1. GIBBS

Gibbs grinned to himself as he crossed the small office space NCIS Pearl Harbor called home. Kate was in an animated discussion with a guy Gibbs recognised as the Brit he'd seen on his first visit here, and who'd popped up several times during the sporadic Skype conversations he'd managed to finagle with Kate over the last couple months.

He dredged his exhaustion fogged brain for more details. Will? Yes, Will, that was it. He seemed like a good guy, but more importantly today, his timing was perfect. Being able to sneak up on Kate hadn't been part of the plan, but it wasn't a bad addition. Surprising her was... pretty fun. Gibbs couldn't remember the last time he'd done something so ridiculous and spontaneous as this, but he was also feeling a kind of excitement and anticipation he'd half forgotten existed. As long as Kate didn't just shoot him on sight...

Will's expression changed as he spotted Gibbs' approach, and Gibbs put a finger to his lips, hoping Will wouldn't blow his cover at the last moment. He'd always seemed a little eccentric to Gibbs, kind of a kook, for a supposed intelligence officer, but it was obvious, as Gibbs came within earshot, that he was taking the conversation in a direction Kate hadn't expected, skilfully providing just enough distraction for Gibbs to sidle up behind her unnoticed.

He nodded his thanks, and allowed himself the luxury of attracting Kate's attention with a tug on her ponytail. "Hey, Katie."

There was a sharp intake of breath, then she whipped around, her face a picture of shock. Gibbs half expected her to ream him out for creeping up on her again, like she had months ago on the Aiea trail.

What he hadn't expected - hadn't dared even hope for - was the way she launched herself at him for a hug that knocked the air right out of his lungs. He looked at Will, who was grinning widely - in fact looked like he was trying very hard not to laugh - and then back down at the woman in his arms.

After a long moment of bewilderment, it suddenly occurred to him Kate was hugging him - really hugging him - and there was no guarantee this degree of unprompted affection would last or be repeated, so he'd best make the most of it. He wrapped his arms around her, let his fingers brush lightly over her hair, and took the opportunity to simply enjoy the moment.

When her death grip around him finally loosened, Gibbs forced himself to release her as well, and tried to arrange his face into something more 'it's really good to see you' and less 'I am about to have a heart attack'.

"What are you doing here?" she asked breathlessly. "I mean- I'm glad, I just..."

"I, uh-" Yeah, he hadn't really thought this through at all. "I wanted to surprise you." He shrugged at his own ridiculously slender justification. There was probably no need at this point to admit he had called in half a dozen favours, and travelled for at least sixteen hours on both military and civilian transport. Or to confess that thanks to their latest case, apart from a few hours of fitful sleep on the first leg of his journey, he'd been awake since 6am DC time... yesterday morning.

Right? Right.

"Well, you succeeded. Good surprise." Kate took a step back, probably, he thought, trying to regain her composure, but she was still smiling broadly at him and didn't seem embarrassed by her reaction. It had definitely been worth it.

"Didn't you guys have a case?"

Gibbs blinked. Attempting to think was like wading through molasses. "Ah, yeah." He tried to remember what the case had even been about. "Yeah, we wrapped that one up last night." Which felt more like last week, but Kate didn't need to know that.

"So..." She frowned a little - not angry, just confused. "But I got a message from Abby and she said you were all sitting down to watch It's a Wonderful Life, and you'd found Tony's dad for him... how did you... when did you...?"

Crap. He'd forgotten Kate knew about that tradition, hadn't bargained on Abs getting ahold of her either. "Yeah, I, uh-" He really had not thought this through. He should at least've had his story straight, maybe had some kind of excuse or something for-

She moved into his space again and reached up a hand to touch his cheek. "Good God, Gibbs, you must be exhausted." To his surprise, Gibbs realised her eyes were shiny, as if she was close to tears. "Best Christmas present ever," she murmured. "Thank you."

She leaned into him and wrapped her arms around him for another hug. Totally bemused but willing to go with the flow, he hugged her back. So far, so good. He hadn't thought this far ahead - he hadn't thought much at all, to be fair - but really, he could not have imagined this reception.

When he found himself relaxing into her and pressing his face into her hair to soak up her scent, he forced himself to pop his eyes open. This was not the time or the place to get carried away just because he had her in his arms at last - no matter how pleased to see him Kate seemed to be.

He was, he told himself sternly, here to make sure she was okay, say happy Christmas, spend some time with her, be her friend. Being here with her... it was good. It was enough. It was not something he would allow himself to take for granted.

He reluctantly made himself look around, seeking a distraction, and found one. He had almost forgotten they had an audience.

Will had discreetly retreated, and was sat at a desk overflowing with papers and files, but when he glanced over and caught Gibbs' eye he grinned widely and winked, giving a double thumbs up. Gibbs wondered how exactly Kate had explained his previous visit, his regular attempts at communication. The knowing look and satisfied smile on Will's face suggested... good things.

Between that and Kate's enthusiastic welcome, Gibbs felt pretty encouraged, and he was sure his pleased expression bordered on the idiotic.

Kate gave him one last squeeze, made a little satisfied noise he tried hard to ignore, and then she was turning to Will, though this time she kept a firm hold on Gibbs' arm as if she didn't want to risk him vanishing. No chance, Katie.

Will didn't even need her to ask the question. "Go get coffee. I can hold down the fort while you're gone. Don't worry about a thing."

"You are the best." She knuckled his head and he protested, but it was obvious it was a well worn gesture of affection. "I'll be back... um, soon."

Will grinned again - apparently he was just as good natured as he'd seemed over an Internet connection. "Take your time, Kate." He caught Gibbs' eye. "I'm sure you two have a lot of catching up to do."

The smile was infectious, and Gibbs grinned, signing thank you as Kate tugged on his elbow, then following her out of the building.

WILL

Back in the bullpen, Will smiled to himself, then picked up the phone on the desk and rapidly dialled a familiar number. "Rich? Yep, it's me. Change of plans, mate. Something came up. Kate's going to be, um, busy - yeah, for at least the next couple of days I should think..."