This is my special Holiday two shot! Set in my Broken Road Universe! Hope you enjoy! Thanks for reading!
It was a cold but sunny day in Early december. The NCIS team was working on their latest case. The Director of NCIS, Tony DiNozzo, Came down to where Gibbs and his team were working in the squad room.
"Guys, Ziva and I would like to invite you and your familys to a Channukah celebration at our house for the 8th night on December 12th. Ziva is going to invite Abby's family too, when they have lunch today. I am going to call Vance and Ducky when I get back up to the office. You guys are my first stop before heading down to talk to Kasie and Autopsy Gremlin and Jason."
Jason Biggs had been hired as Palmer's assistant when Ducky retired for good two years before.
"So is there anything we need to bring?", asked Cassie Jenkins, who had joined Gibbs' team 4 years ago, when Ellie and Clay Reeves had left NCIS four years before. Tony shook his head.
"Just bring yourselves and your families. And Nick, bring Gabriella. We'd love to have her." Nick grinned and said,
" I bet she'd love to come. I'll ask her." Nick Torres had been dating Gabriella Sanchez for four years. He'd met her at the gym not long after The Reeves family had left for London. Since they were serious now, he was glad she would be invited to be with him at the Channukah gathering. Torres hadn't hadn't told anyone yet, but he was planning on proposing to Gabi on Christmas eve. Tony gave everyone the details for the party, and everyone checked their scheduels and then accepted the invitation. When Tony talked to Palmer and Biggs, Palmer said he and Breena would give Ducky a lift.
Around noon, Abby met Ziva in their favorite cafe and they ordered.
"I feel like I haven't seen you in absolutely AGES!", Abby said as they sat down at a table.
"It has only been a week and we talk almost everyday.", Ziva reminded her.
"I know. But between work and the kids, we hardly ever just get to hang out or go to lunch."
"Well, that is something I wanted to talk to you about. Tony and I have decided that this year, we want our whole family to celebrate Channukah with us, if it is possible. So on the twelfth of December, we are planning to host a Channukah gathering at our home. You and your family are invited as well as Alex, Vance, Ducky, and of course the team and Palmer and Jason and Kasie."
"I'd LOVE to Ziva! It'll be SO much FUN! I'm possitive Jesse will say yes.", Abby exclaimed enthusiastically.
"My children want to teach yours and Palmer's and McGee's kids how to play with the Sevivon.", Ziva said. Abby looked at her friend curiously, so Ziva clarified.
"The Dreidle." Abby had heard of a Dreidle.
"OOH! Caty and Kelly will LOVE that!" The two friends talked about the party for another half hour, then Abby and Ziva both had to return to work. Ziva made sure to invite Alex Quinn to the gathering the moment she returned to the training school.
Several days later, Tali and AJ were helping their ima with the food prep for the Channukah gathering. They would serve Latkes(potato pancakes), Kugle(noodle pudding), Brisket, several kosher vegitable dishes, and Tony's favorite,Sufganiyah(jelly donuts). Ziva made sure there were enough extra bags of Channukah gelt for all the children who would be attending. There would be thirteen altogether. At last the 8th night of Channukah had arrived. Senior had come early and was already watching tv. He had been made to promise that he'd turn it off when the first guest arrived. At about five PM, the doorbell rang. six year old Shanney and Davey DiNozzo were jumping up and down yelling,
"Someone's here! Someone's here!"
"Inside voices, kids.", Tony said. The twins were very excited when they saw that the McGee's were at the door. That meant their best friend who was exactly their age, Jax McGee, was there to play. Timmy DiNozzo greeted his best friends, Johnny and Morgan McGee andTali and AJ joined in the greetings. Then the kids all went in to the other room to play while they waited for the others to show up. Pretty soon, The Palmers arrived with Ducky and their three kids, and Abby and Jesse came with their girls. When ALL the kids had arrived, Tali got out the Sevivon and Ziva handed out the gelt. It was time for everyone to learn how to play the traditional Channukah game. While the kids were all playing, the rest of the guests arrived one group or guest after the other. Gibbs, as usual, was the last to arrive. Pretty soon it was time to light the eighth candle and sing the prayers. Ziva put on her traditional Tichel and all the males from Ducky down to little Davey put on a Kippah or Yarmulke. Then Tony said the prayers. After a moment of silence, Ziva said,
"The food will be on the table in about fifteen minutes." Fifteen minutes later, as they all sat down at the table, Tony said,
"We have a tradition on the eighth night of Channukah. Before we eat, we all say one thing we are thankful for. I'll let Timmy here start to show you how it's done." Timmy stood up and said,
"This year, I'm thankful that I get to share Channukah with my WHOLE big family besides my Ima and Abba and brother and sisters." After Timmy sat down again, the others took there turns, one by one. It took about ten minutes. Lucky, the food was all covered, so it stayed hot. When the last person in the room had said what they were thankful for, Davey spoke up and said,
"Ok! Let's dig in!" The others all laughed and then they did just that. As they ate they all enjoyed just being together with the people they loved. After all, every Holiday is more special when it's celebrated with family.
Well, there's the first chapter of the twoshot. Christmas chapter will be up on Wednesday! Please remember ALL reviews are MUCH appreciated! Please don't forget! Thanks!