"…and please remember, these speakers are paid great amounts of money to come here to lecture you on inter-agency dealings. Therefore I see no reason why each and every one of you should not attend"

Jenny's eyes scanned the room of NCIS agents in front of her. She could think of at least one person here who could do with a lesson in diplomacy.

"I'd come if they gave us a talk on sexual relations" came a voice from the wise-ass at the back of the room.

A titter of laughter rippled round the collection of agents, but was quelled by a single glare from Jenny. She did not appreciate wise cracks when she was trying to run a meeting.

"I'm glad you found an opportunity to express your views on the matter, Agent DiNozzo" she said sagely, flipping over the page of her notebook. "But that is not high on the Agency's list of priorities, and in future I would prefer it if you kept your own sexual inadequacy out of these meetings"

Another titter of laughter, as Tony sat back, abashed and Jenny allowed herself a smile before continuing.

"Now then, as I'm sure you are aware, the Christmas season is nearly upon us…" she paused, and an audible groan could be heard from the front row.

"Are you attempting an impression of the Grinch, Agent Gibbs" Jenny asked, with a slight smirk "or is that just your natural reaction to the word 'Christmas.'"

The agent in front of her was wearing the sulkiest face she had ever seen on anyone over the age of 17.

"Not all, Director" he said with mock politeness, "But the Annual NCIS Christmas Sing-Along doesn't appeal to everyone, you know"

"And why not Agent Gibbs?" Jenny asked, with an edge to her voice "Everyone loves to sing, don't they, especially at Christmas"

"I'm not disputing that, Director." light sarcasm dripped from his voice "I'm pointing out that listening to that noise could be used as an an innovative interrogation technique."

Jenny's cheeks flushed a delicate shade of red as she shot him her best "don't-mess-with-me" look.

"Well, Agent Gibbs," she said, attempting to regain her composure, "You'll be pleased to hear that this year, we have decided to have a little break with tradition"

"This year, we have decided to hold an NCIS Secret Santa"

Chatter broke out amongst the agents. Only Gibbs remained unmoved, a look of complete disgust on his face. Jenny thought she distinctly heard him mutter something which sounded suspiciously like "crappy idea", but decided to rise above it, and ignore him.

"Calm down please!" she surveyed the agents, pleased that they had all taken to the idea. Well, most of them anyway.

"The name of every agent in the Agency is in this basket. Everybody will take one slip of paper from the basket, on which will be written the name of the person that you will be acting as Secret Santa for. This is compulsory." She looked at Gibbs, "Even for the Grinch"

"You have five days, starting from tomorrow, and the game will culminate in a Christmas party next Friday, when you can reveal yourself to your Secret Santa." She smiled brightly "Oh, and please don't tell anyone who you have. We don't want to ruin the fun, do we?"

As a matter of course, Tony and Ziva had sat at the back of the lecture hall for the duration of Jenny's speech, and had spent the majority of it whispering amongst themselves, like little kids at the back of a classroom.

The basket of names reached them last, and as Ziva unfolded a piece of paper, she caught sight of Tony looking surreptitously over at the name.

"Tony! I do not appreciate you trying to pull a Mission Unfeasible over my shoulder. It is supposed to be a secret." she shook her head disapprovingly, "something which you apparently have no concept of"

"It's Mission Impossible Zeev-ah. Plus, if you're going to compare me to a spy-film, I'd like to think that I'm more of a "Secret Agent", kind of guy"

The Mossad officer replied with a glare, and Tony felt it was probably best not to push the point any further.

"Aww relax. You're no fun" he pouted like a sulky child, as he picked a name out of the basket.

Ziva shrugged, a small smile on her face.

"Who do you think has our names," Tony wondered aloud, as they both stood and headed for the door.

"I do not know, Tony, and I do not wish to know until next Friday. So if you dare tell me…" she trailed off threateningly, and Tony was reminded forcibly of the fact that she knew 18 ways to kill someone using a paper clip.

"Suit yourself," he shrugged "I wonder who I can bribe to tell me who my Secret Santa is."

Ziva threw him an admonishing look, which Tony completely missed, and looked down at the tiny slip of paper. Opening it with trembling hands, on the inside it simply said two words:

Timothy McGee

"That's good," she thought to herself. "Timmy's a nice guy."

But she couldn't stop the frisson of disappointment that ran through her body.

A/N Just a little Christmas something. TBC :) Please review! I will love you forever :]

Loveee, Lilli xxx