Kate walked into work on a gorgeous winter's day, where all the trees were covered in white, the snow fell in huge flakes giving the effect that DC was a giant snow globe. Around every corner were carolers and good-doers either raising money for the children's hospital or raising money for the orphanages; and of course being the kind-hearted agent she was she donated to each and every fundraiser.

Her wallet was sparsely empty but her heart was warm.

She pulled the doors open and was met with the most cheery lobby she had ever seen. As she loosened the bright colorful scarf that was wrapped tightly around her delicate ivory throat; Barney the security guard who was currently wearing a bring Santa hat with his security uniform came up to her and gave her a candy cane. She smiled brightly and brought him in a hug.

"Merry Christmas Barney," she whispered happily as she withdrew herself and went on the task to remove her holster, and step through the scan.

A laser of sorts x-rayed her body sending an image of her squelletal self on the computer on the other side of the counter. She placed her delicate hand on the hand scanner and waited patiently as it scanned her palm and prints. Next came her favorite part; she turned around and was met with two tunnel-like little tubes on which she gently placed her eyes in and watched as it scanned her corneas for Identification. The machine beeped her I.D and she walked out of it and gathered her badge and holster at the bottom of the conveyor belt.

"Merry Christmas Katie," Barney said back as she walked backwards into the lobby to keep eye contact with him.

"I wish you all the peace Barn," she finished and head through the elevator doors with a handful of people. She looked around her and smiled warmly at the array of festive colors that filled the normally boring metal box. Looking through her big shoulder bag one more time she smiled her satisfaction and pressed the '7' on the control panel. Right when the doors were about to close an arm jetted the doors open and Tony stepped into the already stuffed elevator. Upon seeing Kate he squeezed and pushed to the back were he was basically attached to her.

"Good morning Kate," He said as the elevator doors shut and the box started its journey upwards towards the many offices of NCIS.

"Good morning to you too Tony and Merry Christmas," she replied politely bringing the strap to her bag higher on her shoulder in means of hiding its contents.

"Whatcha got in the bag Katie?" Tony said deviously as he took off his mittens and stuffed them in the pockets to his heavy winter coat. He placed an index at the opening of the bag and tugged a little to reveal brightly covered packages. "Presents!" He gapped as the contents of the elevator turned towards the couple in slight annoyance.

"No Tony not right now," she exclaimed as the made there way out of the tin can they were traveling in and into the bullpen where McGee was already occupying fiddling with his computer in the corner.

"Oh please Kate, you give me mine and give you yours," he pleaded has he went in front of her and brought his hands together in a pleading position.

"No, you'll have to wait until tonight like everybody else," She went to her desk and took off her cashmere coat to reveal a sparkling cranberry-colored sweater that fit perfectly and shaped her in all the right places, and a pair of beige cords that ended at the tip of her black-heeled shoes. She placed her coat, hat and scarf on the coat hanger behind her desk and turned on her computer. Waiting for it to start up she walked over to the big window and placed the many presents under the Christmas tree that she, Abby, McGee and Tony got and decorated just yesterday. After placing her gifts amongst the many others she back-tracked her way to her desk and accessed her e-mail.

As it loaded she began to sing softly Silent Night.

"Wow Kate you have a nice voice, have you ever thought in becoming a singer?" McGee said as he too went to place his presents under the tree.

Both Kate and Tony turned towards him.

"I guess once, along with my dream of becoming a princess and living in the oce castle in Town Square," Kate said a little quietly as she, Tony and McGee gathered beside the tree and looked out the window towards Town Square where Kate's castle stood, gleaming in ice.

They stood in silence just staring at it that they didn't even notice the elevator 'ding' to release Gibbs.

"You think Gibbs ever had a dream like yours Kate?" Tony asked as Kate placed a hand against the cold windowsill.

"Living in an ice castle, I don't think so Tony, more like an ice boat or the basement of the Ice Castle," she replied wittily.

Gibbs stood directly behind them coffee in hand as he smirked at the fact that they were talking about him and that they didn't even realize it.

"The basement to the Ice Castle Katie?" he asked amused.

All three of them didn't move, they stopped breathing altogether in fright.

"H…hi boss," Tony said as he briskly walked over to his desk and busied himself as well as McGee as he somehow found a disarrayed tinsel on the tree and he went to fix it on the adjacent side of the tree.

"I…didn't mean basement per say, what I meant was…I guess that's pretty much what I meant," she sighed defeated as she hung her head in slight embarrassment. Gibbs smiled and leaned down a little.

"Living in the basement of your Ice Castle wouldn't be so bad," he whispered low enough for her to hear.

He eyes widened in surprise as he chuckled and made his way to the ringing phone on his desk.

Kate stood there dazed for a moment. Had Gibbs just flirted with her? She thought as once again she stood at the window peering down.

Gibbs watched Kate look outside once more as he tried to listen to the message The Director was telling him, but found it difficult when the secret passion of his life was standing directly in front of him dazed and in her own little world.

But he snapped back to reality and hung up the phone with force greater then any he showed before.

"Tony gas up the truck, Kate the equipment, McGee get your ass in the truck," he barked causing Kate to come out of her reverie as his harsh tones penetrated her.

"Yup, too good to be true," she said very quietly, she ran to her desk clipped her holster to the rim of her pants and grabbed her coat, scarf and hat from the stand and dashed like the others towards the elevator.