The South Street Seaport Chorus Tree, Chapter One
A Person of Interest fan fiction
A/N: For the purpose of this story, "Present Day" is December of Season Four.
Last Year
Sameen Shaw sat on her stool, drinking her beer and looking out the window at Christmas lights already adorning the storefronts, even though it was only the middle of November. Gotta start early with the capitalism, I guess, she thought, grimacing to herself. She turned to look at her companion, who was also looking out the window.
Shaw liked people with whom she could sit in comfortable silence; Joss Carter was one of those. But, as much as the quiet was easy for Shaw, she was determined to get to know Carter better. She'd been sucked into this team/family, and if these weren't people she could try to relate to, she didn't know who would be.
"So Carter," Shaw began, taking another pull on her beer, "you celebrate Christmas, right?"
Carter took a sip of her own beer, using it to mask her surprise. Religion, holidays, family, these were things she never discussed with Shaw. She'd always figured the former medical student didn't want to talk about it. But if she was going to make the effort to ask, the least Carter could do was answer.
"Yeah, I do. When I was a kid, it was a big family celebration, but most of the time now, it's just me and Taylor."
Shaw hesitated, unsure of what to say next, then asked, "Do you have any…I don't know, special traditions?"
Carter couldn't help but laugh a little at Shaw's discomfort. That she was trying was funny, but also very sweet. "Well, nothing we do on Christmas Day is all that special. Our most unique tradition is…do you know the Christmas tree at the South Street Seaport?"
"I haven't lived in New York that long," Shaw answered.
"Right, of course," Carter said. "Well, down at South Street Seaport, by the East, there's this big Christmas tree. They call it the Chorus Tree because there's singing groups that perform there every weekend during the Christmas season. Taylor and I go down and visit every year, on a Thursday night in the week or two before Christmas. It's not so crowded that way. And we each get to open one present while we're there."
"That sounds nice," Shaw said, enjoying this chance to see a softer side of Carter. The woman was a hell of a shot and could stand up to Reese like no one else, and Shaw admired these qualities in her. But she was also a mom, one who loved her son very much, and Shaw could admire that too.
"It is," Carter replied. Laughing, she continued, "I bet Taylor's getting to where he wishes he could take a pretty girl to a Christmas tree this year and not his mom, but too bad for him because we're still going to go."
Shaw chuckled at this in her dry way. She was glad to get the chance to sit at a bar with Carter, away from the boys, and relax. She made a good relaxing companion.
Drinking the last of her beer and noticing that the detective was nearly done with hers, Shaw stood and said, "I'm getting another. You want one? On me."
"Thanks for the offer, but I'd better get home to that son of mine. Who knows what he's up to now," Carter drawled.
"Fair enough," Shaw said. "Have a good night."
"You too, Shaw," Carter replied. "Thank you for this. We'll do it again soon."
"Sure, after our next kneecap job," Shaw deadpanned.
Carter laughed as she walked out the door. Shaw turned her gaze back to the decorated storefronts, all adorned with Christmas cheer.