Chapter 3! The whole Thanksgiving thing was too cute, so my brain automatically raced ahead to Christmas. Enjoy!

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December 18, 2009- 8:37 p.m.

I did my Christmas shopping today. I managed to find the CDs my sister wanted and I found a pair of headphones for Abby, really nice ones. They have little skulls on them. This way she can rock out without blasting the rest of us. I think Gibbs will appreciate that.

But the main reason I'm writing is because of who I saw today.

10 hours earlier.

McGee strolled through the aisles, headed for the entertainment section. He turned down a row filled with shelves of CDs and scanned the rows for the designated band. It didn't take him long to find it, being in the A section. Ab…Ad…Ag…Al. All that Remains. The cover displayed a picture of a person sprawled against a wall with blood dripping from his hands. He shook his head. He would never understand his sister's taste in music. But that was what she wanted, so he was going to get it. He grabbed it from the rack and looked around, wondering where the check out was. This place was huge. Had he passed it on the way in?...

He spotted someone a few aisles over. Was it? No, not here, surely. But, wait a minute…

Gibbs was standing two aisles over, at the Buy More, of all places. I didn't know if it was him at first, but looking back, I don't know how I could have thought otherwise. The boss is kinda hard to miss. He looked… confused, not an emotion that he usually displays in public. So I went to see if I could help.

"Boss?"

Gibbs looked up from the shelves upon hearing his name. If he was surprised to see McGee, he didn't show it.

"McGee," he greeted.

"Uh, need some help?" Tim offered politely.

Gibbs doesn't ask for help either. He commands you to do something and you do it. End of story.

"Secret Santa," el jefe replied, "Got stuck with Abby."

I'm sure he meant that affectionately… Then again, Gibbs doesn't really do affectionate. And he definitely doesn't do Christmas Spirit either.

"It's that one, boss," McGee pointed out a CD. Gibbs grabbed it and frowned at the title, Bloody Murder, but kept it none-the-less.

They headed for the checkout and bought their respective things, eager to leave the crowded store. Outside was cold; snowflakes were beginning to fall.

"You doing anything on Christmas, boss?" McGee asked suddenly.

"Not much of a Christmas guy, McGee," Gibbs replied, watching the snow fall.

McGee nodded, choosing to keep his silence and not inquire further.

I'm sure Christmas isn't something Gibbs celebrates anymore. I can understand why. For a guy who's lost everything, Christmas is just a reminder of a time that doesn't exist anymore.

They said their goodbyes. Tim glanced in the opposite direction at Gibbs's retreating form.

Maybe we'll try to change that this year.

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Anybody catch the Chuck reference in there?

Happy Holidays!