"Boss? Why are you here?" Tony asked as he returned. He was now
dressed in sweats and tight pullover. Gibbs took in the sight before
him.

"I knew you would be on your own and…..with losing Cait and the
plague you could do with some company at a time that is hard for most
people".

Tony walked toward Gibbs. "Jenny needs you Boss. You know your
fiancée. The woman you love and are marrying. I don't think she
will be too pleased to know you are here taking care of me instead of
being with her. Her face fell when you rang to say you were not able
to get home. She was really hurt Boss", Tony took a sip of his wine
and looked at the counter in front of him.

"Tony, Jenny….." he started as the doorbell rang. Tony looked
up. "Is here" Gibbs finished as he went to the door.

`Fuck. How dare he invite her here'. Tony downed the wine and
poured himself another glass before Jenny and Gibbs walked back into
the kitchen, giggling.

"Hi Tony. Jethro felt that we needed to make sure you were taken
care of this Christmas. I was only too pleased…….." Jenny said
gushing.

"Get out, please, both of you", Tony said dangerously low. "I am not
some waif or stray that needs to be taken care of. I am a fully
grown man who has managed to get through Christmas alone for the last
25 or so years".

Gibbs looked dumbfounded at Tony. Jenny blushed and rocked uneasily
from heel to heel.

Tony sighed. "I am sorry I appreciate everything you have done but
please I want to be alone." Tony said as he left the kitchen with
the bottle of wine. "Feel free to stay here and eat. After all
Gibbs went to a lot of trouble. Merry Christmas".

That said he was gone. He could feel the tears forming in his eyes.
He hadn't cried in years. Just when he felt that Christmas could
never get worse, he will now always picture Gibbs and Jenny together.

TBC