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"Gibbs?" He called out, walking into the house. No reply. He made his way into the kitchen, surprised to see the basement door closed. That meant Gibbs wasn't work down there. Then the open back door caught his attention. The screen door was closed, letting in a cool breeze. He glanced out, but didn't see anyone. Pushing the door open he stepped out and heard the bang of a hammer on wood. Looking toward the sound, he took a left turn off the patio and saw Gibbs.

Gibbs was by the back wall of the garage, on his knees, hammering a two by four against two others, completing a rectangle of wood setting in the ground. He was in jeans and a t-shirt, spots of dried dirt all over both.

Sensing the presence and then smelling the familiar fragrance, Gibbs looked up at the man standing a few steps away.

"Hey." Tony smiled.

"Hey." Gibbs nodded, wiping his brow on the shoulder of his t-shirt. Tony was still in the suit he'd worn to work, evidently Tony hadn't gone home.

"Setting the foundation for something?"

"A shed." Gibbs said as he glanced at his work, then back at Tony. "Didn't expect to see you tonight." He brushed his hands together removing some of the dirt.

Reining in his nerves, Tony walked over and leaned back against the wall of the garage and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "I need to say a few things to you."

Staying on his knees, Gibbs sat back on his heels and looked up at Tony. "Okay."

Tony scuffed his foot back and forth, staring at the ground, trying to recall the words he had worked on all the way over here. Words that would explain everything, in a way that made everything clear, but everything he'd practiced in the car seemed trivial, petty, and completely insignificant.

Taking Tony's silence as the decision to want to end this before it even started, Gibbs let out a sad breath. "Tony, it's fine. Forget about it, we'll move on and nothing has to change."

"I didn't start this so everything could stay the same." Tony shook his head. "I started this because I wanted to know if you had feelings for me, something more than friendship."

"Okay."

"And I wouldn't have pushed this if I didn't have feelings for you." Tony paused again searching for the right words. He looked at the ground, then chuckled nervously. "I've had so many fantasies about you, I've lost count. I know that sounds like a line or that it's just about sex, but-" He blew out a long breath then rubbed his forehead. "I don't know the right way to say this."

Standing up, Gibbs stood before Tony. "There's no right way to say how you feel. Just tell me the truth."

Tony nodded. Looking Gibbs straight in the eyes, he spoke from the heart. "I care about you and God do I want you. But I think-I think your feelings are deeper, love maybe and I'm not there...yet."

Gibbs expression never changed, he just listened.

"I never even considered you could have feelings for me, let alone be in love with me, so-" Tony chewed at his bottom lip. "Falling in love with you never crossed my mind. You were just a fantasy."

So what did make Tony consider him a possibility all of a sudden? That was one of the many questions running through Gibbs' mind.

"I don't want a casual fling with you." Tony moistened his dry lips. "I want to move our relationship forward and see what happens, but I want you to understand where I'm at."

Gibbs nodded. "Okay."

Tony waited and waited, then threw up his hands. "Is that all you're gonna say? Just okay? No I-"

Gibbs' lips crashed down on Tony's swallowing the rest of the rant. His hands pressed against Tony's hips, pinning the younger man against the garage wall, bodies flush.

For a second Tony did nothing, too stunned to even breath...his lips were the first to respond, moved by the deep persistence of Gibbs' lips against his. Then his hands clutched at the sides of Gibbs' shirt. Finally the kiss registered in his mind and he completely surrendered. It was nothing like he'd expected their first kiss to be. He'd assumed it would be all angry, fire and passion as they ripped each other's clothes off. This was nothing but pure emotion, expressing the intense desire that already existed between them, but had gone unacknowledged for so long. It was meant to entice, to show him all the wonders that were yet to come.

Tony heard a whimper of need and realized it was coming from him, a nonverbal attempt to express his desire for more. It worked, Gibbs' lips instantly traveled from his lips down his jaw to his neck. Eyes closed, his mouth fell open as he took a deep breath, inhaling the intoxicating scent of the man kissing him. The strong smell of the earth Gibbs had been working in, the sweaty natural musk, with a hint of sawdust and old spice. He groaned. There was just something sexy about a sweaty dirt covered man.

Drawing back, Gibbs watched as Tony's eyes slowly fluttered opened. Tony's mouth opened as if to speak, then suddenly closed.

"Nothing to say?"

Tony shook his head still unable to make the connection between his brain and his mouth.

"That good huh?" Gibbs smirked.

Tony smacked Gibbs' chest making the older man laugh. "Ass!"

"I'll take that as a yes." Gibbs' smiled. "Hungry?"

Shaking his head, Tony sighed. "Kissing me like that then just "are you hungry?""

"Is there something else I'm supposed to say?"

"Guess not." Tony's gaze landed on Gibbs' chest as he picked at Gibbs' t-shirt.

"Tony." Placing a finger under Tony's check, Gibbs drew Tony's eyes back up.

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Tony didn't want or expect to hear Gibbs say he was in love, but he felt like he needed to hear something.

Wrapping an arm around Tony's waist, Gibbs captured Tony's gaze. "I think my earlier actions today said a lot."

Tony nodded, his fingers brushing against the side of Gibbs' neck. "I especially enjoyed the whole 'get out before I change my mind and take you against the damn door.'"

Gibbs chuckled. "Yeah, well as someone reminded me, I am a man and sometimes I think with the wrong head."

"Really?" Tony glanced down towards Gibbs' crotch then back up. "So little Gibbs was behind that comment?"

Gibbs raised his eyebrow. "Little Gibbs?"

Tony grinned. "Well, it's merely an expression and since I don't have sufficient information on the exact size of-"

The sentence stopped and Tony's mouth dropped open when Gibbs took Tony's hand and placed it on the bulge in his jeans.

Squeezing Gibbs' hard cock, Tony sighed breathlessly. "Okay, so um." Tony licked his lips. "I take back the 'little Gibbs' statement. Seriously...Jesus Gibbs!"

Gibbs rolled his eyes and brought Tony's hand up to his chest.

"That hard from just a kiss?" Tony fought the urge to pull his hand from Gibbs' and put it back on Gibbs' cock.

"I've been waiting a long time for that kiss." Gibbs let out a long slow breath as he leered down Tony's body. "A very long time."

"Did it live up to your expectations?"

"Oh yeah." Gibbs smirked. "And then some."

"You know you're really sexy covered in dirt."

Looking down at himself, Gibbs chuckled. He'd been so caught up in needing to kiss Tony, he'd forgotten he was covered in dirt. "Glad you think so."

"I do." Tony sighed. "Very sexy."

"Think I got some on your jacket." Gibbs brushed at the front of Tony's jacket.

"I don't care."

"Really." Gibbs glanced at the suit jacket. "Isn't this Fergami or something?"

"Ferragamo." Tony laughed. "No, and even if it was, that's what I have a dry cleaner for."

"You have some clothes in the bottom drawer in the bedroom."

"Still." Tony sounded surprised. "I thought I finally took all of that?"

"I keep finding more." Gibbs smiled. "Now, I'm hungry. Pizza, Chinese, or Tommy's Dinner deliveries burgers."

"Pizza sounds good."

"You order." Gibbs gave Tony a quick kiss. "I'll shower. Wallet's on the table."

Pizza ordered, Tony went upstairs to grab the spare clothes. Walking into the master bedroom, he sloughed off his jacket then unbuttoned his shirt and laid both on the bed. Pulling out the bottom drawer he found a red Ohio State t-shirt and tossed it over his shoulder. As he closed the drawer he heard the water running and his eyes settled on the bathroom door that had been left halfway open. He took the few steps to the door and paused. The almost sheer white shower curtain gave him a perfect view of Gibbs' silhouette. It was erotic in its simplicity. Seeing, but not actually seeing Gibbs' naked body, a body he desperately wanted to see and explore.

Without thought, Tony's hand caressed across his bare stomach, fingers skimming the waist of his pants. His cock was already hard and his mind was running a continuous loop of all the fantasies he'd had about the man behind the shower curtain. He didn't even realize his hand was rubbing his cock, when the fantasy of them on Gibbs' kitchen table flashed across his mind. His breathing grew shallow as his hand continued to massage his cock, he wanted to come, to relieve the pent up sexual frustration that had been within him since this began.

It was the sound of the water shutting off that pulled Tony out of his self induced fantasy. He jumped back, away from the door, stumbling against the bed and just managing to right himself before he'd have fallen flat on his back.

Gibbs stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist, drying his hair with another. He paused when he saw Tony standing by the bed shirtless, a t-shirt in his hand.

"You found the clothes?"

"Yeah. I should get down stairs." Tony managed to stammer. "Pizza should be here soon."

"I'll be down in a minute."

"Okay." Tony smiled willing himself to walk, not run from the room. It wasn't until he placed both feet on the downstairs floor that he took a breath. What the hell are you doing? He head slapped himself. Get it together!

There was a knock at the door and Tony jumped, then chuckled and shook his head. Grabbing Gibbs' wallet from the table, he opened the door.

"Hey Tony." The delivery guy smiled. "Haven't seen you in awhile."

"Been busy." Tony said as he took the money from Gibbs' wallet and handed it to the guy. He knew exactly what it cost, they order the same thing, every time. "Here you go. Keep the change."

"Thanks." The man smiled. "Have a good one."

"Hopefully." Tony mumbled as he shut the door. Putting the pizza on the coffee table, he went to the kitchen grabbed the paper plates and a couple beers.

"Smells good." Gibbs smiled suddenly standing by the couch.

Tony looked over. "Yeah." Not surprising Gibbs was in jeans and a t-shirt again. "Beer okay or you thinking a Bourbon?"

"Beer's good." Gibbs sat down on the couch and flipped open the pizza box. He took a slice of pizza and shoved the end in his mouth taking a big bite.

Grinning, Tony dropped down next to Gibbs. "Hungry?"

Gibbs nodded as he finished the bit and took another.

"I don't care how hungry you are." Tony smirked. "I get the last piece."

"We'll see about that."

Tony laughed. "Oh no, I always get the last piece, you know that!"

Gibbs shrugged. "We'll see."

"Is this gonna be our first fight?" Tony grinned.

"I've had fights over less." Gibbs chuckled.

"Is that how this is gonna go?" Tony gave Gibbs a sideways glance. "You're gonna pick fights with me over all the trivial things?"

"The last piece of pizza is not trivial." Gibbs said it with conviction.

Putting on his best pouty face, Tony sighed. "You always let me have the last piece."

Laughing, Gibbs shook his head. "You gonna use that pouty face to get your way all the time?"

"Maybe? Is it working?" Tony added the sad puppy dog eyes.

"I haven't decided yet." Gibbs said as he took another bite of his pizza.

"Just wait, it will work." Tony said with a cocky air.

They talked and laughed, until they had reached the last piece of pizza. Gibbs leaned back on the couch and took a swig of his second beer.

Nonchalantly, Tony reached in, took the last piece, and took a quick bite.

"Wanna another beer?" Gibbs asked, picking up the empty box and beer bottles and heading into the kitchen.

Swallowing his bite, Tony cleared his throat. "Um, probably shouldn't." He didn't want to assume he was staying, never good to assume with Gibbs.

"It's late." Gibbs said from the kitchen. "You can stay if you want."

"Okay."

Gibbs tossed the beer bottles in the trash and the empty box on the counter. When he turned around and stepped towards the fridge, Tony was leaning against the fridge door.

"Then I'll take another beer."

Drawn to the man before him, Gibbs took two steps and stood just inches from Tony.

Tony's eyes captured Gibbs' as he brushed a finger down Gibbs' jaw line before lightly brushing his lips against Gibbs'.

Gibbs licked his lips as Tony drew back.

A moment later, Tony grabbed the middle of Gibbs' shirt and attacked the older man's mouth. One hand around Gibbs' neck, the other around his waist, and he crushed their bodies together.

Gibbs gave in willingly to the assault, knowing this was Tony's turn to show him the emotion behind what he was feeling, just as he had earlier outside. Tony's kiss tasted of raw desire and need, a fury of hunger that Gibbs had never experienced before, a hunger directed entirely at him. Not that there wasn't something deeper, there... tenderness, devotion, and a sense of belonging, as if this was right where Tony was always meant to be. And Gibbs wanted to do everything possible to make sure Tony always felt like with him, in his arms, was where Tony belonged.

Tony slipped a knee between Gibbs' legs, rubbing back and forth as he rocked his hips forward.

Growling, Gibbs' arms encircled Tony's waist lost in the overwhelming power of Tony's kiss. He never wanted it to end, he would have stayed there forever in that kiss if Tony wanted.

Lazily, Tony let their lips part, holding on as long as possible.

Letting out a contented sigh, Gibbs looked at Tony. "I could use something stronger than a beer."

That wasn't exactly what Tony expected to hear.

"You get the glasses, I'll get the bottle."

"So why a shed?" Tony asked sitting at one end of the couch, Gibbs on the other, his feet resting comfortably across Gibbs' thighs.

Gibbs shrugged. "Something to do, used to have a small one before." He took a swig of Bourbon. "Diane got that one in the divorce."

Tony looked baffled. "Why did she want a shed?"

"She wanted everything." Gibbs sighed "Pretty much got it too."

"There's this thing, it's called a prenup." Tony snickered. "Might wanna think about that next time."

Staring at Tony, Gibbs smirked. "That so?"

Tony's mouth dropped open as he realized the implication of his statement.

"Looking for a sugar daddy are you?" Gibbs asked.

Putting his hands up, Tony shook his head in shock. "You using the phrase sugar daddy and applying it to us is wrong in sooo many ways."

"You did say you were eye candy?" Gibbs snickered. "Do I have to shower you with gifts for the mere pleasure of having you as eye candy?"

"Is that all I am to you?" Tony grinned. "Some sexy piece of meat, here for you to ogle?"

Gibbs shrugged.

"HEY!" Tony reached behind the couch and grabbed the pillow tossing it at Gibbs' head.

Gibbs caught it and shoved it down beside him on the couch.

Jumping towards the end of the couch, Tony tried to reach across Gibbs and grab the pillow only to have both his wrist seized and held tightly. Standing there on his knees next to Gibbs, Tony felt the heat of the touch surge throughout his body as another fantasy he'd had flashed through his mind. The one of Gibbs grabbing him, throwing him on the bed, tying him up and doing every unspeakable thing possible to him.

Gibbs released Tony's wrist. "It's late."

"Is that your way of saying it's time to go to bed?"

Gibbs nodded. "Go on up."

Standing up Tony, walked towards the stairs, he stopped on the second step and looked back. Gibbs was pulling the blanket out from behind the couch. He walked back towards the living room stopping before stepping in. "I'm sleeping alone upstairs?"

"Yeah."

"We can just sleep." Although, all Tony really wanted was Gibbs to take him upstairs and make love to him all night, he would settle for sharing a bed, at least tonight.

"We could."

"I won't push." Tony said it with more resolve then he actually had.

"I know."

"Or is that what you want?" Tony took a step towards Gibbs. "Do you want me to be the one to push, to make you take it to the next step?"

"That's not what I want."

"Okay, then what do you want?"

Gibbs rolled his eyes.

"If you wanna take it slow, then say it."

"I wanna take it slow."

Tony cocked his head, his eyes narrowing as he stared at Gibbs. "You're lying." It was the first time he had ever heard the slight crack in Gibbs' voice and he knew.

Gibbs ran his hands down his face.

"You've never lied to me." Closing the distance between them, Tony sighed. "Why are you starting now?"

"Tony." The name was barely a whisper.

"Why lie about wanting to take it slow?" Tony shook his head. "Afraid I'll think less of you because you just can't resist me?"

Gibbs let out a huff of air. "Hardly."

"Then what is it?" Tony asked.

"Jesus Tony, this all just happened today!" Gibbs voice was raised and full of annoyance. "Maybe, I'd like a little time to process it all before I jump into bed with you."

The tone in Gibbs' voice made Tony take a step back. "Okay."

Taking a deep breath, Gibbs calmed his voice. "Tony, you know how I feel-"

"No, actually I don't." It was Tony's turn to show his annoyance. "I told you how I felt and all you said was you made it clear earlier, but you didn't. You don't want a casual fling, I get that. How you feel about any of this, even about what I told you I was feeling, I have no clue. You're dancing around saying or admitting anything to do with feelings and I don't get it."

Gibbs didn't say a word.

"You kiss me like you couldn't get enough, like you wanted so much more, then you back away. We eat. I kiss you, try to show you how much I want you and you back away again. Excuse me if I'm a little confused."

"So what, you expected me to just jump into bed with you?"

Tony grabbed his hair with both hands and growled. "Damn it Gibbs, that's not what this is about! It's about you opening your goddamn mouth and telling me how you feel."

Again silence.

Shaking his head Tony chuckled. "Is it really that hard to tell me? I'm not asking you for some big declaration of love. I just wanna know something anything. I was honest with you, be honest with me!"

For some reason Gibbs still couldn't bring himself to speak.

Tony released a defeated sigh. "Fine. I don't wanna argue about this anymore, I'm going home."

"I don't want you driving."

"Not really your call to make." Tony shrugged it off. "I'm okay. I'm gonna grab my shirt and jacket from upstairs."

Gibbs watched as Tony hurried up the steps, then dropped his head back. "Damn it!" This was the part of relationships that he sucked at, talking, emotions and with Tony the emotion was amplified tenfold. There were questions he had, but wasn't sure he wanted to ask.