Disclaimer: The lovely ladies (and gents, turtles and dogs) are not mine. I think you all know this.

A/N: So, christmas is upon us once more. I hope you enjoy my little fics leading up to the big day.

1st December

"MAURA!" Jane bellowed as she stalked through the house, Jo Friday tucked under her arm. "Maura, where are y- …There you are."

A slightly bewildered looking honey-blonde stood upright after placing a dish for tonight's dinner in the oven. "Jane, what on earth are you hollering about?"

"What is this?" Jane thrust her beloved pet towards Maura's face.

"Jane! Not around the food!" Maura chastised as she batted at her friends hands. Trying to stop her moving the dog any closer to the food resting atop the counter. "Why are you throwing poor Josephine around?"

Jane would not be moved. "What. Is. This?"

"A dog?" At the look of continued consternation on her best friends face, she guessed she hadn't provided the expected answer. "I'm not sure what you're getting at."

"This, Maura. This!" She tugged lightly at the felt antlers sticking up from Jo's little doggy head. "Why does my dog have antlers? And a coat with a miniature elf riding it?"

Maura's face lit up. Jane's gruffness seemingly forgotten. "Oh, I know. She's so cute." The M.E started cooing at the little ball of fur. "I saw it when I was picking up her food from the store. She looks so adorable!"

Jane wasn't sure her eyebrows could raise any higher. There Maura was, cooing and scratching at her dog dressed as a reindeer, like it was the most precious thing she had ever seen. "I don't even know what to say to you right now, but for future reference, no dog of mine will be seen with an elf riding its back… or antlers! Geez, you could have at least dressed her as a pirate."

Taking the beloved pet from Jane, placing her on the floor so she could scamper away, Maura looked up at Jane. "Well that's hardly festive now, is it?"

"I don't care about festive. I care about my dog not being the laughing-stock of the city."

The look Maura gave screamed 'Really?'

"Don't give me that look." Maura continued to give her that look. "No. How would you like it if I dressed your turtle up? Turned him into a mobile Christmas tree."

"Tortoise!"

"Same thing!" Maura opened her mouth to speak, but Jane ploughed on. "I can see it now. I'll get one of those tiny plastic ones. Duct tape it to his shell. Big angel on top. Hey, I'll get an extra long extension cord, and plug him in. He'll twinkle as he wanders around the house."

Maura did not look amused. "You're being ridiculous."

"My dog looks ridiculous."

The two women glared at each other in a stalemate, until Jane looked down as something nudged her foot. Blinking up at her was Bass… and a miniature elf riding his shell.

"I give up."