Chapter 1 -Christmas

-27.12.2014-

All of us have different ways of dealing with grief. So does the elite NCIS team that consists of three special agents and one LAPD detective.

Callen is a lone wolf. He tries to hide behind an iron-clad mask, but sometimes it's enough to look into his steel and icy blue eyes to feel his concern or the thoughts of failure to save the day. As we all know, saving one life is equal as saving the whole world, but for Callen that seems it's not enough.

Sam manages grief by hitting the punching bag in the gym. After all he is a SEAL and he can overcome that state fast. But sometimes that leaves scars that cannot be seen on the outside.

Kensi, well she is Kensi. She can be sad, happy, and moody all in one day. She also experienced a lots of loses over the years and she was taught first hand by life itself what grief is and what the feeling of emptiness was.

Deeks had troubled past, yet he managed to stay positive and always have that huge goofy grin on his face.

When it comes to Hetty, she is a true chameleon. Many times the team asked themselves if they knew Hetty as well as she knows them. She has ability to know where everyone of her team members is at specific time of the day, what they eat, drink and what they think. She can fool anyone with the poker face of hers when it comes to her past.

Eric and Nell, well the two techies have ways of their own, but since they are nerdy, and their heads are full with facts about anything in particular, they can overcome the grief by filling the space with more and more facts so they don't face the loss and the failure directly.

And here is Nate, the Operational Psychologist that helps them overcome the problems that their job brings. And the risks they take when they are on the street chasing bad guys.

This day was one of those days that every one of them wanted to forget and put aside in their brain and never remember. This was the day that changed them once more.

-25.12.2014-

It was Christmas. Sam and Callen were traditionally getting the Christmas tree. They stopped at the shop where they purchased two Christmas trees, one for the OSP and one for Sam's family. Earlier that day Sam said how Michelle and the kids were literally screaming the words "We want a Christmas Tree". Callen joked that he should buy a palm tree, but when Sam glared at him like he was going to put a bullet hole in his head Callen said "It was a suggestion Sam. Don't shoot me." Sam smiled and drove the Challenger to their destination. They took the trees and quickly dropped the first at Sam's house and headed back to OSP.

Hetty waited as they entered the Mission and watched them as they argued about what they should put on the tree. Hetty smiled and coughed so they stopped their conversation.

"Mr. Callen and Mr. Hanna I see you bought the tree."

"Yes Hetty, at the last moment."

"As I've heard you two few minutes ago you were arguing about what should be put on the tree, right?"

Callen thought, Were we too loud or she has a microphone installed inside one of us?

"Right." Sam said.

"Well, let me handle that. You two are needed in OSP, ASAP."

Callen and Sam climbed the stairs and stopped at the entrance. In there were Eric, Nell, Kensi and Deeks. They were watching Tom and Jerry. Precisely, they were watching "The night before Christmas". They were talking about their favorite episodes from the cartoon.

Deeks said "My favorite is The Cat Concerto. I mean it warms my heart every time I hear the Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 from Franz Liszt."

Nell said "My favorite is Pecos Pest. When Uncle Pecos sings cramboneeeee it's just terrific."

Eric said "My favorite is the one with the small mouse, I think his name was Nibbles, when they set free Robin Hood."

"Robin Hoodwinked."

"That's the one Kensi. Who is your favorite?" asked Eric.

"My favorite is Mucho Mouse. When the lady calls Tom to catch El Magnifico, but he ends up playing the guitar together with the orange cat."

She suddenly saw Callen and Sam behind Eric. "Hey guys, where were you two?"

"We were getting the Christmas Tree."

Deeks' grin got bigger. "Cool. God, I love this time of the year."

"You love every time of the year Deeks. So what are you doing?"

Now Eric spoke "We are watching Tom and Jerry." Isn't that obvious, duh?

"So what's your fave Callen?" Nell asked.

Callen said "The Cruise Cat, you know when they're on the ship and Tom tries to get the mouse out of it, but he ends in prison."

Deeks grinned even more.

Eric said "Coming up The Cruise Cat".

Sam chuckled at the last words of the tech with blond hair, when Callen asked him.

"What? You don't watch Tom and Jerry?"

"It's nothing G, I was just remembering the last time we were happy like this."

That made all of them stop with the chattering and think about the last time when the team gathered up and played something, or watched some show on TV. The conclusion was: too long.

Eric broke the silence when he hit the play button on You Tube and The Cruise Cat started. As the Tom and Jerry tune filled the room all six of them felt like they were back in childhood. They didn't even notice when Hetty came and sat with them. She thought "That's my family" silently, watching like a mother over her children. They all laughed at the part when Tom was screaming "Get me out of here!" It came like a muffled sound and that's why they loved that scene so much.

"G, my favorite episode is The Cruise Cat, too." said Sam.

…

After they had some fun in OSP, every agent got back to their office and finished the paperwork that waited for them. They were all busy when Hetty came out of nowhere, like she always did (that silent little ninja) and spoke:

"Attention everyone!"

They all turned their faces to hers.

"You are officially dismissed from duty from now till New Year's Eve. Is that clear?"

"Yes." They answered in unison.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Go home and get some rest."

Deeks approached Kensi and asked her if she was interested to come to his place and watch some Christmas movies and celebrate Christmas together. She said that she will, but first she wanted to go home and change clothes.

Sam and Callen talked about how Callen should go to their home and spend Christmas with Sam's family. Callen used to reject Sam's offers for him to go at his home and have some fun back in the day, but now he thought it was a good idea. Sam also offered Callen to bring Joelle.

"We'll see about that big guy. Just let me finish something and we're ready to go."

...