A Victim

Chap 14

Arely's POV
It's Christmas Eve. A few months ago, Drew had asked me to go on tour with them. I couldn't. He may be my boyfriend but I had a life of my own. I told Drew I couldn't. Alexis and I both sent them on their flight. I got a job as a 911 call operator and now here we are, four months later. Alexis is working vigorously with her team trying to finish up a case so everyone can be home with their family. I was helping Dad set up the house, getting ready for the party. We had invited Dad's team, Alexis' team and family if they had a family, and the guys.
"Dad, the house looks great," I smiled.
"And we don't even have to have mistletoe," Dad smiled.
"I think those days are over with," I nodded.
"Sorry I'm late," Alexis said walking through the front door. "But I made it." She changed from her comfortable work shoes to her heels. "Wow, it looks great in here."
"Thanks and your early," I smiled. The door bell rang. "Mind getting that since it's right behind you and not on a ladder?"
"Whatevs," Alexis smiled. She opened the door. "Blake!" She attacked him with a hug. "Ohhh myyy god."
"And you've gained some muscle mass because your grip is tighter," Blake smiled.
"Sorry," Alexis said as she let go. "Come in." She hugged all the guys one by one as they walked in. "You're early."
"Well, we like to be early," TC replied.
"Alexis beat you to it," I smiled as I got off the ladder. Dad put the ladder up. "She just got home not too long ago."
"Exhausting case?" Drew asked.
"Gone for five days," I nodded. "Did you get any sleep?"
"I did Friday night and last night on the flight home," Alexis nodded. "Don't worry. I'm firing on all eight cylinders."
"Sometimes I'll never understand your analogies," I stated.
"She's referring to a car," Dad crossed his arms. "Eight cylinders."
"Dad, I honestly don't know much about cars," I shrugged as I say next to Drew on the couch. "Do we wait for our first guests to arrive?"
"They are the first guests," Alexis smiled as Blake put his arm around her. She clasps hands with him. "Best first guests to arrive."
"Well, my team just canceled," Dad sighed looking at his phone. "Looks like we are just waiting fuir your team."
Alexis' phone rang. Alexis sighed and dropped her head. "I hope and pray to god that's not another case," I whined.
"I'll rather lose my job than work a case on Christmas Eve," Alexis stated as she got out her phone. "Uhm, Dad, my whole unit just canceled."
"I guess it's only just us eight," Devin nodded. "What do we plan on doing?"
"Play a game of twenty questions," Jayk suggested. "Get to know everyone better."
"Okay," Alexis nodded as we sat in the living room. "One question per person and everyone has to answer it even the person that asked the question."
"Other than the job or career you're doing now, what other career would you choose?" TC asked. "If you had to choose." I nodded. "I'll be an actor."
"Solo artist," Drew sighed.
"Musical performance," Blake nodded.
"Air force," Alexis exhaled.
"Really?" Dad asked. "You're more like me than I thought." Alexis smiled. "I'll still be in the Marines."
"Football," Jayk nodded.
"I would be finishing school," Devin sighed.
"Would you even have a career in mind?" I asked. "That's what TC was asking."
"But there's nothing more I'd love to do than our criminals behind bars," Dad nodded.
"Dad, you're a national hero though," Alexis smiled. "You're a hero. You're a veteran, a former marine. Most importantly, you're my hero."
"That's very sweet of you, angel, but I'm not a Marine anymore," Dad sighed. His phone rang and he looked at it. He picked up. "Yeah Leon."
"That's never good," I groaned.
"What's wrong, babe?" Drew asked rubbing my back.
"Leon is Dad's director," Alexis sighed. "It must be something important."
"I'm having a Christmas party," Dad nodded. "I'm not about to leave in the middle of it."
"He has a case," I nodded.
"I'll be there with six other people," Dad said hanging up. "Come on, Alexis."
"I have a case too?" Alexis asked. Dad nodded and she groaned. "This just never ends."
"What about the rest of us?" I asked.
"Everyone's coming with us," Dad nodded. "Arely, you keep them in the break room. Blake can stay with Alexis as long as he keeps his mouth shut."
"He can do that," Alexis nodded. "Let's go."
"A case on Christmas Eve," I nodded. Alexis and Blake went in her car, Dad's in his, Drew and I took my jeep, and everyone else took the van. We got NCIS and I took Drew, Jayk, TC, and Devin to the break room with me. "I guess we hang here until they get done."
"How long is this going to take?" Drew asked.
"It depends on what the case is about," I nodded. "But if Alexis is involved, it might be something big. She's the FBI and Gibbs is NCIS. It's not everyday the two are joined together." I looked at Drew. "But I'm sure they can solve it. I have faith in them."