a/n - had to split this chapter again. I knew it was going to be long, but not that long. BTW, all the food mentioned while they're at the football game is actually from the stadium menu for the VIP club and executive suites. No, I'm not obsessive about my research, why do you ask? g

Leon Vance glared at his image in the mirror as he tried to straighten his bow tie. He was well aware that life wasn't always fair, but still...

"Here, let me do that." Jackie came up behind him as he turned around. It just took her a second to make his tie perfect and even. "I know how much you hate these boring political dinners, but Saturday will be better. You know, I was going to turn down Natalie's invitation, but Jethro's confusion yesterday reminded me how long you've been promising to take me to the opera." She kissed his cheek before returning to the bedroom to put on her shoes and Vance had to shake his head. The only thing that could make this weekend any worse would be if his mother-in-law showed up.

Jackie's voice filtered in through the bathroom door. "Oh by the way, Leon, my mother called today. Her trip to Florida has been canceled and... Leon, what's that thumping noise?"

-NCIS-

"This is a box?" Gibbs looked around slowly as he stepped further inside. Dark mahogany paneling set off the glass, crystal and chrome, making them sparkle even in the dim light. Rows of leather club chairs gave a perfect view through the glass wall, while slightly simpler seats awaited anyone who wanted to sit outside to watch the game. Two sofas were further back, a perfect place to relax during half time, and along the opposite wall was the mini-bar with a granite countertop, stacks of plates, utensils and glassware ready to use on the shelf above it.

The steward smiled, knowing these were first time guests of the box owners. "Actually, we refer to these as the executive suites." He continued to show them the rest of the amenities as two women from the catering division arrived with a large cart piled high with food.

"Good evening, Mr. Gemcity. Compliments of your publishing company." A large basin filled with ice and bottled drinks was set on the counter first while the other waitress set up the chafing dish and then filled each section with various hot appetizers. A platter of cold appetizers was laid out next, then a tray of assorted desserts and a basket of candy rounded out the display.

"Mmm, sliders." Tony picked up one of the tiny burgers and took a bite as the taller waitress explained the choices.

"That is a Kobe beef slider with bleu cheese, bacon and micro-greens. You also have chicken satay with a peanut dipping sauce and chicken fried lamb chops with a black pepper aioli. On the cold platter you will find our version of a BLT - pancetta, lobster and tomato on toasted sourdough with a chili mayonnaise. Next is a Gorgonzola cheese mousse with toasted walnuts on raisin toast, then Ahi tuna with wasabi cream, pickled ginger and tobiko. Last are the artichoke hearts that have been stuffed with eggplant caponata and toasted pine nuts.

"The dessert platter includes lemon squares, cheesecake, a chocolate decadence cake, tiramisu and fruit tarts." She bent down and lifted two silver carafes off the bottom shelf before setting them on the small console next to the sofas. From the console she pulled out a tray of cups and individual packets of creamers and sweeteners along with a wooden box of imported teas. "If you need anything else, just pick up the house phone and press the button for catering. We can deliver until the beginning of the last quarter."

"Thank you." As he watched them leave, Tim had to admit Lyndi had outdone herself.

Tony was already opening a beer and checking out the rest of the food. "Man, McGee, do you always get these kind of perks?"

"Usually I would just fly into a city on the red-eye, spend the night in whatever hotel they book me into, and be out at a book signing the next morning. She's pushing right now because she's hoping I'll stay under contract and write another book. You know, I've always kept the book tours pretty low-key because the perks aren't really fun if you're by yourself, but now..."

"But now, an occasional weekend like this would be pretty fun." Gibbs stepped closer to Tim with a smile. "Now that I know what I've been missing."

Anything else he might have said was interrupted when Ziva bounced out of the attached private restroom. "Can you believe it, there's even a plasma TV in the bathroom. Tony, are you eating again? We are going to have to roll you onto the plane when we leave."

While the other two men laughed, Tony's voice was slightly muffled until he swallowed. "It's good, and it'd be silly to let it go to waste."

Gibbs reached over and grabbed one of the skewers that held the chicken satay. "We're all hitting the gym on Monday, Ziver, so enjoy."

-NCIS-

Vance was staring at the artistic little assortment of baby vegetables that was apparently the first course, wondering what brilliant chef first came up with the idea to drizzle the sauce on the plate instead of the food, when his phone vibrated once. Grateful for the interruption, even if it was just a text, he eagerly pulled it out to read before glaring even harder at his food.

"Is there a problem?"

"No, Sweetheart, just Gibbs checking in. He had dinner with the Ambassador from Sweden along with a couple of Super Bowl champions." He looked at the text again and sighed. "And some members of the Hall of Fame."

The Undersecretary sitting across from Vance stopped poking at his own plate. "Gibbs, Agent Jethro Gibbs? You sent him to meet with an ambassador without supervision?"

"No. No, he's out of town at the Redskins game, and apparently quite a dinner."

The man next to the Undersecretary raised an eyebrow. "Apparently. So how'd he pull that off?"

"It's a birthday present from his life partner." Jackie spoke up before Leon could. "VIP dinner, then a private executive suite for the game." The nudging of her foot by his stopped anything else she might have said.

A second text gave Vance something to fill what could have been an awkward silence as he read off the highlights. "The buffet included prime rib, flank steak, pork loin, shrimp, king crab, a whole roasted salmon and a twelve foot long wall of desserts."

The men were salivating and the women were giggling. "What, no vegetables?"

Vance rolled his eyes at Jackie's question, but automatically typed it out in a responding text.

-NCIS-

It was warm enough that the four of them started the game out on the balcony, plates of food and bottles of beer spread out on the ledge just under the railing. Gibbs enjoyed a piece of the tuna before feeding his second piece to Tim, who automatically licked the remaining spicy cream off Gibbs' fingers before it could drip.

Tony and Ziva exchanged a smile. As the day had progressed they'd both noticed how much more relaxed the couple had become. Obviously, being away from the strain and worry from Rebecca and Sutton was good for them. The official stepped out onto the field for the coin toss and they all settled in to watch the game.

-NCIS-

Three baby carrots threaded through a hollowed out slice of zucchini was apparently the highlight of the meal as Vance stared morosely at the chicken breast sitting on bright yellow rice. He suspected it was overcooked and the thin sauce over it was an attempt to moisten it back up. Judging from Jackie's face when she sampled it, the sauce had little or no taste. The meal became even more disappointing when the next text came through.

"Well?"

Vance read it off, as most of the table was now fascinated with what was going on in Chicago. "Ignored most. Ziva had asparagus salad. Apple Peach Mojito salad excellent, Tim promised to duplicate."

With a grimace, the Undersecretary pushed his limp broccoli to the side of the plate. "Are they still serving? I can get my hands on the jet."

"No." A sad expression on his face, Vance slowly closed the phone. "The game is starting and they've moved to their private box, where another buffet is set up, just for them."

"Is it too much to hope that they have a lousy view?"

"Oh, no, they're right above the fifty-yard line on the visitor's side. Close enough to wave at the Redskin's general manager, who also had dinner with them."

"Damn."

-NCIS-

The end of the first quarter found them on their feet, cheering as a last second field goal pulled Washington ahead. "Man, did you see that, Boss? Forty-three yard field goal and it was dead center. Who's ready for another beer?" Not even waiting for an answer, Tony went inside the suite to grab four more bottles.

Gibbs had his phone out before he sat down and Tim fondly shook his head. "You've sent more texts in the last hour than in the entire time I've known you."

"Just keeping Vance updated on the score."

"Right."

-NCIS-

Abby bounced back into the house after a burger run. She'd been surprised that the barbequed beef was already gone and wasn't in the mood to cook for herself. It was okay, because she had a plan. Pulling out a second burger, one without lettuce and tomato, she unwrapped it and set it in Jett's bowl. "Here, boy, come on."

There was a break in the rhythm of squeaking before she heard Jett coming down the hall. She was all prepared to dash into the den and grab the obnoxious toy, but he brought it with him, dropping it next to his bowl. There was a long, drawn out squeak as he set his foot on it and began to eat.

"Shoot, time to come up with plan B."

-NCIS-

Jackie and the other wives at the table had retired to the ladies room for a moment before dessert was to be served, but the men leaned closer when Vance's phone vibrated once again. He read the message before snapping it shut. "Redskins are ahead at the end of the first quarter, ten to seven."

"Yes." The Undersecretary pumped his arm and grinned as he had fifty dollars riding on the outcome of the game.

"I bet you wish you were with them this weekend."

It was a strained smile, but Vance couldn't help it. "Of course not, after all I'm taking my wife to the opera on Saturday and my mother-in-law is arriving on Sunday."

The elderly man sitting next to him reached out and patted his shoulder. "You have my deepest sympathies."

-NCIS-

By the end of the second quarter each team had scored an additional touchdown and the spread remained three points as they went into half-time. Tony handed Ziva a stack of bills. "Here, since you're already going down to the souvenir booth, would you get me a sweatshirt?"

She opened her mouth to tell him that she wasn't going down to the souvenir booth, but something in his eyes caught her attention. "Sure, Tony, besides I could stand to stretch my legs."

Sitting on one of the sofas with Tim, Gibbs had caught the exchange and wasn't surprised when Tony came over and sat on the opposite sofa. It was obvious that Tony was working up to something, so he waited, mellowed by good food, good company and good booze.

"Boss, I know what you say about apologies, and they are and I was, but I need to say this anyway, especially to Tim, okay?"

The other two men looked at each other before straightening up to give DiNozzo their full attention as he stared at McGee.

"That day, when I... you know." If they didn't already, Tony's touching his face to mirror the bruise he'd left on Tim's would have told them. "When I was there earlier and Gibbs wouldn't let me in, it kinda pissed me off because I've always just walked in whenever I wanted and when I was trying to figure out what he didn't want me to know, I saw you going up the stairs. I mean it was pretty obvious you were on your way to bed, but I just didn't want to believe that. All I could think of was why you and not me. First, Vance had assigned you to work on something with Gibbs instead of me and then you were sleeping in his house.

"I kept driving in circles, trying to figure it out, so I went back to prove to myself that you were tucked away in the guest bedroom and everything was the way I wanted it to be."

"But I wasn't."

Tony gave a small shake of his head. "No, you weren't. I sneaked upstairs and heard voices and laughter, and then I heard my name. I looked through the door and he was rubbing your knee and then he got out of the bed and pulled the blankets up over you. I don't know what hit me worse right then, how loving that moment was, or the fact that he didn't even realize I was in the house. When I attacked you, all I could think was that I was losing everything and now that I know... especially now that I know..."

Gibbs carefully watched them. Tony was leaning forward far enough, elbows resting on his knees, that Tim was able to reach out and rest his hand on Tony's shoulder. The other man seemed to appreciate the anchor because he nodded slightly and continued speaking, his hands echoing his words.

"We've always been been a family, but it was like we just sort of circled around each other and then when you and Gibbs locked together... it's like the rest of us finally had a place to fit into perfectly and I'm so grateful..." His voice broke for a moment and Tim squeezed his shoulder as he took a deep breath. "You could have sent me away and nobody would have argued. I thought I was losing both my dad and my best friend but instead I got more than I ever thought possible, more than I ever thought I deserved. I'm just so grateful that you thought I was worth a second chance."

"Ah, Tony." Tim let his hand slide down Tony's arm, until both his hands were grasping Tony's forearms. "Let me tell you something. You've probably figured out a lot, but let me fill in the blanks. I was kidnapped by a child molester when I was young. He hurt me in ways that I still can't find the words to describe, but what hurt me the worst was how angry my father was. At me. He was convinced that I was too damaged to save and he never forgave me for surviving, not to this day."

"Tim..." For once Tony didn't have words as he saw a glimpse of the intense loneliness that was usually hidden away.

"The one thing I decided a long time ago was that if I cared about somebody, then they were always worth one more chance. We might argue and snipe at each other, but at the end of the day, we're okay, always will be."

"Thanks, man." Tony nodded and started to sit back, ready to pull his public persona back up around him. "It's funny, it's only been a few weeks but now I can't imagine you guys not together."

"Yeah, I know." Tim turned and gave a shy smile to Gibbs. "Half-time is almost over, I'll make sure Ziva didn't get lost." Gibbs mouthed a thank you as Tim moved away to give them a moment of privacy.

Now alone with Tony, Gibbs rubbed his chin before starting to talk in a low voice. "That night, after you left and after I took Mrs. B. home, I went back upstairs and Tim was already on the phone with Ziva, making sure you had someone looking out for you. He reminded me how important trust is to us, to you, and that we had broken that trust by not telling you before you found out the way you did. Tim was right, you deserved to have been told. Before anyone else knew about us we should have told you, and for that I am sorry."

Tony leaned back all the way, stunned at the rare apology. "Wow, thanks, Boss, that means a lot." Feeling brave, he ventured on. "Being together has changed you both, you know." The raised eyebrow nudged him on. "I guess it's because you two fit so well together, I guess you just rub off on each other."

Realizing how that sounded, Tony groaned and covered his eyes as Gibbs snickered. "Okay, not like that. Well, maybe you do, but I don't want to know about it. I mean it's like he got some of your backbone and confidence and you've, I don't know, you seem more relaxed, more comfortable in your own skin, if that makes sense."

"Yeah, it does. Thanks, Tony."