As always, my thanks to the Puff and the divine Ms. M for beta-ing this little bit of Christmas fluff.

Angel in the Snow

December 25, 1998

~~~

Standing on the sidewalk outside the loft, James Ellison looked up at his loft and wished for the hundredth time that day that the Earth would open up and swallow him.

He hated Christmas. He couldn't remember a Christmas since his mother had left them that he did like. He usually spent them at the station filling in for guys who had families, who had someplace to go, someone to be with. Something to be happy for.

He hated Christmas. The decorations. The music. The smells. The crowds. The noise. It made him crazy. . .and cranky. Hell, it made him act like a jerk.

This morning, at breakfast, Blair had been humming some jazz rendition of a Christmas carol while he made breakfast. He'd been doing things like that all week. That, and dropping hints about a tree.

That morning had been the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. . .

"Hey, Jim." Blair looked up from the skillet full of eggs and smiled at his partner. "Breakfast'll be ready in a flash."

"I'm not hungry," Jim growled.

"But, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And I made all your favorites--"

Jim eyed the eggs and toast and bacon, their aroma battling with the scent rising from the freshly brewed pot of coffee, causing his stomach to growl.

"Come on, man," Blair cajoled. "Your blood sugar's probably just off, that's why you're so cranky. Sit. Eat. You'll feel better."

"What are you now? My mother?" the Sentinel snapped viciously.

Blair blinked in disbelief at the vehemence of the question, then slowly placed the pan to one side and turned off the burner. "What's going on, Jim?" he said, concerned by his partner's outburst.

Unnerved by Blair's response to his high-handed remarks, Jim backed towards the door.

"Nothing," he said as he snatched his coat from the hook and opened the front door. "I'm going to work," he announced back over his shoulder as he closed the door firmly behind him.

Now, hours later, standing outside, looking up at the loft, Jim acknowledged that he'd been out of line.

He couldn't stand there forever. It was getting colder. Clutching the bottle of wine and takeout closer to his body, he slowly started up the stairs.

Cautiously entering the loft, Jim was surprised by the sight that greeted him.

Blair must've spent the entire day decorating.

A perfect tree graced the corner of the living room, its tiny white lights twinkling like stars in the darkened room. Softly scented candles burned on the tables and the breakfast bar, but Blair was no where to be seen.

For a moment, the Sentinel panicked. The way he'd been acting the last week, he wouldn't blame Sandburg for leaving him. Then, slowly, he became aware of the heartbeat he'd come to know so well.

Placing the food and wine down on the kitchen table, Ellison made his way to the living room.

And found his Guide standing outside on the balcony.

It had started to snow. Even in the darkness, Jim could see each individual flake as it drifted down from the sky and caught in Blair's hair, the light from the moon turning them to silver. They looked like a halo.

Jim smiled. His own personal angel. He wondered what his Guide would think if he said that out loud.

"Better come in before you freeze, Sandburg," he said softly.

Blair turned. "Jim! I didn't hear you come in." He stepped from the balcony into the room, shaking the moisture from his clothes. "You're late. Simon said you left hours ago. I was beginning to think you weren't coming home."

"I'd think, after the way I've been acting this past week, you wouldn't care."

Blair smiled. "I'll always care, Jim. I know the holidays are hard on you." He touched his Sentinel's arm.

Jim cleared his throat self-consciously. "I see you bought a tree."

"Yeah." Blair's smiled broadened. "Had to pay some kids to help me bring it upstairs. What do you think?"

Jim didn't answer for a long time. "I think it's beautiful." He playfully cuffed his Guide on the side of the head. "And I think, maybe, for the first time in a long time, Christmas won't be so bad."