There in the room sat his friend, his 'crush'. He had been looking for the man everywhere and finally he had found him. His friend wasn't in his room, as he usually was this time of night when Jethro went looking for him. Instead he was sitting in his own basement, staring into space. This behavior had always scared Jethro. Tony was only like this when something had bothered him.
"DiNozzo."
Nothing, not a single movement from the man sitting in the chair.
"Tony?"
As he walked up closer to the younger man his voice shook nervously. He stood behind the man, placing a slightly trembling hand on Tony's shoulder.
"Tony."
He leaned down to the younger man's ear but still got nothing, not a sound. He stood up straight again and turned the chair around to look the man in his eyes. The sight that met his eyes took him by surprise. Tears were running down Tony's cheeks, his heavy breath hitting Jethro's arm, which was still sitting on the other mans shoulder.
"Tony."
Jethro knelt down in front of him, looking him in the eyes, hands going up automatically to rub away the tears. Finally Tony moved into Jethro's touch and blinked his eyes, releasing more tears.
"What's wrong?"
Jethro stopped rubbing the tears away and rested his hands reassuringly on Tony's thighs.
"Jethro."
He didn't falter at Tony using his first name. Tony had whispered it, so low that Jethro almost missed it. He never moved his eyes away from Tony's.
"I saw you shot."
This had come out slowly, almost nervously.
"I'm fine, I'm sorry; it was for a case."
A smile appeared in Jethro's eyes to prove that he was fine.
"No, not only today. Jethro, I see you shot every night."
This sent a shiver up and down Jethro's spine. He hadn't realized how much he could hurt the man. He hadn't thought it would bother him this much.
"You died, Jethro, you were gone."
Tears started flowing down his cheeks again; Jethro leaned forward and hugged his crush. No, Tony's more than a crush-he's a love. Someone Jethro didn't ever want to hurt, but here he is, watching Tony cry because of something he had done.
"Tony, I'm fine, I'm fine."
Tony's still-short breaths made Jethro pull back and hold Tony's head in his hands, Tony's own hands clutching Jethro's arms as if they were his lifeboat.
"See? I'm here."
Tony nodded, slowly, trying to get the image of his crush surrounded by a pool of his own blood out of his mind. Jethro leaned forward, giving Tony a hesitant kiss, only making it longer when Tony returned it. Tears were still running down his cheeks, though, so Jethro stopped, giving Tony another hug. He pulled Tony slowly to the floor so he could hold him better. He felt better this way. He could feel Tony relax in his arms and he kissed the top of Tony's head as he slowly rocked him.
"Tony?"
Jethro whispered in Tony's ear just as he had done before.
"Are you okay now?"
Tony nodded slightly.
"As long as you are here with me."
With that Jethro tightened his grip on Tony and nuzzled him.
"I'll always be here."
The End