Ineffable

“Stop that.” Gibbs barked.

Tony jerked out of his fake sleep. “What?”

“Stop whatever thoughts you’re thinking. They’re not true.” Gibbs glared.

Tony crossed his arms over his chest defensively, but didn’t say anything further. He came here on Gibbs command and it was up to them to lead this conversation.

Jimmy sighed, dropping his head in despair at Gibbs conversation skills. “What Jethro is trying to say is that we both love you. We weren’t laughing at you in autopsy. We were laughing at each other.”

Tony started at Palmer calling Gibbs by his first name and there being no recriminations from Gibbs. "Did that mean they were in a relationship together?" While Tony pondered that in his head, the actual words Palmer had said sunk in.

Tony stared suspiciously at Palmer not at all sure he believed him. Gibbs was behaving normally, so it seemed unlikely that he’d suddenly remember he had feelings for Tony. As for Palmer, well Palmer had never had feelings for Tony. Tony was sure of that.

“You guys are breaking rule 12 together?” Tony blurted. Somehow that seemed completely incomprehensible to Tony that Gibbs would choose to break rule 12 for Jimmy when he hadn’t even been willing to break it for Tony. He’d bent it a little for Tony before Mexico had happened, but he’d never actually broken it.

“No, idiot.” Gibbs head slapped DiNozzo. “We’re both willing to break it for you.”

“We’ve talked about this and both Jethro and I would like the chance to court you. Of course, the choice is yours. You can date both of us, one of us, none of us. Whatever you want, but we really hope you’ll at least give both of us a chance.” Jimmy continued picking up where Gibbs left off.

“What?” Tony couldn’t understand what they were saying. It didn’t make any sense especially not after what had happened earlier today.

Gibbs cursed his ineffable feelings. He knew Tony needed to hear them, but he just couldn’t say them. Jimmy was trying to express what they both wanted, but Gibbs knew Tony needed to hear it from both of them.

Gibbs opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He tried a few more times before giving up and grunting while cursing himself under his breath for his inability to speak his feelings himself.