Chapter Text
2007 - Washington DC
Jenny Shepard burst into Gibbs' house, shrouded in darkness save for the glow of the TV. Gibbs, perched on the sofa, snapped to attention as he fixed his gaze on her. "Jen?" She stood there, radiating anger, thrusting a manila envelope into Gibbs' chest.
"Care to explain these, Jethro?" Confused, he opened the envelope and extracted three surveillance-style photos. It took a moment for him to grasp the content. The first photo depicted two men in an embrace, the second showcased his SFA facing the camera with the other man's back to it, and the third captured Tony leaning in for a passionate kiss with the other man. Gibbs was momentarily befuddled, trying to discern what exactly warranted an explanation.
"So, Dinozzo swings both ways. What's that got to do with anything?" He gruffly tossed the photos onto the coffee table, only for Jenny to snatch them up and thrust them back under his nose. "And you, Gibbs? Kissing your SFA?"
"Don't be ridiculous," he retorted, scrutinizing the photos. The other man, a similar height to Tony and slim with short gray hair, wore dark trousers and an oversized brown hooded jacket. Gibbs glanced across the room at his coat rack, spotting a suspiciously similar Carhartt jacket. "That's not me, Jen." He tossed the photos aside once more. "And what would it matter if it was?" he challenged.
Jenny paced the room. "These photos were delivered to me with a note, Jethro, and they're being used as leverage."
"Well, it's not me, and leverage for what?" Suspicion etched across his face, his gut signaling unease.
"Need to know, and you don't," she clipped. He pursed his lips. "Well, it's not me, so there's nothing to be used."
"Can you prove that, Jethro?"
"What the hell, Jen?" Frustration welled up; their shared history should have granted him more trust. "Fine." He pulled out his phone and dialed speed dial 2.
"Dinozzo, need you at mine now. Not a case, need you to clear something up." After a beat, he hung up. "He'll be here in half an hour. Coffee?"
~XX~
"I understand how it may appear, but that's not Gibbs; it's a personal matter," Tony explained.
"Then who the hell is it, Agent Dinozzo?" the Director demanded. Tony, visibly uncomfortable, hesitated before stating, "I need to make a phone call, and we can get this all cleared up." As he moved to leave the house, the Director stopped him. "No, do it from here."
A blank expression crossed Tony's face, a familiar sign to Gibbs that his younger agent was growing angry with the Director's animosity. Tony pulled out his phone and dialed a number from memory. "Jack, yeah, look, I need a favor," he spoke into the phone. After a brief pause, he continued, "No, nothing like that. If I text you an address, can you get here asap?" Tony locked eyes with Gibbs, acknowledging that the text would contain information not meant for the Director.
After the call, Tony sent a quick text, slipped his phone into his pocket, and they didn't have to wait long before a knock sounded on the door. Tony answered with an apologetic look, and the man who walked in shared Gibbs' height, build, and coloring. He could easily be mistaken for Gibbs, even wearing the same jacket seen in the photos.
"As you can see, Director, it's not Gibbs in those photos," Tony said, smug but still irritated. The Director ignored Tony and addressed the newcomer, "And who are you?"
Jack, with a half grin, shoved his hands into his pockets. "I'm Jack, and I can confirm that's me." He pointed to the photos. "They were taken at the beginning of the week outside the navy yard." Tony blushed slightly, recalling he had warned Jack about meeting him at work that day, but Jack had done it anyway.
"And who are you, Jack?" the Director pressed.
"I don't believe that's relevant, Director. I suggest you have your answer and can see that there's nothing untoward between your agents," Jack replied, indicating between Tony and Gibbs with his thumb.
She visibly colored, displeased with Jack's evasion and authoritative demeanor. "I think there's still something to answer, as clearly Agent Dinozzo has gone out of his way to have relations with someone," she pointed to Jack, "that has a very striking resemblance to his superior officer. If nothing else, that raises all sorts of issues with the agent's psychological state."
Gibbs interjected, "Now hang on a minute, Jen," but she silenced him with a raised hand and turned her smug analysis to Dinozzo. Tony smiled and glanced at Jack, who gave a subtle nod. "I can assure you, Director, that my knowing Jack predates meeting Gibbs in Baltimore by quite a few years. So the similarity is a pure coincidence. In fact, Jack was bulkier and had brown hair when we first met." he smiled at the memory.
Jack chimed in, "don't remind me. You're barking up the wrong tree, Director." He checked his watch, dismissing any further discussion. "I have to go, Tone. See me out?" With a respectful nod to Gibbs, he headed to the door.
Just outside, under the shelter of the porch, Jack affectionately touched the side of Tony's face. "Sorry, Jack, I didn't know how else to deal with this."
"It's okay, Tone. It's my fault; you told me not to meet you at the yard. Sorry to leave you with the rest of this, but I was out with George. Call me in the morning, yeah?"
As Tony reentered the house, a hushed but angry conversation was underway, interrupted by Director Shepard angrily brushing past him and leaving through the door.
"So, Jack, huh?" Gibbs inquired.
"Yeah," Tony responded, a smile lighting up his face.
"You gonna tell me anything more?" Gibbs asked. Tony shook his head. "He's clearly military, not a Marine, though. So this relationship is a risk to him?"
"Yes," Tony admitted, recognizing there was no point in concealing the truth from Gibbs, who was too perceptive for his own good.
"I'm surprised you're not asking about me being gay," Tony remarked.
"I've made some assumptions over the years that you don't really care about the sex of your partners," Gibbs noted. Tony nodded.
"But you two," Gibbs gestured toward the door, "have been together for years. How does that work?"
"We were never exclusive. He was deployed a lot, and, well, I bounced around a few police precincts, as you know so the logistics were difficult for quite a few years."
"And now? You exclusive?" Gibbs ventured into a territory that was undeniably personal, aware that Tony might not answer, but equally unwilling to press for answers.
"He's moving to DC," Tony revealed.
Tony plopped down on the sofa and rubbed his face. "Will the Director be a problem? I don't particularly want to be outed." Gibbs took the seat next to him. "I'll be honest; I'm not sure. She was not pleased to be blindsided, and, well, Jack ruffled her feathers there a bit."
~XX~
A few weeks later,
Director Shepard entered the mixed attendance conference with her head held high. It was a privilege to be invited to such an event, presenting a valuable opportunity to network with higher-ups like SecNav Davenport and Director Morrow. Sipping the wine handed to her upon entry, she spotted the two men in question engaged in discussion with two Air Force officers. Eager to join the conversation, she approached as the officers had their backs turned.
"Ah, Director Shepard," Davenport addressed her. "Let me introduce you." The anticipation built as the two officers turned around. She looked between them, taking a moment to recognize him before standing in disbelief, 'Jack.'
"This is Lieutenant General George Hammond, Head of Homeworld Security," Davenport introduced the older, bald man first. "Not for much longer now, Phillip. My retirement is most definitely calling," Hammond lamented in his broad Texan drawl.
"And this is Major General Jonathan O’Neill, soon to be Head of the Department of Homeworld Security upon George's exit." Jack, extending his hand. "Call me Jack; everyone does," his eyes sparkled with a challenging mischief.
Thrown off by this unexpected revelation, she managed to pull herself together enough to exchange pleasantries before Hammond, Morrow, and O'Neill were pulled away into another conversation. Alone with SecNav Davenport, she received a stern warning.
"Those two men there are the cream of the crop, as far as the President and the military are concerned," Davenport lamented. "Don't be fooled by Jack's laid-back attitude; he's not to be messed with." He looked directly into her eyes, issuing a warning glare. "And I would go as far as saying he's Teflon, Director. This country, and the world, owe him a debt that it will never be able to repay."
Swallowing hard at the warning, she wondered how much Davenport knew, looking over to the two officers laughing and chatting with other attendees. Unaware that Davenport was so close beside her, she jumped slightly when he leaned in.
"I'll be in to see Agent Dinozzo on Tuesday at 12. Make sure he’s available, Director." The words sent a shiver down her spine, confirming he was fully aware, and the implication was that it was somewhat an open secret, not to be exploited for personal gain.
~XX~
Tuesday - NCIS Bullpen
SecNav Davenport encountered Director Shepard at the elevator, swiftly dismissing her, perhaps out of cruelty. Although she had ensured that Tony would be in the office and available, she hadn't informed him why. When The Secretary of the Navy stopped beside Tony’s desk, the agent halted all work and looked somewhat panicked.
“Agent Dinozzo, take a walk with me.” It was clearly an instruction, not a question. Tony grabbed his gun and badge, placing them on his belt while the other members of his team observed.
In a surreal parallel world, Tony found himself sitting in a cafe, having lunch with SecNav Davenport, who seemed to want to engage in casual conversation. “I was out for dinner the other night with friends when one was called away to clear up a misunderstanding.” Realization started to dawn that this was about Jack.
“Sorry about that, Sir. If I could have avoided it, I would have.”
“Please call me Phil. You have nothing to apologize for. I have had a word with the instigator of the encounter.” Tony's eyes shot up; that sounded very much like Jenny had been put in her place. He wasn't sure if that bode well for his ongoing working relationship with her.
“You know Jack is very highly thought of and has more than earned the right to be happy. You've danced around each other long enough, don't you think?” Davenport was being direct and candid, which Tony appreciated.
“Sir…”
“Phil,” he corrected.
“Sorry, Phil. If I may be as candid?” Davenport nodded. “I don't want to be the cause of Jack's downfall. Like you said, he's highly thought of, highly decorated. It could be a disaster.” Tony brushed at a crumb on the table and looked solemn.
“With all due respect, Phil, you're the Secretary of the Navy, not Airforce.” He knew it sounded harsh, but it needed saying. After all, how could Davenport protect Jack? “Jack's friends go to the top. If you're discreet, there is no reason you shouldn't live your lives.” Tony nodded.
“Why do you think Jack finally agreed to a promotion, Tony?”
“I hadn't given it much thought. Figured he earned it.”
“Or could it be because he would finally be posted in the same city as you?” The older man smiled. Davenport finished his coffee and pushed the empty cup away. “Don't screw this up now because you think you're doing what's best for Jack. Know that he has friends that have taken care of all that.”
“Is this a bit like you hurt him, and I'll hurt you?”
“I would never be that impolite, Tony, but you could say that.” With that, Davenport got up from the table, put his coat back on, and left.
~XX~
Gibbs cornered Tony in the Head on his return to the yard. Gibbs took the nearest urinal as Tony washed his hands.
“What was that about?” Gibbs asked.
Tony rubbed the back of his head, looked in the mirror, and straightened his tie. “I think I just had a shovel talk delivered by the bloody Secretary of the Navy.” His features morphed from amused to panicked and back to amused.
“Err, how does Davenport know Jack?” Gibbs looked confused; he had worked out Jack was military but had not given it much thought beyond that.
“They're friends,” Tony said vaguely. Gibbs zipped up and moved over to the basins, turning on the tap.
“What exactly does Jack do, Tony, that he has friends like SecNav Davenport?” Tony leaned against the counter, crossing his arms across his chest.
“He’s just taken up the position of Head of the Department of Homeworld Security,” he said very blandly.
“Christ, Tony, what rank is he?”
“Major General.” Tony had a small smile, knowing what Gibbs would think of him being in the Air Force “in my defense he was a retired Colonel when we met”.
“So the SecNav just wanted to warn you?”
“No, I think it was more to do with something that Jack asked me last week,” he paused and looked uncomfortable sharing his personal details. “He asked me to move in with him.”
“Wow, is that really a good idea, I mean given his position?” Gibbs pulled out some hand towels from the dispenser and wiped away the water.
“Well, I think that's the crux of the visit, to alleviate my worry in doing so and, in turn, get me to say yes. I also heard Director Shepard officially met Major General Jack O'Neill at an event last week.” He paused, giving time for Gibbs to catch up. “She got quite a shock from what I heard.” He smiled, recalling Jack's animated story from the meeting.
“She could still be a problem; I'm not sure that was wise,” Gibbs looked worriedly at Tony.
“I'm assured by Phil it's all in hand.” He laughed out loud at the ridiculous situation he found himself in. Gibbs mouthed 'Phil' and shook his head.
“You need help moving, just shout.”