A/N: An apology - and another "Thank You" to Gottahavemyncis -
"The apology - for not stressing how hard she worked on this with me - back when it was first written. Could not have done it without her.
And the "Thank You" for all the time/work you put into helping this come out right, back then.
Hands down - the most awesome BETA!
And now...
bring a fan...and maybe a tissue, too.
"I'm glad we get to slow down for a while." Jackson huffed as he sat on one of the kitchen chairs as soon as they got inside the cabin Tim had rented for their stay. "Talking about slowing down, did you say the bedroom with the big bed is for me?"
Tim blushed. "I didn't think you'd want to sleep on a small bunk bed, Jack."
"I may be getting old, Tim, but I can still hack it in tough spots." Jackson affectionately corrected him. "There is no way I'll be taking that big bed while the two of you are stuck on bunk beds! I'll be perfectly fine sleeping on a bottom bunk. And don't argue with me!"
Tim smiled as he shooed Jackson off to do as he wished while he and Leroy put their luggage away. Jack waved his hat at them as he headed outside to explore the place and its outdoor charm, claiming he wouldn't be back until it was time to start dinner at five. As the two men glared at him, he added that he had his door key and phone on him and he was a big boy, he'd be fine, before locking the door as he closed it behind himself on his way out
Sharing a laugh at the elder man's protestations, even as the door closed behind him, Leroy and Tim froze in their movements. Their laughter died out as they both felt the magnetic pull to each other, their eyes darkening with want as the distance between them shrank and arms found each other in a haze of embraces and blazing trails as everything blending together when the wave of passion crashed over them so fast and strong, they were caught in its strength.
Somehow, they made their way to the bedroom, not even making it onto the big bed in a heap as heated hands now traveled desperate paths under the barriers of clothing that were soon magically gone, leaving them both beautifully naked, freezing them on their feet, their haste forgotten.
As each drank in the raw beauty of the other for an endless moment thick with what they couldn't express, their eyes were drawn to the bottomless well of desire and hunger in each other's steely gazes, their cocks jumped to attention. Eyes still on each other and hands now reaching out to cradle and caress the other's rapidly rising, pulsing rods, soon both were taking the other ever so much closer to that edge they'd stood in sight of all day.
No sound between them, save the breathing that was quickly becoming ragged and loud. For the first time since Friday night, no move from either of them to turn up the heat with a kiss they both knew would pour gasoline on the already roaring fire.
With gentle tugs and hurried sweeps across the tips of each other's now weeping cocks, it wasn't long before the edge loomed directly in front of them, their ragged breathing and glazed eyes leading the way. Finally, it was as if their lips couldn't stand to be apart any longer, with their bodies quaking in near release, their mouths came together in a heated crush, tongues instantly dancing erotically as they both crashed over the atmosphere, finally moaning in absolute ecstasy, their free hands holding each other up.
***NCIS****
Laying cuddled together in the euphoric aftermath, Tim couldn't help running his fingers through Leroy's hair, even as they both still fought to regain their breathing. "Love you, Leroy." He breathed out.
The older man smiled softly, reaching out his own hands to Tim's cheek in response. "Never doubted it."
"Does it bother you to hear me say it often?"
Leroy chuckled. "Twice hardly counts as often, Tim. And no, it doesn't. You just don't need to - when I see it in everything you do – everything you worry about – plan for."
Tim smiled as he went silent, letting his hands that were caressing his lover's hair with great affection, speak for him.
Leaning closer, Leroy claimed Tim's mouth, sensually and invitingly, letting Tim return the tenderness at will and soon, they lay wrapped in each other's arms, their mouths locked together in that timeless passion filled dance that only the need to breathe could disrupt.
Taking in gasps of air, Tim laid his head on his lover's shoulder and snuggled closer to him. "God, I don't want to be apart from you for six months." He moaned soulfully.
Instantly, Leroy's arms were around him comfortingly as he spoke soothingly in his ear. "I know, Tim. But we both agree that you're right. It has to be done. We'll get through it."
Tim silently nodded into his lover's shoulder but the trembling that came over him suddenly was beyond his control, now that he'd slipped and opened that Pandora's Box again and his emotions were quick to escape.
Now that they were truly alone without anywhere else they had to be, he could let it all out and he found that now that the lid was off everything he'd kept bottled up about this life-changing decision – his heart being torn apart. He'd never felt so happy; so complete and so loved in his life than what he'd found with Leroy and he was walking away from it; from him for six whole months!
Holding Tim through his moment of emotional release, Leroy felt tears in his own eyes. He hadn't realized just how right his father was when he'd said Tim's heart was breaking over this decision. It was up to Leroy to make sure his lover didn't lose faith that this monumental sacrifice he was getting ready to make would not tear them apart; that they'd still be as strong, if not stronger, through it and when Tim was back home with him.
Waiting for the younger man's emotions to calm, he began soothing him with strokes up and down his back until he felt Tim relax, his breathing evening out into sleep, as Leroy leaned over and kissed him on the head, "Everything will work out, Tim. Trust me."
Slipping from the bed, he stepped into his clothes, headed into the bathroom and quickly washed up before heading back to his lover, warm, wet hand towel in hand to wash him. Being careful not to wake him, Gibbs savored this time while he cleaned Tim up.
Being quick to toss the hand towel back into the portable hamper they'd set up, he stripped himself out of his clothes and slipped back into bed. This time he lay behind his lover, lifting the man's torso just enough to snuggle the younger man onto his own chest. Dragging the blanket up over both of them, he wrapped his arms around Tim, kissed him on the temple again and happily drifted off to sleep.
***NCIS***
Leroy woke when he heard his father enter to the cabin. Glancing at his watch, he was surprised to find it wasn't yet five. Concerned, he carefully slipped from the bed, being cautious not to wake Tim. Quickly donning his clothes, he silently left the room to go talk to his father.
"Dad? Not five yet, Everything alright?"
"Hello, Jethro. Nothing to worry about, I just felt like getting started on dinner a little early; figured the two of you would be off checking the place out together. Everything alright? Seems awfully quiet in here."
"Tim's asleep."
"Oh? Is he alright?"
Leroy sighed and shook his head. "No. not really. He's as tough as nails, Dad, does anything anyone asks of him at work, never complains. Not even when he's being treated like crap. When I look back and remember the times he was walked on; treated like he didn't matter…."
"That's the past, Son. What's that got to do with now?" Jackson argued stubbornly.
"He's always kept everything bottled up."
"Like you, ya mean."
"Yeah. Just like me." Leroy admitted with a sigh of frustration.
"I'm guessing he finally let the cork out of the bottle?"
"Yeah."
"He's not feelin' too good about that decision of his, is he?"
"He's scared it will backfire on us."
"Understandable fear to be feelin', Jethro."
"Yeah. I know."
"Best you can do is give him your word that it won't. That'll do the trick."
Leroy quirked his eyebrow at his father.
"Don't think I don't know that team of yours lives by your promises as well as your rules. Tim's no different. Obviously, he's living by your promises more than the rest of them. And his wanting to live by your rules is why he's determined to go this route. I commend you for supporting him on it."
"Thanks, Dad. And you're right. He does put a lot of faith in me. I'm not gonna let him down."
"I know that, Son. And more importantly, so does Tim."
***NCIS****
The warm and steady heartbeat of his lover, wrapped around him, woke Tim from his nap. Feeling strangely lighter in spirit, he stretched as he opened his eyes, to find those cobalt blue ones watching him with enough concern that it brought Tim's memory back online.
"I'm sorry I fell apart like that." He sat up and blinked several times, still trying to clear his vision completely as he voiced his first thought.
The older man was quick to sit up as well. "Nothing to be sorry about, Tim. Just wished you'd let it out sooner; talked to me sooner so it didn't take hold of ya like that." Leroy's reply was quick yet reassuring with just a little bit of reprimand that let Tim know this really was affecting him as well.
"Now that it's out in the open, I will." Tim promised as he looked back at his lover with trust and appreciation that he could talk about it, their arms wrapped around each other's waist.
"Good. Ready to eat? Dad's been slaving away in the kitchen."
"Yeah." Tim still didn't move to get out of bed.
"Something wrong?"
"When are you gonna tell me exactly what's going through your mind about it?" Tim asked as he looked him straight on, his own eyes now filled with concern.
"I think my gut reaction said it all, don't you?" Leroy asked him somberly.
"No, I don't." Tim replied honestly. "Promise me we'll talk about it. Please."
The older man's compassionate gaze trapped Tim's, anchoring the younger man as he offered him what he needed to hear: the truth. "Yeah, Tim. We'll talk about it." His lover promised. "We'll talk about it whenever you need to. I'm as unhappy about six months of separation as you are. Let's leave it at that and make the most of this trip you've put so much of yourself into for me, alright?"
"I know. I'm sorry. I got caught up in the moment and…" The younger man offered, faltering a bit as he got up off the bed.
"Sssh. I get it. I was in it with you." Leroy tenderly kissed him into silence.
Tim nodded as he pulled back from the kiss to breathe freely for a spell and slip into his clothes. Stepping back into Leroy's space, he kissed him back, ghosting his hand down Leroy's cheek. When he withdrew from the kiss, he whispered "Love you so much." just before he slipped out the door without another word, suddenly needing some distance
***NCIS***
Tim seemed to have left his meltdown back in the bedroom, his normal uplifting and cheerful demeanor back in place by the time Leroy had joined him and his father at the dinner table. With Jackson's animated details of how nice the Marina and surrounding area was, dinner and clean up soon passed in a hurry.
With coffees in hand, they headed out to the spacious deck and settled into the lounge chairs there, a couple of warm blankets and a clear winter sky. Having moved two of the lounge chairs next to each other, Tim and Leroy snuggled together to keep warm. Quietly taking in the breathtaking sunset across the water, the lovers were caught up in their intimate moment. They never even heard Jackson slip off to bed some time later, knowing there was an early morning wakeup call on the horizon, leaving them alone in the night.
