Christmas Musings
Summary: Holiday thoughts from our favorite CSIs that may, or may not, be more or less than drabbles but definitely not ficlets, hence; Musings.
Rated G for: Going to Offend Absolutely No One at All.
The romantic couples and some of the secondary characters are brought to you courtesy of Prairie. The hand of Moochiecat took care of the rest. Enjoy. And please, please review. It motivates us to keep going!
(Part 1 by Moochiecat)
Doc
Doctor Albert Robbins was becoming very concerned. It was one week before Christmas and he didn't have a clue what to give his lovely wife, Judy. She had just about everything a person could want, and he didn't think it was very personal to just plug a VISA gift certificate into a card and leave it in her stocking. He was stumped.
So he asked Catherine for a suggestion. Unfortunately, he'd already given Judy diamond earrings for one of their anniversaries. Then she suggested a pamphlet for a cruise. No good. Been there, done that, no need to do it again. Catherine shrugged and said, "Try Sara."
Sara was even less helpful. So Doc called his sons and daughter. The sons were pretty uninspired re: gift for Mom. Daughter's suggestion, on the other hand, brought an ear-splitting grin to our favorite Head M.E.'s face.
Which is why, on Christmas morning, Judy Robbins opened a lovely light blue box (Tiffany blue, to be precise), and stared at a gorgeous gold bracelet with four hearts upon it. three of the hearts had a small diamond on one loop and a name on the other. The fourth was blank. She shot a quizzical look at Al. She recognized the names of their three grandchildren. But what was up with the blank heart? Al smiled and told her to look under the cotton batting the bracelet had rested upon. She did so and saw a small envelope. Opening it revealed a sonogram picture with the words "Elizabeth R. Jennings" 12/15/2010, across the top, which is how Judy learned that her only daughter was expecting her first child.
When she stopped hugging and kissing Al, he held her close and told her they'd engrave the next name on the blank heart and add the diamond when the proper time came. Meanwhile, it would make a heck of a conversation starter, wouldn't it?
Nick
"Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly, falalalalala…," blared through the loudspeaker outside of the 7-11 where someone had killed the clerk for the $40 in the cash register. "Bah, humbug," thought Nicholas Stokes bitterly. "Holiday Spirit nothing. In Las Vegas, it's the same as ever. No holiday from crime, mayhem, abuse, butchery, and murder. People are just as crappy as ever."
But 18 hours later, thanks to an Amber Alert and some frantic investigation, Nick placed a 3 year old, bright-as-a-new-penny, little boy back into the arms of his sobbing parents. The Father turned to Nick to embrace him in joy and gratitude and whispered in Nick's ear. "This year YOU were our Christmas Miracle. The Lord used you to make this happen and we will never forget." And Nick Stokes, on his way home after the next shift, stopped in to a Church and said a prayer of Thanksgiving and promised that he would keep a Holier Christmas this year than last year.
Greg
Gregory Hojem Sanders was beside himself with joy. Everyone smiled to see him practically dancing down the halls of the Crime Lab, as he once was known to do. He had managed to finagle an entire 10 days off and he was heading back to California to see the whole Sanders and Hojem clans. He could already taste Mohr-Mohr's (Mother's mother or Nana's) mouth-watering Kokosmakroner (coconut macaroons) and Krumkaker (curved cakes, like thin waffles). And the Christmas dinner! Greg's eyes shone remembering past feasts of Pinnejott (lamb ribs), Lutefisk (jellied cod. Moochie says: It's HORRIBLE!), Gammalost (old cheese), and shots of Acquavit. (licorice flavored hard liquor. Also HORRIBLE! Moochie suggests you never date a Norwegian guy at Christmas, LOL)!
He could hardly wait to share some of his CSI cases with Phar-Phar (Father's Father or, Papa) Olaf. He was always astounded at the insights his Grandfather had into the motivations behind some of the crimes that Greg investigated. Mohr-Mohr would, undoubtedly, tsk-tsk and say what she always said. "Tah, Olaf. This we have to hear at the time of our celebration of the Lord's birth?" Greg's parents would smile at how Sofia still had the lovely, lilting accent of the land of her birth. Olaf would smile, shyly, and go, "But Dearest, it's so Interesting."
"Interesting," is not what some people would say if they knew that Riley had transferred to the San Diego Crime Lab and had been delighted to accept Greg's invitation to join in the Sander's traditional Christmas dinner (Moochie says, "She doesn't know what she's let herself in for, LOL!"). Catherine, for one, comes to mind. Lack of romantic information would certainly drive her around the bend. And that fact made Greg a very happy "little boy."
Ray
Dr. Ray Langston was having a difficult conversation with his wife. An internationally renowned news correspondent, she did not use his last name or wear a wedding ring. In some of the places she went to report on, a wedding ring would have been a detriment, a symbol that she should be under the rigid control of her husband. That she was freely traveling without her husband acting as her protector and chaperone would indicate to some extreme zealots that she was a "loose" and "wanton" woman, not deserving of even the most trivial of courtesies.
Ray missed her unto the very depths of his soul. He was terrified that one day he'd receive that horrible phone call. The one that would signal that their 25 year love affair was at an end.
He wanted her home for Christmas. They'd been apart for a month and he desperately wanted to see her, and hold her. She felt the same, but her bosses wanted a Christmas Day in the Battle Zone story, full of angst and tears, and soldiers getting to talk to their families via satellite phones and Skype. The ratings were everything, after all. A correspondent doesn't get to dictate terms. You do what needs to be done and/or what is ordered to be done, or you went home to the States and found other work.
Ray sighed, said, "I love you and I pray for your safety." His wife responded, "As I love you and I pray you will be with friends on Christmas Day." This made Ray smile, as Catherine and Lou, and Sara, had both asked him to join them (Gil was expected on the day before Christmas Eve), for Christmas Dinner. He ended the call and then made another. "Sara, I'd love to join you and Gil for Christmas dinner. I received the same invitation from Cath and Lou. What do you think of all of us joining together for dinner? At my house. Ya'll can bring the sides and I will do the Prime Rib and Tofu Turkey. And by the way, I am one damn fine cook." Ray heard Sara's snort of laughter and her agreement. Cath and Lou also agreed. Ray was, suddenly, looking forward to Christmas, even if it would be without his lady.
Bobby
Bobby Dawson was ecstatic about the upcoming three days off he had for Christmas. He had qualified to participate in the National Black-powder pistol competition scheduled in Tucson, AZ for December 26th. Two full days of breathing in gunpowder smoke and schmoozing with fellow pistol enthusiasts. He'd drive out to Tucson on Christmas Day. No one wondered why Bobby wasn't married.
Archie
Archie sighed deeply. He didn't get the time off to go home for Christmas and he didn't have a current girlfriend. He was feeling completely blue over this upcoming Christmas Day. His gifts for his parents and brother had been sent and he had received a few from them. But he didn't even bother to buy a tree or put up decorations. No Christmas cards, either.
But then Ray showed up in his AV Tech Lab and invited him to dinner for Christmas. And he'd get to see Grissom. He knew that would drive Greg absolutely bonkers. Archie found himself almost gloating over having a bit of Grissom-lore that Greg wasn't going to have. Whistling softly, he strolled out of his Lab and turned in the direction of the locker room. Time to clock out.
Conrad
Ecklie resembled Ebeneezer Scrooge to an amazing degree. Tall, sharp-nosed, thin, shuffling, ever-whining and complaining. You could almost hear him saying about the poor, "Then they'd best get on with it (dying), and decrease the surplus population." Yes, Conrad was pretty much a shriveled soul.
Some of it was due to being a natural-born sycophant (boot-licker), a true political manipulator, and just a real hard-ass. But another reason for his "Anti-Christmas" attitude was a tall, very attractive, 15 year old girl and her equally engaging 13 year old brother, neither of whom he got to see more than twice a year. His ex-wife had seen to that. Her divorce attorney hadn't just been a shark, he'd been A Great White Shark. Ecklie now sent 60% of his income to his ex. In England. He didn't begrudge the money, really, because it showed his children that he cared about taking care of them, but it sure limited his life. Tiny apartment, still driving the 15 year old Mercedes he'd bought from Gil Grissom when it was 5 years old. The usual "divorced guy-who-got-skinned and scalped."
And then his son, Daniel, called. Asking if it would be ok for him and Sammy (Samantha), to come visit for Christmas. They knew their Mom really wanted to go to Monaco for Christmas. With her new boyfriend. The kids figured out, pretty damn quick, that they weren't in the picture for that trip.
So now, Conrad Ecklie went around the Lab with a real smile on his face, wasn't complaining about anything, and had been re-introduced to what teenagers want for gifts these days. And Ray Langston had just asked if he and the kids would come for Christmas dinner, at Ray's place. Conrad was ridiculously relieved, because he couldn't cook worth a damn. Now he didn't have to take the kids to a restaurant for Christmas Dinner.
To Be Continued next week with an update by Prairie…
