NCIS Drabble: Comfort & Joy; PG, gen
Title: Comfort & Joy
by Cuke
Length/Word Count: 315
Characters: Leon Vance, Abigail Scuito
Pairings: none
Prompt: ncisdrabble100’s #268 - tree
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Wish I owned NCIS; don’t.
Spoilers/Warnings: none
Summary: Vance is torn between his obligations.
Vance stormed out of the elevator, Christmas muzak still ringing in his ears. He should’ve been at home with Jackie and the kids on Christmas Eve, drinking eggnog and smiling politely at his mother-in-law’s verbal jabs, but instead he found himself once again being called into work to clean up yet another bureaucratic mess created by Leroy Jethro Gibbs and his team. Who knew what head of state they’d pissed off this time.
Typical, he fumed to himself, Another family function bites the dust. Worse yet, the floor seemed to be deserted this time of night, denying him a rightful target to take his frustrations out on as he thundered toward MTAC.
Or, maybe not so deserted… He reconsidered, spying a black platform boot sticking out from underneath the branches of the office Christmas tree. Risking a peek, the director was unsurprised to find one Abigail Sciuto laid out on the plush red skirt, body splayed out as if she’d been lulled asleep by the overhead string of lights. He couldn’t help the fondness that enveloped him as he studied her. It was something his own kids might do on Christmas Day, after the excitement of presents had dissipated and exhaustion set in.
Vance wondered if Gibbs had forced her to stay late in case he needed her assistance, but just as quickly discarded the idea. Gibbs doted on Abby, and she him. More likely, she had just refused to go home until the rest of the team could as well.
With a sigh, Leon stripped off his jacket, tucking it carefully around the forensic scientist as a make shift blanket. He reasoned the floor must be cold this time of night.
When he continued on his path a moment later, it was with a considerably lighter step. Sometimes he needed a reminder that his NCIS family was a part of who he was, too.