Hey all! Seeing as Christmas is just a few days down the road, I decided to write a Christmas fic. I was going to make it a oneshot, but I was procrastinating with writing it so I decided that if I published a first chapter, I would be more motivated to write the second. It's not great, but it provides a little more comic relief compared to my other story. Enjoy and... MERRY CHRISTMAS!
"I hate these cookies," Spike muttered as he walked through the doors of the SRU on that frigid December day, Wordy following closely behind him.
"Now what's wrong with the cookies?" Jules sighed, rolling her eyes.
Spike stamped his boots on the rug to get the snow off before he replied to Jules. "Ever since they replaced the Timmy's across the street with Starbucks, the cookies have been horrid. They're too hard. I only like the squishy ones," he ranted.
"Then why don't you get in the car and just drive to Timmy's?" Jules wondered. "Or just get some other kind of goodie."
"Because I like chocolate chip cookies."
"Here's a thought; why don't you just try to be less finicky?" Wordy piped in, chuckling softly.
Spike glared at Wordy, who just shrugged his shoulders. "I'm just saying."
Greg wandered into the lobby of the station, in search of his scattered teammates.
"Oh, there you guys are," he said when he saw the remaining members of his team. "Briefing room in five."
"Aww, come on Sarge!" Jules whined. "It's late. Can't we just debrief tomorrow?"
Greg smiled. "It'll only take a couple minutes. I promise." he said winking, as he headed for the briefing room.
Jules looked towards Wordy with annoyance before the three of them followed Greg.
In the briefing room, Team One sat around the table, resting their heads on their hands and looking out the window at the grey, stormy sky. Winter was depressing; there was no doubt about it.
"So...," Greg began, standing up to face his tired team. "It's been a long, long day, and I know you probably want to go home and rest."
Jules smirked. "No shit, Sherlock."
"That was uncalled for, Jules," Greg said firmly.
"Sorry."
"Can we move it along?" Ed demanded.
Greg cleared his throat, trying to ignore the irritated expressions of his team mates. "Okay, so I heard team three talking earlier today, and they had this great idea, and I thought I'd lay it on you. Since Christmas is next week, I thought that instead of each of us getting a gift for everyone, like we usually do, we'd organize a Secret Santa."
Suddenly, Team one was more interested. Their heads perked up and their eyes shone with curiosity.
"And? What are the rules?" Leah asked, not having ever done a secret Santa while she was a firefighter.
"Tomorrow I'll put everyone's name in a hat, and each of you will pull one out. The person whose name you pull out of the hat is the person you buy a gift for. Preferably nothing over thirty bucks," explained Greg. "Then on Christmas day, when we come to work, each person places their gift under the tree, which I have yet to buy, without anyone seeing. When all the gifts are under the tree, we go out and open them. And you are not to say which gift you bought until everyone has opened their gifts."
"Copy that," the team exclaimed, all scheming about what they'd get for their person depending on whom it was.
"Good then," Greg concluded. "You guys can go. Have a good night, and drive carefully."
The next day, Jules stood in the briefing room admiring the newly bought Christmas tree, and figuring out how the hell she was going to stick the star on top. It wasn't a big tree; probably eight feet at the most, but then again, she wasn't a big person.
I'll get a chair, she thought, turning around and crashing right into Sam's muscular chest. She looked up and smiled at her boyfriend as he leaned down to kiss her softly.
"What's with the hat?" she asked when they parted, noticing that Sam was wearing a Santa Claus hat. "Christmas isn't for another week."
"Weeks go by quickly," Sam answered. "And I was just spreading the Christmas spirit."
"Why don't you spread the spirit by putting this star on top of the tree for me?"
Jules squealed as Sam grabbed her by the waist and lifted her up so that she could reach the treetop. She fidgeted with the star, trying to make it perfect, but also seeing how long Sam could keep her up there. Suddenly, Sam let go of her and she fell to the ground, landing safely in his arms.
"What? Am I that fat?" she laughed, looking at Sam with sad puppy dog eyes.
"No, it's just–"
"You've been slacking off at the gym by staring at sexy women in sports bras instead of lifting weights?"
"No need for that," Sam said softly. "I've got a hot babe already."
Jules threw her arms around Sam's neck and he rocked her back and forth lovingly. Things were so much better between them now that they were allowed to be together. As long as they could stay professional at work (and not gross out the team of course), they could do whatever they wanted.
"I love you, Sammy," Jules whispered as Sam stroked her hair.
"I love–"
"Aww, that's adorable!" Ed called out obnoxiously, snapping a picture of the happy couple snuggling by the Christmas tree. His voice then became less amused. "But somewhat disturbing at the same time."
"Thanks Ed," Jules retorted. "Love you too."
Suddenly, Spike burst into the briefing room and ran to Ed, who was going through the pictures on his camera.
"Ed's making a Team One photo album!" Spike announced excitedly as he stared in awe at the pictures that Ed was showing him.
More and more people began to flood into the room and huddle around the camera, including Sam and Jules.
"Whoa, wait a second!" Jules shouted when she saw a photo of her and Sam kissing in the locker room. "How the hell did you get that?"
"My lips are sealed," Ed said mischievously.
"I hate you," Jules grumbled, hitting Ed lightly on the back of the head.
Spike shoved himself through his teammates who had inconsiderately pushed him out of the viewing range of the tiny camera screen. When he saw the photo of Sam and Jules he burst out laughing, nearly dropping to the floor.
"I'm sure the commander would love to see that!" Spike cried, exploding with laughter.
"That's precisely why we're sending it with his Christmas card," Ed added.
"You better not, or I'll Scorpio your fat ass," Jules threatened, lunging viciously for Ed's camera.
Ed stood up abruptly and held his camera high above his head so Jules couldn't reach it. "Okay, okay, we won't send it!"
When Jules settled down and Greg came in with the official Secret Santa hat, Ed leaned over and whispered to Spike. "We're so sending this!"
"Oh yeah!" Spike exclaimed, taking his seat.
"Alright! Secret Santa is ready to go!" Greg declared as he handed the hat to Ed. "Pick a name out of the hat and don't say a word."
Ed lowered his hand into the hat and pulled out a tiny folded paper. Leah.
The hat was passed on to Spike, who took a while to fish around in it.
"Aww man! I got myself!" Spike groaned.
"Just put the paper back in and pick another one," said Greg.
Spike reached back into the hat and got another paper. Wordy.
In about ten minutes each team member had picked their name and were contemplating about what to get their person as they got ready to go home.
Jules was determined to get her Secret Santa gift as soon as possible, so that she wouldn't have to procrastinate later. She gathered her stuff quickly, kissed Sam goodbye and was out the door in a flash.
She moved at full speed through the grocery store, hoping to get what she needed before...
"Longo's is closing in ten minutes," the loudspeaker announced, making Jules accelerate even more until she was nearly sprinting down the aisles.
Aha! She thought when she picked up the small package that had been the objective of her quest. Chunks Ahoy: Chewy. Spike's gonna love me for this!
"Boss, we need to talk," Sam told Greg a few days later.
"OK, shoot."
"Not here," he whispered, moving into the briefing room and insisting that Greg followed him. "I have something very important to ask you."
"Boo!" Jules cried, startling Spike and Wordy, who were watching Sam and Greg intently from their spots outside the briefing room.
"Wrong season Jules," Spike responded, not taking his gaze off Sam and Greg.
"What are you two doing?" chirped Jules, following Wordy's line of sight. "What's going on?"
"They've been in there for a while," Wordy informed her. "I don't know what they're talking about."
Finally, Greg stood up and hugged Sam, patting him firmly on the back. Sam looked unusually pleased, a wide smile spreading across his face. Jules, Spike and Wordy tried to make out what they were saying, but they had no luck. Sam and Greg were too far off.
As Sam exited the briefing room, Jules caught up with him. "What was that all about?" she asked.
"Nothing. I just had to ask him something."
Jules looked mystified. "What?"
"It's none of your business."
"If it affects your well-being, it's my business, seeing as I'm your girlfriend," Jules insisted.
"It doesn't affect my well-being. It was just a simple question."
Sam was laughing now, and Jules knew he was hiding something from her. "Tell me! Please!" she pleaded.
Sam stopped and glared at her angrily. "What part of 'it's none of your business' do you not understand?" he yelled before storming off into the locker room.
"Someone's got their underwear in a knot!"
TBC
Reviews = love
Next chapter:
-Find out what Sam is hiding
-The gifts are revealed