NCIS: Resting Place (Gibbs/DiNozzo)

[waldos_writings]

Title: Resting Place
Author: Waldo.
Words: 500
Pairing: Gibbs/DiNozzo
Rating: PG
Summary: " I’ve always gone alone,” Gibbs told him.  “Because you need to go alone, or because no one said they’d go with you?” Tony pressed.
Notes: This was written for the completely screwed over fifth round of "NCIS_LFWS" on LJ.   The prompt was one slash and one het story, 500 words or less each.  We had to use one of five given quotes as the inspiration for both stories.  I chose, "He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever."  (Chinese proverb)  This is (obviously) my slash entry.




Ziva noticed that Gibbs had come in wearing a button-down shirt and tie instead of his usual polo, but he hadn’t commented when she’d asked what the occasion was.

Tony deliberately kept his clowning to a minimum that morning, knowing damn well this was not the day to aggravate Gibbs.

McGee was mystified by both the change in Gibbs’ appearance and in Tony’s behavior.  Queries to Abby had only gotten him vague responses that hadn’t helped him understand the odd undercurrent he’d felt between Gibbs and DiNozzo.

At 3:00 Gibbs grabbed his jacket from his chair. “I’m heading out early.  McGee, I expect that email analysis to be on my desk when I come in tomorrow.”

“Y-yes, boss,” McGee stammered trying to understand what could possibly lead Gibbs to leave early. 

Before Gibbs could get across the squadroom and into the elevator, Tony had jumped up and jogged after him.  As the elevator descended, Tony reached over and flipped the switch.

Gibbs glared at him, as if stopping the elevator was a privilege he alone held.

“I’m not going to ask where you’re going,” Tony said.

“Good.  Because I wasn’t gonna tell you,” Gibbs retorted, reaching to restart the elevator.

Tony caught his hand.  “Because I already know.”

Gibbs pulled his hand back, his face clouding over.  “Then you know not to screw with me today, DiNozzo.”  This time he was successful in restarting the motor.

Tony didn’t touch him, but he did step into Gibbs' personal space.  “I want you to let me go with you this year.  Please don’t shut me out.”

“DiNozzo!” Gibbs barked; anything else he was thinking of saying held back as the elevator opened to the garage and they both maneuvered around the small herd of agents waiting for the elevator.

Tony followed Gibbs to his car and caught Gibbs’ hand as he reached to open the car door.  “Tell me that you need to do this alone and I’ll go back to work and then wait for you in your basement.”

Gibbs took a deep breath and let it out, finding it excessively difficult to make eye-contact with Tony.  He also found that he couldn’t lie to him.

“It’s not that…  I’ve always gone alone,” Gibbs finally told him. 

“Because you need to go alone, or because no one ever said they’d go with you?” Tony pressed.

Gibbs sighed and pressed the door-release twice, unlocking the other car door.  “I thought about asking this morning.  Couldn’t figure out how.”

“You just say, ‘It’s Kelly’s birthday.  I’m going to the cemetery and I’d like you to go with me,’” Tony whispered.

“Sounds easy when you say it.”



As they pulled through the cemetery gates, Gibbs broke a long silence.  “She’d be twenty-five today.”  He pulled over and Tony followed him through the markers.  “I think she would have liked you.”

Gibbs pushed away some of the dead leaves that had gathered around the headstone.  “Hey, Kel, I finally found someone worth bringing out here with me.”

Comments

[dirtyzucchini]

Very sad, and very good. It's very much in character, Gibbs unable to ask, Tony who has already figured it out... great job!

Thank you for sharing.

[waldo]

Thanks. :) I was kind of annoyed when this round didn't go to voting, because I was pretty pleased with how this came out.

And you have to know that Tony totally knows.

[brilliantomega]

I love this. Its open enough to be at any point in the timeline, and at any point in their relationship. Very in character and gut-wrenchingly sweet.

[waldo]

Thanks. :) I had a really specific idea of when it happens, but all those details had to get shredded to get it under 500 words. I think it started at 750 or something ridiculous.

So glad you liked it. :)

[brilliantomega]

Normally I like things to fall into a exact timeframe, but I think because this is something he does every year the openness makes it timeless. :D Perhaps you could write another set exact one year from this one will McGeek still confused and such but Tony all dressed up like Gibbs... That would be neat!

[waldo]

Tony frequently wears a suit, I'm not sure if anyone would notice. How long it would take Ziva and/or McGee to notice a pattern, though, is an interesting question.

[etrangerici]

Wonderful piece. I especially like how it stays in character for the whole team.

[waldo]

Thanks so much.

[adafrog]

Oh Gibbs. *hugs him tight*

[waldo]

Yeah, poor guy. Even Gibbs has his woobie days.

[adafrog]

True. And that's why Tony is there to comfort him. :D

[waldo]

Absolutely. ;)

[cookiemom6067]

*SOB*

That's so sweet, and so sad.

*SNIFF*

[waldo]

Um... thanks? :)

[seraphina_snape]

Aww, that was beautiful and a little bit heartbreaking. Loved the last line.

~ sera

[waldo]

Thanks so much. Poor Gibbs, he does the aloof thing so often and so well that sometimes he forgets that he really isn't alone.

[xanthe]

Lovely. I love that Tony gets in his face about it.

[waldo]

Thanks. And if anyone would, Tony would. Respectfully, but plainly.

[auds77]

I really liked supportive Tony here and also the last line showing how much Gibbs values Tony.

[waldo]

Thanks. Tony loves him, but Gibbs doesn't always remember that.

I make no sense...but I loved it.

[meneathiel]

*wibles* This is great. I like how it shows an obvious closeness and yet doesn't spell out 'RELATIONSHIP'. It's not necessarily 'more' then close co-workers but it could be anywhere in their timeline. Less is more IMHO.

“Because you need to go alone, or because no one ever said they’d go with you?” Tony pressed. I love when authors give Tony substance rather then making him all about the fun. This little fic of yours shows me a more thoughtful Tony then I see in most eps. I love the idea of Tony being someone Gibbs can depend on even if he rarely takes him up on the offer, just knowing he could means a lot.

Re: I make no sense...but I loved it.

[waldo]

Yes yes yes! You got it exactly. You make perfect sense.

I love the idea of Tony being someone Gibbs can depend on even if he rarely takes him up on the offer, just knowing he could means a lot.

This, right there? Was *exactly* what I was trying to say with the story!

Thank you!

[cadkitten]

I teared up. *sniffs*