Christmas Blues

A/N: Hi all. Unfortunately I am not in a position to return to the site fully just yet. My health and real life are still causing me problems but I wanted to post something here for Christmas just to let you all know that I am still alive and thinking of you all and to wish all the wonderful writers and readers on this site a Happy New year and to hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas surrounded by those you love. I have completed a five chapter Christmas story which I hope you will get some enjoyment from reading over the Holidays and also to keep me writing about our favorite two detectives for fear I get rusty in my long absence. As they are fully written I will be updating them very regularly until the story is complete. Apologies to all the writers here whose stories I haven't had a chance to read or review yet. They are on my to-do list when life allows. Best wishes for the Holiday Season to you all..Dublin writer.x.

An added warning; There is Steve Whump in this one..heck it wouldn't be a Dublin writer story if there wasn't.. :-) so fair warning ahead of time for those who don't like those type of stories..x

Chapter 1

The dazzling Christmas lights around the shopping mall and the giant overly decorated Christmas tree down in the center court were to most people a cheery sight the day before Christmas Eve but not to the young Inspector attempting to blend in with the last minute shoppers on the upper floor. He hated Christmas and had for a very long time. He used to enjoy it when he was a kid but after his beloved grandfather had died so many years ago, his Christmas spirit had slowly been sucked out of him year after year until now those fairy lights and colored baubles only served as an unpleasant reminder of a time when he had been part of a loving family and he couldn't wait for the Holidays to be over.

He had joined Homicide over a year and a half ago and his partner and mentor Mike Stone had tried to include him in his family Christmas last year but Steve hadn't felt quite right imposing himself on Mike's generosity and being the "third" wheel so to speak with Mike and his daughter and so he had made the excuse of not feeling well to get out of it. Steve smiled to himself as that hadn't proved to be entirely successful. He remembered how Mike had arrived at his apartment on numerous occasions with leftovers and sympathy over the Holidays refusing to leave the young man out at this special time of year despite his numerous protests. But Steve hadn't really minded. At least in his apartment with no tree up and no decorations, Steve had been able to accept Mike's holiday cheer and offerings with no visible reminders to drag up old, bittersweet and despite the lengthy passage of time, still emotionally heartbreaking Christmases of old.

But this year he had been invited again and Mike had made it quite clear that no excuses would be accepted. He was going to have to join the Stones for Christmas dinner and had even been told he would be staying over on Christmas Eve in the spare room. Yes, TOLD. Steve chuckled to himself again. He often marveled at how perceptive his partner was and how well he had come to know him in such a relatively short space of time. No-one had ever really tried to understand him, well not since his Grandfather anyway but there was no hiding anything from Mike. Mike seemed to know how to handle him in most situations. He seemed to know when to get him to talk and also when to leave him be when he felt perhaps he didn't want to. He seemed to have figured out that he was harboring resentment of some kind for the Holidays and had known a simple invitation would have been politely declined but Mike knew a direct order, albeit dressed up as a personal favor would be harder for the young man to refuse. And as Mike always was, on this occasion he was right again.

Steve had agreed reluctantly but he had at the very least had the decency to disguise his reluctance with a pasted smile and a thank you. But now that Christmas was tomorrow Steve was getting cold feet and butterflies. He wasn't sure what effect being a part of a loving family Christmas again would have on him. After all he had managed to successfully avoid the trimmings of Christmas for the last ten years and he feared what emotions and memories it would dredge up from the bottom of his heart. But even this morning as this stakeout began, Mike had lectured him about having his overnight bag ready and waiting. He had turned red-faced as he had admitted that the task had slipped his mind what with the stakeout being planned and had been made promise that it would be the first thing he would do as soon as he got home. Mike had been particularly fussy this morning perhaps picking up on his anxiety and fearing that another excuse was imminent.

A thud behind him made him start and leaving his Christmas musings behind he turned with lightning speed to see that an elderly lady had dropped her Christmas gifts and was struggling to bend to pick them up. Swiftly he hurried to her assistance and helped the lady retrieve her gifts as other panicked shoppers barely took any notice. Having picked up all the packages and making sure that the lady had them held securely this time, the old lady grabbed his arm.

"Thank you young man. You're most kind. Merry Christmas to you and ... God Bless you."

"You're welcome. You too." Steve responded as he smiled and watched the lady make her way back through the maddening crowd. Suddenly his walkie talkie came to life through a crackle of static.

"STEVE? I can't see you. What's happening? Is something wrong? Have you seen our guy? STEVE? ANSWER ME!"

Steve chuckled at the panicked voice of his partner and quickly responded.

"Relax Papa Bear. Everything is clear up here. I was just helping a damsel in distress. And you forgot to say OVER."

Again Mike's voice came over the airwaves, and despite the exasperated tone there was also an audible relief behind his words."

"Alright wise guy. Keep your mind on the task at hand and off your distressed damsels, you hear me? OVER!"

Steve laughed.

"Yes Sir... But nothing's happening Mike. I'm not sure he's going to show."

"Maybe not but keep your eyes peeled Buddy boy, Skowlownowski is due to arrive on the stage soon. If our guy is going to try something it will be soon."

"Will do ..."

Steve rubbed a tired hand over his face and scanned the crowd bustling around him. They had been at the mall since nine am and it was now approaching noon and he hadn't had a great night's sleep the previous night worrying about his Christmas plans. The Mayor's Aide was due to give a speech at a charity gift drive here in the Shopping Mall at noon and he had received a disturbing death threat specifically linked to this event. Nothing new really for Skowlownowski but this time intelligence gathered had deemed the threat to be viable. The powers that be had tried to dissuade the Mayor's Aide from attending the event but Skowlownowski was as stubborn as they come and refused to be intimidated. And so here they all were. With the Holiday Season depleting staff available down at Bryant Street, Mike's men had been drafted in to assist. Mike Stone had been requested personally by Skowlownowski along with "the other one". That infuriating man never would remember his name, Steve huffed to himself having been called every name under the sun by the Mayor's Aide over the last year and a half since he started in Homicide, although " what's his name" seemed to be the most popular, much to Steve's disgust. The suspect Bob Sykes was an ex Army Veteran and a trained sniper, mentally unstable as per his records and with a grudge to bear. Each officer had been given an up to date picture of him to look out for and he had been deemed armed and dangerous, with the specific instruction having been issued by Olsen that if in any doubt to shoot first and ask questions later. With each of them assigned a watching position, Steve was up on the upper floor of the mall. He was directly looking down on the stage where Skowlownowski was to make his speech and Mike was near the stage along with Lee Lessing. With so many shoppers bustling to and fro they had their work cut out for them scanning the crowds and people wearing various costumes and Santa Outfits had caused even more difficulty as each of them had to be searched individually for fear that the sniper would most likely come in disguise. While the Mall was fairly well covered by enough officers, scanning the ever growing crowd was proving challenging, however Steve felt his vantage point was the best one of them all. He figured that if the sniper was going to try anything it would be from a height and with his keen observational skills and being one of the best marksmen in the Department, Olsen had made it no secret that he was pinning his hopes on the young Inspector, spotting the suspect and averting the crisis of a political assassination on Olsen's watch. So the pressure was on him in more ways than one. Before he could force that worry out of his head, another voice joined the conversation as more static crackled. It was the voice of Sergeant Norm Haseejian.

"Steve, possible suspect on your floor over by the photo booth."

Steve looked quickly in the direction he was told and saw a blonde girl, in a very tight sequined dress and wearing a Santa Hat waddling seductively along in high heels.

" ... I definitely think you should go search her kid ... " the voice continued and Steve knew he'd just been had.

"Very funny Norm. I think I'll leave that suspect in your more than capable hands. I think she might be more your type anyhow." Steve giggled.

"SERGEANT! Keep your mind out of the gutter and on the job unless you want to be spending Christmas Eve on traffic duty Haseejian ..." Mike's voice boomed from the walkie-talkie and Steve laughed as Norm's apologetic voice broke the silence next.

"Yes Boss. Sorry Boss."

Steve glanced humorously once more over at the sight of the departing blonde and just as he did something else caught his eagle eyes. A quick flash, a sparkle that came and went. It came from the back of the photo booth, protruding through the blackened curtains for a mere second. Probably just a camera flash but his stomach churned. His gut felt twisted like something bad was about to happen. He started moving towards the darkened booth as he heard the announcer come over the shopping Mall's intercom announcing the imminent arrival of Skowlownowski.

Moving ever more quickly, pushing his way through the crowds he heard the anxious voice come again through the walkie-talkie.

"Steve? What's going on? Why have you left your post? Have you got something? Steve, Skowlownowski is ready to go on stage? Talk to me. "

Steve spoke quickly into the device.

"Stall him Mike. I think I saw something at the photo booth up here but I'm not sure. I need to check it out before you let him on the stage ... I'm on my way there now."

Mike's heart skipped a beat as he heard Steve's words come over the walkie-talkie. He placed a strong hand on Skowlownowski's chest stopping his ascent onto the stage and spoke anxiously into the walkie-talkie much to the larger man's annoyance.

"Ok Steve but BE CAREFUL! All officers on the upper floor converge on the photo booth. Repeat all officers on the upper floor converge on the photo booth. Officer possibly needing assistance."

Mike scanned the upper floor as best he could, all the time cursing the fact that his eyesight was not as sharp as it used to be. He couldn't see Steve through the bustling crowd of shoppers, most of them gathered now at the upper rail presumably to watch Skowlownowski take the stage.

Up above, Steve was almost to the photo booth. It was a temporary makeshift photo booth close to the downward escalator. It looked like it was made from just a thin frame and black curtain material. A sign adorned the outside "Get your fun Holiday photos here" but beside it was an ominous "Closed for lunch sign". Steve studied the booth carefully as he approached and realized that it was directly facing the stage on the lower floor. The perfect cover for a sniper. He swallowed hard as he steeled his nerves for the task at hand. He unclipped the holster on his belt as he neared his target.

"STONE! What's the hold up? I'm supposed to be on stage now" Skowlownowski groused .

"My men need to check out a possible sighting of the suspect on the upper floor Sir. You'll have to wait a few seconds. Inspector Keller is checking it out now but we have to give him time."

"Who? ..." Skowlownowski questioned and Mike frowned.

While the Mayor's forgetfulness where Steve's name was concerned was amusing at first and an opportunity to tease his young partner playfully, even for Mike now it was becoming a major source of irritation. He abhorred that the man never acknowledged Steve's heroism and excellent police work and hadn't ever had the decency to even remember his name. In an exasperated tone that should have told Skowlownowski not to trifle with him he declared in a clear voice.

"Inspector STEVE KELLER. " Mike emphasized purposefully. "You do remember my partner don't you?" he added sarcastically, knowing full well the pompous man most probably did not.

"Oh yes ... Of course. What's his name ... " the man stammered, which earned him the Stone Glare for his comment.

But before Mike could react any further or respond, the burly man pushed Mike aside muttering as he went.

"Well I'm not waiting any longer Lieutenant ... These people are waiting for me ..."

He mounted the stage as Mike followed him fuming at the man's audacity and blatant disregard for his own safety and those of the officers trying to keep him alive and he spoke urgently into his walkie-talkie.

"STEVE? What's happening? He's taking the stage. He refuses to wait. STEVE?"

Steve spotted the telltale rifle barrel poke out the back of the curtain as Skowlownowski took the stage and he yelled into the walkie talkie.

"MIKE it's him. HIT IT!" before dropping the walkie-talkie on the ground and pulling his weapon.

With lightning speed Lee Lessing mounted the stage and dragged Skowlownowski to the deck as Mike dived to the floor as well just as a shot rang out and hit the stage behind them

"POLICE! Drop your weapon and come out of the booth with your hands up." Steve roared but the previous gunshot sent a ripple of panic through the crowd.

People started running in all directions, anxious to escape the shooting, some of them running between Steve and the booth making a clear shot impossible. Steve holstered his weapon as he deemed it too dangerous to fire without endangering innocent civilians in the stampeding crowd.

Seeing the barrel of the rifle move and fearing a renewed attempt to fire, Steve pushed his way forward and kicked at the light framed kiosk causing it to topple over and reveal the shooter kneeling on one knee at the rail aiming his weapon at the stage. It was Sykes. Uncovered, the sniper turned the rifle towards Steve but Steve was now close enough to grab at the weapon, pushing the barrel upward as the second shot rang out hitting the glass roof overhead, causing a shattering of glass to fall downward from above and an even louder volley of screams and a more frantic stampede of shoppers as more officers arrived near the photo booth, Sergeant Haseejian being one of them. He ordered the others to evacuate the crowd safely as he moved forward pointing his weapon towards where Steve was now trying to wrestle the weapon from Sykes's hands. Sykes was heavily built and outweighed Steve three to one. Steve was struggling to over power the sniper as Sykes pushed the gun towards Steve's chest and began pushing him towards the upper rail dangerously close to the downward escalator. Steve took a quick backward glance and feared what the sniper had planned. There was a manic anger in the sniper's eyes aimed directly now at Steve for having thwarted his up to now flawless assassination attempt. Steve knew he was at a distinct weight disadvantage so he tried to talk him around instead.

"Give it up Sykes. It's OVER! You don't want to do this. I know you feel aggrieved by Skowlownowski and all he stands for but this is NOT the answer. It's not worth your life. It's not worth any man's life. There are other ways to deal with this. There is never just one way Sykes ... Listen to me ..."

Down below, Lessing and Mike had managed to get Skowlownowski off the stage and behind a pillar now surrounded by Officers with weapons drawn. The near miss had at the very least shut the arrogant man up and he seemed to be in some sort of shock, quite happy for now to stay where Mike had placed him and commanded him to. Now Mike turned his worry back to the upper floor where Steve was, yelling into his walkie-talkie at anyone who could tell him what was happening. All he could make out was a scuffle on the upper deck close to the escalator but he couldn't see who was involved in the fracas.

"Come in. What's happening up there? Is the sniper secured?"

The voice that responded belonged to Haseejian sounding nervous.

"MIKE ... Steve is struggling with the sniper. I can't get a clear shot without risking hitting Steve."

Mike's heart sank.

"Hold your fire Norm. Don't take the shot unless Steve is clear. Repeat do NOT take the shot unless Steve is CLEAR? Over."

"Copy that Mike. Over."

Norm watched helplessly as Steve continued to wrestle with the perp, keeping his weapon aimed in case of a clear shot. Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead as he saw Steve being pushed closer to the escalator, now in imminent danger of being pushed down it. Mike from down below also saw Steve and the perp appear at the top of the escalator and began to pray that the two wouldn't go over. Picking up his walkie-talkie with shaking hands he spoke desperately.

"Norm, can you get a clear shot yet?"

"Negative Mike. Steve's still in my line of fire. What do we do now?"

Mike went silent as he tried to figure out what the next move should be. Steve however was making progress. While he was now in a very precarious position on top of the downward escalator with nothing behind him to break his fall, the perp had let up the forward pressure as he appeared to be taking in what Steve was saying. In a somewhat more shaky voice than before due to his dangerous position, Steve kept up the encouraging tone.

"You're better than this Sykes. Give me the gun and we'll walk away from this together. We can talk. Discuss your options. What do you say? Huh? Please? Give me the weapon and lets end this now before anyone gets hurt. Ok?"

Sykes let the weapon drop slightly no longer pushing it against Steve's chest. The anger in his eyes changed to one of deep sadness and Steve sighed with relief as he felt he was finally getting through and just in the nick of time. His heart was pounding in his chest and his head was spinning slightly from the backward glance that saw the drop behind him down the metal escalator to the ground floor some thirty or so moving metal steps that would mean a whole lot of hurt or possible death.

But no-one saw Rookie Officer Doyle approaching from the other side, with everyone's attention on the sniper and Steve. He had heard Mike's instructions over the walkie-talkie and from this side he had a clear shot of the perp. Without confirming his intention to Mike, Doyle raised his weapon and took the shot. Steve only saw him at the last minute, his worst fears confirmed as he yelled "NO! ...HOLD YOUR FIRE! " just a fraction too late.

What happened next was a living nightmare as the bullet struck Sykes in the side and he keeled forward on top of Steve pushing him backwards by the force and both men tumbled unceremoniously backwards down the escalator. Norm froze as he heard the shot and raced forward as further screams and a collective gasp of horror erupted from the fleeing crowd but he was too late to stop the inevitable from happening as he helplessly watched from the top of the escalator as Steve and Sykes tumbled for what seemed like an eternity before landing in a tangled heap at the bottom. Mike watched horrified as the nightmare played out as he also heard the shot and saw his partner getting pushed backwards and witnessed his sickening descent down to the bottom before racing forward with his heart in his mouth and his nerves jangling praying above all else that he had survived the agonizing fall.

The initial moment the bullet had struck Sykes causing his full weight to fall forward on him felt almost surreal to Steve as his life momentarily flashed before his eyes in the few seconds he freefalled backwards before he hit the first metal step. Pain erupted from his left shoulder as he tumbled again. A dizzying blur of Christmas fairy lights taunted him as he spun. Another impact this time his forehead and he felt the sharp sting and throb as the skin broke and a trickle of blood flowed into his right eye while his whole skull pounded in tune with his heart rate. More downward movement that seemed to go on forever and one final insulting blow to his left knee that caused an explosion of pain to vibrate up his left leg as he suffered the final indignity of the sudden stop as he landed, strangely on something soft compared to the unrelenting metal that had caused him such agony on the way down. He heard distant screams, yells and hurried footsteps on the polished mall floor before attempting to open the one eye he was able to. He saw the reflection of more flickering fairy lights on the tiled floor just by his head and a blur of feet heading towards him before the wave of nausea and dizziness hit and the world around him faded out until he sunk into blissful and very welcome unconsciousness.