Disclaimer Kudos/BBC own everything related to Spooks. No copyright infringement intended. This story follows straight on from Grenade.

Silent Night.

"So, two weeks to Christmas." Calum announced as he walked across the Grid. Malcolm nodded as he watched the newest member of the team tap something into the computer.

"So it is." Malcolm smiled. "So it is."

"So?"

"So?" Tariq answered.

"What happens in this place over Christmas? What did you all do last year?"

"Beth organised a Christmas party." Tariq smiled at the memory. "It was a laugh."

"Yeah? A party."

"I was on maternity leave." Ros answered.

"While the rest of us were trapped on the Grid with a killer Christmas tree." Ruth watched as Calum's eyes widened. Lucas shook his head as he remembered the way they had all almost been blown to Kingdom Come. Only Ruth could make it sound like a slight inconvienience.

"Do I want to know what happened?" Calum asked Malcolm.

"No." Tariq laughed. "By the time we explained it, it'd be next Christmas."

"Right, so? What about the year before?"

"Do you not have enough work to do?" Lucas asked as Ros stood and tugged her leather jacket around her.

"The year before. Arrested two known AQ operatives in London. Prevented them blowing up London Bridge. Before that prevented an attack on Oxford Street, the year before that prevented an attack on three major UK shopping centres and prevented an assasination attempt on several members of the Royal Family. The year before that.."

"I get it." Calum sighed. "Busy time of year."

"You could say that Mr Reed." Harry stated as he walked out of his office. "Ros?"

"Ready."

"Have fun at Whitehall." Adam smirked as Ros pulled a face. She hated going to talk to politicians who had very little knowledge or regard for what they did. She sighed, at least in that respect Towers had appreciated their work. Until he had fallen for a certain Russian redhead. She shot Adam one of her customary death glares as Erin, Zaf and Dimitri smirked.

"I expect there to be some progress on the Morganston case when I return." Harry nodded towards Zoe and Dimitri.

"Yes, Harry." Zoe sighed. She couldn't wait for the next week to pass. Five more days and she was going on maternity leave. She was counting the shift. Ruth smiled slightly as she watched the pair leave the Pods. It was rare that everyone was on the Grid together and she couldn't help but feel a little sad as she remembered the last time it had happened. The EERIE exercise seemed a lifetime ago.

"Anyway." Ruth rested a hand on her stomach. "What are we going to do?"

"You up for some Christmas cheer Pearce?" Dimitri smiled.

"Well, why not?" Ruth answered.

"Because last year I bought a tree that nearly killed us all." Beth answered as she handed Zoe the Morganston file.

"It wasn't your fault the tree was really a bomb." Ruth smiled slightly. "I did want to kill you at the time though."

"Yeah." Beth watched as Ruth's eyes lit up. "So did everyone else."

"Only you." Tariq laughed. "Only you could buy a killer Christmas Tree and smuggle it through the security of Thames House."

"Hardly smuggle. "Beth laughed. "Do you remember the size of the thing?"

Dimitri rolled his eyes as he got to his feet and headed towards the kitchenette. Lucas shook his head and got back to his work as Erin and Calum exchanged glances.

"So, there was a Christmas party?" Erin asked. "Never bothered with them in Section A."

"Yeah, well they always were miserable buggers." Calum answered.

"So?"

"What about a party?" Erin asked as Beth beamed.

"You want a party, Erin. You organise it." Lucas watched as the new girl and the blonde exchanged glances. Ruth couldn't help but think this Christmas was going to be as eventful as the last.

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A/N Only the introduction. Hope you don't hate it too much. Worth going on? There is a case in here somewhere, I