"Time to go home. Later, Kate."



Tony walked out the bullpen, backpack flung over his shoulder. Without even a small glance back, he ran to the elevator.



"Hot date!?" Kate yelled after him.



Before he could answer her the elevator doors closed and the car was on the way down. Jethro watched the doors close then got up, looked over at Tony's empty desk, and finally walked to stand in front of Kate's desk, hand held out in front of him.



"Now."



"Oh come on, Gibbs, he's not gonna want it back."



Jethro moved his hand a few inches closer to her and frowned at her for a second.



"Now, Kate."



With that she leaned down and picked up the dog, whom she had

affectionately named Tony, and placed her on her lap.



"Tony wants to keep it."



Again Jethro's hand twitched. It seemed to Kate that it had gotten closer, although it hardly seemed it could.



"Fine."



She bent down again and grabbed the dirty hat from the floor and placed it in Jethro's hand. She huffed as if the hat had been the only good thing that had ever happened to her.



"Night, Kate."



Kate just glared back at her boss and watched him as he walked out of the office.



"We'll get you a better hat, Tony." She whispered into the dog's ear. "You don't want one that's been *used* anyway."



The dog barked in response and Kate placed her back on the floor.

Jethro had a thing about people destroying other people's property for a laugh. He had thought it funny at the time, watching Tony's frazzled look and Kate and Abby laughing about it but now he found it... well, mean.



"Ducky!"



He looked at the older man as he leaned over yet another dead body.



"What can I do for you, Jethro?"



Jethro shook Tony's hat in the air. A few leftover pieces of dog food flew out, and he handed it over to the doctor.



"Got something to clean this up with?"



Ducky took the hat to his sink and rinsed it, then wrung it

out as soon as he was done.



"Now, Jethro, I never knew you cared enough to get this back for him."



Jethro grabbed the wet hat from Ducky's hands and started to walk off.



"I just don't want him bugging me again when he has to break in a new hat, Duck!" And with that he was out the door and on the elevator before Ducky could make a comment, though his knowing smile did that for him.

"Tony!"



The door swung open with one sweep, hitting the wall harder than Tony had expected and making him jump. Jethro was standing in front of Tony's doorway, which was being blocked by Tony himself. Tony had a half-eaten slice of pizza in

his hand and a wicked smiled on his face.



"What?"



Jethro pulled the man's hat from behind his back and waved it in front of him.



"You found it."



Tony went to grab it out of the older man's hand but it was pulled away at the right time.



"May I come in?"



Tony backed away, giving Jethro room to enter, and shut the door behind him. By the time the door was closed Tony had crossed the room and put his pizza back in the box. Jethro walked over to him and smiled, the bright smile that made

Tony's body tingle with excitement. Jethro once again shook the hat in front of Tony's face. Tony watched it for a few seconds before going to snatch it again, missing, of course.



"Kiss first, hat after."



Tony smiled and leaned in to kiss Jethro lightly on the lips. When Tony moved back again Jethro slapped the hat on his head and pulled Tony toward him.



"Where was the hat, boss?"



"Tony..."



"Sorry, Jethro."



Jethro smiled and kissed Tony again, deeper and longer this time.



"Kate had it."



Tony rolled his eyes and pulled back from Jethro just enough to see the man's smile.



"She didn't... did she?"



"Ducky washed it for you."



Tony let go of Jethro and fell back on the couch, grabbing his slice of pizza on the way.



"Pepperoni?"



Jethro, as an answer, grabbed a piece and dropped on the couch next to Tony. He took Tony's beer from the coffee table and took a sip of it, scoffing as if it was the worst thing he ever tasted.



"You know where your drink is."



Jethro smiled and put Tony's beer in the man's outstretched hand but didn't make a move to get up and get his drink. Instead, he finished off his piece and watched Tony down his beer.



"Are you happy now, Tony?"



Tony smiled, adjusted his hat a little, then leaned in and kissed Jethro. Jethro's tongue entered Tony's, tasting the beer that still lingered there.



"Happy as ever, Jethro."



Jethro stood then, pulling Tony up with him, and pulled him close.



"Bed?"



Tony nodded, his smile reaching from ear to ear, and he wrapped his arm around Jethro's waist. Jethro let one of his own arms fall, and they walked side by side to the bedroom. Each knew the day was going to end a lot better than it had began.



The End