Title: The tradition. Author: SA3466996. Rating: T, PG-13. Category: Friendship. Genre: Gen. Pairing: None. Character(s): DiNozzo (mentions Gibbs). Summary: Tony liked Christmas traditions. Spoilers: References to S2.22 SWAK. Disclaimer: NCIS characters belong to Bellisario, CBS and Paramount. No copyright infringement intended.
AN: Based on 'Telephone and rubber band' by The Penguin Cafe Orchestra (3:55). The music was used in a telephone advert in the UK and also featured in the film 'Talk Radio' if anyone is interested. 285 words.
Tony had been stuck on the end of the phone for 45 minutes, trying to order Gibbs's Christmas present. He couldn't use Amazon or the internet anymore – not since some unfortunate soul had arranged for a mechanical purring black and white cat to be delivered to the office instead of his home. Wow... the security alert that had caused at the front desk when the neatly wrapped, previously inconspicuous, brown cardboard box had suddenly started purring.
Hmm, internet shopping was definitely out now that Amazon was on the list of blocked sites. So here he was, stuck on the end of a phone, ringing a 24 hour hotline, trying to order a box of honey dust. And it had to be delivered to his home address. He already had the plane and, of course, the customary bottle of Jack that he gave Gibbs annually. They were wrapped and ready to go. The honey dust he gave as a joke. He'd done it every year since he found out that he, or the postal service, had managed to mix up his ex girlfriend's Christmas present with Gibbs's bottle of Jack a few years back. It had become an unspoken rule; a custom to be observed at Christmas time. Gibbs was consistent too. Tony always got the same in return. A DVD followed by a gentle slap to the back of the head, a genuine smile from Gibbs, and a 'Merry Christmas, DiNozzo!' It was tradition; something he'd learned to appreciate.
Which was why he was where he was now; still stuck at work, hanging on the end of the phone waiting for the...
"Thank you for holding. All our customer reps are busy at the moment..."