Title: Road Trip
By: Valerie
Pairing: Nick/Don, Mac/Danny, Tony/Gibbs, Warrick/Delinda
Note: Sequal to Behind the Mask, Looking in a Mirror, Random Acts of Love and Merry Chirstmas
Rating: AO
Summary: The boys get together for a road trip to Las Vegas, but how will Nick's old team react to Don? And how will Nick feel when he meets Eric?

Chapter 1 – Planning

 

*Washington DC*

 

“Do you think we can at least figure out a date?” Nick sounded exasperated and Tony couldn’t blame him. They had organized a conference call to get the details for their road trip down, but so far they had talked about everything except the planned trip.

 

“We have a long weekend on the last weekend in January. If we fly out on Thursday night, we have three days in Vegas.” Jethro’s words surprised Tony who looked at his lover and raised an eyebrow in question. Jethro simply smiled and mouthed ‘later’. Shrugging, Tony waited for an answer which came surprisingly fast.

 

“I’ll have to talk with Stella and Shel, but Nick and Danny have that weekend off anyway and I’m only on call. How’s it with you Don?” Mac sounded very determined and immediately Tony was reminded of Jethro.

 

“No worries about me, I’ll talk to the Captain, if I switch with someone in my team, there’s no problem.” Don’s answer came quickly and he sounded sure about his Captain letting him go.

 

Wow, Tony thought surprised. In only ten minutes they had the date settled, that had been a lot faster than any of the road trips he had gone on with his frat buddies. He shot a glance at Jethro and grinned, of course his frat team had not been headed by two Marines.

 

“I’ll organize the hotels and stuff. Is the Montecito ok?”

 

Tony gasped at Nick’s suggestion. “Nick, not that I want to rain on your parade or anything, but the Montecito is about the most expensive hotel on the strip.”

 

Nick chuckled. “Yeah, but Eric’s boyfriend is the hotel’s head of security and surveillance, so we might get a good discount.”

 

Tony and Jethro exchanged a look of surprise, but before either of them could say anything, Nick spoke again. “Look, I’ll just get an offer and mail it to you all, so you can tell me what you think, ok?”

 

“Mail it to me, Nick, and I’ll read it to Jethro, he wouldn’t know how to open your email anyway.” Tony yelped when he received a head slap from his lover, but the glare he sent towards Jethro lost all his strength when he met Jethro’s fond amusement.

 

“I’ll send it to both of you.” Oh, Nicky, Tony grinned fondly at Nick’s immediate mediation when a new thought hit him.

 

“Are we going get road trip beards?” His question was met with stunned silence and he could just imagine how the four guys in New York looked at each other and shook their heads. Mac probably had a similar expression of amusement and horror in his face as Jethro had right now.

 

“Road trip beards?”

 

Nick’s voice sounded more amused than shocked and immediately sensing a kindred spirit, Tony latched onto Nick’s question. “Yes, road trip beards... you know like the hockey guys have during the playoffs... We could start them now and never shave until we’re back in New York and DC.”

 

Now Jethro looked positively horrified and Tony heard several groans from the other side of the call. He grinned and encouraged them all again. “Come on guys, we have to do something special here, you’re boring...”

 

“Tony, we’re six gay guys working in law enforcement going on a road trip to Las Vegas together, isn’t that exciting enough?” Mac sounded as if he had seriously started to question Tony’s sanity. Tony wanted to reply when Jethro suddenly smiled at him and reached out to caress Tony’s non bearded cheek.

 

“Not a good idea, Tony, you’d just get beard burn all over your body.” Jethro’s eyes were intense and for a second Tony forgot about the phone call, about the road trip, about anything but the promise in Jethro’s eyes.

 

“Tony?”

 

Danny’s voice broke him from the spell and he turned towards the speaker phone again. “Yes?”

 

“I take it the question on whether or not we grow beards is settled, isn’t it?” Danny sounded more than a little amused and Tony exchanged another heated look with Jethro before he agreed with Danny.

 

“Yeah, I guess it is.”

 

“Good, because if that’s done, I’ve got a question on my own. If this is supposed to be a road trip, why are we flying?” Tony heard three groans from New York and knew immediately that Danny had brought that topic up a couple of times before.

 

“Because if we drive, we’d be in Las Vegas by the time we have to be back in New York.” Don’s amusement was clearly audible in his voice and Tony grinned before he looked at Jethro and smiled widely.

 

“I can actually understand you, Danny, it’s called a road trip after all, so we should… ow...” Tony broke off when Gibbs slapped him again good humouredly. “Ok, I think we take the plane.”

 

Mac’s voice came over the speaker again and this time Tony knew that his friend was very amused. “You have to teach me that move, Jethro, I can see it is handy.”

 

The indignant yelp from Danny made Jethro laugh, but Tony simply smiled and consoled Danny. “Don’t worry, Danny... Just think of it as a bit of punishment.”

 

There were five groans in response to his answer and finally Nick spoke with an exaggerated shudder in his voice. “I didn’t need that mental image, Tony, not when I have to go back to work now.”

 

Tony grinned and at the same time a shudder went through him at the thought of some of the things Danny had told him. How would it be, he wondered once more, how would it be to be at someone’s mercy? They finished the phone call and looking at his lover, Tony saw how Jethro assessed him silently. “What?”

 

The intense eyes never wavered when Jethro walked towards him and pulled him against his body. “You get excited by the thought of the games Danny and Mac play, don’t you?”

 

Tony shivered at the dark voice. “I think it’s interesting.”

 

Jethro simply looked at him before he ran his hand over Tony’s back down to his ass. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

 

----

 

*New York*

 

“I would have never thought that it takes so much time and effort to organize a trip for six people to Las Vegas.” Stella laughed at Nick’s groan as he leaned against the door of their office.

 

“Well, you wanted to be the one who organizes everything.” She could see that he was blushing, but with a gentle smile she looked at him. “I understand Nick, you want everything to be perfect, don’t you?”

 

Nick swallowed hard. “I’m scared, Stella, really scared.”

 

Getting up and walking past Nick, Stella pointed towards the break room. “Coffee?”

 

He nodded and followed her silently. They both got themselves a coffee and standing at one of the tables, Stella looked at him. “What are you scared of?”

 

Nick shook his head. “I’m not really sure, Stella. All I know is the thought of going back terrifies me.”

 

She heard the note of panic behind his voice and decided that she didn’t want to discuss this in the lab’s cafeteria. “Let’s go back to our office, it’s quieter there.”

 

Nick’s eyes showed his gratitude and he followed her without saying anything. Stella frowned at the tension she saw in him and sighed. Nick was the younger brother she had never had, the best friend who protected her and yet he also was vulnerable himself and maybe that was the reason why she loved him so much. Loved him in a purely platonic way, she thought with a slight grin, anything other would be dangerous because she didn’t think that Don would let her steal his boyfriend.

 

“What’s wrong, Nicky?” Her voice was calm and she could see how Nick reacted to it by relaxing slightly. She smiled silently and remembered the days after Frankie’s attack on her and how Nick had soothed her by simply letting her talk, but being calm, confident and always there.

 

“I... The guys...” He trailed off and shook his head before he started again. “For the guys it’s like this fun and exciting road trip to Vegas, you know. They talk about the gambling, the drinking and it’s like the trips we made at university. Only for me...”

 

She understood then and nodded slowly before prompting him to continue. “For you?”

 

“For me it’s not just a trip, you know. I can’t say whatever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas... It’s a trip home, somehow...” Again Nick trailed off and sighing he got up to look out of the window. “I’m scared that I’ll reopen old wounds again, that all my nightmares return...”

 

“You haven’t been there since you left, have you?” Stella hadn’t really thought much about the boys trip to Vegas and now she scolded herself mentally for it. Nick shook his head and sighed. “No, I didn’t dare to go.”

 

“Did you talk to Don about it?” Looking at her with one eyebrow raised, Nick didn’t answer her, but Stella laughed slightly. “Of course not, why am I even asking?”

 

Smiling too, Nick threw a pen at her and Stella grinned relieved to see that he had lightened up and was calmer. “Talk to him.  Don will understand and apart from that, he knows you well enough to feel that something is wrong.”

 

Nick frowned and didn’t answer. Stella wanted to prod more, but knowing Nick as she did, she knew that saying anything else would be futile. He talked a lot more about his emotions than the average guy, but he did it at his own time and would not get rushed by anyone.

 

“Where are you going to stay?” Nick smiled and rolled his eyes. “We’re staying at the Montecito Resorts for what you normally pay for a beer there. Eric’s got connections and organized it for us. It’s weird, I’ve been there a couple of times for a case, but never stayed there. I’ve never stayed in a hotel in Vegas, come to think of it.”

 

Stella frowned and looked at him confused. “Where did you stay when you moved from Dallas to Vegas?”

 

He grinned and shrugged while he typed something in his computer. For a moment he was silent then he turned his computer screen over and showed her a picture. “You can’t honestly call that a hotel. I moved into my first apartment after two days.”

 

Stella smiled at the disgust in Nick’s voice, but after a look at the so called hotel, she understood. “No wonder you moved.”

 

Nick nodded and went back to work. Stella watched him work for a while until she couldn’t hold back anymore. “You play ball with Stabler, don’t you?”

 

Nick’s attention was immediately on her. “Don and I do, yes.”

 

His voice was full of curiosity and his eyes were twinkling. “What do you want to know?”

 

Shrugging, Stella mentally thanked her dark complexion which hid the slight blush that for sure covered her face by now. “He’s invited me out for dinner.”

 

Nick smiled widely. “Took him long enough.”

 

Stella nodded slowly as he thoughts wandered back to those dreadful nights she had spent alone in the hospital after Frankie’s attack. Or not alone, as she now knew.

 

Stella woke with a scream. For a moment she was confused where she was, but before panic could set in, she felt soft hands on her face and a soft voice told her that everything was ok. It was the same voice that had comforted her before and with a sigh she relaxed again.

 

“You’re safe.” She sighed and shook her head before she opened her eyes and smiled at Elliot. “I know.”

 

He seemed surprised to see her awake and for a second she expected him to leave. The thought sent a tendril of fear through her and instinctively she reached out for him. “Stay, please.”

 

Elliot looked surprised, but he sat down and gently grasped her hand. “I don’t want to disturb you.”

 

Shaking her head, Stella looked at him. “You don’t, you really don’t.”

 

Feeling tired again, she closed her eyes but continued to speak. “I remember you, you were here before. I felt safe.”

 

He pressed her hand and she could hear him swallow hard before he spoke again. “You are safe, Stella, you made it out. Stella, look at me. Listen to me, it’s ok, it’s over.” Elliot’s voice penetrated the images and slowly she realized that it was him who tried to calm her and restrain her. She stopped moving and looked at him. He was pale, but despite the concern she saw in his eyes, his voice was firm. “You’re safe. It’s ok, you fought and you won.”

 

Elliot had kept his distance ever since she had been released. They had seen each other when they had worked on cases together and sometimes when he had had some business at the lab, they had met for coffee. The connection between them had still been there, but while before Stella had simply been attracted, she now felt safe and comfortable around him. She had healed over the past weeks, she had taken the time that Mac had given her and rested, she had a new apartment and finally didn’t feel the urge to check if she had locked her door before she went to bed.

 

And with the healing, the attraction had returned.

 

But still Elliot had kept his distance, had never approached her until yesterday. They had met in the corridor of the lab by chance and out of the blue Elliot had suddenly looked at her and asked her for dinner.

 

Stella smiled as she told Nick about it and shook her head. “I said yes, before I was even thinking about it.”

 

Nick’s eyes were kind as he looked at her. “He’s a good guy, Stella.”

 

“I know that.” And yet even as she said it, some part in her relaxed at Nick’s declaration and she sighed. “But I guess, I’m scarred.”

 

This time Nick reached out and pressed her hand over the desk in a quick, gentle gesture. “If there’s any guy I’d trust to take his time and to treat you well, then it’s Elliot.”

 

Surprised by the lump she suddenly felt in her throat, Stella nodded slowly. “Thanks Nicky.”

 

He nodded and smiled. “You’re welcome.”

 

---

 

*Las Vegas*

 

“Thanks for organizing the hotel rooms, Danny. Nick and the guys are really happy.” Warrick leaned back on Eric’s couch and spread himself over at least two third of the furniture. Danny watched him with open amusement and once again thought that if he’d be looking up the word ‘sprawl’ in the dictionary, he’d find a picture of Warrick.

 

Eric came back into the room and sat down next to Warrick pushing his friend’s legs away so that he had enough space. Danny smiled at the easy going way between the two friends and at the same time he mourned for the friendship he had once had with Mike. Mike who hadn’t talked to him in another than professional fashion since their final blow up, Mike who had once been his partner in crime and now only looked at him with disgust.

 

“Danny, you ok?” Eric nudged him with his foot and as Danny’s eyes met his partner’s, he saw the love and concern in Eric’s eyes. It was worth losing Mike, he thought, worth losing someone who in the end had never really respected him when he had gained someone like Eric in return.

 

“I’m fine, just thinking of something. So your friends are looking forward to stay at the Montecito?” He felt Eric’s eyes on him and knew that Eric would prod more later, but right now, his lover accepted the change of topic.

 

“They’re ecstatic about it, I’m just not sure if the Montecito is going to survive them...” Warrick laughed lightly and Danny simply raised his eyebrows in question. “Nick certainly has a tendency of attracting trouble and from what I saw and heard, Danny Messer has the same tendency and if one can believe Grissom then Tony is no better.”

 

Danny shook his head and smiled as he thought about the six men who would soon be guests at the Montecito. Six men who worked in law enforcement, six men of whom two had served in the Marines and all of whom were in relationships with other men. It was going to be an interesting visit and he was sure that Ed would keep an eye on them.

 

“Well, I’m sure we haven’t seen such a group for a while.”

 

It was the understatement of the year, he thought, but before he could get into the topic, he noticed how quiet Eric had gotten. It had happened before when the NY boys’ road trip had been mentioned and Danny finally had enough.

 

“Eric, what’s up? You always shut down when we talk about the visit.”

 

His lover shot him an annoyed look and shook his head, but Warrick had picked up on Eric’s behavior too and unlike Danny, he guessed the reason correctly. “You know that Nick’s not coming here to replace you, don’t you? He’s just visiting. You’re part of our team now, Eric and no matter what happens, you’re a part of our shift.”

 

Surprised Danny stared first at Warrick and then at Eric, before he got up and moved over towards Eric. His lover had tensed at Warrick’s words and Warrick, sensing that he had hit an open wound, moved away and allowed Danny to sit down next to Eric.

 

“Love, is that what you’re afraid of?” Danny knew only too well how hard it had been for Eric to grow roots here and how long it had taken him to overcome the almost overbearing shadow of Nick Stokes. He felt his heart break at the thought of Eric falling back into the insecurity and darkness that he’d been in before they got together.

 

“I know I’m not as good a CSI as Nick...”

 

To Danny’s relief and delight, Warrick didn’t let Eric continue any further and interrupted his friend almost angrily. “Eric, you didn’t listen! You are a part of the grave yard shift and not Nick. Nick is a friend and we’re all happy to see him, but you are a part of us.”

 

Eric relaxed slightly at the vehemence in Warrick’s tone and calming a little, Warrick smiled gently. “Look, I won’t lie to you, I’d love for Nick to come back cause he’s my friend, but he won’t and even if he would, he wouldn’t replace you. Don’t ever discount your place in this team, you’re important to us, believe me.”

 

He punched Eric lightly in the shoulder and grinned when Eric frowned. “Got it?”

 

Eric nodded slowly and smiled. “Got it.”

 

---

 

*New York*

 

Danny’s heart was pounding as he listened to the dial tone on the other side of the phone line. A part of him wished that no one would answer the phone while another part was desperate that someone would pick up. While he waited he was anxiously checking the door praying for once that Mac would be late.

 

“Welcome to the domain. How can we help you?”

 

The woman’s voice was soft and melodic and for a moment, Danny lost his nerves. He shivered for a moment and gathering his courage, he finally found his voice again. “Danny Messer here, I’d like to speak to someone about making a reservation at the domain.”

 

“Of course Sir, what kind of entertainment are you looking for?”

 

Oh god, Danny barely withheld a giggle at the business like tone and question. This woman was asking him if he wanted to be whipped or used as an ashtray in the same manner as a clerk in a bank would ask for the account number. Shit, this was surreal.

 

“I... I’m not sure if you offer the service I’m looking for.” He sounded like an insecure schoolboy, he thought annoyed and with more force than usual, he finished his sentence. “I would like to set up a scene for me and my partner at your domain.”

 

“Of course Sir, would you like the assistance of one of our dominants or submissives during the scene?”

 

A threesome? Danny knew that his eyes were large and his chin down on the table, but again he managed to control himself and although his voice was slightly hoarse, at least he didn’t stutter. “No, it would be just me and my partner.”

 

“What are your desires for the scene? We have several specialized rooms each one especially equipped with various tools of pleasure and pain.”

 

Listening to the woman, Danny suddenly wondered if she was painting her nails while she listened the different rooms and the thought again made him want to giggle like a schoolgirl. Then though she started to explain what the various rooms entailed and the amusement faded into a growing arousal and Danny swallowed hard.

 

“Did you find something suitable?” Danny swallowed again hard and thinking for a quick moment, he took a deep breath, thought of his fantasies and made his decision. “The Roman Room.”

 

“Normally our clients book the room for the entire night, when would you like to visit us?”

 

A whole night? Danny gulped down some desperately needed air. “The night?”

 

He felt silly asking as soon as the words were out, but the woman’s voice didn’t change at all. “Of course if you would like to book the room only for a couple of hours, you can do that too. Another offer we have is that you can book the room for the night and we refund you should you stay less than six hours.”

 

The thought of being at Mac’s mercy for more than six hours both aroused and scared Danny and he suddenly wondered what he was getting himself into. And yet… to be the center of Mac’s world for such a long time…

 

“I’ll take that offer then.”

 

She asked him about the dates and got his credit card details as well as some more detailed information on what kind of scene he wanted to play. When Danny finally put his phone down, he was hard and aching and a good deal poorer than he’d been only a couple of minutes earlier.

 

Now he only hoped that Mac liked surprises.

 

---

 

For the entire day, Don had had the feeling that something was up with Nick or, he mused, if he was honest, he’d had that feeling for even longer. Something was bothering his lover and he wasn’t talking. Don sighed and switched the channel, searching for something to watch while he waited for Nick to come home. None of his usual programs could hold his interest for any longer than a couple of minutes and after half an hour he gave up and went into the kitchen.

 

They rarely cooked in the evening apart from the weekends but right now, Don felt that he needed to do something and so he started to chop vegetables and meat, hoping that Nick would enjoy some freshly cooked food.

 

“Don?” Nick’s voice made him smile and he turned around to see Nick lean against the door. Nick was still wearing his work outfit and Don smiled as he remembered that Nick had had a court day today. Don loved Nick in a suit. The one he wore was black and tailored to Nick’s body. Stella had introduced them to her friend who was a tailor and ever since then, Nick had stopped wearing his usual off the rack suits.

 

“You look good.” Nick grinned at Don’s comment, but backed away when Don wanted to pull him closer.

 

“You’ve got tomato sauce on your shirt.” Don looked down and cursed. Nick grinned and leaned up to brush his lips against Don’s. “I’ll go and get changed and join you here.”

 

He left the kitchen and Don frowned slightly. Nick was acting normal again, and yet something still seemed off. Sighing, Don continued to stir the sauce when two arms reached around him and he felt Nick press close to his back.

 

“Thanks.” Don smiled at the whispered word and turned his head so that he could capture Nick’s lips with his.

 

“What for?”

 

Nick shrugged. “That you cook dinner for me, that you wait for me, that you never complain about be working late...”

 

Now Don was concerned and he knew that it showed in his eyes. “Nick, what’s wrong?”

 

Nick tensed in Don’s arms, but he shook his head as an answer. “Nothing, I’m just tired.”

 

Don frowned lightly. “Then you’ve been tired for a long time, Nick. So what is wrong?”

 

He rarely used the stern police voice with his partner, and he could see the effect it had on Nick. His lover shivered for a moment and then leaned against the wall as if all his strength had left him.

 

“I’m afraid of going back.” Nick’s voice was nothing but a whisper in the suddenly silent kitchen and Don felt his heart break at the sight of Nick looking so scared and lonely.

 

“Love, you don’t have to be. It’s going to be ok and you won’t be alone.” He forgot all about dinner as he held Nick close to his body and felt the shivers that shook his partner. For a long time, he simply hugged Nick and waited until Nick had calmed down a bit more. Then he looked into Nick’s eyes and sighed at the sadness and fear he saw there. “What are you scared of?”

 

A hissing sound from the stove made Don turn around and he almost jumped over and turned the fire off. He grabbed the pasta, quickly mixed the sauce and the noodles and served them neatly on two plates. Looking at Nick he put the plates down on the table and smiled at his partner. “Food first and then we talk.”

 

---

 

After dinner, Nick took his and Don’s wine glass and went over to the comfortable couch. He sat down, but for once he couldn’t relax. Don’s words rang through his mind blending with Stella’s advise of this morning.

 

“Don will understand and apart from that, he knows you well enough to feel that something is wrong.”

 

She had been right, he thought. Don had indeed picked up on his changed mood. A part of Nick was happy that his lover knew him so well, while another part was scared and terrified that he was so open to Don.

 

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Soft words that Don whispered in Nick’s ear while he pulled Nick close to him. Nick felt Don’s arms go around him, shelter him, protect him and his fear suddenly seemed ridiculous. He leaned against his partner and sighed.

 

“I’m scared of going to Vegas.” He waited for Don to say something, but it became obvious that his lover wanted him to continue and with a another sigh Nick spoke again. “It’s not that I don’t want you to meet Grissom and the others or anything like that. But I’m... I haven’t been there since I left, since I pretty much ran away and I’m just scared that it all comes back...”

 

Don still held him close and after a moment of silence he leaned down and Nick felt that a kiss was placed on his hair. “And what if it comes back?”

 

“I don’t know if I can go through all this again, Don, all these fears, all these nightmares...”

 

Nick trailed off as he felt Don’s hand on his. He turned around so that he could look into Don’s eyes and saw both understanding and love there. Don once more leaned over and kissed him softly, before he shook his head. “I don’t know if it all comes back to you when you’re in Vegas. But I know one thing; you won’t be alone, Nick.”

 

Nick wanted to tell Don, that it didn’t matter if he was alone or not, wanted to tell him that he hadn’t been alone before either, but just as he started to speak, he stopped. It did matter, he realized and with a smile he looked at his partner.

 

“Thanks”

 

Don shook his head. “How long has this been eating you?”

 

Swallowing for a moment, Nick shrugged. “A while.”

 

“Why don’t you concentrate on what you liked about Vegas? Tell me what you want me to see, what you want to show me.” Don’s voice sounded eager and despite his fear Nick felt something like happiness at the thought of showing Don all the places he had loved so much.

 

“It’s an amazing place. There’s so much I want to show you. The Bellagio fountains, the light shows...” Nick trailed off and smiled at Don. “But you know what I want to do most?”

 

Don shook his head and Nick smiled again. “I want to take you flying.”

 

Nick noticed how Don frowned, before a sly grin crossed over his face. “Here or can we go to bed first?”

 

Nick laughed at the naughty comment and shook his head. “In Vegas, I want to take you paragliding.”

 

Don simply stared at him and nodded slowly. “I never knew you did paragliding, but I’d love to go with you.”

 

Then his arms pulled Nick closer and Nick shivered as soft lips started to nibble at his ears. He leaned back against his lover and relaxed completely. Slowly arousal started to replace the anxiety and Nick sighed when Don’s hand moved over his legs in a tender caress.

 

“I can’t wait for Vegas and going flying with you.” Don whispered the words in Nick’s ear and licked a fiery trail from Nick’s ear to his jaw and back. “But right now, I’ll take you flying.”

 

Nick shivered at the promise in Don’s words and smiled softly. “Can’t wait.”

 

----

 

*Washington DC*

 

“Can’t wait until we’re in Vegas.”

 

Gibbs heard the almost wistful tone in Tony’s voice and pulling him closer towards his body frowned “And why? What is it that you miss here?”

 

Tony immediately shook his head and snuggled closer. “I don’t miss anything. It’s just that… I really need a vacation.”

 

They hadn’t had time off for a long time and Gibbs looked at his partner. Sometimes he felt as if he couldn’t read Tony at all, but right now his lover was an open book to him and Gibbs didn’t like what he saw. Tony looked exhausted and Gibbs saw the lines of fatigue around Tony’s eyes, the slightly dull color of his skin and tenderly he reached out to caress Tony’s face.

 

“I’ve been running you into the ground, haven’t I?” He sometimes forgot that behind the façade of the easy going banter, Tony was just human. Tony shook his head at Gibbs’ words.

 

“It’s not your fault. After all you didn’t go off a killing spree and then decide to steal all that stuff.” Gibbs nodded silently at Tony’s words and sighed. The last couple of cases had been grueling in the way the so called smaller cases were. Even if it was a petty theft or a robbery, these cases took a lot of time and energy and then their big case last week had ended in a shootout with the two main suspects.

 

Gibbs pulled Tony closer towards his body as he remembered the moment of terror when he had seen Tony dive into the line of fire in order to get a clear shot. His lover had hit the target and the killer had gone down and yet all Gibbs had seen that night in his dreams had been Tony dying in front of him.

 

Maybe, he thought, maybe Tony was right and they really needed time off.

 

“What do you want to do, when we’re in Vegas?”

 

Tony’s question completely surprised him and he shrugged. “Don’t know, what about you?”

 

Tony snuggled even closer and smiled a little. “I want to go for dinner with you alone. Just the two of us in a fancy restaurant and then I want to take you to the Grand Canyon and stand at the edge of the canyon when the sun comes up.”

 

Gibbs smiled at the love he heard in Tony’s words and lifting one of Tony’s hands to his lips and kissed the soft skin there. Tony purred lightly at the tender caress and Gibbs smiled again feeling content and at home. “This sounds like a great idea.”

 

Tony seemed to melt even more against him and after a few moments of silence, Gibbs suddenly noticed the even breathing of his lover. Tony had fallen asleep and as Gibbs carefully rearranged them, so that his lover wouldn’t wake up, he promised himself to spoil Tony rotten during their trip to Vegas.

 

---

 

*New York*

 

“Danny?” Mac frowned as he walked into the silent apartment. He knew that Danny was at home, his lover had left early after having wrapped up his case and written the reports. They hadn’t really made a date and Mac hadn’t told Danny, that he would come over, but somehow he had hoped that Danny would expect him to show up.

 

A frisson of fear ran through Mac as he once more noticed the silence in the apartment and again he called his lover’s name. “Danny, you here?”

 

A slight moan was all the answer he got, and immediately Mac tensed. Had something happened to Danny? Was his lover hurt?

 

He walked over to the bedroom when another moan resonated through the quiet apartment and this time Mac stopped as if he had walked into a wall. It wasn’t a moan of pain that he’d heard or at least not entirely. It had been a moan of pained pleasure and immediately, Mac felt his body tense in a completely different tension. It had been a while since they had played in a scene and anticipation coiled in his stomach as he slowly opened the door to the bedroom.

 

For a moment he stood frozen at the erotic tableau in front of him.

 

Danny was lying in the middle of the bed naked and his body was illuminated by the light of at least a dozen candles. He wore the dark leather cuffs around his wrists and as his eyes met Mac’s he stretched his arms behind his head and started to play with the iron chain that hung there.

 

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

 

Mac could barely breath at the husky voice and when he saw that Danny was fully hard and had bound his cock with a steel ring, he moaned openly.

 

“You’re beautiful.”

 

Danny shivered at the words as if he had felt them in a tangible caress, but then he lifted his hands again and almost pleadingly he looked at his lover. “I wanted to tie myself up, but it’s not the same. I need you to do it.”

 

The words released Mac from his trance and with two steps he was at Danny’s side and gently kissed each wrist before he tied Danny’s arms to the bed.

 

“What do you need tonight?”

 

Danny didn’t hesitate and as he answered his eyes were open and trusting. “Whatever you need. I want to be at your mercy tonight, completely.”

 

As always the words, the look of Danny in restraints and the complete trust and love he saw in his partner’s face, made Mac tremble with desire. Slowly he started to undress and watched while Danny’s eyes roamed over his body.

 

Once Mac was undressed, he moved towards the bed and slowly started to caress every inch of Danny’s body. He loved having Danny at his mercy, loved seeing him like this spread out before him, watching him fall deep in subspace wanton and vulnerable at the same time.

 

Mac knew that right now he was the only person that mattered in Danny’s universe and sometimes the trust that Danny put in him made him speechless. Looking at this lover Mac swallowed hard as he calmed the trembling body with gentle caresses. “I love you, Danny, love you so much.”

 

His lips started kissing where he had touched before. The fingers that played with his nipples were joined by teeth and Danny moaned at the dual stimulation when Mac bit down hard on one nub. The immediate sharp pain made Danny jerk in his bonds and he kept twisting his body as the other nipple was treated similarly.

 

“Mac, please... “ Danny whispered Mac’s name like a prayer and Mac understood all that Danny couldn’t say anymore. He reached out and slicked his fingers before he carefully prepared his partner. Danny relaxed almost immediately into the familiar and craved touch. Mac whispered love words against his skin and Danny moaned again as his lover thrust into his body in one smooth move.

 

“You’re beautiful, my love.”

 

Danny jerked helplessly against the thrust against his prostate and when Mac’s hands found his nipples again and twisted them, Danny arched into the touch while at the same time trying to move against Mac.

 

Mac smiled as he realized that Danny was past coherent speech. He reached out and caressed his bound cock. Mac admired his partner’s beauty once more before he removed the cock ring with his left hand. “Come for me.”

 

Danny’s body shook as he fell apart and streams of cum flowed over Mac’s hand. He licked the hand clean, savoring his lover’s taste and then looking at the shaken man he smiled. “Ready for round two?”

 

---

 

*Chapter 2 – Waiting for the holidays*

 

*New York*

 

Mac hated it when he was called to a crime scene right before his shift was off. It was something so normal and yet the fact that it bothered him startled Mac. It was something new, something that that had changed with Danny. Before he’d found Danny, he’d never cared about working double or triple shifts, now though he wanted to go home and spend time with his partner. A smile crossed over his face as he once more realized how much more of a life he had now instead of simply an existence.

 

Stella was sitting next to him as they drove and sighing lightly she looked out of the window. “There goes the chance of an early evening.”

 

Mac smiled and looked quickly at her. “Did you have plans?”

 

To his surprise she flushed lightly. “Elliot invited me for dinner.”

 

Mac’s first reaction was shock but he remembered how Stabler had looked when he had watched over Stella in the hospital and the memory comforted him. Elliot Stabler was a good man, he thought, a strong man someone who would be able to be with Stella without cutting her down or feeling inferior. Mac nodded slowly.

 

“You can go, if you want. Nick and I can handle the case.”

 

Stella smiled, but shook her head. “I’ve already called him and you know that’s the good thing about having a date with a cop. He understands...”

 

Mac smiled at that and Stella grinned. “But I don’t have to tell you that, do I?”

 

“So what did he say?” Stella shrugged. “That he’s got some big case too and that we should meet on Saturday.”

 

“We’re in Vegas this weekend.” The words were out before Mac could hold them back and at Stella’s fond look of amusement he flushed a bit. “We just care, Stella.”

 

“I know, but I don’t need you all waiting outside the restaurant to see if he treats me fine. Thanks though Mac.” She smiled again but the smile faded when she pointed at the house in front of them. “We’re here.”

 

Mac parked the car and looked at the house. The first thing he noticed was the fact that the Christmas decorations were still up. It was a stupid thought and yet he couldn’t help it. He didn’t mention it and purposefully got out of the car. It was wrong, he thought, wrong that something bad should happen in a house decorated by Santa Clauses and reindeers and yet Mac knew better than most that bad things happened to good people just as often as to bad ones.

 

Flack was already on the scene and as he saw him and Stella, the detective came over with a dark look in his eyes.

 

“Has anyone been inside?” Mac’s question was met with a nod from Flack.

 

“Yeah, me and the first on the scene. The victim’s Allison Mitchum, gunshot to the chest. She was nineteen years old.” Flack pointed towards a woman sitting in the emergency car. “That’s her mother Gina Mitchum, the baby’s name is Elizabeth. The husband is out of town on business.”

 

While Flack spoke, Mac watched Gina Mitchum and noticed how she watched everyone around her avidly. Her eyes were fixed on people and yet she wasn’t looking at their faces only at their lips.

 

“Has anyone talked to the mother yet?” Stella’s question brought Mac back to Stella.

 

He shook his head. “She’s deaf.”

 

Flack nodded. “Yeah, I know. Did you call Nick to work the scene?”

 

Mac frowned at the unusual question, but before he could say anything, Nick and Danny arrived. The two younger men joined them and Flack addressed Nick quietly. “Can you talk to the mother? She’s deaf.”

 

Nick nodded and without another word, he walked towards Gina Mitchum. Mac watched as Nick hunkered down next to Mrs. Mitchum and gently touched her shoulder before he started to sign.

 

Stella looked at Mac. “Did you know that Nick signs?”

 

No, Mac thought, he hadn’t known and with a shrug he looked at Flack. “Did you know?”

 

Don nodded. ”Yeah, he’s learned it while he was in Vegas.”

 

Mac shook his head with a light smile and turned away to finally hand out the assignments before he walked over to where Nick still talked to the distraught woman.

 

Mac watched Nick speak to Gina Mitchum with his hands. He marveled at the graceful movements and yet he wondered why Nick knew sign language and why it wasn’t in his records. Looking up at him, Nick pointed at Mac and looking at Gina Mitchum he started to sign again only this time he spoke too.

 

“Mrs. Mitchum, may I introduce you to Lieutenant Taylor? He will be in charge of the investigations from the crime lab’s side.”

 

Mrs. Mitchum looked at Mac and as always when he encountered people who had just lost loved ones, Mac wished for some words that would make the loss less profound. He didn’t find the words this time either and so he simply nodded at Mrs. Mitchum and while speaking slowly he promised her. “We’ll do everything, we can to find your daughter’s killer.”

 

She nodded at him, but her eyes held Nick’s as she signed something. Nick smiled gently and quickly touched her hand with his. “I promise.”

 

When they walked back to the house, ready to start processing, Mac looked at Nick again. “What did she tell you?”

 

Nick smiled sadly. “She asked me to help her.”

 

---

 

Don watched Nick in silent awe while his partner communicated with the deaf woman. He had known about Nick’s ability, but had never seen him sign. The innate grace in the movements reminded him of how Nick would caress him, how Nick’s finger would paint invisible drawings on his skin and a deep longing coursed through him at the memory.

 

“Don, you with me?” Danny’s voice drew him from his musings and he noticed the smile in his friend’s eyes. He refocused and sighed silently. “I was just thinking...”

 

“Yeah, must have been good.” Danny grinned and Don flushed before he pointed at the broken toy on the floor. “Struggle?”

 

Danny nodded absently and as he kneeled down to collect the evidence, Don took a deep breath. He had to get himself under control again, and with force he shoved the passion and love that had briefly woken up away.

 

“Hey did you know that Nick can sign?”

 

Danny looked up from the floor and Don smiled lightly before he nodded. “Yeah, I did.”

 

“Where did he learn it?”

 

Don was about to answer when Nick interrupted them from the door. “We had a case in Vegas once. A deaf kid was killed and when we questioned his teacher, I realized how literally speechless I was in dealing with her. And that’s when I decided to learn.”

 

“So you just learned it?” Danny sounded surprised and Don smiled as he watched his lover and his friend talk.

 

Nick shrugged and nodded. “Grissom told me where I could learn it and once I was doing ok, he started to speak with me in sign at crime scenes. It helped a lot.”

 

“Grissom knows how to sign too?” Nick nodded at Danny’s question and smiled. “Yeah, and so does Gibbs by the way.”

 

Danny shook his head and Don grinned. Nick’s eyes met his and Don let his pride in his lover’s abilities show in his eyes. Nick beamed and reached out for him. Don wanted to take his partner’s hands but he saw the other cops around and stepped back quickly. “Later.”

 

Nick nodded, and started to process the house. Don smiled and crouched next to him, brushing against him and meeting his eyes quickly. Nick smiled. “Love you.”

 

---

 

*Las Vegas*

 

“Why does Grissom always send us out to the desert and Sara and Cat that can go and visit strippers?”

 

Eric laughed at Greg’s complaint, before he responded. “Cause he knows that the girls will work on the case much faster than we would?”

 

Greg shrugged. “As if you’d be interested.”

 

Eric sent a sideways glance at his friend. Greg had sounded almost bitter and with a frown, Eric remembered how Greg had withdrawn from him more and more lately. Of course Eric had been spending more time with Danny, but ever since Christmas, Greg had barely spoken to him. Lately though, it hadn’t just been silence but almost snide comments that hurt Eric more than he wanted to let on.

 

“I appreciate beauty in every form.” Eric’s easy comment belied his anxiety, but before he could speak with Greg, they arrived at the scene and Eric sighed, yet another chance he’d missed.

 

“Eric, hermano, como estas?” Luis Perez grinned at Eric before he sobered up and pointed towards the scene. “White female in her mid twenties. Single gunshot wound to the chest, there’s a lot of blood, so to me it doesn’t look like a body dump.”

 

Eric nodded silently and took a good look at the scene. Something was off, he thought and frowning he looked at Perez again. “Tell me what I’m not seeing?”

 

Perez smiled. “The area has been cleaned and pimped yesterday. Some German pop act was planning to shoot a video here today. Some of the crew came out early to prepare for the shooting and found her.”

 

Exchanging a look with Greg, Eric shook his head. “Ok, I’ll take the body.”

 

Greg nodded and started to process the perimeter while Eric walked over towards the dead girl. David was kneeling next to her and as Eric came closer he looked up. “Her name is Marissa Goodman, she’s from Chicago.”

 

Eric bagged the wallet and the driver’s license and helped David turn Marissa over. The coroner quietly went about his job while Eric started to take pictures and collected samples of the soil around her. It was an eerie atmosphere out here in the middle of the desert, with about two hours to go before sunrise and nothing but the sounds of the camera and the low muttering of the officers.

 

Eric liked the silence that often accompanied his work, but right now he missed Alexx’ soothing voice and the gentle way she’d always treated the victims. The thought of his friend made Eric pause for a moment. It had been a long time that he had phone Alexx.

 

“I’ve got to call her tonight.”

 

“Sorry?” David looked confused and Eric blushed a little as he realized that he had spoken out loud. Shrugging he looked at David.

 

“I just realized that I’ve got to call a friend tonight.”

 

David didn’t ask anything else, instead he finished examining the girl and then waved at two officers. “Can you ensure her safe transport to the morgue?”

 

Ever since David had lost a body on the way to the morgue, he was extra careful and Eric couldn’t blame him. The incident had brought IAB down to the morgue and even more, David had been the center of many jokes for a while.

 

Eric smiled, before he suddenly narrowed his eyes and picked something from the ground. It was a diamond ring and carefully examining the ring he held it against the light from his torch. Something was engraved inside the ring.

 

Forever Tammy and Frank

 

“I think we’ve got something.”

 

He showed Greg and Luis the ring and Perez grinned. “Can you find out something about the owner?”

 

“I’ve got to see, maybe we find DNA or can track the ring back to the vendor.” Eric sighed, then pointed at the place where the victim had been. “One thing we know for sure, it wasn’t her ring.”

 

They continued gathering the evidence and Eric lost himself in the familiar procedures and processes. The sound of a car driving up to the crime scene made him look up and frown. It was a black SUV and Eric wondered if Grissom was checking up on them, when two men got out. The older one walked up to the taped off area and frowned before he said something in German to the younger man who had just joined him. Understanding that the two must be a part of the crew that planned to shoot a music video here, Eric walked over and addressed the older man.

 

“Sir, can I help you?”

 

The man looked at Eric and Eric got a first good look at the other man. He was in his mid fifties, blond, very tanned and had cold blue eyes. There was a certain arrogance in the man’s posture, something that screamed ‘notice me’ to Eric. The man pointed towards the crime scene. “What’s going on? We’re supposed to shoot a video here.”

 

Eric looked for Luis but couldn’t find him and turning back to the blond man, he sighed lightly. “I’m sorry, but this area has become a crime scene. I cannot let you through.”

 

The younger man stepped forward and looking both shocked and almost scared. He was almost the complete opposite of the older man with his dark hair and complexion, lithe body. His voice was insecure and compared to the Blonde’s English his was heavily accented as he asked. “Crime scene?”

 

Eric watched how the older man immediately turned around and put a soothing hand on the younger’s back, then he turned back and fixed Eric again. “Do you have any idea when the place will be released?”

 

Eric shook his head. “Sorry, but if you leave a contact number, then we’ll call you as soon as it has been released.”

 

He waved an officer over to get the pair’s address and contact and went back to processing the scene.

 

“I’m pretty much done, how about you?” Greg’s voice made him look up and Eric nodded.

 

“Let’s head back, and see what we’ve got.” His suggestion was met with a nod and soon they were driving back. Eric was silent for a while, but then he took a deep breath and looked closely at Greg. “Greg, what’s wrong? I feel like you’re angry at me.”

 

Greg tensed for a moment, but relaxed again and shook his head. “No, I’m not. I know I’ve been a jerk lately, but I just don’t know what to do, you know? I mean, I know I like Grissom and you all say that he likes me, but what now? And sometimes when I see you and Danny, I just want to scream. You’ve got what I want, and then, I’m... I’m an asshole, and I’m sorry.”

 

Eric felt for his friend and gently reached out to clasp Greg’s shoulder. “It’s ok, Greg. I just feared that I had done something wrong. Is there anything I can help you with?”

 

Greg smiled sadly and shook his head. “Not really, I mean, in the end I just need to get my courage together and tell Grissom.”

 

Eric didn’t say anything, but he could hear from the tone of Greg’s voice that it would take a while until Greg actually would approach Grissom.

 

---

 

*New York*

 

Mac saw the fury in Mrs. Mitchum’s eyes as she signed something and for once he didn’t need Nick or the official translator to translate. The woman was angry that they had found out about her and her daughter’s secret and a part of him could understand her anger. Even in the enlightened 21^st century having a pregnant teenage daughter could be a stigma and yet, the rational part of him, the investigator in him blamed her for not telling them.

 

“You neglected to tell us a vital detail of your daughter’s life.”

 

She might not have heard his voice, but Mac was sure that she could read the disapproval in his eyes and with an angry shake of her head, she started to sign again. Mac saw how the official translator tensed before she turned towards him. “You have no right to judge me, you have no idea how it is to love someone and then lose them.”

 

Smiling sadly, Mac looked at Mrs. Mitchum. “I know what it means to love and to lose someone. But this isn’t about me, Mrs. Mitchum, this is about your daughter and about finding who killed her.”

 

He wasn’t sure why, but his words calmed her down enough to talk sensibly and slowly, brokenly she told him about the father of her daughter’s child and how he had left her daughter after she had refused to get an operation.

 

Mac listened to her and when the interview was over, he went to gather his team and briefed them about the news. Nick growled and shook his head. “Why can’t people understand that normal is not a fixed definition, that normal isn’t necessarily what they are?”

 

It was a feeling that Mac completely understood and he knew that Nick felt very deeply about discrimination. Before he could comment on Nick’s words, Stella spoke though. “We have to find the boyfriend.”

 

He agreed and while Nick and Danny went back to the lab, Mac called Don to organize the search for the daughter’s boyfriend. Don promised to organize everything and finally Mac was alone in his office for a moment. He felt drained, he thought, drained from the anger and despair that he had witnessed in the interview room. The angry words suddenly echoed through his mind and seemed to hang in the room.

 

“You have no idea how it is to love someone and then lose them.”

 

“Claire” His wife’s name whispered through the office as Mac thought of her. The memory of the woman he’d loved so much still hurt and yet the pain had faded. A shiver ran through Mac as he realized that it wasn’t just the pain that had faded, but also the memories of Claire herself had. He still remembered how she had looked like, still remembered the sound of her laughter, but he couldn’t remember her perfume anymore, couldn’t remember how her voice had sounded and the realization shook him to his core.

 

“Mac?” Danny’s voice was suddenly next to him and Mac startled as he looked up and met his lover’s concerned eyes. “Are you ok?”

 

No, he wasn’t, but he couldn’t tell Danny, could he? He couldn’t tell his lover that he felt bad about forgetting his wife. Mac wanted to shake his head, but Danny had already taken one of his hands and held it in a strong grip. “What’s wrong? You look as if you’ve seen a ghost.”

 

Mac wanted to say that everything was ok, but he couldn’t form the words. He couldn’t lie to Danny and even against his will he started to speak. “I can’t remember Claire’s voice.”

 

For a second, Danny seemed to tense, then though he relaxed and after a careful look around, he quickly caressed Mac’s face with one hand. “Do you have pictures of her? Videos?”

 

Surprised at Danny’s question, Mac nodded. “I kept our pictures, but we never made videos. Why?”

 

“Because tonight, I want you to tell me about her and how she was. I want you to show me the pictures. What was her favorite take out?” Danny’s voice was gentle and soothing and at the last question, Mac smiled despite himself.

 

“She liked the Italian around the corner from my flat.”

 

“Then we’ll order some take out from there and remember her.” Danny’s voice was still gentle, but at the same time he spoke with a determination that surprised Mac.

 

Danny smiled again and handed him a report. “That’s actually why I came, have fun reading.”

 

He left the office and for a moment Mac simply stared at the door. His heart was beating faster as he understood suddenly how Danny had changed since they had gotten together. His lover had become confident in his skin and in their love. Something Danny had said a while ago flittered through Mac’s mind.

 

You’re my one, Mac.

 

Smiling Mac reached for the report. Yes, he thought, he was Danny’s one and Danny was his. The fact Danny wasn’t the only one that Mac had ever loved in his live didn’t change anything.

 

---

 

*Washington DC*

 

“Jethro, my office.” Jen’s voice was friendly but at the same time her tone said clearly that she didn’t accept a no. Gibbs sighed and after a quick exchange of looks with Tony, he got up and walked up the stairs. He wondered if he was late on some reports, then dismissed the thought quickly. Tony did most of the reports for him and where as Gibbs was a slouch when it came to paperwork, Tony was both diligent and on time.

 

“What do you want?” He knew that his voice was gruff, but he didn’t care much for her politics. At least she had backed off on a personal level, still he hated her inference and interruptions and often longed for Tom to come back.

 

“It’s time for the performance evaluations again and I’ve been looking at the files of your team members.” She pointed at a couple of binders on the side. “The thing is, I noticed that there are several recommendations in Tony’s file not only from you but also from Tom Morrow. I’ve watched him in the past couple months. He is good Jethro, one of the best agents that we have.”

 

Hearing Jen praise Tony made Gibbs both proud and wary. He was glad that his lover finally got the acclaim that he deserved and yet somehow he felt that Jen was only getting started and that she had an ultimate goal that he wouldn’t like. Noticing her look, he realized that she expected an answer and with a smile he nodded.

 

“He’s my best man. I’ve told you that several times.”

 

She looked down at the file in front of her and studied it again. “He’s been with your team for over five years now...” Trailing off she looked at him and Gibbs felt dread rise inside as she continued to speak. “The thing is Jethro, Tony is an ambitious young man, in both of his former assignments with the police force, he stated that him not going anywhere was a reason for him leaving. And frankly, I don’t want to lose Tony.”

 

Neither did he, Gibbs thought, but before he could answer Jen continued. “I want to offer him a team.”

 

The words made absolutely no sense to Gibbs until they really filtered through his brain. His first instinct was to say no, to curse Jen for making the suggestion, but again she forestalled any objections by speaking.

 

“Your team is one of the highest performing teams, but both Officer David and Agent McGee need to see perspectives in their careers. And I’m positive that Tony will be a great team leader.”

 

With those words, she had backed him into a corner and Gibbs knew it very well. The only way he could avoid losing Tony was by telling her that Tony was not ready to lead his own team and he would never do that to his partner. Still the thought of Tony in another team, the thought of Tony not working with him anymore was more than he could bear to think and almost against his will, Gibbs shook his head.

 

“I need him on my team. He’s a vital part, Jen, he’s not some agent that I can easily replace.”

 

Jen smiled and for once it wasn’t even a cold smile or a calculating one. It was a friendly smile, one that said she understood Gibbs and yet he knew that she wouldn’t budge an inch.

 

“I know that he is and yet, he simply is too much of an asset to be your second in command forever. Don’t you want him to get ahead?” Again he felt like the world’s biggest asshole, because no, he didn’t want Tony to get his own team, he wanted him with Gibbs close enough to make sure Gibbs could protect him.

 

“What will you offer him?”

 

He knew that Jen wouldn’t change her mind, now he could only hope that she wouldn’t suggest something far away. “The office in Spain has vacancies.”

 

“No.” This time there was no misunderstanding the threat in his voice. He spoke simply one word, but he could see how Jen tensed. He looked at her again and shook his head. “You can’t do this.”

 

She smiled for a moment and shrugged. “Actually I can, but I was only kidding. I know that he wants to stay in the DC area and as I said before, Tony is too much of an asset for the NCIS than I would risk losing him.”

 

She looked down at the file again and then taking a deep breath, she looked at him. “Discuss it with him, Jethro. Talk to him about his opportunities and about what it means and I expect you to put your own wishes second when you talk to him. It’s your duty as his team leader.”

 

It would be the hardest thing, he had ever done, Gibbs thought. Talking to Tony about Tony leaving him. Challengingly he looked at Jen. “And if he doesn’t want to leave the team?”

 

Jen smiled again. “It’s not the team he doesn’t want to leave, Gibbs, it’s you and it’s your job to make him understand, that leaving the team doesn’t mean leaving you.”

 

She looked at him once more and then reached for the phone. “I think that was all, Jethro.”

 

---

 

*Las Vegas*

 

“Honestly, how stupid can one be?” Danny laughed at Eric’s exclamation and then grinned when his partner glared at him before he continued talking about his case. “Accepting a dare like this? This was a grown man not a teenager, god, sometimes I hate people.”

 

Danny could understand Eric’s frustration. Eric had spent two nights trying to find the killer of a thirty-two year old man who had been found dead with a gunshot wound in the desert. In the end the murder had turned out to be a suicide, their victim had played Russian roulette with two friends and had lost.

 

Danny pulled Eric closer towards his body he loved how Eric’s slightly smaller frame fit against him, loved the feeling of the strong muscles against his chest and with an almost purring sound, he started to caress Eric’s flank. Eric moved a bit and took a deep breath.

 

“How was your day?”

 

Uneventful, Danny thought, uneventful if one didn’t count the snide remarks from Mitch. They had been working together and Mitch had used the opportunity to tell and show Danny once more how he didn’t feel that Danny was in the right position. Sighing lightly, Danny told Eric about the comments and felt how his lover tensed. “You should talk to Ed.”

 

It was something that Eric told him every single time when they talked and yet Danny couldn’t do it. “I don’t rat on my friends.”

 

Shaking his head, Eric moved around and looked at him. “It’s not ratting out, Eric, if you talk about a real problem. After all, when evaluation day comes up, you have to come clean, don’t you think, Ed would like to get a heads-up?”

 

Eric had a point, Danny thought, yet before he could even say anything, the door bell rang and frowning Danny looked up. “Do you expect anyone?”

 

Eric shook his head and then shrugged. “Maybe Warrick feels lonely.”

 

Doubting that as Delinda had told him about her plans for Warrick, Danny walked over to the door. The person on the other side made him tense up and stand still, then he swallowed and nodded slowly. “Mary, good to see you.”

 

She smiled and shook her head. “No it isn’t, is it? I guess, I’m the last person you expected knocking on your boyfriend’s door. I’d like to talk to you, if it’s ok.”

 

Danny’s head was spinning. Mary had treated him like a stranger since that awful night when he’d told her the truth about him and Eric. Now she stood in his door step and wanted to talk. “Sure, just let me tell Eric and we can go somewhere for a coffee.”

 

Mary smiled faintly and shook her head. “I’d like to meet him.”

 

Danny was so surprised that he stepped back without realizing was he was doing. Mary walked past him into Eric’s flat and straight towards the living room where Eric was reading in his journal. Hearing her come into the room, Eric looked up and Danny could clearly see how his lover’s eyes hardened.

 

“You must be Eric.”

 

Mary’s voice was soft, but Eric didn’t react to the friendly greeting, instead he looked at Danny for a moment before he looked back at Mary. “What are you doing here?”

 

Danny could see how Mary swallowed hard. “I came to apologize.”

 

Apologize? His heart beating with hope, Danny gently touched Mary’s shoulder. “Why don’t you sit down?”

 

She smiled at him and shook her head. “Not yet, Danny. Right now, Eric doesn’t want me to stay, do you?”

 

Eric laughed harshly and shook his head. “No, and if you came here to hurt Danny even more, then you can just leave now.”

 

His protective lover... Danny smiled at Eric’s words and yet the warmth in his heart was no fluke, and the love he felt at Eric protecting him was strong and real. It made him walk over and pull Eric in his arms in front of Mary. Eric was tense against him, and Danny could almost feel the muscles vibrating under the strain that Eric put them through right now.

 

Mary looked at them and Danny could see how she paled a bit, then though she shook her head. “I said that I want to apologize and I mean it, Eric.”

 

Turning towards Danny, she smiled faintly. “When you told me about Eric, about you being gay, it destroyed all my dreams, Danny. Do you know for how long I’ve dreamt about one day becoming your wife? Whenever life would get too hard, that was my escape, whenever I felt that I couldn’t go on, that dream saved me.”

 

Danny remembered what Delinda had told him a while ago. “Mary has always loved the idea of your wedding picture on a mantle in your house.”

 

Mentally nodding at his friend, he understood now that Delinda had been right. Mary had stopped talking and now looked at him.

 

“So what made you come here?” Her words had woken his hopes, but Danny needed to hear her say that she accepted his choice. He needed to hear the confirmation. Mary’s rejection had hurt him much more than he’d ever expected.

 

“I was wrong and I’m sorry.” She sighed and looked at Danny. “I know I hurt you, but maybe one day you can forgive me. I don’t want to lose you as my friend.”

 

She was honest, Danny realized and a huge weight lifted from his heart. Slowly he walked over to her and hugged her tightly. “I don’t want to lose you either.”

 

He felt her leaning against him for a moment before she released him and turned towards Eric. “We met under pretty bad circumstances and I’m sorry for that. I’m Mary.”

 

Danny saw how much effort it took Eric to take Mary’s hand and shake it. His lover’s protectiveness amused him, and at the same time Danny knew that he would react similarly if their roles were reversed.

 

Eric looked deep into Mary’s eyes until he finally smiled. “I’m Eric and it’s nice to meet you.”

 

Eric went to the kitchen to make some more coffee and within moments the three of them sat together on the table enjoying their breakfast. The conversation was stilted at first, but soon enough familiarity prevailed and a comfortable banter and story telling started. Eric held himself back watching Danny and Mary and Danny knew that his partner was looking for any sign if something wasn’t ok.

 

Right now though everything was. Danny knew that the hurt he had felt at Mary’s rejection wasn’t gone just like that and he was quite sure that it would take a long time until he could really trust her again. But her apology had been the first step and they would rebuild their friendship from there.

 

---

 

Nick watched from the sideline as Cole Rowen was cuffed and then led away by two Officers. Don and another officer had grabbed the baby while Mac had talked to Cole, had tried to reason with him and in the end had only succeeded in stalling him long enough to get the baby and Gina Mitchum to safety.

 

A hand touched his arm and he turned around. Gina Mitchum’s smile was still sad but her eyes were relieved. Her nightmare wasn’t over by a long shot, but at least the man who had killed her daughter was now behind bars and her granddaughter was safe. It wasn’t closure yet, but it was a first step towards it and no one knew that better than Nick.

 

“Thank you.”

 

He nodded slowly. A part of him wanted to tell her that he had just been doing her job, but another larger part warned him to keep silent. For Gina Mitchum Nick hadn’t just done his job, he had listened to her and taken her seriously, he had spoken her language and been able to communicate with her. It was more than just doing his job and if he was honest, then Nick knew it.

 

“Good job.” Mac’s eyes were warm and Nick felt himself flush at the praise. Mac wasn’t someone who showered everyone with compliments, and that made a ‘good job’ from him even more precious. Nick smiled at his boss when Mac moved closer suddenly. “And next time I find out about a skill that you’ve never mentioned, you’re going to be in trouble.”

 

Nick grinned, but before he could say anything Danny walked up to them. He had heard Mac’s last words and smirked. “I think we should ask Don about some other skills.”

 

Glaring at his friend, Nick couldn’t hold the stern look for a long time and laughed alone with Mac and Danny. It was one of those moments of relaxing right after a hard case and Nick felt some of the tension melt away. A warm hand on his shoulder made him smile and he turned around to look at Don.

 

“You ready to call it a night?”

 

Don nodded. “I still have to pack.”

 

“Yeah, me too. It feels weird to pack t-shirts in February.” Nick laughed at Danny’s words and looked at Mac. “You all set?”

 

Mac nodded. “I packed yesterday.”

 

“Boy scout.” Don’s comment was met with another round of smiles and a glare from Mac.

 

Nick shook his head and looked at his friends. “So see you tomorrow at the airport then?”

 

He got two nods and a smile from Don. Their long awaited weekend road trip was here and Danny punched his fist into the air. “Las Vegas watch out, we’re coming.”

 

---

 

 

 

 

*Chapter 3 – Traveling I – On the way to Vegas*

 

*New York*

 

“You made it.” Nick sounded way too surprised and awake and Danny simply glared at him. Don laughed and growling Danny  turned towards his friend.

 

“Who thought it was a good idea to take a 7AM flight to Vegas?”

 

“That would be me.” Mac’s words were spoken closely to his ear and Danny shivered at the public closeness. Still he turned around and frowned. “It’s too early.”

 

Nick smiled easily. “It gives us an entire day more in Vegas. I think that’s worth getting up.”

 

Before Danny could argue any further he felt Mac’s hand on his back and turning around to look at his partner, he saw a slow smile cross Mac’s face. “It’s my fault actually, I kept Danny up.”

 

Mac’s words made him blush and Nick grinned. Don thought shook his head and with a smirk he glanced at Nick. “See, I told you.”

 

Now it was Nick’s turn to blush, but before Danny could ask for any details they were called to the check in counter. The entire procedure took less than ten minutes and finally holding his ticket in his hand, Danny started to relax. He hadn’t told anyone, but he’d been on pins and needles in the last couple of days. He’d been afraid that something, anything would come up to prevent the trip from happening.

 

“Danny?” Mac’s voice interrupted his thoughts and looking up, Danny met Mac’s slightly concerned eyes. “Love, you ok?”

 

Hearing the endearment in public made Danny’s heart beat faster and he smiled happily before he accidentally brushed his hand against Mac’s. “I’m fine.”

 

They settled in the chair of the departure gate and Danny looked up at the clock. Boarding would be in thirty minutes, now nothing was going to interrupt their trip. Again he bumped his hand against Mac’s and smiled at his lover. “I’m just really glad that the trip is finally here.”

 

---

 

*Las Vegas*

 

“When do your guests arrive?”

 

Danny smiled at Mary’s question knowing only too well that she was curious about the six men that would shortly arrive in Vegas. To be honest so was he, cause all he knew about them was what Warrick had told him and some of the stories had sounded a bit too much even for Warrick.

 

He looked forward to meeting Warrick’s friends but at the same time he was also alert on how their visit would affect his lover. Danny knew that Eric wasn’t as insecure about his place in the team as he had been a couple of weeks ago, he knew that Warrick had spoken with him and still he was protective of his lover and he would watch over him.

 

Now though, he shrugged lightly. “I think they land somewhere around 11AM, but I’m not really sure if they check in immediately. Why?”

 

She grinned. “Cause Sam, Delinda and I want to take a look at the eye candy from New York.”

 

Her answer made him laugh and he punched her lightly in the arm. “You know that these guys are taken, don’t you?”

 

“By each other, how boring. If you invite guys around, can you please make sure next time that they are single and not gay?” Sam had walked up to them and her disarming laughter rang through the lobby. Danny shook his head at the two girls.

 

“Just treat them like normal guests ok?”

 

Surprised at his words, Mary nodded immediately and Danny saw the confused look that Sam gave him. “Of course, why would we treat them differently?”

 

“Danny’s just afraid that his lover boy doesn’t let him screw him, if his pansy friends aren’t happy with the Montecito.”

 

Mike’s voice was cutting and cold and Danny flinched at the words. Before he could say anything though, Sam had turned around and smiled her sweetest smile. “You’re an idiot Mike and if it wouldn’t cause a scene, I’d love to sock you right now.”

 

Sam was the only person that Danny knew who could deliver a death threat with a smile. Mike paled considerably, and Danny knew that he had to talk to him.

 

“Mike, a second please?” He noticed how Mike hesitated before he followed him to the elevator and up on the security floor. Once they were there, Mike immediately went to his work station and Danny shook his head. “My office.”

 

“What?” The entire surveillance room had gone quiet and Danny was only too aware of how everyone was watching him and Mike. The rift between them had been obvious especially to those that knew them well. Danny had avoided making an issue out of Mike’s behavior, but he knew only too well that someday soon he would have to address it.

 

He looked at Mike again and sighed mentally at the stubborn look in Mike’s eyes. “Can you come over for a moment?”

 

This time Danny didn’t wait for an answer, instead he walked towards his office knowing that Mike didn’t have the courage to defy a direct order.

 

“What do you want?”

 

The open hostility in both the words and in Mike’s posture hurt, but Danny pushed the emotion away before it could take hold and instead he smiled coldly at Mike. “I just wanted to make it absolutely clear that I will not allow you to insult either me or my partner nor any guest of the Montecito in front of other guests. You can say about me what you want up when you’re off the job, but as long as you’re here as an employee of the Montecito, I expect you to represent the hotel and its culture.”

 

Mike looked taken aback for a moment then though he sneered. “Your precious Eric really has your panties in a twist, doesn’t he?”

 

Praying for patience, Danny shook his head. “This has nothing to do with Eric and if your prejudices prevent you from doing your job, then I’ll have to take this up with Ed.”

 

Mike laughed harshly and without another word, he got up and turned to leave the office. Only when he was standing in the door, he turned around and looked at Danny. “I’ll be a good boy, Danny, don’t you worry.”

 

There was a large part in Danny’s heart that wanted to believe Mike and yet his gut told him to be alert. He would have to watch his former friend and the fact that he couldn’t trust Mike anymore, hurt more than he had expected.

 

---

 

*Washington DC*

 

Sitting at the departure gate, waiting for the boarding announcement had to be one of the most boring things to and as he waited for his flight to be called, Gibbs once again remembered why he preferred to hitch a flight with any available military plane to flying commercial planes.

 

It was simply too much hassle and the security checks drove him nuts. Rationally, Gibbs completely understood the need for tight airport security and yet as the flight attendant announced yet another check, his patience was starting to wear thin.

 

“Have some coffee.” Tony’s voice pulled him from his musing and the smell of coffee made his mouth water. His lover grinned at Gibbs’ hungry look and quickly handed him the coffee. “They’ll start the boarding in 15 minutes.”

 

Surprised Gibbs looked at Tony. “How do you know?”

 

Tony shrugged and pointed towards the desk. “I asked.”

 

Gibbs’ eyes followed Tony’s arm, but his attention was diverted from the desk to the platinum band around Tony’s wrist. The sun shone through one of the windows and the metal shimmered softly in the rays filtering through the glass. Gibbs’ eyes rested on the bracelet, whenever he saw it, whenever he got a glimpse of it while working, it gave him a warm feeling. It was the knowledge that just over his own heart the bracelet’s counterpart was resting, the knowledge that he was literally the only one with a key to unlock this particular band of platinum. Seeing the bracelet reminded Gibbs that Tony was his.

 

Out of instinct, he reached out and brushed his fingers over the shimmering band. Tony smiled as he looked up and his eyes met Gibbs. “Incredibly kinky or incredibly romantic.”

 

The murmured words reminded Gibbs of their Christmas together when he had given Tony the bracelet. “What would you prefer?”

 

The question had slipped out before he could censure it and Tony seemed taken aback for a second. Then he smiled again. “Can’t I have both?”

 

Gibbs knew that Mac and Danny were into games with domination and he knew that these games were more to them than just a way to spice up their love life. Mac had once tried to explain to him what it meant. “It’s the trust Danny shows me when he submits that touches me. It’s hot and sexy and of course I get turned on, but when you strip all our scenes down to the innermost core, then you end up with trust.”

 

“Jethro?” Gibbs noted the urgency in Tony’s voice and looking up, he realized that the boarding had started. “Jethro, are you ok?”

 

Tony looked concerned and Gibbs smiled. “Yeah, I just...”

 

He trailed off know knowing how to say what was on his mind, but as it often happened Tony understood him without words. Gibbs felt Tony’s hand quickly brushed over his back and again their eyes met. “I don’t want what Mac and Danny have, Jethro, I love our sex life and I certainly don’t want you to hurt me.”

 

They were standing close to each other and still Gibbs was only too aware that they were in a public place. “Let’s discuss this in the hotel, ok?”

 

Tony grinned and nodded before he smiled widely at the flight attendant and handed her his ticket. Gibbs waited for his turn when Tony suddenly looked at him with eyes full of mischief. “Tell me, Gibbs, are you a member of the mile high club?”

 

---

 

*Between New York and Las Vegas*

 

Don sighed as he tried to fold his legs into a more comfortable position. Planes weren’t made for tall people and whenever he moved he felt as if he either hit Nick or banged his knees. Moving again, he groaned and heard a chuckle next to him.

 

“Something wrong?” Nick’s eyes glittered with amusement and Don couldn’t help but smiling back. Then though he moved and again he knocked his knee and groaned.

 

“I’m too tall and right now I hate my size.”

 

Nick smiled and shaking his head, he leaned over and murmured quietly. “I love your size.”

 

The suggestive tone in which Nick had spoken those words made Don shiver and he swallowed hard. He had an aisle seat, but right next to Nick was an older lady and Don didn’t want her to hear their conversation. For the first time in his life, Don actually wished to fly business class, because then they would have some more privacy. His hand covered Nick’s for a moment and his eyes met those of his partner. Nick’s dark eyes were full of love and amusement and Don turned his hand to squeeze Nick’s hand.

 

“You ok?”

 

Nick nodded. “Yeah, right now I am. Traveling always is a bit like in between time, you know, neither here nor there.”

 

Don understood what Nick meant. He hadn’t been to many places, neither his own nor his father’s salary had ever been large enough to afford him holidays overseas, but whenever he flew somewhere, he experienced this feeling of being suspended somewhere which was neither home nor his next destination.

 

“We should go on a real holiday this summer.”

 

Nick frowned a bit bemused. “A real holiday? What wasn’t real in the last one we took?”

 

Don smiled as he remembered their last summer holiday. They had taken a week off and spent it refurnishing and renovating their new apartment. It had been a time full of laughter and love, but it hadn’t exactly been a holiday.

 

“Have you ever been to Europe?” Don saw how Nick shook his head. “We should try to get two weeks off and go maybe to Greece or Italy or Spain.”

 

Nick nodded thoughtfully and Don knew him well enough by now to know that Nick had started to make plans and true to his thought, Nick suddenly turned around and smiled at him. “I’ve always wanted to see Rome and Tuscany...”

 

He trailed off and Don once more quickly squeezed Nick’s hand. “We’ll look into it when we’re back. Now though, we’ll enjoy Vegas. Have you ever stayed at the Montecito?”

 

Nick looked at him incredulously. “No, never. I mean, I had my apartment in Vegas and when I first moved from Dallas, PD paid for a hotel room, but believe me they don’t have corporate rates at the Montecito. I’ve never even been in there for an investigation. I’m quite curious actually.”

 

“Do you know this Danny?” Nick shook his head at Don’s question. “No, I don’t. I’ve heard of him and especially of his boss Ed Deline, but as I said, I never went to the Montecito and I guess we didn’t mingle in the same circles.”

 

Nick said the last with a exaggerated wink and Don smiled fondly. He was curious too, but about the hotel and a lot more about Nick’s old team. He knew Warrick personally and Grissom and Greg from phone calls, but he had yet to meet Sara, Catherine and of course Eric.

 

A part of Don dreaded meeting Nick’s old team, but another larger part simply enjoyed seeing Nick so happy. His partner grinned and quickly turned his hand so that Don’s hand slipped from his and instead Nick was touching Don’s thigh. Don gasped inaudibly and looking at his lover he glared. “You’re in so much trouble, Nick Stokes.”

 

Nick simply laughed at the threat and leaned in to covertly lick Don’s neck. “But you love trouble, don’t you?”

 

Don loved the playfulness in his lover and couldn’t keep the stern face instead he smiled back. “Yes, honey, I certainly do.”

 

---

 

*Las Vegas*

 

“Are you going to tell Nick about us?” Warrick absently caressed Delinda’s naked shoulder while he thought about her question. He hadn’t really thought about them before, mainly because he wasn’t really sure what ‘they’ were.

 

“I don’t know, should I?” Only after he had said it, he realized that his words sounded too casual and were almost cruel. Immediately he pulled her closer and shook his head. “I’m sorry, Del, I really didn’t think that through. Of course I will tell him. I didn’t want to upset you.”

 

She moved so that she was lying on top of him, her head cushioned on his chest and her own hands. Her long blond hair tickled his sides as she shook her head. “Don’t be stupid, Warrick, I’m mean it’s not as if I’m the love of your life, is it? Nor you’re mine for that fact.”

 

No, she wasn’t but she was probably the best friend he’d ever had in a long time. Since his divorce from Tina, since he realized that he might not be as completely straight as he’d thought, he’d kept clear from women, but Delinda had not let him go. She had understood that he wasn’t ready for another relationship, had understood that what he needed right now was friendship and not love.

 

Their relationship was one based on friendship, fun and a strong and mutual attraction. He didn’t love her or at least not in the way a lover should and neither did she love him, but Warrick had started to care deeply for her since they had begun seeing each other. Now looking at Delinda, Warrick reached out and pulled her closer for a quick kiss. “You’re a wonderful woman.”

 

“I know.” She grinned cheekily and started threading her fingers over his chest. Warrick groaned as his blood started to flow faster under the tender caresses. “I’m also very, very talented and very, very fast.”

 

Saying this, Delinda reached behind his head and with two clicks, Warrick found his hands tied to the bed posts. For a moment, he stared at her then he relaxed. “I’m at your mercy.”

 

“Mercy?” Her eyes glittered with amusement and lust. “I don’t think I know that word.”

 

She got up from the bed and Warrick watched with hungry eyes as she walked out of the room. Her movements were completely natural as if it was the most normal thing that she was walking around naked in his flat while he was tied to the bed. She was certainly the most beautiful woman he’d ever been with, but even more she was the most adventurous.

 

“Honey, I have to confess something.” Her eyes were glittering with fun and Warrick grinned as she came back shaking a can of whipped cream. “Unfortunately I’ve never been a great cook. But I’m wicked with desert.”

 

---

 

*Between Washington DC and Las Vegas*

 

“I can’t believe that you’ve upgraded us without telling me.” Tony grinned at Jethro’s words. The look on his lover’s face when the young flight attendant had politely told him that his seat was in first and not economy class had been worth the costs of the upgrade. And of course so was the privacy that they now had.

 

Tony had purposely chosen an international airline because he knew that their planes tended to have larger first class cabins and he had been right. They were currently sitting next to each other with no one within a range of five feet and a door that could be closed if they wanted privacy.

 

Smiling at his lover, Tony noticed that the fasten-your-seatbelt-sign had been switched off and gracefully he got up. Jethro looked confused at him, but Tony pointed towards the front of the cabin. “Bathroom.”

 

Seeing that he had calmed his lover, Tony walked to the front and caught the flight attendant. “I’m sorry if I disturb you, but can you do me a big favor?”

 

The young man looked up and when he smiled flirtatiously at Tony, Tony knew that he had met someone who would understand.

 

“What can I do for you?”

 

Tony shrugged a bit. “See, my lover and I aren’t exactly out and this is the first trip together, so I want to make it memorable for him, can you tell me when you’re serving food and stuff, just so that I can plan ahead.”

 

The younger man smiled. “Planning ahead is always important, isn’t it?”

 

The way he said ahead made Tony blush lightly, but the other man was professional enough to pretend he didn’t notice. “Actually, you can have your breakfast served whenever you’re ready. Just push the button for in flight service and I’ll be right with you. Else I won’t come near your place as long as the door is closed.”

 

Tony smiled thankfully, but just as he wanted to turn back, the younger man stopped him again. “Just keep it down ok? The company has a pretty conservative policy in regards to planning ahead.”

 

Tony winked at the other man and promised to be quiet before he sauntered back to the compartment that he and Jethro shared. For a moment Tony just stood there and watched his partner. Jethro was reading in his book, his face relaxed and yet concentrated. He had pushed his chair back so that he was reclining but not exactly lying down. One of his hands tapped a rhythm on the chair and Tony smiled as he closed the door and walked over to Jethro.

 

Quietly he got on his knees and let his hands rest on Jethro’s legs. His lover tensed for a moment, then slowly he put his book aside and looked at Tony. “What are you doing?”

 

Smiling Tony let his hands slide up along Jethro’s legs until they rested on his belt. “Celebrating our trip to Vegas.”

 

“Tony.” Jethro’s voice was shaky as Tony slowly opened his belt and his pants and let his hands slip inside. “We’re in a plane, we can’t...”

 

He broke off in a groan as Tony nuzzled his face into his crotch and inhaled Jethro’s scent. He loved the fact that he could turn Jethro into a bundle of nerves. Looking up he met Jethro’s eyes. “Why fly first class if you don’t enjoy the privacy it gives you? Nobody will disturb us, unless you’re too loud.”

 

The last he said with a grin, before he pulled at Jethro’s pants. His lover understood the hint and with Jethro’s help he pushed Jethro’s pants and underwear down leaving his lover exposed from the waist down. Tony licked at the already hard head and heard the light moan that escaped Jethro. It warmed him, aroused him that he could make his lover lose control like this and yet he looked up and cautioned. “Silence, ok?”

 

Jethro glared at him, but before Tony could say anything else, he felt gentle hands at his head guiding him towards Jethro’s cock. He willingly swallowed his lover and relaxed his throat as he felt Jethro’s need growing. But to his surprise, Jethro kept still, didn’t move and as Tony glanced up, he saw a challenge in Jethro’s eyes.

 

“This is your show, Tony.”

 

The words were murmured and Tony would have smiled if his lips hadn’t been stretched around his partner. He retreated and now fully grinned. “This is first class service, you just lean back and relax.”

 

Jethro chuckled but the sound quickly turned into a moan when Tony started to suck harder. He felt the moan vibrate through is body and shivered as his own hard cock pressed almost uncomfortable against his jeans. Jethro’s hand were tighter around his head, still gentle but Tony could feel the tension in his partner as Gibbs started to thrust into his mouth almost as if he couldn’t keep still anymore.

 

It was intoxicating, reckless and Tony suddenly realized that he was in the first class of an airplane giving his lover a blow job. The thought made him moan against Jethro’s cock and he could hear the muffled groan from his lover.

 

“Tony, god Tony...”

 

It was the only warning Tony got as suddenly Jethro grabbed his head and pushed two times hard into his throat. Tony shivered almost uncontrollably as he felt Jethro’s body tense and finally release. For a few moments they both stilled completely and then Tony felt soft hands pull him up.

 

Their eyes met and he saw sated lust and love in Jethro’s blue eyes. “Come here.”

 

His lover’s voice was slightly hoarse and Tony complied immediately only to stifle a loud moan as Jethro’s hand undid the buttons on his jeans and slipped inside.

 

“That was the most reckless thing that you’ve ever done.” Tony leaned into Jethro’s shoulder to contain the moans that threatened to resonate through the cabin as Jethro expertly brought him close to completion only to stop right before Tony was about to fall over the edge.

 

“Do you know what would have happened if we had been detected?” Jethro’s eyes glinted wickedly as he caressed Tony and Tony could see the slightly evil smile in his lover’s smile. For a moment he was worried what Jethro was planning, then though Jethro’s hand caressed him just perfectly, Tony was in heaven until it suddenly stopped again and he bit on his lips to keep from crying out when Jethro held his hand still again and squeezed his cock almost harshly.

 

“Please Jethro...” His voice was barely audible, but from Jethro’s light chuckle, Tony knew that his lover had heard him. He felt Jethro lean in and kiss the soft skin behind his ear and again Tony moaned. “Please.”

 

“I think I could keep you hard, couldn’t I? Maybe I need to buy a cock ring for you. Just imagine how it would be Tony, I could keep you hard like this, slip my hand into your pants and caress you whenever I want. Make you wait for your release until I want you to come...”

 

Jethro’s words were such a turn on, and so hot that one movement of his hand was enough and Tony came shuddering with ecstasy. For a long time, he held onto Jethro until his breath calmed down and he looked at his partner.

 

“That was... I didn’t know you were so good in talking dirty...”

 

Jethro simply grinned. “Who said it was just talk?”

 

Tony’s breath caught. The thought of being at Jethro’s mercy was an erotic one and leaning closer to his lover he nodded slowly. “Maybe we should ask Nick if he knows a good specialty shop.”

 

Just the thought of asking his prim and proper friend about an adult store made Tony laugh and Jethro joined in after a moment. Then Tony rearranged his clothing and pressed the service button. Within seconds the nice flight attendant arrived. Tony smiled and ordered coffee for him and Jethro.

 

Drinking the surprisingly good coffee, Tony looked at his lover and grinned.  “You know we really did this airline proud.”

 

Confused Jethro looked at him and Tony elaborated. “Their slogan is: Experience a new dimension of flying. We certainly did.”

 

---

 

*Between New York and Las Vegas*

 

“Ladies and Gentlemen, we have started our descent into Las Vegas, can we please ask you to put your seats in the upright position and to stove away your tables...”

 

Mac felt his heart rate speed up at the announcement. The sudden tension surprised him, and yet it didn’t. He’d never been to Vegas and somehow he felt as if he were stepping into something unknown, an area outside of his control.

 

And yet, Danny had been right, they needed to get away from New York, needed some time out from their jobs, from the pressure of dealing with the darkest side of humanity and most of all from the pressure of wearing a mask even around their friends all the time. Some of his team knew and had reacted well, Mac thought and yet not his entire team did know and right now he wasn’t sure if he wanted them to.

 

Sighing, he thought back to the conversation he’d had with his boss Ralph Denton yesterday. Ralph knew about him and Danny, had protected him and had stood firmly behind Mac and his team whenever the goings had gotten tough. Mac had started to rely on Ralph and what Ralph had told him yesterday had been a shock.

 

“I’ve been asked to take over the job as Police Vice Commissioner. And I will take it.”

 

Mac knew that it was a great honor and a huge step for Ralph, and yet he hated the fact that he would get a new boss especially since he knew who the new guy was.

 

“So who will take over from you?”

 

Ralph had looked seriously at him. “Brigham Sinclair”

 

Mac sighed silently. He didn’t know Sinclair well enough, but he didn’t like what he knew about him. The one thing that worried Mac most was that Sinclair was a close friend of Deputy Inspector Gerrard. Gerrard was an old school detective who didn’t believe in the CSI methods, but even worse was that he hated Danny.

 

Ralph had known that Mac was less than pleased and had tried to calm him down. “I still be your last line of defense Mac and I can still protect you from where I go. I promise I won’t hang you or your team out to dry.”

 

Mac hadn’t been so sure. “Gerrard hates Danny. Last time I dealt with him, he called him a high tech geek with a penchant for committing felonies. Told me that I was a fool for hiring someone with ties to the organized crime...”

 

Ralph had looked at him concerned and nodded slowly. “I’ll talk to him. Make sure that he knows that I’ll keep an eye on you and your team even though I’m not your boss anymore.”

 

A part of Mac bristled at the thought of needing someone to look out for him, someone to protect him from the higher ups, but he was honest enough with himself to know that office politics wasn’t his strongest subject. A quick smile crossed his face as he remembered Ralph’s last comment.

 

“Let Stokes deal with him, he’s got a knack for politics.”

 

Again Mac smiled, as he turned his head and looked at Nick talking with Don two rows further down the aisle. Maybe he should let Nick deal with Sinclair, maybe it would be the smarter way.

 

“Mac?” Looking at Danny next to him, Mac pushed any thoughts about New York away. He would think about the implications of Ralph’s promotion when he was back in New York, but right now he wanted to concentrate on the trip and Danny. He took a second glance at his lover. Danny was full of excitement about this trip and Mac could already see how the distance to New York seemed to take away some of the pressure that Danny constantly was under. “You ok?”

 

Mac nodded. “Yeah, I am now.”

 

Danny seemed to hesitate for a moment, then he took a deep breath and leaned closer. “I’ve got a surprise planned for us on Saturday night. So if Nick or anyone asks, we’re busy ok.”

 

Mac’s curiosity was piqued and immediately he looked directly at his lover. “What have you planned?”

 

Now Danny grinned broadly. “If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise wouldn’t it?”

 

---

 

*Las Vegas*

 

The arrival hall was as busy as always. Warrick watched as yet another group of happy and chattering tourists walked past him. He smiled as his eyes followed them as they crossed the hall and left the airport in the search for their hotel bus. The Vegas airport was one of the busiest in the US and right now as the first flights came in it seemed to teem with people.

 

“I’m nervous.”

 

Warrick looked up from his newspaper at Eric’s comment and sent him a surprised glance before he shook his head. “I told you, Nick’s not coming here to take your place, he’s coming here to have fun. Relax, Eric, it’s going to be fine.”

 

Eric though shook his head. “I’m not nervous because of that, but what if they don’t like the Montecito? I mean, what if...”

 

He trailed off as Warrick laughed. “Have you seen the hotel that the department uses to put new joiners up for the first weeks?”

 

Eric nodded and Warrick laughed again. “That’s the only hotel, Nick’s ever stayed in Vegas, so believe me if I say that he’ll love the Montecito and so will the others.”

 

Before Eric could say anything, he was jumped from behind and yelling he stumbled until he found his balance again. Glaring at the newcomer, he shook his head. “Greg are you insane? You could kill someone like this!”

 

“Yeah, but I know how to hide a body.” Greg shone with happiness and Eric simply shook his head. Greg looked at him and seeing that Eric had his work phone in his hand, he frowned. “Are you working this weekend?”

 

Eric shook his head. “No, you know that the entire team has off. Ecklie must have worked quite hard for that.”

 

It had come as a surprise to all of them, when Ecklie had informed them that the team was off from Friday morning until Sunday night. Warrick had later said that Ecklie would have never done this for him or anyone else in the team apart from Nick. The others had agreed with Warrick and it had both confused and scared Eric a bit. Still he clung to Warrick’s words, believed in them, believed in the fact that he was a part of the team and that even though another part was coming to visit, he wouldn’t lose his friends.

 

“You’re going to LA tomorrow night, aren’t you?” Warrick’s words pulled him from his darker thoughts and as he met his friend’s eyes Warrick smiled encouragingly. Eric nodded. Danny’s invitation had come as a complete surprise, but Eric really looked forward to spending some time at the sea.

 

“Yeah, but not tomorrow night. We’ll have dinner with you, fly out Saturday morning and come back Monday night, I’ve got an additional day off.” The team had a big dinner at the Mystique planned tomorrow and he and Danny wanted to take part even though they didn’t know the visitors.

 

“Sounds cool. Where you’re staying?”

 

 Eric shrugged at Greg’s words. “We’ll stay at some hotel that Danny’s booked. We could have stayed with Calleigh, but Danny wanted more privacy. We’ll meet her on Saturday for dinner and drinks.”

 

Greg wanted to ask more, but Warrick suddenly got up and pointed at the screen in front of them. “They’re here, they’ve just landed.”

 

And so it begins, Eric thought quietly, and so it begins.

 

---

 

* Interlude – City of Angels I*

 

*Los Angeles*

 

Colby was watching Charlie work again. He wasn’t sure how often he’d watched his boyfriend writing out formulas and ideas on any available surface since they had finally managed to make it to dinner together.

 

After that day in the park, work had kept interrupting their plans until that one magical night in January that had changed so much. Colby smiled as he remembered the ease with which they had talked, the unexpected familiarity and the completely new tension. They had gone for a steak dinner in one of Colby’s favorite diners and had spent the evening talking about the job, math and whatever had caught their fancy.

 

Colby had found out that Charlie’s interest for math had spread over into other subjects such as politics, sports and even entertainment and Charlie had probably realized that Colby wasn’t just a dumb blond with a badge.

 

“What are you thinking?” Charlie’s voice close to his ear pulled Colby from his thoughts and he smiled as his eyes met Charlie’s.

 

“Our first dinner.” Colby saw how Charlie’s eyes lit up and he reached out to pull Charlie closer. “Our first night.”

 

Charlie melted against his body and looking up, Colby saw the dreamy look in Charlie’s face. “Good memories...”

 

Charlie got that one right, Colby thought, these were certainly good memories. He sat down on his couch and pulling Charlie with him, he arranged his partner so that Charlie was comfortable. “What do you say we make new ones?”

 

Charlie laughed. “That was corny even for you. And actually I need to run, I promised Larry that I’d help him and his students with this black hole experiment.”

 

What did even for you mean? Colby glared a little at his partner, then though he let him go and sighed when Charlie leant down to kiss him quickly. “I’m being abandoned for Larry, I wonder what Megan would say.”

 

He wanted to take the words back as soon as he’d said them, but it was too late and Colby saw how Charlie’s face darkened. The fact that Charlie didn’t want anyone to know about them was one of the few issues that still stood between them, and it had less to do with Charlie fearing homophobia than with his unease about Don’s reaction. Personally Colby thought that it would be even worse if Don found out that they had hidden their relationship from him, but Charlie wasn’t an Eppes for nothing. Stubborn was only his first name...

 

“She won’t say anything because she doesn’t know. Does she or have you told her anything?” Charlie’s eyes had turned colder.

 

Colby nodded slowly even though his heart was heavy.

 

“No, I haven’t told her anything. She never asked and I’d never tell without your approval. But Charlie...” Charlie looked once more at him and again Colby shivered at the hard eyes and cold look. He sighed. “If she ever asks, or if anyone ever asks, I won’t lie.”

 

Colby held his breath as Charlie tensed, then though his lover nodded. “Well, then we have to make sure no one ever asks.”

 

It wasn’t what Colby had wanted to hear, as he saw how Charlie walked towards the door, he knew that he couldn’t let him go like that.

 

 “Have fun, Charlie and...” He got up quickly, wrapped his arms around his lover and kissed him gently. “and come back soon.”

 

Charlie looked undecided and longingly clung to Colby. “I could cancel.”

 

Colby smiled and shook his head. “No, you promised, now go before Larry organizes a search team.”

 

Colby watched as Charlie half ran, half stumbled out of Colby’s flat. A smile played on his face as he sat back on his couch and closed his eyes. The last couple of days had been stressful and he was glad that the weekend was just around the corner and yet lately he had started to hate weekends. Weekends meant that Charlie and he could only see each other when Charlie lied to his father and occasionally even to Don. Colby hated the thought that they were not only hiding their relationship, but purposely deceiving their friends and family.

 

Sighing silently he reached for the remote and finally found a channel that showed a basket ball game. Sipping from his beer, Colby started to relax when the ringing of his door bell startled him enough to spill his beer. Cursing himself and whoever was at the door, Colby walked over to look who it was.

 

Seeing Don’s face through the spy hole made his stomach drop and swallowing hard, he steeled himself before he opened the door. “Don, what can I do for you?”

 

Don’s eyes were serious and his face was devoid of any emotions. He looked at Colby and easily pushed past him into Colby’s flat. For a moment he stood there and looked at Colby, then he shook his head. “You’ve got five minutes to tell me why I shouldn’t kill you for fucking with my brother.”

 

---

 

“Of course I’ve heard from Eric. He’s coming over on Saturday with Danny and we’ll meet for drinks and dinner.” Calleigh laughed at Alexx’ comment that dinner was always good, because she still thought that Eric wasn’t eating properly. “Once a mother hen always a mother hen, aren’t you?”

 

“Can’t blame me for caring for my boy, can you?” There was a slight sadness in Alexx’ voice and Calleigh sighed. Alexx literally was the one left behind, she thought, everybody else in their former team had left Miami. Calleigh called her at least once a week, and she knew that both Eric and Horatio had kept in touch with her, still she also knew that Alexx often felt quite lonely.

 

“Is there any news in Miami?” There were moments when Calleigh felt homesick, when she missed the vibrant city and yet whenever she thought about going back, she realized that there would be nothing waiting for here. Nobody… except Alexx.

 

“The new lab rankings have come out, the lab lost ten places in the rankings since last year.” Calleigh sighed. When she had still been with the lab, the Miami Dade CSI lab had ranked fourth in the country right behind the FBI lab in Quantico, Las Vegas and New York. She wanted to say something when Alexx spoke again.

 

“Stetler quit.”

 

Rick Stetler had been as much her and the team’s nemesis as he had been Horatio’s. In his desperate quest to bring Horatio to fall, he had pulled the entire team into his intrigues and more than once, he had threatened not only Horatio’s but also Calleigh’s or Eric’s careers. She had never liked the other man, and so her comment to Alex’s announcement was cold. “A couple of years too late, if you ask me.”

 

Alexx laughed at Calleigh’s words, then turned serious again. “It was weird though, he’s left the department after going against his own people. Office gossip has it that he apparently told his boss that he’s ashamed of how they don’t care about the crime rate going up, that it’s a shame no one is standing up to them anymore and that nothing of this had happened if Horatio hadn’t quit.”

 

Calleigh was speechless for a long time then. “Stetler defended Horatio?”

 

Alexx sighed. “He’s become scarily human since Horatio quit. I got involved in an IAB investigation and he actually told one of the guys working for him off for not treating me with the respect I deserved.”

 

“Weird.” Alexx agreed and the two women kept chatting for a while. Calleigh put the phone down and for a moment stared at it. She missed Alexx and maybe she really should consider going to Miami for a weekend, but somehow she balked at the thought. Miami had many nice memories for her, but at the same time there were just as many things that she wanted to forget.

 

Maybe she should invite Alexx and her family over to LA. A smile crossed her face, and she nodded she’d do that.

 

---

 

Don watched as Colby paled at his words and he felt satisfaction at the sudden fear in Colby’s blue eyes. For a moment their eyes were locked in a staring contest, then Colby sighed and nodded towards the living room. “I’ll need more than five minutes, so you might as well get comfortable.”

 

He had to admire Colby’s courage, Don thought, as he followed his colleague into the living room and with a nod accepted the beer that Colby suggested. Once they were both seated, Colby shook his head. “I don’t fuck with your brother.”

 

The denial reawakened the almost forgotten anger and Don glared at Colby. “Don’t you dare lying to me. I’ve seen Charlie come out of your house in the morning when he had no business being here during the night. Or are you going to tell me that he’s been teaching you math this evening before he left?”

 

In the sudden silence, Don realized that had started to shout and forcefully he controlled himself. His first instinct still was to protect his brother and to beat Colby into a pulp, but Don’s more rational side told him to get the complete story first and then kill him.

 

“I said I’m not fucking with him. What we do here, it’s what we both want, we’re in this together.”

 

Colby’s voice was clipped and hard, but it was the words that seemed to suck out all air from the room. Together? Don’s mind couldn’t really process the thought and mutely he stared at Colby. A bitter smile crossed Colby’s face as he shook his head. “I told Charlie that we need to come clear, but he was too afraid of your reaction. And now I understand why.”

 

“Together?” It was all that Don could say, his mind was on overload, his brain unable to understand what was happening. “What do you mean in we’re together?”

 

Colby looked down at the table, Don could see the tension in his body, saw how he worried his lower lip before he finally spoke. “I love Charlie. I’m not fucking with him, I’m not fucking him. I love him, Don.”

 

Again Don was speechless then though he looked at Colby again and he saw how Colby held the beer so hard that his knuckles turned white and suddenly his anger evaporated. Colby was a good man, one of the best and if he really loved Charlie, then Don would be only too happy to welcome him in the family. A quick smile crossed Don’s face as he thought of his father’s reaction, but then he looked at Colby again.

 

“I guess, it’s welcome to the family then.”

 

Colby’s head shot up and he stared at Don incredulously. “You don’t mind?”

 

“Would it matter?” Don’s eyes held Colby’s captive, he wanted to see the truth in them when Colby answered. Colby shrugged and nodded slowly. “I know how important you are for Charlie, I know how important family is. I lost mine when I came out to them. I would never do this to Charlie.”

 

Don nodded slowly. He understood Colby’s reasoning, and knew his colleague well enough to know that if he had wanted Don’s support or comments, he would have asked. Colby had made a statement and didn’t want pity or any nice words.

 

“How long?” Colby once again bit on his lips before he answered Don’s almost silent question.

 

“January.”

 

Don had always thought that Charlie was really bad at keeping secrets, until he had found out about Charlie’s work for the NSA and he’d been forced to rethink his statement. He’d understood then that his brother knew how to keep a secret, if no one really asked about it, but still Don maintained that Charlie was the world’s worst liar. Now though he suddenly wondered if he knew his brother at all.

 

“Does it bother you?” Colby’s question made him look up confused. “That Charlie is gay? That I’m gay?”

 

It was the fear in Colby’s eyes that shocked Don and instinctively he shook his head. “No, it doesn’t. And I believe you when you say that you love him.”

 

“But?” There was still a trace of fear in the other’s blue eyes but Colby had visibly relaxed and his question was more out of curiosity than fear.

 

Don shrugged and tried to find the right words to explain why he felt betrayed by his own brother. “It’s as if I don’t know Charlie anymore, you know. Why did he hide this from me? Why didn’t he trust me enough? He knows I’m not homophobic, knows that I’ve got gay friends... Why did he lie to me?”

 

At the last word, Don felt his voice break and embarrassed he turned away from Colby’s knowing eyes. For a moment they were silent, then Colby cleared his throat. “He was afraid, Don, afraid that you wouldn’t approve. Your approval still is the most important thing to Charlie and he was...”

 

Colby trailed off and Don nodded. “I know and I know that me mocking him as a child was cruel, but we’re grown ups now. Doesn’t he realize how much I admire him? Doesn’t he understand that I’d die for him?”

 

It hurt, Don realized and again his voice threatened to break when he suddenly felt Colby’s hand on his shoulder. His colleague looked at him and shook his head. “He knows in his head, but not in his heart. Give him time, Don and he’ll understand.”

 

“Why did you agree to the deceit?” If there was one thing Don knew about Colby then it was the fact that he was honest, straight forward and hated lying.

 

Helplessly Colby shrugged. “I love him.”

 

Said it as if it explained everything, but then maybe it did, after all, Don couldn’t really say no to Charlie either. “If you see him, tell him that I’m not angry and that I’ll expect an invitation to dinner soon.”

 

Colby smiled and they finished watching the game in a comfortable silence.

 

Don felt lighter when he went home that night and it wasn’t until he was in bed that he remembered how Colby’s eyes had lit up every time he’d spoken of Charlie. Something akin to envy rose in Don’s heart and a deep sadness engulfed him. There was no one looking at him that way and Don seriously doubted that anyone ever would. He wasn’t his brother after all.

 

---

 

*Chapter 4 – Vacation I - Meeting the Family*

 

*Las Vegas*

 

To say that he was a little nervous would be the understatement of the year, Nick thought as he walked through the door and saw Warrick and Greg waiting for him. Next to them was a dark haired man with olive skin. Eric? Nick wasn’t sure, but didn’t get a chance to think more about it as Greg simply jumped in his arms.

 

“Nick!”

 

Pressing his friend close, Nick felt tears well up in his eyes as Greg simply buried his face on his shoulder. It had been so long since he’d seen Greg and it was only now he realized how much he’d missed him. Greg wriggled in his arms and when Nick released him, Greg simply jumped the next person who happened to be Mac.

 

“You must be Mac, great to have you here.”

 

Nick had to grin as he saw how Mac didn’t really know how to react to Greg’s enthusiastic welcome. Greg didn’t notice. He simply moved on and hugged everyone in their group until he stood in front of Don. For a long time, Greg looked at Nick’s partner and Nick wondered what was going through Greg’s mind when Greg hugged Don. This hug was different and much more personal. For a moment, Greg simply held Don close and whispered something in Don’s ear, something that made Don smile and look at Nick. Then he looked at Greg and hugged him back for a second. “Thanks.”

 

Now what had Greg just told his lover? Nick made a mental note to ask Don later when Warrick walked up to him. “Man good to see you.”

 

They hugged and when their eyes met, Nick saw real happiness in Warrick’s green eyes. It made him smile and for a moment, he simply looked at his friend. Warrick frowned at the intense stare, but when his eyes met Nick’s he blushed. Nick grinned and punched his arm. “You got laid. Who is it?”

 

“Delinda, a friend of Eric’s boyfriend.”

 

Warrick’s words made Nick turn towards the third man, who so far had stood a bit aside waiting quietly until they were ready to go. Nick had never met Eric, but had heard much about him from Greg, Warrick and of course Grissom. Now though, Eric looked as if he didn’t want to be here and Nick could only imagine how awkward it had to be for him.

 

A soft smile on his face, Nick walked up towards him. “Eric, isn’t it?”

 

Eric nodded and smiled. “Good to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

 

Nick laughed lightly. “I bet you have. But I promise you, it’s all lies.”

 

Eric relaxed at Nick’s easy answer, but before Nick or Eric could say anything, Nick felt Don’s hand on his back and he turned around to meet his lover’s eyes. Don smiled at him and Nick quickly turned back towards Eric. “Eric, may I introduce you to my partner Don Flack and my friends? Don, Danny, Mac, that’s Eric. He’s the guy that secured us the great hotel deal.”

 

“And what a deal it is.” A new voice interrupted the introduction. Tony and Gibbs walked up to them. Tony looked a bit rumpled and Nick grinned as he silently wondered what the two had been up to during their flight.

 

“Tony, Gibbs.” He introduced the two newcomers to Warrick, Greg and Eric and Tony once more told Eric how cool his hotel deal was.

 

“’Cause believe me, last time I was in Vegas we stayed in a complete dump.” Nick watched how Gibbs looked at Tony with fond amusement when the younger man went on talking about some road trip he and his frat brothers had gone on a long time ago.

 

Stepping back a bit, he watched his old family and his new family interact and slowly he relaxed as he noticed how Tony immediately had started to tease Greg, how Danny and Mac were telling Warrick about Stella, how Gibbs talked to Eric about their flight. A hand on his made him look up and he met Don’s smiling eyes. “You ok?”

 

“Perfect.” Spontaneously he turned around and pulled Don closer towards his body. For once, they didn’t have to hide and he reveled in the feeling. Don immediately went into his arms, his taller lover easily holding him close and for a moment they just stood there.

 

“Hey, lovebirds. We’re ready to go.” Tony’s comment made Nick grin. He released Don and grabbed his luggage. They walked out into the brilliant Vegas sun and for a moment, Nick simply stood there and soaked up the warmth.

 

“This is something I miss in New York.”

 

Mac looked at him and grinned. “Heat? Where were you last summer?”

 

Nick glared good humouredly at Mac and shook his head. “Not the heat, but the warm winters. No snowstorms, no icy roads...”

 

“Love, that’s not winter. A proper winter has snow, and ice and snowball fights, ice skating in the park, hockey in the garden...” Don sounded positively longing and Nick quickly grabbed his lover’s hand.

 

“Hey, New York boy, I’m not yet used to functioning in minus temperatures.”

 

Don simply sent him a sideways glance. “You functioned pretty well last night.”

 

At that Nick didn’t know what to say anymore. He glared at his partner and climbed into Warrick’s SUV. Warrick looked at him through the mirror. “We’ve planned a dinner with everybody tonight at Mystique. I hope that’s fine with you.”

 

“Mystique?” Nick had heard about the exclusive restaurant, but had never been. “How did you get a table there?”

 

Even as he asked he remembered that the restaurant belonged to the Montecito and understanding, he nodded. “Danny, eh?”

 

To his surprise Warrick blushed lightly. “Actually no, Delinda organized it. She’s the Montecito’s entertainment manager and runs all the restaurants, bars and clubs.”

 

Seeing how Warrick fidgeted a little, Nick and Don looked at each other before Nick couldn’t hold back anymore. “Delinda?”

 

Warrick once more fidgeted in his seat and this time he didn’t take his eyes off the road when he answered. “We’re kind of dating.”

 

Kind of? Nick once more grinned, but Don beat him to the question. “Kind of? That’s like a little bit pregnant?”

 

His lover’s answer made Nick snicker and Warrick glared at them. “Ok, we’re dating, but we’re not lovers.”

 

“Friends with benefits?” Don’s easy answer visibly relaxed Warrick and he nodded with a wide grin. “And what benefits they are...”

 

A part of Nick was glad that Warrick had found someone who made him happy, on the other hand, he hoped that one day his friend would find someone that he could love, really love. But as he saw the grin in Warrick’s eyes, he understood that Warrick was in fact happy and right now that was enough.

 

---

 

“Holy shit.” Danny wasn’t sure what he’d expected, but this wasn’t it. Of course he’d been to the Montecito’s webpage, but no picture could do the hotel justice. It was simply an incredible building.

 

Tall, imposing and yet not overwhelming, it stood right slightly off the Strip, almost as if to say that a hotel as grand as this one didn’t need a prime spot on the Strip, that it was enough to be close and yet removed.

 

The famous waterfall looked every bit as magnificent as in the travel guides and Danny simply stared at the cascading water. “This is amazing.”

 

Eric turned around and smiled happily. “You know I reacted exactly the same way when I saw it the first time.”

 

For a moment he turned pensive then he shrugged. “Now it’s almost as if it is my second home.”

 

Danny remembered what Nick had told him about Eric and he grinned. “Your boyfriend is the president of operations, isn’t he?”

 

Eric coughed and shook his head. “No, he’s the head of security and surveillance. Ed is the president of operations and believe me, he’s not boyfriend material.”

 

Danny saw how Eric flushed and looked at the other man. “Why?”

 

“Imagine your Mac and Tony’s Gibbs mixed together with a lot of CIA experience and the necessary skills and then you’ve got Ed.”

 

Danny gulped a bit and felt Mac chuckle lightly next to him. Eric sent him an apologetic glance. “Wasn’t meant as an offence, Mac, just, you’ve got to meet Ed to understand.”

 

Mac shook his head. “None taken. Not everyone can cope with my intensity.”

 

Danny felt Mac’s eyes on him, felt the hand which gently caressed his own and looking at Mac he lost himself in loving eyes. “Danny’s the perfect partner for me.”

 

Eric watched them while he waited until the traffic had cleared enough for him to turn into the Montecito driveway. His eyes had gone softer and he smiled at Mac. “I can only say ditto.”

 

For a moment Danny was confused, then he remembered. “Your partner’s called Danny too, isn’t he?”

 

Eric laughed. “Yeah.”

 

“We’ll have to find some nicknames for us, else we’ll get confused.”

 

Eric though shook his head. “We’re heading off to LA tomorrow. Danny has a romantic weekend planned, and we’ll visit a friend from Miami.”

 

Danny smiled. “Sounds nice.”

 

Mac who had been listening quietly so far, suddenly spoke up. “Who else left Miami?”

 

Eric sighed and Danny watched how his happiness disappeared slightly. “Pretty much everybody you knew. Calleigh went to LA, she got offered the day shift in the local lab, H quit and Speed...”

 

Danny knew about Speed and he remembered how the news of the other CSI’s death had affected the New York team. Mac had been shaken by the killing and even now, Danny immediately felt Mac’s hand tighten around his own.

 

“What’s Horatio doing now?”

 

Mac’s voice was curious and Eric smiled again as his eyes met Mac’s in the rearview mirror. “He’s been traveling for a while.”

 

Eric’s answer was tentative and Danny understood that there was more to Horatio’s story, but that Eric didn’t want to elaborate and discuss his former boss and in-law.

 

“Here we are, welcome to the Montecito.”

 

With a grand gesture, Eric stopped in front of the hotel entrance and immediately a valet opened the doors and welcomed them to the hotel. “If you would give me your name, I’ll have your luggage delivered to your rooms.”

 

“Room.” Mac corrected him with a friendly smile and Danny’s heart started to pound at the casual comment. The valet on the other hand didn’t even blink.

 

Eric had watched the exchange and now greeted the valet with a friendly smile. The younger man nodded at him. “Danny’s inside waiting for you.”

 

A quick smile crossed over Eric’s face and Danny had to admit that he was curious as to how this other Danny was. He followed Mac and Eric inside and stopped as soon as he had stepped through the door.

 

“Wow.”

 

The exterior had been amazing, but this, the entrance hall was simply breathtaking. For a moment, Danny stood there and just took in the sight and sounds, the big picture and the small details like the marble columns. It was incredible.

 

“You ok?”

 

Don had stopped next to him and looked at him with a smile on his face. Danny shook his head. “This is just amazing. I mean, have you ever stayed in a place like this?”

 

Don laughed and shook his head. “No way I could afford this on a cop’s salary.”

 

Danny laughed too and followed Don towards the spot where Mac, Tony, Gibbs, Nick and the Las Vegas boys waited. Eric had gone to get Danny and now came back in the company of a tall man and two gorgeous women.

 

“Everyone, may I introduce you to Danny McCoy, head of security and surveillance of the Montecito as well as to Mary Connell and Delinda Deline. Mary’s the hotel manager and Delinda is responsible for the restaurants and bars.”

 

While Mary was good looking with her dark blond hair, friendly smile and curvy body, Delinda was stunningly beautiful. She was tall, willowy and had long, blond hair and a model’s face. She smiled in a friendly fashion at them and went over to stand next to Warrick.

 

Danny’s attention focused on McCoy who spoke now. “We’re reserved rooms on the tenth floor for you. Why don’t we go up and I’ll show you the rooms and let you get comfortable?”

 

Gibbs spoke out for the first time now and pointed towards the reception desk. “What about the formalities?”

 

McCoy smiled. “You can fill out the forms later and please use the VIP counter over there; we’ve set you up for the full treatment, so better use it, eh?”

 

He walked ahead of them towards the elevator, but before Danny could follow, Warrick interrupted them. “We’ll let you get settled and go catch some sleep. Nick why don’t you give me a call later this afternoon?”

 

Nick looked at Delinda. “When did you plan for dinner?”

 

“9pm, is that fine for you?” Nick nodded and looked at Warrick again.

 

“I’ll call you bro.”

 

Warrick and Greg left, while Eric joined them on the way towards their rooms. McCoy walked through the corridor with purpose and Danny noticed how Mac watched the younger man closely. Looking at his lover, Mac smiled and shook his head. “Later.”

 

Before Danny could say anything else, McCoy opened the door to the first room and once again, Danny was speechless. The room was everything a hotel room should be, large, airy, with large windows overlooking the Strip. It was tastefully decorated and equipped with the latest high tech facilities.

 

“Now that’s what I call living well.”

 

Tony’s comment made everyone laugh, but inwardly Danny agreed completely. He was just about to follow the group towards the next room, when he felt Mac’s hand on the small of his back. Turning around he met the heated gaze of his lover and shivered when Mac bent down and brushed his lips over Danny’s ear. “Can’t wait to see you spread out for me on this wonderfully large bed.”

 

Danny shivered again. He couldn’t wait either.

 

---

 

Gibbs had been watching McCoy ever since he had introduced himself down in the lobby. He had researched the Montecito and had pulled the files that NCIS had about both McCoy and Deline, but right now what he had read and what he saw didn’t match.

 

McCoy was a decorated Marine, had served in Iraq and had been awarded the Silver Star. Gibbs knew that McCoy had been the only one to survive the air strike he had called in on his own unit and somehow he had expected to meet an embittered and hardened man. The man who now showed them the facilities was cheerful though, happy if Gibbs read the light in his eyes correctly and obviously devoted to the olive skinned man next to him.

 

For a moment, Gibbs debated with himself, then he looked at McCoy. “You ever miss the Marines?”

 

McCoy stiffened for a second, then met Gibbs’ eyes calmly. “No.”

 

He didn’t elaborate, didn’t even flinch and as Gibbs continued to hold his eyes captive, McCoy simply looked back without a challenge in his eyes. He wasn’t getting into a staring contest with Gibbs, but he wasn’t backing down either, Gibbs realized. In the end it was he who averted his eyes first and that was something that happened rarely enough.

 

“Now, if you need anything, call me or Mary. These are the numbers you can reach us anytime. Now I hope you’ll enjoy your stay at the Montecito. Your luggage will be brought up shortly.”

 

McCoy smiled friendly and left the room, leaving Tony and Gibbs alone. Tony frowned a little bit. “What was that Jethro? Danny isn’t a suspect. Why the interrogative tone?”

 

Gibbs shrugged his shoulders and looked at his lover. “It just doesn’t match.”

 

“What?”

 

“What I read about him and what I see. I wondered why he’s not bitter, how he can be so happy after...” Gibbs trailed off when Tony’s hand touched his and he shrugged almost helplessly. “I still hurt when I think about all the men I lost and he lost his entire unit. And yet he’s happy.”

 

Tony sighed and Gibbs saw love and concern shining in the hazel eyes. “He’s probably made his peace with what happened, understood that it wasn’t his fault, that he couldn’t have done anything different...”

 

And so should you... Tony didn’t say, but the words were in the air between them. For a moment, Gibbs wanted to say something, but then Tony grinned and pointed at the bed. “Which side do you want?”

 

Glad that the uncomfortable discussion had been closed, Gibbs pulled Tony towards his body. “I don’t do sides; I sleep right next to you.”

 

Tony laughed at that and leered at him. “Or right inside me?”

 

The words made Gibbs growl and pull Tony closer. He kissed him heatedly and moved one leg between Tony’s long legs pressing against Tony’s hardening cock. Tony moaned and moved even closer, but then he stepped back and looked at Gibbs. Gibbs suppressed a moan of his own at the dazed look in Tony’s eyes. He wanted his partner right now, wanted him on this bed, naked and waiting for him. Tony though shook his head.

 

“We’re supposed to meet the others downstairs in fifteen minutes.”

 

They could do it, Gibbs thought, but then he took some deep breaths to calm himself down. He didn’t want to jerk Tony off in a rush, he wanted to take his time and looking at his lover he smiled.

 

“Later.”

 

Tony swallowed hard and nodded. “Later.”

 

---

 

Nick was back in town.

 

The thought brought both elation and sadness, but most of all it made Grissom insecure as to how to act. They hadn’t been friends when Nick had still been working here; their friendship had developed over the phone and now? Now Nick was here and he didn’t know what to do.

 

Maybe if you see me, maybe if you understand that I’m fine, you’ll get closure.

 

Nick’s words rang through his mind and he stared blankly at the journal in his hands. Closure, he thought, how could he get closure? Why would he want to get it? He had arranged his life in the way he wanted it. He had everything he needed, why talk and maybe reopen old wounds?

 

Because you need to close the past if you ever want to move forward. The voice in his head sounded annoyingly like Brass and Grissom smiled bitterly. He didn’t want to move forward, he liked where he was and yet even as he repeated the words in his head like a mantra, he knew they were a lie.

 

He wasn’t happy, wasn’t content. To the contrary. The headaches had become more frequent than ever, he was constantly tired and slowly but surely he was losing his joy in his job.

 

And yet, while he wasn’t happy where he was now, what good could it do to move on? It wasn’t like he had anything to move towards. Moving on would simply mean more of the same emptiness and loneliness.

 

Greg’s face appeared in front of his eyes and he shivered. Ever since Heather had forced the truth out of him, he had tried to avoid the younger man. It hadn’t worked; after all they worked together and with every case they processed together, it had become harder to hide what he felt.

 

“He’s not invincible.”

 

Heather’s words had hit him too close to home. He didn’t want to think about losing Greg, he was content just watching him and dreaming from afar, but what if he lost him?

 

Nick will see right through you. The thought took him by surprise and with a sigh, Grissom let the journal fall onto the table.

 

Yes, he thought, Nick would see right through his mask. And then? What would he do? Would he force the issue or ignore it? Grissom shivered at the thought of Nick forcing him to talk with Greg and yet a part of him hoped that Nick would do exactly that. The dichotomy of his wishes angered Grissom, but before he could do anything about it, his phone rang and the caller id showed him Nick’s mobile number.

 

“Grissom, how are you?”

 

Nick sounded happy, and Grissom smiled despite his dark thoughts. He responded instinctively to the thought of having a good friend nearby and his answer was more enthusiastic than he’d planned it. “Good, glad to hear you’ve arrived.”

 

Nick laughed a bit. “Yeah, just landed two hours ago. Listen, I’m calling ‘cause I’d really want to see you before dinner and just catch up with you. Do you have time?”

 

It would have been easy to say no, but Grissom couldn’t lie to Nick. “Sure, when do you want to come over?”

 

Nick seemed to hesitate for a moment, and Grissom suddenly understood that he was talking to someone. “And bring Don.”

 

He wanted to meet the man who had freed Nick from his nightmare. The man who’d brought happiness back into Nick’s voice and he wanted to thank him.

 

“We’ll do a bit sightseeing now, and dinner isn’t until 9 in the evening. So is it ok if we come around at 6ish?”

 

That would still give him about eight hours sleep. Grissom nodded to himself. “Sounds good. You still know the way?”

 

Nick laughed. “We’ll take a cab. And then we can go to dinner together. Tony and Gibbs really look forward to see you.”

 

He had forgotten that Tony and Gibbs would be here too and with a smile he told Nick that he looked forward to meeting the two again under better circumstances.

 

“Any circumstances would be better than the ones you met them under.”

 

And to that Grissom had no reply.

 

---

 

“We’re meeting Gris at 5, that ok for you?”

 

Don nodded, but didn’t turn away from the window. The view was amazing and he couldn’t get enough of it. He’d expected Las Vegas to be tacky and over the top, but to his surprise it wasn’t. Well it was over the top, but it wasn’t overly tacky. It was colorful, bright and loud, and he couldn’t wait to see it at night, when all the lights were on, when the Strip and the city was alive.

 

“Hey you, everything ok?” Don felt Nick’s arms come around his chest and his lover’s body press against his back. He leaned into Nick for a moment and nodded.

 

“I never expected it to be this amazing.”

 

Nick laughed lightly. “It is, isn’t it? When I came here the first time, I always felt like I was in a dream, ‘cause a place like this can’t be real. But just wait until you see it at night, because that’s when it really is amazing.”

 

“So, sightseeing?” Don had heard the comment Nick made to Grissom on the phone. Nick nodded against his back. “Yeah, I thought I show you around a bit. Is there anything you really want to see?”

 

Don thought about it for a moment, then he shook his head. “Not so much in the city, but I’d love to see Death Valley.”

 

He turned around to meet Nick’s eyes and he smiled at the happiness that emanated from his lover. Instinctively he pulled Nick closer and captured his lips with his own. Their kiss was tender, playful and full of love. For a moment Don reveled in the feeling of having his partner so close, then he released him.

 

“Come on, the others are waiting.”

 

Nick followed him, but held him back before they reached the door. “We’ll do the Death Valley tomorrow, and then I’ve got something amazing planned for us.”

 

Curious, Don looked at Nick, but his lover simply grinned and shook his head. “It’s a surprise, love.”

 

---

 

“It’s not fair.” Delinda looked surprised at Sam. She hadn’t known that Sam could whine so well, but right now her impression of a five year old was perfect.

 

“What’s not fair?”

 

“Six gorgeous guys and every single one of them gay.”

 

Now Delinda had to laugh, but she also had to agree with her friend. “They were a nice sight, I admit.”

 

Not as nice as Warrick’s dark skin standing out against her white satin sheets, but she wouldn’t mention that to Sam. Or maybe? A grin crossed over Delinda’s face as she nodded towards Sam. “You should come tonight; I think there are some single guys coming too.”

 

Sam simply rolled her eyes. “I can’t, I’ve got to watch Celine Dion with Mr. Stein.”

 

Knowing that Sam didn’t exactly like Celine Dion’s music, Delinda felt honestly sorry for her. “How many times have you seen her show?”

 

Sam shrugged fatalistically. “Often enough to know that she doesn’t stray from her repertoire and that she really, really needs to get a new stylist.”

 

---

 

The closer they got to Grissom’s home, the more nervous Nick got. He had never thought that introducing Don to Grissom would make his nerves flutter like that. It wasn’t as if Grissom was his father, was it?

 

And yet he’s much more likely to accept Don than your father. Nick pushed the inner voice away and sighed silently or not so silently as he felt Don’s eyes on his face and shortly after Don’s hand pressing his own tightly. “Scared?”

 

Nick swallowed and nodded. Don smiled lightly but it was a shaky smile and suddenly Nick realized that Don too was a nervous wreck and pulling his lover closer he shook his head. “It’s going to be fine.”

 

The look Don sent him spoke volumes of how his own voice hadn’t exactly exuded confidence and tried it once more. “It will be. Grissom is one of the most open minded people I’ve ever met.”

 

“It’s not the fact that you’re bringing a man to meet him that worries me, it’s the fact that I’m the one you’re bringing. What if he doesn’t like me?”

 

Nick’s first reaction was to laugh, but as he noticed the tension in Don’s shoulders, he moved so that he could see directly in Don’s eyes.

 

“If he doesn’t like you, then it’s his loss. I love you Don and nothing will change that. Nothing!”

 

---

 

Nick’s vehement words helped Don, but as the cab stopped in front of Grissom’s house, he still felt as if his stomach was tied into knots. A part of him simply wanted to tell the driver to turn around and return to the hotel. Nick smiled at him. “Come on, let’s get it over with.”

 

Taking a deep breath, Don got out and followed Nick up towards the door. The ringing of the bell seemed to resonate in his nerves and once more he swallowed hard. What if Grissom didn’t like him, what if...

 

His thoughts came to a screeching halt when the door was opened and Grissom stood there. For a moment, the three of them were frozen, then Nick simply walked up to the older man and hugged him closely.

 

There were three things that Don noticed right then. The first was that Grissom wasn’t used to hugs, his arms went around Nick awkwardly and his entire body was tense against the contact of Nick’s body, the second thing was that Grissom was older than Don expected and the third was that he had never met someone with such an intense look and that was saying something after all, he worked with Mac.

 

“You must be Don.”

 

Grissom’s voice was friendly, guarded and Don nodded before he took the offered hand. “A pleasure to meet you Dr. Grissom.”

 

Grissom smiled and shook his head. “Please call me Gil or Gris.”

 

Don nodded and then they just stood there in the corridor silently. It seemed as if no one really knew what to say or do and Don hated the awkwardness of the moment, but at the same time he remembered what Nick had told him.

 

Grissom’s the world’s worst host.

 

And it seemed as if his lover hadn’t exaggerated because Grissom looked almost helplessly between Don and Nick, before he finally shook his head. “You want something to drink?”

 

Nick smiled friendly and nodded.

 

“I’ve got beer, coffee, water.”

 

Both of them had a beer, partly to calm the nerves, partly because it was nice to start the evening with an ice cold beer. Grissom led them out of the patio where a couple of chairs were arranged so that they were in the shade. Nick sat down next to Don and fondly looked at Grissom.

 

“You haven’t changed.”

 

Grissom smiled and returning the look, he nodded. “No, I haven’t but you have.”

 

Nick seemed surprised, but before he could say anything, Grissom spoke again. “When Warrick came back from New York, he said that he’d never seen you so happy even before the abduction, he said that you looked as if you’d finally found your roots again. I didn’t understand.”

 

Grissom’s eyes moved towards Don and again he smiled. “Now I do.”

 

Relief flooded Don as he understood and for a moment, he wasn’t sure if he should say anything. Nick saved him though, but smiling at Grissom and nodding slowly. “I told you, I found closure.”

 

Grissom sighed and suddenly looked straight at Don. “I want to apologize. I put you in a terrible position because I was afraid to take responsibility. I should have called Nick and told him, not you.”

 

It had been a coward’s way out, Don thought, but he remembered only too well how his first reaction had been not to tell Nick either. So instead of berating Grissom, he smiled slowly. “I understand why you did it, kind of... I almost did the same.”

 

He felt Nick’s eyes on him and met his partner’s loving eyes. Nick pressed his hand for a moment, then he turned towards Grissom. “Let’s not talk about it anymore, ok?”

 

Grissom seemed relieved and Don understood him. He hated it too when Nick was mad at him.

 

“I’m just gonna hit the can.” Nick suddenly got up and left the patio almost running, leaving Don with Grissom alone. It made Don slightly uncomfortable, but to his surprise, Grissom didn’t start questioning him, instead the older man fidgeted in his seat clearly uncomfortable and again, Don remembered something Nick had said.

 

Grissom’s uncomfortable dealing with people. He’s great with evidence and kids, but he’s really bad with people.

 

Don smiled softly. “So how much trouble did Nick get into when he was here? He’s a real trouble magnet in New York. Did that come with the city or was he always that bad?”

 

Grissom brightened at that and grinned a little. “He had his moments... I remember on incident that resulted in him glowing in the dark...”

 

---

 

In a way it was just a dinner with friends, but on the other hand it was so much more. The food had so far been excellent, and while at the beginning everybody had been a slight bit stiff and reserved, the atmosphere now was easy and happy. Mac watched Nick and Don discussing something with Warrick and Greg, watched how Jethro talked animatedly with Catherine, watched how Tony teased Eric and Danny about something and with a feeling of happiness he leaned back in his chair. He was a slight bit tired, for once not from too much work, but from all the new impressions, the new things he had seen and of course the sun and heat.

 

The day had been incredibly pleasant. Delinda and Mary had gone out of their way to make them feel comfortable in the hotel, and had even organized a bus and a driver so that Nick could show them Las Vegas. Nick, on the other hand had done a great job and shown them the main sights of Vegas. Mac smiled, visiting the sights of Vegas meant driving from hotel to hotel or more aptly from casino to casino.

 

Still thinking about it, Mac was suddenly distracted by a hand on his leg and looking up he met Danny’s grinning eyes. “Where did you just drift off to?”

 

Mac shrugged. “I just wondered about the main highlights all being casinos here.”

 

Nick had heard the comment and laughed. “Yeah, that confused me too at the beginning. You get used to it.”

 

“After all, our casinos have a lot more to offer than ancient ruins.” Delinda said it with a cheeky smile and continued immediately. “Spas, clubs, topless pools.”

 

“Actually, the Romans and the Greeks both had communal baths which were renowned for their splendor comparable to today’s spas.”

 

Grissom’s comment made everybody turn their heads towards the older man who sat calmly on the table while lecturing Delinda about Roman culture. Mac wondered how Delinda would react, but instead of mocking Grissom as he had half expected her to do, she nodded seriously and turning towards Grissom immediately started a discussion about the merits and perils of the ancient Greek and Roman behavior.

 

Surprised, Mac looked at Danny when he saw McCoy grin at him. “Delinda has more degrees than she can remember. She’s just never had a real job.”

 

“Ok, and what am I doing here?”

 

Delinda mock glared at McCoy who simply grinned at her. “Pleasure?”

 

For a while they bantered back and forth and the camaraderie between them reminded Mac of Stella and him. It was obvious that Delinda, McCoy, Delko and Warrick were close friends and something like the core of the group here in Vegas.

 

“Actually I’ve got my own formula.” Grissom’s words pulled Mac back towards the older man, who was in a deep conversation with Danny. For a moment Mac was confused, but then Danny responded and he understood.

 

“You too? I make my own too. I hate that artificial stuff, the drops just never fall accurately. It’s almost perfect now.”

 

Danny had been experimenting with his own fake blood mix, something that Mac had encouraged, but never thought much more of it. Now Grissom looked at Danny with clear interest in his eyes. “I’ve been asked to write an article for the forensics journal on the topic. Would you be interested in co-authoring?”

 

Danny’s hand on Mac’s leg tightened while Danny himself froze. “You’re asking me to write an article with you?”

 

Grissom shrugged and smiled. “It would be interesting to compare notes and experiments. Would you consider it?”

 

Now Danny simply glowed. “Interested? Me? Of course! Oh my god, I can’t believe this.”

 

His lover turned towards Mac and Mac saw the pride and joy he felt reflected in Danny’s eyes. “I’m writing an article with Gil Grissom.”

 

Without a second thought, Mac leaned over and kissed Danny softly. “Love you.”

 

“You two are really cute together, you know?”

 

Mac looked up and grinned at Tony. “Now what would Jethro do if you called him cute?”

 

Tony looked at his partner and grinned evilly. “Depends on the situation...”

 

Groaning at the come on, Mac shook his head and met Sara Sidle’s amused eyes. She hadn’t said much during the night; instead she had observed the others just like Mac had. Now she smiled and looked at him. “Thank you.”

 

Surprised he looked at her, she had spoken quietly so that only he and Danny could hear her and as she continued her voice was still low. “For giving Nick a chance to escape Las Vegas.”

 

Mac was silent for a moment, ‘cause he had never seen Nick’s transfer like this. Sara smiled again and then turned towards Delinda and started to chat with her.

 

“She’s right you know.” Danny looked at him with love. “If it weren’t for you, Nick might still be here and everybody I’ve met today told me that they have never seen him so happy.”

 

“It wasn’t my doing, that’s all Don.”

 

Danny shrugged. “Maybe, but without you they would have never met.”

 

---

 

Nick’s friends were different than Catherine had expected, but then again she wasn’t sure what she had expected. What she certainly didn’t expect was to feel as if she didn’t know Nick anymore. The man sitting at the table chatting with Eric and his partner was different from the man she remembered. He was stronger, she thought, happier and yet at the same time colder or at least so it seemed to her.

 

This was supposed to be a reunion dinner, but Catherine didn’t feel like she belonged to it. Warrick knew the guys from New York from his previous visit, and while Eric and Greg had not known any of the others, they too had fun and seemed to be on the same wavelength as Nick’s friends. Grissom had spoken to Danny Messer for a while before he started chatting with Gibbs and Tony whom he had apparently met when he’d been in Washington. Everybody was talking happily, even Sara seemed to be content from the look on her face and from the way she talked with Delinda. Everybody but Catherine.

 

It was an unusual feeling for her to be the outsider. She’d always been the center of a party, the one who decided who was part of the group and who wasn’t. It had nothing to do with Nick and his friends either even though she had to admit, that she didn’t particularly like either Taylor nor Messer or Flack. In her opinion none of the three men had any manners else they wouldn’t have ignored her in the way they currently did.

 

No, she thought, it had nothing to do with Nick but his presence simply emphasized what she had felt before. She wasn’t a part of the team anymore. Before it all had changed, she had been the one to get the team out for breakfast, to drag Grissom out for a drink or to invite Warrick and Greg for a night out. Now it had become a custom for Warrick, Eric and Greg to head over to the Montecito for breakfast after the shift had ended, Sara often joined them and Catherine knew that Sara and Eric had formed a close friendship.

 

It wasn’t that they excluded her from those breakfasts, but she had never joined them. She didn’t feel as if she belonged to them anymore.

 

Her eyes fell onto Delinda and she sighed unhappily. Delinda was one of the reasons why she didn’t join those breakfasts. Catherine didn’t like the beautiful blonde, didn’t like how her hand was casually laying on Warrick’s arm in a friendly, yet in Catherine’s view, proprietary manner. For a moment Catherine gritted her teeth and glanced at Eric. In a way it was all his fault, if he hadn’t hooked up with McCoy, then Delinda would have never been able to disrupt their team and take Warrick away from Catherine.

 

Delinda looked up and their eyes met and held for a second. Catherine watched how Delinda assessed her and then her eyes turned colder. Catherine smiled lightly. She wouldn’t give up without a fight and maybe it really was time to start fighting.

 

---

 

 

Interlude – Back in New York

 

*New York*

 

After trying on the fifth dress and turning in front of the mirror undecided, Stella gave up and called Lindsay. “Do you have time? I don’t know what to wear and my hair is a complete mess and if my neighbor plays that ABBA song once more I’m ready to commit murder.”

 

Lindsay laughed and promised to be there as soon as possible. “Don’t kill anyone without me, please; I don’t want to miss out on the fun.”

 

Her response calmed Stella enough for her to sit down and look at the chaos she had created in her apartment. Why was she so nervous? It was hardly her first date but still it certainly felt like it. Sighing, she sat down and closed her eyes for a moment, only to jump up again as her phone beeped indicating a text message. Picking it up, she saw that it was from Nick and she smiled as she read it.

 

‘Sit down, relax and stop messing with your hair. You’ll look gorgeous no matter what you wear.’

 

How did he know? Stella was still shaking her head when Lindsay knocked on her door. The younger woman smiled. “You ok?”

 

Stella saw the concern behind the smile and instead of an answer, she held her phone so that Lindsay could read Nick’s message. For a moment her eyes widened and then she laughed. “He’s good, isn’t he?”

 

Stella nodded, then gaped when Lindsay nudged her a little. “If I didn’t know about Don though, I’d think he’s flirting with you.”

 

Just as they were settling on the couch the faint tunes of ‘Dancing Queen’ resonated through the room and Stella growled. “I tell you, I’m going to kill him.”

 

Lindsay looked a bit bemused then she grinned. Getting up, she started singing completely off tune with the music on top of her lungs. Stella simply stared at her friend as she had lost her mind and honestly at the moment, she wondered how she’d to explain to Mac that Lindsay was taking a holiday in a mental facility.

 

Then the music stopped abruptly and so did Lindsay. Two minutes later the music started again and Lindsay began to sing and slowly but surely Stella understood what her friend was doing.

 

“You’re devious.”

 

Lindsay grinned at her while bellowing out that she was the dancing queen, young and sweet only seventeen... Again the music stopped and this time it didn’t start back up.

 

“I think he got the message.”

 

Lindsay plopped down next to Stella and Stella still stared at her before speaking again. “You’re really devious.”

 

Lindsay looked at her and grinned. “And the best thing? He thinks it’s you who can’t sing.”

 

Now Stella could only shake her head. “I stand corrected, you’re not devious, you’re evil.”

 

Lindsay got up and pulled Stella with her. “When’s your date with Stabler?”

 

Having completely forgotten about that, Stella almost tensed, but then relaxed. “He’s meeting me at the restaurant at 8:30pm.”

 

She could see Lindsay do some calculations in her head and wondered what she was counting. It was 3:30 pm right now, so in other words, Stella had five hours to get ready. Lindsay looked up and grabbed her bag. “So we have time to watch two episodes of Sex and the City while we let the treatment in your hair work its magic and another one while you enjoy a facial mask.”

 

Surprised at the stuff that Lindsay took out of her bag, Stella stared at her. “Who are you and what have you done with Lindsay?”

 

A light laugh was her only answer, before Lindsay hugged her for a moment. “Just because I don’t play dress up at work, doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy doing it. Come on, let’s get your hair washed and your dress selected.”

 

---

 

Sid Hammerback loved New York. He loved its vibe, its intensity, its ethnic mix. He loved the fact that the streets of Manhattan were as busy at night as they were during the day and that the shops were always open.

 

He didn’t live in Manhattan of course, even with an ME’s salary the rents were too high and he enjoyed the calmer pace that life took on the other side of the river. Brooklyn with its various markets and cultures was as appealing to him as much as Manhattan with its arrogance and glamour was.

 

As much as he loved all those areas though, if pressed about his favorite spot in the city, he would chose neither his neighborhood nor Fifth Avenue. No, he thought, as he walked towards the market at Union Square. This was the place that made New York special for him. The Farmer’s Market was something special and he loved simply browsing through it. Usually he went early in the morning, and as always, he met up with friends and colleagues from his former life.

 

Few of them understood why he had given up his career as a chef to become an ME and if Sid was honest he sometimes didn’t understand it himself. He sighed and pulled himself away from the morose thoughts and walked over to a stand with fresh vegetables.

 

“Sid, haven’t seen you for a while?” The farmer’s name was Mark and he had an organic farm in the countryside in Jersey. He charged heftily for his products, but Sid had yet to find better tomatoes or carrots. He picked up a couple of items and handed them over.

 

“It’s been quite busy, so I let my wife do the cooking.” Mark laughed, but before he could answer another voice joined in from the side. “Now that’s a shame.”

 

Sid laughed as he saw his old friend Ted standing next to him. “Are you insulting my wife?”

 

Ted grinned and shook his head. “I’d never dare, you know I’m scared of her.”

 

The comment made Sid grin and Mark laugh. Sid paid his purchases and looked at Ted. “You’re up for a coffee?”

 

Ted nodded. “Sure, I was actually hoping to meet you here. I’ve got a proposal for you.”

 

Intrigued, Sid followed his friend over to the small coffee shop at the corner and ordered a latte with double milk. Then he looked at Ted curiously. “What kind of proposal?”

 

Ted shrugged lightly. “Greg and I want to open a restaurant. We need a chef.”

 

Sid looked at his long time friend and sighed. It wasn’t that he wasn’t tempted. He had loved being a chef, still loved to cook and to spoil his guests, but it wasn’t his life anymore.

 

“You don’t mean that, do you?” A part of him hoped that Ted was joking, but his friend shook his head.

 

“No, it’s for real.”

 

“I can’t.” Sid saw how Ted’s face fell and hated himself for disappointing his friend. “It’s not me anymore, you know. I like where I am right now. I like what I do.”

 

“How can you?”

 

The incredulous sound of Ted’s voice made Sid smile, but he knew that no matter what he said, Ted wouldn’t understand.

 

“I can’t explain it, I just do.”

 

Ted looked at him for a moment, then after stirring his coffee for a moment, he smiled. “You happy where you are?”

 

Sid thought of his wife back home, of his kids, of his friends and of Mac and his team and he nodded. “Yeah, I am.”

 

Ted smiled again. “Well, come visit us at the restaurant ok?”

 

---

 

It wasn’t even 8:15pm when Elliot arrived at the restaurant. He’d never been to the Gramercy Tavern, and if he was honest it hadn’t been his first choice. His first choice had been the Italian restaurant he’d used to go to with his wife, but when he’d told Olivia about it, she had simply looked at him and called him an idiot.

 

You can’t go somewhere that’s full of memories. Go somewhere new, go somewhere where you can make new memories.

 

Of course she had been right. Gramercy Tavern had been Alex’s suggestion. She had been there once or twice and had praised the food and the service. He trusted her taste a lot more than his own and so he’d made the reservation.

 

The restaurant was tastefully decorated and had a look of wealth and high design without being overwhelming. He had chosen to wait at the bar and was drinking water. A part of him longed for a beer, but if they were drinking wine afterwards, he didn’t want to spoil it with a beer before. Watching the guests in the bar and the restaurant, Elliot tried to calm down a bit. He couldn’t remember when he’d been so nervous about meeting someone, but then he couldn’t really remember the last time he’d had a date.

 

Just be yourself.

 

Olivia’s words echoed through his mind as the door opened and Stella walked into the restaurant. She saw him and smiled before she handed her coat over to the waiter. Elliot watched her walk towards him and for a moment he could only stare.

 

He had known that Stella was a beautiful woman, but he’d never thought she could look this beautiful.

 

Her hair was down, floating over her back in wild shining curls. She wore a simple dark green dress reaching to her knees, her skin was lightly tanned and her eyes looked happy and free of shadows. Elliot swallowed hard as both protectiveness and desire rose in him and immediately he got up. “Stella, glad you made it.”

 

“Elliot, good to see you.” She smiled and as she leaned over to kiss him on the cheek, Elliot caught a scent of her perfume. The light fragrance fit her personality, he thought. “Would you like a drink at the bar or go to our table?”

 

She looked around and nodded towards the table. “Let’s sit down, it’s less noisy.”

 

Their waitress led them towards the table and when Elliot moved the chair for Stella to sit down, she looked up surprised and smiled. “You’re a gentleman.”

 

Grinning at her look, he shook his head. “Now, don’t sound so surprised, please.”

 

She laughed and like that the slight awkwardness of the first minutes passed and Elliot felt himself falling back into the easy friendship he’d developed with her. Still, he knew that this date was much more than a friendly dinner and the potential of more made him much more aware of her and her presence.

 

---

 

Stella had felt Elliot’s nervousness as if it was a tangible thing when she had entered the restaurant. He had been tense and his eyes had constantly flickered between his drink and the door. To see him so agitated had somehow calmed her and when he led her to their table, she started to relax completely.

 

Soon they were talking about the job, about their friends and as their entrées arrived Stella had forgotten what she had been nervous about. The food was delicious and Stella savored the taste and the texture of her chosen entrée. For a moment she closed her eyes to really enjoy the taste and when she opened them again, she found Elliot looking at her. His eyes were heated and she felt an answering shiver deep inside her. It both scared and thrilled her and trying to mask her confusion she smiled.

 

“I’ve read so much about this place, but I’ve never been here before. It’s beautiful.”

 

Elliot nodded. “It was Olivia’s suggestion. I would have gone to my usual Italian.”

 

He blushed lightly as he said it and Stella found both the words and the blush endearing. It made her shake her head. “I’m sure I would have loved it there.”

 

For a moment a dark cloud passed over Elliot’s face and he looked down. “You probably would have, but it’s got too many memories attached.”

 

“Your family?” Stella ventured quietly.

 

Elliot nodded and his eyes seemed faintly amused at himself. “Yeah, Olivia thought it might not be the best place.”

 

Unsure about how to continue, Stella smiled before she dared a question. “Do you still see your kids?”

 

Elliot nodded. “Yeah, Kathy and I reached an agreement. I see them every second weekend.”

 

“And spoil them rotten, I guess.” Elliot smiled faintly at Stella’s comments.

 

“A part of me wants to, but it wouldn’t be fair to Kathy. So I just try to really be their father in those few days.” He trailed off for a moment and then shook his head. “You know Maureen told me the last time, that she’s seen more of me now than when we still were a family.”

 

Understanding what Elliot meant Stella nodded. “It’s a hard job.”

 

Elliot nodded and shrugged silently. “Yeah, but all things considered I think now we’re in a better place than before. Even though I had a hard time accepting that my marriage failed, it feels right now.”

 

The flirty mood had disappeared, but to Stella’s surprise, Elliot’s openness attracted her even more. “You’re still a family, you know that, don’t you?”

 

“Yeah and if I forget, my kids will remind me.”

 

He looked up and she saw deep emotions in his blue eyes, emotions that made her shiver before he spoke again. “Thanks for understanding, Stella.”

 

The waitress interrupted their conversation with their main course and the topic veered off from the personal stuff to work, their colleagues and friends.

 

“You know John Munch?” Stella nodded at Elliot’s question, remembering the slightly cynical detective. “He’s applied for a transfer to Vegas.”

 

“Vegas?”

 

Elliot shrugged. “He said that he’s getting old and he wants to see some sun before he dies.”

 

Stella laughed at the comment. “Well, he should ask Nick, he’s worked there after all.”

 

Elliot nodded. “They’re there now, Don and Nick aren’t they? I think Don said something about spending a weekend there.”

 

“Yeah, it’s a boys’ trip. Mac, Danny and two friends from Washington.” Even as she said it, she suddenly realized what a minefield she’d just stepped into. Of course to someone who didn’t know, it just sounded like a boys’ weekend away, but what if...

 

“Well, let’s hope they don’t gamble away the lab.”

 

Their banter continued through coffee, but as Elliot waited for his card receipt, he suddenly stopped laughing and looked at her. “You’re taking my breath away, Stella, you know that don’t you?”

 

His words were accompanied by his hand reaching out for hers and suddenly Stella found that she was speechless, as Elliot gently lifted their joined hands and pressed a quick kiss on her knuckles. It was a simple and yet so tender gesture and it left her heart racing. Her eyes locked with Elliot and for a long time Stella couldn’t look away.

 

It was Elliot who broke the look and took the receipt to sign it. Stella was still shaken when he helped her into her coat and then gallantly led her outside by the elbow. “My car is over there. May I give you a ride home?”

 

Stella still didn’t trust her voice and nodded silently. Elliot led her towards the car and again she was surprised when he opened the door for her. This time she found her voice and as he sat down next to her in the car she smiled at him. “I’m starting to envy Olivia.”

 

He turned towards her and smiled. “No need, I’m not always such a gentleman.”

 

Feeling more confident again, Stella grinned. “Really?”

 

“Only for special occasions, else it gets old too soon.”

 

She laughed at his words and shook her head. “So next time I see you, I’ve got to open the door myself?”

 

They stopped at a red light and Elliot turned around to look at her intently. “No Stella, ‘cause you’ll always be special.”

 

By the time Stella had found her composure again, Elliot stopped in front of her house and turned the engine off. The sudden silence made her even more aware of the man next to her, a man she felt deeply for, a man she trusted more than most people she knew and yet, she was afraid of asking him up.

 

The last man in her apartment who wasn’t a part of her team had been Frankie and a shiver ran through her at the thought.

 

Elliot had watched her intently and before she could say anything, she felt a tender hand on her face. Elliot smiled as she brushed a stray lock from her face. “I had a wonderful time.”

 

His eyes were full of banked desire and deep emotions. Stella swallowed hard, and nodded. “Me too.”

 

“You’re a special person, Stella.” His hand was still on her face and now she reached out and covered it with hers. Elliot smiled as she pulled his hand towards her lips and kissed his knuckles in a mirrored gesture of his own in the restaurant.

 

“Do you skate?”

 

Surprised Stella looked at him. “Yeah, why?”

 

“Would you like to go to Central Park on Wednesday evening?”

 

Joy filled her at the casual offer and she smiled brightly. “I’d love to.”

 

Elliot leaned over and very quickly brushed his lips against hers. Stella had a fleeting impression of soft lips, of warmth, but then he was back in his seat looking at her. “I look forward to it.”

 

Stella got out of the car, but before she closed the door, she once more looked at Elliot. “Elliot, thanks for everything.”

 

He smiled and then waited until she had walked into her apartment building before he drove away. Stella smiled at the innate protectiveness and at the warmth the thought of Elliot protecting her brought.

 

It had been a wonderful night and she already looked forward to Wednesday.

 

Chapter 5 – Vacation II – Playtime

 

*Las Vegas*

 

“Welcome to another sunny day.” Nick’s voice filtered through Don’s consciousness a second before bright sunshine hit his face and for a moment he wanted nothing more than hide under the covers. Then he remembered where he was and with a smile he opened his eyes. Nick stood at the window letting the sun stream over his naked chest. It was a wonderful image to wake up to, Don thought though he would still have loved to sleep for just a minute longer.

 

“Hey there.” Nick grinned and sauntered back to the bed. Don watched his lover approach their bed, when realization suddenly hit him and he swallowed hard. This was their bed, their hotel room, not Nick’s or Don’s, theirs and for the first time since they had gotten together they could go out in the sunshine and didn’t have to hide, didn’t have to pretend to be just friends. The thought was both slightly scary and incredibly freeing.

 

Nick stopped next to the bed waiting for Don to get up, but right now Don had other ideas and reaching out, he pulled Nick down until his partner came down willingly and lay down next to him. “We need to get up.”

 

Don smiled at Nick’s half hearted complaint and shook his head. His hand caressed Nick’s chest, moved along the contours of the defined abs and then up to play with Nick’s nipples. “We’re on vacation love, we don’t need to do anything.”

 

“But the others expect us down for breakfast.” Nick sounded breathless and despite his words he arched into the caress. Don smiled at the cat-like movement and swiftly moved on top of his lover. Nick gasped as he was pressed into the mattress, and Don reveled in the feeling of being this close to Nick.

 

It was only now he realized how long it had been that they really had had time to enjoy each other, to just lie in bed and tease, caress and love. Too often lately their touches had been hurried and their love making had sometimes had an almost desperate quality of both of them trying to forget what they had seen on the streets.

 

“They can wait.”

 

He let his hand travel over Nick’s torso, down to the navel and circled it with his finger. Nick shivered and pressing closer, Don could feel that their closeness had affected Nick just as much as it had affected himself. Moaning slightly, Don leaned down and captured Nick’s lips. A soft moan escaped Nick as he finally gave in and let himself enjoy Don’s caresses. Don smiled as he felt the tension leave his partner’s body and slowly followed the path down with his lips.

 

“Just enjoy ok, just let me do everything.”

 

Nick looked up and smiled. “Everything?”

 

Nipping his partner’s tight belly gently, Don shook his head. “Almost everything.”

 

Nick moaned at the bite and Don licked and kissed his way further down, loving the way Nick moved under his caresses, the way his lover moaned and whimpered at his touch. Nick was trembling with need by the time Don reached his cock and Don himself could feel his own blood rush through his body. He looked at the man below him, looked at the tight body, the leaking cock, the expression of want in every pore of Nick’s body and it all turned him on beyond belief.

 

It was intense he thought as he looked up and got caught in Nick’s passionate eyes. His partner’s eyes were burning with lust and love. “Turn around.”

 

Nick’s voice was rough with passion and a shiver ran through Don at both the words and the implication, and he complied without saying anything. The sight of his cock right next to Nick’s lips made him thrust instinctively when Nick reached out and caressed the head, Don sighed.

 

His own lips closed over Nick’s cock at the same time as Nick’s tongue licked over Don’s cock and they both moaned. Don loved the taste of Nick on his tongue, loved the feeling of Nick’s thighs trembling under his touch and then Nick sucked him in and all thought fled his mind.

 

It was intense, wild and full of love. Don had a feeling of being caught in a feedback loop, it was as if every emotion he felt was taken and magnified by Nick’s reaction. Nick who now tensed beneath Don’s hands, just as Don felt his own body starting to tingle.

 

He wanted to shout, but concentrated on sucking harder even as the sunlight started to spin in front of his eyes and he had to close them because it all got too much.

 

“Don, you alive?” Nick’s hand in his hair brought him back and he looked up from where he’d rested his head on Nick’s thigh to his lover. Nick smiled softly, his eyes sated and full of love, but there was a good portion of mischief too.

 

Don grinned. “Barely, I think I’ll need some mouth to mouth to survive.”

 

Nick laughed at the comment and shook his head, before he leaned down and kissed his partner quickly. “I need coffee and food.”

 

Don shrugged, but at the same moment his stomach rumbled and Nick grinned. “Another country heard from.”

 

Don pulled Nick close once more and gently kissed him. “Love you.”

 

Nick’s eyes were full of love as he looked up. “Love you too.”

 

---

 

“Look who decided to join us.” Tony grinned as Nick and Don sat down next to him and Danny. “Couldn’t find the breakfast room?”

 

Don glared at him and catching Danny’s grin, Tony looked at Nick. He immediately noted the hickey that was barely hidden underneath the open polo shirt that Nick was wearing. Tony grinned at his friend. “I see, you got lost on the way to the breakfast room and were attacked by vampires.”

 

Nick snorted; his blush though, spoke volumes but then he grinned. “Very dangerous vampires.”

 

This time it was Nick’s words that earned him a glare from Don. Don couldn’t hold the look when his eyes met with Nick’s and Tony smiled inwardly as he watched how Don literally melted. The big bad NYPD detective really was a pussycat when it came to his lover. But then, Tony thought, sending a look towards his own big badass boss, that was nothing new.

 

The waitress arrived and informed them that the buffet was included in their price. She took their drinks order and when she left Tony looked again at Nick and Don.

 

“Just fruit for you guys? You already had your protein for today, didn’t you?”

 

The head slap wasn’t unexpected and while he glared at his lover, Mac interrupted the teasing smoothly by looking at Nick questioningly. “So what have you planned today?”

 

Nick was still blushing from Tony’s comment, but he recovered and Tony smirked at the look of gratitude Nick sent Mac, before he started to explain what he had planned. “I wasn’t sure if you guys want to gamble or not, and since Don said that he would like to see Death Valley, I organized a trip out there. We’ll drive out there, have a lunch in an old silver rush town and then come back around 4ish. But of course, if you’d rather stay here...”

 

Tony could see that Nick really felt responsible for their group. It was typical of Nick, he thought as he noticed how Nick felt insecure on whether his plan was acceptable for the rest of them. It was, at least to Tony who had no real interest in gambling anyway.

 

He’d been to Vegas before with friends and of course with his frat brothers and he had enjoyed the drinking, the gambling and the girls. But this time it was different, this time he wasn’t here to score, wasn’t here to let off some steam. This time he was here to spend some time with his friends and especially to spend some time with Jethro.

 

“Sounds great to me.”

 

Nick looked almost thankfully at him and Tony mentally shook his head at his friend’s insecurity, but before he could say anything he caught Don’s eyes and saw how the other man shook his head slightly. Don’t mention it, the look said, I’ll take care of it.

 

Tony smiled and looked at Danny. “You wanna gamble?”

 

Danny snorted and looked at Mac. “As if I had the money for that. Nah, Death Valley and ghost town sounds great to me.”

 

“Great, so now that we’ve sorted that out. Nick, can Tony and I take a rain check for anything you’ve got planned tonight?”

 

Tony stared at Jethro and was about to say something, when Nick smiled easily. “Actually I haven’t made any plans for us together and well, I’ve got a surprise for Don, if you don’t mind.”

 

Tony was still staring at his lover when Danny laughed. “Great minds think alike, I’ve got something planned for Mac and me tonight too.”

 

Now what’s with all those surprises? Tony exchanged a look with Mac and Don and saw that the other two men were just as surprised and curious as he was. Looking at his lover, Tony slid a hand underneath the table and caressed Jethro’s thigh.

 

“So what are we doing exactly?”

 

Jethro looked up, grinned and shook his head. “Wait and see and stop groping me in public unless you want to get in trouble.”

 

“Trouble?” Tony had barely finished saying the word when he felt Jethro’s hand moving over his crotch, resting right above his cock and slowly starting to draw little circles. He shivered and barely suppressed a moan at the feeling.

 

Jethro simply grinned again and nodded. “Trouble.”

 

---

 

For someone who had spent most almost his entire life in New York City, the vast openness of the desert was simply breathtaking. Danny wasn’t sure what impressed him more, the emptiness or the fact that he could see as far as his eyes could see and yet see nothing but desert and air.

 

“I’m not sure if I’m fascinated or scared.”

 

Nick turned around at Danny’s words and smiled. His eyes were shining with happiness and instinctively Danny smiled back. He could see that Nick was at home here, that he felt free in the wide open space and a thought suddenly occurred him. “You don’t really like cities like New York, do you?”

 

Nick laughed. “No, I do actually. New York is amazing, but yeah, I miss this. I often came here to get away from a hard case or too much work. It puts things back into perspective, you know. Out here, we people are so insignificant, so unremarkable. This desert is so old and it’s still gonna be there even after we’re gone...”

 

Danny frowned for a moment and shook his head. “Heavy thoughts here. You ok?”

 

“Sure, don’t worry.” Nick smiled and Danny looked at him for a moment. His friend really seemed to be alright and relieved that he hadn’t put Nick in a sad mood, Danny turned around and walked to the edge of the cliff. From where he stood he could see for miles over the open and rugged land. It was beautiful and he took a deep breath of the fresh and unspoiled air when he suddenly felt arms sneak around his body. He smiled and leaned back against Mac’s chest. “It’s beautiful.”

 

Danny could feel Mac nod against him and then felt his lover place a kiss on top of his head before he pulled him closer. “Nick wants to move on, else we’ll never get to that silver rush town.”

 

For a moment, Danny just wanted to stay here and watch the scenery together with Mac, but the rumbling of his stomach told him that moving and finding some food might not be a bad time. Mac chuckled lightly. “Breakfast was only a couple of hours ago.”

 

Danny turned in Mac’s arms and grinned. “I’m a growing boy.”

 

---

 

Lunch at the former silver rush town had been fun and Death Valley amazing, but now as they drove back towards Vegas, Tony was simply tired. Not the bone deep tiredness he often felt after a hard day at work, but the satisfying exhaustion of a day well lived. Closing his eyes, he leaned against Jethro and smiled as he felt his lover’s arms go around him.

 

Jethro held him gently and Tony sighed as he felt how Jethro’s hands caressed the skin on his arms. The tender movements made him even sleepier and he snuggled closer.

 

“Comfortable?” Jethro’s dry amused voice made Tony smile sleepily. He opened his eyes and met his partner’s blue eyes.

 

“Very, you really make a good pillow.” Jethro grinned at Tony’s comment and leaned down to kiss Tony’s eyelids. Tony shivered not only at the tender gesture but also because Jethro showed his love so openly even around their friends. It was a beautiful feeling not having to hide, Tony thought and smiled.

 

“Rest for a while, you’ll need your strength tonight.”

 

Tony had relaxed at the first words, but hearing the remainder of the sentence, he tensed and glanced at his lover. “What have you got planned?”

 

Jethro smiled and repeated his words from the morning. “Wait and see.”

 

Tony wanted to growl at his lover, but he was too comfortable and too tired so he simply shrugged and leaned back. It didn’t really matter what Jethro had planned, he suddenly realized, because whatever it was, it was them together and that was mattered.

 

---

 

“Nick, why are we going to the roof?” Nick smiled at Don’s question as they followed Mary up along the smaller stair. He didn’t reply though and didn’t have to either as they just stepped out onto the roof and Don saw the helicopter.

 

“What? Nick, what’s going on?” The look of complete confusion on Don’s face made Nick smile.

 

“We’ve got dinner reservations at the Grand Canyon.”

 

Don turned around at his words and Nick could easily read the joy and the love in his partner’s blue eyes even as Don shook his head. “You organized? Nick that’s too much...”

 

Nick smiled and holding out his hand, he took Don’s hand into his own before he walked towards the helicopter. Immediately they were surrounded by the noise and wind of the rotors. He knew that Don’s protest hadn’t been serious and as soon as they wore their head sets, he answered Don. “In the almost six years that I was in Vegas, I always wanted to do this and never got a chance. Now I have time and I have someone to enjoy it with. I want to share this with you, Don, and only you.”

 

Their eyes met and Nick shivered at the love in Don’s eyes. Even after a year together he hadn’t gotten used to the love and devotion he saw whenever Don looked at him; even after a year he sometimes felt as if he was living in a dream.

 

“Ready for takeoff?” The pilot’s words interrupted his thoughts and he nodded. “Yes, let’s go.”

 

The man smiled at him and they were off flying over Las Vegas towards their destination.

 

---

 

 

---

 

“Mac, are you ready?”

 

Mac looked up from the book he had been reading and gasped at the sight of Danny in tight black leather pants and a white shirt. His lover looked indecently good and for a second, Mac lost the ability to speak. His blood had gone south and right now he wanted nothing more than to pull Danny towards himself, tear his pants off and sink into his partner’s hot body.

 

“Mac?”

 

Danny’s hand on his shoulders made him jerk back and he looked up to meet Danny’s amused eyes. “You ok?”

 

Seeing the grin on his lover’s face, Mac growled and pulled Danny down into the chair with him. Capturing Danny’s lips, he kissed him full of passion and love, cupping Danny’s ass, kneading it through the tight pants until Danny gasped into his kiss.

 

“We need to go, we’ve got reservations.”

 

For a moment Mac was tempted to keep Danny locked in their room especially in this outfit, but on the other hand he was too curious as to what his lover had planned for them and so he released Danny from his grasp and got up.

 

“Where are we going?” Danny smiled at Mac’s question as they walked through the lobby towards the waiting taxi.

 

“Delinda recommended a nice restaurant for dinner and then we’re going to a very special place for some entertainment.”

 

The way Danny spoke made Mac look at him closer. “What kind of entertainment?”

 

Danny laughed and shrugged. “Wait and see, Mac.”

 

---

 

“Ok, you said that I’d need my strength and now we’re going to the Circus?” Gibbs couldn’t help the amused chuckle that escaped him as he heard the indignation in Tony’s voice. He knew that his partner had expected a night of passion and that Tony was feeling off balance now. That was good, Gibbs thought, that was exactly how he wanted Tony this night.

 

“Not just to any circus, Tony, we’re going to see the Cirque du Soleil.”

 

Tony shot him a glare and shrugged while he pretended to pout. “Clowns are clowns.”

 

Gibbs didn’t answer and simply smiled to himself as he remembered what he had read about the program they were about to see.

 

Zumanity, the Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil, is a seductive twist on reality, making the provocative playful and the forbidden electrifying! Leave all inhibitions at the door and let loose as this adult-themed production takes you on a sexy thrill ride full of sensational acrobatics and naughty fun.

 

The cab stopped in front of the hotel and Tony laughed. “We fly all the way from DC to Las Vegas to then go and see a show at in New York. Jethro you really are a classic.”

 

Pulling Tony towards his body, Gibbs nibbled at his partner’s ear as they waited to get into the audience. “The show will be worth it, believe me.”

 

---

 

The sight of the sun slowly setting over the Grand Canyon was incredible. They were sitting on a blanket, their dinner eaten and only some wine was left. From where he sat, Don could see the canyon spread out before him, and the only word that came to his mind when he looked at the natural wonder was grand. The sunset painted the stones in warm colors, making them shine in red and gold and Don shivered at the pure and simple beauty of it Slowly he reached out to pull Nick closer to him. “Thank you for organizing this.”

 

Nick leaned back against him and turned his head. “I wanted to show you something special, to take you somewhere special.”

 

Don saw the love in Nick’s eyes and with a smile he captured his partner’s lips. “I love you.”

 

Nick responded eagerly to the kiss and Don forgot all about the sunset as he urged Nick to turn around and lay down next to him. “When are they picking us up again?”

 

Nick glanced at his watch and smiled. “We still have over an hour.”

 

Looking at his lover, Don pulled him down so that Nick was blanketing him and then moved them around. “I want to make love to you. Want to see you naked in the sun, kiss your skin and love you.”

 

Nick shivered at Don’s words, but he didn’t object as Don slowly opened his shirt and then pushed it off Nick’s shoulders. Don swallowed hard as his lover’s tanned skin glowed in the warm light of the sun. “You’re so beautiful.”

 

He kissed the soft skin and licked along Nick’s collarbone tracing the bone from Nick’s throat to his shoulder. Nick moaned lightly and Don looked up to meet his partner’s eyes. “Beautiful.”

 

Nick’s hands pulled him up and they shared a kiss full of passion and love. Don felt his body tighten and he moaned lightly into Nick’s mouth. Nick shivered and as they separated, Don could saw nothing but desire and love in Nick’s dark eyes.

 

“Make love to me.”

 

The whispered words made Don smile and he nodded as he quickly undressed himself and then grabbed the small tube that he had hidden in one of his jacket pockets. Nick saw him and grinned. “You’re such a boy scout.”

 

Don didn’t answer instead he leaned down and blew some hot air over Nick’s cock making his lover shout in surprise and delight. Holding Nick’s hips down, he licked over the head, tasting the liquid gathered there and then he looked up.

 

"Do you have any idea how beautiful you are? You’re golden with the sun caressing you, beautiful and strong."

 

Don shivered as he moved up and covered Nick completely. Nick moaned at the feeling and Don leaned down to kiss his partner. "I want to show you how much I love you. How much I want you every day, forever."

 

Nick trembled at Don’s words and slowly Don moved away and stared to trace kisses over his chest. Nick’s skin was soft but underneath the softness Don could feel the muscles ripple at his touch. Sliding down along the slender body, Don kissed Nick’s foot tickling it with his tongue making Nick giggle and squirm. Slowly kissing along the leg, Don was amazed how soft the skin was on the inside of Nick’s thighs and as he nibbled at the soft flesh Nick gasped and Don looked up.

 

His lover was still bathed in sunlight and for a moment he was transfixed by the sight. “Love you so much.”

 

Nick smiled and reached out to comb through Don’s hair with his fingers and Don arched into the gentle touch. “Don, please don’t make me wait.”

 

Nick’s voice was husky, strained almost and Don felt the tension in Nick’s body and with a smile he finally reached for the lube. He positioned Nick’s legs on the blanket and with a last smile he bent down and started to lick at the small opening he’d just exposed.

 

“Don!”

 

The sharp, hoarse exclamation made him double his efforts and coating a finger with lube, he pressed it in while he bathed Nick’s balls with his tongue. He felt Nick relax around him and slowly added another and then a third finger. Nick trembled around him and looking up, he met his lover’s almost desperate eyes.

 

“Now, Don, please.”

 

The mix between command and plea made Don grin but he was too far gone to resist Nick’s pleading eyes and slowly he slid into Nick. Nick was so tight, so hot, so perfect. Don moaned as he realized again how perfectly they fit together. Moving over Nick, he captured his lips and kissed him passionately.

 

Nick trembled underneath him and he moved again, with his next thrust he knew that he had found Nick’s prostate. His lover gasped and Don’s body tightened in response to Nick’s fingers tracing over his back. For a moment their eyes held each other captured and then Don cried out as the waves of pleasure became too much.

 

He felt Nick’s scream more than he heard it and he clutched his lover close to his body as they both trembled and shook through their release. Sinking down, Don revelled in Nick’s tender caresses and looking up, he kissed Nick softly.

 

“I love you.”

 

Nick smiled sated and happy. “Love you.”

 

For a moment they rested together, but then Nick grinned at Don. “We should get dressed unless you want to give the pilot an eyeful.”

 

---

 

Halfway through the show, Tony was breathless and Jethro was chuckling silently. The performance had an incredibly sensual vibe and the movement of the beautiful bodies together with the music and the lightning all wove a spell of seduction around Tony.

 

“You still think a clown is a clown?”

 

Jethro’s voice was close to his ear and Tony felt the words more than he heard them. The warm breath on his skin made him shiver and unconsciously he leaned back against the almost there touch. Jethro laughed tenderly and only then did his words filter through Tony’s mind and he looked at his lover. “You could have warned me.”

 

“Well you either have a clown fetish, or this circus isn’t just a circus.” Jethro looked pointedly at the bulge in Tony’s pants and Tony flushed. Before he could answer though, the music changed and two men stepped out into the stage. Tony gasped. They both were beautiful, their bodies sculpted and gleaming in the light. The music stopped and for a moment they stood on the stage, a few feet apart. Then suddenly the music started again and this time it was a tango. The two men danced and their dance told a passionate story of love and anger. Again and again they attracted each other, came close only to retreat again in intense conflict until the magnetic energy between them seemed to become too strong.

 

Tony shivered at the pure sexuality that this dance exuded and yet it was more than arousal, it was almost a recognition, he thought dazedly. This was not just the story of these two men, this game of attraction and rejection, this fight between two strong men. It was also his and Jethro’s story.

 

Deeply immersed in the show, Tony almost jumped when he felt Jethro’s hand caress his thigh. Turning his head, he felt Jethro’s eyes locked on his face with an intensity that made him tremble inside.

 

“Do you know that I can read every emotion in your face right now?” Jethro’s words were soft enough not to be overheard, but loud enough for Tony to hear them clearly. Smiling again, Jethro slid his hand up along Tony’s thigh and again he looked at his partner with a smile. “I can see how much this show arouses you, and that despite all these attractive people on the stage and around you, you want me.”

 

Tony stared at his lover, mesmerized by the lust and love in Jethro’s eyes while on stage the dance ended in a crescendo of love and passion. He spared a look at the men locked in a passionate embrace down on the stage and then again at the man next to him, the man he loved so much.

 

The audience started to applaud and in a split second, Tony made his decision. As fun as the show was, he wanted, needed something else right now. Grabbing Jethro’s hand, he pulled his lover up and started to squeeze past the other people in the row they were sitting while constantly mumbling excuses. Jethro followed him slowly, willingly until they stood out in the lobby.

 

“What are you doing, Tony?” Jethro looked at him both amused and aroused and it was that look that made Tony pull him close and capture his lips in a heady kiss. They stood there, locked in the kiss completely unaware of where they were until the need for air made them step back.

 

“Let’s go back to the hotel.” Tony’s words made Jethro’s eyes light up, but before he could say anything, Tony pressed close again and whispered in Jethro’s ear. “And let’s stop at that shop that Nick told us about.”

 

A shiver ran through Jethro, but as he didn’t object, Tony grinned and sauntered out of the hotel to get a cab.

 

---

 

Dinner had been fantastic and Danny made a mental note to thank Delinda for the suggestion. It had been more than just the food though, it had been the entire atmosphere and the fact that Mac had barely let go of his hand during the entire meal. It had been the loving looks and the fact that they didn’t have to hide all those things. And now that they were waiting outside for their limousine to arrive, Danny felt both mellow and excited.

 

He only hoped that Mac liked his surprise.

 

“Hey, you’re in deep thought. Everything alright?” Mac pulled him towards his body and Danny smiled at the tenderness that the gesture spoke off. He melted against Mac and smiled.

 

“Just a bit nervous about my surprise.”

 

Leaning down, Mac secretly nibbled at Danny’s ear before he whispered quietly. “As long as it has something to do with you in a bed, then I’m pretty sure I’ll like it.”

 

By the time Mac had finished speaking, their car had arrived and Danny gave their driver the address of the Domain. The man didn’t even blink. Instead, he smiled and nodded before the tinted panel slid silently in place leaving Mac and Danny alone in the back of the car.

 

“You gonna tell me where we’re going?”

 

Danny thought about it for a moment and then grinned. “No, you’ll see when we’re there.”

 

Mac shook his head and affectionately pulled Danny close before he gave him a soft head slap. “And where is there, honey?”

 

Danny glared at Mac, but couldn’t hide the grin that threatened to split his face apart at seeing Mac so relaxed and playful. He wanted to answer, but just in time their car stopped and their driver opened the doors.

 

“Gentlemen, we have arrived.”

 

Standing in front of the mansion, Danny shivered lightly at how intimidating the stone walls looked like. The path was lit with torches and for a moment, Danny wanted to run away, when Mac’s hand on his back grounded him again.

 

“Danny where are we?”

 

He could hear that Mac felt just a tad insecure and that in turn boosted Danny’s confidence. He swallowed once and then turned towards Mac.

 

“This is my surprise, Mac. I’ve booked a room for the night for us here. A room just for us and our fantasies.”

 

---

 

Our fantasies…

 

Danny’s words still echoed through Mac’s mind as he followed the dark haired woman up to the room that Danny had booked for them. She had introduced herself as Lady Heather and had smiled at them with a knowing and yet fond smile that graced her features now as well as she opened the door.

 

“Welcome to our Roman Suite.”

 

Mac swallowed as he was about to step through but before he could walk into the room, a manicured hand on his arm stopped him. “I think you should give your partner time to set up the scene and to prepare himself. Why don’t you come with me and have tea?”

 

Mac’s eyes met Danny’s for a moment and when he saw no objection, he quickly smiled at Lady Heather before he pulled Danny towards his body and kissed him gently. “Never forget that I love you.”

 

Never forget that I’ll do anything for you, that you don’t have to do this to make me love you... Never forget that if you ever use your safeword, I’ll still love you...

 

Mac didn’t say all those things, but he knew that Danny could read them in his eyes as his lover smiled and caressed his face. “I love you too Mac and this is not just a gift to you, it’s one for me too.”

 

Reassured, Mac left the room and followed Lady Heather to a nice seating area. It was quiet in the house, no screams, no sounds of pleasure and as if she had read his mind, Lady Heather smiled. “It pays to have good sound proofing in a place like this, don’t you think?”

 

Mac laughed and nodded, before he accepted the tea with a smile. “Why did you want to speak with me?”

 

She looked at him for a long time and then nodded slowly. “Because I need to know the dominants that play in my Domain, I need to know that they respect their submissives and that they respect the rules of the game.”

 

Understanding where she came from Mac nodded. “I would never do anything to hurt Danny.”

 

Lady Heather smiled again. “I know, but not all men are like you Mr. Taylor. Now, please let me show you your changing room.”

 

Mac followed her again and once in the elegantly decorated room, she pointed towards another door. “This will lead you into the suite that your partner has rented. Enjoy your time.”

 

She left him alone then and Mac saw for the first time what Danny had chosen as his or their fantasy. Stunned, he stared at the dress that was laid out on the chair in front of him. “You have got to be kidding me.”

 

 

---

 

Waiting for Mac, Danny shivered slightly. He wasn’t afraid but wearing nothing but a silk loincloth and a white collar, kneeling in the middle of the room, he could feel anticipation rise in his body. The room’s decoration exceeded any of his expectations, but some of the items made him not only nervous but also slightly scared.

 

He heard the door opening and closing again and held his breath. Mac was here.

 

“Look at me.” Mac’s voice was deeper than usual, sharper too and Danny felt the trembling increase as he obeyed the command and saw his lover standing in the doorway dressed in a white tunic. Mac stared at him with an unreadable look and then suddenly smiled coldly. “I didn’t expect the Senator to have such good taste. But for once I actually appreciate his gratitude.”

 

Danny shivered as he realized what Mac meant and trembling lightly he started to speak when Mac made a gesture with his hand. “If I want you to talk I’ll tell you. Now stand up, I want to see you.”

 

Standing up, Danny felt heat coil in his stomach and cock at the way Mac looked at him. It was possessive and at the same time almost as if he was looking at merchandise. The realization came as a shock then to him that for this moment, in this scene, he was nothing but merchandise.

 

Mac’s hand moved up on his flank and Danny trembled as the strong hand caressed his skin. Mac’s hands touched his neck and Danny swayed. Mac laughed. “You’ve either been taught well or you’re afraid of me. Which is it, slave? Will you submit to me or will I have to tie you down? Will you do anything I say, simply because I say so, or will it be a struggle? Do you want to please me or fight me?”

 

Danny felt his world tilt slightly at the words, felt how his head started to swim and immediately fought it. He felt vulnerable under the cold, calculating look of his lover. A shiver ran through him at the unusual sensation, but before the emotion could get a hold on him, soft hands encircled his wrists.

 

“You want to please me, don’t you? Fall for me.” Mac’s voice was almost hypnotic and his eyes were warm with love and passion. Danny sighed and let go of the last bit of anxiety. He swayed again and Mac quickly pulled him towards his body and held him for a moment. “Nothing you don’t want, Danny, I’ll do nothing you don’t want. I love you.”

 

The soft reassuring words made Danny sag against his partner and he understood. “I can’t do this, Mac.”

 

Shivering uncontrollably now, Danny burrowed closer towards Mac and Mac lifted him up and carried him over to the large bed in the middle of the room.

 

“What is it Danny? Talk to me.”

 

Mac’s voice was tight with concern, and as Danny looked into his eyes he saw fear there. It calmed him enough to speak and still shivering he tried to explain.

 

“I can’t do this without you.”

 

Confused Mac looked at him and Danny searched for words to make him understand. “You looked at me like a stranger, you weren’t Mac before, you weren’t my lover, the one I trust with all my heart. You were a stranger.”

 

“That’s what role-playing is all about, Danny. I thought you wanted that.” Gently Mac caressed his hair. There was no censure in his voice only a need to understand and Danny sighed.

 

“I thought so too, but I can’t let myself fall unless I’m with you.”

 

He was so sure that he’d just ruined their evening, that he’d disappointed Mac, that he was surprised at the look of love and surprised joy in Mac’s eyes. “I am honored.”

 

Mac spoke solemnly and Danny trembled at the promise in his voice. Mac still held him and Danny leaned against his lover relaxing slowly.

 

“It’s a pity about the reservation.” Mac’s words made Danny take another look at the room and suddenly his desire rose again.

 

“Who says that we have to be Romans in the Roman Room? We could just be Danny and Mac...”

 

Mac’s body tightened underneath his and within seconds Mac had turned them around holding Danny’s wrists above his head and smiling wickedly. “You’re absolutely right, Danny.”

 

Leaning down, he kissed Danny’s neck and shoulders. His hands were sure and confident as they moved along Danny’s arms and pulled him up. Mac led him to the middle of the room and Danny moaned as his hands were lifted over his head and secured in the cuffs that were hanging from the ceiling.

 

---

 

Seeing Danny freeze up had been terrifying for Mac, and to watch now how his lover let himself fall as soon as the cuffs were around his wrists affected him deeply. Danny’s freely given trust, the consciously made decision to completely trust him was a gift that Mac treasured immensely. It was different today though, it went deeper, stronger and the knowledge that Danny trusted him so much that he could do things with him he couldn’t do with a character that Mac played shook Mac to his core.

 

He swallowed hard and looked at the beautiful man in front of him. Danny trusted him to take care of him and Mac would never do anything to abuse that trust.

 

“Let’s see what toys they have here.”

 

Danny shivered lightly at those words and he smiled. There was an eclectic and wide range of toys and Mac felt his body tighten as he picked a few of the items and turned back towards Danny. Kneeling down, Mac removed the silk cloth and bared Danny to his gaze before he reached for the leather string that he had selected and methodically tied the leather string around Danny’s balls and cock.

 

A low moan escaped Danny and Mac smiled. “You don’t have to be silent. I want to hear you.”

 

He considered tying Danny’s legs and feet to the ground, but decided against it and got up instead. He had found a pair of golden nipple clamps which he was sure would look beautiful against Danny’s skin. Almost absently he played with Danny’s nipples and leaned down to suck them into hardness. With a swift gesture he put the clamps on and Danny moaned in a mixture of pain and pleasure.

 

“Yes, beautiful, I want to hear you. I want to know it’s me making you moan.” Danny whimpered as Mac threaded a chain between the two clamps and added two weights dangling from the chain.

 

Stepping back, Mac looked at his lover and a shiver ran through him at the sight of Danny. His cock was already leaking against the dark leather and his nipples where adorned by golden clamps. His eyes met Mac’s readily and there was no fear in them only lust and passion.

 

“You look beautiful.” Mac watched how the praise seemed to make Danny melt into the bonds even more and he smiled. “I don’t need role-playing from you. I don’t need anything but what we have together. You’re the one that matters Danny, not the games we play.”

 

Danny looked up at those words and smiled. “I love you.”

 

Relaxing completely, Mac smiled and pulled Danny against his naked body. The feeling of Danny’s muscular body against him hardened Mac, and brought back the desire to make Danny moan for him. His lover had gone to considerable lengths for him and even though the role-playing was out, Mac wanted to give Danny a night to remember.

 

Slowly he began to caress Danny’s bound body with his hands and lips and soon Danny moaned and whimpered at every touch and his body trembled whenever Mac touched him.

 

“Please Mac, please.”

 

Mac looked up at the barely coherent man and smiled. “What do you want, beautiful?”

 

“Anything, Mac, I need you, please take me.” The words were a plea and yet they were spoken almost like a command and Mac pulled at the clamped nipples in reaction.

 

“Patience is a virtue, love, and I’ll take you when I’ve had my fill of your skin and your body.”

 

Danny moaned and then cried out as Mac licked at his cock head. Mac smiled at the sound and moved away completely. Danny whimpered at the loss of contact and Mac turned away quickly to grab a plug and some lube. He lubed the toy and slowly moved it over Danny’s cock before he slipped a lubed finger into his lover’s body and found it relaxed enough. He inserted the plug and stepped back.

 

“You look gorgeous like that Danny, now why don’t we have some desert?” There was a Roman couch in the room with some wine and fruit on a small table in front of it. Mac released Danny from his bonds and gently led him over to the couch where he positioned Danny so that he was lying in front of Mac with his back pressed against his lover.

 

Reaching out for the wine, Mac took a sip and then leaned down to kiss his lover, sharing the sweet tasting wine.

 

“Just relax Danny, just relax.”

 

---

 

Just relax…

 

Danny almost snorted at Mac’s words. Here he was, nipples clamped, cock bound and a huge plug up his ass with Mac’s body constantly pressing against his sensitive skin and his lover told him to relax?

 

Mac put the glass back on the table and started to caress Danny’s body, every once in a while plucking at the chain that held the nipple clamps sending a shot of pain through the haze of pleasure that had engulfed him.

 

 “If only you could see yourself right now, beautiful.” Mac’s voice was soothing, gentle. “You feel so good, beautiful.”

 

Danny gasped when his lover removed the plug, hating the sudden emptiness, but before he could process the feeling completely, Mac slid into him with one thrust. Pressing his body back towards his chest, Mac licked his ear making Danny moan even more. “I’ll remove the string, but you are not allowed to come until I say so.”

 

It was a hard order to follow. Danny could feel his entire body throb with desire. Still he held on, and to his surprise he found strength somewhere inside him to obey. Mac’s lips were back to his ear against and Danny tensed as he felt another small bite on his neck.

 

“Let go.”

 

The command to let go and come was followed by the blinding pain of blood rushing back into his nipples and Danny fell apart. He felt nothing but pain and pleasure, and he shattered between the two emotions and even as he flew on the high of sensation he knew that he was about to lose himself. Then he came back and met deep blue eyes, they grounded him, and he let himself fall again safe in the knowledge that Mac would keep him whole.

 

---

 

The lights of the Strip filtered through the window, painting funny shapes on the ceiling and onto the white duvets. They weren’t too bright, and yet provided enough light for Jethro to be able to watch his lover sleeping.

 

Tony was smiling in his sleep, and Jethro slowly reached out to caress his face.

 

Looking around the darkened room, Jethro’s eyes fell onto the plastic bag on the table and he smiled. They had indeed stopped at the adult store, but in the end they had been too excited and too riled up to use any of the items they had bought.

 

Tony moved in his sleep, mumbling quietly and Jethro felt his heart constrict. This weekend together, these days where they didn’t have to hide, where they were among friends... It was a gift for him. But he couldn’t get Jen’s ultimatum out of his head and pulling Tony even closer, he wondered if he could survive watching Tony on a different team.

 

---

 

 Interlude – City of Angels II

 

*Los Angeles*

 

“Wake up sleeping beauty.” Calleigh groaned as sunshine filtered through her window and batted at the hand that caressed her face tenderly. It was Sunday, so there really was no need to get up, was there?

 

“Come on, else we’re going to be late for brunch with your friends.”

 

Brunch? Sighing, she opened her eyes and frowned at David who watched her with fond amusement in his eyes. Brunch, she thought again and then it clicked and she almost jumped out of the bed. “Oh shit, brunch.”

 

Now David really laughed and grabbing her arm, he pulled her back into bed and in his arms. “Calm down, we have a bit time left. Just remind me again, why dinner and drinks became brunch?”

 

Melting against her boyfriend’s body, Calleigh shrugged. “Cause the love birds already had plans for yesterday night, apparently Danny had something special organized for Eric. I’m sure they’ll tell us all about later.”

 

While Calleigh tried to wake up completely, she reveled in the feeling of David’s arms around her, his strong body against her back and the completeness she felt when she was in his arms. “Eric’s going to be so surprised about us.”

 

She didn’t realize that she had spoken loudly until David tensed behind her and immediately she realized her mistake. Turning around she met David’s eyes and immediately saw the anxiety in them. “Not because of you, but you know how fond I was of the FBI when I moved to LA.”

 

He relaxed only a bit and when she saw that none of his anxiety had disappeared, she frowned lightly. “What’s wrong, Dave?”

 

“Will he mind?” Not understanding, Calleigh shook her head. “Mind what?”

 

Closing his eyes for a moment, Calleigh suddenly realized that David had a hard time saying the next thing and as he spoke she understood why. “That you’re with a black guy?”

 

Shock and surprise ran through her at the seemingly innocent words and she shook her head. “No, never. Eric would never have an issue with that. He’ll grill you and tease you and probably tell you that he knows how to hide a body, but that’s just because he’s like a brother to me.”

 

She could see that she hadn’t convinced him and silently wondering who had hurt her boyfriend so much, she pulled David closer. “Eric’s with a man, David. He’s part Cuban, part Russian. Believe me, he’s the last person who has any kind of racist tendencies.”

 

Slowly David relaxed and finally he smiled. “Unless you’re FBI.”

 

Calleigh smiled in response and shrugged. “Hey, some of the guys we dealt with in Miami were real jackasses. So you can’t blame us.”

 

David’s hand combed through her hair and snuggling closer Calleigh enjoyed the tender caress. Then looking at the watch on David’s night stand, she groaned and nudged David. “We have to get up.”

 

David laughed. “And by we, you mean I should please head over to the shower, so that you can lie in a bit longer.”

 

Smiling widely, Calleigh looked at her boyfriend. “I always knew that there’s more than muscles to you.”

 

David simply sent her a dirty look and got up. Happy Calleigh snuggled back into the duvets, she looked forward to seeing Eric again.

 

---

 

“Colby said that you know about us.” Charlie couldn’t meet Don’s eyes as he spoke and the obvious fear that exuded from his brother almost broke Don’s heart. He had thought that they had mended their relationship, but right now, it seemed as if Charlie was farther away from him than ever.

 

“Yes, I know. And Charlie, I’m so happy for you.”

 

The words didn’t seem to have an effect on Charlie as he continued to tap nervously on Don’s kitchen table. He had come over early in the morning, ready to talk about this before they would meet Calleigh and her friends for brunch. Don saw that his brother hadn’t heard him and sighing, he reached out for Charlie’s hand.

 

“Charlie, look at me.” When Charlie finally met his eyes, the fear and pain lurking in the dark pools hit Don like a punch in the gut. “Charlie, I’m happy for you.”

 

He repeated the words again until Charlie suddenly looked closer at him. “You are?”

 

Don wanted to cry at the surprise, but he plastered a smile on his face knowing only too well, that Charlie would not see behind the mask. “Yeah, Colby is a great guy and you really seemed happier in the last couple of weeks. He’s good for you and all I want is for you to be happy.”

 

Charlie still looked at him closely, but the fear and tension in his eyes had been replaced by joy and love and slowly Don allowed himself to relax a little as he saw that he had appeased his brother’s fears. “You’re not angry?”

 

Sighing Don shook his head. “Just a bit sad, that you didn’t think you could tell me. But no, I already told Colby, I love to have him as a part of our family.”

 

Suddenly Charlie jumped up and hugged Don closely. “Thanks Don, it really means a lot to me.”

 

For a second, Charlie held on, then he stepped back and looked seriously at Don. “And I’m sorry for lying to you, it was just. Colby’s a guy and your agent. I didn’t think either would matter, but both in one. I just... it just happened, you know.”

 

Don saw the love in Charlie’s eyes when he spoke of Colby and burying the hurt at being deceived deep in his heart, he smiled at his brother. “Love does that to you, Charlie, it just sneaks up on you.”

 

They sat together for a while, then Charlie looked at the clock and frowned. “We need to get going, else we’re going to be late.”

 

Don followed his brother, but as they sat in Don’s car he suddenly looked at Charlie again. “Are you going to tell the rest of the team?”

 

Charlie remained silent for a moment then he nodded. “Eventually, yeah... But first I need to tell Dad.”

 

Seeing that the fear had returned in Charlie’s eyes, Don shook his head. “Charlie, Dad already likes Colby, he’ll be thrilled.”

 

Don saw that Charlie wasn’t convinced, and reaching out he touched Charlie’s hand quickly. “If you want, I can be there when you tell him.”

 

Grateful eyes met his and Charlie nodded before he frowned. “Where are we going?”

 

“I told Liz that we’d pick her up on our way.”

 

Charlie smiled. “So you and her are still going strong?”

 

Don nodded, but didn’t say anything. He didn’t want to explain to his brother that his and Liz’ relationship was worlds apart from what Charlie and Colby had. Didn’t want to and couldn’t, because once he opened that particular door, he wouldn’t be able to deny how much he yearned for exactly what they had.

 

---

 

Waking up in Danny’s arms was something Eric knew that he would never get tired of, but waking up in his lover’s arms to the sound of the waves gently crashing at the shore and the sight of the beach right in front his window was even better.

 

Eric sighed as he stretched and then smiled as he thought of yesterday. It had been the perfect day.

 

The little resort that Danny had taken him to was secluded and upscale without being too posh and they had spent the morning at the beach, just enjoying their time off when Danny had told him that he had organized a boat trip to sail along the coast for a couple of hours.

 

Danny mumbled something and turned around with a grumble, before his breathing evened out again and he slept on. Eric smiled at the little boy look that Danny always had when he slept. He reached out and threaded a hand through Danny’s hair, enjoying the way the silk strands felt against his fingers as he remembered the moment he had seen the diving equipment.

 

“Danny, I’m not sure.” Eric faltered and swallowed hard as he looked at his lover. “Diving, that’s Miami, you know, it’s the past.”

 

Danny shook his head. “No love, diving is you. I can see how you yearn for the sea, how you long to be one with the water again.”

 

Shivering Eric turned away only to feel Danny’s strong body against his back. Soft hands held his own and Eric felt Danny pull him closer. “You don’t have to, we can just enjoy the boat trip and watch the coast line. It’s up to you. I just want you to know, I’d come down with you.”

 

Eric hadn’t known that Danny dived too and in the end the fact that his lover would be with him was the deciding factor. He turned around in Danny’s arms and smiled. “I’ll give it a try, ok?”

 

He had gone diving with Danny and even though he’d been afraid of waking too many memories, it hadn’t happened. The coast line outside LA was so completely different than the coast in Miami, the water much colder, the tide much stronger and all he had felt was the liberating feeling of being finally back in the sea. Danny had come down with him and they had enjoyed their discovering of corals and rock formations until the time had been up.

 

Back on the boat, Eric had understood then that he had really found peace with what had happened in Miami and had pulled Danny close to him thanking him without words.

 

“Danny?” Danny grumbled at Eric’s attempts to wake him up and Eric grinned, before he started poking his lover in the ribs gently. “We need to get up soon.”

 

“Tired.” That Eric could understand, because after the boat trip their day had been far from over and after a wonderful dinner, Danny had led him back down at the beach again.

 

Eric simply stared at the blanket in the sand surrounded by dozens of candles. For a moment he couldn’t believe that Danny had done this for him, but when he saw the big smile on his partner’s face he knew that it was real.

 

“This is beautiful, I can’t believe it.”

 

Danny simply took his hand and pulled him down on the blanket, before he reached for the basket the hotel had provided them with. Opening it, he pulled two glasses and a bottle of champagne out and smiled at Eric.

 

“I just wanted something special for you, something to show you how much I love you.”

 

They had sat at the beach until it had gotten to cold and then they had made good use of the heated pool in their bungalow and finally of the huge bed they had. Eric still felt the aftermath of their love making in his bones and he would have gladly stayed in bed, had he not known that Calleigh would never let him live it down if he overslept.

 

“Come one, Danny, we need to get up, really need to get up.” He sighed as Danny once more grumbled and with a grin, Eric got up and opened the blinds wide letting the sun in.

 

“Shit, what are you doing?”

 

Danny stared wide eyed at him and Eric couldn’t help but laugh at the glare that hit him. “It’s almost ten, we’re meeting Calleigh at 11.30, and honestly I don’t want to be late...”

 

Now Danny grinned. “Seems really important to you… Now what about some incentives for me?”

 

Eric laughed and shook his head. Life with Danny certainly wasn’t boring.

 

---

 

Pacing outside the restaurant where he was supposed to meet the others, Colby tried to calm his nerves. He had no reason to be nervous, had he? After all he’d seen and done in his life, it’s ridiculous to be scared about the fact that his lover went to talk to his boss this morning, especially because Colby already knew that said boss didn’t have an issue with them being together.

 

Still, he knew Charlie, knew what a complicated relationship he and Don had and even if Don was happy about them, Colby knew that if anyone would manage to create a mess out of a simple talk, it was those two brothers. Something David had said once came to his mind and Colby smiled faintly.

 

Never seen two brothers more different and alike at the same time.

 

It was true, Colby thought, and interestingly enough it was the difference between Charlie and Don that had made him fall in love with Charlie while it was the similarities between them that made him want to work for Don as a friend and an agent.

 

Within a couple of weeks, Charlie had become the most important person in his life. He hadn’t lied when he’d told Don that he had lost his family when he had come out to them. His father had already been dead at the time, but neither his mother nor his uncle who had become his surrogate father had accepted what the then seventeen year old Colby had told him. They had denounced him and Colby had gone to the army.

 

Shaking his head, Colby checked his watch, before he got lost in memories again. Why he had joined the army right after having outed himself was sometimes still a mystery to him, but it certainly hadn’t changed his family’s mind. To them he was dead...

 

“Hey there.” Charlie jumped out of Don’s car and Colby’s heart lightened as he saw the happy look on his lover’s face. The talk had gone well then.

 

He didn’t hesitate and pulled Charlie close, enjoying the fact that he could hold him in front of Don. Charlie snuggled into his arms for a moment, and then met his eyes. There was a determination in them that made Colby wonder what Charlie was up to, but before he could say anything, Charlie spoke.

 

“I was thinking, we should tell the team. Today.”

 

Tell the team? For a moment Colby was frozen, but Charlie simply looked at him. “Well Don knows, and so does Liz and I think Megan suspects anyway… That only leaves David...”

 

Liz? Colby frowned and then groaned as he noticed the third person sitting in Don’s car. Liz got out of the car and shook her head. “You really suck at secrecy Granger.”

 

There was nothing but friendliness in her eyes and Colby felt himself relax, before he looked at Charlie. “You could have warned me.”

 

Charlie smiled and looked at Don. “I don’t know, it just happened. I actually told Don about ten minutes ago, that I want to wait until we tell them, but then I saw you standing here and I... I just don’t want to hide anymore.”

 

Sometimes it was so easy to fall in love with Charlie all over again and pulling him close, Colby kissed his neck. “I love you.”

 

---

 

In the end, David wasn’t even sure what he’d been nervous about. Eric had looked surprised, made a joke about Calleigh dating a Fed and then had immediately started talking to him about life in LA and how it compared to living in Vegas.

 

Now, he looked around the table and smiled as he noticed Colby and Charlie holding hands. Them coming out today had been a bit of a surprise, but one look at their happy faces had consoled him over the fact that he had just lost a bet with Megan. After all he had been sure that they wouldn’t come out for at least another three months.

 

Larry was talking to Calleigh, his explanation as long winded and sometimes incomprehensible as always, but Calleigh seemed to understand a lot of what he was saying and added her ten cents to the conversation easily. Megan caught David’s eyes over the table and she grinned. “It really looks as if we Feds adore those geeks.”

 

Calleigh’s indignant ‘hey’ got swallowed in the laughter that followed Megan’s comment and David smiled at his girlfriend. “You’re a sexy geek, honey, don’t worry.”

 

---

 

Danny was stuffed. Literally stuffed and if he didn’t have to move for the next twenty years, he’d be a happy man. Sighing he rotated his head a bit to get rid of some lingering tension from the flight and when he opened his eyes again, he noticed Colby looking at him.

 

“You ok?” He nodded at Colby’s question and shrugged. “I always get a stiff neck from flying.”

 

“Yeah, because the Montecito corporate jet is so uncomfortable.” Calleigh teased him and Eric laughed at her comment.

 

“I tell you, it pays to have a boyfriend with access to fast jets.”

 

Colby grinned at Danny. “So, you’re abusing your power as the Head of Security?”

 

“Nah, would never do that.” Danny laughed. “They were flying to LA to pick up one of our whales. So we just hitched a ride. We’ll fly back commercial.”

 

“Danny, how does one become Head of Security in a casino, if you don’t mind me asking?”

 

Megan’s question was open and friendly and Danny shrugged. “Why would I mind? I kind of got into casino security by chance. I grew up in Vegas and my dad had a construction business. I guess everybody always thought I’d just follow my Dad’s footsteps, but right before I went to university, we had a fall out and in a fit of late teenage rebellion I joined the army. When I came back a couple years later, there wasn’t much to do for me, but I knew people who knew people and at first I worked at Caesars on the floors, then one day Ed Deline shows up and asks me if I want to work for him.”

 

Danny remembered the awe he’d felt at the fact that he’d caught Ed Deline’s eyes. He met Megan’s eyes and grinned. “And the rest they say is history.”

 

Megan laughed, but before she could answer, Colby looked at Danny. “What unit were you?”

 

Danny swallowed hard. “US Marine Corps”

 

Seeing the understanding in Colby’s eyes he smiled suddenly. “You?”

 

“Rangers” Colby’s reply was just as short and looking into the other’s green eyes, Danny saw that Colby was just as reluctant to talk about his military career as Danny was. Charlie however didn’t seem to notice as he immediately turned towards Danny.

 

“Did they call you in for Iraq?”

 

Danny tensed as unwanted memories rose, but he nodded. “Yeah, they recalled me two years ago, but I’m out of the military now.”

 

“You’re lucky, that nothing happened to you.” Charlie’s comment was innocent and Danny knew that the mathematician meant well, still he couldn’t help but flinch.

 

“I’m the only one of my unit who survived.”

 

Charlie paled at Danny’s flat words, and for a moment an almost awkward silence descended over the table until Eric looked at Don. “You know Grissom, don’t you?”

 

Visibly relieved at the change of topic, Don nodded and smiled. “Yeah, I met him at a conference. He’s a great guy, how’ s he doing?”

 

Eric laughed and started to tell some anecdotes of working with Grissom to the table’s amusement and slowly Danny relaxed again. He felt Eric’s hand on his thigh and the touch both grounded and calmed him and with a deep breath he pushed those unwelcome memories away. A hand touched his and looking up, he saw that it was Charlie who looked at him apologetically.

 

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking.”

 

Danny smiled faintly and shook his head. “It’s ok, I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that. You didn’t know.”

 

Charlie smiled in return but his eyes were serious as he sent a quick look towards Colby. “No, I didn’t, but I should have learned by now that war stories aren’t good dinner conversations... or brunch for that matter.”

 

There was an innocence to Charlie’s words that made Danny smile and silently wonder how someone who was a professor of mathematics and a consultant to the FBI could still maintain this air of innocence. It was refreshing and somehow it reminded him of Mary who despite her horrible experiences as a child still held onto her romantic dreams and hopes.

 

“Danny?” Eric’s hand tightened on his leg and shaking his head, Danny suddenly realized that his lover looked at him. “You alright?”

 

“Yeah, sorry I was just lost in thoughts.”

 

Eric grinned and leaned closer to Danny, his lips touching his ear. “Next time you drift off, at least drift to what I plan to do with you tonight.”

 

Swallowing Danny nodded, and looked up only to meet Colby’s eyes. The other man grinned at him. “Falling in love with a geek, man I tell you, it never gets dull.”

 

---

 

Ten people, five couples, two gay and three straight. In a way it was your normal Californian brunch crowd. Liz smiled at her thought, but her smile faded as she watched the interaction at the table.

 

From where she sat, she could see how Eric whispered something in Danny’s ear that made him blush and meeting Eric’s eyes she smiled at him. She could see how close to Calleigh David was sitting and was sure that his hand was on her thigh and she noticed Colby had moved his chair back and rested his arm casually on the backrest of Charlie’s chair.

 

Megan, on the other hand, covered Larry’s hand with her own as the professor tried to explain something to Calleigh and for a moment Liz wasn’t sure if Megan did it to prevent any glasses from breaking or because she wanted to touch Larry, but when Megan simply held on, Liz assumed that it was the latter reason. There was so much tenderness in the simple gesture and instinctively Liz smiled at Don and reached towards his hand too. He looked confused for a moment, but when she took his hand he tensed.

 

Liz sighed and looked away. Ten people, five couples, two gay and three straight, but also four real and one a sham.

 

---

 

 Chapter 6 – Vacation III – Confession time

 

*Las Vegas*

 

“Hey, handsome, what are you doing here all by yourself?” Don looked up from the book he was reading and smiled at Delinda.

 

“Enjoying the fact, that I can lay in the sun in my shorts in the middle of winter. And of course, the scenery isn’t bad either.” Now he grinned as he pointed to the three gorgeous girls had just passed by his sunbed. Delinda laughed.

 

“Yes, I agree on both accounts, but what I meant is where is everybody? “

 

Don shrugged. “Nick went to see Grissom, he thinks that they need to talk without a third man being present, and I agree, there is still a lot of unsaid stuff between these two. Tony and Jethro were at breakfast, and Tony said he’d come down, but maybe he got side tracked. Mac and Danny said they would try their luck at the tables...”

 

Trailing off, he nodded towards the pool area entrance. “Seems as if that project was cancelled.”

 

Delinda followed his look and laughed, before she immediately called over a pool attendant and asked for four more sun beds to be put next to Don. Don looked at her. “Four?”

 

Shrugging Delinda grinned and started to pull her top over her head. “Tony is on his way from over there and I need a break, so if you boys don’t mind.”

 

Don simply stared at her for a moment and then shook his head. “No, we certainly don’t mind.”

 

Delinda sat down and sighed happily while Don smiled as he noticed some of the other men looking envious. “I think you just made me the most hated man at this pool.”

 

For a second she seemed shocked, then she laughed. “Well, that’s a change normally Warrick is the most hated one. But then I just lie next to you, with Warrick, I usually disappear in one of the cabanas.”

 

“What’s that about cabanas?” Danny had come closer and sat on the end of Don’s sun chair forcing his friend to move his legs. Don growled good humouredly and pushed at Danny.

 

“Get your own chair, will you?”

 

Danny simply smirked at him and got up to the next chair. Still looking at Delinda he frowned. “So what’s about cabanas?”

 

She smiled. “They are for our more discreet guests or those that don’t want to be in the sun too much. And sometimes they are for those that just want to have some fun...”

 

Mac had joined them too and Danny looked at him with a grin. “Fun, yeah we had that last night...”

 

Remembering that Danny had spoken about a surprise for Mac, Don wanted to ask them about their night, when Tony walked over and looked at Delinda. “Are you the one that suggested Zumanity?”

 

Delinda shook her head. “No, that was Mary. I’ve seen it though. It’s sizzling...”

 

A lazy grin spread over Tony’s face as he nodded. “Yeah, and afterwards I was sizzling, I tell you. That show really is smoking hot.”

 

Turning around he looked at Mac. “And what was your surprise?”

 

To Don’s astonishment, Mac blushed a little, before he looked at Danny who shrugged. “Just tell them, it’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

 

The comment made Don frown, but as Mac started to explain, he understood. “We went to a place called Lady Heather’s Domain. It’s...”

 

“I’ve heard of it. Must be great, they have a wide assortment of playrooms, I’ve been trying to get Warrick there, but apparently Grissom had a fling with Lady Heather and Warrick is kind of spooked of her.”

 

Don saw the grateful look that Mac sent Delinda at her interruption and with a smile he noticed that the beautiful blonde knew exactly when and how to interfere. She certainly had the people skills to match her looks. Now she looked at Tony with a question in her eyes. “Where’s your other half?”

 

Tony sighed. “He’s hiding somewhere trying to figure out how to tell me that the director wants to offer me my own team.”

 

Before anyone could answer, a gasp was heard from behind Don and as Don turned around he saw Jethro standing there staring at Tony.

 

“You know?”

 

---

 

“Nick?” To say that Gil was surprised to see Nick walking into his office was an understatement. He hadn’t expected to see his friend again until later this afternoon when the group would fly back.

 

“Hey Gris. I thought I come by to say hi to some of the guys in the lab, but it looks that apart from Archie everybody is gone.” Nick sat down in the chair opposite Gil’s desk and sighed for a moment. “And I wanted to talk to you.”

 

Seeing concern and almost fear in Nick’s eyes, Gil tensed. “Is something wrong?”

 

Nick hesitated for a moment, then he nodded. “Gris, I didn’t want to snoop around in your flat, but yesterday when I went to the bathroom there was no toilet paper and when I searched for some, I opened the cupboard.”

 

For a moment, Gil didn’t understand what Nick was trying to say, but with yet another sigh, Nick continued. “Since when have you been taking these pain killers and why is the bottle that’s supposed to last for six months almost empty after not even three?”

 

Shock froze Gil, and forgetting all about the concern in Nick’s eyes, he glared at his friend. “What are you trying to imply?”

 

“Gris, you’ve changed since I last saw you. You’re more withdrawn, you’re paler and you just don’t look happy. What’s wrong?”

 

He wished he could get angry at Nick, would shout at him for interrupting his privacy, but he was tired and already felt like another head ache was threatening him. A part of him wanted to get up and leave while another part realized that Nick might be the only one who was really willing to listen and help or more accurately the only one that Gil was willing to give a chance to listen and help.

 

“It’s migraines. They... I’ve always had them, maybe once a year or so, but lately they are almost constant. Sometimes it’s like I can’t think anymore. I’m tired, Nick, really tired.” He trailed off and stared at his hands not sure if he should tell Nick the complete truth or not before he continued almost silently. “I can’t go on like this. I don’t sleep unless I take the pain killers, I don’t eat because the pills make me sick, I can barely function at work... I feel like I’m on the verge of a burn out.”

 

Again he trailed off and this time he didn’t know what to say. It sounded so pathetic when he phrased it as he had, made him sound so weak, but instead of mocking words, Gil felt a soft hand on his and looking up he realized that Nick leaned over the desk to cover his hand in a comforting gesture. “Gris, you’re not on the verge of one, you’ve got a burn out.”

 

The soft spoken words made him shiver and shake his head. The word burn out scared him, because it implied that he needed to change his life, needed to do something else than work, only what?

 

“Something that interests you.”

 

Gil looked up in shock as he realized that he had spoken his thoughts out loud. Nick still held his hand and smiled but his eyes showed his honest concern. “Gris, you’ll break down, if you don’t take a time out. I fear for you.”

 

Gil could see the fear that Nick talked about in the dark eyes and he felt like a heel for scaring Nick, but before he could say anything, Nick shook his head. “No, Gris, don’t apologize. It’s what friends do, ok? They get concerned and scared because they care, because you matter.”

 

For a moment Gil felt almost overwhelmed, not sure what to say, when he realized that Nick didn’t expect an answer.

 

“Have you ever thought about a sabbatical?”

 

Nick’s question made him look up and with a start he suddenly remembered the letter he had gotten only last week. “I’ve been asked to teach a class at  Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts.”

 

Surprised Nick looked at him before a blinding smile crossed his face. “What are you waiting for? Isn’t that exactly what you need? Some time away, some time to reconcile your life, to understand what you really want to do?”

 

It was eerie, how Nick could read him, Gil thought and yet even as the thought of leaving Las Vegas and the lab for a while excited him, at the same time it scared him. He couldn’t leave Greg alone, what if something happened to him while Gil was away?

 

“Gris?” Nick’s hand was on his again and the dark eyes were concerned. “What is it?”

 

The temptation of telling Nick about his unrequited love was there, but he repressed it immediately. Instead he shrugged. “I don’t think that the sheriff will accept a sabbatical.”

 

“Try it at least, please?”

 

Nick’s eyes were compelling and honest and after a moment Gil nodded. “I’ll call him tomorrow.”

 

---

 

“He’s hiding somewhere trying to figure out how to tell me that the director wants to offer me my own team.”

 

Tony’s words had frozen Gibbs. He had indeed been hiding, had indeed been trying to find a way to come clean to Tony, but the fact that his lover already knew both relieved and scared him.

 

“You know?”

 

Tony turned around and smiled softly, his eyes were loving and tender as he reached out and pulled Gibbs down on the sun chair next to him. “Cynthia told me. It pays to be liked by the back office, you know.”

 

“How long have you known?”

 

Tony pulled him closer, but Gibbs was too shell shocked to react and holding himself rigid, he didn’t give into Tony’s coaxing until Tony sighed and shook his head. “For about ten days. Cynthia called me and told me about it, and before you say it, I know that she isn’t supposed to do this, but hey, it was a favor.”

 

“And?”

 

Gibbs had forgotten about their friends around him, but apparently Tony hadn’t as he looked at Delinda. “Those cabanas you mentioned, is one free?”

 

Delinda nodded and called a pool attendant over. She smiled friendly but Gibbs could see the concern in her beautiful eyes and he knew that he would see the same concern in Don’s, Mac’s or Danny’s eyes. These were their friends, he reminded himself, these were people that cared for both him and Tony and still right now he was glad that Tony had gotten them some privacy.

 

Inside the cabana it was colder and a soft breeze made the fabric rustle gently. It was a romantic setting, but Gibbs had only eyes for his lover. Tony sat down in one of the love seats and pulled at Gibbs’ hand until Gibbs sat down next to him.

 

“What did Jen tell you?”

 

Thinking back to the conversation he’d had with Jen, Gibbs shrugged.

 

“She said that in your previous jobs, you left because you didn’t have a future, that you had no career opportunities. And that she doesn’t want to lose you. She wants to offer you a team.”

 

Tony’s eyes were unreadable as he nodded. Whatever Cynthia had told him seemed to be consistent with what Gibbs had just said. “Did she say where?”

 

“DC, she wants to have a fourth investigation team at Head Quarters and she wants you to lead it.”

 

Tony nodded again, then he looked at Gibbs and Gibbs felt the power of his lover’s eyes as they bore into his own. “And what do you think?”

 

That was the hardest part, Gibbs thought. He had practiced what he wanted to say, but right now he didn’t remember any of the smart sentences anymore and so he simply told Tony the truth.

 

“You’d be a great team leader, but the thought of not having you in my team, the thought of not being able to watch your back... It kills me.”

 

He shivered at the thought of Tony going out without proper back up and even knowing that he was being irrational didn’t really help. “I...”

 

“Shh.” Tony’s hands caressed his face and looking up, he realized that Tony was smiling. “It’s ok, Jethro. I won’t take the job. It’s ok.

 

For a moment Gibbs was elated, happy, but then he looked at his lover closer and he saw the glint of resignation in Tony’s eyes. Gibbs felt as if a bucket of cold water had been emptied over his head as he understood. Tony wouldn’t take the job, because he loved him. His lover would give up a fantastic chance because of him. Even more though, he could see that Tony wanted this job and that more than anything made him shake his head.

 

“Tony, no, if you want this job, take it. I... this fear is irrational. Just tell me, do you want to be a team leader?”

 

Tony blushed and nodded shyly. “If you think I can do it, yes. I’d love to. And it’s not because I don’t like working for and with you, it’s just it would be a challenge and it would be...”

 

Gibbs kissed Tony stopping his babbling gently. Their kiss was soft and as they separated Gibbs smiled. “Then take it. You’ll be a wonderful team leader and I’ll be so proud of you.”

 

Tony smiled and blushed even more. His eyes were shining with love as he pulled Gibbs closer again. “Thanks so much. And I’ll promise, you won’t lose me.”

 

Gibbs nodded with a smile even though his heart was constricting slightly. “I’ll hold you to that promise.”

 

---

 

Nick was in deep thoughts as he walked through the corridors of his former workplace. His talk with Grissom was still in his mind and his concern and fear for his friend had not lessened. The fact alone that Grissom had admitted to being burned out had shocked Nick. Cursing silently, he wished he could give Grissom a nudge towards Greg, but he knew only too well that Grissom was too afraid of rejection to ever do anything.

 

No, Nick thought sighing. He would have to nudge Greg and not Grissom, but that was for another day and not today.

 

He had lied when he’d told Grissom that he’d come here to visit some former co-workers. He’d driven to Gris’ place and when he hadn’t been home Nick had come to the lab knowing that he would find Grissom here. On the entire way Nick’s only concern had been Grissom and he hadn’t really noticed the lab or how familiar everything felt, now though as he walked through the empty lab, he suddenly noticed the glass walls, the familiar corridors and a chill ran through him. It was too familiar, too much and instinctively he walked faster. There were too many memories here, too many feeling buried in these walls.

 

It wasn’t until he was outside that he took a deep breath and for a second leaned against the building to compose himself. His fears were irrational, but that didn’t make them less potent and somehow he had felt as if the walls in the lab had been closing in on him.

 

“Nick?”

 

Nick startled as he heard someone call his name and looking up he tensed immediately when he saw Conrad Ecklie walk towards him. “Conrad.”

 

His voice was carefully bland, but Ecklie didn’t seem to notice it as he smiled openly at Nick. “Gil told me that you were in town, but I didn’t think I’d see you here. How are you doing?”

 

Grissom had told him? Nick remembered Grissom telling him that Ecklie had become more bearable, or as Grissom had put it ‘we have come to an understanding’. Still the thought of Grissom sharing something like Nick’s visit with Ecklie surprised him. He was aware that his face gave away his surprise as Ecklie laughed lightly. “Things have changed quite a bit here. Hey, do you need a lift somewhere?”

 

Nick’s first instinct was to say no, but there was something in Ecklie’s eyes, in his laughter that made him accept. “That would be great, we’re at the Montecito.”

 

To Nick’s surprise Ecklie laughed again. “It pays to have connections like Eric, doesn’t it?”

 

The easy comment once more took Nick by surprise, but he didn’t answer, until he sat in the car next to Ecklie. “What happened? I mean, you’re suddenly best friends with Grissom and the night shift?”

 

Ecklie was silent for a while and Nick could see that the other man seemed to fight an internal debate. Swallowing hard, Ecklie seemed to come to a decision and shrugged lightly. “You know that Jim Brass was shot a while ago, don’t you?”

 

The comment seemed at odds with Nick’s question, still he nodded, as he remembered the phone call and the fear he had experienced when Warrick had told him about how serious Jim’s condition was. “He’s doing better now, isn’t he?”

 

“He is doing much better. He’s out of the hospital, but not back at work. He’s recuperating and generally complaining about everything especially about being bored out of his mind. But he’s healing, he’s good.” There were many emotions in Ecklie’s voice, emotions that Nick recognized yet would have never expected to hear while Ecklie spoke about Jim Brass. “Gil had Jim’s power of attorney. His decision saved Jim’s life.”

 

Still Nick felt like he was missing a connection here and confused he looked at Ecklie who smiled at him. “Jim and I are together.”

 

“Together?”

 

Ecklie smiled gently and Nick was stunned on how the tender emotion transformed the stern face. “Lovers.”

 

“Wow.” Speechless Nick processed the information and then couldn’t help but laugh. “Isn’t there anyone straight in the lab anymore?”

 

Ecklie looked at him stunned and then laughed loudly. “Well evidence says that Warrick is, and I’d put my money on Catherine too..”

 

---

 

The warm sun on his skin made Mac sleepy and the soft breeze felt almost like a caress. He couldn’t remember when he had felt so relaxed in a place this crowded and a part of him realized that it was the clever setting of the Montecito’s pool area. Although the area was large, there were many alcoves and hidden places so that no one was on display unless they wanted to display themselves of course.

 

Sighing happily, he stretched his legs and closed his eyes only to open them again when he heard Danny chuckle. His lover smiled tenderly at him, making Mac frown lightly. “Something wrong?”

 

Danny shook his head and reached out to touch Mac’s hand. “You purr.”

 

Purr? Mac tried to glare at Danny, but only his heart wasn’t in it and so he smiled almost sheepishly. “Don’t tell Stella.”

 

Now Danny laughed loud and Don threw in his own five cents. “Can I tell her?”

 

Truly glaring at Don now, Mac turned around. “Don’t you dare.”

 

Don pouted and shrugged. “Depends on what you offer, cause I know she’ll offer to make some cookies.”

 

“No cookies for you.” Nick had walked up behind his lover and Mac smiled as he watched Don mock glare at Nick and then pull Nick down towards his sun bed.

 

“You’re back. Everything ok?”

 

Nick sighed and shook his head. “Not really, but nothing that I can really change.”

 

That sounded far too serious and Mac looked concerned at Nick. He wanted to ask the other man what the problem was when Delinda suddenly interrupted their talk. “Dad.”

 

As Mac watched the man walking towards their group he remembered Eric’s description of Ed Deline.

 

“Imagine your Mac and Tony’s Gibbs mixed together with a lot of CIA experience and the necessary skills and then you’ve got Ed.”

 

Medium sized, stocky in a way that spoke of a trained body, grey haired and sun tanned, Ed Deline looked like the average middle aged manager until he moved or looked at anyone. That’s when the intensity and the almost blunt force of the other man’s personality really came through and Mac could see why half of Las Vegas seemed to live in fear of this man.

 

Delinda though clearly didn’t, she got up and kissed the smaller man on his cheek before she introduced Ed Deline to their group. Mac shook Deline’s hand and for a moment their eyes met and held.

 

Blue eyes bore into his and Mac immediately knew that he was being assessed and after only a second Deline smiled friendly. “Good to meet you.”

 

He had looked them all up, had run background checks on all of them. A part of Mac bristled at the thought, but another part knew that he would probably do the same if he were in Deline’s position.

 

---

 

In the end the three days had gone way too fast, Nick thought, as he hugged Warrick at the airport. He hadn’t had enough time with his friend, but Warrick had already told him that Delinda and he planned to visit Delinda’s mother in New York in March, so Nick knew that he would meet his friend again soon.

 

Still he hated saying goodbye to the people he considered family and as he hugged Sara, he noticed that she looked sad too. “Call more often, ok? I miss you.”

 

Her honest words made him swallow hard and he nodded. “I promise.”

 

She smiled and hugged Don, whispering something in his ear that made Don blush and Nick grinned. “What did you just tell my boyfriend?”

 

Sara laughed and looked at Don. “That stays between him and me.”

 

Meeting Don’s eyes, Nick saw happiness and amusement there and with a shrug turned around to Greg and hugged him too. “Greggo, you really have to come and visit. Promise ok?”

 

Smiling Greg nodded. “I’ll come, promise.”

 

A quick glance around told Nick that everybody was talking and with a swift movement he pulled Greg a little away from the group. “Greg, talk with Grissom. He’s not well and I think he needs someone. Someone who makes him understand how important he is.”

 

Greg blushed deeply and shook his head. “I can’t Nick, he’s my boss.”

 

“That’s exactly the reason why any advance has to come from you. He can’t make the first move, ok?”

 

Nick could see that Greg wasn’t convinced, but he didn’t want to break Grissom’s trust and so he simply looked at Greg again. “Talk to him, be a friend. Please?”

 

Sighing, Greg nodded and then grinned. “Stop looking like a kicked puppy, I’ll talk to him.”

 

Nick grinned and then went over to Warrick and nudged his friend gently. “Tell Eric and Danny that we had a wonderful time and that they are welcome anytime in New York.”

 

“I’ll tell him. He is a good guy, not you, but the next best thing.” Nick swallowed hard and instinctively hugged Warrick once more. “I’ll really miss you.”

 

Warrick smiled and nodded. “Me too, buddy, me too.”

 

And then it was time and they went through security control where they had another 40 minutes before they had to say goodbye to Tony and Jethro and Nick sighed.

 

“I hate saying good bye.”

 

Tony grinned. “Hey, want to join NCIS? I need good people in my new team.”

 

“Don’t you dare.” Mac growled before Nick could say anything and Nick grinned. “I like New York.”

 

“But you really need to come to DC, it’s just a quick jump. Plan a weekend in Spring. Really, Nick, I mean it.”

 

Sharing a glance with Don, Nick nodded. “We’ll go through our schedule when we’re back.”

 

“Coffee anyone?” Jethro’s question made Tony laugh and after a moment everybody joined. Nick loved the friendship and harmony that was between him and his friends and as he sat down in a chair and watched his friends do the same, he understood that their bond had gotten even stronger. This trip had been a good idea, but even as the thought entered his mind another joined it and Nick laughed.

 

Tony looked at him. “What’s so funny?”

 

Nick grinned. “I’m really glad we didn’t decide on road trip beards.”

 

---

 

Chapter 7 – Home sweet Home

 

*New York*

 

“And the boys are back in town.” Nick grinned at Lindsay’s words and hugged her quickly. She laughed and looked at him. “You look good, relaxed.”

 

Her fingers nestled a bit at his collar and again she grinned. “But you should have worn a turtleneck today.”

 

Now he blushed as he remembered Don and him making love at the canyon and then later on in their room. It had been a wonderful weekend, and to his utter surprise none of the dreaded memories had ever come up. He had been surrounded by friends and love all the time. It had been good to meet his old friends, he had loved to show Las Vegas to his new friends and in the midst of all the action, he had never even thought about being afraid.

 

Smiling he shrugged at Lindsay’s comment. “Too tired.”

 

She frowned a bit, obviously not getting the connection between being tired and wearing a turtleneck and Nick shrugged again. “I didn’t know where they are, and was too tired to look for them.”

 

Now she laughed. “You need a closet organizer.”

 

A what? Seeing her grin, he simply shook his head. “Please don’t tell me that a job like this exists.”

 

Laughing again, she shrugged. “I don’t know, but if it exists, then in New York.”

 

“What’s in New York?” Stella had come around the corner, and smiled at Nick. “Hey, nice having you back. Where’s the rest of the group?”

 

“Don’s at the precinct, Mac’s in some meeting with Denton and Danny’s somewhere around.” He looked at Stella and noticed the sparkle in her eyes. “So, how’s Stabler?”

 

She blushed and to Nick’s delight the sparkling in her eyes got even stronger as she smiled. “He’s good. We’re going ice skating on Wednesday.”

 

“That’s so cute.” Lindsay’s comment made Nick laugh.

 

“Cute?” He saw her glare as he grinned again. “Believe me Lindsay, that’s not an adjective that a guy wants to hear in connection with himself.”

 

She laughed and put an arm around his shoulders. “But Nicky, you guys are cute if you’re in love and trying to impress the girl of your dreams.”

 

He simply looked at her sideways and she shrugged. “Or whatever.”

 

Saying nothing more, he followed Stella to their office and powered up his computer. They had no pressing case and he still needed to finish some reports as well as some evaluations. Sighing he looked at Danny’s notes from the last case.

 

“Chicken scrawl.” He mumbled only to hear Stella laugh. Looking up he noticed that she leaned over and looked at the handwriting. He shook his head and shrugged. “Why in the hell does he have to compress everything into one page? He’s got a complete notebook to fill.”

 

“No idea, but I’m sure a psychologist could tell you a lot about what it means.” She looked at him and Nick saw how she turned serious. “How did it really go?”

 

Knowing what she was asking, he smiled. “Good, there was one time when I got anxious and that was when I visited Grissom in the lab. But apart from that, I think it was a different Las Vegas that I saw this weekend than when I worked there, you know. This was the Vegas for tourists, the glittery city... It was good.”

 

“And with your old team?”

 

“That was good too, although I didn’t get to spend as much time with them as I thought. But I did catch up with most of them and Warrick plans to come out again soon. His girlfriend’s mother lives in New York.”

 

He smiled silently as he remembered Delinda- Warrick might pretend that he and the beautiful blonde were just friends with benefits, but Nick had seen how his friend had looked at Delinda and he hadn’t seen friendship in Warrick’s green eyes.

 

“How’s Grissom?” Stella’s question pulled him back into reality and he sighed.

 

“He’s thinking about taking a sabbatical. “

 

Stella looked at him and Nick could see that she knew there was more to the story, still she let it go and shrugged lightly. “Maybe not a bad idea.”

 

No, Nick thought, it wasn’t a bad idea, it was a great idea, but the reason for Grissom to finally consider the sabbatical still concerned him. Pushing his worry out of his mind, he looked at Stella and smiled.

 

“And how was your date?”

 

---

 

Nick was concerned about Grissom, Stella could clearly see it, but accepted the change of topic. Thinking about the date with Elliot made her heart beat faster. She probably had a dreamy smile on her face, she thought as she started to talk.

 

“It was great, he took me to the Gramercy Tavern and he was, just really nice. He drove me home, and...” Trailing off she felt Nick’s eyes on her as she blushed and shrugged. “I wanted to ask him up, but something held me back. I was scared, you know.”

 

He reached out and pressed her hand gently. “Elliot knows what happened to you, he won’t pressure you into anything.”

 

Elliot did understand, Stella thought silently, not only because he knew what had happened to her, but also because he dealt with victims on a daily basis and as much as she hated seeing herself as a victim, she was one. Sighing she pushed the thoughts away and smiled at Nick.

 

“I’m really looking forward to Wednesday.”

 

Nick grinned. “Maybe Don and I should just happen to walk past. Now where did you say you’re going?”

 

Glaring at Nick she shook her head. “Don’t you dare?”

 

---

 

*Las Vegas*

 

“You’ve got to be joking.” Sara looked up surprised at the snarky comment. The words had come from a tall, slender, grey haired man who glared at her and the dead body next to her. Frowning she looked around for Vartaan who came over grinning.

 

“Sara, may I introduce you to Detective John Munch? He’s a transplant from New York’s SVU.” Vartaan smiled quickly at her before he turned towards Munch. “John, this is Sara Sidle, she’s with the CSI nightshift team.”

 

“You're one of Gil Grissom's famous team, eh?” His comment sounded just as ironic as before, but unlike before there was an undertone of respect in his voice now which pacified her.

 

She smiled and nodded. “Welcome to Vegas, Detective Munch. Hope you’ll like it here.”

 

Frowning he looked at the mutilated corpse next to her and shrugged. “Human nature, it’s ugly everywhere.”

 

He turned around and walked towards the officers to start questioning the first responder. Sara’s eyes followed him before she looked at Vartaan again. She liked working with the detective, but she realized that he was on his way back to the car already and as she frowned a bit, he held up his hand. “I was just here for the introduction. I’ve got a homicide on the other side of the city to take care off.”

 

Faintly remembering that Greg and Warrick had been assigned to the case, she smiled. “Say hi to Warrick and Greg.”

 

Vartaan nodded. “I will.”

 

She turned around and started to search the perimeter when she felt someone watch her curiously. The new detective looked at her with his head slightly tilted. “You remind me of Stokes.”

 

“You know Nick?”

 

“Yeah, I worked a couple of cases with him and his team. He’s got the same singled minded focus that you just had. You’re prettier though.”

 

He said the last thing so offhandedly that she didn’t blush until he turned away and for a moment she stared at his back. “Thanks, I think.”

 

Walking away, he looked back and grinned. “See you soon.”

 

Well, he would, she thought as she returned to collecting evidence. He’d see a lot more of her.

 

---

 

“Conrad, do you have a moment?”

 

Surprised to see Catherine standing in the door, he nodded curtly and waved her in. “Sure what can I do for you?”

 

She walked into the office and looked at him. There was something in her eyes that he didn’t like, but he couldn’t really name the emotion. Sitting down, she sighed once before she started speaking. “I’m concerned about the increasing connections between the lab and the Montecito.”

 

For a moment he didn’t understand what she meant and it must have been obvious in his face as Catherine continued to explain. “Eric is dating the Montecito’s Head of Security and Surveillance and now Warrick is apparently seeing Delinda Deline.”

 

Looking at Catherine, Conrad wondered what she was really up to. “Why are you coming to me with your concerns? Did you talk to Gil about it?”

 

Her eyes tightened for a moment and Conrad saw raw anger glint in the green eyes before she had herself under control again. “He’s not concerned about it.”

 

That wasn’t the answer to the question, he’d asked, Conrad thought, and silently asked himself why she had brought this matter to his attention. His relationship with Grissom had improved after Jim had been shot, but they hadn’t officially kissed and made up. Only a selected few people knew of their new understanding. Was Catherine telling Conrad about her concerns, because she thought that he would side with her and come down hard on Grissom?

 

“Why are you concerned?”

 

He saw how her posture got tenser at his question before she answered. “The Montecito is a large casino and Ed Deline doesn’t exactly have the cleanest reputation. I’m just concerned about the potential reputational damage on the lab.”

 

Reputational damage, my ass, Conrad mused. He had a pretty good idea what Catherine’s real problem with the Montecito was and that problem was blond, beautiful, strong-minded and currently going out with Warrick Brown. Sighing mentally, he knew that he had to act quickly before this charade turned really ugly.

 

“Do you have any clear evidence of either Eric or Warrick disregarding policies or rules?”

 

Catherine swallowed hard and shook her head. Conrad smiled coldly as he continued. “Did either Warrick or Eric work on any cases that involved the Montecito since they have entered into their relationships?”

 

Again she shook her head, he could see her slightly distressed, but continued none the less. “Did either Warrick or Eric use the lab or any of its equipment for purposes serving the Montecito?”

 

Now Catherine paled, but still shook her head and Conrad nodded slowly, before he summarized.

 

“So you have no proof of any breach of independence or any tainting of integrity, but you come here accusing Eric and Warrick of potentially damaging the reputation of the lab.” She took a breath to say something, but Conrad forestalled it. “What did you hope to achieve, Catherine? Did you think that I would fine Warrick or even demand that he stop seeing Delinda Deline?”

 

She stood up trembling with anger and Conrad braced himself for her attack. “I came here because I was concerned about the lab; I’m appalled by your reaction. What do you think the sheriff will think of it?”

 

Jackpot, he thought as he listened to her and smiled coldly while he waited for her tirade to finish. Then he looked at her and shook his head. “I don’t know what the sheriff will say, but I will tell you this. Go to the sheriff and I will make you life very, very difficult. I know you accepted money from Sam Braun when he was still alive and I know that you used our DNA lab to determine if Sam Braun is your father. You’ve stepped out of line several times Catherine and now I’m warning you. Threaten me and I’ll come down hard on you.”

 

Pale as a sheet, Catherine got up and walked to the door. Only when she was almost out of the room, she turned around and glared at him. “This isn’t over yet.”

 

Oh joy, Conrad’s smile was snarky as he reached for the phone and called Grissom. “We need to talk.”

 

---

 

*New York*

 

“Congratulations Ralph.”

 

Mac meant the words as he shook his former boss’ hand. He certainly approved that his friend and mentor had become Police Vice-Commissioner. But he couldn’t feel a slight bit sentimental at the thought of working for someone else than Ralph especially considering who that someone else was.

 

Ralph’s hand on his shoulder made him look up and he smiled politely as he was formally introduced to the man who would replace Ralph.

 

“Mr. Sinclair, congratulations. I look forward to our collaboration in the future.”

 

A quick smile crossed Ralph’s face, but Mac didn’t see it as he was too focused on Sinclair’s reaction. The other man tensed slightly but then nodded curtly. “We’ll see. We certainly have to look at the set up of your department.”

 

Tensing Mac wanted to question Sinclair when a fourth man joined them and now Mac had to really hold himself in check. Deputy Inspector Gerrard certainly didn’t think much of Mac and his team and had clearly voiced that opinion in several cases. Now he looked coldly at Mac and greeted him curtly. “Taylor.”

 

Once again, he forced a smile and nodded. “Inspector Gerrard.”

 

Sinclair smiled coldly as he started to speak. “I was just about to tell Lieutenant Taylor about the changes planned for his department. I think we will certainly start by reviewing the set up.”

 

Mac almost trembled with anger, and Gerrard probably saw right through him. It was obvious that he wanted to say something, but before he could, Ralph stepped forward and smoothly interrupted them. “Gentlemen, can I quickly talk to you?”

 

Gerrard, Sinclair and Mac nodded when Ralph turned around and smiled at him almost apologetically. “Not you, Mac.”

 

It felt like a slap in his face, but Ralph’s eyes were gentle and comforting and Mac calmed enough to nod softly. “I should go back to the lab.”

 

Ralph nodded and before he followed Gerrard and Sinclair he quickly smiled at Mac. “Don’t worry; I still got your back.”

 

---

 

Ralph watched the two men as they sat down opposite his desk. He knew both Sinclair and Gerrard well enough to know their strengths and weaknesses and he was enough of a politician to know how to use either if necessary. Now he simply let them wait for a moment until he quietly started to speak.

 

“Gentlemen, can I offer you a coffee?”

 

They both nodded and while they waited for his secretary to bring the coffees over, he smiled friendly. “Have you seen the latest statistics on police efficiency and effectiveness? I used to be almost afraid when I read them, because you both know how the mayor is when he sees that New York has slipped down yet another rank.”

 

Sinclair smiled and nodded sympathetically while Gerrard simply smiled as the coffee arrived. They were silent for a moment until the secretary had left the room again and Ralph continued cheerfully. “So consider my surprise when I got a call from the mayor last week telling me that this year we have done a great job and that he is especially happy that the CSI lab has achieved the almost impossible and reached number three in the country. We’re only a few points behind the FBI and Las Vegas.”

 

Sinclair and Gerrard had gradually stopped smiling and now sat in front of him with stony faces. Ralph himself dropped his friendly smile and looked straight at the two men. “I think you and I know that it is primarily Taylor’s team which has propelled the lab to number three and since the mayor knows that as well, he’s asked to meet Lieutenant Taylor on the next possible occasion. Of course I readily accepted and will personally accompany Lieutenant Taylor.”

 

Making a rhetorical break, Ralph took a sip of his coffee and then smiled coldly. “Have I made myself clear, Gentlemen?”

 

Sinclair and Gerrard looked at each other and then nodded. “Yes sir, very clear.”

 

Ralph watched as they left his office and with a sigh, he reached for his phone. He had to talk to Mac and calm him down, and then he had to call the mayor and ask him for a favor. What a fun way to start the week.

 

---

 

Don hummed lightly to himself as he stirred the stew he had prepared and added another chili for hotness sake. He had never understood why his mother would always pester him to learn cooking, but ever since he had moved in with Nick, he had started to enjoy it. There was something about cooking a nice meal for his lover that was completely relaxing.

 

Smiling he turned towards the cupboard and selected two wine glasses, when he heard the door open and close. Shortly after, Nick poked his head through the kitchen door and smiled. “Hey, you’re home early. And it smells wonderful.”

 

Don felt his heart expand as Nick walked over and quickly kissed him. Looking into the pot, Nick grinned. “You’re a star.”

 

Shaking his head, Don laughed. “I’m sure that Sid would disagree.”

 

Nick shrugged while he took some plates, knives and forks out of the cupboard and walked into the living room to set the table. “Sid has a different standard in regards to food than we do. We consider it fast food when we buy a burger from McDonalds; he considers it fast food unless he’s even prepared the bread for the bun himself.”

 

Don watched while the stew simmered in the pot and smiled to himself. Nick was right of course, but the mentioning of Sid’s name reminded Don of something else and he followed his lover to the living room. “Apropos Sid, did you respond to his invitation?”

 

Sid had invited the Mac’s team and some of the detectives that he worked with on a regular basis for dinner next weekend. Both Nick and Don had received an invitation, but had wanted to wait until after their Vegas trip. Now Don felt that the work load was bearable, but of course he didn’t want to go if Nick had other plans.

 

“No, I didn’t, but I’d love to go, what about you?” Don nodded at Nick’s question, but then sighed. “We’ll have to behave ourselves, Angell and some others are coming too.”

 

Nick smiled and nodded. “We’ll make up for it afterwards.”

 

Don laughed and went back to the kitchen where the stew was finished. He took the bread from the oven and brought it together with the stew over to the living room. Nick sniffed the air and smiled happily. “This is what I call a good evening.”

 

Hearing what Nick wasn’t saying, Don frowned. “After a not so good day?”

 

Nick shrugged. “Well I guess you heard about Denton and who’s taken his post. Mac isn’t happy about it and Danny seems downright scared.”

 

Don knew more of the history behind Sinclair, Gerrard and Mac and he sighed. “Gerrard has Danny on his black list simply because of his name. He opposed Danny’s hiring and because Mac brought Danny in despite Gerrard’s wishes, Mac’s on his black list too and with him pretty much everybody who works on Mac’s team.”

 

“That doesn’t sound good.” Nick sounded slightly anxious, but Don shook his head. “The way I know Ralph Denton, he’s still going to have a very, very close eye on Mac. He’s been Mac’s mentor for a long time and he won’t let him fall.”

 

Nick sighed. “I hate politics.”

 

And Don knew that his lover really did hate the office politics, but he also knew that Nick was surprisingly good at them. He had a knack for making people do what he wanted them to do without them realizing it. Don smiled lightly at that thought, and Nick frowned. “What?”

 

“Nothing, just that you are really good at playing the political game, if you have to.”

 

Nick’s eyes darkened for a moment and he sighed. “At least something my mum and dad would be proud of.”

 

Seeing the sadness in Nick’s eyes Don reached out to cover Nick’s hand with his own. The wound from Christmas was still raw and every once in a while, Don felt as if he could see it festering. Sometimes he just wanted to grab the phone and call Nick’s family, wanted to yell at them for not accepting what a wonderful son they had, but he knew it would be in vain.

 

Nick smiled darkly and Don sighed again, but then his lover’s dark mood disappeared and he smiled mischievously. “Hey, how do you feel about going ice skating on Wednesday?”

 

The question sounded so innocent and Nick’s dark brown eyes shone with the same innocence. It made Don smile but he shook his head. “Forget it; I’m not risking my manhood by spying on Stella’s date.”

 

Nick pouted, but after a moment he grinned. “Come on, it would be fun.”

 

Fun? Don simply looked at his lover and Nick’s pout slowly died. “Ok, maybe it would be fun, but the day after wouldn’t.”

 

Don remained silent and instead of commenting on Nick’s words, he got up and pulled his lover with him towards the couch. Nick went willingly and as soon as they sat down, he moved closer to Don. Outside it had started to snow again and with a smile, Nick looked at the window.

 

“This is cozy.”

 

Don leaned down and quietly kissed Nick’s head before he agreed. “Yes, it is.”

 

---

 

*Washington DC*

 

“I’m really glad you’ve accepted the offer, Agent DiNozzo. Now we need to talk about the composition of your team. “You will lead a team  of two agents, a junior agent from another team and a newcomer on a later stage we might increase the team strength to three.”

 

Tony watched with something akin to trepidation as Director Sheppard pointed towards a stack of personal files. “These are the applications that NCIS has gotten from other law enforcement entities in the last month. I want you to go through them and let me know by the end of the week, whom we should invite for interviews.”

 

Tony nodded and took the files while he stood up. Looking at the woman he would now report to, he sighed and sat down again. “I always thought that you didn’t like me, and now you offer me a promotion. Why?”

 

For a moment she looked at him and smiled coldly. “You’re record is stellar and you have several commendations in your file. There was no reason not to offer you a team, especially since we are in need of good people.”

 

She hadn’t answer his real question, but Tony knew that he wouldn’t get more even if he pressed her on the issue. He sighed mentally and let the issue drop. He had another question anyway. “So who will transfer from the existing teams?”

 

She shook her head. “It’s your decision. I’ve sent you an email with the transfer requests. Take your pick. It’s your team.”

 

Looking at her once again, he frowned. “You letting me chose completely, you don’t want a hand in this?”

 

To his surprise, she laughed. “Agent DiNozzo, after the disaster with Chip, I’ve delegated the team decisions to those that know what they do. Believe me, I don’t make mistakes twice.”

 

Her honesty surprised him more than anything and tentatively he smiled back. “Thanks for the chance you’re giving me.”

 

She looked at him for a long time and then sighed. “Sit down, Agent DiNozzo.”

 

Suddenly anxious he did as she had said and waited for the other shoe to drop. She fixed him with her eyes, but her gaze was friendly and after a second she smiled. “You said before that I disliked you. That was wrong, I never disliked you. But I also knew that you and your team’s loyalty were for Agent Gibbs and not me.”

 

“Not Ziva’s.” That was incorrect though, Tony knew that over the last couple months Ziva’s loyalty had completely changed, but there had been a time when Ziva had been the director’s spy. He watched Sheppard now and wondered if she’d get angry, instead though she nodded her eyes serious.

 

“No, you’re right. Ziva had been recruited by me and a word from me would have been enough to send her back to Israel, especially because she knew that Agent Gibbs wouldn’t fight for her.”

 

That had changed too and they both knew it without saying. Gibbs now considered Ziva as much a part of his team as he considered McGee a part. Tony knew that over the last couple of months ever since the New York case they had become a real team.

 

“You tested our team and our loyalty, I understand that. But even afterwards you seemed to have troubles accepting me. And now you offer me a team, why?”

 

She smiled again and this time it was a real smile. “As I said, Agent DiNozzo, I never disliked you, but I frown upon fraternization.”

 

Tony tensed and paled, but she shook her head and held up a hand in a calming manner. “I’m not going to reprimand you or Agent Gibbs. If I had been so inclined I would have done after I discovered it.”

 

“How long did you know?”

 

She smiled at Tony’s question and nodded. “I’ve known Jethro for a long time, and I’m not talking about the unfortunate undercover mission in Paris. Our affair was short and ill advised, but that is not the point. What I want to say, Agent DiNozzo, is that I have known Jethro when he was still married to Shannon. I’ve seen him looking at her, seen him with her. The day you came back from New York, I saw him looking at you the same way. I knew then.”

 

Her words floored Tony. He had no idea what to say, but even as he struggled for words, she continued speaking. “I watched you and Jethro closely, but you never received any special treatment and both of your behavior was perfect. Still, I’d rather have you not report to him anymore.”

 

For a second she was silent, and then she sighed. “Not everyone is as open-minded as I am.”

 

He understood what she wanted to say and nodded silently, before he looked at her. For the first time since she had taken over from Tom Morrow, he felt a deep respect for her and his words were from the heart. “Thank you.”

 

She smiled and nodded. “You’re welcome. I’m Jenny by the way.”

 

Getting up, Tony took the hand she offered him and out of instinct lifted it to his lips for a quick kiss. “Enchantée, I’m Tony.”

 

---

 

*Las Vegas*

 

“I need a time out, Conrad, and the offer from the Williams College is exactly the kind of time out I need.”

 

Grissom watched Conrad Ecklie after he had told him. He knew that he didn’t technically need Ecklie’s support, that he could have gone directly to the sheriff, but over the last months his relationship with Ecklie had improved and he wanted to give the other man a chance to say his piece.

 

Conrad nodded and to Grissom’s surprise, he didn’t even look surprised. “Ok.”

 

It was Grissom’s turn to be surprised and openly shocked he looked at Conrad. “Ok, just like that?”

 

Conrad laughed, but it wasn’t a happy laughter. “Gil, I’m your boss. Do you really think I hadn’t noticed how close to a break down you are? You’ve been heading to a complete collapse for the past couple of months. I hate having to replace you for three months, but I’d rather do that than replace you completely.”

 

Conrad’s openness made Grissom swallow hard and he wasn’t really sure if what he felt was relief or fear. A part of him had hoped that his request would be denied and he would be forced to stay, forced to remain close to Greg. It had been that part that had made him see Conrad first, he suddenly realized, because he had been sure that despite their new understanding, the other man would reject his request.

 

“Grissom, are you ok?”

 

Conrad’s eyes were concerned and with a wry smile, Grissom admitted what he had thought. “I guess I didn’t really expect you to say yes.”

 

“Which was why you came to me.” Conrad’s reply was dry and slightly amused, but as he continued, all amusement vanished from his voice. “I won’t help you destroy yourself. Not because of the lab, but because despite all our differences I like you. Go, Gil, go to Massachusetts, relax and rest and come back with new enthusiasm.”

 

Once again the open concern took Grissom by surprise and he nodded slowly, before he looked at Conrad and smiled. “Thanks.”

 

“You’re welcome. Now about your replacement, any ideas?”

 

Grissom’s first idea had been Catherine, but after Conrad’s recount of her accusations, he knew that she would be the wrong choice. Another idea entered his mind and he grinned. “You.”

 

Conrad stared at him as if he had completely lost his mind and shook his head. “You’re crazy.”

 

It had been meant as a joke, Grissom had to admit that, but the more he thought about it, the better the idea sounded and shaking his head he looked at Conrad. “No, I’m not. Look, my team is experienced and they don’t need a babysitter, what they need is someone who coordinates their cases and acts as a sounding board to bounce ideas off. They need someone to make sure that the administrative side is covered and someone to deal with the media if a big case comes up. Bringing in someone new for three months doesn’t make sense, but you could do it.”

 

There was a long silence after Grissom’s words and finally Conrad sighed. “I have to talk to the sheriff. What you say makes sense, but I would have to reshuffle my duties for three months and I need his approval for that. I’ll let you know.”

 

Knowing that this was the best he could hope for, Grissom nodded. “Can I tell the team?”

 

Conrad looked surprised. “About your sabbatical? Of course and tell them that we’re currently working on your interim replacement.”

 

For a moment, he looked contemplative and then he nodded. “And tell them that it won’t be a member of the current team.”

 

Grissom understood Conrad’s reasoning and he nodded. “I’ll tell them.”

 

He got up and walked to the door, when Conrad stopped him again. “Come back, Gil. Promise me to come back.”

 

For a moment, Grissom smiled and then he nodded. “I promise and thanks, Conrad. I really need this.”

 

He left the office feeling lighter and at the same time heavier. He reached for his cell phone and called the college to let them know that he would arrive on February 15^th. Now if only his heart wouldn’t feel so heavy about leaving Last Vegas.

 

---

 

*New York*

 

“Calm down, Greg.” Nick could barely understand his friend, Greg was speaking so fast. Finally though he could make out a complete sentence and sighed as he understood.

 

Grissom is leaving.

 

Nick felt terrible about having known about Grissom’s plans, hell he had even encouraged his friend to go. Of course he hadn’t thought about Greg right then, he had been too concerned about Grissom, and now he had a distraught Greg on the phone and was desperately trying to calm him down.

 

“He’s not leaving; he’s just going for a sabbatical.”

 

“It’s the same, Nick. He won’t come back.” Greg sounded miserable and Nick wanted nothing more than take his friend in his arms and hold him, he knew that Greg had only recently realized what Grissom really meant to him.

 

“He will come back, I’m sure. He loves the lab, loves the team. You guys are his family. “He loves you, but Nick wouldn’t tell Greg that. Archie had told Greg once that some in the lab thought that Grissom had fallen in love with Greg, but Greg hadn’t believed him and Nick wasn’t going to betray Grissom.

 

“Greg, this is the best moment to tell him, you know.”

 

Even as he said it, he knew that his friend would balk and promptly he heard a squeak on the other side of the line. “I can’t.”

 

Greg was too intimidated by Grissom to approach the other man like this and he didn’t understand that Grissom wouldn’t and couldn’t make the first move. Silently Nick wondered what it would take to bring these two together. Maybe Don’s idea of locking them into a closet had its appeal after all.

 

“Greg, you have to be the one to make the first move. He can’t. He’s your supervisor.”

 

They had had this conversation so many times, Nick had lost count, but this time Greg was silent for a long time instead of immediately denying it. Then finally he spoke again. “I can’t tell him when he’s leaving. It wouldn’t be fair, almost like emotional blackmail. But I’ll tell him when he’s back. I promise.”

 

It was a start, Nick thought, as he wished Greg good luck and hung up.

 

And in the end only time would tell, if Greg would go through with his promise. Nick really hoped his friend would. Greg needed someone in his life and so did Grissom.

 

“You ok?”

 

Stella had walked into their shared office and Nick sighed. “Grissom is going on a sabbatical and Greg is freaking out about it.”

 

She smiled lightly. “You know when Mac and Danny were in their getting together phase, I often wanted to lock them in a closet.”

 

Nick laughed. “Don said the same, maybe it would help, but Grissom’s going to be in Massachusetts and Greg in Vegas, so the locking into a closet will have to wait until April.”

 

Stella grinned evilly. “Perfect that gives us plenty of time to plan.”

 

---

 

THE END

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