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Title: Safer, And Better
By: nancy
Pairing: Tony/Gibbs
Fandom: NCIS
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: shmoop and sex.
Summary: Kate gives Tony some dating advice, which Gibbs overhears.

***

"I really think you should just ask him out, DiNozzo. I mean think about it. Between the two of you, I think you've dated or been interested in more murderers than whoever dated Jack the Ripper."

"Gee thanks, Kate, you're all heart."

Jethro froze in place before reaching the break-room, the words stopping him in his tracks. There was no way that Kate could mean that Tony should date him?

"Seriously, Tony. It's be safer for you and Gibbs both to just date each other. Besides, I don't think the man's had sex since he was last married. Why do you think he's such a bastard all the time?"

"So it's a choice between me and his right hand? You're really too kind."

Just the fact that they were talking about Tony dating him spun Jethro's mind into a whirl.

"And anyhow, there's a flaw in your suggestion."

"What's that?"

"Gibbs is straight, what do you think?"

"I think he's not as straight as you think he is."

"What's that mean?"

"It means, I don't think that Gibbs cares about gender when real emotions are involved, Tony! You're such an idiot sometimes, you know that?"

Kate was right, but there was no way that he'd ever let her know that. Well, he'd let her know that she was right about DiNozzo being an idiot sometimes, but not the other.

"What about rule number twelve?"

"Screw rule number twelve. I know he likes you, Tony, he wouldn't put up with your crap otherwise. And same goes the other way."

"You put up with my crap, why don't you date me?"

"Because I'd kill you in ten seconds flat."

There was a pause as they both thought that statement over, then apparently decided to leave it alone.

"I can't date my boss, Kate!"

"Why not?"

"Because he's my boss!Jeeze!"

"Look. Rules and regulations aside, I really think the two of you fit. You should ask him out."

"I'm going to go back to my desk now, before your head starts spinning around and you start speaking in tongues."

"Cute, DiNozzo."

"I thought so. And I'm not going to ask him out."

Jethro stepped forward just then, meeting up with Tony, and had the evil glee of watching Tony's eyes widen in panic as he clearly wondered just how much of the conversation that he'd heard. Jethro asked mildly, "Ask who out?"

"Ah, no one you'd know, Boss," Tony lied.

If Jethro hadn't known better, he probably would've believed Tony. But then, that was why the younger agent did undercover work so well. "Try and keep your love life out of the office, DiNozzo. You too, Kate."

He brushed past them into the break-room, leaving them to wonder how much he really knew and taking even more glee from their discomfort. Sometimes, it really was a lot of fun to be a bastard.

*  *  *  *

Jethro let them stew about it for the rest of the day and, by the following morning, the incident seemed to have been forgotten. It helped that they got a call about a murder case and spent the next two days uncovering the perp. They finished up late on Friday when Jethro asked casually, "You got plans this weekend, DiNozzo?"

Tony froze in the middle of packing up his backpack and answered, "Got a date tomorrow night, but not otherwise. Why?"

"I need to pick up some lumber and could use a hand," Jethro explained. "You up for it?"

The real explanation was that, now he knew that Tony was interested, Jethro wanted to get someone he could trust down in the basement and make some better memories than the last set with Wilkerson. He wanted to erase the feel of a killer in his home as soon as possible. And having Tony in his arms, helpless with pleasure had absolutely nothing to do with it.

Definitely not.

Grinning to himself, Jethro waited for Tony's answer.

Finally, Tony said, "I guess I could come over."

"Don't strain yourself with enthusiasm, DiNozzo."

"No, sorry. It's just, I didn't expect...what time and where would you like me?"

As often as possible and in every position, Jethro thought, still grinning internally. Out loud, he answered, "My house, seven a.m.

He could practically hear the groan Tony stifled as the other agent nodded and actually managed a sickly smile along with, "Sure thing, Boss. Bright and early."

"Early bird catches the worm, DiNozzo."

Among other things.

*  *  *  *

Tony groaned as he tried to rub a sore spot that was just out of reach on his back. Gibbs had been working him hard all damn morning, carting lumber first from the shop to the truck, then the truck into the basement.

Getting up at early on a Saturday should be outlawed, he thought mutinously. What the hell did you agree to this for?

But he knew why he'd agreed; because it was a chance to spend time with Gibbs outside of work and enter that carefully guarded world.

"Beer?"

Tony automatically looked at his watch, which read 12:14pm, and held out his hand to take the beer.

"Something wrong with drinking before noon<, DiNozzo?" Gibbs questioned, leaning on the desk beside him.

Shrugging, Tony took a sip and answered, "Just not how I was raised, Boss."

"Were you raised to take pizza as a thank you?"

Tony grinned and tapped the can to Gibbs' before saying, "Absolutely."

"Great. Have them deliver while I sort out the stacks."

Tony watched as Gibbs walked over to the piles of wood and began organizing them. The jeans were just this side of loose, curving with Gibbs' body, but not clinging to it. The t-shirt was beyond soaked with sweat and showed off the strong physique to a disturbing detail. Shaking himself from the lustful fog, Tony pulled his cell phone from his pocket and dialed his favorite place by memory, knowing they'd deliver out to east Oshkosh for him.

Once that was taken care of, he moved over to help sort things out, still a little surprised by how easily they worked together. They hadn't really done manual labor together before this, but passing boards from hands to hands went smoothly, as if they'd done it a hundred times. The silence was comfortable, only filled with the occasional curse when Tony stubbed his toe or got a splinter.

By the time the pizza arrived, they were done organizing things to Gibbs' satisfaction, a feat worthy of more than just pizza in Tony's opinion. He started to follow the other man upstairs, but was waved aside. Looking around the basement, Tony ran his hands over the tools laid out carefully on a workbench, clearly in a particular order, but didn't disturb them.

Gibbs returned with the pizza, as well as more beer, and set them on the desk. Flipping the box open, Tony snagged a piece and ate quickly, his stomach feeling like it was hitting his spine from the inside. Two more pieces went just as fast before he stopped to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Didn't you eat breakfast?" Gibbs asked curiously, still on his first slice.

Shrugging, Tony answered, "Overslept. Didn't want to keep you waiting."

"Well thanks, but next time, eat so I don't have to worry about you passing out."

"You weren't worried this time."

"Only because you didn't tell me."

"True."

Yawning a little, Tony picked up his beer and took a long gulp, relaxing as he did so.

"There's a lot of things you don't tell me, Tony."

Relaxation gone in an instant, Tony met the neutral blue gaze and asked warily, "Like?"

"Like if I'd want to go out some time," Gibbs replied.

Tony groaned, embarrassment flushing through him, and exclaimed, "I knew you heard that conversation! I told Kate, but she didn't believe me."

Gibbs offered a brief grin as he confirmed, "Every word or, near enough."

"Look, Boss, I'm sorry about that. I'll wring Kate's neck so she can't do it again, how's that?"

"I can handle comments about my lack of a sex life," Gibbs answered dryly. "What I'd like to know, for real, is if you would like to go out with me."

Tony froze in place. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me."

"No, I don't think I did."

Practically growling, Gibbs replied, "This is worse than high school! Do you want to go out, or not?"

"Ah, I thought, I mean, aren't you straight?"

Gibbs' eyes rolled a little in annoyance and he fished the can of beer from Tony's hand to put aside before stepping directly in front of him. Right up until the point where Gibbs' lips touched his, Tony thought, There's no way he's going to kiss me. Not a chance. He's not going to...oh God...he's kissing me.

And he was a really, really, really good kisser, though that thought was a lot more fuzzy than the previous. Gibbs' hands came up to cup his face, holding him still as he devoured Tony's mouth with the same, single-minded focus that brought killers and terrorists to justice. Tony went limp against the desk, barely supporting himself upon it, and opened his mouth to the soft, but determined onslaught.

Gibbs pulled back a few minutes later, eyes glittering with lust as they looked back at Tony and he asked, "You okay with this? Talking and doing are two very different things and Rule 12 exists for a reason."

In answer, Tony grabbed the damp t-shirt and pushed Gibbs back so that he was pressed against the frame of his boat, then promptly took Gibbs' mouth with his. Gibbs wasn't the only one who knew how to kiss, after all, and it was time to prove it. From the groan that echoed into his mouth as their tongues slid together and the way Gibbs' hands tightened on Tony's hips, his kissing skills more than passed muster.

Then he found himself flipped around, his back pressed against a wooden curve, and Gibbs was grinding up against him. Heat shot through him and he moaned, hooking a leg over Gibbs' hip to pull him in tighter. The friction felt incredible and he panted into Gibbs' mouth, arching up into the contact. Gibbs' kiss literally stole his breath as they moved against each other. Tony's nails dug in to Gibbs' back, spurring him on to thrust harder and, in a few short minutes, Tony jerked against him, coming hard. Gibbs continued to rub against him a few more seconds before crying out and coming as well.

It took a few more minutes to recover and, when Gibbs finally pulled away again, Tony offered him a lazy smile. "This was a way better reward than pizza, Boss."

Gibbs snorted, but the look in his eyes was affectionate as he smacked Tony upside the back of the head.

*  *  *  *

There was something different between Gibbs and DiNozzo, but Kate couldn't for the life of her figure out what. It was almost a week after the near-miss in the break-room and Gibbs hadn't brought it up, so she was positive that they were in the clear. It wasn't until Thursday that she realized that Tony hadn't ever mentioned what his date on Saturday night had included, where usually, he spilled more than just the gory details. And, once she was thinking about it, they had been spending more time together on the investigation than was usual.

Kate's eyes widened as she realized what was going on, then narrowed as she looked between them. So. They were going to try and keep her out of the loop, were they? Well. She fix that in short order. Knowing the perfect revenge would have to include Abby and/or Ducky, Kate stood and announced, "I'm going to see how Abby's doing on those samples."

Gibbs grunted in her direction and Tony ignored her altogether, focused on his part of the paper trail.

Irritated, Kate strode to the elevator and jabbed the call button.

*  *  *  *

Jethro grinned over at Tony and said, "You owe me twenty bucks, DiNozzo."

"Damn it," Tony exclaimed. "I thought for sure she'd be clueless for at least a week."

"I hired her for a reason."

"Yeah, to be the bane of my existence."

Chuckling at the sour response, Jethro took the twenty dollar bill and reminded, "Never bet with a Gunny. You'll always lose."

"Yeah, yeah," Tony grumbled, but his eyes were sparkling with humor as he retook his seat.

Jethro shook his head fondly and turned back to his work. He didn't have any idea where this was going, but Kate was right about one thing. They were safer, and better, together than alone.

***