50 Sentences Expanded

12. Wait - As Tony rushed off in a huff, he felt a calloused hand grasp his forearm, and he looked back in surprise.

Tony was fuming. His rage ripped down his arms and through his fingers as he flung random clothing into his suitcase. There was no way he was going to live with him anymore. Not after that. Not after his little display of affection to Ms. Sassy Redhead earlier. Already insecure about their relationship, Tony felt it was simply the last straw. He couldn't handle the pressure of keeping what they were a secret. At work, in public. The line between Gibbs' denial and the actual need to remain secret at work blurred until Tony could no longer work out what was what anymore.

He wanted to be gone before Gibbs got home. He didn't want the inevitable confrontation. His head was pounding and he just wanted to sleep. He didn't care that he no longer had an apartment to go to. McGee's couch would have to do, since Tony was in no mood to explain to Abby what had gone wrong.

But Tony knew he couldn't avoid it when he heard Gibbs' car in the driveway. And then the front door and heavy footsteps on the creaky old stairs.

Tony realized that his cheeks were wet, and he quickly wiped away the tears he had shed. Whether from anger of hurt he wasn't quite sure.

"Tony-"

"Just don't!" He slammed the suitcase shut and zipped it quickly. He had it in one hand and his car keys in the other as he made his way to the door.

"We need to talk about this! Just let me explai-" He followed Tony down the stairs, hoping he could say something to make him stop. He knew it wasn't about the woman from earlier. The issues in their relationship had been brewing for some time.

As Tony rushed off in a huff, he felt a calloused hand grasp his forearm, and he looked back in surprise.

"Let go." He tried to shake him off, but Gibbs' didn't want to let him go. He couldn't.

"Tony, I want you to understand-"

Tony's eyes blazed and Gibbs' saw the anger, the pain, and the sorrow in their depths. "Explain what? That you live up to the Second B is for Bastard thing pretty often? Because I don't need that one explained to me. That one… I think I've got it figured on my own."

He began his struggle for freedom anew. But Gibbs pulled him closer, wrapping his arms around Tony's torso, making him drop the suitcase and his keys in the process.

"Don't…" He closed his eyes, and Gibbs' thought he just might go a bit mental. But he didn't let go.

"Please, Jethro, just…Give me time. I need to think, to…clear my head." Tony rested his head on the only thing he could really reach: Gibbs' shoulder, his hair brushing against his ear.

Gibbs wasn't quite sure if Tony was being serious or if he was only saying this to get him to let go.

"Just… give me some time. We can talk in a few days." He raised his head to meet Gibbs' eyes. He loved those brilliant blue eyes. And no matter how angry he was, he knew that he loved him. And that if he really wanted this to work, he had some soul-searching to do.

"Okay, Tony. A few days, then we'll talk."

"Yeah." And Gibbs slowly released his grip, allowing Tony to untangle himself from the embrace.

Tony picked up his suitcase and keys and opened the front door.

"I still love you, Tony."

He gave one final glance back.

"I know."

And he was gone.

A/N: So a reader requested that I expand a few of the 50 sentences I did. This is the first. I may do more, but not in any particular order.

So SLE 74, I hope you liked it! And everyone else too! Please review, and let me know if I should keep expanding a few of these into mini-ficlets.

Disclaimer: NCIS is the property of Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill.