A/N - Okay, Christmas comes in three parts. First two are complete and I'm hoping part three will be ready by the time it's due to be posted on Friday. Fingers crossed. They needed a little more work considering everything that has happened with these two since I first let them flow from my fingers. So enjoy the first part, including a little further glimpse into Jessie's head for the first scene.

Thanks for the amazing responses to the last chapter. As dark as it was, it was a wonderful experience to write and explore Callen deep inside.

I hope you enjoy and look forward to hearing what you thing - this chapter is at least a little on the lighter side than the last one.

Chapter 37 - Christmas Part 1

Jessie followed the flight attendant's directions to the row her seat was in. Though it was a window one, which she hadn't actually booked, she wasn't about to turn down the free business class upgrade because of that. She had no idea how she'd gotten so lucky. It was the first time it had ever happened.

Jessie slipped into the comfortable spacious seat, took out her book, headphones and mp3 player before she checked her cellphone one last time. She breathed a sigh of relief there were no messages or missed calls on it, turned it off and put it in her bag. Her fingers were mentally crossed that this time her holiday wouldn't be cut short like her last one had. Surely the team, especially Callen, could keep out of trouble for just a few days especially around Christmas. Headphones in, relaxing music found, Jessie settled back into her seat and closed her eyes. A couple of calm breaths and she was set. At least she didn't have to worry about the person next to her, given the size of the seat it's not like they could easily enter her personal space. Soon, she promised herself, very soon she'd be able to treat herself to this kind of comfort occasionally, but not quite yet.

The music had relaxed her so much that she was almost asleep when Jessie felt the shift of the seat that told her the passenger next to her had arrived. The first brush of something against her shoulder Jessie put down to the passenger getting settled, though how whoever it was needed to encroach into her space that much she didn't know, but she refused to open her eyes to see. It was most likely just the brush of a jumper or jacket. The second one caused a flicker of annoyance and she took a slow breath to let go of the irritation that had flared. She was determined not to let anyone spoil the mood she'd worked hard to find after a couple of rough days at the hospital that had followed a week long undercover mission for the team that had her left in the office wondering what the hell was going on when their comms had gone down right before everything had gone haywire after things had seemed to be progressing just fine. How none of them were injured when they'd arrived back at the office she had no idea. It had been one of those moments where she'd wondered if guardian angels just might exist after all.

The third intrusion however was a definite nudge that couldn't be ignored. She had her headphones off and opened her eyes just a moment after that.

"Stop - " She blinked not quite sure what she was seeing or if perhaps she was actually asleep. "G? What are you doing here?"

Callen smiled and she felt her own respond and the irritation and annoyance mostly disappeared.

"Nice to see you too."

Jessie shook her head. "That's not what I meant. Are you going to Amsterdam?"

"Vienna."

Jessie blinked slowly. "Since when?" she asked as she felt the plane shift and start to move backwards from the gate

"Since now," Callen replied.

Jessie stared at him for a moment. "G, you've known for weeks I was going to Vienna. You never said a word."

"Decided this morning."

She had a feeling she was a little too relaxed to be dealing with a cryptic Callen. "Why?"

"Had nothing else to do."

Jessie frowned. She knew him well enough, though there was still plenty that she didn't know, to know that something was up. But first things first, how exactly did he end up sitting next to her? "Did you ask for this particular seat?"

"Yes."

"No room left in economy?"

"It's a ten hour flight Jessie. Why would I fly economy if I didn't have to?"

"Price." She couldn't imagine what a last minute business class ticket would've cost him.

"There was space. I just wasn't interested."

It was a moment before the puzzle started to connect in her mind. "Wait. They said they were overbooked. That's why…" And then the puzzle was done. Her mouth dropped a little and she stared at Callen again. She caught the look and knew he'd seen that she'd worked it out. "You."

"What?"

That innocent tone wasn't getting him out of this one.

"You upgraded my seat didn't you?" She always booked the cheapest ticket she could, and those tickets weren't usually eligible for a paid upgrade let alone a free one.

"What if I did?"

At least he wasn't trying to be innocent anymore. He might be able to fake it better than anyone but Jessie highly doubted G Callen had an innocent bone in his body anymore.

"G I can't afford this."

"I'm not asking you to pay."

"But-"

"Consider it a Christmas present," Callen cut in before she could protest anymore. The look on his face told her not to bother trying. "Just don't tell Sam. He'll expect at least the same for his present."

"Why?"

"He thinks I like him best."

Jessie almost laughed but she was still too confused. "No. Why did you do this? Why are you here?"

Jessie struggled to know where things stood with him. Co-workers? Yes. Friends? Most definitely. More? Even with how well she knew him she had a hard time figuring out the meaning behind the banter and flirting that had been going on since that first day. There were looks that suggested more but then things would suddenly be just as they usually were. Sometimes she felt like she was on a roller coaster, blindfolded, and as soon as she got settled with going up, suddenly they were going down again or around a corner she had no idea was coming.

Callen's cheeky grin pulled her from her thoughts and those butterflies in her stomach that always seemed to wake up when he was around fluttered like crazy.

"You suggested I come with you next time," Callen said. "I'm taking you up on the offer."

It took a moment to realise what he was talking about. "Oh no," Jessie shook her head. "You suggested it. I just told you not to get in trouble or I'd have to bill you."

That whole experience was one Jessie would rather forget. She still remembered the sickening feeling of loss looming that had been her constant companion from the moment she'd spoken to Hetty on the phone that night until she'd walked into his room and found him finally awake two weeks later.

"Consider the bill paid." Callen lifted his eyebrows and there was most definitely mischief in his eyes. The butterflies flew in all directions. "Now comes the fun of finding the trouble."

Oh she didn't have to look for trouble. He was sitting right beside her.

"How did you even do … Eric." Of course Eric would have the skills to pull this off.

"Actually I didn't-"

Callen was cut off when a flight attendant said, "Here you go." She handed each of them a glass of champagne and smiled. "They told us about you two." The flight attendant lowered her voice and leaned in closer. "I know you don't want a big fuss but we all found it very romantic. Congratulations."

"Thank you," Callen said.

Jessie focused on Callen's face. You had to know him well to see the small hint of guilt, though maybe since this wasn't work perhaps he wasn't trying quite so hard. What had he done? She shifted her attention back to the flight attendant.

"They told you want?" Jessie asked even though she dreaded the answer.

"How you two were fighting and he came to his senses and proposed."

"Proposed?" It was worse than she could possibly have imagined. She shot Callen a look and he at least had the grace to shift a little uncomfortably in his seat.

"And you said yes," the attendant continued so obviously blind to what was really going on. "But, because you'd been mad at him you'd booked a trip away for Christmas on your own."

"I had huh?" Jessie shook her head slightly at him. "I wonder why."

"He said it was a lot of work but worth it. He was very convincing."

"He's something alright," Jessie murmured under her breath.

"We're just glad we were able to arrange these two seats together up here so you could fly together." The flight attendant gave a sigh that left no doubt that she was wishing something like this would happen to her. "It's such a long way and such a romantic place." With a bright smile, she finally walked away.

"What have you done?" Jessie hissed at him.

"Now Jessie," Callen said in a surprisingly calm, and low, voice. "You don't want to give them the wrong idea."

Jessie leaned in close, perhaps too close since the breath she took included that scent of him that tended to scramble her brain. She couldn't ever place the scent though, that was how badly it messed with her head, she just knew that it was him. "Wrong idea?" Jessie had to focus on what he'd done and nothing else. "You've already done that. How exactly did you figure this would play out? They're going to figure it out." She backed away a little, took a breath and held up her left hand. "No ring for a start."

"Actually I told them I was buying you one while we're away."

Jessie fell back into her seat and sighed. "You are…"

So many things came to mind but nothing quite fitted with right now. Funny, caring, handsome, cheeky, intelligent, charming - all in spades - and of course adorable. Unpredictable, crazy, sexy and, oh dear God, she was in trouble.

"Everything you've ever wanted?"

Callen's words pulled Jessie out of her thoughts, thankfully, and Jessie laughed. It was that or say yes, because he was so close to the truth. Everything she ever wanted was a bit of a stretch because she certainly hadn't imagined anyone like him until she meet him, but from there on…

"For once," Jessie said, "words fail me." At least ones that were suitable to leave her mouth right now. "I have no idea what to say." That much was most definitely the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

"You don't need to say anything more." Callen had that smug look of satisfaction on his face. "You already said yes."

For a moment the butterflies froze as Jessie wonder if she'd actually said the word early before she'd laughed. But then she realised what he was referring to. She shook her head. "You are … crazy for trying to pull something like this off."

"I already have."

Add confident to that list of words.

"There's still fourteen hours to go G." And I am not an agent to be able to play along no matter how appealing the thought of being his was.

"Not entirely," Callen said calmly. "It's just this flight. The next one they won't know about this, probably."

"And exactly what are you planning to do on this one?" Jessie held up both her hands. "You know what. Don't answer that."

Callen caught one of her hands and brought it to his lips. Jessie's breath halted in her chest at the first touch and the tiny spark she wasn't even sure he would feel as his lips brushed across her knuckles. She felt the blush heat her cheeks and tried to pull back, but Callen kept hold of her hand. The warmth of his breath and lips created a warmth of a very different kind in her and not just limited to where he was touching her. The man was more than trouble. He would break her heart if she wasn't careful. Jessie struggled as it was to stop hoping for something even though it didn't take a genius to understand he didn't think he was one for relationships, or to see that he held back from everyone. Secrets she understood. Everyone had them but she needed someone who wouldn't hold back in other ways. As much as he was opening up to her, more than she imagined he would in those early days, she didn't know if he would ever let her in far enough for her to risk completely falling.

"Aw, how sweet," their friendly flight attendant said when she walked by.

"There you go," Callen said, his lips still close to the back of her fingers. "I'm sweet."

Jessie tried to breathe smoothly so he didn't realise just how he was affecting her. He linked their fingers and settled back in his seat with their entwined fingers resting on the arm rest.

She stared at their hands for a moment before she spoke softly. "G."

Callen turned his head to her.

"Can I please have my hand back?"

"You don't want them thinking we're fighting already do you?" The tone was playful and she so wished she could just go along with it but she couldn't.

"I don't want you playing a role with me." It was the most neutral reason Jessie could think of.

The playful look on his face disappeared, a serious one took its place and Jessie had a dreadful feeling that the answer hadn't been as neutral as she would like. She also had no idea what was going through his mind now.

Callen nodded. "Fair enough," he said.

Jessie felt his fingers loosen and she started to pull them away but he tightened his grip, gently, before she could extract them.

"But," Callen said and Jessie lifted her eyes from where they'd drifted to their hands back to his blue ones as he continued. "I'm not doing anything I don't want to do. Not coming on this trip, or spending time with you." He lifted their still joined hands. "Or this." Then he loosened his grip and Jessie was able to get her hand free. But the feel of him holding her hand lingered as she reached for her book and settled back into her seat all the while hoping that he didn't know her well enough to notice that she was holding her book in the hand she didn't usually. If she didn't she was afraid she'd reach for his again.

The red and blue flashing light reflected through the taxi that had come to a halt in the midst of what seemed like peak hour traffic. Given it was going on ten pm that was definitely odd.

"What's going on?" Callen asked the driver who was taking them to Jessie's hotel from the airport.

"I don't know," the driver replied in heavily accented English.

"G, the hotel is just a block away," Jessie said from beside him. "I can walk the rest of the way and you can take the taxi to your place."

"No," Callen shook his head. "I'm not sending you out alone."

"It's Vienna G. It's safe. And it's not like I have far to go."

She might not have far to go but they'd already been travelling for over eighteen hours with an added delay in Amsterdam. They should've already been at their accommodation a few hours ago.

"I'm coming with you." Callen paid the taxi driver over Jessie's protests. "I'll catch another one from your hotel when I know you are safe."

Jessie sighed and Callen resisted the urge to chuckle. She was stubborn that was for sure but she was obviously learning when not to fight him. He retrieved her small suitcase along with his from the rear of the taxi and stepped onto the path out of the way of the traffic.

The closer they got the harder it was to make their way through the crowd and Callen grabbed Jessie's hand so they didn't get separated. They managed to make their way closer and then Jessie tugged on his hand. He stopped and turned back to face her.

"G, that's my hotel," she told him quietly. Callen turned around and studied the scene with fresh eyes. There were many emergency vehicles around, along with uniformed workers shouting and directing the people who were coming out of the hotel, most still in their night clothes. He noticed the queues and pulled Jessie with him toward the staff that were there.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"Gas leak. We've had to clear the entire hotel. No one is allowed back in until it's fixed. Tomorrow at least."

"Tomorrow?" Jessie's quiet voice still reached Callen's ears over the loud hum of voices and sirens that filled their air.

"Tomorrow." The staff member shrugged. "Maybe. If you'll just join the end of the line and be patient, we'll get to you in time. We're trying to find alternative accommodation but it's hard this time of year."

Jessie nodded. "G go. This will take a while."

Callen stopped her from heading to the end of the line and guided her off to the side and pulled her in close out of the way. "Come with me."

Jessie shook her head. "I-"

"I've got a two bedroom apartment." Callen gave her the half smile that always got a reaction and hoped this time it would get a yes. "Please. Come stay with me."

Jessie frowned. "How did you even get a place at the last minute?"

"It's one of Arkady's apartments. I called this morning he said it was free."

Even with the noise her silence still spoke volumes and Callen could see the battle in her eyes. He just wasn't quite sure why it was a difficult choice for her to make. Unless she was trying to get away from him which he really hoped wasn't the case. He'd have to do some prying to make sure he wasn't spoiling her holiday.

"Sir," Callen called out to the staff member reluctantly taking his eyes off Jessie. "What's the chance you'll be able to get a room for everyone here."

"Not a lot. Most will have to go outside city."

"So if you had one less to find a place for?" Callen let his gaze head back to Jessie.

"We'd appreciate it more than we could say."

Callen waited for her to answer the question that was still hanging between them.

"I'll come," she finally said.

"Let's go," Callen took her hand before he turned back to the staff member. "One less. We'll call about a refund."

"Thank you." There was a great deal of relief in the man's voice. "Please come this way. I'll get you a cab straight away."

They were at Arkady's apartment in less than ten minutes. Callen ushered Jessie through the door and put their bags down before he closed and locked it. A flick of the switch lit up the room.

"Home sweet home," Callen said.

Jessie turned to him. "G."

Callen raised an eyebrow and waited.

"Thank you."

"Why do I have a feeling that wasn't exactly what you were going to say."

"I don't know what you're talking about." A yawn caught her by surprise. "Sorry."

"Choose your bedroom. I'll sort out food."

"Mind if I shower before we eat?"

"Go for it."

Callen headed to the kitchen and opened the fridge. "Thank you Arkady."

Arkady had offered to get his housekeeper to stock some food for them considering the time they were arriving. He'd let Arkady think he had a friend staying with him even though he hadn't been sure he could convince Jessie to change her plans. Especially after her comment about not playing a role with her. He'd thought he'd best hold off on the offer, not quite sure how she'd take it considering the episode on the plane, but then the gas leak had put it right there as a legitimate, and perhaps only, option.

There was a container labeled goulash with directions for heating. Callen set it on the stove and popped some of the bread from the bench into the oven to warm. That would give them a little something before they slept. The sound of the water in the shower reached his ears and he pushed aside the thoughts. He was not going to think about Jessie in the shower. At least not until he could do something about it and he had no idea when that would be, or if. He was in intel gathering mode. There was interest and there was attraction. There was friendship and subtle little signs she might be open to more. But he still wasn't sure. Lucky he was good at winging things because these next few days could go in many different directions. Maybe on this trip there might be a chance to find out, or maybe he'd just keep it light because he really didn't want to screw up what they had.

The bread was warm, the goulash bubbling nicely on the stove when she came out of the shower, her fingers taming her hair into a plait over one shoulder. His fingers itched to take over but instead he dished up the dinner and put it on the table. They ate in comfortable silence though the number of times Jessie yawned Callen was surprised she hadn't fallen asleep at the table.

"Sorry," she said softly. "Don't think I'll be up much longer."

"Go to bed Jessie," Callen told her when she stood up and picked up her bowl. He put his hand on hers and lowered it, and the bowl, back to the table. "I've got this."

"Thanks G. For this. For everything. Night."

"Night."