Slow Burn

A/N: Spoilers for Playing With Fire and this chapter is again awash with bunnies from Kesterpan... her bunny canon is out of control... again.

Chapter 3 – Faintest of Embers

When he caught himself glancing across to the basement stairs for the third time in the past hour, Gibbs cursed inwardly in frustration and threw down the tool he was using and reached for his bourbon.

The stairs were empty.

Of course they were.

Tony was still in Naples with Ziva and Stan Burley.

So why he kept looking over towards the stairs as if he expected the familiar figure of his SFA to be in his usual place was beyond him... and only increased his already bad mood.

You're going soft, Gunny.

Ever since they'd hit a dead end at Dearing's company earlier today, not so much narrowly missing him but missing Dearing by almost a year, he had been in a foul temper. After the lead provided by his team's good work in Naples, he'd felt they were finally making progress in the case, until they'd been baulked... again.

So when Gibbs finally left the Navy Yard earlier to come home, he'd retreated to the basement to try to calm his mind, expecting the steady and familiar rhythm of working with his hands to work as it usually did. But even after making good progress on the table he was making for Leyla, his mind was still unsettled and the more he worked, the more tightly wound up he became.

Not helped by getting annoyed with himself for his almost unconscious glances towards the stairs as if expecting to see Tony sitting there or waiting to hear his voice.

It would be a familiar sight... and a welcome one.

Since his split with Wendy, Tony had gotten into the habit of spending more time here, provided Gibbs wasn't due to see Ryan, who inevitably came to his house.

...which was another thing that was pissing him off lately.

He still hadn't been to Ryan's house... or met Parker.

Every time they got together, it would be here in his house. And as much as it made it easier for him, it also showed that Ryan still didn't quite trust him. That she didn't want to open up to him... to let him in, while all the time digging away at him to do the same.

So, despite their relationship, Ryan wasn't Gibbs' first choice right now to help calm his mind. It was only likely to make it worse.

His friend was different.

Tony could read him. Knew his 'tells' better than Ryan did.

He knew what Gibbs needed. Sensed when Gibbs was happy to let his chatter wash over him or when he preferred quiet.

Somehow, over the years, Gibbs had gotten used to spending time with Tony outside work. And much more than that, he enjoyed his company.

And it was a disconcerting thought but while Tony and Ziva were in Naples, he'd... missed him. Both at work, where his absence from the bullpen and at his side during the investigation was obvious.

He'd missed Tony's insights... and even his yabba yabba.

And now he seemed to be missing him here at home too.

Jeez, Marine.

Since when the hell did the way to centre himself start to become dependent on working in his basement and on Tony being present?

Since when did Tony become his safety net?

Over the years, they'd spent a lot of time down here together, most recently after the case with Jason King and then before that, picking apart their relationships with Wendy and Ryan... an evening when both men had been unusually honest with what was troubling them.

It had also been a night when Tony had startled him completely.

Gibbs still hadn't gotten his head round Tony's serious reaction to his remark about them sleeping together if they couldn't trust manipulative women. Gibbs had meant it as a joke but Tony's response had thrown him at the time.

But as they'd carefully avoided the subject ever since, it had allowed Gibbs to put the whole thing to the back of his mind.

Until now.

Surely Tony hadn't really meant it that way?

Tony thought of them as friends, right?

The same as he did.

Didn't he?

"Tony!"

Tony grunted, fielding the whirlwind as Abby flung herself at him where he and Ziva stood with Stan by the elevators. His mind was still on the end of the briefing they'd walked into, but Tony hugged her back, smiling at her enthusiastic welcome. Abby released him and hugged Ziva before launching herself at Stan, only just avoiding his arm still held in a sling.

"Stan... my man!"

"Hello, gorgeous. See," Stan held up his bandaged arm. "I'll do almost anything to get back to D.C. so I can see you again."

Tony only half listened to the subsequent conversation, tuning them all out. His eyes were fixed on Gibbs where he sat at his desk and Tony's practised eye took in the tense body language, rigid set to the jaw and the thundercloud brewing on the Marine's face.

What the...?

Tony watched Ziva walk to her desk and greet Gibbs but he merely gave her a curt nod before dropping his eyes back to the paperwork on his desk. Ziva frowned but used to Gibbs' moods, she settled at her desk without another word.

Tony's attention was drawn back as Abby slipped her arm through his, lowering her voice. "Tony, will you come see me before you go?"

Tony sighed, giving her a brief smile. "I'm really tired, Abbs. Can we catch up tomorrow?" He turned his gaze towards their desks again.

She tugged at his arm. "No, we can't. Tony... it's about Gibbs."

That got his attention and Tony whipped his head back to Abby, seeing the concern in the green eyes as she gnawed her lower lip. She glanced over at Gibbs before going on. "I'm worried about him, Tony. Please."

Tony nodded. "Sure, Abbs. I'll be down as soon as I can."

Later that afternoon, Tony leaned on the wall at the entrance to Abby's lab, smiling as he watched her familiar figure bustling about.

"Hello again, little lady."

Abby turned, smiling as she rushed over to wrap him in another bone-crushing but thankfully brief hug before grabbing his arm and dragging him into her office.

"Okay, okay... where's the fire?" Tony protested laughingly as she pushed him down into her chair, grabbing the remote and turning off her music and closing her office door.

Tony glanced between it and the dark haired woman as she sat on the edge of her desk, seeing her almost instant change of mood. "Okay, now I'm spooked. What's up?"

"I'm worried, Tony."

Her reply was quiet, her usual firecracker nature subdued and that worried him more than anything and before Abby could speak, Tony sat forward in the chair, taking her hand. "Yeah, I can see that, Abby... what is it? What about Gibbs?"

"I think he's going all Cap'n Ahab again."

It came out in a rush and it took Tony a second to register the words.

He squeezed her hand. "Tell me."

"I came in yesterday, early, you know, as usual and Gibbs was already here." Abby pointed. "He was sat over there, cleaning his gun."

"Well... he's an early bird too, Abbs." Tony shrugged.

"Yeah, I know, Tony but this was different. He was scary. All... broody." Abby waved her hands around in her agitation, leaping to her feet to begin pacing. "I mean really, really broody and he hardly looked at me, barely acknowledged what I was telling him. Gibbs never does that, Tony. He just got the results and shot outta here like his ass was on fire."

"Well, that sounds fairly normal. You know what he's like when he's focused."

Abby rolled her eyes, coming to a stop in front of him. "Yes, I know that, Tony, but I can tell the difference, you know I can and this was totally not normal..." She heaved a frustrated sigh. "I'm not explaining this very well but it wasn't so much what Gibbs did but how he did it... and he's been like that ever since. It's been like some horrible flashback to how Gibbs was when he was chasing Ari. It was that all over again."

Tony ran a hand over his hair. "Oh boy."

"Yeah, oh boy." Abby perched on the edge of her desk again. "C'mon, Tony. You've been up there with him all afternoon... you can see it too, can't you?"

Tony leaned forward, resting his arms on the desk, looking up at Abby. "Yeah... I see it."

He'd been watching Gibbs closely since they got back and it was obvious the guy was royally pissed off... barking and growling at anyone and over everything. McGee and Ziva had kept their heads down, wisely trying to stay under the Marine's radar.

Tony had put today's bad mood down to frustration at the lack of progress.

But he wasn't about to dismiss Abby's opinion.

She could speak 'Gibbs' too.

Between the two of them, they probably knew the Marine better than most, apart from Ducky, and they'd gotten into the habit over the years of confiding and relying on each other when something was off with Gibbs.

Anything to avoid a repeat of the tequila safari.

"You gotta do something, Tony." Abby nudged his shoulder, pulling him out of his musing "You can get through to him. I mean I know he's pissed coz Dearing wasn't there but this is way more than that. He's been even more of a grumpy bear than he usually is."

"Now, you mention it," Tony went on, "on the ship, he did go from interrogation mode one to four at warp speed."

He remembered it vividly. Even on a small laptop screen on the ship, a pissed off Gibbs was a sight to behold.

"Ooh, four... that's hot."

Tony snorted, glancing up to see her teasing smile. "Abby."

"Well, it is."

"Well, it certainly had an effect on our Petty Officer, who was singing like a lark within minutes. The Boss can be fairly intimidating even in miniature."

"Not to mention hot."

"Abbs." He shook his head, huffing a soft laugh, despite his best efforts.

"You know it is, Anthony DiNozzo."

Abby's mischievous grin was the one which usually had him torn between grinning back or running for the hills.

Abby was the only person who knew Tony was bi but as close as he and Abby were, he'd still never admitted his attraction to Gibbs. Nevertheless, from her occasional knowing smile or comment, Tony had a feeling Abby suspected something although, thankfully, she'd never pressed him on it.

Tony cleared his throat.

"Okay... moving on. I hear you, Abbs, but he doesn't need me..." He held up his hand as Abby made to speak. "What I mean is, sure, I can help at work. I can get in front of the bear, no problem. But at home. Well, he's got Dr Ryan to lean on now, hasn't he?"

Abby snorted. "Yeah, right. And if she was helping him, why is he in such a bad mood still, huh?"

Tony shrugged. "I dunno, Abbs. I wanna help him, you know I do but... isn't that what she's for... now they're a couple."

Tony tried not to choke on the word, ruthlessly pushing down the jealousy that had begun to rear up lately when he thought of what Gibbs seemed to have with Ryan... of how she might be the one Gibbs talked to now, if he talked at all.

They hadn't discussed anything to do with Ryan since that night in the basement a few weeks ago when Gibbs had admitted to liking her but not trusting her.

So Tony had assumed things were going well.

Gibbs kept so much close to his chest anyway that Tony doubted he'd have confided any further than he already did. Tony just had to hope that he'd pick up on anything really wrong with the guy.

But he hadn't.

"And you think she understands him enough to do that?" Abby pressed. "A woman who thinks she can get inside everyone's head by talking them to death, trying to help a guy who prefers not to talk if he can avoid it. Yeah, great recipe that is." Abby jumped off her desk again and started wearing another groove in the floor, gesturing as she paced. "I mean I get that she likes labels but you can't stick people in neat little categories like she does. She called me a mapper, even after I told her to get outta my head."

Tony chuckled. "You're lucky, Abbs. She thinks I'm a game show host."

As Ryan had said that to his face, it worried Tony what she might be saying to Gibbs behind his back. Not that he thought Gibbs would be influenced too much by what Ryan might say.

The guy made up his own mind but the last thing Tony wanted was to seem somehow less in Gibbs' eyes.

Abby narrowed her eyes, throwing him a look. "That's just... insulting. And it proves she doesn't get you at all. And she didn't even recognize one of Gibbs' aha moments in the lab, even though it was so totally obvious to me... and you'd have seen it too, Tony. So," Abby stopped in front of him again, hands on her hips, "you gotta do something before it gets any worse."

Tony gazed at her for a moment before shaking his head. "Geez, I've only been gone a few days, how could that happen?"

"Well, duh, Tony." Abby rolled her eyes. "See a connection between those things at all?"

"What?"

"Oh, Tony. You know how to handle Gibbs, how to deflect him and take the edge of that temper... okay, usually by sticking your head in the way, I'll give you that one." Abby dropped into a crouch in front of him, resting her hands on his knee. "But you balance him out."

Tony blinked at Abby slowly. "I do?"

Abby smiled gently. "You do. You know you do, Tony. And if you'd only stop doubting yourself for five minutes, you'd see it... and he balances you out too. Ying and Yang. You need each other and when one of you is away, it just all goes totally hinky."

Slightly stunned, Tony could only stare at Abby in silence.

Abby tilted her head, her smile widening. "Don't look at me like that, you know I'm right." She bounced to her feet, grabbing his hand and hauling him to his feet. "Now, go... shoo... go sort out Cap'n Ahab and find our Gibbs, coz I need him... and so do you."

"I do, huh?"

She unlocked her office door and turned back to him, her smile knowing. "Oh, I know you do... and you know I know you do, and I know you know I know you do."

"Okay, I get it." Tony laughed, holding up his hands and backing away, knowing Abby could go on for some time in the same vein given half a chance. "Alright, alright, I'm going."

Gibbs looked up as the expected figure started down the basement stairs, balancing a pizza box in one hand and clutching two beer bottles in the other.

"I'm starving. You hungry? I hope you're hungry."

"I could eat." Gibbs dropped the sanding block onto the workbench behind him, running a hand over the table top in front of him, testing for smoothness.

"Well, if you're not, I swear I could eat the whole thing. I've got my appetite back and I gotta tell ya, it was weird on that ship. I got seasick. Me? Seasick? I never get seasick... not even four months as Agent Afloat did I get even the slightest urge to lose my lunch. I think Probie must be rubbing off on me... but don't tell him that or I'll never hear the end of it."

Tony dumped the box on the workbench and Gibbs pulled up a sawhorse, taking one of the beers.

"You think Ziva won't tell him?"

Tony paused as he considered, smiling ruefully. "Fair point." Tony rummaged in the box for a slice of pizza and retreated to the stairs, grinning at Gibbs as he sat down.

He was relieved Gibbs had accepted his suggestion in the bullpen earlier. After his talk with Abby, he'd waited till the end of what felt like a very long day before stopping by the Marine's desk, waiting till he raised his head, the expression impatient and the blue eyes almost glaring.

"Pizza?" Tony had asked quietly.

Gibbs had stared at him unspeaking for a moment before Tony saw the expression soften. The barely perceptible nod was all Tony needed to bring a grin to his own face as he turned back to his desk.

So after work, he'd wasted no time in rushing back to his apartment to change and pick up pizza on the way to Gibbs' house.

Now, speaking round a mouthful of pizza, Tony went on. "Although strictly speaking, if my body's still on Naples time, then this should be breakfast." He waved the slice of pizza. "Maybe that's why I was seasick... it screwed with my body clock."

Gibbs titled his head in acknowledgement but didn't reply.

Tony watched Gibbs for a moment. "Stan's staying with Abby for a few days."

Gibbs quirked an eyebrow and Tony grinned.

"She insisted, said it'd be easier than fending for himself with only one arm... although I don't remember much protest coming from the man himself. She'll be able to let out her inner mother hen. Stan'll lap it up… who wouldn't?" Tony walked over for another slice of pizza, gesturing at the table. "S'looking good. Nearly finished?"

"Uh-huh. Varnish next."

"You wanna hand getting it over to Leyla's when it's done?" Tony offered, wandering back towards the stairs.

Gibbs nodded, sipping his beer. "About another week should do it." He glanced over at Tony. "She might even feed ya."

Tony smiled. "Then count me in... she's a terrific cook."

He went on to talk about Naples and gradually brought the conversation round to the case, agreeing next steps and Tony could see Gibbs gradually relaxing, the tension seeming to drain away, as the pizza disappeared. A while later, Tony munched on the last slice, looking round him at the familiar surroundings.

"You know... I gotta say, it's nice to be back. Although we were only away a few days, I kinda missed this old place, your couch, the fireplace, even that damn TV, the mason jars, the smell of sawdust… even missed you." He reached up to the back of his head, grinning. "Although the time away might've allowed any lingering concussion to fade and the permanent bump to go down."

Suddenly aware Gibbs was staring at him, Tony trailed off, slightly unnerved by the look he was getting. "What? Have I got pizza on my chin or something?"

Gibbs shook his head, looking down at the bottle he was cradling, a slight smile breaking out. "Glad you're here too, Tony."

Tony couldn't help the grin that spread across his face. "I'm glad I'm here too." He hesitated before plowing on. "Been worried about you... and I'm not the only one."

Gibbs looked up. "Abby."

"Yeah,," Tony nodded. "She's worried... and judging by how pissed you looked this afternoon, so am I."

"No need."

Tony sighed, standing up and walking towards Gibbs who watched him with a slightly curious expression as he approached. He rested a hand on Gibbs' shoulder. "Don't wanna have to change my name to Ishmael. I think Tony suits me better and Jethro definitely suits you better than Cap'n Ahab."

Gibbs shook his head, chuckling slightly at the reference. He was silent for a long moment, looking down at his hands and quoted quietly. "He piled upon the whale's white hump the sum of all the general rage and hate."

Tony smiled, dropping his hand and turning to lean back against the workbench. "Ah, 1956 classic, Moby Dick with Gregory Peck... and Orson Welles in a cameo role."

Gibbs looked up, rolling his eyes and Tony grinned, unrepentant as he went on. "Okay, okay... and from the Herman Melville book."

Gibbs took a deep breath, holding Tony's gaze. "Don't think Dearing's gonna be Moby Dick."

"I hope not, Jethro... Not like Ari," Tony replied, pleased Gibbs hadn't shut him down and dismissed his concerns. He'd half expected it.

A shadow passed across Gibbs' face. "No." He sipped his beer before conceding. "Not yet."

"Hey." Tony nudged Gibbs' arm. "Even if he is, I got your back... you know that, right?"

Gibbs stared at Tony for a moment before nodding. "I know."

TBC...