Chapter 13
DISCLAIMER: However much I wish it was so, I do not own these characters. I'm going to simply let them play for a little bit and then put them back a little happier.
WARNING: Slash story - you have been informed!
A/N: I'm changing canon a bit and adding Jackson Gibbs before he was seen on the show. In my world, Gibbs reconciled with Jackson about five years after Shannon and Kelly's funeral and they just became closer after Gibbs hired Tony.
A/N ADDITIONAL: Thank you to all Guest reviewers, except one - you know who you are ;-)
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Tony and Jethro slept another eight hours and awoke around 0600 hours on Sunday morning. They had not moved at all during the night, except to cuddle closer to each other occasionally. Jethro came back to himself with Tony spooned closely behind him and one of his arms snug around his waist pulling Jethro close to his body. Jethro leaned further back into Tony's body and snuggled in. His mind ran over the incredible lovemaking they had experienced last night and he cuddled in even closer to Tony at the memory.
The lovemaking paled in comparison though, to the reason for it. They were engaged! Tony said yes, they were going to get married! Jethro's mind whirled with thoughts of rings, tuxes and venues. He wondered if Tony would be alright just having it in their backyard. Their backyard! Crap, he was going to have to talk Tony into moving in with him again. Jethro wondered if he should just sell the house and the two of them buy another one together. That was going to be a big change for him, but Jethro was willing to do anything to keep Tony happy and make him comfortable. If they did sell the house, he was going to have to finally let go of his girls.
He had never lived anywhere else since he had been married to Shannon and they had Kelly. Kelly had never known another home. His breathing sped up a little as he contemplated a life without his girls. Without being able to see and touch the places he remembered them last being in. They would never really be gone though. Tony would not expect him to forget them. He was the one who helped him remember them and share them after all.
"I can hear you thinking." Tony murmured into his hair as he tightened his hold on Jethro. "What's up?" he asked, not really sure he wanted to hear the answer.
Jethro sighed deeply and replied, "Just thinkin' about where we're gonna live and all the changes coming."
"Well, I thought we'd be in the house, unless you want to live here?" Tony replied confusedly. "You have spent quite a lot of time here the past few days." he teased.
Jethro turned in Tony's arms so he was lying on his back and Tony was on his side facing Jethro, still holding him tight. "I didn't know if you wanted to go back there. I thought you might want us to sell it and get a house that is just ours." Jethro replied with a surprised expression.
Tony snorted out a laugh and replied, "Jethro, there's no where else I'd want to go. That house is as much a part of you as your coffee is! Besides, I would never want you to leave a place that has so much meaning for you." He softly said, earning a brilliant smile from Jethro.
"It means a lot to me too." Tony continued. "That's where we first made love. It's also the one place in the world I feel the safest. I never really had a home before I lived there with you." Tony finished while studying Jethro's hands shyly.
Jethro raised Tony's hand to his lips and placed a soft kiss on his palm. "Then we'll stay. When do you want to move back in?" He asked while holding Tony's hand to his chest.
Tony laughed, but he was extremely glad he was still welcome and wanted in the only place he had ever called home. "How about we take some time away and then we can move me back in before we have to go back to work?" He asks.
"Sounds like a plan." Jethro replies with a sunny smile. He was very relieved Tony didn't want to get a new house. He would if that's what Tony wanted, but he was glad it wasn't. "So where do you want to go?" He asked Tony as he snuggled into Tony's chest.
"Actually, I was thinking Stillwater to start with, at least for a few days. Jackson was really worried about you and he doesn't yet know you're back and we're back together and that we're getting married! I think he should be the first to know." Tony answered while rubbing Jethro's stomach.
Jethro flashed on a memory of he and his father getting into an argument at Shannon and Kelly's funeral. He knew that animosity hadn't lasted too long and they had gotten even closer when he had introduced Jackson to Tony. He and Tony had hit it off right away and were thick as thieves. Jack had always known Jethro played for both teams and never had a problem with it. It also didn't surprise him that Tony had stayed in contact with Jack, even after he had moved out. Jack saw Tony as another son, so Jethro was happy to be able to tell him that Tony would soon be his official son-in-law.
"That's a great idea. Do you still call him every Sunday?" Jethro asked him.
"Yeah. He's been a big help. I've even driven up there as much as I can when it got too bad here." Tony replied, but he was back to staring down at Jethro's stomach nervously.
Jethro squeezed his hand and forced him to look up. "I'm glad you had each other, you know he loves you like a son." Jethro gently told him.
"I know." Tony replied with a soft smile on his face. "Why don't we get ready and surprise him?" Tony asked excitedly. "If we leave by nine, we could be there by lunch! I usually call him in the afternoon, so he won't suspect anything if I don't call."
Jethro smiled at the childlike enthusiasm Tony projected as he was laying out his plan. God, I love this man! Jethro thought before replying, "Okay. We should be able to pack and get everything closed down by then. Why don't you grab a shower while I make us something to eat. Then you can pack while I get a shower?" Jethro offered.
"On it, Boss!" Tony said brightly as he gave Jethro a quick kiss on the cheek and threw off the covers. He raced into the bathroom while Jethro chuckled to himself thinking it was going to be a very good day.
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Criticizing his wardrobe choices was Tony's way of burning off nervous energy. He spent the entire drive to Stillwater re-thinking his choices in shirt: "Should've worn the button-down", pants: "Why didn't I wear a suit? Jeans say you're not serious, don't they?", shoes: "I should've worn the Nike's, Ferragamo boots are too flashy!", even underwear: "Should've grabbed the boxers, but sometimes the edge chafes under jeans. I should've worn a suit it…." He had finally come full-circle in his worrying and Jethro cut it off abruptly when he pulled off the country road they were on, turned off the engine and twisted in his seat to face Tony head-on.
He ticked off his points one by one. "First off, Nike's are fine, but I love your boots, gives you an edge of danger. Secondly, even though you know how I love your green button-down, the t-shirt hugs your body and I get to see every well-defined muscle. Third, I love how the jeans hug your ass and I know damn-well you wore them just to drive me crazy. As for your underwear you know I prefer you without, but if you have to wear them, I can get tighty whities off just as fast as boxers."
Throughout his rundown of Tony's wardrobe, Jethro had been inching closer and closer and his voice had dropped an octave lower and lower until it was a deep growl when he got to the part about his underwear. His mouth was hovering right above Tony's and when he got to the part about getting his tighty whities off as fast as boxers, Tony let out a moan and Jethro swallowed it with a very thorough kiss.
Tony didn't know how long they kissed, but he became aware that they both were lacking oxygen when Jethro pulled his mouth from Tony's. He also became aware that they were necking on the side of a country road a few miles from Stillwater. Even though he was not ashamed to be with Jethro in any way, he thought it might be prudent not to advertise in a town where the local law enforcement was Jethro's childhood bully.
Jethro seemed to have a similar thought as he quickly looked around and moved back to his side of the car. Tony could not remember hearing any cars pass them, but his brain was not fully engaged, so he couldn't be sure. Jethro looked at him with his eyes sparking and Tony watched his gaze travel down to the prominent bulge in Tony's now very tight jeans. A bulge, Tony noted, was reflected in Jethro's lap.
Tony was breathing heavily and adjusted himself to ease the ache as he said, "Give me a few minutes, I don't want to greet Jack with this." he smiled ruefully as he waved a hand over his lap.
Jethro panted back, "Yeah, me either, but I might have a better plan."
Jethro turned on the car, and looking to make sure no one was coming, pulled back onto the road and roared off down it for another half-mile or so. He braked suddenly and turned left onto a gravel track that Tony had not even seen. They bounced down a long driveway until they eventually came upon a clearing with a large farmhouse with a huge red barn behind it. Tony estimated they were at least a quarter-mile from the road and in a very secluded spot. The farmhouse had a long-abandoned look to it and Tony wondered if that's where they were going. He was surprised when Jethro drove right past it and up to the doors of the barn. Jethro jumped out of the car and searched around in the tall grass for a minute before holding up a rock with a huge smile on his face.
Tony was sure the confusion shown plainly on his own face, when Jethro smirked back at him and opened the hidden compartment on the rock to shake out some keys. He chose one of them and opened the padlock on the barn door before pushing the huge door to the side. He hopped back into the car and drove them inside, before getting out to shut the door again and locking it from inside.
Tony was looking around the large barn through the windshield when Jethro opened his car door and reached a hand down to pull him up out of the car. The place looked even bigger when he stepped out of the car and he took in the high ceiling and rays of sunlight that were angling in through slats in the wood. The barn was mostly empty, there was a hayloft and some farm equipment against the wall on one side. There appeared to be riding tack hanging from hooks outside of some of the horse stalls and he thought he could see a horse carriage, like you saw in old movies on the other side of the barn.
Jethro maneuvered him so that Tony was leaning against the window for the back seat and had some support before he pressed his body against Tony's and leaned back in for another deep, arousing kiss. Tony moaned into the kiss and continued moaning when Jethro moved down to kiss and nip at his neck at the same time he ran his hands down Tony's sides and un-tucked his shirt. Jethro kissed his way down Tony's stomach until he was kneeling before Tony while he undid his belt and the zipper on his jeans.
He gasped at the sight before him and his erection strained against its confinement. Jethro's nimble fingers quickly had the belt and jeans open and had pushed them, along with his underwear down to just above Tony's knees, allowing his hard cock to bounce free a few inches in front of Jethro's face. Jethro locked eyes with Tony and leaned forward to take Tony's cock into his mouth without his gaze wavering once. Tony was panting as Jethro worked on the head of his cock, his tongue teasing the slit and lapping up what was leaking out before plunging down to take the entire length down his throat. He only did this three times before Tony was screaming out his release while Jethro milked every drop out of him, not releasing his cock until he was sure Tony had emptied himself.
Jethro gave Tony's cock one last kiss before standing. He leaned in to capture Tony's mouth, but was taken by surprise when Tony's arms came up to encircle Jethro, pulling him tight against Tony's body as he spun them around to trap Jethro against the car. Tony kissed Jethro deeply, tasting himself on the other man's tongue. While his mouth was busy plundering Jethro's, his deft hands had undone Jethro's belt and jeans and he now pushed them down to mid-thigh as he gracefully knelt and swallowed Jethro's hard cock in one movement.
Jethro gasped at the sudden hot mouth that surrounded his cock. He grabbed onto Tony's broad shoulders to steady himself as Tony's mouth worked him skillfully. A random phrase Tony had said in the bathroom last night "…servicing you…" floated through Jethro's brain and with that phrase and the image it provoked being played out live right in front of him, he came with a roar. Tony suckled him until he too was drained, before standing up and leaning in for a sweet, slow kiss.
When they parted, Tony had a smug, satisfied smile on his face and Jethro cuffed him gently on the back of the head as he snorted out a laugh. Both men moved slightly apart so they could tuck themselves back in and straighten their clothes. When they were decent again, Tony moved to lean against the car next to Jethro and asked, "Not that I mind, but do you know who owns this place or do you just pick random, abandoned farms for your illicit rendezvous?"
"Smartass! How do you think I knew where the key was?" Jethro asked as he again cuffed Tony's head, a little harder this time.
Tony didn't miss a beat as he answered, "You could have put the lock on and hidden the key."
Jethro nodded his head in approval before he asked, "Why would I do that?"
Tony shrugged, "Securing it because you're not here all that often?" he offered.
"Not bad, DiNozzo." Jethro smiled and leaned over to kiss his cheek. "I own the place." He told him.
Tony cocked his head to the side and asked with a puzzled frown, "You own it, I thought all you had out here was the store and the house you grew up in where Jackson lives?"
"That's all my family owns, this is the Fielding farm." Jethro looked at Tony expectantly.
"Fielding, Fielding..as in Shannon Fielding?" Tony asked.
"Yup." Jethro smiled at Tony quickly connecting the dots.
"But, I thought your mother-in-law was still alive. Wouldn't the farm have gone to her?" Tony asked, still putting the pieces together.
"Would have, except Shannon's grandfather couldn't stand Joanne. The farm was left directly to Shannon, his only grandchild, bypassed his son and his daughter-in-law altogether. He thought Joanne was a social climbing snob. She made one to many comments about how much a developer would pay for this land when they were visiting. Old Zach Fielding made sure she would never get her hands on it." Jethro explained with a smile.
Tony chuckled as he replied, "Smart man. So, you don't come out here a lot, because you never told me about it."
Jethro shrugged. "Really wasn't sure what to do with it. My dad comes out every week or so to check on it. I hadn't thought of anything to do with it until fairly recently." He told Tony with an enigmatic smile.
"How recently?" Tony asked with a curious look.
"As recently as us pulling off the road about a half-mile back." Jethro replied with a chipper smile.
"Oh-ho! Funny man, you've got jokes!" Tony teased him as he pushed off from the car and stood facing Jethro with his hands resting lightly on Jethro's hips.
Jethro smiled back as he rested his arms on top of Tony's, cupping his elbows. "Nah, my father's the funny man, I just like pulling your chain" Jethro retorted.
"Well, yeah Jethro. I like you pulling my chain too!" Tony told him while wagging his eyebrows up and down.
Jethro pulled Tony close and kissed him before slapping his ass and laughing out, "Brat!"
Jethro suddenly stood straight up and his stance put Tony on alert. Tony instantly quieted and was able to hear tires crunching on gravel. Someone had arrived outside. He looked back at Jethro and with silent communication they both retrieved their backup pieces from the car and moved to either side of the sliding barn door.
Tony found a crack in the wall and was able to see a police car sitting about twenty yards from the barn, halfway between the barn and the house. The cop got out of the car and took a look around. Tony glanced over to the other side of the door and saw Jethro in a similar stance with a sour look on his face. Jethro looked up and Tony motioned with his head, silently asking if they should go out. Jethro shook his head with a sharp no. Uh-oh, Tony thought, this must be Ed. Tony resumed his surveillance of the cop and saw him take off to check the perimeter of the house.
He saw Jethro dash over and grab a tarp from one of the horse stalls. Tony ran over and helped Jethro cover the car with the tarp before they both took up their former positions by the door. They were just in time to see the cop come from around the house and head to the barn. Both agents melted back into the shadows on either side of the door as Ed walked up and rattled the sliding door handle. Tony was grateful that Jethro had the foresight to lock the door from the inside. He watched as Ed moved to one side of the door and look in through a slat that Jethro had been looking out of just a few seconds ago.
Ed then started around to check the perimeter of the barn. Both Tony and Jethro watched through slats in the barn as he made his way around. He stopped on the far side and looked in again. Tony and Jethro had again taken cover in the deep shadows and they were not spotted. Tony was acutely aware that he was a federal agent with a drawn gun hiding from a law enforcement officer. He didn't know why Jethro felt the need to hide their presence from the local cops like this, but he had heard plenty of stories about Ed and was in no hurry to meet him. They watched from their hiding spots as Ed finished his circuit of the barn. He must have been satisfied with whatever he saw because he re-traced his steps back to his car.
Both men hiding were able to hear him as he stood next to his squad car and called in to his dispatcher.
"Marla, the Fielding farm is secure, there's no one here. Tell Sarah the next time she calls to pick up her new glasses at McAllister's!"
He threw his hat disgustedly on the passenger seat as he got back in. The car roared to life and with a spray of gravel sped back off down the driveway, headed for the main road.
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Tony let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding and broke cover to join Jethro in removing the tarp from the car.
"You wanna tell me why we're hiding like fugitives from the cops?" Tony asked Jethro as they stowed the tarp back in the stall.
"I've told you about Ed, didn't think you were in a rush to meet him." Jethro sullenly replied as he went to lean against the car again with his arms crossed over his chest, studying the ground.
"No, I don't, but don't you think what we did would look a little suspicious to someone else?" Tony asked.
Jethro's head shot up and Tony was surprised to see the level of hostility in his eyes as he angrily replied, "We didn't do anything wrong!"
"No we didn't, but wouldn't it have been easier to throw open the door, tell him he's on private property and to fuck off?" Tony patiently explained.
"It's not that simple!" Jethro ran his hands through his hair in a frustrated gesture as he started to pace.
Tony leaned back against the car, crossing his own arms and his legs at the ankle and replied, "So, explain it to me. Because from here it looks like we just made a simple situation into something a whole lot more complicated than it needs to be."
"You don't understand! Nothing is simple with Ed! Damn him! It's none of his business." Jethro muttered the last part to himself.
Tony narrowed his eyes as a picture began to form in his mind. "What is none of his business? He's a cop checking out a trespassing report, by my definition, that certainly IS his business!" Tony stood up and blocked Jethro's pacing, standing in front of him, but not too close. "Unless the business you're talking about is us and you just don't want him finding out you're sleeping with a guy." Tony finished in a low, dangerous voice.
Jethro's agitated fidgetting ceased immediately when he heard those words. Tony thinks I'm ashamed of him. Like Hell! Jethro thought. Tony had been watching Jethro's face closely for his reaction, hoping he wasn't right. His shoulders relaxed as he saw the determination on Jethro's face to put him first. Jethro took two steps forward and wrapped Tony up in his arms.
Jethro kissed his neck and whispered, "I'm not ashamed of you, of us, but Ed is a son of a bitch who hates me. I don't want him to hurt you." Jethro's arms held him tighter as he explained.
Tony huffed out a frustrated breath as he held onto Jethro tighter. "I'm a big boy Jethro, I can take care of myself."
Jethro chuckled at Tony's words, knowing them to be true, but he still worried. Ed was also in law enforcement, he must have some contacts, he could make their life very difficult.
Tony, still sensing Jethro's reluctance, pulled back to make eye contact before saying, "I've worked in 3 major city police departments and I'm a federal agent with contacts all over the world. How much damage do you think a local sheriff in a, sorry to say Jethro, backwater Pennsylvania town could do?"
Tony smiled when Jethro laughed at his words before adding, "Besides, if he even tries, how much damage do you think I could do to him?" with a wicked gleam in his eye.
Jethro's smile got bigger at Tony's implication. He was right. Ed was very small potatoes compared to their contacts. Hell, with their contacts combined they could probably make Ed disappear from the face of the Earth and never leave a trace. This thought brought a decidedly satisfied expression to his face and Tony raised an eyebrow in question.
"You look like you're having some very evil thoughts Mister! I may have unleashed a monster!" He teased.
Jethro huffed out a laugh and ducked his head in embarrassment before replying, "Yeah, maybe I was fantasizing about making Ed disappear forever, but then I wouldn't have the fun of scaring him whenever we come into town."
It was Tony's turn to laugh before he replied, "There's the second "B" I love so well! Feel better?" he asked.
"Yeah. Seeing him again just took me right back to school with him as the bully and me as the punching bag." Jethro said quietly while studying Tony's chest.
Tony pulled his chin up so their eyes could meet and Tony was stunned at the hurt little boy who gazed back out of those blue eyes he loved. Tony was determined to protect that child and never let anyone hurt him again. "Don't worry Love, as long as I'm breathing, he'll never touch you again."
Jethro was overwhelmed at the level of intensity behind Tony's words, and he knew without a doubt they were true. Just as he would defend Tony against all those who sought to harm him. He sighed deeply and pulled Tony closer so they could snuggle in each other's arms for a little while.
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Tony, who had been rubbing comforting circles in Jethro's back with his hands, moved them lower and smacked Jethro's ass. "Cmon stud, it's nearly lunch time and I'm starved. I'm looking forward to one of Jackson's Dagwood sandwiches! Do you think we've given the sheriff enough time to get far away?" He asked.
Jethro laughed, both at the sandwich comment and Tony's perceptiveness at his wanting to linger here for a bit. He didn't think he could ever get one over on him. "Yeah, I think we've given him enough time to get away. We have to make one stop first though."
Tony cocked his head questioningly to the side, silently asking where? as Jethro walked over and unlocked the door, sliding it open. "Mrs. Colfax, across the road, she must have seen us turn in. That's who Sarah was that called it in."
"Ah, local busybody?" Tony asked as he jumped in the driver's seat and moved the car out of the barn. Jethro closed the door again and re-secured it. He tossed the fake rock on the floor in the backseat though, he did not leave the keys.
"Not really. She's the only neighbor around here and keeps an eye on the place. She was like a second grandmother to Kelly, she adored her." Jethro answered as he sat down in the passenger seat. "She wouldn't have called if she knew it was me."
"Okay, show me where to go." Tony replied in a soft voice. He knew Jethro was still raw when it came to his girls, so he knew to tread lightly.
Tony was surprised when Jethro directed him to a driveway not very far from the end of the one they were on. He hadn't noticed it at all on their way in. He smiled to himself, thinking "Really wasn't thinking about driveways when we came in here."
Tony guided the car down a surprisingly long, twisty paved driveway to a house that sat almost as far from the road as the farm did. She was not buried in the woods like the farm, but Tony was surprised she had seen them at all. He wondered if she sat in her window with a pair of binoculars. Tony saw a petite, white-haired woman looking fearfully out of a window by the door at him. He saw her face relax into a big smile though when Jethro exited the car and walked towards the door. She threw the door open and enveloped him in a tight hug as he bent down to hug her back and bestow a kiss on her cheek. Tony's jaw twitched as he thought of one of the last places those lips of Jethro's had been, but he behaved himself and put on a sunny smile as he also exited the car.
He heard her speaking as he walked up next to Jethro.
"Oh, Jethro! We were so worried about you when we heard about that explosion! Let me look at you, are you all in one piece?" She held him at arms length and inspected him from head to toe.
"I can assure you ma'am, he's all in one piece!" Tony interjected while turning on the charm.
"Oh dear! Who is this handsome young gentleman with you Jethro?" Sarah Colfax inquired.
"Sarah, this is Tony DiNozzo. I work with him in DC and he's my best friend." Jethro proudly stated.
Tony smiled brilliantly at Jethro as he took Sarah's hand and bowed as he kissed her hand while she giggled like a schoolgirl. "Pleasure to meet you, Miss Sarah." Tony gallantly greeted her.
"My oh my Jethro, this one is a definite keeper!" Sarah shrewdly advised him. Tony let out a huff of laughter as Jethro turned a bright shade of red. Jethro recovered quickly though as he snaked an arm around Tony's waist and drew him close, telling her, "Don't ever intend to let this one go ma'am."
Tony smiled fondly at him as Sarah Colfax beamed a bright smile at the two men. "Well it's about time Jethro! I know it's serious young man, he hasn't looked this happy since Shannon. Whatever you're doing Tony, keep it up!"
"Oh, I will ma'am, I will!" Tony answered with a smug smile in Jethro's direction. Jethro just rolled his eyes in response, but he wore a happy smile.
"We have to go Sarah, we're trying to make lunch with my dad. I just wanted you to meet Tony and let you know we'll probably be around more often and not to be worried. We have about four vehicles that might be coming and going. You see my Charger out there, and you already know my truck. Tony has a blue Mustang and there might be a dark blue sedan sometimes." Jethro informed her.
"Alright, young man, I'll keep an eye out. You hurry along now, don't keep Jackson waiting." She shooed them out the door and back to the car where Jethro again took the wheel after hugging her goodbye. Tony again kissed her hand and told her, "It was nice meeting you ma'am. I'm sure I'll see you again soon." Before he climbed into the passenger seat as Jethro started the car.
Jethro backed around by her garage and both men waved as they drove out. Sarah Colfax watched the car drive away and thanked whatever God that listened to her that Jethro had found someone. He had not seemed so alive since before Shannon and Kelly passed. What a looker he had found too! Now, Jethro was a good-looking man, but the two of them together - Lord have mercy! The young man was so polite and seemed to have a genuine affection for Jethro. They were good together, just what Jethro needed. She had been very worried after the girls passed and feared Jethro might follow them close behind.
She looked up to the heavens and winked. "Good job girls, he's very happy." She smiled as a gust of wind blew some leaves off a nearby tree and they did a little dance on the walk in front of her.
Glad you girls are happy too, she thought. She was smiling widely as she walked back inside and got on with her day.
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TBC…
A/N - Yeah, I know. The boys have been together for awhile and have visited Stillwater before, why hasn't Tony met Ed before now? Stay tuned, all will be revealed. ;-)