Things That Go Bump in the Night ~ Gibbs/Dinozzo W/ Abby for flavor ~ Hallowscream Story
Things That Go Bump In The Night
Pairing:Jethro Gibbs/Tony DiNozzo
Rating:FRT
Spoilers:None - AU
Summary:On Halloween, with Abby's and Tony's lives on the line, Gibbs' true nature comes out.
Disclaimer: Not ours. Wish they were! We only own the characters ya never met before.
Special Thanks Special thanks to Anna for the beta!
Authors Notes: This is a stand alone, but we are going to be doing NANOWRIMO, and working on a follow up for this story. So there will be more, somewhere down the line!
Gibbs licked his tongue along his teeth and tried not to sigh. He and Tony had been staking out this party for an hour now. Tony was worried about Abby and had insisted that he travel with Gibbs. After all, Tony had said, on Halloween, nobody can hear you scream.
But Gibbs had nothing to worry about. Absolutely nothing at all. He sighed, shifting in his seat, reaching for his coffee with one hand and a slice of pizza with the other. “She could be in there all night, DiNozzo. You got a contingency plan?”
“Wouldn’t call it a contingency exactly.” Tony had no problem storming the party, not if Abby didn’t come out at some point. Abby just hadn’t been acting like herself for the last week. This was her favorite time of the year, but she’d just been down. “I know Abbs doesn’t do anything, but raves like this are full of drugs and predators who wouldn’t think twice about doing something horrible to our girl. Maybe I’m over reacting, but I’m really worried about her.”
“Abbs’ll be high on Red Bull, that’s all. Try not to worry so much, DiNozzo. Red blooded guy like you doesn’t want to be in there with…who’d Abbs go as this year anyway?” Gibbs smirked.
“Not that anything could top Marilyn Monroe. That was a hell of a costume, remember?” Gibbs ran his tongue over the inside of his mouth again, remembering. He took a huge bite of his slice of pizza and squeezed Tony’s leg, high up on the thigh.
As he swallowed, he spoke again. “Remember how sexy she looked, Tony? Every man’s wet dream.”
“Yeah, that costume.” Tony had been very aware of how sexy Gibbs thought blonde Abby was. Gibbs had taken out his sexual frustration on him, not that he was complaining. The sex was hot and hard, and it hadn’t mattered a bit that he’d needed to take a day off to recover.
“She was debating between Dorothy from Wizard of Oz or some Goth fairy queen. I voted for Dorothy, so pure and girl next door. I wouldn’t mind getting under her pinafore, just to try my luck. But I’ve got a feeling she was going to go with the costume that had the wings. All black and purple and full of our Goth girl.”
Gibbs sucked back another sip of coffee before he answered. “Don’t forget our rules. Both play or no one does.” They hadn’t actually seriously considered playing with anyone in their almost three years together but Abby was a special situation all her own and they had a tacit agreement that if they got the chance and she was receptive, they would.
“I was kinda hoping for another sexpot. Jayne Mansfield or Mae West. Or even as Emma Peel from the Avengers. You ever watch that show, Tony?” Gibbs might not have been up on modern pop culture, but he’d once watched a lot of television and movies. Especially after Shannon and Kelly had died and he’d stopped sleeping full nights.
He rested his head against the headrest. “You can get some shuteye, Tony. I’m not going anywhere.”
Tony didn’t want to sleep. He wanted to make sure Abbs was okay then head home for sex. If they weren’t out in the open, he’d consider seducing Jet. But if they got caught, it was both of their careers, and that wasn’t something he’d risk for a little suck off. Tempting, but he wouldn’t do that to either of them.
“I’m fine, Boss. Don’t want to miss Abbs coming out, I’m worried about her. She isn’t going to like that we’re out here waiting on her.”
“Not sure if I want to play with Abbs. She’s not a girl you play with. She’s very much a girl you take home to your parents, if you had parents that cared. She liked your dad. You could take her back to Stillwater, and he’d love her to death. Maybe you should do that. I would understand.”
“Tony!” Gibbs angled a look at his lover. “We both play or neither do, remember?” Where was this insecurity coming from? It was so unlike Tony in their relationship. He stroked Tony’s leg, fingers brushing over the other man’s fly. “I’m yours in case you’ve forgotten.”
“Haven’t forgotten, Jeth. Just thought now that your dad is back in your life…” Tony knew he was being stupid, but he couldn’t help wonder what was going to happen now that Jackson Gibbs was back in his son’s life. “Just ignore me, I know that I don’t have to worry about that.”
“No, you sure as hell don’t. Jack doesn’t get a say in how I live my life. I’ll tell him eventually, maybe Christmas. As long as he doesn’t tell the team. Abbs and McGee call him a couple times a week, did you know that?”
“Not surprised. Abby, she was automatically in love with your dad. I wouldn’t be surprised if she went out to see him on a Saturday off since then.” He’d really liked Jack, and hoped that he would come to DC for Christmas. Even if they didn’t come out to him, it would be nice to have a family Christmas all the same. “Your dad is great. I would like to get to know him better.”
“He gave ya his favorite sweater. He thinks you’re great too, Tony. You could call him, ya know. I wouldn’t mind. And Jack’d love it. He sees a lot of me in you, without the attitude I think.” Gibbs squeezed Tony’s leg. “You wanna get to know him, I approve.”
“You sure? What if…” Tony wasn’t sure he could handle another parental type person turning his back on him. “Maybe I will call him. I had some questions about you that I bet he’d be willing to answer for me. You tend to be tight lipped.”
“He won’t push you away. He didn’t push me away and I didn’t talk to him for seventeen years, Tony. He wouldn’t do that, I promise you that.” Gibbs gave Tony an indulgent look. “He doesn’t know my biggest secret and my biggest gift. You.” And what I am, he added silently.
“Yeah, but you’re his kid. I’m just a guy who works for you for all he knows.” But he liked the idea of having someone like Jack in his life again. A real dad, not the jerk that had donated the sperm that created him. Jack, even after seventeen years, still loved his son. He’d be willing to bet that his father hadn’t even though of him since the last time he called.
“He might not like the fact that you’re seeing me. He’s old and lives in a small town. That doesn’t usually make someone very open minded.” There it was out in the open, he couldn’t take it back. But that was what was on Tony’s mind.
“Tony…Tony. Settle down. Jack may come from a small town, he might live in a small town, but he’s pretty liberal. He’ll either accept us or he won’t, my money is on him accepting us. But I’m not gonna lie to him about me-us. When the time is right, we’ll tell him together. You don’t have to worry. I’m not hiding you from him, Tony. I’m not ashamed.”
“Just don’t want to see you blow a good thing, Boss. Not all of us get our parents back out of the blue. I want you to be able to have that, because you don’t know how long you’re going to have with him.” Tony would step back if it meant that Jet could have a relationship with his dad. “I want you to do what you think is best. I understand if you don’t tell him.”
“I just told ya I’m telling him, DiNozzo. You need to sit back and let me worry about this, okay? Jack had a black business partner in a time when that wasn’t done and sure as hell never in rural Pennsylvania. Jack is gonna accept us just fine. Like I accepted L.J. as his best friend and business partner when I was a boy. Like she-my mother-accepted L.J. as well. The foundation is there, DiNozzo.”
"He does seem ahead of his time." But best friends were different from children. But maybe Jeth was right, and it would be fine. His family, it would be a huge issue, but he didn't worry about them any longer. "I'm telling you I'd understand if you didn't tell him. But I'm glad you are. I could use a couple more sweaters. Partner moves me up the rank from team member and that means Christmas gifts."
“He is. Always was. So you need to not worry, Tony. Jack stuck with me even when I didn’t want to stick with him. He’s different from your family - you know that. Your family isn’t Jack, Tony. Don’t worry. And yeah, he’ll spoil you. Guess you’ll get the father you should have had all these years without going kinky on me.”
At first Gibbs had thought Tony’s interest in him was some misguided father figure thing. It was only after he’d gotten his lover in bed that he’d realized Tony had wanted him a damn long time.
"How many times do I have to tell you, of all my kinks, the daddy kind isn't one of them." He'd found several new mini kinks since being with Gibbs, including the fact that sawdust at three in the morning was as sexy a smell as they came. But he'd never wanted to call Gibbs daddy when he was being topped. "A little spanking yes, but I don't want to hear what a bad boy I've been. I'm pretty sure that would just weird me out."
Gibbs chuckled and nudged Tony’s shoulder. “Too bad, a little Daddy from you in bed might be fun.” He knew Tony understood that he was just teasing, but it was fun to wind DiNozzo up.
“And Jack already loves you. You’re the son he wishes he had.” He was convinced that Jack would completely accept Tony. His lover would charm Jack and Jack would do the same.
"There will be no Daddy out of me ever. That's just nasty. I think of you as a lot of things, Jeth, but not as my daddy." Tony just wasn't prepared for that kind of relationship, not in any way, shape or form. "I like you just as you are. my partner, not my daddy."
He smirked. “You know how much I love it when you squirm. Makes driving you crazy so much more rewarding. No ‘Daddy’ in or out of bed. I’ve been one of those and I couldn’t do that…” Not in bed.
"Jeth, I know you thought I was trying to work out my father issues with you, but that never crossed my mind. There won't be any daddy or bad boys or spankings. Well, maybe spankings, but if you expect me to talk baby talk, that's out too. Neither of us need that in our life, and I don't want to bring up bad memories for you."
“I wondered a few times,” he admitted. “If you needed a father figure more than a lover. Glad I know better now, Tony. Real glad. Always wanted an equal both in and out of the sack.”
"Don't know if I'm that, but I'm working on it. One of these days, I might be the equal I wanted. If I want a dad, I have Ducky to fall back on. Never had dirty thoughts about him the way I did about you."
Gibbs laughed and shook his head “Guess what? Me either. Never had a sexy thought about Ducky. In fact that’s kinda disturbing.” He regarded Tony with a gentle smile. “You’re the equal to me, DiNozzo.”
"Oh come on, Boss, the accent alone drives women wild." Tony teased, loving that Gibbs thought he was an equal. He'd accept being a junior partner, because he didn't feel equal. But one thing he learned. Jethro Gibbs had never lied directly to him. Maybe distorted the truth a little, but never lied. "I don't get it, but ask Abby or Ziva, they seem to have some sort of thing about older men with accents."
“Yeah, I noticed.” Gibbs rolled his eyes. “Never mind. There are some things we’re just not meant to know. Anyway…what is your concern with Abbs, DiNozzo?”
“You know how she is boss. Always so excited this time of year. This year though, she's not herself. My gut is telling me something is wrong, even if it isn't."
Gibbs sighed, regretting that he’d asked again. They’d had this conversation a couple of times already tonight. “Why worried about Abbs, DiNozzo? She goes to parties like this all the time. Don’t tell me you’re scared of thing that go bump in the night.”
“She just hasn’t been right. I guess I can’t explain it, but Abby isn’t her normal Abby self.” Tony said, defending his reasoning for being here. But if Gibbs wasn’t worried, why would he be here? “You wouldn’t have come out if you weren’t worried, Boss. So if you think I’m wrong, why you out here? This can’t be your idea of a good time.”
“You think I want to be home answering the door every two seconds for kids and teenagers in costumes?” Gibbs snorted, shaking his head. What Tony couldn’t know was that he had to be here, he had to be near someone who would help him restrain himself. Nobody knew….and if Gibbs went attacking people on this night of all nights, the situation would go from bad to worse. This way he’d ease Tony’s mind, take him home, and who’d be the wiser if a sharpened tooth pierced Tony’s skin in the heat of passion
“So I’m your excuse to be cheap and not buy candy?” Tony didn’t care why his partner was here. They should probably be curled up on the couch at his apartment, watching something creepy and not out here waiting to make sure an adult got home safely. “You could have hid out at my place, so you didn’t have to buy candy. Or just hide your car and left the lights out. It is an acceptable way out of Halloween fun.”
“You don’t think the kids in my neighborhood know me now. Despite trying for the creepy evil neighbor, for some reason they think of me as a hero.” He winked at Tony. “And you have no idea how many of em ask how I’ll get the boat out.”
“Kinda like being here with you, DiNozzo. Don’t ruin that for me by flapping your gums too much.”
Tony settled back down, pleased to know that Jet wanted to be there and just hadn’t been guilted into it. “Yeah, I can see where the kids would think you’re pretty cool. You’ve got a cool job; you shoot terrorists for a living. And you’ve been there forever, so you’re a neighborhood icon. Bet most years you even handed out candy. I know you’re not the hard ass you want us to think you are.”
“Used to. Liked to see all the ghouls and goblins. Then the teens came by and I wasn’t as nice as I was with the little ones. They’d grab handfuls of candy and I wasn’t quite so nice. You ever hand out candy and look at the little ones and their costumes?”
“My building is mostly old people, and transient students. We don’t get too many kids at my door. If I was dating someone at the time who lived in a family neighborhood, I’d go over to her house and hand out candy. It’s been a while though.” He’d been with Jet for so long he’d really have to think about when that was.
“Maybe next year, we can hand out candy. You can charm all the little ones, and I’ll scare off the teens. We could dress up, have a little NCIS get together, and make a night of it.” Tony gave Gibbs a grin.
“Maybe next year you’ll be a permanent fixture at Casa Gibbs,” Gibbs quietly challenged back. He wanted Tony to move in but Tony’d seemed resistant and Gibbs had stopped pushing hard even though he made a dig every so often. But this wasn’t even a dig.
“Come over next year. Stay with me. We make a good team.”
“Always have, Boss.” Tony wanted to move in, but what were they going to tell the team? They’d managed to keep it from them for this long, but if they moved in. There was no way they could manage to hide anymore. “I’ll consider it. I know you want me there, but you still need to think about your career.”
“More worried about yours, Tony,” Gibbs admitted softly. “My career could take the hit. There’d be a lot of smirks and a lot of ‘he’s actually human’ and ‘at least not another redhead’, but I don’t think anyone would care beyond that. And they’d only be shocked that you’d been settling down and they didn’t know. We’re both so alpha that nobody is going to care that we’re involved. It’s not going to change much.”
"My career will be fine. I don't have to stay with NCIS if it gets to be too much. I've talked to a couple of local forces, they'd love to have someone with my experience on the team. If I decided to stay in DC, I wouldn't even have to go into the field. They have a position that is a federal liaison. No one has stuck in there, but I could probably make a go of it."
Tony would hate to leave NCIS, but, if he had to, he would. There were several smaller forces in the area that would pay good money for him to leave the feds behind. "Why would anyone be shocked? Men and women alike check you out when you come into a room. I may have been a player in my day but I'm not stupid. I always want the best, and you're it."
“We’ll see, DiNozzo.” Gibbs wasn’t going to let Tony leave NCIS. He was too damn good and too damn valuable. He smirked. The best? Hardly. He was good but he was generally known as the bastard he could be.
“So I settled for you?” Gibbs asked Tony teasingly.
"Well, obviously. I thought you always knew that." He'd worked harder for Gibbs then any previous supervisor, because he hated to let the man down. He had gotten so jealous about Gibbs previous relationships with his former agents that it had driven him crazy until he had the chance to work with Burley. That had really shown him how different the boss was with him. "But I lucked out that you seem to think I'm such a steal."
“And I thought I was the prize. What am I? Chopped liver? And yeah, you’re a steal. Younger and good looking. I’m a lucky lucky man to have you with me. Just wish I could tell the world.” Or at least Ducky and Abbs.
"If I move in with you, you're going to be telling the world. Maybe we can start small. Your dad, Abbs, Ziva, Elf Lord and Ducky. If they take it well, we can branch out a little at a time. But who else besides the team and your family really needs to know?"
“Nobody that matters,” Gibbs said softly. “Maybe Fornell. He’s been a good friend to me, Tony.”
"I'll let you tell Fornell over bad liquor some night. I don't think I need to be there for that discussion." Even though they had worked together several times, there was no love lost between the FBI Special Agent and Tony. He'd rather not deal with the man at all. "I'll leave that to your discretion."
“He might surprise ya, Tony. He might just surprise ya.” Gibbs angled another look over at Tony, knowing that Fornell was more complex than Tony could even imagine.
"Let him surprise you, and if he doesn't try to slap some sense into you, then I'll consider dealing with him. But that doesn't mean I'm going to like him. He has falsely accused me of murder twice. That's not something I can just get over."
“I know, Tony. And he and I have dealt with that.” With anger and fangs flashing. Gibbs had taken out his anger as was appropriate and Fornell still bore the scars.
"You might have, but I'm still planning on staying clear of him. Man doesn't like me, although I wouldn't be surprised if he thought that he could share me like he did your ex. I like to stay far away from him when ever it's possible."
“I can make that happen, Tony. I can put the fear of God into him for you.” Gibbs leaned back again, stretching tired muscles. “Haven’t seen any vampires or ghouls out have you? Maybe that is your kink.”
Hell, if it was, Gibbs knew Tony had a hell of a ride in store for him. “Gonna let a big bad vampire suck your blood?” He had an iron grasp on his control but that was so sexy, closing his mouth around Tony’s throat, piercing the skin there, bringing in the rich nectar, tasting his lover in ways Tony couldn’t even comprehend…
It was the one secret that remained between them. Tony had no idea…
He must have groaned or something, his eyes slamming shut, lost in the sensual haze of the fantasy because all of a sudden Tony’s breathing pattern changed.
“Well, if the big bad vamp were as sexy as you were just saying it. I might consider sharing a pint or two with him. God Jet, for someone who I wouldn’t have thought was into Halloween, you sure turn me on with that tone of voice. You know any baby vamps that want to come out and play?”
“There is no such thing as vampires, you know that, Tony. So unless you want some over-aged, overgrown Goth with plastic fangs nipping at your jugular, you’ll keep that kink between us.” He looked around, making sure there was nobody around, before leaning in and licking Tony’s throat, speaking against the area where his pulse beat.
“But if you want to pretend later, I can give ya a bite or two. Don’t have the sharp teeth or blood obsession.” Liar, his mind screamed. “But I do know my beautiful guy when I see him. And taste him.” He could smell and feel the changes in Tony’s body when he lowered his voice into the sex zone.
“What other creatures turn you on?”
“No one turns me on like you do, Jethro.” That voice, Tony didn’t know if a voice could release pheromones, but Tony was ready to strip down and just turn himself over to Jethro to do whatever it was he wanted to do. “I never had a biting fetish until I hooked up with you, never knew how good it could feel. You do something to my body that no one else ever has. It’s quite addicting.”
Was Tony aware of how many secret bites he took? Gibbs gave Tony his most winning smile. “I don’t bite, do I?” he asked, keeping his voice in that sensual zone. “Not any more than I lick…or…suck.”
He had to get Tony’s mind off this train of thought and sent an unconscious suggestion into the house for Abby to come out and see them. “I like the sucking best, Tony. Especially your cock in my mouth.”
“Biting, sucking, licking. All of it leads to a big ball of nerves on my end. I enjoy the biting, leaving my mark on you where anyone might see it in the showers, or if you forget to cover up.” Mind blowing sex, every time. Tony had no idea that it could be that good. Not with another guy. He’d never even wondered before meeting Gibbs, and he knew from the first moment they worked together he would follow his new boss to the ends of the earth.
“You’re so good to me, you’ve shown me that there was a whole new world I never would have thought I’d enjoy. You know, maybe we should get out of here. Not a good place for us to be starting this.”
“What ya got a hair trigger? You came here to wait for Abbs and wait for Abbs we will. As long as it takes Hours if necessary.” Gibbs reclined his seat, spreading his legs slightly. He was done with his slice of pizza and wiped his hands on a napkin before resting his hand on his crotch. “We go nowhere. Would do ya good to slow burn, DiNozzo. To be so hard you can’t think…”
He glanced up at the door of the building, wondering where the hell Abby was. She had to be responsive to his non-verbal order and suggestion but why wasn’t she out here yet? Was she under the influence of something?
“You’re here, I’m already on a slow burn Jeth.” It had taken some getting used to, but Tony had finally adjusted to the fact that he was a walking hard-on when ever he was near Jethro Gibbs. Work wasn’t always comfortable but he’d made it work so far. “Doesn’t seem fair, I’m always panting behind you, and you seem to have everything under control.”
“My walking ball of testosterone,” Gibbs remarked quietly. “Control has been learned over time, Tony. Not always easy but…” Where the hell was she??
“Come on, we’re going in. Gut says something is wrong.”
“Boss?” It was tough to switch as quick as Jethro just did. Tony’s brain was still on sex. But if the gut says something is wrong, Tony would place bets on it. “What do you think is going on? I thought she was a big girl?”
“Don’t know but my gut is screaming.” Gibbs quickly checked his weapon and nodded. “We go in quietly and peacefully, no guns blazing, not even announcing ourselves except to get inside.” They were off clock and he didn’t need that headache. “Come on, DiNozzo.” He got out of the car, closing the door quietly, and ran to the industrial building.
"I'm on your six, just tell me what you need from me." Tony got out of the car, and came up behind Gibbs, covering his left shoulder with his right. He wasn't dressed up, and he expected that the jeans and polo shirt would give him away as not being a party participant. "We get in, get her out of there and take her back to your place. Or my place. I've got the bigger bed, and a comfortable guest room. You have anything but tools in your spare room?"
Gibbs waved his hand as Tony chatted, trying to zone in on Abby’s voice. He flashed his badge and the bouncer let him and Tony in. The flashing lights and music were too much for his senses but he gritted his teeth and started swimming through the crowd toward where he sensed she was.
“ABBS!”
Abby looked up, swearing she just heard her boss’s voice, but how she could have heard anything over the music she couldn't guess. She smiled at the Frankenstein she had been talking to, moving towards where she thought the voice had come from. The voice had to be in her head, which didn't seem to make any sense, Her normally sensitive hearing was usually dampened by the noise of the party and the band, but she'd heard Gibbs loud and clear. That wasn’t something that normally happened with her humans.
Heading towards the door, Abby knew she was being followed, but she couldn't determine if it was a friend or not. All night, she'd felt like something wasn't quite right, and she had been extra careful. Looking behind her she didn't see anyone, but she was sure that her senses weren't wrong. She heard her name again, and she knew it wasn't over the crowd noise.
"Gibbs, I'm heading for the door." She called out, hoping that he would hear her and head the same direction.
How the hell had she heard him? It was impossible over the music. And yet she had and she assumed he heard her reply clear as day.
“Door, DiNozzo.” Gibbs shifted his angle back toward the door and caught the arm of a redhead, who shook him off. Not Abby. “Abbs?” he whispered well out of the realm of human hearing. “Say ‘blue’ if you’re okay.”
"Blue for now." Abby still felt she was being followed, but she was almost to the door and she felt a whole lot better knowing some one was there. "Where are you? I'm almost at the door, but why can I hear you but not see you? That isn't exactly normal."
“Right near the door,” he whispered again, shocked that she could understand and hear him. “What are ya wearing?” Raising his voice, he leaned in to Tony. “She’s almost here. Look for her.” Tony broke off, swimming through the bodies.
“White dress, red hair, big rock necklace." After mulling various costumes, Abby had settled on a camped up version of Wilma Flintstone. The red dye would last a while, and she hoped the boss would get a kick out of it. "I can see the bouncer, so I should be able to see you. And you didn't answer my question. How are we talking when you aren't here to be seen?"
He moved another twenty-five feet and wrapped an arm around her waist. “You tell me and we’ll both know.” This was spoken in a decibel above silence, impossible for the human ear to hear unless it was amplified multiple times. “What the hell, Abbs. You have some explaining to do”
Abby wasn't sure where to begin with explaining. Although whatever she said, she was willing to bet that Gibbs would accept it. How could he not when he was talking just as low as she was, and seemed to be understanding her just fine.
"I'll explain, but not here. I've got something on my tail, and I don't know what or who it is. Been feeling hinky all night, and I want to get out of here. I'll even give you and Tony a chance to come up with an excuse for why you're here and not tucked away in your respective homes, watching scary movies or playing with wood."
“Been worried about you all night,” he growled. His primal instinct to protect her rose and his fangs began emerging. Not here! He closed his eyes for one long moment and gathered up strength and control.
“Come on, DiNozzo,” he roared. “Outside! Now!” Without waiting for an answer or response, he pulled Abby into the dark night, looking down at her. There was something about her that was different. “Fess up, Abbs. Now Your skin is too bright and you can hear me. How.”
DiNozzo would be out in a moment but he couldn’t hear their conversation, not at this volume.
"Not here, my Silver Fox. This isn't a conversation, even as quiet as we're talking. You never know who is listening." Abby felt better as soon as they cleared the door of the building, but someone or something knew who she was in there and she didn't want to give it a chance to come out and find her again. "Your place, you said I could come home with you, but we didn't have the chance during that case. If the offer still stands, we'll go back to your place. It's time someone else knew about my life."
He nodded, staring at the door. “You come home. You and me’ll sit down and talk. Not DiNozzo, don’t know that he’s ready. Think you and me have an understanding.”
"He's going to need to know eventually, Gibbs. But if you aren't ready to tell him, I'll understand." Abby wasn't sure she was ready for any of this, but she knew she could trust Gibbs. "I can take care of Tony. I won't hurt him, but he'll never need to know what's going on tonight."
“You don’t mind control him, Abbs. Not Tony, never my Tony. Am I understood?”
"No, I don't use mind control. It's tricky, and will come with the explanation. But I can make him sleep, it won't hurt him but he'll just take a nap while we talk. I promise, I won't do anything that would hurt him. I watch out for him. He's my friend, Gibbs"
“Okay, just as long as we’re understood.”
Suddenly, his ears perked up. That was Tony…in pain, in distress. He yanked his gun out and handed it to Abby in one motion, bending and grabbing his backup. Knowing his fangs were out, he looked at Abby. “Stay!”
“DiNozzo!” He raced back in, scanning the room for his mate. Oh God-there! Gibbs rushed over to the crumpled form and tugged Tony’s arm up and just then he saw the blood, the deep tear in Tony’s throat. Dammit!
He carried Tony out, pushing through people, not caring that he was knocking some of them down and leaned in to heal Tony as best he could with gentle licks to his skin. Tony was out of it, and would have no idea that Gibbs’ saliva could heal, but he knew this damage could be beyond him. At least the vamp-and this had to be a vamp-hadn’t gotten an artery. Tony was bleeding steadily but the blood wasn’t gushing. He might just make it.
“Abbs. Got a problem here. If you can heal, I need all the help I can get.”
Abby put a hand on Tony's chest, and she could see her friend relaxing. The power to heal was one of the few she had bothered to master, although she rarely allowed anyone to see her do it. "He's in a deep sleep, almost a stasis right now. If we can get him to the car, I'll drive and you can continue to heal him in the back seat. I'm afraid he was attacked because you managed to get me out; I won't let anything happen to him. He may have saved my life, and my people take life debts seriously."
“Your people?” Gibbs licked a fang and arched an eyebrow, hauling Tony to a position over his shoulder. “Get my cell, call speed dial number three. Tell him we have a problem here and he needs to cover it. No names, he’ll know and understand. Tell him a federal agent was attacked.”
Abby did as she was told, surprised to recognize the voice on the other end of the line. If Fornell was involved, things were going to get interesting. She hung up the phone, and followed behind Gibbs to his car.
Gibbs laid Tony on his side in the back seat, taking the other man’s head in his hands. He generously wet a handkerchief with his saliva and pressed it firmly against the wound. They were at least fifteen minutes from home and real healing, but this would work for now. It’d keep Tony alive.
After Abby started the car, Gibbs met her eyes in the rearview mirror. Little bits of what looked like glitter were sparkling in them. He opened his mouth, letting her fully see his fangs. “You know what I am now, Abbs. What are you?”
"I'm so jealous! I always wanted real fangs." Abby said, hoping that Gibbs knew she wouldn't turn him in. "I hadn't wanted you to find out, although it's apparent that you aren't going to turn me in either. I was born to the ruling fairy family. My parents died when I was very young, and I was hidden with my adopted family. I think someone may have figured out what I am in there. And because of me, Tony got hurt."
He should have known that even if she was completely mortal, she’d accept him. “They aren’t all they’re cracked up to be, Abbs. And they don’t usually…I’m not usually…I can control it much better under normal circumstances.”
He regarded her in the mirror. “Then you have a fanged bodyguard, Abbs. Tell me what you need and I’ll do it. I’ll keep you safe.” He looked down at Tony. “Will keep you both safe. Get back to my place, get Tony healed, and we’ll figure out a strategy. But we keep this off the books. I’m not going to risk Tony again.”
“No one else can know about me. Especially if something was coming after me tonight." Abby headed towards Gibbs’ house. They could take care of Tony and work this out.
"We'll take care of him, make him better. I've got all kinds of herbal tricks that might help. Between you and me, we'll make him better."
“Me either, Abbs. Only two people know about me and one of ‘em changed me. The other you talked to earlier and I trust you won’t let anyone know about him either. Life or death for all of us.”
He stroked a hand through Tony’s hair. “I should be able to heal him but I don’t dare replace the blood with mine. It might…start his change. You heal him…he’s innocent, Abbs. And we need him. You heal him and then we work on your problem.”
"I'll do what I can. My blood should be fine if he needs it, but let me see what I can do first. It's a bit of mumbo jumbo, but it'll work, Gibbs. I won't let him die." She'd process the fact that her boss and Fornell were vamps later. Tony's life and all of theirs were at risk. "We may need more blood though. Fornell, will he be able to help us out there? I don't know if we'll need it, but I can only donate so much before I'm useless."
“I’ll give him everything, Abbs. Your damn right he won’t die. Not for us and our lifestyles.” She pulled up to the house and he carried Tony in. “Forget it. No Fornell, nobody else. Just you and me healing him.” As soon as they got to the house, he rushed Tony in and upstairs to their bedroom. Tony’s things were all around them and he knew that after tonight Abby would know about their relationship.
Gibbs laid Tony gently onto the bed and impassively pulled his knife out. He cut deeply into a finger, pressing it against Tony’s mouth and encouraging him to drink. Despite Tony’s level of unconsciousness, he began sucking lightly on Gibbs’ finger, drawing it into his mouth. “There ya go, Tony. There ya go. You need to heal.” He met Abby’s eyes defiantly.
He’d deal with what this meant later, what bridges he’d crossed. “You fix his neck, I’ll give him strength.“ And a bond that couldn’t be broken. “We heal him together. You stay here. I watch over you both. And tomorrow we begin the fight of our lives.”
The end? Or is it?
Pairing:Jethro Gibbs/Tony DiNozzo
Rating:FRT
Spoilers:None - AU
Summary:On Halloween, with Abby's and Tony's lives on the line, Gibbs' true nature comes out.
Disclaimer: Not ours. Wish they were! We only own the characters ya never met before.
Special Thanks Special thanks to Anna for the beta!
Authors Notes: This is a stand alone, but we are going to be doing NANOWRIMO, and working on a follow up for this story. So there will be more, somewhere down the line!
Gibbs licked his tongue along his teeth and tried not to sigh. He and Tony had been staking out this party for an hour now. Tony was worried about Abby and had insisted that he travel with Gibbs. After all, Tony had said, on Halloween, nobody can hear you scream.
But Gibbs had nothing to worry about. Absolutely nothing at all. He sighed, shifting in his seat, reaching for his coffee with one hand and a slice of pizza with the other. “She could be in there all night, DiNozzo. You got a contingency plan?”
“Wouldn’t call it a contingency exactly.” Tony had no problem storming the party, not if Abby didn’t come out at some point. Abby just hadn’t been acting like herself for the last week. This was her favorite time of the year, but she’d just been down. “I know Abbs doesn’t do anything, but raves like this are full of drugs and predators who wouldn’t think twice about doing something horrible to our girl. Maybe I’m over reacting, but I’m really worried about her.”
“Abbs’ll be high on Red Bull, that’s all. Try not to worry so much, DiNozzo. Red blooded guy like you doesn’t want to be in there with…who’d Abbs go as this year anyway?” Gibbs smirked.
“Not that anything could top Marilyn Monroe. That was a hell of a costume, remember?” Gibbs ran his tongue over the inside of his mouth again, remembering. He took a huge bite of his slice of pizza and squeezed Tony’s leg, high up on the thigh.
As he swallowed, he spoke again. “Remember how sexy she looked, Tony? Every man’s wet dream.”
“Yeah, that costume.” Tony had been very aware of how sexy Gibbs thought blonde Abby was. Gibbs had taken out his sexual frustration on him, not that he was complaining. The sex was hot and hard, and it hadn’t mattered a bit that he’d needed to take a day off to recover.
“She was debating between Dorothy from Wizard of Oz or some Goth fairy queen. I voted for Dorothy, so pure and girl next door. I wouldn’t mind getting under her pinafore, just to try my luck. But I’ve got a feeling she was going to go with the costume that had the wings. All black and purple and full of our Goth girl.”
Gibbs sucked back another sip of coffee before he answered. “Don’t forget our rules. Both play or no one does.” They hadn’t actually seriously considered playing with anyone in their almost three years together but Abby was a special situation all her own and they had a tacit agreement that if they got the chance and she was receptive, they would.
“I was kinda hoping for another sexpot. Jayne Mansfield or Mae West. Or even as Emma Peel from the Avengers. You ever watch that show, Tony?” Gibbs might not have been up on modern pop culture, but he’d once watched a lot of television and movies. Especially after Shannon and Kelly had died and he’d stopped sleeping full nights.
He rested his head against the headrest. “You can get some shuteye, Tony. I’m not going anywhere.”
Tony didn’t want to sleep. He wanted to make sure Abbs was okay then head home for sex. If they weren’t out in the open, he’d consider seducing Jet. But if they got caught, it was both of their careers, and that wasn’t something he’d risk for a little suck off. Tempting, but he wouldn’t do that to either of them.
“I’m fine, Boss. Don’t want to miss Abbs coming out, I’m worried about her. She isn’t going to like that we’re out here waiting on her.”
“Not sure if I want to play with Abbs. She’s not a girl you play with. She’s very much a girl you take home to your parents, if you had parents that cared. She liked your dad. You could take her back to Stillwater, and he’d love her to death. Maybe you should do that. I would understand.”
“Tony!” Gibbs angled a look at his lover. “We both play or neither do, remember?” Where was this insecurity coming from? It was so unlike Tony in their relationship. He stroked Tony’s leg, fingers brushing over the other man’s fly. “I’m yours in case you’ve forgotten.”
“Haven’t forgotten, Jeth. Just thought now that your dad is back in your life…” Tony knew he was being stupid, but he couldn’t help wonder what was going to happen now that Jackson Gibbs was back in his son’s life. “Just ignore me, I know that I don’t have to worry about that.”
“No, you sure as hell don’t. Jack doesn’t get a say in how I live my life. I’ll tell him eventually, maybe Christmas. As long as he doesn’t tell the team. Abbs and McGee call him a couple times a week, did you know that?”
“Not surprised. Abby, she was automatically in love with your dad. I wouldn’t be surprised if she went out to see him on a Saturday off since then.” He’d really liked Jack, and hoped that he would come to DC for Christmas. Even if they didn’t come out to him, it would be nice to have a family Christmas all the same. “Your dad is great. I would like to get to know him better.”
“He gave ya his favorite sweater. He thinks you’re great too, Tony. You could call him, ya know. I wouldn’t mind. And Jack’d love it. He sees a lot of me in you, without the attitude I think.” Gibbs squeezed Tony’s leg. “You wanna get to know him, I approve.”
“You sure? What if…” Tony wasn’t sure he could handle another parental type person turning his back on him. “Maybe I will call him. I had some questions about you that I bet he’d be willing to answer for me. You tend to be tight lipped.”
“He won’t push you away. He didn’t push me away and I didn’t talk to him for seventeen years, Tony. He wouldn’t do that, I promise you that.” Gibbs gave Tony an indulgent look. “He doesn’t know my biggest secret and my biggest gift. You.” And what I am, he added silently.
“Yeah, but you’re his kid. I’m just a guy who works for you for all he knows.” But he liked the idea of having someone like Jack in his life again. A real dad, not the jerk that had donated the sperm that created him. Jack, even after seventeen years, still loved his son. He’d be willing to bet that his father hadn’t even though of him since the last time he called.
“He might not like the fact that you’re seeing me. He’s old and lives in a small town. That doesn’t usually make someone very open minded.” There it was out in the open, he couldn’t take it back. But that was what was on Tony’s mind.
“Tony…Tony. Settle down. Jack may come from a small town, he might live in a small town, but he’s pretty liberal. He’ll either accept us or he won’t, my money is on him accepting us. But I’m not gonna lie to him about me-us. When the time is right, we’ll tell him together. You don’t have to worry. I’m not hiding you from him, Tony. I’m not ashamed.”
“Just don’t want to see you blow a good thing, Boss. Not all of us get our parents back out of the blue. I want you to be able to have that, because you don’t know how long you’re going to have with him.” Tony would step back if it meant that Jet could have a relationship with his dad. “I want you to do what you think is best. I understand if you don’t tell him.”
“I just told ya I’m telling him, DiNozzo. You need to sit back and let me worry about this, okay? Jack had a black business partner in a time when that wasn’t done and sure as hell never in rural Pennsylvania. Jack is gonna accept us just fine. Like I accepted L.J. as his best friend and business partner when I was a boy. Like she-my mother-accepted L.J. as well. The foundation is there, DiNozzo.”
"He does seem ahead of his time." But best friends were different from children. But maybe Jeth was right, and it would be fine. His family, it would be a huge issue, but he didn't worry about them any longer. "I'm telling you I'd understand if you didn't tell him. But I'm glad you are. I could use a couple more sweaters. Partner moves me up the rank from team member and that means Christmas gifts."
“He is. Always was. So you need to not worry, Tony. Jack stuck with me even when I didn’t want to stick with him. He’s different from your family - you know that. Your family isn’t Jack, Tony. Don’t worry. And yeah, he’ll spoil you. Guess you’ll get the father you should have had all these years without going kinky on me.”
At first Gibbs had thought Tony’s interest in him was some misguided father figure thing. It was only after he’d gotten his lover in bed that he’d realized Tony had wanted him a damn long time.
"How many times do I have to tell you, of all my kinks, the daddy kind isn't one of them." He'd found several new mini kinks since being with Gibbs, including the fact that sawdust at three in the morning was as sexy a smell as they came. But he'd never wanted to call Gibbs daddy when he was being topped. "A little spanking yes, but I don't want to hear what a bad boy I've been. I'm pretty sure that would just weird me out."
Gibbs chuckled and nudged Tony’s shoulder. “Too bad, a little Daddy from you in bed might be fun.” He knew Tony understood that he was just teasing, but it was fun to wind DiNozzo up.
“And Jack already loves you. You’re the son he wishes he had.” He was convinced that Jack would completely accept Tony. His lover would charm Jack and Jack would do the same.
"There will be no Daddy out of me ever. That's just nasty. I think of you as a lot of things, Jeth, but not as my daddy." Tony just wasn't prepared for that kind of relationship, not in any way, shape or form. "I like you just as you are. my partner, not my daddy."
He smirked. “You know how much I love it when you squirm. Makes driving you crazy so much more rewarding. No ‘Daddy’ in or out of bed. I’ve been one of those and I couldn’t do that…” Not in bed.
"Jeth, I know you thought I was trying to work out my father issues with you, but that never crossed my mind. There won't be any daddy or bad boys or spankings. Well, maybe spankings, but if you expect me to talk baby talk, that's out too. Neither of us need that in our life, and I don't want to bring up bad memories for you."
“I wondered a few times,” he admitted. “If you needed a father figure more than a lover. Glad I know better now, Tony. Real glad. Always wanted an equal both in and out of the sack.”
"Don't know if I'm that, but I'm working on it. One of these days, I might be the equal I wanted. If I want a dad, I have Ducky to fall back on. Never had dirty thoughts about him the way I did about you."
Gibbs laughed and shook his head “Guess what? Me either. Never had a sexy thought about Ducky. In fact that’s kinda disturbing.” He regarded Tony with a gentle smile. “You’re the equal to me, DiNozzo.”
"Oh come on, Boss, the accent alone drives women wild." Tony teased, loving that Gibbs thought he was an equal. He'd accept being a junior partner, because he didn't feel equal. But one thing he learned. Jethro Gibbs had never lied directly to him. Maybe distorted the truth a little, but never lied. "I don't get it, but ask Abby or Ziva, they seem to have some sort of thing about older men with accents."
“Yeah, I noticed.” Gibbs rolled his eyes. “Never mind. There are some things we’re just not meant to know. Anyway…what is your concern with Abbs, DiNozzo?”
“You know how she is boss. Always so excited this time of year. This year though, she's not herself. My gut is telling me something is wrong, even if it isn't."
Gibbs sighed, regretting that he’d asked again. They’d had this conversation a couple of times already tonight. “Why worried about Abbs, DiNozzo? She goes to parties like this all the time. Don’t tell me you’re scared of thing that go bump in the night.”
“She just hasn’t been right. I guess I can’t explain it, but Abby isn’t her normal Abby self.” Tony said, defending his reasoning for being here. But if Gibbs wasn’t worried, why would he be here? “You wouldn’t have come out if you weren’t worried, Boss. So if you think I’m wrong, why you out here? This can’t be your idea of a good time.”
“You think I want to be home answering the door every two seconds for kids and teenagers in costumes?” Gibbs snorted, shaking his head. What Tony couldn’t know was that he had to be here, he had to be near someone who would help him restrain himself. Nobody knew….and if Gibbs went attacking people on this night of all nights, the situation would go from bad to worse. This way he’d ease Tony’s mind, take him home, and who’d be the wiser if a sharpened tooth pierced Tony’s skin in the heat of passion
“So I’m your excuse to be cheap and not buy candy?” Tony didn’t care why his partner was here. They should probably be curled up on the couch at his apartment, watching something creepy and not out here waiting to make sure an adult got home safely. “You could have hid out at my place, so you didn’t have to buy candy. Or just hide your car and left the lights out. It is an acceptable way out of Halloween fun.”
“You don’t think the kids in my neighborhood know me now. Despite trying for the creepy evil neighbor, for some reason they think of me as a hero.” He winked at Tony. “And you have no idea how many of em ask how I’ll get the boat out.”
“Kinda like being here with you, DiNozzo. Don’t ruin that for me by flapping your gums too much.”
Tony settled back down, pleased to know that Jet wanted to be there and just hadn’t been guilted into it. “Yeah, I can see where the kids would think you’re pretty cool. You’ve got a cool job; you shoot terrorists for a living. And you’ve been there forever, so you’re a neighborhood icon. Bet most years you even handed out candy. I know you’re not the hard ass you want us to think you are.”
“Used to. Liked to see all the ghouls and goblins. Then the teens came by and I wasn’t as nice as I was with the little ones. They’d grab handfuls of candy and I wasn’t quite so nice. You ever hand out candy and look at the little ones and their costumes?”
“My building is mostly old people, and transient students. We don’t get too many kids at my door. If I was dating someone at the time who lived in a family neighborhood, I’d go over to her house and hand out candy. It’s been a while though.” He’d been with Jet for so long he’d really have to think about when that was.
“Maybe next year, we can hand out candy. You can charm all the little ones, and I’ll scare off the teens. We could dress up, have a little NCIS get together, and make a night of it.” Tony gave Gibbs a grin.
“Maybe next year you’ll be a permanent fixture at Casa Gibbs,” Gibbs quietly challenged back. He wanted Tony to move in but Tony’d seemed resistant and Gibbs had stopped pushing hard even though he made a dig every so often. But this wasn’t even a dig.
“Come over next year. Stay with me. We make a good team.”
“Always have, Boss.” Tony wanted to move in, but what were they going to tell the team? They’d managed to keep it from them for this long, but if they moved in. There was no way they could manage to hide anymore. “I’ll consider it. I know you want me there, but you still need to think about your career.”
“More worried about yours, Tony,” Gibbs admitted softly. “My career could take the hit. There’d be a lot of smirks and a lot of ‘he’s actually human’ and ‘at least not another redhead’, but I don’t think anyone would care beyond that. And they’d only be shocked that you’d been settling down and they didn’t know. We’re both so alpha that nobody is going to care that we’re involved. It’s not going to change much.”
"My career will be fine. I don't have to stay with NCIS if it gets to be too much. I've talked to a couple of local forces, they'd love to have someone with my experience on the team. If I decided to stay in DC, I wouldn't even have to go into the field. They have a position that is a federal liaison. No one has stuck in there, but I could probably make a go of it."
Tony would hate to leave NCIS, but, if he had to, he would. There were several smaller forces in the area that would pay good money for him to leave the feds behind. "Why would anyone be shocked? Men and women alike check you out when you come into a room. I may have been a player in my day but I'm not stupid. I always want the best, and you're it."
“We’ll see, DiNozzo.” Gibbs wasn’t going to let Tony leave NCIS. He was too damn good and too damn valuable. He smirked. The best? Hardly. He was good but he was generally known as the bastard he could be.
“So I settled for you?” Gibbs asked Tony teasingly.
"Well, obviously. I thought you always knew that." He'd worked harder for Gibbs then any previous supervisor, because he hated to let the man down. He had gotten so jealous about Gibbs previous relationships with his former agents that it had driven him crazy until he had the chance to work with Burley. That had really shown him how different the boss was with him. "But I lucked out that you seem to think I'm such a steal."
“And I thought I was the prize. What am I? Chopped liver? And yeah, you’re a steal. Younger and good looking. I’m a lucky lucky man to have you with me. Just wish I could tell the world.” Or at least Ducky and Abbs.
"If I move in with you, you're going to be telling the world. Maybe we can start small. Your dad, Abbs, Ziva, Elf Lord and Ducky. If they take it well, we can branch out a little at a time. But who else besides the team and your family really needs to know?"
“Nobody that matters,” Gibbs said softly. “Maybe Fornell. He’s been a good friend to me, Tony.”
"I'll let you tell Fornell over bad liquor some night. I don't think I need to be there for that discussion." Even though they had worked together several times, there was no love lost between the FBI Special Agent and Tony. He'd rather not deal with the man at all. "I'll leave that to your discretion."
“He might surprise ya, Tony. He might just surprise ya.” Gibbs angled another look over at Tony, knowing that Fornell was more complex than Tony could even imagine.
"Let him surprise you, and if he doesn't try to slap some sense into you, then I'll consider dealing with him. But that doesn't mean I'm going to like him. He has falsely accused me of murder twice. That's not something I can just get over."
“I know, Tony. And he and I have dealt with that.” With anger and fangs flashing. Gibbs had taken out his anger as was appropriate and Fornell still bore the scars.
"You might have, but I'm still planning on staying clear of him. Man doesn't like me, although I wouldn't be surprised if he thought that he could share me like he did your ex. I like to stay far away from him when ever it's possible."
“I can make that happen, Tony. I can put the fear of God into him for you.” Gibbs leaned back again, stretching tired muscles. “Haven’t seen any vampires or ghouls out have you? Maybe that is your kink.”
Hell, if it was, Gibbs knew Tony had a hell of a ride in store for him. “Gonna let a big bad vampire suck your blood?” He had an iron grasp on his control but that was so sexy, closing his mouth around Tony’s throat, piercing the skin there, bringing in the rich nectar, tasting his lover in ways Tony couldn’t even comprehend…
It was the one secret that remained between them. Tony had no idea…
He must have groaned or something, his eyes slamming shut, lost in the sensual haze of the fantasy because all of a sudden Tony’s breathing pattern changed.
“Well, if the big bad vamp were as sexy as you were just saying it. I might consider sharing a pint or two with him. God Jet, for someone who I wouldn’t have thought was into Halloween, you sure turn me on with that tone of voice. You know any baby vamps that want to come out and play?”
“There is no such thing as vampires, you know that, Tony. So unless you want some over-aged, overgrown Goth with plastic fangs nipping at your jugular, you’ll keep that kink between us.” He looked around, making sure there was nobody around, before leaning in and licking Tony’s throat, speaking against the area where his pulse beat.
“But if you want to pretend later, I can give ya a bite or two. Don’t have the sharp teeth or blood obsession.” Liar, his mind screamed. “But I do know my beautiful guy when I see him. And taste him.” He could smell and feel the changes in Tony’s body when he lowered his voice into the sex zone.
“What other creatures turn you on?”
“No one turns me on like you do, Jethro.” That voice, Tony didn’t know if a voice could release pheromones, but Tony was ready to strip down and just turn himself over to Jethro to do whatever it was he wanted to do. “I never had a biting fetish until I hooked up with you, never knew how good it could feel. You do something to my body that no one else ever has. It’s quite addicting.”
Was Tony aware of how many secret bites he took? Gibbs gave Tony his most winning smile. “I don’t bite, do I?” he asked, keeping his voice in that sensual zone. “Not any more than I lick…or…suck.”
He had to get Tony’s mind off this train of thought and sent an unconscious suggestion into the house for Abby to come out and see them. “I like the sucking best, Tony. Especially your cock in my mouth.”
“Biting, sucking, licking. All of it leads to a big ball of nerves on my end. I enjoy the biting, leaving my mark on you where anyone might see it in the showers, or if you forget to cover up.” Mind blowing sex, every time. Tony had no idea that it could be that good. Not with another guy. He’d never even wondered before meeting Gibbs, and he knew from the first moment they worked together he would follow his new boss to the ends of the earth.
“You’re so good to me, you’ve shown me that there was a whole new world I never would have thought I’d enjoy. You know, maybe we should get out of here. Not a good place for us to be starting this.”
“What ya got a hair trigger? You came here to wait for Abbs and wait for Abbs we will. As long as it takes Hours if necessary.” Gibbs reclined his seat, spreading his legs slightly. He was done with his slice of pizza and wiped his hands on a napkin before resting his hand on his crotch. “We go nowhere. Would do ya good to slow burn, DiNozzo. To be so hard you can’t think…”
He glanced up at the door of the building, wondering where the hell Abby was. She had to be responsive to his non-verbal order and suggestion but why wasn’t she out here yet? Was she under the influence of something?
“You’re here, I’m already on a slow burn Jeth.” It had taken some getting used to, but Tony had finally adjusted to the fact that he was a walking hard-on when ever he was near Jethro Gibbs. Work wasn’t always comfortable but he’d made it work so far. “Doesn’t seem fair, I’m always panting behind you, and you seem to have everything under control.”
“My walking ball of testosterone,” Gibbs remarked quietly. “Control has been learned over time, Tony. Not always easy but…” Where the hell was she??
“Come on, we’re going in. Gut says something is wrong.”
“Boss?” It was tough to switch as quick as Jethro just did. Tony’s brain was still on sex. But if the gut says something is wrong, Tony would place bets on it. “What do you think is going on? I thought she was a big girl?”
“Don’t know but my gut is screaming.” Gibbs quickly checked his weapon and nodded. “We go in quietly and peacefully, no guns blazing, not even announcing ourselves except to get inside.” They were off clock and he didn’t need that headache. “Come on, DiNozzo.” He got out of the car, closing the door quietly, and ran to the industrial building.
"I'm on your six, just tell me what you need from me." Tony got out of the car, and came up behind Gibbs, covering his left shoulder with his right. He wasn't dressed up, and he expected that the jeans and polo shirt would give him away as not being a party participant. "We get in, get her out of there and take her back to your place. Or my place. I've got the bigger bed, and a comfortable guest room. You have anything but tools in your spare room?"
Gibbs waved his hand as Tony chatted, trying to zone in on Abby’s voice. He flashed his badge and the bouncer let him and Tony in. The flashing lights and music were too much for his senses but he gritted his teeth and started swimming through the crowd toward where he sensed she was.
“ABBS!”
Abby looked up, swearing she just heard her boss’s voice, but how she could have heard anything over the music she couldn't guess. She smiled at the Frankenstein she had been talking to, moving towards where she thought the voice had come from. The voice had to be in her head, which didn't seem to make any sense, Her normally sensitive hearing was usually dampened by the noise of the party and the band, but she'd heard Gibbs loud and clear. That wasn’t something that normally happened with her humans.
Heading towards the door, Abby knew she was being followed, but she couldn't determine if it was a friend or not. All night, she'd felt like something wasn't quite right, and she had been extra careful. Looking behind her she didn't see anyone, but she was sure that her senses weren't wrong. She heard her name again, and she knew it wasn't over the crowd noise.
"Gibbs, I'm heading for the door." She called out, hoping that he would hear her and head the same direction.
How the hell had she heard him? It was impossible over the music. And yet she had and she assumed he heard her reply clear as day.
“Door, DiNozzo.” Gibbs shifted his angle back toward the door and caught the arm of a redhead, who shook him off. Not Abby. “Abbs?” he whispered well out of the realm of human hearing. “Say ‘blue’ if you’re okay.”
"Blue for now." Abby still felt she was being followed, but she was almost to the door and she felt a whole lot better knowing some one was there. "Where are you? I'm almost at the door, but why can I hear you but not see you? That isn't exactly normal."
“Right near the door,” he whispered again, shocked that she could understand and hear him. “What are ya wearing?” Raising his voice, he leaned in to Tony. “She’s almost here. Look for her.” Tony broke off, swimming through the bodies.
“White dress, red hair, big rock necklace." After mulling various costumes, Abby had settled on a camped up version of Wilma Flintstone. The red dye would last a while, and she hoped the boss would get a kick out of it. "I can see the bouncer, so I should be able to see you. And you didn't answer my question. How are we talking when you aren't here to be seen?"
He moved another twenty-five feet and wrapped an arm around her waist. “You tell me and we’ll both know.” This was spoken in a decibel above silence, impossible for the human ear to hear unless it was amplified multiple times. “What the hell, Abbs. You have some explaining to do”
Abby wasn't sure where to begin with explaining. Although whatever she said, she was willing to bet that Gibbs would accept it. How could he not when he was talking just as low as she was, and seemed to be understanding her just fine.
"I'll explain, but not here. I've got something on my tail, and I don't know what or who it is. Been feeling hinky all night, and I want to get out of here. I'll even give you and Tony a chance to come up with an excuse for why you're here and not tucked away in your respective homes, watching scary movies or playing with wood."
“Been worried about you all night,” he growled. His primal instinct to protect her rose and his fangs began emerging. Not here! He closed his eyes for one long moment and gathered up strength and control.
“Come on, DiNozzo,” he roared. “Outside! Now!” Without waiting for an answer or response, he pulled Abby into the dark night, looking down at her. There was something about her that was different. “Fess up, Abbs. Now Your skin is too bright and you can hear me. How.”
DiNozzo would be out in a moment but he couldn’t hear their conversation, not at this volume.
"Not here, my Silver Fox. This isn't a conversation, even as quiet as we're talking. You never know who is listening." Abby felt better as soon as they cleared the door of the building, but someone or something knew who she was in there and she didn't want to give it a chance to come out and find her again. "Your place, you said I could come home with you, but we didn't have the chance during that case. If the offer still stands, we'll go back to your place. It's time someone else knew about my life."
He nodded, staring at the door. “You come home. You and me’ll sit down and talk. Not DiNozzo, don’t know that he’s ready. Think you and me have an understanding.”
"He's going to need to know eventually, Gibbs. But if you aren't ready to tell him, I'll understand." Abby wasn't sure she was ready for any of this, but she knew she could trust Gibbs. "I can take care of Tony. I won't hurt him, but he'll never need to know what's going on tonight."
“You don’t mind control him, Abbs. Not Tony, never my Tony. Am I understood?”
"No, I don't use mind control. It's tricky, and will come with the explanation. But I can make him sleep, it won't hurt him but he'll just take a nap while we talk. I promise, I won't do anything that would hurt him. I watch out for him. He's my friend, Gibbs"
“Okay, just as long as we’re understood.”
Suddenly, his ears perked up. That was Tony…in pain, in distress. He yanked his gun out and handed it to Abby in one motion, bending and grabbing his backup. Knowing his fangs were out, he looked at Abby. “Stay!”
“DiNozzo!” He raced back in, scanning the room for his mate. Oh God-there! Gibbs rushed over to the crumpled form and tugged Tony’s arm up and just then he saw the blood, the deep tear in Tony’s throat. Dammit!
He carried Tony out, pushing through people, not caring that he was knocking some of them down and leaned in to heal Tony as best he could with gentle licks to his skin. Tony was out of it, and would have no idea that Gibbs’ saliva could heal, but he knew this damage could be beyond him. At least the vamp-and this had to be a vamp-hadn’t gotten an artery. Tony was bleeding steadily but the blood wasn’t gushing. He might just make it.
“Abbs. Got a problem here. If you can heal, I need all the help I can get.”
Abby put a hand on Tony's chest, and she could see her friend relaxing. The power to heal was one of the few she had bothered to master, although she rarely allowed anyone to see her do it. "He's in a deep sleep, almost a stasis right now. If we can get him to the car, I'll drive and you can continue to heal him in the back seat. I'm afraid he was attacked because you managed to get me out; I won't let anything happen to him. He may have saved my life, and my people take life debts seriously."
“Your people?” Gibbs licked a fang and arched an eyebrow, hauling Tony to a position over his shoulder. “Get my cell, call speed dial number three. Tell him we have a problem here and he needs to cover it. No names, he’ll know and understand. Tell him a federal agent was attacked.”
Abby did as she was told, surprised to recognize the voice on the other end of the line. If Fornell was involved, things were going to get interesting. She hung up the phone, and followed behind Gibbs to his car.
Gibbs laid Tony on his side in the back seat, taking the other man’s head in his hands. He generously wet a handkerchief with his saliva and pressed it firmly against the wound. They were at least fifteen minutes from home and real healing, but this would work for now. It’d keep Tony alive.
After Abby started the car, Gibbs met her eyes in the rearview mirror. Little bits of what looked like glitter were sparkling in them. He opened his mouth, letting her fully see his fangs. “You know what I am now, Abbs. What are you?”
"I'm so jealous! I always wanted real fangs." Abby said, hoping that Gibbs knew she wouldn't turn him in. "I hadn't wanted you to find out, although it's apparent that you aren't going to turn me in either. I was born to the ruling fairy family. My parents died when I was very young, and I was hidden with my adopted family. I think someone may have figured out what I am in there. And because of me, Tony got hurt."
He should have known that even if she was completely mortal, she’d accept him. “They aren’t all they’re cracked up to be, Abbs. And they don’t usually…I’m not usually…I can control it much better under normal circumstances.”
He regarded her in the mirror. “Then you have a fanged bodyguard, Abbs. Tell me what you need and I’ll do it. I’ll keep you safe.” He looked down at Tony. “Will keep you both safe. Get back to my place, get Tony healed, and we’ll figure out a strategy. But we keep this off the books. I’m not going to risk Tony again.”
“No one else can know about me. Especially if something was coming after me tonight." Abby headed towards Gibbs’ house. They could take care of Tony and work this out.
"We'll take care of him, make him better. I've got all kinds of herbal tricks that might help. Between you and me, we'll make him better."
“Me either, Abbs. Only two people know about me and one of ‘em changed me. The other you talked to earlier and I trust you won’t let anyone know about him either. Life or death for all of us.”
He stroked a hand through Tony’s hair. “I should be able to heal him but I don’t dare replace the blood with mine. It might…start his change. You heal him…he’s innocent, Abbs. And we need him. You heal him and then we work on your problem.”
"I'll do what I can. My blood should be fine if he needs it, but let me see what I can do first. It's a bit of mumbo jumbo, but it'll work, Gibbs. I won't let him die." She'd process the fact that her boss and Fornell were vamps later. Tony's life and all of theirs were at risk. "We may need more blood though. Fornell, will he be able to help us out there? I don't know if we'll need it, but I can only donate so much before I'm useless."
“I’ll give him everything, Abbs. Your damn right he won’t die. Not for us and our lifestyles.” She pulled up to the house and he carried Tony in. “Forget it. No Fornell, nobody else. Just you and me healing him.” As soon as they got to the house, he rushed Tony in and upstairs to their bedroom. Tony’s things were all around them and he knew that after tonight Abby would know about their relationship.
Gibbs laid Tony gently onto the bed and impassively pulled his knife out. He cut deeply into a finger, pressing it against Tony’s mouth and encouraging him to drink. Despite Tony’s level of unconsciousness, he began sucking lightly on Gibbs’ finger, drawing it into his mouth. “There ya go, Tony. There ya go. You need to heal.” He met Abby’s eyes defiantly.
He’d deal with what this meant later, what bridges he’d crossed. “You fix his neck, I’ll give him strength.“ And a bond that couldn’t be broken. “We heal him together. You stay here. I watch over you both. And tomorrow we begin the fight of our lives.”
The end? Or is it?