Disclaimer: I still don't own anything or anybody. No making money, just having fun writing fanfiction

Warnings: angst, drama, romance, hurt/comfort, slash, an OOC maybe

Author's note: Chapter names are still mixed up and I'm sorry for that. I would love to fix it but since I don't know how, that's quite impossible. If anybody of you guys would point it out to me that would be awesome :)

Connecting

When he arrived at his desk again, he and Gibbs were still the only one's present from their team. Nothing unusual since it was only 07:15. Kate and McGee were never late but neither were they in half an hour before work officially started.

Tony was actually glad the he and his again-boss were alone. He knew that Gibbs would want to know what he and the Director had discussed and he wouldn't leave the young man alone until he got his answer. Persistence and all that, you know the drill.

Sitting down at his desk he took a deep breath. He was relieved beyond measure to be able to stay. Talk about mood swings he thought sarcastically. Yesterday you wanted to leave and today leaving would be the apocalypse. It was true though. All had changed with Gibbs. As most things always did change with Gibbs. The man's influence on his life had always been strong but now it became obvious just how much Gibbs could influence him. And strangely he found he didn't mind one bit.

"You ok, DiNozzo?" the young man turned around startled. He had been lost deep in thought and hadn't even realized that Gibbs had stepped up behind him. "Yeah I'm good." He could feel his boss's body heat radiating and unconsciously tried to lean into it. He caught himself in time but still flushed with embarrassment. Good God, what was he doing?! He wasn't some needy pretty boy who wanted to be cuddled 24/7. He never had been.

"Hey, it's ok." Hands on his shoulders pulled slightly and made him relax against the strong body behind him. He knew exactly why Gibbs had chosen this position to comfort him. Everything else would have seemed suspicious to security in the building. However what they would be seeing now was a NCIS agent standing behind his employee going over some stuff or just talking. Nothing more, nothing less.

Still embarrassed but also grateful for the shared moment he let his head fall against Gibbs and relaxed. He knew he had to say something about his meeting. He just wanted to savour this. The body heat, the strong hands on his shoulders, slightly kneading the tension away.

Tony suddenly started talking before he knew what he was doing.

"I called Morrow yesterday after you had left. I asked him for a private meeting and he granted me one. That was why he called me into his office before. We talked a bit. I apologized for behaving like an insolent teenager. Well, maybe not in those exact words." He added almost sheepishly. After a reassuring squeeze from his boss he continued.

"I tried to explain why I wanted to leave without giving away too much. And also why I now wanted to stay. He linked it to you and your visit. Did he know you were coming to my home last night? How so?"

Tony tried adjusting his neck so that he could look at Gibbs but before he could really move Gibbs had moved from behind him to in front of him and sat down on his desk. His posture was relaxed instead of defensive and his arms weren't linked in front of his chest but placed left and right of his thighs.

"I was working late when I got your mail yesterday. I read it and saw that you had sent it The Director too. It was only a matter of time until he called me into his office. He practically forced me to visit you and bring you to change your mind."

That this was too much information and put into the wrong words on top of it, was clear as day light when Tony's face fell and he lowered his eyes to look at the floor.

"So you didn't really want to talk to me. You just had no choice." It wasn't as much a question as a statement but the hurt Tony obviously felt was dripping from each words, every uttered letter.

"God Tony, no. It wasn't like that. Not at all." He had no idea how to make this right again. Yesterday he had had time to form an apology beforehand but this? He had almost lost this man once already, and didn't want to lose him again… and maybe for good.

"Orders from the "Big Boss". I understand, really. It's ok." but it wasn't, not really. That much was obvious from the empty voice that was normally filled with life.

"Please Tony. Look at me. Listen to me. It wasn't like that. I need you to believe me that there was more to my showing up than that. Yeah I was but this all came out wrong. I would have shown up at your place either way. With or without orders. I didn't want you to go. I still don't want you to."

The last sentence was only a whisper. Tony couldn't help but look up at his boss and see the truth in his eyes. He hated feeling so… so helpless and insecure when it came to this man. It was just ridiculous. He could have anyone he wanted. Without so much as breaking a sweat. But this man? For once HE wanted somebody…him and he felt as shy as he had felt when he first asked a guy out for a date.

"I meant everything I said yesterday. Every single word. Really!" Tony slowly closed his eyes and admitted defeat. He wanted to believe Gibbs. He wanted the other man to have said the truth. He just wanted him. Full stop.

"Tony? Conference room." Startled he opened his eyes and wanted to read his boss's eyes but couldn't find anything but warmth. He slowly got up and followed his boss to the elevator. The doors opened almost immediately. It was funny, really. Maybe it knew that Gibbs wanted to use it again as his very special impromptu emergency conference room.

As soon as the car moved, Gibbs switched the stop button and the emergency light gave the small space an eerie glow. They didn't say a word. They just looked at each other. Gibbs slowly stepped up to him and soon he had invaded Tony's personal space.

"Come here." He whispered softly as he opened his arms for Tony. The younger man hesitated only a split second and then wrapped himself around Gibbs. He clung to him with all he had, intent on never letting go. He knew his thoughts were foolish but he couldn't help it.

Wrapping his arms around the body that clung to him, Gibbs couldn't help but sigh softly and smile at the closeness they shared. He knew this wouldn't and couldn't go any further right now. He was sure that Tony also wanted them to wait until making a step into that direction again. This was about comfort, reassurance even and the warmth that encompassed him made him feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Nice, Jethro. You're turning into a sap. He berated himself but he couldn't bring himself to mind this new development. It had been a long long time since he had felt this connected with somebody without having slept with them. It was new, exciting and calming at the same time.

When they let go of each other both felt better and smiled lightly. They were ready to face a new day at NCIS.

TBC

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