three day case and his father leaving.

Abby shrugged. "I don't know, Jack called me. Anyway, Gibbs is still with the Deputy Director."

"Right." God only knew how long Craig would keep Gibbs up there just yacking away.

"You have to come."

He looked at Abby. Of course he had to go, but not for the reason she assumed. Everyone knew he was close to Jack, not going would make everyone suspicious, and being tired after a long case was not an excuse. "I'll be there."

"We're going to change and then head over."

"Yeah, I'll do the same."

"See you in a little bit." Abby waved as they headed towards the elevator.

Tony glanced at his watch then leaned back in the chair. He wanted nothing more than to see Gibbs, but he'd prefer they were alone for a couple of reasons. There was of course the obvious, he just wanted to be alone with Gibbs, but there was another reason too. He'd noticed something over these last few days and it was bugging him, he needed to find out the cause.

Walking past MTAC, he stepped into the already open elevator and hit the floor he needed. The elevator started and he hit the emergency stop. The lights went out and the emergency lights kicked in as he leaned back against the railing on the wall. He rubbed his forehead as he took a few slow deep breaths. If Deputy Director Craig was in charge much longer Gibbs was gonna shoot someone, probably Craig. The man was just not prepared to do this job. The only positive thing that had come out of those wasted two hours was when Craig had told him to tell his team to take Friday off.

Gibbs glanced at his watch, already after five. If they were lucky his team was already in their beds sleeping. The mere thought of bed made him think of Tony. God what he would give to be curled around the warm firm body of the younger man. He chuckled. Knowing Tony he had gone home, climbed into bed and was currently passed out. His first thought was to head over there, use the key Tony had given him years ago and crawl into bed with Tony and sleep for days. Then he remembered what day it was.

"Damn it." He groaned. His dad was leaving tonight and had to be at the airport at eight thirty. Of course his dad would complain, Jack hated late flights. Flipping the elevator back on it roared to life then stopped and he walked off towards the bullpen surprised to see Ducky heading towards him. "Problem Duck?"

"Body, Wilson's team." Ducky held up a file. "You headed home?"

"Yeah." Gibbs sighed. "Finally."

"Can you let everyone know Mr. Palmer and I won't make it over?" Ducky added with a smile. "And tell Jack to have a safe trip."

Gibbs brow furrowed. "Everyone?"

The smile faded from Ducky's face. "You didn't know?"

"Know what?" Gibbs continued to scowl.

Ducky sighed. "Everyone's at your place for pizza and to say goodbye to Jack."

"Tony?"

"I believe so." It seemed like an odd question, but Ducky let it go.

"Dad likes having everyone there." Gibbs replied. His father was the social butterfly that always brought people together.

"Jack does enjoy a gathering." Ducky patted Gibbs' shoulder before hurrying away. "Have to run."

Gibbs made his way to his desk, switched off the computer, grabbed his coat, switched off the light, and headed towards the elevator.

Pulling into the drive, Tony climbed out of the car and headed up to the house. Like always, the front door was unlocked and he walked in, closing the door behind him. His eyes went wide as his brain kicked into gear. Shit, shit, shit. Get out. He turned the handle saying a silent prayer that he would be able to sneak back out before-

"Too late." Jack said walking down the hallway towards the front door.

Tony froze, his eyes closed as he cursed to himself. Between being tired, worrying about Gibbs' reaction to all of them being here when he got home, plus everything going on between them, he had simply pulled into the drive without thinking. It didn't even register that there were no other cars in the driveway, no cars along the curb, he was the first one here. Opening his eyes, he plastered on a smile and whirled around. "Hey Jack."

"Tony." Jack smiled and gave a nod. "Want a beer?"

"Oh God yes." Tony continued to smile like some lunatic. He followed the elder Gibbs into the kitchen accepting the beer he was handed. "Thanks." He twisted open the beer and downed half of it in one swig.

"Hard case."

Clearing his throat, Tony nodded. "Complicated."

"I'm sure you're all tired."

"Yeaaaaah." Tony knew were this was going.

Jack grinned. "Especially you and Jethro."

"Jack!" Tony pointed at the other man. "Don't."

"Don't what?" Jack chuckled.

"You know what!" Tony's eyes narrowed.

Jack shrugged nonchalantly. "I know that Jethro made a big fuss about the fact that he wasn't gonna sleep with you, yet he didn't come home Monday night."

"Nothing happened." Tony stated matter-of-factly. "We fell asleep on the couch, it was late, I told Gibbs he should stay."

"Sure." Jack nodded.

"We slept that was it."

Another nod.

Rolling his eyes, Tony balked. "Do you really wanna know about your son's sex life?"

Jack smirked.

Tony's eyes went wide. "That is not what I meant!"

"What did you mean?"

"There is no sex to talk about."

"Okay. So you don't wanna have sex with my son."

"Of course I wanna have sex with him!" Tony sounded offended. "It's Gibbs, he's ho-" He groaned as he pounded his fist against his forehead. "Damn you."

Laughing, Jack patted Tony's shoulder and made his way into the living room. Sitting down on the chair, he took a swig of his own beer and waited for Tony to join him.

"I walked right into that." Tony said dropping down on the end of the couch by Jack.

"You two actually talking about those fears you both have?"

Giving Jack a curious look, Tony wondered if Gibbs had said something to his father or if Jack had actually picked up on that. "We did, sorta."

"So you talked, he listened and he didn't tell you anything."

"Yeah." Tony shrugged a shoulder. "He's getting there, it always takes a little longer with Gibbs."

"That it does."

Tony cocked his head as he saw the look in Jack's eyes and understood what was behind all the jokes and teasing. He smiled softly. "You're worried about him?"

"I'm worried about you both." Jack leaned forward, elbows on his knees.

"You set us up, pushed us together." Tony shook his head baffled. "And now you're worried?"

"Of course I'm worried." Jack said in a huff. "It took me pushing you two together for you to get your heads out of your asses and see what was right in front of you. So excuse me if I don't have the greatest of confidence in the two of you."

"Point taken." Tony had to give that one to Jack.

Jack slid forward to the edge of the chair, took a deep breath, then locked eyes with Tony.

Following Jack's lead, Tony leader forward and listened.

"Here it is." Jack paused. "He loves you, you love him-" Tony opened his mouth and Jack waved his hand in front of them. "Don't even start. You know you do, you just haven't admitted it yet."

Tony's mouth slammed shut and he let Jack continue.

"That's the easy part."

"And the hard part?"

"Everything else." Jack smirked. "The good news is the two of you already know a lot of the crap you gotta put up with from each other."

"And the bad news?" Tony asked. There was always bad news.

"You already know a lot of the crap you gotta put up with from each other."

Tony laughed, that he completely understood.

"You've already been through life and death together, that creates a bond stronger than most marriages."

"Yes it does." Hell Tony and Gibbs had spent more time together than Gibbs had probably spent with all three of his ex-wives.

"Just remember you're different, you always have been to him."

"That's the second time you've told me that." Tony gave Jack a questioning look. "Why is that so important?"

"Because he's going to surprise you."

"And here I thought being in love with me was the biggest surprise."

Jack shook his head slowly. "Not even close."

At first Tony thought Jack was talking about the intensity that was Gibbs, but there was more.

"It's not just the intensity." Jack knew Tony had already gotten a taste of the ferocity, but it was nothing compared to what was to come. "He's a different man when he's in love."

"Shannon?" The word was like some secret magical incantation that everyone was afraid to speak. Rarely, did anyone have the audacity to say the name in Gibbs' presence unless they wanted his glaring wrath. Even when someone was brave enough to say the name when Gibbs wasn't present it was in a hushed tone. It was as if the magic of the name was so powerful, Gibbs would somehow still know it had been spoken no matter how far away he was.

Jack nodded. "She changed him."

"How?"

"She changed him here." Jack tapped the center of Tony's chest. "You've had the same effect on him."

"I haven't done anything." Tony somehow felt unworthy of the comparison Jack was making.

"But you have." Jack smiled. "You've given him the freedom to express the love he has for you and even though you haven't said you love him, you've at least given him the hope that you can." He shook his head. "And that is going to change everything...if you let it."

Tony nodded. Funny he'd thought the same thing that night on the couch. This wasn't some one night stand or a few weeks of wild carnal need, Gibbs was in love and he knew what that meant without Gibbs having to say it. Love for Gibbs was something deep, intense, seemly endless. Although he wasn't sure what exactly Gibbs wanted from someone he loved, in his heart he knew what it meant. It meant long nights together working on the boat. It meant cereal for breakfast at the table or pancakes at the diner. It meant telling everyone, friends and family, about the relationship. It meant celebrating birthdays and anniversaries with date nights and presents. It meant going to bed together and waking up in each other's arms, every day. It meant forever...it meant building a life together for the rest of theirs.

Jack snapped his fingers in front of Tony's face. "Don't start redecorating the house just yet."

Shaking his head, Tony gave Jack a puzzled look. "Redecorating, what?"

"He'll surprise you even more and when you least expect it, be ready."

"I will."

"Okay I've said my piece." Jack could see the wheels turning in Tony's head. "What's on your mind?"

"What do you mean?"

Chucking, Jack shook his head. "Something's on your mind?"

Tony let out a puff of air. "Just something I noticed the last few days."

"And what's that?"

"The way he looks at me." Tony didn't realize why he hadn't seen it before. "When it's just him and I or he knows no one can see, he looks at me with such-"

"Desire, need-" Jack paused. "Love."

Tony nodded.

"That bothers you?"

"No." Tony smiled happily. "Definitely not." Truth was that look usually scared the hell out of him. It was when a woman got that look that he quickly ended the relationship between them. With Gibbs, that look took his breath away and he couldn't wait to see that look in those steel blue eyes again. It was the other look that scared him. Slowly the smile was replaced by a somber expression. "It's the look he has when...when there's an attractive woman around."

Jack snickered. "Ah yes, jealousy."

"No." Tony shook his head. "That's not it."

Taken back, Jack's brow furrowed. "Then what?"

"I'm not sure." Tony still couldn't place that odd look in Gibbs' eyes "Maybe worry, regret."

"You do have a reputation with the ladies."

Tony didn't need to be reminded of that. "That reputation always precedes me, but Gibbs has to know that I would never-"

"I'm sure he knows." Jack gave Tony an understanding smile. "But that doesn't mean it doesn't bother him or that he doesn't worry about it."

"Worry would probably be an understatement. I'm not exactly long term relationship material." Tony ran his hands down his face. "Commitment issues, concerns about fidelity, he wouldn't be the first one to have those fears about having a relationship with me."

"He trus-" Jack's thought was interrupted by an enthusiastic Abby barreling in to the room.

"Hey you two!" Abby smiled walking in with an arm full of bags, Ziva just a step behind her. "Where's the pizza?"

"Right here." McGee said as he strolled in through the front door and into the living room carrying three pizza boxes. "And sorry to say, Ducky and Palmer got a body. Just got a text from Jimmy."

Abby's shoulders slumped and she pouted. "Are they gonna try and come later?"

"If it's not too late." McGee reassured her. "And Gibbs knows we're all here. Ducky ran into him."

"Gibbs won't care, we'll have fun." She said kissing Jack's cheek and then headed into the kitchen. "Who wants a beer?"

A chorus of 'I do's' rang up.

He heard the laughter the minute he pulled into the drive and cut the engine. Now standing on the porch just outside the front door, it was even louder. Reaching for the door knob, his hand froze in midair and his arm dropped to his side again. He stepped back until he made contact with the porch railing, then took a deep breath. His hesitation wasn't because of the people inside, he loved his team, they were family and any other time after any other case he would have welcomed them here. However, with everything going on between him and Tony, three days of not having a moment alone with the man, three days of no sleep, two hours stuck in an office with Craig, plus the last night of his father being here, it was all grating on him.

It would only be a couple hours, then he and his father would have to leave for the airport, he'd put Jack on a plane back to Stillwater, and finally home to his bed, or maybe just maybe he would find an excuse to show up at Tony's.

"I thought I heard a car." Abby smiled holding open the front door, the smile faded when she saw the odd expression on Gibbs' face. "Are you okay? Did something happen? Is someone hurt?"

Gibbs snickered and shook his head. "Everything and everyone is fine."

"Then why do you have that look on your face?" She asked as if still not believing him.

"Because I'm tired and hungry." He kissed her cheek as he squeezed by her and into the house. "There better be pizza left."

"There is, we saved some just for you." The worry disappeared as she hurried after him.

"Jethro." Jack smiled, happily surrounded by everyone.

"Hey Boss." Tony offered up with a grin. "Finally escaped the clutches of Everything is a Catastrophe Craig?"

Gibbs grunted, continuing to the kitchen to grab a beer.

"Pizza just for you?" Jack held open one of the pizza boxes.

"Thanks." Gibbs paused as he realized everyone had shifted one position to the right in the few seconds it took him to grab a beer. His father still sat in the chair, but now Ziva was sitting on the end by him, Tony in the middle and the far end was open for Gibbs. Abby and McGee were now sitting on the floor by on the side of the coffee table. Grabbing a piece, he took a couple big bites, and almost finished the slice before he even sat down. Dropping down on the couch he took the final bite and grabbed another as he listened to the conversations around him.

"You shouldn't skip lunch."

Looking towards the voice, Gibbs suppressed a smile at the hint of real concern for him in Tony's tone. He swallowed his last mouthful, picked up another slice and shoved half of it in his mouth.

With a roll of his eyes, Tony shook his head. "I might not eat healthy, but you barely eat one meal a day. You need to eat more and on a regular basis."

Gibbs glanced around as he finished chewing the mouthful of pizza, noticing that no one was paying attention to them, he kept his voice low. "There is something I've been hungry for, craving really." He watched as Tony's eye widened slightly, but the younger man recovered, quickly hiding his surprise. He licked his lips. "If I could have what I wanted, I would definitely have it on a regular basis."

Tony took a long drink from his beer, shocked by Gibbs' teasing with other people around.

Watching Tony's Adam's apple dance up and down as he swallowed, Gibbs shrugged. "Actually I'd have it a couple times a day if I had my way, for breakfast and definitely at work for lunch...maybe in the elevator."

Suddenly, Tony was coughing, trying desperately to swallow the beer stuck in his throat, He forced it down hard to prevent himself from spewing the liquid at Gibbs. His eyes watering, he continued to cough trying to catch his breath.

"Tony you okay?" Abby asked, her friend's coughing having made her stop in mid-conversation.

Tony nodded still coughing.

"You sure?" McGee asked.

"Yeah." Tony managed to mumble through another hacking fit. He looked up and saw all eyes staring at him. Gibbs' blue eyes twinkling with an ornery satisfaction. "I'm good." He said already standing up and heading towards the kitchen. Grabbing a bottled water from the fridge, he took a small sip to try and clear his throat. He sat the bottle down and put his hands on the counter out of sight of the others and took a slow deep breath.

"Sure you're okay?"

"I will be." Tony turned around to find a smiling Jack.

"I told you to be ready."

Tony felt a slight blush rise in his cheeks. "You heard that?"

"Not really, but I can put the pieces together by your reaction." Jack shook his head in disappointment. "I warned you."

"Yeah, but I mean, everyone's here."

Jack snickered. "And you thought that would stop him?"

Tony sighed his shoulders slumping forward. "Rule eight."

"And which one of Jethro's rules is that?" Jack asked with a grin. He had started to learn about his sons rules, but only knew a few.

"No, not Gibbs' rule eight. My rule eight."

"Which is?"

Tony folded his arms across his chest. "Never, ever, ever underestimate Gibbs."

"Sounds like an excellent rule." Jack chuckled. "And just how many of your rules have to do with Jethro?"

"Oh, there's a whole Gibbs subsection of the rules." Tony was breaking a few of his own rules because of all this. He picked up the water and took a long drink this time.

"You still thinking about that look?"

"A little." It was driving Tony crazy that he couldn't figure out exactly what was behind it.

"You're just gonna have to ask."

Tony nodded. "I'm just afraid I might not like the answer."

"I'm sure it's nothing as terrible as you're thinking."

"Yeah, probably not." At least Tony hoped not, because the scenarios that played out in his mind were not good.

"Tony, Jack come on." Abby bellowed from the living room.

"We better get back in." Tony smiled. "Or she'll come get us."

Strolling back into the living room, Gibbs looked up at Tony. "You aright?"

"Fine." Tony smiled as he slid by Gibbs slowly, his cock directly at face level, he stumble forward. Grabbing Gibbs' shoulder to steady himself, he looked down just in time to see Gibbs' hand claw into the arm of the chair. "Sorry." Tony tried not to smirk as he sank down into the couch beside his boss.

"Oh just wait, you will be." Gibbs mumbled under his breath.