Part 4
"Going to help me with this?" Gibbs asked pointing to a tree standing in front of the window.
"When did you get the tree?" Tony asked.
"Had it in the attic, haven't put it up for years. Haven't had a reason to."
"Don't need to do this for me," Tony said seeing the hurt in Gibbs eyes when he looked at the tree.
"Yes I do and it's not just for you. It's for me as well. It's time I accepted that life goes on and that Shannon and Kelly wouldn't want me to be like this. Now are you going to help?"
"Sure. What do you want me to do?"
"Hang these baubles on. I've already out the lights on. Kelly loved doing this."
"You were really lucky boss having a family who loved you so much," Tony said thinking of his own family who couldn't give a toss about him. Everything about the previous Christmas's he'd had had been false. People came in to put up the tree, a professional tree dresser put the decorations on and God help a little boy who wanted to help. He hadn't even been allowed to touch the presents.
"I know Tony." He ruffled his hair again. "And we're going to make this a good Christmas as well for both of us. We deserve it."
Ducky came through with some drinks and a sandwich. "Don't overdo it my boy," he told Tony.
"My head feels better. I don't feel sick or dizzy," he saw Gibbs was going to say something," And I'm not just saying that." Gibbs smiled.
"I have dinner all under control and I delivered all your presents. Timothy was just leaving to go to his parents and Ziva was going out to dinner with some friends from Israel."
"What about Abby and Jimmy?" Tony asked.
"They're joining us in time for dinner. Both are on call tonight."
"Right Tony. Let's get this tree finished."
When they'd finished Gibbs put the lights on, "It's beautiful," Tony said.
"I have to agree with him Jethro," Ducky said.
"Kelly and Shannon would have agreed," Gibbs said. He found that it wasn't as hard to think of them as he'd thought it would be. In fact he felt closer to them tonight than he had for a long time. He put his arm round Tony's shoulder," You did good son."
Tony went red. What Gibbs thought of him meant everything to him. That was twice he'd called him son. He hoped that the surprise gift he'd organised for Gibbs would please him as well.
Tony sat down and looked at the tree. "It's the best tree I've ever seen. I love the decorations."
"Shannon used to buy a new one every year and when Kelly came along she got to pick one as well." He fingered the one that said 'World's Best Dad'. "That was the last one she picked.
"She was right," Tony said. "I should know, I had the worst one."
Ducky came back through from the kitchen," Everything is coming along famously." He sat beside Tony.
Gibbs disappeared for a moment and came back with some wrapped presents and put them under the tree. "Don't touch them," he warned Tony.
"But it's Christmas and that one has my name." Then he looked at the others," They all have my name," he said puzzled.
"And you'll wait until after dinner, that's traditional in this family."
Tony rolled his eyes and then looked at the parcels longingly. He'd wait until Gibbs left the room and then pick them up and give them a little shake. "Don't you dare," Gibbs said.
"What?" Tony asked innocently. He was beginning to think Gibbs could read his mind.
"That innocent face doesn't work with me. You're thinking something that is going to get you into trouble."
"As if," Tony said. Ducky laughed. He liked seeing Tony and Jethro like this.
They heard a car draw up outside. "That will be Abigail," Ducky said getting up and going to the door.
He was surprised when he saw Jackson, Gibbs' father. "Come in."
"Dad," Gibbs said. "This is a surprise."
"Surprise? Tony said I was invited for Christmas. He phoned three nights ago and said you wanted me to visit for a couple of days," Jackson said. "If...."
"No dad, it's just you've arrived earlier than I thought." He cast a look at Tony that said they would be talking about this later. "Take a seat. Ducky's cooking dinner. Tony is recovering from a bad concussion he got yesterday."
"Are you alright?" he sat beside Tony and felt his forehead.
"I'm fine. I'll be able to go home tomorrow."
"No you won't, you will be spending a few more days here," Gibbs said brooking no argument.
"Good," Jackson said. "It'll give us more time to get acquainted."
They heard another car draw up and this time it was Abby and Jimmy. Tony waited until Gibbs got up and then stretched his hand out to grab one of the presents. His fingers were slapped before he could reach it. "Ow!"
"I'm sure Jethro's told you not to touch them until after dinner," Jackson said.
"I was only going to touch it not open it," Tony whined shaking his hand.
"You're just like Jethro, he could never resist presents either."
"Dad!" Jethro protested.
"He opened them before dinner? That's terrible," Tony said as if the thought would never cross his mind.
"Yes it is. Many a times his mother had to keep them hidden until we'd eaten."
"You'd think a Marine would have more control," Tony said.
"I was a child DiNozzo and after dinner seemed a long time away."
"We always let you open one when you got up and your stocking."
"You didn't let me open one," Tony said in a poor little me voice. Abby laughed. "And I didn't get a stocking so I should get to open two," he reasoned.
"See what you've started," Gibbs said.
"Dinner is served," Ducky said.
They all got up and made their way through to the dining room," Put it back Tony," Gibbs called out.
"Come on boss, just one, please."
Gibbs went back to the living room, how could he deny him? "Alright one."
"Yes," Gibbs handed him one. Tony almost tore the wrapping off. He looked at the envelope in his hand. "Tickets for Disney World. For the whole team. Great! Abby we've got tickets for Disney World." He heard a loud shriek from the dining room. "Thanks boss."
"Do you think you could call me Jethro? Boss seems a bit formal.
Tony thought that what he would like to call Gibbs was dad but he didn't dare ask. "Yes I can do that."
"Good boy," he said ruffling his hear again. Jethro was better than boss Gibbs thought but he hoped that one day Tony would call him dad. He'd missed being called that.
TBC
