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"Come on, it's not that bad, Gibbs," Kort wheedled.
"Easy for you to say," Gibbs grumped. "You're not the one being asked to put on a Grinch costume because everyone already thinks you're likely to steal Christmas."
"If you want, I'll wear the Grinch costume." Kort didn't care what anyone at NCIS thought about him. He just wanted his lover to relax.
"No. Abby would know it wasn't me."
"So? She's not the center of the universe. You don't have to bow to her whims." Trent really didn't like what he'd heard about Abby and not just from Gibbs and couldn't help trying to point out the unhealthy relationship that existed there.
"You wouldn't understand." Gibbs crossed his arms and looked away.
Kort sighed. He could tell Gibbs felt defensive like he had to defend his relationship with Abby. "We've been dating for how many years and you think I still don't understand how she has you wrapped around her little finger?"
Gibbs frowned. "Are you jealous?"
"No. God, no. I know there's no way that Abby could take my place. I just hate seeing you miserable because of her."
"I'm not miserable." Gibbs glared.
"Try that again with an actual smile instead of a grimace and I might actually believe you."
Gibbs huffed.
"Seriously, Gibbs. You don't usually let other people's opinions bother you. What's going on?" Kort couldn't help being worried. He'd seen Gibbs get worked up a few times before, but never like this.
"Am I too much of a bastard?"
"What the hell, Jethro?" Trent demanded. "You know I love you regardless of whether you're being a bastard or not. In fact, I love your multitudinous bastard ways."
"Ah. Never mind. I'm just overthinking it," Gibbs deflected.
Kort touched the back of Gibbs' hand. "What happened? This isn't like you."
Gibbs twined their fingers together and squeezed Trent's hand. "It's just that Abby has always been like a daughter to me. I know I'm a bastard, but I actively showered her with attention and now it feels like she sees me the way everyone else does. I've never been mean to her. Makes me wonder if I was more of a bastard than I thought and if you saw me as a Grinch too."
Kort shook his head. He hated the power that Abby had over Gibbs. "I don't see you as a Grinch. Even if I did, it would only be because I like that side of you."
Trent paused as he tried to figure out the best way to couch his next statement. He knew that Gibbs' natural instinct was to defend Abby and right now that was only making things worse for Jethro. "You may have been trying to make Abby happy, but you and I both know that she's turned into a spoiled brat. You and the others at NCIS have let her get away with too much too many times. She's no longer the sweet girl that reminded you of your daughter Kelly."
Gibbs shuddered. "If it were anyone other than you talking about Kelly or Abby this way, I'd take off their heads you know."
"I know. I love you for it too, Jethro." Their relationship had always been built on honesty. That wasn't to say that they didn't have secrets. It was pretty much guaranteed in their line of work, but both of them understood it's classified or some other statement like that.
"What do you see in a guy like me?"
Trent hated seeing Gibbs feeling so insecure. If he didn't know that Jethro would kill him for harming a single hair on Abby's head, he'd give the woman a piece of his mind. Gibbs didn't deserve to be tormented because of her actions.
Kort scoffed. "A guy like you? Have you heard what people say about me? They make me out to be ten times worse than anything they would even consider saying about you. I'm pretty sure your entire team would die from shock if they knew we were in a committed relationship."
"That's because no one bothers to consider what you're really like." Gibbs sent Kort a knowing look. "They all just see the CIA mask. I hate that mask," Gibbs complained.
"You're the only one that's ever seen through it, Jethro. That's why I love you, but you can't let Abby tear you up like this." Trent would do just about anything to take away Gibbs' pain.
"What am I supposed to do?"
"Make your own decisions. If you want to be the Grinch for Abby then own it and be a bastard to everyone, but if you don't want that then you have to tell her and stop letting her manipulate you like this," Kort implored, hoping that something he said would make sense and get through Gibbs' thick skull so that he stopped beating himself up.
"It's hard."
Tired of the wallowing, Trent decided to take a different tack. "I wish it were. That would be a much easier problem to solve." Kort winked before returning to a more solemn tone. "Life is never easy, Gibbs."
"When did you become so knowledgeable when it came to giving good advice?"
Kort shrugged. "It's kind of part of the CIA training. If you don't pick it up initially, you eventually figure it out somewhere along the way during an op."
"I'm so glad you're in my life, Trent."
Kort knew that Gibbs never let himself be vulnerable with people like this and it meant the world to him that the Marine trusted him. It had been a long journey to get to the point where they trusted each other this much and he would never betray that trust. "Hey. You may be a bastard, but you're my bastard. I'll never regret braving the Grinch to find the real you. You're not that Grinch anymore and you don't ever have to be again."
Gibbs closed his eyes and rubbed them with his hands hastily. "You're too good to me."
"Not possible." Trent hugged Jethro. "Now let's head to bed. You can figure out what you'll do about Abby and her Grinchiness in the morning."
"Sounds good to me, partner." Gibbs led the way up to his bedroom.
Kort often spent the night here, but as far as the outside world knew Gibbs lived alone. Trent preferred it that way. Gibbs had suggested adding him to the lease a couple of times and while he appreciated the gesture, paper trails could be quite deadly to his health.
After reaffirming their relationship, Gibbs and Kort fell asleep intertwined. Trent woke early the next morning. He had an op to get back to. However, he did leave a note and a surprise behind for Gibbs.
He just knew that Gibbs would laugh at it. He'd had to ask for a favor from one of his contacts last night to get it made and then he'd run out this morning to pick it up. He'd wrapped it and then left the package and the note on the pillow he'd slept on.
The gift contained a mug that had in big letters, "You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch" and then in smaller letters and thus easily overlooked and unlikely to be noticed, "But you're my Grinch." He hoped that Gibbs would keep it as a reminder that Trent loved him and that no matter what else happened he'd be there for him. Most of all he hoped that the man he loved would weather this storm and come out the other side stronger and prepared to be himself no matter who that was or what anyone else thought of him.