The next morning proceeded like the others where he’d taken all his appropriate pills the night before: Tony woke feeling normal all over. Which meant in this case, that his body was comfortably ready for action. Even more so, since Gibbs was spooned up behind him for the first time ever, one strong arm slung over Tony’s chest. He felt the tickle of warm breath across the back of his neck and was slightly sweaty from the shared body heat. Still, it beat waking up alone by a long margin.
He shifted and carefully pulled free of Gibbs’ arms, surprised when the older man did nothing more than mumble and turn his face into the pillow. Tony had been convinced that Gibbs had an alarm clock wired directly into his brain, but since it was seven and he hadn’t woken yet, there went that theory. Smiling at the sight the older man made buried against the pillow, he left and went to the bathroom.
After taking care of business, Tony headed into the kitchen and made some toast to take with his meds. Staring at the pill bottle in his hand, Tony wondered if he’d be taking them the rest of his life. If he’d be stuck on desk duty because his brain couldn’t handle the stress any more. It sure as hell wasn’t the way he’d pictured his future.
“It’s only been two weeks, Tony.”
Canting his head over at Gibbs, Tony asked, “How do you know what I’m thinking?”
A brief grin flashed over Gibbs’ face and he announced, “You’re pretty easy to read, DiNozzo. Sorry to kill that delusion.”
Snorting, Tony replied, “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. And it has only been a couple of weeks, so relax. Give yourself some time to heal. I think you rushed it, going back to work after only a week,” Gibbs said slowly. “I think you need to stay home and watch tv and sleep so your body can heal properly.”
“Is that my boss talking, or my lover?” Tony questioned.
A slow smile spread over Gibbs’ face as he replied, “Lover. I like the sound of that. And it’s just me talking, DiNozzo. I don’t separate myself into little pieces like that.”
Of course he didn’t. Gibbs was so straight-forward that it was almost ridiculous. Not that he couldn’t lie or deceive, the other man had proven that in the number of stings they’d participated in, but on a personal level, he simply chose not to.
“I can’t just stay home and do nothing. I’ll go nuts,” Tony said firmly.
Gibbs snorted and agreed, “I know. And then you’ll drive Kate nuts, which will drive me nuts.”
“I could just take the short cut and drive you nuts first,” Tony suggested cheerfully.
“You could, but I don’t recommend it,” Gibbs informed him dryly. “Look, Tony, I’m not all that great at compromise, but how about you come to work and steer clear of field work?”
“I was.”
“No, you were running down leads when you thought my back was turned.”
Busted. Tony sighed and said, “They were very mundane leads, Boss. Tame ones, even.”
“But it was still more stress than your body needs right now,” Gibbs countered. He closed the distance between them and gripped Tony’s shoulders, staring intently at him. “Come in and stay at the desk for two weeks and we’ll revisit the topic then. After your next doctor’s appointment. Okay?”
Tony sighed again, but knew it was a better deal than he could have gotten. Nodding, he agreed, “I’ll stay in the office and let McGee and Kate run things down.”
“Good,” Gibbs said, dropping his hands, but not his eyes.
Feeling on the spot, pinned by that piercing gaze, Tony insisted, “I won’t move from my desk, Boss, I promise!”
A grin surfaced and Gibbs said, “I believe you, DiNozzo, I’m just admiring the view.”
Heat flushed its way over Tony’s face and he muttered, “That’s hard to believe.”
A minor wrinkle marred Gibbs’ brow, but he only leaned in closer, setting his arms to either side of Tony on the counter. Tony stared back at him, feeling the heat spread through more than just his face at the other man’s closeness. Licking his dry lips prompted Gibbs to simply cover Tony’s mouth with his, wetting them with his own saliva in a deep kiss.
Tony groaned into it, his hands sliding around Gibbs’ waist to pull him flush, relishing the strong body against his own. He could feel how hard Gibbs was and moved his legs further apart, both to steady them and give Gibbs more room to maneuver. The bait was left, however, and Gibbs merely gentled the passionate kiss and pulled back.
A faint grin hovered over Gibbs’ face as he murmured, “Just making sure last night wasn’t an aberration. And that kissing me doesn’t hurt you.”
Chuckling, Tony corrected, “Not hurt, no.”
“Funny, DiNozzo. I wish we had time for more, but we’re already late,” Gibbs pointed out.
With a sigh, Tony acknowledged the truth to that and asked, “Breakfast on the go?”
“Breakfast now. You have pills to take,” Gibbs stated firmly.
Tony smiled at that, realizing that no matter what their relationship was, Gibbs wasn’t going to change. And that yes, that was a good thing.
* * * *
Kate frowned at the single blossom in a small glass vase at her desk, not recognizing what it was as she sat down. It looked familiar, she just couldn’t place it. It was pinkish-purple with many petals that spread out from the center.
“Someone piss you off, Kate?”
Glancing over at Gibbs, Kate replied eloquently, “Huh?”
Gibbs smirked and explained, “Lotus flower. Means ‘estranged love.’”
“Something Gibbs has experience with,” Tony piped up, ducking the automatic, though slower than usual, swat to his head before moving to his desk.
“Peanut gallery notwithstanding,” Gibbs replied, taking his seat with a minor glare at Tony. “I was tempted to use that one a few times.”
Kate smiled at the thought that Abby was apologizing, however subtly. She probably thought that Kate wouldn’t know what it meant. Which, actually, was true, but Gibbs was like an odd encyclopedia sometimes, equally as knowledgeable as Ducky, but with a more selective, and succinct, database.
Thankfully.
Tony suggested, “Maybe it’s a secret admirer.”
“No note,” Gibbs observed.
Eyes rolling, Kate placed the vase in a better spot so as not to get accidentally knocked over and said, “Stop ruining my fun, Gibbs.”
Even more thankfully, Gibbs’ phone rang, preventing him from answering.
Tracing her fingers over the flower petals, Kate just played with the blossom a moment before standing and heading for the lab.
* * * *
The music playing was as loud and obnoxious as it ever was, in Kate’s opinion, but so very Abby that she didn’t really mind it. The lab tech was engrossed in something on her screen that wasn’t visible from her current angle, but the tapping of fingers on the desk meant Abby was reading, not working on a report.
Employing Gibbs-like stealth, Kate walked up behind Abby and leaned forward, asking, “What’re you doing?”
Abby gave a little shriek of fright and jumped away, hand to her chest. “Kate! Don’t you ever do that again! Only Gibbs has the right to scare the ever-loving crap out of me like that! What’re you, taking lessons?”
Smirking, Kate observed, “Gibbs gets to smack Tony, scare you, I wonder what he gets to do to Ducky that no one else can.”
There was a pause before they both said, “Nothing.”
Sharing a chuckle with the other woman, Kate continued, “I can’t see even Gibbs getting away with doing something like that to Ducky.”
“Me, either,” Abby agreed, still grinning. “So what brings you to my humble lab?”
“Just wanted to thank you for the flower,” Kate answered.
Abby’s freeze was almost not noticeable as she replied, “What flower?”
Leaning on the table, Kate said, “I know it was you, Abs. Lotus flower means ‘estranged love,’ according to Gibbs and I can’t think of anyone else who’d want to apologize to me right now. Not even Tony, for a change.”
With a sigh, Abby tugged on a pony tail before saying, “I really am sorry, Kate. I was scum. Lower than scum. Lower than the scum on scum.”
“I don’t think scum has scum,” Kate observed.
“I shouldn’t have treated you like that.”
Even though she knew the answer, Kate questioned, “So why did you?”
Squirming a little, Abby explained, “I’m seeing McGee and I like him, but you…you’re all this…energy and put-togetherness and strength and, well, I’ve always been attracted to people with those qualities.”
“Still doesn’t explain why I had to slink out of your apartment that morning.”
Abby pulled on her hair again and said, “Because I was stupid and hung-over and not thinking and looking for an excuse. I can only just, you know, claim temporary man-ness for that and beg forgiveness.”
Keeping her voice soft, Kate replied, “If you don’t know why, Abby, you’re only going to do it again. And I’m not going through that again. Ever.”
Heaving another sigh, Abby finally admitted, “I like you. A lot. I can’t help it! No offense, Kate, but I don’t want to like you like that.”
Not sure if she should be flattered or insulted, Kate simply asked, “Why not?”
“Because you’re my friend!” Abby wailed, bouncing in her distress. “Because you’re pretty much my best friend! I don’t want to screw with that!”
Kate nearly smiled at that, but she could see that Abby was really upset so instead, she closed the distance between them and gripped Abby’s shoulder. Making sure that she had the other woman’s complete attention, she said sincerely, “I like you too, Abby.”
Abby blinked a few times in surprise and asked, “You do?”
“Yeah,” Kate confirmed. “How about we start over and really see where this takes us? After you break up with McGee, of course.”
Wincing at the stipulation, Abby nodded and sighed. “That’ll be fun. Not.”
* * * *
The day had turned out better than Tony had anticipated. When Gibbs had ordered him desk-bound for real, he’d figured on being stuck doing reports. Instead, he was actively involved in the case, just swapping places with McGee. And not that he was super-computer-genius or anything, but it was Tony’s digging through the paper-trail that led them to the identity of a long-time embezzler.
So now, riding back to his apartment with Gibbs, watching the other man drive slower than he usually did, Tony had to admit that maybe, if he couldn’t get back into the field, his life wouldn’t be over.
Maybe.
“What’re you thinking about?”
Tony smiled when Gibbs looked over at him and answered, “The future.”
“Oh?”
The cautious syllable prompted Tony to rest his hand on Gibbs’ thigh and reply, “Yeah. I think it’s going to be a good one, no matter what happens.”
Gibbs’ shoulders relaxed a bit as he said, “Can’t see why it wouldn’t be.”
“So what’s for supper?” Tony asked, grinning a little.
“Well, first we’re stopping at your place to get your clothes and necessities. We can stop and grab something on the way back to my house.”
“Why don’t we go to your place to get your clothes and then pick something up on the way to my apartment?”
Tony’s grin got bigger as soon as Gibbs’ voice trailed off because he’d realized that Tony had been yanking the older man’s chain.
“DiNozzo…” Gibbs sighed, shaking his head.
Chuckling, Tony pointed out, “I gotta be me.”
Gibbs snorted and muttered, “Truer words, DiNozzo.”
Still, Gibbs’ hand descended on his to give it a light squeeze, so Tony figured the other man wasn’t all that annoyed. The rest of the short ride passed quickly and they pulled up in front of Tony’s apartment building in short order. Gibbs was a solid presence beside him, which was comforting in the way a brick wall was comforting; it would take a hell of a lot to move him from Tony.
Checking for messages while Gibbs emptied the fridge of perishables, Tony hissed in surprise when his father’s stilted voice said, “We heard that you were in the hospital and that it was fairly serious, but you’ve already been released. We’re glad that you’re all right.”
“Who was that?” Gibbs asked quietly from behind.
Tony kept the riot of emotions locked down by force of habit as he turned to say, “My father,” and walked passed Gibbs to his bedroom so he could pack. ‘We’re glad,’ as in, Tony’s mother and father, not just his father alone. Of course, they were so out of touch that it wasn’t a big surprise. He’d gotten a power sander last year for Christ’s sake.
“Hey. You okay?”
Tony nodded and zipped up his duffel bag. “Fine. Fridge all cleared out?”
“Yeah,” Gibbs confirmed, still eyeing him. “You want to talk about it?”
“If I did, I’d’ve started already, don’t you think?” Tony snapped.
Neutral, Gibbs just shrugged and answered, “Maybe.”
Knowing that the enemy wasn’t even in the same city, if enemy was even the right word, let alone in the same room, Tony took a deep breath and slowly released it. “Sorry. I’m just…not now, okay?”
“Okay.”
And it was okay, Tony could see. Gibbs wasn’t going to pressure him, he never had and probably never would, trusting Tony to come to him when he needed to. Part of the reason that he’d stuck around so long, really.
They left after that and stopped for Chinese food, the smell of which drove Tony crazy on the rest of the ride to Gibbs’ home, he was so hungry. Once inside, he said, “Don’t bother with the plates, I’ll just eat them.”
Gibbs laughed and pushed him towards the sofa, ordering, “Eat. I’ll bring your gear upstairs.”
“You’re not hungry?”
“Not enough to eat the plates, no.”
Grinning, Tony started spreading out the containers and groaned when he saw there were only chopsticks.
Great. Just great, he thought in irritation.
Grumbling to himself, he moved to the kitchen and rifled through the drawers for forks and then, because he was there, grabbed plates, too. It would save Gibbs a trip, after all. Hurrying back to the living room, he arrived the same time as Gibbs, who gave the cutlery a surprised look. Shrugging, Tony said, “No forks.”
Gibbs smirked a little, but didn’t comment as he sat beside Tony. They sorted out who had what and were eating fast enough to suit Tony’s stomach. Conversation ranged between work and sports, segueing briefly into politics before retreating to sports again. Shaking his head at Gibbs, Tony muttered, “I can’t believe you’re an independent. It’s throwing away your vote.”
“DiNozzo,” Gibbs growled in warning.
Pleased to have scored a hit, Tony just smiled innocently and attacked the remaining egg roll.
Gibbs shook his head in amusement as he observed, “You’ve got to have a hollow leg. Where do you put it all?”
“Same place you put all that coffee you drink,” Tony retorted, patting Gibbs’ stomach without thinking. “Spare tank.”
Gibbs arched an eyebrow at him just as Tony realized that his hand was still on the firm stomach in discussion. Just like that, the air was charged and the pleasant contentedness from a full stomach was banished by heat and desire. Clearly on the same page, Gibbs leaned in and kissed him, slow and deep, and Tony groaned at the contact, lying back as Gibbs moved forward to lie on him, between his legs.
It had been a long time since he’d made out on a couch like a teenager, but it sure as hell hadn’t lost its appeal. Endless kisses in all different varieties kept him gasping for air and rubbing his hands up and down Gibbs’ back, encouraging more.
Gibbs, however, wouldn’t be rushed. He maintained the devastatingly slow pace and it was an eternity before he started rubbing up and down against Tony’s body. One of Tony’s legs dropped to the floor, opening himself further to Gibbs and he moaned when Gibbs took his mouth away and started sucking and licking his way down Tony’s throat in a far too slow manner. “Gibbs, God, you’re going to kill me!”
“Good,” Gibbs muttered biting sharply at his ear.
Tony jerked up hard at that and gasped.
Licking the small hurt, Gibbs stood and said, “I’ve got a bed. Let’s use it.”
“Spoilsport,” Tony grumbled through a grin. He took the hand that Gibbs offered and let himself be pulled up and into his lover’s arms. Resting his head against Gibbs’ shoulder, not wanting to admit to the dizziness that had occurred at the change in altitude, Tony finally pulled away.
“You all right?”
“Yeah. Fine now.”
Gibbs kept an arm around his waist as they went upstairs, but Tony couldn’t tell if it was because he didn’t believe the dizziness was gone, or because he just wanted to stay close. Tony chose to believe the latter and didn’t comment on the unusual behavior. Or maybe it wasn’t unusual. He didn’t, after all, know what Gibbs was like as a lover. They came to a stop beside the bed and Tony stepped back, not sure what would happen next.
Brushing his knuckles over Tony’s face, Gibbs asked, “You done this before?”
“A couple of times. Nothing serious,” Tony answered. “You?”
Gibbs’ lips twisted a little in some emotion Tony couldn’t decipher and he replied, “Enough to know what I’m doing.”
There was an awkward pause before Gibbs tugged on Tony’s shirt, drawing him close again. The kiss this time was just as slow as before, but there was more intent behind it. Tony surrendered himself to this man’s care, knowing the trust was well founded and Gibbs would never do anything to hurt him. Not on purpose, anyhow.
Shirts were removed and pants undone in short order and Tony was stretched out on the bed fast enough to make his head swim. Thankfully, beds were good and supportive for things like that and he lay there getting oriented while Gibbs got acquainted with Tony’s chest via his lips and tongue. It seemed an inordinate amount of time was spent on his nipples and Tony couldn’t help but arch into the wet mouth as Gibbs kept at it.
By the time he headed south, Tony was so awash in sensation he probably wouldn’t have been able to tell up from down without the head injury. When Gibbs’ mouth took his cock, Tony nearly jumped out of his skin, even though he’d known that was where Gibbs was going. Moaning, he thrust into the tight heat, desperate to come in a way he hadn’t in a long time. Gibbs pulled off and Tony complained, “You spend an hour on my nipples and a minute on my dick? You are a bastard.”
Chuckling, Gibbs wrapped a hand around the straining shaft and answered, “I think you need another MRI. Your time sense is screwed up.”
“Only because you’re screwing with it,” Tony muttered, thrusting into the grip on him.
Gibbs’ other hand urged Tony onto his side and he obliged, hoping that his torment wouldn’t be too prolonged. “You were trained in torture, were you?”
“Maybe,” Gibbs answered, a smirk clear in his voice.
A slick finger wormed its way inside Tony, distracting him from whatever he’d been going to say. He wondered briefly just how and when Gibbs had managed to grab the lube, but the thought fled quickly as his lover worked him slowly and carefully, adding two fingers in fairly short order.
“You all right?” Gibbs asked softly.
“You stop now and I’ll kill you.”
A laugh escaped the other man and Gibbs leaned down to kiss his shoulder with, “I guess you’re all right then.”
Tony pulled his leg up, opening himself further, and gasped when Gibbs found his prostate. Warm lips pressed into his back, sucking lightly as the fingers stretched him. They were withdrawn, on an irritated protest from Tony, and lube drizzled onto his hole. Three fingers returned and he paused at the full feeling, but it didn’t really hurt, there was too much slick for that.
And then the fingers were gone for good, replaced by Gibbs’ cock, which slid in slow and steady. Tony groaned in fulfillment and heard it echoed by the man who now covered him completely. Clutching the bedspread, feeling the throbbing shaft impaling him, Tony struggled not to come then and there.
“God, Tony, so tight, so good,” Gibbs panted in his ear. “Perfect, so damn perfect.”
Just to prove him wrong, Tony concentrated on tightening his ass around the cock, grinning fiercely at the resulting moan and jerk deeper inside his body. He pushed back impatiently, encouraging Gibbs to move, and didn’t have to wait long for just that.
Pulling him into a kneeling position, Gibbs thrust into him, slow and hard, nicking his prostate on some rhythm that Tony couldn’t keep track of, he was so close to coming. It seemed forever before the pace quickened, and when a hand reached under to grip his cock, stroking him strong and fast, he gasped, “I’m going to come, Gibbs, stop, you gotta…”
Bending over him, Gibbs ordered hot in his ear, “Do it, Tony, let it go baby, come for me,” and then bit the lobe.
That was the spark that set off the explosion. Tony shouted and came, spilling all over the bed as he was wracked with an all-body shudder. He would have collapsed to the mattress, arms too weak to hold him up, but Gibbs held him tight around the waist and chest, humping into him rapidly before filling Tony with hot seed. Slowly, Gibbs lowered them, breathing heavy in Tony’s ear, and settled them on the pillows. Utterly spent and satisfied, Tony just basked in the good feeling and Gibbs’ arms around him.
Nuzzling the back of Tony’s damp neck, Gibbs slid an arm under the pillows and clasped his free hand to Tony’s. A few minutes later, when both their breathing had calmed, Gibbs observed, “Wow.”
Tony chuckled and brought Gibbs’ hand up, kissing the back of it and agreeing, “Very wow.”
“You didn’t take your pills at supper.”
Laughter shook Tony and he exclaimed, “We just had the greatest sex that I’ve had in forever, and all you can think about is me not taking my pills? Gibbs, Boss, I’ve got to say. Not the best compliment in the world.”
Gibbs bit playfully at his shoulder and replied, “Just trying to make sure you stay in good health, DiNozzo, now that I’ve got you where I want you. Stay put. I’ll get them.”
Shaking his head in fond amusement, Tony couldn’t help the wince as Gibbs slowly pulled out of him.
“I saw that,” Gibbs announced. “When I get back, I’m going to make sure I didn’t tear you, going too hard.”
Knowing better than to bother arguing with that tone, Tony just smiled at him over his shoulder and said, “Whatever you want, Boss.”
Gibbs shot him an odd look, but
it was gone too fast for Tony to identify. Shrugging mentally as the other man
left to get the pills, Tony thought happily, Nope. This is definitely not going to change anything.
* * * *
Jethro hid a smile as Tony gingerly took a seat at his desk. Just like he’d carefully sat down at breakfast and in the car. Jethro was glad that soreness was the only after-affect of their lovemaking from the night before. He’d been worried that he’d gone too fast, he’d been so wrapped up in getting and being inside Tony, but as usual, the younger man was tougher than he seemed.
Smirking to himself, Jethro opened up a messenger window and typed: Just as well you’re confined to desk duty, DiNozzo. You wouldn’t be able to chase anyone down today anyhow.
A few seconds later, the answer came back: You’re a barrel of laughs this morning,
Boss. What happened? Didja get laid last night?
Clearing his throat to stop the laugh from escaping, Jethro typed back: You would know.
For a few seconds, Jethro actually lost track of the fact that he was supposed to be greeting someone on the phone when he read that. Flashing a glare at Tony, who merely grinned at him smugly, Jethro finally said, “Gibbs here.”
“Something wrong, Gibbs?”
Great. He had to talk to his boss with a hard-on. Just perfect.
* * * *
Jethro sat at attention, but relaxed, his focus on the man behind the desk filled with respect. He and Tom had a good working relationship and he wasn’t going to jeopardize that if at all possible, which not being honest would do. He knew Tom well enough, after all these years, to know that the other man wasn’t going to make a fuss about him and Tony. Not as long as they kept their personal lives private, which was how Jethro operated anyhow.
Finally, Tom said, “I expect the same level of professionalism that has always been the hallmark of your team, Jethro. What you and Agent DiNozzo do on your own time, is your business. Now. We have more important things to go over…like your budget which is consistently under-projected. How many times have I told you to overestimate? That way, when one of your team blows something up, it’s already figured in. And overtime. We definitely need to talk about overtime for your administrative staff. I realize you think they live to serve your team, but they have other departments to support and they are hourly, Gibbs, not salary.”
Jethro groaned to himself. Tom had taken the opportunity to pin him down about the damned budget of all things. He’d successfully avoided the administrative meeting for a couple of weeks, dreading the mind-numbing effect numbers had on him.
Well, Tom hadn’t gotten to his position by not grabbing his chances when he could.
* * * *
Hand on Tony’s shoulder, Jethro guided him down the crowded hall away from Karen’s office. Tony had spoken with her a couple of times in the last few days and they’d finally settled on a time to go over the game plan for the coming trial. Korinski had been suspended and the three men who’d attacked Tony in the first place had been arrested. He’d been with Tony at the identification at the police station just the day before and, thankfully, there’d been only a ‘slight’ migraine to deal with after. No hospital visit thereafter, which meant that the medication was working, Tony’s body was healing, or, hopefully, both.
Feeling like there was a target painted on his back even in supposedly friendly territory, Jethro wondered how Tony was dealing with so much stress, so well. Did it really make that big of a difference to have him present? Was he really that comforting to the younger man? It baffled him that that was, apparently, the case.
Once they got to the car, Tony walked around to the passenger’s side and climbed in, still silent. It was starting to unnerve Jethro a little, how quiet Tony had been over the last few days. The only time he seemed to be himself, to let go for real, was when they were in bed. A fact that Jethro seriously appreciated, both the letting go and the location where it happened.
At work, Tony was at about half-speed for his usual repartee with Kate and McGee, the stress telling most when he couldn’t find a snappy response at all to whatever the other two had said. He was deep in thought when he wasn’t working on something specific, not unusual given the circumstances, but still putting the team off their stride a bit. Jethro was starting to think that McGee was looking for a head-smack, or practical joke pulled, just to feel normal. Tony had been spending a lot of time in the lab, too, but Jethro had no problem with that since his work was kept up-to-date. He knew that Abby and Tony were good friends and despite her Goth appearance, Abby was a very soothing friend to have in times of trouble.
“You okay?” Jethro asked at last, glancing sidelong at his lover.
Sighing deeply, letting his head fall back on the headrest, Tony answered, “I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop and it’s freaking me out that it hasn’t yet.”
Jethro knew exactly what he meant. There hadn’t been a hint of police harassment and that was worrying him, too. Karen had said that Korinski wasn’t the apple of the DCPD’s eye, but he was still a cop. Jethro had expected, at the very least, to find parking tickets on his car every time he turned around, maybe get it towed a couple of times and impounded, since it was obvious that Tony was staying with him during his recovery. There wasn’t much he could do to reassure Tony, so Jethro simply started the car and said, “Let’s go home.”
Tony offered him a half-smile and put his hand on Jethro’s thigh with, “Thanks, Boss. I appreciate everything you’re doing here.”
Covering the hand briefly with his own, Jethro returned the smile before carefully driving the car out into traffic. It was about halfway back to his house that he realized they were being tailed by an old, nondescript four-door sedan. It kept back in traffic, though, seemingly content to just watch and keep track of them.
Jethro made a mental note to make sure that Tony wasn’t alone again until well after the trial. As in, for years to come.