Finally at the conclusion of this installment in the FIOverse. There will be more to come, eventually. Special thanks to everyone who has reviewed, alerted, and read this story… special thanks to gosgirl for providing feedback and encouragement. Major thanks and virtual cookies and ice cream for everyone's patience with my inconsistent updates!

This chapter is mostly unbetaed; I may have missed a few errors, although I hope not. Warning for some m/m activity in the last section of this chapter.

15: Family Revisited

Team

Tim McGee turned and fought through the crowd at the bar, making his way back to the corner table where Tony, Ziva, and Abby waited. He handed beers off to Tony and Abby, then sat down with his own, motioning to Ziva's glass. "You sure you don't want a refill?"

Ziva smiled at him. "You are very sweet, McGee, but there is no need for you to deal with that crowd again."

Abby sat up and nudged Tony with her shoulder. "Why did we come here on a Monday night?"

Tony grinned and motioned to the big screen over the bar. "Football. Drinks are half off until halftime."

She shook her head, looking at the crowd. "The game hasn't even started yet."

"These are fans, Abs. They don't really care." He raised his beer. "To friends."

"To friends" echoed around the table, accompanied by the clinking of glass. They all drank; Ziva finished off her bourbon and grimaced.

"Why are you drinking that if you don't like it?" Abby asked.

"Yeah," Tony said, tilting his head. "Why?"

McGee smiled when Ziva rolled her eyes and didn't answer. "When security called up to tell us your dad was here, Gibbs reminded her not to be too nice to him. Ziva asked what she should do if your dad asked why she was maintaining her distance… Gibbs said he wouldn't. Ziva disagreed, Gibbs offered a wager."

Tony looked at her. "You bet against Gibbs?"

Ziva sighed. "I thought there was enough tension between Gibbs and your father that he would not know him well enough to say. And I thought your father…" She shrugged.

Abby shook her head. "Never bet against Gibbs, Ziva."

Ziva looked at her curiously. "Have you never won a bet with him?"

"Nope."

"And you, Tim?"

McGee shook his head. "No way. Remember that time when we were watching Tony in interrogation? Haven't tried since."

They all looked at Tony, who merely smiled.

"Oh, I know!" Abby bounced a little in her seat. "When Gibbs went to see you in Seattle!"

Tony inclined his head and raised his beer in her direction, then turned to Ziva. "So, Zee… bourbon?"

Ziva huffed out a breath. "Gibbs said if your father stayed quiet, I had to drink bourbon for a week if I wanted alcohol." She paused. "He cheated."

"Ziva!" Abby frowned. "Gibbs would never cheat."

Ziva sighed. "When I simply nodded to Mr. DiNozzo when he greeted me, he was clearly bothered. He began to speak, and I am sure he was going to ask why I was so cold – and then Gibbs stood up behind his desk and glared at him. After that, Tony's father simply moved away and stood there quietly to wait."

Tony grinned, raising his beer again. "To the glare!"

The toast was repeated around the table while everyone except Ziva drank. She sat back, crossing her arms and fighting to keep a smile off her face.

McGee cleared his throat. "So, Ziva, what was Gibbs going to have to do if he lost? I missed that part."

"He was going to have to give up coffee for a week."

They all stared at her. "Are you nuts?!" Tony demanded.

Before she could respond, Abby started laughing. "Of course he did everything he could to win! You gave him all the incentive he needed!"

Tony shook his head. "Be glad you lost, Ziva."

Ziva picked up her empty glass and sighed heavily. "I do not care for bourbon."

"So get something else," Tony offered. "We won't tell."

She shook her head. "He will know. He always knows."

Abby nodded emphatically. "I keep telling you guys, he's magic!"

Tony grinned. "Yes, he is."

McGee pointed at him. "No bedroom stories."

"As if, McSqueamish."

"I'm not squeamish, Tony… I just don't want the wrong kind of images in my head when I'm dealing with him at work."

Tony smiled slightly. "Because…"

"He'll know!" They all chorused.

McGee nodded. "No kidding. He'd know what I was thinking, and then he'd raise that eyebrow, and I'd turn all red and start stuttering like the probie I used to be."

They all looked expectantly at Tony, who gave them an innocent look in return. "What?"

"You are missing out on an opportunity," Ziva commented. "That is not like you."

Tony looked seriously at the younger man. "You had my back today, Tim. Free pass." He tilted his head as he thought that over. "For a while, anyway." He grinned, then quickly turned serious. "You all had my back today. Thanks."

There were murmurs of support all around the table; Abby reached out and squeezed Tony's arm. He downed the rest of his beer, then checked his watch. "Gotta go… need to run an errand before I go home. You guys hanging out?"

They all looked at each other, and Abby nodded. "Sure, why not?"

Tony stood, taking his wallet out of his back pocket and handing Abby several bills. "Next two rounds are on me. Cab fare too, if you need it."

Abby beamed at him and jumped up to give him a hug. "Say hi to Gibbs for us," she commanded.

"Of course." Tony shook hands with Tim, and accepted a hug from Ziva. "Don't overdo it – it's a school night!"

They all waved as he walked away; he glanced back to see McGee getting up from the table and heard Ziva request another bourbon. Smiling, he headed out the door.

Family

Tony smiled at the sight of the outside light on over the front door. Small signs showing Jethro thinking of him never got old. He jogged up the steps, shifting the wrapped package in his hand and reaching for the door handle. His smile broadened as he bumped into the door; it was locked.

Moments later he was hanging his jacket on the rack by the door, humming to himself as he grabbed the package and made for the kitchen and the basement steps beyond.

Jethro looked up from the measuring tape he was wielding and smiled. "Welcome home."

Tony bounced down the steps and over to where his partner stood. "Thanks. You could have come with us, you know."

"I know." Jethro looked down as he released the stop on the tape measure, watching the tape slide back into the compartment. "Figured you could use the time with them."

"It worked out well," Tony admitted. He laughed quietly and met Jethro's curious gaze. "You should have seen Ziva drinking bourbon."

Jethro's lips twitched slightly. "She like it?"

"Not at all."

"Maybe she'll learn something." He smiled at Tony, then glanced at the package his lover still had in his hands.

Tony held it out. "Stopped off at Barnes and Noble, picked this up for you."

Jethro tilted his head a bit as he accepted it and began unwrapping. "It's not my birthday…" His voice trailed off as he looked at the book in his hands.

"The Railway Children," Tony said quietly. "For you and Kelly."

Jethro ran his fingers over the book. "Cover's different," he commented.

"Story's the same."

Jethro nodded, opening the book to the table of contents and turning to the end of chapter nine. "This is where we stopped."

Tony moved forward, leaning in to drop a kiss on Jethro's head. "And now that's where you'll continue." He reached out and squeezed Jethro's shoulder, then turned and headed for the stairs. "I'll be upstairs, get started on dinner." He shut the door when he reached the kitchen.

Dinner preparations took a while. Tony had planned on roasting a chicken, and took his time cutting up the vegetables and preparing the stuffing. Once he was done and the chicken was in the oven, he headed upstairs, greeting Beaker with a friendly pat before changing into sweatpants and a t-shirt. He debated with himself for a moment, then set the alarm on his phone and lay down for a while.

The alarm went off an hour and fifteen minutes later. Tony started awake, fumbling for the phone and shutting it off. He shook himself a bit, then made his way downstairs. After checking on the bird and making sure it still had a little time to go, he made his way to the basement door and opened it carefully.

A voice drifted up from below; he guessed Jethro was sitting on the couch by the stairs. Jethro was reading out loud, his voice warmer and more contented than Tony could remember hearing.

"…like a grey satin ribbon between the dusky green silk of the meadows that were on each side of its banks." Jethro's voice changed, higher pitched, sounding like someone younger. "'It's all right,' said Peter, 'but somehow I can always see how pretty things are much better when I've something to do…'"

Tony smiled and shut the door soundlessly, retreating to the living room.

He was considering the books on the shelves when Shannon's voice suddenly sounded in his ear, making him jump.

Tony! Why aren't you downstairs with us?

Tony laid his hand dramatically over his heart; he could hear Shannon sigh and imagined her shaking her head much like Jethro would do. "Much as I like you, Shannon, could you not try to scare me into an early grave?"

Oh, please. You have more lives than a cat.

"Does a cat really have nine lives?"

Stop changing the subject. Why are you up here?

Tony let his hand drop. "I wanted to give Jethro time with his family."

That's nice … but the family isn't complete without you.

Tony blinked, looking where he thought Shannon would be. "Are you sure?"

Shannon sighed again. Of course I'm sure. Jethro loves you, Tony. Kelly thinks you're adorable, and you're already becoming the brother I never had.

Tony relaxed into a warm smile. "I wish I could hug you right now."

She laughed. I'll look forward to that, as long as it happens many, many years from now. Join us?

Tony nodded and guessed she was moving ahead of him into the kitchen. He stopped to turn down the temperature of the oven, then opened the door and moved onto the landing. He peered over the banister to see Jethro sitting slightly to the right of the middle of the couch.

"Hey, Shannon!" he whispered. "Where's Kelly?"

She's on the couch, leaning against Jethro's left side, came the quiet reply.

Tony thought about that for a second. "He can't feel her, can he?"

No… but she asks a lot of questions and provides running commentary. He knows where she is. There was a pause. It's where she always used to sit when he read to her.

Kelly's voice drifted up from the couch. I bet you'd fight that man, just like Peter tried to do, right, Daddy?

Jethro laughed quietly. "You're probably right. But I usually got into trouble when I got into fights back in Stillwater."

But not as a Marine, right? They're supposed to fight.

"Yes, we are… when the situation demands it."

I think this one demands it.

Tony grinned, thinking he was getting some hints as to what Jethro was like at Kelly's age. He made his way down the stairs, and was greeted by Kelly's voice.

Hi, Tony! I was wondering where you were.

"Hey, Kelly. I was really tired after work, so I went upstairs to take a nap."

Thanks for the book. Daddy said you got it for us.

"I'm glad you like it."

Tony moved to the couch and sat on Jethro's right. Jethro shifted the book to his left hand and reached out to take Tony's hand in his, then continued to read. "The way home lay all down hill…"

Tony could have sworn he felt the couch dip a little; he guessed Shannon was sitting on Kelly's other side. Leaning back, he settled in to listen to Jethro read.

Home

Jethro watched as Tony finished cleaning in the kitchen. Usually he'd have been the one to do it since Tony cooked, but Tony had insisted Jethro relax and let him take care of it all. He'd winked and told Jethro he could make it up to him later on, something the older man certainly wasn't adverse to doing.

He wanted to come up with a way to thank Tony for everything… not just for getting that book, but for accepting Shannon and Kelly into their lives. He doubted anyone else he'd been involved with since they died could have done the same.

Tony flipped off the light over the sink and turned to look at Jethro. He smiled, walking over and taking Jethro by the hand, tugging a bit to get him moving. He led Jethro up the stairs, shutting off lights as they went, until they reached the bedroom. He dropped Jethro's hand as they passed the giant stuffed bear; Jethro obliged and gave Beaker a head slap, making Tony snicker.

Tony started to move toward the bathroom, then stopped when his phone sounded an alert. "Email," he said to Jethro as he walked by to take a look. Jethro leaned back against the wall, content to watch Tony and wait for him.

Tony took a moment to read the email, then shook his head. "Wow," he said.

Jethro straightened up. "Problem?"

Tony stared at his phone, then looked up. "That's just it… not at all." He waved the phone around. "That was from Dad… he bought an open-ended plane ticket to DC for next month… sent me a copy of the notification, says for me to let him know when we've got the time to get together."

Jethro smiled at Tony's guarded happiness. "Smart man."

Tony set the phone back down on the nightstand and looked up. "You know what the best thing is?"

Jethro shook his head.

"I'm not worried about it, one way or the other. If he comes through, great. If not, well… I have a family, with or without him." He moved closer to Jethro. "Shannon said so."

"She did, huh?"

"Yeah. Came upstairs looking for me, said the family wasn't complete without me there."

"That's why you came down when you did."

Tony nodded. "I believed her."

"Good." Jethro reached out and took hold of Tony's shirt, pulling him closer. "You should. She's a smart woman."

Tony's face was just a few inches from his own. "Yeah, well, she married you, didn't she?"

Jethro smiled and moved in, kissing Tony's lips gently. Tony sighed, reaching up to lightly grip Jethro's neck, his other arm encircling his lover's waist and holding tightly. They stayed there, kissing and caressing, until Jethro pulled back. "Shower with me?" His voice wasn't much more than a whisper.

Tony nodded.

It didn't take long for the water to heat up. Jethro pulled Tony into the shower and under the spray, warming him up for a moment before pushing his back against the wall. Tony grinned at him, and Jethro pressed in close, his hand behind Tony's head, protecting it from the wall as he took possession of Tony's mouth.

Jethro suddenly felt as though he couldn't get enough of Tony. The past week had been difficult, and he wanted nothing more than to close that short chapter by making sure Tony knew exactly how much he loved and wanted him. He thoroughly explored Tony's mouth, moved to his neck, then abruptly pulled back and made his way down Tony's body, lowering himself to his knees.

"Jethro," Tony protested, "that's going to –" His voice cut off as Jethro licked Tony's rapidly hardening cock.

"What was that?" he asked with a smirk.

Tony glared down at him. "Your knees are going to hurt."

Jethro smiled. "Worth it."

After that, Tony lost all power of speech for a while, except for moans of appreciation. Jethro licked and nibbled and sucked, giving Tony's cock and balls thorough attention. Tony's legs were shaking slightly by the time Jethro got a firm hold on his hips and took as much of his cock into his mouth as he could. He set up a rhythm, putting pressure on Tony's hips to get him to move, then moving his head as Tony moved, teasing Tony's cock with his tongue.

Tony inhaled sharply, reaching down to caress the side of Jethro's face with one hand while he latched on to Jethro's hair with the other. "Jeth, right there – oh, crap. So good…" His voice trailed off when Jethro picked up the pace, gasping for breath and shaking.

Jethro kept at it, ignoring the pain in his knees and in his jaw. He hadn't done this in a while, and he wanted to make it good for Tony. It didn't take much longer; Tony lost control, grabbing Jethro's head in both hands and holding him still while he thrust into Jethro's mouth several times before convulsing and releasing his come down Jethro's throat.

Jethro sat back as soon as Tony released him, looking up to see Tony breathing heavily and staring down at him. He started to get up, but was stopped by Tony's hand resting on his shoulder. Tony slid down to join him, arms wrapping around Jethro to pull him close. He nuzzled into Jethro's neck, whispered in his ear, and pulled him closer, holding on tightly with one arm around Jethro's back while he reached for Jethro's cock with the other, wrapping his hand around it and just holding tightly for a moment. Jethro shifted in his grip, grunting as pleasure zinged through him from his groin to his spine.

"Not gonna last long," he warned.

Tony smiled, then moved to kiss him, ravaging his mouth while his hand caressed Jethro's cock, fondled his balls, then grasped the rigid flesh and took up a quick rhythm, his hand traveling the full length, up and back. He moved faster and faster, keeping his mouth on Jethro's, still holding him tightly around the waist.

Jethro was finding it difficult to breathe and kiss at the same time; his own movements were quickly turning uncoordinated as he focused more and more on the sensations generated by Tony's hand. He had one hand on Tony's neck, the other gripping Tony's leg hard enough to leave a bruise. He was vaguely aware of trying to move, but Tony was holding on too tightly. He was moaning into Tony's mouth, shaking as he tried to hold off his orgasm… and then Tony pulled him even closer and he gave a muffled cry as he climaxed into Tony's hand.

Tony released him; his head dropped to Tony's shoulder and he breathed deeply, finally noticing the hot water that was cascading down on both of them.

"Wow," he said, once he could form the word.

Tony laughed. "I agree. We should get up before we can't."

Tony had to help Jethro up; his knees were definitely going to protest later. Tony sighed as Jethro winced. "Knee pads the next time, Jeth."

They showered quickly after that, cleaning up and drying off in record time. Both of them were exhausted, and they wanted to get to bed as quickly as possible. Once they got there, though, Tony sat next to Jethro and fished some Icy Hot out of the nightstand, rubbing it into his knees.

"You might want to consider taking a day off tomorrow."

Jethro snorted. "You gonna come up with a plausible story for why my knees hurt?"

"What, you don't like the truth?"

"I love the truth… I just don't think Vance would."

Tony smirked. "You may be right about that."

A few minutes later, they were both under the covers, in the dark. Jethro sighed and shifted around until his head lay on Tony's chest and his arm was around Tony's waist.

Tony reached up to run his fingers through Jethro's hair. "Thanks for everything, Jethro. I mean it."

Jethro tightened his hold for a moment. "You're welcome." He was silent for several seconds. "Thank you."

Tony placed a kiss on Jethro's hair. "We make a good team."

"Always have, always will."

Tony thought about listening to Jethro read earlier, then talking for a bit with Shannon and Kelly before they went back across… whatever they went across. "Think that's gonna last even after we're where your family is?"

"It better," Jethro said sleepily. "Don't want to be there without you. Tol' you that already."

"Yeah, you did."

Jethro patted his hip clumsily. "Go t' sleep, Tone. Proud of ya. Did good, with your dad and all."

"Thanks, Jeth. You helped."

"Yup."

Tony giggled at that. Moments later, both men were asleep.

End

Author's Note: When Jethro is reading from chapter 10 of E. Nesbit's book The Railway Children, those lines are in italics and are taken from the book. No copyright infringement is intended.

There will be more to the FIOverse… next up, though, is the sequel to Silver Fox. That's going to take some time to research, and I want to get most of it written before I start posting… I don't want to fall behind on posting again like I have this time around. So it may be a while before that gets going… although there's always the chance of some shorter stories in the meantime. Thanks again for all the support!