In the Eye of the Beholder 6/8
"Morning, Boss." It was barely daybreak when Tony came downstairs. The empty bowl in his hand told that he'd wakened at some point during the night. "I just talked to Ducky, he said that Tim had an uneventful night."
"That's good." A night of thinking had done little to ease his feelings of guilt and Gibbs struggled to make small talk while Tony refilled Jethro's bowls. "The two of you have a nice house here. That's quite a set-up downstairs."
"Yeah." Tony ducked his head down as he blushed, much to Gibbs' surprise. "I was worried about how much money he spent on it, but he just smiled and said I was worth it. Can you believe it, me?"
"You are worth it, Tony. I'm glad he makes you feel that way."
"Really?" Tony had that shy smile that made him look so much younger than he really was.
Gibbs gave a slight shrug. "You guys have made it longer than most of my marriages, you must be doing something right."
"Thanks, Boss." Once Jethro was satisfied, Tony busied himself scrambling eggs and making toast.
"So you're the cook of the family?"
"It's about 60/40. I've been banished from most of the yard work after I accidentally mowed down all the tulips so I do more of the cooking." Tony faltered as he looked out at the immaculate gardens. "Guess I'm going to have to learn what grows and what gets mowed."
The typical, trite answer stuck in Gibbs' throat, so it was Tony that filled the silence. "Do you see that corner, over by the plum tree? Someday, we're going to build a deck and an arbor out there with climbing roses and we're going to have an official wedding with everyone that's important to us."
Gibbs squeezed Tony's shoulder. "I'm looking forward to it." Surprised, he found that he actually meant it.
---NCIS---
The two men arrived at the hospital much earlier than the start of visiting hours, so Tony went off to see if he could find Dr. Elby while Gibbs staked out a spot in the waiting room. Since the team was not scheduled for today, he know that they would be arriving at the hospital soon to support their injured teammate. The first arrival was not one he was expecting.
"Gibbs."
The team leader stiffened automatically. "Leon."
Director Vance handed over a cup of coffee before sitting down across from Gibbs. "I assume that DiNozzo is talking to the doctors?"
The casual comment started setting off an alarm in Gibbs' head and he turned his full attention to the other man. "Yeah, he's in with McGee's doctor. Ducky, too, I'd imagine. You've been getting updates from Ducky, right?
"Yes, I have and also a preliminary report on the accident from Agent Fornell."
"I take full responsibility for what happened to McGee, Director. Whatever action the agency determines necessary, I won't argue."
Vance didn't seem upset, in fact he he looked slightly amused. "I'll keep that in mind, but don't go falling on your sword just yet. Let's focus on getting McGee and DiNozzo through this first."
Blue eyes narrowed as Gibbs studied the other man. "I know Ducky wouldn't have said anything about that, you got somebody spying on my team, Leon?"
"Just because you didn't figure it out, Gibbs..."
"How long?"
"DiNozzo started sub-letting his apartment off and on right after McGee bought that house. Besides, both their names are on the deed. I've watched them, whatever their relationship is, they keep it off the job and since DiNozzo isn't involved with McGee's annual evaluations, I don't see a reason to break up my top team."
Gibbs gave a short nod as he bit back a laugh. Not only had he missed the clues, he'd been practically the last one to figure it out. Vance wasn't finished yet.
"Don't let your own guilt break up your team either. Now, all four of you have some comp time coming, I'm ordering the team to use it for the next few days. I want you to get your head screwed on straight." Vance stood and prepared to leave. "Tell DiNozzo that when he's ready, I've got a stack of cold cases I need him to go through. He can bring the files and a laptop here and work in McGee's room, maybe even get Tim's input when he's awake. That way he doesn't have to start using his leave time until McGee's ready to leave the hospital."
---NCIS---
Jason Elby gave his visitor a careful look. Tony looked somewhat rested, but his eyes were still haunted. "Come on, we can talk in Tim's room. That way you can sneak in an extra visit." As they walked, Dr. Elby asked the question foremost on his mind. "Are you comfortable with your supervisor being here? Under the circumstances I can get him barred from the hospital."
"No, it's okay. If anything, his feeling guilty has made him listen. We might all get through this, if Tim..." Tony's voice stumbled to a halt and he took a deep breath. "Positive thoughts, right?"
Elby nodded, but he wasn't convinced. "Your limp this morning is part of the reason I'm asking."
"Yeah, well," Tony rubbed his hand through his hair, slightly embarrassed. "Over six hours riding a bike, climbing down and back up that mountain, twice, and then another six hours in one of those damn waiting room chairs. I'm just a little sore."
"Okay, I can see that might be a problem." They reached the door to McGee's room and Elby opened the door to show Ducky checking Tim's vital signs. Tony stopped at the foot of the bed, searching for any signs of improvement.
"Tim gives the best massages, so it's usually not a... is he any better yet?"
"I'm afraid it's too early to tell." Jason gave the standard answer and left the good news for Ducky.
Ducky smiled as he moved closer to Tony. "The fact that he is no worse is a very positive one, Tony. He is still able to breathe on his own which tells us that there has been no additional swelling. Now come and give your young man a proper hello." Seeing that they were both in capable hands, Dr. Elby slipped out to check on his other patients.
Once they were alone, it took Tony several minutes to work up to his next question. "Ducky, you've been really quiet about all this, about Tim and me. Are you... do you have a problem with us being together?"
"Upset that two young men I'm very fond of have found a life together? Heavens, no. If anything, I'm a tad jealous. You live in an entirely different world than the one of my youth."
"Ducky? I thought you always regretted not going the wife and kids route."
The older man has a far-away look on his face. "Not having a child has always been my greatest regret, Anthony. Unfortunately, in my generation, having a wife was required to have a child, and that was one thing I could never bring myself to do. It's not happening overnight, but you and Timothy will have many more opportunities than I could have ever imagined. You just hang onto that while we wait for your young man to recover."
Tony was at a loss. He was pretty sure no one else at the agency was privy to what Ducky had just hinted at. "Ducky, I don't know what to say."
Ducky reached out and took his arm. "Don't feel sorry for me, despite what I may have missed, I am very happy with the life I do have. I do have one request, an indulgence for an old man who never got the chance, if you will. Don't hide yourselves away. Let those that care about you see just how much you love each other. All right?"
Impulsively Tony hugged him. "We will, I promise."
---NCIS---
The beginning of the staff's morning routine signaled the end of the extra visit Jason was able to give Tony and he reluctantly returned to waiting room, Ducky next to him. Ziva and Palmer were just arriving from the elevator, Abby right behind them. After updates and coffees were exchanged, Ziva pulled a large package out of her backpack. "This was going to be for your anniversary, but we thought you might like to have it now."
When Tony looked uncertain about opening an anniversary present without Tim, Jimmy encouraged him. "Tim would want you to have this now, and then you can share it with him when he's awake."
That was all the encouragement he needed and Tony ripped open the paper. "Oh, wow, guys, this is amazing." Reverently, Tony stroked his hand across the bound leather photo album with their names embossed on the cover before opening it.
Gibbs, Abby and Ducky all leaned close to see the pictures and, remembering the promise he'd made to Ducky, Tony starting talking about the first pictures.
"This is the cabin where Tim and I exchanged our vows. The first time we went there was right after he came out to his family. His parents disowned him and then Sarah didn't want to be caught in the middle so she left for London with her new boyfriend." Ducky hadn't been with them when he'd first told about the family's reaction and Tony heard him gasp. "Anyway, I found this little resort online, only five cabins, and took him out there on the next weekend we had off. The owners lost their only son in a bashing about ten years ago, so they really fussed over him.
"We'd go back whenever we'd get a chance, and then when we decided to have a commitment ceremony, it was the only place we considered." Tony turned the page to show the next group of photos, this time of the ceremony itself. He was silent, but the look on his face said it all as his fingers outlined the picture of Tim's face, caught in the moment as he draped the now familiar golden necklace over Tony's head.
Abby found herself tearing up. "You guys look really, really happy." It was a hard thing to admit, but she'd never seen her Timmy that happy and carefree as the photo had captured. She'd also never seen Tony so content as the moment he laid his own engraved charm against Tim's heart, captured in high quality detail. However it was the third photo in the grouping that took her breath away, one of the two men sitting on the steps of the cabin. Tony was sitting on the top step, Tim the next one down and leaning back into the body wrapped around him. Tim's arms were wrapped around Tony's knees as he turned and leaned back for a kiss, neither man aware of the picture being taken.
Ducky smiled as he watched both Gibbs and Abby take in every detail. "Abby is correct, Tony. You and Timothy look very happy, indeed."