I don't own the show life nor do I profit monetaraly in any way from these fics

This is an AU fic. :In this AU-verse Tidwell does not exist. Most of what occurred in the second season occur ed in this fic. ie: Charlie found Rachel.

December 24 2008

It was Christmas Eve; a time of Sharing and Caring, of caroling and well-wishing. Yet Dani Reese wanted no part of it.

That's why she was here; In the Bar.

She sat perched on a stool, silently watching as hordes of drunken men and women tumbled about exchanging pleasantry and joining each other in impromptu renditions of all the cheesy Christmas tunes they could conjure up.

For a fleeting moment Dani wished that she could be one of them, drunk and smiling, singing "Rudolf the red nose reindeer" at the top of her lungs. It would be so easy just to join them. With one sip she could wash it all away; purge herself of all the unsettling feelings which had chosen to settle in the pit of her stomach. With one bottle she could flush out all the dammed up emotions which kept her heart closed off. But then that wasn't an option. For any step down that path would leave her powerless. Again.

She swiveled around in her seat and stared aimlessly at the glittering bottles staked one after the other along the back wall. She couldn't go home. There was nothing there but the low hum of her refrigerator to keep her company. Her parents' house was out of the question. Her mother hadn't been in a mood for anything even remotely family related since her husband had walked out on her. This was the only place she knew of in the world where she could feel slightly at ease. She knew what to expect here. No one was going to ask her how she was "feeling?" or when she planned to "settle down?"

She wondered where he was. Crews. He was probably at the station Christmas party exchanging gifts. If he was, then he was defiantly going to get a lot of gifts. Most of the women liked him. They seemed to feel as though they owed him. Like somehow what happened to him was their fault. Dani didn't blame them. Sometimes when they were out driving together she'd look at him and a whispered plea would echo in her mind: "I'm sorry, it was me! I'm so sorry." But instead of uttering the words she would turn away quickly and fix her eyes on a meaningless point far off in the distance.

Dani was lost in thought, when someone's shoulder rubbed against hers. She turned with a menacing look on her face, ready to ward off a rowdy suitor, but instead her icy glare was met with a pair of twinkling blue orbs.

"Well merry Christmas to you too." Charlie said; not in the least intimidated by her inhospitable glare.

Dani's face softened yet she was still unsmiling. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to spread a little holiday cheer Reese." He said cryptically.

An itching silence descended between them.

For a minute Dani looked away in the vain hope that he'd leave. But this was Charlie Crews. He wasn't going to leave until he'd done or said what he came to do or say.

With a weary sigh she asked "How?"

"How What?" He saw the exasperated roll of her eyes. "Oh, you mean how will I spread holiday cheer? Well I came to sit with you Reese." Charlie replied, as though his words elucidated the matter completely.

Like that makes any sense, Dani thought. It was probably one of his stupid Zen Proverbs or something.

"I don't particularlly care were you sit just as long as you remember that sitting doesn't involve talking."

Charlie smiled and nodded his head seeming resigned to her stipulation. Dani turned her attention back to the wall. She wondered how long he'd last.

"You know any of these people Reese?" He asked suddenly.

well not long enough, she thought."No."

"You wanna come over to my place?"

If she'd been chewing somthing Dani would have surely chocked. In all the time that they'd worked together she had never once been to his house. Why now? She considered the whole situation: His coincidental appearance at the same bar she was in and the invitation back to his place…He's probably trying to save me from myself before I get piss-drunk and end up in some dirty motel next to some even dirtier person, She thought. Dani wanted to be offended but she couldn't muster up much indignation she could see his logic. Here she was a recovering alcoholic, sitting alone at a bar; Staring at the beer bottles as if the contained some life giving elixir.

She didn't know what her next words meant, but for some reason she had a feeling that she wouldn't regret them.

"Sure, why not."

As they were driving up the darkened interstate Dani glanced back over her seat. There was a large pile of boxes and packages wrapped in an assortment of shinny paper.

"What's all that?"

"Oh it's my Secret-Santa gift. Someone must have accidentally put my name in a few times." Charlie answered nonchalantly.

Right, Dani thought. His name had been "accidentally" thrown in a few hundred times! But she didn't say anything. Instead she peered at his face. Ironically tonight was turning out like most nights. She'd gone to the bar and was now on her way to some guy's place. A wicked grin danced across her lips at the thought. But then again Charlie Crews wasn't just 'some guy'. He was her partner. He didn't want any of That from her. No, he didn't even want to save her…her smile faded. What did he want?

When they crossed the threshold into his living Room Dani was a bit taken aback. The entire room was bare save for a brown leather couch and two chairs. The Man had millions of dollars at his disposal, yet he had hardly any furniture in his house. He was either extremely spend-thrift or somewhat insane. At that moment Dani was leaning more towards the latter.

Charlie saw her expression and his lips twitched into a smile. He should have warned her. "You should have seen it a few weeks ago. I just bought the chairs cause Ted has company over some times."

" And you never have company?" the words slipped out before Dani knew it.

"Well not the sitting kind" Charlie answered. For some reason he felt a little uncomfortable telling her about that part of his life.

Dain's eye brow inched upward but she ignored his comment. "So what are we going to do?"

When Charlie had asked her to come he hadn't exactly thought of what would happen when they got here. In all honesty he hadn't expected her to say yes. What did people, well "friends" do on Christmas eve? He tried to think back to his life with Jen, but he came up blank. "Uhm Rachel and Ted are out but we can watch television." He offered.

"Hate to point out the obvious Crews, but you don't have a T.V." Maybe I should have stayed at the Bar, Dani thought.

"But Rachel does. Upstairs in her room." He smiled "I can get some of my secret Santa Cookies from the car." He said hopefully.

"Fine, whatever."

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