From his vantage point at the top of the stairs, Jethro watched as the two younger men in his life kissed, slow and languid. Miles, far more slender than Tony, lay on top, legs spread to either side of Tony’s hips where they stretched out on the living room floor. It looked like they’d already gone a round while Jethro had been downstairs, preoccupied with his boat and his anger at the latest group of ‘traitors.’ They’d gotten rid of clothing, if not already jerked each other off while waiting for him.
Jethro’s gaze swept over Miles’ lean body, the gentle curve of his ass, the lightly defined muscles that bunched and relaxed under Tony’s hands. His dick stirred with interest as he listened to the wet, sucking kisses, gasps for air, and the soft, needy groans and whimpers shared between them.
Clearing his throat, he observed, “I guess I should be glad you remembered to close the drapes first.”
Miles jumped, rolling away from Tony, who glared at him for the interruption.
Jethro smirked to himself as he walked forward and continued, “No soundproofing here, gentlemen. Get your asses to the bedroom before you start making some real noise.”
Immediately hopping to his feet, Miles stammered, “I’m sorry, Jethro, I didn’t think, I mean, it’s no excuse, but I…”
“He’s messing with you, Miles,” Tony soothed as he stood. “Relax.”
Jethro gripped Miles’ shoulder, but looked at Tony while saying, “There was another sweep. If you two are going to do anything, it better be behind soundproofed doors and with an alibi for one of you to be somewhere else.”
Tony’s jaw tightened at the news and Miles paled.
Not really wanting to upset them, but needing to make an impression so they didn’t forget themselves at the wrong moment, Jethro continued, “Eight men and three women were picked up while you were on assignment at NIH. They’ve supposedly been banished, but I didn’t find any fuel reqs.”
Which meant that if they’d really been banished, it hadn’t been with any official vehicles. What had probably happened was that they’d been given to some good and loyal citizen as sex toys or summarily executed on the spot. Those who didn’t fit the ‘normal’ of the Military Alliance didn’t last very long; those who were found out, anyhow.
“How much longer are we going
to stay here?” Tony demanded, fury etching into his face. The strong emotion
puckered the scar along his right cheek, causing it to almost twitch with his
holding back. “Our luck isn’t going to last, Gibbs, and you know it! It’s not
like we couldn’t make it on our own somewhere else. Go to
Jethro knew there were actually
eighteen of them to think about though; Kate, Abby, Ducky, Gerald, Jimmy, Tony,
Miles, Eva, Natalie, Frank, Frank’s family, Ziva, and
Tim would all follow wherever he and Stephen led. The problem wasn’t where
could they go, but where wouldn’t the
“We can’t just leave,” Jethro repeated for the hundredth time. “And now isn’t the time to discuss this.”
Tony caught his silent order to not scare Miles and grimaced in response, but dropped it. Instead, he slid an arm around Miles’ waist and said, “We were in the middle of something when you so rudely interrupted.”
Jethro’s lips quirked briefly into a grin. “Like I said; bedroom.”
The walk to the bedroom was short, but long enough for Jethro’s mind to keep thinking about the problems they faced. Abby, Tim, Gerald, Eva, Miles, and Jimmy were the liabilities. Almost a full half of their group were civilians without any kind of self-defense or survival training whatsoever. At least Ducky could shoot a gun and throw a knife, even if he was getting up there in years. The only thing they really had going was that everyone was strong and in good shape. If they had to make a run for it, the only ones they had to worry about physically were Ducky and Frank’s young daughters.
Once the door closed behind him, Tony and Miles both pounced on him, driving away the dark thoughts. Miles pressed up against his chest, long arms sliding around his waist as his face lifted for a kiss. Jethro obliged, taking the submissive mouth with a hunger he’d rarely felt in his life. It was different than Tony’s submission…more innocent, needier, somehow. It fed his need to protect and dominate in equal measures and he devoured the younger man, listening to his gasps and whimpers with pleasure.
Tony fitted up behind him, nuzzling at Jethro’s throat before placing kisses there. His hands made short work of the shirt, unbuttoning without even needing to see what he was doing. As soon as he tossed the shirt aside, his mouth kissed and sucked along Jethro’s spine, going down until he reached the waistband. Nimble fingers soon rid Jethro of his pants and he stepped out of them when Tony nudged him sideways.
Jethro groaned into Miles’ mouth when his other lover’s tongue licked along the cleft of his ass. Tony’s oral fixation generally got put to really good use in the bedroom, though it had taken Jethro a while to get used to the gusto with which the younger agent truly enjoyed giving head or eating him out. Or Miles. Or Stephen. No one else, though. Not ever again. If Jethro caught him with anyone outside their small circle, he would personally beat Tony senseless.
He stepped forward, moving Miles towards the bed, his dick definitely rising to the occasion and ready to get into the young man’s incredibly tight ass. He swore that Connor did something every so often that tightened Miles back up, maybe some kind of cream. Pushing Miles onto the bed, Jethro ordered, “On your stomach.”
Miles instantly rolled over, spreading his legs wantonly as his feet found purchase on the rug.
Licking his lips, Jethro palmed the firm ass, squeezing it and pulling it apart as he ordered Tony, “Eat him out.”
Tony smirked and bent forward, moving partially in front of Jethro to do so. With rationing, they didn’t use oil very often, usually only if one of them was injured and they needed to reconnect without any additional hardship. It helped that both Miles and Tony enjoyed a little pain with their pleasure, although Tony a lot more than Miles. Honestly, Jethro thought that Miles didn’t really like the pain so much as would do anything to feel like he belonged to them, which included fucking without lube or oil very often.
Jethro gripped Tony’s hair and pulled him off, bringing him to his cock, which stood hard and away from his body. Tony went down on him without a single word exchanged. Jethro groaned in pleasure, which seemed to redouble Tony’s efforts. Jethro used the time to work his fingers into Miles’ hole, stretching him carefully even as he fucked Tony’s mouth and throat without the same restraint.
Tugging Tony off his dick, Jethro pushed him back to Miles’ ass and watched as Tony ate him out again. By then, the sex flush had overtaken most of Miles’ pale body, the slender man writhing in need as Tony’s tongue skillfully worked him over. When Miles started begging, Jethro pulled Tony off again and pushed his cock into the small pucker, grunting with the effort it took to breach the outer muscle ring.
Miles hissed, but didn’t complain or ask him to stop, so Jethro forced his dick inside slow, but steady. When he was buried balls-deep, he paused to both catch his breath and let Miles adjust. Glancing at Tony, who knelt beside them, Jethro took in the swollen lips and avid stare at where cock disappeared into ass, and grinned. Tony was completely gone, lost in his need to submit. That was evident in the way the younger man’s dick strained and leaked, but wasn’t once touched; in how he knelt and waited, his expression both hungry and blissful.
Jethro’s hand rested on top of Tony’s head, fingers lacing into the short, thick hair as he started fucking Miles. It took a real effort, digging into the tight hole only to nearly withdraw and start over with a hard thrust. Miles’ hands clenched the bedspread, his body tight in a mix of pain and pleasure and need. This was how it always started, no matter if it was with him or Stephen. Jethro had seen him with the other man enough times to know it wasn’t an act. It didn’t matter what position they used, Miles didn’t generally get into it until after someone came inside him.
It was part of what made this work. Miles needed more than one person to fuck him, but also needed to be able to love and care about those people. Tony needed to serve and loved sex, but needed a variety of it to stay healthy and engaged in the world around him; especially the bleak world in which they lived. Jethro and Stephen both needed to be in control and to trust that their people would obey them.
Miles, Tony, and Stephen had been away too long this last time. Jethro had missed them all in their different ways, not that he could ever make himself say so, which basically amounted to being unable to last long this time around. The feel of his lovers was too much and he’d been too long without. Abby had offered, but Jethro couldn’t make himself accept, no matter how much his body had ached for the feel of another. It would’ve betrayed his lovers’ trust.
When his body coiled, balls drawing up scant minutes later, Jethro groaned and gripped Miles’ hips tighter. He came not a minute after that, gritting his teeth against making any noise despite the soundproofing, a lifetime of denial burned into him. He had a simple fantasy where he could fuck someone and make them both come screaming without fear of discovery, but it wasn’t likely to happen any time soon.
He ground down deep as his hips jerked and his cock spit come into Miles’ hole. Panting and dazed from his release, Jethro let himself collapse forward onto Miles’ back. He kissed the pale, sweat dampened skin gently to make up for the rough treatment and asked, “Ready to come, Miles?”
“God, yes, please?” Miles replied, breathless.
Chuckling, Jethro forced himself upright and slowly withdrew from the younger man’s body. He glanced down at Tony and said, “Your turn. Do us all a favor and come, understand?”
Because Tony didn’t always come. Jethro hadn’t yet gotten much about his past sexual history, unfortunately, other than to know he was clean. Someone had trained and broken Tony, probably when he was too young to fight back.
Tony met his gaze and grinned as he replied, “Well, if it makes you happy.”
Jethro snorted and slapped his lover’s ass sharply as Tony took up position behind Miles. He went to the bathroom, also soundproofed, and cleaned himself off before returning with a warm, wet cloth to clean his lovers when they were done.
Which, from the looks of it, won’t be long, he thought.
Tony thrust hard and evenly inside Miles, but his face was scrunched up in an almost ridiculous contortion, as if he couldn’t keep control much longer. Jethro decided to help matters along and rejoined them. He pushed two fingers into Tony’s ass without warning and started finger-fucking him. Tony jerked and cried out at the unexpected contact and the resulting thrust caused Miles to do the same, only longer and louder just before he collapsed onto the bed. Tony grunted, hunching into the smaller man’s body for a few seconds before going completely still with an open-mouthed expression of pure love.
Jethro wasn’t jealous as he observed that expression, he was pleased. It had taken a long time to get through the walls that Tony kept in place, but they were now part of one another. Smiling, he pulled his fingers free and shifted to kiss Tony’s forehead.
“God, that was good,” Miles sighed, wriggling beneath Tony.
Tony took the hint and pulled out carefully. He rolled over and climbed further onto the bed before dropping onto his back.
Grinning briefly, Jethro cleaned Miles’ ass with the still-warm cloth and said, “You would think Connor doesn’t put you through your paces when I’m not around.”
Miles offered a tired smile
before crawling over to curl up around Tony without a word. Not that he
expected one, since Miles would never badmouth Stephen, not even as a joke. Jethro
cleaned Tony as well, stroking the cloth over the lax, but sensitized shaft,
eliciting a gasp of mingled protest and need. He tossed the washcloth at the
hamper with perfect aim and then turned off the light before climbing into bed
with his lovers. There was plenty of time for a
Tony wound up in the middle, surrounded on both sides by him and Miles. Despite everything that could go wrong with their arrangement, Jethro wouldn’t trade it for a ‘safe’ life. If there was one thing he knew, it was that nothing in life was certain. At least this way, he knew love and had people in his life to look after. Mumbling sleepily, Tony curled onto his side and pressed up against Jethro’s chest. Putting an arm over Tony’s waist allowed him contact with Miles as well, which was how they all liked it.
Despite his body’s lassitude, Jethro knew he wouldn’t fall asleep. It might have been Tony’s earlier anger, or even his own at the latest sweep, but it was time to start planning. Tony was right. If they kept on the way they were, sooner or later they would get caught.
And just where can we go,
that the
* * * *
Tony blinked at Gibbs in
surprise and repeated, “
Gibbs nodded as he said, “It’s far enough away that we won’t be followed. What little intel there is on the city shows that it’s a generally lawless place with a lot of guns.”
“And that’s a good thing, why?” Tony prompted.
A faint grin surfaced on Gibbs’ face. “Because there’s no central government from which to extradite us. They can’t just go, ‘Hey, give these guys up and we’ll start trading with you.’”
Tony didn’t like to question the other man, mostly because he was right about ninety-nine percent of the time, but he had to about this. Looking around to make sure they were still alone in the bullpen, he pointed out, “There’s also no one around to help if things go wrong. What if we get on the wrong side of the wrong person? No offense, Boss, but you’re not exactly Mr. Diplomacy. Even Stephen has more tact than you do, and that’s saying something.”
He half expected a head smack, but one didn’t come. Instead, Gibbs replied calmly, “I’d rather take our chances with that, than have to look over our shoulders the rest of our lives. In this case, the lack of central government is our best shot.”
“You know what’s weird?” Tony mused. At Gibbs’ quirk of an interested eyebrow, he continued, “It’s been thirty or so years since the first outbreak, but the country never recovered. Why is that?”
Gibbs gripped his shoulder and answered, “The vultures who took over don’t like to give up power.”
“Yeah, but in all these years, why hasn’t anyone fought back?” Tony pressed.
Gibbs pointed out, “This isn’t
really the place to discuss this, but they’re just regular people, Tony. The
Tony muttered, “What about worrying about getting taken away in the middle of the night?”
Gibbs’ hand shifted from Tony’s shoulder to smack him in the back of the head. Tony flinched and opened his mouth to protest, but the other man snapped loudly, “And I told you to get that done yesterday!”
Even without knowing who was coming, Tony whined, “But Boss, she was going to give me her phone number! And if she has a phone, she’s gotta have her own place! McGee’s snoring is killing me!”
“Just do the damn report, DiNozzo,” Gibbs ordered, walking to his desk a short distance away.
Not two seconds later, Director Shepard started down the stairs from the upper level. Tony swallowed against a suddenly dry throat and blessed Gibbs’ bizarre talent for knowing when someone was approaching. He’d just reached his own desk when she stopped in front of Gibbs.
“Agent Gibbs, a word?”
Gibbs looked up at her and answered, “Go right ahead.”
“In private.”
Tony had to force himself to keep working, the director’s frosty tone making him distinctly nervous. She’d never liked him, though Tony couldn’t figure out why not. She’d only been director for about six months, but none of them except Gibbs and Ziva knew anything about her and neither of them were talking. Stomach tight, he watched through lowered lashes as Gibbs followed her back upstairs. Just because they hadn’t been caught, didn’t mean they wouldn’t be, and it would be just his luck to start making plans and have something happen.
“Where were you last night? You were supposed to take the trash out this morning and didn’t and I didn’t think of it until I’d already left. Which means we now have a bag of trash sitting in the kitchen, unable to get rid of it until next week!”
McGee’s annoyed demand startled Tony. He looked over at the younger agent and it took a full three seconds to summon a brash smile and taunt, “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
Ziva was right behind McGee and ordered, “Do not get him started, McGee.”
Smirking, Tony leaned on his desk to tell McGee truthfully, “Dark hair, big, blue eyes, and gorgeous. That’s where I was last night. All night long. More than once.”
“God, Tony, you’re disgusting!” Kate complained, coming around the corner. “Do you have to start every morning like this?”
Lounging back in his chair, Tony quipped, “Only if I’m lucky. Which I was. Repeatedly.”
Tony’s mind flashed back to the incredible interlude with Miles the night before; Gibbs making dinner while they made out in bed. He loved being with Miles, and not just because the kid was up for anything, but also because he was as sweet as Abby. Not that he’d ever tell Gibbs about the makeout sessions he’d shared with Abby before they’d gotten together. Just because Gibbs cared about him didn’t mean he wouldn’t kill Tony for touching Abby. Really, Tony’s respect for McGee had risen several notches when the younger agent had let it be known he was seeing Abby. That Gibbs hadn’t yet murdered McGee was only testament to the fact that Abby was, for some strange reason, happy with McGee.
“Just make certain that you are somewhere secure before curfew,” Ziva ordered firmly. “I do not care in whose bed you sleep, so long as it’s before eleven.”
Tony mock-saluted and winked. “Yes, Mom.”
Ziva rolled her eyes at him as she sat at her desk. It was still odd to see her at Pacci’s desk. Even almost a year later, it was strange to have her on the team, though he would give his life for her and knew the reverse was true. In some ways, they were closer than he was to Kate or Abby. And it wasn’t, as rumor had it, because they’d screwed around together. They hadn’t, even though he’d entertained the notion a few times and knew that she’d done the same. It wasn’t something he could really explain, but they had the brother/sister relationship down without all the…clutter of the relationship that he had with Kate.
Maybe it’s just because Ziva takes me seriously, he thought, bringing up his unfinished report. Kate loves me, sure, but she also thinks I can’t take care of myself, never mind be a real grownup in a real relationship.
Gibbs came downstairs just then and Tony’s gaze locked onto him, but the man was even more stony-faced than usual. That didn’t bode well and his stomach clenched again in anxiety. Gibbs didn’t say anything or even look at him as he walked by, though, so Tony couldn’t decipher what the meeting might have been about.
Not a minute after Gibbs sat at his desk, the elevator doors opened and four MPs stepped out in full gear. Nausea hit Tony as he realized that someone was getting picked up. Fists clenching down under his desk where they couldn’t be seen, Tony was glad of the pain of his nails digging into his palms. It kept him grounded as he watched the MPs stride across the office to D’Amico’s area.
They stopped at Joanne Phelps’ desk, but before anyone could do anything, her gun was out and she’d shot herself in the head rather than be taken.
It was over in less than twenty seconds and Tony had to fight to maintain control of his own body. Joanne had been one of the nicest women he’d ever known. She’s always been there for anyone who needed a shoulder to cry on. God knew that she’d been there for him, a drunken time or two over the years. And now her body lay strewn across her desk, blood and brains splattered everywhere, including across one of the MPs’ uniform, Tony saw as they simply turned and walked back out.
Shock kept Tony in his seat as he watched them leave, unable to take his eyes off the big, uniformed men. A steady beeping finally caught his attention just as one of the MPs looked his way. Tony glanced at his computer to find an IM from Gibbs repeated across his screen, which had caused the beeping.
Do your
God damned report, DiNozzo! Now!
Do your
God damned report, DiNozzo! Now!
Do your
God damned report, DiNozzo! Now!
Do your
God damned report, DiNozzo! Now!
Do your
God damned report, DiNozzo! Now!
Swallowing against the emotions straining to get free, suddenly and excruciatingly aware of the way the MPs had paused at the elevator, Tony escaped the dialog box so it no longer showed and forced himself to start typing.
“Hey, Tony, you have those files I need?” Kate demanded, sounding snippy. “Or did you forget it in your little tramp’s bed last night?”
Tony’s head jerked up, whipping towards her, appalled that she would take that tone right then. Her eyes warned him to be careful, though, and he realized that she was giving him a way of getting out of the MPs attention. It sickened him further, but Tony answered carelessly, “Those who criticize, are secretly jealous. You trying to tell me something, Kate?”
“In your dreams,” she retorted.
Thankfully, the MPs finally got on the elevator and the doors closed behind them. Tony got to his feet and made a beeline for the men’s room. He just barely made it to the stall before dropping to his knees and heaving. No one came to see if he was all right, not even Gibbs, and when he could think again, Tony was both glad and hurt. He knew that he was being overly sensitive, that logically the cameras would catch anyone going after him and it could be used against either of them.
None of that mattered, though, not when all he wanted was to have Gibbs hold him and promise that everything would be all right.
* * * *
Stephen startled when his secondary cell phone rang, the annoying ringer instantly bringing him out of the interesting report on the newest efforts to crack the Plague. He’d chosen the most chalkboard scratching ringtone he could find so that it would penetrate no matter what he was doing. Pulling it off his belt holster, he saw the ID of LJG and his jaw tightened in worry.
Jethro never called.
“Connor,” he answered brusquely, just in case.
It was Jethro’s voice that said, “Had a close one, today. We need to talk. Can you make up something official?”
Because while NIH could call on NCIS resources at will for security consults, there was no reason for NCIS to do the same without a dead body to investigate.
“How much time do we need?”
“Two hours. Somewhere secure.”
Stephen’s mind raced as he questioned, “Without Miles?”
“Right. But bring Frank.”
Jesus. This is bad, Stephen thought in dismay. Aloud, he said, “Expect a call in fifteen. Should Tony…”
“No.”
Stephen’s stomach tightened at the flat, cold denial. “Okay. Give me fifteen.”
The line disconnected without another word.
A ‘close one’ could mean anything from someone in the office being picked up to one of their names being flagged and Jethro just barely managing to shift attention away from the name. Not wanting to speculate, knowing it would only drive him crazy, Stephen picked up the phone and dialed Eva’s office number.
* * * *
If Stephen had been prone to pacing, he would have worn a hole in his office floor by the time Jethro arrived, some three hours later. Frank had swept for bugs and come up with one, which currently listened to a three hour long loop of classical music, thanks to a tiny device Abby had created for Gibbs the year before. The bug wouldn’t be able to hear or record anything except the music until Frank turned off the device. And since Stephen frequently listened to classical while researching or taking meetings, no one would think anything was out of the ordinary.
Hopefully.
As soon as the door closed behind Jethro, Stephen demanded, “What happened?”
“Woman in our office was supposed to be picked up this morning, but blew her brains out, instead,” Jethro reported flatly.
Stephen immediately thought of Tony, knowing how much the younger man took everything to heart. “How’s Tony?”
“Puked his guts out,” Jethro answered, sitting beside Frank in the chair on the other side of Stephen’s desk. “The MPs almost stopped for him on the way out.”
“Because he can’t hide anything,” Stephen sighed.
Jethro nodded curtly. “We need to leave, and we need to do it soon. I know they took note of him. It might be a few days coming, but they’re going to take him in for questioning. And once that happens, we’ll lose him. They’ll keep him under constant surveillance and he won’t risk us. He’ll kill himself first, just like Joanne did.”
Stephen didn’t question the assessment because he agreed with it.
Frank asked, “What do you have in mind?”
“Vegas.”
Giving the agent a surprised look, Stephen repeated, “Vegas?”
But Frank was already nodding, a thoughtful expression rising that said he was
already thinking of logistics. “That could work. No central government, but big
enough to have supplies and working power. It’s about twenty-three hundred
miles away. I doubt the
Jethro snorted. “Thanks.”
“Anytime,” Frank replied, flashing a brief grin. “How many people we talking? It’s nine on our end.”
“Eighteen with both groups.”
“That’s a lot.”
“I know.”
Stephen kept out of the following discussion, knowing the other two men were a lot better versed in this kind of thing than he was. If some exotic disease needed to be diagnosed and conquered, he was the go-to guy. Planning a cross country trip? He would forget the food.
It was a good hour later that Jethro and Frank finished up the planning, each man divvying up the gathering of supplies and making sure they knew the route to take. It was set for two days later, which made things really tight, but Jethro didn’t think Abby would be able to hold Tony’s name off the grid for longer than that. They couldn’t risk going any later.
“Frank, can you give us a minute?” Stephen asked, once it looked like they were done.
The black man nodded and stood, shaking Jethro’s hand before leaving.
Jethro looked at him from across the desk and waited.
Taking in the lines of worry and tension on the other man’s face, Stephen asked slowly, “You want to get together tonight?”
Surprise lighted across the other man’s face and, for a moment, Jethro looked desperately tempted. He ultimately shook his head and answered, “Better not. Maybe…on the road? I…I could use…”
Stephen helped him out by not making Jethro finish his sentence. “So could I.”
Jethro offered a wry grin as he stood and said, “We’ll duke it out later.”
Chuckling, Stephen nodded agreement and joined him on the short walk to the door. He lightly rested a hand on Jethro’s back, standing close enough that he crowded the other close to the wall, murmuring, “You mean, I’ll fuck you later.”
Jethro’s breath hitched and gaze lingered on his lips for a few seconds before a smirk surfaced and he countered softly, “We’ll see, Connor. Take care. And keep an eye on your people. If it looks dicey, take off. We’ll meet up on the way.”
Wishing he could press the smaller man against the wall and kiss him until they were both breathless and wanting, Stephen settled for a brief slide of his hand over Jethro’s ass before stepping back. “I will.”
Once the other man was gone, Stephen returned to his desk and tried to concentrate on work.
Not that he succeeded.
* * * *
Miles frowned at the IM chat that popped onto his laptop. He loved chatting with Abby, but she had the worst timing possible, as always. Stephen had been riding his ass, and not in the fun way, about finishing a lab report.
GothLabChick007:
yo geekboy!
Snorting, Miles toggled to the dialog box.
StudiousMD: I’m working.
GothLabChick007: you’re always working.
StudiousMD: and your point is?
GothLabChick007: that you need a life. but
more than that, I need a fave.
StudiousMD: now what?
GothLabChick007: you have any spare parts for a mass spec
on hand?
Miles blinked in surprise for a few seconds.
StudiousMD: why?
GothLabChick007: because.
StudiousMD: is it important?
GothLabChick007: always.
Miles had his doubts about that.
StudiousMD: how important?
GothLabChick007: life or death important.
Sighing, Miles mentally ran through the various mechanical parts he’d collected over the years.
StudiousMD: I have a few.
GothLabChick007: sweet! see you tonight?
StudiousMD: I have work!
GothLabChick007: so I’ll meet you there.
A knock at the door startled him and Miles looked over to find Frank there. Offering a weak smile, he said hastily, “I’m almost done, I swear! I just need another twenty minutes and no interruptions.”
Frank half-grinned and told him, “Forget about it.”
“But Stephen…”
“I said, forget about it,” Frank interrupted. “We’re going on a research trip tonight. You need to go home now and pack.”
Frowning, Miles questioned, “For how long?”
Frank just looked at him until the penny dropped.
Miles gaped when he realized that it was time. Something had happened and they were leaving. “Ah, how much should I bring with me?”
“Just the essentials. It’s going to be a rough trip into the burbs,” Frank replied.
Letting out a shaky sigh, Miles said, “I, ah, Goth Girl is online with me right now. What do I tell her?”
“To check with her boss before making any plans.”
“Got it.”
Frank nodded briefly and then just left.
StudiousMD: Check with your boss before you make any plans for tonight. Do it now.
There was a pause, and then...
GothLabChick007: rogerwilcoandout
And then she signed off.
It was happening. They were really and truly leaving DC. No more looking over their shoulders and waiting for someone to figure them out. No more being afraid of MPs dragging one of his lovers away in the dead of night.
Miles was more than ready to go.
* * * *
Abby looked at her coffin with a regretful sigh.
“You can’t possibly tell me that you’re really going to miss that thing,” Tim demanded from behind.
Turning to glare at him, Abby exclaimed, “It’s comfy! And has sentimental value.”
Tim rolled his eyes. “All I know is your elbow winds up in painful places when we sleep in it.”
“Get a move on, Abby!”
Abby winced at Kate’s strident shout from the kitchen area and hurried to finish packing. They could each take three bags and two of hers were filled with equipment. The last would have to be for books and clothes.
“Abby, there’s no way you can fit all that,” Tim said gently, putting a hand on her shoulder.
Anxious, she replied, “But I can’t leave any of it! Books are important, McGee! I have to take them!”
He countered, “You also need to have more than one spare set of clothes.”
“But, I can pick up more later!” she insisted.
Shaking his head, Tim stated firmly, “I’ll put five of your books in one of my bags. Pack more clothes.”
She made a face at him, but took out the five biggest books and shoved them at him, silently gleeful at his ‘oof’ of effort to hold onto them. It was always good to remind McGee that she was smarter than him.
* * * *
Natalie looked at Eva’s neatly stacked three bags and then compared them to her own duffels filled haphazardly to the brim. Arching an eyebrow at the smaller woman, she asked, “You couldn’t have packed mine too?”
“I could have, but I know how much you value your independence,” Eva replied, smirking a little.
Rolling her eyes, Natalie ordered, “All right, let’s go. We need to get to the rendezvous in a half-hour.”
She took hold of two of Eva’s bags to toss them into the backseat next to the duffels only to discover they were as heavy as if filled with bricks. Grunting, she set one back down and used both hands to pick up one. “What did you pack, rocks?”
Eva grinned and answered, “The textbooks that you and Stephen and Miles will all be moaning for once we get on the road.”
Natalie snorted, but didn’t contradict her, instead only asking, “And where are your clothes?”
“What do you think is lining the books so they don’t get all scratched up and destroyed?”
Deciding that discretion was the better part of valor, she hadn’t yet won an argument with Eva, Natalie picked up the second small case and brought it over to the car as well.
* * * *
Stephen parked outside his ex-wife’s house, watching Jack run out the front door the second his car stopped. He’d called Lisa to let her know that he’d be stopping to say goodbye before a long trip. Frank was bringing his family, but Stephen knew there was no way he could bring Lisa and Jack. Not only wouldn’t Lisa leave the comfort of DC, she had family connections enough that they would both be safe from any form of reprisal.
All of which meant that he would likely never see his son again.
Climbing out of the car, Stephen walked around it and caught Jack in a big hug, lifting him into his arms and pressing his face close to his son’s soft hair. Breathing him in, he finally said, “I’m gonna miss you so much, Jack.”
Jack hugged him back for longer than most kids would before squirming to get down.
Stephen let him go, but kept a hand on the slight shoulders.
Bright, intelligent eyes looked up at him and Jack asked, “You’re not coming back, are you?”
Unable to lie, Stephen shook his head, confirming, “Not for a very long time, if ever. I wish I could take you with me, but your mom…she needs you to stay with her.”
“And she won’t leave,” Jack agreed, sighing.
They stood there for a few more minutes until Stephen’s watch alarm beeped insistently, telling him that it was time to go.
Stephen crouched down so he had to look up, into his son’s eyes as he said, “No one’s going to ask about us for about a couple of days and by then, we’ll be safe. When the MPs come around, I want you to answer anything they ask honestly.”
“If they come before then?”
“I still want you to answer honestly,” Stephen ordered. “Nothing you say can hurt me, Jack. I’ll be fine.”
Jack squinted at him, as if trying to ascertain the truth of his words, but ultimately nodded. “Okay, Dad.”
“Take care of your Mom.”
“I will.”
“I love you, Jack.”
“I love you too, Dad.”
Stephen hugged him again, holding him fiercely before standing to kiss the top of his head and stride back to the driver’s seat. He climbed into the car without looking back, afraid he wouldn’t be able to leave if he did. It wasn’t until he was safely inside the car with his seatbelt on and the engine running that he looked over at Jack, standing so forlorn beside the car. He gave his son a smile and thumbs-up gesture, waiting until both were returned, however shakily, to leave.
The hole in his chest where his heart was supposed to be got bigger with every mile.
* * * *
Stephen looked at his watch for the third time, but it was only two minutes later than the last time he’d looked…a totally of fifteen minutes past when they were scheduled to leave, because Jethro and Tony hadn’t yet arrived. Curfew was at eleven, which was only three hours away.
“Stephen, we can’t wait,” Frank said softly. “They could’ve been picked up already.”
Which he knew, but didn’t want to admit, even to himself. The parking lot in which they waited was deserted, but wouldn’t be for much longer if people driving by saw them loitering for no apparent reason. Two vans and a Range Rover, even old ones, weren’t exactly inconspicuous vehicles, especially packed to the gills as they were.
Finally, he nodded. “All right. Let’s go.”
He walked to the Rover while Frank headed for one of the vans. Ziva drove the second van and the group was interspersed throughout the different vehicles. It was a tight fit all around, no doubt about it, but they would make do. There wasn’t anything to safely get rid of from the Rover, since it held spare fuel, food, and emergency supplies, and everyone’s belongings were stowed in the two vans.
Climbing in the driver’s seat, he started the car and pulled out of the parking lot without a word to Miles or Kate.
The silence lasted all of a minute before Miles asked, “What about Tony and Jethro?”
“They’ll have to make it to the next rendezvous place,” Stephen answered shortly.
“Stephen…”
“Miles, we can’t wait. Don’t argue with me.”
He caught a glimpse of the hurt look that flashed over the younger man’s face and mentally winced. Miles was perhaps the most sensitive of the group, except maybe for Abby, and he wouldn’t understand about saving the group over the individual.
Of course, if he had any idea where to attempt a rescue, or if it was even needed, Stephen would’ve done so full-throttle, even to the detriment of the group. Leaving people behind wasn’t what he did, especially in this kind of situation. Unfortunately, he didn’t know where to even begin looking for either Tony or Jethro. They could be together or they could be on their own. There was just no way to know.
The roads were empty this time
of night, what with everyone heading home for curfew. It was always better to
be safe, than sorry when it came to the curfew. Thankfully, the
“Stephen?”
Not meeting Kate’s gaze in the rearview mirror, he answered, “Yes?”
“We should take turns driving in two or three hour shifts to keep fresh,” she said. “Especially since it’s night.”
Relieved, Stephen confirmed, “I was thinking something like that.”
It was almost eerie, the
darkness that took over once they’d left the outskirts of the city. The
Stephen drove north along the
highway to start, wanting to keep to the broader roads for as long as possible.
They’d mapped out the route and the first place that Jethro and Tony could
catch up with them would be when they hit the old
They were scheduled to be at the rest stop for a half-hour in case of stragglers and Stephen parked under the broken light. Worry for Jethro and Tony had settled in his stomach like a rock and he looked at his watch. They’d arrived right on schedule, despite the fifteen minute late departure. Climbing out of the car, he stretched and twisted his back a bit before walking around the back to where the first van had parked.
Miles joined him there, capturing his hand and pulling it over his shoulder so that he could wrap an arm around Stephen’s waist. Stopping beside where Ziva’s group stood, Frank’s people coming up to join them as well, Stephen pressed his lips against Miles’ temple and breathed in the warm scent of his lover. It ever so slightly relaxed the knot in his gut and he leaned on the younger man as much as he was leaned upon.
The couples of the group stood together; Miles and Stephen, Frank and his wife Kim, Ducky and Gerald, Abby and McGee, and Eva with Natalie. Kate, Jimmy, and Ziva stood mixed among the others while Frank’s daughters slept in the van. Even though it was a substantial group, Stephen felt the missing duo etched heavily into his heart.
Hoping for the best had never been his strong suit.
Clearing his throat, Stephen announced, “Okay, everyone. We’ve got twenty-eight minutes before we have to hit the road again. Take care of whatever you need to and be ready to leave on the dot.”
“What if Tony and Gibbs don’t show up by then?” Abby asked, anxiety plain in her voice.
Stephen sighed. “Then we leave without them. We can’t wait, as much as I want to.”
Miles’ hand slid under Stephen’s shirt, rubbing along his lower back in a soothing manner.
Abby protested, “But we can’t really leave without them! What if they’re hurt or…”
“Abby, quiet,” McGee ordered gently. “C’mere.”
Stephen watched as the quiet young man brought the normally hyper woman off to the side, presumably to explain the facts of life.
Miles kissed the side of Stephen’s neck and then sighed, resting his head on Stephen’s shoulder. “So now that there’s time, tell me what we’re doing?”
Moving to lean against the van,
Stephen pitched his voice to carry to the others who hadn’t moved as he
explained, “North and then west and then southwest. We’ve got enough to trade
for gas along the way, since we’ll run out somewhere around
“Never been to
Gerald questioned, “How could you have?”
Miles hesitated before
replying, “I’m from
“You came voluntarily to DC?” Jimmy exclaimed.
Ducky admonished, “Hush, Mr. Palmer.”
“I didn’t know,” Miles began. “No one knows what it’s like in DC. My father wanted me to go to medical school here. Said that there were real schools and colleges. I didn’t realize that once I got there, I wouldn’t be able to leave again. Or what life is truly like.”
Jimmy asked, “So how’d you get to DC?”
Miles’ arm tightened around Stephen as he answered, barely audible, “Military convoy.”
Knowing how much it distressed Miles to talk about that journey, Stephen spoke up before anyone else could. He reminded, “Twenty minutes now and no more rest stops for two hours. I suggest that everyone take care of business.”
That effectively broke up the group.
Stephen walked Miles away from
the others towards a copse of trees a short distance away where they could
relieve themselves. Once that was finished, Stephen asked, “You wouldn’t rather
keep going all the way to
Shaking his head, Miles told him, “Somewhere without memories would be nice.”
“Surely not all the memories you have of DC are bad ones,” Stephen teased, pulling the smaller man into his arms.
Miles smiled up at him, teeth bright in the dark and moonlight softening already gentle features. “Of course not. I met you there, didn’t I?”
Stephen took that for an invitation and dipped in to steal a kiss, slow and easy. It was a very necessary reconnection, the fear of the last couple of days having eaten away at him. Fear that they would be discovered, that Miles would be taken from him. Fear that he’d be taken himself, taken and tortured to give up the others. Something that could be happening right then and there with Jethro and Tony.
Sighing, he broke off the kiss, knowing that not even that could distract him enough to banish thoughts of their missing lovers.
“They’ll be okay,” Miles whispered.
Stephen rested his chin on Miles’ shoulder, holding him tight for a few minutes and trying to think of nothing at all.
“Stephen? It’s almost time to go.”
While tempted to ignore Frank’s announcement, Stephen knew better. He stole another quick kiss from Miles before taking his hand and walking back to the vehicles. Kate already sat in the driver’s seat and he half-grinned on seeing her there.
She smirked and leaned on the window opening to prompt, “What, did you think I was kidding before?”
Stephen chuckled. “I wouldn’t dare.”
He opened the back door for
Miles, glad that she’d taken the initiative. Once they were both inside, he
said, “Take the I-70 towards
“For how long?”
“You’ll be on 76 for almost two hundred miles, so don’t worry about it,” Stephen told her.
When his watch hit minute thirty-one, Stephen sighed.
She met his gaze in the rearview mirror. “Time to go?”
Stephen nodded and put his arm around Miles' shoulders, not sure who he was trying to comfort as Kate started driving. For the second time in a day, if felt like his heart were being left behind only this time, he suspected that the ones he loved weren't at all safe.