Title: Merry Christmas Scrooge

Author: VERYobsessedwithNCIS

For: TheBreakfastGenie

Rating: K+

Jenny hated Christmas.

On her way into work that morning she had been forced to ask her driver to turn off the noisy radio as the barrage of upbeat Christmas music that the DJ's were playing had been more than she could take.

This bad start to the day had led to her spending the day at the office in a thoroughly bad mood snapping at people who dared to approach her with ferocity that surprised even her. She fully expected Jethro to be at her door any moment now demanding an apology for the comments she had flung his way this morning. She also had no doubts that by now she probably owed Cynthia another Hermes scarf and a substantial bonus to compensate her hurt feelings.

When Jethro did not come she settled down at her desk hoping to relax, disappointed when she found she was not able to stop the flow of thoughts that invaded her head pushing away the last of her restraint.


The month of December was a time of year that held many unpleasant memories for her, each seemingly worse than the last. Her childhood Christmases should have been perfect as she was showered with expensive gifts and her nurse had done everything possible to try and make it a magical time for her.

However no matter how many gifts she was given or beautiful food she ate, the fact that her father was rarely there did not disappear. Now she knew first hand that Christmas on the hill was exceedingly busy, the seemingly endless benefits and corporate 'dos' that came with a job such as the one her father had held did not leave much time for family life. Unfortunately this fact did not help the little girl she had been not miss her father's presence in the season that was meant to be more about family than most but often for her was the most solitary time of the year.

As she grew older her experiences only became worse culminating in the worst of all. The Christmas her father was murdered.

For the first time in what seemed like forever they had been going to spend Christmas together in DC. She had arranged so that she was not on duty and spent many hours planning in her mind what they would do and what they would say and even longer online picking out the perfect present for him in anticipation of the event.

Walking in to find her father seated in the study at the other side of the foyer she had called out to him believing him to only be asleep. The shock and despair she had suffered when she found him dead, was only exceeded by how silly she felt for ever believing that something good could happen to her at Christmas. That was the year that she truly gave up the idea altogether and that she resolved to avenge him.


In many regards Christmas spent with Jethro had been a welcome release from people expecting her to be cheerful and happy as he had always seemed to understand what she was feeling. This meant that around him she could for once truly be herself.

Now knowing about Shannon and Kelly, she understood exactly why he had never been surprised by her melancholy moods and long periods of seclusion. He knew just how she felt.

After she had left him to carry on with her five point plan, her Christmases along with the rest of her life had grown ever lonelier. Colleagues and even old friends slowly stopped extending the invitations to parties and dinners knowing that she would only sharply refuse their friendly advances into her despair. This meant she often found herself spending the festive season alone reflecting on her Christmases past, wondering why she was so miserable and blaming others for her own mistakes.


Jenny only awoke from her thoughts when there was a soft knock at the door. She had scarcely recovered her composure enough to wonder who it was at this late hour when the door opened to reveal Jethro with a look of worried anticipation on his face.

"Go away," she ordered harshly not in the mood for an argument. He didn't listen striding over to the opposite side of the office setting down one of the objects he had been carrying. It was a Christmas tree, adorned with enough lights and baubles that it looked as if it had been decorated by Abby the Queen of Christmas herself. Actually she wouldn't be at all surprised if it had.

He then proceeded to quickly lay out fancy-looking cutlery along with plates and takeout containers on the conference table that inhabited her office, before slowly turning to look at her properly for the first time.

She glanced at him feeling puzzled before asking, "What are you doing?"

He replied sounding exasperated, "It's Christmas Eve, Jenny."

Placing her head in her hands she mumbled, "I don't celebrate Christmas."

"I've noticed. It's time you let go and moved on with your life. Not everything has to come back to your father."

"Move on," she stated. "Like you have?" She felt even as she said it that this was a low blow but she didn't anticipate what he did next.

He picked her up with his strong arms and carried her bridal fashion (something he'd obviously had experience with) over to the table before sitting down in the seat opposite. "No" he replied "Like I am."

Momentarily silenced, shocked at the fact he was actually displaying his emotions she let him open her takeout container, touched when he revealed steak au poivre saying, "I know how you feel about Christmas dinner. Merry Christmas Scrooge."

Looking into his eyes in indignation she saw what she had missed for so long. Love.

For the first time in years she began to see that perhaps something good could happen at Christmas. Perhaps she could have family to share it with too.

This realisation enabled her to reply,

"Thank you Jethro, perhaps it is a Merry Christmas after all."