I'll keep this short since the story's almost over...
Enjoy!
Chapter Twenty Four
He couldn't sleep. No matter how hard he tried, his eyes refused to stay close and his mind refused to stop working. So now, here he was, in his basement, starting up a whole new boat.
Normally working like this was good on his nerves, it kept him level and calm. But tonight, nothing seemed to work. He was racked with guilt. He lost people before, he stood next to Kate as she was murdered. But this was different. This was worse. And Tony wasn't even dead.
He dropped the saw and wiped at his face. He took a deep breath. It didn't help.
"Building a new boat?" Jethro whirled around at the sound of Tony's voice. The young man stood at the bottom of the stairs. He looked pale, but otherwise healthy. He was also sporting a pair of scrubs. Jethro couldn't blame him, the clothes he wore at the resort had been to hell and back and they never bothered to wash them. And he doubted that the young man would want to be reminded of his trauma at the hands of Millworth by wearing the clothes he picked out. "'Cause if you are, I think you should name it after me."
Jethro shook his head. "What are you doing here, DiNozzo?"
Tony stepped further into the basement. "I'm hurt boss. Don't you remember offering me a place to stay? Millworth blew up my apartment." For a second, the gleam in Tony's eye faded.
Jethro turned away. He had almost forgotten that Tony lost his apartment last week. So much had happened since then.
He did offer Tony a place to stay. But things had changed. He shook his head. "You can't stay here."
Tony stood next to him and leaned against the wall. "That's not very nice, Boss. You gonna leave me out all alone in the cold?" He mock pouted.
Jethro had to force himself not to grin. "It's May."
"Granted, but it gets chilly at night."
Jethro didn't respond. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Tony watch him. At first it was curiosity, but slowly it changed into a mix of hurt and anger.
"What did I do now?"
Jethro moved away, heading towards the stairs. Damn it, he didn't want to deal with this. Not yet, anyways.
Tony caught him just as he was about to head upstairs. He grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. The hurt was gone, now all that was left was the anger. "Stop it."
"Stop what?"
"The mood swings. Stop it. I'm not going anywhere."
"I don't want you here." It was a bold face lie, and he knew it. He just hoped that Tony didn't.
He didn't.
He stepped away, the hurt back in his eye. There was also something else. Shame?
"Why? Why is it that three days ago you want to be mine, but tonight you don't want me around?" He chuckled bitterly. "You know what? Forget it, I think I can figure it out on my own." He pushed past Jethro on his way back up the stairs.
Jethro groaned. "What?" He called after him.
Tony spun around, his eyes on fire. "I'm tainted, right? I let Millworth carve me up, who knows what he did when I was unconscious." He could have sworn he heard a quiver in Tony's voice. "Hey, who'd want a guy like me?"
Jethro couldn't believe his ears. Tony thought he was blaming him? "What?"
With a roll of his eyes, Tony started heading upstairs again, but Jethro caught him. He stepped onto the stair so they were looking in each other's eyes. He wasn't good with words, but he'd have to actually talk for once. He didn't like it.
"This can't happen, Tony. I want it to as much as you do, but it can't." His voice got quieter the more he spoke, and he started out barely above a whisper as it was.
"Why?"
Jethro took a deep breath. What he was going to say could very well cost him his senior field agent. "I let you sleep in that morning. I figured you had a rough couple of days, so I went to check out the sniper's nest alone." He looked down at Tony's chest. He remembered how it felt under his fingertips. "I can't focus on my job if I'm with you, Tony. I should have figured Millworth out sooner—"
"He wasn't stalking you, Gibbs."
"Tony this wasn't your fault." He looked up to catch Tony's gaze again so he would know how serious he was being. "Do you understand me, DiNozzo? None of this was your fault."
"It wasn't yours either."
Jethro finally released Tony's elbow. He stepped down the few stairs he travelled up and headed back to continue working on his boat.
He heard Tony's footsteps barreling down the stairs but he didn't turn around. "Damn it, Gibbs, I'm not gonna keep doing this!" He grabbed Jethro's arm again and spun him around. This time he pressed his entire body against the older man's. He took Jethro's head between his hands so they stayed locked on each other. "If you keep pushing me away, I'm walking out that door and you will never see me again."
Jethro's chest constricted. Tony was telling him the truth. He shook his head. "I want you on my team."
"That's not enough." His words were just a breath, it was hard to even describe them as a whisper.
"It's gonna have to be enough." Jethro grabbed his bandaged wrists to pull them away from his face. "I know you want more, Tony, but—"
Tony cut him off. "It's not about what I want, it's about what I need!" That sentence was shouted, but his next words were quiet again. "I need you." He pulled his hand away from Jethro's face and slid underneath his t-shirt. Jethro closed his eyes and took a deep breath as he felt Tony's warm palm over his nipple. The skin was still sensitive—even after all this time—where Tony marked him. Tony leaned in so their foreheads were pressed together. "You were mine for a week. But that wasn't enough. I need you, Boss. More than I've ever needed anything or anyone. It's game time, Gibbs. All or nothing. Take your pick."
Jethro wanted to say 'all' more than anything. He will probably never know how he managed not to, but he did. "Tony, you work for me."
Tony shrugged. "Then I'll transfer."
"No." Jethro's voice grew hard and cold as he said it. "That is not an option."
"It is for me."
The older man was growing angry again. Tony DiNozzo was the only man who could make him so angry so easily and so often. "You would really leave the team, leave everyone, for me?"
Tony didn't hesitate. "Yes."
Jethro shook his head. "Why?"
At first, Tony didn't respond. He just continued to stare into Jethro's eyes, his palm still covering the bite mark. "Because I love you."
Jethro's heart stopped. His breath hitched and his jaw dropped. He had figured that Tony might love him, but he never expected him to say it. And he never expected Tony to still feel that way after everything that happened at the farm.
Tony grabbed his hand and placed it over his ribs. Even through the shirt he could feel the bandage. Jethro closed his eyes again and forced down a sob. The bandage was a reminder of how close he came to almost losing the man. "The mark may be gone, but I'm still yours. As long as you want me. And you were mine, as long as I wanted you."
"Do you want me, Tony?"
Tony smiled. "I think we already covered this, boss. I need you."
Jethro shook his head again. "We can't. I can't focus on the job."
Tony shrugged. "We'll figure it out." He had a light smile on his face, but his eyes showed a more serious emotion. He wanted to make Jethro believe that they could make this work. He needed Jethro to believe they could make this work.
The older man was still at odds about this. Tony could have been killed because of him. They worked together, a relationship just wouldn't work. He had to be strong and let Tony go. He already made the mistake of dating a coworker when he hooked up with Jenny in Europe. He wasn't going to make that same mistake. Not with Tony at least.
He sighed heavily. "The second this gets in the way of work, it's over, you understand me, DiNozzo?" He decided that he was weak. At least when it came to Tony.
The smile he was rewarded with was worth it though. It was the brightest smile he'd seen on the younger man's face in a while. The years melted away, and Jethro thought for a second that he was looking at the young man he met so long ago in Baltimore. The young man with so much confidence and strength. He may not have realized it then, but he fell in love with Tony way back then. He was just too pig headed to see it.
He wrapped his hand around Tony's back and pulled him in even closer. They were already standing chest to chest, now there was no space between them. Tony leaned down and gently brushed his lips against his. The kiss was soft and sweet, and not nearly enough.
Jethro wrapped his other hand around Tony's neck as he deepened the kiss. Tony responded just as whole heartedly.
Before he even knew what was happening, his shirt was being pulled over his head and his pants were being pushed down. He was rock hard already. He pulled away from the kiss, panting heavily. "Bedroom?"
Tony shrugged. "I don't know about you, but I really don't wanna wait." He reached between them and grabbed onto Jethro's painfully hard erection and gave it a firm squeeze. Jethro's knees buckled, sending him falling into the younger man. Tony barely held him up. "Either I'm really good, or you're just really horny right now."
Jethro smiled. "You always talk this much when you're having sex?"
"Actually yes, but usually what I say is a little dirty."
Jethro sought his mouth again, mostly to shut him up. Tony held him close as their tongues moved together. His fingers roamed through Jethro's hair, almost like he was petting him.
Soon they were on their knees, still connected by lips and tongues. Tony pulled Jethro's tongue into his mouth and sucked on it. He finished it off with a little nibble. It wasn't overly painful, but it still hurt. Oddly enough, that sent a spasm down Jethro's body. He was never really into being bitten before, but damn it, he loved when Tony used his teeth.
He lay down on his back, Tony lying on top of him, still fully clothed. His hands were moving all over his body, squeezing and pinching. But Jethro thought it was unfair. He was completely naked and Tony wasn't. His fingers found the hem of Tony's shirt and tried to pull it off. Tony pulled away, laughing.
"Patience, boss."
Jethro didn't want to be patient. He wasn't patient. He wanted sex and he wanted it now.
Tony pulled something out of his pocket, threw it up in the air and caught it. It was a small tube of lubricant. Jethro smiled. "You really thought you'd get sex out of this, huh?"
Tony shrugged. "Well, considering we've already had sex twice, I figured it was a safe bet." He straddled Jethro's hips and leaned down so his upper body completely covered the older man's. Tony's mouth was only inches away from his, his breath tickled his lips. "Both times we were together, you let me take the lead. Now it's your call, if you want to fuck me, then I'm ok with that." He placed a soft kiss to Jethro's lips. "It's your call. What do you want to do?"
He pushed himself up, Tony settled himself better on his lap. Tony looked at him, completely serious. Jethro knew that it wasn't about who was on top that really mattered. Tony wanted him to know how serious he was about a relationship. Whether he really wanted to bottom or not, he was willing to if it made Jethro happy.
With a soft smile, he grabbed the younger man's shirt again to lift it over his head. Tony held his arms up and let the fabric slide off of him. Jethro took a moment to just stare at him. He ran his hands through Tony's chest hair. His eyes found the bandage. The bandage that covered what Millworth had done to him. With a sigh, he rubbed a hand over it. Then he leaned down and gently kissed it. When he unfolded himself, he looked up into Tony's bright green eyes.
Gently, he repositioned them so he was on top. Tony lay underneath him, the way he smiled, his eyes wide and—miraculously—innocent, he almost looked like he was glowing. Jethro pulled Tony's pants off and tossed them away. His eyes caught sight of Tony's cock in all its beauty. He honestly never thought he would ever get used to how perfect Tony was. He also never thought he would ever get enough of his dick.
He leaned down and slid his tongue across the head. He looked up as Tony took in a deep breath and clenched his eyes shut. He enveloped the head in his mouth and sucked, his tongue going crazy trying to taste every inch of that velvet skin. All the while, he watched as emotion crossed Tony's face, pleasure, happiness, lust. Sweat was coating his forehead and his breaths were heavy.
Jethro opened his throat and took all of Tony into his mouth, a slick finger sliding up into Tony's tight hole. Tony threw his head hard onto the floor and roared with pleasure. Jethro bobbed his head up and down, sucking, nipping, licking, tasting every part of Tony's cock. He could taste his pre come trickle down the back of his throat. Meanwhile, his finger fucked Tony, moving around and gliding off his prostate.
Tony moaned. "Fuck, Gibbs!"
Jethro smiled. When Tony cried out his name, it sent chills coursing through his body. He slid a second finger inside, pulled them apart and twisted them around.
Then he stopped.
He pulled his hand away from Tony's anus and took his mouth off Tony's cock. He licked the last drop of pre come off the slit before sliding up Tony's body. The younger man groaned in indignation. He didn't say a word, but his aggravation was written all over his face.
Jethro just smiled. He squeezed a generous amount of the lube onto his hand and reached between them. Only instead of covering his own erection with it, he coated Tony's. He slid the cold liquid across everything he just sucked.
Tony took a deep breath and held it, his eyes searching Jethro's for an explanation, but Jethro didn't give him one. He just smiled. He pulled his hand away and gently eased himself down. When he felt Tony's dick hit his opening, he pushed harder till he felt Tony completely fill him. He loved this feeling, it was tight and painful and hard and absolutely amazing.
He looked down at his lover as he started to rock back and forth, forcing Tony in and out of him. With every thrust, Tony slammed into his prostate. It pulled him out of reality and sent him on the trip of his life.
Tony grabbed onto hips and dug his nails in deep. Jethro groaned and rocked faster. Tony jerked his hips up to match his rhythm burrowing even deeper inside of Jethro. He groaned. He wanted to shut his eyes, his sweat was starting to sting them. But he just couldn't pull his gaze away from Tony's face. He wanted to watch him as he came. He hadn't been able to see Tony as he came before, and he wanted to see what face he made in the throes of absolute ecstasy.
He pulled Tony's nails out of his thighs and brought his arms over Tony's head. He kept moving, only now his face was inches away from the other man's. Their eyes were locked on each other.
He could see the individual drops of sweat on Tony's face. One in particular stuck to the tip of his nose. Unable to hold himself back he reached forward and licked the salty droplet off.
His body was tight, his backside ached, but he wasn't letting up, if anything, he moved faster, harder. Tony slipped in and out of him, every time Jethro went down, Tony would shove his hips up to push himself even further inside. The only sound in the room was the sound of their legs slapping together. Neither of them screamed out, swore, or made any other noise except heavy breathing.
"I love you," Jethro breathed just as his body tensed, his balls drew up and he came all over them. He cried out, slamming his ass harder onto Tony's cock to ride out his orgasm.
He felt a shudder course through Tony's body. He threw his head back, his mouth wide open in a silent scream, his eyes shut tightly. He looked positively gorgeous.
Jethro felt the liquid heat fill him. He fucked Tony's cock even harder, prolonging the orgasm. He wanted to see Tony like that forever.
After another moment, Tony stopped coming. Jethro collapsed on top of him, completely spent. Their bodies were slick with sweat and fluid. He should have been grossed out, should have been running up to take a shower, or something to clean up. That's what he did with every one of his wives, or any of his other encounters with men. But he felt different with Tony. He kind of liked it.
Tony grumbled deep in his chest. "You're not gonna push me away again, are you?" As a precaution, he wrapped an arm around Jethro's waist.
The older man chuckled. "Wasn't planning on it."
"Good." He took a deep breath. "My back hurts."
Jethro shrugged. "My ass hurts."
"That is your own damn fault." He wrapped his other arm around Jethro's shoulders and pulled him in tighter. He sighed heavily. "So, do you wanna talk now or later?"
"Later." Jethro moved his head so he could look into Tony's face again. He could see the big goofy grin cover the younger man's face. He couldn't help it, Tony always could make him smile more than anybody else. He figured it was going to get even worse now. "Right now, I just wanna go to bed."
Tony nodded. "Yeah, that'd be nice." He released his hold on Jethro. "It'll be good to sleep in something other than a hospital bed again."
The older man stood up, still sticky and sweaty, and still naked. Tony followed right after. "Shouldn't you still be in the hospital?" Jethro asked. "You just had a skin graft."
Tony gave him a look. "You just noticed that?"
Jethro glared his response. Tony shrugged. "I got my antibiotics, I told the doctors I wasn't going to be alone, and I signed out."
"Against medical advice?"
"Hey, I'm probably more likely to get an infection in the hospital than I am here. And here, I get great sex." He leaned in for a quick kiss before he started heading upstairs. He never bothered to grab his scrubs.
Jethro shook his head and followed him. Tony was probably going to be the death of him. But for some reason, he just couldn't find it in him to care.
Next chapter is the epilogue! Talk to me!
Bob