Make This Go on Forever, Part III
Title: Make This Go on Forever, Part III
Author: Adrianna Coylho
Pairing: Gibbs/Ducky, pre-Gibbs/DiNozzo, post-Gibbs/Fornell
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 20,058
Spoilers: Up to and including Season 5 Finale.
Warnings: Nothing the rating doesn’t cover...
Summary: Set after the end of Season 5, Gibbs is attempting to work with his new team. When a local school blows up due to a faulty gas mains the team are called in to investigate the deaths of three marines mysteriously on the site. Gibbs’ mind, however, is not on the job after yet another relationship break-up and he turns to his oldest friend for comfort. Inspired by Snow Patrol’s ‘Make This Go on Forever’. Quote taken from lyrics by Gary Lightbody.
Notes: Much love goes to my wonderful beta & friend nakeisha . This was written just after Season Five finished, so it is now AU as far as the new team is concerned.
Fabulous accompanying artwork by kaynyne : Artwork (Illos 2 may not be suitable to open at work ;)
| Part I | Part II | ~ | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII |
~~~~~~~~~
Abby’s Lab
“Woah, you seem really happy considering... Yeah, well anyhoo, how’s your probie pack coming along?”
“’Probie pack’?” Gibbs winced slightly at Abby’s new phrase.
“Well, none of them are as hot as Tony though, are they, Gibbs.” Abby watched his reaction pointedly. Getting none she carried on. “I mean Bud and Jimjam don’t do it for me. But Tony, now he’s not even under you anymore...”
“Oughta be careful renaming the staff Abs, the last one you did that to ended up pulling a knife on ya.” Gibbs cut in.
“Gibbs! Okay I’ll take the short route. The reconstruction clearly shows that Masters couldn’t have been killed there. The injuries may be similar but the evidence doesn’t lie. None of it matches.”
“Could he have been moved from any other part of the building?”
“No. I haven’t reconstructed all of it as they’re still clearing, but the imprints are just wrong. His injuries don’t match any of the building materials used in that building - he was crushed somewhere else and then brought into the school.” Abby demonstrated the movement of the marine with an arm. “Bring me beams, blocks and ducts from another site and I’ll match ‘em to our boy.”
“If he was crushed there, Abs.”
“Well. Yeah. Obviously.”
Gibbs shook his head, smiling, as he went to leave the lab.
“Gibbs! There’s more...” He slowed a little to let her finish. “The tests Ducky asked me to run? Positive, for all three.”
“Good job, Abs.” And he was gone.
~~~~~~~~~
“So my theory on the guys pulling Masters out from under rubble in the school didn’t fly.” Jameson paused thoughtfully. “Does a straight case ever fall on your desk, Gibbs?” Jameson cocked a sidelong smile at his superior before continuing. Gibbs let slip a small smile in return. “You know I reckon I’ve discovered where half the conspiracy theories in this town originate from - your labs.”
“Our labs, Jameson, and don’t let Abby hear you say that.”
Jameson sat up a little. “Well yeah, no disrespect meant.”
“She’d enjoy it too much.” Gibbs finished as he left his desk for the elevator, with badge and weapon in hand.
Jameson let out a little relieved laugh before following. Jameson banged his desk on the way out, springing the two not so quick agents into action.
Gibbs smiled as he heard the scene play out behind him. They were learning.
~~~~~~~~~
Gibbs had been trying to see past Thomas and Bridge in his rear view mirror as he drove out to the marines’ CO’s office. How could two people take up so much of the back seat? He shook his head as he turned his mind back to the case. The three marines had all been in the same department, two of them somewhat longer than the other however. The telephone conversation he’d had that morning with the CO had been a rather awkward one. He clearly had something on his mind, something he wasn’t sure he should say or not, regarding the case. Gibbs had a feeling it would take some gentle coaxing to get it out of him.
Arriving at the office door, Gibbs noticed how nervous the secretary was. He had a feeling it was something to do with how full his office looked with the four NCIS agents hovering in it. So it wasn’t just his car that looked cramped with his new team. Gibbs was beginning to wonder exactly what criteria Director Vance had been using when he selected the new major case response team. It was apparently becoming an issue having such well-built agents. For a start it made him look like the short, heading-for-retirement one.
Entering the CO’s office, Gibbs was happy to see he was greeted genuinely. The CO’s handshake was firm and his eyes showed real relief at being able to get this sorted out once and for all. Gibbs glanced back at the team. Too many of them would not be conducive to getting the full story here.
“Thomas, Bridge. Stay in the main office and interview the people we have on the list.” Jameson helpfully closed the door in front of them after Gibbs spoke. Even the CO smiled at that.
“I appreciate the... discretion, Agent Gibbs. Unfortunately I feel it may be necessary in this particular situation.” The CO said the last word like it was a flavour of sweet he didn’t care for. Gibbs just tilted his head a little and left the silence to draw more out of the officer. The CO shuffled his papers before continuing. He was obviously choosing his words carefully.
“It isn’t unlikely that Dentinger and Rodman would have been passing the scene together, or indeed Rodman and Masters, but all three poses a problem to me.” He paused again. “The three of them together raises certain... questions, as they didn’t see eye to eye as a group if you catch my meaning.”
“So Dentinger and Masters didn’t get on?” Jameson tried to clarify. Gibbs resisted pursing his lips.
“Dentinger and Masters didn’t have any dispute between them, they had been good friends. Unfortunately it was what they had in common that was the problem.” The CO looked to Gibbs. Jameson still looked blank as Gibbs nodded understanding.
Masters had been rather younger than the other two, by almost a couple of decades and Ducky had made a comment about them ‘most probably all having batted for the other side’ as he so delicately put it from his physical examination of the bodies. Abby’s results had also confirmed that all three of them had been carrying the same STD. Gibbs wondered how exactly he should put the next question. Luckily the CO decided to help him out.
“We had no problem with the first relationship. It was a long standing one that never came through in the workplace. We have to be more realistic in the Corps these days Agent Gibbs. But the second...”
Gibbs nodded more obviously at that. He got the picture. The CO was clearly becoming less and less inclined to say anything further on the subject. That would have to do. They could piece together the rest.
“I would of course appreciate the same level of discretion you demonstrated earlier to continue throughout this case should it reveal anything... untoward... Agent Gibbs.”
Gibbs gave his assurance as Jameson simply stood taking it all in.
~~~~~~~~~
Thomas and Bridges didn’t seem to know what hit them when Gibbs told them to start on their reports when they got back. They had dug up some seemingly unimportant snippets of information about the three in their interviews and had felt fairly fobbed off with the job, but Gibbs had nodded enthusiastically, put it all together in one fell swoop and headed out to a pool club not far from the school site. Sure enough, they found enough to open a crime scene and Gibbs had headed back to NCIS early with one particular piece of evidence for Abby.
~~~~~~~~~
Autopsy, later that day
“It matches all right, on both counts. I guess he just couldn’t handle being dumped for a younger model. Especially when the younger model was supposed to be a buddy.” Abby pulled a face. “Kinda defeated the object of having a younger guy seeing as they all died within a few hours of each other anyway.
“Yeah, thanks, Abs.”
“Oh and, Gibbs? Tony sends his love.” Abby beamed at him conspiratorially before disappearing from the screen.
Jethro looked at the video phone for a second, contemplating how you might go about turning it off. Duck knew what he was after. He turned his head, just a little, before reaching up and doing it for him, but he didn’t reveal his eyes. Jethro noticed a sudden tension in the older man’s shoulders as he sat there beside him. Glancing round, Jethro rearranged himself just behind Ducky like he was studying something over his shoulder. He nuzzled into the ME’s hair a little as he started to whisper things he’d like to do to him right here, right now, if it wasn’t for those damn cameras back there. He was pleased to see a little of the tension ease as he filled Ducky’s mind with new thoughts. After a few moments Ducky suddenly turned to him properly. His whisper was thick with desire.
“Careful, or you might just get it, boy.” Ducky quickly stood to escape Jethro’s onslaught. ‘Boy’ rang in Jethro’s mind as he watched his lover escape along the length of Autopsy. Long time since he’d been called that. Did Duck see him that way? Cogs turned. Light dawned. Ducky thought he was too old for him.
“We’ll see about that.” Jethro said under his breath. He had a plan. If he was going to convince Ducky that he wasn’t just a one trick wonder and a flirt he would need to do some wooing.
~~~~~~~~~
Ducky wondered where Jethro was as he went through the familiar movements of getting ready to leave work. He hadn’t seen him since he and Abby had pretty much wrapped up the case and that had been many hours ago. Ducky fretted at his own reliance on Jethro being around. Now he had him that way some of the time, he missed him even more the rest. It made no sense at all to his logical mind. They had only spent one actual night together. The rest had just been flirtatious horse play. Nice as it was.
The case had struck a nerve and he knew Jethro had noticed. No doubt why he had made like a teenager with his sweet nothings. All of a sudden he began to feel like he was taking advantage and, if it went any further, as if he would be stealing years of Jethro’s life that he wouldn’t be able to give him in return. If Jethro stayed with him until the end, where would that leave him? No family and goodness only knows how many years alone. Ducky knew it wasn’t every man who could find love again at his advanced stage, he couldn’t presume Jethro would.
The thought that he was being selfish by hoping Jethro would be his life partner began to drag him down. He wanted more, wanted to let Jethro keep coming on to him, wanted so badly for him to move seamlessly into his life forever. But dark thoughts were filling him now that it was actually a possibility. Dreaming was one thing, but dreaming was harmless, to anyone else at least. He should be the one to stop this, or at least make Jethro promise that he’d leave him for someone better if he or she came along. But could he do that, really? Was he strong enough to let him go? Ducky didn’t have the answer, and to be honest, didn’t really want to know.
‘Saved by the bell’ thought Ducky as the elevator ping interrupted his thoughts. Making his way through the building to the parking lot Ducky allowed sweet thoughts of Jethro to dance across his imagination. He’d dreamed for so many years, but now he had reality to base his fantasies on. He allowed himself to indulge a little, bringing a sweet smile to his face. Reaching the Morgan and sliding into the right hand side, Ducky paused. His daydreams had been interrupted by a little slip of blue notepaper sitting on the dash in front of him. Ducky contemplated a moment, then picked it up. His smile widened. ‘Duck’ was scrawled on the underside in a very familiar hand.
Ducky got comfy in his seat as he opened the note. Just a few words, but they had the desired effect.
‘Duck,
Meet me at Salapello’s, 9pm. Bring your dancing shoes and a good appetite.
Love you, J’
They were going on a date. And he loved him.
~~~~~~~~~
9pm, Salapello’s Restaurante
The restaurant was buzzing in the way only an establishment with a dance floor can. This sort of place always attracted a certain type of diners. Dancers, obviously, but the particular type of dancing clientele was dictated by the style of the place. Salapello’s reminded Ducky of some of the homes of friends he had visited in his youth in England. Ducky almost expected to open the windows at the back and see a lake at the bottom of a pristine lawn, maybe a few deer roaming on the opposite shore. It had an interesting mix of lived-in homeliness and somewhat aristocratic decor. It was a family owned place, run purely for the enjoyment of seeing a hundred couples take to the floor, laughing and giddy from fine food and wine each night. Ducky was rather glad he’d known the place before this evening. He had dressed appropriately and now, being shown to their table, Ducky held his breath as his eyes fell on Jethro in his matching attire when he rose to meet him. He looked stunning.
“Breathe, Duck.” Jethro whispered to him as he released him from his dress jacket. “And you’re looking pretty damn good yourself.” Jethro just about resisted the urge to nibble his lover’s ear as he spoke to him. Ducky really did look ravishing. He couldn’t wait to get him on the dance floor. One of the many benefits of this particular establishment. No one would bat an eyelid at a gay couple here. They were all here to dance and dine, not judge.
As the evening wore on, Jethro was pleased to see the more familiar side of Ducky. Jovial, cheeky, animated. Everything he loved about him. His eyes sparkled, even more so with a little help from a nice Italian red. Jethro decided it was time they tried a little dancing before he got a little too ‘sparkly’ and before the main course. As he stood he noticed that they had a pair of admirers. Unfortunately with both of them standing to move onto the floor, the two ladies made a beeline for them. Jethro cursed internally as the red head came to his side.
“Would you handsome folks mind giving us a twirl?”
Ducky looked to Jethro for a decision. Jethro shrugged subtly in submission so Ducky turned on the charm and took his new lady friend by the arm and led the way. As they danced Ducky tried not to look back to Jethro as he led the red head with such grace, obviously enjoying the female form pressed up against him. Not that the female form beside Ducky was anything to complain about. She was a lovely girl, if a little less forward than her friend. Ducky sighed internally. It crossed his mind that she probably hadn’t wanted to dance with someone old enough to be her father, but had for the sake of her friend. Ducky unconsciously began to watch Jethro with less clouded eyes. Those darker thoughts swept through him yet again. He was too old for him. He still had a chance to have another family, start again, not consign himself to an end of the road relationship yet. Ducky’s dance partner excused herself after one dance. He felt like he should apologise for the lack of attention he must have paid her, but then her eyes weren’t on him anyway. They both had been preoccupied. They parted with a nod of mutual understanding.
Ducky returned to his seat and waited. For a very brief moment he considered sneaking off; he really wasn’t enjoying watching the dancing. His eyes were constantly drawn to Jethro and the red head and he couldn’t very well look anywhere else, sat here on his own. There was only so much you could study your wine or indeed your tablecloth. If you weren’t careful a waiter might get the wrong impression and come and replace it for you. Ducky bore the discomfort. He didn’t want to be impolite or overdramatic. He would keep his feelings to himself.
Jethro spun his partner in towards him, taking the opportunity to glance over at Ducky. He wasn’t watching the dance floor anymore. He looked, well not exactly bored, something else. Jethro quickly returned his attention to his current company. Surely three dances was enough to politely decline another.
“You know they say ‘dance well together, make love well together’.” The redhead’s words cut into his thoughts. The crass tone didn’t do the words ‘make love’ justice. He suspected she probably wouldn’t have used that particular language in other circumstances anyway. Jethro smiled a little at the comment, but not enough to be taken as an invitation. If he had taken someone like her home they wouldn’t have ‘made love’. Not like he planned to with Duck. If he ever got rid of this attachment that was. Ducky must be tiring of the situation. Jethro worried that he could lose him any minute and he wouldn’t blame him.
Third song finally coming to an end, Jethro firmly detached himself and gracefully thanked her and bade her goodnight before moving back over to his table with a great sense of relief and joy.
“God, I’d forgotten how pushy some women can be, eh, Duck?” As he sat, Jethro took Ducky’s hand from the table and placed it in his. Ducky clearly took comfort in it as he squeezed a reply and didn’t break away. It was the first gesture they had made in public. Jethro liked it. Not that he’d hidden his relationship with Tobias, but then Tobias wasn’t the holding hands kind of guy. Not like Ducky.
Jethro tilted his head to study his lover’s expression. Ducky bowed his a little under the scrutiny.
“Stop it, Jethro, you’ll make me blush.” Ducky purposefully used his free hand to find more wine in order to distract himself and hopefully Jethro too.
“You wanna dance or wait for some more food.” Jethro pulled on Ducky’s hand a little to show his preference.
Ducky used the few seconds it took to refill Jethro’s glass to think about it before nodding in answer to his unspoken gesture.
Jethro stood, this time making sure he didn’t go meeting anyone else’s eye and keeping Ducky very much in contact with him as he led him onto the floor. Just the feel of his hand in his behind him was a delicious sensation. Jethro tried to suppress the size of his smile at the thought of Duck pressed up against him as they moved with the music.
Just as they reached the dance floor the next song started. A gloriously slow one. Jethro turned to Ducky as they found a space. He put his arms round him and pulled him in slowly, savouring the moment and the feeling of each part of them coming into contact. He was a little sad that he wouldn’t be able to see Duck’s eyes as he snuggled into him, but there would be other songs for that.
Moving as one, their world contracted. They fitted together perfectly, Ducky seeming much more comfortable led than leading. Jethro loved the feel of him moving against him. It was pure warmth.
| Part I | Part II | ~ | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII |
Author: Adrianna Coylho
Pairing: Gibbs/Ducky, pre-Gibbs/DiNozzo, post-Gibbs/Fornell
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 20,058
Spoilers: Up to and including Season 5 Finale.
Warnings: Nothing the rating doesn’t cover...
Summary: Set after the end of Season 5, Gibbs is attempting to work with his new team. When a local school blows up due to a faulty gas mains the team are called in to investigate the deaths of three marines mysteriously on the site. Gibbs’ mind, however, is not on the job after yet another relationship break-up and he turns to his oldest friend for comfort. Inspired by Snow Patrol’s ‘Make This Go on Forever’. Quote taken from lyrics by Gary Lightbody.
Notes: Much love goes to my wonderful beta & friend nakeisha . This was written just after Season Five finished, so it is now AU as far as the new team is concerned.
Fabulous accompanying artwork by kaynyne : Artwork (Illos 2 may not be suitable to open at work ;)
| Part I | Part II | ~ | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII |
~~~~~~~~~
Abby’s Lab
“Woah, you seem really happy considering... Yeah, well anyhoo, how’s your probie pack coming along?”
“’Probie pack’?” Gibbs winced slightly at Abby’s new phrase.
“Well, none of them are as hot as Tony though, are they, Gibbs.” Abby watched his reaction pointedly. Getting none she carried on. “I mean Bud and Jimjam don’t do it for me. But Tony, now he’s not even under you anymore...”
“Oughta be careful renaming the staff Abs, the last one you did that to ended up pulling a knife on ya.” Gibbs cut in.
“Gibbs! Okay I’ll take the short route. The reconstruction clearly shows that Masters couldn’t have been killed there. The injuries may be similar but the evidence doesn’t lie. None of it matches.”
“Could he have been moved from any other part of the building?”
“No. I haven’t reconstructed all of it as they’re still clearing, but the imprints are just wrong. His injuries don’t match any of the building materials used in that building - he was crushed somewhere else and then brought into the school.” Abby demonstrated the movement of the marine with an arm. “Bring me beams, blocks and ducts from another site and I’ll match ‘em to our boy.”
“If he was crushed there, Abs.”
“Well. Yeah. Obviously.”
Gibbs shook his head, smiling, as he went to leave the lab.
“Gibbs! There’s more...” He slowed a little to let her finish. “The tests Ducky asked me to run? Positive, for all three.”
“Good job, Abs.” And he was gone.
~~~~~~~~~
“So my theory on the guys pulling Masters out from under rubble in the school didn’t fly.” Jameson paused thoughtfully. “Does a straight case ever fall on your desk, Gibbs?” Jameson cocked a sidelong smile at his superior before continuing. Gibbs let slip a small smile in return. “You know I reckon I’ve discovered where half the conspiracy theories in this town originate from - your labs.”
“Our labs, Jameson, and don’t let Abby hear you say that.”
Jameson sat up a little. “Well yeah, no disrespect meant.”
“She’d enjoy it too much.” Gibbs finished as he left his desk for the elevator, with badge and weapon in hand.
Jameson let out a little relieved laugh before following. Jameson banged his desk on the way out, springing the two not so quick agents into action.
Gibbs smiled as he heard the scene play out behind him. They were learning.
~~~~~~~~~
Gibbs had been trying to see past Thomas and Bridge in his rear view mirror as he drove out to the marines’ CO’s office. How could two people take up so much of the back seat? He shook his head as he turned his mind back to the case. The three marines had all been in the same department, two of them somewhat longer than the other however. The telephone conversation he’d had that morning with the CO had been a rather awkward one. He clearly had something on his mind, something he wasn’t sure he should say or not, regarding the case. Gibbs had a feeling it would take some gentle coaxing to get it out of him.
Arriving at the office door, Gibbs noticed how nervous the secretary was. He had a feeling it was something to do with how full his office looked with the four NCIS agents hovering in it. So it wasn’t just his car that looked cramped with his new team. Gibbs was beginning to wonder exactly what criteria Director Vance had been using when he selected the new major case response team. It was apparently becoming an issue having such well-built agents. For a start it made him look like the short, heading-for-retirement one.
Entering the CO’s office, Gibbs was happy to see he was greeted genuinely. The CO’s handshake was firm and his eyes showed real relief at being able to get this sorted out once and for all. Gibbs glanced back at the team. Too many of them would not be conducive to getting the full story here.
“Thomas, Bridge. Stay in the main office and interview the people we have on the list.” Jameson helpfully closed the door in front of them after Gibbs spoke. Even the CO smiled at that.
“I appreciate the... discretion, Agent Gibbs. Unfortunately I feel it may be necessary in this particular situation.” The CO said the last word like it was a flavour of sweet he didn’t care for. Gibbs just tilted his head a little and left the silence to draw more out of the officer. The CO shuffled his papers before continuing. He was obviously choosing his words carefully.
“It isn’t unlikely that Dentinger and Rodman would have been passing the scene together, or indeed Rodman and Masters, but all three poses a problem to me.” He paused again. “The three of them together raises certain... questions, as they didn’t see eye to eye as a group if you catch my meaning.”
“So Dentinger and Masters didn’t get on?” Jameson tried to clarify. Gibbs resisted pursing his lips.
“Dentinger and Masters didn’t have any dispute between them, they had been good friends. Unfortunately it was what they had in common that was the problem.” The CO looked to Gibbs. Jameson still looked blank as Gibbs nodded understanding.
Masters had been rather younger than the other two, by almost a couple of decades and Ducky had made a comment about them ‘most probably all having batted for the other side’ as he so delicately put it from his physical examination of the bodies. Abby’s results had also confirmed that all three of them had been carrying the same STD. Gibbs wondered how exactly he should put the next question. Luckily the CO decided to help him out.
“We had no problem with the first relationship. It was a long standing one that never came through in the workplace. We have to be more realistic in the Corps these days Agent Gibbs. But the second...”
Gibbs nodded more obviously at that. He got the picture. The CO was clearly becoming less and less inclined to say anything further on the subject. That would have to do. They could piece together the rest.
“I would of course appreciate the same level of discretion you demonstrated earlier to continue throughout this case should it reveal anything... untoward... Agent Gibbs.”
Gibbs gave his assurance as Jameson simply stood taking it all in.
~~~~~~~~~
Thomas and Bridges didn’t seem to know what hit them when Gibbs told them to start on their reports when they got back. They had dug up some seemingly unimportant snippets of information about the three in their interviews and had felt fairly fobbed off with the job, but Gibbs had nodded enthusiastically, put it all together in one fell swoop and headed out to a pool club not far from the school site. Sure enough, they found enough to open a crime scene and Gibbs had headed back to NCIS early with one particular piece of evidence for Abby.
~~~~~~~~~
Autopsy, later that day
“It matches all right, on both counts. I guess he just couldn’t handle being dumped for a younger model. Especially when the younger model was supposed to be a buddy.” Abby pulled a face. “Kinda defeated the object of having a younger guy seeing as they all died within a few hours of each other anyway.
“Yeah, thanks, Abs.”
“Oh and, Gibbs? Tony sends his love.” Abby beamed at him conspiratorially before disappearing from the screen.
Jethro looked at the video phone for a second, contemplating how you might go about turning it off. Duck knew what he was after. He turned his head, just a little, before reaching up and doing it for him, but he didn’t reveal his eyes. Jethro noticed a sudden tension in the older man’s shoulders as he sat there beside him. Glancing round, Jethro rearranged himself just behind Ducky like he was studying something over his shoulder. He nuzzled into the ME’s hair a little as he started to whisper things he’d like to do to him right here, right now, if it wasn’t for those damn cameras back there. He was pleased to see a little of the tension ease as he filled Ducky’s mind with new thoughts. After a few moments Ducky suddenly turned to him properly. His whisper was thick with desire.
“Careful, or you might just get it, boy.” Ducky quickly stood to escape Jethro’s onslaught. ‘Boy’ rang in Jethro’s mind as he watched his lover escape along the length of Autopsy. Long time since he’d been called that. Did Duck see him that way? Cogs turned. Light dawned. Ducky thought he was too old for him.
“We’ll see about that.” Jethro said under his breath. He had a plan. If he was going to convince Ducky that he wasn’t just a one trick wonder and a flirt he would need to do some wooing.
~~~~~~~~~
Ducky wondered where Jethro was as he went through the familiar movements of getting ready to leave work. He hadn’t seen him since he and Abby had pretty much wrapped up the case and that had been many hours ago. Ducky fretted at his own reliance on Jethro being around. Now he had him that way some of the time, he missed him even more the rest. It made no sense at all to his logical mind. They had only spent one actual night together. The rest had just been flirtatious horse play. Nice as it was.
The case had struck a nerve and he knew Jethro had noticed. No doubt why he had made like a teenager with his sweet nothings. All of a sudden he began to feel like he was taking advantage and, if it went any further, as if he would be stealing years of Jethro’s life that he wouldn’t be able to give him in return. If Jethro stayed with him until the end, where would that leave him? No family and goodness only knows how many years alone. Ducky knew it wasn’t every man who could find love again at his advanced stage, he couldn’t presume Jethro would.
The thought that he was being selfish by hoping Jethro would be his life partner began to drag him down. He wanted more, wanted to let Jethro keep coming on to him, wanted so badly for him to move seamlessly into his life forever. But dark thoughts were filling him now that it was actually a possibility. Dreaming was one thing, but dreaming was harmless, to anyone else at least. He should be the one to stop this, or at least make Jethro promise that he’d leave him for someone better if he or she came along. But could he do that, really? Was he strong enough to let him go? Ducky didn’t have the answer, and to be honest, didn’t really want to know.
‘Saved by the bell’ thought Ducky as the elevator ping interrupted his thoughts. Making his way through the building to the parking lot Ducky allowed sweet thoughts of Jethro to dance across his imagination. He’d dreamed for so many years, but now he had reality to base his fantasies on. He allowed himself to indulge a little, bringing a sweet smile to his face. Reaching the Morgan and sliding into the right hand side, Ducky paused. His daydreams had been interrupted by a little slip of blue notepaper sitting on the dash in front of him. Ducky contemplated a moment, then picked it up. His smile widened. ‘Duck’ was scrawled on the underside in a very familiar hand.
Ducky got comfy in his seat as he opened the note. Just a few words, but they had the desired effect.
‘Duck,
Meet me at Salapello’s, 9pm. Bring your dancing shoes and a good appetite.
Love you, J’
They were going on a date. And he loved him.
~~~~~~~~~
9pm, Salapello’s Restaurante
The restaurant was buzzing in the way only an establishment with a dance floor can. This sort of place always attracted a certain type of diners. Dancers, obviously, but the particular type of dancing clientele was dictated by the style of the place. Salapello’s reminded Ducky of some of the homes of friends he had visited in his youth in England. Ducky almost expected to open the windows at the back and see a lake at the bottom of a pristine lawn, maybe a few deer roaming on the opposite shore. It had an interesting mix of lived-in homeliness and somewhat aristocratic decor. It was a family owned place, run purely for the enjoyment of seeing a hundred couples take to the floor, laughing and giddy from fine food and wine each night. Ducky was rather glad he’d known the place before this evening. He had dressed appropriately and now, being shown to their table, Ducky held his breath as his eyes fell on Jethro in his matching attire when he rose to meet him. He looked stunning.
“Breathe, Duck.” Jethro whispered to him as he released him from his dress jacket. “And you’re looking pretty damn good yourself.” Jethro just about resisted the urge to nibble his lover’s ear as he spoke to him. Ducky really did look ravishing. He couldn’t wait to get him on the dance floor. One of the many benefits of this particular establishment. No one would bat an eyelid at a gay couple here. They were all here to dance and dine, not judge.
As the evening wore on, Jethro was pleased to see the more familiar side of Ducky. Jovial, cheeky, animated. Everything he loved about him. His eyes sparkled, even more so with a little help from a nice Italian red. Jethro decided it was time they tried a little dancing before he got a little too ‘sparkly’ and before the main course. As he stood he noticed that they had a pair of admirers. Unfortunately with both of them standing to move onto the floor, the two ladies made a beeline for them. Jethro cursed internally as the red head came to his side.
“Would you handsome folks mind giving us a twirl?”
Ducky looked to Jethro for a decision. Jethro shrugged subtly in submission so Ducky turned on the charm and took his new lady friend by the arm and led the way. As they danced Ducky tried not to look back to Jethro as he led the red head with such grace, obviously enjoying the female form pressed up against him. Not that the female form beside Ducky was anything to complain about. She was a lovely girl, if a little less forward than her friend. Ducky sighed internally. It crossed his mind that she probably hadn’t wanted to dance with someone old enough to be her father, but had for the sake of her friend. Ducky unconsciously began to watch Jethro with less clouded eyes. Those darker thoughts swept through him yet again. He was too old for him. He still had a chance to have another family, start again, not consign himself to an end of the road relationship yet. Ducky’s dance partner excused herself after one dance. He felt like he should apologise for the lack of attention he must have paid her, but then her eyes weren’t on him anyway. They both had been preoccupied. They parted with a nod of mutual understanding.
Ducky returned to his seat and waited. For a very brief moment he considered sneaking off; he really wasn’t enjoying watching the dancing. His eyes were constantly drawn to Jethro and the red head and he couldn’t very well look anywhere else, sat here on his own. There was only so much you could study your wine or indeed your tablecloth. If you weren’t careful a waiter might get the wrong impression and come and replace it for you. Ducky bore the discomfort. He didn’t want to be impolite or overdramatic. He would keep his feelings to himself.
Jethro spun his partner in towards him, taking the opportunity to glance over at Ducky. He wasn’t watching the dance floor anymore. He looked, well not exactly bored, something else. Jethro quickly returned his attention to his current company. Surely three dances was enough to politely decline another.
“You know they say ‘dance well together, make love well together’.” The redhead’s words cut into his thoughts. The crass tone didn’t do the words ‘make love’ justice. He suspected she probably wouldn’t have used that particular language in other circumstances anyway. Jethro smiled a little at the comment, but not enough to be taken as an invitation. If he had taken someone like her home they wouldn’t have ‘made love’. Not like he planned to with Duck. If he ever got rid of this attachment that was. Ducky must be tiring of the situation. Jethro worried that he could lose him any minute and he wouldn’t blame him.
Third song finally coming to an end, Jethro firmly detached himself and gracefully thanked her and bade her goodnight before moving back over to his table with a great sense of relief and joy.
“God, I’d forgotten how pushy some women can be, eh, Duck?” As he sat, Jethro took Ducky’s hand from the table and placed it in his. Ducky clearly took comfort in it as he squeezed a reply and didn’t break away. It was the first gesture they had made in public. Jethro liked it. Not that he’d hidden his relationship with Tobias, but then Tobias wasn’t the holding hands kind of guy. Not like Ducky.
Jethro tilted his head to study his lover’s expression. Ducky bowed his a little under the scrutiny.
“Stop it, Jethro, you’ll make me blush.” Ducky purposefully used his free hand to find more wine in order to distract himself and hopefully Jethro too.
“You wanna dance or wait for some more food.” Jethro pulled on Ducky’s hand a little to show his preference.
Ducky used the few seconds it took to refill Jethro’s glass to think about it before nodding in answer to his unspoken gesture.
Jethro stood, this time making sure he didn’t go meeting anyone else’s eye and keeping Ducky very much in contact with him as he led him onto the floor. Just the feel of his hand in his behind him was a delicious sensation. Jethro tried to suppress the size of his smile at the thought of Duck pressed up against him as they moved with the music.
Just as they reached the dance floor the next song started. A gloriously slow one. Jethro turned to Ducky as they found a space. He put his arms round him and pulled him in slowly, savouring the moment and the feeling of each part of them coming into contact. He was a little sad that he wouldn’t be able to see Duck’s eyes as he snuggled into him, but there would be other songs for that.
Moving as one, their world contracted. They fitted together perfectly, Ducky seeming much more comfortable led than leading. Jethro loved the feel of him moving against him. It was pure warmth.
| Part I | Part II | ~ | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII |