#Longest Night – Happy Solstice! Light the Yule Log, stay up late, make some wishes for the new year, play cards, or tell ghost stories in the flickering firelight – 300 words | Rating: K | Genre: Family
"And that is how Yule should be celebrated," Hetty finished her explanation.
The flickering light of Eric's campfire screensaver gave her tale the atmosphere it needed, shadows dancing across everyone's faces. It had been a long day, thankfully with a happy ending for a Marine's family, but they were still running on adrenaline.
Someone had brought out a deck of cards and before you know it, they were in a circle around Hetty's desk playing poker. Hetty was winning, of course, but she had broken out some of her scotch so no one was complaining.
"So, what I'm hearing is that we need some Yule Log to celebrate," said Deeks, taking a card from the deck and frowned at his hand.
"Already well ahead of you, Mr Deeks," Hetty told him reaching over to one of the cabinets next to her desk and pulling out exactly that.
"Wow," Sam whistled. "Impressive."
"I imagined it having more decoration," Kensi commented, drooling over the chocolate masterpiece.
"Less is definitely more in this case, Miss Blye."
"I'm not arguing with that," said Callen. "Uh, shall we pause the game?"
"Most definitely," Hetty agreed. "I wouldn't want to clear you out of all your wages after all."
They all chuckled as slices of the log were passed out. They made quick work of it, only crumbs were left before long with yawning agents – the events of the day finally catching up with them. Someone's bones cracked loudly. That couldn't be good.
"Now, go on home. All of you," Hetty chided, chivvying them up from the table. "It's like none of you have families to go home to."
Callen looked around the happy, tired faces and let a smile spread across his own.
"I think you'll find that all of our family is right here."
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