Disclaimer: I don't own any of this, it all belongs to CBS, Paramount and Don Bellisario. The idea of the three ghosts is Charles Dickens' idea...not mine!

Author's Note: I'm not sure if anybody else has attempted to write a story quite like this. If so, I don't mean to steal anybody's idea. I was inspired after watching the episode "Silent Night" from Season Six. I began to wonder what would happen if each team member went home on Christmas Eve, only to be visited by three spirits. The spirits would show them glimpses of the past, present, and future. As far as a specific timeline goes I am not sure, but it does take place in a world where Jenny is still the Director, and Kate is dead, It is probably somewhere after Season Three, because the team knows about Shannon and Kelly. Each chapter is going to focus on one team member, the epilogue will be the finale chapter and it will explain how life actually turns out for the team. Please enjoy, and as always, reviews are always welcome!

INTRODUCTION

Kate Todd looked down through the clouds and frowned. She stomped her foot and blew her bangs out of her face in sheer frustration.

"What have I told you about that?" Shannon Gibbs said as she stood behind Kate.

"I know...I know....they're not too fond of anger up here." Kate repeated what Shannon had told her many times before.

"Probie...you've really got to stop getting so worked up...it's not always easy to watch, but there is a reason for it. Shannon said as she stood next to Kate.

"Easy for you to say...your hard work is over." Kate said as she stared at Shannon.

"Hardly." Shannon said as Kelly ran up to her mother.

"Hey kid...how was it?" Shannon asked as Kelly stood next to her and looked up at Kate.

"Wonderful...I had so much fun, and the other kids can't believe it...that we have a Probie!" Kelly explained happily.

"I don't get it...." Kate said as she squinted and looked through the clouds.

"How can you just stand by and watch them ruin their lives? I mean this is messed up...really messed up, like four wives messed up." Kate said as she glared at Shannon.

"What's meant to be will always find a way." Kelly said simply.

"Out of the mouths of babes..." Shannon said as she glanced at Kate sympathetically.

Kate had died young, much like Shannon. They had both been murdered, Kate by a terrorist, and Shannon and Kelly by a drug dealer. Shannon had been the first one to welcome Kate. Explaining quickly that she had been Jethro's first wife and that Kate would absolutely love Heaven, just as soon as she got used to the rules, and how things worked. Shannon and Kelly's adjustment had been relatively easy, but it seemed that Kate was having a hard time getting used to how long eternity really was, and just how much fun Heaven could be.

"Okay! Enough! I know you guys mean well, but this is unnecessary!" Kate said as she stomped her foot again, creating a hole in one of the fluffy clouds.

Kelly and Shannon looked down to Earth...in the lab at NCIS McGee was slowly walking away from Abby, wishing desperately that he had the courage to invite her over to watch a Christmas movie and drink hot cocoa. She had rejected him once, and it had scarred him for life. They had been at a coffeehouse for a poetry reading, and when McGee had confessed that he liked Abby she had insisted that they keep things purely professional. McGee had hastily thrown money on the table and left. He didn't have the courage to tell Abby that he cared for her so much that he would have transferred to another team to be with her.

Abby half-heartedly shut-off her machines, and grabbed Bert the Hippo, who was wearing a Santa hat. Abby would be spending another Christmas Eve alone, and she had nothing to look forward to until Ducky's party the next day.

"They're miserable!" Kate exclaimed.

"Without misery they will never feel joy." Kelly said quickly.

"You're the most philosophical eight year old I've ever met." Kate teased.

"I know...that's what they all say." Kelly said as she bounded off to find her friends. It had surprised her at first, just how many spirits her age there were. It was nice in a way, she had never had brothers and sisters, and when Kelly realized that she'd be eight forever she had decided to make the best out of it and spend eterninty making friends with the other residents of Heaven that were closer to her age.

"She's a sassy thing!" Kate teased as she glanced at Shannon.

"You'll never guess where she picked that up!" Shannon teased back.

"She is her father's child, through and through, of that I'm sure." Kate said as she glanced back up at Shannon.

"I know we're not supposed to do this, but it's not just Abby and McGee, they're all miserable...all of them!" Kate said as her frustration boiled over.

"Just wait...things will change, for the better." Shannon tried to remind Kate gently.

"I can't do this!" Kate said as she ran off.

"Kate! Don't! Get back here! That will not end well!" Shannon yelled after Kate.

Kate had no choice now, and she was going to do it while she had the courage. She didn't bother with the angels, or the other spirits, she bounded right over to the big guy...and truth be told her icy stare even scared him a little bit.

"This is nuts! My friends are ruining their lives! I can't stand this anymore....something has to happen." Kate said as she suddenly came to her senses as she stared at Him, her eyes grew wide, and she realized that she was making a fool of herself.

"Very well." He said.

"What?" Kate asked in shock.

"Do what you see fit, help them help themselves, that's what we're here for after all." He said as he waved a hand and dismissed Kate.

"Thanks!" Kate yelled, eternally grateful she hadn't been kicked out of the kingdom, literally.

Shannon was floating around, waiting for Kate, hoping that Kate hadn't ruffled too many feathers.

"Let's do this...but how?" Kate said as she looked at Shannon.

"Slow down...you better take a few seconds and think about how lucky you are." Shannon reminded Kate.

"I know." Kate said as she whistled.

"Paula...lovely to see you again." Shannon said as Paula Cassidy floated on over.

"Girls...we have our work cut out for us. Things have got to change." Kate said as she looked at both women.

"I know...Tony's being more reckless than usual." Paula said as she sighed in frustration.

"See I'm not the only frustrated one." Kate explained as she looked at Shannon.

"It gets easier with time." Shannon explained quickly.

"I have an idea, but all three of us are going to be very busy." Kate said.

"A wake-up call times three!?" Paula shouted in disbelief.

"Yep." Kate said after she explained her plan.

"I'll take the past...you girls can watch Kelly while I'm gone...not that anything is going to happen of course, nothing bad happens up here." Shannon said with a smile.

"I'll take the present." Paula said quickly, hoping it would be the easiest assignment. She was the newest addition to the group.

"I guess that leaves me with the future." Kate said as she eyed Shannon.

"You better get going." Kate said as Shannon slowly disappeared from Kate and Paula's sight.

Up Next: Abby!!!