A/N: Some of you may find it strange – the contents of Tim's dreams after the night he's had – but obviously when the right person's looking out for him – it does wonders for where his mind goes…..


The darkened look of lust coming at him from those captivating eyes, now staring at him with an unwavering look of unadulterated want sends a spike of electricity straight through him. He keeps his eyes locked on them, needing to make the connection and keep it, strengthen it, get lost in it as the gently exploring kiss sends shivers of wanting need down his spine.

He's unable to stop the moan that escapes though the kiss as that warm and inviting mouth begins exploring further than their previously sensuous kisses that stole his heart and his breath ever had before.

"Sssh. Relax, I've got you now" As the comforting words reach his ears, strong, yet gentle fingers ghost trails around his cheek bones, over to his ears and downward, traveling gently and provocatively down to his chest, where they slip the buttons free on his shirt and sneak inside, finding his nipples, first one and then the other, gently tweaking and massaging them each in turn.

"Ooh! " Tim moans as pleasure spiks through him from his loins all the way down to his toes. As his lover's mouth continues to make love to his own mouth, the fingers continues to torment gently as they now move even further south and begin paving a gentle trail in and around his sensitive belly button.

Suddenly his pleasure encompasses all his thoughts as the sensually gravel voice speaks softly into his ear yet again. "Let me hear you, Tim. I want to hear what makes you feel good. Just let it out. Don't be afraid.."

"Ooh, Leroy, don't stop!" Tim moans as his now achingly hard rod begins throbbing with need, his hands fisting the sheets on both sides of him even as his back arches up off the bed and his head rolling from side to side restlessly.

"Then you don't want me to do this?" The voice teases just before taking a nipple into his mouth and gently lapping at it and suckling it as one calloused hand gently yet firmly holds him down at his hip.

"OH! God! Leroy, Yes!" Tim moaned, his head continued to roll back and forth on the bed as he toes curled on the end of the bed, his spine arching up even further into the new sensation that sent a jolt of pure pleasure through him..

"Or this?" the teasing went on, as suddenly a strong yet gentle hand had encased his aching member through the opening of his boxers and began stroking it soothingly in gentle motions, while a puff of gentle air breathed onto his sensitive tip once, twice….

"AH! Oh! So good, don't stop!" Tim babbled as the molten heat rose up from his gut, drawing him up tight as it climbed higher and higher, so quickly it nearly stopped his heart. "Yes! Oh, God! Cuming! Oh AAHHH!"

With a huge gasp for air, Tim bolted upright in bed, again, jolted from his sleep by the vivid dream, this time so sensual and real, he felt tears in his eyes as he came back to the reality that it was just a dream. Again. Or was it? Taking a minute to gather his wits about him, he soon realized it hadn't just been a dream this time and he needed a shower as well as a clean set of sheets for his bed.

With a moan of disappointment that his dream hadn't been real enough, even though his body felt less tightly strung now, Tim got out of bed and padded to the shower, stripping out of his now soaked and sticky boxers as he went. He hadn't taken three steps when it hit him. Coffee! Turning back around, he headed for his kitchen, intent on starting the coffee maker and letting it brew while he took his shower.

**NCIS**

From the couch in Tim's living room, Gibbs heard Tim shouting out his name in what sounded like a shout of ecstasy in what had to be a dream and heard his breathing change that signified he' woken up. The young man's jolted heavy breathing was another sign that the cause for Tim being awake was the intensity of whatever experience his dream had brought him. Getting up to check on his agent with a small smile on his face, the older man had almost reached the kitchen when the younger one came out of the bedroom naked , eyes not even focused as he headed straight for the coffee pot.

Watching him from the shadows of the dark doorway, Gibbs frowned. Apparently, Tim hadn't realized the older man would stay the night to make sure he was alright. Retreating back to the living room, Gibbs waited until he heard Tim walk back to his bedroom. Working hard to get his breathing back under control and then counting to 100, he then went to check on him, wanting to make sure whatever place he'd been in his dream wasn't messing with Tim's head any worse than what he'd already been thinking and investigating on his own these past few weeks had been doing. At least that was the excuse running around in his head.

As the sound of Tim's bathroom shower reached his ears, Gibbs thought to check the clock. With a frown, he realized it was only four A.M. The next thought that crossed his mind was to turn on the bedroom light and see just what state Tim's bed was in, to see if he could tell just how intense the dream had been. Upon close inspection, Gibbs had to smile. He made quick work of stripping the bed, locating the sheets and towels and remaking the bed before heading to the bathroom door with the towels.

Tim had silently trekked to his bathroom, too distracted to remember to take clean towels or even get a change of clothes for himself and wasted no time in getting under the hot spray that had soon begun working to soothe his aches and tension. Caught up in the soothing ministration of the nearly scalding water's effect on his neck and back muscles, Tim never noticed Gibbs brief appearance.

Gibbs silently tossed the towels onto the closed toilet seat cover before retreating back out to the kitchen. He needed coffee because he wanted this opportunity to go well and that meant he had to be on top of his game so he wouldn't screw this up. The fact that Tim hadn't shut the bathroom door before getting into the shower proved that he didn't realize Gibbs would have stayed to make sure he was alright after the events of last night. While that in and of itself was an issue Gibbs wanted to deal with later; right now, he was more concerned about making sure Tim didn't get the crap scared out of him when he saw Gibbs here.

*****NCIS*****

Tim turned the shower off and got out, only to be brought up short at the sight of fresh towels sitting there where he needed them to be; but where they hadn't been when he'd gotten into the shower. Did that mean what he thought it meant? Had Gibbs stayed after all? What would happen next? Was Tim really ready to test the waters? He'd wanted to for so long, what if he wasn't good enough? Oh, but he wanted to at least give it a try, so badly, he could taste it! Wait! He had no right to even expect that now! Didn't he realize that? He'd screwed that up last night! Probably for good!

He guessed it was his just desserts that his dreams had decided to finally show him just how pleasureable it could have been: what it would have been like; at least he thought that's what they were showing him. Mentally giving himself a headshake, Tim wrapped a towel around his waist and then towel-dried his hair and upper body Smoothing his hair back out of his face, he tossed the towel over the shower curtain rod and headed back to the bedroom to face the embarrassing chore of changing his bedsheets at four in the morning.

Again, he was brought up short in surprise; this time at the softly lit room and the freshly made bed with the covers turned down invitingly. It would be so easy just to slip back in bed and go back to sleep. But somehow, his brain refused to even think about that option for longer than a minute. In mutiny, his brain, instead, returned to his dream

"Everything'll be alright ..Let me hear you, Tim. I want to hear what makes you feel good. Just let it out. Don't be afraid."

"Damn!" Tim muttered as he stood still looking down at his bed while the memory of the dream began arouse him yet again, his healthy manhood once again rising to the occasion.

"You okay?" Gibbs asked behind him where he stood in the open door of Tim's bedroom

Glancing at the man at the heart of his sensuous dreams and waking hard-on's, Tim answered without even thinking of what he was going to say. "I'm okay. Sorry if I woke you." He offered quietly as he suddenly found himself unable to look away from those eyes.

"Nothing to apologise for." Gibbs told him while continuing to scrutinize what Tim's eyes were showing. He saw the fear and the desire, both fighting to control his next move. He knew Tim wanted to take the next step; had wanted to for a while now, especially after spending those four hours in that club last night, watching other men enjoy their partners and some even their subs. But thanks to a word of advice from Ducky, the Team Leader knew exactly what was going on.

**FLASHBACK**

"Ducky, for cryin' out loud! I'm followin' him right now! Why the hell is he still doin' this instead of talkin' to me? Why didn't he call me to be his wingman like he promised?" Gibbs demanded over the phone as he followed Tim from a discreet distance.

"Because, Jethro. Timothy is still trying to find his way through this maze he's stuck in in a way that will not cause either you or himself any more pain. He firmly believes that he is not enough of a person to make you happy in the long run. Rather than cause you pain from a relationship he believes is destined to fail, he is refusing to give in although there is absolutely nothing he wants more."

"What the hell are you talkin' about? I already promise him, I wouldn't hurt him. Damn it, Duck, he told me he trusted me! So why is he goin' out on his own like this? Is this his idea of trust all of a sudden?"

"Exactly what did he say he trusted you with, my friend?"

"What?"

"Jethro, exactly what did Timothy say he trusted you with? Think back. This is very important!"

"His life. He said he trusted me with his life. He's always felt that way. We all know that!"

"Exactly, Jethro. He trusts you with his life."

"Yeah. Okay, what am I missin'?"

"Jethro, he's not able to trust anyone with his heart, not even himself, apparently."

***END FLASHBACK***

Gibbs sighed as his mind came back to the present. He now knew that Tim was so convinced he wasn't good enough, that he'd refused to even try; choosing instead, to run away from any kind of relationship with Gibbs. In what he hoped was a silent show of support, the older man remained in standing in place, waiting for Tim to make the first move.

Almost as if the free pass from the older man was more than Tim felt he deserved, the younger man's eyes slid to the floor and his shoulders lost some height even though he remained frozen in place.

"Hey." Gibbs offered gently as he stepped up to his freshly showered, nearly naked agent deliberately ignoring the towel wrapped around the slender hips and his incredibly sexy nearly hairless chest, although his trousers were quickly becoming uncomfortable.

Tim shuddered at the affect Gibbs' gentle tone of voice always had on him. Looking into the older man's eyes, he felt magnetically pulled into their promising depths, feeling safe there, here, in this moment, before anything else happened; regardless of what had already happened.

Sensing Tim's fear was on the horizon, ready to steal this opportunity away, Gibbs made the next move, carefully and gently. "C'mon." he pulled Tim to him, wrapping one arm around his shoulders. "How 'bout you get some sweats on and we'll go sit on the couch and relax, alright? No pressure, no expectations."

Tim nodded into the older man's shoulder but didn't move away or even move his feet, forcing Gibbs to remain standing still for the moment, the uncertainty and guilt still permeating the air between them.

"Last night's gone. Done. This is now. Fresh start." Gibbs told him, knowing where Tim's mind was getting mired. The older man was rock hard and calling up all his self-restraint to focus on where Tim's head was and not give in to kissing him into a place where he could finally wrap his mind around being wanted and cherished.

Tim drew back and looked into the older man's eyes, searching for the honesty that would uphold that promise. Gibbs gave him what he needed as he looked at him with the same unflinching promise of protection and honesty.

"I'll be in the kitchen when you're ready. You up for that coffee now?"

"Sure. Thanks." Tim answered quietly as he turned to pick up the clean pair of sweats lying on the end of the bed for him to change into. It only took him a minute to drag them on and whip a comb through his hair and then he was done.

*****NCIS*****

Watching the young man make his way to the counter in the kitchen, Gibbs couldn't help but draw him back to him with one arm reaching for him and wrapping around his shoulder in an effort to maintain that comforting presence until they'd talked through everything Tim needed help sorting through.

Tim once again nearly melted into Gibbs' one armed embrace, beyond grateful to have it.

The older man thought of something vital they needed to clear the air about, even as he cherished Tim's trust in him at the moment. Quietly, he gave the thought a voice. "You remember the other day when I said I thought you trusted me?"

The reminder of that painful conversation hit Tim in the heart. He did trust Gibbs; trusted him with his life. What he still didn't trust was that he was good enough for the former Marine turned hard-ass, take no prisoner's boss who happened to now be interested in Tim as significant other for the long haul. He hated himself all over again for the hurt that conversation had brought to the older man's expression.

"It's okay, Tim. I get it now. You trust me with your life. It's your heart you haven't been able to trust anyone with in a long time. Not even yourself. It's understandable with my track record with relationships, that you'd be afraid to trust me with it."

Shocked that the older man completely understood what Tim himself hadn't even been able to admit, and even seemed to be genuinely understanding about it instead of angry or upset, the younger man found himself rendered completely speechless.

Sighing into the unexpected silence, Gibbs did another unexpected thing; he kept talking." I promised I wasn't walking out on you and you know I don't say things I don't mean. Wherever this goes. I won't turn you away. Nothing you can do will make that happen."

Tim still felt like he was floating in a dream here and he wasn't willing to find his life preserver suddenly yanked from him, leaving him to drown in these unfamiliar waters. With the uncertainty beginning to rise up, he smiled hesitantly as he looked at Gibbs. His heart skipped a beat, he was so happy right now, he felt almost giddy, some of what he was feeling, slipping out to be heard in a soft confession he hadn't planned on making. "I've wanted this for so long. I know that first night was real, but…" Tim hesitancy had him forestalling anything else he might have wanted to say.

The older man remained silent, taking in everything this man he already cherished had to say.

Gathering up his inner courage within the silence, Tim tried to finish what he needed Gibbs to hear and understand all in one sitting so they'd never have to bring it up again. It was all too embarrassing to have to talk about it more than once. "Thought if I kept you at arm's length; if I refused to let myself get comfortable with you, then you wouldn't be able to find out I wasn't good enough. That you'd realize I was going to be too much work. I thought if I didn't give you the chance to get closer , you'd give up before you found any of that out. I thought if I kept myself busy watching other people already …"

Gibbs' heart was up in his throat at the shy, quiet string of admissions from the younger man. He could see the fear and doubt still lingering in Tim's eyes even as he voiced his long buried secret. "You thought all this fighting with yourself and forcing yourself to keep up this 'research' the way you have, would chase me away" Gibbs surmised quietly as he watched the younger man react to both the atmosphere and the conversation. "That why you went there tonight without me as your wing man?"

"No. I really did forget about that. I guess I was so buried under everything I'd been reading up on and thinking about, that I completely forgot we even had that conversation. I'm sorry."

"Apology accepted. Tim. But, don't ever let me hear you say you're not good enough; for anyone." He ordered quietly but with complete authority mixed with genuine concern.

"Habits are hard to break." Tim admitted quietly, his eyes looking at the wall past Gibbs' shoulder.

Reading between the lines, Gibbs understood what Tim was really saying. Enough people in Tim's life had shown him that he wasn't good enough in their eyes; girlfriends that used him; friends that stopped being his friend when the bullies found him; and so forth, that the young man had begun to believe it about himself long enough ago that it would indeed be a tough habit to break him from. The older man didn't know where this shockingly endless supply of patience he'd found when it came to this budding relationship with Tim had come from. He just knew he was profoundly grateful for it.

Taking in the sudden silence and stillness from the young man at his side, Gibbs figured Tim was trying to process everything he'd forced himself to go through in his efforts to keep from falling into something he'd been so afraid of having ripped away from him at the first sign of trouble. All these weeks of going to clubs and reading for hours about them and the groups and rules and habits of a lifestyle he knew Tim didn't even want had seriously messed with Tim's head. Gibbs hoped Tim was done running away from this; hoped his fear of rejection and failure had at least dwindled enough that he was ready to see the truth; hear it and feel it. He hoped Tim was ready to tell him why he felt like he needed to be less than equal to whatever relationship he chose now. It was all he could do to hold himself back from making love to this gentle soul right here and now, completely, wholly and without any inhibitions whatsoever.

Tim felt overwhelmed so completely, he couldn't even move. All coherent thought was gone as the bliss that surrounded him warmed him to his soul.

Without another word, Gibbs walked with Tim to the living room as together they got comfortable on the couch. Waiting only until the younger man stopped shifting and settled down, he tilted Tim's head up, he bent his just enough that their lips met in a gentle kiss that literally sent a shiver down the older man's spine. Gently, Gibbs drew back from the kiss and protectively pulled Tim to him so they could enjoy the moment. It was taking all of his self-control and patience, not to ravish Tim right then and there, but he had to wait. They had to do this at Tim's speed and even if the younger man wanted to; they could not rush this But, dear God; he wanted to taste Tim from head to toe, every nook and cranny; show him the way he deserved to be treated; kindness and compassion, gentle and genuine.

Looking at the long silent older man, Tim trembled at the look in Gibbs' eyes, a look that he'd first noticed there, when Gibbs was helping him get out of the club earlier tonight. Gibbs continued to hold his patience in check, as he reached out to soothingly and repeatedly smooth his hand down Tim's back. Tim sighed,sliding down further on the couch to where his head could nestle into Gibbs' shoulder; like he had been waiting for Gibbs to touch him all along. He was practically purring as the older man soothingly ran his fingers through his hair as he sat nestled beside him, Tim smiled with a sigh as the older man's arm unconsciously tightened around him.

It wasn't long before he felt Tim's body completely relax against him into an almost boneless state as the young man was finally lulled to sleep. Gibbs pulled Tim tighter to him and pressed a kiss to his forehead, smiling when Tim melted even further into him with a sigh. Gibbs settled in for the duration, knowing Tim was both physically and mentally exhausted and would sleep well tonight.

Gibbs didn't mind spending the night this way; in fact, he would cherish every minute of being able to hold Tim this way; knowing the young man felt completely safe here within his arms. No, he definitely didn't mind this at all.