Sorry I didn't submit this sooner. Anyhow, here it is.

Chicago. Why had he chosen to go to Chicago? He didn't even like Chicago. If his luggage hadn't been mistakenly loaded into the wrong plane, he'd probably have bought himself a new ticket elsewhere, but for now he was more or less stuck.

Tony sighed heavily and walked over to the window in his hotel room. The rain was pouring down outside, the heavy drops rattling against the glass, sounding like someone was constantly throwing pebbles at it. The water covered the window completely, making it seem like the hotel was built inside a waterfall. The only thing he could see through it was the blurry lights from the street lights and the cars that drove by below.

It had been raining ever since he had got to Chicago, three days ago. It was like the world was in tune with his emotions and displayed them in a way he didn't let himself to do. He didn't cry. He wouldn't cry. All he did was wrapping himself in the constantly throbbing pain in his heart, letting it consume him entirely. All that existed was the pain in his heart and the rain outside. Nothing else mattered.

He clenched his jaws and narrowed his eyes, welcoming the anger that welled up inside him, nourished it until it was a roaring bonfire that filled him completely, feeding it with his his hate. He hated Gibbs for making him feel like this. He hated the thought of that Gibbs would never love him back. But most of all, he hated himself for allowing himself to have such feelings at all.

The pain increased as the fire grew larger. Then Tony couldn't hold back any more. He threw his head back and gave out roar, so filled with grief and pain that he felt like he was going to burst. He didn't care that someone might hear him. All he cared for was the consuming pain and the fire.

Completely exhausted he felt his knees give way under him. He sunk down to the floor, panting like he had ran a mile. The fire died out and so did the pain, leaving a huge, empty hole in their stead. The hole was almost worse. It didn't allow him to feel a thing. But at a second thought, he actually preferred it that way.

Slowly he staggered to his feet, put on his shoes and grabbed his coat before leaving the room. He went to a bar near by, ordered a bottle of scotch and found himself a table in a dark corner at the back. Usually he didn't care much for the burning, gross liquid, but it was the only thing that could make him completely numb on the inside. And he wanted to be numb.

He poured himself a glass and downed it in one single gulp. The scotch ravished his throat and made him cough, but that was just as it should be.

Once in a while a woman began to walk in his direction, but a dark look usually made them change their mind. Some he had to tell off with an angry snarl before they understood that he didn't want any company. Many times he was called a jerk, but mostly the women just shrugged and left him alone.

"Hey, handsome. Why such a sulky face?"

Tony snapped out of his thoughts and looked up to see a man stand by his table. He was about his age, even a little younger maybe. His black bangs fell down over one of his eyes, making him look a little boyish. The man was smiling warmly at him and something in his eyes told Tony that he was gay. He had seen that look in womens eyes so many times that he would recognize it everywhere. A look of attraction to him. A look he didn't want tonight.

Tony shot daggers at the man, hoping that he would take the hint and go away, but he didn't move.

"I'm not falling for that, handsome", he said. "You can convince yourself as much as you like that you don't want any company, but your body language says that you're craving it."

"Then my body is lying", Tony growled and took another gulp of scotch. He had drunk about three quarters of the stuff and began to get a little drunk. It was all according to plan. If he just could get rid of the guy, but he didn't seem to let himself be discharged so easily.

"Well, I don't believe you", he said and sat down opposite of Tony. "And you shouldn't be alone tonight. I can see the hurt in your eyes. Something tragic has happened to you and I'm here for you if you want to talk."

"And if I don't want to?"

"Then you don't have to. It's completely up to you. I just want you to know that I won't leave you, no matter what you say or do."

"I think you misunderstood me, pal", Tony said with a dangerously low tone in his voice. "You reallyought to leave."

The guy still didn't move. He just sat back and gave Tony a thoughtful look, his head slightly tilted to one side. Tony began to lose his temper and had to restrain himself from attacking. He took a deep breath and forced himself to relax, even if it was hard. He poured himself another glass of scotch, but when he lifted it to drink, the guy reached out and put his hand over the glass, forcing Tony to lower it to the table again.

"You shouldn't drink any more of that", he said and dragged the bottle away from Tony. "Getting drunk doesn't solve any of your problems. Trust me. I know."

"Really? How come you know so much about my problems?"

"Because I've been where you are. Some hurt me too, once. I begged the world to end and tried to find comfort in drinking, but all it ever gave me was major hangovers. There's only one thing that helps against this kind of pain."

"Oh, yeah?" Tony said sarcastically. "And what is that?"

"I can't tell you. I have to show you. But in that case, you have to trust me enough to come with me."

Tony stared at the guy for a long time before standing up. The guy smiled and stood up, too, putting a hand on Tony's shoulder and looked him deep in the eyes.

"Trust me", he said. "You're doing the right thing. Everything will feel much better in the morning."

Tony shrugged and rolled his eyes. He wasn't sure of what exactly the guy was about to show him, but he didn't care as long as it helped him get rid of the pain.

"Just let's go", he said huskily and began to walk towards the exit. Suddenly Tony stopped dead in his tracks when a whiff of two familiar smells reached his nose. Coffee and sawdust. He swallowed hard and felt the blood disappear from his face, felt his hands go clammy and his heart stop in his chest. He didn't hear the worried question from the guy, didn't feel the hand on the small of his back, nudging him to keep going. Slowly he turned around and found himself be staring at the man of his dreams.

"Gibbs?"

Gibbs slowly walked up to him and stared him directly in the eyes. Tony swallowed when he saw the furious look in the silver-haired man's blue gaze. The next moment a very hard slap was planted on the back of his head, making it cringe forward. He suddenly found himself standing merely inches from Gibbs, so close that their breaths mingled. Tony's gaze was locked, he couldn't look away. Then he felt a hand sneak behind his neck, pulling him forward, before warm lips were pressed against his in a kiss that claimed him in a way he had never experienced before.

"You are mine, DiNozzo", Gibbs snarled after he had broken the kiss. "Don't you ever run away from me again!"

tbc?