Tooth & Claw for gibbstonysbabe (Part 2)
Title: Tooth & Claw
Author: Hinky-Hippo
Written for: Gibbstonysbabe
Prompt used: AU version of our NCIS peeps with Tony and Gibbs in the forefront
Genre: G/D slash
Category: First Time, Supernatural
Rating: Adult
Disclaimer: Not mine - Boo!
Summary: tag to the episode, Chimera
Gibbs came awake with a start. The room felt different. He gave himself a few minutes to regain his bearings and survey the small ward they were being kept in.
Something caught his attention. There was a pull he couldn’t identify and the buzzing in his head seemed to have become even more insistent. Following his gut, he gingerly slid off the bed, pausing a moment to get his sea legs under him. Giving a cautionary glare at the nurse, he grabbed a nearby chair and dragged it over to Tony’s bed. Resting a hand lightly on Tony’s exposed arm helped ease his unrest. Even though Tony was still unconscious, there was a comforting vibrancy in the mere touch.
The nurse, Emily, Gibbs had heard Dr Brock call her, stepped between them briefly to check Tony’s mask, so Gibbs’ reluctantly slid just out of the way for a moment.
In those few seconds, Tony started to shift ever so slightly in his sleep, his agitation obvious. ^Gibbs!!!^
“I’m right here, DiNozzo,” he cajoled.
Green eyes slitted open and a soft moan drifted out from the pillow. The pressure in Gibbs’ head increased. Muzzy, half formed thoughts made him bat at his ear.
“Hey,” Gibbs bent low to greet his second. He noticed, out the corner of his eye that the nurse had trotted off, presumably to find the doctor.
^Okay? Safe? Ow! Don’t move like that. Hurts! Gibbs safe? Please be safe^
“Yeah, I’m okay. You’re gonna be okay, too, DiNozzo.” Gibbs frowned when he realized Tony hadn’t actually spoken out loud. When he started to shift around again, Gibbs cautioned, “Hey, don’t try to move.” Stroking the soft hair gently, he added, “Stay put for now. Okay?”
^Gibbs safe. Good!^ “Hurts,” gusted through the face mask with a hollow echo. ^Worth it. Safe. Thank God^
“Yeah, you’re gonna be pretty sore for a while. Take it easy.”
^Worth it, if you’re okay. Can’t lose you. Would die first^ “Wha happe..?” A hacking cough cut him off, followed by another, which tumbled into a non-stop coughing jag. Tony’s eyes widened in alarm as he fought to catch his breath again.
Feeling an unfamiliar sense of panic in the back of his head coupled with his own at seeing Tony’s struggles, Gibbs quickly climbed on the bed and gathered Tony’s upper torso into his arms. He cradled him into a better position so he could breathe, much as he had done countless times those first few frightening days while he was recovering from the plague. Gibbs rhythmically stroked along Tony’s back, being mindful of the ragged burns. The panic slowly abated with each interrupted gasp.
“Breathe with me, Tony.” Testing the waters with his heart in his throat, he directed a thought at Tony. ^Breathe with me. Just like before. You can do it^
He eyed the nurse and doctor territorially as they both rapidly rounded the bed, barely cutting off a feral growl as they crowded in on him and Tony.
With a loud hiccupping sigh, Tony’s breath settled as he slumped in Gibbs’ arms, but he still clung tightly to his boss despite seeming to be totally out of it.
“Agent Gibbs, we need to examine Agent DiNozzo now.”
The panic flared again. ^Don’t go!^
“Not going anywhere. He breathes better in this position. You can examine him around me.”
The doctor’s brows furrowed. “Agent Gibbs, we have to make sure he’s all right. With his medical history…”
“I know all about his medical history. I was there!” Gibbs cut him off. This was too much. “I want Dr Mallard in here NOW!”
“Dr Mallard is not authorized to be in here.”
“And you’re not authorized to treat either of us, now that I am awake. I’m his legal next of kin. Or did you forget we’re civilians?” Without disturbing Tony, Gibbs shifted around so he could watch both of them clearly. His heart and mind were racing with the revelation and only his years of training kept him from divulging his secret to the doctor. He was glad he had no IV for them to drug him with. It would be much harder for them to sedate him without one. He needed to protect his own.
Warding off the nurse, the doctor cautiously approached the two men. He slid his stethoscope along Tony’s back and then up between the two of them, pausing occasionally to cluck in concern. “Agent DiNozzo, are you able to hear me?”
Tony continued to be unresponsive.
^Tony?^
^mmmprh^
^Come on. Time to get up^ Gibbs suspiciously watched the doctor tap Tony’s chest with his knuckles.
^donn wanna. hurts^ whispered back to him.
A sudden flare of surprise from Tony caught Gibbs off-guard.
^Gibbs?? Are you in my head?!^ His arms weakly flailing, Tony stirred in the former Marine’s arms.
“Easy, easy! Hey!” ^Yeah. Don’t let them know. Doc is right here examining you^
^What the FUCK are you doing in my head?!^ Tony scrabbled to look Gibbs in the eyes, seeking answers. ^Can you see what I’m thinking? Shitshitshit!^
“Easy, Tony!” ^Freak out later, DiNozzo! I’ll join you^ Gibbs calmly quirked an eyebrow as he met Tony’s wild eyes. With a glare at the doctor, daring him to interfere, Gibbs firmly tapped the back of Tony’s head, stilling him immediately.
A moment later ^Gotcha^ sounded tiredly in his head as Tony granted Gibbs a slight smile of agreement before he allowed Gibbs to take his full weight once again. ^Freak out later. Tired^
“Why don’t we see if Agent DiNozzo can rest reclined on his back? It might make breathing a bit easier than on his stomach.”
“Ya think?” Gibbs growled. “Will he be okay lying on his burns? Have you called for Dr Mallard yet? I want to see him here immediately!” He eyed the back of Tony’s head where even his hair had odd markings, which matched the ones on his back.
^Boss? What’s wrong?^
^You look good as a redhead, DiNozzo^
^What?!^ A hand released his shirt and drifted to the back of his head for a moment before clenching his shirt yet again.
While he watched the doctor raise the head of the bed, Gibbs’ arms tightened ever so slightly and he did his best to school his thoughts when he felt a gentle, inquisitive brush of presence in his head. ^Tony?^
^Yeah, it’s me, I was just wondering how this….Oh! oh!^
Surprise skittered through Gibbs’ mind, only to be rapidly replaced with pleased contentment coupled with an eager anticipation. Was that Hope?
Knowing immediately that Tony had seen his own personal interest in his Senior Field Agent, despite his trying to not think about it, Gibbs realized that he was almost relieved Tony had discovered his true feelings for him.
^Like what you see, Anthony?^
A burst of what could only be described as elation brightened his mind in reply, lightening his mood considerably.
“Agent Gibbs? Agent Gibbs?!” By the look the doctor was giving him, Gibbs realized it was probably not the first time the doctor had uttered his name. “Let’s get him resting on his back now.”
^Yeah, get me into bed, Gibbs^ teased in his mind.
^DiNozzo, not now! I thought you were tired^
He could feel the pout. ^After seeing that?! I woke up^
^Get some rest. I can feel how tired you are^
^If you’re putting me off just to quote Rule 12 later, I’m gonna be really pissed^
^We’ll talk when we have a little privacy^
^What’s more private than this?^ Tony asked petulantly.
Gibbs couldn’t help grin at that. ^Just wait until we get home. Until then, let’s try to figure out how to tone it down a bit, so we don’t get distracted by each other. We’re gonna to start arousing suspicions. There must be a way to block it^
^Arousing is what I had in mind^ Gibbs realized, if a mind could waggle its eyebrows, Tony’s just had. ^Block it? Have you been reading fantasy books again, Boss? Do they even have fantasy Westerns? You don’t seem to be the Cowboys Vs Aliens type^
“Jethro, Emily tells me you haven’t exactly been model patients, not that I didn’t already warn them about that!” Ducky bustled in behind the nurse, bringing an end to the stand-off between Gibbs and the doctor and an air of comfortable normalcy for Gibbs. He eyed Gibbs curiously before clucking worriedly at Tony’s readouts, and then checking him for himself. “His lungs sound better than I expected. Jethro, you can let him lie back. I can assure you he will be fine.” Ducky watched speculatively as Gibbs gently eased Tony into the pillows and then sat back into the chair with one hand on his agent’s shoulder. “How are you feeling, Jethro?” Ducky asked with a cock of his eyebrow and surreptitious nod towards the hovering medical staff, acknowledging they had an audience.
“I’m okay, Duck. Still a little sore. Nothing a little BenGay won’t fix.”
“Then, I suppose you won’t mind humoring an old friend…?”
Gibbs’ eyes narrowed suspiciously, but he acceded to Ducky’s demands, even while keeping half an eye on the medical staff and at least one hand on his second. His protective posture didn’t escape Ducky’s notice, nor his insistence on keeping physical contact with Tony. When Ducky had Gibbs briefly let go to shed his shirt, Tony rooted towards him in his sleep until Gibbs reestablished contact. The Medical Examiner kept his counsel, but took note of the odd behavior for later. He had certainly seen enough in his varied life, especially related to these two men, to not take anything for granted. This, however, with a classified mission, an apparently unknown biological agent, and curious medical staffers at hand, was not the time to delve into it. Donald Mallard was a very patient, if not persistent, man.
Instead, he launched into an extended story which loosened Jethro’s shoulders and distracted the curious interlopers. He knew they were only a few hours from port by now. Plenty of time for Tony and Jethro to get the rest they needed before even more questions were asked.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
previous chapter | next chapter
Author: Hinky-Hippo
Written for: Gibbstonysbabe
Prompt used: AU version of our NCIS peeps with Tony and Gibbs in the forefront
Genre: G/D slash
Category: First Time, Supernatural
Rating: Adult
Disclaimer: Not mine - Boo!
Summary: tag to the episode, Chimera
Gibbs came awake with a start. The room felt different. He gave himself a few minutes to regain his bearings and survey the small ward they were being kept in.
Something caught his attention. There was a pull he couldn’t identify and the buzzing in his head seemed to have become even more insistent. Following his gut, he gingerly slid off the bed, pausing a moment to get his sea legs under him. Giving a cautionary glare at the nurse, he grabbed a nearby chair and dragged it over to Tony’s bed. Resting a hand lightly on Tony’s exposed arm helped ease his unrest. Even though Tony was still unconscious, there was a comforting vibrancy in the mere touch.
The nurse, Emily, Gibbs had heard Dr Brock call her, stepped between them briefly to check Tony’s mask, so Gibbs’ reluctantly slid just out of the way for a moment.
In those few seconds, Tony started to shift ever so slightly in his sleep, his agitation obvious. ^Gibbs!!!^
“I’m right here, DiNozzo,” he cajoled.
Green eyes slitted open and a soft moan drifted out from the pillow. The pressure in Gibbs’ head increased. Muzzy, half formed thoughts made him bat at his ear.
“Hey,” Gibbs bent low to greet his second. He noticed, out the corner of his eye that the nurse had trotted off, presumably to find the doctor.
^Okay? Safe? Ow! Don’t move like that. Hurts! Gibbs safe? Please be safe^
“Yeah, I’m okay. You’re gonna be okay, too, DiNozzo.” Gibbs frowned when he realized Tony hadn’t actually spoken out loud. When he started to shift around again, Gibbs cautioned, “Hey, don’t try to move.” Stroking the soft hair gently, he added, “Stay put for now. Okay?”
^Gibbs safe. Good!^ “Hurts,” gusted through the face mask with a hollow echo. ^Worth it. Safe. Thank God^
“Yeah, you’re gonna be pretty sore for a while. Take it easy.”
^Worth it, if you’re okay. Can’t lose you. Would die first^ “Wha happe..?” A hacking cough cut him off, followed by another, which tumbled into a non-stop coughing jag. Tony’s eyes widened in alarm as he fought to catch his breath again.
Feeling an unfamiliar sense of panic in the back of his head coupled with his own at seeing Tony’s struggles, Gibbs quickly climbed on the bed and gathered Tony’s upper torso into his arms. He cradled him into a better position so he could breathe, much as he had done countless times those first few frightening days while he was recovering from the plague. Gibbs rhythmically stroked along Tony’s back, being mindful of the ragged burns. The panic slowly abated with each interrupted gasp.
“Breathe with me, Tony.” Testing the waters with his heart in his throat, he directed a thought at Tony. ^Breathe with me. Just like before. You can do it^
He eyed the nurse and doctor territorially as they both rapidly rounded the bed, barely cutting off a feral growl as they crowded in on him and Tony.
With a loud hiccupping sigh, Tony’s breath settled as he slumped in Gibbs’ arms, but he still clung tightly to his boss despite seeming to be totally out of it.
“Agent Gibbs, we need to examine Agent DiNozzo now.”
The panic flared again. ^Don’t go!^
“Not going anywhere. He breathes better in this position. You can examine him around me.”
The doctor’s brows furrowed. “Agent Gibbs, we have to make sure he’s all right. With his medical history…”
“I know all about his medical history. I was there!” Gibbs cut him off. This was too much. “I want Dr Mallard in here NOW!”
“Dr Mallard is not authorized to be in here.”
“And you’re not authorized to treat either of us, now that I am awake. I’m his legal next of kin. Or did you forget we’re civilians?” Without disturbing Tony, Gibbs shifted around so he could watch both of them clearly. His heart and mind were racing with the revelation and only his years of training kept him from divulging his secret to the doctor. He was glad he had no IV for them to drug him with. It would be much harder for them to sedate him without one. He needed to protect his own.
Warding off the nurse, the doctor cautiously approached the two men. He slid his stethoscope along Tony’s back and then up between the two of them, pausing occasionally to cluck in concern. “Agent DiNozzo, are you able to hear me?”
Tony continued to be unresponsive.
^Tony?^
^mmmprh^
^Come on. Time to get up^ Gibbs suspiciously watched the doctor tap Tony’s chest with his knuckles.
^donn wanna. hurts^ whispered back to him.
A sudden flare of surprise from Tony caught Gibbs off-guard.
^Gibbs?? Are you in my head?!^ His arms weakly flailing, Tony stirred in the former Marine’s arms.
“Easy, easy! Hey!” ^Yeah. Don’t let them know. Doc is right here examining you^
^What the FUCK are you doing in my head?!^ Tony scrabbled to look Gibbs in the eyes, seeking answers. ^Can you see what I’m thinking? Shitshitshit!^
“Easy, Tony!” ^Freak out later, DiNozzo! I’ll join you^ Gibbs calmly quirked an eyebrow as he met Tony’s wild eyes. With a glare at the doctor, daring him to interfere, Gibbs firmly tapped the back of Tony’s head, stilling him immediately.
A moment later ^Gotcha^ sounded tiredly in his head as Tony granted Gibbs a slight smile of agreement before he allowed Gibbs to take his full weight once again. ^Freak out later. Tired^
“Why don’t we see if Agent DiNozzo can rest reclined on his back? It might make breathing a bit easier than on his stomach.”
“Ya think?” Gibbs growled. “Will he be okay lying on his burns? Have you called for Dr Mallard yet? I want to see him here immediately!” He eyed the back of Tony’s head where even his hair had odd markings, which matched the ones on his back.
^Boss? What’s wrong?^
^You look good as a redhead, DiNozzo^
^What?!^ A hand released his shirt and drifted to the back of his head for a moment before clenching his shirt yet again.
While he watched the doctor raise the head of the bed, Gibbs’ arms tightened ever so slightly and he did his best to school his thoughts when he felt a gentle, inquisitive brush of presence in his head. ^Tony?^
^Yeah, it’s me, I was just wondering how this….Oh! oh!^
Surprise skittered through Gibbs’ mind, only to be rapidly replaced with pleased contentment coupled with an eager anticipation. Was that Hope?
Knowing immediately that Tony had seen his own personal interest in his Senior Field Agent, despite his trying to not think about it, Gibbs realized that he was almost relieved Tony had discovered his true feelings for him.
^Like what you see, Anthony?^
A burst of what could only be described as elation brightened his mind in reply, lightening his mood considerably.
“Agent Gibbs? Agent Gibbs?!” By the look the doctor was giving him, Gibbs realized it was probably not the first time the doctor had uttered his name. “Let’s get him resting on his back now.”
^Yeah, get me into bed, Gibbs^ teased in his mind.
^DiNozzo, not now! I thought you were tired^
He could feel the pout. ^After seeing that?! I woke up^
^Get some rest. I can feel how tired you are^
^If you’re putting me off just to quote Rule 12 later, I’m gonna be really pissed^
^We’ll talk when we have a little privacy^
^What’s more private than this?^ Tony asked petulantly.
Gibbs couldn’t help grin at that. ^Just wait until we get home. Until then, let’s try to figure out how to tone it down a bit, so we don’t get distracted by each other. We’re gonna to start arousing suspicions. There must be a way to block it^
^Arousing is what I had in mind^ Gibbs realized, if a mind could waggle its eyebrows, Tony’s just had. ^Block it? Have you been reading fantasy books again, Boss? Do they even have fantasy Westerns? You don’t seem to be the Cowboys Vs Aliens type^
“Jethro, Emily tells me you haven’t exactly been model patients, not that I didn’t already warn them about that!” Ducky bustled in behind the nurse, bringing an end to the stand-off between Gibbs and the doctor and an air of comfortable normalcy for Gibbs. He eyed Gibbs curiously before clucking worriedly at Tony’s readouts, and then checking him for himself. “His lungs sound better than I expected. Jethro, you can let him lie back. I can assure you he will be fine.” Ducky watched speculatively as Gibbs gently eased Tony into the pillows and then sat back into the chair with one hand on his agent’s shoulder. “How are you feeling, Jethro?” Ducky asked with a cock of his eyebrow and surreptitious nod towards the hovering medical staff, acknowledging they had an audience.
“I’m okay, Duck. Still a little sore. Nothing a little BenGay won’t fix.”
“Then, I suppose you won’t mind humoring an old friend…?”
Gibbs’ eyes narrowed suspiciously, but he acceded to Ducky’s demands, even while keeping half an eye on the medical staff and at least one hand on his second. His protective posture didn’t escape Ducky’s notice, nor his insistence on keeping physical contact with Tony. When Ducky had Gibbs briefly let go to shed his shirt, Tony rooted towards him in his sleep until Gibbs reestablished contact. The Medical Examiner kept his counsel, but took note of the odd behavior for later. He had certainly seen enough in his varied life, especially related to these two men, to not take anything for granted. This, however, with a classified mission, an apparently unknown biological agent, and curious medical staffers at hand, was not the time to delve into it. Donald Mallard was a very patient, if not persistent, man.
Instead, he launched into an extended story which loosened Jethro’s shoulders and distracted the curious interlopers. He knew they were only a few hours from port by now. Plenty of time for Tony and Jethro to get the rest they needed before even more questions were asked.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
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