"Clear liquid diet for 24 hours?" Tony exclaimed from the back seat as he read over the home care for concussions. "It's freaking Christmas Eve! There's good food to be eaten!"

"Not all concussions are the same, DiNozzo," Gibbs said from the front passenger seat. "Never had a problem eating after a concussion before."

"Of course, you realize coffee isn't food, right, Gibbs?" Abby verified from beside Tony.

"No alcohol!" Tony hit the paper with his fingers. "You just had to go shopping, didn't you..."

"I can do without the booze for a day," Gibbs admitted. "Maybe not over-indulge on dinner tonight."

"We'll do it tomorrow," Tony said. "There's no rule sayin' we've gotta do a big dinner on Christmas Eve. Besides, I didn't get a chance to finish makin' the cookies. Cookies are an essential part of Christmas Eve. I'm gonna need to oven for that this evening."

"Cookies are essential for Christmas Eve?" McGee asked.

"Of course they are, Probie," Tony scoffed. "When have you not had cookies on Christmas Eve night?"

"Specifically, that I can recall? When I went home for Christmas break during my freshman year in college. Sarah gave me the stomach flu and I was sick up until the day before I had to go back."

"Aww." Abby petted Tim's head, and he just rolled his eyes.

"Speakin' of going home for Christmas break," Tony said. "What happened that made you change your plans this weekend?"

McGee hesitated to answer, but was saved, suddenly, by Abby's outburst, "Oh my god! Ducky!"

"What?" Tony turned to her, and then came to sudden revelation. "OH my god... I'll call him." He pulled out his cell.

"What?" Tim asked with concern. "What's wrong with Ducky?"

"Nothing!" Abby supplied. "But I called him to come to the hospital and I'm guessing he got caught in traffic. He could be at Bethesda right now, having a nervous breakdown!"

"Ducky!" Tony spoke into his phone.

"I've just now pulled in to Bethesda, Anthony. I'm sorry; there was an accident and it backed up the entire bloody road here. I say, what I wouldn't give, sometimes, for one of those devices on the Inspector Gadget mobile-"

"Ducky, Gibbs is fine. I should've called sooner, I know... But we're on our way back to his place, now."

"Discharged already? Dare I ask if he signed himself out AMA?"

"No, actually. He lived up to his superhero status and walked away with a scrape to the head...and a mild concussion."

"Well...that's a relief," Ducky let out a long breath. "From what Abigail told me, the car was crushed in and you both feared the worst."

"Yeah, we did for a while," Tony said in a lower voice. "Sorry I didn't call you sooner, Ducky. I know it had to be a bitch getting through that traffic."

"I'd have been stuck, either way, my boy. I'll come by Jethro's house in a bit. Anything he needs, specifically?"

"Think we're all set, but yeah; come by. I'm sure he'd like that."

11 00 11 00 11

Gibbs and Tony waved Abby and McGee goodbye as they drove off to pick up Abby's abandoned car. Tony turned toward the house, glancing at Gibbs as he did the same. And he was glad he had, because in that moment, Gibbs began to waver a bit in his stance.

"Whoa there, boss!" Tony was plastered against his side to support him in a heart beat, throwing Gibbs arm around his shoulder. "Steady as she goes," he said with a smirk.

"Must be the pain meds," Gibbs said as they began their walk toward the front door.

"Must be the gigantic Dodge Ram that lived up to its name by making lunch meat outta your car."

Gibbs frowned. "How bad?" he asked.

Tony swallowed at the question. Gibbs loved that car... It could quite possible break the man's heart if he saw it that way. "Don't worry about that right now."

"That bad, huh?" Gibbs opened the door and stepped inside as Tony made sure he wasn't going to fall over from lack of his support.

"I'm sure it can be fixed," Tony told him.

"Leroy? That you?" Jackson's voice sounded from the kitchen.

"Yeah, Dad," he replied. Tony glanced, confused, at Gibbs, before Jackson came out into the living room where they now stood.

He pulled his son into an embrace, "Glad you're alright. Tim wouldn't tell me much of what happened, for my own sake, I'm sure. But he said we were headed to the hospital to see you and I didn't know what to think." He pulled away and Gibbs squeezed the man's shoulder.

"I'm alright," he told him. "Car's not doin' so well, though," he said apologetically.

"Car's a car. Can't replace my boy," he said as he gave him a soft smile and a pat on the arm, then looked to Tony, who still seemed a bit shocked to see him. "Good to see ya, Tony!" It was the senior field agent's turn for a hug. "I'm sorry to hear about your old man, kiddo."

"Thanks, Jack," he replied as the older man pulled away. "I had no idea you were gonna be here..."

"It's Christmas," he replied.

"Yeah, but I was under the impression there were no plans, here." He raised a brow at his boss.

"At the time, there wasn't," Gibbs replied simply.

Tbc...