Chapter 2

Gibbs strode into the bullpen, two days before Christmas. His team, anticipating a call to gear up to investigate a murder or other Navy or Marine related crime, jumped out of their desk chairs. Gibbs watched, sipping his trademark coffee, as McGee and Tony picked their standard issue backpacks, and pulled out their cell phones to call Abby and Ducky respectively. Ziva collected the keys to the Major Crisis Response Team's (MCRT, or as Ducky had once called them, Gibbs remembered, the A Team) van. Gibbs smirked almost invisibly as he said:

"No case."

Tony, McGee, and Ziva instantly stopped in their tracks, McGee comically bumping into Tony's back and stumbling backwards. They all turned towards him, looking expectantly, as if waiting for an explanation or an answer. Finally, after looking at each other for a long time, as if debating which one was going to inquire after the dearth of a case and his brisk actions, Tony spoke up.

"Boss?"

"Going to Stillwater for the holidays." He answered shortly.

"To go see Jackson?" Ziva inquired.

"No, to visit the coal mines." He said as he made his way to the stairs to Vance's office.

As he ascended the steps to the floor that held MTAC and the Director's office, he heard the banter that was playing out between his agents below.

"That was sarcasm, yes?" Ziva questioned.

"Hallelujah, finally! Assimilation!" he heard Tony's voice say, apparently praising the heavens. He smiled slightly at their antics, and then steeled himself for the conversation with Vance.

After bargaining into Vance's office for the umpteenth time, Vance giving him the "Hold on I'm talking to someone important" hand and pointed look, and Gibbs waiting around for about five minutes and pouring himself some bourbon (It is the holidays after all), Vance finally finished his phone call with the SecNav. After hastily paraphrasing that he was going to spend Christmas and New Years with his father and would be leaving tomorrow, he paused and waited for the confirmation (not that he needed one) that he could take vacation time. But, instead of his confirmation, he received and astonished look from the Director.

"What?"

"Well, Gibbs, I just haven't heard of you taking so much time off. The last time, except the Reynosa Debacle, that you took time off was when you sailed the Kelly down the Coast to Amira."

"Yeah, Leon. My father asked so I accepted." Gibbs retorted, giving him a glare. "DiNozzo is more than capable of heading up the team for a week and a half."

"I agree that Agent DiNozzo, being your Senior Field Agent, is the leader in your absence. What I am aghast at is your absence." Vance said, paused, and then smirked. "Most of your vacation time is gathering cobwebs, though."

Gibbs strode out of the office, and, after shouting to DiNozzo that he was in charge for the next 10 days, to which Tony whooped at, he bid everyone a Merry Christmas, including Abby, who had came up to see if the news was true.

"Gibbs! How come you didn't feel the need to inform me that you were going away for Christmas? I mean, it's sweet that you're going to see him and all, but why not tell me, your favorite Goth forensic scientist? Hmm?" Abby said, in usual Abby fashion, which is fast and without breaks for air.

"Abbs, he just invited me yesterday."

"Oh, well, in that case, give him a hug for me!" Abby said, then paused, "On second thought, give him this hug," She then hugged him, "And this one is to ensure a safe trip!" She hugged him again.

Gibbs hugged Abby back tightly, of course not as tightly as she was hugging him. He big his work family farewell again, got into the elevator, and drove home, ready for the 4 hour drive he would be enduring to get to Stillwater tomorrow, on Christmas Eve.