Chapter 9 - Too Many Santas (December 2030)

"Is dat my Daddy?" three-year-old Jason Reeves tugged on Tali's sleeve and pointed at a man wearing a Santa outfit, with beard and all. "Why Daddy be Sanna?"

"Remember," Tali squatted down to the little boy's level. "Your daddy, my Abba, Uncle Tim, Uncle Jimmy, Grandpa, and others are Santa's helpers. They do this every year to bring toys and other presents to kids who are sick and may be in the hospital. NCIS, where your daddy and mommy work, and where my parents used to work, has a special Santa's Helpers party every Christmas. Grandpa can tell you more about it; he started it."

"Tali?" four-year-old Savannah tapped the teen on the shoulder. "Tali, why are dere so many Santas? I see one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, leven, teenty… More den I can counts!"

Tali turned towards the little girl, "Great job counting to ten… gimme five!" She held up her right hand so the oldest Reeves offspring could high-five with her. "Those are all Santa's helpers; they are going to take toys and other stuff to the sick kids in a few."

"Is dat what Mommy an' Daddy doin' today?" the curious four-year-old remembered her parents talking about going to a special children's hospital dressed as Santa and Mrs. Santa.

"Yep," Tali nodded, "And my parents, and Aunt Dee and Uncle Tim, and Grandpa, too. I think Uncle Leon and Aunt Abby are out there too. Abba collected toys at his work for his retirement party."

"Where's LJ? And other cousins?" Savannah looked around for the other kids as Tali stood up and gathered her young charges close to her side.

"They are all helping as elves this year," Tali leaned over and pointed to the group of DiNozzo, McGee, Palmer, and other children of NCIS agents and former agents who were old enough to be elves. LJ had been so excited when he learned that the minimum age was lowered from ten to nine that year. She spotted her little brother, not so 'little' anymore, standing next to Grandpa.

"Look, follow where I am pointing. Do you see LJ in his elf costume next to Grandpa?" Tali pointed to the pair across the large open area. When the others headed out with gifts, she, and other NCIS dependents sixteen and older who chose not to be elves, would take the little kids inside to the day care rooms for a morning of Christmas and holiday-themed games and activities.

LJ spotted his eldest sister and the two Reeves kids and waved. He grinned when they waved back at him; for some reason Uncle Clay and Aunt Ellie's two preschoolers were fascinated with him. At family gatherings, the two followed him around. Abba said that it was probably because he was closest in age to them.

The volunteers in Santa outfits, Mrs. Claus attire, and elf costumes were split into groups and assigned to buses to head out to the hospitals, bases, nursing homes, and other places to visit. Tali and the kids watched as they queued to leave.

"Look at all the Santas!" Savannah and Jason tried to find their parents among the sea of red. Tali studied faces as best she could, and body structures to be able to point out family members to the little ones.

"Too many Sannas," Jason crossed his arms in front of his chest. "I give up."