Cold as ice. He knew that that description didn’t only fit for the eyes but for the man, too. He had seen many cold looks before, but usually they were combined with a situation and not what somebody always looked like. But as he stared at the picture on his computer screen he couldn’t think that the eyes of the man ever got warm.
„Tony.“
He looked up slightly startled at his husband who stood in the door. His hair were standing in every direction and Tony would never get used to the out-of-bed-look of Jethro. To see this man like that always send a wake-up call to his groin.
„I didn’t mean to wake you.“
He said softly and hit one key to close the jpeg file. Jethro had noticed the movement and looked at the laptop for a moment before his eyes came back to Tony’s.
„You didn’t, the cold bed did. What you’ve been doing?“
Tony opened his mouth and looked at the desktop picture, his kids with Jen, Abby and Ziva and then back to his husband.
„I was just checking something.“
With three steps Jethro was next to Tony and looked at the screen.
„Something you’re hiding?“
Tony didn’t answer that question but made to shut down the computer.
„Tony, you’ve been staring at his picture again, haven’t you?“
The younger man sighed and shut down the computer, opting not to answer at all.
„Tony, why are you that fixated on him? You can’t know that it was him and you have never met him!“
„I’m not so sure...“
Tony looked up to see his husband’s gaze on him.
„Are you not sure why you’re fixated on him or are you not sure that you never met him?“
Tony took a deep breath but then nodded.
„Yes.“
He closed the laptop and put it into its bag.
„You think you met him before?“
„I don’t know, Jethro. When I saw his face...I don’t know. His eyes...he seems familiar but I ran through his entire life and I never met him. And his name wasn’t ringing any bell.“
„Maybe you only knew him from passing by. Maybe he was shopping in the same supermarket for a while.“
Tony shook his head and took a bottle of water from the fridge.
„We never lived close enough to eachother to have met on a regular basis. The only thing that’s possible is that we walked past eachother once, maybe twice. But usually I don’t remember faces of people I never talked to or who I haven’t seen that often.“
Jethro looked at his husband for a long moment and then decided that he should sleep and not worry about a man they don’t even know.
„Tony, why don’t you go to bed and rest? You won’t solve the mystery tonight.“
„I guess you’re right...oh, by the way, since you’re director I probably should inform you that Ziva’s on desk duty as off tomorrow. It wasn’t my idea and I’m glad for it cause I thought she was going to rip off my head when I told her that Jeremy had called me. I don’t want to know what she did to her doctor.“
Jethro winced and didn’t even try to hide it. He seriously hoped that they wouldn’t get a case his husband and all other team members had to leave, otherwise he would have to deal with Ziva.
„Em...Tony, actually...“
„Nope, I won’t switch to desk duty, not as long as I fit into the car.“
Jethro looked innocently at him.
„You know that I could order you to.“
„You wouldn’t dare.“
„I wouldn’t?“
Tony gave Jethro big eyes and a slightly pouty face.
„You wanna be at the birth of your children? Then you wouldn’t dare.“
Jethro sighed heavily.
„Tony, you’re nearly eight months along, you won’t gain anymore weight. And that doesn’t mean that you can walk around until you get contractions! I don’t know why Ziva was allowed until her due time but you’re expecting twins and they tend to come early.“
„Awe, c’mon! They’re our kids! They’re stubborn and wouldn’t get out of their comfortable warm swimming pool until it definitely gets too small.“
Jethro chuckled as he followed his husband to their bedroom.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
„Hey, boss, em...“
Tony looked up from the report he was reading at his probie. By now he was that used to Stuard that he wouldn’t want to go without him. He was a good assett to the team, his expensive knowledge in profiling being one of his best qualities, and he was working good with the other team members. Especially with Abby.
„...you think...em...“
Studdering wasn’t usual for him so Tony knew what topic they had reached once more.
„I’d could go with a coffee. How about you?“
He asked giving the young man an obvious help. Thankfully Gilliam nodded and together they took off. Tony rolled his eyes at the „decaf“ from Ziva as they went into the elevator - as if Tony would really walk that far in his condition for a cup of decaf. As Jethro had phrased it only a few days ago very fittingly, coffee without caffeine is like masturbating without hands - it never reachs the aim.
„So, what’s troubling you?“
Tony started the conversation because he knew Stuard wouldn’t.
„Abby.“
„Shocking. What exactly.“
„She...she wants me to join dinner with you and Gibbs...whereas I don’t have a problem with you...Gibbs is...“
Tony chuckled and leant against the wall of the elevator.
„Well, whereas I would know a few ways to deal with him that don’t involve sex, I don’t think that’s a good idea. Jethro has quite strict rules about relationships between coworkers. He’s broken them himself but still. And worse than that Abby’s like a daughter to him. He’s overly protective about her and given that he’s quite stressed with his new position as director and me being pregnant and Lish going to the new school and Dan being Dan, I don’t think this is the best time to tell him about your relationship with Abby. He doesn’t know you good enough yet.“
Stuard looked as if he couldn’t decide if he was happy about it or not. At first a small smile appeared on the younger man’s face but then he winced.
„How should I tell Abby that?“
„Ohhh, you won’t. I will.“
„She’ll kill me if she finds out that I talk to you about our relationship.“
Tony grinned.
„Awe, Stuard, you have no idea what I know about your relationship. Anyway, I will tell Abby that I invited you for our next team dinner but that you two shouldn’t show up as a pair. That way Jethro can get to know you and Abby’s quite pleased aswell.“
„You really want me at that dinner?“
Tony nodded and clapped him reassuringly on the shoulder.
„It’s a team dinner, Stuard, and you are a team member.“
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Tony put yet another file into the „out“ tray. As he looked through the bullpen he noticed that the other teams that were on duty were busy. All of them, but not his team. Getting a bit pissed off he pushed himself off his chair, not without difficulties, and went up the stairs. Muttering under his breath that there was no elevator he stormed into Jethro’s office.
„Have you set my team on desk duty?“
Jethro looked at him and licked his lips.
„I’ll call you back.“
He told the one he was talking to on the phone and hung up. Then he put his hands on his desk and entwined his fingers.
„Excuse me?“
„I noticed, that whereas all teams down there are busy, my team has been pushing around papers since three days.“
„Is that so?“
„Oh, c’mon, Jethro. You know exactly that it’s true. You’re giving all the cases to the other teams!“
Jethro sighed and took a file.
„Sit down, Tony.“
„I don’t wanna sit down! I want an answer!“
„Sit down, Agent DiNozzo.“
Taking a deep breath Tony finally obeyed.
„It is true, I have been giving cases preferably to other teams. But, I do have my reasons. Maybe you don’t wanna hear it but in your condition it is more than irresponsible to have you in the field. And Ziva is already on desk duty. Furthermore your team is behind on paper work. That is a result from your very good field work. Nonetheless, I had a conversation with Agent Clarence...“
Tony noticed Jethro’s voice taking on a dispiteful tone at the use of that name.
„...and apparently people think I’m prefering your team.“
„Why should you prefer us?“
„Because you’re my husband. Because it had been my team once? The thing is, they are saying that I’m giving you all the cases and set them on desk duty. Which isn’t true, well, it is but not for the reasons they say. I did set Clarence’s team on desk duty because I saw that two of their cases were blown because of formalities. And you have a good team, which means you do the field and the paper work good.“
Tony sighed exasperated.
„So, you set us on desk duty so the other teams don’t think you prefer us?“
„Well, I gotta admit that I wasn’t totally opposed to the idea of having you save in the office.“
Tony shook his head and stood up. Muttering he went out of the office down the stairs and sat behind his desk. He didn’t really spent attention to Stuard at the desk opposite him since he saw that Jethro had followed him. Just as his husband had started to talk to Ziva something from Stuard’s desk caught Tony’s attention.
„Jesus Christ!“
Stuard exclaimed and coughed slightly at the white powder that escaped from the white envelope in his hand.
„Not again.“
Tony muttered as Jethro jumped onto the team leader’s desk and informed everybody. Tony and Tim changed a look whereas Stuard and Ziva were more or less completely puzzled.
Jethro got down from the desk and took a bottle of water from Tony’s desk.
„Ok, Gilliam, you put down that envelope and you wash up your hands and head with this water. Then we’ll all go down and shower.“
„What?“
Ziva exclaimed.
„We have to take a biohazard shower, Ziva. Also, our cloths will be burned and Stuard will be brought to Bethesta. I seriously hope you didn't catch anything or you’ll be answering to me!“
Tony said annoyed but his voice was shaking with fear.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
„It’s like a deja-vu...“
Tim muttered as Jimmy took blood samples.
„Yeah, just that this time we know what it reminds us of.“
„But it’s nothing I had to be reminded of.“
Tony intervened. Jethro rubbed his back supportively.
„How big are the chances that this is happening twice to this team?“
The following silence was all answer Tony needed. He caught Jethro giving him a look.
„What?“
„I was thinking...Jimmy, if it was the same illness...wouldn’t Tony be more at risk?“
„Actually, if it is y.pestis again Tony would be less at risk than the rest of us. He fought it before and therefore his body has antibodies.“
Not completely convinced Jethro nodded.
„What? You want me to go with Stuard and lie in that aweful isolation again? Where I can do nothing but wait? I won’t play Kate!“
Tim and Jimmy’s mouths fell open at that exclamation. Jethro paled slightly as apparently another image flashed through his mind.
„Let’s hope, not...“
Jethro muttered and then quickly brought space between him and his agitated husband.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It was half an hour after Stuard was brought to Bethesda. Tony and Ziva had both denied to be taken. Jethro and Tony still haven’t talked anything since the little burstout. Jimmy had left autopsy to assist Abby, not that there was a lot to assist.
Tim, Tony, Jethro and Jimmy’s assistant Greg turned startled as Ziva knocked something over and cursed colorfully in Israeli. While none of them got what she was actually saying they could imagine very good what was happening since she had one hand clenched around the edge of an empty autopsy slab and the other on her belly. A moment later she let out a breath and straightened up.
„Fuck, that hurt!“
„And you didn’t want to go to the hospital! Great!“
Tony said and Jethro sighed. Tim looked at them rather confused.
„What?“
„She’s in labour, Probie!“
Tony said, unable to hold the nickname, which he hadn’t used in years, back.
„I’m not!“
„You telling me this was just a kick?“
Jethro replied sceptically.
„Great. As if being locked up in autopsy wouldn’t be enough!“
She mumbled as Greg helped her to sit down on a blanket he and Tim had put on the floor. Meanwhile Jethro was talking to Jimmy and the ME assured him to be down in a minute.
„Ohoh...“
Everybody turned to look at Tony. The young man grimaced for a moment and then smiled innocently at Jethro.
„Jimmy might want to hurry...“
„Don’t tell me...“
„My water just broke...“
Taking a deep breath to calm himself Jethro helped Tony down onto the blanket next to Ziva. Then he looked down at them and shook his head.
„Only half an hour ago there have been trained people and you two said „No, we’re fine. No need for the hospital!“ and now? Sweet Jesus!“
„How should we know? Half an hour ago...“
Tony squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his jaw. Ziva watched him and when he opened his eyes again and let out a breath.
„Wow, that was a hard one.“
„That’s not fair! His contractions aren’t nearly as bad as mine!“
Ziva complained but Tony, next to her, grimaced again. Jethro was at his side in a heart beat and took his hand.
„It’s alright, Tony. Breathe, keep breathing.“
„Don’t tell me what I gotta do! And my contractions are as bad as yours I just know what I have to expect. And right now I’d love to switch with you cause I gotta press out two of them!“
The doors opened and Jimmy entered. He knelt down and started checking pulse and blood pressure of both his patients.
„Well, we can be happy that it’s Ziva’s first birth. She’ll take quite a while until she’ll actually get the baby...Tony on the other hand...“
„No, don’t tell me I’m gonna give birth in the morgue.“
Jimmy changed a look with Jethro and then send his assistant to get several things.
„Well, Tony, first births usually take quite long but this is your third. Also, there are two babies who want to come out. And your contractions are already far more frequent than Ziva’s. If the medics don’t arrive in less than half an hour I’m afraid your children will be born in the autopsy.“
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
35 Minutes later.
Tony’s contractions were very frequent by now but still they weren’t allowed to leave the autopsy. Ziva, usually the first to tease Tony, sat deliberately silent next to him and even held his hand.
„Hey, can I watch when it’s your turn?“
Tony asked with a grin once he got enough air to speak. Ziva snorted.
„You wish!“
„Hey, it’s only fair, isn’t....argh!“
„Ok, I guess that was the small talk.“
Jimmy announced.
„Looks like one of them is coming now, no matter if the medics are here or not. Tony, I want you to press when I tell you to...“
„Always these dominant doctors...“
The comment went down between a surprised yelp and a small scream from Ziva. At the questioning look of Jethro she nodded towards her hand.
„He’s breaking my hand.“
„What do you think why I had always bandages around my hand after Tony gave birth?“
He grinned at her and then leaned down to Tony.
„You’re doing great, hon...“
He softly kissed his husbands forehead.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
15 minutes later.
„Congratulations, gentlemen. It’s a healthy little boy.“
Tony and Jethro smiled at their new son. Abby, who had come down to give the men support, took the child and carried him to the sink to clean him up. But the moment of bliss was very short as Tony clenched his teeth again.
„Jeeze, why can’t I have a break?“
„I guess the other one feels lonely in there.“
Jethro replied.
„I want a time out!“
A thick feeling of worry started in Jethro’s gut when he realized just how strained Tony’s voice sounded. His breath was much shorter than it should be and if he wasn’t mistaken he could hear a slight rastle in it.
„C’mon, Tony, just a little more.“
Jimmy encouraged and Tony pressed but it wasn’t the final one.
„God, why did I listen to you? Why the hell did you want another baby?“
Tony growled at Jethro and whereas the words made the older man wince slightly he was relieved that Tony still had the strengh to speak.
„I will never ever let you touch me again! You hear me? No more playtime for Jethro!“
Ziva threw Jethro a look but the older man was concentrated on his husband. The sreaming of another newborn filled the morgue just a second later.
„And we have a girl!“
Tony sacked back onto the floor and took deep breaths. His eyes were closed and Jethro couldn’t really focus on the girl in Jimmy’s arms because he was too busy checking that his husband was alright.
„Tony, are you ok?“
Just as he was about to panic because Tony didn’t answer him he was pulled aside by Abby. Distantly he noticed medics come to Tony and check his vitals, while Ziva was already transported out of the morgue. He was too deep in shock to understand what the two men were saying as they loaded Tony onto a gurney and took him the same way Ziva had gone, the babies with them.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Three unending hours later a doctor finally allowed Jethro to see his husband. In the end it had turned out that Tony just had passed out because of exhaustion and he and the babies were absolutely healthy. As he entered the room he saw the younger man sit on his bed, popped up on a million of pillows and munching chocolate chip cookies which Sonja had told him she would give the head nurse to give to Tony right after the birth.
„Hey, babe.“
Jethro said and kissed him softly, noticing immidiatly that Tony tasted more like Tony again with the faint sugar taste.
„Hey, noone’s telling me anything. How’s Ziva?“
„In the delivery room.“
„And Stuard?“
„He’s fine. It’s was a false alarm. The powder wasn’t infected with anything.“
Before Tony could ask anything else Jethro put a finger on Tony’s lips.
„The babies are healthy. They will bring them in a moment. Everything is good, Tony. So stop worrying.“
„Do we have two boys?“
The younger man asked as Jethro sat in the chair next to the bed.
„No, a boy and a girl.“
„Cool...what you wanna call them?“
Jethro raised his eyebrow.
„Oh, I’m sure you have plenty of ideas, haven’t you?“
„Well, a few.“
Tony admitted and sat a little straighter.
„The boy...I think Jimmy deserves to be remembered for this one. So, I’d say the second name should be James.“
„And the first?“
„How about my uncle? Marco.“
Jethro let the name ring through his mind for a moment and then nodded.
„Marco James Gibbs it is then. Listen, would you mind if we called the girl after someone who meant a lot to me?“
„You mean Jen? Cause I thought about that aswell.“
Jethro smiled slightly.
„Actually, I was thinking of my grandmother. Theresa. But, yeah, Jen should be remembered aswell...“
„Then why don’t we call her Theresa Jennifer Gibbs?“
„Sounds great.“
After a knock on the door two nurses entered the room. Each was holding a baby and they gave them to the men.
„They’re already the stars of the ward. The nurses were fighting who could carry them.“
They looked at the door to see Sonja standing there. She smiled softly at them and stepped to the bed.
„I heard you did very good without me, Tony. But still I’d like to hear how it was for you.“
„It was alright. I mean, it hurt and all...and it was more exhausting than anything else...but it was worth every little bit.“
He couldn’t get the smile off his face now that he had his daughter in his arms.
„That sounded very different when Theresa was coming. It was the first time you cursed me.“
Sonja laughed.
„Well, I already wondered when he’d start with that. Oh, and I can tell you that you will share the room with your friend, Ziva, once she’s done.“
„You know how she’s doing?“
Tony asked with big eyes.
„I heard she was doing good but I think it will take a little longer until her child is born. But apparently she is cursing a lot. Though, nobody understands her.“
The two men laughed as the doctor left them alone with their new children.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
About three weeks later.
Tony sat on the couch, the baby phone on the coffee table and watched his daughter do her homeworks. Since she was at the new school she was working rigourously and the first tests all came back with an A. Although they weren’t going to the same school anymore Lish was still deeply friended with Ivi, who sometimes seemed to live in their house.
Jethro was in the office and whereas they couldn’t find anything about the letter neither Tony nor Jethro really believed that it was just a prank. They finally had found a solution for their „baby vs work“ problem. Tony was staying at home for six months and was playing babysitter for Ziva’s son, Jake. After that he would switch with Ziva.
This solution was appreciated by everybody since the team could stay together and was only supported by a probie, since Jethro had promoted Stuard from Agent on Probation to Junior Agent. Well, not everybody was completely happy with the solution. Dan and Lish were constantly complaining that they wanted to play just a little longer with Jake when Jeremy or Ziva came to pick him up.
They loved their siblings, and Jake belonged to their siblings. That’s how it was. They weren’t just a family anymore. Ziva, Jeremy and Jake belonged to them just as much as Tim and Abby, and slowly Stuard started to belong to them aswell. Tony couldn’t help but take the young man right to his heart when he saw the looks that passed between him and Abby, the looks that reminded him so much on how he and Jethro had been in the first months of their relationship.
A sigh of contentment left him and he got a weird look from his daughter. He simply smiled and returned to the forms he had to fill out. Being on parental leave Tony always used to do all those formalities for which he hadn’t had time otherwise. To have five kids in the house, three of them still in diapers, he had a lot to do but still there were calm moments.
Jethro’s working hours were much more predictable by now. Operations he had to witness usually were scheduled and it happened only occassionally that he was called into the office at night. He wasn’t director for long but he was doing good and once he had gotten used to all the paperwork he had to do (and after Tony had told him to stay the hell out of his investigations) he actually liked the job.
Tony looked up when Lish put her stuff into her backpack.
„You’re done?“
„Yup. I did everything I got this morning. Now, I’ll call Ivi, if that’s ok?“
„Sure, go ahead.“
Grinning she went over to the phone they had in the living room. Tony shook his head smiling and went back to his form. But before he could really focus his laptop announced a e-mail.
„Hey, Tony.
Coming over in about fifteen minutes to go through something with you.
Tim.“
Tony quickly wrote his reply and then went to the kitchen to prepare something small to eat. He knew that his second, and at the moment temporary team-leader, was once more skipping his lunch break to get something done.
Tim was turning into a real workaholic. Whereas he tried to cover it up Tony knew why he was working such long hours. Tony knew that Tim was now in the same state he had been when Jethro had left for Mexico. It was a matter of age and in Tim’s case a matter of enviroment.
Tony grinned as he took the bread. Oh, yeah, Probie was ready to settle. When Tony became team-leader for the first time he had seen Tim develope. At first he thought that would change again once Jethro was back and everything would be as it had been but the young man had been dating nearly as much as Tony had claimed to do. Being a famous novelist probably didn’t hurt with that.
Tony’s cell phone rang once and then the door opened. They had agreed that they all could enter with their keys (the whole team had one, because of the whole we’re a family thing, and door bells tend to wake up sleeping babies) but they should ring one of them first, just so they wouldn’t shot them.
„Hey, Tony.“
„Hey.“
Tony turned, a plate in his hand, and indicated Tim to sit.
„What’s that?“
„These are sandwiches.“
„Sandwiches?“
Tony shook his head as he took the file from Tim.
„C’mon, I know you’re skipping your break. You need to eat something.“
„You don’t have to cook for me.“
„I didn’t cook, I made sandwiches. I’m sure Dan and Lish will eat some of them aswell. Ok, what do we have here?“
Tim gave him a glare, which Tony ignored, and then started to give him a head up.
„This is what I could find out about the letter.“
„You’re still working that? I thought Jethro had to close that case because it was leading nowhere.“
Tim nodded.
„It doesn’t. And it is closed, I’m working on it on my own time, just as Abby. I seriously think there’s something going on. First Jen gets shot and her killer dies in a car crash and then there’s a letter adressed to Stuard, with a white powder that turns out to be honey dust. It’s too...“
„Close to home?“
Tony offered and Tim nodded.
„This whole incident seemed as if somebody who had been there when you opened the letter was pulling a sick joke. But there is noone! For me it’s too much of a coincidence that for one...“
He counted on his fingers.
„...it is our team, again. And second it was honey dust. Not powdered sugar or something, no, honey dust! I know you didn’t believe that Stevenson killed Jen and I don’t believe that either. That hacker back then must have changed the result or anything. And I think that the same bastard send the letter. Have you any idea how easily that guy could have hacked into NCIS while everything was down and nobody would know?“
„Jethro let everything be checked.“
Tony tried to reason with Tim but since he didn’t believe in a coincidence himself that was quite difficult.
„That guy is damn good covering up his tracks and...“
„Leave it, Tim.“
„You tell me to leave it?“
Tony sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
„Tim, you’re right. Whoever hacked into Abby’s computer, and whoever send the letter is damn good at covering his tracks. Not only that, he takes a lot of risks to cover his tracks. Doesn’t that ring any bell to you?“
„You’re saying...CIA?“
„Could be. It definitely wasn’t the FBI...but it doesn’t matter if it’s an agency or just crimininals. They know what they’re doing and digging too deep isn’t always a good thing, Tim. Sometimes it’s better to look out for yourself. So leave it alone.“
Tony emphasized the last sentence to make his point clear. Tim looked at him for a long moment, obviously not pleased with the idea, but then he nodded.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
„How was work,honey?“
Ziva gave Tony a look as she entered the kitchen. She sat at the table and sighed.
„Got the new guy today.“
„Uhhhh! Is he a real probie? With studdering and all that?“
Raising her eyebrow at the dinner Tony was putting on the table she shook her head.
„Actually he’s nothing of that. In fact he isn’t even new. He’s been at NCIS for longer than Tim...I think even longer than you’ve been.“
„Really?“
She nodded as she got herself a big helping of potatoes.
„Yeah, he’s been Gibbs‘ second, if I got that correctly. Steve...or was it...?“
„STAN?“
„Good news travel fast.“
Jethro entered the kitchen smiling but it froze on his face when he saw Tony’s look.
„You put Stan Burley on my team?“
„Yeah...I thought you’d be happy, you seem to go well with Stan.“
Tony blinked surprised but then remembered that he hadn’t been with Jethro when they had met Stan, which doesn’t mean that he hadn’t wanted to.
„Jethro, you’re kidding, right? Even Kate had picked it up.“
„Picked up what?“
Tony looked for the right words and saw how a grin started on Ziva’s face. Apparently she had no problems to pick it up. Tony met her gaze and nodded towards the door. Muttering something that sounded like „spoilsport“ she went into the nursery to look after the kids.
„You honestly want to tell me that you never noticed the looks he threw your way?“
„What looks?“
„You can’t seriously be that oblivious!“
Jethro raised his hands in a gesture of confusion.
„What did I do now?“
„He’s worshipping the ground you walk on! You two...you’ve been so familiar! You have any idea how put aside I felt back then? It definitely wasn’t fun! And even Kate saw it! Hang on...you didn’t...“
„I didn’t what?“
„You didn’t have something with him, did you?“
Confusion turned into shock and Jethro stared at his husband.
„What? Me and Stan? Never! Jesus! What gave you that weird idea?“
„Oh, I don’t know! Maybe because you’ve been nice to him?“
„So? I’m nice to you, too...oh, bad example. I’m nice to Ducky and Abby!“
Tony crossed his arms over his chest and put out his lip to a pout.
„Don’t look at me like that.“
„Why not? I think you deserve the doggy look.“
Jethro kissed Tony long and softly until the pout was finally vanished.
„Better? I’m not interested in Stan. And he won’t replace you. Neither in the office nor in my heart. Alright?“
„Not alright, but I guess I can live with it. Will he be there when I return?“
„Yeah, but remember, you’ll be his boss then.“
Tony grinned mischieve but before he could say what he had on his mind Ziva came into the kitchen, followed by Lish and Dan.
„We’re hungry.“
She said and gave the kids something of the dinner and then started to empty her own plate. Tony and Jethro joined them.
„Hey, Tony. I couldn’t ask you because I was send out that rudely...“
Ziva grinned at him but then continued.
„...was Stan always that - fully - around the hips?“
Tony smiled thankfully at his friend whereas Jethro only shook his head.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It was saturday morning and Tony woke to the smell of coffee. The twins had kept him up nearly all night, once one of them was asleep the other would start crying and the first would wake up and cry, too, just because their sibling was crying. Therefore Tony tried to ignore the delicious scent, but when something crashed in the kitchen his eyes snapped open and he knew he wouldn’t find sleep if he didn’t check that everything was ok.
So he slurfed into the kitchen rubbing his eyes. He could catch himself at the kitchen table as he stumbled over something. Confused he looked down and saw two big bags on the floor.
„Hey...what...“
Jethro’s cell phone rang once and then the door opened.
„Good morning! Where are my darlings?“
Tony raised an eyebrow at Abby, then at Ziva and Jeremy, who entered behind her.
„They’re upstairs getting ready. The twins already are.“
Jeremy nodded and was off to the nursery. Tony stood in the middle of the kitchen, still confused.
„Em...ready for what?“
Tony asked. Jethro just smiled at him.
"Lish and Dan are going to stay with Abby and Ziva and Jeremy take he twins."
"Why?"
"So you two have a little time just for you."
Abby answered just before she left to get the kids she would be watching.
"Time for us?"
"Jeez tony. I think your not awake yet. Adult time. You get it now?"
Jeremy grinned at him as he returned with the douple baby carrier. A few minutes later they were all gone and Tony stood in the hallway.
"What's wrong?"
Jethro asked as he stepped to his husband.
"You hear that?"
For a moment Jethro listened.
"I hear nothing."
"Exactly."
Tony agreed and grinned.
"How do you wanna spend our free weekend?"
Tony asked. Jethro grinned mischieve at him.
"Well, I thought of a nice, hot bath in the jacuzzi, a back massage and then some lazy sex. What will you do?"
Tony laughed and got close the older man.
"That actually sounds quite good. Mind if I join you?"
Jethro kissed his husband deeply.
„But don’t take it personally if I fall asleep through some point or another of your plan. I feel worse than after a 40 hours day.“
„Well, probably because you slept even less than that. I offered you to get up more often.“
Jethro softly stroke over Tony cheek and the younger man smiled and then sighed.
„Yeah, and at some point I’ll probably let you. But for now I need to do it myself.“
„I’ll prepare the jacuzzi. Why don’t you get us something to drink?“
Tony nodded and watched his husband jog up the stairs. The younger man listened again and realized that he didn’t like the silence as much as he thought he would. Sure, to be alone with Jethro was great. They definitely needed some „adult time“ but he already missed his kids. Whereas he fully trusted Abby, Ziva and Jeremy to not only not kill them but return them proper and healthy he prefered taking care of it himself. He really was a mother hen.
Shaking his head about himself he took a bottle of champaign form under the sink. They had hidden it there because it was probably the only place in the house the kids wouldn’t look for anything (except the gunsaves), since the cleaning stuff was there. Then he went for the good cristal and finally joined Jethro.
Once in the hot tub Tony let out a deep groan. He settled back against Jethro and close his eyes.
„Oh man, how long has it been since we did something like this?“
„Um...about seven years?“
Tony chuckled softly.
„They’re not that bad.“
„No, they’re great. I definitely wouldn’t want them to change.“
He kissed Tony’s side of the head and then softly nippled on the earlope.
„I love you.“
Jethro whispered into the younger man’s ear with a tenderness Tony hadn’t known until he was with Jethro. Tony moaned again, this time not because of relaxation.
„Love you, too...“
Jethro’s lips on his neck so soft and his hand on Tony’s chest rubbing soothingly and arousingly at the same time drove the younger man crazy. He was surprised, every time, how vital their sex life still was. Even with four children they had lots of sex, even more than a lot of childless couples. Jethro wasn’t a man of words, and whereas Tony usually was he could express his feelings much better in actions than in words. He liked to think that their sex was a consequence of the intense feelings they had for eachother, and not the base of their relationship.
„You’re thinking too loud.“
Jethro muttered and Tony smiled. His husband didn’t even need to see his face to know that his mind was working.
„Aren’t you in the mood?“
„I’m very much in the mood, Jethro. Right now I can’t think I ever won’t be in the mood.“
Tony yelped slightly as Jethro bit his earlope, only to kiss it better. For several minutes they were touching and kissing eachother, enjoying it to have time for a real foreplay without the danger of being caught or called away by their kids. But then Tony’s cell phone rang.
„Just ignore it.“
Jethro advised and caught Tony’s mouth in a passionate kiss. They had changed their position so they were facing eachother, which was only comfortable since they had this big jacuzzi. After a while the ringing died away, but started again, almost instantly. Tony broke the kiss.
„I can’t...what if it’s Ziva or Abby?“
„Tony...“
„I know they dealt with them before, Jethro!“
Tony voice was high-pitched and Jethro knew that his husband was once more imagining the worst scenario.
„They could have been in an accident, or one of the kids has allergies and we didn’t know or...“
„Tony! Go, answer you phone.“
Dumbstruck for a moment Tony blinked once, twice, before he climped out of the tub and wrapped a towel around his waist. He couldn’t help it that panic was tugging at his gut as he went into the bedroom where the cell moved a little on the nightstand because of the vibration alarm, which summed on the wood. Just as the ring tone started over again Tony picked it up and checked the caller ID. Unknown. He frowned deeply. Not many people had his number and everybody who did was in his contact list. Intrigued by this, he forgot about his husband for a second and answered.
„DiNozzo?“
„Anthony.“
A deep male voice answered and a shiver ran down Tony’s spin. The tone was cold, though the bariton let it seem warm in the first moment. It sounded oddly familiar but Tony couldn’t find any connection.
„Who’s this?“
He asked, his heart beating faster than it should.
„I’m sorry for interrupting business with your husband.“
The other said amused, as if he was anything else but sorry, and apparently he wasn’t about to reveille his identity.
„Why are you calling then?“
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Jethro coming in from the bathroom, a towel around his waist, and sitting on the bed. His husband raised an eyebrow but Tony didn’t react to it.
„I was just checking on one of your friends and saw that two of your children are staying out of your house. You have a beautiful daughter, I gotta give you that.“
Tony’s throat became dry. Suddenly every word of the caller seemed like a threat.
„Anyway, when I saw them, I thought I should check what you’re doing. I expected you to go out or something, instead I got a show...“
„What do you want?“
Tony pressed out. He tried to keep his voice calm, so Jethro wouldn’t be alarmed before he knew what was going on.
„You might don’t want to discuss that in front of your husband, Anthony.“
Tony glanced at the window and then at Jethro.
„It’s Sacks...it’s about a case he has...I’ll be back in a minute...“
He saw a sceptical frown enter Jethro’s forehead but left the bedroom anyway. He stayed silent until he was in the living room.
„What the hell do you want?“
Tony urged the caller to explain himself in his best boss-tone. He has been an agent for too long, and experienced too much, to think this was something small, a prank maybe. He had seen too many agent fall because they underestimated a situation or a perp, or both. He had seen Jethro break, he was broken, when they had come to the wrong conclusions about Ari. He wouldn’t let something like that happen again, not if he could help it.
„Well, Anthony...“
A sick feeling clenched his stomach everytime the other used his name. It spoke of feelings Tony couldn’t place and increased the feeling of familiarity.
„...I wanted to tell you that you should keep an eye on your subordinants. They’re sticking their noses in things which could be dangerous for them.“
„What are you talking about? If you know about my children and what I’m doing with my husband, you should also know that I’m not working at the moment. I don’t know anything about their current cases.“
A deep hollow chuckle came through the phone and let Tony’s breath hitch.
„I’m not talking about their current case, Anthony. I’m talking about Jenny.“
Tony’s eyes went wide and unfocused. It was a feeling simmiliar to when Jethro smacked him on the back of the head. Suddenly things clicked into place and he resisted the urge to hit his hand against his forehead.
„I told him to leave it alone.“
„He didn’t. Neither did your lab tech.“
Tony closed his eyes in despair. What should he do? He had told McGee to stop it and as long as he didn’t work he couldn’t control how long McGee stayed in...except...
„I’ll see what I can do about it.“
„You better do. Until next time...oh, and one thing more. You might have forgotten me, but I remember you, Anthony. Every single minute.“
The line was cut but Tony stood there, paralized, his cell phone still at his ear and he listened to the continuous peep as if there was a hidden message in it. After a minute he finally closed it and put it on the coffee table. He himself sank onto the couch and rubbed over his face.
„Could you help him?“
Tony startled slightly. Jethro stood in front of him, now dressed in sweet pants and a fainted MC shirt.
„Not really...I...I told him that he could call me on monday if there isn’t anything new so we can meet and go through the details...“
„It wasn’t Sacks, was it?“
For a short moment Tony considered lying but he knew it was pointless.
„No.“
He stood up in a sudden rage and went to the bedroom.
„No, it wasn’t Sacks! It was the bastard who killed Jen! I told him to leave it alone, but apparently that didn’t go into his thick head! Fuck! And now he’s endangering my family! I’m gonna kill him!“
Jethro frowned deeply. As much as he had to struggle to keep pace with Tony he couldn’t keep up with his line of thought. He was pretty sure that Tony hadn’t told the perp to leave it alone, but if he was the one endangering their family?
„What are you talking about?“
He finally settled for asking since figuring out didn’t work.
„Tim kept working the case, just as Abby. Some time ago he was here, telling me what he found, or didn’t find for that matter. I told him to leave it alone, just as you told me, cause I realized that you were right! It’s too dangerous to mess with the „big boys“. However, obviously, Tim didn’t do as I told him! I can’t control what he’s working on while I’m on parental! So he kept working it and that guy knows! He knows, Jethro! He just called and told me! And he saw Lish! He knew what we were doing in the jacuzzi, that you sat next to me when I was on the phone!“
By the time Tony was dressed and ran through the bedroom looking for something he had displaced.
„Where is my fucking phone?!“
„You put it on the coffee table.“
Tony was out of the room before Jethro had finished the sentence. He followed his husband down the stairs and listened to the end of a probably one sided conversation with Tim.
„NO! You get the hell into the office! Right now!“
Much more relaxed than before Jethro took a lot more time to get to the door, where Tony was looking for his keys by now. Jethro had dressed, taking as long as he needed and not hurrying. Tony shot him an annoyed look when he finally came to him.
„You don’t have any idea where my keys are, do you?“
Jethro pulled them from his pocket and let them dangle from his finger.
„You didn’t think I’d let you drive like that, did you?“
As Tony’s eyes darkened Jethro knew he had pushed the line enough. He walked to the door and to his car, closely followed by Tony, who was mumbling something Jethro didn’t even want to understand.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Pacing the bullpen didn’t help Tony’s mood. Jethro had decided to use what little husband-bonus he still had to tell Tony later to go into his office to yell at Tim. A moment later the elevator opened and Tim entered the office. Jethro could see that the young man knew he had done something wrong, but he could also see that he really didn’t knew what.
„My office.“
Jethro said before either of the two agents could say even hello, not that Tony seemed as if he was about to say that. Tim gaped at the too men for a moment, which made him look like a probie again. Though Tony didn’t see that, cause he was already stomping towards the stairs, coming off like a pouting brat. Tim, obviously searching for help, looked at Jethro, who send him a death glare. Although he thought that Tony was overreacting for the moment, the situation pissed Jethro off like hell aswell.
Once they had entered the office Tony didn’t even wait until Jethro had closed the door before he went into Tim’s face.
„What the hell where you thinking? I told you to leave that fucking case with the letter and Jen alone!“
„It’s about that?“
Jethro pushed Tony a bit away from Tim, maybe it seemed like a protection meassure, but actually he wanted some room to attack aswell.
„It is about that. You disobeyed an order from two supervisors, Tim.“
„I didn’t think it was an order...more an advice...I mean, it was never official.“
„Official?“
Jethro raised a hand to get Tony to shut up immidiatly.
„How did you find out in the first place?“
„How did we find out? Mhm, let me think! Maybe because the fucking bastard called me on my fucking cell!“
Tony yelled and this time Jethro let him. Tim’s eyes went wide and his jaw dropped.
„He called you?“
„Yeah, he called. He knew where my kids are and he knew what we were doing. He’s fucking watching us!“
„Tony, I’m sorry! If I had any idea that...you know I would never do anything to bring your family in danger!“
Tim’s voice took on a pleading tone. It was clear that it wasn’t his intention to harm anybody with what he was doing, though Tony couldn’t see the obvious right now.
„Then you should have listened to us! You should have done as I told you! I’m not your boss because of nothing, Tim! You should know that I don’t tell you to stop follow your gut without a reason! And you’re long enough an agent to know that these kinda guys are fucking nut jobs!“
„Tony, I think he got your point.“
Jethro said, since he saw that Tim was looking close to tears. This was about more than an order. This was about the trust of the people Tim considered as close as family.
„Tony, if I...I hope you believe me that I never wanted to harm you or your family. I couldn’t know that he would target anybody but me, could I?“
Tony shook his head and avoided eyecontact with either Tim or Jethro. He wasn’t ready to forgive Tim yet, or rather himself.
You might have forgotten me, but I remember you, Anthony. Every single minute .
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The next couple of days, Tony didn’t let any of the kids out of his sight for very long. The twins lay in the baby carrier in the living room, when Tony was working on his laptop, so they were litterly in his sight. Lish and Dan weren’t allowed to go out of the house, and it had taken a lot of persuading from Jethro to convince Tony that Ivi could come over to their place. Tim was a name that was better not mentioned at all anywhere around Tony.
He sighed annoyed as he clicked around the webside of Ohio State College. He really couldn’t find any connection between him and Kramer. Since there haven’t been as many lovers as he claimed for a very long time he could remember the names, at least the given name of ever single one of them. But what he had said sounded very much like an old lover.
Every single minute
He hadn’t told Jethro about it yet, since his husband didn’t knew everything about him, yet, and he didn’t want to risk an interrogation à la Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Though he had seen that Jethro watched him closely when he was working on the laptop. Therefore he was thankful for the hours his husband spend at work, so he could do some research.
„Daddy.“
Tony looked up from the picture of his old basketball team at his daughter. It was only a few minutes ago that he had picked her up from school, and somehow she had this expression Tony recognized as trouble.
„Yeah?“
„My teacher gave me that.“
Reluctantly he took the white envelope with the banner of the private school.
„Why didn’t you tell me that when I picked you up?“
She sighed and shrugged.
„I don’t know what it says. Thought you might want to sit...what if they don’t want me there anymore?“
„You’re doing great, hon. I can’t imagine that they want you to go.“
Not as confident as his words he opened the letter, but it didn’t hold any information. Please call us for a date was the mere message of the letter.
„You didn’t get into any trouble we don’t know about, did you?“
„I didn’t do anything wrong, I swear!“
Tony nodded, but not without giving her a meaningfull glance. He took the phone to call Jethro but was caught in the waiting line first, and it took a minute before he reached Cynthia.
„NCIS HQ...“
„Cynthia, it’s me, Tony.“
Tony cut her off before she could even start with the official babble.
„Oh, hi, how’re you doing?“
„I’m doing alright, how are you?“
„Ah...you know...“
„Why’s Jethro not answering his desk?“
He heard some rumbling, as if she was looking for an answer in her papers.
„Em...he’s in a conference.“
„Ah huh...with?“
„Tony, you know about confidence and stuff...“
„With who, Cynthia?“
Tony knew very well that there was no conference scheduled for that day, so if Jethro really was in a conference it had to be an emergency. Cynthia mumbled something.
„What was that?“
Suspicion rising Tony’s grip on the phone became a bit harder.
„Stan Burley.“
Taking slow breaths Tony tried to calm himself, it didn’t work.
„Cynthia, please tell Jethro that his husband is on the phone and that I want to talk to him right now.“
After a moment Cynthia sighed.
„Hang on a moment.“
There was a click and the annoying music of the waiting line. Tapping his fingers on the coffee table hard enough that he got an annoyed look from his daughter, who was doing her homework, he waited impaciently.
„Tony?“
„Jethro, not easy to reach you now-a-days, is it?“
„Err...I guess...what’s going on?“
„Well, Lish got a letter from her teacher asking us for an appointment, but that’s not what I wanna talk about right now. What has Stan to do in your office?“
Silence.
„He’s an NCIS Special Agent, and I’m Director of NCIS?“
Tony didn’t answer that. He heard that Jethro talked to Stan, though he didn’t understand what and it took a moment.
„Stan was here to talk about his position.“
„His position?“
„In the team. He thinks he‘s better qualified to be on the team than Gilliam.“
„Jethro, don’t you dare do anything like replacing Stuard! That’s my team we’re talking about. But that’s no problem. Stan will be more than happy to be back on his boat once I’m back.“
That was met with another long moment of silence.
„What?“
„Nothing...you know, I don’t think Stan will make any problems anymore. I made a clear point that I won’t change anything in that team without talking to you first...you said something about a letter?“
Swallowing about the change of topic Tony told Jethro why he had originally called.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It was only about two hours later that Tony got a call from Abby.
„You won’t believe what Burley did!“
Called to attention Tony sat a little straighter. Abby usually liked Stan and didn’t call him by his last name.
„What did he do?“
„You should have heard him! Unbelievable!“
Tony’s patience wasn’t the best at the moment so it took him all his self-control not to snap at her.
„Abby, what did he do?“
„Well, you know that back then, when he was Gibbs‘ second, I liked him, and we were friends, sure enough. And apparently he didn’t get that I’m your friend, too, or rather now I’m your friend and not his friend anymore. The way he was talking about you. About the team. About the way you lead the team and Tim and Ziva and Stuard! You should have heard what he said about Stuard! Fucking Bastard!“
„What did he say, Abs?“
Tony’s heart was beating heavily in his chest.
„Well, he didn’t say it like that litterly, but it was the meaning of it, I know it. He wants to take over your team! And he said something about you and Gibbs and then he was...“
„Stop! He said something about me and Jethro?“
„He said that Gibbs wouldn’t answer the phone, and then came Cynthia and told him that you‘re on the phone and you sounded pissed. He said Gibbs had been reluctant in answering then. Tony...you and Gibbs, you don’t have any problems do you?“
Whereas his heart had been beating too hard just a second ago, it seemed to stand still for a long moment now.
„I guess...it could be that I wasn’t the easiest person to live with the last couple of days...“
He looked at the laptop, by now having a picture of his four kids and Jethro on the destop and sighed.
„Thanks for the call, Abby.“
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Tony paced the living room up and down. It was after nine so all the kids were asleep and he kept repeating he’s not late in his mind. Of course Jethro was late. He had told Tony that it would take a bit longer than usual, but do 3 hours count as „a bit“? Tony pushed the thought away. He hadn’t been that bad...had he? He had spend most of his time on his laptop. Everytime Jethro dared to say „Tim“ or „McGee“ he got a death glare, that by now matched his own. And their sex life had been down to zero since the interrupting phone call.
Only briefly Tony had considered that the man who called him hadn’t been Kramer. His gut was wrenching everytime he thought of these icy brown eyes and the feeling of familiarity was the same when he heard the voice, as when he saw the picture. For the first time of his life Tony felt exposed. As if he knew that the other knew how he tasted. It made Tony feel sick.
Finally the door opened and Tony turned to the door. Jethro looked at him for a moment, but then obviously decided against kissing him hello. Tony swallowed at this and decided to follow his plan to tell Jethro, once and for all.
„Listen...I’m sorry how I acted on the phone today.“
„It wasn’t necessary, you know? I told you that I have no interest in Stan. There’s no need to be jealous.“
Tony opened his mouth to deny, but then he realized that he was indeed, for the first time in his life, jealous.
„It’s just...I’m not there. And I know that he’s got the hots for you. I know you wouldn’t do anything...usually...“
„What do you mean, usually?“
Jethro frowned at him and Tony sighed.
„I haven’t been the best husband lately. I was stressed and always on the edge. To be a full time Dad with four, or rather five kids...and then the caller...I think I overreacted when I blamed Tim for it. You remember that I told you that Kramer seems familiar, right?“
Jethro nodded, the frown still present.
„Well, what I didn’t tell you about the caller is what he said before he hung up. He said that I might have forgotten him, but he remembers me. Every single minute.“
„You know him?“
„Apparently. I...all the time I searched everything but the name doesn’t appear anywhere...hang on...“
Tony rushed to his laptop and started typing.
„What?“
Jethro asked completely bewildered.
„In cases where youths or young people are judged the court sometimes give them the choice, either jail or service, right?“
„Yeah?“
„Well, if this guy offered information and changed his name after he had testified, I wouldn’t recognize the name, would I?“
Jethro sat on the armchair next to the couch.
„I guess not.“
„Back in Peoria, a short time after I had finished police academy, I met this guy. We’ve been dating for about four months, then I found out that he was a member of a...family company, if you know what I mean. I found out that he was chopping cars, so I reported him. I did my testimony in court but left before the verdict, cause I had duty. I have never tried to find out what happened to him because I felt so stupid for not seeing it earlier.“
He kept typing as he fell silent.
„You liked him, didn’t you?“
After a long moment Tony risked a glance at Jethro.
„I was totally green. And apart from chopping cars he really was a nice guy...I always thought he had used me...maybe I was wrong...I should apologise, right? Tim, I mean?“
„He’s pretty down. Which isn’t good. Oh, and by the way, I’ll see that I’ll transfere Stan somewhere else. I don’t know why but Abby was really upset about him.“
„Was she now?“
Jethro sat back in the armchair.
„You know something I don’t?“
Tony bit his cheek. Then he looked at Jethro.
„Well, since he considered Abby as a friend, he confined in her that he wants to take over the team. Apparently he wasn’t necessarily nicely talking about me, Tim, Stuard and Ziva. Furthermore he told Abby how you reacted when I called. Apparently he was quite amused that we have some problems.“
„My reaction when you called?“
Tony sighed and put his feet on the coffee table next to his laptop.
„You didn’t answer your desk and when Cynthia told you that I sounded pissed you were reluctant in answering.“
Jethro snorted and shook his head.
„I begin to think that Stan has lost his sense of reality. I was pissed when I talked to him and I didn’t answer without looking at the ID. I thought it was Cynthia, and I had told her that I don’t want to be interrupted. And when she told me that you’re pissed I took a deep breath to calm down before I talk to you. I had no idea what you were pissed about. If I had checked the ID and seen that it was you calling I would have answered right away. But I was pissed and jumped to conclusions. We don’t have marriage problems, Tony. If I do have a problem I’ll tell you.“
Tony looked at his hands, as if his nails were holding answers.
„Why didn’t you kiss me hello then?“
„Well...the last conversation wasn’t necessarily lovingly. I wanted to clear that before I kiss you. I don’t do untrue kisses.“
With that Jethro stood and sat next to Tony. He cupped the back of the younger man’s neck, softly stroking with his thumb and pulled him into a sweet kiss. Finally Tony forget about all the stress and pressure of the last days and let himself fall. Like goo in his husband’s hands he was pushed back onto the couch as his mouth was plundered. The kiss they shared was only briefly interrupted to get some air, and it turned more and more passionate. Usually he would have interrupted to tell Jethro to go into the bedroom, but it had been too long that he felt the touch of his lover like this; it wouldn’t be the first time Dan or Lish caught them kissing anyway. Meanwhile Jethro’s hands were busy with opening the buttons on Tony’s shirt. Just as his front was completely exposed his cell phone started to ring. Jethro pushed himself up and for a long moment they both stared at the phone.
„You don’t think...“
Tony pushed Jethro off him, softly but determined, and reached for the phone. Looking at the ID he let out a breath.
„It’s Abs.“
He said and saw Jethro relax. He opened the phone.
„Hey, Abby.“
„Tony, you gotta come...“
Sitting up straight at the tears in her voice he clutched the phone harder.
„Abby, what happened?“
„Somebody was in my apartment...he shot Stuard...“
Tony jumped off the seat, quickly followed by a confused Jethro.
„What’s going on?“
„Somebody broke into her apartment and shot Stuard.“
He walked towards the bedroom and returned to Abby.
„How is he? Have you called an ambulance?“
„They already took him. Tim’s driving me to the hospital. There’s a NCIS team securing my apartment.“
„Why didn’t you call me earlier?“
Tony demanded, but as a sob followed he already regretted it.
„Tony. Stuard’s been shot.“
It became terribly clear to Tony just how much she cared about his junior agent. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
„Is he going to Bethesda?“
„Yeah.“
„We’ll be right there, Abs.“
He closed the phone and stood still for a moment.
„Tony?“
„Tim’s bringing Abby to Bethesda. Stuard’s been brought there. There’s a team of us at her apartment...Do we take the kids?“
Tony glanced at his husband.
„Sure, there’s no other way. I’ll wake Dan and Lish. Make the twins ready.“
Tony nodded and was halfway to the nursery.
„Tony...what was Stuard doing at Abby’s apartment?“
He stopped and turned to Jethro. His gaze was enough and told Jethro everything he needed to know.
Story Notes:
Sorry for the long wait. I'm too lazy to put it up in several chapters, so this is Part 1 of Story 4. Maybe I'll continue in chapters, I don't know yet. I understand there is a problem with the feedback, and since I'm not able to write the maintainer of this side (if you read this thank you so much for putting it back up) here my email for feedback: strebergeist@aol.com
Author's Chapter Notes:
After the death of Jen Sheppard Tony can't find closure and suddenly he finds himself and worse everybody he loves in the hair cross of a seemingly too strong enemy.
Chapter End Notes:
Sorry for the long wait. I'm too lazy to put it up in several chapters, so this is Part 1 of Story 4. Maybe I'll continue in chapters, I don't know yet. I understand there is a problem with the feedback, and since I'm not able to write the maintainer of this side (if you read this thank you so much for putting it back up) here my email for feedback: strebergeist@aol.com