He eventually wins out. They all pile on half a dozen layers. They slip on their required hats, and gloves. Sarah stands in front of the barn, at the bottom of a hill. At the top of a hill is a heavily wooded area. She snaps a picture as Tony slides down the snow covered hill with Harmon on the front of his sled. He smiles from ear to ear with bright red cheeks. Tony maneuvers the sled, and nearly takes Sarah out. Reed stands next to her, laughing hysterically at the narrow miss. They both manage to make it to the bottom of the hill in one piece.
DiNozzo collapses at the bottom of the hill in complete defeat. He crafts a snow angel at Mac's feet. The boys join him. She looks through the lens of her Nikon, and capture the moment just in the nick of time. Tony reaches up, wrapping his hand around her legging, and pulls her forward. She bends over so he can whisper in her ear.
"Care to join us?"
"No," she folds her arms across her chest. Her black bubble coat effectively hides her growing bump.
When they are finished making snow angels Sarah insists that they go back inside to warm up. She doesn't immediately herd them back down the stairs into the bunker. Instead she heads into the kitchen, and begins making microwave cocoa. Tony peeks out the window at the snow. The boys sneak between him, and the window sill. They look out the glass, completely mesmerized by the falling flakes. Tony taps his finger on the window, and then retreats towards the kitchen.
"Do you need any help?" He questions.
"No."
"Can I make an observation?"
She faces him. Her back leans against the counter. She folds her arms across her chest. He can tell she's warm underneath her sweater.
"Go ahead," she grants him permission.
"That glass is bulletproof."
"I never made claims to the contrary."
"And the door has a reinforced steel center," he adds.
"Yes," she nods.
"Is the siding really aluminum?"
"Yes."
"What is between the siding, and the insulation?"
"Does it matter?"
"No one is going to get into this house, are they?"
"They could."
"It would be difficult."
"Yes."
"And nearly impossible to make it into the house, through the basement, into the bunker."
"If they even realized that it was a bunker."
"I have a feeling that I am missing part of this story."
"I may have fibbed about the bootlegging," Sarah admits.
"I can't imagine."
"That is what the military wanted the general public to think."
"The Marine Corp?" He guesses.
"The bunker was originally used for training missions. It was such a well kept secret due to its remote location. It was difficult to find. They later added the house to the property."
"A safe house?"
"Yes," she confirms.
"So how did you come to purchase it?"
"After the cold war the government unloaded several properties. An acquaintance of mine purchased this one. He offered to sell it to us at below market value as a wedding gift."
"Why didn't he just give it to you?"
She shrugs, "Something about wanting to live out his days on the sea."
"He bought a boat?"
"Yeah."
"Where are the car keys?"
She furrows her brow, "Why does it matter?"
"I want to go into town and get some supplies."
"Tony there isn't much commerce around here."
"I recall seeing a dollar store of some sort."
"What supplies could you possibly need?"
"Deodorant," he fibs.
"I don't buy it."
"Can't you just let me do something nice?" He quizzes.
"Fine, but if you're not back in an hour and a half we're locking the door."
"You're going to stay up here until then?"
"Yes."
By the time he returns she is no longer on the ground level of the house. He calls out for her, but she doesn't answer. He starts to become concerned. He moves towards the basement door. He hears the floorboard above him creak. He looks up the staircase, and find a mischievous grin staring at him.
"Harmon," he whispers.
Harmon tiptoes down the stairs. He meets Tony in the living room.
"Where is the General?"
"Napping."
"And your brother?"
"Also napping."
"Can you help me with this?" Tony points to the box on the living room floor.
"A tree?"
"It isn't anything fancy," he points out.
"It's a tree," Harmon grins.
The two of them put the artificial tree together piece by piece. It's the best artificial tree that money can buy from a dollar store two days before Christmas. It is pre-lit. Tony plugs the cord into the wall, and illuminates the entire room. The two of them proceed to decorate the tree one ornament at a time. When they run out of ornaments they step back, and admire their work.
"What do you think?" Tony asks.
Harmon studies the tree carefully, "It needs a star."
"They were out of stars. All they had was an angel."
"That'll do."
"We should wake them up so they can watch us put the topper on, don't you think?"
"Can I wait here?"
Tony nods in agreement, as Harmon takes a seat on the ground, to find a better angle in which admire the tree. Tony climbs the stairs. He takes a right once he reaches the second floor. He enters the first room that he encounters. He finds Sarah asleep on top of the covers, with Reed curled up by her side. Her camera rests on the stand next to the bed. He snaps a quick picture. He elicits no reaction.
"Hey sleeping beauty," he whispers.