Epilogue

Ten days later

Kate came off the elevator to look around at the bullpen she had actually missed – at least a little – while she was back for a Midwest Christmas, visiting family. Tim was at his computer, working diligently on something, but Gibbs and DiNozzo weren't at their desks.

"Hey, Kate," McGee smiled warmly at her. "Welcome back. Did you have a good trip?"

"It was great," she nodded. "How 'bout you?"

Tim nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah. Lots of flying for a short break, though."

Kate's eyes narrowed, and she ignored the bing of the elevator behind her to come closer to her teammate, scrutinizing him. "Why short? Were you called in?"

"Well, not exac..." He was interrupted by the sudden appearance of a small, elderly man at Kate's elbow. The man's twinkling blue eyes and snowy white hair looked rather familiar, for some reason, but Tim couldn't place him. He noted that the man had the obligatory NCIS visitor badge, indicating he'd been to security, but the usual name and department information added to the badge was blank. McGee's newly developing gut twinged slightly. "May I help you?" he asked politely.

"Well, son, I was looking for Special Agent Gibbs."

"He'll be back in just a few minutes ..."

"Don't tell me," the man grinned conspiratorially. "Refill?" When the younger man seemed a bit confused by the reference, he prompted, "coffee run?"

"Oh – yes, sir," Tim relaxed a bit, with a smile, both because the man was just so charming and kindly, and because he saw Tony approaching them as well. Still learning his way as far as what was expected of him when Gibbs wasn't there to tell him what that was, Tim was happy to defer to the senior agent's experience with newcomers showing up in the bullpen. Before Tony could say anything, though, another familiar voice came their way.

"Why am I not surprised?"

Tim and Kate looked past Tony, who turned back to look behind him, and all three saw Jones coming around into the bullpen with a decidedly Gibbsian stride, smiling ruefully at the elderly visitor. Walking up to him, without acknowledging the others, Jones said, almost chidingly, "I thought you were going to wait until after the debriefing."

The old man shrugged. "Well, that seemed to be an awful waste of time. I've never been too good at just standing around. And since I was here anyway..." he reasoned, "I thought I'd just take a look around."

"I'm sorry," Tony began, looking at the man closely. "Have we met? You look really familiar."

"It's been a while, but yes, Tony," the man's eyes twinkled. "We've met."

"But I haven't met your other teammate," Jones interrupted uncharacteristically, abruptly inserting himself into the coversation physically by easing over in front of Kate, effectively putting himself between the team and their visitor.

Tony narrowed his eyes at Jones, the agent's odd manner making him suspicious, but he nodded and said, "no, you haven't. Agent Jones – this is Agent Todd, who was back visiting family when you were here last. Kate, Agent Jones."

"From...?" Kate asked – and Tony turned to look at Jones, eyebrow raised, waiting. Tim's eyes were glued on Jones too, and the room seemed to hush. In the moment, no one registered the elevator's 'bing' behind them.

After another moment passed in silence, the elderly man chuckled, "well, Jones? Cat got your tongue?"

Gibbs materialized at the old man's shoulder, and leaned over slightly to drawl in the man's ear, "do we really want to start telling everyone's secrets?"

The man did not seem the least bit surprised to see him, but he did seem pleased at his arrival, regardless of his little poke. "Leroy," the man smiled benignly.

Gibbs spared him a glance and a small grin, but looked back up to Jones. "You two have business here you failed to mention?"

No one seemed to notice as Tim and Tony immediately locked glances, and Tony mouthed, 'Leroy?'

"It was spur of the moment," the elderly man smiled benignly.

Jones turned to him to complain, "and how it happened, no one seems to be able to tell me, but the debriefing we had set for this morning was magically rescheduled to be held here – emphasis on 'magically,'" Jones added under his breath.

"I just wanted to have a chance to thank these agents myself for their help. I understand you all helped prevent a pretty serious breach of confidence from occurring," he said, still kindly, but with a focus and earnestness that was missing in his earlier demeanor. "It is very much appreciated."

"Jack..." Jones warned.

"They were read in enough to help me, they're read in enough to accept my thanks. It's your fault, anyway, Jones," he laughed, a warm, jolly sound. "You're the one who called Leroy for help." He turned his clear blue eyes upon Gibbs, who met his gaze, the older man clearly expecting something from the agent. Finally, with a smirk, Gibbs shook his head and nodded toward the others.

"Jackson Gibbs, I believe you know the team – Anthony DiNozzo, Kate Todd, and Timothy McGee. Agents DiNozzo, Todd, and McGee, meet Jackson Gibbs – my father."

They were all stunned, of course, but the tumblers were falling in Tony's head so fast that he paled, and said, in an awed voice, "but you ..." He stopped, then started again, "that's how I know you?"

At that, the elder Gibbs nodded, his expression taking on a sadder expression. "And I'm sorry it took me a while to make good on my promise, son. But getting a ten year old boy the family he needs takes time." The others stared at Tony, who was absolutely gobsmacked at the man's words – and the story behind them that no one else in the world knew. "Still, I knew just the family you deserved – and who deserved you. It just took you – and the others – a little time to get here, all together in one place." He winked at Tony, who sat heavily on the corner of his desk, shocked in to silence.

Jones cleared his throat. "Uh, Jack ... we actually do have a debriefing to get to," he urged his protectee gently.

Tim stood his ground, however, and managed to ask Jackson, "then ... you really do exist? You are real?"

"As real as you are, Tim," the elderly gentleman chuckled. "Want a pinch?"

But McGee's thoughts had caught up to DiNozzo's, and he asked, "and ... you're Gibbs father, too?"

Father and son shared a look, until finally the younger Gibbs rolled his eyes ruefully and shrugged, letting his father continue. Jackson Gibbs nodded and said, "indeed I am."

Tony, who had been taking it all in, his amazement still complete, finally jumped up from his seat on the desk corner to say aloud what all of them had been trying to get through their heads: "Gibbs' father ... is Santa Claus!"

The team stood dumbfounded, blinking at each other almost comically as they worked through the idea, now given voice. Jones walked back toward Jackson and gestured silently toward the elevator, and Jackson made to leave. However, after stepping past Tony, he stopped, turned, and with a wry smile, came back to lean in to the group, conspiratorially, "think about it – how else do you think he could get those boats out of his basement?"

Lyrics to Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer

Originally performed by the husband and wife, Elmo and Patsy Trigg, Shropshire, in 1979. By the early 1980s, the song was becoming a seasonal hit, first on country stations and then on Top 40 stations.

Grandma got run over by a reindeer

Walking home from our house Christmas eve

You can say there's no such thing as Santa,

But as for me and grandpa we believe

She'd been drinking too much eggnog,

And we begged her not to go

But she forgot her medication

and she staggered out the door into the snow

When we found her Christmas morning,

At the scene of the attack,

She had hoof-prints on her forehead,

And incriminating Claus marks on her back

Grandma got run over by a reindeer

Walking home from our house Christmas eve

You can say there's no such thing as Santa

But as for me and grandpa we believe

Now we're all so proud of grandpa,

He's been taking this so well

See him in there watching football,

Drinking beer and playing cards with cousin Mel

It's not Christmas without Grandma

All the family's dressed in black

And we just can't help but wonder

Should we open up her gifts,

Or send them back (send them back)

Grandma got run over by a reindeer

Walking home from our house Christmas eve

You can say there's no such thing as Santa

But as for me and grandpa we believe

Now the goose is on the table

And the pudding made of fig

And the blue and silver candles

That would just have matched the hair on grandma's wig

I've warned all my friends and neighbors

Better watch out for yourselves,

They should never give a license

To a man who drives a sleigh

And plays with elves

Grandma got run over by a reindeer

Walking home from our house Christmas eve

You can say there's no such thing as Santa

But as for me and grandpa we believe

Singin' grandpa

Grandma got run over by a reindeer

Walking home from our house Christmas eve

You can say there's no such thing as Santa

But as for me and grandpa we believe

Merry Christmas

For those of you who made it this far - thanks again for the reviews and PMs. I would love to know your reactions and thoughts about this one.