Waking up Sunday morning, neither Tim nor Leroy moved out of the other's reach; instead they snuggled together, Tim, lying strewn across his lover's chest, the older man's arms around him with unyielding reassurance. Being able to lay there and not worry about what time it was or where they had to go next was relaxing in itself and enjoying each other's talent for knowing when silence was golden was an added bonus.

Finally, needing to get up to heed the call of Mother Nature, they forced themselves to get up and took turns doing their business before taking a leisurely shower together, each sensually washing the other, no deliberate move to turn this quiet time together, that resembled those months before they'd taken things to the higher plane, into anything more. It was blissful but it wasn't meant to last all morning.

Surprisingly enough, once they'd showered and returned to lounging in bed together, it was Leroy who broke the silence, with a question that had long been on his mind, the first of several, actually. "Spent a lot of money on that trip, Tim."

"Every penny was worth it." The young man answered without hesitation as he lounged next to his lover.

"Not arguin' that. Trip of a lifetime. I need to know you didn't bankrupt yourself to do it." Leroy advised him, eyes locked on the younger man's.

"I didn't. Penny sold her house and moved overseas with her latest love interest. She gave me half of the money from the sale; gave Sarah half – but made her put most of hers in savings. "

"If you had that, why sell the Porsche?"

"I sold the car before Penny even thought of selling her house."

"Ah. That why you were able to get the Lincoln Hybrid you wanted and still pay for the trip? And you never said a word because it was all part of the secret?"

"Yeah. I promise you, I'm fine. I didn't go so far that I have to worry about living paycheck to paycheck. I've invested smarter this time – what I had left after paying for the trip, that is."

"Good." Leroy kissed him gently. "Proud of ya."

Tim smiled. "Thank you. C'mon, your father must be starving by now." He reluctantly drew back from his lover, climbing out of bed, heading for his clean clothes on the chair.

"He knows his way around a kitchen, Tim." Leroy replied dryly as he, too forced himself to get out of bed and get dressed into a comfortable pair of jeans.

Tim huffed out a laugh as he slid a pair of comfortable slacks over his otherwise naked bottom half; not wanting the tell-all fit of sweat pants or the too tight fit of jeans while they weren't alone in the house. "Maybe so, but it's not fair to make him take care of himself while he's staying with us."

Tim froze. Us. He'd never said that before in that context. It felt good to say it – sounded wonderful to his ears – but he worried that he was being presumptuous about Leroy feeling comfortable with saying it or with him saying it about the older man's home.

Leroy smiled as he came to stand beside his lover, swooping in for a gentle kiss and an unexpected teasing kneading of Tim's behind before pulling back to grin almost wickedly as he remarked. "Guess you gotta point there. We really should make sure he's not tryin' to burn our kitchen down."

***NCIS***

By ten, the three of them had eaten breakfast, pitched in to clean it up and retired to the living room to enjoy some quiet family time.

"Haven't seen any books from you. Haven't even seen your typewriter. You give up that part of yourself completely, Tim?" Leroy asked as they settled onto the couch while Jackson took a comfortable seat in the chair nearby, the fire warming the room along with the early afternoon bright sunshine through the back porch doors.

Tim nodded as he swallowed hard. Sitting next to his lover, he knew there was no reason not to bare his soul to the man who'd taken his heart and treated him with nothing but love and kindness since, even with Jackson present. There was no need for secrets between them. "Yeah. Ever since that lunatic….I just can't ever go through something like that again, you know? Every time I think of how scared out of her mind Abby must have been, I…"

"Wasn't your fault." The kind reassurance was rewarded with a tiny smile of thanks as Tim nodded again.

"I know. Or at least part of me does."

"What lunatic?" Jackson asked worriedly "What happened?"

"I'm gonna go get us some more coffee." Tim offered as he stood and left the room carrying their coffee mugs.

Leroy sighed. He hated it that parts of what they'd dealt with on the job still haunted any of his team – especially when it was this personal. As he filled his father in on the back story of why Tim wasn't writing any more, Jackson obviously became horrified as the look on his face gave testament to.

"But, he did get sent away, right?" The senior Gibbs asked when his son had finished telling the story he knew Tim didn't want to have to hear ever again.

"Oh, yeah. Matter of fact, he's still in the Psych ward. Not gettin' out any time soon." Leroy assured him.

"Good! Jethro, maybe you shouldn't push him to write again."

"Dad, it's part of who Tim is. He's good at it and he enjoyed doing it. And it's been three years. Long enough to stop denying himself something he likes to do." Leroy argued.

"You're right." Tim offered from the doorway as he came back, handed out the coffee and sat down next to his lover, picking up the strong hand and setting it in his lap where he held onto it. "But I won't do it if I have to go through what I did the first time the others found out about it."

"Won't happen. You're stronger and the team has changed, too; grown." Leroy looked straight on at his youngest agent, reminding him of the backbone he'd grown and learned to be comfortable with.

"I know. Let me think about it for a while." Tim offered. "Meanwhile, I promise to write you – at least emails – if you promise to actually read them."

"Good enough." Leroy replied with a grin, though sadness lingered in his eyes.

"So tell me how it is you two manage to keep what happens at work from following you home at night? I mean, surely there are times you two aren't on the best of terms from work – do you come home and leave it at the door?" Jackson asked.

Tim and Leroy smiled softly at each other before Tim answered for them. "It's not easy. Sometimes, it becomes the quietest, loneliest night we've ever had together in the same house – but we always manage to come back from it."

"Sounds like it's tough." The older man sympathized.

"Tryin' to make it easier." Leroy interrupted, his apologetic expression infusing Tim with the promise underneath his words.

"Good. I think you'll do fine together." Jackson offered. "Say, Tim, didn't you have a dog? Didn't you tell me over the phone a while back that your dog was named after Jethro here, so when we were talking that day, you almost got confused?"

Tim huffed out a laugh, a full-fledged laugh as he took in, his lover's amused grin. "Yeah. I did. But the girl who's been his regular walker since I've had him wanted him. So I let her adopt him. She's got more time for him and has more room than my apartment and a yard for him, too."

"But, you're here now." The older man reminded him.

"I wasn't at the time she asked me - had no idea I would be." Tim offered. "A lot of changes have happened since May."

"Are you sure you want her to take him permanently, Tim?" Leroy asked.

"I'm sure. " Tim's answer was almost immediate and firm.

Leroy looked at him with more scrutiny for a minute. "You never wanted him to begin with."

Tim shook his head. "No. I didn't."

Sighing deeply, Leroy took Tim's hand and gently squeezed it as he looked him straight on. "I am sorry we all treated you like that during that case– that I didn't stop any of it. "

Tim nodded silently as he swallowed around the lump in his throat.

"Promise me, you won't let anyone treat you that way again – including me." The Team Leader ordered quietly.

"I promise."

"Good."

"I'm gonna go get the luggage from the car – start some laundry." Tim got up and headed out to the car, leaving father and son to spend some time together.

***NCIS***

"Hey, how about some chess or checkers? Poker?" Tim offered as he came back into the room a good thirty minutes later, carrying the games mentioned, having retrieved them from their storage spot.

"Sounds good to me." Jackson replied cheerfully as he shifted to get comfortable again.

"Which one?" Leroy and Tim asked in unison, breaking off into laughter at Jackson's amused expression.

***NCIS***

The afternoon passed quickly, a haze of quiet fun and games without any serious conversation. Before they realized, it, evening had come and it was time to seriously prepare for the return to their "real" lives. Tim headed down to the basement to keep the laundry going as Leroy unpacked everything else and Jackson sorted his luggage, throwing his clothes in for the next wash, and checking for anything he'd need before he got home.

Over a late dinner the conversation, surprisingly enough, turned to Tim's dad. As the talk touched on their other teammates all having family to go home to for the holidays, the silent, shared look between his son and the youngest man in the house instantly clued Jackson in as to where the problem lay.

"Lost my parents in an accident and hadn't spoken to my dad for a while before that." Tim admitted. " He was not the most tolerant of people – if they didn't see things his way or jump to his bidding, he had no use for them and he never had any use for me – nothing good to say, no pride, no affection. When I left home, I left him and all that behind and he never wanted to reconcile – and then when I was ready, it was too late. But I think becoming my own person in spite of the problems I had with him made me a stronger person, so I guess in some way he was successful as a father, in spite of himself."

"That's a shame. I know what years of silence can feel like and it is a shame you were never able to reconcile with him. I wouldn't wish that on anyone, no matter whose fault it is."

"Dad." Leroy's pained objection struck a chord – bringing an apologetic look from his father and a sympathetic one from his lover.

"I was never happy about it either, Jack, but he was the adult, it was his choice not to try and made amends; there's nothing I can do about it now." Tim defended himself, inadvertently moving the conversation off Leroy's former sixteen year rift with Jackson.

"Oh, I'm sure you weren't, Tim. I wasn't judging you. I'm glad you were able to retain your beliefs in yourself and thrive as you have. I know that takes a lot of grit and determination.." Jackson quickly offered.

"Thanks, Jack." Tim offered quietly.

"This has been the most enjoyable Christmas I've had in a very long time and one I will always look back fondly on. I can't thank you enough, either of you." Jackson offered as he stood. "Now, I hope you'll forgive this old bag of bones, but I'm more than ready for a shower and an early night. I will see both of you in the morning."

"Don't get up early on our account, Dad. We'll both be gone by six." Leroy reminded him as he stood and walked over to him, wrapping an arm around his shoulder. "You alright?"

"I'm fine, Son. I just need an early night."

"Good night, Jack." Tim offered as he stood. 'I'm glad you enjoyed yourself on the trip." Turning on his heel, he headed to the sink, throwing himself into cleaning up from dinner.

"C'mon, I'll walk up with you." Leroy offered.

"No need, son. You two enjoy your evening together. It's the last one you'll have before the real world barges back in on your relationship." Jackson winked before turning on his heel and heading out of the room, his footsteps on the stairs going up to the guest bathroom sounding through the air a moment later.

****NCIS****

Hours later, Tim and Leroy climbed into bed, snuggling close together as the end of the day closed in on them; the time they'd just spent after dinner, cuddling in front of the fire petting, nuzzling and quietly reminiscing about the way their relationship had come about and the vacation they'd just enjoyed together, setting the mood for now.

Though neither one said anything about it, it was as if the desire to take things to the raw, out of control level of sexual hunger, just wasn't there. In its place had settled the strong desire for the quiet comfort and companionship that was so much a part of who they were together– something they'd both come to absolutely love in these moments.

Nuzzling Tim's neck now, Leroy kissed him before he pulled back enough to look him in the eye. "Are Sarah and Penny back from their trip yet? Do you want to tell them about us and the change in your job before you tell the team?"

"They won't be back until nearly the end of the week. I don't want to wait that long to tell the team. Tim replied quietly. "I'll pick Penny & Sarah up from the airport Thursday night and tell them then. Maybe we can have them over for dinner over the weekend" The younger man looked his lover straight on. "Penny has always supported me, tried to make my father treat me differently, but he was too stubborn. I know they'll both be happy for us, I'm not worried!"

Running his fingers through his lover's hair, Leroy leaned in for a kiss. "Then I won't worry either. He murmured. "Still have to get Vance to approve this, ya know."

"I know."

"The request has to come from me"

"I know. I'm just glad we agree that it's a good career move. Wish I could just sign the request already"

Leroy chuckled softly. "Have to sell Vance on the idea first."

Snuggling onto Leroy's chest, Tim sighed contentedly. "I have faith in you. I just wish we had more time before we have to go back to work."

"Me too."

"I'm sorry, Leroy." Tim offered with genuine remorse.

"For what?" The older man was confused. His lover had nothing to be apologizing for.

"I didn't even make love to you today." The younger man quietly complained about himself as he caressed the older man's face along his ear.

"Hey. I enjoy these times without it, as much as you do." Leroy reminded him, lifting his lover's chin up with a crooked finger so their eyes met again.

"I know. " Tim smiled softly. "Part of why I love you so much."

Leroy huffed out a tiny laugh as he ran a hand soothingly down Tim's back. "Sleep, Tim."

Relaxing under his lover's calm, repetitive caresses, Tim did just that, letting sleep take him away, wrapped in the arms of the man he loved with all his heart.