A Reason For The Season
I said I would write this months ago even though her WEE writer came through…however I never go back on my word.
The prompt: Virtuoso: (Gen) It's Tim's turn in the spotlight. This is his chance to be the hero, either dramatically by saving lives in the field, or in a quieter fashion, working against the odds to solve a difficult case
Summary: Tim comes to the rescue of Vance..and his teammates learn a lot about the man.
….
Chapter 1
It was a rather cold day in late December that Director Vance came into work with a frown graced across his usually unschooled features.
He came in with a wrapped present as he always had around this time, and exiting the elevator he quickly and purposefully walked to place the wrapped gift in one of the collection bins that resided near the bullpen area on the Agency's main level.
Ever since the man's tenure at the agency, all NCIS headquarters had participated in the "Toys For Tots" Program, and thus each building had multiple donation sites, and while the idea to participate had been Jackie's, Vance had to admit that the program was great.
His wife had guilted him into talking SecNav into allowing the program to collect toys on Agency ground. His wife had opened up to him about how when she was younger she only had presents to open because of the program, and upon hearing that it was tough to not at least be open to the idea.
Ever since those younger years, Jackie said that she had been resolved to give her time, money, and energy into making sure that other kids had the opportunity to feel the same excitement and good feeling that she did on Christmas morning. Jackie believed that at least once a year these children deserved to feel joy and happiness, and after hearing all that it really was tough to argue with such logic.
So, that confession and ensuing talk had made Vance determined to get collection bins located throughout each NCIS building and station.
Vance just could not imagine not having anything to open on Christmas and Jackie's plight made him realize that not everyone was as fortunate as him or his family.
Every year the Vance's gave multiple gifts and he had implored other agents to do the same.
The bins were always successful, and every year it seemed as though the bins were fuller than the previous years. Then each year when the Marine's would come and pick up the bundle of toys they would look astonished and pleased, and each year would gratefully thank the agency for the donations.
So, on this late December morning as Vance dropped a few Barbie doll packages and board games into the bin he was a bit dismayed.
The bin that he had just deposited the toys into was not even half full.
In all his tenure the bins had never been this low especially not this late in the season.
"Oh sorry Director didn't see you there" Tim McGee said on his way past Vance trying to balance his pack and the coffees and breakfast orders all in just two hands.
"That is okay McGee" Vance said rather absentminded never letting his gaze leave the donation box.
The absentmidness did not go unnoticed by the now seasoned agent. After being on Gibbs' team he had learned over the years how to read between the lines of what was being said and what was not being said, as well as being able to pick up on facial expressions that were only there for fleeting seconds.
Furrowing his brows in confusion Tim asked, "Is everything okay Sir?"
Vance's mind needed a few seconds for the question to penetrate his mind before he recovered and answered, "Yes McGee everything is fine."
With those words Vance let his eyes tear away from the bin and he slowly made his way up the stairs and to his office.
With Vance gone that left McGee there to wonder what was up with the man. The absent minded response and the rather faraway look that had taken up residence in the Director's eyes was rather uncharacteristic for the usually unflappable man.
To Tim, Vance was like Gibbs in the sense that both men really schooled their features and rarely were they caught off guard, and so Tim knew that something was definitely up.
However the younger agent had no idea what could have been on his superior's mind.
Any thoughts of digging deeper into the mysterious behavior however were dashed when Gibbs came into the bullpen and asked, "Got that report for me McGee?" before sitting down in his chair.
"Printing out now Boss" the junior agent replied while he got up and got the report from the printer in order to hand to the man. Along with the report Tim handed over the Marine's usual coffee and burrito offer which the man had accepted with a nod of approval.
"Ohh McGoo brought breakfast!" Tony said as he and Ziva came into the bullpen just as Tim was handing over Gibbs' order.
Rolling her eyes Ziva said, "Unlike you Tony he does not forget when it is his day to get coffee" while she reached over and accepted the fat free honey bagel and Tai latte that was her usual as well.
Smiling Tim added, "And I don't add onto people's orders when it isn't their day either" before he handed over the hazelnut blended coffee with the ham and cheese burrito to his senior agent.
"Well I will keep that in mind" the Italian said as he scrunched up his face in apparent disgust.
Returning to his desk to finish getting ready for the day Tim stored away looking into what could be bothering Vance for a later time, and instead cooled his coffee in his usual manner while tearing into his bagel and allowing the banter of his teammates to wash over him.
….
Once again on his way down to end his day Vance stopped at the toy collection bin and yet again he felt a pang of disappointment at the lack of donations in the bin, however unlike this morning there was a new pang. How was he going to tell his wife Vance thought as he moved away from the bin faster than he had this morning and waited for the elevator to arrive.
"Jackie I'm home" Vance announced upon entering the brightly colored and warm home.
Jared and Kayla trampled past his wife to get to their father's embrace first.
"No running in the house" Jackie said somewhat sternly.
"Sorry mom" the children echoed in unison before turning back to their father and hugging him.
"How was school?" Vance asked while he hugged his two children before standing up and engulfing Jackie into the same tight hug.
Kayla squealed out in her usual exuberance, "Oh it was great daddy we got our math tests back and guess what I got? Guess daddy!"
"A 70?" Vance playfully responded knowing how good his daughter was at math, and how she had thankfully gotten her mother's genes in that department otherwise repeating math would have been in her future.
Sticking out her tongue in disgust Kayla shook her head before saying, "Ick, no daddy."
"Hmm maybe an 85 then" Leon said while cocking his head to the side the way that he has did when he was trying to reason out an answer.
"You are getting closer!" Kayla responded.
"I am, I am hmm. Then let me guess a 90" Vance thoughtfully responded back.
"Is that your final answer?"
Nodding his head Vance responded "Yes it is" fairly confidently.
"You're wrong daddy I got a 95" Kayla said while bouncing on the balls of her heels excitedly.
"Wow a 95 huh, guess we know who to go to when we need to balance our checkbook" Leon said laughing.
Watching Kayla giggle and the scene unfold brought a smile to Jackie's face and after a few more minutes of catching up the woman finally said, "Okay guys why don't you clean up for dinner."
As the kids raced up the stairs to fulfill their mothers orders, Jackie looked back at her husband and upon seeing the faraway look in his eyes she decided to hug the man and bring him back into the present.
"Leon you know how I feel about these toothpicks" Jackie said while she held her hand out awaiting the dreaded wood.
Rolling his eyes Vance took the small wood comfort out from in between his teeth and passed it to his wife.
"I thought that you said you were going to stop chewing on these" Jackie said as she deposited the pick into the trash bin.
That was true Vance mused, and little did his wife know he had been doing so well.
Usually he chewed on the bland wood about 10 times a day, however in recent weeks he had cut the consumption down to about 8 picks a day. Baby steps!
"Today was just a bad day" Vance replied rather cryptically.
"Why what happened?" Jackie asked concerned that someone at work had been hurt. The woman had prided herself on being social amongst the agents and building up a repor with them.
Vance, always the one to be honest and straight to the point said, "We aren't getting many donations this year" before looking at his wife where he saw momentary pain and sadness take up residence in those usually bright and happy irises.
"Oh" was all that Jackie could reply out seeing as a lump was taking up residence in her windpipe. This charity and drive had meant so much to her when she was a baby and growing up. She never understood why people couldn't spare a few bucks and pick up a small gift for someone in need. She mused that it probably had something to do with the fact that these people could never know just how much one toy, even a small toy meant to a kid in need.
"Yea" Vance replied back because really what more could be said?
Little did the couple know that their scheming children had overheard them and were formulating a plan.
….
"Jared what is Toys for Tots?" Kayla asked as she followed her brother into his room.
"It's an organization that collects toys to distribute to less fortunate kids" Jared said as he took a seat on his camoflaughed bed remembering back to what his teacher had said about the charity a few days prior in class.
Kayla perplexed asked, "Why wouldn't more people want to give to the charity."
Shrugging his shoulders was the only response that Kayla got.
The two lapsed into silence for a few minutes until Kayla began vibrating off her seat at his desk.
"You okay sis" Jared asked before laughing at his sister's antics.
"I think I might have an idea to increase donations" Kayla exclaimed rather proudly.
Now curious Jared asked, "Yea what is the plan?"
"Well Mrs. Williams was talking about service projects in class today…"
"What does that have to do with anything?" Jared asked cutting his sister off midsentence.
Scrunching her nose Kayla said, "Shush I'm getting to that . Why don't we have a contest at school, and whoever's class brings in the most cans could get a visit from NCIS!"
As if pondering the arrangement Jared titled his head slightly before saying, "I like the way you think squirt" before the older brother ruffled Kayla's hair.
And the two began hatching their plan.
…..
"Kids dinner is ready" Jackie Vance's voice roared out in a way that she knew she would catch the attention of her children even if they were in the middle of a game or song.
Both kids knew that voice..the no messing around voice, and each child set off down the stairs and a few minutes later everyone was at the table passing around food.
"So how was work daddy" Kayla asked as she passed the green beans to her dad.
Accepting the green beans with a slightly harried expression that had more to do with his distaste for green beans than his day at work, the man replied by saying, "It was okay sweetie" before he scooped out a few green beans and mysteriously the rest of his spoonfuls made its way to the ground to feed the dog.
"How was school Jared?" Vance asked in between bites of food.
The older boy rather morosely said, "Same old, same old."
Vance couldn't help but smile at his son's response. He knew school and Jared were not the best of friends. In fact the troubled relationship reminded him a lot of the tumultuous relationship that he had had with academia. However, unlike his father he took a vested interest in trying to slowly cultivate his son's relationship with school by helping him with homework on nights where he was home early, and by asking him about school.
When Vance had become the director of NCIS he had vowed that he would remain a family man because he thought that in many ways the familial support that he had gotten over the years had been the reason as to why he had gotten to where he was.
"Dad we heard you and mom talking" Jared replied after finishing his green beans.
"Oh you did, did you?" Jackie replied with upturned eyebrows.
"Mhmmm" Kayla said before she took another bite of her meal.
Leon remarked rather curiously, "And what did you hear?"
Jared, like his father, was never one to beat around the bush, decided to take the bull by its horns and said, "We heard that you are having a tough time getting toy donations at work."
"That is true son, but that is none of your concern" Vance replied warmly while he took another piece of grilled chicken from the center of the table.
"But we could help you daddy" Kayla whined out.
"How is that dear" Jackie replied with genuine curiosity.
"Well my teacher Mrs. Williams was talking about volunteering and service projects, and she said that when she was in school every year each class would undertake a service project. Maybe we could have a donation drive at school, and all the donations could go to NCIS" Kayla said as her voice got higher and higher during her speal.
Jared added in, "We could even give them incentives!"
"What sort of incentives" Leon asked.
Taking a breath before answering Jared then rushed out, "the winning class could get a visit from NCIS."
While Jackie was flattered that her children would think of others in such a way during the holiday season she knew in her heart that it would be unlikely that such an idea would work.
"Kayla, Jared.." Jackie began before Leon finished by saying, "That is a great idea.
"Huh."
"It is!"
"Yay Really!"
Smiling Vance said, "don't sound so surprised you guys came up with a great idea."
"Well yea, but mom sounded skeptical" Jared replied a bit tensely.
"You organize the drive and I'll make sure that NCIS holds up its end of the deal" Vance replied confidently knowing that any employee would be game for something like this.
Excitedly Kayla said, "Okay well I'll talk to Mrs. Williams tomorrow!"
Jared added, "Me and some other classes can make posters."
"And I'll talk to the PTA and coordinate parent involvement" Jackie said beaming.
"Good now everyone finish your vegetables or else no desert" Vance said giving Kayla a pointed look seeing as how she hated vegetables just as much as he did.
Chapter 2