This is the last chapter of this story. Thanks everyone for your comments. They are always appreciated!

CHAPTER 13

As soon as they got back to the bullpen another case came in. This time, Tony joined the team out in the field for the first time since being injured. He got back into the swing of things without any trouble, diligently taking photos and doing sketches around the residence that was the scene of the crime. In fact, Tony was so intent upon doing a good job that he forgot to make jokes and talk about movies and girlfriends until Ziva asked him, in a concerned voice, if he was all right.

After that Tony made sure to point out that the deceased officer's wife was his choice for the prime suspect in her husband's shooting death. "It's always the wife. She reminds me of Rita Hayworth in the classic film Gilda. The casino boss finds out that his sensuous new wife and his right-hand man already know each other. Murder ensues."

"And how is that anything like this crime?" asked Ziva, annoyed. "There is no casino, and no right-hand man."

"Our deceased is Navy Lieutenant Commander Jeffries, Disbursing Officer, and that man over there," said Tony, pointing at a good-looking civilian who was comforting the red-headed widow out on the front lawn, "is being familiar enough with 'Gilda' to indicate that they've known each other for a while." He quoted, "'Doesn't it bother you at all that you're married?' And Gilda says, 'What I want to know is, does it bother you?' C'mon, Ziva, you gotta love it!"

Ziva frowned and said, "I thought her name was Marilee."

Tony just laughed and called to Gibbs, who was heading towards the van, "Boss?"

Gibbs didn't miss a beat, calling over his shoulder, "Better bring Gilda in for questioning, DiNozzo."

Tony was running on adrenaline – and the desire to make Gibbs pay attention to him – but by the late afternoon, he was pretty much out of steam. To make matters worse, Gibbs hadn't talked to him except to give him the occasional order. It was as if Tony was, once again, just one of the team. The way Gibbs was acting, you'd never think that there was anything between them. Tony had expected some little meeting of the eyes, a knowing gaze. God, that sounded sappy, but that was how he felt. By the time dinnertime rolled around and they were finishing up for the night, Tony was ready to go home – his home – and sack out.

Gibbs powered down his computer and said, "Nothing more we can do tonight. Gilda's lawyered up. Everyone go home." Ziva and Tim wasted no time in gathering their gear together and heading out. Tony stayed at his desk, knowing he had to have a word with Gibbs before any more time went by.

It looked as though Gibbs was thinking the same thing because he said, "My place. I'll pick up something on the way."

Tony nodded and although they took the elevator together down to the parking garage, neither of them said anything. They got in their own cars and drove towards Gibbs' home.

«•»«•»«•»«•»«•»«•»

After poking at the Chinese food with his chopsticks for a while, Tony gave up pretending he wanted to eat. Gibbs got up from the dining room table and went into the kitchen. When he returned he placed a cup of coffee in front of Tony and said, "It's the kind you like."

Tony sniffed it and smiled – hazelnut. Gibbs placed sugar and a small carton of cream at his elbow as if it were an offering. "Thanks, Boss."

Gibbs settled at the table, across from Tony, and studied him long enough to make him feel uncomfortable. "You're not easy," Gibbs said bluntly, as if he was having trouble getting the words out.

It took Tony a moment to catch on that Gibbs was referring to their earlier conversation. "Oh. No, I'm not easy." He waited to see if Gibbs was going to add anything to his statement, like 'I'm sorry' although Tony wasn't holding his breath.

"It was never about the sex, Tony," Gibbs said.

"Just so we're clear about what we're talking about here, you mean the sex we haven't had yet? The sex we haven't had because I don't jump into bed with every Tom, Dick and Harry? That is what you're talking about, right? Well, I don't sleep around even if I make out that I do. I might exaggerate sometimes and if you ever tell anyone I said that, I'll deny it and leave town," Tony joked.

"I got it, Tony," Gibbs said.

"I know it's not easy but still need you to talk to me. Jethro. Even though I think I know you, I can't always figure out what's going on inside that head of yours. You've been hot and cold, and sometimes you say things that have me wondering if I'm imagining this connection we have."

Gibbs stared at Tony and then he sighed and his shoulders sagged a little. "Yeah. Ever since you tackled me in Baltimore," he said, putting weight behind every word, "there's been something special between us, a connection. When I realized that we were heading into unknown territory, I got…I got cold feet, I guess you'd call it." He ran and hand over his mouth and inhaled a deep breath. "Look, what I'm trying to say is, I know that what we have together is special, so if…so when I mess up or head off in the wrong direction, I'm relying on you to remind me of what we mean to each other. Sometimes I can't see straight and I'm afraid it's gonna be your job to make me see. That is, if you want to take me on."

"Wow. Does this mean I get carte blanche to headslap you if you go off track, Jethro?" Tony loved that Gibbs was able to speak his mind like this and even though he was joking around, he was honored that Gibbs felt safe enough to open up. Tony had a feeling that he hadn't done so for a very long time.

Gibbs sent Tony a look that clearly said, 'Are you crazy?'

"Hey, I had to ask."

"Now why do I get the feeling that if I give you an inch you're gonna take a mile?"

"Because you know me so well?" Tony asked with a grin.

"Yeah, I do, Tony. And I hope I'll get to know you even better tonight."

Tony had to sit on his hands so he didn't reach out for Gibbs. "I think I need to go home tonight. I'm really beat and I think I'd regret it if we end up in bed right now. I want you but…I'm not sure I'm ready for this."

A flash of disappointment crossed Gibbs features, but he nodded. "You're right. We need to be well rested. Prepared. We'll make a plan. Get in supplies."

That made Tony laugh. "You make it sound like you're mounting a military strike. How about we play it by ear? Start with dinner or a drink or something?"

"Like a date?"

"Maybe."

Gibbs nodded and seemed to like that idea. "I might be a bit rusty but I can do that. Are you all right to drive home? You can still sleep here if you want," he offered.

Tony was tempted but for once he did the sensible thing. "I can drive. I'd like a goodnight kiss though. If that's all right without drawing up a campaign plan first."

Gibbs appeared to be amused but he didn't waste any time walking around the table and pulling Tony to his feet. "You never have to ask for a kiss," Gibbs said and gave him a kiss, gentle yet full of need, his hands running up Tony's back before settling on his ass.

Tony's arms went around Gibbs' neck and he tipped his head, moaning into the kiss. His heartbeat quickened and he leaned into Gibbs' solid body, enjoying the feeling of strength that emanated from the man, the familiar scent of his skin, the steady beat of Gibbs' heart under his hand where it rested on his chest. Tony shivered when Gibbs' tongue slowly swiped across his lips, tasting him, and the deep kiss that followed drew the breath right out of him and made him weak at the knees.

Their lips parted far too soon and left Tony panting.

Gibbs sighed against his cheek. "Don't keep me waiting too long."

«•»«•»«•»«•»«•»«•»

Tony spent the next morning at the DMV, getting his car's expired papers up to date, and it needed a tune-up after being in storage for almost five months. By the time he'd done a quick run around the supermarket, retrieved his best suit from the cleaners and went home to do his laundry, the day was pretty much gone. He was famished and heated up a dish of lasagna he'd picked up at an Italian market that sold pre-cooked meals.

Calling Gibbs crossed his mind about a hundred times that day, but what was he going to say? Can I come over so we can fuck for the first time and get it over with so I won't be so nervous about it any more? Or maybe, can we take this from the top and go out to dinner and a movie and act like dating a guy is just a walk in the park? It wasn't that he didn't want Jethro, because he did. It was just…actually, Tony didn't know what was holding him back, which was probably where the problem lay. God, he knew he was going to mess this up, no matter what approach he took. Okay, dinner alone, a drink and fall asleep to a movie. Maybe a film noir. Yeah, that was a plan he could live with.

Tony had just finished eating the lasagna, which wasn't half bad when accompanied by a large glass of wine, and was contemplating which film to watch, when there was a knock at his door. Most people used his doorbell so he was a little startled until he opened the door and found Gibbs standing there. The first thing Tony noticed was that Gibbs was wearing a finely knit sweater in a blue that matched his eyes. It looked like cashmere and he barely stopped himself from reaching out to stroke Gibbs' chest. The next thing he took in was that Gibbs appeared nervous, which was really odd because Tony couldn't recall ever seeing his boss in such a state.

Gibbs shifted his weight and cleared his throat, prompting Tony to step back and usher him inside with a broad sweep of his arm. They stood in the middle of Tony's living room and pretty much avoided looking at each other until Tony thought how ridiculous this was.

Apparently so did Gibbs because he asked, "Gonna offer me a drink?"

"Sure. Beer or something stronger?"

"Beer," said Gibbs, although his expression suggested he really wanted a bourbon.

They sat on the couch, an arm's length away from each other, their beers sitting untouched on the coffee table. Gibbs was looking at him intently but Tony wasn't sure where to start. He didn't even know what Gibbs' intentions were. Actually, the guy looked like he was about to go out on a date, and as soon as he thought that, Tony's stomach lurched – maybe Gibbs had dropped by on his way to a date with someone else, with a woman. Oh God. That thought hurt, like really hurt, and even though Tony tried to keep it in the pain must have shown on his face, because next thing he knew, Gibbs moved close and took hold of his hands.

"Tony, don't…don't. I never meant to hurt you, damn it. I never seem to be able to say the right thing, but I do care about you, a lot, and I'm... Damn it, I want to be with you, and if you'll give me a chance…"

Tony couldn't help laughing in relief. Now it was Gibbs' turn to look hurt. He withdrew his hands so Tony quickly said, "No, no! I'm not laughing at you. It's just that I've never heard you talk like that and I'm…I feel…" This was not a time for words. "Oh hell." Tony grabbed fistfuls of Gibbs' hair and kissed him hard, putting all of his pent-up feelings of love and desire and want into the kiss. Next thing he knew, he was being pressed into the couch and Gibbs was kissing him as if he couldn't get enough of him. Tony pushed back, wanting Gibbs to fight him, to prove he was willing to fight for him.

Gibbs took the cue and ground his hips against Tony's, breathing heavily against his neck. He pinned him down until Tony stopped struggling. There was no getting out from under Gibbs. He was heavy, solid muscle, and the feeling of being pinned in place, of being helpless and under Gibbs, was such an exquisite turn-on that Tony laughed with joy.

Gibbs lifted his head from where he was sucking on Tony's jaw, and looked at him with narrowed eyes. "You want…want this," he said, understanding Tony's need.

Tony nodded. "Can we…can we take this into the bedroom?" Gibbs looked at him with eyes so dark that Tony had trouble saying, "I've got studded condoms and mango lube."

Gibbs snorted and kissed him again, only this time he was slow and deliberate, with a warm, slippery tongue, and Tony forgot all about moving to the bedroom and ran his hands over the firm swell of Gibbs' ass and up his back. He gripped his shirt and pulled at it, shoving it up and out of the way so he could slide his hands across Gibbs' hot, damp skin. Tony stuck his nose in Gibbs' chest and inhaled. God, he smelled so good, like freshly cut pine and sweat.

They got hot and heavy for a while, exploring any exposed flesh they could get their hands and lips upon. They groped and grunted and humped against each other until Tony sank his teeth into Gibbs' shoulder. That must have been a green-light zone for Gibbs. He hauled Tony to his feet, nothing gentle about it, and said roughly, "Bedroom. Now."

Gibbs didn't seem to have a problem with the bed being a single. Tony had had it custom made, and it was wider and longer than the standard twin. By the time Tony had stripped off his shirt and had his pants unzippered, Gibbs was naked. For some reason that shook Tony. He'd expected Gibbs to be the same undershirt-and-boxers kind of guy he'd been in his own home. Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, Tony quickly followed suit, kicking off his pants and underwear, all the time admiring Gibbs' naked form.

Gibbs in really good shape for a guy who was over fifty, but it was his cock and balls that interested Tony. It wasn't just that Gibbs was well hung, which he was, with a thick dark, uncut penis – now Tony had the right to touch it, and he was dry-mouthed with anticipation. "I've…uh…I've never handled…uh…before." He could feel his face getting hot. Gibbs stepped close and waited, his nostrils flaring a bit, looking almost predatory. Suddenly it seemed like it was the most important thing in the world for Tony to reach out to touch the thickening penis that was jutting out of the thatch of dark hair at Gibbs' groin. He wrapped his fingers around the shaft and it immediately twitched and grew in his palm. Holy hell.

Encouraged by the resulting groan from Gibbs' parted lips, Tony tightened his grip and slowly ran his hand up and down the shaft, thinking that this was just about the hottest thing he'd ever done, made even more hot because this was Gibbs. Fuck, he had his hand on Gibbs' cock and, from the sounds Gibbs was making, Tony was doing it right. Not that he didn't know how to handle a cock, but handling another guy's cock was not exactly the same as handling your own. Still, Tony knew what he liked so he made the same moves on Gibbs and Gibbs arched a little and drove his penis into Tony's fist.

Gibbs, his eyes half-closed, hands now clasped behind Tony's neck, swayed a little and growled, "Fuck, yeah, that's good." Encouraged, and feeling a bit bolder, Tony continued to stroke Gibbs' hardening shaft and ran his thumb over the leaking head. He tugged at Gibbs' balls with his other hand, getting off on the way Gibbs dropped his forehead to Tony's shoulder and made such fucking hot sounds in his ear.

"That's good, that's good. I like it slow. More, more...yeah. Yeah, you got it. Jesus, that feels so…Tony." Gibbs raised his head, his blue eyes so dark they were unrecognizable. He pulled Tony close and kissed him, his tongue slow and languorous, his hands sliding down to squeeze and caressing Tony's ass.

Tony's penis prodded at Gibbs' thigh, and need made Tony whine into his mouth, and finally, finally, Gibbs' hand was on his shaft – long, slow strokes – and Tony almost came from pleasure. He shoved his face in Gibbs' neck and breathed raggedly against his sweat-slick skin while Gibbs stroked his erection. The weird thing was that although this was pretty much the first time Tony had been intimate with someone he cared about, and his whole upper body was flushed with excitement, and he could feel his balls tightening, he felt comfortable in Gibbs' arms. It was as if he was safe for the first time in his life and he actually sobbed before he got hold of his emotion and swallowed it down.

They sank onto the bed, Gibbs half on top of Tony, holding him down. Tony reached up and slipped his fingers through Gibbs's hair and pulled him down. "Fuck me," Tony whispered against his mouth.

Gibbs kissed him with passion and determination, dominating their every movement. His tongue slid across Tony's lips while his free hand ran down Tony's thigh, coercing the younger man to lift his leg.

Tony slid his feet up the sheet, knees high, exposing himself, an invitation for Gibbs to lie between his legs. He stroked Tony's cock, finishing every long, firm stroke with a twist, the edge of his thumb teasing the slit, bringing Tony close to the edge. Tony was moaning and trembling all the while, his heart thrumming in his ears, wondering how much more of this he could take. Gibbs got busy mouthing Tony's nipples and sucking on them until Tony was panting and squirming and crying out, "Jethro, Jethro!"

His mouth, nipples, balls and penis were sucked and kissed and loved by Gibbs, and Tony lay there, helpless against the onslaught on his senses. There was a hand down there, moving over his aching balls, slicked-up fingers rimming his sensitive flesh, rubbing and then intruding, two of them at once. They caused a burn, a welcome pain that was a precursor to a jolt of pleasure so intense that Tony almost came right then and there. Tony begged for more, fiercely telling Gibbs to get on with it but Gibbs proceeded at his own pace.

There was pressure and pain and then Gibbs' cock was inside him. He couldn't catch his breath. Oh God, oh God! "I want…I want…"

Hovering, holding off, Gibbs watched Tony's face intently. "Tell me," he grunted.

"I want all of you," Tony said, hungry for more. "All of you, Jethro." Panting, groaning and pleading, Tony gripped Gibbs's shoulders and wrapped his legs around his waist, arching to get all of him, up to the very hilt, as deep inside him as possible. Gibbs thrust slowly and then faster, and he reached between them to slide his hand along the length of Tony's cock. It only took a couple of strokes and a twist of his hand to get Tony to shudder and cry out, "Fuck! Fuck, I'm cumming," and ejaculate over himself. Tony closed his eyes and collapsed bonelessly, thinking that now he could die happy.

Gibbs continued to pound into Tony's body with a sense of urgency. He stiffened and his shoulders shook when he came deep inside of Tony. Letting his weight settle on top of Tony, he breathed harshly. Gibbs didn't move for a while, just lay there sweating until Tony complained that he was getting squashed. Gibbs hugged Tony tightly and rolled them onto their sides, his softening penis slipping out.

"All of me," Gibbs said. Tony opened his eyes slowly and sent him a questioning look. "You have all of me, Tony," Gibbs said huskily. "I don't have any more to give."

In reply, Tony wrapped his arms around Gibbs's muscular back and hid his face in the crook of his neck. "You're everything to me," Tony whispered, his voice muffled against his lover's damp skin.

«•»«•»«•»«•»«•»«•»

"You okay?"

Tony turned his head a little and looked up at Gibbs' face. "Sure, why not?" He was resting in the warm comforting embrace of Gibbs' arms and he couldn't have been happier.

Gibbs said, "Well, I don't think this is exactly the place either of us thought we'd end up."

"Making love in my bed?" asked Tony, with a grin.

"In any bed." Then Gibbs amended, "And we either need to get you a bigger bed or…"

"Or I move in with you?" The thought of moving in with Gibbs wasn't nearly as scary as it had been a few days ago. Sex and the resulting intimacy does change everything, Tony thought.

"I thought we already settled this," Gibbs teased, repeating Tony's earlier words.

"Only if you're sure," Tony said cautiously.

"I'm damned sure," Gibbs said gruffly.

"I don't want to mess things up for you, at home or at work," Tony said.

"This affects you just as much as it does me." Gibbs threw back the sheet and slid out of bed, saying, "Wait here."

Tony chuckled. "I ain't going nowhere. I don't have the energy to do anything since my boyfriend fucked me into the mattress." Tony watched with lazy interest as Gibbs went over to his pile of clothing, apparently looking for something. He heard a small metallic sound and then Gibbs returned to bed, holding something in his hand.

Tony grinned and Gibbs saw him smiling and asked, "What are you smiling about?"

"Just trying to figure out if I like the view better coming or going," Tony said, leering at Gibbs' cock and balls.

Gibbs smirked and slid back into bed, shifting and rearranging things until they were back in their previous position with Tony lying on his chest.

"So?" Tony asked, trying to pry open Gibbs' hand where he was clutching whatever he'd taken from his pants pocket. For a minute Gibbs put up a fight before giving in. He opened his hand and there, resting on his palm, was what appeared to be a house key. Tony picked it up and looked at Gibbs questioningly.

Gibbs gave a slight shrug and said, "A key to my home."

Tony could tell that this was important to Gibbs but he couldn't help noting, "But you never lock your doors, Jethro."

"Maybe it's time, with you living there. Makes sense; you have that big, expensive TV, wristwatches that cost a month's salary. Not to mention all those designer clothes. Can't leave the front door open to thieves."

"Oh, so this is about being practical, is it?"

"Can't have people walking in on us," Gibbs reasoned.

"Uh huh. Like when we're…watching TV?"

Gibbs peered at the ceiling for a moment and then agreed, "Yeah." He waited a beat and added, "Or when we're fucking on the couch."

Tony couldn't stop laughing. He loved this Gibbs, the man who could walk around naked, bring him to orgasm practically by just looking at him, and be just plain be silly. "I love you, Jethro," he said, finding it so easy to say.

Gibbs handed Tony the key, his expression softening when he looked at Tony with what Tony knew to be love, even if Gibbs couldn't say the words aloud.

But Gibbs, being Gibbs, was full of surprises, so after he kissed Tony softly and turned out the light, he said, low and sweet, "I love you, too, Tony. Always will."

«•»«•»«•»«•»«•»«•»

In the end, Gibbs told Ducky about how he and Tony had fallen in love, moved in together, and would deal with Vance if the day ever came when he found out about them. Not in quite so many words, but Ducky got the gist when Gibbs said, "DiNozzo's at my place now. Keeping it quiet."

Ducky congratulated them and took them out to dinner at a fine restaurant where the waiters sang opera in between courses.

Tony confided in Jimmy Palmer, and told him that he and Gibbs had fallen in love, together, and would deal with Vance if they were ever outed. "I am so fucking in love with him, it's insane, Jimmy, and sometimes I lie there in his arms at night and I think holy hell, how did this ever happen? I mean what a wake-up call. And don't you dare tell anyone and I mean anyone because this really has to be kept quiet, except you're the only one to know, okay?"

Jimmy hugged Tony and couldn't stop grinning all day, making Abby, who witnessed the embrace – and Gibbs glowering at them – ask Jimmy if he and Tony were doing the wild thing.

Several years later, after Ziva had gone back to Israel, and McGee had moved on to head Cyber Crimes and Vance married Rochelle and mellowed a lot, Gibbs and Tony threw a party and invited all of their friends and colleagues – Ducky, Dino Balboa, Jimmy Palmer and Breena, Abby, McGee, Dorneget and Borin, and, of course, Jackson Gibbs and Senior DiNozzo – to a cookout in the back yard of their new house. And when they held hands in front of the sizeable crowd and announced that they had been married at City Hall the day before, nobody seemed very surprised.

Tony and Gibbs kissed while everyone clapped and hooted – although in order to get Gibbs to kiss him in public Tony had had to promise his husband an entire week of wake-up blowjobs while Gibbs drank coffee in bed. Tony didn't let on that it was hardly a hardship to suck Gibbs' cock at any time of the day but he was pretty sure from the sly look on his face that he already knew that. As soon as they had finished kissing, Gibbs moved over to his brand new gas grill (with flavorizer bars and three cooking areas) that was a wedding gift from Tony, and he called out, "Okay, who wants their steak well-done?"

«•»«•»«•» the end «•»«•»«•»