I had this idea for over a year now but didn't get around to writing it for a while (writer's block problems).
I'm hoping this is a lot better than I think it is. I might rewrite and update it at some point, but I don't know yet.
Courtney picked at her food, bored, as she listened to the idle chatter of the Team Manga members around her, particularly the one who sat next to her that insisted un telling anyone within earshot, once again, about vacation plans in Alola. It was December 24th, the annual Christmas party. It would end a little later than anyone liked, but they did get a whole paid month of their choosing off, so no one complained too much.
"Has anyone seen Tabitha?"
"Now that you mention it…"
Courtney sighed. They finally noticed… for the first time since the team formed…
"I heard he got his paycheck early."
Complaints followed.
"Is that what he wanted to talk to Maxie about? I bet he wasted it all on food."
Agreements followed, along with comments.
That was it. Courtney stood up, making the room go silent. "Tabitha is not here tonight because, right now, he's handing out toys and candy that he 'wasted' his money on to the children at the Slateport hospital," she turned, "Haruki! Mintaka!" Both men quickly stood up. "Both of you have sick children, correct? And neither of you can afford the one toy they asked for? Haruki, your son will be getting that firetruck he wanted. Mintaka, you daughter is getting that doll she asked for."
One of the new recruits, only seventeen years old, stood up, "Is he the Santa that visited me when I was sick five years ago? He gave me my Poochyena."
Courtney nodded, "Every year he saves part of his paychecks for today," she sat back down. The idle chatter turned into things that Tabitha had either bought for them or family members.
One of the members turned to her, "What did he want to talk to Maxie about?"
"You can thank him when you get back from Alola next month."