After the last Brass blast episode last week, my mind just won't leave the poor man alone, lol. I decided Brass needs a little Happy in his Christmas, since we almost always write him as working on that holiday. Hope you enjoy...

Jim Brass hadn't taken Christmas Eve or Christmas off in…well, forever. Everyone from the Sheriff down to the newest patrolman was surprised by the news that the veteran Captain was taking time off for the holiday. Some struggled not to stare as he walked down the hall to exit the building on December 23rd; he wouldn't return until the following Monday. Many wondered what had changed in the man's life to cause such a change.

The focus of all the attention smirked as he walked to his car. He'd felt the eyes on him, seen the unasked questions on their faces, sensed their curiosity. But he was in no way going to jinx his holiday plans by voicing them to anyone. He'd covered the holidays for years, letting those who had families spend some time with them on the holiday. But this year, he was spending time with his family… at least what was left of it.

His bag had been packed the night before and sat in his trunk along with a professionally wrapped gift. A quick stop near the ramp to the Interstate scored him some gas and a cup of coffee for the road. Within minutes, he was on the highway headed west.

His excitement grew as he drove. After years of separation, years of acrimony and a lifetime of misunderstandings, Ellie had called him… out of the blue, just to talk. He'd been guarded during the conversation, careful not to say anything to set her off. She'd reopened the relationship, one that she'd closed several years ago as he lay in the hospital, trying to survive. No, he mused, not then…long before. His last trip to L.A. had sealed the rift in their relationship but she had walked away before. As hard as he tried to help her he fumbled it, too angry at what she had done… what she had become, to smooth things over. Even a few years before that, she'd said it was too late but he'd refused to believe it. After the last trip to see her, he'd accepted it. But he'd never quite given up hope.

Her brief phone call over the Thanksgiving weekend had given full bloom to that hope. He'd even called her a week later, just to see how she was doing. The holiday season was hard on those in Recovery, he'd explained. He just wanted her to know he was there for her, if she needed someone… The conversation was awkward, but she didn't hang up on him and it ended with no one angry… an improvement on previous conversations.

And then the miracle happened; she called him and asked him to go to L.A. and spend Christmas with her. She was clean, she explained… had been for several years. And she was trying to start over, begin a new life. But things were tough and she was feeling lonely and…

It was all he needed to hear. He'd immediately said he'd be there. How soon did she want him to come? He'd have moved mountains to be there immediately if she needed it. She'd laughed, actually laughed, when he'd indicated as much. "No," she'd told him, "don't move mountains. But over the actual holiday would be good… if you could get it off."

"Are you kidding? I make the schedule," he'd replied. "How about I get there Friday morning and stay through Sunday?"

"Um… could you come in Thursday, maybe?"

His heart leapt as he said he could. And his excitement had grown as the holiday neared. She hadn't called back to tell him not to bother. For the first time since she was a child, he'd eagerly shopped for gifts for her. Clothes were a good idea except he had no idea of her size, since he hadn't seen her in almost five years. Besides, what he might choose for her probably wouldn't be something she would wear. Finally, he'd found something that he thought she might like and his excitement had notched up again as he watched the clerk wrap it. The necklace had caught his attention immediately. It was gold, she liked gold. Tiny diamonds formed the shape of an infinity symbol with a little diamond heart where the lines crossed. It said what he couldn't seem to get her to understand; he loved her and would forever. After all she was his daughter; he would never give up on her.

Ellie from a few years ago would have probably pawned it as soon as he left town. But this new girl…no, she was a woman now, she might appreciate it and hold onto it for awhile. Whatever she did with it, he wouldn't regret giving it to her.

He was antsy with anticipation as he drove into the city, using his GPS to locate the new address she'd given him. About thirty minutes later, he pulled in front of a small house. He checked the address again, just to be sure. A house wasn't exactly where he'd imagined her living. But yes, the address was correct. He looked across the small green lawn at the front door, bemused by this change in her life.

She answered the door and a smile broke over her features. Shyly almost, she greeted him. "Dad…"

He grinned. "Ellie… I hope I'm not too early?"

"No…um, well… things aren't as clean as I'd hoped for but…um…" and then she did something totally unexpected. She stepped toward him and threw herself into his arms. He held her tightly, stunned but happy nevertheless. After a moment she backed away, her features timid but the relief in her expression obvious.

"Merry Christmas," Jim offered. "That hug was the best gift I've had in years," he added.

She looked away, suddenly sad. "Come in," she said as she stepped back to let him through the opened door.

He stepped into the small living room, his eyes quickly sweeping the room. It was cozy, the furnishings old or cheap but not gaudy. The room had a warm feeling to it, not the transitory feel her previous place had possessed. She stepped up, next to him. "It's small…but it's all I can afford. I shopped the thrift stores for furniture and found some pretty good stuff. Some of it needed fixing up, but…I've learned how to sand and stain." Her tone was almost apologetic.

Jim looked at her and grinned. "Hey, it's nice. Reminds me of when your Mom and I were starting out. Except we shopped your grandmother's attic for most of our stuff. It's fun, making everyone else's cast offs into your place…I like it."

She seemed to relax. "Well, this is the living room…and the dining room is there," she said as she pointed through a double door. He followed her as she walked through the house. "The kitchen is in here," she said as they passed into the room. Again, it was small but reasonably modern.

"You'll be staying in my room," she told him as she opened a door just off the kitchen. "I hope its okay…"

The room was feminine but not overwhelmingly so. He chuckled. "It's fine. But where will you sleep? I don't want to…I mean, I can sleep on the couch, you know."

"I'll sleep in the other bedroom," she said quickly. Suddenly, she was uncomfortable again. "I um…it'll be better if I do." She shrugged and sighed. "I might as well get this over with," she muttered. "There's something I want to show you…someone I want you to meet."

Utter dread washed over Jim. Who was this someone? Did she have a live-in boyfriend or maybe another female…hooker maybe? The pit of his stomach began to churn as he followed her into the next room.

Shock couldn't begin to describe what he felt as they stepped into the room. It was a child's room, complete with an airplane mobile over the tiny bed. And there in the bed was a small child, sleeping.

Ellie whispered. "This is my son, Aiden. He's three."

Jim peered across the darkened room at the dark headed boy, snuggled with a bear, a light quilt half over him. Then he turned to look at his daughter, a question trying to form in his mind, but surprise overwhelming him.

She backed out of the room and headed to the living room, her nervousness obvious. As Jim watched her fidget, he kept telling himself to go slow. Don't upset things now. She finally felt like she could share this with him and he wasn't going to blow things up now. "Does your mother know?" he asked calmly.

"No. And I don't want her to know…not anytime soon anyway." He tone was angry and Jim wanted to make it go away.

"Okay. She won't hear it from me, that's for sure," he said as he tried to remember the last time he'd talked to the woman…ten years at least. "So um…Aiden?"

"Yeah, I like the name."

Jim let out a deep breath. "Look, I'm not…I mean, I'm surprised, that's all. You um…this house," he said as he opened his hands to indicate their surroundings, "it's obvious you are trying to make a nice home for him."

He saw as some of the tension drained from her. "Yeah. I uh…was off drugs when I came to Vegas, when you were shot. But I wasn't really clean; I mean, the stuff was still in my system. It took a long time for me to get my thinking straightened out, you know?"

Jim nodded. "I know," he said as he sat on the small sofa. "It takes awhile…"

"Yeah," she said as she settled in the lone chair, next to the sofa. "I was still working the streets, even though I wasn't shooting up anymore. And then I found out I was pregnant…some John, I don't know who… before you ask about the father."

Jim nodded slowly. "Okay," he said evenly. "So, you've had to do it all alone…"

He cringed as she looked at him defensively.

The plan is to post more, with the last installment for Christmas. Hope you enjoy and as usual gifts, in the form of reviews, are most welcome!