Disclaimer: same as always

~~~~~NCIS~~~~~

When Tony slowly came to, it was early morning once again. His head was throbbing and his body felt like he'd been batted around like a hockey puck. He moaned slightly as he opened his eyes. Instantly, Gibbs was there, holding his hand and gently touching his face. "Tony?" Gibbs looked at Tony with wildly frightened and worried eyes.

Tony smiled gently, feeling some of his pain ease as he looked into his mate's eyes. "Hey Jethro," Tony croaked tiredly.

Gibbs sighed in relief and some of the fear and worry left his eyes. "What do you need? Tell me what you need, and I'll get it. The doctor? Meds? A drink?"

"You. Your lips on mine. Now"

Gibbs quickly leaned down and gently touched his lips to Tony's. Nearly all his pain ceased at the gentle kiss Gibbs gave him. He sighed into the kiss and asked for more by grabbing onto Gibbs' hair. Gibbs obliged and opened his mouth so Tony could insert his tongue. Gibbs tasted strongly of coffee; Tony knew that meant he'd been drinking it in order to stay awake to keep his eye on Tony. Tony felt safe knowing that Gibbs had been right there waiting for and watching over him. Though he instantly felt guilty for having caused all this in the first place. Gibbs sensed the sudden change in Tony and pulled away. Needing to hear Tony's voice, he whispered, "What's wrong Tone?"

Tony's eyes filled with tears as he said, "I am so sorry Gibbs. I didn't want any of this to happen. When Lucian had approached me the other night, he told me that if I didn't go to him willingly, he would kill you and take me anyway. I thought that I would be better off knowing that you were alive after I went to him. I knew that I wouldn't be able to live knowing you were dead; I just couldn't watch you die. So I snuck off after we'd made love to meet him. He brought me to the sewer system and said he was gonna train me for the change. He and Marco started torturing me. I passed out. I wanted to die because of all the pain. As I saw them come towards me again, I welcomed death. And then your voice came to me. I couldn't really remember who you were, or who I was. But I felt the bond and I went to it. Then you spoke again and I remembered everything and the bond just flew open. I was so happy to hear your voice at first, but then I knew that you were coming to get me… I was so sure they would kill you Gibbs. I was sure I was dead too… How…?"

"I followed the bond to where they had you. I killed their guard slaves," Here Gibbs sank with sadness and shame but he continued, "I heard you scream. Do you remember screaming?"

Tony thought. After reconnecting with Gibbs, he had blacked out again. Then he remembered an intense, burning pain that started in his neck and ran through his veins. "That must've been when Lucian bit me…"

Gibbs flinched and forced away the anger and continued, "I ran in. I saw you… just lying there on the ground. In so much blood. You weren't moving. I didn't see you breathing… I thought… I thought you were dead." Gibbs voice cracked as he remembered the sight. He couldn't stop the tears that pooled in his eyes. He closed his eyes tightly and took deep breaths, trying to force the image away. Tony grabbed on to Gibbs shoulder and arm tightly, reminding his mate that he was here, he was alive, and they were together. Gibbs opened his eyes and his blue one met Tony's green one. The tears came out harder as he saw all the love and sadness and guilt in his mate's eyes. Not being able to control his mouth he continued. "God Tony. When I saw you lying there, when I thought you were gone, I lost it. I threw myself at Lucian and Marko and just attacked them. I ripped them apart and killed them all in a blind rage. I needed to avenge you, what happened to you. Then Ziva was there, telling me you were dying. I couldn't stand the thought of losing you. I would do anything to save you. So when Ziva suggested I suck the venom out of you, I did. I didn't think it would work; you were so weak and barely breathing, and I didn't think I'd be able to stop drinking your blood…"

"But it did work," Tony said with a small smile, "You saved me Gibbs. And I will never leave your side again. I love you."

Gibbs wrapped Tony in a hug and held him until he finished sobbing. Tony held his mate close, soaking up his presence, feeling blessed to be back with him again. When Tony had left, he had only thought about Gibbs dying, how he wouldn't be able to live without him. But now, Tony realized how stupid he'd been not to realize what his death would've meant to Gibbs. Hugging his mate to him while he sobbed out his fear and worry made Tony see that Gibbs needed Tony as much as Tony needed Gibbs. He swelled with a new wave of guilt and hugged Gibbs tighter as he cried some tears of his own. Opening their mental connection, Tony thought to Gibbs 'I'm so sorry I did this to you. Do you hate me for it?'

Gibbs could do nothing but send feelings of love and devotion through the bond as well as his memories of them together. As Tony received Gibbs' message, he knew he was instantly forgiven. Then another thought came to him. 'Do I look hideous with all the scars?' he thought shyly.

Gibbs stiffened and pulled away roughly, nearly shouting, "Don't you ever call yourself that again! You are absolutely beautiful, scars or not!" At Tony's wide-eyed reaction to his outburst, Gibbs took a deep breath to calm himself. In a calmer, lower voice he explained, "The wounds on your back will scar, as will most of the burns on your chest. But I think the change had already attempted to heal you and make you flawless. I also made you drink some of my own blood, and I put it in your wounds to help you heal as best as you could."

Tony nodded at the truthful answer. He thought of the times he and Gibbs had spent by and in the pool at the hotel, about the trips to the beach he and Gibbs could've taken, about spring break with his frat buddies, about taking off his shirt in the NCIS locker room to change for a work out, and even simply of showering with Gibbs. He didn't think he could ever do that stuff again. He instantly felt regretful.

Gibbs, seeing his mate's thoughts, whispered, "You're still beautiful to me Tony, but if you want, we can avoid that stuff until you feel comfortable again."

Tony smiled slightly at the compliment but insecurely asked, "You sure?"

Gibbs thought about reaching down to give his mate a gentle headslap, but thought better of it. "Yah Tony," he smiled, "I'm always gonna get turned on just by looking at you but I would never make you do something you didn't wanna do. I love you."

Tony giggled at the way Gibbs said "I love you" like it was a reason for everything and shifted to one side of the bed. "I want you next to me Gibbs. All of you. The pain is barely even there when you're touching me."

Gibbs couldn't resist that even if he wanted to, so he gently climbed into the small hospital bed alongside his Tony. When he'd settled, Tony turned on his side so he could rest his head on Gibbs' chest. Gibbs wrapped his arms protectively around Tony and held him close. "Go back to sleep love," Gibbs said as he pressed a kiss to Tony's hair, "That way we can be outta here by later on tonight and have all day tomorrow to recover before the rest of the family gets here."

That reminded Tony of Ziva, "You said Ziva was here. Where is she?"

"Out here," Ziva's voice said suddenly by the door. Apparently she was guarding the door, stoically keeping unwanted visitors out so Gibbs and Tony could have privacy.

Tony smiled warmly at her, showing her through his eyes how much he appreciated her help and how glad he was to see her. Ziva smiled back, accepting Tony's message, and winked before she closed the door again to continue her watch. Tony chuckled lightly, "I think I'm gonna like her knowing I know who she really is."

Ziva chuckled from her place by the door. Gibbs smiled and rolled his eyes, "Sleep now Tony."

"Kay." Tony was almost instantly asleep after the word left his mouth. Only when he was sure Tony was sleeping peacefully and comfortably, did Gibbs too allow sleep to overcome him.

~~~~NCIS~~~~

Gibbs woke Tony later that day, after convincing the staff to release him, and helped him into the mandatory wheelchair. Tony had refused at first, saying that he was perfectly capable of walking on his own. Gibbs had leaned down close to his ear, licked it, and said teasingly, "If you don't get in the wheelchair, I won't let you touch me for a week." Tony looked at him skeptically for a minute, but Gibbs didn't relent, giving Tony no choice to grumble his agreement. So with a victorious smile on his face, Gibbs rolled Tony outside to the waiting taxi. Ziva had called the hotel to see if the room she was to be sharing with Abby was ready even though she was early. Luckily, she lucked out and the room was vacant and cleaned. She hopped in the front with the driver while the guys got in the back. Gibbs held Tony close to him all the way there, causing the driver to look at them oddly until Ziva whispered a threat in his ear. He didn't look at them after that. When they finally got to the hotel, Ziva assured them that she would call the team and give them an excuse and let them know that all was well. Tony and Gibbs both hugged her gratefully, as they were both too exhausted to deal with them just then. She nodded and went off to her room while Tony and Gibbs went their own way.

Gibbs was never more than an arm's length away from his mate the whole way up. Tony was walking without help, though stiffly and awkwardly. Gibbs was glad that his Crusnik body had the skill of fast healing, so that he was well and strong enough to take care of Tony. They were walking with their arm around each other's waists but Gibbs held him loosely enough so he wouldn't hurt him or make him feel trapped. He was still worried, but his fear that Tony wouldn't be okay was minimal. He was more worried that Tony would never be comfortable with himself again; the scars really weren't that bad. The wounds on his back were too deep for the change (which hadn't been given enough time to spread completely) or his blood to heal them completely so they would be painful for a few days at least still. The bruises and small burns had healed and disappeared but the larger, meaner-looking burns were still there though sealed and hopefully not too painful after the next day. And Gibbs had meant what he said about Tony still being just as gorgeous to him as before. If necessary, he would spend forever trying to convince Tony of that.

Finally, they were back in their room. They went into the bedroom and Gibbs let Tony go so he could do what he wanted to get ready for bed. As Tony walked to gather his boxers and one of Gibbs' white Hanes shirts, Gibbs watched. He wasn't sure if he should leave the room, give Tony privacy, or stay and wait to see if he would need help or company. When Tony realized his mate wasn't moving from the doorway, he looked up. "What are you just standing there for?" he asked with one cocked eyebrow.

Gibbs shrugged, not sure what to say.

As a response, Tony entered Gibbs' mind. He wouldn't make a habit of that of course, preferring that he and Gibbs trust each other enough to talk things out rather than invade each other's minds to find the answer. However, Tony was too tired to wait for Gibbs to answer him. So using the bond, he looked for what Gibbs was thinking and feeling. What he saw made him feel a swell of affection and love for his mate. He smiled gently, "You don't have to keep me in your vision all the time Gibbs. You know that I'm okay, right?" When Gibbs didn't answer, Tony sighed and said, "Gibbs. I'm not afraid of you and your company. I believed you when you said that you didn't think I was hideously scarred. I will always be willing to get naked in front of you." As if to prove his point, Tony quickly shed his clothing and stood proudly in front of his mate.

Gibbs couldn't help leering up and down Tony's body. He would never get tired of seeing him naked. And, just like now, the sight would never fail to make him hard. Seeing the growing bulge in Gibbs' pants, Tony smirked proudly. Then a sudden yawn overcame him. "No offense babe but, as much as I wanna make love to you right now, I need more sleep. So hurry up and get ready so that you can hold me while we sleep."

Gibbs chuckled and followed orders, feeling his worries soothed for now. Once he stripped down to his boxers, he quickly turned off the lights and joined Tony in the bed. Upon impulse, he quickly sheathed his wings, pulled Tony close to his chest, and folded his wings over them in a protective shell. Tony hummed as the softness of his mate's wings brushed and folded around his skin. He snuggled as close to Gibbs as possible and pressed a kiss to the skin above Gibbs' heart. "Love you Gibbs."

"Love you Tony," Gibbs whispered back.

Relaxing into each other's warm bodies, it didn't take long for both of them to fall asleep once again.

~~~~~NCIS~~~~~

Gibbs awoke a few hours later with a jolt. He had been dreaming the whole thing over again, only this time, he'd been too late and Tony was gone. He had been sobbing in the dream and now in the waking world, he realized his face was soaked. He realized then why he had woken. Tony was no longer in the bed with him. Instantly he shot up in a panic. 'No! No! No! Not again! Not this again!' he thought to himself. "Tony?!" he called. He tried scrambling out of bed but the sheets were tangled around his legs, and he fell to the floor with a thud. "Fuck! Tony! TONY!" he flailed around trying to get free when suddenly the lights went on and Tony was crouching on the ground by his mate.

He reached out to grab on to his terrified mate and said, "Gibbs! Gibbs! Hey, look at me! Look at me!"

Gibbs stilled and looked up at Tony. His blue eyes were bloodshot and shinny from his sobs of terror. Tony's heart broke, and quickly he took Gibbs in his arms. They held each other close, Gibbs squeezing him tightly and shaking violently. Tony soothingly shushed and petted his mate. After a while, Gibbs finally stopped shaking and Tony lifted him back into the bed, despite the protest from his back. He sat down facing Gibbs and looked at him gently.

Finally Gibbs questioned, "Where the hell were you?"

"I was in the kitchen," Tony answered slowly, "I got hungry, woke up, and decided to go make a late night snack. Oh! And I had to hit the head too." Gibbs slowly nodded, feeling foolish for panicking but also knew it was justified. Tony rubbed his knuckles along Gibbs' face, the other man leaning into the touch, as Tony asked softly, "Why'd you freak out?"

Gibbs took a deep breath, "Had a nightmare. Didn't get to you in time. Woke up in tears and then noticed you weren't in bed. Thought it was happening all over again."

Tony leaned forward until his forehead was against Gibbs'. Mentally, he said to Gibbs, 'I'm never leaving you ever again. I promise.'

Gibbs reached up to grab Tony's neck with one hand and nodded as he heard Tony's promise. Tony pressed his lips to Gibbs'. Gibbs immediately responded but kept the slow, gentle pace. Then Tony breathed heavily as he opened his mouth. Gibbs copied him and ran his tongue over Tony's. The kiss was slow and gentle, more about reassuring each other then getting each other turned on. When Gibbs finally needed to pull away for air, he kept his forehead on Tony's as he whispered, "You shouldn't be out of bed. You should've woken me."

"I'm sorry. Won't happen again."

There was a moment of silence and then Gibbs asked timidly, "Are you coming back into bed?"

Tony smiled widely, "Of course, I am! Just let me go stuff the last bite of my sandwich in my mouth and put the plate in the sink. Is that okay?"

Gibbs nodded and rested back against the pillows. Tony pecked him quickly on the lips once more before heading back out into the kitchen. Tony prayed to whatever God or whoever would listen that these nightmares wouldn't become a regular thing as he ate and cleaned before heading back to bed.