Last chapter everyone! Thanks for reading. Please review?

DiNozzo got the long sleep he deserved, not waking up until 11:30. But he woke up feeling sore and unhappy. His apartment was silent. He was alone, on Christmas Day.

Great.

Since he and Tim had been gone for weeks, Tony hadn't gotten to decorate or buy a Christmas tree. Even his stupid refrigerator was empty. It was as if the grinch had come by and stolen every preparation for the holiday.

First things first: food.

Tony was efficient as a grocery shopper. He left his apartment, bought everything he needed, and was back within the hour.

It was just after 1 o'clock PM, when someone knocked on his door.

Tony rubbed his eyes and dragged himself off of his couch. If it was his neighbor, Mrs. Riley, asking about his father, DiNozzo swore, he would lose his mind. It took months to forget about his father and his neighbor- and their little episode in Tony's kitchen the Christmas before.

So Christmas wasn't a total loss after all, as it was not Mrs. Riley. But, surprisingly, it was Tim.

Tony was not unhappy to see his friend at all. Looking at the younger man, DiNozzo had to try hard not to laugh. Tim's eye wasn't swollen anymore, but it was lightly bruised around the corner.

"After all that, you come out with barely a scratch, then you rise from the dead just to get punched in the face by Abby Scuito...What're you doing here, McGee?" he asked

"I'm here to see you," Tim said, holding up two bottles. "White wine and scotch. Thought I'd bring both."

When they were both inside, pouring the liquor, Tony raised his eyebrows at his younger brother.

"So I'm guessing you didn't come just to deliver these..."

"No, I just wanted to say thanks," McGee said. "For everything. The advice, the backup, everything."

"No. Thank you," Tony said. "Thanks for having my six. You did good."

"It was easier to do what you said than I thought. I didn't have to worry about slipping up or breaking character."

"Yeah," the older man admitted. "It gets easier the more you practice. You just have to get into character, then you're good."

They sat in companionable silence, until McGee spoke.

"Well," he sighed. "Case closed, I guess."

"Yeah," Tony said. "And we will have to write huge reports, no doubt, but we won't have to go to court. Undercover agents don't have to publicly testify, for their own safety. We might have to do an interview, but no showing up in a courtroom with a bunch of lawyers."

They talked for some time, until DiNozzo got up and stretched.

"So, do you want to stay for dinner? I don't have much. We could order a pizza."

"Actually..." Tim hesitated, but was interrupted by a loud knock on the door. He brightened and, ignoring Tony's confused expression, let in the visitors.

Abby bounced into the room, toting presents and some food wrapped in tin foil. Ziva followed Abby into the apartment. Although she herself was Jewish, she appreciated spending the Christmas vacation with her friends. She put some delicious smelling covered plates onto the table, then gave Tim and Tony each kisses on the cheek.

Ducky walked in, holding a large pan. On it was a huge, well-done turkey.

"Merry Christmas," the ME called. "Mr. Palmer sends his Christmas blessings as well."

And finally, the finale of the parade, was Leroy Jethro Gibbs, carrying a petite Christmas tree in one hand and a large bottle of Jack Daniels in the other.

McGee laughed at Tony's confusion. "Did I forget to mention that everyone was coming over for dinner?"

"Besides Jethro's house," Ducky said. "Your apartment is the biggest."

"And you have the popcorn and the movies," Ziva smiled. "What is that movie you showed us last year? I enjoyed it. We should watch it again."

"Its a Wonderful Life," Tony said. "And yeah...it's around here somewhere..."

He popped it into the DVD player as they finished preparing dinner. Abby was running around, decking the place in lights and decorating the little Christmas tree in homemade ornaments and paper snowflakes.

Ziva slapped Tim's hand away as he tried to reach for a cookie. Gibbs, who was much taller than Ducky, reached for a plate on the upper shelf.

Tony looked around and smiled. It was a lot better, going undercover with your family on your side.

Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and if you don't celebrate anything, then wintery blessings all the same!