A/N: Here I am at the end of another story! Thanks so much for reading and sticking with me for so long! :) Every single review has lightened my days, so thank you so much (and a special thanks to all the anonymous reviewers to whom I could never respond). Thanks!

This will probably the last story from me in a while due to an amazing and unexpected job opportunity that turned up and will keep me busy till March... So, yeah, anyway, I hope you like that last chapter, too! :)

Chapter Four: Equation

If life was a movie, it would have been the end to a crappy lifetime/Nicholas Sparks flick. But life didn't work like that, Tony of all people knew that, even though Gibbs' appearance, dripping wet from the rain, and that kiss had had some quality for a romantic film to it without a doubt. But it simply wasn't like they would just live happily ever after. And Tony, as much as he liked movies, didn't want that anyway. Both he and Gibbs simply weren't cut out for it. Sometimes, he was even sure that they would be bored to death if all went smoothly for once. It was the things that always went wrong that made life interesting after all. Of course, they didn't have to go so wrong as landing one of them in a coma and suffering from amnesia, but still.

Just because they had kissed for what felt like hours, it didn't mean that they had fallen in bed right afterwards, didn't mean that Tony had moved back into Gibbs' house immediately and certainly didn't mean that everything was back to the way things had been a year previously. As much as Tony had wished that it was as simple as that, they needed things to clear up, needed to get used to each other again now that they both had memories to share. Gibbs still didn't remember much, just a few tidbits here and there, but enough to overcome his insecurities when it came to touching Tony, to kissing him and to just spending time with him again without the by now well-known frustration that they had been there before.

After McGee had left his own apartment that night, they had sat down on the couch and had just looked at each other for a very long time. Tony hadn't known whether he was supposed to cry or laugh, so he did both, all the while holding on to Jethro's hand tightly. They had barely talked because touching like that had been enough for the time being. It was all what Tony had needed, had craved for months and he hadn't wanted to lose that skin on skin contact just to be able to talk. They had still time to talk about everything the next day, the next week, the next month. It wasn't all that important anyway. The look on Gibbs' face had told him enough to know that he wouldn't let him go ever again. Told him enough to know that he would eventually get him back for good.

And that's how McGee had found them the next morning, still sitting on the couch, still holding hands and both of them snoring quietly, their faces still turned to one another. Tim had woken them up, a bright smile on his face, causing Tony to give him a brilliant smile in return and to vowing to himself that he had to do something for the Probie in order to get even with him again. It certainly wasn't possible to even do that but Tony would try because he simply would never forget what Tim had done for him over the last year. If it hadn't been for him, Tony was sure he would not have made it through.

Gibbs and Tony had gone home that morning, had talked a few things through and had concluded that they wanted to start their relationship all over again. Tony had still been a bit shell-shocked by Gibbs' sudden recollection, but had gone along with it, simply because he knew that he needed to, needed the other man back in order to become his old self. He didn't care to indulge in that particular thought for too long because it probably wasn't all that healthy to be that dependent on the other man, but it simply didn't matter. He needed this. It was as simple as that.

.

It was the Monday after he had finally moved back in with Gibbs, three weeks after their initial kiss, that Tony and his team were called out early in the morning. Lt. Davenport and his wife Julia had been found dead in their home by a neighbor who had been curious as to why the porch light had been on for the last two nights in a row. They both had been shot in the head from a short distance, indicating that they had probably known their killer. The local LEOs had found their eight year old son Matt hiding away in a closet in his bedroom.

When the team arrived at the crime scene, Tony ordered Ziva to talk to the boy, knowing that it was more likely for the kid to talk to women than to men. It wasn't long after Tony had started to question the neighbor, however, that Ziva waved him over to where she and the boy were standing. The kid looked forlorn and really scared and hadn't uttered a single word ever since he had been found.

"You can do sign language, yes?" Ziva asked him as soon as Tony had approached her.

"A bit. Is he…?" Tony asked confused, looking at the boy for a moment before his glance returned to Ziva, who just nodded. "Okay," he then continued. "I'll try to talk to him. You speak to the neighbor and then start with the photographs."

"Okay," Ziva just said and then left the two of them standing there.

Tony gestured the boy to follow him out of the house and out of view of parents' bodies, realizing that it was hardly a sight for an eight-year-old.

Hello. He finally started to sign rather awkwardly, as he had rarely done it himself before because he had only tried to decipher what Gibbs had wanted to tell him. My name is Tony. He spelled out his name.

I'm Matt. The boy signed back, apparently glad that someone finally could talk to him.

Nice to meet you. Are you okay?

The boy shook his head sadly as he stared at Tony with big eyes. Tony went to kneel down in front of him and then carefully used his thumb to wipe away a lone tear that was running down the boy's right cheek.

I'm sorry. Tony continued to sign after a while and then tried to ask whether the kid had seen anything, but apparently got the signs wrong because the boy just stared him with a confused expression on his face.

You're bad at signing. Matt then signed and Tony let out a laugh at that as he nodded.

I'm just starting to learn.

This time, Matt nodded and then looked around for a moment as if he was about to do something wrong, but then he just stared at Tony again and continued to sign.

I can teach you.

Great.

"Tony?" McGee interrupted their conversation, looking at his cell phone.

"What's up, Probie?"

"We're about done here and the LEOs have contacted the kid's other relatives. There's only an aunt who lives in Ohio, so it will probably take a while until she'll be here."

"Damn," Tony swore quietly and then looked at the kid for a moment, trying to decide what to do before an idea formed in his mind.

He picked up his cell, pushed speed dial and then waited impatiently until Jethro picked up on the other end.

"Tony?" he asked, apparently slightly surprised he was calling him during work.

"Hey," Tony just said. "I've got a favor to ask."

"What is it?"

"We just got this case and we have this boy here, whose parents have just been murdered. He's deaf and it will probably take a while until someone will come to pick him up. I'm not really comfortable handing him over to Child Services because… well, I don't know… and Abby will be busy the next couple of hours, so I'm wondering if you could look after the boy for a couple of hours? I'd be happier knowing that he can at least talk to somebody while he's waiting for his aunt."

"Sure," Gibbs replied and Tony felt his heart grow lighter ever so slightly.

"Great, I'll drop him off at your place in about half an hour."

"Our p-place," Gibbs corrected him and Tony smiled, knowing that the other guy couldn't see it, but it hardly even mattered.

"Right."

.

Matt had spent the ride staring out of the window, watching the trees and houses fly by. Tony hadn't tried to talk to him again, knowing that it was probably no use. Only when they pulled over into the driveway, did the kid look at him again.

Friend's house, Tony signed as he saw Gibbs walked towards them slowly. His name is Jethro.

Matt just nodded again and then got out of the car, looking from Tony to Gibbs as if he wasn't entirely sure what to do now. Jethro started to sign something that Tony didn't quite catch but the boy apparently did as he started to sign enthusiastically in return.

"I got to go back to work," Tony said. "Could you ask him if he's seen anything?"

Jethro nodded and then signed something before he intently looked at the young boy, who was looking sad again, but he answered almost immediately.

"He says that he went to b-bed around eight o'clock and woke up at about f-five. He wanted to go into the k-kitchen to drink some milk that he saw his p-parents lying there. He says he ran back into his b-bedroom and hid."

"Yeah, that's how the LEOs found him, hiding away in his closet."

"Shit," Jethro mumbled and looked at the boy for a moment. "You g-got any leads yet?"

"No, but we're just getting started."

"Good l-luck."

"Thanks."

Tony waved at Matt, who returned the gesture, and then was about to turn around to get into his car, when a hand, grabbing his elbow, held him back.

"You c-call me when the aunt's here? I'll b-bring him over, then."

"Sure," Tony smiled at him. "I'll do that."

He was about to turn around again when Jethro leaned into him for a moment and gave him a quick peck on his lips before he took Matt by the hand and led him into the house, leaving Tony standing there for a moment, staring after them. Gibbs never used to kiss him in front of others, but Tony couldn't help but realize that he liked that particular change in the older man. Smiling softly, he finally got into his car, determined to find the killer quickly.

.

It turned out to be relatively easy to bring in the murderer in the end. It was the by now well-known case of unrequited love. One of Julia's high school sweethearts, Corey Black, had repeatedly approached her over the last couple of months whenever Lt. Davenport hadn't been around. Their last meeting had been rather disquieting for Corey as Davenport had threatened him with an injunction suit. Corey had left the house then, but had apparently decided to take matters into his own hands and had returned that night to finish both of them off once and for all. He had confessed almost as soon as Ziva had fixed him with one of her death glares and had told them everything in an instant.

All what was left to do now was writing their reports and then go home. Matt's aunt still hadn't shown up but had called in that she would be there in about an hour, so Tony called Jethro, asking him if he could drop him off at headquarters soon. Gibbs had sounded rather cheerful on the phone and Tony wondered what was up with the guy, but then realized that he had probably enjoyed the fact that he someone to keep him company, giving him something to do.

And sure enough, when Jethro walked into the bullpen half an hour later, Matt propped up on his hip and a coffee in the other hand, he did look rather happy for once.

Hi, Tony signed, but Matt just nodded at him, yawning widely.

Jethro smiled at the little boy and then set him down on the ground, gesturing towards his still empty former desk to sit down. Matt followed orders and flopped down on the chair, closing his eyes.

"How's he doing?" Tony asked barely above a whisper, not caring that the boy wouldn't be able to hear him in anyway.

"Okay, I guess. I t-tried to k-keep him distracted. You g-got the murderer?"

"Yeah, ex-boyfriend. Your typical jealousy-case."

"Okay," Jethro just nodded before he looked around the room for a moment, a wistful expression on his face.

Only now did Tony realize that Gibbs hadn't been at NCIS since the morning before the attack. He had never visited before and the younger man suddenly wondered why he hadn't.

"Good to be back?" he finally asked, moving closer to the other man ever so slightly.

"Yeah," Jethro shrugged. "Hasn't changed much, h-has it?"

"Not really. You know us, we don't like change."

"Yeah," Gibbs snorted and then took a sip from his coffee.

"Since when are you drinking coffee again?" Tony asked, settling at his own desk to power down his computer.

"Since today. Kid k-kept me on my toes."

"And you loved every second of it."

"I actually d-did."

Tony just smiled at him and wanted to continue when a distressed looking woman in her forties made her way towards them and upon seeing Matt sleeping in the chair, hurried to get to him, scooping him up. The kid barely woke up, just snuggled closer to her. She caressed him for a while before she turned around to look at Tony and Gibbs.

"Thanks," she finally said. "Your director told me you already found out who did this?"

"Yeah," Tony replied, giving her a small smile. "One Corey Black."

"Julia's ex?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry for your loss."

"Thanks," Matt's aunt just replied and then focused back on her nephew because he had just finally woken up completely.

She set him down on the ground and the boy started to sign again, causing both Gibbs and his aunt to smile at him.

"What did he say?" Tony asked, frustrated with himself because he hadn't been able to follow.

"He just said thanks and that I'm really nice," Gibbs replied, still smiling at the boy.

"Well, that's a first. Nobody ever called you nice," Tony quipped, earning himself a head slap.

He turned to stare at the older man for a moment or two, feeling a broad smile spread on his own face. He hadn't received one of those in forever and it did something to his stomach. All of a sudden there was something fluttering in there. As Tony was still trying to figure out what exactly it was, Matt had started to sign again, looking at Jethro with a serious expression on his face. This time, even Tony was able to understand what the signs meant and he turned to look at Jethro curiously, wanting to know the answer.

Gibbs just nodded, smiling first at the boy and then at Tony, who returned the gesture, catching Matt sign something again. This time it was Tony's turn to nod before he awkwardly answered.

I love him, too.

Matt gave them a smile and continued to sign then, but once again it was too fast for Tony. When Jethro let out a laugh, he turned towards him, raising an eyebrow.

"He just a-asked why I hit you when I love you," Gibbs grinned.

"Yeah, Jethro," Tony replied playfully. "Why did you?"

"Because you l-like it," Jethro just answered and then gave Matt his full attention again.

.

Two hours later, Tony flopped down on the couch next to Jethro, putting his feet up on the coffee table and sipping from his beer. The day had been stressful and he felt really sorry for poor Matt, but there was also something uplifting bubbling up inside of him, even though he didn't quite know what it was exactly. Only when he turned to look at Gibbs did he realize that for the first time in months, Gibbs really had been, well, Gibbs again. He was drinking coffee again, had head slapped him, had been at NCIS and had told him he loved him. Tony knew that it wasn't like Jethro would return to work because he simply couldn't do that anymore, but somehow it felt so right having him there that it made Tony's stomach all fuzzy inside.

"What are you s-smiling at?" Jethro asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You," Tony just replied before he leaned closer towards the older man and kissed tenderly for a few moments. "Missed you at work."

"Good to know," Gibbs just replied before he leaned against the backrest of the couch, staring into space for a couple of minutes before he cleared his throat. "I've b-been thinking."

"About?" Tony pressed on, sensing that this was important.

"I n-need something to do with myself again. Working on the b-boat won't be enough."

"Yeah, I know," the younger man said. "So what are you thinking about?"

"N-not sure yet, but I had a great time with Matt today. M-maybe I'll… I don't know, help at the orphanage or s-something like that."

Tony nodded and gave him a broad smile. It was a great idea and he knew that Jethro would love to work with kids. He had always been great with them and Tony knew that it was the right thing to do for him. He also knew that it would help the other man to become more balanced again and it would keep him busy during the day, so that Tony wouldn't have to worry about him so much anymore when he was away at work.

"I think it's a great idea," he finally said and then cupped his right hand behind Jethro's neck, pulling him closer towards him to kiss him again.

They continued to kiss for a while before Tony felt Jethro fumbling with the buttons of his shirt. He smiled into the kiss before he leaned back to give the older man better access. They hadn't done anything despite kissing as of yet and while Tony had been patiently waiting for Jethro to take that final step, he wasn't about to wait any longer now. He quickly got rid of his shirt before he all but ripped Jethro's polo-shirt away from him. Their kisses had become sloppy and shaky hands were roaming both of their bodies, but it didn't matter. As they stumbled towards the bedroom, nearly falling over twice before they finally made it to their bed, Tony felt the excitement rise inside of him. They took their time exploring each other's bodies again, took their time to kiss each other thoroughly and re-explore the sensitive spots and when Gibbs finally slid into him, Tony felt like his whole body had been set on fire. He clawed at Jethro's back, pulling him closer and felt the fluttering motion in his stomach again when the blue eyes locked into his green ones. He didn't know what caused it and he didn't care because this was all he ever needed. He finally felt like himself again. He needed Gibbs to be there, needed those blue eyes to look at him like that, shining full of affection and appreciation and love. And when they both finally came undone, they stayed locked for a while, just staring at each other, their fingers intertwined, just wanting to feel the other one as if there was no tomorrow.

.

Much, much later, with Jethro spooning up on him from behind and quietly snoring into his ear, Tony couldn't help but realize that he finally felt safe again. He was back in the older man's arms again, was held by him again as if nothing had ever happened.

Maybe, Tony thought, life was like a crappy lifetime movie after all and maybe they would have their happily ever after. He sometimes still missed Jethro at work, but he knew that the other man was far better off spending time with children because that was what he loved to do and while Tony was still trying to become the boss he wanted to be, he knew that he could count on his team, could count on his friends to back him up and be there for him. And he had something to look forward to every night because Jethro would be there waiting for him. It wasn't like before and things never would be, but Tony realized, just as Gibbs tightened his grip on him, pulling him impossibly closer, that he didn't even want things to go back to normal. He loved the new normal, too. He had all he needed right there and right then and nothing would ever matter as long as he could come home to that.

.

It had been eleven months and four days since it had happened.

Eleven months and four days since his life had been changed, but somehow he couldn't help but feel excited to start that new phase of their life – of his and Jethro's life.

.. End ..