Chapter 1

Emergency! The series and characters DO NOT belong to me. This is non profit and for entertainment purposes only.

It was less than a week before Christmas, and all through the house, just about every creature was stirring because Chet Kelly had cooked them dinner. It was in the early morning hours, only a few left before their shift would end.

"Hey Roy, where are the antacids? I can't find 'um anywhere!" Gage was attempting to keep his voice down, although he had been hearing the others creeping about, probably for the same reason.

"Here Johnny...I brought them in here, figured that it would be that much closer when I needed them again." Chet was far from a gourmet chef but that dish tonight could have peeled paint!

"Hey Pal, leave on top of the wall by your bunk, 'cause I think I'm gonna need them later!" Captain Stanley usually tried to refrain from criticizing any of his men; but that meal was something....actually he didn't know what to call it.

"Come on guys, it wasn't 'that' bad!" Chet was insulted; they just didn't know cuisine when they tasted it!

"SHUT UP CHET!!" This was shouted in unison.

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As they were getting changed into civilian attire the men were in discussion. This year A-shift was on duty on Christmas Day, so all their family plans were happening on Christmas Eve.

"So Marco is your mom cooking dinner again?" Chet asked, knowing that each year his mom did so. The great thing about that was Marco would bring in food that she made just for them.

"Yeah, she's still making most of it but this year my sisters have made her promise to let them help out. They told her that they have to learn sometime!" His Madre was very picky when it came to making her meals.

"So Cap., is your mother-in-law coming to your house again for dinner?" Roy tried not to smile while asking; everyone knew how much he 'loved' his mother-in-law!

"Actually this year she is going to her sister's house! She lives up state and they haven't seen each other in years. This is going to be the best Christmas Eve....ever!" A rather wicked grin had swept over Hank's face.

"So Mike are you and Loraine doing anything special?" Marco was always curious about the engineers' life; he rarely let anyone into any details.

"We are both going over to her brothers." As usual he didn't offer anything more. That was just Stoker's way; the others all loved him like a brother, just one with secrets. Kelly joked that maybe he was some kind of special agent undercover.

"I'm eating at Sandy's family. They all love me!" Since no one had yet bothered to ask, Chet figured he would volunteer his plans.

"Have they ever actually met you in person?" Gage just couldn't resist goading Kelly. The other laughed, yet another burn delivered upon Chet.

"Joanne and I are going to make dinner together and then open presents. Keep it simple." Roy hated being away from his kids on Christmas Day but at least this year he would be home for Christmas Eve. "By the way Johnny, you and A.J. are welcome to come over; in fact Chris and Jenny would prefer it!"

"I'll ask her and see if she had any plans. I don't that she does, we flew out to visit her parents last week. On the way back we stopped at her grandparents at Standing Rock Reservation." Although he attempted to act nonchalant about it, he loved to visit with her family. They treated him like one of their own, something he wasn't used to, except when it came to Roy's family of course.

On the way out to their vehicles Johnny pulls Roy aside, "I need you help BIG time! What should I get her?"

"You still haven't bought her gift yet? I always knew you liked to live life dangerously, but this is more like suicide!"

"I dunno....I haven't got a clue. She never asks for anything!" He loved her with all of his being but this was an agonizing mystery he didn't know how to solve.

"Alright, relax. I'll call you later and we'll go out for 'more' decorations." He loved to be festive as the next guy; however his dear wife was a junkie when it came to Christmas lights.

"Deal but say nothing to Jo, you know who the first person she's going to call is!"