So I am only one chapter away from this story being finished. Well, one chapter of writing, I think I'll have three more to post after this. And you know I'm building, building, building that sexual tension. As always, open to suggestions.
It was yet another night of Gibbs sleeping at Tony's place. It had never been discussed, but Gibbs was there almost every night now two weeks later, helping Tony with his daughter. Tony didn't mind in the least bit, especially since he could get up to feed Fiona and then lay back down in a warm bed against a warm body and hard chest that rose and fell in the deep throes of sleep. And unlike in previous years, this person would still be there in the morning and the next night and so on.
This night, Tony stumbled blearily into Fiona's room and changed her soiled diaper, running on autopilot. He hummed and murmured until she fell back asleep and then, with a kiss to her forehead, laid her back in her crib. Her beautiful crib. It was smooth under his hand as he pushed off to lurch back to bed. He stopped at the edge of the bed and stared at Gibbs a little. Brain happy, but still not functioning, he crawled under the covers and, resting a hand on Gibbs' chest, whispered, "Love you."
In the morning, he didn't even remember having said it. Had the thought crossed his mind he would not have denied it easily (though he would certainly have tried), but the thought never came to surface. However, someone was more awake at that time of night so one of them still remembered in the morning and hung onto that sentence.
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The team never failed to give credit to Gibbs for being very stealthy. McGee and Tony, especially, knew the many times he had appeared behind them just as they were speaking about him. But not many of them gave him credit for sneaky little plans, which he hatched now and then. Gibbs hoped it would work as he wandered down to Abby's lab. Tony had actually given him the idea when he dragged himself into NCIS to pick up papers. Unable to be useless, Tony had insisted on still being part of the team. Thus, he picked up a lot of paper work and combed through reports at his apartments. The team would just shake their heads upon seeing whatever task he had been assigned sitting completed on their desk in the morning.
On this day, Tony looked especially worn. Gibbs had had a late meeting with the director the night before and had just gone home. Thus, Tony was the only one taking care of Fiona during the night and in the morning. Upon entering the bullpen, Ziva and McGee took in his unshaved face and the bags under his eyes. They refrained from saying anything, but Abby, who had run up as fast as she could after hearing he was in, sternly told him to go right back home and take a good shower. The neighbor who was watching his daughter, she told him, could certainly manage for another twenty minutes. "Thanks, Abby," he said and with one last hug for her, picked up his assignments and was gone.
Gibbs entered Abby's lab, armed with a Caf-Pow, and received an update on the fingerprint he had her running. It was an open and shut case and with this confirmation of the perp on a Thursday afternoon, they'd be done. "Got any work you want Dinozzo to take care of, Abs?"
"Gibbs!" She looked at him reproachfully. "Did you see him today? He looks like he hasn't washed in days or slept in even longer! I can't believe you keep piling work on him, as if he doesn't have enough to do. I mean, it's Tony and he doesn't want to be useless, but that doesn't mean you can overwork him just because he won't say no. I can't believe you haven't seen it. I can't believe I haven't seen it. Why doesn't he have someone take over for a few days, get Fi off of his hands for enough time for him to catch up on sleeping, eating, and washing. Gibbs! Why haven't we thought of that before? You really should have. I'll watch her! Okay, here's the plan. Ang said she won't be coming over this weekend because she has a job interview." Over a few of the weekend visits, Abby had met Fiona's mother and Tony's friend and the two women hit it off instantly. "So tomorrow afternoon, I'll go over and stay at the apartment with Fiona. You," she emphasized by poking Gibbs in the chest, "will come over too and pack for him. And…you can figure out where to send him to relax. Somewhere not his apartment, though!"
While any man would have been daunted by the finality in her words, Gibbs merely smiled and said, "If you say so."
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Tony felt totally blind-sided the next day when he opened his door and found Abby and Gibbs on his doorstep. Abby was already inside before Tony could even open the door the whole way and Gibbs just shrugged when he looked at him confused. Sensing no help there, Tony walked in the follow Abby, but found it about as easy as following a tornado or some such natural disaster. She whirled through the apartment, picking up diapers, bottles, babies, blankets, toys, or spoons. Tony was looking for an answer bewilderedly but found that Gibbs had disappeared. When Abby finally stopped in the baby's room, she turned, planted her feet, and scolded Tony even as she was quieting Fiona.
"You look awful, Tony, and you need a shower, food, and sleep. So I will be your trusty baby sitter this weekend and Gibbs," who had silently reappeared holding a duffel bag, "is sending you somewhere to become human again."
Gibbs took a seat on the couch, sipping the coffee he had brought in with him, and told Tony, "Give Abby all your instructions and let's get moving." Tony acquiesced, explaining Fiona's meal and nap schedules and where all the necessary baby-care components are stored.
Only after Abby's fervid promises to take the best care of Fiona and to call Tony if anything happens and his quizzing her on things he had told her did Tony finally let Gibbs guide him out to his car. Leaning against the passenger window as Gibbs drove, Tony figured that he was worried about his daughter but could use the respite. He didn't wonder much about where they were going and was not at all surprised when they pulled up to Gibbs' house. Tony flat-out moaned when he opened the door and was greeted with the scents of garlic bread and chicken marsala. While he made a beeline for the table, Gibbs slipped off to drop the duffel in his bedroom and then returned to sit down at the meal. He ate normally, while Tony wolfed down the food as if he'd be called away by a baby's cry at any moment.
When Tony was done, almost licking the plate, Gibbs pulled him up and pushed him in the direction of the bathroom. "Have I ever mentioned you're the best, Jeth?" he said wryly as he closed the door and turned on the hot water. After a long, luxurious, and much needed shower, he toweled off and then tied the towel around his waist as he went to get a change of clothes.
He breathed in the cool air that greeted him from the bedroom as the steam billowed out and in the corner of his eye he saw Gibbs sitting on the bed, reading over something. He also saw when Gibbs noticed his presence and froze. He pretended to not notice even as he felt like preening when Gibbs' eyes raked over his body, analyzing every line and curve visible on his figure. Okay, so maybe he played it up a little. Perhaps he bent a little farther to grab his clothes and maybe he moved a little slower. Tony couldn't say he had ever felt giddy like this before. The women he had been with had never used their eyes to drink in his body before; they only looked enough for a cursory appraisal and a show of interest. Tony had given a little looks like this towards women's figures before but had never had it turned on him.
He made it most way to the door before he finally turned and looked full on at Gibbs. His breath caught when green eyes met blue. Gibbs obviously felt no shame in looking and didn't even bother to hide it. Insisting to himself that he indeed needed sleep before anything, Tony shut himself in the bathroom to change into pajamas. Stepping out of the room, he found Gibbs gone. Venturing into the hallway, he noticed the basement door was open and heard rummaging through the drawers. Tony smiled and retreated back to the bedroom. He pulled back the covers and lay down, sighing as his head met the pillow.
Gibbs climbed the stairs from the basement, his head feeling a little lighter. A good stiff drink was what he needed to cool off after the display in the bedroom. It never bothered him before when they slept together, even if one or both had no shirt on. But something about Tony walking through his room, tan and lean, a simple beige towel riding low on his hips… seeing his muscles moving as he swung his arms and leaned over to grab his clothes…. So Gibbs needed to escape to the basement and drink the urges out of his head. For now.
He lay beside Tony, who was still awake though barely. Gibbs turned his back to Tony, facing the wall, and felt a warm hand skipping over his back. He said quietly, "Love you too, Tony," and decidedly fell asleep. He would deal with the shock he could already sense tomorrow.