A/N: Happy Holidays everyone. This is just a fun two-parter that I wrote to spread some cheer and angst. Can't have one without the other!
I discovered the show this past summer, and I found it great that I had some similar happenings in the stories I wrote a long time ago that were deleted by the site. I fell in love with the characters immediately. I think I would be in heaven if I could hang out with the writers of the show sometime. (:
I now own every season on DVD! But I do not own the show or any of its characters.
Cheers! =^.^=
Santa's Squall: Part 1
Gibbs peeked over the top of his reading glasses, sensing all eyes upon him. When the gang went uncharacteristically quiet, his radar went off. They were planning to stay and keep him company.
"Guys, go home. It's Christmas Eve. Spend it with your families...or whoever," he said, eyeing Tony.
"I don't feel good about leaving you here alone. It's just not right, Gibbs-and it gives me the blues knowing that I'll be drinking punch with the nuns while you're-" Abby only paused as she set the cardboard coffee cup down on his desk beside six others, already lined up there.
"Abbs!" Gibbs interrupted, "Go home. I'll be fine."
"But, what are you going do here, boss? If you need my help working on cold cases, I could just-" Tim began.
"McGee. Go. All of you. What are you waiting for?" Even Ducky and Palmer were standing there, observing him like a science experiment gone awry. "Haven't you ever seen a man working a little late before? I'll just finish up and take off, myself."
"But boss, I thought you said that there wasn't anything left to do-"
"DiNozzo! Everyone! Get out! Merry Christmas!" he barked. They scampered to retrieve their belongings. "There's a storm moving in and I'll be stuck with all of you if you don't get a move on!"
"All right, boss. Merry Christmas then," Tim said with a curt nod.
"Where ya' headed to McMichelinMan?" Tony asked with a cheesy grin. Tim just stared back at him blankly.
"You know...the Michelin Man from the tire commercial- never mind. Your coat. It's a bit puffy, don't you think?" he asked, slapping at the shiny black fabric. "Looks like a cheap funky neck-brace up there on top." He touched the collar, then flicked Tim's nose when he looked down to where he was pointing.
"For your information it's goose-down, Tony. And, it wasn't cheap. I'm wearing it because of the pending storm. I'll be prepared in case I run into car trouble, whereas you will be frozen to death-"
He stopped when he caught Tony lip-syncing his every word. Ellie couldn't help but laugh.
"Never mind," Tim said in exasperation, tying to maneuver his puffier self around to face his coworkers.
"I think it's a very nice coat, Tim," Ellie said. "Actually, I have a similar ski jacket."
"That's what I thought, McGee," Tony teased.
Gibbs still watched the crew from behind reading glasses until his ring-tone interrupted. The gang went silent. He shooed them off with another flick of his wrist. "Go," he mouthed, almost knocking down the gifted coffees like a row of dominoes.
They moved as one, making their way to the elevator, and all murmuring at once about their Christmas plans. Gibbs hung up, a perplexed look etched upon his face. They stopped and waited to hear what he had to say.
"Something wrong, Jethro?" Ducky finally asked.
"Nope...wrong number," he lied.
"I see. Well, if you change your mind and do decide to leave your work here for a bit to celebrate the birth of our dear savior-whether you believe or not-"
"Ducky! Is there something you wanna' say?" Gibbs interrupted, his pale blue eyes boring into his elder friend.
"Yes...well I was going to say that you could always stop by my place for a bourbon and a roaring fire when you've finished here. I'm afraid it's just going to be me and-"
"Thanks, Ducky. But I think I'm just going to work on-"
"Your boat," Ducky finished for him. "Okay, Jethro. Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas, everyone!" Gibbs called out with a chuckle.
The gang shoved their way into the elevator just as the doors closed. Gibbs smiled to himself before his mind wandered back to the mysterious phone call. "Happy Holidays, Gibbs. I hope you get everything you have coming to you." There was something about that voice...
"I'm worried about Gibbs," Abby piped up above the din.
"Me too my dear girl, me too," Ducky agreed solemnly. "He seems a bit down this year, and I hate to think that he's all alone with only his memories on Christmas Eve."
"Well, you know the boss-man. He likes his solitude, and he wasn't about to agree to McNerd's offer to come over and play on-line games all night long," Tony said with a snort.
"I did not ask him to come over and play anything. As a matter of fact I have someone that I'm dropping off a gift to, and-"
"Spare us the deets, McLoverboy. The last thing I want to hear about is that you have some rendezvous planned out when-" Tony stopped, and his eyes shifted away.
"Aww, what's the matter, Tony? The Don Juan of Whoville doesn't have a date for Christmas?" Tim asked, his turn to grin.
Tony pulled a face at him and scowled. Ellie laughed. "What are you doing tonight?" he asked her.
"Me? Oh I'm spending it with my husband and family," she answered quickly.
"Of course you are, " Tony said.
"You're welcome to take the offer I extended to Gibbs and come over for a hot toddy, a fire, and some brilliant conversation at my place, Tony," Ducky said warmly. "Mr. Palmer and his lovely wife shall be joining me there, isn't that right?"
"Yes, we are!" Jimmy said with a big smile. He was thrilled that he'd been invited to spend the holidays with his mentor.
"Uh...well thanks Ducky, but I do have plans. I appreciate the offer, however."
"You mean you have plans if that cashier at the bagel shop accepts your invitation, and doesn't call the cops to press stalking charges?" Tim asked with a chortle.
"Haha! Good one, McGee! We are the cops by the way," Tony shot back.
"The sisters and I are having a little get together, too. You're all welcome to join us for some festivities," Abby said. They all murmured their "thank you, but no thank yous". Abby shrugged.
The elevator opened and everyone shuffled out. As they began to disperse toward their cars, they turned around one last time to exchange Christmas greetings. The snow was already coming down in heavy wet flakes.
"Oh dear. Do be careful, everyone! It appears that the storm is making an early entrance!" Ducky warned.
"How is Gibbs going to get home if he stays any longer?" Abby worried aloud.
"Maybe I should just hang around and make sure he gets off okay," Tony said, already turning back.
"Yeah...me too," Tim said going back with him.
"You boys are worried," Ducky said with a smile.
"It is Papa Gibbs we're talking about here," Abby said, following suit behind her brothers.
"I think you should let him take care of himself," a new voice joined in from behind. They spun around to find the Director standing there, already covered in snowflakes. "You know how he gets when we refuse to take 'no' for an answer."
"Good point," Palmer chimed in with wide eyes. He was remembering the last time he had refused to leave when he'd been ordered to. "He can get a little uptight and downright nasty-oh! Sorry, sorry."
"Come along, Mr. Palmer," Ducky said, "I'll walk the rest of the way with you. I do believe you're parked right alongside me, if I remember correctly. This morning seems like an eternity ago..."
The two wished everyone a final 'Merry Christmas', and headed off.
"We'll give him a call later on and see how's he doing then, right Tiny Tim?" Tony suggested quickly, realizing that Leon wasn't going to go away.
"Good idea," Leon said.
"Deal," Tim said, limply shaking Tony's extended hand.
"Bye, guys," Abby said sadly.
She hated that her NCIS family wouldn't be together for Christmas. Every year she had the same fantasy that they would do more than watch a Christmas movie in MTAC. She wanted them to actually celebrate together.
"Bye, Abbs!" Tony called as he watched her climb into her little red car.
"Bye, Tony! Merry Christmas! Love you! Bye, everyone!" she shouted.
McGee was already behind the wheel of his car waving to Abby. She smiled. It was getting harder to see one another now through the snow and sleet, which was coming down harder by the second. Ellie let Tony clear her windows for her with a brush before giving him an awkward hug and climbing into her seat.
"Thanks! And Merry Christmas!" she called out before finally pulling away, her back tires skidding erratically as she went.
Tony shook his head and rubbed his gloved hands together to warm them. He wasn't looking forward to the icy roads, but he was looking even less forward to being alone that evening.
Gibbs looked around the dim office and saw that everyone had finally taken his advice and gone home. He sighed. He'd received a second call from the same number, this time asking for a Ricky Alletto. A third time the caller had simply hung up. Someone obviously had something to say to him, and it was eating them up inside.
He knew that he had to run the number and see who this Ricky Aletto was that the man was asking for. His gut had told him from the start that the call was no accident. There had been an urgency in his voice...and an undertone of anger.
He went to McGee's computer and punched in the number to run the trace. It pulled up a burn phone purchased from a local retailer. He ran a check on the name Ricky Alletto, and still came up with nothing. He debated. He could spend more time on it, or he could go home.
He squinted his eyes up as he mulled over the situation, before finally deciding to let it go for the time being. He might not have plans, but it was Christmas Eve for crying out loud.
He took a seat at his desk and thought about everything that had happened over the past year that was now coming to an end. His cell ringing on his desk jolted him from his thoughts. He snatched it up, expecting it to the be the phantom caller going for another round.
"What is it that you want to say to me?" he asked harshly.
"Leroy? Son, what kind of a season's greetings is that?" his father asked sternly.
"Pa...sorry. I thought you were someone else."
"I hope so, son. I didn't come all this way just to turn around in this storm-"
"Pa, where are you?" Gibbs asked, running a hand through his silver hair.
"At your place, of course! Where else would I be?"
"It's just that I didn't know you were coming-"
"I can't spend time with my boy at Christmas?" he intercepted.
Gibbs couldn't help but smile to himself. "Of course I want to spend time with you, Pa. I'll just be finishing up here."
"And how long will that take? I'm famished, and there's a terrible storm moving in-"
"I know, Pa. I know all about the storm. I'll be home in a bit."
"Be careful! I'll see you soon, son."
Papa Gibbs hung up with a smile on his face. He couldn't wait to surprise his son with a home-cooked meal. He'd prepared ham and potatoes, just the way they had every year when he was younger. It was his all-time favorite.
He looked around the living room and shook his head. Now, if there was just something they could do to liven the place up a bit, and make it look more festive.
Gibbs left the building to walk to his car. He looked up at the sky and instantly his eyelashes were layered with snowflakes. Maybe it was best that he was leaving sooner, rather than later. He warmed up the car and left the same way Ellie had, noticing the skid marks her tires had left behind. He smiled again. Hopefully she would pay attention to the traffic and make it home in one piece.
His thoughts went directly to his other kids; Abby, Tim, and Tony. He hoped they would have some peace and joy for Christmas, despite the trouble they could be for him at times.
Then there was Ducky... He felt a twinge of guilt over declining his invitation. The Scotsman had tried his best to convince him that he wanted him over for the holidays to join Jimmy, Breena, and himself, but he suspected that he had just thought he would be better off if he wasn't left to wallow in self-pity.
Well, ironically he wouldn't be alone, not with his father's surprise visit. He wondered how Vance would be making out this year without his wife by his side, and felt a stab of compassion. Next, he took a detour of his own, down memory lane. He could see Shannon stifling a laugh when she saw the job he'd done placing the ornaments on his side of the tree. Kelly was giggling too...
He swerved when an oncoming vehicle was suddenly in his lane. He was positive that it hadn't been his fault this time. He looked in his rear-view mirror to see a black pick-up skid around the corner, then vanish into darkness. His gut was acting up again...telling him that something wasn't right.
"Timmy, it's me Abby."
"What's up, Abbs? Didn't we just leave one another?"
"Sorry to bother you-I mean I know we just saw each other-but you made it home okay, right? I mean of course you did, you're talking to me now, so you had to have made it-"
"Abby! Is something wrong?" He silently rolled his eyes on the other end.
"Well, yeah. I mean, no. I mean, I don't know? And, don't roll your eyes at me, Timmy! I just have a bad feeling that Gibbs isn't telling us something. Why was he hanging around and telling us all to leave on Christmas Eve? I think he's up to something McGee, and I'm worried. He didn't even want to watch It's A Wonderful Life this year, and I look forward to us all being together-"
"Is that what this is all about, Abby? Not watching It's A Wonderful Life? Because they have that for rent on-
"Of course not, Timmy!"
"What do you want me to do, Abby?"
"Well...do you really have plans tonight, Mr. McGee?"
"Is that so hard to believe?"
"Well, yeah-I mean no! But I thought maybe you were just saying that because Tony is always on you-you know-teasing you. Never mind."
Tim sighed then pretended to bang his forehead against the door-jamb. "I don't have concrete plans for this evening, Abby. I thought a-about seeing someone that-you know what-just forget about it. What are you up to?"
"I think we should do something nice for Gibbs. We should just ignore his orders to go away-and bring him something nice-other than coffee! I mean-I mean-I know how much he likes his coffee and all-but he did get like seven of them! Did you see how many there were on his desk? I think we should go back there and make him be merry!" she ended breathlessly.
"Make him be merry, Abbs?"
"Yes! So will you come with me, or not?" She bit her lip and waited.
Tim sighed into the phone. "Do I have a choice?"
"No."
Ducky lit some candles on his mantle and took a step back. "Charming," he said. He went to the window to see if Jimmy and his wife were approaching. The weather had him concerned that they might not show at all, and with the new warnings he was just as concerned that they might and wind up coming to harm.
He dialed them to check on their whereabouts. "Hello?" Jimmy answered.
"Ah, my dear boy. Are you anywhere near?" he asked.
"We just left, but it's pretty bad out here."
"Perhaps we should just cancel-"
"No, we can't do that!" Jimmy cut in urgently. "We don't really know how to get back. It seems like I may have taken a wrong turn, and actually I'm trying to find a main road..."
"Oh dear. I've always said that navigation was not your strong point. Do you have your GPS engaged, Mister Palmer?"
"I-I um...it doesn't seem to be working properly, Doctor Mallard. Well-Well-because it said to turn—right-and right was well-right into a ditch."
"You didn't turn into the ditch, did you my dear boy?"
"Nooooo. But I am stuck in a rut of some kind." Jimmy revved the car, and he could hear the wheels spinning on the other end of the receiver. Ducky sighed audibly.
"You say you're not far from your home, Mister Palmer? Can you give me any more detail than that?"
"About five minutes away from our house, I believe. At least I think about five minutes...I came around past the general store-it's the one that sells those really weird-oh sorry, sorry. You probably don't need to know that."
"Let me get back to you when I figure this all out, Mr. Palmer."
"Thanks, Doctor Mallard."
Ducky hung up and sighed again. Jimmy was like the son he had never wanted, but he was like a son nonetheless.
Tony walked into his apartment and flung his damp coat and scarf down on the sofa. He usually hung it up, but he was definitely feeling down at the moment. He hoped that he hadn't let on in front of the others just what a loser he really was. He kicked off his shoes and put his feet up on the coffee table.
At least the tree looked warm and cozy. He stared at it for a moment. It would look a lot better if he had someone to actually share it with, he thought to himself. His thoughts went to Jeanne, and he wondered how she was celebrating the holidays when his cell rang. He jumped at it, secretly hoping that it was a social call, but even work would be greatly welcomed at the moment.
"DiNozzo."
"Tony!"
"Abby?"
"Yeah, it's me."
He leaned forward with concern. "Everything okay, Abby?" he asked warily. She sounded worried.
"I'm okay, Tony. How are you?"
"Just about to enjoy a good flick, have some good food-"
"Tony, we need to talk."
"I'm all ears, Abbs."
"Timmy and I are on our way to see Gibbs-because, you see, we don't want him to be all alone on Christmas Eve-even though he said to go home-and let me tell you it's really bad out here. Anyway, we were wondering if you'd like to come with us." She was going to find a way to get her family together one way or another.
"McGee is with you? I thought he had a hot date tonight. Or...MAYBE!" he said excitedly, wheels turning, "little Timmy was lying, and he had plans for some on-line gaming, but the elf-lords are out delivering packages!" Tony smiled proudly, believing he had figured it all out. "That explains why he had plans, and I don't!"
The smile left his face when he realized what he had just admitted to Abby.
"Well that's great, Tony! I mean it's not great that you don't have plans-but it's great that you can come with us!"
Tim's head snapped in Abby's direction when he heard her side of the conversation. "Ha! I knew it! Tony was just sore that he didn't have any plans tonight!" he said loudly.
"I heard that McEavesdropper!" Tony shouted into the phone.
"Guys!" Abby scolded. "We have to get along-and be on our best behavior if we're going to visit Gibbs, and bring him some good cheer! Bad McGee! Bad DiNozzo!" She wagged a finger and they both quieted. Tim skidded to a stop. "Okay, Tony. Now we're right outside your place, and we need to get a move on because it's getting really slippery out here!"
"You're already here? How did you even know that I was here...or that I would even say yes?"
Abby smiled and waved at Tony as he peeked out the curtains of his window.
Gibbs pulled into his driveway and noticed that a wisp of smoke was climbing from his chimney, making the heavy snow look misty. His dad had obviously made a fire, and with the frigid air chilling him to the core, he had to admit that he was looking forward to it.
He carefully made his way to the door and went inside. He sniffed at the air. It smelled like his childhood during the holidays. Ham and potatoes. He tossed his keys down and headed to the kitchen where he could hear a bustle of activity taking place.
"Leroy!" his dad greeted. He came over by aid of his cane, and hugged his son warmly. His pale blue eyes were sparkling. "I made all your favorites."
Gibbs hugged him back. "I see that. How long have you been here?"
"All day. I knew there was a storm moving in-and well-I didn't want to miss out on Christmas with my son."
"Glad you made it," Gibbs said sincerely.
His father smiled. "Don't have crap up for decorations, do you?"
"You know I don't do that stuff anymore, Pa."
"Well, you should. It's Christmas time and...they would have wanted you to continue celebrating it-"
"Dad, did you come here to lecture me, or to eat this delicious ham?" he said peering into the oven. "Looks done."
His father donned the oven mitts, and gingerly took it out of the oven. "Let's eat, son."
Tobias whistled I'll Be Home For Christmas as he got dressed. He was about to spend Christmas Eve with his ex-wife and their daughter Emily. He was in high spirits. Not even the winter weather advisory could spoil his mood. It would be the first time he and Diane had Christmas plans as a family since the divorce.
Now that they were seeing each other again, he could look forward to some wild times later on that evening, too... He pulled his mind from the gutter. It was Christmas Eve, he told himself. He shouldn't be focused on Diane's cannibalistic passion until after the celebration.
He picked up two shiny gold boxes from his bureau. He couldn't wait to see the looks on their faces when he handed them the matching bracelets he'd chosen from the jewelers. Still whistling, he tucked them into his trench coat pocket.
He looked at the time on his cell. If he left now, he should be able to get to the Children's Center in time to hand out the cheerfully wrapped gifts that were in his trunk, spend some time with Diane and Emily there as he'd promised, then head back to his place for a private celebration with Diane, alone.
He gave himself a final once-over in the foyer mirror, and chuckled aloud before heading out into the blustery night. His phone rang as he opened the car door.
"Fornell."
"Tobias, where are you?" Diane asked. "The kids are getting restless! And, your daughter is counting on you!"
"I'm heading out right now. It's pretty slick out here so I-"
"And where's that jackass 'other ex' of mine? He's not here either, and he-"
"Diane! I'm sure he's on his way! If he said he'll be there and he isn't yet, something must have come up!"
"You're defending him, now? You two are so tight now that you're defending him? He's not here and he's not answering my calls, Tobias!"
"You've been calling him? I thought you said you weren't going to do that anymore!"
"Tobias! The kids are counting on both of you!"
"All right! All right! Listen, I'll swing by and see if he's still at his place. We'll be there in a bit. Just stall everyone."
"Just get here, Tobias!" she whisper-screamed into the phone before disconnecting.
Leon Vance pulled up to his house at last. True, he'd unnecessarily taken the scenic route, but now he really wanted to be home with his children. He just wanted to hide the hurt first or his children would see it in his eyes. He sat in the car staring at the exterior of his house. He was grateful that he'd even made it home with the current road conditions. His kids couldn't afford to lose another parent.
He should have been walking into the arms of his wife when he went though that front door. He should be feeling her warm breath on his neck, and her sweet embrace around him. Instead, he was about to face one of the most difficult times of his life. It would be the first Christmas without Jackie.
He dragged himself from the car, and did his best to focus on the joy he would see in the eyes of his children when he walked in. At least he still had that.
"Dad!" his son shouted, jumping into his arms immediately.
"Hey there, big guy!" he greeted. "Looks like I brought in some of the storm with me!" he said jovially, shaking the excess sleet from the brim of his hat.
His daughter threw her arms around his waist. "I was worried, Daddy," she said softly, squeezing him tighter.
"Nothing to worry about. The heart of the storm hasn't even hit yet. Let's get a good fire going before it does."
"We have cookies baking!" his daughter announced.
"Okay, I'll start the fire, you two check on the cookies."
He smiled as they ran off. He realized that Gibbs was probably the closest one to him that could actually understand what he was going through. He made a mental note to give him a quick buzz before he went to bed and let him know that he felt for him too.
No sooner had he hung up his coat, than his cell vibrated in his pocket. "Director Vance."
"Director, we have a dead Marine."
"Pa, this is delicious, but I have someplace I gotta' be," Gibbs said.
"Now? In this weather, Leroy?"
"Yes, even in this weather. But, I'll be back in a couple of hours..." he said as he went down the hall to change.
Shocked, his father stood at the table staring in the direction his son had just disappeared.
"Unless you have a terrible accident!" he boomed down the hall. "Where do you keep the old decorations, anyway?" he asked. There was still no response.
Gibbs was too busy changing into an old, comfortable NCIS sweatsuit. Next, he donned the padded, and over-sized red fur suit and black boots. He tugged the white beard and mustache around his ears, and securely attached the red hat, complete with pom-pom.
He looked himself over in the mirror and shook his head. What had he gotten himself into, he wondered. He stepped out of his room and walked right into his father, who looked like he'd just seen a ghost.
"What the-"
"It's just me, Pa."
"Well, why on earth are you dressed like that? I thought I'd lost my mind for a minute!"
"The Children's Center," he said simply.
His father watched as he collected his coat and keys, and opened the door just as Fornell was about to knock. "Gibbs! I see you're ready to go!"
"Tobias." He looked his friend up and down with amusement.
"You look so jolly, Santa Gibbs!" Fornell said with a snicker of his own.
Papa Gibbs looked over his son's shoulder to find an elf looking back at him. An elf complete with vest, short pants, striped socks, and pointy shoes.
"You look ridiculous," Gibbs couldn't resist saying while his father just stared in amazement.
"So do you," Fornell said.
"Talk about the pot calling the kettle black," Papa Gibbs said with a grin, looking from one man to the other.
"Why are you here and not at the center?" Gibbs asked curiously.
"Diane was concerned that neither one of us had shown up yet, and well you know how she gets."
"I remember."
"She said you weren't answering any of her calls."
"Hmmm."
"I'll drive," Fornell said. " Come on, the cars already warm and running."
"Be careful, you two!" Papa Gibbs warned from the doorway as the two slipped and slid all the way to Fornell's car.
Abby, Tim, and Tony had endured a boisterous ride back to the office, full of sibling banter. Abby talked about how much she missed the 'old' times with Gibbs, while Tim and Tony disagreed about everything from radio stations to the safest route there.
Finally pulling into the lot, they had a pretty good idea that Gibbs had already left. "Where's his car?" Abby asked innocently.
"I knew this was a bad idea," Tim said.
"Let me get this straight. You two pulled me away from my holiday plans, just to sneak up on Gibbs, and you didn't even know he was already gone? Way to go McScrew-up!"
"Hey! I didn't know that Abby hadn't made sure that he hadn't gone home yet!"
"Even if I had Timmy, he might have left before we even made it here! You took the longest route, remember!" Abby cried.
"Ha! Agreed!" Tony shouted.
"Correction, I took the safest route! The GPS says that the roads are not clear that way yet, and we could be in a ditch right now!"
"You and your glitchy tech gadgets, Timmy! I saw the plows heading that way-"
"Guys! Stop!" Abby scolded, her plaid bows flying about wildly as she tossed her pigtails angrily. "Maybe this worked out for the best, anyway!"
"How can being stuck in the backseat with Grandpa McGee behind the wheel, be for the best?" Tony asked sarcastically.
"Because...Tony," she emphasized, "now, we can go to Gibbs' house and spend time with him there!"
"Why do I get the feeling that we've been snookered into this outing, and that you planned on having us bring you to Gibbs' all along?" McGee accused. Abby threw him her best dagger-eyes, which had him retreating in his seat. "Okay, okay. Let's just go," he said with a huff.
Fornell and Gibbs were well on their way to the Children's Center. The snow was coming down even heavier, and the layer of ice beneath the snow had Fornell on edge, white-knuckling the wheel. He adjusted the back tires to align with the front for the third time, and whistled.
"Santa and his elf just might not be making it after all," he muttered under his breath.
Gibbs looked at him with amusement. "Are you saying a tough FBI guy like yourself can't handle a little snow, Tobias?"
"Do you not see this stuff coming down, Gibbs? I've dealt with a lot of snow in my day, but this...this is legendary."
Gibbs smiled, and Fornell turned the wipers on as high as they would go to try and keep up with the heavy layer stubbornly enveloping the windshield. He squinted through the dizzying sea of flakes in exasperation.
"I could drive," Gibbs offered.
"No!"
Gibbs suppressed an evil smile.
Finally arriving at the Children's home, they pulled into the back lot and got out, walking briskly toward the back of the building.
"We have to sneak through the back door?" Gibbs asked curiously.
"Diane said that the kids need to be surprised. Besides, would Santa be pulling up in a black sedan, Jethro?"
As they made their way across the lot, a man was waiting in a black pick-up truck parked in the shadows, and sat watching the pair.
"What do you mean, he left with Fornell?" Abby demanded to know, clearly disappointed.
"Come on in, kids! You'll freeze to death out there," Papa Gibbs said, hurriedly holding the door open for Tim, Tony and Abby. He quickly closed it to keep the cold wind out. "Have a seat. They left for the Children's Center to hand out some packages. I told him that it wasn't a good idea in this nasty weather, but you now he is."
They nodded. "Oh yeah," Tony said. "We know exactly how one Leroy Jethro Gibbs can be when he sets his mind to something." The old man smiled at his "grandson".
The warm fire was soon addicting, and it wasn't long before the gang was actually enjoying their visit. With left-over plates of ham and potatoes, they shared stories about the man in question until they heard a car approaching. The tires were crunching loudly on the newly fallen snow, and Abby excitedly rose to see if it was Gibbs. Instead, Director Vance was getting out of a car with his kids in tow.
"It's Director Vance! And he brought his kids!" Abby announced excitedly. He was carrying some heavy bags, and Tim rushed out to help.
"Let me take that for you, Director!" Tim said, shielding himself from the blowing snow. "You drove all the way here in this?"
"No McGenius, he flew here on Frosty's broom!" Tony cut in, reaching around and beating him to the bags.
"I did drive in this. It was foolish I know, but I figured Gibbs would be alone for the holidays. I see I was wrong," he added dryly.
"Aw, you're so sweet to worry about him," Abby said. "Come on! Come on! You're all letting the warm air out!"
They shuffled in and stomped their feet on the mat.
"Hello, Mr. Gibbs." Leon shook the old man's hand. "How nice that you made it up for the holidays. Your son didn't tell me that you would be joining him."
"I didn't tell him, either," Papa Gibbs said with a wry smile. "And I don't believe we've met formally, although I've heard all about you," he said to the children.
"This is my daughter Kayla, and my son Jared."
"Nice to meet you, Kayla and Jared," he said, shaking their hands. "Everyone go and relax by the fire, now. I was just about to learn how this little beauty here plans to spruce the place up a bit," he said, referring to Abby.
"I'll need to find where Scrooge keeps his stash, first," she said with a wink. Vance smiled.
"I think we will need to stay a while too, and find out if this storm will be blowing over any time soon. If not, we can head out once the plows make their rounds," Leon said.
"Good idea, Director. The weather outside is frightful," Tony said.
"Hot drinks?" Papa Gibbs asked.
Ducky was having a difficult time keeping his Morgan on the slippery road. He clicked his tongue around a particularly sharp hairpin-turn To his relief, he saw tail lights up ahead on the side of the road. He hit speed dial.
"Is that you up ahead, Mr. Palmer?" he asked, as soon as the young man picked up.
"I don't know. Is that you behind me?"
"Well, I don't know," Ducky said, sounding just a bit irritable. "I'm flashing my lights. Do you see them behind you?"
"I see someone flashing their lights behind me."
"Good grief, lad. Could you please hit your brake lights three times for me? Yes, it is you. Very well, I'm pulling ahead of you in just a moment."
He parked in front of the wedged car, and Jimmy waved enthusiastically at him. "He's here! There he is!" he shouted to his wife.
"I'm still here on the other end, Mr. Palmer," Ducky said flatly, holding the phone far away from his ear.
"Oh sorry, Dr. Mallard. I didn't realize I was shouting in your ear."
"Never mind that. I've bought some traction treads with me. I'll just lay them down beneath your back wheels and you can give it a go. Then, just follow behind me and I'll get you out of here in a jiffy. Not too close mind you, one doesn't want to wind up in a ditch or worse; our very own autopsy."
"Gotcha, Dr. Mallard."
Ducky got out, bristling against the storm, and placed the treads behind the wheels of Jimmy's car. He gestured for him to test for traction, and he successfully pulled ahead, just missing the back-end of Ducky's roadster.
"Good. I'm hanging up now so that I might focus on navigation. Only call if it is absolutely necessary, my dear boy."
"Right. Got it, Doctor Mallard."
Both cars pulled slowly away, and back into the worsening blizzard.
The children cheered when they saw Santa Gibbs and Fornell elf enter the room.
"Well. It's about time!" Diane hissed from behind a giant sparkly, plastic snowflake. She looked them both up and down with a twinkle behind her eyes, lingering the longest on Santa Gibbs.
"Don't start, Diane," Fornell warned. "We had a hell of a time even getting here. Have you seen it out there, lately?"
"Not for a couple of hours...of course. I was actually here on time, though. Your daughter would like to spend some time with you by the way, Tobias."
He smiled and waved to the young teen who was surrounded by several small children as she read How The Grinch Stole Christmas. She smiled back.
"We couldn't wait any longer for Santa to show up and read this year, so Emily saved the day. You need to sit in your chair, now!" she demanded, motioning to the ornate gold throne. Gibbs took a seat and Fornell stood beside him. "Listen up, kiddies! Santa and his elf have finally arrived! Get in line if you want your photo taken with Santa!"
"I don't recall being told anything about photos," Gibbs said softly. "I hate photos."
"But you love kids-and of course you told him didn't you, Tobias?" she asked, looking just past him.
"Oh yeah, yeah," Fornell said, also feigning innocence.
"I only agreed to make an appearance and hand out some presents, not have kids on my lap all night," Gibbs whispered.
"Like Diane said, you love kids. Besides, you owe me one," Fornell whispered back. "For shooting me in the ass."
"Ho Ho Ho! Come on up!" Gibbs said jovially to a small blonde girl waiting patiently at the front of the line.
A yellow cab pulled up just outside of Gibbs' house. "Someone is here in a cab!" Leon's daughter called out.
"Honey, keep away from the window," her father warned, taking a look, himself. He knew about the dead marine, but he had chosen to spend time with his kids, first. For once.
The cab was left running, but a white-haired gentleman in a long tweed coat and hat got out, and was making his way up the drive.
"Who is it?" Papa Gibbs asked, worried that something may have happened to his son.
"A cab, and I believe-"
"That's Senior!" Tony exclaimed before the other men could wager a guess. Surprised, he opened the door, first.
"Junior?"
"Dad? What are you doing here?"
"Good to see you too, son. I went to your place first, but you weren't there. I couldn't see going to a hotel for the holidays, and you never did give me the key to your place that I asked for." Tony's eyes bulged as he recalled his father's tryst with the neighbor which he'd unfortunately walked in on. "I figured that you may have come here...and I see I was right," he said with a huge pretentious grin, as he scanned the many faces in the doorway and at the window. "I guess I wasn't invited..."
"No, no! Come in!" Papa Gibbs said. Tony whisked his father in from the snow with a grimace. He was worried that he'd embarrass him as usual. Senior turned to wave the cabbie off.
"Why, thank you. That's very kind of you." He hugged his son, who accepted it grudgingly.
"I just wish you'd call for once!" Tony stage-whispered into his father's ear.
"I see everyone is here!" He chuckled, dismissing his son's rebuke.
"Not, everyone," Abby corrected. "One Leroy Jethro Gibbs is still missing." Her cell rang and she studied the name. "Ellie?" she said to herself.
"Ellie's calling?" Tony asked with an eyebrow raised. "Hmmm, she must be missing our good company, already."
"Ellie?" Abby answered. "What?! That's a bummer! Where are you? Why of course I would let you stay at my place-" Tony's eyes lit up. "Only I'm not at my place now, I'm at Gibbs'. "
She covered the phone with her hand. "What's wrong?" Tony asked.
"She can't get out because the roads are blocked off now, and her husband is snowed in where he is as well. She's going to need to stay around here tonight."
"Tell her she can come here," Tony said. "Why not join the circus?"
"Ellie, can you get here? We're all waiting for Gibbs anyway. You can come back to my place with me later on." Abby gave her the necessary information and hung up. "She's on her way."
More headlights shone from outside. "Maybe this is him this time, guys!" Tim said.
They all watched as the Morgan and another car pulled up. A distraught Ducky got out first. Palmer and Breena soon followed suit.
"Dr. Mallard!" Mcgee called over the wind. ""You're here, and not having your thingie at home!" he said, stating the obvious.
"Yes, Timothy, I can see that. I had to assist Mr. Palmer out of a mess and-oh never mind." He battled to stay upright with the wind and snow gusting his small frame practically sideways. Tim led them in.
"We thought that we'd be better off coming here, rather than driving all the way back to Dr. Mallard's house," Jimmy explained. "The roads are mostly blocked off that way, and-and..."
"Oh, just tell them, Mr. Palmer," Ducky prompted, with a disappointed look thrown his way.
"Yes. And well, it seems that I used up a lot of gas keeping Breena warm while we waited for Doctor Mallard." He reached an arm around his wife and pulled her close. She smiled sweetly. We seem to be practically be all out."
"The boy doesn't have enough to make it nearly another mile," Ducky filled in. "But, never mind that now, Mr. Palmer. We're all here together. And where is Jethro, anyway?"
Jethro in fact was finishing up with the last of the photos. He smiled for the camera and gave the small boy a kiss on the top of the head. "Don't forget to get your package from my elf," he said with a wink.
Diane thanked him for being so gracious. "You really were a good sport," she said, batting her eyelashes at him.
"No problem. I did it for the kids, Diane," he reminded her.
They all headed out to the lot together. "Drive safely," he said as she and her daughter climbed in to her car to warm it up. Fornell cleared off her windows while they waited, then leaned his head in.
"I'm going to start up my car now, then I'll say goodbye again," he said flirtatiously, giving her a quick peck on the lips. His mind was back in the gutter.
"You're going to see enough of me later on," she said in a husky voice.
"Hey, I can hear you guys over here," Emily warned, grinning.
He shrugged and went to his car, where Gibbs was already waiting patiently in the passenger-side. He put the key in the ignition, but nothing happened when he turned it. "That's odd," he said. He tried again. Still, nothing. He forced the key back in for a third time with no success.
"It's not going to start, Tobias," Gibbs said calmly.
"I see that, Gibbs!"
"Something wrong?" Diane asked, already back at the window.
"Yup. Car won't start," Gibbs announced.
"That's odd. Must be too cold," she said, tugging her scarf up higher.
"This is not some old beater, Diane-it's a-," Fornell began to lecture. He stopped himself, deciding to be nice or he may not getting what he wanted from her later on. "If yours starts, mine should."
"I guess you two can ride with us," she offered.
Both men exchanged a meaningful look. Fornell shrugged. "Don't see any other way."
They climbed out and into the back seat of their ex's car. "Hi again, Daddy," Emily said with a giggle.
Gibbs' eyes honed in on a black pick-up tuck speeding from the lot. Just a moment later, Fornell's recently abandoned car exploded into a fiery ball of twisted metal.
Well, that was part one. I hope to post part 2 by Christmas Eve if anyone is interested. ;)
xoxo,
Santa Crumpet
