Sweet Gestures

Chapter 2

After a dinner of leftovers Gibbs left Tony to watch TV while he spent some alone time in the basement with the boat that Tony jokingly called 'the fifth Mrs. Gibbs.' By the time he'd worked on sanding the hull to a point he felt like stopping, Gibbs was ready for bed. Up in the kitchen he quickly sorted a stack of mail, most of which was catalogs addressed to Tony, set the coffeemaker timer for 0600, and dumped a pile of clothing on the washing machine in the laundry room. When he went into the living room with the intention of telling Tony he was hitting the sack, Gibbs was surprised to see the TV and the lights were off and Tony was waiting to accompany him upstairs.

"Early tonight?" Gibbs slipped his arm around the younger man and they climbed the stairs together. Sometimes Tony stayed up watching movies until 0200; it was no wonder he caught catnaps whenever he could during the day.

"Oh yeah," was all Tony said but Gibbs was sure he was up to something. When he raised an eyebrow and expected Tony to elaborate all he got was a bland smile. Oh yeah, he was definitely planning something.

Gibbs was the first one in bed. He worked on a crossword puzzle while waiting for Tony to come out of the bathroom, idly wondering how they were going to adhere to Abby's new rules regarding gift-giving this Christmas. He hadn't had any inclination to get into the Christmas spirit for some time - for years actually. Even so, last year when his father had insisted on erecting a Christmas tree trimmed with all the old Gibbs family decorations in his living room, he had felt the tug of nostalgia. Perhaps, like a lot of his feelings, it had just been lying dormant.

Just the day before Tony had arrived home with a seven-foot fir tree that he'd bought from the farmers' market he passed on the way home. Tony had been so thrilled with his purchase, smiling as happily as a kid, and going on about how beautiful it was going to look once they'd decorated their first Christmas tree.

Tony caught at the expression on Gibbs' face and looked at him with concern. "What's the matter, Jethro? The ceiling's high enough, and I bought a stand, too. The guy at the market cut the bottom off for me so it's fresh. Did I get the wrong kind?"

"No, it was a good choice, Tony. I guess I'm not in the mood." Was he ever? Gibbs felt contrite for being the one to douse Tony's seasonal joy, but he was having a hard time with the whole holiday thing. He'd managed to avoid participating in anything celebratory for years, thought he'd given in a little by attending Ducky's Christmas dinner, or calling his Dad to talk with him. Hell, he'd even watched It's a Wonderful Life at Tony's insistence, along with the team in MTAC. He felt like an outsider though. Now he knew he had to make an effort for Tony's sake even if it wasn't easy.

"But it's Christmas! This is our first one together. Well, our first since we've been partners." He offered a smile of encouragement.

Even if he wanted to explain, Gibbs wasn't sure he could. "Shannon always trimmed the tree."

Tony's smile slowly disappeared and was replaced by a look of understanding that barely covered his disappointment. "Look, the tree was a bad idea. I should have talked to you about it first. I'll just put it out back for now." Tony started to drag the tree towards the kitchen door but Gibbs stopped him.

Gibbs felt mixed emotions about the tree and he regretted spoiling Tony's enjoyment. Tony's childhood Christmases had been anything but wonderful, and his Christmases as an adult had been lonely affairs or spent in the company of his co-workers. Never with a loving family. This was his first time experiencing the holiday at home with someone he loved, and who loved him back. Jethro reached out and stopped Tony from removing the fir tree. "No, wait. Wait, Tony."

"No, no. It's all right."

"Damn it, it isn't all right, Tony." Gibbs ran his hand through his hair. "Just…just bring it in and put it in the living room."

Tony still hesitated. "You sure?"

"Yeah."

Once it was fixed upright in the stand and water added to keep it fresh, Tony asked, "Do you have any decorations? I can buy some…"

"There are some boxes in the attic," Gibbs said without thinking. Many of the ornaments stored away had been handmade by his wife and daughter. He looked at the tree standing in the corner of the living room, to one side of the fireplace. It was tall and dark and fragrant in its unadorned state, a stark reminder that some memories could still hurt after twenty years.

Tony's hand was on his arm and Gibbs turned to him. Tony said cautiously, "We'll buy new decorations and start afresh if you like."

"Okay," Gibbs replied. He couldn't say anything more but Tony understood.

Tony hugged him for a moment then stood by his side to look at the tree with pride. "I never bought a Christmas tree before. My second stepmother, Angeline, was with us for only one Christmas but she pulled out all the stops. Everything was color-coordinated in white and red. The huge fake tree was sparkly white and covered in shiny red ornaments." Tony put a finger to his chin and looked thoughtful. "You know, I think she made that tree in her own image. Then there was Marianne, who was the only age-appropriate woman my father ever married. She was Long Island's answer to Martha Stewart so the whole house was greenery and fruit everywhere, and a Christmas tree in every room, each one decorated in a different holiday theme. I have to say she worked very hard to make the mansion look beautiful. Hired a team of seasonal decorators, too, so she didn't break any nails. Then when it was all done she and my father flew to the Bahamas for the holidays and left me there alone with strict instructions not to touch anything. I took them at their word and didn't even open any of the presents under the tree, though now I suspect they were just empty boxes wrapped in shiny paper and bows." He smiled at Gibbs and took his hand, lacing their fingers together. "So, you see, I don't give a damn if we decorate this tree or not. It's beautiful just as it is."

Tony emerged from the bathroom wearing a white t-shirt and gray sweatpants. He surprised Gibbs by dropping a big tube of some sort of cream on the bed alongside a towel. "Show me your feet, Jethro," he ordered.

Gibbs looked over his reading glasses at Tony, loving the way his hair stood up after being towel dried. No wonder the man spent so much time on his hair and used so much gel, hydrating spray and other products on it. Tony's hair was as unruly as he was and he needed help to keep it in place. Gibbs complied without asking any questions, throwing the bedding back to expose his legs and feet.

Tony knelt on the bed at Gibbs' feet and ran his hands down his pajama-clad legs. "Plaid flannel jammies. Mmm. Nice and cozy."

"Gonna be cold tonight. Gonna snow tomorrow," Gibbs said. He removed his glasses and put the crossword puzzle aside, curious as to what Tony had in store for him tonight. He was wearing a long-sleeve t-shirt as well as the flannel pajama bottoms for warmth. From the look in Tony's eyes he had a suspicion it wouldn't be long before Tony was the only thing keeping him warm.

Tony asked, "Your knees bothering you?" The grunt of a reply was Gibbs for 'yes but I'm not going to admit it.' Tony was well versed in Gibbs-speak. With a slight shake of his head Tony uncapped the tube and squirted some cream onto one palm. He rubbed his hands together and wiggled his eyebrows. "This'll warm you up a bit."

His heart beating faster, Gibbs wondered what was in store for him at Tony's hands. "Smells nice. Lemony."

Tony leaned forward, keeping his lotion-coated hands out of the way, and playfully sniffed Gibbs' throat. "You smell good, too," he said with a soft smile, then settled back at his lover's feet. "I haven't seen any massage cream in coffee scent yet, but I'll keep looking." He began by warming up Gibbs' feet using long, firm strokes from his ankles to his toes and back. He took his time and did a thorough job massaging the entire foot. Gibbs relaxed, his head comfortable on the pillow, occasionally releasing a sigh. By the time Tony applied pressure with his thumbs along one side of Gibb's foot, and then paid equal attention to the other, the sighs had become soft moans.

"Oh that feels good. So good," Gibbs murmured.

"Thank my Massage II instructor, who stressed how important it is to take care of your feet," Tony said. He glanced up, amused to see Gibbs' eyes were closed and his lips were slightly parted.

"Funny, that's exactly what my boot camp instructor said," Gibbs mumbled.

"We did agree to the new team rules for gift giving, Jethro. Pair up and do something nice for your partner for the twelve days of Christmas. No buying of gifts someone doesn't need. Little or no cost and a lot of pleasure." Abby and Tim had paired up, and Ducky with Palmer. Ziva, being the odd one out, had arranged to exchange gifts with Damon. Tony had, of course, partnered up with Gibbs.

Tony continued kneading the soles of Gibbs' feet. He alternated applying pressure on certain points with rubbing and massaging until Gibbs' groans grew louder. Tony picked up one of his lover's feet, which he thought were as handsome as the rest of the man, and began to suckle on his toes.

Gibbs writhed and gasped. His head came up off the pillow, his eyes dark and needy. "God, Tony…I'm hard and you've only touched my feet."

He stroked his cock through his pajamas until Tony stopped sucking on his toes and said firmly, "Not yet, Jethro. Leave your hands by your side."

Gibbs reluctantly kept his hands out of action by gripping the bedding but his hips jerked up a little, pleading to be touched somewhere other than his feet.

"Shhh, relax. I'm not done." Tony licked up Gibb's instep and gave it a gentle nip, then stroked and massaged Gibbs' ankles and then up to his muscular calves inside the legs of the pajama pants.

Gibbs' hands were at the waist of his pajamas, hastily undoing the drawstrings but Tony stopped him from pulling them down. "No, not yet. So impatient," he scolded. Bracing himself with one hand on either side of Gibbs' thighs, Tony nuzzled his flannel-covered crotch with his nose. "Mmm, nice and warm," he murmured, appreciating the way Gibbs' cock grew in response to his touch. Tony mouthed the heavy cock through the soft fabric, gently and then a bit harder, then nuzzling once more to take in the heady scent that was all Jethro. He found the fly and used his tongue to work his way inside, licking and prodding at the hot silken flesh he discovered there until Jethro was moaning, hips rising, his hands reaching out to take hold of Tony's hair.

Tony sat back and grasped the waistband of the pajamas. He pulled them down in one swift motion to Gibbs' knees and then slower to his ankles, exposing his dark leaking cock. He looked up to meet Gibb's eyes and licked his lips. "Oh my, is this all for me?"

"Only for you," Gibbs said with a gasp when Tony took hold of the base of his cock with one hand.

"Merry Christmas, baby," Tony said with a seductive smile. He eased his mouth down the length of Jethro's cock. His lips tightened around its girth, tongue swirling across its underside, and then he pulled back and paid attention to the sensitive head. He sucked and licked greedily, the tip of his tongue deftly invading the slit. Tony lapped at the head and made hungry sounds in the back of his throat while Jethro raked his fingers across his scalp and drew his knees up and out. He was writhing and making small noises that soon became louder.

With one hand Tony fondled and tugged at Jethro's balls, making him groan and pant like he was running a race. Tony took all of Jethro's cock in his mouth and began to hum 'Merry Christmas, Baby' while he reached down to rub his thumb hard along Gibbs' instep. His action elicited a shudder and then Gibbs tensed and arched, taking hold of Tony's shoulders like they were a lifeline, and came with a loud groan into his mouth.

Afterwards, spent, Gibbs lay there unable to speak, legs spread, his plaid flannel pajamas kicked down to the bottom of the bed. His sated expression told Tony all he needed to know. Tony cleaned him off, gentle and loving with his every motion. Gibbs opened his eyes a crack and moaned, but then managed a smile.

Tony pulled Gibbs' pajamas back up with some difficulty as he wasn't getting any assistance, and then slid into bed, drawing the covers over their shoulders to ward off the cold night. He leaned over to turn off the light and then kissed Gibbs slowly and thoroughly. "There, just as we agreed," he said. "That was my gift to you on the first night of Christmas. Tomorrow it's your turn to give me a gift."

Gibbs rolled towards Tony and held him close. He mumbled, "I don't think I can make it through eleven more nights of this."

"Well I can, and I intend to bring you along for the ride, Marine."

***end chapter 2***