The meeting was in one of the larger conference
rooms and Tony had to park himself against the wall because all the seats were
taken by the time he finally got there. Kate and Abby smirked at him from their
spot sitting down at the table, and he returned a cheerful wave. Two days after
his bizarre and, frankly, dreamlike encounter with Gibbs at the stakeout hotel
room, Tony still had no idea what should, or would, happen next. Gibbs had been
acting as if nothing had happened at all, which confused the hell out of Tony
since he knew the other man wasn’t one to sleep around.
The man in question slid up beside him and observed,
“Should’ve gotten here sooner.”
“Uh, yeah,” Tony agreed hesitantly. “Crowded.”
“Quarterly cutback meetings generally have a good
turnout,” Gibbs replied, wry.
Tony snorted. “True enough. What do you think it is
this time? Less mileage reimbursement?”
“Don’t know, don’t care. Won’t affect us.”
Tony snorted again, this time at Gibbs’ presumption,
and pointed out, “Agency cutbacks affect everyone equally, Boss.”
“Have you ever noticed us with any lack of equipment
or denied overtime?” Gibbs countered mildly.
Opening his mouth to say yes, Tony had to stop and
really think about it. They never had, was his conclusion after a good minute
of thought. He shook his head and muttered, “Only you, Gibbs.”
Gibbs leaned in close and murmured, “You got that
right, Tony.”
It wasn’t just the soft, hot words in his ear that caused Tony to freeze. It was also the hand on his ass that slowly palmed a cheek and squeezed. He gulped in shock and his eyes snapped up to Gibbs’ face to find an amused look in place. Completely benign and at odds with the hand that now slid between his cheek to trace over the seam of his dress slacks. It was so crowded in the room that there was no chance that anyone would see what was going on, especially with their backs to the walls, but still.
It was public. And it was Gibbs. And it was groping. It was a publicly groping Gibbs and that just blew Tony’s mind.
Morrow showed up at last, and Gibbs’ hand retreated,
at which Tony breathed a sigh of relief, even as a shiver ran through him. The
Director started with a general opening statement, talking about how good of a
job the entire agency had been doing and he was sorry that not everyone could
come to the meeting and a bunch of other things that Tony didn’t hear a thing
about once Gibbs’ hand settled at the small of his back. Gibbs’ thumb brushed
slowly back and forth in the most distracting way, forcing Tony to concentrate
on that lone sensation.
A look to Gibbs showed the other man apparently
intent on the speech being given in the front of the crowded room. Tony finally
managed to block out the caress and return his attention to Morrow, listening
as recognition was given to a number of teams, including Gibbs,’ and then moved
on to cutbacks on an agency level.
It was about then, that Gibbs’ fingers began
scratching over Tony’s lower back, digging in slowly and dragging across the
back of his shirt, leaving warm streaks in their wake. He shivered, stifling a
gasp as it struck a nerve. He tried to find somewhere else to move, but they
were packed in pretty tight and if he did, it would create a fuss. And it
wasn’t like Gibbs was really doing anything wrong, he was just…scratching Tony’s
back.
Oh God…in a
really, really good way, Tony thought, eyes drifting shut briefly in pleasure.
Forcing himself to shake off the lassitude that was
creeping over him, Tony shifted slightly so that he was closer to the guy on
his right, than to Gibbs. This earned him a frown and he offered an apologetic
grin and a whispered, “Sorry. Getting a little claustrophobic.”
The man shook his head and turned back to watching
Morrow.
Unfortunately, Gibbs decided to move closer still,
and his front pressed up against Tony’s back. Fingers looped through one of
Tony’s belt loops and pulled up, giving him a minor wedgie that actually only
accentuated how snug his briefs were and how little give his outfit had that
day. Tony felt the warm breath on the side of his throat and shivered again,
completely unable to concentrate on what was being said by the Director.
Tony’s pants were released only for that evil hand
to grip him solidly below the ass, coming perilously close to his balls and
pressing just…fuckin…right. So right, that he had to swallow a moan and enjoyed
a full body shudder while trying not to show anything at all. When he could
think again, he discovered that the man to his right had shifted silently away
and was giving him a weird look. Tony flashed another apologetic smile and
whispered, “Sorry. Also mildly epileptic.”
He was pretty sure that the guy didn’t believe him,
but Gibbs decided to squeeze again and Tony sucked in a breath so fast, that he
choked on his tongue and started coughing. This earned him a few curious looks
from various agents and another smirk from Kate, but at least Gibbs was
thumping him on the back instead of squeezing him like the Charmin.
Thankfully, the meeting broke up before Gibbs could
get another chance to do anything and Tony high-tailed it out of the conference
room for safety.
* * * *
Ducky looked up in surprise when the door opened and
Tony walked in. The young man was flushed and shaken, jittery, as he sat on the
edge of Ducky’s desk and demanded, “Is Gibbs schizo or something?”
Startled by the question, Ducky shook his head. “Why
no, Anthony, not that I’m aware of. As a matter of fact, considering everything
that Jethro has been through in his life, I find him to be rather well
adjusted. Why do you ask?”
Tony groaned and asked, “No reason.”
“I rather doubt that.”
“No reason I can share.”
“Ah,” Ducky replied, smiling. Leaning back a bit in
his chair to ease the slight crick in his neck from looking up at Tony, he
continued, “You know, there is a particular, Southern phrase that comes to mind
when dealing with Jethro.”
“What’s that?” Tony asked curiously.
Ducky winked, replying, “Difficult by nature. He
does enjoy stirring things up, just to see what will happen and absolutely
delights in being unpredictable. Especially around people in authority. You
know, it rather astounds me that he’s made it as long and as well in the
military that he has, with that propensity and his tendency to…”
“That’s okay, Ducky. Ah, I just came in for a
breather. Thanks,” Tony interrupted, before hurrying out again.
Eyebrows raised, Ducky finished, “Tendency to walk
on the wild side. Ah well. The follies of youth,” and returned to his
murder-mystery, chuckling at the inadequate framework the author was trying to
construct.
* * * *
The lab was a lot more soothing than the morgue, no
big surprise there, and Abby was a lot more sympathetic. Though of course, she
knew more than Ducky did. Not that he’d actually told her everything, but it
had been enough for her to figure it out. When he came in all hot and bothered,
literally, she’d given him a huge grin and dragged out a stool for him to sit
on.
“So what’re you going to do?” she asked eagerly.
Groaning, Tony replied, “Not a clue. You have any
ideas?”
“Bend over?”
“Very funny.”
Abby snickered and countered, “Who’s joking? The man
is hell in, er, on wheels.”
Tony’s eyes widened and he jumped off the stool,
exclaiming, “You and Gibbs!? Abby, say it ain’t so!”
“Um, I could, but I’d be lying,” she answered,
cheeks turning pink.
He hovered between horrified and insanely curious
for about ten seconds. “So, what was he like?”
Batting her eyelashes at him, Abby answered, “You
should know I don’t kiss and tell, Tony!”
Tony gripped her shoulders and informed her, “It’s a
matter of life and death, Abs. You have to spill!”
“Spill what?”
Freezing in place at Gibbs’ question, Tony searched
for an appropriate response.
Abby saved him with, “The secret of how to make your
perfect cup of coffee. I think Tony’s finally getting down with the Brown Nose
Rule of Thumb.”
Almost all of which were words that Tony really
didn’t want to hear in the same sentence.
“Is that so, DiNozzo?” Gibbs questioned, a faint
smirk in place.
Tony swallowed nervously and said, “Ah, yeah. I
guess. I gotta, you know, go take care of, something. See ya, Abs.”
He high-tailed it passed Gibbs and was extremely relieved
when the other man didn’t do anything except stand aside. Of course, that made
him wonder if maybe Gibbs had something else in mind for him since the
ex-Marine always had a plan.
Tony was pretty sure it was Rule #1.
* * * *
The rest of the day was spent in an attempt to keep
at least one other person in sight while Gibbs occupied the same space as Tony.
He stayed at his desk for as long as possible, enduring jibes from Kate about
his ass getting glued to the seat, because it was the only way he’d voluntarily
work on his reports. He ignored the curious looks that McGee sent his way when
he passed up the opportunity to go on a coffee run. He did his damnedest to not
look directly at Gibbs, positive that he would combust if he did.
Despite having all that time to think, Tony hadn’t
come up with any answers about what to do the next time Gibbs made a pass at
him. And he wasn’t stupid enough to think there wouldn’t be another one. The
other man was nothing, if not sure of himself and his damned sexiness, not to
mention being able to out-bulldog a bulldog in the tenacity department. He
always got what he wanted and, for some as yet unknown reason, he seemed to
want Tony.
By the time
Paranoia, thy
name is DiNozzo, he thought sourly.
“What is your problem, DiNozzo?” Kate demanded when
he accidentally stepped on her heel, crowded her into the elevator.
Slinking off to the side, Tony answered, “Nothing.
Just, you know, in a hurry.”
“So take the stairs.”
“And miss alone time with you? Never!”
She snorted.
“Ah, you doing anything for dinner, Kate?” Tony
asked, watching the numbers light up as they descended to the parking lot.
Arching an eyebrow at him, Kate questioned, “Why,
you asking me out?”
“Yep.”
That completely threw her. “Excuse me?”
“Caitlin Todd, would you do me the honor of having
dinner with me this evening?”
“Forget it.”
Tony flashed her a grin and replied, “What’s the
matter, Kate? You scared?”
“Of you offering to pay for food? Absolutely.” The
elevator door pinged open and she stepped outside, stopping short fast enough
that he almost tripped on her. Peering up at him, she demanded, “All right,
Tony, what’s going on?”
“Nothing.”
“Tony...”
Affecting a hurt look, he said, “It’s fine, Kate.
Just because I wanted to spend some quality time with one of the most important
women in my life doesn’t mean that you should feel obligated to do so.”
“Good, because I don’t. Good night, Tony.”
Damn it!
He sighed and watched her leave before turning
towards his own car, a brand new Porsche 911. It wasn’t nearly as stylish as
his Corvette, despite the status symbol, but it would do. Besides, with the
444-hp, 3.6-liter, H-6 engine, all-wheel drive and maneuverability, it wasn’t
exactly a hardship to drive; even if his head did brush the top of the ceiling.
“How the hell can you afford something like that on
your salary?”
Tony flinched, then took a breath. He could do this.
It wasn’t the first time someone had pursued him, after all. Sure, none of them
were ex-marines who could kill him with the snap of a finger, and few had been
his boss, but he could hang tough with the best of them.
Maybe even
turn the tables a little, he thought, a smirk rising as he faced Gibbs. He wasn’t exactly
chopped liver. Flashing the other man a brilliant smile, he replied, “Gotta
love a trust fund, Gibbs.”
“What trust fund?” Gibbs retorted.
Turning off the alarm, Tony leaned against it and
answered, “I’m hurt, Gibbs. You don’t think I can save money for something like
this?”
“No.”
“Oh ye of little faith.”
“It’s called experience, DiNozzo.”
“It’s called cynicism, Gibbs.”
Gibbs snorted, but his eyes were light, almost
playful, as he walked right up to Tony and stood very much in his personal
space. “So you’ve decided to take me up on my offer?”
Swallowing against a drying throat, Tony managed to
sound at least a little smooth as he countered, “What offer? I didn’t get
anything in writing.”
“And you won’t, either,” Gibbs answered, one of his
knees brushing against Tony’s. “Doesn’t mean an offer wasn’t made.”
“See, I’m still wondering about that,” Tony admitted
honestly.
Gibbs stepped back. “What’s to wonder about?”
“Well, let’s see. How about for starters...have you
lost your mind? Goosing me in the middle of a meeting at work?”
“Where would you like me to goose you?”
“That’s not the...Gibbs!”
A warm, wicked chuckle echoed through the air just
before Gibbs said, “You think too much, DiNozzo.”
“First time I’ve had that complaint,” Tony muttered.
Still grinning, Gibbs pointed out, “There’s a first
time for everything. And speaking of. I think we need to have dinner.”
“Oh you do, do you?”
“Yes. My place. Half an hour.”
“Be there or be square?”
Gibbs stepped forward again, right between Tony’s
legs, and stared at him intently. “Be there in half an hour, or don’t come at
all.”
Tony managed not to collapse limply against his car
until Gibbs was out of sight.