Cho Style Christmas - 1

Sacramento was having a bitterly cold winter, so far. The countdown to Christmas was in full swing, with music and decorations everywhere you looked. I can't say that I'm a big fan of Christmas, but I recognize that we need some distraction from the short, often dim, dark days.

My father was Korean, but my mother American. I was raised in a religiously eclectic household. I can't say that I subscribe to any one religion. I have enough trouble dealing with the crap that I encounter each day to worry about eternity. I try to deal with what I'm presented with.

Grace was dressed in a festive garb. It could pass as office appropriate, but had a very Santa elf appearance. All of the office males appreciated the view as she'd bend over to get an ornament for the tree and the stretch up to place it. Grace has excellent legs, her outfit made that very obvious.

Jane looked at me and winked. What does he expect me to do? Damn right I'm going to look. He was looking, so what's the deal with him? That dude is always trying to get into our heads and rummage around. I gave no sign that I'd noticed his wink, but I do notice almost everything he does. He's not a bad guy, but I'm not sure how far I'd trust him. He's never done me wrong, but there is no way I'm going to lay out my life for him to examine.

I'll admit that I sympathized with his desire to kill Red John. That's doesn't bother me at all. I'd even help him. I took out Yuri without a blink, so I'm not going to get all sanctimonious about it. We do what we have to do to make this world a better place. Usually, we can do it within the law, and that's how it should be. Every now and then, the law gets stupid and then we have to decide.

I took out Yuri because of my personal fear for what he'd to to Liling. If you threaten those I care about, do be prepared to bear the consequences!

Lisbon came out of her office looking cheerful and festive. "We have sugar cookies," she enthused, hefting a box of cookies. She put them on the meeting table. "Enjoy," she said. She went back into her office, leaving the door open so that we could hear the strains of the Christmas standards playing on her player.

I poured a cup of coffee and grabbed a hand full of cookies. I enjoy dipping the sweet cookies into coffee and letting the cookie absorb enough coffee to give it a nice coffee flavored tang. Rigsby stared at me. "Cho, you do that every year, and every year I simply have to tell you how weird you are." He grinned to show he was kidding.

I stared at him. "It's good."

"Yea, yea, yea, and you say that every year, too." He shoved a whole cookie into his mouth so he'll probably be quiet for a few moments. Food totally distracts Wayne. I can be thankful for small favors, right?

Lisbon came out of her office, again. "Listen up people! We've had a nice slow Friday and Christmas is coming. You guys get out of here, do some shopping, get happy and I'll see you all Monday. Now go! Shoo!" She make shooing gestures with her hands.

I had one cookie left, and I was not letting it go to waste. I watched the mass exodus. Jane was not in any rush to leave. I'm not really sure if he's napping or not, but it wouldn't surprise me if he spent Christmas on that couch. Christmas has to be a bad time for him. I briefly wondered what that would be like. No, I really don't want to know. Sometimes, around Christmas, I remember. Then I try to forget. I put the last piece of cookie in my mouth and washed it down with the sugar cookie sweetened coffee.

I rinsed out my cup, and closed the lid on the cookies. I shrugged into my parka. Every one jokes about my parka, but I'm the only one not complaining about how cold it is. A few weeks of Afghanistan winter will make you appreciate warm clothing. I learned rather quickly. I headed for the door. "Cho," I heard Jane say. I turned to face him. He was lying down, with his eyes closed. "Merry Christmas."

I looked at him. "Merry Christmas, Jane." I turned and left.

.~~~~~~~.

As I walked up the three flights of steps, I wondered if Liling would be around this weekend. Her father had insisted that she move back home, now that they were safe, but she'd left all her personal items, here, and usually spend the week ends. It was an interesting arrangement. She's been teaching me computer security and I've been explaining investigation techniques, and showing her how we use computers to solve crimes.

She loves Chinese opera and made me go to a few. I've heard more melodious sounding cat fights, but it does grow on you. It can be quite a production. I know almost nothing of Chinese culture. Truth be told, I'm not all that smart about Korean culture. I can speak enough of the language to be dangerous, and I'm aware of some of the beliefs of my father's people. Some of that is a bit freaky, but you never know.

I rounded the corner from the stairway to my apartment and was pleased to see a bundled up Liling sitting in front of my door. The hallway is not exactly warm. She was on her Asus Tablet, probably hooked to my wifi, she did have the password, and seemed totally engrossed. I spent some time just watching her. That girl can focus. When she concentrates, she'd probably not notice and earthquake. A scenario I hope we don't have to test!

She looked up and saw me. She slid her tablet into it's sleeve, and smiled. She stood on tiptoe and lightly kissed. "Cho man," she said, "Let go in and get warm, and we can figure out how to spend this wonderful weekend." She LIKES Christmas and all the hoopla.

I carded my lock, swung the door open and we entered my slightly warmer apartment.

.~~~~~~~.