Sweet Gestures

Chapter 5

Tony called it a day around seven p.m. and sent Ziva and Tim home.

On his way out of the building, McGee stopped Tony and said apologetically, "We were almost back here when he changed his mind and told me to take him home, Tony." He searched Tony's face for something and then added, "I know Gibbs made you the lead on this case but it….it's not like him. Is everything okay?"

Tony knew that McGee was really asking if everything was okay between him and Gibbs. "We're fine." Although neither Tony nor Gibbs spoke of their relationship at work, it appeared almost everyone knew about it. So far it had never intruded into the workplace and Tony wanted to keep it that way. Calling Gibbs by his first name had been a rare slip-up but they'd been alone. Tony was as protective of Gibbs as the older man was of Tony. "He's in good hands, McWorrywart."

Tony spent the entire drive home wondering how he was going to smooth the waters. It wasn't like Jethro to get so bent out of shape, though it wasn't often he was hurt badly enough to choose to go home instead of back to the Navy Yard.

It didn't help that he'd taken such a fall in front of the entire team; he was probably a bit embarrassed over that. But hell, they'd all looked like idiots in front of each other at some time or another. Tony smiled remembering Jimmy Palmer's out of control rush down a steep incline at one crime scene due to wearing designer loafers with absolutely no traction. And there was that time Tony had tumbled down a hill at another scene, soon after he'd beat Y. pestis. He'd ended up face down in the long grass, right at Kate's feet. She'd made merciless fun of him but being flat out turned out to be a lucky break, otherwise he'd never have spotted a bomb ready to blow, strapped under the victim's car.

As he pulled into the driveway at the side of the house Tony remembered that Gibbs' car was still in the NCIS parking garage. They'd go in together the next day and Gibbs could drive his own car home. If he went in tomorrow. If he could drive. If they were still talking. Talk about a McWorrywart.

Tony followed the lights from the hall to the stairs, up to the bedroom and into the bathroom, and that's where he found Gibbs, sitting in the bathtub up to his waist in water. There was a large box of bath salts on the tile floor and a set of fluffy bath towels warming on the heated towel rack.

He leaned casually against the doorjamb and waited. Patience, Ducky had said. Then patience it was. It was a good minute before Jethro gave any sign that he was aware of Tony's presence, and then all he did was relax his shoulders slightly. Tony stepped into the bathroom. One of the wives, probably number two, had renovated the upstairs during her short reign, and although they never talked about her by name, Tony was grateful for her good sense in enlarging and modernizing the bathroom. There was a full tub and a separate shower stall, double sinks and good lighting. The peach and white decor was a bit feminine but it was a pleasant space to relax in.

Tony removed his suit jacket and tie, put them safely aside, and rolled up his sleeves. He sat on the edge of the tub and picked up a washcloth.

Gibbs had tensed up again, and was leaning slightly forward, head down towards the water. He didn't say anything when Tony soaped and rinsed off his back. Tony was surprised to find the water was tepid. He turned on the hot water tap and held his fingers under the faucet only to discover there was no hot water forthcoming. That's when he realized that Jethro had been sitting in the tub long enough to have used up all the hot water. Shit. "You're getting sorta pruney in there. How about you come on out and we'll warm you up," Tony suggested gently.

Jethro continued to look down at the water but after a moment he nodded.

How the hell long had Gibbs been sitting there with the water getting cooler by the minute? Tony rose and bent over the man hunched over in the bathtub. "If I hold you under your arms, can you get your legs underneath you?"

After a longish wait, Jethro said, "Yeah." He didn't sound too sure about that.

Tony got a secure hold under Jethro's arms, practically giving him a bear hug, and on the count of three hauled him up. There was a moment when they were slightly off balance and almost fell but then Jethro got his legs under him and took some of his own weight. It wasn't easy but together they made it into the bedroom, Jethro limping heavily. Once he was situated on the bed Tony nipped back into the bathroom for a couple of the hot towels. He draped one across Jethro's lap and the other around his shoulders, then sat beside him on the bed.

"Where's that liniment you use?" From what he could see, Jethro's left thigh all the way up to his hip was swollen and discolored. He'd have a big bruise and stiffness for some time, Tony knew. "You should have used ice."

"I iced it when I came in," Jethro said defensively, sounding a bit like a kid caught doing something he shouldn't be doing. "Water wasn't that hot anyway." He glanced over at Tony and said, "Liniment's in the linen closet with the first aid stuff."

As he dried himself off, Jethro looked towards the dresser where he kept his clothes but Tony was there first. "Let me get it." He pulled out a shirt for sleeping in and then located a pair of loose sweatpants, which he put aside for later. Tony took a moment to change into similar comfortable clothing then said, "I'll go get the liniment."

He returned with the tube of Minard's liniment, which Jethro swore possessed near-miraculous healing properties. Tony was skeptical, especially after getting a whiff of the caustic-smelling ointment and reading the label proclaiming Dr. Levi Minard to be 'the King of Pain.'

With some wincing and a couple of sharp inhalations, Jethro, wearing only his t-shirt, laid down on his good side with his bruised leg exposed.

Tony made sure he didn't make any comments about the state of the leg even though it was already discoloring as proof it had been badly damaged. He didn't say anything about the x-rays that Jethro had not had, nor the medical examination a doctor had not given him, nor the hot bath he should not have indulged in. He didn't speak of the frayed tempers or hurtful remarks from earlier. Instead Tony squeezed out a generous amount of medicinal, smelly cream from the big tube of liniment and applied it to Jethro's thigh with extreme care.

Jethro, wearing his comfortable sweats, sat in bed with his leg propped up on a pillow. He said he wasn't experiencing too much pain but the tautness around his mouth belied his words.

Tony entered bearing a tray with a plate of hot ravioli, a buttered roll, and a glass of something that looked suspiciously like hot milk on it. "Doctor's orders," Tony said. "Eat, then bed."

"I am in bed," Jethro retorted grumpily.

Tony unfolded the tray's legs and settled it across Jethro's lap. "Maybe I should keep you in bed where it's safe all the time. With handcuffs if necessary." Gibbs glared at him so Tony quickly added, "Of course I would stay in bed with you, so you can't get into trouble. Or we could cause some trouble together," he said playfully.

Gibbs asked gruffly, "You going to stand there all night?"

Taking that as an invitation, Tony said, "I'll get my dinner. Be right back." He returned with a second tray bearing a similar meal and carefully sat next to Jethro with his back against the wooden headboard. They ate, talking a little about the current case, and Tony reminded Gibbs that one of the gutters at the rear of the house looked like it was coming loose, and Gibbs reminded Tony it was his turn to do the laundry. When they had finished eating Tony took the trays downstairs, cleaned up the kitchen and locked up for the night.

He returned with a glass of water in hand, and held out two white tablets to Jethro on his outstretched palm.

Gibbs squinted at the pills but didn't make any move to pick them up.

Tony put the tumbler of water in Gibbs' hand and didn't retract his offering.

Sighing, Gibbs accepted the medicine and only after he swallowed them did he ask what they were.

There was no way that Gibbs could have seen any distinguishing marks on the white pills without his glasses. "They're from Ducky," Tony said innocently. He'd learned a long time ago not to outright lie to Gibbs.

Gibbs looked at him with suspicion but as he'd already taken the medicine there wasn't much he could do. He threw back the bedcovers causing Tony to jump up and rush to his side of the bed. Gibbs asked sarcastically, "Am I allowed to I take a leak?"

"I'm only here to spot for you," Tony replied evenly. He tried not to hover but it was obvious that Jethro's leg wasn't up to bearing any weight. The older man used the furniture to brace himself and then had to accept Tony's assistance to limp the last few feet into the bathroom. Tony stepped back once it appeared that Jethro could be left on his own long enough to use the toilet, but he made a point of leaving the door open. The toilet flushed, water ran, and Jethro appeared in the doorway. Tony was by his side once again.

Jethro winced every time he moved his left leg, but was able to make it back to the bed without any mishap. He was glad to be lying down again, and he let Tony fuss a bit with his pillows under his knee and behind his head.

Tony left one light on low and settled facing Jethro. They were only a foot apart but to him it felt like it was a mile.

Jethro took a deep breath and appeared to be ready to fall asleep but then rolled his head to the side and fixed his blue eyes on Tony. "You gonna stay way over there all night?"

"I don't want to hurt you."

"My feelings are gonna be hurt if you don't get the hell over here right now, Tony."

Tony didn't need another invitation. In a second he was snuggled up to Gibbs' good side. "You let me know if it's uncomfortable, okay?"

"Stop worrying."

"It's my job to worry."

Gibbs let out a huff of breath and kissed Tony on the forehead. "And here I was thinking that was my job." After a pause he said quietly, "I was watching you."

"When were you watching me?" He knew that Jethro watched him a lot, often when he thought that Tony wasn't aware of it. But Tony could often feel his lover's eyes on him, especially at work or when they were among other people and couldn't let it be known they were together. It was as if so long as Jethro could keep Tony within sight, it was the next best thing to actually touching him. It made Tony feel wanted and needed.

"On that damned slippery slope."

Tony's eyes widened in realization. "Oh hell. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been fooling around with McGee."

"It was my own damned fault for not paying attention to where I was going." Jethro hadn't meant to suggest it was in any way Tony's fault. Hell, he got hot and bothered a half-dozen times a day by just looking at the younger man. He should have known better, especially when they were on the job.

"I'm sorry you got hurt, Jethro."

"Ah, at least I didn't break anything."

Tony relaxed and grinned over the memory of his antics earlier that day. "Did you see McGee and me? We almost fell on our asses just before you took off down that hill. Maybe we should try out for the winter Olympics luge team. I'd pay good money to see you in one of those skin-tight suits, sliding down the run at eighty miles an hour. No, on second thoughts, maybe not. That's too fast." And too dangerous.

Jethro smiled tiredly and slowly ran his hand down Tony's arm. "I don't think I'm going to be trying out for the Olympics anytime soon." His eyes sought out Tony's and he confessed in a low voice that held a hint of pain, "I couldn't get out of the tub. I tried." He brought Tony's hand up to his mouth and kissed the warm palm. Softly he said, "I made you angry. Couldn't blame you if you didn't want to come home to an old grouch."

"You're not an old grouch, Jethro," Tony insisted.

Jethro knew that to be a lie. "Yeah, well, I sat there in the tub and pictured being found days later, shriveled up like a raisin. I could imagine Ducky examining my dead body while he yammered on about some story from his past. 'When I was a wee lad in Scotland the constable discovered a body in a bathtub…'"

Tony laughed but then his smile faded. He knew how hard it had been for Jethro to admit he'd been unable to get out of the tub. Moving even closer, Tony wrapped his arm around his lover's waist. "Don't you ever do that again. Closing me out like that," he said in a low voice. He searched Jethro's eyes, needing to see that he truly understood that being taken care of by a loved one was not a sign of weakness. "I know it's hard for you, and that your knees ache in the morning, and your back sometimes, and your shoulder, and it's tough around the holidays with those memories and everything, but I honestly don't care if you're showing signs of age, Jethro." Tony gave a self-depreciating laugh. "I'm not getting any younger either, you know. I think I threw my back getting you out of the tub. Look, I just want you to get it through that thick skull of yours that the team doesn't care that you fell on your ass. And I want you to know that I'm gonna love you 'til we're both old and in wheelchairs and living in the old soldiers' home or wherever the hell grouchy Marines retire to." He cupped Jethro's face with his hand, rubbing his thumb gently across his cheek. "And I am always…always going to come home to you. Capice?"

Jethro took a minute and then he nodded. "I was gonna give you another gift tonight."

With an exasperated sigh Tony said, "It can wait. This is enough gift for me, having you safe. I don't like it when you're hurt." Tony pulled Jethro in for a kiss, taking care not to jostle his bruised leg.

Jethro's mouth opened eagerly in response, encouraging Tony's tongue to investigate freely, angling his head and returning the tender, warm kiss in kind.

Tony expressed all of his love in that kiss and ran his hand under Jethro's shirt to gently stroke his chest and belly. "This is the best gift. Just us, together like this."

Jethro said sleepily, "I couldn't want anything more. Love you so much, Tony."

In reply Tony caressed the side of Jethro's face once more and watched his eyes close. He could see that Ducky's medicine was taking effect, so he said, "Merry Christmas, baby. I love you, too."

***end chapter 5***