The atmosphere in the house was strained for the next few hours. Tony refused to speak when prompted by Gibbs' nonverbal inquiries. Rosa, sensing the tension, made cookies. Tony gave her a grateful but miserable smile as he ate them. The sound of Senior announcing his departure and the front door closing behind him was both welcomed and dreaded for Tony. As soon as the engine roared in the driveway, Gibbs was stepping into Tony's personal space and all but dragging him into the den.
"What happened?" Gibbs demanded before Tony had even shut the door fully. Tony turned to look at Gibbs, and the concerned expression he saw made him realise that Gibbs was worried about what Senior might have said to him. Such regard for his feelings made Tony feel even worse, and before he could stop himself he was crying. Gibbs didn't hesitate to wrap Tony in his arms. He didn't push for any more information, and Tony calmed down after a few moments.
"He wants to take you," Tony whispered, not letting go of Gibbs.
"Where?" Gibbs asked. His voice was calm and even, and Tony wished he had the courage to look at the man's face and judge his reactions.
"I don't know. Nevis, probably. That's where he does most of his business."
"What does he want me for?" At this question, Tony made himself pull away. He looked at Gibbs' expression, and saw the grim determination there.
"You think I'm going to let you go?" Tony felt sick at the thought of what Gibbs was silently offering with these neutral questions. He wanted Gibbs to be outraged. He wanted anger. He wanted some flicker of the man he'd met, not even two weeks ago, who was determined to be free at all costs.
"God, what must you think of me?" Tony stepped away from Gibbs completely and began to pace. "You think I would let my father use you like that? You think I could let him trade you off as a business perk to some rich pervert, just to keep up the pretence?"
"Tony, he's your father," Gibbs was still calm, and the sight made Tony even angrier.
"A father who uses his money to manipulate everyone, including me. A father who is willing to use anyone to get what he wants, no matter what it costs anyone else." Gibbs moved to step closer to Tony, but Tony was too wound up to be comforted. "He knows how I feel about you, what you mean to me, and even still his own agenda is more important."
"Tony…" Gibbs didn't know what to say, but he didn't want Tony to keep ranting and say something he would regret putting a name to later. Tony stopped pacing and looked at Gibbs. Beneath that calm demeanour, he could now see concern. Tracing back over his words, Tony couldn't find it in himself to take them back. Instead, he stepped up close to Gibbs and looked pleadingly into the older man's eyes.
"You trust me, don't you?"
"Yes." Gibbs didn't mince his words. With a determined nod, Tony placed a hand on Gibbs' shoulder, before sliding it up to his neck.
"I'm going to get us out of this," Tony promised, even as he began to lean in. "I promise I won't let him take you."
"Because I'm yours?" Gibbs' response was intended to be light and teasing, but the thread of desperation underneath couldn't be hidden.
"And I'm yours," Tony whispered as their lips touched for the first time.
(~*~)
Tony lay awake, wrapped up in a tangle of Gibbs' limbs and his own. He couldn't be sure if Gibbs was awake, but he didn't want to move to find out. The warmth of his position was comforting despite the fear he still had about their situation. Gibbs had stopped their earlier kissing from going any further, and Tony understood why. He didn't want the desperation of the situation they found themselves in to taint what was building between them. Tony didn't want that either. He wouldn't lie to himself about how deeply he felt for Gibbs, and didn't want what he hoped to be the first of many amorous encounters with the older man to happen under the threat of separation, or while Gibbs was technically still his property.
When the clock next to Tony's head clicked over to 0600, Tony decided it was time to move. He separated himself from Gibbs, who stirred behind him and sat up.
"I've got some things to take care of," Tony couldn't bring himself to look at Gibbs; his nerves rattled by the weight of what he was about to do. "Can you help out Rosa for a few hours?"
"Sure," Gibbs' sleep-rough reply came, and Tony moved to get out of bed. He was stopped by a hand on his shoulder, and couldn't resist the pull to look at Gibbs.
"You ok?"
"I will be," Tony smiled. Gibbs held his gaze for a moment longer, before nodding and letting him go.