Chapter 3

Christmas Eve

Gibbs delivered the toy chest to Fornell in the morning and arrived back at his house. Walking in, his eyes were drawn to the little tree. Running his hand through his hair, he realized how sad it looked without presents. He turned around and left. He was about to do something most men feared. He was going shopping on Christmas Eve.

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Several hours later, arms laden with brightly wrapped packages, Gibbs nearly toppled the stack by opening his door. Putting them down on the couch, he set about arranging them around the tree. Satisfied that there was a gift for everyone, he took the last package and tucked it away upstairs. Deciding it was time to start making some eggnog, he went to the kitchen. Smiling and knowing the food would be taken care of he finished the eggnog and put it in the refrigerator to stay chilled.

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Abby was fidgeting at the door. She had Gibbs' gift in one hand and food in the other. Everyone else was set to arrive within the next ten minutes. She had agreed to be the first. As she was about to set the food down to ring the bell, the door opened. Her mouth went dry as she looked at Gibbs. He was wearing a pair of jeans and a midnight blue crew neck sweater. He smiled as she tried to speak but nothing came out.

"Need some help with that?" he asked, motioning towards the food in her hand.

She nodded and he took the basket from her hand. Finally she asked, "Were you going out?"

"No. I was waiting for the party to start," he answered as he took her arm and helped her inside.

Her eyes went to the tree on the coffee table and she was surprised to see presents around it. She narrowed her eyes at him. "One of these days you'll have to tell me how you do this."

Gibbs shook his head. "Now where would the fun be in that?"

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"There's no sound coming from inside!" Tony whispered quietly. "I thought Abby was supposed to start Christmas music if the coast was clear!"

"I told her to wait till you arrived, DiNozzo," Gibbs said from the open doorway.

Ziva, Tony, Palmer, Michelle, Ducky and Jen stood staring at Gibbs for a moment before they all started laughing. Holding the door open wider, he let them in and signaled for Abby to play the music. She grinned and started the CD mix she made for tonight. Everyone set the food out and McGee brought out the disposable plates and cups. At Gibbs' raise eyebrow he shrugged and said, "I didn't see the sense in making you clean up after a party you didn't ask for."

Gibbs smiled and took the eggnog from the fridge. Starting a line, they all filed through and fixed their plates. Sitting down, eating and talking, everyone is surprised at how relaxed Gibbs seems and how he laughs along with their jokes and insults.

After the meal, they move into Gibbs living room and are surprised when he hands a gift to each of them. He shrugged his shoulders, "What? I can't have a sense of humor at Christmas?"

Suspicious, Tony unwraps his gift first. It's a square box that's taped up pretty good. "Rule # 9," he says and pulls his knife out to slit the tape. Pulling a helmet out of the box, he looks up at Gibbs and grins. "To protect me from headslaps?"

Gibbs nods. Tony hands Gibbs his gift. "Something for you, Boss."

Gibbs opens the package to find a trivia book packed with movie quotes and a year membership to Blockbuster. Laughing he asked Tony, "Where am I supposed to watch movies, DiNozzo?"

Tony grinned and said, "Let this be incentive for you to get a TV and DVD player, Gibbs."

Jen was holding two small boxes in her hands. One was for her from Gibbs and the other was to Gibbs from her. She handed him his gift and they opened theirs at the same time. Jen ended up holding a frog figurine and Gibbs was holding a small replica of the Eiffel Tower. They looked at each other and realized they were holding reminders of the past that had good and bad memories but were glad they were just that, in the past.

Abby was bouncing up and down in excitement and everyone laughed at her happiness. "You go next Abby," Ziva said. Abby happily complied and gave Gibbs his gift to open while she opened hers. She had a taser in her package and Gibbs lifted a pair of handcuffs out of his box with one finger. Raising his eyebrow as Tony rolled with laughter, Abby grinned. "I know why I got this. You want me to have something to protect myself with and you had a good laugh when I shocked that jerk Spooner hired!"

Unable to contain the chuckle at the memory of her standing in the back of the van, continuously pressing the button to shock her kidnapper, he nodded. "And these? For the time you handcuffed yourself to me so I wouldn't go back to Mexico?"

Abby said, "Yep, and it worked too! When the case was over, you stayed!"

Gibbs looked at Ducky and nodded to the package he had given him. "Want to open that, Duck?"

Ducky gave Gibbs his gift and once again they opened them together. Seeing the bus in each package both men laughed. Gibbs help up a toy metal bus and Ducky pulled the bus puzzle out of the wrapping paper. "Who can forget my mother left me on a bus?" Ducky asked then shook the puzzle and looked at Jimmy. "Would you care to practice another puzzle, Mr. Palmer?"

Jimmy laughed and nodded his head. "Whenever you're ready, Doctor."

Ziva was fingering the bow on the box she had for Gibbs. Before she could second guess herself for the seventh time, she handed him the box. Opening her gift, she read the title of the CD twice before laughing out loud. He had found a copy of the Jessi Colter song, "I'm Not Lisa". Gibbs was laughing at his gift as well. "The Washington, DC driver's manual? Don't you think you need this too?"

"I have a copy. I use it as a toaster for my coffee mug," Ziva told him.

"Coaster, Ziva," Tony corrected her.

"Yes, coaster." Ziva smiled. "Who's next?"

Michelle was nervous. She hadn't known about this until almost the last minute. She handed him her present and was surprised to find a stuffed Gizmo inside her box. She looked up at Gibbs and saw a twinkle in his eye. He knew!

"NCIS Rules and Regs? You think I need a refresher that bad?" he asked her.

She blushed and shook her head. "It was meant as a joke Agent Gibbs."

He smiled at her. "I realize that Michelle. And you can drop the Agent. I promise it's not against this," he said and lofted the rule book up in the air.

Michelle smiled and nodded then turned to Jimmy. He gulped. He knew what DiNozzo called him and what Gizmo was for as well. His hands shook as he gave his present to Gibbs. Gibbs opened his present as Jimmy slowly untaped the paper on his gift. Holding up the silk tie, everyone started ribbing Jimmy for getting Gibbs a serious gift until they saw what was in his box. "A magic eight ball?" Jimmy asked.

Gibbs laughed. "You have all the answers, Palmer, even when you aren't sure. So does the eight ball."

Jimmy grinned, then ducked his head. "I'm sorry about the tie Gibbs, but I ..."

"It's a replacement for the one you spilled coffee on isn't it?" Gibbs asked.

Thankful for the out, Jimmy nodded. Everyone else sat in shock at the thought that Palmer had spilled Gibbs' coffee and lived.

McGee was last. He opened up a smaller box to find a figurine of the Elf Lord. He laughed and handed his present to Gibbs. He hoped his boss would find it amusing. Gibbs ripped the paper off his present to find an advance copy of Thom E. Gemcity's next book. Opening the cover, he saw the dedication. "To the man behind L.J. Tibbs, thanks for everything, Thom". Staring at Tim for a long moment, he finally started laughing. "You finished the story then?"

McGee's ears turned red. "You helped me break out of my writer's block, boss. It's only fair you get the first copy."

"Mine better be on its way Timmy," Abby told him, holding up her new taser.

Gulping, McGee assured her, "It's in the car, I promise!"

Jen stood and started to gather all the ripped and crumpled wrapping paper. Once that was cleared and the food packed away, they started trickling out the door until only Abby was left. She smiled at Gibbs. "Have you enjoyed your Christmas Eve?"

"More so than I have in a long time," he admitted.

"Good! Mission accomplished!" She turned to grab her coat when she felt cool metal caress her wrist and she heard the distinct click of a handcuff locking into place.