A/N I know I've been MIA lately and for that I am sorry. The good news is that I'll have three new chapters for you this week. Thanks for being patient and I hope you enjoy!

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Gibbs was up early the following morning to wrap the mountain of Christmas gifts he'd bought for Timmy as well as the items the little guy chose to give the others. The adults had agreed to follow their normal protocol of not exchanging gifts; however they all wanted to buy something for Timmy's first Christmas. After much deliberation Gibbs agreed, strongly emphasizing that they should not go overboard. He chuckled inwardly at the pile of toys and new clothes strewn across the kitchen table. Over the past month he'd picked up a few items here or there, not realizing that metaphorically speaking he'd bought the entire toy store. The new clothes were a necessity as Tim had already outgrown quite a few of his outfits. After the holidays he'd clean out Tim's dresser and closet, donating the gently used clothing to an organization to be put to good use. He ran his fingers through his hair, sighing at the enormous task ahead of him.

"I need more coffee," he groaned, gingerly getting to his feet and limping over to the counter. "Some Advil too." He was in a lot more pain than yesterday after their sledding excursion and hoped a dose of pain relievers would help loosen him up. The next few days were going to be fun and he didn't want to miss one single moment of his baby's first Christmas. As he was rummaging through the cabinet looking for the bottle of ibuprofen he noticed a bottle of prescription strength pain medication from when he had his concussion. With the bottle of medication in one hand and his phone in the other he pressed Ducky's contact information and waited. After three rings a sleepy voice answered, "Hello?"

"Sorry Duck did I wake you?"

If the older man's raspy voice was any indication then Gibbs already knew the answer to his own question.

"It's 0530 in the morning my dear boy. What do you think?"

Gibbs sighed sympathetically, "I'm sorry I didn't even think to look at the time. I've already had a cup of coffee and it didn't even cross my mind that the rest of the world was probably still sleeping."

"It doesn't matter, Jethro, what can I do for you?"

"I'll make it quick, Duck." Gibbs inhaled sharply as a sharp pain shot through his knee forcing him to sit down.

"Jethro are you there? What's going on?"

The younger man groaned, "It sucks getting old, Duck. I woke up this morning feeling like a train had hit me. All the climbing up the hill I did yesterday has had an effect on my knees not to mention the rest of my body." He paused, shaking the bottle of pills before continuing, "I was calling because I found a bottle of prescription strength pain killers in my cupboard from when I had my concussion and I was wondering if I could take one? I don't think an over the counter medication is going to give me the relief that I need. This is Timmy's first Christmas and I'd prefer to be comfortable rather than in pain."

Ducky sighed, "I don't see why not, Jethro. However, instead of taking the entire pill might I suggest you start off by breaking the pill in half? If I remember correctly it's a fairly high dose and will make you drowsy. We don't want you passed out with young Timothy on the loose especially after the flour incident with Ziva."

"Good idea, Duck. I'll start off small and if I'm not getting any relief I can bump up the dosage."

"Sounds like a plan, but remember it's typically one to two pills every four hours. Read the instructions to find out the recommended dosage my friend. Now if you don't have any other questions for me, this old man needs his beauty sleep. I can't wait till our celebration tonight."

Gibbs chuckled and began unscrewing the lid off the pill bottle, "No matter what time of the day it is I can always count on you, Duck. I appreciate your advice and can't wait to celebrate tonight too." He paused and chuckled again, "Ironically we'll see you at 1730."

The older man mumbled incoherently and disconnected the line. With the dial tone permeating his eardrums Gibbs hung up and tossed his phone back on the table. Removing one of the pills from the container he carefully examined it; noticing the score down the middle he easily divided it and popped half in his mouth. Washing it down with a swig of lukewarm coffee he cautiously stood once more to refill his cup. Finally he was ready to start wrapping the numerous gifts lying before him.

It took over two hours, but eventually Gibbs had all the presents wrapped and underneath the tree by the time Timmy was awake, whimpering over the baby monitor. Gibbs glanced down at Jet who had dragged himself off his comfy bed to sit at the older man's feet. "Don't worry, boy, I lowered Timmy's mattress so he won't be able to climb out for a while." He paused and thought about it for a moment, "I hope." Patting the dog on the head he stood up, relieved that the medication was enough to take the edge off without rendering him completely worthless. Climbing the stairs to Tim's bedroom he called out, "I'm coming, sweetie."

Tim was standing, using the rungs of the crib to keep his balance when the older man opened the door and walked in. "Good morning my little sleepyhead." Gibbs cooed, lifting him out of the crib and into his embrace. "Did you sleep well?" Tim nodded, rubbing the sleep from his eyes before emitting a small yawn.

"Good because we have a couple of long, but exciting days ahead of us." Pressing a kiss to the top of Tim's head he continued over to the changing table and lay him down. "Remember how we saw Santa at the mall a few days ago and told him what you'd like for Christmas?" Tim's bottom lip quivered as he was reminded of the jolly man in the red suit.

"Aww sweetheart there's no reason to be upset." Gibbs began rubbing small circles on the youngster's tummy. "I know Santa can be scary, but he's really a nice man. He drops by when we're sleeping and leaves all kinds of special presents." Tim's eyes widened and he shook his head at the thought of a strange man sneaking into the house while he was sleeping. Running his fingers through the baby's unkempt hair, Gibbs crouched down to his eye level, "I won't let anything happen to you, son. This is supposed to be fun and I think once you see all the presents you get to open you'll have a blast. Nevertheless, you can sleep with me tonight; but I have a feeling that with all the activities we have planned you'll be asleep before your cute little head hits the pillow."

The little guy eventually relaxed allowing Gibbs to change his diaper and get him dressed. As they headed downstairs for breakfast the older man mentioned that the entire team along with Sarah and Jack would be celebrating with them that evening. That appeared to perk Tim up and by the time they reached the kitchen the toddler was bursting with excitement. Unfortunately that was still another nine hours away; however they had plenty to keep them busy until then. Although Gibbs despised the thought of mingling with the last minute shoppers he needed to find a gift for his dad. He figured one gift would be a weekend visit to Stillwater; however he still needed something else.

"Dada?"

"Yes, baby, what is it?"

Tim blushed and patted his little tummy. Gibbs chuckled, deposited the toddler in his highchair and snapped on the tray. "I'm hungry too, son. How about some nice warm oatmeal to fill that cute little belly?" Before Tim could respond Gibbs was already working on fixing a satisfying breakfast for the two of them. It wasn't long until there were two bowls of oatmeal, fresh fruit and drinks strategically placed on the table. The oatmeal was still hot so Gibbs gave Tim several pieces of fruit to get started. The toddler quickly shoveled numerous pieces into his mouth then turned to smile at Gibbs.

"You're such a silly boy, Timmy. Remember daddy told you to be careful with that much food in your mouth."

Tim shrugged his shoulders, defiantly picking up another piece of fruit when Gibbs cleared his throat, "Finish what you've got in your mouth first, son." Nevertheless, the little guy appeared ready to test the waters, inching the fruit closer and closer to his mouth.

"Timothy, do not make me tell you again. Finish what's in your mouth or I'll send you to timeout."

Gibbs could tell Tim was fighting with his conscience whether to obey or disobey. His expressive green eyes darted between the older man and the fruit as he contemplated a decision. Finally, he threw the piece of fruit back down on the tray and crossed his arms in defeat.

"Good choice, kiddo. I would hate to put you in timeout on Christmas Eve."

The youngster huffed through a mouth full of food, motioning to the bowl of oatmeal on the kitchen table. "Calm down sweetie there's no rush on who finishes breakfast first. Like I said before, finish what's in your mouth and then you can have some oatmeal." Scooping up a spoonful he tested it against his lips, declaring it cool enough to eat, "It's cooled down enough now."

Timmy bounced excitedly in his seat as he chewed and swallowed before opening his mouth to show that he'd finished. "Attaboy," Gibbs praised, raising the spoon and slowing moving it toward Tim's mouth. "Here comes the train. Chugga chugga chugga chugga choo choo!" He whistled softly and continued, "Next stop is Timmy's mouth!" The toddler burst out laughing, thoroughly enjoying his daddy's imitation of a choo choo train.

"Mor dada!" He squealed after swallowing a mouth full of oatmeal.

"Okay one more time and then the train needs to take a rest."

Repeating his prior actions Gibbs shoveled another spoonful of oatmeal into Tim's awaiting mouth. The toddler hummed in contentment as his tummy was filled with the warm, comforting goo. Once they were finished eating Gibbs lifted Timmy out of the highchair and handed him the bottle off the kitchen table. "Let's go upstairs so daddy can get dressed and we can go out shopping. We need to pick out a gift for Grandpa Jack." Timmy nursed the bottle as the older man delicately climbed the stairs to his room. Laying the toddler on the bed he flipped on the television and whistled for Jet. The dog came bounding upstairs, obediently sitting at Gibbs' feet. "I want you to take good care of Timmy while I'm getting ready, buddy." Jet barked, jumping up on the bed to be closer to his pal. "That's a good boy," Gibbs cooed, giving the canine a pat on his rear. Once the two were situated the older man grabbed a set of clean clothes and went into the bathroom to get ready. Tim's recent daredevil actions had left him feeling uneasy; therefore he left the bathroom door open as he washed up. When he returned to the bedroom he smiled as Tim struggled to keep his eyes open. He would nod off and then suddenly jerk awake seconds later. "Timmy," Gibbs whispered, gently brushing the curly locks off his face. "Don't fight it, son." Tim let out a small snuffle as the soothing motion of Gibbs' thumb rubbing small circles on his forehead lulled him to sleep. Kissing his forehead, the older man watched his chest rise and fall for a few moments before he finished getting ready. He knew it would only be a matter of time until Tim fell asleep now that he had a full tummy, soft bed and warm milk. The truth of the matter was that Gibbs wanted him to sleep as much as possible because it was likely he'd be up past his bedtime due to the holiday.

As Tim slept soundly under the watchful eye of his furry companion, Gibbs finished dressing and gathered the supplies he would need for their shopping trip. His plan was to be in and out of the store as quickly as possible, however with it being Christmas Eve he wanted to be prepared in case it all didn't go according to plan. Hauling the diaper bag out to the car, he started it and proceeded to clean all the excess snow and ice off the windows. It wasn't until he turned to walk back inside that he noticed the Christmas lights were still shining brightly. Chuckling, he took a moment to admire the work he'd done with stringing the lights.

"The house looks good with a splash of color." He mumbled aloud, trying to remember if the house had ever been decorated for Christmas. When Shannon and Kelly were alive the inside of the house was always decorated, but he couldn't ever remember stringing lights. Unplugging the cord from the socket he continued inside and collected Tim's coat from the hall closet. Climbing the stairs once more he muttered, "Stupid stairs - stupid aging." Tim was still sleeping peacefully when he arrived in the bedroom and he finagled the little guy's arms into his coat. Wrapping him in a blanket he picked him up and laid him over his shoulder. The toddler whined as he was disturbed but quickly calmed when he heard Gibbs whisper, "Shh honey - Daddy's got you - go back to sleep." Tim remained asleep as the older man carried him out to the car and buckled him in the car seat. Once the little guy was situated Gibbs hopped in the front and took off for the mall.

XXX

Gibbs was pleasantly surprised at the crowd or lack thereof when they arrived at the mall. Noticing a relatively close parking spot he parked the car and shut off the engine. He knew the lot wouldn't stay empty for too much longer and wanted to get in and out as soon as possible. Glancing in the rearview mirror, he smiled at his boy who was still sound asleep. Climbing out of the car he grabbed the stroller from the trunk and set it up. He'd planned on carrying Tim as it would be easier to maneuver through the crowds, but with him still being asleep the stroller would suffice. Once he'd managed to unbuckle all the straps on the car seat he lifted Timmy up and gently placed him in the stroller. At that exact moment a strong gust of wind whipped through, pummeling the poor baby in the face. Gibbs grimaced as the toddler was awakened rather unpleasantly and he rushed over to cover him with a blanket. "Sorry kiddo," he frowned, as a bleary eyed Timmy looked up at him in shock. "I'm going to get you out of the cold really soon."

Stuffing the diaper bag in the storage compartment of the stroller he locked the car and headed inside the mall. Once inside, Gibbs pushed the stroller over to a bench to check on his little one. The poor kid appeared miserable as tears streamed down his face while snot dribbled out of his nose. Removing a handkerchief from his pocket he blotted the toddler's face and smiled, "I'm so sorry that you had to go through that, kiddo." Tim rubbed his eyes as his thumb crept up to his mouth and he leaned back in the stroller. Inhaling sharply the older man stood and started toward their destination. He hoped that the gentle movement of the stroller would eventually lull Tim back to sleep by the time they reached the store. As they continued deeper into the mall the smell of fresh brewed coffee filled the air. Since Tim appeared to be content observing all the action going on around him, Gibbs decided to take a detour to the coffee shop. Once he'd placed his order and paid he licked his lips when the piping hot cup of java was placed in front of him. After taking a few sips he sighed in satisfaction then continued on to the store. As they walked by Santa, Gibbs stopped and crouched down next to the stroller. "You see Santa over there, buddy? He's not scary." Tim looked skeptically at his daddy before hesitantly waving at the jolly old man from afar. When Santa waved back, Tim blushed and covered his hands with his face.

Gibbs chuckled, running his hands through the toddler's curls, "He's not so bad, kiddo. Perhaps when you get older you won't be as scared. It's okay that you're not a fan at this moment."

Tim slowly removed his hands from his face, casting his gaze on anything other than the man in the suit. Patting the little guy on the knee the older man stood up and continued, "We better get a move on, still need to find a gift for Grandpa Jack."

When they finally reached their desired store Gibbs huffed at the amount of people not only waiting in line, but also shopping. It was as if every last minute shopper decided to congregate in the same store at the same time. To make matters worse Tim decided he'd rather not being in the stroller and was struggling against the restraints.

"Out Dada!"

"Sorry buddy you have to stay in the stroller."

"NO!" Tim wailed, causing a few shoppers to glance in their direction. Gibbs chuckled nervously, pushing the stroller toward a less crowded area of the store. Crouching down, he cupped the side of Tim's cheek and whispered, "It's too much work for me to carry you and push the stroller in this crowded store." Tim wasn't happy with Gibbs' response, grunting loudly as he pushed the older man's hand off his cheek. Gibbs sighed, "I know you're disappointed sweetie, but there's nothing I can do about it. I brought a bottle of milk, would that make you happy?"

Tim shook his head, pounding his tiny fists on the tray of the stroller. "Suit yourself," Gibbs exhaled as he stood, pushing the stroller further into the store. They browsed the aisles on the lookout for the perfect gift when Gibbs spotted a display of coffee mugs. He'd already purchased a 'World's Greatest Grandpa' mug for Timmy to give to Ducky and contemplated on getting one for Jack. Although the older man had yet to prove he was worthy enough for the title he knew he'd be heartbroken if Ducky received one and he didn't. "Hey Timmy you want to pick out a mug for Grandpa Jack?" The toddler nodded enthusiastically as Gibbs pushed the stroller over to the display and crouched down. "You see one that you think he'll like?" Timmy pointed to a black mug that said 'World's Best Grandpa' the handwriting and artwork was in bold colors, appearing as if a toddler had done it. "Ooh that's a good choice, son." Picking the mug up off the shelf Gibbs brought it closer, allowing them both to get a good look. "I think he'll love this one." Tim nodded, reaching for the ceramic mug as the older man examined it to make sure there were no cracks or blemishes. "Sorry sweetie, but I can't let you hold it. If you drop it then it's going to break and we'll have no present for Grandpa Jack." Tears welled up in the toddler's eyes as he continued reaching for the mug. "Wan dada!"

"I know you do, buddy. How about I let you see it once we get home?"

"No! Wan now!" Tim screeched as Gibbs began to feel the stares from other shoppers.

"Nope," Gibbs shook his head and continued, "You can't always get what you want. This is what happens when you wake up from a nap too soon." The youngster burst into tears as Gibbs quickly headed toward the checkout line. Tim's tantrum ignited a few sympathetic stares, mainly from women, as he maneuvered through the crowded store. As his crying increased, Gibbs hoped he could pay and be on the way as soon as possible. When they reached the front there was a few shoppers in line ahead of them and he tapped his foot nervously as they waited. Finally after what seemed like an eternity it was their turn to checkout. The cashier frowned when she saw Tim's tear stained face and she reached under the counter, pulling out a lollipop, "I don't know if this will help, but do you think he'd like a treat?" Gibbs shook his head, "I appreciate the offer, but I'm not going to reward him for bad behavior." He paused and set the mug on the counter, "If you could ring me up we'll be on our way."

"Of course, sir." The young woman rang up the item, placed it in a bag and handed it to Gibbs. Once the charge had cleared she handed him the receipt and wished them both "Merry Christmas" as they left the store. Tim's cries reverberated loudly in the large mall forcing Gibbs to hightail it to the exit. He tried to ignore the stares from others, but the truth of the matter was that he was embarrassed. When they reached the exit Tim had finally calmed down enough for Gibbs to zip his coat and put on his hat. Both Gibbses shivered as they headed to the car and as disappointed as the older man was with Tim's behavior he couldn't stand seeing him uncomfortable because of the cold weather. When they reached the car Gibbs used his body to shield Tim from the blustery winds as he buckled him in the car seat. "Sowry dada," Tim whispered as the older man threaded his arms through the restraints and covered him with the blanket. "We'll talk about it when we get home, kiddo." Once the stroller was packed away in the trunk and the car was warmed up the two were glad to be headed home.