For a moment, Tony thought maybe Gibbs had rearranged his plans so they could have a Gibbs-family Christmas; that he would have to go back to his place and once again be alone. But he realized, as he stood there in their presence, that they'd actually gotten together this year because of him. Maybe even for him.

"Hope ya don't mind that I started your cookies going," Jackson told Tony. "Once I knew Leroy was okay, I needed something to pass the time. Looks like you left here in quite a hurry..."

"Oh yeah," Tony grimaced. "Sorry 'bout the mess." He glanced back and forth between the two Gibbs'.

"What mess?" Jackson asked convincingly before they turned to go into the kitchen. Tony was pleasantly surprised to see that he'd actually cleaned up what chaos he and Abby had created earlier. Jackson winked at him and Tony gave him an appreciative smile.

11 00 11 00 11

Gibbs groaned as he entered back into consciousness, after having unknowingly fallen asleep on the couch. Every part of him ached worse then he could ever remember aching before. It was like he'd been hit by a...oh yeah...

"You okay, boss?" Tony's voice caused him to crack open his eyes and look over in the direction it came from. Gibbs tried to put on a brave face and sit up, but immediately regretted the action as the soreness only intensified, and he couldn't stifle the pained groan. Tony was at his side in a heartbeat. "Guess tryin' to brave through without the painkillers Ducky picked up for you wasn't the best idea you ever had," he said as he assisted him to sit up, then lean back against the cushion.

Gibbs only grunted in response as Tony sat on the coffee table and reached behind him to fetch the pills and bottle of water before handing the recommended dose to his boss. Gibbs took them without a fight and tried to relax back into the couch. "Time is it?" he asked.

"Almost midnight," Tony replied. "Your dad's in bed. Ducky went home about an hour ago."

"What're you still doin' up, then?"

"I was finishing up the cookies," he defended himself. "Gotta leave some out for jolly ol' Saint Nick, ya know." Gibbs let out a small laugh at that. "That and I knew you'd be getting up, and I wanted to help you upstairs if you needed it."

Gibbs' brows rose for a moment before giving him an appreciative smile. His gaze then wandered to the tree, and his thoughts were pulled elsewhere. "Damn..."

"What is it?"

"I don't have anything to give you," he replied, sadly. "Christmas is minutes away, and everything I got is in that damn car...probably destroyed."

Tony narrowed his eyes, "The only thing that made my Christmas that came outta that car virtually undamaged is you, boss." Gibbs shook his head, dismissively. "I'm serious," Tony defended. "There's nothing you could've given me that would've been remotely as awesome as you continuing to brandish the 'indestructible' label today... Like I said in the hospital, I dunno what I would've done...and I mean that." Gibbs blinked, his eyes darting a bit before meeting Tony's again. "You're all I've got left," he said in a lower voice. "You're my family, Gibbs. That's what Christmas is supposed to be about, right? Family...?"

Gibbs nodded, glad for the semi-darkness in the room as he could feel his eyes sting. To change the subject before it became too much for him, he said, "Still Christmas Eve...and I haven't gotten any of those cookies."

A big smile crossed Tony's face and he jumped up and out to the kitchen. "Wait'll you try 'em, boss!" he said in an excited, but quite voice. "They're my grandmother's recipe. I'll bring you some milk, too. Wouldn't be right without the milk." Gibbs had to smile at his excitement...

Tbc...