Hi everyone, I hope you have all been enjoying the holidays. I haven't been motivated at all with writing these days and have been trying to get my head back into it. I'm sorry about The Game and really do plan to finish it up soon. As for this story, it was supposed to be a one-shot but it was getting too long so now it will be a two parter. I'm nearing the end of it and plan to post the next part on New Year's Day (hopefully). In any case, thanks so much for reading and wishing you all a happy and healthy 2019.

xxxxx

Sam kept sending sidelong glances towards his partner as he drove. G hadn't said a word since they had left the home of retired Navy Captain Peter Benson. Benson, who was single, had begun taking in foster children after his retirement. Supposedly, there had been no problems in the past until today, Christmas Eve. A neighbor had called in a disturbance at Benson's residence. LAPD had been on the scene where they had found a fair amount of blood in the living room and no trace of the two foster children who had been currently under Benson's care, two orphaned siblings, a nine-year-old boy, Brian and his six-year-old sister, Becky. Their parents had been killed in a car accident shortly after Becky's birth. Because of the involvement of Captain Benson, NCIS had been requested, but the man had refused to speak and after hours of interrogation, Hetty had insisted the team go home.

For his part, Callen had been struggling all day to keep his emotions in check. He could see that the members of his team were affected by what had happened as well and he didn't want to add to their woes. He sighed softly, lost in his thoughts as he stared out the window. This case had brought back memories of his past which he preferred to keep buried. He didn't like to be reminded of his past or memories of what others had gone through at the hands of abusive foster parents. He also had no idea why these two children hadn't been adopted. From looking at photographs and their records, there was nothing that stood out which would have been a problem to prospective parents. It just didn't make any sense.

"G?"

Sam's voice suddenly broke through Callen's reverie and he looked at his partner questioningly. "What's up, Sam?"

"We're here." Sam nodded in the direction of Deeks' bar.

"Oh...Okay, thanks."

"Are you okay?"

Callen nodded quickly. "I'm fine. Are you okay?"

Sam sighed softly. "I'm fine, G." The two were silent for a few long moments before Sam spoke again. "So...we'll see you tomorrow at Kensi and Deeks' house?"

Callen squirmed uncomfortably but remained quiet.

"G? You're going, right? You said that you were."

"I...I don't know...I'll let you know tomorrow."

"Come on, man...everyone's expecting you."

"I said I'll let you know," Callen snapped, momentarily losing the tightly maintained hold on his emotions. He quickly got himself back under control though. "I'm sorry, Sam…" He shook his head slowly. "I'll call you tomorrow morning, okay?"

"You want to hang out for a while, get something to eat?" Sam asked, reluctant to leave Callen on his own. He knew his friend was a lot more bothered than he was showing by what had happened to the two siblings.

"It's Christmas Eve...Your kids are waiting for you," Callen said quietly. "I'll talk to you tomorrow...Merry Christmas, Sam."

Realizing he wasn't going to get any kind of commitment from Callen that night, Sam decided to just head back to his boat. He'd check up on his partner the next day. "Merry Christmas, G."

xxxxx

Callen slowly walked through the deserted bar, inwardly debating the merits of drinking his troubles away. Ultimately though, he decided just to head up to his small apartment and hopefully get some sleep. The day had tired him out more than he wanted to admit even to himself. He had actually considered taking up a solo search for the two children, but he knew it would be a fruitless task. He had no idea where to even start. He got undressed and put on some comfortable grey sweats and a too large t-shirt, then slipped under the sheets and blankets of his bed. After tossing and turning for a while, he finally fell asleep.

xxxxx

Callen slowly started to awaken with a strong sense that he was not alone. He cautiously opened one eye and then sat up in aggravation when he saw who was there. Deeks, dressed in a very authentic-looking Santa Claus suit, was seated on the edge of his bed. "What the hell, Deeks," Callen exclaimed. "If me staying here means I have no privacy whatsoever, I can easily find another place to live."

"Language, lad. Language. And I thought I had cured you of this Deeks nonsense. It's Santa Deeks."

"I…" Callen's cheeks flushed as he stared at Deeks or Santa Deeks or whoever it was. "What are you doing here? Don't you have kind of a lot you need to do tonight?"

"I do indeed, lad, but what is many hours for you, is only mere seconds for me. It's the magic of Christmas, my boy. There's no other way I could travel all over the world in just one night."

"That still doesn't answer my question about what you're doing here."

"I sensed that you needed a friend so here I am."

Callen sighed. "No offense, Santa Deeks, but I have plenty of friends. You probably ought to get on your way."

Santa Deeks studied Callen intently. "I never got you out of my mind after your visit to Christmas Town last year. I found out some things about your past. I'm truly sorry that I didn't pay you the kind of attention you deserved when you were growing up."

"You told me you were sorry last year," Callen said. "It's fine. I'm grown up now. I've forgotten all about those years. You're worrying yourself over nothing."

"Oh if only that was true," Santa Deeks said with a sad shake of his head.

"It is true," Callen insisted stubbornly. "I need to get some sleep and you need to go gather your reindeer together and head out."

"I think you'd be much better served by coming home with me."

"Well I don't and I won't."

"I'm afraid you don't really have a say, lad," Santa Deeks said. He placed his gloved hand on Callen's head and a sense of immense peace and sleepiness, impossible to resist, came over him causing Callen to fall back to sleep almost immediately.

xxxxx

When Callen next stirred, he could feel coldness on his face but the rest of his body felt warm and he could feel he was moving. He opened his eyes and found himself in a sleigh, under a warm blanket. "Oh no… not again," he murmured.

"Those shouldn't be the words of someone who is granted another visit to Christmas Town," Santa Deeks said as the sleigh stopped in front of the familiar Christmas castle which housed Santa Deeks' workshop and living quarters. "Most people would consider this to be quite a privilege, Callen."

"Sorry…"

"Well, come along," Santa said as he got out of the sleigh and beckoned to Callen. "It's almost lunch time and we have a lot to do before I start my Christmas Eve rounds."

Callen still didn't understand how Santa Deeks was going to do what he needed to do in such a short amount of time. Then again, if he really thought about it, Santa Claus was the one who traveled on Christmas Eve, not Santa Deeks. Or was Santa Deeks actually the one who traveled and since when did he believe in any of this? He was so confused, it was making his head spin. He followed Santa Deeks up the path to the front door and the two men entered the castle.

"Mama! I have a surprise for you!" Santa Deeks called as they walked towards the kitchen.

"Oh you and your surprises, papa," Kensi Claus said as she met them in the hallway, her eyes shining. "Callen! How nice to see you!" Kensi smiled at Callen and gave him a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek. What a wonderful surprise."

"It's nice to see you too, Kensi Claus," Callen said, returning her smile.

"I hope you're hungry," Kensi Claus said. "I've made fried chicken for lunch. If I remember correctly, you were quite a fan of it the last time you visited us."

"I was," Callen said, nodding. Kensi Claus had made him a number of memorable meals the last time he had been at Christmas Town. She was always cooking and doing other domestic duties. He couldn't help but wonder what Kensi would think about that.

"Well, go sit down and the food will be right out," Kensi Deeks said.

"Come along, lad." Santa Deeks through his arm around Callen's shoulder and guided him into the dining room. "I happen to know Mrs. Claus made some delicious chocolate mousse parfaits for dessert, her specialty."

"Sounds good," Callen said as he sat down at the table then gave Santa Deeks a speculative look. "So...you still haven't told me why you've brought me here...especially on Christmas Eve."

"All in good time," Santa Deeks said, smiling as Kensi Claus entered the dining room carrying a large platter of fried chicken. "But right now, let's concentrate on this delicious lunch."

xxxxx

After lunch, Santa Deeks led Callen outside and they started walking toward the stable. "So, you wanted to know why I brought you here," Santa Deeks began as they walked. After you left us last Christmas, I wanted to know more about you. I felt badly about all the years you had been ignored at Christmas."

Callen sighed. "I told you it was no big deal. I'm over it, Santa Deeks. That was a very long time ago." He really wished Santa Deeks would stop bringing it up. They weren't very happy memories and he didn't like drudging them up again. He wanted to keep them buried where they belonged.

"I know what you said, lad, but there must have been something you wanted back then, some special gift that you dreamed of getting but you never got."

Callen was silent for a few moments as he pondered Santa Deeks' question. Then he shrugged. "No, there really wasn't anything."

"Come now, surely you wanted something...a car racetrack, a bicycle, a train, army men, a toy gun, a teddy bear, something?"

Callen thought back to his early childhood years, the stays at the children's home, the various foster families, some good, most bad, and he knew, without a doubt, the only thing he had wanted. "A family…" he said softly, his eyes filled with emotion. "That was the only thing I wanted...a family of my own."

Santa Deeks looked at Callen, momentarily at a loss for words. "I'm sorry, lad," he finally said. "I'm sorry you never got that family you wanted. Every child deserves to have a family."

"I have a family now," Callen replied. "When I was 15, I was taken out of the foster care system by a wonderful woman and I now have some really good friends, they're my family."

"Well, that's good to hear," Santa said, looking a little bit emotional himself. "That's very good to hear, Callen."

"As a matter of fact, one of my friends reminds me very much of you, Santa Deeks," Callen said with a smile. "He's a really good guy."

"I'm glad to hear that, lad," Santa Deeks said with a chuckle. "I wouldn't want him to be a jerk."

Callen laughed. "Nah, he's far from a jerk. He's a little different sometimes, but like I said, he's definitely a good guy."

So, I know you enjoyed feeding the reindeer the last time you were here," Santa Deeks said, stopping outside the stable. "I thought you might like to do that again, for old time's sake."

"I'd like that," Callen said. "Thank you."

"You're very welcome. I'll be up in the workshop, taking care of some last minute preparations. Stop in when you're done. I know Sammy would like to say hello to you and then later, we'll have our annual kick-off celebration and dinner."

"Sounds good," Callen said. He watched as Santa trudged through the snow back towards the castle then entered the stable. He remembered the routine of feeding the reindeer and patted each one gently as he whispered a few words to them. He then slowly walked through the snow back to the castle, making sure to take note of the peaceful beauty around him.

xxxxx

Callen entered Santa Deeks' workshop and looked around for a few moments before he finally spotted Sammy. He walked over to him, a smile on his face. "Hey, Sammy...it's good to see you," he said as he extended his hand to the other man.

"Callen!" Sammy grinned as he shook Callen's hand. "Good to see you too. Santa Deeks said he was going to try to bring you here for a short visit, but I wasn't sure he'd be able to accomplish it. "How are you?"

"I'm good," Callen said. "How are you doing?"

"I'm fine also," Sammy replied. "I'm glad to hear you're doing well though...Santa Deeks had some concerns."

Callen shook his head. "He doesn't need to be concerned about me." His thoughts went to the missing siblings, Brian and Becky. "There are many children in the world who could use his help. I'm an adult and I'm fine."

"Good...good…Well, I've got to get ready for the kickoff show...gotta get my dancing shoes on," Sammy said with a grin. "I know how much you all enjoy my jig…"

"That's true, we do," Callen said, grinning back at Sammy. He had to admit, the elves' kickoff show was really something to see.

He spent the time before the show wandering around and saying hello to some of the elves he had befriended on his last visit. Elves Eric and Nell were practicing some dance moves and he couldn't help but think that their counterparts back at OSP could have definitely given them some tips. Finally, it was time for the show to begin. Sammy was even more entertaining than he had been the previous year, having added some new dance steps to his routine.

After the show was the typical elves feast which was as delicious as Callen remembered from the previous year, if not more so. He was a little bit careful with his main course choices though, remembering how outstanding the desserts were, his favorites being the Baked Alaska and a mouth-watering chocolate and strawberry meringue, the likes of which he had never tasted before. When he was sufficiently stuffed, he took a walk with Sammy to burn off a few of the calories he had consumed.

"Santa Deeks is really happy to have you here," Sammy commented as they walked.

"It's nice that he cares," Callen said, "but, I guess I really don't understand why."

"What do you mean?" Sammy asked.

"I get that he feels badly about my childhood Christmases, but...I'm not the only kid in the world that happened to. There are other kids, with much worse pasts than mine. Why doesn't he care about them?"

"What makes you think he doesn't?" Sam asked gently. "You're not the only kid in the world who Santa brought here for a visit."

"Oh."

Sammy chuckled. "Don't look so disappointed. You're still special. There are just other special kids as well."

"I'm not a kid anymore," Callen said. "I'm also not disappointed. I'm glad he brings others here...it's just. Why does he wait until we're adults? Wouldn't it mean more to the kids when they're actually kids?"

"He does bring kids here when they're still kids," Sammy explained. "We lost track of you though, that's why you didn't get here until you were much older. You're not the typical visitor to Christmas Town."

Callen nodded. That made a lot more sense to him than bringing a bunch of adults here. He couldn't have imagined having had such an experience as a child. He never would have wanted to leave.

"Well, come on Callen, we'd better get back so that you can get back home tonight."

Callen nodded then he and Sammy headed back towards the castle.

xxxxx

"It was so nice to see you, Callen," Kensi Claus said as she gave Callen a tight hug. "You come back and see us again sometime, okay?"

Callen wasn't exactly sure how that would happen unless Santa Deeks arranged it, but he just smiled back at Kensi Claus. "Thanks for everything."

"Come on, lad! Lots to do," Santa Deeks said as they got into the sleigh.

"Bye, Sammy," Callen said, feeling a little said to be leaving him.

"You take care of yourself, Callen," Sammy said.

Callen nodded. "I will, you too."

With that, they were off. It was just as magical a time as it had been the previous time Callen had accompanied Santa on his journey. He wasn't permitted to go into the homes with Santa Deeks, but was given a snowball which functioned much as a crystal ball did. He could see inside each of the homes Santa Deeks went into and watched as the man distributed gifts and ate cookies and drank milk.

"Don't you get full eating all those cookies?" Callen asked after one visit with particularly large and delicious-looking cookies. He couldn't imagine doing it, especially after the feast they had just consumed. He would have been sick for a month.

"Christmas magic, Callen," Santa Deeks said. "I can't have the children feeling bad that I didn't eat their cookies."

'For me, it would be Christmas calories and a Christmas upset stomach," Callen said with a smirk.

"Kensi Claus will have me eating very sensibly from January 2nd until next Thanksgiving," Santa Deeks said with a chuckle. She loosens the leash considerably during the holiday season."

Callen nodded. In any case, Santa Deeks seemed to be in very good shape, his physique resembling Deeks and not the mythological ideas of Santa Claus, with a big, round belly.

Finally, they arrived back at the bar. "How did you know I moved?" Callen asked curiously. Last year he had been in his house, home and sick at Christmas time. He couldn't help but be sad when he thought of the house. He still missed it and hadn't had the heart to put it on the market yet.

"You're in my system now, lad," Santa Deeks said. "I'm able to keep track of you now."

Callen nodded, then a thought entered his mind. "So…you wouldn't happen to have two kids, Brian and Becky Irving in your system, would you?"

"I don't know. Why do you ask?"

"They're missing. We're trying to find them. One of the kids is probably hurt."

"I wish you had asked me back at Christmas Town, Callen," Santa Deeks said. "I could have had Sammy look into it for me. There's no way I'm able to do it now."

"What about the snowball?" Callen asked. "Can't that help somehow?"

Santa Deeks shook his head. "I'm truly sorry, lad. The snowball only has a very small range. The children you speak of would have to be right here for us to be able to see them. I wish I could help you, but it's just not possible. Now, I need to finish my rounds. Perhaps we'll meet up again next year."

"Maybe so," Callen said. "Thanks, Santa Deeks. It's nice to know you're keeping an eye on me."

"Good luck in your search for the children. I have a feeling they're going to have a happy ending. Merry Christmas, Callen...Ho, Ho, Ho!" With that, Santa Deeks and the reindeer flew off into the night sky. Callen stood and watched them until they were just a tiny blip of light and then he went inside to try to get some sleep.