Author's notes: Hey everyone! I know it's been a while, but I swear time just flies by at the moment. I will try to post more regularly, but I can't promise.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter, and I must say that everything about the police academy is totally made up as I have no knowledge about how it actually works. :D
Have fun with this chapter and leave a comment if you want. Thanks. :D
Chapter twelve
Tony was excited. He hadn't been able to go back to sleep after he had woken up at around five am. He was ready to start his day and looked forward to what it had in stall for him.
He got up as soon as he had been awake because he just couldn't lie in bed anymore and had taken a shower. After that he went downstairs and made himself a very nice breakfast, seeing as he now had a lot of time and what better way to start his first day at the police academy than with a nice, large breakfast, right? Tony quite enjoyed having the time for that and he liked taking his time in the morning because normally he was always a bit too late to really enjoy his start of the day.
But because he had so much time at hand now and he was not used to that, he naturally was running late now as well. Sometimes he truly was amazed at himself, for his ability to have no time even with so much time.
He really would like to know how it was possible that the time would always seem to go faster the more you enjoyed something, it really wasn't fair in his opinion.
He ran upstairs and brushed his teeth, very glad that he had the foresight to pack all the things he would need and to lay out his clothes he wanted to wear today. It had taken a great deal of thinking about what to wear on his first day because he wanted to leave a good first impression and make friends and it was always an important fact what someone was wearing.
When he was ready, he looked at the clock again and noticed with relief that he was in time again. Tony got inside his car and then drove off.
When he arrived at the academy and finally found a parking slot, he got out and then went up the stairs that were leading to the entrance hall. He didn't have a clue where he had to go, and the building was quite big. He hoped that he would find his way without embarrassing himself. He noticed there were several people standing around outside and he stopped to look at them. He figured that they were new here as well because they didn't seem to have a clue where to go as well.
He went up to them and smiled at the group in general. Most of them smiled back and Tony thought to himself that some of them seemed nervous and that he had been right with his assumption about them being newbies.
"Hey, everyone, I'm Tony.", he introduced himself, "is this by any chance your first day as well?", he asked further.
They all nodded, chuckled a bit and introduced themselves as well; it was a nice mixed group. On first sight they all looked pretty nice, and Tony was glad he didn't pick up any 'bully-vibes' because that was something he totally could not stand. But they all seemed friendly and as eager to start as he was.
"So, does anyone know where we have to go?", one guy asked.
They all shook their heads, all they had was a room number and a time, when they had to be there.
"Well, it can't be that difficult, right? There are probably signs on where the different rooms are.", a girl said. Tony thought, 'gotta learn their names fast, always helps when you show them that you listened and haven't forgotten everything about them.'
"Well, and if we still get lost, we can ask someone or we could make crosses on the walls to make sure we don't go anywhere twice", Tony suggested.
That made everyone laugh a little, and some of the tension eased off from everyone. 'Nothing better than making people feel more welcome and comfortable than jokes', Tony reasoned.
The group went inside, and it turned out they needn't have worried because as soon as they got inside, they were greeted by a guy who welcomed them to the academy and described where they would find the room.
Inside the room they sat down, and Tony felt a bit like being back in school. It wasn't that farfetched because essentially, they were going back to school, but it still seemed quite unreal to sit in a classroom with people to learn about police work. Tony was so glad he was here and got to experience this and he smiled at his seat neighbor.
She smiled back at him and introduced herself as Mandy.
During the next few hours, it turned out that Tony shouldn't have worried about not being able to make friends. Everyone was really friendly, and he got along with nearly everyone. Sure, there always were people, who you could connect more to after the first meeting, but it wasn't as if someone was a complete jerk or something.
Mandy, it turned out was very nice and great to have around. She was funny and Tony immediately connected with her based on their humor. She could also be very headstrong which Tony found out in their first break when they were able to talk.
She had immediately told him that she wouldn't take any crap and that if he wanted to stay her partner that he would respect her and not get any wrong ideas. Tony had recognized the hurt that was behind that, probably from a family not accepting their daughter's choice of career and Tony had assured her that there never was a question about respecting her. She wanted to become a police officer, he wanted to become a police officer and together they would totally rock this. She had smiled at him at that, and it was a start of a good friendship.
When their instructor introduced himself, they all quieted down and listened to him, and Tony was again relieved that everyone in his class seemed to really want to learn how to become a good officer and didn't do it just to have the power. It promised to be the best choice he could have made, and he was glad that his father had supported his decision.
Their instructor told them what they were going to learn over the next few months and what he expected everyone to do. He wanted them to always be prepared for class and to make sure that they summarized the day in the evenings to make sure that they remembered the lesson taught that day. He also wanted them to always ask questions if something was not clear or when they did something practical to come to one of the instructors and ask if they weren't sure because that too was a form of learning, and it was always better to ask for help if you needed it than to suffer through it alone and get frustrated.
Tony liked him immediately and he couldn't wait to learn everything.
To his immense disappointment they didn't directly start because the instructor told them they would have some team building exercises first to make them realize that they had to depend on each other and that there was no way that anyone could get through the classes alone. And it was the most important rule in law enforcement: they would always have their partners back, no matter if they got along privately or not but, on the clock, they would set aside all differences to make sure that they were protected. Anything else could get them killed in this line of work and that was not something that he wanted to see. He also informed them that they would do these exercises randomly during the next few weeks to make sure that this lesson really got ingrained into their brains.
Tony respected their way of doing this, he liked that they started with this on the very first day and took so much time to make sure that they would never consider leaving their partner hanging. He was immensely reassured by that and hoped that he later got a partner who valued this rule as high as he did. He swore to himself that he would never let his personal opinion of someone interfere with his job and to never ever leave his partner or anyone else he worked with, without backup.
The exercises were fun too though, they all had a great time and Tony could feel that they would make a great class because even if they didn't know each other yet they instinctly knew everyone was here to learn and to make sure the streets were a bit safer. He really liked this feeling, this feeling of rightness and belonging. He was sure that the next months would be satisfying!
When the instructor told them that they didn't have anything else set for today, Tony was actually a bit disappointed. He looked at his watch and his eyes widened when he realized that it was already 15:30 and that they had been at it for the last four hours.
He said his goodbyes to everyone and then got into his car to drive home again.
When he got home, he realized he was a bit hungry but not overly much and he decided to eat a snack and have dinner later at the diner.
He then went for a run to burn off the energy he had felt building up on his drive home. He should be exhausted because some of the exercises they had to do where physically demanding but he knew his mind needed some time to sort through all the new things and he knew that a run would help himself clear his head, focus on the new experiences and learn that all his worries had been for nothing and that he should just enjoy this now.
Besides after his run he surely would be hungry, and he would be able to enjoy Elaine's cooking.
Happy with that thought, he went for a run and decided to head the other way this time. He enjoyed the scenery, there was a beautiful running track through the neighborhood and a part even went through a forest.
Afterwards he was sweaty and exhausted, but the good kind of exhaustion.
He took a shower and then took a cab to the diner, so that he could walk home after he had dinner because the evenings where nice lately and there was something extra calming about a walk in the dusk.
He arrived at the diner and was warmly greeted by Elaine. She smiled at him and told him that she had been waiting for him to come back. He told her that he had promised and a DiNozzo never broke his promise and she looked at him strangely and he realized that he hadn't told her his last name the last time he was here. He just smiled sheepishly and then went down to sit in one of the booths.
While he waited for Elaine to come and get his order, he thought about his day again and he didn't realize when the door opened and the older man from the other day came in. Neither did he notice the glance Elaine send his way or that the man came up to his booth and stood there staring at him.
He was brought out of his thoughts by the man asking him if the seat was taken and all Tony could do was jump at the sudden voice.
He looked up at the man confused as to why someone would ask to sit here with him if there were lots of free seats and then could only stare at the man because it was the guy from last time, and he was seriously hot up-close. Tony still wondered why he would ask to sit with him but didn't want the opportunity to learn more about the man go to waste.
He stammered out a reply and was embarrassed that he stuttered slightly but his brain somehow had stopped working. He tried to stop the blush he could feel rising up but couldn't quite do it.
The man sat down across from him, and Tony was so shocked that this man wanted to have something to do with him, even if it was just a conversation over dinner that he barely noticed that Elaine had come back to get their order or that he had just ordered the same thing the other man had, his brain just wouldn't start up again.
Tony took the opportunity to look at the other man closely. He had been right that he was exactly his type. He was seriously hot, with his silver hair, even if he wore it in a marine style, it suited the man just fine. His blue eyes were staring at him, and Tony felt as if they could read him, even with all his masks in place, they just knew. And then the general commanding air he had around him, this was a man who knew what he wanted and right now it was to have dinner with Tony, and he probably wanted to have a good conversation and Tony wanted to give him that. He shook himself and finally got his brain to start again and was able to answer if he was new in town.
Tony didn't know if he had just imagined it, but he thought that the man had just winked at him. He really hoped he hadn't imagined it and that maybe this guy was not out of his league, and he really hoped the other guy sensed this weird attraction and connection, Tony had felt immediately. Maybe he indeed had a chance with this guy. He hadn't dared dream about it the last time he had seen the man, but it seemed now it might be a possibility.
When the man introduced himself as Jethro, Tony was confused for a moment and his eyes widened as he thought about the note left on his front door that was signed with L. J. Gibbs and then about Rosy who had told him that his neighbor, who he still hadn't met, was called Jethro. He thought that it was quite a coincidence to meet another Jethro, though a little voice in his head thought that it might be a possibility that both Jethros were the same. He dismissed that thought though for the more interesting fact that Jethro was a cop too.
Tony couldn't help it, he started rambling on about his first day and all the things he was looking forward to. He was just amazed that this gorgeous looking man did police work too, maybe Tony could ask him stuff when he had questions, or he would be able to help Tony if he were to have problems with anything. When Jethro complimented Tony on how he would be a great officer and that if Tony would work hard, he might know some people who would hire him with a good word from Jethro, Tony was amazed and he couldn't believe it, he must be dreaming this. He had to secretly … to make sure he was in fact not dreaming and when that hurt, he immediately promised Jethro that he would do his best work at the academy. Tony didn't know why but he had the feeling that he needed to make Jethro proud, and he wanted to have the man's approval. Now it wasn't just in his best interest to give his best but also to make this near stranger proud. Tony frowned at himself at that, he had never been one to seek other people approval, except maybe his father, but he had always supported Tony. He really wasn't sure, where this feeling came from, but he kinda liked it. Liked to think that maybe the guy saw something good in him and that he could make this interesting man proud.
When the food arrived, Tony realized how hungry he really was, and he started shoveling the food inside his mouth until Jethro chuckled and told him to slow down a bit. Tony laughed self-consciously and slowed down a bit.
When the time came to pay for their food, Tony wanted to pay for his dinner, but Jethro was faster and paid for both of their meals.
Tony really wasn't a fan of someone paying for his food and always paid for his own. He didn't know the guy that well after all, and he didn't like that he now owed the man. Jethro clearly didn't see it that way and when he told him that he had greatly enjoyed their shared meal and wanted to do that again, Tony was shocked. Jethro had stared into his eyes while he said that, and he could read the truth about the statement in the crystal blue eyes. Tony smiled and agreed.
Inside he did a little happy dance, because he too had enjoyed the meal immensely and was really happy that Jethro wanted to see him again. He liked the man; he was good company and Tony really wanted to see what could come of this.
Tony decided to give Jethro his phone number, so that the older man could call him when he was free again, and maybe they could have dinner again. Tony knew that he would be busy over the week and Jethro would probably have much to do as well and he thought it would be nice to be able to call or maybe even text to get to know each other a bit more and make plans for a next, could he call it date?!
Tony couldn't help but laugh when Jethro took out his cellphone. It was a flip phone and he thought that it totally fit with everything he knew about the older man. He told the man, he liked his style and then blushed out of sheer happiness that Jethro wanted his number.
He had checked if the number Jethro had tipped in was correct and when he looked back at Jethro again, he noticed with a jolt that he looked like he wanted to devour him. He couldn't help it and blushed again, and he could feel the heat in his cheeks. He also noticed how Jethro's eyes strayed to his lips and he suddenly felt a deep longing to feel Jethro's lips on his.
Tony wasn't new to this; he had had his fair share of sexual encounters and he knew his body looked good but to see the man he desired with that look in his eyes made him shudder all over. He realized that his cock had taken an interest and he prayed Jethro wouldn't notice. He feared that he somehow had misread the situation and that he would lose all hope of becoming friends with Jethro if the other man knew how much affect his mere presence and eye movement had on Tony. He didn't want to scare Jethro even though he would very much like to kiss him, just to see what the other man would do, but he didn't know the man for that long and banned all these thoughts from his mind for later use in his fantasies. Sometimes he hated that he was this unsure of himself when it came to male lovers, but he hoped that whatever it was Jethro saw in his eyes would let the other man know that his attentions weren't unwelcome.
Jethro had offered Tony a ride home, but even if he wanted to spend a few more minutes with the older man, he promised himself to walk home. And besides he could really use the time alone to clear his head and calm his body. He needed to get control over himself, it just wouldn't do to get a hard-on every time Jethro was near him. Especially not when they would surely do this again.
As Tony walked up to his house, he heard the piano sound from next door. He wondered about that; he didn't realize there was someone else who could play the piano. He thought it came from Gibbs' house and he wondered, if maybe he had inspired the other man to play piano again. He had to smile at that. Maybe he had shown him how wonderful music was and the other man had remembered that he could play the piano as well when he noticed that Tony wouldn't play today.
He didn't play bad, Tony thought and he wondered if it was possible to play something together.
Tony listened to the playing a bit longer and then thought, 'why the hell not', and got a paper and pen to write a note to his neighbor requesting a piece and a time, where they could play together.
He left the note taped to his neighbor's front door, just like the note he had received a few days back and then went upstairs to go to bed, with the soft sounds of the piano drifting over and lulling him into sleep.