ncisficathon | Phoenix needs to fly

Title: Phoenix needs to fly
Author:Ghost's Writer
Writter For: nightshadow_t2
Prompt: Story 1: Tony/Gibbs: Lets try role reversal. Tony is an experienced
shifter. Gibbs comes into his heritage late and is having trouble.
Tony helps. Them being mates is awesome. Bonus if they're different
types of shifter.(Panther, pumas, tigers, bobcats, horses, griffins,
wolves, lions, dragons, centaurs, foxes, coyote, eagle, hawk, etc.
Pick one)
Archive: Please at least wait until I'm finished and ask me first
Genre: Slash (m/m)
Pairings: Gibbs/DiNozzo
Rating: PG (I'm really not good with ratings. If you think differently, say so)
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters of NCIS, anything else is mine. No money being made.
Word Count: Prologue:
Summary: Tony has to reveile a hard truth to Gibbs. Gibbs' decisions after that will have consequences so much bigger than Gibbs or Tony can foresee.
Author's Note: Once again a cute little bunny turned into a Gremlin. I realized early enough that I would never be able to finish the whole thing so this is Part One of a Series. Unfortunately I didn't get to finish this one yet, but I'm working on it. There's one more chapter to come. I neither had time to get a beta. I wanted you guys to know that I'm still in and it's a work in process. Hopefully I will have it finished and betaed before the three weeks end.

Links to: Prologue, Chapter 2, 3

Prologue
Chapter 2
Chapter 3

Washington DC 2010

Tony woke slowly from a deep, restful sleep. He could hear some annoying ringing and figured it would be his alarm clock, so he tried to hit snooze. He was bright awake when the alarm clock actually smashed with a loud crash.

'Damn' he thought and stretched, only to realize that the ringing still continued. He yawned, though if anyone had heard it, it sounded more like a roar. Probably, because it actually came out as a roar. He shook his head, the brown mane swinging softly. Stretching, the golden fur turned into tanned skin and soon the majestic lion was gone and Tony lay naked on his bed, glancing at another damaged alarm clock and then wondered what that ringing was.

His mind was always slow when he slept in his other shape, which was the reason he only slept in it when he didn't have to work in the morning. Finally, as the ringing started over again, he realized that it was his cell phone. Sighing he stumbled out of bed to his jeans. Fishing the annoying item out of his pocket he glared at the screen. Gibbs.

“Hey, boss.” He answered rubbing his eyes.

“Why the hell did it take you that long to answer your damn phone?” Came the grumpy excuse for a greeting.

“Well, it's saturday morning and I'm off duty, what do you think? I was asleep!” he said a little pissed.

“It's 10.30 already!” Gibbs replied.

“Boss, not everybody gets up at five on an off day...why do you call anyway?” Tony tried to end the pointless discussion.

“Get to the office RIGHT NOW!”

Tony knew the tone of voice and the click of a line being broken too well. He didn't lose time jumping into his clothes and rushing out of the apartment. He knew that Gibbs wouldn't order him to the office on their day off if it wasn't really important.

It took him barely twenty minutes to be at the office and as he exited the elevator he figured he was the first one there. Gibbs was pacing the space between his and McGee's desk, looking pissed and worried at the same time, which gave Tony that hated feeling of doom.

“Boss.” He called out as he rushed to his desk. “What's going on?”

“Abby's been kidnapped.” Gibbs snapped and Tony's mouth fell open.

“No...what...how...” he couldn't even think of something to say.

“I went to pick her up for her birthday breakfast. When I came to her apartment she wasn't there but I found these letters. One was addressed to me,” he made a pause and fixed his glare on Tony, “and this one's for you.”

Shakily Tony reached out for the letter in the plastic wrapper.

Dear Anthony,

you had to know that oblivion would not keep him safe forever. If you want to save your friend, you will have to use his strength

The Shadow Alliance

“Who's the Shadow Alliance?” Gibbs asked, his arms crossed over his chest.

Tony swallowed hard and fought to look at Gibbs. “You didn't call McGee and Ziva in, did you?”

Gibbs shook his head. “Vance insisted that another team is working the case. I kind of took these letters without them knowing. I wanted answers first. Who's the Shadow Alliance? Who are they talking of in the letter?”

“Ok, listen,” Tony lowered his voice and looked around the bullpen, “I'll explain, but I can't do it here. Let's...let's go to your place.”

Gibbs glared at him for a too long moment before he nodded.

The drive to Gibbs' house Tony used to think. How could he possibly break the news to Gibbs? How much should he tell him right now? Is there really no other way? Well, they pretty much forced him to talk to Gibbs with the letter. Tony had always known that this system wouldn't work forever, but he had hoped he'd have a little more time to think about it. Although, if he was honest to himself, he'd had eight years and it didn't help him a bit.

For once, Tony was annoyed that Gibbs lived that close to NCIS, and when he parked in front of the other man's house, he still had no idea what to tell him. Gathering all his courage he went inside.

He found Gibbs in the kitchen, sitting at the table, staring at the letter he had gotten from the Shadow Alliance.

“Talk.” He simply said and sounded tired.

“This is not going to be easy, boss, and I know that you will have trouble believing anything I'm going to say.” Tony said, while sitting down opposite Gibbs.

“Talk.” Gibbs said again.

Tony nodded and sighed. “Ok...See...the world is not as – um – logical as you probably think.” He looked up to see Gibbs frown at him. “Alright, I'll just push you into the cold water: There actually is magic.”

Gibbs' frown increased. “You think this is funny, DiNozzo?”

“I actually mean it, Gibbs. There's magic and there are people who can use it. See, thousands of years ago, there was this supernatural war going on and the mages – those who could use some magic – they used a spell that turned brave people into warriors.” Tony explained and felt stupid for saying this, although he knew it was true.

“Why would you need mages to turn men into warriors?” Gibbs asked with a raised eyebrow. Tony knew he wasn't buying anything.

“Those weren't usual warriors, as it wasn't a usual war. The creatures they had to fight, they came right from hell. And to fight those the warriors needed special powers. It turned out that what worked the best was the strength and abilities of animals with a human mind. So the mages gave those people the power to change into animals.”

That obviously was the line, as Gibbs stood up actually laughing at Tony. “Did you turn crazy.”

“I was prepared that you wouldn't believe me.” Tony said and stood up himself. “Fortunately, that's something I can prove to you.”

In a moment too short for Gibbs to see, Tony was gone and instead a big lion stood in his kitchen. Gibbs made an involuntary step back, staring at the beast. “What the hell...” he muttered and then pinched himself. “I can't be awake...” he said, when he actually felt the pinch.

As suddenly as the lion had appeared it was gone and Tony was back – butt naked. While he put his clothes back on, Tony looked at Gibbs. “Are we now at a point where you actually believe what I'm telling you?”

Gibbs swallowed hard and sank back into the chair. “You're telling me, that...you're one of those warriors? You're thousands of years old?”

“No.” Tony sat back down as well. “Shifters are just as mortal as any other human. I'm a descendent of a shifter. And so are you.”

Gibbs blinked a few times. “I...I can't be...I can't change into a lion.”

“Not yet. I was lucky. My parents were both shifters and they taught me everything they knew. Most shifters aren't as lucky to find other shifters for partners and when they settle down with non-shifters they usually deny their heritage. There are many shifters out there who have no idea.” Tony made a pause to see if Gibbs was still following.

“So, one of my parents is a shape shifter?” he asked, frowning.

“Yes, and...it's Jack. Shifters can make out other shifters, at least if they know what to look for. I knew you're a shifter since the first time I saw you.” Tony answered.

“Why did he never tell me? I mean, my mother died when I was twelve, he could have told me after that.” Gibbs said, sounding a little desperate.

“I'm sure he had his reasons. Or possibly he has no idea, either.” Tony knew that Jack knew very well that he was a shifter, but he could imagine that he had stayed silent for the very same reasons Tony did.

Gibbs took a deep breath and released it slowly. “So, what does all that have to do with Abby's kidnapping?”

“Well, first of all, you need to know that you subconsciously surrounded yourself with shifters. It's natural for shifters to do that. You didn't know but your instincts told you to seek out other warriors – or triads as they were called.” Tony said calmly.

“You're saying, Abby, McGee, Ziva...they're all shifters?” Gibbs looked more lost by the minute.

“Yes. I can change into a lion, as you could see. Abby's a bat, McGee's a beaver and Ziva's a black panther. By the way, Ducky and Palmer are shifter as well. Ducky can change into an owl and Palmer's an owl, too. Ducky took him under his wings – quite literally in fact...” Tony nodded.

“What animal would I be?” Gibbs asked very slowly.

Tony swallowed. “Well, you're a special kind of shifter – or more special. See, some shifters can not only turn into one animal but in any animal they want. We call those multi-shifters.”

Gibbs sighed and leaned back in his chair, rubbing his eyes. “I take it, this Shadow Alliance has something to do with shape shifting?”

Tony nodded sadly. “Most shifters follow the Council of Triads. As I said, the warriors created by those mages were called Triads. Our symbol is a Celtic knot, and our society is based on three principles: Protection, Guidance, Service. It means that we protect humanity from any danger, we guide them through difficult times, but we can only use our power to serve humanity, never rule it. These principles are protected by the Council. It's a circle of eldest, shifters that proved themselves worthy to watch and control the society. As you can imagine, there are always people who don't believe in those principles. The Shade Alliance is an underground organization. They believe that our powers make us superior to non-shifter and we should actually rule over them.”

“And they kidnapped Abby...why?” Gibbs asked, sounding a little pissed. Yeah, underground organizations are a good thing to get Gibbs on your side.

Tony shrugged. “I guess they figured that you're a multi shifter. See, multi shifters are rare and powerful. I don't know exactly what they want from you, but apparently they want you to learn to use your powers.” He felt bad for telling half truths but he just couldn't all lay it on Gibbs' shoulders just now.

“So, you think this is a trap?”

“Possibly. But I don't see any other way than to actually teach you. They actually caught a girl who can change into a bat. I guess you can imagine that they're good.” Tony said sincerely.

Gibbs nodded. “Alright. Teach me all you know.”