Christmas Time

A/N: Hello my fellow readers! This story will be written as a collaborating piece between Anonymous033 and myself (ZandVsupporter). The story will run for ten chapters and we are writing this as we go, so I have no clue as to how this will end. Haha. I hope you all enjoy this piece!

Writer: ZandVsupporter (Ash)

Disclaimer: I own it! *wakes from dream*… Or… maybe not. XD

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I. The First Flake

"People don't notice whether it's winter or summer when they're happy."
-Anton Chekhov

.::.

Ding!

The shiny elevator doors slid opened and revealed a very sharply dressed Anthony DiNozzo with a million dollar smile on his face. His deep baritone voice penetrated the bullpen with a classic Sinatra as he strutted in and dropped his bag to the floor and removed his black overcoat. McGee and Ziva's head both shot up as he crashed into his chair and turned on his computer.

"Did you have a good night, Tony?" Ziva's words came out somewhat bitterly as her eyes squinted at him and flashed back to her computer screen.

"As a matter of a fact I did," He replied and gave her one of his most charmed grin.

"Let me guess," Tony turned towards McGee as he spoke, "a twenty-something year old college girl?"

"I thought you've graduated from that Probie, I guess not," Tony chuckled then turned back towards his computer and entered his password, "The man I'm becoming no longer seeks girls, I seek a woman." Tony's eyes flickered up and down as fast as a lightning, so fast even McGee had missed the subtle action. But he could've sworn a smile appeared onto Ziva's face for a split of a second before it, as well, disappeared.

A loud thump came from Tony's desk as he slapped and whacked his computer screen silly, "Come on! Why won't you turn on!"

"DiNozzo, only I am allowed to do that," Gibbs appeared silently from behind administering a slap to Tony's head and an equally loud slap to the computer. And as if it was magic the computer obeyed and turned on immediately.

"Boss you're a genius!" Tony gazed at his computer still completely utterly amazed, "you've gotta teach me that some time."

"Gear up, then I'll consider it," Gibbs laughed and grabbed his badge and weapon out of his drawer, then headed towards the elevator. He was closely followed by Ziva and McGee, while Tony still slipping on his coat slid through the doors just in time before it closed.

.::.

It was a short drive to the crime scene thanks to Gibbs' ever diligent driving skills. An elderly woman had reported in that her son, Petty Officer William Jones disappeared in the wee hours of this morning when she woke up to the sound of a vase that was smashed into a million pieces on the ground. She was terribly shook-up when they arrived at the house.

"Boss, why aren't the local police handling this?" McGee asked innocently as the approached the front porch. Gibbs stopped midway and turned around to face McGee.

"Because McGee, an elderly woman called us, and she fears for her son's safety," McGee squirmed under Gibbs' stare as he turned back around and trotted up the stairs. The three agents fell back a couple of paces.

"Nice one McOblivious," Tony chimed in and gave McGee a pat on the back.

"You know how he is with children," Ziva said as a matter-of-a-factly and followed Gibbs into the house.

"But he's not a child, he's a Petty Officer," McGee shook his head still confused by it all. Tony sighed.

"True, but he is still a child to the woman inside," Tony said as they both entered the house.

It was furnished with antiques that looked like they cost a fortune, the wooden flooring squeaked with each step which sent shivers down their backs. Everything was kept in perfect order that it was rather scary. They padded through the hallway and found themselves at the doorway to the kitchen. Gibbs sat on the stool at the counter as the elderly woman boiled the kettle.

"So Mary, did your son say anything about where he was going?" Gibbs took out his pen and notepad.

"I don't think so, not that I could remember," she sounded distant as she poured the boiling water into separate mugs. Gibbs sipped on his fragrant black coffee; he held in his breath and let out a sigh of relief.

"Oh that's good coffee…" A door banged closed and everyone immediately set their mugs down.

"DiNozzo did you close the door when you came in?" Gibbs whispered. Tony shook his head. The four removed their guns from their holsters and split to different rooms. The house fell into a complete silence.

McGee quietly led Mary through the backdoor into the backyard while Gibbs moved to the dining room, Tony up the stairs and Ziva to the living room.

Tony regretted his decision to head upstairs, the floorboards threatened to creak with each step he took as he ascended the stairs. Maybe he shouldn't have eaten the extra doughnut this morning nor was the fact that it was so cold out that his legs were not completely steady. It took him at least two minutes before he reached the top he smiled to himself; he was very proud of his achievement. He was suddenly jolted by the sudden contact of a hand upon his shoulder. He turned around to realize that it was just Ziva who had somehow cleared the living room and managed to climb the set of stairs without a single sound, all that in the time he took to get to the top of the stairs.

"I could've hurt you," Tony mouthed towards Ziva. Ziva suppressed the laugh that threatened to escape her lips.

She leant in closer to Tony's face, her mouth mere inches from his cheek and whispered, "You wish." She circled him and left him dumbfounded as she began to clear the rooms. Ziva closed in on a door and motioned for Tony to move closer. Footsteps could be heard from the inside of the room, they looked at each other and Tony kicked down the door while Ziva shouted "NCIS! Freeze!"

"WHAT THE HELL?" The unidentified man shouted as he fell onto the bed, frightened. Gibbs approached the two agents from behind and analyzed the situation.

"Identify yourself," Tony reached for his badge.

"II'…I'm Will Jones," he stuttered. Gibbs, Tony and Ziva lowered their guns and stared at each other.

"Alright kiddo, where have you been for the past eight hours?" Tony and Ziva backed away as Gibbs took charge, and he didn't sound happy. Tony and Ziva descended the stairs and joined McGee out back.

"I feel sorry for the kid, he's gonna get his ass whipped by Gibbs," Tony laughed.

"But… Gibbs doesn't have a whip," Ziva sounded confused. Tony just shook his head in response.

"Guys, Mary has Alzheimer's," McGee walked up towards them. They exchanged looks and raced up the stairs to tell Gibbs.

"Gibbs! Gibbs!" They all shouted simultaneously like a bunch of children after their dad's affection.

"Hey! One at a time!" He shouted and turned to face McGee.

"You wouldn't believe it! When Mary said "not that I could remember" she really meant it! She's got…"

"Alzheimer's? Yeh I know," he turned around to face the petty officer, "come on, let's go check on your mother."

They found Mary sitting on the garden bench in the backyard, her grey hair blown around by the sudden cool wind from the east. She was staring into nothing in particular, but at the sound of her name being called by her son, he face lit up, she rose and enveloped him in a bone crushing hug that could've given Abby's a run for her money.

A smile all graced their faces at the sight, Gibbs was first to turn and made his way out of the house. The three gathered and flooded out, shutting the door as they left. The ride back to the navy yard was shared in comfortable silence.

.::.

"Take the day off," Gibbs said and disappeared as they began to settle into the warmth of the office. McGee packed his things so quickly he was nearly out of there by the time Tony began to relax into his chair.

"Woooahh McRush! Where you off to in such a rush?" Tony eyed him suspiciously.

"It's cold Tony, and I just wanna get home and write my book," McGee mumbled, annoyed for being held back.

"Inspired by something today Mr. Gemcity?" Tony put on his best English accent. McGee rolled his eyes and left the bullpen. Ziva laughed at their conversation.

"It's reassuring to know that even something can make Gibbs… "nice"," Ziva said as she approached the filing cabinet next to Tony. She's found herself there a lot these days, not really looking for anything in particular.

"Yeh, we're all human," Tony said simply, staring blankly out the glass that had no other purpose than to allow sunlight through. Ziva followed his gaze out the window; the sky was a mirage of colours as the sun set to the west leaving a light tinge of orange in the horizon. It took her by surprise that she didn't realize that it's been another four seasons, and winter and its accompaniment has arrived and blessed them with the cold once again.

"Well well well, look at that," Tony smiled at her as the first pure white snow flake gently floated down to the ground, guided by the light breezy wind, "nature never disappoints us, huh?"

"No it doesn't, does it?" she returned his smile then ventured across the little space between their desks to her own. She turned her computer off and packed her things.

"Tony, why were you so happy this morning?" she leaned on her desk, bag in hand and wearing the stunning green coat she wore in Paris.

"Why there's 25 days to Christmas of course!" He answered cheerfully and possibly with too much enthusiasm then required for a man in his forties.

She nodded; her index finger on her lip which seemed to have became a habit recently, then made a move to leave, but stopped abruptly in her steps at the corner of the dividers, "Good Night, Tony."

He leant up to face her and his eyes sparkled under the low dim light, "Good Night, Ziva." She turned to leave but was stopped, "Zi!"

"Yes?" She faced him once again.

"Are you happy?" The smile on his face disappeared and his eyes bored into hers like they were in search for something. What? She doesn't know.

She paused for a second before she answered, "Yes."

Tony pondered on her answer, he wondered why she had hesitated; but before he could question her further she was gone. He'd made a mental note to bring it up again. He switched off his light grabbed his bag and coat and headed home for yet another lonely night.

.::.

Alright, so there we go! I hoped you guys liked it and reviews are always appreciated =D.

A/N : Next chapter will be written by Anonymous033.