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Tony leaned forward and nervously drummed on the dashboard until Gibbs glared at him. And that’s all it took. They’d been working together for so long that they both could read the nuance of every expression made by the other in a split second. Releasing a long sigh, Tony leaned back in his seat and stared out the window.
A few minutes later, Gibbs asked, “What?”
“I don’t want to bother you while you’re driving,” Tony replied as he focused on the scenery.
Without looking down, Gibbs grasped Tony’s hand. “If it’s important to you, it’s important to me. Spill it or I’ll pull the car over and beat it out of you.”
Tony laughed easily, knowing Gibbs was kidding about the last part. “Are you sure we’re doing the right thing?”
“Trust me. It’s time. Come on, we’ve talked about this. It’s going to be fine.”
“I wish I was as confident as you,” he said, twining his fingers with Gibbs’.
*** *** ***
As many other things in their lives, the rented silver SUV had been a compromise. Tony had been concerned that Gibbs’ truck would not be comfortable for a long drive with three grown men in the cab. Another concern was hauling their luggage and gear in the open bed of the truck where it wasn’t protected from the weather or theft. Gibbs was concerned Tony’s car was too small and wouldn’t do well if they encountered any dirt roads that were in bad shape. After a brief discussion, they agreed the best option was to rent an SUV for their trip.
While they enjoyed fishing in the pond and lakes near Gibbs’ cabin, they wanted to invite their fathers for a special fishing trip for Father’s Day. Tony had searched online to find a suitable cabin to rent for three days. It had to have enough space for four men to sleep comfortably, and Tony also suggested they get something with electricity and running water to ensure their dads would be reasonably comfortable.
As Jackson didn’t like driving long distances anymore, they agreed to pick him up in Stillwater and found him with his assistant, at his general store, going over a list of things that needed to be done. While Jackson still enjoyed working, he wasn’t able to lift and move cases of product like he could in the past, and also wasn’t comfortable getting up on ladders anymore. He’d hired a young man in his twenties to help around the store and this was the first time Jackson was leaving him in charge and on his own.
Jackson did a doubletake when he saw the silver SUV pull up in front of his store. As Gibbs opened up the hatchback and loaded his father’s luggage, Jackson leaned on his cane and asked, “Which one of you got a fancy new vehicle?”
Tony held the passenger door open for him. “It’s a rental. We weren’t sure if his truck or my car would be very suitable for the trip and decided this would be the perfect compromise.”
“I can sit in the back, it will give me room to stretch my legs out if I want to,” Jackson insisted as he nodded to the back seat of the SUV.
Tony wasn’t going to argue, and opened up the rear passenger door, then helped Jackson get settled. Gibbs was already in the driver’s seat with the engine running before Tony got his seatbelt on.
It was mostly quiet in the car as Gibbs preferred silence while he drove, and it was difficult for Tony and Jackson to hear each other speaking between the front and back seats. Eventually, Tony pulled out his cellphone to play a game. Jackson nodded off in the back seat while Gibbs kept an eye on the road.
They drove a couple of hours before stopping at a diner for lunch. As Tony and Gibbs had left the house before six o’clock, they were ready for a meal. Even though Gibbs remained quiet as they ate, Tony and Jackson caught up with each other, both enjoying the chat. All too soon, they were back on the road.
*** *** ***
Later in the afternoon, Gibbs stopped in a small town where they purchased three fishing licenses for the state of New York, along with some bait and groceries. It was another thirty-minute drive before they arrived at a lodge. Tony and Jackson waited in the car while Gibbs went inside to check in.
“We’re staying here?” Jackson asked.
“Not exactly,” Tony shared. “We rented a cabin. It was also a bit of a compromise. The original cabin was built over a hundred years ago, before electricity and plumbing.”
Jackson’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “We’re roughing it?”
“They added on. So, the main cabin has an addition in the back, which has a sink for washing dishes. There’s also a stove and microwave. And they built a second building in the seventies that has one bedroom and a modern bathroom with plumbing. We all have to share the bathroom unless someone wants to use the outhouse, which apparently is still standing.”
“So, there’s just one bedroom in the main cabin, plus a second with the bathroom?”
“Yeah. They’re close together, though. I know you offered to take the couch, but we can always flip a coin. Or you can grab the other bedroom before my dad shows up,” Tony offered.
Jackson’s eyes twinkled as he smiled. “I don’t mind. I was in the military, your dad wasn’t. I know he’s accustomed to a different lifestyle than I am. I will be fine on the sofa. Don’t you worry about me.”
“You’re a good man, Jackson Gibbs.”
“You’re not so bad yourself, Tony,” he shot back with a genuine smile.
Before long, Gibbs returned, carrying a map of the grounds, which he handed to Tony. “That’s our cabin,” he said, poking at the page with his index finger.
“Did you tell them we have another person joining us?”
“Yeah. They’ll give him a map and directions. It’s not that difficult to find.”
Reviewing the map, Tony added, “And it looks like the roads circle around, so if he takes a wrong turn, he’ll wind up back at the lodge.”
It was a short drive, with Tony watching the map and pointing out turns. Once they arrived, they declined Jackson’s offer to help with the luggage. Gibbs led the way and unlocked the main cabin. The front room was fairly big, with two sofas, and a large table with six chairs. There were also additional folding chairs against the wall. A woodburning stove stood along the interior wall and a fridge was set against the wall toward the back of the cabin. The trio moved on to see the bedroom, which featured a woodburning stove that shared a chimney with the one in the front room. Two upholstered chairs were located near a bookcase. There was also a back door leading outside.
“It’s so you don’t have to go through the rest of the cabin, disturbing other people, if you need to use the bathroom,” Gibbs explained.
“Excellent for fire safety as well,” noted Tony.
“True. Every room has an exit door.”
Going back through the front room, they next moved to where the addition was in the rear of the building. The kitchen was small and had a sink and limited counter space. There was a small water heater under the sink. The kitchenette had an older stove and a small microwave. The room also had a door that led outside, which Gibbs opened.
They found there was a grill and firepit behind the main cabin. About twenty feet away stood the second building with two doors. Gibbs unlocked the first door and they found another bedroom. There was a door to the side of the room that led to the bathroom, which also had a door directly outside.
“Interesting,” said Tony.
“How so?” asked Gibbs.
“I guess you have to leave the bathroom unlocked overnight unless everyone has a key.”
Stepping back outside, Gibbs chuckled and glanced around. There wasn’t another building in sight. “We are in the middle of nowhere, and there is only one way in or out of the property which I’m told has a gate that is locked overnight.
“What if you arrive late or leave early?”
“The manager said there is always someone at the lodge. Apparently, they do the cleaning and office paperwork overnight. I gather they also have keys to the gate.”
As they were checking out the grill, fire pit and scenery, a dark Range Rover pulled up, drawing their attention.
Tony approached the vehicle and rolled his eyes when he saw that there was a younger blonde woman with his father. “Dad! This was supposed to be a guy’s weekend. We’re going fishing and roughing it.”
Senior and the woman got out of the large SUV and eyed the cabin. “Yeah, it looks rough,” Senior scoffed. Turning to the woman, he introduced her, “This is Sonja. And this is my son, Junior.”
“Hi,” she said, smiling beneath her sunglasses and broad-brimmed hat. “It has flushing toilets, right?”
“Yeah, it has plumbing, and electricity, too,” Tony confirmed. “This is Gibbs and his father, Jackson. My father and his friend, Sonja.”
Jackson smiled, and asked her, “Do you enjoy fishing, young lady?”
“Oh, no, not really. I thought I could sunbathe on the deck and drink cocktails.”
Tony shook his head and stared at his father. “No sunbathing and no cocktails. We’ll be fishing on a river. No boat.”
“No yacht?” Sonja asked with a pout, obviously disappointed.
“No,” Tony replied. “No boat at all. Just fishing.”
“Not even a rowboat or something?” Senior asked.
Tony felt his blood pressure rising. “No, a thousand times no.” Pointing to the older building, Tony said, “There’s the main cabin, it has a bedroom, a front room with a table and couches and a small kitchen.” Waving toward the other building, he added, “There’s another bedroom and the bathroom in that building.”
“That looks newer,” commented Sonja. “We’ll take the one with the private bathroom.”
“It’s not a private bathroom,” Tony explained. “It’s the only bathroom, which will be shared by all of us.”
Sonja stared at Senior, who opened the back of the Range Rover. “Can you help with the bags, Junior?”
“Sure.”
Senior grabbed a small shoulder bag and wrapped his other arm around Sonja as they began walking toward the newer building.
Rolling his eyes once more, Tony unloaded the rest of the bags. Gibbs approached him. “It will be fine. Or she’ll get tired of this and get a hotel room in town.”
“I thought we were going to take the separate bedroom, so we could have some privacy. I’m sorry my dad had to throw a wrench into our plans.”
With a pat to Tony’s shoulder, Gibbs assured him, “It’s alright. Let them have it. Dad’s half-deaf anyway.”
“Don’t you count on that,” Jackson called loudly from the porch.
Tony had to laugh, and was glad that Gibbs was helping to grab all of Senior and Sonja’s bags. They took the luggage to the new building and their cooler to the main cabin, setting it next to the refrigerator in the front room.
Gibbs sorted through the coolers, and put the food and beverages into the fridge, then stored the coolers up against a wall.
“Sorry my dad went and complicated things by bringing Sonja,” Tony apologized.
“We’re happy and together. This is not a big deal,” said Gibbs, facing Tony and rubbing his forearm. “It will be fine.”
Tony took his luggage into the main cabin’s bedroom and began unpacking, only to be joined by Gibbs a few minutes later. “So, when do you think we should tell them?”
Gibbs muttered an unintelligible grunt, indicating he really didn’t care.
Rubbing the back of his head, Tony mentioned, “It’s just… we are sharing a bedroom.”
“Big bed. I thought I’d cook hamburgers on the grill tonight.”
“I am really very sorry Dad brought someone with him. He didn’t mention it. I’m pretty sure I said it was a guy’s weekend. Maybe I just said we wanted to take him and Jackson out fishing and he misunderstood.”
Gibbs smiled and shook his head. “She doesn’t strike me as the fishing type. Or the roughing it in the woods type.”
Tony chuckled and agreed. “Want to bet on how long she’ll last? I’ll be quite surprised if she’s still here at the end of the weekend.”
“I’ll be surprised if she lasts a full day.”
*** *** ***
After everyone was settled, Jackson was sitting outside enjoying a beer. Gibbs set up the grill while Tony prepared a garnish tray of sliced cheese, tomatoes, pickles and onions. He also grabbed two bags of chips and poured them into bowls that he set on the table behind the cabin before making a small salad.
“This is nice,” commented Jackson, as he relaxed in a wooden lounge chair.
Pulling a similar chair close, Gibbs grabbed a bottle of beer for himself and settled into the lounge. “It was recommended. The most convenient thing is that the property borders a river. It’s a short walk.”
Nodding toward the second building, where Senior and his girlfriend had disappeared, Jackson said, “Something tells me those two are not going to want to walk.”
“They can drive if they want to. We could take the SUV. But it’s not that far.”
“It doesn’t take long for a cooler to feel mighty heavy.”
“I know you didn’t have to lug much stuff in a plane, but I had to haul around plenty of gear when I was a Marine,” Gibbs assured him. “I can handle carrying a cooler for half a mile.”
Jackson smiled, a knowing twinkle in his eyes. “Not everyone is you.”
Gibbs chuckled in return and got up to check on the grill. Deciding it was hot enough, he began cooking the burgers, and called out to Tony, “You might want to let your dad and his lady friend know we’ll be eating soon.
Tony washed his hands then went over to the smaller building and knocked on the door. “We’re about to eat,” he called out loudly.
After Tony knocked a couple of times, his father opened the door. “Sure, we’ll be right out.”
The others were already seated at the wooden picnic table near the grill before Senior and Sonja emerged. She immediately wrinkled her nose and leaned closer to whisper something into Senior’s ear. As they walked hand-in-hand, they looked over the offerings.
“What is it?” Sonja asked.
“Hamburgers fresh from the grill. There’s plenty of cheese if you want to make it a cheeseburger,” said Tony.
“Oh, I don’t think I can eat that,” she revealed as she eyed the greens. “Maybe just a bit of salad.”
Senior helped himself to a burger, garnish and a few chips, then asked, “Is there a table inside? It’s a little… buggy out here.”
“Yeah,” Gibbs replied, waving to the cabin. “In the front room.”
Tony added, “You can go through the kitchen, or use the door on the porch.”
Senior smiled, and said, “We’ll find it.”
Once he was out of sight, Gibbs rolled his eyes. “Maybe this was a mistake.” Turning to Tony he added, “Are you sure he took you fishing when you were a kid?”
“At a lake, but yeah. It was a good trip. We had a rental cabin.”
“I imagine it was a step up from this one,” said Gibbs as he reached for a napkin.
Craning his neck around, Tony took a good look at the cabin. “Yeah, I guess it was a bit fancier. And it was right on the lake.”
“I gather there was a yacht involved somewhere during that trip.”
“We did some fishing from the shore behind the cabin, but there was also a clubhouse where the adults could gather. Someone there did have a yacht. I went out on it for a day trip, but Senior would also go in the evenings when they were serving beer and playing poker. They had a hired boat captain and a couple other workers on the boat to serve drinks and clean up.”
“What were you doing when he was out at night?” Gibbs asked.
“I was supposed to be sleeping. I usually stayed up watching movies.”
“If he was thinking this trip would be drinking and partying on yachts, he’s very wrong.”
While the three of them sat outside for hours, enjoying the fire Gibbs built in the pit, and the stars shining overhead, they noticed Senior and Sonja had quickly returned to their bedroom after eating.
Eventually, Jackson said he’d do the dishes then go to bed. Tony and Gibbs helped gather the food and dishes to return them to the kitchen. As Tony was putting leftovers in the fridge, he noticed Senior and Sonja hadn’t even cleared their dishes and silverware from the table. Shaking his head, he gathered the items and took them into the kitchen.
“Maybe we should have a schedule. As long as they’re here, they should take a turn cleaning up,” Tony said sternly.
“Good luck with that,” replied Gibbs. “Your father is used to being waited on.”
“I know, I know.”
Gibbs grabbed two more bottles of beer and nodded for Tony to join him outside. They pulled two of the wooden loungers close together and chatted softly as they watched the moon rise in the night sky.
Half an hour later, Jackson emerged from the cabin, announcing, “Dishes are washed, dried and put away.”
“Thanks, Dad,” said Gibbs.
“Thank you for cooking. Those burgers were topnotch!”
With his dopp kit in hand, Jackson headed for the bathroom door, only to find it locked. Turning around, he asked, “Is there a key?”
“Don’t really need one,” said Gibbs as he rose from his chair and headed to the door to the bedroom, banging on it hard. When Senior opened it, Gibbs barged right in, sternly telling them, “It’s a shared bathroom. The outer door stays unlocked whenever you’re not using it.” Storming through the bedroom, he went into the bathroom and unlocked the door for Jackson. “All yours!” he said cheerfully.
Shaking his head, Tony apologized, “Sorry about that. I told them it’s a shared bathroom, but I guess I didn’t make it clear to leave it unlocked.”
“They better get used to it,” Gibbs said sternly.
“Or what? You going to kick them out?”
After chugging the rest of his beer, Gibbs thought about it a moment. They both said good night to Jackson as he returned to the cabin. Then Gibbs responded, “You wanted that room in the first place. If they can’t behave, we may have to take it back. You were too nice agreeing to let them have it.”
Another hour later, Gibbs and Tony took their own dopp kits over to the bathroom and found the door was locked again. “Okay, no more Mr. Nice Guy,” Gibbs said firmly. “Let’s pack our stuff up and we can trade rooms.”
“Are you sure?”
“Since we’re paying for it, we should have gotten our choice of the bedrooms to begin with.”
Minutes later, they lugged their bags over to the newer bedroom. Gibbs knocked loudly on the door again. “Hey! Open the door!”
This time, Senior answered in a robe. “Gibbs, we’re about to go to sleep.”
“We’re trading rooms. NOW!” he shouted.
“What are you talking about? We're already settled and about to go to bed. Doesn’t it make sense for Sonja to have the room next to the bathroom?”
“We’ve asked you two repeatedly to leave the outer bathroom door unlocked, and you keep locking it.”
“Sorry, security. Don’t you have a key?”
“Yep, but not the point,” said Gibbs. Pushing into the room, he found Sonja sitting at the desk. “You can pack up. We’re trading rooms.”
“What? No. We should get this one, because…”
“Don’t want to hear it. We booked this one for us. Tony graciously allowed you to take it, but since you won’t respect other people by leaving the bathroom door open so it’s available, we’re taking this room back. You can stay in the main cabin. We’ll be glad to help you pack if you’d like.” After setting his suitcase down, Gibbs took off his boots and settled onto the bed. “Oh yeah, this is nice. Bye-bye now.”
“Junior,” Senior began, “you don’t really expect us to move, do you? It’s the middle of the night.”
Eyeing the sofa, Tony saw a book that Senior must have been reading placed face down on the end table. “It’s true, Dad. We were going to take this one with a bed and a sofa bed. We were planning to take it in the first place. There’s only the bed in the room in the cabin.”
“Where would I read?”
“There are two very nice upholstered chairs in there. I’m sorry, but I’ll have to insist. It’s not fair for everyone else if you guys keep locking the outer bathroom door.”
“I’m not sure I like that,” said Sonja.
“Lady,” Gibbs spoke up, “I don’t give a rat’s ass what you like. We’re paying for the cabins, and I’m damned sure we didn’t invite you.”
“We did only invite our fathers,” Tony agreed. Turning to Senior, he added, “I never said you were allowed to bring a guest. And you didn’t ask.”
“I didn’t think I had to. Did you expect me to come all this way alone?” asked Senior.
“I expected you to spend time with me. With us.”
In the end, Tony wound up helping his father and Sonja move their things into the bedroom at the main cabin. The room was actually larger, which appeared to appease them to some extent, especially as Tony pointed out there was a door that went directly outside so they didn’t have to go through the cabin and disturb Jackson when they wanted to use the bathroom.
It was a while before Tony returned to the newer bedroom. “I stopped off to talk to Jackson,” he said.
Gibbs was lying in bed with a book in his hands, but set it down and took off his glasses before patting the other side of the bed. “I guess things have settled down for the night.”
“Should I lock the door?”
“Why? We both have weapons. Anyone would be nuts to try to walk in here. It’s obvious someone is staying here.”
Tony locked the door anyway. “Just in case someone forgets which door is the bedroom and which is the bathroom.” With that he stripped down and crawled into bed beside Gibbs, kissing him on the lips. “Now, should I go lock the outer door to the bathroom, just to piss them off?”
“Better not. My dad may need to use it in the middle of the night.”
“Well, we can’t put your dad out. I’m really sorry my father’s being such a pain in the ass.”
*** *** ***
The next day, Gibbs awoke early and built another fire in the grill. Pulling out a couple pans from the kitchen, he cooked up a hearty meal that included pancakes, fried eggs, bacon and toast.
Senior eventually emerged and began putting together two plates of food, and mentioned, “We’ll eat in the room.”
“No,” said Gibbs firmly.
“No? Sonja isn’t really comfortable…”
“We invited you here to spend time with us, not to squirrel yourself away in a room. If you want to eat my food, you can sit out here at the table with us.”
“We have an announcement to make,” added Tony. “We'd like to share with both you and Jackson at the same time.”
Senior set the plates down, then returned back to the cabin. After a few minutes, he and Sonja emerged and sat at the picnic table with the others.
Jackson commented, “Everything tastes amazing.”
“Nothing beats food cooked over an open flame,” said Gibbs.
Tony refilled his juice glass. “I haven’t quite mastered cooking over an open flame. Not like Gibbs.”
“I’ve been working at it far longer than you.”
“Why do I feel another Marine story coming on?” Tony teased.
“What is your announcement?” asked Senior.
Gibbs nodded to Tony. “Go ahead.”
Taking his seat next to Gibbs, Tony took a gulp of his juice, then smiled at his partner. Turning to the others, he began, “Jethro and I have worked together for a few years now, and have become very close. As you two are our family, we wanted to inform you first that we’ve decided to… um… make this permanent.”
Confusion played across Senior’s face. “What do you mean? You already work together.”
Tony reached for Gibbs’ hand and twined their fingers together. “We’re going to make a commitment to each other.”
“I think that’s fantastic,” Jackson beamed.
Senior frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“We haven’t decided if we’re going to actually get married, but we are planning to have a commitment ceremony and, of course, would like you both to attend.”
Sonja rolled her eyes as she turned to face Tony’s father. “You never told me your son was gay.”
Senior shook his head. “Junior? No, he’s not gay.”
“Then why is he saying he’s going to marry this man?” she asked.
Looking over at Tony, Senior asked, “Is that what you’re saying? You and Gibbs are… together? In a relationship?”
Nodding, Tony confirmed, “A very serious one.”
“But you’re not gay,” Senior insisted.
“I love him. He loves me. It’s that simple. No labels needed.”
Jackson continued smiling and offered to do the dishes again. Tony helped him clear the table, while Gibbs saved the leftover bacon, saying they could use it in sandwiches for lunch, but tossed the leftover pancakes, eggs and toast into the woods for the animals to enjoy.
Senior and Sonja disappeared into their room for a few minutes. When they reappeared, Senior announced he was going to drive Sonja into town so she could do some shopping.
“Are you coming back?” Tony asked. “We’re about going to go fishing.”
“I’ll be back after I drop her off,” Senior promised.
*** *** ***
The other three watched as Senior and Sonja drove away in the Range Rover, then began organizing their gear.
“Should we wait for him?” Jackson asked.
Shaking his head, Gibbs replied, “He knew our plans. Let’s roll.”
Tony gently put his hand on Jackson’s elbow. “Are you okay to walk? It should be level ground for the most part.”
“Don’t you worry about me, son. I’ll be just fine.”
With everything packed up, they began walking toward the river. Gibbs took the lead, carrying some of the fishing gear and the cooler. Jackson followed after him, with Tony in the rear bringing along a backpack and more fishing gear.
When they arrived at the river, Jackson and Gibbs both put on their waders. Tony didn’t have any and decided to fish from the river bank, while the others waded in to try their hand at fly fishing.
They were all slightly surprised when Senior did actually show up, sans Sonja. After opening the back of the Range Rover, he pulled out a rod and tackle box, then made his way over to where Tony was. He nodded to Gibbs and Jackson. “Is this how you normally fish with Gibbs?” Senior asked. “You here, him there?”
“When we go to his cabin, there’s a small pond. We fish from a rowboat. He fishes off one side, I fish off the other.”
“I’m sure there are places around here to rent a boat.”
Tony reeled his line back in and changed his bait before casting another line. “Jethro wanted to go fly fishing with his dad, like they did years ago. When he mentioned it, I remembered how much I enjoyed the fishing trips we used to take.”
“I did, too,” admitted Senior.
“That’s all we wanted. A quiet weekend with our fathers.”
Senior nodded. “Are you and Gibbs really serious? A couple? Or was that a joke?”
“We’re together and it’s very serious,” Tony replied, his eyes focused on Gibbs, who was several yards away.
“You’d give up a chance to have children?”
“To be with him, yes,” said Tony as he turned to face his father. “We realized that we have deep feelings for each other. We depend on each other. We want to commit to each other.” After a brief pause, he added, “And if Jethro really wants kids, I suppose we could look into adopting.”
“Adoption? I was hoping you’d continue the DiNozzo family line. If you don’t have any children…”
“It’s my decision, not yours. I love Jethro. We’re good together.”
“But what about tradition? Without a son, who will you pass along the DiNozzo family signet ring to?”
Tony jiggled his rod a bit, then faced his father. “I don’t really know. But I’m sure I will figure something out.” He let a few minutes of silence pass between them before he said, “I wish you could be happy for us, even if it’s not the relationship you pictured for me.”
“I always thought I’d have grandkids.”
“But our relationship is about us. It’s not about you. I love him. I want to spend the rest of my life with him. And yes, I am very sure about that.”
“I really did love your mother,” Senior reminisced. “It’s never easy finding another partner once you’ve had the best.”
Tony’s eyes settled on Gibbs. “I’ve definitely found the best. We have a connection that I’ve never had with anyone else.”
“But he’s a man.”
Tony couldn’t help but roll his eyes. “Really, Dad? I am aware.”
“And you sleep with him? Like a married couple?”
Shaking his head, Tony laughed softly. “Yes, Dad, we have sex.” After casting his line again, he added, “Best sex I’ve ever had. Curls my toes and everything.”
Senior looked away from him, appearing uncomfortable. “I don’t need the details,” he said quietly.
“I’ll just leave it as, we do enjoy each other’s company… and bodies.”
“That’s enough,” Senior snapped sharply.
“Can you accept this?” asked Tony.
Senior glanced across the river at Gibbs. “Not sure. I’d really like a grandchild or two.”
“I’m not going to change my mind.”
“He is older than you…”
“And you’re a lot older than Sonja. What’s your point?”
Shrugging, Senior said, “I don’t know. I’m not really sure.”
“But you are disappointed?” Tony asked pointedly, although he suspected he knew the answer.
“Perhaps we should just fish,” suggested Senior as he jiggled his rod.
*** *** ***
After spending several hours fishing, they all return to the cabin where Gibbs and Jackson cleaned and cooked some of the fish they caught, along with a few ears of corn. Tony made some hushpuppies and coleslaw. Senior ate with them at the picnic table but remained quiet.
“Are you picking Sonja back up?” Tony asked.
“I got her a hotel room in town. She wasn’t really comfortable here.”
“I’m sorry if I didn’t make it clear this was a guy’s fishing weekend. I didn’t expect you to bring someone.”
“And that’s why I’m having dinner with you instead of Sonja. I’m making an effort here. Why can’t you see that?”
“Then why do you seem so pissed?” asked Tony.
Senior glared at him. “I thought we discussed this at the river?” he hissed.
Tension hung between them for a few moments of silence. A couple flies buzzed the table, but no one was paying any attention.
Tony finally spoke, his voice low, “I don’t need your permission.”
Senior wiped his mouth, finished off his beer, stood up and announced, “I’m done. I’m taking Sonja’s luggage to her.”
“Are you coming back?”
Although he hesitated, Senior did respond, “Yes, of course. Early day fishing tomorrow. I'll be there.”
After Senior gathered Sonja’s things and departed, Gibbs went into the main cabin and returned with a cooler filled with beer. With the fire stoked, they sat around drinking beer and watching the sky darken.
Scooting his chair closer to Tony’s, Jackson said, “You’re a fine young man. I’m sorry your father is being a…”
“Jerk?” After taking a deep breath and releasing it slowly, Tony collected himself. “It’s not like I thought he’d rejoice at the news.”
“If he can’t accept your happiness, that’s his fault, not yours. I can see the change in my boy recently. A change for the better. And I suspect you’re the reason behind it. I know you two have a special bond. As long as the two of you are happy, it’s no one else’s damn business,” he said firmly.
Tony reached over and gave Jackson’s hand a squeeze. “That means a lot. To both of us.”
Gibbs had been poking around the firepit, adding a bit of wood and stoking it. “So, what’s Senior pissed about?” he asked as he took his seat and reached for a bottle of beer. The cap hissed as he twisted it off. When he tossed the cap into a metal can, he looked at Tony, expecting a response.
Their eyes met. Tony studied the familiar face that stared back at him, Gibbs’ expression was all determination and focus. There was no use ignoring it. Gibbs would find ways to push for the information until Tony gave it up. “I’m his only son. Unless I have kids, he has no heirs. He’s pissed that if I’m with you, he’s not going to get any grandkids. No one to pass the family signet ring to.”
Gibbs shook his head. “I guess we’re all in the same boat then.”
Nodding in understanding, Tony confirmed, “You’re Jackson’s only child. Your only child is gone. I have no children. And Senior’s only child, me, doesn’t particularly want kids and certainly won’t have one if he marries another man.”
A chuckle escaped from Gibbs before he could stifle it. “You’re tossing that marriage word around pretty freely considering neither of us has proposed.”
“Yet.”
Leaning back in his lounge, Jackson smiled as he tugged the blanket a bit higher. With his head tilted back, he surveyed the night sky. “Stars are spectacular out here. I’m glad you two invited me for the weekend. It’s one I will never forget.”
“You’re welcome,” Tony muttered back. “We both enjoy spending time with you.”
“You two really do work well together. At home, here at the cabin and I’m sure at NCIS. You’re a great couple. If your father can’t see that, to hell with him. There’s nothing better to me than seeing that sparkle in Jethro’s eyes. And I mean that.”
“I’m sure we could hire a surrogate,” Gibbs teased.
Squirming in his seat, Tony searched for a more comfortable position. “Yeah,” he began,” but do you really want to go through that again? The sticky fingers, snotty noses, the whining, the crying, the poopy diapers?”
“I would. If it was something you really wanted to do.”
“But that’s the thing. I don’t want to,” Tony confessed. “Maybe if we had a big house and a nanny, but I don’t think I’m cut out to deal with a baby or a toddler.” After taking a pause to swig his beer, he continued, “When I was younger, I thought I’d marry a woman and she’d stay home and raise the kids. Or if she wanted to work, she could work and take care of the kids, or we’d hire a nanny. I saw myself as the man of the house, the main wage-earner.”
“What about that fancy signet ring your dad’s worried about?” asked Gibbs. "What are you going to do with that?"
Glancing down, Tony eyed the ring and twisted it on his finger, spinning it around and around. “I suppose I could sell it.”
With a shrug, Gibbs added, “You have a lot of friends, Tony. McGee, Ziva, Abby, Palmer, all your frat brothers. Find someone with a son and give it to them. Or sell it.”
“Do you have any cousins you could give it to?” Jackson suggested. “It could be a fun project to dig back into your family tree. I’m sure someone in your extended family would love to have it for their son.”
“Or I could wear it until I die and let it be my executor’s problem to deal with,” Tony replied.
The sound of the Range Rover returning caused them all to turn in that direction. They could see the beams from the headlights until Senior shut it off.
“I’m half-surprised he came back,” Tony said.
The trio stayed up a bit longer, but Senior never came out to join them. They saw the light glimmer through the bedroom window for a few minutes, then the room went dark.
Eventually, Jackson said he better get inside before he fell asleep on the lounge. Tony and Gibbs remained awake another hour watching the embers glow in the firepit. They scooted their lounges so close together that Tony could lean his head onto Gibbs’ shoulder. They didn’t need any words as they enjoyed being close and watching the stars above, and listening to the occasional owl hooting nearby.
*** *** ***
The next morning was Father’s Day. Gibbs and Tony went all out, working together to create a magnificent feast. The latter had searched through several online recipes to find ideas that they thought would please their fathers.
They created eggs benedict to please Tony’s father, along with bacon, sausage and hash browns for Jackson. Gibbs included some of the fish they’d caught the day before, along with fresh vegetables they’d bought in town. Tony painstakingly juiced several oranges by hand, adding a bit of Champagne for a tasty mimosa. Gibbs chugged his down, then opted for a steamy cup of black coffee.
“I can’t recall when I’ve had a finer meal for breakfast,” Jackson declared as he patted his stomach. “Thank you, boys. This weekend is the best gift ever.”
Senior raised his glass in a toast. “To our boys.”
Tony returned the toast with his own, dedicated to their fathers.
As it was Father’s Day, Tony and Gibbs insisted on doing everything, the cooking, clearing the table and doing the dishes. In the meantime, their dads got ready for another day of fishing on the river. While Gibbs and Tony were busy with the dishes, Jackson prepared some sandwiches for lunch, stowing them in a cooler, despite the younger men’s protests.
“I’m not an invalid… yet. Preparing a picnic lunch makes me happy. Let me be happy.”
They couldn’t argue with that.
While it was another beautiful day, Senior was still reluctant to walk. So, they loaded all the gear and coolers into the Range Rover. Jackson accepted a ride while Gibbs and Tony hiked the short trail to the river.
When they all met up at the river’s edge, Jackson offered his waders to Tony. “Jethro’s been wanting to teach you how to do some fly fishing, and it’ll give me and your dad some time to chat.” After a brief pause, he explained, “We got to talking in the Range Rover and I’d like to continue our conversation. You go on, I’m sure you’ll like fly fishing. And Jethro will enjoy teaching you,” he quickly added.
While Tony couldn’t imagine why Jackson was so interested in talking with Senior, it wasn’t something he was prepared to question. Jackson had been around long enough to know what he wanted to do. All of his years running the general store made him as much of an expert of people as anyone else Tony had known. He had to trust Jackson knew what he was doing.
It was a gorgeous, sunny day, perfect for fishing. Looking up into the sky, Tony took in a deep breath. Listening to the songbirds made him smile. The gentle breeze was perfect, just enough to keep him from feeling too warm. It didn’t take him long to suit up in the waders and shuffle his way through the water.
Gibbs was already set up and fishing. Without looking over to Tony, he asked, “What did you do to my father to get him to give up his waders?”
“Beat him down, and wrestled them out of his arthritic fingers. Not much of a challenge really.” Rubbing the back of his head, he added, “Took a couple whacks from his cane, though. Worse than your head-slaps.”
Gibbs glared in Tony’s direction. “You done?”
Shrugging, Tony glanced toward the fishing rod Jackson had loaned him. “He said you would teach me how to fly fish.”
“Huh,” Gibbs grunted. Turning back, he saw his father standing close to Senior, the two men chatting away amicably as they fished from the river’s edge. “Okay, if you want to learn, I’ll teach you. It takes a lot of practice to master the technique.”
“I have time,” replied Tony.
After three hours, Tony and Gibbs waded back to the edge of the river and found Senior had left.
“What happened to my dad?” Tony asked. “You didn’t drown him, did you? I don’t recall seeing a body float by.”
Jackson chuckled as he set down his rod and reached for the lunch cooler. “Nah, he said he’d done enough fishing and he was going to check on Sonja, take her out to lunch.”
There was an old picnic table overlooking the river, so the trio settled there for their lunch. They had the sandwiches Jackson had put together along with some carrot and celery sticks Tony had packed. Gibbs had packed a twelve-pack of beer in another cooler.
“Thank you both again, for the amazing weekend,” Jackson said. “This is exactly what I needed.”
Rather than responding, Gibbs just nodded as he munched on his second sandwich.
“Just curious,” Tony said, “what is it that you and my dad found to discuss?”
Jackson met Tony’s eyes. He had the same blue eyes as his son. Tony couldn’t help but melt a little bit under the gaze. “I told him the greatest gift for a parent is to see their child grown up, healthy and happy. I explained how wonderful it is to see my son with someone who truly loves him, will care for him and will always be there for him. Knowing that, gives me a deep peacefulness and comfort.”
Tears threatened to well in Tony’s eyes. “Wow. I don’t know what to say. Thank you, Jackson,” he said. The feeling of being loved, of mattering to not only Gibbs, but to his father as well, had him leaning in to hug the man. “Not that he’ll listen.” Pausing for a few moments, Tony wiped his eyes. “I’ll always be a disappointment to him, but I can’t live for him. I have to live my own life. I want to be happy.”
“You deserve to be happy,” Jackson assured him, reaching out and patting his arm. “You both deserve to be happy and I know being together is good for both of you. You and Jethro clearly belong together. If your father is too blind to see that, or too stupid to admit it, that’s his own damn fault. Tony, you are so loved. Cherish what you have. Let go of the rest. You can’t control other people or what they think.”
“You’re a wise man, Jackson Gibbs.”
After lunch, Gibbs hung out at the river’s edge with his father and they both gave Tony tips on fly fishing. After an hour or so, Gibbs offered his own waders to his father, then waded into the river to fish a bit more, even turning down Tony’s offer to give up the loaned waders he was using.
“No use now,” Gibbs said. “I’m already soaked and you have to be dry to put on the waders.
Even Jackson chuckled when Tony suggested Gibbs could strip down, dry off and do some naked fly fishing.
As Senior had left, they had to pack everything up and carry it back to the cabin. Gibbs carried the coolers, while Tony carried the fishing gear. Gibbs had offered to go to the cabin and drive the SUV back to pick up Jackson, but his father said that wasn’t necessary. It was only half a mile.
Working outside, behind the main cabin, Gibbs and Jackson set about cleaning the fish, and they grilled fish and vegetables for dinner. No one mentioned Senior’s absence.
As the night before, Jackson turned in earlier, while Gibbs and Tony remained outside enjoying each other’s company under the starry sky. They stayed up until Tony yawned.
Gibbs tended the firepit and sent Tony off to bed. “I’ll be there in a few minutes,” he called.
*** *** ***
The next morning, Tony checked in the other bedroom and saw no signs Senior had returned to the cabin at all. Walking through the living room, he looked at Jackson. “I’m sorry. He should have said if he wasn’t coming back. You could have used the bed. I should have called him…”
Jackson waved him off. “The sofa is plenty comfortable, son.”
This morning, Jackson insisted on making blueberry pancakes, while Gibbs still handled the job of cooking up more bacon and sausage than they needed. Tony scrambled up some eggs and made toast. They were already sitting down to eat when they saw the Range Rover pull up.
Squirming in his seat, Tony muttered, “I guess we don’t have to pack up his crap and take it home with us after all.”
“I would have left it behind,” announced Gibbs. “It’s his stuff, it’s his responsibility.”
Senior spent a few minutes in the bedroom. Tony assumed he was changing his clothing at least. Eventually, he came outside where the others were eating.
“How’s Sonja?” asked Tony.
“Oh, she’s fine. There are a couple of nice restaurants in town I took her to, and she did enjoy shopping.”
Jackson nodded to the seat next to him, “Sit down and join us. Or have you already eaten?”
“No, no. I wanted to stop by and spend some time with Tony before we checked out.” Twisting his wrist, he checked his watch. “I’ll have to leave by ten to pick up Sonja and get her checked out on time.”
Adding a bit more syrup, Jackson picked up a bite of pancake on his fork as he faced Senior. “Well, then, you have plenty of time.”
His eyes darting between the two older men, Tony wondered, ‘Time for what?’. His unspoken question went unanswered as Jackson began telling Senior what a feast of a dinner he’d missed the night before.
Senior countered that he and Sonja had reservations at the priciest restaurant in town. Sounding slightly miffed, Senior complained that even though it was Father’s Day, Sonja didn’t even offer to pick up the check.
‘Even though she’s young enough to be your daughter,’ Tony thought to himself.
Tony and Gibbs handled washing the dishes and putting them away, leaving their fathers chatting amicably behind the cabin.
When they returned outside, Jackson stood up and looked at Gibbs. “Son, I’d like to take a final walk down to the river. Just you and me, father and son.”
“Sure, Dad,” replied Gibbs, nodding toward the trail. “Want to take the gear and catch a final fish or two?”
“No, I thought we could stand on the bridge and enjoy watching the river run by.”
“A River Runs Through It,” Tony called out.
“What was that?” asked Jackson.
“A River Runs Through It. It’s a film, directed by Robert Redford, starring Brad Pitt. It’s about fly fishing, amongst other things. Next time you’re in DC, we’ll rent it.”
“Sounds fantastic.” Using his cane, Jackson slowly traversed the trail and caught up with Gibbs. Within moments, they were out of sight.
Tony looked at Senior. “Did Jackson just set us up?”
“I did want to talk to you before we left,” said Senior as he motioned for Tony to sit at the table with him.
Tony settled himself on the other side of the table, so they were face-to-face. “Because Jackson suggested it?”
Senior stared back at him and finally nodded. “We had a good talk at the river.”
“What did he say?” asked Tony. While he trusted Jackson to have his and Gibbs’ best interests at heart, he was curious as to what sage advice he’d given to Senior.
“We both know I wasn’t the best father in the world. Losing your mother was the toughest thing I ever had to deal with.”
“At least we have that in common,” Tony said, his arms crossed. While he loved his father in the way all children do, he still didn’t trust the man. Senior was always working some angle. Tony just had to figure out what his dad was after this time. “What did Jackson say to you?”
“He reminded me that having children is a special blessing. One that people shouldn’t take for granted, or push away.”
“This is about you wanting grandchildren and me not wanting to have kids, isn’t it?”
“For me, it was important to pass along my genes. I always wanted a son. I was so happy and proud the day you were born.”
“But now, I’m a disappointment to you,” Tony surmised.
“No, not at all. I can’t say I understood or agreed with your decisions. But Jackson reminded me you are meant to walk your path, not mine. I made a decision not to have another child because… Well, your birth was difficult on your mother. She had to have a hysterectomy after you were born. She was the love of my life, and I didn’t want to have children with anyone else. I had my son with the woman I loved more than anyone else. And that was enough.”
“But, is it?”
Senior nodded. “Jackson reminded me that the greatest treasure in life is to see your child happy. He told me how much he loved seeing the sparkle in Jethro’s eyes, and that bounce back in his step that he’d been missing since Shannon and Kelly died. He said he felt blessed to see his son in a happy relationship again and that he loves you like another son and it fills his heart with joy seeing the two of you interact.”
“So, he insisted that I take his waders, so you could watch me and Gibbs interact?”
“Yeah, I guess so. He said it would be very selfish of me to push you away because of this.”
“And now, you’re okay with me and Gibbs being together?”
“I can’t say that I understand it, but as Jackson reminded me, it’s not for me to understand. You’re an adult now. I should trust your choices and feel blessed knowing you two are happy and good for each other. I promise that I will try.”
“We have to do what is right for us. I’d like you to be there when we have our commitment ceremony. I’ll let you know.”
Checking his watch again, Senior said, “I better get back to town to pick up Sonja.”
Standing up, Tony gave his father a hug. “I’m glad we spent some time together on Father’s Day. Perhaps we can do this again next year?”
“I’d like that.”
Knowing their check-out time was in an hour, Tony made a final walk-through of the cabins and loaded everything into the SUV before taking a seat on one of the lounge chairs. Closing his eyes, he took in a deep breath and released it slowly. A peacefulness flowed throughout his soul. Sunshine beamed through the tree leaves and warmed his skin. The songs of the forest birds quieted his thoughts as he sat still and enjoyed being in the natural setting. It wasn’t Gibbs’ cabin, but it was close enough.
Before long, Gibbs and Jackson returned from their walk. Jackson was quick to ask, “How did it go?”
“It’s a start,” replied Tony, rubbing his eyes as he realized he’d drifted off. “I appreciate you talking to him.”
“Family is important. Sometimes people forget about that.”
“Hopefully, it will stick with him. I suggested we make the Father’s Day fishing trip an annual affair.”
“I have a good feeling that things are going to work out,” said Jackson.
“Relationships are a lot like fishing,” Gibbs said.
“How’s that?” asked Tony, as they walked toward the SUV.
“It’s all about casting lines and seeing what you catch.” The engine started easily, and Gibbs began driving toward the main lodge. “Of course, sometimes what you catch isn’t worth keeping.”
Tony gave him a side-eye glance. “Careful.”
“You’re a keeper. Not sure about your dad though. He’s one slippery fish.”
“I’m not going to argue with you there, but he seems to be trying. It doesn’t matter though. We’re good together and if he can’t see it or deal with it, that’s his problem.”
“Yes, it is,” agreed Gibbs.
~~~The End~~~
05/13/2023
© 2023 by Jacie