#Soap – When relatives come to visit for the holidays, things get a little out of control – 400 words | Rating: K+ | Genre: Friendship/Family

"Come one guys, you have to help me."

"Begging isn't pretty, Probie."

It really wasn't, at least not when McGee was doing it Ziva observed. His eyes were wide, basically buggy, and he was wringing his hands together. All that was missing was the kneeling on the floor and she wasn't convinced that that wasn't too far off if the desperation in his eyes was anything to go by.

"I'm desperate," McGee pleaded.

Tony looked him up and down and smirked. "I can tell."

It had been a good day so far; they had finished the case early; Ducky explained the Jack Frost myth properly to her after Tony confusing her earlier and she had got another festive tea. Gibbs had even let them go off early. They had all been enthusiastically packing up when McGee's phone had beeped three times in succession and then someone had rung him. Apparently it was everyone in his family saying that they were able to make it down for some early Christmas celebrations.

"They are your family, McGee," Ziva said to him, "Surely you can put up with them for a few hours."

She was completely aware of how hypocritical she sounded; she would not want to put up with any of her remaining family for a few minutes. World War Three would break out in a matter of seconds.

"Days," McGee corrected. "They are staying until Monday."

"Oh," Ziva winced in sympathy.

"How bad can the McGee Family be?" Tony said, scoffing. "Not enough games controllers to go around?"

McGee sighed heavily and rubbed his forehead.

"I wish that was the problem," he muttered.

Tony slung his arm around the younger agent's shoulders. "Come on, McGee. Your whole family is town. For Christmas. How often does that happen?"

"Never." McGee grumbled.

"See? It's a Christmas miracle!"

"Christmas Catastrophe more like."

"Ok, I'm getting some negative vibes from you, McShifty."

"You don't get it, do you?" He exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. "My grandma is a hippy, my father is an Admiral, my sister a student and my mother an extreme knitter. What could go right?"

Ziva and Tony could only gape at him.

"Grandma will probably try and feed us vegan food, my father will insult everything and-"

"Wow, McGee," Tony interrupted.

McGee fell silent and was breathing heavily. The two partners exchanged looks and nodded.

"We'll cover for you."