Disclaimer: I still don't own anyone in here.
A/N: Thank you for all the positive reactions to this book. Although I would like to mention that I would love to see more reviews coming in per chapter (Last chapter I only got three). But anyway thank you so much for reading this story and sharing with me your thoughts and feelings.
Previously
"Get your ass to the table. All of you. I'm hungry."
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The meal passed in relative peace with everyone hungrily devouring the meal set in front of them except for one person, Dean.
"Come on Dean. Eat some more of the turkey. You like turkey or eat some of the potatoes Ducky and Abby put a lot of work into this meal. It would be a shame to let it go to waste." Tony patiently scolded his brother. He had noticed that despite recovering from the flu and pneumonia Dean's appetite hadn't returned with his health and it was beginning to worry him. He could see Dean's face becoming thinner and Dean wasn't big to begin with so any missed meal could and was looking to led to problems.
Dean looked up from where he was pushing his turkey and potatoes around his plate and with a smile pushed a fork full of potatoes into his mouth and followed it with a glass of sparkling apple juice that Abby had brought over to celebrate the holiday.
Although Dean thought he was good at hiding his behavior he couldn't hide it from the rest of the table. Everyone, save Sam, could see the teen starting to wither away and were at a loss as for what to do to help. They each silently resolved to be there to help any of the brothers.
Dropping her gaze from Dean, "So who wants pie? I made apple and cherry." Abby said looking over to Dean hoping to get a response, "I heard those were your favorites Dean."
Dean looked up and nodded with a fake smile plastered on his face.
"So when do we open presents?" Sam asked in all of his ten year old innocence.
Tony was shocked but couldn't help but release a laugh, "Who says you're getting anything?"
"I got everyone something." Sam said getting up from his chair to grab his backpack.
"Hold it right there Sam," Gibbs said getting up to follow the boy, "come finish your supper and dessert and then we can exchange presents. How does that sound?"
"Sounds just fine to me Gibbs."
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"McGee come sit by me!" Sam exclaimed grabbing the older man by the hand and was dragging him to sit on the floor under Gibbs's picture window. Sam had taken a special liking to him and Ducky after they had taken Sam to the library last weekend and introduced him to The Hardy Boys series.
"I need to grab something from the car. I'll be back in a minute." McGee said grabbing his jacket and slipping his shoes on before walking out the front door.
"Come on Dean let's get a good spot before they are all taken." Abby said grabbing him by the arm and was careful not to grab too tightly for fear of the damage she might inflict and dragged him to the couch that currently had the other side occupied by Caleb flipping through one of Gibbs's woodworking magazines.
"He really reads these for fun?" Caleb asked throwing the seemingly revolting magazine back on the coffee table.
"He has to do something for a hobby." Abby said answering Caleb. She had taken a quick liking to him after getting use to his brashness and somewhat over self confident personality.
"Who are we waiting for anyway?"
Abby looked around and noticed that it was just Kate, Gibbs, Ducky and Tony missing, "Kate, Gibbs, Ducky and Tony."
"And McGee!" Sam piped up.
"And McGee." Abby repeated with a small smile.
After the conversation died the four most impatient people began to wait in a awkward silence for everyone to return to the living room.
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"Tony I'm worried about Dean." Kate announced walking up with a pile of dirty dishes.
Tony turned around from loading the dishwasher and saw Gibbs and Ducky nod in agreement as they continued to pack the leftovers into different containers, "What is this an intervention?"
"Not at all my dear boy we are just worried about your brother. And as much as you think you can hide it we can tell you are worried about him as well." Ducky answered pushing a lid down on to one of the plastic boxes.
"Of course I'm worried about him. But he is just dealing with Dad's death just as Sam and I are doing in our own ways." Tony answered.
"He looks so sad all of the time Tony. Can't you see that? He is barely eating and he still hasn't said a word. That just isn't normal." Kate replied coming up to him and reached into her pocket, "This is a card for my sister, she is a Psychologist. She might be able to help." She informed holding the card out for Tony to grab.
"I wouldn't mess around with this if I were you Tony." Gibbs said placing the last left over into the fridge and let the door slam shut behind him.
Tony nodded wiping his hands off first before grabbing the card, "I'll keep it in mind but I really think he will be ok if we just give him some time."
The other three team members looked at each other shaking their heads at their team mate's obvious denial, "That's all I'm asking." Kate answered.
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Ripping through the red wrapping paper Sam pulled out a plain black journal, "Thanks McGee!"
Tim nodded his head, "Now you can start writing all those stories you keep telling us."
Nodding his head Sam quickly tossed aside the journal and went to the four other presents sitting in front of him. Opening the next one he found a knitted holiday sweater from Abby, wooden bookends from Gibbs, a gift card for Barnes and Nobles from Kate and a World Atlas from Ducky.
"Thank you guys! These are the best presents ever." Sam answered jumping up and delivering a hug to each and every one of them.
"Dean it's your turn." Kate said from her spot curled against Caleb's side.
Dean grabbed the five presents from the floor in front of him and set them in his lap before taking the first package and unwrapping it. Pulling the last shreds of gold paper from it he found a new isolated long sleeve tee that was just the shade of green his eyes were, "I couldn't help but get it when I saw it. It just reminded me of you." Kate replied.
Nodding he slowly set the shirt aside and pulled the next box up and started to unwrap it and unleashed a new AC/DC shirt, "Tony mentioned that you liked them." Abby said with a small blush.
For the first time since coming to D.C he let a small smirk grace his face but just as quick as it appeared it faded away. The other gifts he received were a new seat of headphones from McGee and a new watch from Ducky.
"I got you something but it will have to wait until it gets warmer out before we can do it." Gibbs offered to Dean who gave a small nod before he grabbed on to Abby's wrist.
"What is it Dean? Are you ok?" Everyone froze at this hoping to whatever God was listening that something else wasn't wrong with Dean.
Dean had seen Abby sign a couple of times when Tony taken him to work and hoped that she understood what he wanted. Slowly making sure she was watching he began to move his fingers slowly trying to remember the movements he had learned such a long time ago.
"What's wrong? What's he doing?" Sam asked panicked as he watched his brother's jerky hand movements.
Abby let her eyes mist over a little bit before she smiled and turned to the rest of the group who were still watching in distress, "It's ok everyone. He just wants to say thank for the wonderful presents. He says it's the best Christmas he has ever had."
Dean tapped her on the shoulder again and started to sign some more. Abby followed the hands that were rapidly increasing in speed before she shook her hand and started to angrily sign back and he interrupted her.
"What's going on Abbs?" Gibbs asked not able to up with the two and Tony remembered Dean learning ASL after their mother died but it was used as a means of communication between Dean and their Dad. Tony had never bothered to learn it besides a few emergency phrases.
Abby continued momentarily before turning back and answered, "He says he appreciates the kindness we have shown him and his brother the last couple of weeks and that we really didn't need to get him anything. He says that he doesn't deserve it. And I'm trying to convince him that he does."
Tony couldn't believe what he was hearing. How could Dean think so little of himself, "Dean Buddy come here."
Dean slowly set aside his new gifts and walked over to his older brother who brought them face to face, "I want you to know that you deserved every single thing you got here today. If they thought you didn't deserve it they wouldn't have gotten you anything. They are just doing what family does." Tony said looking his brother right in his tortured emerald eyes, "We are family and we watch out for each other."
Dean silently let another mask slip on and looked up with a slight upturn to his lips before nodding and hugging his brother tightly.
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After exchanging quick good byes after seeing the time all the friends left Gibbs's house and made their way make towards their own homes.
"Hey Tony," Caleb yelled jogging up to Tony who was helping Sam and Dean place their belongings into the trunk of the car, "I'm going home with Kate tonight. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Remember you hurt her and you deal with me." Tony threatened jokingly trusting his best friend with Kate.
"Yes sir!" Caleb mock saluted and walked back over to his car to trail Kate back to her apartment.
Tony laughed and went back around and got into the driver's seat and saw Sam and Dean both in the backseat and decided not to question the new seating arrangement, "You guys ready to go home?"
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Tony pulled a beer out of the refrigerator and sat down on the couch and looked out the window into the well lit city below. Leaning back he could smell the fresh pine scent from the Christmas tree he and the boys had cut down the previous weekend sitting in the corner of the living room sending bright multi colored lights reflecting around the room.
Tony sighed he had just put both Sam and Dean to bed and was thinking about Dean's behavior since he had come to live with him. The non-eating, the nights Dean woke up screaming for help or the silence that surrounded his brother. He would be the first to admit this behavior was the farthest thing from healthy but worthy of professional help? He slowly pulled the card from his pocket and took another swig from his beer and read the card Rachel Cranston.
Not yet he thought.
A/N: So what do you think? Reviews please. Also I promise Dean won't have an eating disorder in this story. I promise.