Road trip

 

By Valerie

 

 

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.