Chapter 5

Jack set to work putting the finishing touches on the toys Gibbs was hand crafting for the annual NCIS toy drive while Gibbs and Tony were at work. He got started right after breakfast each morning and except for a short break for lunch didn't stop until he heard "the boys" get home in the evening. Jack was enjoying his visit immensely, and was glad that Tony was getting more comfortable around him. They talked over mugs of Jack's homemade hot chocolate and played gin rummy while Gibbs holed up down in the basement in the evenings.

Thursday evening Jack came upstairs to start cooking dinner and was surprised to find Gibbs alone in the kitchen pouring himself a cup of coffee. "Hey son, where's Tony," Jack asked with a frown, "you two have a fight or something?"

Gibbs chuckled. "Nope, he's at his place. Said he some things to take care of, but he'll be over tomorrow with the rest of the team for Christmas Eve." Seeing that Jack still looked confused, Gibbs rolled his eyes and stated simply, "He doesn't live here, Dad, at least not yet. I'm, uh, hoping that will change though."

Meanwhile across town Tony popped the lid off of a bottle of beer, put a frozen pizza in the oven and called McGee. "Hey Probie, I need to borrow your truck tomorrow. I gotta pick up Gibbs's last Christmas present and it won't exactly fit in my car. I dunno, right after breakfast. Yeah, I have to get over to Gibbs's before noon to start making my world famous lasagna for dinner. You're all still coming over right? Huh, okay cool! I'll be here waiting for you. Thanks Probie." Tony hung up and grinned to himself.

Tony walked into the house just before noon smiling and whistling "Jingle Bells" but soon stopped when he realized that no one else was home. He shrugged out of his coat and hung it on the coat rack and toed out of his boots. On his way to the kitchen he turned on Gibbs' old but functional stereo in the living room and found a radio station playing nothing but Christmas music.

He poured himself a cup of coffee and started making a huge pot of his homemade sauce for the lasagna. Tony loved to cook, and since no self-respecting Italian would ever use sauce from a jar he set to work chopping a small mountain of fresh tomatoes, onions, garlic, mushrooms, and green peppers he had retrieved from the refrigerator. He then browned two pounds of Italian sausage while the onions and garlic sautéed in another pan. Once everything was combined he added parsley, oregano and sweet basil, testing it several times until he was satisfied. He gave the pot a good stir and turned down the heat so that the sauce could simmer slowly, making the whole house smell great in the process. He quickly made the ricotta cheese mixture and put it in the refrigerator. He had picked up fresh lasagna noodles and two loaves of garlic bread at a local Italian shop on his way over.

Tony was cleaning up the kitchen and smiled when he heard the garage door go up Gibbs' car pull into the garage. A few moments later Gibbs and Jack came in from the garage grumbling greetings to Tony before making a b-line for the coffee maker.

Tony leaned back against the sink and laughed at the two of them. "You know, I think this coffee addiction thing must be genetic."

When both Gibbs men were sufficiently caffeinated, Jack sampled the sauce and gave Tony an approving nod while Gibbs gave Tony a proper "I really missed you" kiss.

Ziva and Palmer both showed up at 1400 loaded down with food and gifts; Ziva brought a vegetable tray and a bottle of wine, and Palmer brought a big container of assorted Christmas cookies he had baked the night before. McGee and Abby showed up a few minutes later with crackers, cheese and beer. Ducky was not far behind with a bottle of wine and a bottle of his and Jack's favorite brandy.

The food offerings were set out on the dining room table for everyone to snack on until dinner time while the gifts were placed under the tree in the corner of the living room. Jack found a couple of crystal tumblers and joined Ducky and his bottle of brandy by the fire. The rest of the team gathered around snacking, talking, and enjoying just being able to spend time together since they couldn't be with their families.

At 1600, Ziva walked into the kitchen to find Tony busy assembling two huge pans of lasagna and cleared her throat. "Tony, I want to apologize for my … behavior recently. I did not know that you were in a serious relationship with anyone, especially not with Gibbs. McGee told me that you were not interested in me and I should have listened to him. I am sorry."

Tony leaned against the counter while wiping his hands on a towel and said, "It's okay, Ziva. Look, I should have told you earlier, but Gibbs and I weren't ready to tell anyone. I'm sorry we kept it from you so long." Ziva smiled and kissed his cheek before turning to leave the kitchen. She turned back when Tony called out to her, "Hey Ziva, Happy Hanukah."

"Merry Christmas to you, Tony," she replied with a chuckle before joining the others in the adjacent dining room.

After dinner was finished and the kitchen was sufficiently cleaned up, everyone gathered in the living room and staked out a spot for the gift exchange. In addition to food, everyone brought gifts which they had placed under the large Christmas tree. Abby donned her elf hat and soon hugs, handshakes and thank yous filled the room as gifts were opened. Tony and Gibbs held most of their gifts to each other back wanting to open them later when they were alone.

Tony grinned at Gibbs and said, "I got something for you." Tony stood up from his seat next to Gibbs on the couch and smacked McGee on the back of the head as he walked past him. "Let's go Probie." McGee glared at Tony but stood from his spot on the floor next to Abby and dutifully followed him out to the garage. A few minutes later Tony and McGee wheeled a huge Craftsman snow blower adorned with a big red bow and tinsel into the living room.

Gibbs laughed before kissing Tony, who looked way too pleased with himself. "Thank you, Tony," Gibbs said as he wiped tears of laughter from his eyes. He then smirked knowingly at Tony, who narrowed his eyes wondering what Gibbs was up to. "Abby! You're up," Gibbs called out still smirking and never taking his eyes off of Tony's.

Abby squealed with delight and ran up the stairs, returning a couple of minutes later with a box. She very carefully placed the box at Tony's feet and said, "Merry Christmas, Tony. Gibbs said this was something you always wanted when you were little but never got. He asked for my help, and … well go on Tony, open it!" Abby was bouncing in place as Tony looked at the lid of the box that had a dozen or so holes in it.

Tony slowly and carefully removed the lid and gaped in shock before letting out a barely audible, "Oh … my … God! Jethro, you didn't?" Tony looked up to see Gibbs smiling at him with the one smile that was reserved just for him. Gibbs nodded toward the box, so Tony bent down and pulled a 10-week old tri-colored Beagle puppy from the box, which he held up for everyone to see.

A chorus of "Awwws" filled the room as Tony hugged the puppy to his chest. He walked slowly over to Gibbs and looked at him through tear-filled eyes before placing a loving kiss on his lips. "Jethro, thank you! How did you know," he asked softly as the puppy licked his chin.

"You mentioned it once … a long time ago. I just remembered it the other day. Abby helped me find him. She called a few friends and located him at a shelter. That's where I was last Saturday morning. I had to go fill out the adoption papers," Gibbs said proudly; this was a gift over thirty years in the making.

It was 2200 when the team finally called it a night after helping to fill a trash bag with discarded wrapping paper while suggesting names for Tony's puppy. It took several trips to get everyone's gifts into their respective cars, and after a last round of hugs, handshakes and thank yous, Gibbs shut the front door leaving just him, Tony, Jack and a still unnamed Beagle.

Jack got up out of Gibbs's recliner and bid Tony and Gibbs good night. He was worn out from the excitement of the day, not to mention the two large tumblers of Ducky's brandy. He stopped in front of them at the bottom of the stairs and as he tickled the puppy under the chin he said, "Merry Christmas boys."

Once they were alone Gibbs and Tony took the puppy out to the back yard, apparently just in the nick of time. As soon as Tony sat him down in the snow-covered grass he answered nature's call leaving a decidedly yellow patch of snow, which he tried to cover with fresh snow. When they came back inside, the puppy curled up on a blanket next to Tony as Tony and Gibbs exchanged their gifts. In addition to the snow blower, Tony got Gibbs a rare set of antique chisels, several designer shirts, ties and belts, all of which earned him a mock glare and an eye roll, a customary bottle of Jack Daniels, and to Gibbs's utter astonishment two tickets and an all-expenses paid trip for two to the Daytona 500 in February.

Tony opened a large box to find it full of dog supplies: collar, leash, toys, food and water dish, and a bag of puppy food. Tony took a few minutes to fill the food and water dish while Gibbs put the puppy's collar on him. Along with the puppy, Gibbs gave Tony six movie passes to his favorite theater, a one-eighth scale remote control Magnum PI Ferrari that McGee had helped him find online, and a mid-length black leather jacket Abby helped him pick out, but it was the last gift that Gibbs was nervous about giving him.

Gibbs stood and took a deep breath before retrieving a small white box with a tiny green bow on it from its hiding place inside of a pewter Marine Corp commemorative stein on the fireplace mantle and grinned at the shocked look on Tony's face. "If you're expecting a diamond engagement ring I'm afraid you are going to be disappointed," Gibbs chuckled as he handed the box to Tony.

Tony snorted but smiled as he removed the lid to find a key attached to a 24-carat gold engraved keychain.

"Gibbs?" Tony asked cautiously as he took it out of the box. "Is this what I think it is?"

Gibbs shrugged and said, "Read the inscriptions and find out."

Tony was overwhelmed by the keychain on which was engraved, "Tony & Jethro" on one side, and "Key to My Heart and Our Home" on the other.

"Jethro, I don't know what to say. This is … oh my God, are you sure?" Tony looked up and into the blue eyes he adored and saw love shining in them.

Gibbs stood and pulled Tony to his feet holding onto both of his hands and said, "Yes I'm sure. Tony, will you move in with me … officially? The only time this house ever feels like a home is when you're here. We can remodel or redecorate or whatever you want to do to this place. I've already signed a deed transferring the title to both of us. Tony, I want this to be your home and our home. Whadya say?"

Tony answered by throwing his arms around Gibbs's neck and kissing him soundly. "Yes, yes, yes …" Tony declared as he peppered Gibbs with kisses until he was interrupted by a series of excited yips, growls and barks. They both looked down to see Tony's puppy wagging his tail as he ran circles around them while barking his apparent approval.

"I think Probie the Dog agrees," Tony said with a laugh before claiming Gibbs's lips once again.

"I agree too." Surprised by the voice coming from behind them, Tony and Gibbs turned to find a teary-eyed but grinning Jack shuffling toward them. He patted a smiling Gibbs on the shoulder and pulled Tony into a hug. "This is where you belong, Tony. Welcome home, Son."

"HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!"