Title: Old Habits Chapter 28
Slash/Mature: Don't like, don't read.
Summary: Has Gibbs fallen back into old habits after the shooting? When Tony shows up to talk to Gibbs, they are interrupted by a young, beautiful red headed woman bringing dinner.
Thanks so much for all the feedback, so glad to hear everyone is enjoying this one. Having so much fun with the Vance/Eric story line. Enjoy the chapter and have a great rest of your week.
All mistakes are mine, it has not be beta read.
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Monday morning and Gibbs was sitting at his desk looking at an expense report when he saw the coffee placed on the desk before him. He looked up and nodded. "You are a man of your word."
"That I am." Vance nodded.
Picking up the coffee he took a long sip.
"And where are your agents?"
"McGee took the day off. Tony and Bishop are down in the gym." Gibbs took another sip. "No case and they get restless with nothing to do."
Another nod.
"Everyone knows right."
"Not sure about Bishop, but yeah everyone else."
Vance took a deep breath. "Great."
Gibbs rolled his eyes. "People like gossip, but no one cares. Hell most of them are thrilled you're actually getting some action."
Rubbing his forehead, Vance wanted nothing more than to turn around and go home.
"Like it or not Leon, you're part of this family." The corners of Gibbs lips start to curl into a half smirk. "Unfortunately, that also means you're fair game for gossip and mockery when you do something stupid like letting your car get tow from in front of the hotel where you're banging your agent." Gibbs' face went serious. "And that also means we will always have your back, even when you do something stupid. So we had the tow records scrubbed and the ticket taken care of." He stood up. "You take the good with the bad Leon." Walking around the desk coffee in hand. Gibbs patted Vance's shoulder. "Come on, I'll buy you a coffee, you could use it." He started towards the elevator.
"What I could use is a stiff drink." Vance barked back as he followed Gibbs to the elevator.
"I'll ask them to spike your coffee." Gibbs said as Vance stepped in and the elevator doors closed.
##########
The week turned into a barrage of cases one after the other, his team taking turns sleeping somewhere in the office whenever they could steal a moment. There were snippets of comments about Vance and Eric here and there, mostly whispered between Tony and Abby, McGee getting pulled in now and then. Bishop was either out of the loop or didn't care. Vance spent most of his days in MTAC dealing with the renewed terrorist threats or talking to those in the know about the cases they were working on. Now it was Friday morning, they were finally finishing up the case that had started on Wednesday and Gibbs just wanted another coffee.
Hearing the elevator doors open, Gibbs glanced that way and saw Vance emerge. Without a look or a word, the director made his way passed the bullpen and up the stairs heading towards his office with a blank look on his face. Gibbs' eyes narrowed slightly, that was never a good look. It meant something was going on. Waiting a few minutes, Gibbs finally left his desk and made his way up the stair.
Tony mentally counted to himself one Mississippi, two Mississippi, and on and on until he reached twelve Mississippi and knew it was safe. He glanced over at McGee.
"What do you think it is?"
Tony shrugged. "I don't know, but this case has shed light on several local terrorists groups, maybe he's just concerned about that."
"You don't think it's about the other thing?" McGee's eyebrow went up.
"It's been a week, I don't think so." Tony glance over at Bishop. "Any thoughts?"
"About what's bothering the director?" Bishop shrugged. They had all learned to know when something was bothering the director. "Maybe the MTAC tech updates."
Tony's brow furrowed and he looked back and forth between the two other agents. "The what?"
"They are upgrading the systems and screen in MTAC today."
Bishop looked at Tony the puzzled look still on his face. She rolled her eyes. "Don't you ever read the memos?"
"Not really." Tony shrugged.
"Didn't you see them bringing in all the equipment the last few days?" Bishop chuckled.
"I was focused on the case." Tony paused. "But why would he be concerned about that?"
"Unless-" McGee looked over at Tony.
"Eric is helping with the upgrades." Tony's head jerked towards Bishop. "Is Eric Beale from LA part of the upgrade team?"
She nodded. "He's in charge of the training session of the MTAC controllers."
Again Tony's head jerked to the side this time towards McGee. There was a wide grin on his face. "Then we know exactly why Vance is concerned."
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Without an okay from Vance's assistant, Gibbs strolled into Vance's office. The man was sitting at his desk staring out at the room deep in thought.
"You okay?"
"Not really."
"Shake it off, go down and beat on the bag, something and get this out of your system."
Vance finally looked at Gibbs. "I've been in the gym for the last hour, had a drink a minute ago."
Gibbs glanced over towards the liquor bottles and saw the empty glass. Taking a deep breath he looked back at Vance. "Have you two talked?"
Vance shook his head.
"So what exactly are you worried about?"
"I'm not sure." Vance stood up and walked towards the liquor. He opened the bottle and was about to pour another glass when he felt the hand on his wrist. He looked up at Gibbs.
"More of that is not the answer." Gibbs voice was full of experience. "Believe me." Removing his hand, he watched as Vance sat the bottle down.
Vance started pacing. "I have to spend all day with him, practically locked in a secure room."
"There will be other people there."
"I know, but still." Vance continued to pace. "We didn't even really talk about anything afterwards, just got dress and he's getting on a plane and I have no idea what to say."
Gibbs just let Vance talk. Sometimes the best way to work something out is to talk it out with yourself.
"Hell I completely forgot he was here today until I looked at my schedule last night." Vance lengthened his pace now walking almost the length of the room. "What if he wants another go round?" He suddenly stopped and looked at Gibbs. "What if he doesn't?"
Gibbs folded his arms across his chest.
"Shit." Vance groaned as he dropped down on the couch. "Do I want another go round?"
"Think the answer to that is pretty clear." Gibbs held back a chuckle. No man goes round and round with himself like this if he doesn't want another shot. Pulling a chair away from the table Gibbs sat down.
"I want it to happen again." Vance leaned forward his elbows on his knees and locked his hands together. "I haven't stopped thinking about it…it wakes me up in the middle of the night."
Gibbs just nodded.
"But I don't even know how to bring it up."
"Maybe you won't have to." Gibbs shrugged. "He pursued you, maybe he'll make the first move again."
Vance nodded. "And if he doesn't."
Gibbs smirked. "If you want it bad enough, you'll figure it out."
Some of the worry left Vance's shoulders and he chuckled softly. "That normal hot blooded American male thing right?"
Gibbs nodded.
"Thanks."
Another nod as Gibbs stood up to leave. He reached the door and opened it. "And you forgot my coffee this morning." He added as he walked out.
##########
Vance and Gibbs were standing in MTAC watching as the new screen was being installed. It was a touch screen, very similar to the one in the LA office.
"Now I'll never get McGee out of here." Gibbs said as he took a sip of his coffee.
Vance chuckled.
"Director Eric Beale is requesting entrance to MTAC." The controller said.
To Vance's credit, the man's face never showed a reaction, but Gibbs saw the man's body tense and the hand that held the coffee tighten.
"Let him in."
The MTAC door swished open and the younger man walked in smiling towards the two other men.
"Director Vance, Agent Gibbs." Eric nodded.
"Eric." Vance nodded.
"Are we ready to get this started?"
Again Vance nodded not trusting his voice.
"I'll check all the equipment that has already been installed, make sure everything is up to par then I can start the training with you and Agent Gibbs."
Gibbs tried to hide his smirk and Vance nodded again. The man was starting to look like a bobble head.
"Great." Eric smiled. "I'll let you know as soon as I'm ready."
Gibbs glanced at Vance out of the corner of his eyes…and there's the bobble head again.
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Strolling back into MTAC, Gibbs walked down and sat in the chair next to Vance. Holding the coffee out, Vance looked up from the file.
Vance's eyebrow went up. "You brought me coffee?"
"Yeah."
"Thanks." Taking the cup, Vance took a quick sip. "I think."
Gibbs chuckled.
"This new friendship of ours is a little unnerving." Vance sighed as he stared at the coffee cup. "But greatly appreciated."
Gibbs took a sip of his coffee.
"All set." Eric said glancing over at the two men from the controller station.
The two men rose in unison and made their way over.
"So as you can see there are some similarities to the original station but this whole unit is new." Eric pointed to a larger screen embedded in the desk top. "This mirrors everything on the main screen and allows for complete touch control." He touched the small screen and the larger main screen blinked to life. "There is also a go dark in one touch." He tapped a button next to the screen and both of the screens went black. "The controller can also use just his screen." Another button and the screen on the desk top came back on. "Try it out." Eric smiled at Vance.
Sitting down Vance touched the screen and a sidebar appeared with countless option.
"That's one of your main option screens." Eric said leaning over Vance's shoulder and pointing at the screen. "Direct connections to files, people, maps, satellites, everything really."
Gibbs saw the fine layer of sweat bead up on Vance's forehead, no doubt caused by the closeness of the other man.
"And-" Eric tapped the screen. "Here are all the NCIS branch offices so with just a touch you can speak to any location, anyone you want." His hand landed on the back of the chair slightly touching Vance's back.
"Great." Vance suddenly shot up out of the chair and took a step away from the younger man.
Smooth. Gibbs chuckled to himself.
"Agent Gibbs would you like to-"
Gibbs held up his hand and shook his head.
Vance glanced at his watch. "The training session for the controllers starts in about an hour." He looked over at Eric. "You should probably grab some lunch before that gets under way."
"Right." Eric nodded. "Thanks." Grabbing his bag he headed out the door.
As soon as the door closed behind him, Gibbs glanced over at Vance with that half smirk on his face. "Real smooth."
Vance groaned as he walked over and dropped down in the middle seat of the front row. Unbuttoning his jacket, he leaned back and took a couple slow deep breath.
"Attraction can be a power force." Gibbs strolled over and dropped down in the seat next to Vance.
"Is that what this is?"
Gibbs shrugged. "Attraction, lust, whatever the hell you wanna call it. You got it bad."
##########
Vance sat in the front of MTAC watching the scene before him. Eric had a group of five controllers standing around him as he went over the new system training. He told himself he was listening, but the truth was he was focused specifically on the younger man. Eric was wearing khaki cargo pants, a light brown t-shirt and a dark brown button down shirt over that. The man was always casual, he doubted Eric owned a suit and if he did it probably was worn only for weddings and funerals. They couldn't be more different. Visions of their night together replayed over and over in his head like some porn movie he couldn't turn off. Shaking his head he tried to push the thoughts away, but then he'd look at Eric again and it would all flood back. This wasn't working, getting up he made his way out of MTAC. He had work to do in his office maybe that would keep his mind off of everything.
Eric glanced up when he heard the movement and saw Vance leaving MTAC. He sighed feeling his heart sink then focused back on the training.
