Dedicated to Enthusiastic Fish, 88keys and anyother of you small towners :D.
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"Gotta love small towns." Tony commented to himself and made a mental note to express that to Gibbs; at an appropriate time of course. It had been a couple hours since the team had settled back in from their road trip and Tony wouldn't stop begging Gibbs to let him check out his new car.
He also couldn't stop thinking about where the case had led them. A hometown rivalry dating back decades, a rich king pin that runs the town, a questionable sheriff, a love story that ends because the two are siblings. It was almost too small town to believe.
"So boss…what was it like, living in a place like that?"
Gibbs looked up from under the hood. "Like what DiNozzo?"
"Well you know, a small town…was it like Mayberry?"
"Thought you were here to see the car…" Gibbs quipped before closing the hood with care.
"That is of course, the main reason. But I was just curious…you know me…always thinking…"
"Yeah…" Gibbs began sarcastically. "What do you want to know?"
Tony was surprised to hear him comply, and was soon grinning from ear to ear. "Is it like what the movies are like…everyone knows everyone…there's one lady that's the gossip queen…people sit on porches and spit tobacco?"
Gibbs stifled a laugh. "Not quite. Contrary to what you may think DiNozzo, not everything is like Hollywood makes it out to be."
Tony nodded and took that as the only response he'd be getting, he was wrong.
Gibbs took in the beauty of his car for the 100th time that day before continuing. "The fall was more gorgeous than anything you'd ever see in the city…we'd go canoeing on a whim…and yeah sure, you couldn't go into town without someone knowing ya…but living in a city where you're lucky to remember someone's name isn't all that appealing either."
Tony was still grinning as he listened to one of the longest rants his boss had ever gone on, and responded with a simple… "Sweet."
Gibbs nodded in agreement, then watched as Tony placed a hand on the top of the car. "Hey…get your hand off there…who knows where those hands have been…" He came around and quickly wiped down any imprint.
Tony was a bit shocked but completely understood. "Sorry boss, guess I got a little carried away in the moment."
"You're gonna get carried away in a body bag if you do that again."
He had to smile as he put his hands up. "Wont happen again, I promise." He then watched as Gibbs double and triple checked the spot to ensure he'd wiped it clean of any residue. "Any chance we could go on a little joy ride?"
"Another difference between small towns and the city DiNozzo…joy ride takes on a whole new meaning."
Tony shrugged. "I know this place where I used to take my mustang…it's a ways from here, but it's as close to the great outdoors as you can get in DC."
Gibbs was hesitant, but reached for his keys. "Touch anything inside the car, and I'll cut off your hands."
Tony cringed at the image before opening the passenger door with care. "Wouldn't dream of it boss."