Perforce - Holiday Angst Version

Day 11: Holiday Party

Tony sent a mass text message to the team including Jimmy, Abby, and Ducky, perforce informing them of the change in location for the holiday party. After they arrived back at Gibbs place, Tony quickly set about exploring Gibbs' house more thoroughly. He was determined to make this the best holiday party the team ever had.

Gibbs watched Tony run around his house with an amused quirk to his lips. “Don’t go overboard.” Gibbs ordered as he headed down to the basement to work on his boat while Tony figured out what he wanted to do for the party.

Even Gibbs command couldn’t dim Tony’s enthusiasm, however, and he immediately started planning. First thing to do would obviously have to be getting a tree, so that they could decorate it and have a place for the presents they’d be exchanging. Hopefully, they could get the tree tomorrow after work.

They'd need mistletoe, of course, and Christmas decorations for the rest of the party areas. He could get Abby to coordinate the food and Tim the drinks. This would be the best team holiday party ever.

Unfortunately, they still had work tomorrow. Tony considered heading back to his apartment instead of staying at Gibbs, but he was too excited about the holiday party. Speaking of Gibbs, Tony headed down to the basement.

“I still can’t believe you’re letting us have the holiday party here.”

Gibbs rolled his eyes. Tony was still on this? “Come here.”

Tony walked over to Gibbs. Gibbs pulled him into his side, wrapping his arm not sanding the boat around Tony’s waist. Gibbs paused his sanding long enough to drop a brief kiss on Tony’s nose.

“You know I’m doing this for you, right? I just want to make you happy.”

“I know. I can’t believe the lengths you’re going to to try and make this right. It makes me want to believe again, Gibbs.”

“Then believe Tony. I’m right here waiting for you.”

“Don’t hurt me again, Gibbs.”

“I won’t, Tony, and please call me Jethro again.”

“Are you sure?”

“That I want you to call me, Jethro? Of course.”

“No, no. Not that. I mean about using your house for the team holiday party.”

“Just don’t go overboard. Otherwise, so long as you’re happy I’m happy.”

“Thanks, Gibbs.” Tony pulled him close and kissed Gibbs excitedly.

Gibbs returned the kiss. How could he do anything else? He couldn’t help wondering what had triggered it, however.

Tony pulled back after thoroughly kissing Gibbs, leaving Gibbs stunned. “By the way, Boss. I’m taking the couch. You’ll have to sleep in your bed tonight or under the boat.”

With that Tony skipped back upstairs and flicked the TV on. It came up on the hallmark channel, which was running 24/7 holiday movies. Now, it was playing Hitched for the Holidays.

Normally, Tony would never dare to watch this at Gibbs’ house given he recognized it as a romantic movie that would liked be termed a chic flick. He’d have been too scared of angering Gibbs, but tonight he figured he could get away with it. He actually hoped Gibbs meant what he said and that in the future they’d be able to watch movies like this together.

After Gibbs recovered from the kiss, he went back to working on the boat. He debated joining Tony upstairs, but didn’t want to push too hard. Still he couldn’t spend the whole night down in the basement when Tony was just upstairs on the couch.

Gibbs finally ventured out of the basement to see how Tony was doing, only to find him fast asleep on the couch with the TV running holiday movie specials. Gibbs covered Tony with a blanket and turned off the TV. Grabbing a blanket for himself, he headed back down to the boat. It was going to be a long night under the boat.

The next morning Gibbs woke up grumpy with his back aching from the cold cement floor despite the blanket. He started the coffee pot before getting in the shower hoping that the warm water and hot coffee would ease his pains. It usually didn’t work, but he always hoped.

Tony jumped out of bed as the smell of coffee awoke him. He heard the shower going and assumed that’s where Gibbs was, so he decided to start breakfast. He knew Gibbs would want to be on the road quickly, so he didn’t do anything fancy.

He just scrambled some eggs and cooked some bacon. He popped some waffles into the toaster as well. By the time Gibbs got out of the shower, his house smelled fabulous.

“Wow. This smells amazing.”

“Well you cooked yesterday, I decided to return the favor.”

“Thanks, Tony.” Gibbs gave him a genuine smile. While his aches hadn’t gone away, he had to admit the surprise breakfast made them easier to deal with.