Author's Note: I know I should just shut up and let you read, but I have some explaining to do first. This chapter is just my Stillwater, PA plot bunnies all mixed up into one. It is very loosely connected to "Heartland" (S6E4) if it had happened much earlier and differently. This is also going to probably be my last upload for a couple days. I got a new computer and my Microsoft Word (which I use to write my stories with) is not functioning at the moment so I'm having to use what I have written previously and I'm down to my last previously written section. I also go back to college in six days to begin my final semester, so the caffeine-fueled rush is going to begin again and the updates will most definitely slow down. I will do my best to update this story once a week, but don't roast and flame me if I don't. Anyway, happy reading!

Gibbs was overly snappy, I noticed, over the first few days the rest of the team were in Stillwater. I chalked it up to him being stuck here with me and Abby, which wasn't the smallest feat in itself. I was lucky that I was deaf, because Gibbs had told me that Abby blared her punk rock music, and it was so loud that I could feel it vibrating everything in the bullpen-even the computer monitors. I imagined what Tim would do if he knew that computers were in danger. Probably have a heart attack from anxiety. I smirked at the thought, as I'd be the only one able to give him CPR. It might even be enjoyable, if it wasn't such a stressful situation.

My long blonde hair was pulled up into a ponytail, and I was dressed in a tan sweater and jeans as I sorted through the police reports that had been faxed over from Stillwater. The officers who had responded to Gibbs' dad's call had taken some amazing notes on it, I could give them that, and some of them were fascinating to read through. They were all down to the detail, and read like books, but then again, I was a dork so take that with a grain of salt. I had been sorting for an hour, when my phone flashed. It was Tim.

How're things going?

They're going. How are things with you?

Boring me out of my mind. Cases, cases, cases. Sometimes, I wonder if the Navy hates me.

Why would the Navy hate you?

Because they put me in this hellhole doing cases and computer work all day.

Well, you could come here and be in this one, but Gibbs is in a mood today, so you might not want to deal with him. It's just me, Abby, him, and Rae today, so he's a little snappy from being stuck in here with all this estrogen.

I'd be fine with being stuck with your and Rae's estrogen.

Really? Why do you say that?

Because you and Rae are rapidly becoming the most important women in my life, honestly. Who am I kidding, you're the only women in my life besides my sister, Sarah and my mother.

I figured that out. Oh, and I have a question. Will I need to make a pit stop at the grocery store when I come?

We'll probably need to, but I'm good for right now. I can cook, too, if that's what you're getting at.

You're very perceptive.

Curtesy of the United States Marines.

I thank them.

Yeah. That was one good thing they taught me. The hyper-anxiety from sitting and waiting on targets not so much.

I would say not.

Gibbs suddenly got up and started pacing again. He was getting on my nerves, and people didn't tend to get on my nerves unless they wanted to be exterminated. I signed quickly. This is your warning, Gibbs. You're irritating me. Please quit.

What are you going to do, Campbell? Beat me with a stick?

No. Shoot you with a Sig.

If you can reach me.

I can shoot and hit a target at 2,000 yards. Good luck running away from me.

Bad idea.

And yours was better?

I never said that.

Just quit. I signed, and then got back to work. It was silent for an hour, before Gibbs got a call and we had to go. It was in Stillwater, too, and I rolled my eyes. What the actual hell was going on this week? It seemed like everything was just going to hell in a handbasket. Let's take my car. It's got a full tank of gas.

Okay.

We both got into my car, me in the passenger seat for once. Gibbs drove my car at seventy miles an hour through D.C. and then up I-270 towards Frederick, and then we switched in Frederick, and I drove us up US-15 and on I-76 to Harrisburg. We switched back in Harrisburg and he drove us to Stillwater. The team was at Gibbs' dad's store, still investigating the vandals and the killing of the young man. Ducky and Palmer had already taken the body back to wherever it was that they were going to autopsy him.

DiNozzo was snapping pictures of the scene, keeping the camera lens pointed at the crude graffiti that was painted on the window. I immediately began to log and bag evidence, while Gibbs helped DiNozzo take pictures of the scene. It took me three hours to get everything bagged, tagged, and put away. Gibbs and I found a hotel to stay at for the night, before I collapsed on the bed, and fell asleep immediately.

The next morning, I texted Tim again. Good morning, my favorite computer geek.

Good morning, my favorite sharpshooter. How are you feeling?

Pretty crappy. I think Palmer had a slight fever within a cold, and gave it to me.

Party foul.

I know. I'll be okay. It's just a little bit of a fever and some sniffles.

How high is your fever?

About 99.5. Not bad. I took an Ibuprofen, so I should be okay. My body tends to do fevers rather than chills with colds, though (so does Rae), so I'm sweating a little bit.

Drink something cold, cool down, and then bundle up and go outside. I have a surprise for you.

A surprise?

Yeah. I had to get a birthday present for my girl. It is your birthday, isn't it?

It is. I'm surprised you remember that. It's also Christmas Eve, so Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas, my princess. Where are you?

I immediately blushed. He really knew how to make me feel like a teenager again. I'm in Stillwater. Apparently, they needed some help, so Gibbs and I made the four hour drive to help them out. This is going to be a difficult case, so we'll be here a while.

Where's Rae?

With Abby. She'll take care of her, or there'll be a problem.

Understood. I have a question. Will you be my date for New Year's Eve?

Of course I will. I'd love to.

Now, go outside and see your surprise.