A/N: Thanks for the reviews! :-)

Real Friends

"You want me to do what?" Tony asked sounding a bit surprised at Gibbs' question. Gibbs could just picture the frown on his face.

"I'm just asking. No harm done if you don't want to do it. We'd basically just need you to go into that night club and chat up one of the prostitutes there. My team will be around you all the time, no danger at all."

Tony remained silent on the other end and just when Gibbs got a little antsy as he'd been sure that the other man would do them the favor, he finally answered, sounding sure of himself again.

"Okay, I'll do it. But you'll be there at all times, right?"

"Of course, wouldn't let you do that alone."

"Then I'm in. Should I come in right now?"

"You got time?"

"Yeah."

Gibbs quickly delivered the address and the best way to sneak into the building without being seen before he hung up, his heart feeling lighter than it had been all day. He was about to see Tony again and even better, he'd be able to work with him and see much more of him than originally planned. All he had to do was clear him with security and try to explain how he knew Tony to Abby and Kate. They were going to kill him that much was sure.

#

When Tony arrived at the Navy Yard an hour later, Gibbs was about to shoot either McGee or Kate. They'd been nagging him about who the unknown famous person was to a point that Gibbs was on the verge of just cancelling the stint. He knew that it could only get worse once they had laid eyes on Tony, but he knew that it needed to be done in order to stop the murders. He was still feeling a bit queasy inside, though he couldn't tell whether it was because of seeing the man again or because of the undercover gig itself. He finally decided that he didn't need to know anyway. It wasn't like it made any difference.
The elevator in the back dinged and then Tony stepped out, accompanied by a security guard. Gibbs just nodded at the young man who promptly vanished back into the elevator before he gave Tony a short but heartfelt smile as he shook his hand.

"Hey. Good to see you again."

"You, too," Tony replied, grinning that fake broad grin again.

"If anyone asks, we met on a case, years ago," Gibbs all but whispered as he guided him towards his team.

Tony just nodded and when Gibbs looked back at him, he realized that while he was still smiling, his eyes had a watchful expression within them. He was clearly on guard. Before he could dwell on it for too long, though, they were standing in the middle of the bullpen and the older man could only just hold himself back from laughing out loud. McGee was sitting there, staring at them with his mouth hanging open, his eyes so wide that he looked strikingly similar to a goldfish. But Tim was nothing in comparison. Kate, who had been checking up on the other three victims of their case, had looked up and then immediately turned red in the face. Alike McGee, her mouth was open but her eyes were darting around as if to make sure that the world was still the normal one and hadn't just shifted upside down. Also, Gibbs was almost sure that he had seen her pinch herself. He smirked at Tony who just raised an eyebrow at him.

"I take you haven't told them that I was coming?"

"Nope," Gibbs was laughing now, which only led to more confusion on Kate's part. "Wanted to see this."

"Hi," Tony said, the brightest of smiles on his face, as he approached Kate to shake her hand, which she had almost automatically reached out. "I'm Tony."

"I- I know," Kate was whispering causing Gibbs to snicker. "I'm Kate."

"And I know that," Tony replied, winking at her which made Kate sit down immediately. "And you must be McGee," he continued as he walked over the youngest agent to shake his hand.

"You know, Gibbs," Tony said as he turned around to look at him, "I thought you said they're talking too much. You might be mistaken."

"You were calling Tony DiNozzo?" Kate finally found her words as her eyes danced from Tony to Gibbs and back to Tony. "All this time you knew him and you never told me?"

"That any of your business, Agent Todd?"

Kate remained silent, but her eyes shot daggers at him which caused Tony to laugh.

"Don't be too hard on him, Kate. It's my fault. I usually like to keep my friends quiet."

"You guys are friends?" Kate asked, still unable to hold back her anger.

"Watch it, Kate," Gibbs replied sharply.

He wasn't quite sure why she was so angry and even worse why she felt the need to embarrass him like that. It wasn't like he knew all her friends either. Sure, he wasn't really interested either way, but it was no reason to be so tacky.

"No problem," Tony said and gave Kate a smile. "Let's get to work, right?"

"You got to speak to the director first," Gibbs said, still slightly irritated. "About insurance and stuff. I'll take you."

With that and one last withering glare towards Kate, he guided Tony upstairs.

#

When he came back a couple of minutes later, he let out a sigh when he saw Abby standing in the middle of the bullpen, expectantly looking up at Gibbs. Tony was still with the director.

"You are friends with Tony DiNozzo and you never told me?" Abby repeated Kate's earlier question, though she seemed merely surprised and curious.

"Yeah. Met him on a case a couple of years back."

"Who knew," Abby grinned at him. "I can meet him, right? Please, Gibbs?"

"You'll have to wire him up anyway," Gibbs just shrugged as he sat down at his desk. "Just don't… make a fuss. He's just a person."

"Of course, he is," Abby replied happily. "I wonder if he'll sign the poster in my lab. Oh!" she then let out a shout that caused McGee to jump ever so slightly. "You gave Kate that DVD for her birthday, right?"

Gibbs just shrugged, still a bit pissed at Kate's behavior earlier. It was stuff like that that Tony hated and Gibbs had really wanted him to like his team.

Wait… what?

What did it even matter? Tony wasn't likely to see them again after the case was finished up. His mind was playing tricks on him once more and he wasn't quite sure when it would stop again. Something about the guy had him off kilter all the time and he had no idea how he could put an end on it. It was driving him crazy. Before he could think about it for too long though, Tony re-emerged from the director's office with Morrow in tow.

"Gig's tomorrow night, Gibbs," Morrow said, standing on the top of the stairs. "And no more surprises."

With that he turned around and Gibbs fixed his glance on Tony again, who was all but staring at Abby.

"You seem familiar," he said when he approached her to shake her hand. "Have we met before?"

"I was at Comic-Con a couple of months ago when you were signing autographs here in DC. I'm Abby."

"Oh yeah," Tony replied, nodding ever so slightly. "You were wearing those gloves with the skulls on them!"

"You remember?" Abby cried out, smiling broadly at the actor in front of her.

"Sure," Tony just shrugged as if it was no big deal.

And it wasn't really, Gibbs realized, not to Tony at least. He could tell however that he had just made Abby's entire week.

"Alright people, let's get to work," Gibbs finally ordered, knowing that they didn't really have any time to lose.

"Oh, bossy," Tony replied under his breath which caused Abby to giggle and Gibbs to scowl at him.

It was going to be a long couple of days.

#

"Some cool people you got assembled there, Gibbs," Tony said as he sat down on the couch in his apartment.

Gibbs did the same next to him, letting out a sigh.

"Don't know what is up with Kate. I swear I've never seen her act so strange. I mean she worked for the President, don't get why she would be thrown off course like that by you."

"Maybe it's because I look so much better than Mr. President?"

"Shut up."

The day had gone by without a hitch. They had laid out the plan, had tested if all the wires were working and had decided to go to the club the next night as it wasn't open today. It gave Gibbs the opportunity to spend a quiet evening alone with Tony as there wasn't much to do anymore.

"Really appreciate you helping us."

"No problem. Sounds kind of exciting," Tony replied, bumping his shoulder against Gibbs'. "And I mean it's not like anything can happen."

Gibbs didn't answer, not wanting to jinx it but deep down he knew that Tony was right. Nothing would and probably even could go wrong. Gibbs would make sure of that.

"What are you doing here anyway?" Gibbs asked after a while, suddenly realizing that Tony hadn't told him yet. "Promotion?"

"Nope," Tony shook his head. "Got a bit of time for once. Andy's visiting his parents in Montana this week and I had it all to myself, so I thought why not fly out to DC and visit my dear friend Leroy Jethro."

Gibbs snorted but when he turned towards Tony, he realized that he was telling the truth.

"Seriously?"

"Yeah," Tony shrugged. "I mean I meant it when I said I wanted to be friends. And while I'm glad we've been texting as much as we have, I still like actually talking and seeing the other person a whole lot better."

"Me, too," Gibbs replied unable to hold himself back. "And then I come in and you have to work."

"That's right," Tony grinned. "You're a lousy friend."

"Told you," Gibbs just replied and then looked around the apartment, his eyes settling on the piano. "You play this thing?"

"Haven't in a while," Tony shrugged. "You want me to play a song?"

At Gibbs' nod, Tony followed his wish and began to play. Gibbs watched in awe as his fingers skillfully glided over the keys. Gibbs knew the tune well. Kelly had played the very song over and over again, too. It was 'Ballade pour Adeline' and Gibbs suddenly felt something in his stomach constrict at the way Tony played it. Even when Tony had already finished, Gibbs was still staring at the now unmoving keys of the piano unable to tear himself away from them.

"You okay?" Tony softly asked, apparently sensing Gibbs' mood.

"Fine," he just said, forcing himself to look at Tony. "Just haven't heard that song in over ten years."

"Someone special played it for you, didn't they?"

"Yeah."

"Shannon?" Tony asked as he walked over, sat down next to him and then carefully placed a hand on Gibbs' thigh.

"N-No, not Shannon."

Tony remained silent for a while, clearly waiting for Gibbs to elaborate, but he didn't do him the favor. He simply couldn't tell him about Kelly. Not yet, anyway. He never talked about her and after the last painful hour of truth, when he had to tell ex-wife #4 about her, he had sworn to himself that he wouldn't talk about her if it wasn't strictly necessary. It just hurt too much reopening the wounds.

Tony, however and very unlike the ex-wives, didn't press the matter, instead just softly squeezed the older man's thigh and then let go, putting a smile upon his face.

"I know you're not a movie kind of guy, but do you want to watch the newest James Bond? It's the last starring Pierce Brosnan. It's pretty good."

"Sure," Gibbs nodded, giving him a tentative smile.

"Alright," Tony said, still smiling and still watching him a bit warily. "I'll get the bourbon and then we're good to go."

"You got beer, too?" Gibbs asked, hating that his voice sounded a bit shaky. "Still got to drive tonight."

"I've got a guest room, too, if you want to stay here. I can see you really want some bourbon."

Gibbs snorted and then nodded. "Alright, bourbon it is."

#

They didn't speak much after that as they both enjoyed the movie. When Tony put on another James Bond later on, Gibbs didn't complain because he was feeling too drowsy already to do so. It was simply cozy sitting there next to Tony who was all but radiating heat.

And if Gibbs fell asleep halfway into 'Diamonds are forever', nobody said anything about it. And if his head was resting on Tony's shoulder, it was just because it was much more comfortable there. And if Tony gave him a peck on his cheek as they parted to go to their respective beds, it was just something good friends did.

Nothing unusual at all.