Disclaimer: again, I own no one except the idiot who now has a name, Seymoure Butts.

happy new year everyone! im trying to post this before midnight, so please excuse my spelling/grammer

Many hours later, after confirming that the man who attacked Kate, Seymoure Butts (a/n: real name) was also the poor petty officers murderer. It was one of those jealous boyfriend type of things. He thought that he would get away with it if he took out the team investigating it. Idiot. Case closed. Now all they had was more paperwork. Tony was getting déjà vu. Finally at about 2100 hours, it was only Kate and Gibbs left. Exactly what she wanted. Now how to start a conversation? Well, here goes nothing. Or something. Or something that looks like nothing but in reality is really a whole lot of something. Now I'm just stalling and confusing myself, just say something. Or nothing. No, not that again. Ok, here goes, for real.

"So Gibbs, are you really not going to the Christmas party on Saturday?"

"Nope, I said that earlier. Why?"

"Well, it's going to be fun. I wonder who will distribute the gifts if they can't find someone to play Santa, though." She looked up at him at this last part. He was silent for a moment.

"You want me to play Santa Claus?" he looked at her in mild surprise.

"Wha- I, but… How did you guess?"

"Kate, you're not really being all that subtle. I'm guessing you thought that there was more of a chance of me saying yes if DiNozzo and McGee weren't listening and that's why you took so long on your paperwork. I know your head hurts, but you're not that slow."

"Oh alright, so I was a bit obvious, but I was right, wasn't I? You would never say yes in front of Tony of McGee. So what do you say?" she looked so hopeful he was almost tempted to say yes. Almost.

"Kate, if I'm not the party type, what makes you think I'm going to be the Santa Claus type?" he chose to just ignore the other questions.

"Well, you like kids, don't you? Just think how upset they would be if Santa didn't show up. Can't you just see their smiles when you walk into the room all dressed up? And when you hand them their presents?"

She did have a point. He liked kids and it would be sad if they didn't get to see Santa. But still.

"Eh.." Kate could tell she was starting to break his resolve. She had one more trick up her sleeve though.

"If you won't do it for the kids, will you do it for me?" she looked him strait in the eyes as she said this and could tell that this would do it.

"Kate…"

"As a favor? After all, I did almost die today." That did it.

"Fine. But nobody, I mean nobody finds out, agreed?" Kate squealed and jumped up and gave him a quick hug, taking him totally by surprise. It was all he could do to keep himself from holding on to her. Then she realized what she had done and went hurriedly back to her desk and started gathering her stuff together.

"Uh, well, I finished my work about an hour ago, so I'm going home. See you tomorrow!" she rushed into the elevator. When the doors closed she leaned back against the wall and sighed. She shouldn't have hugged him. She almost didn't let go. But now she really couldn't wait for Saturday!

Gibbs watched the elevator doors close and shook his head. What had he gotten himself into?

Upon prior agreement, Kate met Gibbs at his house before the party to pick him up. He was really paranoid about this, said something about not wanting people to recognize his car. He looked in the back seat and saw a large bag.

"Is that the costume?" he asked, looking a little unsure.

"Yes, and don't worry, the beard is so bushy, no one will know it's you." She smiled at him. "It'll be fun."

When they arrived at the hall where the party was being held, they snuck in the back. They found an old coat closet, one of those large ones that can fit like a 100 coats that you can walk into and close the door. Kate handed him the bag and he went to change.

"Ah, Kate?" Gibbs called from the closet a few minutes later.

"Yes? Are you ready?"

"Not quite. I can't get the rest of the costume on by my self. Could you help me?"

"Um, sure, come out here. What do you need me too do?" just how much help will he need, she wondered? He came out with most of the suit on, but he seemed to have to hold the coat part up or it would fall.

"The stupid thing ties in the back, and I can't reach it." She tied him up and told him that she would have to untie him too, because only a double knot would hold.

"Also, I think I should warn Abby. She's the only person who could recognize you under all that beard, and if she sees it's you, she'll probably spaz and blow your cover. Is that ok?" Gibb figured she was right and told her to just be quiet about it.

"Now, you don't come out for about a half hour, and I called and told them that I found a replacement for Santa. They asked who it was and I just told them that you were doing this out of the goodness of your heart and wished to remain anonymous." She smiled at this last part and Gibbs snorted. Goodness of my heart, my ass, he thought, I just did it to make Kate happy. Oh well, as long as they don't know who I am, I don't care if she told them I was a hired salvation army Santa from in front of Wal-Mart. He watched her as she went out to the party.

She found Abby by the eggnog with Tony and McGee.

"Abby, for the 5th time, I did not make the eggnog!" Tony seemed exasperated.

"Alright Tony, then I guess its safe to drink.'' Abby took a glass and drank it happily. She had on a Santa hat that she had dyed black. "Hey Kate, we almost thought you weren't going to show up. Where ya been?"

"Uh, I got stuck in traffic. Abby I need to talk to you." Tony leaned in closer to hear what she was going to say, "In private."

They walked over to the far corner, far from Tony and the rest of the crowd.

"What's up Kate?" Abby hoped nothing was wrong, but then noticed she was smiling.

"Ok, you have to keep this a secret, or Gibbs will kill me, promise?" she said in a low voice.

"Of course!" she was really curious now. And why was Kate smiling?

"Ok, I found a replacement Santa."

"Who is he… no, really? Are you serious! Omg I can't believe it!" she was on the verge of yelling now.

"Abby shhh, do you want people to hear? The only reason he let me tell you was because you would know it was him anyway!"

"Well of course I would. Ohh does that mean we can't even tell Tony? How about Ducky, oh wait he couldn't make it, what about-''

"No, we can't tell anyone else, like I said, Gibbs will kill me." Abby's face fell, but only for a second, then it lit up with a mischievous grin.

"So, how does he look?" she wiggled her eyebrows.

"As hot as anyone can in a red suit with a pillow stuffed up his shirt and a beard. Abby, honesty you're acting like Tony. Oh, look, he's coming out."

Someone had started playing 'Santa Claus is coming to town' all the kids were gathered around a pile of presents and a old folding chair. Then out walks Santa Gibbs, into a crowed of singing and cheering kids. He takes a seat and gets everyone to quiet down. Each time he called out the name on a present, the little kid would jump up and come sit on his lap. The parents would take pictures, and Santa Gibbs would ask them if they had been good this year and what they wanted him to bring them on Christmas. Kate was surprised at just how good he was at being Santa. He even had her believing it was really the jolly old elf himself. Kate and Abby had rejoined Tony and McGee. Tony really wanted to know who they had gotten to replace Jimmy.

"Maybe they hired someone?" he mused.

"I doubt it, he's probably just another janitor or something." McGee wasn't really all that curious about who was giving out the gifts so much as if he was going to get something. Then he realized he was thinking like Tony.

After all the kids had gotten their gifts, Santa Gibbs started handing out the gifts for the adults from their co-workers. Gibbs really was getting into this. Kate was right, the looks on the kids faces as they assured him that they had been good was priceless. And they beamed when they got their presents. Once all the kids had gotten their gifts, he looked for the gifts for his team first. He could be a little biased if he wanted, after all, he was Santa Claus. They had all decided to do a secret Santa sort of thing to save money. This way, everyone would get one good gift instead of 6 cheap ones. Tony and McGee had pulled each others names, Kate got Abby, Abby got Ducky, Ducky got Gibbs and Gibbs got Kate. He would save her gift for last. He pulled out a present for McGee, and he rushed forward when he heard his name.

"And were you a good boy this year, Timothy?" Gibbs was going to have fun with this part.

"Of course Santa!" he blushed red when he noticed how much like a little kid he sounded. Gibbs laughed and handed him his gift. It was a t-shirt that said 'WHAT PART OF 1+110 DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?'.

"Thanks Tony, but do you get it?" he asked. He had actually expected something more generic and was surprised that Tony hadn't just gotten him 100 blank CD's like his mom always did.

"Not at all probie, and that's why I picked it." Tony looked proud of himself at getting him a decent gift.

McGee had gotten Tony Grand Theft Auto 3.

"Wow McGee this is awesome! How did you know I wanted this?"

"Might have something to do with you saying loudly for the last three days to anyone who could hear you how much you wanted it. And Kate said it was banned in Australia, so there has to be something in there you like."

Tony was so excited he almost left to go play it right then.

When Gibbs called Abby up, she ran right up to him and plopped herself down on his lap, pigtails swinging away. He was only taken back for a second, though.

"And were you a good girl this year, little miss Abby?"

"I don't know Santa, was I?" she loved flirting with him, and seriously, how often can you flirt with your boss while he's dressed up as Santa Claus?

"Well, I'm not to sure, but your boss said he would hold me responsible for you not getting your gift!"

Kate had gotten her the new 'Plastic Death' Christmas CD.

"Oh, Kate this is soooo cool! Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you!" Kate just smiled as her friend jumped up and down in circles hugging her gift. She really wanted to know what she was going to get. Abby already told her that she had Ducky, so it had to be from either him or Gibbs. She hoped it was the latter. Apparently she would have to wait to find out, though, because he skipped right over her and started calling everyone else. Finally he came to the last present, a small, long rectangular box.

"Kate Todd? Is there a Kate Todd here?" he asked looking around and grinning.

"I believe that ones for me, Santa" she said, walking up to him.

"And were you a good little girl?" then in a quieter voice, "Because I've been told that you have done some impish things this last week, like guilting your boss into playing Santa Claus."

"Oh no sir, I was just spreading the holiday spirit!" she said trying to look as innocent as possible.

"I'm sure" was all he said when he handed her present to her. She went back to open it with Abby.

Inside the box was a delicate gold chain with a small heart charm. On one half of heart was set diamond chips and the other half was lined with small emeralds, Kate's favorite stones. It was beautiful.

"Oh my god" she whispered.

"Wow, Kate, that's gorgeous!" ha, Abby thought to herself, I was right, he does like her.

Gibbs had made his goodbyes and went into the back where they had come in, so Kate made some excuse to leave and went back to help him. She found him waiting for him outside the closet.

"Gibbs, this necklace is beautiful, but it must have cost you a lot."

"Nah, not really. Do you like it?"

"I love it, thank you. Gibbs…"

"Look up" Now he had her confused.

"What?"

"Look up"

"Why do you wa…" she said as she looked up.

Mistletoe.

"Merry Christmas, Kate." He leaned down and kissed her. And I mean really kissed her. I think the mistletoe may have gotten embarrassed just being in the same room. She wanted it to last forever She sighed when he pulled away, a little breathless.

"Your beard tickles." she said, practically giggling.

A few minutes earlier:

Tony was talking to one of the other agent's sister, a single, somewhat ditzy, model. He saw Kate head towards the back and wanted to see what she was up to. She had a strange look on her face. So he set down his drink, said something to whats-her-name, and went to follow her. When he got to the door, what he saw left him speechless. Was that Kate Todd? Kissing Santa Claus? Now he had to know who Santa was. He smiled mischievously.

"Oh, this is going to be fun"

Well, what do you think? There's going to be one more chapter after this, but I have to study for exams, so please forgive me if it takes too long.