NCIS Christmas Carol

by ilovenascar

for Jennyngibbsbelong2getha

Jethro Gibbs watched as the all-so-familiar redhead got on the elevator and then stopped it between floors. "Jen…"

"The team, your team, is having a holiday party tonight at my house. You are invited. And you WILL be there," Jennifer Shepherd said in her best 'director' voice. "So suck it up and have a good time. Don't spoil it for them."

"I'm not coming, Jen."

"You'll be there. Seven-thirty sharp. In a suit and tie. I know you own them; I've seen you in them from time to time. And your Secret Santa person is Tony, so I suggest you start shopping now." She pressed the button to make the elevator start moving again, folding her arms, a sure sign that the conversation, as she saw it, was over.

"The hell I will," Gibbs said as the elevator stopped and he got off.

"Why don't you just say Bah Humbug, Jethro, and get it over with?!?" Jenny called after him, causing people to turn around and stare. "What?" She turned around and went back upstairs.

He groused all the way to his truck. "Who the hell does she think she is? Just because she's my boss, doesn't mean she's my boss…Come to think of it, she always did this. Heaven forbid I should try to tell her what to do, she gives me that 'go to hell' icy glare…unless of course she wants me to tell her and then I never seem to tell her the right thing…" He slammed the door to his pickup and drove off.

The roads were slushy from snow and ice and he was ticked off beyond belief, not a good combination. He went home the long way to avoid the traffic at the mall and stopped short, seeing kids on their sled.

"What are they doing out here unsupervised?" He would have never let Kelly do such a thing and things were easier back then, simpler.

Distracted, he missed the patch of ice that sent him off his course, straight into the immovable object of a tree.

"Gibbs." He heard a voice, familiar although he hadn't heard it in awhile, of one of the women in his life. It wasn't Shannon, wasn't Jenny or Ziva, and then he recognized the smell of the perfume.

"Katie." He opened his eyes to look at the woman who had been one of his favorite agents, one of only two female partners. "I must be going crazy."

"No more than usual," she said with the same friendly smile she'd always given him. "You hit a tree. You have to stay here for awhile."

Gibbs tried to clear his mind. "The kids. Are the kids okay?"

She nodded. "One of them went to tell his dad. Help should be here soon."

He looked into her eyes again, kind, friendly, sweet. He remembered how crazy Tony had been for her but, by the time he was ready, he'd waited too late. "Am I dead?"

She shook her head. "No. Not yet."

He groaned, not liking her answer. "Then why are you here? Why am I seeing you? You can't be here if I'm not dead."

"Make a girl feel welcome, why don't you?" She looked at the blood coming from his head and knew she had to hurry. "You know the story, A Christmas Carol?"

He nodded and regretted it, reaching up to feel the blood on his head. "Yeah. I used to watch the Disney version with Kelly every year."

"Let's just say I'm Marley." She kissed his forehead. "Make the right decisions, Gibbs. The team still needs you down here for awhile." She was silent for a little while. "Listen to your famous gut and make the right decisions. I know you can. We all have faith in you." She paused. "And tell Tony…tell him I hear him." As quickly as she appeared, she was gone.

Gibbs woke up when he heard sirens, causing his head to throb even worse. He could hear people talking outside, trying to open the door. "Call NCIS," he said, hoping they could hear him, that he didn't sound as weak as he thought. "Call NCIS."

When he woke again, he was on the ambulance and smelled another familiar perfume, one that brought tears to his eyes. He didn't even have to open them up to know who was sitting beside him. "Shannon."

"I'm here, Jethro. I'm here." She touched his forehead with her fingers.

"Am I dead yet?"

She closed her eyes and then opened them again. "Not yet."

"Then you must be part of that Christmas Carol thing Kate was talking about. I remember everything. You don't have to show me."

"Do you remember or do you REMEMBER?"

He groaned. "I'm too tired for double talk, honey."

"Then watch…and listen."

Within an instant, he found himself transported back to Pennsylvania, riding on a sled made out of one of his mother's favorite cookie sheets. They had a real Christmas tree and his dad had allowed him to cut down one for himself as well. He remembered the jean jacket he'd worn that looked exactly like his father's. At that stage, he would have given anything to be exactly like Jackson Gibbs. He remembered his mother baking for weeks on end, taking dishes to the church for the poor people in the area, pies she sold in the store to get 'her own' Christmas money, and sugar cookies sprinkled with cinnamon on top. Most of all, he remembered the warmth from the old-fashioned wood fireplace they kept going all winter long. That scent had always reminded him of home.

Holding hands, he then found himself and Shannon outside base housing. Inside the house, he saw himself putting the star on a tree that wasn't as tall as he was, decorated with homemade ornaments and popcorn. The house was old, but the repairs were done to make his family safe and warm. Shannon was sitting in the rocking chair he'd made for Christmas but given her ahead of time, rocking Kelly who was bundled in a blanket his mother had made to keep her warm. Money had been tight, but there were presents under the tree, mostly homemade like the piece he'd made to replace her nativity scene that had gotten broken in their latest move, and there was food on the table. They were all there, safe and alive; even then, he hadn't understood how special that was.

"Okay, I get it," Gibbs said, turning to look at his wife, moving hair from her face. "What's the point?"

"The point is that just because Kelly and I are gone, you've used it as an excuse to push any family away from you. Your dad, your team, Jenny…"

He frowned. "You know about Jenny?" He wasn't sure if that was good or bad.

Her only answer was to transport him one final place, a small apartment in Paris. There were candles in the window and all around the room. There wasn't much furniture in the one room, a bed, a chair, and a small black and white tv. It wasn't the Ritz Carlton by any means, wasn't even traditional; they'd had steak and asparagus, drank wine, and opened one present a piece. He watched as he put the necklace around Jenny's neck, kissing her as he did so, remembering how happy he'd been then, not only that he was able to give her what she'd admired so much, but because for the first time since Shannon and Kelly, he had a home, had a family.

"She left that necklace on her pillow the night she left." Gibbs paused, his voice shaking. "I fell asleep and, when I woke up, she was gone. Left a letter and that necklace."

"She loved you, Jethro," Shannon said softly, touching his shoulder. "She still does."

"She has a heck of a way of showing it."

Shannon took a breath, her eyes connecting with his. "Why did you get married so many times?" He couldn't admit the reason, but he saw it in her eyes. "And the last one…Stephanie? Not only was she contending with my ghost, but Jenny's as well. Same with that Army woman."

"Are you saying I'm not an easy person to love?"

"No." She paused. "I'm saying that you're not over her. You have to learn from the past, Jethro, or you're doomed to make the same mistakes." She kissed his cheek and then she was gone.

"No, Shannon. Don't go. Not again," he whispered her name once more. "Shannon."

"Awake, talking. Pulse stronger, heartbeat more regulated." A medic covered Jethro with another blanket, seeing he was shaking, thinking it was from the cold, not seeing the tears of heartbreak running from his closed eyes. "He was in that truck for awhile."

"Five minutes ETA. We're almost there," said his partner from the front seat, taking a left turn to avoid some traffic.

"Did anyone call NCIS…whatever that is?" The first medic spoke again.

"A federal agency. They found a badge; evidently he's one of the agents. Someone's calling their director now," the second responded, his eyes still focused on the road.

"Jenny…" Gibbs whispered again, her name on his lips seeming to take some of the pain away.

He woke back up in the emergency room, doctors around him, Jenny next to him, holding his hand. "Jethro…" She whispered softly, bending down to kiss his forehead where he'd hit it during the crash.

"This is some more of that dream, isn't it?"

She nodded. "Afraid so."

"You know, I've been in a wreck, saw two dead women, and been dragged back in time against my wish. Can we get on with this?"

"You'll never learn."

Within a heartbeat, they were standing in Jenny's living room, a fire going in her fireplace, the smell of something Noemi had cooked sending waves of heaven through the room, and his team, plus Abby, talking as they drank some form of alcohol he couldn't discern through the glasses.

"See? I told you they wouldn't miss me," he said, turning to look at his partner. "And I'm not the only one who didn't come. Ducky's not here either."

"We'll get to that. Look closer, Jethro."

He studied his people, listening to what they had to say, the looks on their faces. "They're not having fun."

Jenny shook her head. "Ziva's father is in Tel Aviv, celebrating Hannukah with what's left of her family. Tony's mother is skiing in Aspen and he doesn't know where his dad and stepmother are. The only two women he cared anything about celebrating with won't be here; Jeanne's disappeared and Kate…This will be the only family holiday party they have…and their family's not all there."

He watched Abby who kept one eye on the door at all times. "He'll be here. I know it. I can feel it. He wouldn't stand us up. It's too important."

McGee looked at her. "Abs…"

"He's never come for a team party yet, Abby," Tony said softly. "And he told everyone, even the director, that he wouldn't be here." He paused, trying not to act too broken-hearted. He was the leader, the one everyone looked to when Gibbs wasn't there.

The spirit Jenny walked upstairs to her bedroom where Ducky was standing in the doorway, watching as Jenny put the last touches on wrapping a present. "I thought you had Ziva's all set," Ducky said quietly.

"I did." Jenny paused. "Jethro drew Tony's name. I didn't want him to end up with nothing."

Ducky nodded. "Who drew Jethro's name?"

"I'm not sure. I probably shouldn't have even included Gibbs in this. I just wanted…"

"Just wanted what, Jenny?" Ducky said, sitting on the edge of the bed to look into her eyes.

"It doesn't matter, Ducky." She paused. "Do you think John Wayne movies will be all right? DiNozzo loves movies and everyone ought to have a little of The Duke in their lives. Besides…Tony and I always said how much he reminds both of us of John Wayne."

Ducky knew Jenny wouldn't finish her sentence and just nodded. "I think he'll like them." They walked downstairs.

The phone was ringing as she walked by her office and, despite herself, she went to grab it. When Tony heard the phone clatter to the floor and the sound of a woman crying, he got up, hurrying to the office, the others following, to see Jenny sitting in her office chair, Ducky's hands on her shoulders, the phone receiver on Jenny's desk. Ziva walked to hang the phone up and Tony looked first at Jenny, then Ducky, and last Jenny again. "What?"

"Jethro's been in an accident," Ducky finally said.

Gibbs turned and looked at the spirit Jenny. "What was she about to say?" It sounded funny talking third person to Jenny about Jenny.

Jenny studied him, her eyes flashing. "You mean, you don't know?" Gibbs slowly shook his head. "She can have anything she wants in the world for Christmas, anything at all. She just wants you, the one thing she thinks she can't have."

There was a flash of light and then he woke up to Ducky standing beside his bed. "Okay, this is getting confusing. Are you Ducky or are you spirit Ducky?"

"Have you learned anything, Jethro?" Ducky asked, his eyes connecting with his friend's.

"Great. Another spirit." He paused. "Okay, let's get on with this. Show me what the future is. Maybe then I can get some sleep."

"With or without?" Ducky asked intensely, but cryptically.

"With or without what?" Gibbs asked, having the need to rub his forehead, but knowing it would hurt more than help.

"With or without?" Ducky asked again.

"Okay, without, I guess."

He was transported first to see glimpses of people, but in strange places. Tony was getting drunk in the small room of a Navy ship. Ziva was dressed in traditional Israeli garb, standing in a Tel Aviv synagogue between her father and a man Jethro didn't recognize who was obviously her husband. McGee was alone in his apartment, drinking and writing another novel. Ducky was sitting at home, all alone, no decorations of any kind, his mother or friends not to be seen. Abby was home in New Orleans with her parents and brother, signing away, but without laughter or even a smile.

"Where am I? Where's Jenny?" Gibbs asked, a sense of foreboding in his heart.

Finally, they were at a graveyard, like in the story, Ducky standing between two graves. "There's no Tiny Tim in my story, Duck," Gibbs said, wanting to walk away, but not being able to before he saw the dates on the two tombstones. "2008. That's next year."

Ducky nodded. "Jenny was killed in a standoff in California, trying to save your life. After her death, the new director split everyone up, sent Tony to a ship, Ziva back home, and McGee to computer crimes." He paused. "That was in May. You died in September. The official story was you died on a case, but, without your team, without Jenny, you took risks you shouldn't have in a firefight…"

Gibbs closed his eyes. "Jenny…dies?"

Ducky nodded. "Her last thoughts were of you; her last conversation was about how much she still loved you. But, yes, Jethro. She dies."

Gibbs felt himself reeling from the loss, the shock, feeling as if he were going to be sick. "You said there was another way, another scenario. What is it?"

He found himself in a house he didn't recognize, but he recognized the warmth from the fire as well as the people he was there with. Tony and Ziva were holding hands when they thought no one else was looking. Ducky and McGee watched smiling as Abby talked animatedly, a mile a minute, with a smile bigger than Texas. He watched as the future him brushed his lips against Jenny's hair, as red as ever, and wrapped his arm around her waist. He saw a little redheaded girl sleeping contently, the noise and chaos of her extended family part of her everyday life. The pictures on the mantle let him know that the little girl was his, his with Jenny, and that the house was their home, together. In the middle of all that, he felt a peace he'd thought could never happen again, a contentment and a love that made his eyes water.

I want this, Gibbs thought to himself. Dear God, I want this.

Gibbs felt a soft kiss on his forehead and smelled a familiar perfume, seeing the most beautiful woman in the world as he opened his eyes.

"Merry Christmas, Jethro," Jenny whispered, tears in her eyes, feeling exhausted and stiff from where she'd sat all night by his side.

"Is this a dream?" He asked slowly, pain and stiffness coming back to him in waves.

"No," she spoke softly, shaking her head. "You were in a wreck. You hit a tree, totaled your truck. You've been out for awhile." She took a breath, her voice shaking. "We weren't…we weren't sure you were going to make it there for awhile. You had us fooled pretty good this time."

He ran his hand up to her cheek. "Jenny, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

She closed her eyes, holding his hand to her cheek for a moment, and then opened them again. "Hey, never apologize, remember?"

Gibbs smiled, nodding, his eyes connecting her own. "The party. What about the party?"

"We hadn't started yet when I got the call. Everyone's been up here all night." No one had wanted to go home so they'd all spent the night sitting in hospital chairs, waiting. "We'll celebrate later. We have more to celebrate now."

"Hey, boss," Tony said from the doorway, poking his head inside, having come to check on Jenny again. "Welcome back."

"DiNozzo," Gibbs spoke. "I have to tell you…" He remembered Kate's words. "I talked to Kate."

Tony nodded, having no doubt that if his boss said he'd talked to Kate, he'd talked to her. "Oh, yeah?" He pretended his interest was a lot less than it was. "What'd she say?"

"She said to tell you she hears you." Jenny and Gibbs watched as Tony's face changed, making him seem a little younger than he had, less stressed. They couldn't know that Tony still talked to Kate when he was lonely or upset, couldn't know that he'd wondered if she could even hear him, if she even cared, and that those simple words made all the difference in his world.

Tony nodded, biting his lower lip. "Thanks, boss," he said, almost unheard, turning and leaving.

Jenny studied her partner. "What went on while you were away?"

Looking into her eyes, he told her the story, pausing at the end before asking, "Do you think I'm crazy?"

She shook her head. "No, Jethro. No more than usual anyway," she added a hint of teasing on the end.

"I want that…I want that Christmas. With you and our little girl and our people…" Gibbs paused. "I want to be a part of the Christmas party this year."

Jenny nodded. "Okay. I'll arrange everything." She bent down and kissed his forehead again. "You just rest." She went out into the hallway and, together with his family, formed a plan.

Despite what their plans might have been, Abby, McGee, Ducky, Tony, and Ziva were all standing in Jenny's living room when she helped Gibbs inside. As soon as they walked into the room, lights came on, from the fire, from the tree, from candles, enough that the whole room was illuminated without lights.

"Christmas," Gibbs spoke quietly, in awe.

"As long as you rest," Jenny said, mindful of what the doctors said. She'd seen his truck and she knew how lucky they had been, how close he had come to leaving them for good.

Gibbs sat in a chair, Jenny sitting beside him, the team forming a circle, Ducky bringing Gibbs and Jenny plates of the food the rest of them had been nibbling on as they waited. A mix Christmas CD was on in the background, containing everything from Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley singing old classics to the Chipmunks and some of the bands Abby liked.

"Tony, you want to play Santa?" Jenny asked quietly. Ordinarily, she would have suggested games or conversation first but Gibbs was still tired and stiff; she didn't want to make him stay up too much longer.

"My hat, please," Tony said, bowing slightly to Ziva, who put a Santa hat and beard attached with a string, after popping him with the string. "Ooh, someone's on my naughty list!" He gave her a mischievous grin and Jenny tried to stifle a laugh, watching as he continued to ham it up on his way to the tree, but then got serious again as he passed out the presents.

Ducky opened his first, some books that he'd been looking for, wanting to read, and a tape recorder. "I thought that you might want to write your own book one day," McGee started. "You've got so many stories…" He had no doubt that it would be a best-seller.

McGee looked inside his gift bag, finding CDs of familiar bands and a strip of pictures from one of those photo booths. He swallowed a lump in his throat, remembering the concerts he'd been to over the years with Abby and the day they'd taken the pictures. He wordlessly leaned over and kissed her cheek as she blushed.

Abby unwrapped a tiny box to see a beautiful Celtic moonstone necklace, looking at Gibbs and then at Ducky, not sure which one had known her well enough to know how beautiful she would think the piece. She saw the smile that Ducky was trying to hide, pleased with himself, seeing the grin of amazement on her face. She threw her arms around him, hugging him like a daughter would hug her father.

Tony took the movies out of the bag, seeing The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Rio Bravo, El Dorado, True Grit, and The Cowboys. Gibbs took a sideways look at Jenny who kept a straight face and he felt more than a little guilty that he hadn't gotten a gift for DiNozzo, but couldn't have picked a more perfect present for the younger agent, as addicted as he was to movies.

Gibbs didn't even have to unwrap his, the only gift items on his bottle of bourbon were a ribbon and nametag. "I noticed you were running out," Ziva said, not telling him the real reason, that she and Tony had seen the names they'd both drawn and consulted with each other to buy corresponding gifts.

Ziva opened hers and had to look away, her eyes connecting with Jenny's as she fought hard to keep the tears at bay. "They are perfect. Thank you." Only her friend would understand that, as much as she loved America, she missed the sights of her home as well. The photographs looked so real that it was almost as if she were looking out a window in Tel Aviv.

Jenny nodded. "I knew you had to have them." She could certainly understand being homesick. She opened her present, the last one of the group, to see two movies, a blanket, and popcorn.

"You don't already have those, do you?" Tony asked, looking at the DVDs of two movies he knew were Jenny's favorites.

Jenny shook her head. "No. I don't." Casablanca reminded her of her time in Paris, how she and Gibbs had watched the movie on the little black and white tv every time it came on. "Thanks, Tony."

They spent a few more hours, eating, talking, and laughing, until Gibbs could no longer keep his eyes open. The team split up and Jenny covered her partner with her new blanket, kissing his cheek. Tony and Ducky stayed to help her clean up and then left as Jenny stretched out on the sofa to get some sleep herself.

"Je t'aime, mon chéri. Joyeux Noël," she whispered before drifting off.