Secret Santa

by Caf-Pow

Post Judgement Day with a twist, Gibbs called Jenny sooner, she survived the Diner shoot out, Vance never became director and only two people know the truth about Le Grenouille.

For A'serene.


Abby grinned widely her jaw dropping as Jenny told her the plan she had devised for the Christmas party, 'wow, I'll do it but ... you're really going to do it?' she asked incredulously. Jenny nodded, 'Yep, as it's Christmas,' she sighed, Abby jumped over to her and hugged her, 'I'm gonna help you and I'm going to make it the best Christmas ever.'

Abby bounced to the door and turned around her eyes wide, 'what size are you?' Jenny stared at her, 'why?' Abby grinned, 'don't worry, I'll guess, a 10?' Jenny watched with narrowed eyes as the younger woman closed her office door behind her. Jenny looked down at the files littering her desk and sighed, work doesn't just stop because its Christmas, her door popped open, 'Have you got your secret santa present yet? We're exchanging gifts tomorrow,' Jenny rolled her eyes, 'Yes Abs I have.'

Abby bounced down the stairs and into the bullpen, Gibbs was no where to be seen, 'Hey guys, I need your help with something,' she looked left to right and then at the elevator doors, 'be at my place at 8, make sure you're not followed,' she looked around her as if expecting someone to be eaves dropping, she scurried off to the elevator and bumped into Gibbs as he stepped out, 'Oh, Gibbs, didn't expect to see you here,' she breathed at top speed, he passed her the cafpow in his hand and gave her a quizzical look, 'something you're not telling me Abs, it's about the secret Santa so I can't tell you.'

Gibbs nodded and stepped aside allowing Abby to enter the elevator, she smiled as she pressed the button for her lab and waved as the doors closed in front of her. She spent the next few hours browsing the net desperately searching for what she needed, when her phone rang signaling it was 6pm she jumped up and grabbed her things before flying out of the building and into her car.

She hurried around the shops open late for Christmas shopping buying several huge rolls of wrapping paper and masses of ribbon, she headed home to wait for the others to arrive. As she stared at the paper she realized there was something missing, she picked up her phone and hit the first speed dial, 'Gibbs,' 'Gibbs I need you to do me a favour,' she asked in her sweetest tone.

She put the phone down gleefully, everything was prepared. At 8pm her doorbell rang and she hurried to let the others in, 'Come in, come in, its so exciting, I have some amazing news and I have the most brilliant plan ever, but I need your help to make it work.'

Twas the night before Christmas!

Gibbs pulled into the parking lot outside NCIS headquarters with the 'favour' he had done for Abby, he'd been up all night working on it! He slipped out of his pick-up and stomped across the snow covered concrete until he reached the door, he headed inside and groaned at the decorations, Abby must have had something to do with the 6ft stand alone Santa's and reindeer and elves, and the fake snow, and the 8ft tree.

Great, cheesy Christmas tunes, I wish it could be Christmas every day, was blaring out from huge speakers by the stage, he frowned as he trudged over to Ducky, 'Ah Jethro, try to enjoy yourself, for Abby,' the older man told him, Gibbs nodded and pulled his coat off. He could be cheery for one evening then he could go back to his house and sand his boat all day and night listening to his favourite tape, alone and in the quiet, just how he liked it, alone with his memories.

Abby jumped onto the stage in a short santa outfit with a little shawl around her shoulders and black ankle boots, 'Now that everyone is here we're gonna start out festivities with our Christmas Karaoke bonanza! Starting with the T-men singing Last Christmas!' She whooped and ran off the stage as Tony and Tim shuffled on 'the T-men?' Gibbs repeated, 'you know how over excited Abby gets,' Ducky took a sip from his eggnog and turned to watch his team make fools of themselves.

He did have to admit though, Tony could sing, Tim was trying but he was nothing compared to Tony, they sang their way through the song with many delighted cat calls from the females of the agency as Tony wiggled his hips during the instrumental and performed some other rather unorthodox dance moves. Gasping for breath after the music finished he lifted his mike to his mouth and spoke, 'next we have the girls performing Santa Baby,' he hurried off stage as Abby and Ziva appeared, Ziva was obviously very uncomfortable in her tiny santa outfit.

Gibbs was horrified at Abby and Ziva's pouting and hip wiggling as they asked Santa for a blue convertible, checks and a ring, he was very glad by the time they finished singing and then had to wonder what was coming next. Ziva announced the next act, 'Put your hands together for Duck man and the autopsy gremlin performing Frosty the Snowman.'

He knew his friend could sing but the sight of Palmer singing, 'frosty the snowman, happy happy snowman, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha,' in a silly voice caused him to snort into his bourbon. This is why he had been asked to sing, Abby appeared in front of him and grabbed his arm, 'you're next!' She dragged him towards the back of the stage and behind some curtains.

He heard Frosty finish and then Ducky's voice announcing him to the stage, he cursed under his breath and found himself being forced into a knitted sweater, 'oh Abby,' he moaned, 'go on, sing like you've never sung before,' she patted him on the back and shoved him up the stairs. He stepped onto the stage and Palmer passed him a microphone, he frowned and Palmer hurried away.

He sighed as the music started and decided to ignore the bunch of drunken colleagues watching him make an idiot of himself. He sang smoothly and noticed Abby grinning up at him, 'but as long as you love me so, let it snow, let it snow, and snow,' he sang to her, her smile made him smile and he allowed himself to relax into the song. He spotted a flash of red hair from the corner of his eye and glanced around, maybe he imagined it. He tried to do a little tap dance in the instrumental and heard a familiar wolf whistle from behind him, he grinned as he finished the song and bowed to the whooping audience, Abby was going to go without cafpows for a month for this.

He hurriedly exited stage right and shot round to Ducky and Palmer, 'I didn't know you could sing like that Jethro,' 'man of many talents,' he muttered searching for alcohol. As his back was turned he heard a familiar voice introducing the next song, he turned around confused, 'Tim,' 'Apparently all someone wants for Christmas is you,' he told the audience and slipped off the stage. Gibbs watched waiting to see who would appear next it was the last thing he expected.

'I don't want a lot for Christmas, there is just one thing I need,' he knew that voice, it couldn't be, could it? 'I don't care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree, I just want you for my own, more than you could ever know, make my wish come true, all I want for Christmas is you.' A pair of shiny knee high boots, fluffy topped boots none the less, a pair of familiar toned legs, a very short red, white fur trimmed dress, a black belt, a strapless dress! Bare shoulders and red curls, topped with bauble earrings and a Santa hat perched jauntily on her head.

He stared mesmerized as four others appeared behind her and became her backing singers, he rolled his eyes at Tony, Tim, Ziva and Abby singing, 'And I,' in unison, all grinning from ear to ear as Jenny performed on stage. He suddenly realised every time she sang 'you' she looked directly at him, as his eyes widened her smile grew bigger, he wondered how much alcohol she had consumed before getting up on that stage.

He chuckled as he remembered a Christmas quite a few years back when she had performed a rather raunchy dance to this song dressed only in red bra and panties in their bedroom. Her face lit up at his chuckle, he remembered, she plucked up the courage for the end of the song and as she sang the final, 'All I want for Christmas is you,' she pointed at him, then bottling it she panicked and started pointing at her backing singers and Ducky and Cynthia and everyone else in the room.

As the next sucker hopped on stage to take their turn Gibbs tried to hide behind the tree, Abby was looking for him with that determined look on her face. 'I wonder if this tree sings if I poke it?' she asked poking him in the stomach, 'Oh, I'm the happiest Christmas tree, ho ho ho, he he he,' he sang quickly before poking his head out. 'Abs,' 'that is so cool, a singing Christmas tree!' Abby started trying to poke his face and squeeze his hand, 'what are you doing?' 'Seeing if you change tune,' 'Abby!'

Abby sulked as she turned away, she froze for a second and turned back to him grinning, he watched her as she ran off with that look in her eye, she was up to something. He sneaked over to the bar and ordered a shot of bourbon; he downed it in one gulp before ordering a second. 'Take it easy, you've got all night, they're not going to run out Jethro, bourbon on the rocks please,' he glanced at the vision smiling at the barman beside her.

Her lipstick glistened in the light and her eyes shone with each passing movement of the glitterball above them. 'I wouldn't be so sure, not with the dutch courage you consumed,' Jenny smiled and knocked her bourbon back as quickly as Jethro. 'No dutch courage needed here,' 'so you'd tell me all you want for Christmas is me sober?' She stared at him, he stared back, neither willing to back down and break eye contact first.

'Look up!' both turned to the side together and saw Abby, Tony, Ziva and McGee grinning, Abby was holding a pole in both hands. They followed it up above their heads and both groaned in unison when they saw the huge sprig of mistletoe attached to the end. 'No,' Jenny stated before ordering another drink, Gibbs shook his head smiling, 'not a chance,' he turned to the barman serving Jenny again, 'make hers a double and i'll have the same,' 'not trying to get me drunk are you Jethro?' 'you're doing a pretty good job of that yourself Jen.'

She glared at him taking a sip of her drink, 'oh mistletoe,' her face became stony as she heard the voice behind her, 'it won't work Duck,' she heard Gibbs tell his friend. 'oh, it's Christmas tradition, i'm sure the others would participate,' Jenny turned around at the murmurs of assent. 'Go on then,' their faces fell. Tony and Ziva looked at each other mortified, McGee looked like he might faint and Abby turned pale, if that was possible.

Jenny smirked, 'i'll do it, if you lot do it,' 'sounds like a plan,' Tony grinned and dragged Ziva underneath the mistletoe, he placed a big sloppy kiss over her mouth, she shoved him away 'urgh,' 'next!' Tony chanted snatching the mistletoe and hanging it over McGee and Abby, 'go on McGeek,' McGee looked nervously at Abby's pursed lips and closed eyes, he leaned in a gave her a quick and gentle kiss on the lips.

'Now it's the bosses turn,' Gibbs looked at them halfway through eating something from the buffet bar, 'I didn't agree to anything,' he continued to ignore them and eat other snacks from the bar. 'I tried,' Jenny smirked turning back to the bar; she picked up her drink and took another swallow. Someone tapped her on the shoulder, she felt a familiar thumb brush her jaw as she was pulled towards his lips.

It might only have been for a second but it felt like a life time, she felt his tongue slip between her teeth and touch her tongue, before she knew it there was an unwanted visitor to her mouth and he had pulled away. She shut her mouth quickly and glared at him, 'Director Shepard,' her eyes widened in horror for a split second before she turned and smiled with her lips firmly pressed together.

She nodded and smiled as her Deputy Director Vance introduced his wife and the Deputy director of the FBI, why was he here? She continued her nodding and not speaking until they moved away. She turned back to Gibbs and glared at him, he smirked, 'something wrong Jen,' she pulled a face as she swallowed and narrowed her eyes at him, 'you did that on purpose,' 'I didn't know I wouldn't like the hors d'oeuvres.'

'Yes you did, you don't like pesto,' she snapped before storming off, Gibbs smiled behind her; 'it's not remotely funny Jethro.' He held his hands up in front of him, 'looks like I'm in the dog house,' Jenny sighed in frustration as his voice reached her ears. 'How much have you drunk?' She asked not facing him, 'not much sugar,' 'you're making jokes and calling me sugar, you've drunk too much,' 'i'm getting in the Christmas spirit,' 'or a hangover.'

Gibbs took another swig of his drink before turning and almost knocking Jenny over, 'woah boss, don't wanna end up in a controversial position on the floor with the director now do you?' 'Nah,' he replied nodding with a surreal and very un Gibbs expression on his face, 'let's get you home boss,' 'okay,' Tony rolled his eyes at Gibbs and grinned, 'lets see him live this one down, i'll take him home then I think i'll head home too, you never know what me might be called out to tomorrow.'

Jenny nodded, 'get him home safe,' Tony nodded 'I will, McGeek give me a hand,' Tim took some of Gibbs weight and helped Tony lead him from the room, Abby and Ziva said their goodbyes and headed home too. Jenny hovered between the bar and the buffet table, snacking and drinking and talking to whoever spoke to her, how ever much she wanted to leave she knew she was stuck there until the end.

Finally the last song was over and she was able to grab her bag and coat and head home as fast as she could. She locked her front door behind her and threw her coat on the hook, she headed upstairs and changed into warm pyjamas and pulled her fleece blanket around her shoulders. She headed down into her kitchen and made herself a cup of cocoa before heading into her lounge to get a book.

She stared at the box beside her tree, she didn't have a tree yet there it was, 7ft tall and decorated beautifully, there was also a box roughly 4ft by 4ft by 4ft, covered in wrapping paper with thick ribbon tied in a bow around it. She stared at it confused, how did it get there? She walked over to it and looked at the tag, 'To Jenny, Merry Christmas, love Tony, Tim, Abby, Ziva and Ducky.' She shook her head and decided not to try to imagine how they got the tree and present into her house, she grabbed her cocoa and book and headed up to bed.

And the bells are ringing out for Christmas Day...

Jenny woke up curled in a ball under the covers, she could tell it was light outside but didn't want to move. Eventually the need to pee and get coffee triumphed over her love of her bed; she crawled out from between the sheets and headed to the bathroom before going downstairs to make coffee. She looked at the box and was suddenly intrigued by it, she sneaked over to it as if someone was watching her and looked at the tag again, 'It's exactly what you wanted,' was scrawled on it beside the message.

She bit her lip as she ran her fingers around the top edge; she felt a lid underneath the paper and carefully untied the ribbon. She licked her lips nervously as she felt the edge beneath her fingers and lifted it gently, tearing the paper as she did so. She lifted the lid up and peered inside; she saw two eyes looking back up at her.

She dropped the lid in fright and jumped backwards, hearing a sigh she stepped forward again and looked inside, yep he really was in there; he really was her Christmas present. 'Morning Jethro,' she whispered still not sure if it was real or not, 'Morning Jen,' he muttered pushing himself up and helping her remove the lid. He looked down at the box and shook his head, 'locked inside my own handiwork.'

'Then it's all your own fault,' she grinned looking inside the box, 'someone thought of everything in there,' Gibbs nodded, 'blankets, pillows, 2 litre soda bottle to pee in, a bottle of water, all the home comforts.' Jenny laughed, 'Abby,' Gibbs agreed. 'You think they were trying to tell us something?' 'Mommy and daddy should be together?' Gibbs stared at her, 'that what you want?' Jenny looked away, last time she had shown any kind of feelings for him he had politely declined and walked out of her house.

'Maybe this time I shouldn't take no for an answer,' he whispered, stepping out of the box and placing a hand on her shoulder. It was the first physical contact they had had in years and it took her breath away, just to know it was him stroking her shoulder with his thumb. She felt his lips brush against her neck and found her eyes fluttering closed; she could feel his breath tickling her skin and his body pressing against hers.

'You were singing to me last night weren't you Jen,' he whispered behind her ear, she hesitated for a second; terrified she might say the wrong thing. 'Very astute of you,' he smiled as he kissed her neck gently, 'you didn't mean it when you said no off the job did you? It would be such a shame,' he removed his lips from her neck and leaned back for a second.

'No, I was just doing what was....' 'Best for you, I know, shall we try it again?' he turned her around and looked into her eyes. 'I missed you Jen,' she smiled slightly, 'I missed you too,' he leaned down and stroked her chin with his thumb before pressing his lips to her cheek, jaw and finally her mouth.

He ran his tongue between her lips as she parted them and ran his hands over her breasts and down to her buttocks, she forced her tongue past his and grabbed the waist band of his jeans. Gasping for breath they parted for a second, their eyes locked, the fear and lust evident to both. Gibbs suddenly looked at the box and frowned, he pulled a tiny disc from the wood and held it up at eye level, 'Get all that you lot?' he growled angrily.

Jenny pursed her lips, seconds later there was a knock on her door, the team stood sheepishly in her porch. Jenny and Gibbs had identical expressions as they stared out of the door, 'hi, er we, er, um, er, it was Abby's idea,' Tony stepped back quickly and pushed Abby into the fore. She grinned, 'you did ask for him for Christmas,' she pulled her most innocent face. 'I didn't ask you to take advantage and lock him in a box,' 'technically it was drug him and lock him in a box,' Ziva piped up, Tony glared at her.

'Drug? You drugged me!' Gibbs was fuming, 'you drug me, stuff me in a box and spy on me!' 'We were spying on the director really,' 'oh and that's supposed to be so much better?' Abby nodded, 'we wanted to see if she liked her present and judging by that lipstick smudge all over your face, she loved it.' Gibbs raised his hand threatening to slap the back of her head, 'well now you know, get out,' he pointed to the road.

Tony, Tim, Ziva, and Abby smiled as they walked away from the house, the door closed behind them muffling the giggling, Abby grinned, 'a job well done.' Tony smiled as they climbed back into their makeshift surveillance van, 'I wonder if he knows about the camera on his sweater?' 'No Tony don't even think about it, they'd kill you!' 'Not even a little peek?' 'No!' 'Partypoopers.'