Section 43

Gibbs opened his eyes reluctantly. He could tell he was alone that not even the fuzzball was in bed. He smiled when he saw Tony pulling up a pair of jogging pants. "What time is it?"

Tony turned with a smile. "About six. How are you feeling?"

"A little sore. Where's Zuma?"

"Your dad's puppy sitting."

"Dad."

"Yeah." Tony came over and sat down gently to pull on his socks. "Zuma woke me wanting to go out. As I was coming back from downstairs, your dad was coming out of the bathroom. Zuma decided he wanted to stay with grandpa. I checked on them a bit ago. They're both sound asleep in bed."

"He's sleeping in bed… with my dad." Jethro was shocked when Tony nodded. He couldn't believe his father would let a dog sleep in his room let alone in his bed. "I'd pay to see that."

"Well, it just so happens…" Tony reach over to the nightstand and grabbed his phone. Quickly accessing an app, he handed Jethro the phone before going to his dresser for a shirt.

Jethro snorted. His dad was flat on his back and Zuma was curled up on a pillow with his head on Jackson's stomach. Jackson wore one of his old-fashioned athletic under shirts. Well, old-fashioned might not be accurate anymore Jethro thought as Tony slipped into a tank style tee. He considered pointing out the similarities between his dad's fifties style underwear and Tony's shirt but decided that it would have to wait until he could move better. Speaking of moving, Jethro slid sideways in the bed letting out a small groan.

"Hey, take it easy. Where are you going?"

"Let's see. I've been sleeping all night. Where do you think?"

"Sorry. Stupid question. Let me help you."

By the time he was standing, Jethro was distracted by Tony's shirt. Across the front was the sentence, "In Gibbs we trust, everyone else goes through CODIS." "Where did you find that?"

Tony flushed. "My frat brothers. One of them saw a shirt like it which had God instead of Gibbs. They got together and had it special made. Said that based on what I had said about you I evidently trusted you more than God." Jethro smirked. "I don't wear them to the office."

"Them?"

"It. I don't wear it to the office."

Jethro debated pressing the issue but decided that his bladder required immediate attention. He started towards the en suite. As he passed Tony, he stopped and gave him a lingering kiss.

Shaking off the kiss, Tony quickly made the bed. "Jethro, do you want help getting a shower?"

"I'll just do a Marine cleanup now. We can shower later."

Tony paused in putting the pillows on the bed. He wondered if that was an invitation and he felt himself twitch in interest. Determinedly he forced himself to concentrate on getting ready for the day. Crossing to the dresser, he gathered fresh boxers and socks for Jethro. "Don't bother putting your boxers back on. I want to change your bandages."

"Didn't plan on it." Jethro emerged from the bathroom still wiping shaving cream from his face.

Tony almost swallowed his tongue to keep from drooling when he caught sight of Jethro. The shaving cream was all that he was wearing. Sure, he'd seen Gibbs in boxers during stake outs but this was Jethro, his husband.

"Where do you want me?"

"Huh?"

Jethro smirked certain Tony was distracted by thoughts were of the sexual nature. "Where do you want me?"

Tony sat down on the corner of the bed and forced himself to focus or rather not to focus on Jethro's body. "Can you stand here? If so, I can do both at once rather than you having to roll around on the bed." And wasn't that a lovely image?

"Sure." Jethro came to stand directly in front of Tony.

By now, Tony realized that Jethro was being deliberately provocative. Especially when he sat up, face to head with Little Jethro. "If you really want to wrap my…" Tony licked his lips deliberately and Jethro gave a low groan. "Bandages on that I will, but I think they will do your ass more good."

"Tease." Jethro turned sideways.

"Takes one to know one." Tony carefully peeled the bandage away. He carefully touched the area checking for fever. It had been close. A few inches could have ended Jethro's career. "Jethro…"

"It's okay." Jethro put his hand on Tony's shoulder comforting him. "It didn't happen." He knew what a close call it had been. He kept his hand on Tony's shoulder as Tony efficiently re-bandaged him and helped him into the clean boxers, socks and sweats.

Section 44

"Get back here, you little fuzzball."

Hearing Jackson's shout, Jethro opened the door to his father's room and Zuma came bounding up dragging a shirt. "Tony."

Near the top of the steps, Tony managed to scoop up the pup who was headed for the stairs; stumbling on the shirt as he ran. "What are you doing, silly thing? Give me grandpa's shirt." Tony tried to tug the shirt out of Zuma's mouth but the pup only growled and tugged back.

"Little devil grabbed the sleeve and took off on me." Jackson said disgruntledly from the doorway. He was dressed all but the shirt.

Jethro smirked at his father and walked to where Tony stood trying to rescue the shirt. "Zuma." Jethro kept his voice low but firm. "Drop." Zuma simply tilted his head and stared at him curiously. Jethro took a hold of the shirt about six inches from Zuma. "Drop." This time, Zuma turned to look at Tony as if to ask what Jethro wanted before turning back to Jethro and give him a small woof around the shirt in his mouth. Jethro gave Zuma a gentle tap on the nose while repeating, "Drop." In shock, Zuma let go of the shirt and jerked his head back. "Good boy, Zuma." Jethro said giving him positive reinforcement.

"You hit him," Tony yanked Zuma back against him protectively. "He's just a puppy. How could you?"

"Tony, he's just a puppy now, but soon he will get a lot bigger. Better to teach him now, before he's dragging you to the steps or chewing on your Armadi suit jacket."

"Armani," Tony automatically corrected him. "He's so little, what if you hurt him? He doesn't have anyone to protect him."

Jethro ran his hand through his hair. He hadn't been thinking when he stepped into Tony's private minefield. He didn't doubt Tony's concern for the pup, but he was also facing Tony's own issues. There had been no one to protect him from Senior. "Tony, a light tap to the nose isn't abusive. Think of it as a head slap."

"Those can hurt." Tony protested.

"They get your attention. Look at him, Tony." Jethro gestured to the puppy cuddled happily against Tony's chest chewing on the cuff of Tony's shirt. "If he were hurt, he would let us know."

Unhappily, Tony was forced to concede the point. "He does have to learn right from wrong but can't we use treats?"

"Most of the time, yes. But there will be times a treat won't work. Now how about you and Zuma get the coffee started, Dad and I should be now by the time it's done."

"What about the stairs and your leg? I could help."

"Not the first time I've taken them with an injury. Besides Dad'll keep an eye on me."

"If he needs me, you call me okay?" Tony looked past Jethro to Jackson who nodded. "Are you hungry?" Tony coaxed his shirt free and muttered to the pup as he went downstairs.. "You know he loves you. He just wants you to be a good pup."

"Boy's been through a lot in his life." Jackson came forward and picked up his shirt.

"Not over yet." Jethro responded.

"I'd like just fifteen minutes with that Senior. What he did to that poor boy."

"I could do a lot with just five."

"So, what do you think? Kidnapped? Black market?"

"I don't know."

"How's he taking his mother well not being?" Jackson buttoned his shirt, grimacing as he rolled up the damp cuff.

"The little good in his childhood is from her. I don't think he can process it yet."

"Think Senior will confess if he's offered a deal? Tony needs to know the whole story."

"There won't be a deal, Dad. Tony made Leon and Tobias swear when he turned over the evidence."

"If it's the only way to get the truth?"

"He won't let them bargain."

"What if he never finds out who he is?"

"We know who he is and we kept telling him until he believes us."

"We?"

"Thought you might want to hang around awhile. If you don't need to get right back to the store."

"Well, I guess Maxwell wouldn't mind watching it for a while longer." Jackson herded Jethro towards the stairs and then step in front of him to give him a shoulder to lean on.

"What's Maxwell plan to do when he graduates?"

"He's hoping to take a job and save up money."

"No college?"

"He isn't that interested in learning. He's always enjoyed working the store since he was old enough."

"Could hire him to manage the store." Jethro said casually, "Might even be interested in buying it down the road."

"And leave me doing what, Leroy?" Jackson glared up at his son.

"Thought you might oversee the building of our new home."

"New home?" Jackson stopped only a couple steps for the bottom. "Leroy, you gonna sell this place? This is where Shannon and Kelly and you lived."

"I know. But, I think that Tony and I should have our own home."

"Don't remember you saying anything like this with Diane or Rebecca or Stephanie. You in this for the long haul, Leroy?"

Jethro looked directly at his father. "Yes."

"You serious about building that house that was in that envelope?"

"With the modifications, you and Tony added. Plus, a pool in the backyard."

"Well, I guess I could stay a little while. Keep an eye on the builder and the pup while you're at work."