A/N: Sorry for the delay. Had a rough week. Hope you'll like this.

Free Picks

"Come on, get up," Gibbs all but shouted at Tony the next day, grinning when the younger man jerked awake almost violently and scrambled to his feet before he even realized what he was doing.

"Jeez," he said, letting out a laugh at his own behavior. "Didn't any of these ex-wives of yours teach you that you're not in the Marines anymore?"

"Nope," Gibbs replied as he moved closer and gave the younger man a chaste kiss. "They liked it when I was bossy."

"Oh, you would've loved that," Tony laughed before he sobered. "Why are you waking me up anyway?"

"Got a long day ahead of us," Gibbs just said vaguely. "Now get dressed and then come down for breakfast."

"How long have you been up for?" Tony asked, rubbing at his eyes sleepily.

"Two hours."

"But it's only eight. And a Saturday."

"So?" Gibbs just grinned and then left the room, knowing that while Tony was grumbling, he didn't really mind.

#

"You don't have other shoes than these?" Gibbs asked an hour later as he eyed Tony's expensive-looking loafers.

"Here? No."

"Did you shovel the snow outside in these, too?" Gibbs smirked.

"Yeah."

"And you didn't freeze to death?"

"Apparently not," Tony answered, pursing his lips. "Why? Will I freeze to death today?"

"No, but we could drive by your apartment and get you proper attire. We're going to be outside for a while."

"Yeah, I guess we can," Tony shrugged and then furrowed a brow. "You still won't tell me where we're going?"

"Nope. Press won't be a problem at your place?"

"I don't think they even know that I'm in town," Tony replied, a smile tugging at his lips. "It's incredible how little they know now that Andy can't do harm anymore. And here I was thinking that it was normal. Apparently it's not."

"Funny how that goes," Gibbs replied and closed the front door behind them as he remembered something. "Hey, when these photographers were camping out here and got those pictures of me, why do you think there never was a story?"

"Huh," Tony let out, apparently having never thought about it. He shrugged. "I have no idea. Maybe a photo of you wasn't enough for a story? I mean what would you getting your newspaper prove? It's weird though."

#

"We're looking for a Christmas tree?" Tony asked incredulously nearly two hours later.

They had made a quick stop at Tony's place and had then driven towards a small village just outside of Leesburg. Gibbs parked his car and then put on a woolen hat and some gloves with Tony, who was still looking out the window in wonder, doing the same next to him.

"Yeah, it's only three more weeks till Christmas and I don't really know when I'll have the time to get a tree."

"Why drive all the way out here?" Tony asked as he got out of the truck. "Aren't there nice trees in DC?"

"I'm sure there are. But these," he gestured towards the small army of trees that were standing neatly on a field. "Belong to a buddy of mine from the Marines."

"Alright," Tony replied, suddenly smiling broadly as if he had just realized something important even though Gibbs had no clue what it was all about. "I've never picked a tree myself."

"Never?" Gibbs checked back. "Not even as a kid?"

"You kidding?" Tony answered, shaking his head. "We have people for this, Junior," he said in a deep voice and Gibbs guessed he was mimicking his father before Tony continued in his normal tone. "I practically begged the guy to go with me but he never wanted to. My mom just didn't care either way, so I never got to pick one."

"Not even when you were an adult?"

"No," Tony answered furrowing a brow. "I just didn't think it was important who picked it, you know. I missed out though," he added when he watched a family walking on the snow covered ground between the trees.

"Well, there's a first time for everything," Gibbs just shrugged and then walked towards a small hut. A man was sitting in front of it and when he looked up, he started to wave at them.

"Gunny!" he cried out as he got up and gave him a quick hug. "Wasn't expecting you for another two weeks."

"Had time today, Seth," Gibbs just shrugged before he gestured towards Tony. "That's Tony."

"Hi," Seth said as he took Tony's hand and Gibbs could see the younger man smile at him.

"Nice to meet you."

Seth didn't seem to recognize him and Gibbs wasn't entirely surprised because very much alike himself, the former Marine wasn't exactly a movie buff.

"So what are you guys looking for? Tall, small?"

"Medium?" Gibbs answered.

Seth gestured towards a row of trees at the back of his field and then Tony and Gibbs were on their way.

"How long have you known him?" Tony wanted to know as they walked over to the trees.

"Twenty years."

"You see him a lot?"

"Not really," Gibbs shook his head. "He's a farmer over in Leesburg and only does this Christmas tree thing in December. And you know farmers. They never have time."

"As do NCIS agents."

Gibbs let out a laugh and then softly slapped the back of Tony's head before he replied. "As do famous actors."

"Hey, I'm here now, right?"

"That you are," Gibbs said and gave him a lopsided grin. "How long for anyway?"

He saw Tony shrug and realized that the man hadn't probably planned on staying long. Gibbs had no idea what Tony had thought when he had followed Abby's call two days earlier but he was fairly sure that he hadn't expected rekindling this thing between them. With a warm sensation in his stomach he realized that he really wanted him there, wanted him to pick his very first Christmas tree and wanted to have him there for Christmas, too.

"I have to fly back on Monday," Tony said and regret was clearly perceivable in his voice. "For doing the premiere of the FBI flick and some promo stuff. But I'll be done with that by Dec 22."

"And what are you doing for Christmas?"

"Hopefully decorating one of these trees with you."

"Yeah?" Gibbs asked and couldn't help the smile on his face. "You sure?"

"Of course," Tony replied and furrowed a brow as if Gibbs' question had been ridiculous. "Isn't this why we're here?"

Gibbs gave him another smile and then took Tony's hand in his, not caring that someone might see them. It didn't matter. Tony, for once, didn't even look around to make sure that no one was watching them. He just squeezed Gibbs' hand and then led the way through the row of beautiful trees, stopping their walk a couple of times in front of a tree to look at it more closely before going on. It went like that for a while and just when Gibbs thought Tony had settled on one of the trees, he would march on. Gibbs didn't particularly mind, it was actually fun watching Tony look at the trees, his eyes bright with glee.

For a second, and not for the first time either, he wondered just how big of a bastard Tony's father had to be to refuse his kid something like that. Judging from the way Tony's features always darkened whenever he talked about him, he hadn't exactly been the father of the year. Gibbs understood the sentiment all too well and yet he did have some great memories with his father and even though they weren't exactly on good terms since his girls' funeral, he still sent him a card each Christmas and was always glad when he got one in return. The same apparently wasn't true for Tony and his father. From what Gibbs had gathered, they hadn't talked in years ever since the old man had tried to cheat Tony out of a lot of money. Even though Tony didn't seem to care much about his wealth, he knew that it must have hurt a lot and Gibbs was sure that Tony wasn't keen on forgiving him any time soon.

"What about this one?" Tony interrupted his train of thought as he pointed at a nearby tree. "It's not too tall and I know it's a bit crooked but aren't we all?"

"It's perfect just the way it is, Tony," Gibbs replied, squeezing his hand.

Tony looked back at him with a crooked smile on his face and his eyes suddenly seemed even brighter than before. He leaned closer now and Gibbs was able to see a snowflake settling on his eye lashes. He reached up and brushed it away carefully before he brought his hand to Tony's neck to draw him even closer and kiss him.

#

Case closed?

Gibbs gave a grim smile at Tony's text before he wrote back.

Yes. Mother was the killer. Glad it's over.

He pocketed his cell as he focused on the computer screen in front of him again. It was already December 20, and their latest case had been horrible. McGee was still looking rather green in the face and Kate had grown snarlier and quieter over the last couple of days which had Gibbs irritated to no end as he usually was glad for her balance whenever cases got too tough. Even Abby had lost almost all of her Christmas cheer and it almost physically hurt him just thinking about it.

While the case had been gruesome, Gibbs had still managed to actually not think about it for the couple of times he had gone home to sleep. He had had long phone calls with Tony who was stressed out from his promo tour and doing interviews, but had still always had an open ear for Gibbs. If the older man had feared to lose touch with him while the actor was still in California, he saw himself proven wrong. Tony had constantly texted and called and while Gibbs still missed him more than he cared to admit, it was the thrill of anticipation that almost made up for it. He couldn't wait to have Tony back for Christmas and for three weeks after that.

#

"Hey Abs," he said a couple of hours later as he walked into the lab.

"Hi Gibbs," she replied, giving him a smile. She looked better than the days before, now that they had found little Sarah's killer. "What are you still doing here?"

"Wanted to finish the reports. Need those ballistic results."

"Sure," Abby replied, typed something into her computer and then handed over the paper when the printer was done.

"Thanks," Gibbs said, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"What are you doing for Christmas this year, Gibbs? Because I'll head over to the nuns this year and help give out food for the homeless. You care to join me?"

"Sorry," Gibbs answered apologetically. "I've already got plans."

"Those plans aren't your boat and bourbon, right?"

"No," Gibbs just said and was about to leave the lab when Abby spoke up again.

"It better not be, Mister," she said, her voice sounding stern all of a sudden. "You should spend Christmas with people you care about."

"I will, Abby," Gibbs said as he turned around to look at her. "I promise."

Abby eyed him suspiciously for a few second before a wide smile broke out on her face as the figurative penny apparently dropped. She hurried to walk over to him and then hugged him tightly.

"I know you don't want to talk about it," she whispered into his ear. "And I get that. I'm just… really happy for you. You've been brooding far too much."

"I have not," Gibbs contradicted her, but she just shushed him.

"You have and you know it. I'm glad you have found him. He's good for you."

"Abs," Gibbs said warningly, but he was once again cut short by her as she let go of him.

"I know, I know. I won't say anything. To anyone."

"Thanks," Gibbs just said and then finally left the lab.

#

"I'm coming, I'm coming," Gibbs mumbled as he hurriedly stepped into his house two hours later to get to the ringing telephone.

"Gibbs," he answered and was then greeted with a few moments of silence before the man on the other end of the line spoke.

"Hello Leroy."

Gibbs gulped as he heard his father's voice for the first time in years and felt his heart sink at the same time. This couldn't be good.

"Dad."

"Still as monosyllabic as always," his father chuckled and for some reason it made Gibbs feel like he was fifteen again as anger bubbled up inside of him.

"What do you want, Dad?"

"Can't I just call up my son?"

"You can," Gibbs replied grudgingly. "But you usually don't."

"Leroy," Gibbs heard his father sigh. "I just thought it was time we buried our fight. I know you didn't like that I brought Amanda to the funeral but it's been over ten years. I just thought it would be nice to spend Christmas with you."

"I'm not going to Stillwater," Gibbs bit out, feeling repulsion travel through his body at the mere thought of it.

"Didn't say you should," Jackson chuckled again. "Was thinking that I could visit you."

"Dad…," Gibbs started, trying to come up with a believable reason to keep his father from coming to DC, but then, and despite himself, realized that he probably shouldn't rebuff his father's attempt at reconnecting just like that.

"Leroy," his father cut him off sternly. "I know we've had our differences but I'm not getting any younger and I'd like to see my kid again. Is that so hard to understand?"

"No," Gibbs relented. "But…"

"No buts, Leroy. I'll come for Christmas."

Gibbs had just opened his mouth to contradict him and to make him see sense but the older man had already hung up on him. Gibbs let out a huff as he put the phone away and shook his head. Hell, he didn't want his father to come over, his whole being was feeling repulsed by the mere thought of it but somehow he couldn't bring himself to call him back. He still hadn't forgiven his dad for bringing a date to his girls' funeral but he was his father after all. Maybe it was time to make up. Maybe he'd have to deal with him over Christmas because, really, how bad could it be?

He felt his cell phone vibrate in the pocket of his pants and then felt his heart sink.

Tony.

He was so fucked.