controltheory


Control Theory

 

 

Author: Rebecca (NA65)

Fandom: NCIS

Pairing(s): Gibbs/Abby/DiNozzo

Warnings: D/s, Bondage

Spoilers: None

Summary: Tony is aware of Gibbs and Abby's Dom/sub relationship, and he's worried. He's had a badexperience with a Domme himself, and he is afraid for her safety. It's up to Abby and Gibbs to convince him that not only is their relationship safe and sane, but there is a place in it for him, if he can overcome his fears.

Notes: The fourth part of the Applied Psychology Series, but can be read on its own.

 

Nominated Category:

Best First Time - Multi


 

Tony looked nervous. This wasn't a good thing. Tony almost ((never)) looked nervous.

 

Tony was walking toward him, which didn't bode well either. "DiNozzo? You got something for me?" he asked gruffly.

 

"Yeah. Kind of." Tony looked around at the dark, empty office. "You got a second?"

 

Gibbs leaned back in his chair. "What's on your mind, DiNozzo?" he asked.

 

He wasn't sure he'd ever seen Tony look quite that blend of nervous and determined before. "It's about Abby," Tony said abruptly.

 

Oh, shit. He should have known Tony would pick up on this. Kate hadn't, and he wasn't surprised by that; she didn't know enough about the scene and wouldn't think of him and Abby together even if she did. But Tony...Tony knew enough. And he was perceptive enough to pick up on the changes. "Have you talked to her?" he asked, keeping his voice and his body language neutral.

 

"Yeah. Before she went to your place the third time." Tony shoved his hands into his pockets. "I told her to be careful." He shook his head a little. "I don't want her to get hurt."

 

"You think--"

 

"No. I didn't say that. But you work together, and it...it could get sticky, if things don't--" Tony sighed. "Look, Boss. If this is what she wants--if this is what you want--then I'm not going to stand in your way. I don't want to come between you."

 

Although that could be interesting...Gibbs shook off the mental detour. "So why are you talking to me?" he asked.

 

"Because I care about Abby." Tony looked down at the floor before meeting Gibbs' eyes. "I trust you with my life when we're in the field. I always have. But my trusting you with my life isn't the same as trusting you as a Dom. I'm sure you're careful, and I'm sure Abby's smart enough to get herself out of a bad situation. I just don't want her to hold out because it's you."

 

"And you're worried because I'm her boss," Gibbs said evenly.

 

"Wouldn't you be? If I was sleeping with Marcia, down in Records--wouldn't you be worried about that?"

 

He had a point, much as Gibbs didn't want to admit it. "I didn't push her into anything," Gibbs said, sidestepping the issue. "And if you're half as smart as you think you are, you'd know that."

 

"Gibbs, I'm not saying you did. I don't think you did. I'm just concerned for Abby's sake."

 

"Does she know you're talking to me?" Gibbs asked.

 

"No." Tony sighed. "No. I talked to her before--well, before this all started." He gestured wordlessly. "And she'd probably be pretty pissed at me if she knew now."

 

"Yeah, she would," Gibbs said with a nod. "I'm not. But she would be."

 

"I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing," Tony said warily. "Why aren't you pissed?"

 

"Because I understand where you're coming from," Gibbs told him. "Doesn't mean I'm thrilled about it, but I understand."

 

"I just...don't want her to get hurt." Tony managed a faint grin. "Well, personal preferences aside."

 

"Do I want to know how you know about hers?"

 

It was too dark for him to see the exact emotion that flashed over Tony's face, but Gibbs would have bet it was embarrassment mixed with...something else. "I don't," Tony said, looking down at his shoes. "It's not like I've ever slept with her. Or you. Or--okay, I'm going to shut up now."

 

As always, it was about two sentences too late. Gibbs hid the smile and stood up. "Did you ever want to?" he asked casually.

 

"Yes. No. Wait." Tony groaned. "I plead the Fifth."

 

"You're not on trial, DiNozzo."

 

"Doesn't matter. I reserve the right not to incriminate myself for fear of homicide."

 

"I won't kill you," Gibbs said mildly.

 

"It's not you I'm worried about." Tony smiled, looking more than a bit sheepish. "Abby's dangerous when she's mad."

 

"I'll talk to her." Gibbs came around from behind his desk. "If you're worried about her, Tony, talk to her. I don't own her."

 

"Don't you?" Tony asked quietly. "I've gotta go." He left before Gibbs could say anything else.

 

Alone in the office, Gibbs looked up at the ceiling and swore. He had to talk to Abby. Now.

 

She was curled up in his bed when he got home, her hair damp and a few beads of water still on her shoulders from the shower. "Hi," she said softly, stretching and rolling onto her back.

 

He leaned down to kiss her, tangling one hand in her hair and pulling her head back. "Hey there, pretty girl," he murmured. "Have a good shower?"

 

"Mmm." She reached for him eagerly. "You have a wonderful hot water heater."

 

Gibbs laughed and kissed her throat. "Pretty girl," he whispered against her skin.

 

She shivered, already beginning to fall for him. "Yours, Master," she said softly.

 

It was tempting to take her down, watch her fall apart in his arms, but...Gibbs sighed and kissed her again before pulling back. "I need you to come up for me a bit, Abby," he said with more than a bit of reluctance. "Come on up to normal."

 

She groaned. "Why?"

 

"I need to talk to you about something."

 

As he'd half-feared, that got her attention faster than anything other than a Big Gulp could have. "What?" she demanded, sitting up. "We've only been doing this for two weeks, Gibbs, you can't ((possibly)) tell me--"

 

"Abby," he interrupted, holding up his hand. "I'm not telling you it's over."

 

"Oh." She slumped a little in relief. "So...what are you telling me?"

 

"Tony came by to talk to me before I left work tonight," Gibbs said carefully. "He knows."

 

Abby groaned again and buried her face in her hands. "He knew last time," she said, muffled through her fingers. "He told me--" She sighed. "He told me that he wanted me to be happy, but he wanted me to be sure this was what I wanted. I told him it was, and I'd be careful."

 

"I know. And he came to me tonight and told me that while he believes you can get yourself out of a bad situation, and while he trusts me with his life, it's not the same as trusting me to take care of you. He doesn't want you to get hurt."

 

"He should have talked to ((me))," Abby muttered. "He's not my father. He doesn't--"

 

"He's your friend, Abs, and he cares about you. Don't get mad at him." Gibbs sighed, kicking off his shoes. "The problem is that he knows enough about the scene and how things can go wrong to be concerned. And he doesn't know enough about me as a Dom, or you as a sub, to be easy about it."

 

"I think he saw something when he was in Philadelphia," Abby admitted. "We were talking once, just random stuff, and he made a comment about seeing something go wrong." She grimaced. "Although I wouldn't be surprised if it had happened to him."

 

"You think he got into something he couldn't handle?" Gibbs asked curiously.

 

"I think maybe someone took advantage of him. Tony's no fool--he'd have safeworded if he needed to--but maybe someone didn't respect that. Or maybe he ((couldn't)) safeword for some reason. But...yeah. I think he's wary of the scene now. He doesn't show it, but..." Abby shrugged. "He picked up on you and me really fast--he knew what to look for, and I don't think he was trying. And the whole time I was talking to him, he was ((so)) not comfortable. I think he got burned, big time."

 

"What do you want to do about it?" Gibbs stood, beginning to get undressed.

 

"God, I don't know." Abby fell over backwards on the bed. "Seduce him?"

 

He froze with his shirt half-off and his belt undone. "What?" he said, trying to determine if he'd just heard what he thought he'd heard.

 

Abby giggled. "Well, it could work," she said thoughtfully. "You'd be a good Dom for him--you'd respect his limits, make sure you didn't go too far. And I switch, sometimes. I could ease him into it."

 

"Abby...I am not sleeping with Tony to make him feel better about the fact that I'm sleeping with ((you))."

 

There was dead silence in the room for a moment. Then Abby dissolved into laughter, and if she hadn't been lying down Gibbs was pretty sure she'd have fallen over. "Oh, man," she managed finally, wiping tears out of her eyes. "That's just...oh, man."

 

Gibbs rolled his eyes and tossed his pants into the hamper. "What ((do)) you want to do about him, Abs?" he asked, sitting down on the bed again.

 

"I still like the seducing him idea. He's not going to be comfortable until he understands the dynamic here, and he's not going to do that without being part of it."

 

"Why do we want to make him comfortable about this?"

 

"Because he's my friend, and your best agent, and if he gets too uncomfortable he'll leave. He did it in Peoria, Philly, Baltimore...I don't want him to leave us." Abby poked him in the thigh. "I want him to stick around, Gibbs. And it isn't exactly like I've never thought about it."

 

"You thought about sex with Tony?" Gibbs asked in surprise.

 

"Well, der. Didn't you?"

 

Being with Abby was rather like life in Wonderland, Gibbs thought with a mental shake of the head. He sighed. "Abby--"

 

"What would you have done if he'd come to you?" Abby demanded. "Would you have said no?"

 

Yes. "No," he admitted quietly. "But he hasn't, and he's not going to. I won't push him like that."

 

"He's afraid you'll turn him down. Gibbs, the man has been in love with you since the day you recruited him. Which, amusingly enough, is about how long I've wanted to get into his pants." She smiled brightly.

 

"Come up with something else, Abby," Gibbs told her, a hint of steel in his voice.

 

Abby sighed. "Okay, okay. But seriously, Gibbs. We don't have to seduce him to make him understand. Just invite him over some night after work, let him see how it works. Just let me keep ((something)) on--if I'm not going to end up in bed with him, I don't want him to see me naked."

 

"Fair enough. I'll talk to him tomorrow, see if he wants to drop by when we're done. Unless we get a case."

 

"Well, yeah." Abby grinned. "I know how it works."

 

"Good." Gibbs settled himself against the headboard, legs stretched out in front of him. "Then come here and arrange yourself over my lap, pretty girl. Conversation's over."

 

She licked her lips, closing her eyes. "Yes, Master," she breathed before moving into position.


Work was quiet the next day; Gibbs couldn't decide if that was good or bad. A case would have kept him from having to worry about this situation with Tony. On the other hand, he wouldn't have had a chance to invite Tony over, and while he didn't particularly want to do that...he had to. Abby was right; Tony was clearly uncomfortable. Every time Tony glanced in his direction, there was an uncertain look in his eyes, one Gibbs didn't like at all.

 

"DiNozzo," he said at the end of the day, after Kate had left to go meet her lawyer boyfriend--or whoever it was this week.

 

Tony's head jerked up. "Yeah, Boss?"

 

"I talked to Abby last night."

 

"Ouch. How much longer do I have before she kills me?" Tony grimaced.

 

"I talked her out of it." Gibbs smiled faintly. "You owe me."

 

"I'll add it to the list." Despite the banter, Tony was fidgeting with a pen.

 

"What happened to you?" Gibbs asked suddenly. "Why--what did you get yourself into, Tony?"

 

"Boss, I have no idea what you're talking about." Tony pushed himself away from his desk and stood up. "It's late, I'm hungry, and I'd like to go home. See you tomorrow?"

 

"Come over," Gibbs offered. "I've got food at the house. Abby's probably there already. You can talk to her yourself."

 

"I...no. That's not a good idea. I'll catch you at work tomorrow."

 

"Tony." Gibbs stood and walked around his desk. "Come over." He kept his voice as gentle as he could.

 

Tony pulled on his jacket. "I just want to go home, Boss."

 

He gritted his teeth. "Tony," he said quietly. "For Abby. She's worried about you."

 

"Oh, nice." Tony glared at him. "You tell her I'm worried about her and then you tell me she's worried about me because you want me to come over so you can what, reassure me that everything's fine? Sorry, Boss, but it ain't gonna fly. You two go have your happy weird dynamic and leave me out of it."

 

"I can't, Tony. Not if it means losing you as an agent." From the way Tony jerked, Gibbs knew Abby had been right.

 

"I can't stay around and watch this," Tony said after a long moment. "Not--not the two of you."

 

"Which one of us?" Gibbs asked softly.

 

"Does it matter?"

 

((The man has been in love with you since the day you recruited him.)) Abby's words echoed in his brain. "Tony...why didn't you--"

 

"And risk getting not only turned down, but thrown out?" Tony retorted without even giving him a chance to finish. "I'm only that stupid once, Gibbs."

 

He didn't have the words for this. "Just come over," he said quietly. "Just...talk to Abby."

 

"I ((can't))," Tony whispered. "Gibbs, don't you get it? I might understand the dynamic but that doesn't mean I'm comfortable with it, and with you and Abby--I can't, okay?"

 

Before Gibbs answered, Tony was gone.

 

Shit.

 

"So where's Tony?" Abby demanded when he got home.

 

Gibbs went straight to the liquor cabinet, pouring himself a drink and tossing half of it back in one swallow. "I don't know what happened to him," he said tiredly. "But he doesn't want to deal with it. He doesn't want to deal with this, either."

 

"Idiot." Abby glared at the couch as if it had Tony sitting on it.

 

"No," Gibbs corrected her. "He wants something but he's not sure what it is, and he got burned by something that happened to him in his past. And now that you're my girl, he's staying ((far)) away to protect himself."

 

"He's still an idiot." Abby sighed and crossed to him, wrapping her arms around his waist and pressing her cheek against his back. "What are we going to do with him, Gibbs?"

 

He sipped his drink, feeling the alcohol's smooth burn. "There isn't much we can do, pretty girl," he said quietly. "If he feels this way, there isn't much we can do to change his mind--and I'm not even sure we have the right to do that."

 

She thumped her forehead against his back. "I want him to be comfortable," she whispered. "I want--"

 

Gibbs felt her shake her head. "You don't want to lose him as a friend," he said quietly. "Is his friendship worth giving--"

 

"No," she interrupted fiercely. "No. I'm not about to give up this because he's being a jerk. You tried your way. My turn."

 

"Abby, don't try to seduce him. It's not going to work."

 

"I won't," she promised. "I'm going to kick him in the head with my boots. The big ones."

 

Gibs sighed and scrubbed his fingers through his hair. "Do it after work, pretty girl," he told her. "I don't need him rabbiting on the job."

 

"Promise." Abby stretched up on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. "I'll wait."

 

"Good." He turned around and kissed her, squeezing the back of her neck gently. "Pretty girl," he murmured.

 

It never failed to surprise him, how fast she fell. All he had to do was squeeze her neck, or her wrists, or even say something in the right tone of voice, and she went down for him. "Master," she whispered, falling to her knees.


He didn't want to stop by the lab, but he couldn't quite make himself stay away. So he found a space in Abby's lab where he couldn't be seen and watched, wondering what his girl was going to say to Tony--and how Tony would react.

 

"Hey, Abs, what's up? You said you had something for me?" Tony asked; if Gibbs hadn't been looking for the wariness he'd never have found it.

 

"Mm-hmm." She snapped off her gloves and turned to look at him. "This." She slapped him across the face.

 

Tony stumbled back, one hand pressed to his cheek. "What the fuck was that?" he demanded.

 

"You asshole!" Abby shoved him back another couple of steps. "First you don't have the guts to come talk to me and then you ran away when Gibbs tried to talk to ((you)). Damnit, Tony, why are you being such a jerk?"

 

She raised her hand again and Tony grabbed her wrist. "Don't," he said in a low voice. "And you know exactly--Abby, you know about Philadelphia, don't tell me you don't."

 

"I don't," she snapped. "I don't know what happened."

 

"Bullshit! You know ((exactly)) what happened--you mentioned it to me! Or don't you remember Kristen Peterman?"

 

The name didn't mean anything to Gibbs, but it obviously did to Abby. She gasped, stepping back. "Tony--that was--"

 

"Yeah," he said tightly. "That was me. So you tell me, Abby. Exactly how comfortable am I supposed to be here?"

 

"But--" Abby shook her head. "Gibbs isn't ((like)) that!"

 

"I didn't say he was. And I didn't say I'm afraid for you. But if you want me to be easy about this, if you want me to give you my blessing..." Tony closed his eyes. "I can't, Abby. I can't tell you that. I want you to be happy, but..." He shook his head. "I have to go, Abs. I'll...you be careful." He left in a hurry, almost walking through the doors before they opened.

 

"Damnit," Abby whispered when she was alone.

 

"Who's Kristen Peterman?" Gibbs asked quietly.

 

She jumped. "Don't ((do)) that!"

 

"Sorry." He kissed her forehead. "Who's Kristen Peterman?"

 

Abby sighed. "She's...bad news. About five, six years ago--well, if it was Tony, it'd have to be around six--there was this thing. In Philly. Apparently there was this Domme who..." Abby sighed. "She'd found a new sub, someone not all that experienced, and...it was a bad situation. She ended up putting him in the hospital with a broken collarbone and broken ribs, and she ended up in jail, and ((everyone)) within, like, five hundred miles freaked because the guy she hurt was a cop. Nick--a friend of mine--ran a private club, and he had to shut it down."

 

"And Tony was the cop?" Gibbs asked.

 

She nodded miserably. "Remember how he said there were extenuating circumstances when he left Philly? I'm guessing that was it."

 

"Was she a professional, or--"

 

"No," Abby said hastily. "I don't know the whole story, Gibbs, this is just what I've heard. She's, like, the boogeyman of the scene. We're all scared anytime something happens because it's all the cops see, is when things go wrong, and for someone to hurt a ((cop)) that badly? God." Abby sighed and leaned against him.

 

He put his arm around her shoulders, hugging her. "C'mon, pretty girl," he said softly. "Let's just go."

 

"Gibbs, I don't think I can--" Abby sighed. "Not tonight. I mean...I don't--" She groaned. "I can't play tonight, Gibbs. I'm not...I can't."

 

"Do you want company?" he asked, kissing the top of her head. "Just for the sake of it?"

 

He could almost ((see)) her wavering. "No," she said finally. "I think...I think I just want to be alone tonight."

 

"If you're sure." He didn't think it was the best idea, but he wasn't going to push.

 

"Yeah." Abby nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

 

"I'll walk out with you." Gibbs rested his hand in the small of her back as they headed out and was inwardly pleased to feel her lean into the touch. When they reached her car, he opened the door for her and leaned down to kiss her on the cheek. "Sleep well, pretty girl. Call me if you need me."

 

Abby smiled. "I will."

 

After she'd driven off, Gibbs stood in the parking lot for a moment before heading back upstairs. He had a name, a timeframe, and an idea. Now he wanted details.

 

"Shit," he muttered nearly two hours later. No wonder Tony was skittish.

 

According to both the newspaper articles and the police report, Kristen Peterman had been a tall, athletic woman--just shy of Tony's height. The police reports stated that there had been a domestic disturbance at her apartment and Tony had fallen down a flight of stairs trying not to hurt her. Reading between the lines, it looked like she'd beaten the crap out of him. The newspaper articles had "friends" quoted as saying she liked it rough, that she was into "weird stuff", etc.--comments which were carefully ((not)) anywhere near the official police report.

 

"So they knew but they didn't put it in," Gibbs mused out loud, leaning back in his chair. "And Tony probably left as soon as he could." He wasn't surprised; cops weren't exactly known for being friendly to alternative sexual lifestyles.

 

"A week after I got out of the hospital I turned in my resignation and moved," Tony said quietly out of the darkness.

 

He jerked upright. "What the hell are you doing here, DiNozzo?" he demanded.

 

Tony moved into the circle of light cast by his desk lamp. "I knew Abby would tell you what she knew, and then I knew you'd come looking for more information." He shrugged. "The reports don't tell the full story."

 

"They rarely do." Gibbs studied him for a long moment. Tony looked tired; his hair was disheveled and his tie was undone. His hands were shoved into his pockets and there was a slump to his shoulders Gibbs rarely saw. "What actually happened, Tony?"

 

"It's not a pretty story." Tony moved to his desk, turned on the light. He dropped into his seat, leaning back. "I was in Philly. Been there almost a year and a half, when I met this woman. Kristen. She was...a knockout. Tall, blonde, beautiful, with the kind of body--anyway." He shook his head. "Doesn't matter. I met her at a party a friend of mine was throwing. We hit it off, so we started dating. She..." Tony sighed. "I'd heard about the scene. And I knew a little. But I didn't know enough. And Kristen played...hard. I liked it, some, but the way she played...I didn't feel comfortable. It wasn't a game to her, it wasn't about pleasure, it was about inflicting pain. She was a hard-core sadist, and that wasn't...I didn't want that."

 

He paused, looking up at the ceiling. "I was planning on breaking it off. And then things got out of control. I'd gone to her place, and we..." Tony sighed. "It was a bad scene. She wasn't--it felt dangerous, and I needed to get out. I safeworded."

 

"She didn't listen," Gibbs said, putting the pieces together.

 

"No. It just made her angrier, and...I think she stopped when I blacked out, but I have no idea. I ended up with a fractured collarbone, three broken ribs, a concussion..." Tony shrugged. "She was gone by the time I came to. I got myself out of the restraints and called 911, and by the time everyone got there I'd managed to make it not look like what it was. Mostly."

 

"But you still left."

 

"The EMTs found me half-unconscious, sprawled out over my girlfriend's bed, beaten up. You tell ((me)) what they thought. My captain gave me a reference when I applied to Baltimore and avoided any mention of why I'd left because he didn't want it to reflect on the department." Tony pushed himself up in his chair. "So. Yeah. It was a bad situation."

 

"Sounds like it," Gibbs said as noncommittally as he could manage. "And you've stayed away from the scene since then."

 

"Can you blame me?" Tony got to his feet and snapped off his light. "Boss, I'm sure you'll take care of Abby. I'm sure she knows what she's doing more than I ever did, and I have no doubt you're not like Kristen. But you're both asking me to be comfortable with something that I just...can't."

 

"Sometimes the only way to get over something is to do it again," Gibbs pointed out. He paused, choosing his words carefully. "Maybe if you--"

 

"No," Tony said sharply. "No. Once was enough for me. Anyway, now you know. And if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go get drunk."

 

"We've got work tomorrow."

 

"I'll be sober by then." Tony's footsteps echoed on the floor as he headed for the elevator as fast as he could.

 

Gibbs rubbed a hand over his face and leaned back in his chair again. "Shit," he muttered again.


They caught a case at six in the morning--dead Marine floating face-down in a pool with his head in a plastic bag. "Charming," Tony muttered before turning on the cheer. "Kate, bring your bikini?"

 

She glared at him. "Depends, Tony. Did you bring a blindfold?"

 

"Enough," Gibbs interrupted. He didn't miss Tony's hidden wince; fortunately, Kate did. "Let's get him out of the pool and back to autopsy for Ducky."

 

The day was long and arduous and draining and was not made any easier by the storms rolling in throughout the afternoon. It wasn't until McGee put the pieces together around six that night that they caught a break and were able to get a suspect and an arrest. Finishing up the paperwork took them until eight and by that point they were all more than ready to go home.

 

Gibbs didn't ask and Abby didn't answer; she just followed him home, stripping out of her wet clothes as soon as they walked in the door and crawling into his lap on the couch. "Sometimes, life just sucks," she muttered, resting her head on his shoulder.

 

She wasn't talking about the case. Tony hadn't gone anywhere near her today, staying as far away as he possibly could. The few times he'd had to come to the lab he'd been tense and silent and had left as soon as possible.

 

"I know, pretty girl," he said, kissing her hair. "I know."

 

Thunder cracked outside and the flash of lightning shone through the curtains, illuminating Abby's pale skin. Gibbs traced the tattoo on her shoulderblade idly. "You hungry?" he asked.

 

She shook her head. "No."

 

He wasn't either.

 

They sat like that for a while, Abby snuggling against him, her body soft and warm even through his clothes. He stroked her back, her arms and legs, enjoying the feel of her against him.

 

There was a knock on the door that made them both start with surprise. Abby scrambled off Gibbs' lap, wrapping herself in the thick black robe she kept nearby, while he went to open it.

 

He probably shouldn't have been surprised to see Tony standing there, looking more than a bit bedraggled. His hair was soaked, his windbreaker was dripping, and his jeans were dark with water almost to the knee. Automatically, Gibbs looked past him to see his car and didn't find it.

 

"I walked," Tony said, swiping wet hair out of his eyes. "Can I come in?"

 

"Walked from ((where))?" Gibbs asked, moving aside. Tony didn't live anywhere near him.

 

Tony shrugged. "Well, it was more like walked ((around)). I parked around the corner about two hours ago, and I've just been...wandering since then. And eventually I ended up here. Hi, Abs," he said.

 

"You're soaked," she said, studying him. "Are you okay?"

 

"I noticed. And...I'm not sure." Tony grinned briefly. "Boss, you got somewhere I can hang this up?"

 

"Yeah. Here--give me your socks and shoes too." Gibbs took the drenched windbreaker and hung it over a coat tree, making sure there was a mat under it. "Why are you here, Tony?" he asked.

 

Tony sighed. "I...I came to apologize. To both of you."

 

Abby took his hand and tugged him into the living room, drawing him down on the couch. Quietly, Gibbs sat down on Tony's other side. Tony was facing Abby and didn't appear to notice him. "I understand why you're concerned," Abby told him. "But--Tony--this isn't like that."

 

"Abby..." Tony took a deep breath. "I know that. But I see you and Gibbs and I'm just so afraid that--" He shook his head. "What happens if you need to safeword?"

 

"I needed to, once," she said quietly. "And I didn't. And Gibbs stopped."

 

Tony twisted around in surprise. "You--"

 

"Did you think it was only the subs who had safewords?" Gibbs asked. He wasn't too surprised Tony hadn't thought of it.

 

"Kristen never..." Tony stopped, looked down at the worn brown fabric of the cocuh. "Kristen didn't do most things the way she should have," he said finally.

 

Abby squeezed his hand. "This isn't like that, Tony," she said again. "I promise."

 

He turned back to look at her. "I know. I do. I just..." He reached up to rub his collarbone absently. "It still hurts sometimes, you know?" he asked wryly. "When it rains, or the weather changes. Just an ache."

 

Abby reached up with her free hand to brush her fingers over his collarbone. "Trust me," she said softly. "And trust Gibbs."

 

"I"m trying," Tony said, catching her hand. "I am."

 

She leaned forward and kissed him gently. "Trust me now," she murmured.

 

"Abby," Gibbs said warningly.

 

"I--I think this is my cue to leave," Tony managed.

 

"Don't," Abby whispered. "Tony, don't--let me show you what it's really like, what it's supposed to be."

 

"Right, and he's going to let you?" Tony asked, sounding a little panicked and more than a little defensive. "Or--no, Abby. No. Don't do this to me."

 

((Which one of us? --Does it matter?)) Gibbs rested a hand on Tony's shoulder. "If you want to stay," he said quietly, "it's up to you."

 

"Gibbs--" Tony's voice shook slightly.

 

"Please," Abby murmured. "Tony, please stay. We won't hurt you."

 

"There's more kinds of pain than physical," Tony managed. "And I want this too much to--" He shut up, shaking his head.

 

"We want you too," Abby told him gently. "This doesn't have to be a once-off, not unless you want it to be."

 

Tony was wavering; Gibbs could feel it in the trembling of his muscles, the way his hands clenched in his lap. But he didn't say a word. This had to be Tony's decision. Neither he nor Abby could push him into it or it wouldn't be fair.

 

He felt the exact moment when Tony chose. His muscles relaxed and he nearly fell back on Gibbs, who caught him and held him. "What's your safeword?" Gibbs asked quietly.

 

Tony closed his eyes. "I don't have one anymore," he said.

 

"Pick something different," Abby suggested. "Something you didn't use."

 

It was a moment or two before Tony spoke. "Peppermint," he said.

 

"And to slow down?"

 

Tony smiled a little. "Coffee," he said, almost shyly.

 

Gibbs laughed. "Nice." He kissed Tony's temple, shifting so Tony half-lay across his lap. "Relax and listen," he said, letting his voice drop into what Abby called Top-mode. "Just listen for now, okay?"

 

Tony nodded obediently.

 

"As long as you're here, you'll obey my rules. If I tell you to do something, you'll do it. If I tell you that from now on, you're to be naked as soon as you walk in the door, you will. If we decide to make this more than tonight, your body will be mine. You won't come without permission. But for tonight, I just want you to obey. Just do what I tell you."

 

"Yes sir," Tony whispered. He licked his lips absently.

 

Gibbs bent his head and kissed him, coaxing his mouth open, tasting him. Tony yielded, a little hesitantly. "Shh," Gibbs murmured against Tony's lips. "It's about pleasure, Tony. Nothing else."

 

Tony shivered slightly and turned his face into Gibbs' shoulder. "I don't think I can do this," he whispered.

 

"Do you want to?"

 

"I've wanted to for years," Tony said shakily. "I just don't know if I ((can))."

 

Gibbs tipped his chin up and kissed him again, slow and deep. "You can," he said, voice quiet but firm. "Just relax, Tony. This is something new. And since when have you been afraid of that?"

 

"When you put it like that..." Tony managed a smile.

 

Gibbs stroked his hair; it was still damp. "Pretty girl," he said, looking up. "Drop the robe and help Tony get out of his clothes before he gets pneumonia."

 

He sat back and watched Abby shrug out of the robe, draping it over the back of the couch. Tony swallowed when he saw her nude and reached for her, but she laughed and pressed him back. "Just lie back, sexy," she teased.

 

She made a game out of it, playfully tugging on buttons and zippers and peeling his clothes off. Gibbs watched in amusement, noting the way Tony relaxed under her touch, pulling her down for a quick kiss that turned into something longer, more intimate. She knelt over him, her hair falling around her face, veiling his as well. When she raised her head, she was panting a little and Tony was mostly hard.

 

"Let's take this upstairs," Gibbs said quietly.

 

Abby grinned and slid off the couch. She reached for Tony's hands, pulling him to his feet. "C'mon," she said, leaning up to kiss him again.

 

Tony followed--he couldn't do anything else, really. Abby had his hand gripped firmly and unless he wanted to risk hurting her, there was no way he was going to pull free. Then again, Gibbs was fairly certain he didn't want to anymore.

 

He flipped on the bedside lamp when they got to the bedroom, leaving the overhead off. "Tony," he said, stroking his fingers down Tony's cheek. "Kiss me."

 

This time, Tony kissed him eagerly, relaxing into it without hesitation. Gibbs slid a hand into his hair; when the kiss ended, he pulled Tony's head back enough to expose his throat. "One last chance to say no," he warned Tony.

 

Tony swallowed. "I'm not saying no," he whispered.

 

Gibbs tightened his grip in Tony's hair. "My boy," he murmured. He bent his head to Tony's throat, teasing the skin with his tongue, nipping him where his neck met his shoulder. "Lie down," he said, releasing Tony.

 

His face was flushed and he nearly stumbled backwards before his knees hit the bed and he fell onto it. He moved to roll onto his stomach, but Gibbs shook his head. "On your back," he said quietly. He'd have to see later if Tony could stand being restrained.

 

Without looking, he held out a hand for Abby. She took it, letting him draw her in against his body. "Pretty girl," he said, stroking her face and her throat with his free hand. "Are you sure?"

 

She nodded. "Yes, Master," she said, arching into the caress.

 

Gibbs smiled and traced a line down her throat, her arm, circling her wrist with his fingers. He pulled her wrists behind her back, pinning them. "My girl," he said evenly.

 

Abby shuddered. "Yours, Master."

 

He bent his head and kissed her, hard. She moaned into the kiss, pressing against him as closely as she could.

 

"Don't move," he warned her, right before his hand slid between her legs. Abby gasped but managed to stay still, swallowing hard.

 

She was already wet, heat soaking into his fingers where he held her. "This turns you on?" he murmured, his thumb sliding a little inside to rest against her clit. "You like having Tony here?"

 

Abby managed a nod.

 

He smiled faintly. "Why is that, pretty girl? Do you want to show off for him? Want to show him what you'll do for me, what I'll make you do? Do you want to see him on his knees?"

 

A quick glance at the bed showed him that Tony was watching them intently. His face was flushed, his hands curled at his sides. "You like my pretty girl?" he asked, toying idly with Abby's clit.

 

Tony nodded jerkily. "Y-yes, sir," he said thickly.

 

Gibbs smiled. "I do too." He kissed Abby again briefly and released her with one final squeeze. "On the bed, pretty girl," he told her. "Play with Tony a bit--but don't touch his cock."

 

She nodded. "Yes, Master."

 

"And Tony?"

 

"Sir?" Tony asked, looking a bit nervous.

 

"Don't move."

 

He undressed slowly so he could enjoy the sight of the two of them. Abby crawled over Tony, letting her body slide against his, straddling his hips. Gibbs saw Tony almost try to reach for her before remembering.

 

Good.

 

Abby stretched out over Tony, her breasts rubbing against his chest. She kissed him, lazily, teasing him again and again. Her fingernails ran up and down his arms, down his sides and making him nearly roll over with laughter. "Don't--Abby--"

 

She laughed and nipped his collarbone. "Ticklish, Tony?"

 

He glared at her.

 

"Both of you, behave," Gibbs said mildly. He sat down on the bed, stroking his fingers through Tony's hair. "I don't want to have to punish either of you tonight."

 

Tony looked embarrassed; Abby just blushed and looked down. "Sorry, Master," she said softly.

 

He kissed her, his mouth lingering on hers. "Hands behind your back," he said, stroking her breasts. "You can stay where you are."

 

She nodded, instantly linking her hands behind her back.

 

"Arms over your head," Gibbs told Tony. "Hold on to the headboard."

 

Tony moved, wrapping his hands around the wooden slats. He closed his eyes, swallowing. He looked a little nervous and a lot turned on and Gibbs had to smile, seeing him like that. He leaned down and kissed Tony gently. "Will you be all right if I blindfold you?" he asked.

 

"I--I think so, sir," Tony said.

 

"If you're not, tell me." Gibbs opened the nightstand drawer and took out the blindfold, fastening it carefully. Tony swallowed again, but didn't tense up at all.

 

Gibbs stroked a hand down Tony's chest, amused at the way the muscles flexed under his touch. Tony's nipples hardened and he shivered a little. "Responsive, aren't you?" Gibbs murmured in amusement.

 

Tony looked like he wasn't sure how to answer that statement.

 

"Relax," Gibbs told him again. "Just relax. I'll take care of you."

 

"Yes sir," Tony whispered.

 

He did settle back against the bed, breathing deeply and easily. Gibbs nodded in approval and kissed him again._

 

Briefly, he thought about telling Abby to get the cuffs, but decided against it. He wanted her to stay still, wanted her to feel Tony's body and Tony to feel her where she knelt over him. So he got off the bed himself, taking two pairs of leather cuffs out of the toybox.

 

Abby shivered a little when he cuffed her hands behind her back, her head dropping forward. "Be a good girl and I'll let Tony fuck you," he whispered in her ear.

 

She whimpered a little. "I'll behave, Master, I promise," she said eagerly.

 

He laughed and slapped her ass. "Good girl."

 

Tony didn't seem to have even noticed the exchange. He was down, deep inside his own head; Gibbs was sure he was floating. But when he wrapped the cuffs around Tony's wrists, threading the chain through the headboard, Tony panicked. "No--please, don't, don't--"

 

He'd either forgotten he could safeword or was too scared to think of it. Abby scrambled off him instantly and Gibbs got the cuffs off him, helping him sit up and take off the blindfold. "Easy," he murmured, stroking Tony's back. "Easy, it's okay, it's just us. No one's going to hurt you."

 

Tony was trembling in his arms. "I can't--please, I'll stay still, just don't--"

 

"Shh," Gibbs murmured, kissing his temple. "It's okay. It's okay, Tony. I should have realized myself."

 

Tony shook his head, pressing against him. "I can't--not now. I can't stand being tied like that."

 

Damnit. Gibbs cursed himself inwardly, although he continued to hold Tony and soothe him. He should have known Tony wouldn't be able to handle being restrained. Not now, not until they had established more trust, more security for him.

 

Abby crawled over, kissing Tony's shoulder and his neck. "It's okay," she whispered. "It's okay, Tony."

 

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

 

"Don't apologize. We'll just know for next time."

 

"Next time?" Tony looked completely dumbfounded. "But I thought--"

 

"This time isn't over yet," Gibbs told him. "And unless you don't want there to be one, there will be a next time."

 

"Oh." He swallowed. "But I just--"

 

"You had a minor freak-out," Abby said matter-of-factly. "It happens. You should have seen me the first time someone tried tight bondage. I nearly passed out from hyperventilating."

 

"Tight bondage?" Gibbs raised an eyebrow and she blushed.

 

"I started liking it after a bit," she admitted.

 

He'd have to remember that.

 

"So...now what?" Tony asked tentatively.

 

Gibbs kissed him, teasing him, stroking him until he groaned deep in his throat. "Now we go back to this," Gibbs said, nipping his lower lip. "Okay?"

 

Tony swallowed. "Okay."

 

"Lie down again," Gibbs told him. "On your back. Hold on to the headboard. I won't tie you, but I don't want you to move."

 

"Yes sir." Tony settled himself against the bed again, stretching his arms over his head.

 

"Pretty girl," Gibbs said with a smile. "Kneel over him. I want you to feel his cock against your ass."

 

She moved eagerly, shivering when she settled herself.

 

"Isn't she beautiful?" Gibbs asked Tony. He stroked Abby's breasts, her stomach, trailing his fingers over her thighs. "So pretty and pliant. She'll do anything I tell her. And she loves it. Look at the way she's all flushed--you can probably feel her heat against you, so wet it's on your skin. It wouldn't take much to make her come--wouldn't take anything at all, really. If I told her, she'd come right now." He smiled a little, caressing Abby's back. "Do you want to fuck my pretty girl, Tony? Do you want to feel her around you, tight and wet and hot, riding you until you come inside her?"

 

Tony had to lick his lips twice before he could answer. "Please, sir," he managed. "Please."

 

"And if I let you have her--will you let me have you, Tony? Will you get on your hands and knees for me, let me take you?"

 

He wasn't asking lightly and from the way Tony went still on the bed, he knew it. All three of them were motionless, waiting for Tony's response.

 

Tony closed his eyes, shuddering. "Anything," he breathed. "Anything you want, sir."

 

Gibbs smiled. "My boy," he said, stroking Tony's hair. "My beautiful boy."

 

"Yours, sir," Tony said softly. He turned his head into the caress.

 

Abby made a soft sound he couldn't identify, but when Gibbs glanced at her she was grinning. "Told you so," she said impudently.

 

He'd tan her hide for that later.

 

Instead, for the moment he got out a couple of condoms. Before he opened one, he wrapped his hand around Tony's cock, feeling the warmth and the weight of it. It twitched in his hand and when he rubbed his thumb over the head, it came away wet with pre-come. "Open your eyes," he told Tony. "I want you to watch."

 

"Yes, sir." Tony opened his eyes, licking his lips at the sight of Gibbs kneeling next to him with a condom packet in his hand. Gibbs grinned and traced the packet over his lips, down his chest, past Abby to his hips. He ripped it open and took out the condom, rolling it on carefully. Tony groaned deep in his throat.

 

"Ready, pretty girl?" Gibbs murmured to Abby.

 

"Please, Master," she begged eagerly.

 

He laughed and nipped her throat. "I'll punish you later," he warned her. "But I'm being generous tonight."

 

"Thank you, Master." Abby grinned and kissed him.

 

With her hands cuffed behind her, she couldn't get the leverage to take Tony inside her. He settled his hands on her hips and lifted her up, easing her down slowly. Both Abby and Tony moaned; Abby's head fell back and Tony's hands clenched around the headboard.

 

Gibbs helped her begin to move, bracing her the way she needed so she could create her own rhythm. She kept it slow at first, shivering and biting her lip. Her arms pulled at the cuffs and she whimpered, trying to get more. "Please," she begged. "Master, please, I need more..."

 

"You need what I give you," he reminded her, holding her hips steady. "Nothing more."

 

Abby moaned. "Master..."

 

He nipped her shoulder sharply. "Like this, pretty girl," he said evenly. "Just like this."

 

She whimpered. "Yes, Master."

 

Gibbs kept his hands on her hips, gentling his hold. Abby kept the rhythm slow, easy, rolling her hips. With the way Gibbs knelt behind her, his cock rubbed against her ass as she moved on Tony. Caught between the two of them, she could only moan.

 

The small, analytical part of Gibbs' brain noted that for future reference. Maybe one of these days, they'd put her in the middle for real. But not tonight.

 

Tony was panting for breath, arching up every time Abby moved. "God--Abby--" His voice was husky, low with need. "More--please, sir, more..."

 

Gibbs kissed Abby's shoulder, over the little bite mark. "Do it, pretty girl," he told her. "Move the way you need."

 

"Thank you, Master," she said breathlessly.

 

"Tony," Gibbs said.

 

"Sir?" Tony nearly groaned the word.

 

"Don't come. Not until I'm inside you."

 

Tony made a low, helpless sound. "Yes, sir," he managed.

 

Abby was moving hard and fast now, every inhalation a whine for air. "Oh God--oh--Master, please, I--"

 

He tugged her earlobe between his teeth. "Come," he whispered.

 

She cried out, arching back. Gibbs let her calm down just enough before he reached around and rubbed her clit ((just)) right and she screamed again, falling forward onto Tony. Gibbs caught her before she landed on him and eased her off, uncuffing her wrists and settling her on her side. He stroked her face gently and she kissed his fingers.

 

Tony was trembling, flushed from forehead to collarbone. "Please--sir, please..."

 

Gibbs peeled off the condom and kissed him deeply. "Hands and knees," he said as evenly as he could. His self-control wasn't boundless and he was starting to feel the limits. Fortunately, Tony scrambled to all fours as fast as he could move.

 

The lube was in the nightstand drawer; Gibbs snagged it and moved to kneel behind Tony, kissing the small of his back as he did. "How long has it been for you?" he asked, opening the tube.

 

"A few years, sir."

 

It didn't surprise him. It just meant he'd have to be careful.

 

He slicked his fingers generously, pressing one inside Tony slowly. Tony was vise-tight around him and he whimpered in what wasn't entirely pleasure. "Easy," Gibbs murmured. "Breathe, Tony. Relax into it."

 

Tony groaned. He took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. "Good," Gibbs said softly. "Good."

 

Slowly, Tony relaxed around him, enough that Gibbs could stretch him with one finger, then two, scissoring them inside him, making him moan in pleasure this time. "That's it." Gibbs kissed the small of his back again. "Are you ready for me?"

 

Tony nodded. "Please, sir," he whispered.

 

He wanted to take it slow--Tony was still almost as tight as a virgin and hurting him was the ((last)) thing Gibbs wanted to do right then. But he rolled on the condom and pushed inside Tony...and Tony just shuddered and relaxed. "Please," he whispered again. "Please, sir..."

 

So much for slow. Gibbs began to move, deep steady thrusts, dragging a moan from Tony. He wanted to hold back, to draw it out, but between the way Tony was moving wtih him and his own body, he wasn't going to be able to. With a groan, he dropped his forehead to Tony's back, giving into the rhythm his body wanted.

 

Abby was stirring a little by this point; she was watching them avidly, her mouth half-parted. Gibbs noticed and caught her eye, nodding at Tony. She didn't need an explanation. She just slid under Tony's body, sucking his cock into her mouth.

 

"Oh God--" Tony gasped, shuddering all over. "God--sir--Abby--"

 

Gibbs spared a brain cell to be amused at the litany. He bit Tony's shoulder, harder than he'd nipped Abby's before. "Come," he said in a low voice. "Come for me, Tony."

 

Tony cried out something incomprehensible, body going taut for a long moment. He nearly fell down and only Abby's hands on his shoulders and Gibbs' hands on his hips kept him up. Abby slid out from under him, kissing him, wrapping her arms around her neck.

 

The two of them were beautiful together. Gibbs smiled a little at the sight before his eyes fell closed and he surrendered to the need to have Tony, to possess him, take him hard and deep. Tony was ((his)) now and God, Gibbs wanted him to know it.

 

He dimly heard Tony's harsh breathing, the way Abby's breath caught in her throat as she watched them. God, it was so good. Orgasm was creeping up on him faster than he could fight it and he just stopped trying, letting it wash over him with a groan and a shudder. Tony moaned a little, wincing a bit as Gibbs pulled out of him carefully. "You all right?" Gibbs asked, throwing out the condom.

 

"I..." Tony nearly fell onto his side. "I..."

 

He wasn't; he wasn't up yet and he was still trying to process and his brain was short-circuiting when it tried. Gibbs didn't bother cleaning up, just pulled the covers back and got the three of them under as fast as possible, settling Tony in the middle with Abby pressed up against his back and Gibbs holding both of them. "Easy," he murmured, stroking Tony's hair. "Just let it go."

 

Tony hid his face in Gibbs' shoulder. He was shaking and Gibbs felt a few hot, painful tears against his skin. "Shh," Gibbs whispered. "It's okay. It's okay, Tony."

 

Abby kissed his shoulderblade, the nape of his neck. "We've got you," she whispered. "We've got you. You're safe."

 

They held him tight until he stopped trembling in their arms, until he could speak. And then they held him as he fell asleep, safe and warm between them, tucked against Gibbs' chest with Abby's arms around him.

 

"Can we keep him?" Abby whispered impishly once Tony was asleep.

 

Gibbs gave her a Look. "We're sure as hell not letting him go now," he said, looking down at Tony. "You sure you're okay with this, pretty girl? He's going to need some looking after."

 

"I know." Abby kissed Tony's throat. "We'll make it work."

 

"If you're sure."

 

She smiled. "It was my idea," she pointed out.

 

Gibbs sighed and turned off the light. "Go to sleep, pretty girl. I'll figure out what to do with ((you)) tomorrow."

 

Abby giggled and snagged his hand, kissing it. "Night, Master," she whispered.

 

He stroked her face. "Sleep well, pretty girl."