A/N: So, apparently I lied. I did find the time to write after all. xD
Thanks for your awesome reviews! Hope you like this chapter, too! :)

Chapter Seven

Baltimore, 2001.

Tony slowly walked towards Gibbs and sat down behind his desk, the phone still attached to his ear as he scribbled down something on his notepad. Gibbs squinted a bit, only just making out the words 'Navy Guy', before he heard Tony say thanks to whoever it was on the other end. He looked up and was finally met with the familiar set of green eyes. The guarded expression was still on the younger man's face, but it had changed somehow and it made Gibbs instantly feel better.

"Well, it's confirmed, he's a cop," Tony said now as Danny walked over. "A navy cop. Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs."

Tony barely contained a chuckle as Danny made to unhook the cuffs around Gibbs' wrists. But Gibbs didn't look at the other detective. His eyes were still fixed on Tony who was now smiling brilliantly at him and that grin didn't even seem all that fake to him. He felt a smile build on his own lips now and for a brief moment Gibbs wondered when he had last smiled like that because he simply didn't remember. Tony muttered something under his breath now and Gibbs could only just make out the words.

"That explains so much."

Gibbs felt his smile grow even bigger but before he could answer, Danny cut into their conversation, effectively breaking up their eye contact. Tony chuckled again as Gibbs said he meant to get caught by them and shook his head.

"Who are you kidding? I chased you half a block and I had you like a gazelle in the Serengeti."

Gibbs sucked in a breath and blinked once before he caught Danny looking at him with a curious expression on his face, so he hurried to put the smile back on his face, and damn, it wasn't even that hard to do because it was so good to see the kid again.

*NCIS*NCIS*

Alexandria, 1991.

"You might be fast, man," Tony panted ever so slightly, sweat dripping from him as if he had just been standing under a waterfall, "But you're still just a gazelle and I'm a damn cheetah."

Jethro let out a laugh, leaning against the outside wall of their motel. Despite being used to long runs due to his marine training, he had to admit that the kid had indeed been faster than him. He had had trouble keeping up with him, but he was still able to fool himself into thinking that Tony was almost ten years younger than him, so that it wasn't all that bad.

"I know when I'm beaten," he finally conceded, running a sweaty hand through his hair. "Not bad."

"Not bad, he says," Tony gave back, grinning. "I'm awesome and you know it."

Jethro snorted again and subtly shook his head. If the kid was one thing it was fun and Jethro suddenly realized that he was really glad he had met him. As unusual as their first meeting had been and as different as they were, he hadn't missed the similarities between them. Sure, he didn't know much about the younger man, but he felt so comfortable around him that it felt almost unreal to him.

Tony was still smiling at him when they made their way up to their room. They had spent most of the morning in bed, exploring each other bodies and searching for hot spots, before Tony had decided they should go out for lunch and then for a run because he had to stay in shape after all. Jethro hadn't complained, he liked working out and even though he hadn't gone running in quite a while now, he had to realize that he had missed it. Maybe not everything he used to be was that bad after all.

He watched the younger man throw himself onto the bed, sighing loudly, once they were in their room. Jethro made his way over in a more paced fashion and sat down on the edge of the bed, fiddling with his shoelaces.

"I have to admit," Tony said, sitting up and bumping their shoulders. "You're more fun than I had anticipated."

Jethro turned and raised an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"No offense," Tony grinned again, raising his hand to run it through Jethro's salt and pepper hair. "But you looked pretty messed up on Sunday."

"That why you chatted me up?" Jethro couldn't help but grin as he leaned into Tony's touch.

"No, not really. There's just something about you," Tony looked away now and Jethro could just make out the faintest of blushes creeping up his cheeks. "I mean, you're pretty interesting, not to mention sexy."

Jethro laughed and shook his head again. "Don't know about that."

"Trust me, you are," Tony replied, moving closer to him ever so slightly. "Worth spending the rest of my summer break with."

"Yeah?" Jethro answered tilting his head to give the younger man better access as his lips descended onto his neck.

"Oh yeah," Tony mumbled, clearly preoccupied now. "I like you and it's only one more day anyway."

"True," Jethro chuckled and then let himself be flipped over and pinned to the bed.

*NCIS*

Jethro looked around and wondered why in the world so many people would bother showing up here at that filthy excuse of a bar. He probably wasn't one to talk because he was there, too, but he was pretty sure that his reasons were entirely different to those of the others. He liked to watch Tony work and he noticed that his easy way with people certainly earned him the much needed tips. Jethro still didn't know what the deal was with the kid because if he was friends with those rich kids, he certainly could have gotten a better job, maybe even from one of their fathers. Speaking of which, why did his parents not pay for the kid? It couldn't certainly be in their best interest to have their son work in a dump like that. But all of it was none of Jethro's business and he was fairly certain that he wouldn't get an answer even if he asked.

Their conversation earlier today came back into his mind again and he wondered if Tony really meant what he had said. Did he really like him that much to give up all his remaining days with his friends, just to fool around with him? Jethro simply didn't get it. It wasn't like this would lead them anywhere and surely, friends were more important than a fleeting affair. But as he watched Tony turn around and give him a broad, genuine smile, he realized that maybe it was worth it after all. It had certainly helped him get out of his funk and even though he was sure that he would fall back into that big, dark pit as soon as Tony would leave that hotel room tomorrow morning, it had been all he needed even if only for a little while. He still didn't know what was up with him, but those last couple of days had been special and although he was sure that Tony wouldn't remember him a year from now, he didn't mind.

"Here, for you," Tony interrupted his train of thought as he placed a shot in front of him.

"You sure?" Jethro asked, remembering the kid's reluctance when it came to alcohol.

"Yup, last day, come on. To us and an awesome week," Tony laughed and held up his own glass before he downed it in one gulp.

Jethro did the same, wincing at the much too sweet taste of the drink.

"To us," he finally repeated, feeling his stomach give a jolt as Tony directed one of those big smiles at him again.

*NCIS*

"Tonight was fun," Tony almost giggled as Jethro led him into their room.

They had done countless shots and while Jethro didn't feel drunk, he wasn't exactly sober either and Tony certainly was more than just a little tipsy. How he had managed to serve drinks and get paid like that, Jethro had no idea, but he sure as hell didn't mind.

"So, I've got plans," Tony said now, reaching out for him and grabbing the collar of his shirt. "And they don't involve clothes."

"That so?" Jethro grinned and was just about to strip off his t-shirt when Tony drew him closer and before Jethro could do more than blink once, planted a kiss on his mouth.

Jethro stiffened up, his heart suddenly racing in his chest, but Tony didn't seem to notice as he kept his hold on him. Jethro was just about to step away as Tony's tongue almost tentatively traced his lips and the older man still didn't know what was happening exactly when he felt himself kiss the kid back. He could feel Tony smile into their kiss before their tongues met up and Jethro felt the rug pulled out from under his feet. He didn't want this, this was too real, this was too soon and yet he couldn't help but let the kiss continue. It felt good, it was demanding and Jethro felt himself claimed in a way he had almost forgotten.

Tony finally broke away from him when the need to breathe became overwhelming. He just stared at him for a long moment, his green eyes shining with something that Jethro had no name for.

"Come on," Tony whispered and pulled him onto the bed with him.

Jethro had expected him to continue to make out, but instead, Tony bent over and rummaged through his bag until he found what he had been looking for and pulled out a Polaroid camera.

"Let's take a photo," he said then.

"What for?" Jethro asked with a smile on his lips. "To put it into your black book?"

A dark expression settled on Tony's face for a moment but just when Jethro wanted to apologize, he had composed himself and was actually grinning at him again.

"No, but that's not a bad idea," he said and Jethro felt himself relax again. "Come on, one picture to remember this. Us."

Jethro just nodded and then scooted closer to him, so that they were cheek to cheek, as Tony reached out his hand and took a self-portrait of them. Jethro snatched the photo from the camera and then shook it until the first outlines of their faces appeared on the surface.

"Kelly loves watching these pictures appear," he then said, his eyes still fixed on the paper in his hand.

It was only when Tony leaned closer to look at the picture himself and asked "Kelly?" that Jethro realized what he had just said.

He felt his heart sink and saw his hands starting to shake violently. How could he have forgotten? How could he have said a thing like that? How could he talk to Tony, of all people, about Kelly? What the hell was wrong with him? He blinked a couple of times, trying to get rid of the feeling of dread and the tears that threatened to escape his eyes. What the hell had he been thinking?

"She your ex?" Tony asked now, completely unaware of Jethro's inner turmoil.

"What?"

"Kelly? Is she your ex-girlfriend?"

Jethro just continued to stare at him in hopes of actually understanding what the hell the kid was talking about.

"Wow," Tony let out a laugh, completely misinterpreting Jethro's silence. "You must still like her. Bet she was great in the sack."

Blind rage suddenly gripped him and he would have no idea later when exactly he had gotten up from the bed or when exactly he just lunged out and hit Tony squarely on the jaw with his fist. It was only after he saw the shocked look on the younger man's face that he realized what he had just done. But before he could do anything about it, Tony had jumped up from the bed, pressing a hand against his jaw as if to check whether or not it was broken.

"What the hell, man?" he shouted now. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"

Jethro didn't answer, he just stood there, staring at the younger man and yet not really seeing him. He had made a terrible mistake in coming here, had made a terrible mistake in hooking up with Tony.

"Hey!" Tony demanded his attention as he got into his face. "Don't you want to apologize?"

"N-No," Jethro replied calmly, still trying to get his shaking hands under control. "I don't want to see you again. Get out."

"What's happening?" Tony asked and his voice was considerably quieter now, but his eyes were still shining furiously. "What the hell are you thinking?"

"Just… get out," Jethro hissed distractedly as he stepped away from the younger man, but he wouldn't let him as he grabbed him by the collar of his shirt again, but this time not to draw him in for a kiss.

"Get out?" Tony fumed. "Who do you think you are? You think you can hit me just like that? When I've done nothing wrong? You know what? Fuck you. Maybe my first impression of you has been right after all. Maybe you are just like my dear old dad, too much of a drunkard to realize what's really happening. Maybe I should have let you drive that night, maybe you'd have ended up just like my mom, wrapped around a goddamn tree or maybe it's my own fault that I got hit, huh? Is that it?"

Jethro stared at him with eyes wide open, trying to say something, but no words would come out of his mouth.

"You know, Ben or whatever the fuck your name is," Tony spat out. "I don't know what the hell your problem is, but I thought you actually liked me. I thought you were having just as much fun as I was. Because, the fuck, I thought we had hit it off, man. I thought that… I don't know what I thought, but apparently I was wrong. God, I'm so stupid. I can't believe I blew off a date with my all-time crush from high school for you."

"Tony," Jethro finally found his voice to interrupt the younger man, but he wouldn't let him this time as he held on tighter to his shirt so that Jethro found it harder to breathe by the second.

"No, you don't get to say anything anymore. I don't know what your problem is, but if I were you I'd fix it. And fast. Because some time, there won't be someone as stupid as I am and let you get away with this shit and then you'll end up much worse, trust me. So, yeah, I'll be going, but you sure as hell don't get to say a word to me ever again."

He let go of him now, quickly throwing his stuff into his bag and then, without as much as a single look at Jethro, stormed out the room, slamming the door behind him on the way out. The older man just stood there for a very long time, trying to understand what the hell had just happened. He shouldn't have hit him, he knew that, the kid hadn't known what he was joking about after all, but Tony was wrong about all the other stuff, wasn't he? He wasn't so fucked-up… was he?

Jethro let himself sink down onto the bed that still smelled of their earlier activities and picked up the discarded Polaroid. He stared at the two smiling and carefree faces for a very long time until the first tear that escaped his eye smudged a corner of the photo.

What had he done?