A Christmas Eve Story

Summary: Gibbs forgets someone. Begins at the end of episode 7X10 Faith. Possibly OOC. A one shot no more….

Disclaimer: NCIS is not mine.

Spoilers: Only if you haven't seen 7X10 Faith.

A/N: My internet went down shortly after I posted the first chapter. By the time it came back up there were more than 20 reviews! And then, this morning, there were 40 reviews – I practically fell out of my chair when I saw that! I'm shocked and overwhelmed and, most importantly… I'm inspired.

So, as a thank you to all those that reviewed, I decided to keep going. I hope you enjoy the next chapter and consider letting me know what you thought of it….

Warning: I'm not that great at dialog so, please give it a chance anyway. Thanks.

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From chapter one:

At the top of the stairs, he handed the card to his father, who read it out loud:

Gibbs - I thought I'd replenish your stash.
Merry Christmas.
See you Monday – DiNozzo

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Chapter 2: Too Late?

Jackson looked up at his son. "I don't understand. It's not too late. Why don't you just call him?"

"Dad, you don't get it." Gibbs replied in a tight voice that barely concealed his rising anger. "It is already too late. Didn't you read the note?"

"I read it. It says that he'll see you on Monday. What's wrong with that?"

Gibbs flipped the basement light switch off and pushed past his dad, grabbing the card as he headed back towards the living room.

He turned around when he reached the kitchen and held the card up.

"What's wrong with that is…is…everything," he nearly yelled the last word.

He took a deep breath and repeated in a slightly calmer voice, "Everything is what's wrong with that! First, he left the bottles where the toys were. Then, he called me 'Gibbs' instead of Boss, and signed his name 'DiNozzo' instead of Tony. The final, most damning piece of evidence was the 'See you Monday'!"

He rubbed a hand over his face as he finished, "If that doesn't say I messed up and messed up big time; then I don't know what does!"

Gibbs felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Son, I think you're reading more into this than is really there. He probably saw you weren't here, dropped off the bourbon, and went to go spend time with his family."

"No, Dad. No!" he replied in frustration.

Knowing his dad didn't understand everything that was going on – the complexities of DiNozzo's family life or the more than nine years of history between him and Tony – he tried to reign in his temper.

Gibbs turned and placed his hands on the nearest kitchen counter and dropped his head. He had to quickly decide how much to reveal to his father. Another moment and his decision was made. He lifted his head and in a gruff voice said:

"When Tony joined NCIS, I found out pretty quickly that the 'big, big plans' he always mentions really aren't – that he usually spent all of the holidays alone. That first year, we ran into each other on Thanksgiving, and ended up having dinner together."

He straightened up and turned towards his dad. "Then at Christmas, when I found out he had volunteered to be on duty so that those with loved ones could be together, I brought him some dinner. Ever since, we've spent at least those two holidays together – one way or another."

Heading towards the couch he continued, "With everything going on, I completely forgot to make or confirm any plans with him. And, now…"

"Leroy," his dad's voice interrupted. "Call him. We can still invite him over tonight or he can come for Christmas dinner tomorrow."

Gibbs glared at his father. His father just smiled cheekily back at him. He sighed in defeat and picked up his cell phone. It can't hurt, and I can only hope it helps, he thought to himself.

Pressing '2' on his speed dial, he wasn't totally surprised to hear it immediately go to voice mail:

You have reached Anthony DiNozzo. Please leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as I can. Thank you.

BEEP.

It seemed to him as though the beep had an accusatory tone to it. For a second he didn't say anything, his gut already telling him that this belated attempt to remedy the situation wouldn't work.

He finally found his voice and clearing his throat, he said:

"Tony, I guess I missed you here at the house. My Dad and I were hoping you'd be able to come back by tonight or make it over for Christmas dinner. Call me back as soon as you get this message."

As he hung up, he knew with absolute certainty that he wouldn't be getting a call back from Tony. He'd blown it. Tony had probably guessed he'd been forgotten and likely thought he'd been replaced by Jackson. Gibbs felt guilty as hell that Tony was even partially correct.

He had to find Tony. He just couldn't let his senior agent – his friend – think that he wasn't welcomed at his house for Christmas or that he wasn't welcome because Jackson was here as well.

The problem was that he would be hard pressed to find Tony when the man didn't want to be found especially when his senior agent had this much of a head start.

His father's voice interrupted his thoughts: "There. He'll call back and we'll all have nice dinner tomorrow."

"He's not going to call back." He stated with a tinge of sadness in his voice. He didn't know if he'd be able to explain what was going on in DiNozzo's head to his father.

"What?! Why not?" his father replied looking confused.

"I don't know if I can explain it to you Dad."

He threw his phone onto the coffee table.

"Try, Son. I want to understand why you're getting so worked up about this. Please."

"It's the note he left. Tony knew I was making the toys for the Children's Hospital and likely figured he'd be going with me to deliver them. He told me that he was giving his Secret Santa gift to Delores in H.R. at 1800 hours and without thinking why he told me that, I barely gave it a second thought."

Gibbs sank down onto the couch. "He probably came to the house, saw that I hadn't waited for him, and called me. My phone rang while we were at the hospital, but I didn't – couldn't – pick up so he probably thinks I don't want him around. That, with you here, he isn't needed or wanted…. Leaving the bourbon where the toys were, the use of the more formal names in the note, and the 'see you Monday' were all his way of saying that he's mad or disappointed or, hell, all of the above and more! Just trust me. It's too late. He won't call back, and he'll likely just disappear until Monday."

He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. A moment later, Gibbs felt his Dad's weight settle beside him.

"Let me ask you something, Son. When you said the guest room wasn't a guest room anymore, I got curious."

Gibbs opened his eyes and began glaring at his father. His father ignored the look and smiled broadly:

"You know, for a guest room that's not a guest room anymore, it sure looks as though it's still being used as a guest room – it's not being used for storage, it has nice furniture and fresh sheets on the bed," His dad's knowing gaze held him. "And, there are several stacks of DVDs lining the top of the dresser."

His dad smiled. "So, tell me Leroy. If it's not a guest room, then just whose room is that?"

"I think you know, Dad," he replied evenly.

"Well then, Leroy," his dad clapped a hand to his shoulder and smiled yet again. "We'll just have to find Tony whether or not he wants to be found. It's a simple misunderstanding and it's nothing that can't be explained or forgiven."

Gibbs quietly replied, "I hope so, Dad. I've messed up so many times and yet he's forgiven me each and every time. I just hope he has it in him to do it again."

"From what I know of Tony, I'm sure he will. Now. How do we find our boy?"

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A/N 2: I know Gibbs probably says more in this chapter than he does in any three episodes combined, but it's to his Dad so I figure there's some leeway there, right?

Once more chapter to go, I think. I'm going with the KISS principle in relation to plot and also the desire to have the story done in time for the story's title to have more than one meaning. ;o)

Thanks for reading!