50 Sentences Expanded
47. Harm – Gibbs realized the extent of his feelings when that man had held a gun to Tony's head, and almost pulled the trigger.
There are rare moments in a person's life when they have an epiphany of where they have been and where they are going. These moments change everything. And rightly so. It could be while sitting next to a dying loved one in hospital, or even holding your child in your arms for the first time. It could be watching a beautiful woman walk down the aisle toward you, or staring down at her grave.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs had experienced all of these moments. And each one had required him to take stock of his life and where it was headed. No one truly likes change, but everyone has to deal with it. So as a young boy Gibbs had sat at his mother's bedside as she faded away. As a young man he had watched a lovely redhead walk down the aisle toward him. As a man, he had held his baby girl in his arms and marveled at how tiny she was; that he and his lovely redhead had created her from themselves. And as an older man he had stared down at their graves in wonderment, unable to process all that had happened.
As he approached the later years of his life, Leroy Jethro Gibbs thought he was done with profound, life-changing moments. He wasn't sure he could handle any more.
But clearly life had other plans, because shortly after divorcing wife number four, life thrust someone new into his life. Someone who would change things permanently.
Tony was a clown, that much was sure. But there was something about him that made Gibbs want to laugh at his silly pranks and his witty repertoire with coworkers. He livened up what could be a dull, repetitious job. Always death, always murderers, always a case to solve. Tony's wisecracks, no matter how crude, always put a smile on his face, even if it was only when no one could see.
And as the years passed, it wasn't difficult for Gibbs to notice a certain attraction the two shared. It could be in a sidelong glance, a lingering touch, or even silence. But neither acted.
Naturally, life was pissed because these two men who were clearly meant for one another were ignoring all the signs. And so, another epiphany was required.
It was during a case involving a Marine who had killed his wife and two sons after a long battle with PTSD. The entire team felt a certain ounce of pity for the man, but he was still a murderer.
A chase had ensued when they had finally cornered him in a warehouse downtown. Both Gibbs and Ziva were behind Tony, but neither was fast enough to get Tony's six. So when Gibbs rounded a corner, Ziva on his heels, he had to stop, as the epiphany overtook him.
Gibbs realized the extent of his feelings when that man had held a gun to Tony's head, and almost pulled the trigger.
It was only Ziva's quick hands and the bullet she sent between his eyes that caused the man to release Tony and fall to the concrete. Tony was shaken, and no jokes spilled from his lips. A close call such as this one was rare and each one always bothered him more than the last. What if help was ever too late?
And so he had an epiphany of his own, which life threw in just to make sure.
When Gibbs knelt before him to check he was okay, Tony leaned over and placed the most chaste of kisses on Gibbs' lips.
But it was enough.
A/N: I really like how this turned out. And the end is where it ends, no sequels for this one. I think it's pretty obvious that the pair took the hint life was trying to through at them. And I loved Life being a personified being almost. That wasn't how I originally planned it, but hey, whatever works.
This expansion was requested by Laimelde. I hope you liked!
Reviews are lovely!
Disclaimer: NCIS is the property of Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill.