A Christmas To Remember

The CascadeTimes Christmas Challenge for 1999.  The following items had to be included:  black olives, train going round the Christmas tree, a jellfyfish, red and green chili pepper Christmas lights, a real live pig on a sled, a shoe horn, a cowbell, an explosion, Hermey the Elf from Rudolph's Christmas special, a model airplane, presents for everyone.

Special thanks go to Myst for planning the plot and trusting me to supply the fun and hijinks!  This was so much fun gal, I hope we do many more stories together!

Rated PG for mild language.  Otherwise just lots of fun and love with our favorite gang!!!

Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year!  :)
 

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7:00 a.m. Christmas Eve

"I can drive you know." Jim said tersely as Blair parked the hayseed in the parking garage.

Blair smirked, "I know, Jim. It's all right." Inside he was about to split a seam. No one would believe the caper they pulled off last night.
Not in a million years!

A routine witness check at the Cascade Sea Aquarium had turned into an apprehension of Sammy The Slug. The local pest who had taken it upon himself to personally free all the 'trapped' sea life in pet stores around Cascade.

Somehow, some cosmic force landed Jim tangling with Sammy and a very pissed off jellyfish that had been jettisoned from his tank. And if that
hadn't been bad enough, during the tussle on the floor the jellyfish stung him on the calf and an octopus wrapped itself around his head!

Jim looked over at Blair annoyed that he was so happy this morning. Sure he's happy! He didn't get stung by the jellyfish! He wasn't the one that
was tangled up with a mating minded octopus!

Blair cleared his throat, "Did you take the Benedryl?" All kidding aside Jim had suffered a bad bite by the jellyfish and an equally bad
reaction. His entire right calf and thigh were swollen nearly twice their size and he'd awoke this morning wheezing like a twenty year
smoker.

Jim exhaled sharply as the truck rounded the circular ramp of the garage. His leg brushing the door slightly. "No, damn it! I didn't! How
do you expect me to work if I'm high as a kite and the room is spinning?"

Blair glanced over at his partner and best friend. "It would at least take the edge off the crappiness. Christmas Eve is no time to be sick,
man. I know."

Jim propped his arm on the door arm rest and sighed. "I'm not sick, Chief. I was mauled by a jellyfish and nearly deflowered by an octopus."

Leaning across the seat towards Blair so that their shoulders were touching he said in his most threatening Army Ranger tone, "If you leak
one word about the jellyfish or the octopus I'll personally rip your head off and send it to the remotest part of the world and have a local
shaman shrink it and send it back to me so I can use it as a paperweight. Do we understand one another, Sandburg?"

That glint in those icy blues told Blair don't laugh, man! He's so not in the mood for humor. "Perfectly, Jim." Putting the truck in park and
shutting off the engine Blair turned and smiled wildly, "Perfectly."

Yet, Jim could hear Blair's heart thumping a mile a minute and there was no way to disguise the subtle shake of his shoulders. "Not.A.Word." He
restated his threat just as the parking garage elevator doors closed.

"There's nothing wrong with a shoehorn, Joel." Rafe defended in a somewhat loud tone. Joel and H. exchanged exasperated looks with the
junior detective. "I forgot! all right! I forgot to bring something for the tree and this fell out of my locker this morning."

"And what pre tel does a shoehorn have to do with us and Christmas?" H. asked in his ever wise and together demeanor.

Rafe grinned as he hung the 'ornament' on the lowest branch and resting against the floor. "It represents all the tight places we've had to
extricate ourselves from!"

"Oh brother!" They chorused and then scattered, heading back to their desks.

Blair and Jim walked in just as the crowd thinned. Blair hurriedly rummaged through his backpack. "Oh, man, I almost forgot!" Digging a
globe about the size of an apple out of the pack he held it up for Jim to see.

Jim narrowed his eyes, "What is this?"

Rolling his eyes, "My ornament for the tree. We're supposed to bring one. Something that represents what Christmas in this department means
to us."

Jim shook his head and walked towards his desk. "Paperwork, Sandburg. Paperwork by the sleigh loads."

Blair patted him on the shoulder, "Maybe we could get you a mini-aquarium for your desk."
Jim grumbled a muffled threat and took a swat at his partner before the junior detective dashed off towards the tree.

Blair met Megan at the tall fat spruce that occupied the wall near Simon's office.

Decorated with care by Rhonda, the tiny lights shown brightly against the green and red garland that nearly strangled the tree.

"Hi, Sandy!" Megan greeted him with a megawatt smile. "Is that your ornament? Could I see?"

Blair handed her the globe carefully as if he were handing over a vital organ. "It's a globe marked with all the places I've been in my
travels."

Megan turned the globe and studied all the marked places. When she circled around to North America she noticed a red heart up in the
northwest corner. "What's the heart for?"

Smiling proudly, "Of all the places I've been to Megan, this is the one place I call home."

Megan smiled. Her smile somewhat sad this time. "This is my first Christmas away from home. I have no idea what American Christmas' are
like."

Blair touched her forearm in a gesture of understanding. "We're your family now. You'll spend it with us. And believe me, we don't do
anything like it should be done!"

Megan sniffled and laughed at the same time. "I thought I'd hang a little cow bell to remind me of the cattle station."

"That'd be perfect O'Connor." Jim's deep voice came from behind Blair. His eyes had softened from earlier. Blair figured he must have heard the conversation.

"What'd ya say we show Megan how Christmas is done in the States?" Blair had turned and challenged the bullpen.

A loud whooping 'yeah' erupted in the somewhat quiet office. It was loud enough for Simon Banks to exit his office and stand with his hands on
his hips and a stogie clamped in his teeth.

"Is the building on fire people?" He barked, eyeing everyone like hardened criminals but in that inventory like manner that everyone knew
he was just checking the 'situation.'

"Jim, I need that report from last night before you leave." Striding across the bullpen he intentionally ignored Blair. Not just ignored him
but walked right by him as if he weren't even in the building.

"Mornin', Captain, sure is a lovely Christmas Eve." Blair egged the tall Captain on. Grinning like a Cheshire cat that ate the canary.

"Yes Sir." Jim replied and looked at Blair. "What'd you do to Simon, Chief?"

Blair smiled triumphantly and went after Simon. "You'll see!"

Whew! Got past the kid without a hitch! Now if the rest of the day will just hurry and go by! I just know he's gonna make me pay up with half my
pension, I just know it!

"Hey Simon, man! Wait up!" The voice he was avoiding came from behind him as he made his way to the break room. Almost scot-free!

Simon halted in his steps and dropped his head in defeat. "all right, Sandburg, how much do I owe you for losing the bet?" Taking out his
brown wallet he fished through various denominations of bills.

Wearing the most evil grin he could muster Blair says, "Sir, money will not cover what you owe me."

Simon growled, "Then WHAT do you want as payment, Sandburg?"

Blair grinned and wagged his eyebrows in a daunting manner. "You'll be paying your bet at the party tonight." Then for sure measures to further
goad the good Captain he added, "I warned you not to bet against me."

Suspicious, Simon towered over the smaller man trying to intimidate him. "And what did you have in mind?"

"You'll find out tonight!" That *you'll be sorry* look danced vividly in Blair's blue eyes and Simon began to worry about what the young
detective had in store for him.

2:47 p.m. Christmas Eve

Blair pulled the truck out of the garage with ease. "Where to?"

Jim sat in the passenger seat somewhat relaxed considering Blair was driving. His face was devoid of the pain lines of the morning and he was
actually quite chipper for a man with a fat leg and octo-hickey's on his neck. Of course, no one but Blair knew they were there because of the
black turtle neck he'd pulled on.

"The mall." He said flippantly.

Blair grinned, "Man, you hate the mall!"

Jim shrugged, "I feel like-"

"All units in the vicinity of Park Ridge and Bland Road please respond to a robbery at First Church of Cascade."

Jim's hand flew for the mic, "Echo 7 responding Dispatch."

"Echo 7 responding." The dispatcher repeated back.

Blair quickly and safely got them to the church. Jim hopped out of the truck only to be nearly floored by a wave of dizziness. His knees were
like rubber and his arms felt like lead weights were tied to his shoulders.

"Whoa!" Grabbing hold of the side of the truck he steadied himself. "Sandburg, what the hell did you do to my coffee?"

Blair came around the front of the truck. His cheeks already pink from the cold. "Something you should have done this morning, my friend."

"SANDBURG!" Jim bellowed, only to have his own voice echo back in his skull like a kettle drum.

"I'll get the scoop and come back." Patting Jim on the shoulder he literally skipped off to see what jerk would rob a church.

He didn't get far when two little old ladies rushed up to him. They were bundled up so tight he wasn't sure if they were human or walking bunches
of coats.

"Officer, Officer!" The lady with the red beanie latched onto Blair. "Someone stole our pig from our manger display! We can't have Christmas
Eve without the pig!"

Blair placed his mittened hand on top of the lady's. "Ok, show me where the manger is and I'll check it out."

Quickly the little old ladies lead Blair to the side yard of the church where the manger was located. Sure enough it was a live manger.
Everything was there but the camel and the pig. Blair stepped around the display and other live animals carefully.

Checking the back of the set up he found tracks in the snow. Sled tracks. Following the tracks with a grin on his face, he chuckled at the
sight in front of him. A few feet ahead a little boy, no more than six at the most, trudged along with a little red sled with a pig on it.

Jogging a few feet Blair caught up with the tike. "Excuse me, young man, I'm Officer Sandburg. Could you tell me where you got that pig from?"
The little boy glanced at the pig and then back at Blair. His big brown eyes silently pleading  his case. "I stole him from the church."

Blair knelt down to bring himself to the child's level. "Why? Aren't they taking excellent care of him? He's part of the manger. They need
him."

The little tike nodded in agreement. "He was cold. Momma always says to wear your coat and mittens when you're out in the cold. Mr. Pig doesn't have any fur. He's gonna be really cold tonight."

Blair smiled understandingly. "Tell you what. Let's get Mr. Pig back to the church and I'll make sure the ladies there keep him warm."

Pondering Blair's deal, the child knelt before the pig on the sled.  Serious in his quest to save the pig he'd adorned him with a blue scarf
and four mismatched mittens on his four feet.

"Think maybe they'd let him keep the mittens and give him some hot chocolate?"

Blair scooped up the boy and pulled the sled behind him. "We'll see what we can work out."
 

Jim stood at the kitchen nursing a glass of ginger ale. His stomach was still rolling from the effects of the Benedryl. Even with that and the
strange buzzing he felt throughout his body he still felt pretty good.

"Those are the kind of cases I wouldn't mind you handling more often."  Blair finished chopping vegetables for the party platter he was making.
"Oh, we're so funny!" Putting the carrots around the large glass plate he adjusted the cucumbers just so and looked up at Jim. "Thanks for
being concerned, anyway."

Jim winked at him with that look only Blair received. It was a look that conveyed love, trust, friendship, brotherhood and Guide all in one. It
was a look Jim Ellison would never be able to put into words.

"Hey!" Blair called from across the living room. "I replaced those lights while you were in the shower, man. Check this out!"

Instantly the loft was bathed in a loud red-green-red-green glow. JIm squinted and shielded his eyes. "Christ, Sandburg! I asked you to
replace one bulb not the entire set of lights!"

Setting his glass down he marched over to the tree and picked up the tiny flashing lights that lay on the limbs of the live spruce. "Chili
peppers!"

Blair laughed, "Aren't they so cool! I bet we're the only ones with them."

Jim shook his still fuzzy head. "What happened to normal, Sandburg? Plain, boring unblinking lights?"

Blair finished tucking the lights within the branches. "If you wanted normal you shouldn't have asked me to get replacement lights. Besides,
big guy, they spice up the tree!"

Jim flopped down on the couch and propped his throbbing leg on the table. He looked hard at the tree they were working on. It was normal.
Normal as they were! So they had chili peppers for lights, the rest of the tree was pretty decent.

The angel on top glowed steadily watching down on the loft and them with her porcelain face as perfect as the season itself.

And then there was the surprise Blair sprung on him two nights ago. The train that circled the base of the tree. A smile touched his lips. Blair
had asked Steven for his old train set three weeks ago after Jim mentioned that he had had one as a kid. Even though it sat motionless
now he knew it worked. His partner's hushed giggles and the soft clicky-clack of train wheels on the metal track were a dead giveaway the
other night.

Blair was working on the tree when he noticed the Jim was just sitting too still. Looking back at the tree he pulled the flashing light out of
the string and the chili peppers quieted to a normal unblinking glow of red-green.

"Hey, Jim, sorry about the flashing, man." He came and sat next to his partner and observed the their handiwork.

"Looks good, Chief." Jim spoke so softly Blair wasn't sure if he had heard him. "Has Naomi called yet?"

Blair nodded, "Yep, she's in Thailand. She sends a big kiss to you and she'll see us in mid January."

Jim knew Blair wanted Naomi to be here for Christmas. "I'm sorry, Blair. I know you wanted her here this year."

"Yeah, well, I've got the other members of my family due at any minute so get your butt upstairs and get dressed." Bounding off the couch he
began putting away decoration boxes and bags from purchases they'd made after the pignapping.

6:01 p.m.

"Simon's here." Jim announced to Blair from upstairs.

Blair, down in the kitchen smiled. "I'll let him knock. Really make his Christmas!"  'Considering it's about to be the Christmas he'll never forget! Teach him to bet against me!' Blair thought with an evil little grin.

On the second knock Blair answered the door. In walked Simon, Joel, Rafe, H. and Megan all dressed for the occasion.

"Help yourself to the food on the table." Blair instructed as he headed to his room.

Everyone congregated around the dining room table after depositing gifts under the tree. The spread of food that was laid out drew oohhs and ahhs that filtered upstairs to Jim's ears. Damn Chief, you can even wow them with a cheese and vegetable platter.

Returning from his room with a garment bag Blair handed it to Simon and whispered in his ear, "Time to pay your debt."

Simon held out the garment bag like it was a garbage bag. "What's this?"

Blair's eyes sparkled in the soft light of the loft. "Just get dressed and do what the paper inside says to do. That's it. Debt paid."

"But-"

Half shoving Simon in the direction of his room he patted the big captain on the back. "You'll never bet against me again."

One might as well have shackled him to the sinking Titanic the way Simon shuffled off to change giving Blair not one but two evil dirty looks
before he slammed the door to the bedroom.

As Jim ambled downstairs to join the party, he let his thoughts wander back to when he and Blair first got home.  Blair had forced him to take
another of the damned Benedryl for his leg.  He only agreed to take it in order to keep the peace with his roomate.  He hated to admit it but
not only was his leg feeling better, the tightness in his chest was gone.  Considering this and seeing that the tree was now overflowing
with gifts that weren't there earlier, he was beginning to feel quite festive and thought about having a beer later in the evening in
celebration.

Greeting everyone he went into the kitchen and poured himself another ginger ale. While waiting for the fizz to die down an idea struck him.
Struck him hard! Recapping the soda he turned his back to everyone and shook the liter bottle like hell! Inside the gas built and built! You
didn't need Sentinel ears to hear the commotion inside! 'Oh Chief, I can't wait to see your face!' Carefully he sat the bottle in the back of
the fridge so no one would upset it.

7:00 p.m.

"Um Gentlemen and Megan, may I have your attention please." Blair stood shoeless on the coffee table. The guests gathered around him with drinks and food in hand. "I have taken the honor of having some live entertainment for us tonight."

Everyone looked around and then all eyes fell on Jim and Blair. Even Jim was lost.

"May I present to you this evening, Hermey The Elf from Santa's Workshop!"   A round of applause rose from the group as Blair's
bedroom door opened slowly.

"OhmiGo- Sandburg, what have you-" Jim bolted up from the couch when he realized it was their Captain dressed up as a blond headed elf carrying a sack of presents.

Blair clamped a hand on Jim's shoulder from his perch on the table top. "Shhh, Simon's cool with it."

"Sandburg, you're bucking to get us fired!" Jim insisted.

"Jim, chill man." Blair assured him. "Simon is at my complete mercy."

Jim's brow furrowed into a knot before he lost interest in being upset. Hell, what did it matter! This was Christmas Eve! Man, Ellison, you're
getting lax in your old age!

Hopping down from the table Blair went to stand at the stairs to Jim's room. Hoisting up his Casio keyboard he began to flawlessly play the
little tune from the classic cartoon.

Hearing muffled laughter and snickering Simon turned and glared at his detectives.

"NOT. A. WORD. PEOPLE."

Simon, dressed in the little elf costume looked murderously towards Blair waiting for his cue. When the intro the music faded and the next
verse began Simon started to sing:

                                                                                     "Why am I such a misfit?
                                                                                            I am not just a nitwit
                                                                                          You can't fire me, I quit
                                                                                               Seems I don't fit in!"

Everyone stood slack jawed as the deep tenor voice reverberated throughout the loft. The wooden floor providing just the right 'bounce'
for the rich voice. Singing the song twice he waited for the music to end before he released the nervous breath he held.

"Bravo, Captain! Bravo!" Rafe roared and began clapping. H. Joel, Megan, Jim and Blair followed suit.

"All right! Knock it off!" Simon scolded thoroughly embarrassed. "Let this be a warning to you: This is what happens when you bet AGAINST
Sandburg!"

Loud boisterous laughter came from the Major Crimes crew.  Joel ventured to ask the question on everyones mind.  "So, Blair, what was the bet? It had to be pretty good for you to get the Captain to dress up like an elf!"

Blair grinned wickedly and replied, "It was classic!  You see I bet Simon-"

"SANDBURG!  One more word about the bet and you are going to be on 'manure detail' with the Cascade P.D.'s Equine Unit!"  Simon threatened.

"I've had worse jobs in my life, sir," Blair snickered.

"Did I mention instead of a regular shovel you would be issued a plastic sand shovel like the one a child uses at the beach in the summer?"
Simon questioned.

Blair's eyes sparkled like diamonds as he tried to keep from laughing. "Sorry guys.  If you want details on the bet you had better ask Simon."

"Thought you'd see it my way!"

Blair put down his miniature piano keyboard and came to stand beside Jim. He was a little concerned about him. Thruout the evening Jim had become increasingly flushed.  Eyeing a half empty bottle, Bair hoped his big Sentinel hadn't drank a beer behind the Benedryl. God, if he drank
beer with that pill he's gonna be feeling pretty good soon!

Simon pulled presents from the bag and began to distribute them. They were presents to the detectives from Jim and Blair. Everyone received a
medium sized box with fancy paper and large bows on them with the exception being Megan. She received a card like envelope.

Seeing her crestfallen expression Jim pulled her aside while the others migrated towards the tree. "O'Connor-Megan, there's something special in that envelope just for you. Blair and I weren't sure what to get you because, quite honestly, we couldn't agree on anything that wasn't too
personal."

Megan looked at Jim. Really looked at him. He wasn't the hard cop-sentinel she knew from the office and field.   Standing before her
was Jim Ellison the human being. His eyes were sparkling as brightly as Blair's and the flushness in his face was rather flattering.

"I don't know what to say, Jim." She stuttered. Jim shrugged, sheepishly, "Open it. I guarantee you won't ever have one of these again."

That got her curiosity up. Like a child she ripped open the envelope to find a piece of stationary inside. Addressed in Blair's readable
longhand it read:

Confusion etched itself onto her delicate face. "What?"

Jim turned to walk away but added over his shoulder, "Just answer the damn phone at 10:55 p.m. O'Connor."

Blair breezed into the kitchen on Argyle socked feet and skidded to a halt next to Jim nearly making him spill his drink. "So, do you think
she knows?" Bouncing like a Tigger, he could barely contain himself.

"She will if you don't pipe down!" Jim scolded and sipped his drink. "Did you turn the heat up or something? It's hot as a jungle in here."

Blair frowned a little, "No, Jim, just the fireplace. You ok? You look sorta beat."

Jim smiled almost wickedly, "Nope, never felt better. Think I'll go harass Simon." And with that the tall agile man darted for the living
room and sought out his boss.

Blair looked out across the loft at the happy scene. "This is Christmas, man. This is what I wanted as a kid."

"Me too, Chief." Came Jim's voice from over the noise in the other room.

"Olives!" Joel's voice boomed over the laughter. "Olives!"

Rafe who was laughing so hard he was falling off his chair added between gasps, "That way you can add 'extra olives' AFTER the pizza gets to the station!

10:45 p.m.

Silence hung in the loft. The radio was playing carols in the back ground and Megan and Simon were relaxing on the sofa reciting highlights
of the evening. Jim and Blair busied themselves with cleaning up and putting food away and stealing glances at the clock. The time was nearly
at hand and Jim just knew Blair was going spoil it if he didn't simmer down to a half way normal level.

All evening the energetic Blair Sandburg had kept the party moving. Jim couldn't believe that Blair MADE Simon dress up and sing! He made a
mental note right then and there not to bet against Sandburg in anything. Well, except, maybe directions! When the presents had been
opened Blair moved the party onward to games that made everyone get up and participate. He was quite the host Jim summed up.

"Oh, Jim." Simon came from the living room with two glasses in hand. Megan was standing at the balcony windows looking out onto the city much the way Jim did.

"The president of the Cascade Sea Aquarium wanted me to let you know that their octopus is going to be just fine."

Strange looks were exchanged between Jim and Blair but neither said anything. "You two want to fill me in on what happened to the octopus?"

Jim, who had pretty much worn himself out from the game hour, shrugged and sipped his drink. "Nope, just routine stuff, sir."

Blair snorted, "Yea, right. Routine."

"Sandburg." Simon said in the don't-pull-any-crap-with-me tone.

"All right, Simon, this is what happened." Jim said in his most normal tone. "An octofish bit me and a jellypus tried to mate with my head. I
have these nice do-hickeys on my neck-" pulling the collar of his black turtle neck down he bared the bruises of suction cups to Simon. "so then
I ripped his leggy thing off and threw it."

Simon looked at Blair who was trying so hard not to implode with laughter. "An octo-what? Did that?"

"That's right, sir." Blair said tightly, losing what little control he was holding on his laughter. "Wrapped right ~choke~ around his head and
proceded to, um ~ack~"attach" himself to Jim."

Jim leaned against the kitchen counter, clearly the victim here, wearing the most innocent smile you could imagine. "Sure did. I say we arrest
him for assaulting a battery!"

"Jim!" Simon said firmly. "What the heck is wrong with you?" He knew Jim and this WAS NOT Jim.

Blair looked from Simon to Jim and smiled. "Benedryl. Simon. I gave him Benedryl to counter the effect of the jellyfish-"

"Jellypus, Chief. It was a jellypus." Jim corrected.

Blair grinned wider, "Right, Jim. Jellypus. I think he had a beer or two behind it because he's pretty happy right now."

Simon chuckled in his deep voice, "I'll say."

10:55 p.m.

Jim went up to his room to get Blair's present while Blair set Jim's out under the tree.

Megan gathered her coat and shrugged into it. "This was really nice, Sandy. I've never had such fun on a holiday."

Blair smiled as he stood from the tree. "Your call," he said as the phone started to ring, "Just came in."

Megan looked to the phone and back at Blair. "Answer it. It's for you."

Hesitantly she picked up the phone from the cradle and held it to her ear. "He-Hello."

Jim had just come down stairs and stood beside Blair when she turned and the silver tears ran down her cheeks. "Momma, Pop...."

"Ah, I think she likes our gift Chief." Jim said throwing his arm around Blair's shoulders and hugging him to his side.

"Yep, I think so, Jim. Come on, let's give her some privacy," Blair replied as the two friends walked towards the balcony to admire the
view.

Christmas Morning 4:09 a.m.

"Chief! Chief!" Jim's voice exploded in the quiet loft.

Crashed on the couch Blair awoke with a start. "What? Jim? What's wrong?" Lurching to his feet he stood and spun in a circle looking for
Jim.

Jim sat at the dining room table still dressed from the party. He looked like crap. "What's wrong, man?"

"I'm gonna be sick." He said.

Blair ran to the kitchen. "Hang on man, let me get you some Ginger Ale. Probably shouldn't have drank that beer with the Benedryl. I told you
about that."

Jim covered his mouth with his hand to hide the smile that was erupting there. "Hurry, Chief." He added and nearly lost it. God, this is gonna
be good.

Grabbing a glass from the cabinet and a few cubes from the ice trays Blair grabbed the bottle of Ale from the fridge.

Jim waited.....

Ka-whooooooooosh!!!!

"AAAACCCCKKKKKK!" Blair's shrill scream rent the air. "Oh, man, I've been shot! Jim help me!"

Jim sauntered into the kitchen in hysterical fits of laughter. "Oh, Chief, you should see your face!" Holding his middle he was sure he was
going to lose his spleen!

Blair, plastered against the sink counter stood motionless. The bottle of Ale fizzing to a timely death in his hand. The clear liquid was
everywhere. His hair, clothes, face, the counters and floor. And there Jim stood in the middle of it in his white socks laughing.

"Oh, you are so-" Blair fumed, he couldn't find a punishment worthy of this crime. "You are like in for SO MANY TESTS!"

Jim shrugged, still laughing, "Let's open presents since you're up."

"Let's open presents since you're up!" Blair mocked his roommate and toweled off with the dishcloth. Cross Benedryl and Sea Aquarium's off
the the list of places to take Jim.

Seated beneath the tree they exchanged gifts. Jim handed Blair a box that was neatly wrapped with military squared corners. and a big red bow.

"Open this one first." He instructed. All traces of his former insanity gone. In it's place was Jim, his Sentinel, his friend, his brother.

Blair obeyed and carefully opened the box. Inside was a pretty large scale replica of the plane he took with Jim to Peru to rescue Simon and
Daryl.

"You didn't have to jump out of that plane that day, Blair." Jim said. "But you did. You are the bravest person I've ever met. It was that
moment that I knew there was no turning back for either of us."

Blair was at a lost for words. He held the plane close to his chest. "You know, Jim. That's probably the one moment in my life when I didn't
analyze it to death. I reacted with my heart and I don't regret it. I'd jump out of a thousand planes for you man."

"Let's not make it a habit." Jim said quietly.

Blair reached under the tree and pulled out Jim's gift. It was a medium sized box dressed in wild holiday paper with multiple bows on it.
Typical Sandburg excitement style.

"Merry Christmas, Jim." Opening the box, Jim stared in silent awe at what lay nestled lovingly in the box of super small pacing peanuts.

"Oh, Chief, I don't know what to say." Lifting the black onyx jaguar from the packing materials he sat it in his hand. It was a mere seven
inches long and gleamed like a polished diamond.

Blair smiled, pleased that Jim was happy. "It's an original."

Jim's smile faded. "Original what?"

Blair chuckled. "On my very last field expedition, before I met you I was down in the Mayan area on a dig. He found me."

Jim closed his hand around the animal feeling it's warmth and power. "He led you to me."

"Merry Christmas, Big guy."

"Merry Christmas, Chief."

The End
 

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