It was well past time to call it quits and head back to her apartment, but Jo couldn't quite get herself to leave. She wanted to see Ellie who was back at the apartment with Tyler most likely sitting down to dinner, but she knew she wasn't going to get to go home because there was still more Christmas shopping to get done. All she really needed were the finish touches of Ellie's and Mac's presents.
Originally Jo was going to get Mac tie, just to be safe, but then she felt it was too much of a cliché. After walking around Macy's for a good hour, she finally saw a beautiful silver plated watch. It was a bit pricey, but it was worth it for Mac. She took it home a wrapped it herself, but she wanted something else to go along with it. Something that only her and Mac would understand.
Ellie's was simpler. Jo had already decided that Ellie can have tickets to a soccer game of her choice and they'd take off for the day and see it, eating at Ellie's restaurant of choice. That was only a part of it though. That along with a new soccer ball, a new comforter, and shoes. The final touch was a necklace I saw at Kays that Jo wanted her daughter to keep forever.
Jo jumped as there was a knock on her door frame. She looked up to see Mac grinning at her with a humorous smile. "Sorry, did I scare you?"
She sent him a playful grin. "I know I should be used to it by now, but sometimes you don't realize how stealthy you are Mac Taylor." Jo stood and headed for the door, turning the light off along the way.
When Mac didn't immediately step into place behind her, she glanced back at him. "You coming?" Jo asked pulling her bag onto her shoulder. "You're not going to spend another night in this place."
There a short stand off as Mac contemplated going back to work in his office or listening to his spit-fire second in charge complain about how he needed to go home and get some real rest. Arguing with Jo was pointless, because by the time she got fired us you already knew you lost.
"Let me just grab my coat," Mac finally agreed making Jo beam in return.
Mac and cheese was fine and all, but it got a little old when it was the only thing your brother could make. Ellie grudgingly ate the mac and cheese with very little complaint, and then retired to the couch to watch Christmas shows with her brother. It was going on seven and her mom still wasn't home yet.
"When did Mom say she'd be home?" Ellie asked, her worry evident in her voice.
"She went Christmas shopping remember? Don't worry so much, you're already turning into Mom," Tyler teased giving his sister a small smile. He knew that most kids would have rolled their eyes at his comment and said something about how they are nothing like their mother, but he also knew that when Ellie was told to be like Jo, Ellie quite enjoyed it.
"Can I run down the street to get some coco?" Ellie asked, widening her big brown eyes and clasping her hands together for effect. "Please? I'll bring you some back!"
Tyler shrugged and handed his sister a few dollars. "Sure, but come right back. Mom doesn't like you going out alone when it's dark."
This time Ellie rolled her eyes. "It's just down on the end of the street…"
"I know, but you know how Mom gets."
Of course she did. Jo loved her kids more than anything else in the world but sometimes she could be a little over protective. Still, Ellie gladly took the money and ran to the door, pulling her coat and gloves on along the way.
As she pushed open the main door of the apartment building Ellie rolled her eyes. This city was never truly dark, in fact it was even brighter than DC at night. Her mother just worried too much.
Ellie pushed open the door and headed out, carrying her the couple dollars for coco in her gloved hand. Snow was already falling and gathering quickly on the side walk that crunched beneath her feet with every step.
The streets and walkways weren't nearly as busy as they normally were, but it was past rush hour and a lot of people didn't like getting out in the snow. As she neared the coffee shop she could hear someone else's shoes crunching the snow right behind her. Ellie nervously picked up her pace and tried to put distance between herself and the other footsteps, but they also quickened. The coffee show was still about a hundred feet away. Ellie's long legs leaped into a sprint, but her effort was in vain.
A hand flew over her mouth as an arm wrapped around her flailing body. She was being drug back into the ally between a grocery store and the coffee shop. A black bag flew over her head, freeing her mouth.
"HELP!"
"So, what do you want for Christmas?" Mac asked Jo as he walked with her to the department store.
Jo seemed to be in deep thought about this question before she gave him a sideways glance and replied, "A music box."
Mac seemed to be taken back by this unusual request. "Music box?"
Insistently, she nodded. "A music box that plays 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' when you open it. My gram's used to have one and she'd always let me open it and sing along with the chiming. It made me remember that there's no place like home."
At the Mac smiled and caught Jo's hand as they walked. She thought nothing of it as they continued down the sidewalk hand in hand. Mac was such a great friend to her and her family, he even help choose the necklace Jo finally bought for Ellie as well as Tyler's present she bought much earlier. She would have stopped and got Mac's present as well but she decided to push it off for at least one more day.
When Jo shivered against the cold wind, Mac only brought her close to him and continued their conversation about Christmas and the music box. Together they walked down the icy street of New York toward Jo's home.
Tyler sat on the couch, watching Miracle on 34th Street for the second time already that day. He wasn't sure how much time had passed but he was beginning to realize Ellie had been gone for a while now.
Grudgingly he stood up and peeked out the window that overlooked the street. He couldn't see his dark haired sister carrying their two cups of coco anywhere. Growling under his breath he pulled on his coat and headed out the door.
He had never been a fan of the cold and he didn't appreciate having to go out in the snow to see what was holding his sister up. As he made it to the coffee shop on the corner he was greeted by the woman who seemed to always be working. He knew the woman pretty well, but unlike his mother and Ellie he didn't care to hold detailed conversations with workers much less catch their name.
Tyler approached the counter with his best smile on when he didn't immediately see Ellie. "Hi, did Ellie go to the bathroom or something? She told me she'd be right back."
The woman looked genuinely confused. "Ellie? Ellie hasn't been in here today. Your mother came in before work, but-"
Tyler felt the color drain from his face. "She left like thirty minutes ago to come here. Are you sure she didn't come in here?"
The woman also gained the look of concern. "Positive, we've been really slow all night and your sister always likes to talk about soccer with me."
Panic filled him as he frantically pulled out his cell phone and dialed his mother's number.
"Hey, sweetie, I'll be home in a little bit. Mac and I are actually-"
"Mom, I can't find Ellie…" Tyler spoke with fear etched into every inch of his voice.