Notes: This is something of an experiment for me, being a ‘dialogue only’ piece, but trying to write this in the same style as the two previous pieces made them too bleak and I really wanted to end on a high note.I’ll be interested to see what you all think.

For the sequel junkies – this is the last in this short series. That’s not to say there won’t be more Gibbs and Tony in Mexico tales in the future, but I have other things to work on first.

 Thanks: to everyone who has sent such wonderful feedback so far.

 

Conversation Peace.

‘Nice place.’

‘It does me. You want a beer?’

‘Sure. So, how long you been here?’

‘Since I stepped off the plane. Stayed with Mike for a while. Moved in here six months ago.’

‘Buying or renting?’

‘Renting. Why?’

‘Buying implies you plan on staying.’

‘I do.’

‘Oh.’

~~~~~

‘You gonna sit down or are we having this whole conversation standing up?’

‘Nice to know some things haven’t changed.’

‘Meaning?’

‘You’re still a cranky SOB.’

‘Second ‘B’ still stands for ‘bastard’, DiNozzo.’

‘So I can tell. No wonder Franks kicked you out.’

‘Who says he did?’

~~~~~

‘Guy at the grocery store says you run fishing trips.’

‘It keeps me busy.’

‘Busy enough to make a living at it?’

‘Why? You need a loan?’

‘Just curious.’

‘Nice to know some things haven’t changed.’

‘I said that...’

‘I know. I’m still a bastard and you’re still curious. It’s just like old times.’

‘Without the bad guys shooting at us.’

‘Oh, we have our moments here.’

‘Very ‘Miami Vice’.’

‘What?’

‘Never mind.’

~~~~~

‘Abby sends her love. Made me promise to call and let her know you’re okay. You are okay, aren’t you, Boss?’

‘Not your boss anymore, Tony. But yes, I’m fine. How’s Abby?’

‘She misses you – but then, you knew she would.’

‘Yeah. I miss her too.’

‘That why you stayed away for so long?’

Tony...’

‘No, Bo- Gibbs. You left us without a word of why. You’ve been gone a whole year. I’m used to you treating me like shit, but Abs deserved better.’

‘I did not treat you like shit, DiNozzo...’

‘Yeah, you did – and you knew it. But I’m more interested in Abby. You hurt her: you need to put that right.’

‘It’s not that easy.’

‘Well it damn well should be!’

‘She knew where I was; if she was worried...’

‘Wait a minute... you’re telling me that Abby knew where you are?’

‘It was either tell her or tell Jen. Somebody needed to know.’

‘Then why not tell me? We were lovers, Gibbs!’

Exactly. You would have been on the next flight down here and I – couldn’t deal with that.’

‘So why send the postcard?’

‘Because it was time.’

‘Time? Time for what?’

‘For me to stop being afraid of us.’

~~~~~

‘I missed you, you know.’

‘Did you?’

‘Every day.’

‘I wish I’d known.’

‘I wish I’d told you.’

‘Easier to make a clean break?’

‘That wasn’t what I wanted. You were never part of the reason I left.’

‘That’s... reassuring. So, what was I?’

‘I guess – a casualty of war?’

‘Romantic.’

‘You wanted to know.’

‘You could have lied...’

‘I’ve never lied to you, Tony. Don’t plan on starting now.’

‘Very gracious of you.’

‘Tony...’

‘Yeah, yeah...  Shutting up, Boss.’

~~~~~

‘You were going to tell me why you had to leave.’

‘I’d rather talk about why you’re here...’

‘I think the fact that I am here earns me the right to get an answer to my question first.’

‘Something else that hasn’t changed.’

‘What’s that?’

‘You’re still the same stubborn ass you’ve always been!’

‘Some people might say that makes us a good match. Now will you please tell me?’

‘Okay, okay... I left because I felt – useless. Because nineteen people died who didn’t need to die, and I couldn’t stop it from happening. I watched that ship blow up and I knew I couldn’t be a part of that world anymore. Satisfied?’

‘You could have told me. You could have asked me to go with you.’

‘Ask you to give up everything? I couldn’t do that.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because I know how much you love the job. I knew you’d come with me, and I couldn’t take that responsibility. Hell, when I walked out that day I didn’t even know where I was going.’

‘You’re right, I did love the job – but only because it kept me close to you. I took the job because of you; I stayed because of you... you must know that?’

‘I do.’

‘Then why the hell didn’t you at least give me a chance?’

‘Because...’

‘Yeah?’

‘I was afraid...’

‘Of?’

‘Us.’

Us?’

‘I wasn’t ready to make that kind of – commitment.’

‘Not even to me?’

‘Especially not to you, Tony. When I came out of the coma everything was all screwed up. I had no way of knowing what was true and what was memory. I had to work through that before I could let you back into my life.’

‘And... now?’

‘That’s why I sent the postcard.’

~~~~~

‘So – what now?’

‘That’s what I came here to talk about.’

‘You want another beer?’

‘Maybe later.’

‘Keeping a clear head?’

‘One of us needs to.’

‘Guess so. So – how long can you stay?’

‘That depends on you.’

‘I’m not going back, Tony. I can’t. Not even for you.’

‘That’s not what I’m asking.’

‘Then what - ?’

‘You think you can teach me how to sail one of those boats?’

‘?’

‘Only I was thinking maybe we could build up a little business here –‘

‘Tony...?’

‘And this place isn’t too bad. Can you get cable –?‘

‘- TONY?’

‘Yes, Jethro?’

‘What the hell have you done?’

‘Ah... Well... I... - <ahem> ... quit?’

‘YOU DID WHAT?’

‘I was thinking about doing it anyhow. Things haven’t been the same this last year... and then your card turned up and... Well, it seemed like a good incentive...’

‘You QUIT? WHY?’

‘Because... as much as I love the job, a-and you’re right about that, I – love you more?’

‘But – the team...That’s what I trained you for!’

‘Jethro, this – you and me – is the only ‘team’ that matters to me. I. Love. You. And I want to be with you, anywhere and anyhow. If that means running fishing trips for suits from New York, and living in a cottage in the ass-end of the world, then sign me up now, because I’m not letting you get away from me again.’

‘You’re not?’

‘Not ever. You, retired Gunnery Sergeant Leroy Jethro Gibbs, are stuck with me.’

‘I am?’

‘Yeah. For better or worse.’

‘Huh! Well it’s about damn time!’

~~~~~

‘God, I’ve missed this.’

‘What?’

‘You... The way you feel... The way you look...’

‘You sound like one of those cheesy romance novels Diane used to buy at the market.’

‘Just telling it like it is, babe... Hey!’

‘Now what?’

‘Nothing, just – you got a tan.’

‘Well yeah, Tony. Hard to avoid down here.’

‘Avoided getting a tan line too, I see.’

‘Ah... That...’

‘Yeah – That. Nude sunbathing, Jethro? You been holding out on me?’

‘Goes with the skinny-dipping when I’m out alone on the boat.’

‘Really? What else do you when you’re out alone on the boat?’

‘Nothing – so far. But I might be open to suggestion.’

Uhuh... When do we sail?’

~~~~~

‘Ouch!’

‘What?’

‘I think we’re going to need a bigger bed.’

‘If this is going to be permanent, we’re going to need a bigger house.’

‘Is that a proposal?’

‘Don’t push your luck, DiNozzo. And quit squirming! You’re getting lube all over the sheets.’

‘Sorry. Maybe if... we try... Yeah, like that. Ohhhellyeahhhh.’

‘You’re such a slut.’

‘But you love me anyway... And any way...’

‘Think about this, DiNozzo: I’ve got three fingers in your ass – do you really want to get smart with me?’

Ahhh... Good point. May- Ohshit! - maybe not?’

‘Only maybe?’

Shit, Jethro! Okay, okay... make that a definite. Just... don’t stop what you’re doing...Yeah, like – like that... God, I’ve missed this.’

‘You said that already.’

~~~~~

‘We’ll have to tell Abby...’

You can tell Abby – I have to tell Ducky.’

‘Oh.’

‘Yeah.’

‘You know they’ll want to visit?’

‘I know.’

‘And they’ll want to bring McGeek.

‘And probably Ziva.’

‘You’re right, we are

{‘-going to need a bigger house}

{‘-going to need a bigger house}

‘Hey - does that mean we can get cable?’

~~~~~

 ‘Jethro?’

‘Hmmm?’

‘You asleep?’

‘Getting there.’

‘About that postcard... I’m glad you sent it.’

So’m I.’

~~~~~

‘Tony?’

‘Hmmm?’

‘I’m glad you came.’

‘So am I, babe!’

DiNozzo! Don’t you ever think of anything else?’

Ow! That hurt!’

‘Yeah? So roll over and let me kiss it better.’

~~~~~

‘Wow!’

‘You like that, huh?’

‘Always did... You have a very talented tongue.’

‘Thank you.’

‘And very talented fingers...’

‘We aim to please.’

‘And a very talented –‘

‘Go to sleep, Tony...’

‘On my way, Boss.’

~~~~~

End.