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ncisficathonTITLE: Caring
AUTHOR: Ashley-Pitt
WRITTEN FOR:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
nakeisha
PROMPT: Gibbs/Fornell. Gibbs went to Fornell following Ducky’s death.
CHARACTERS: Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Tobias Fornell, Abby Sciuto, Anthony DiNozzo. Mention of Mrs. Mallard and Donald “Ducky” Mallard
PAIRINGS: Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Tobias Fornell
GENRE: Slash
ARCHIVE: fine with me
RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: I do not own these characters, nor am I making any money from them. I borrow them once in awhile, but put them away tidily
WORD COUNT: 1776
WARNING: Major character death, but not really angsty
SUMMARY: It is after Ducky’s death. Gibbs and Fornell learn more about their own relationship.
Fornell was the last to leave the room. The children had all given their good-byes to Ducky. The FBI agent turned back to look at Gibbs.
The gray haired agent stood beside the open casket of his lover. He bent down and kissed the high broad forehead for a final time.
Fornell could see by Gibbs’s body language that he was almost overcome: his shoulders were slightly slumped, the famous Gibbs’s presence seemed subdued, diminished.
Formal slipped from the room and waited in the hall.
A few minutes later Gibbs stood beside the FBI agent.
“I have a big favor to ask of you Tobias,” he said.
“Anything Jethro. You know that.”
“Could you drive me to the cemetery? Then back to Reston house… Ducky wanted every body to come there for some food and…” the gray haired agent stopped to clear his throat.
“Of course Jethro. I can stay as long as you need me.”
“Appreciate that Tobias.”
Gibbs was quiet on the drive to the cemetery. The FBI agent could see his friend reach within himself and gather strength for the rest of the day.
The ceremony at the grave was short but emotional. Gibbs nearly had to hold up the sobbing Abby.
On the drive back to Reston house, Gibbs was again silent. Fornell’s heart ached for his friend and he reached out to touch the gray-haired man’s knee.
Gibbs covered his friend’s hand with his own and squeezed it gently.
They rode on in companionable silence.
Mrs. Patterson, Ducky’s neighbor had everything ready as soon as the group reached Reston house.
As sometimes happens after a funeral, the somber mood lightened a little, as one by one people began to tell “remember when Ducky told the story about…?” stories and smiled with the memories.
The guest milled about. Gibbs stoically accepted all the condolences given.
As the last person left, he turned and leaned against the door.
“Jethro, how long has it been since you slept?”
“A while…Tobias. Hey, could….would .. you stay in the house with me tonight? It is.. Just . Ah fuck…it is just so empty with out him.”
“Sure Jethro. You go upstairs. I’ll check the perimeter and be up. I think a nightcap would be just what the doc… Would be a good idea.”
Gibbs nodded and slowly climbed the stairs.
Fornell watched him go. He made his way around the stately Reston House, checking doors, turning out lights. He stopped in the kitchen to snag two glasses and the bottle of bourbon.
He walked up the stairs to the second floor. Fornell had been at the House enough times to know the location of the rooms.
The master bedroom, Ducky and Gibbs’s room was to the left…the door closed tightly. To the right a light shown in Jethro’s room…or so they called it, until Mrs. Mallard said to her son, “Donald, I hope you aren’t making that fine young man sleep all by himself.”
Fornell smiled as he remembered the spirited woman.
He walked into the bedroom. A trail of discarded clothes led to the bed, where Gibbs now lay sleeping.
The FBI agent placed the bourbon on the bedside table and slowly began picking things up. He folded them and placed them over a chair.
Gibbs never stirred.
Fornell sat in a chair near the bed. He poured a large measure of amber liquid into the fine cut glass tumbler. A far cry from the jelly jars of Gibbs’s basement.
He raised the glass and said “to Ducky… and to you Jethro.” He took a sip.
The FBI agent then just sat, content to watch over his only friend.
Several hours later Fornell awoke with a start. He had not meant to fall asleep in the chair. He glanced at the bedside clock: four am. It was silly to go and find the guest bedroom at this time of the morning.
Besides, he was cold and sore from sitting in a chair.
Gibbs was all the way on the far side of the bed…hell, why not?
Fornell quickly shucked his clothes and slipped in under the blanket.
The bed was warm and comfortable, but suddenly he felt an arm reached over him and pull him close.
Gibbs never woke, but murmured gently, “cold..come here”
Pinioned under the strong arm, the FBI agent initially thought of extricating himself, but that meant waking Gibbs. And rumors ran rife about waking an ex- Marine.
Besides this felt good…very good. It had been a long time since he had shared a bed with any one.
Fornell gradually drifted off to sleep. A dreamless sleep.
Sunlight slanting through the window, awakened him several hours later.
The other side of the bed was empty.
The noise of a shower came from the bathroom. Gibbs emerged a few minutes later. He was naked, except for the towel which he used to dry his hair. He threw the towel in to the hamper, rummaged in a drawer and found a pair of NCIS sweat pants.
“Morning Tobias.” He said as he donned the pants. “I think I left you some hot water if you need a shower. Come down to the kitchen when you are ready. I will make the coffee.”
Momentarily, the FBI agent thought of how good a hot shower would feel, but suddenly remembered that he promised to take Emily to a Hanna Montana concert.
He jumped from the warm bed. He splashed water on his face and chewed on some toothpaste. He put on his shirt and pants and hurried down the steps.
Gibbs handed him a cup of hot black coffee as soon as he entered the kitchen.
“ I just remember, I have Em today.” He said as he sipped the scalding brew. It was just as he liked it: black with three sugars. “You okay?”
Gibbs shrugged, “I will be.”
“I really have to go,” the FBI agent said as he took one last sip and put down the cup.
Fornell walked to the front door. As he place his hand on the knob he turned and said, “Jethro, call me if you need anything.”
Gibbs moved forward. He wrapped his arms around the slightly smaller man and hugged him tightly
Fornell returned the embrace. After a few seconds he pulled away slightly and looked up in to the blue eyes which could be so icy and cold at times, but now held only softness.
Slowly he tilted his head and placed a kiss on the gray-haired agent’s lips.
Gibbs was not surprised.
The kiss itself was long, not hurried. It spoke not so much of loneliness or despair but of a long standing friendship that was waiting to be kindled into passion.
Finally, the two reluctantly separated.
“I really have to go.” Fornell said as he opened the door and made his way out to his car.
Work was hellishly busy and the FBI agent didn’t have a chance to call NCIS until Wednesday.
Unfortunately, the phone was answered by DiNozzo who happily informed the FBI agent that Gibbs was out of the office for a few days and as acting team leader he, DiNozzo would be happy to assist the FBI in anyway that he could.
“Go back to your own desk, DiNottzo.” Fornell said as he hung up.
Fornell then called Gibbs’s cell and as expected got his voice mail. He left this message: “Jethro, on the outside chance that you ever retrieve your messages, I will bring dinner over to Reston house on Friday. I have been jones-ing for Chinese and the best place in the DC area is right near you. See you at six-thirty.”
Fornell was able to get out of work at a reasonable time on Friday afternoon. After a stop at Wong’s for take-out and the store for a six pack of Tsingtao beer he made it to Reston house by six thirty-one.
Gibbs’s car was in the driveway. In fact it looked like it hadn’t been moved all week. Well, at least that meant he was home.
The FBI agent gathered the bags and made his way to the backyard.
As an enticement to finally convince Gibbs to move into Reston house, Ducky had a pole barn built at the back of the property. “This way Tobias, he may actually get to sail the damn boat one day.” the ME had said.
“Jethro, you here?” Fornell called as he walked through the open doors.
A muffled reply came from under the wooden hull.
“What?”
A hand appeared from under the gunwale and pointed to the rear of the barn. “I set the table.”
Fornell made his way back to the table. Well, it was sort of a table. Gibbs had placed a sheet of plywood over several sawhorses. He had stacked crates for chairs. There were plates, silverware and beer mugs. A roll of paper towel served as napkins.
Fornell placed the many containers of food on the table and opened two bottles of beer.
“Lo Mein?” Gibbs said as he grabbed a white box and began to shovel the noodles into his mouth with chopsticks.
“Good to see you too, Jethro.” Tobias said as he poured the beer.
The two men talked as they ate. Well, Fornell talked, Gibbs mostly ate.
Finally, the gray-haired agent put down his chopsticks and leaned back against the wall.
“That was good Tobias. Thanks.”
“You’ re welcome. Jethro, there is something that has been bothering me all week.” Fornell said as he toyed with the label on the beer bottle. “It’s about….hell..do you have any bourbon?”
Gibbs got up and walked over to the work bench. He opened a hand made oak cabinet and removed a bottle.
Returning to the table, he poured the amber liquid into the almost empty beer mug.
The balding man took a healthy swig and said, “Damn, you are stocking the good stuff now. It is about what Ducky said to me the last time I saw him.”
“When he was in the hospital?”
“Yeah, he looked over at me and said, I worry about Jethro being alone. Please take care him for me Tobias. Jethro, what happened the other night between us… is that what he meant.”
Gibbs looked down into his glass. He said, “I think so Tobias. Ducky always told me Tobias Fornell is a good man. He will care for you when I am gone.
“How did he..?”
“Ducky just knew.”
The FBI agent took another drink from his glass.
“Now what is supposed to happen?”
Gibbs stood up and held out his hand to his friend.
“It is getting cold. Let’s go into the house and build a fire and talk.”
AUTHOR: Ashley-Pitt
WRITTEN FOR:
nakeisha PROMPT: Gibbs/Fornell. Gibbs went to Fornell following Ducky’s death.
CHARACTERS: Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Tobias Fornell, Abby Sciuto, Anthony DiNozzo. Mention of Mrs. Mallard and Donald “Ducky” Mallard
PAIRINGS: Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Tobias Fornell
GENRE: Slash
ARCHIVE: fine with me
RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: I do not own these characters, nor am I making any money from them. I borrow them once in awhile, but put them away tidily
WORD COUNT: 1776
WARNING: Major character death, but not really angsty
SUMMARY: It is after Ducky’s death. Gibbs and Fornell learn more about their own relationship.
Fornell was the last to leave the room. The children had all given their good-byes to Ducky. The FBI agent turned back to look at Gibbs.
The gray haired agent stood beside the open casket of his lover. He bent down and kissed the high broad forehead for a final time.
Fornell could see by Gibbs’s body language that he was almost overcome: his shoulders were slightly slumped, the famous Gibbs’s presence seemed subdued, diminished.
Formal slipped from the room and waited in the hall.
A few minutes later Gibbs stood beside the FBI agent.
“I have a big favor to ask of you Tobias,” he said.
“Anything Jethro. You know that.”
“Could you drive me to the cemetery? Then back to Reston house… Ducky wanted every body to come there for some food and…” the gray haired agent stopped to clear his throat.
“Of course Jethro. I can stay as long as you need me.”
“Appreciate that Tobias.”
Gibbs was quiet on the drive to the cemetery. The FBI agent could see his friend reach within himself and gather strength for the rest of the day.
The ceremony at the grave was short but emotional. Gibbs nearly had to hold up the sobbing Abby.
On the drive back to Reston house, Gibbs was again silent. Fornell’s heart ached for his friend and he reached out to touch the gray-haired man’s knee.
Gibbs covered his friend’s hand with his own and squeezed it gently.
They rode on in companionable silence.
Mrs. Patterson, Ducky’s neighbor had everything ready as soon as the group reached Reston house.
As sometimes happens after a funeral, the somber mood lightened a little, as one by one people began to tell “remember when Ducky told the story about…?” stories and smiled with the memories.
The guest milled about. Gibbs stoically accepted all the condolences given.
As the last person left, he turned and leaned against the door.
“Jethro, how long has it been since you slept?”
“A while…Tobias. Hey, could….would .. you stay in the house with me tonight? It is.. Just . Ah fuck…it is just so empty with out him.”
“Sure Jethro. You go upstairs. I’ll check the perimeter and be up. I think a nightcap would be just what the doc… Would be a good idea.”
Gibbs nodded and slowly climbed the stairs.
Fornell watched him go. He made his way around the stately Reston House, checking doors, turning out lights. He stopped in the kitchen to snag two glasses and the bottle of bourbon.
He walked up the stairs to the second floor. Fornell had been at the House enough times to know the location of the rooms.
The master bedroom, Ducky and Gibbs’s room was to the left…the door closed tightly. To the right a light shown in Jethro’s room…or so they called it, until Mrs. Mallard said to her son, “Donald, I hope you aren’t making that fine young man sleep all by himself.”
Fornell smiled as he remembered the spirited woman.
He walked into the bedroom. A trail of discarded clothes led to the bed, where Gibbs now lay sleeping.
The FBI agent placed the bourbon on the bedside table and slowly began picking things up. He folded them and placed them over a chair.
Gibbs never stirred.
Fornell sat in a chair near the bed. He poured a large measure of amber liquid into the fine cut glass tumbler. A far cry from the jelly jars of Gibbs’s basement.
He raised the glass and said “to Ducky… and to you Jethro.” He took a sip.
The FBI agent then just sat, content to watch over his only friend.
Several hours later Fornell awoke with a start. He had not meant to fall asleep in the chair. He glanced at the bedside clock: four am. It was silly to go and find the guest bedroom at this time of the morning.
Besides, he was cold and sore from sitting in a chair.
Gibbs was all the way on the far side of the bed…hell, why not?
Fornell quickly shucked his clothes and slipped in under the blanket.
The bed was warm and comfortable, but suddenly he felt an arm reached over him and pull him close.
Gibbs never woke, but murmured gently, “cold..come here”
Pinioned under the strong arm, the FBI agent initially thought of extricating himself, but that meant waking Gibbs. And rumors ran rife about waking an ex- Marine.
Besides this felt good…very good. It had been a long time since he had shared a bed with any one.
Fornell gradually drifted off to sleep. A dreamless sleep.
Sunlight slanting through the window, awakened him several hours later.
The other side of the bed was empty.
The noise of a shower came from the bathroom. Gibbs emerged a few minutes later. He was naked, except for the towel which he used to dry his hair. He threw the towel in to the hamper, rummaged in a drawer and found a pair of NCIS sweat pants.
“Morning Tobias.” He said as he donned the pants. “I think I left you some hot water if you need a shower. Come down to the kitchen when you are ready. I will make the coffee.”
Momentarily, the FBI agent thought of how good a hot shower would feel, but suddenly remembered that he promised to take Emily to a Hanna Montana concert.
He jumped from the warm bed. He splashed water on his face and chewed on some toothpaste. He put on his shirt and pants and hurried down the steps.
Gibbs handed him a cup of hot black coffee as soon as he entered the kitchen.
“ I just remember, I have Em today.” He said as he sipped the scalding brew. It was just as he liked it: black with three sugars. “You okay?”
Gibbs shrugged, “I will be.”
“I really have to go,” the FBI agent said as he took one last sip and put down the cup.
Fornell walked to the front door. As he place his hand on the knob he turned and said, “Jethro, call me if you need anything.”
Gibbs moved forward. He wrapped his arms around the slightly smaller man and hugged him tightly
Fornell returned the embrace. After a few seconds he pulled away slightly and looked up in to the blue eyes which could be so icy and cold at times, but now held only softness.
Slowly he tilted his head and placed a kiss on the gray-haired agent’s lips.
Gibbs was not surprised.
The kiss itself was long, not hurried. It spoke not so much of loneliness or despair but of a long standing friendship that was waiting to be kindled into passion.
Finally, the two reluctantly separated.
“I really have to go.” Fornell said as he opened the door and made his way out to his car.
Work was hellishly busy and the FBI agent didn’t have a chance to call NCIS until Wednesday.
Unfortunately, the phone was answered by DiNozzo who happily informed the FBI agent that Gibbs was out of the office for a few days and as acting team leader he, DiNozzo would be happy to assist the FBI in anyway that he could.
“Go back to your own desk, DiNottzo.” Fornell said as he hung up.
Fornell then called Gibbs’s cell and as expected got his voice mail. He left this message: “Jethro, on the outside chance that you ever retrieve your messages, I will bring dinner over to Reston house on Friday. I have been jones-ing for Chinese and the best place in the DC area is right near you. See you at six-thirty.”
Fornell was able to get out of work at a reasonable time on Friday afternoon. After a stop at Wong’s for take-out and the store for a six pack of Tsingtao beer he made it to Reston house by six thirty-one.
Gibbs’s car was in the driveway. In fact it looked like it hadn’t been moved all week. Well, at least that meant he was home.
The FBI agent gathered the bags and made his way to the backyard.
As an enticement to finally convince Gibbs to move into Reston house, Ducky had a pole barn built at the back of the property. “This way Tobias, he may actually get to sail the damn boat one day.” the ME had said.
“Jethro, you here?” Fornell called as he walked through the open doors.
A muffled reply came from under the wooden hull.
“What?”
A hand appeared from under the gunwale and pointed to the rear of the barn. “I set the table.”
Fornell made his way back to the table. Well, it was sort of a table. Gibbs had placed a sheet of plywood over several sawhorses. He had stacked crates for chairs. There were plates, silverware and beer mugs. A roll of paper towel served as napkins.
Fornell placed the many containers of food on the table and opened two bottles of beer.
“Lo Mein?” Gibbs said as he grabbed a white box and began to shovel the noodles into his mouth with chopsticks.
“Good to see you too, Jethro.” Tobias said as he poured the beer.
The two men talked as they ate. Well, Fornell talked, Gibbs mostly ate.
Finally, the gray-haired agent put down his chopsticks and leaned back against the wall.
“That was good Tobias. Thanks.”
“You’ re welcome. Jethro, there is something that has been bothering me all week.” Fornell said as he toyed with the label on the beer bottle. “It’s about….hell..do you have any bourbon?”
Gibbs got up and walked over to the work bench. He opened a hand made oak cabinet and removed a bottle.
Returning to the table, he poured the amber liquid into the almost empty beer mug.
The balding man took a healthy swig and said, “Damn, you are stocking the good stuff now. It is about what Ducky said to me the last time I saw him.”
“When he was in the hospital?”
“Yeah, he looked over at me and said, I worry about Jethro being alone. Please take care him for me Tobias. Jethro, what happened the other night between us… is that what he meant.”
Gibbs looked down into his glass. He said, “I think so Tobias. Ducky always told me Tobias Fornell is a good man. He will care for you when I am gone.
“How did he..?”
“Ducky just knew.”
The FBI agent took another drink from his glass.
“Now what is supposed to happen?”
Gibbs stood up and held out his hand to his friend.
“It is getting cold. Let’s go into the house and build a fire and talk.”
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no subject
Date: 2009-08-21 10:25 am (UTC)*Sniffles*
*Wipes eyes*
So very poignant. So very moving. So very good.
This was lovely - thank you.
So many good moments and great characterisation.
I did get to smile in the tenny bit with Fornell calling and DiNozzo answering the phone - lovely.
Thank you so much for this, Ashley.
no subject
Date: 2009-08-21 10:33 am (UTC)Whew...I am so glad that you liked it.
I was a little worried that it would get too angsty or too out of character.
Thank you for your very nice comments.
And you are very welcome!
( Well you know DiNozzo..hee)
no subject
Date: 2009-08-21 10:40 am (UTC)I did, very much.
Not at all.
You're welcome.
Hee. I do.
no subject
Date: 2009-08-21 05:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-21 08:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-06 12:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-07 12:27 am (UTC)*sends good vibes to you to be able to read more fics.*