A/N: So this is the last Chapter. There is still the Epilogue left, but for now you have to put up with this. Enjoy reading and please review on your way out! =)

--- --- ---

Teach us to cheat and to lie, cover up
what shouldn't be shared?
All the truth unwinding
Scraping away at my mind…

Muse – Citizen Erased

Chapter XIII – Cursed and Blessed

"Hey Kate, come in." The blond woman greeted and stepped aside to let the redhead in. "Do you want a coffee or tea?"

"Hi, it is nice to see you Lauren." Kate replied and smiled at her friend. They decided to meet on the day before the Smiths went to Boston to meet the rest of their family, a reason which made Caitlin a little sad because she knew that she wouldn´t see her family this year. "Coffee would be good. Are the boys outside?"

"Yeah, they try to build an igloo, but they didn´t succeed yet." Lauren answered and put the baby monitor on the table when they entered the kitchen. The blond woman filled the coffee machine´s tank with water and a moment later it started brewing. "What are you planning for the holidays, are you going to visit your family too?"

"No. Jon hasn´t much family left besides a sister, but she is with her husband in Washington, meeting his family and most of my family moved back to Ireland two years ago, we go there every two years on Christmas and sometimes in summer." The former NCIS agent lied without batting an eyelid, but nevertheless she was feeling bad about it.

"Wow… I have never been to Europe in my whole live I only heard that Ireland has beautiful landscapes."

"Yeah there are some beautiful spots indeed, but my people live in Dublin so there isn´t much of this landscape. But we always get out of the city for at least one day." Caitlin explained and accepted the steaming mug with coffee. "Thanks."

The women chattered away for about an hour and when it was getting darker by the minute they decided to call the boys inside also because Kate wanted to get back home and fix dinner. "Have nice holidays see you in a few days."

"See you then, Lauren." Caitlin replied and hugged the blond woman before she took the five-year-old´s hand and the two went over to their own house.

"I´m soaked mommy, but we built a house of snow." The sandy-haired boy stated and sat down on the lowest step, slowly opening the wet laces of his boots. "I forgot the name… Gabe said it´s called something with `I´…"

"It´s called an igloo Brady." The red-haired said and took the boy´s wet clothes to dry them in the guest bathroom. "Do you want to help my fixing dinner when you changed or do you have homework left to do?"

"We did it with Lauren earlier." He answered and vanished into his room where Kate put fresh clothes on his bed. The child started changing when he heard the telephone ring, usually he could hear the redhead talking, but right now she shut the kitchen door so he wouldn´t hear her. He remembered his natural mother doing the same when she accepted important calls and he knew that he was supposed to stay in his room until she called him. Before she could call him he heard Gibbs say `Hello´ and he went downstairs.

"Hey daddy… We built an igloo in Gabe´s yard after school." He babbled excited and Jethro scooped him up, carrying the boy into the kitchen where they found Kate who was just putting the phone back in its cradle.

"That is great kiddo." The gray-haired man replied and kissed his `wife´ who looked a little upset. "What´s wrong?"

"They called…" She answered his question and emphasized the `they´. The older man immediately knew who was meant with `they´ and looked at her in surprise. Christmas was just two days ahead and they had everything arranged, not even thinking that the Marshals would call anytime soon. Caitlin just went over the little shock, which the housebreaking caused. They called the police the next day and they told them that it looked like a juvenile prank, since nothing was missing and nothing was out of place. "It is over, everything."

"So we can go back to Washington?" Gibbs asked, but it sounded more like a statement and Caitlin found two pairs of blue eyes looking back at her in question.

"We can go back home if we want." The redhead answered and nodded. Her thoughts were spinning this was what they were waiting for almost a year, but right now it somehow felt wrong or better just a little sudden.

"When can we go back?" The former Marine asked and loosened his tie.

"Whenever we want to tomorrow, next week or next year it doesn´t matter to them." Caitlin explained and pulled out a few items for their forgotten dinner. The rumble of Brady´s stomach brought it back to her mind and she knew also the older man was grateful for that reminder. "But I think we should at least stay here for the holidays, maybe leave here on 29th to be in Washington on New Year´s Eve."

"I don´t want to leave." Brady stated and turned so Gibbs had to let him down. As soon as his feet touched the ground the child ran out of the kitchen and the adults heard him race up the stairs. Finally he slammed the door of his room shut and the two just looked at each other.

"It just went too smooth…" Caitlin mumbled and was about to follow the boy, but Jethro stopped her gently.

"Give him some time. I´ll talk to him in a few minutes." The silver-haired man said and the redhead nodded leaning into his shoulder. "I think it´s the best if we are back in Washington on New Year´s Eve we celebrate here on our own and then pack our stuff."

"Yeah, I´m so glad we can go back, Jethro." He nodded and turned around to head for the five-year-old´s room. "Hey Brady can I come in?"

He opened the door a crack and peeked inside, seeing the boy sitting on his bed. When he finally nodded the gray-haired man strode into the room and sat down on the bed as well. "Why don´t you want to go back to Washington?"

"Because all my friends are here and I don´t know anyone in Washington that´s why I want to stay here." The five-year-old explained and Gibbs nodded. He had already assumed that this was the reason the boy wanted to stay here in the North.

"I really understand you Brady, but we can visit them here. You´ll find new cool friends in Washington too. Remember you didn´t know anybody here too, but now you have friends and it will be the same there." Jethro explained and watched the boy closely for any kind of reaction. "I promise that we´ll visit your friends here again, okay?"

"Yeah I guess that´s okay…" Brady replied and followed Jethro downstairs after a moment.

--- --- ---