Title: An NCIS Carol
Rating: T to be safe
Disclaimer: Caitlin, JT, Michaela, Jeremy, and Jasmine are my creation. The others are not mine. No infringement intended. No infringement intended on Charles Dickens, either. ;)
Summary: The team gathers for Christmas, and Ducky tells a story
Pairings: McGee/Abby, Tony/Faith, Palmer/Jasmine
"Uncle Ducky, tell us a story?"
Ducky gazed down at 6 year old Caitlin McGee, and her partner in crime, JT DiNozzo. "Caitlin, I don't think I have a story for you, my dear," he gently teased.
"Aw, Uncle Ducky, you've ALWAYS got a story," JT scolded, pouting slightly.
"That, he certainly does," Jimmy said, as he strolled in, carrying his 2-year-old daughter, Michaela, on one arm. He handed Ducky a cup of hot spiced cider, saying, "Here you go, Dr. Mallard. With a generous splash of rum, just the way you like it."
Ducky grinned at his successor in the NCIS morgue. "Thank you, Jimmy. Just what the doctor ordered," he said, with a twinkle in his blue eyes.
"That ought to loosen his tongue up nicely," Tony commented, from the kitchen. He strolled in, carrying the youngest of Jimmy and Jasmine's two children, Jeremy. "Ducky, I've never known you to be short of stories."
"Yeah, Ducky," Tim said, as he followed Abby into Tony and Faith's living room. "And it's Christmas. I mean, if ever there was a time for a good story, it's now."
Gibbs settled down at the end of the sofa, coffee in hand. "They've got a point, Duck."
"Guys, are we gonna need more cider?" Faith called from the kitchen.
"YES!" came the emphatic answer, from Abby. "Ducky's gonna tell us a story, he needs to keep his throat from getting dry!"
Ducky sighed with resignation. "I don't think I like being ganged up on, Abigail," he said, trying without success to keep from smiling.
"Uncle Ducky… pleeeeeaaaaaaase," Caitlin begged. "Pretty please, Uncle Ducky?" JT added, for good measure.
"With sugar on top, Uncle Ducky?" Ducky frowned and scowled at Jimmy, who sat with a cheeky grin and a Christmas sparkle in his eyes. "Really, Dr. Palmer. I should think that a grown man such as yourself should be past begging."
"He isn't," Jasmine said, as she, too, entered the living room. She winked at her husband, and stuck her tongue out at her brother, Tim, as he rolled his eyes and smiled. Jasmine turned and returned to the kitchen to help Faith carry in the trays of snacks and drinks.
"Well," Jimmy said, defensively, "it's been a long time since you were in autopsy to lend a hand, Doctor. I really miss your stories. They made a long, drawn out day go a lot faster."
"A-ha!" Ducky said, triumphantly, pointing a finger at Gibbs. "See! I told you Jethro. Not everyone hates my digressions. Some even find them entertaining, and I daresay, even educational."
Abby and Tim glanced at each other and smiled, as they saw their daughter impatiently scowl her McGee scowl. "She gets that from you, hon," Abby whispered to him. Tim grinned at her, green eyes shining. "I know, isn't it cool?' he remarked, proudly. Abby rolled her eyes playfully at her husband. "Whatever," she said, shaking her head. They turned and saw Tony and Faith bite their lips to keep from laughing, as JT made a face that was unmistakably a DiNozzo "dirty look."
"Well, then… I suppose. One story can't be all that difficult to conjure up." He smiled inwardly as he sipped at his cider, peering at the group over the rim of his cup. He had them right where he wanted them, now. And he also had their absolute undivided attention.
And, he had rum in his cider. Ah… life was good.
"Caitlin, my dear, who would you like to sit with - me, or your parents?"
Caitlin gazed up at him, adoringly. "You, Uncle Ducky. Can JT sit with us too?"
Ducky glanced down at Tony's son, noting the striking similarity between JT's charming expression, and the one that they had so often witnessed, coming from Tony.
"Oh, why not," he said. He settled down in Tony's big easy chair, and put his feet up. Caitlin and JT scrambled up, and settled down. Ducky waited for everyone to settle down themselves, and for Faith and Jasmine to reappear from the kitchen, one last time. "Last chance for bathroom break," Faith pointed out. She waited a moment, and smiled. Everyone seemed okay for now.
"Now, then, are we all set?" he asked. Jimmy grinned at him, then glanced down at Michaela, sleeping in his arms.
They all glanced at the door, as the bell rang. "Not quite," Tony said, going to answer it.
"Ziva! Happy Hanukkah!" Tony said, hugging the last of the team members to arrive. Ziva smiled at them as Tony quickly kissed both her cheeks. "I come bearing goodies," Ziva said proudly. She swept into the house, and quickly retreated to the kitchen to drop the tray off on the counter. She returned in time to have Tim tell her, "You're just in time, Ziva. Ducky's telling us a story." Ziva grinned giddily, as Gibbs motioned her over to the final empty sitting spot, next to him. "I don't bite… usually," he pointed out. Ziva settled down, curling her legs up underneath herself.
"I think we're all ready now, Doctor," Jimmy said. "Let the story begin."
