An NCIS Christmas
CH1 - Arrivals
Jackson sighed softly, his breath turning into fog as soon as it left his lips. The cold December night air did nothing to chill the warmth of the pending Christmas with his family. Yes, Gibbs had accepted him back into his life a few years ago, ending his guilt, sleepless nights and Christmases alone. To be perfectly honest, Jackson had never been happier. His kind eyes watched the scenery around him, the snow that had fallen earlier had settled, leaving it to glitter in the moonlight.
The silence of the night was disrupted as a black car rolled up outside Gibbs' home, at least Jackson thought it was black. He watched as a figure stepped out of the car to open the door for another. Jackson smiled as he realised who the second figure was. His head was covered by a black hat and he wore a long black coat. His feet crunched in the snow as he walked up the garden path whilst carrying a large bag. The figure stopped at the foot of the porch, as if he was unsure of himself. He looked at Jackson and returned the smile he was being given, although it wasn't as warm.
'' Hello, Eli.''
'' Shalom, Jackson.'' replied Eli, tiredness in making his accent seem thicker than what it was. He wasn't as young as he used to be, as much as he hated to admit it. '' They are all inside, yes?'' he asked in a way that made Jackson smile.
'' Yeah, they're getting ready to come out. I thought I'd sit out here, enjoy the snow.'' said the older Gibbs. '' You're welcome to join me.'' He patted the benchswing his son had made and set up the summer before.
Eli took the invitation and stepped onto the porch. He put his bag near the door and set down next to his daughter's father in law. He sighed and looked at Jackson. '' How long have you been here?''
'' A week.'' said Jackson. '' Certainly long enough to know that there will be people happy to see you turned up.''
'' I cannot imagine that your son is one of them.'' said Eli, his eyes on the glittering snow.
'' You'd be surprised.'' said Jackson. '' To be honest, I didn't think you'd show.''
Eli looked at Jackson, expecting the words he had just spoken to be accompanied with a filthy look. But he was surprised to see that infamous sparkle of mischief in Jackson's eyes. A sparkle he had only ever seen in eyes with the identical shade of blue.
It was only very recently that Ziva had let him back in to her life. To say that he was treading carefully was an understatement, for him it was like walking through a minefield blindfolded. This was his first Christmas with Ziva and her family, and while didn't celebrate the holiday himself, he was willing to do anything to please his only remaining child, especially considering that there was a child involved. While he wasn't that old, he was getting there and despite his line of work, he didn't want to leave with any regrets, it didn't take him long to figure out what to do. He had emailed Ziva that same evening and when he didn't hear anything back from her for a week, he'd decided that he'd leave her to decide. She was just as stubborn as he was, but to his joy, he got home from the office one evening to see an email from her. They started with weekly emails and by the end of the month they'd had an MTAC call with the promise of another. After two months of MTAC and Skype calls, he had discovered that his daughter was married, to none other than Leroy Jethro Gibbs, at first, he was annoyed, angry even, but after seeing the way that Gibbs treated his daughter and the way that she looked at him, he had relaxed, content that she was being cared for and looked after better than she had been in her whole life. He smirked as he remembered how he had found out he had a grandchild.
oOoOoOoOoOo
'' Shalom Aba.'' said Ziva, sitting down with a smile on her face. The orange behind her told Eli that she was at home.
'' Ziva. How are things?'' he had asked, waving away the person stood in front of desk.
'' Busy. I am trying to make dinner before Jethro gets home.''
Eli frowned as he figured out what the time was in DC. '' It is a little late for him to be working on a Sunday.''
'' He is not working-'' Ziva turned her head away, both sets of ears picking up the sound of an opening door.
'' Ima!'' called a voice.
'' Kaleb, wait, take your coat off.'' came Gibbs' voice from the background.
Eli raised his eyebrows, making Ziva grin as she turned to look at him. '' Ima?'' he had asked.
Ziva put up a slender finger. '' One moment.'' she turned away. '' Kaleb! Come here, I have someone I want you to meet.''
'' Is it the Easter Bunny?'' asked a voice, getting closer.
Ziva laughed and opened her arms as a little boy no older than three ran into her arms. Ziva picked him up and settled him on her lap, stroking his hair out of his face affectionately. She smiled at Eli. '' No, it is not the Easter Bunny, is that what you and Daddy did today?'' she asked.
'' Uh huh, we digged for Easter eggs, I got three.''
'' Actually, Daddy did the digging.'' sounded Gibbs' voice as he entered the study, making Ziva laugh. He pressed a kiss to Ziva's hair before acknowledging Eli with a nod. '' Dinner almost done?''
'' Almost.'' said Ziva, smiling at him.
'' I'll keep an eye on it.'' said Gibbs, eyeing up Kaleb and then Eli. '' Want me to take Kaleb?''
Ziva shook her head. '' No, he can stay with me. We'll be down shortly.'' said Ziva, smiling again when Gibbs kissed her temple.
By the time Ziva had finished interacting with Gibbs, Eli had taken the opportunity to study his grandson. Kaleb had the same chocolate curls, the same golden skin and the same smile as Ziva, but his eyes were the same hue as his father's. There was a sense of peace and wonder in them instead of the loss of innocence Eli had seen in Ziva's at that age. He knew that Ziva would do all in her power to fight for that peace, as would Gibbs and he was determined to do the same.
'' Kaleb, are you not going to say hello?'' asked Ziva, her chin on Kaleb's shoulder.
Kaleb looked up and smiled at Eli. '' Hello Grandpa Eli!'' he said with a wave.
Eli looked at Ziva, shock evident on his face. '' He knows me?''
Before Ziva could reply, Kaleb beat her to it. '' 'Course I do.'' he said, in a manner that reminded both Israelis of Gibbs. '' Ima has a picture and sometimes I see it. You live in Israel.''
'' I do.'' said Eli, impressed at Kaleb's knowledge. He was definitely Ziva's child, looks aside, he had her inquisitive streak.
'' Israel is hot, isn't it? I want to see but Ima says that she would think about it but that just means no.''
'' Kaleb...'' said Ziva softly.
'' Well, you are welcome to visit Israel with me at anytime.'' said Eli.
Kaleb's face lit up. '' Really? Can I really go?'' he looked at his mother.
'' In the future, perhaps.'' said Ziva, making Kaleb stand on her lap to hug her. '' But for now, let's get dinner out of the way first, hm?''
'' Okay.'' said Kaleb happily. He kissed his mother and, with her help, got off of her lap to go and find his father.
Ziva looked at Eli with an embarrassed smile. '' I am sorry, he-''
'' It is fine, you have done well by him, Ziva. And I meant what I said about Israel.''
'' In the future, maybe, I want to finish rebuilding our relationship first.'' said Ziva. '' I do not want Kaleb hurt by what happens between us, so we take things slowly.''
Eli nodded. '' Of course.''
Ziva looked up as Gibbs walked into the study, Kaleb on his hip. '' Dinner's ready.''
'' Okay, I will finish up here-''
'' No need, I got it.'' said Gibbs, making Ziva roll her eyes.
'' Jethro-''
'' Here.'' he said, holding out Kaleb, making him giggle. '' 'S'on the table, I'll just be a sec.'' said Gibbs, as soon as Ziva took hold of Kaleb.
Ziva smiled at Eli. '' I will see you soon, Aba.''
'' Bye Grandpa Eli!'' waved Kaleb, before being carried out of the study by his mother.
Gibbs waited until his wife and son had disappeared into the kitchen before closing the door over and looking at Eli. '' You got something to say?''
'' I was not aware I am a grandfather.'' said Eli.
'' Four years in July.'' said Gibbs. '' He's happy that he's finally met you, you know. A photo for him never was enough, he'd always ask Ziva more. And until you two started talking she wouldn't say much, only who you are and where. Kaleb's seen for himself who you are and he came up with a pretty decent image of you. He actually wants to go to Israel to see you, to get to know his grandfather.''
Eli nodded, a little surge passing through his body as he realised he was a potential role model again, only this time he was happier that it was because a child saw him as a family figure rather than a man dubbed 'the best in the business'.
'' Ziva's excited, but she's a little insecure. She wants you to get to know Kaleb, but she's afraid - not that she'd admit it - she doesn't want our son hurt.'' said Gibbs, his eyes not leaving Eli's pixelated ones. '' She'd kill for Kaleb, so I'm warning you now. You break our son's heart, they way you broke Ziva's, she'll breakl you. And if you hurt Ziva, in any way, I'll kill you, if I get there first.''
Eli nodded. '' I understand.''
'' Good.'' Gibbs paused before smiling. '' Kaleb really likes you, you know. And he's really excited to see you again.''
'' I will see him again?''
'' Yeah, like I could stop him, he is too like his mother and he knows it.'' mused Gibbs. He looked at the closed door before looking back at Eli. '' Apparently my dinner's getting cold. I'll see you soon, Eli.'' said Gibbs.
oOoOoOoOoOo
'' You know, having a whole family together for Christmas is.. it brings back memories.'' said Jackson, bringing Eli back to planetEarth.
'' Yes?''
'' I remember one time, I bought Jethro a firetruck for Christmas. It was one you could ride on and it came in a huge cardboard box. Come Christmas Day, he opened the present and you know what I walk in on later?''
Eli smiled, a familiar scenario playing over in his mind. '' The toy discarded?''
'' Yeah! Here he was playing in the goddamn cardboard box. Do you know how long I had to queue to get that firetruck?'' exclaimed Jackson, making Eli chuckle.
'' Both Tali and Ziva were the same. One Hannukah, Tali got a push along unicorn, Ziva got a horse and while Tali was playing 'ranch', Ziva was busy defending her castle from monsters.'' he said, making Jackson laugh.
'' It's incredible, isn't it? All this money is spent for the best memories to come from cardboard boxes.'' said Jackson.
Eli was about to reply when the front door creaked open. The two grandfathers looked over to see a small curly head peer at them from around the door. He smiled and ran outside the house over to the men sat on the swingbench.
'' Grandpa Eli!'' greeted Kaleb, running over to Eli.
Eli caught Kaleb and pulled him onto his lap. '' Shalom, my grandson.''
'' Kaleb, why aren't you wearing anything on your feet? It's too cold not to, not to mention your mother will go nuts.'' said Jackson, leaning towards Kaleb, his hands on his walking stick.
'' I guess.''
'' Guess nothing, son, your mother will go nuts.'' said Jackson.
As if on cue, the front door creaked open and Kaleb jumped, prompting him to hide behind Eli.
'' As if that'll stop your mother.'' came a deep rumble.
'' Daddy, you made me jump!'' scolded Kaleb, his head popping up from behind Eli's shoulder.
'' Here.'' said Gibbs, passing Eli Kaleb's shoes. Kaleb sat down and held out his feet as Eli put socks and shoes onto his feet. While he was doing so, Gibbs took Eli's bag indoors. When he came back outside, Kaleb was trying to persuade Eli to make a snow angel.
'' It's really easy, I promise. Look, I'll show you-''
'' Not without a coat, you don't.'' said Gibbs, picking up Kaleb and holding him over his shoulder.
'' Daad!'' cried Kaleb, making the eldest Gibbs and David laugh.
Gibbs put him down on the porch. '' Go tell your mother to hurry up, we got a nativity play to go to.''
'' Do we?'' asked Eli, looking at Gibbs as Kaleb ran indoors.
'' Yeah, Kaleb's lead shepard. Gotta say, your timing is good.''
'' My flight was delayed.'' said Eli, sighing. '' While it is an attractive feature of winter, snow is still an inconveniance.''
'' I beg to differ. There's nothing better than sitting inside watching the snowfall whilst sitting around the fire.'' said Jackson.
Eli raised a finger. '' Now there is a small flaw with that argument.'' he said.
The two Gibbses looked at him, their brows knitted in confusion. A third Gibbs spoke up. '' The fact you are inside.'' said Ziva, making Eli nod and the other two Gibbses chuckle.
Ziva stepped outside, a gloved hand muffling a yawn. Gibbs pulled her into a one armed hug, her head on his chest. Eli frowned, but soon lost it as Kaleb came outside to sit on his lap.
'' Ima's always tired.'' he said in a hushed voice.
'' Your mother works too hard.'' said Jackson, smiling at his grandson, before standing. '' Right, are we going to this play or what?''
'' Yes! Let's go!'' called out Kaleb, hopping off of Eli's lap so he could pull at his hands. Once Eli was on his feet, Kaleb moved over to his mother and pulled at her so she stepped into the snow with him. He made a snowball and threw it at Ziva, but she blocked it, making him groan.
'' Nice try, Squirt.'' smirked Ziva, holding out her hand so Kaleb could hold it. As soon as Kaleb latched onto his mother's hand they moved towards the car. As Ziva and Kaleb reached the car first, Kaleb tugged at his mother's coat.
'' I'm glad Grandpa Eli is here.'' he said as Ziva strapped him into his seat.
Ziva smiled and ruffled his hair affectionately, before kissing his cheek. '' As am I.''