A/N: So, this is my first fanfiction story (at least that I've published for others to read) and that was primarily due to not having a story that I wanted to write, you know, lack of inspiration. But this story idea has been in the back of my mind for a couple years now. I don't know if it's necessarily a totally unique idea, but it's just something that keeps nagging at the back of my brain. And the only reason I haven't started it before now is simply because, well, 1) I wasn't sure if I wanted to use it for a fanfic or with original characters, but 2) it is 100% going to be a long story (at least for me) and it will be kind of complicated to organize all my thoughts and ideas on where this story is going to go because I have a bunch of different scenes in my head, but not sure what order they go in yet, which is why I've put it off. But it's always remained in my mind and so I've decided to just finally write it.

Warning: If you do read this story, I want to warn you that it may be a long time between chapters because it will probably take me some time to write and organize the chapters and I'm also in college which is honestly hell and takes up a lot of my time. I promise, however, that I won't ever abandon this story, so please bear with me as we go on this journey together.

Disclaimer: As we all know, I do not own NCIS or any of its characters. I am simply a fan.

Please note, I will not have as many notes for the following chapters. I just wanted to take a minute to explain some things. Now, enough yabba yabba! On with the story!

Chapter One

It was three in the morning when Tony anxiously walked up to the door and knocked twice. Normally, he would've just walked inside — the door, after all, was always unlocked — but his current level of insecurity made him feel like Gibbs wouldn't want him there at all, especially if he just barged in, even if that's what he always did. After a minute passed with no answer, he assumed no one was going to come to the door. But, right when he was about to turn around and leave, the door swung open, revealing a rather confused looking Gibbs.

"DiNozzo," was all he said. He was wondering why Tony hadn't just walked inside and come down the stairs to the basement where Gibbs had been working on his boat like he always did, but, upon seeing the uncharacteristically unconcealed anxiety that he had never seen on Tony's face before, decided not to ask him about that, thinking it was better to let Tony explain his motives at his own pace.

Tony, now feeling pressure to state his case in order to earn his way into Gibbs' house, even though this was not the first time he'd been here — hell, he'd stayed the night on several occasions — struggled to find words to explain himself, but for some reason, for the first time in his life, he couldn't find any. "Uh…I…um…It…I…You see…uh…" he mumbled as his eyes moved to his feet uncomfortably, trying to explain why he was there at this time of night, but ultimately failing. He didn't know why he was having so much trouble. He never had trouble with speaking or finding the right words — improvisation was perhaps the most natural thing to him — nor hiding his emotions from his face. But that night, he couldn't do either. And it frustrated the hell out of him. Then, suddenly, as he glanced up and saw Gibbs standing there waiting patiently (well, patient for Gibbs), panic built up inside him and, his fight-or-flight instincts — more accurately flight — kicked in and he quickly shook his head as he said, "...I'm sorry," then he turned on his heel and tried to jog back to his car to go somewhere else, though he had no idea where that would be.

But he didn't even make it down the porch steps before Gibbs called to him, "Rule 6, Tony." Tony paused on the steps, but didn't turn around. "Get your butt in here."

Tony stayed paused for half a second before relenting and slowly turning around and walking back up the steps and passing Gibbs on his way inside as the other man closed the door behind him. Tony began to pace nervously back and forth in front of the couch as he started unconsciously zipping his jacket up and down, up and down, up and down…

…until Gibbs finally ordered, "Sit down, DiNozzo." Tony did as he was told, but he still looked rather shaky as he silently stared at the floor. Clearly, for once in his life, Tony was not going to be leading the conversation, so Gibbs decided to start it. "What's on your mind, DiNozzo?"

Tony didn't respond for a minute. Preoccupied with his own thoughts, which were racing now, he hadn't heard what Gibbs had said. He glanced over and saw Gibbs was waiting expectantly. He asked quietly, "I'm sorry, what?"

Deciding to ignore the fact that Tony had now broken Rule 6 twice within ten minutes, Gibbs asked again, "What's wrong?"

"That's a…That's a great question, boss," Tony said, trying to buy himself some time to form an answer. "Nothing," he finally said. "I just…needed a place to sleep. I know I shouldn't have come here, but…I didn't have anywhere else to go."

Gibbs, putting a pin in the fact that Tony suddenly seemed to think he wasn't welcome at Gibbs' house for whatever reason and choosing to come back to that later, asked the other question he was wondering, "What's wrong with your apartment?"

Tony was silent for a few minutes before he finally uttered, "...Um…"

When that wasn't followed by any sort of answer, Gibbs, his curiosity and perchance his concern piqued, asked, "Tony..?"

Tony bit his lip before he explained, "Um…someone's there. And I don't particularly want to go back until they're gone."

After a few seconds, Gibbs, not liking the ominosity of that statement, finally asked him, "Who is there?"

A/N: This is kind of a vague opening to the story, and I will probably go back in time and kind of explain the events leading up to this moment in the next chapters (not sure how many it will be), which will make this scene make a lot more sense. If you are confused, that's probably the right reaction to have right now. Any comments or suggestions are always appreciated :)