AN: So more jollies (hopefully) in this chapter. A bit of syrupy mush. I think the only Christmas Risk here was to the children! Scarred for life because of Fusco's getup.


Chapter 2:

John had finally caught up to Jerry behind the hospital. At that time, he had noticed the elf trying to put a bullet into Jerry, which led to his current predicament.

"What. The. Hell." Lionel said as he looked at John and the unconscious elf on the ground.

"There is no way in hell I'm wearing that," Lionel said motioning towards the elf.

"It's the only way Lionel."

"Why do I have to be the one?"

"Look at him . . ." John pointed to the unconscious form on the ground. Glancing at the elf, Lionel had to grudgingly admit that he was about the same size.


Lionel Fusco was in hell. With Wonder Boy involved, this was par for the course.

Puce colored pointy hat. Fucking man in the suit; owes me big time. Lionel thought.

Peter-pan collared jacket of the same puce color as the pointy hat, with fuzzy white trim at the collar and the wrist. It covered his barrel chest and the swirly gold snowflakes at torso, collar, and wrists accentuated his burly trunk well. Fucking mutual friend my ass.

The yellow and green horizontal striped tights showed the strength of his muscled but squatty legs, the jacket wasn't long enough and damn it; left little to the imagination. His boys were not happy with the constriction of the damn tights and worse yet, for being on display. Son of a Nutcracker . . . Who came up with these torture devices anyway?

Together with the curly-toed green elf shoes with bells, Lionel couldn't keep the phrase "Jingle my bells," out of his head.


Zoe was on the Children's Oncology Ward of New York General Hospital helping the children not lucky enough to be in remission to celebrate the Holidays. Since Katie's mom died, Zoe helped the nurses put on a big party for the kids. She had spent the last two days working tirelessly helping them to prepare for the Holiday party and had promised a few of the children that she would make sure that Santa made an appearance which was a treat for all the kids. They got to sit on Santa's lap and tell him their wishes.

Coming around the corner, Zoe saw Katie, her grandparents and a few others in the activity room singing carols, drawing, playing games, and waiting for Santa to arrive. The proof that Zoe's time wasn't wasted was evident. The activity room and in fact the entire ward was decorated with streamers, paper snowflakes, and fake snow. There was even a fake snowman in the corner of the activity room. He had a top hat, button eyes, a carrot nose, stick arms and a scarf. By the window of the activity room stood a huge Christmas tree that sparkled with multicolored lights.

"Is he here yet," a child excitedly asked.

Zoe smiled as she looked up from her perch on the window and made her way towards the group of children waiting for Santa. "Not quite, just a few more minutes."

Her phone chirped just as she finished reassuring the children. "Zoe Morgan."


Zoe wasn't sure what she was expecting, but it certainly wasn't Jerry admitted into the same hospital that he was supposed to make an appearance as Santa.

"Jerry? How are you doing?" Zoe asked concern in her voice.

"Oh, could have been better Zoe. I'm real sorry, I can't play Santa tonight." After the fiasco with the elf assassin, Jerry had felt tightness in his chest which prompted John and Lionel, still dressed in the elf costume, to take him to the ER.

"Don't you worry about that, I can call the agency and get Fred to do it."

"That's the problem Zoe, John already called them and they are all out of Santas. And even if he could have gotten a Santa, Fred and I are the only ones that know those kids up there. I'm really sorry Zoe."

Patting Jerry's arm, she reassured him. "It's okay, Jerry, we'll just have to tell them that Santa will come tomorrow instead. Where did John go? I need to speak with him."

"Miss Morgan, I'm Detective Fusco, I'm here with Rhonda . . . John had to step away to take care of some other things. If there is anything I can do . . ."

Zoe looked at the elf, her eyebrow cocked. "Not in that get-up."


"Miss Morgan? Is everything okay with Santa?" Rhonda asked.

"No, Rhonda, unfortunately, Jerry couldn't make it tonight. I have to tell the kids that Santa will have to come tomorrow. We can probably get Fred to come."

"Aww, that's too bad, they worked so hard on the decorations and their snacks and treats for Santa."

As she was getting ready to make the announcement, the tinkling of bells caught Zoe's ear. "Did you hear that?" She asked Rhonda.

Some of the children must have heard the bells as well for several of them went to window to search the sky for Santa and his reindeer.

"Ho. . . Ho . . . Ho . . . Merry Christmas. . . " stiffly said and was barely heard, as Santa and his elf stepped inside the activity room.

Zoe's head snapped up at the familiar voice just in time to catch him marching past the children towards the chair that was set up for Santa. Without having to think about it, she immediately crossed the room towards Santa and the elf and grabbed his arm. "Sorry kids, Santa looks like he forgot his bag of presents, we'll be right back."

"John, what the hell?" Zoe motioned with her arms towards his red suit and fake facial hair.

"The agency was out of Santas. . . "

"I know, but Lionel was supposed to tell . . . " Zoe looked at the errant elf trying to look innocent. He just gave her a smirk and wink. Lionel was enjoying this. To finally pull one over on Wonder boy, was worth the backlash. All he had to do was hint a little about disappointed little kids, noted that John and Santa were about the same height, they could pad him to make him rounder. The hardest part was getting the beard. Jerry had the real-deal Santa beard. Lionel had to endure more humiliation as he left the hospital and went to the dollar store right down the street and found a decent looking Santa beard.

"Jerry knows all the kids in there. You marched in like a soldier called to the front lines." At Lionel's covered up laugh, Zoe turned to him.

"And you! Every child in there will be scarred for life. Find a way to cover your pocket rocket better."

"John, put your ear bud on, I need to talk to Harold."


"Santa!" The tiny voice of a little boy cried as he bolted from the windows and flung himself into John's arms. Tamping down his instinct to use an evasive maneuver on the mini adversary, John pulled the little boy stiffly into his arms as he listened to Zoe through his ear bud. That's Brad Johnson, he's five. Tell him he's lucky to be going home soon.

"Brad Johnson! I hear you get to go home soon." John replied, awkwardly putting the boy down and ruffling his head. John, can you relax please? You're stiffer than your dress shirts.

"You've never complained about my stiffness before . . . " John parried under his breath as he was accosted by yet another knee-high assailant. "Santa!"

Sammy Branson. She's three. Agree with her when she says she's almost four and that she's big.

"I'm almost four . . ." the little girl with the squeaky voice held up four fingers, ". . . and I'm a big girl Santa!"

"That you are . . ." John agreed with the pint-sized diva.

"Your cheeks are red," Sammy smiled cupping his face in her tiny hands as she kissed the end of his nose.

Clearing his throat in uncertainty, he clumsily patted the little girl's back.

Suddenly, the other children ran screeching towards John. Instead of flipping over a table, cocking his gun and calling for backup, John, with the ear bud and Zoe's help, greeted each of them by name with a squeeze and a tiny smile. Santa filled the next hour consuming vast amounts of sugar and fat a man his age shouldn't, but was genuinely offered.

To John's relief, one of the nurses finally announced that it was time to end the treats and time to read Santa their Holiday lists. This proclamation worked like a starter gun and sent the children scattering to get their lists.

John tracked Zoe as she glided her way across the room towards him. His eyes captivated by the sway of her hips. As met him in the middle of the room, the headiness of her perfume encompassed him. He swallowed as he felt his stomach drop to his feet thinking that he may have eaten too many sweets.

"Having fun Santa?" She grinned up at him.

"I thought that was obvious." John answered with huff.

"Thank you for doing this John." Zoe said quietly. "This made the kids happy."

John held her eyes with his and asked. "Does it make you happy?"

She smiled and said with honesty. "Yes, it does."

"Good," John whispered, leaning in close to give her a quick peck. It wouldn't do for the kids to see Zoe making out with Santa.


A big cozy chair was set up by the pretend fireplace and the children sat in a line waiting for their turn. John eased his way through to the front of the line to take his place in the chair. Lionel the elf stood at attention by his side. Zoe was relieved that the detective somehow found a way to make himself decent and not scare the poor children away.

He reached out his hands to the first child in line and took the little boy onto his lap. "So Brady, what did you want Santa to bring you for Holiday this year?"

"A twenty Piece Special Forces Army Action Figure Set," Timmy replied excitedly. "My daddy was in the army . . ." His dad never made it back. Killed in action, two years ago. Same time Brady was diagnosed with leukemia.

"I'll do my best." John said reaching into the bag and pulling out a gift with Brady's name on it.

"Thank you Santa." Brady smiled, taking the present and hugging him tight, before hopping off his lap.

John watched as Brady opened his present and sure enough, he got just what he wanted. "How did you do that?"

Learned a thing or two about reconnaissance work; get close to the target and let them talk.

Zoe, Rhonda and the nurses stood at the back of the room watching as each child got to sit on Santa's lap. Zoe couldn't help but smile at some of the wishes. They seemed simple enough to provide and she found out that she was a good listener. Shopping for dolls, bikes, trucks, books had been a pleasure for Zoe to do. She was amazed at how providing little things made the children happy. She realized that these children were as extraordinary as the conditions that had led them here. None of them asked to miraculously get better, although she knew they wanted that as much as anything. The simplest of things brought a smile to their faces, and to Zoe that was worth it. To give up a few weeks or days just to see those smiles of excitement and gratitude.

Zoe looked at little Sammy, who sat tolerantly at the end of the line. The little girl's eyes were filled with buoyant expectation as she watched the other's wishes come true. Finally, it was her turn. She walked right on up to John and even though John tried to help her up, she waved his hands away saying, "I can do it, I'm big," and slowly and carefully climbing up on his lap.

"Merry Christmas Sammy," John said. "What can Santa bring you for Christmas this year?"

With a beautiful smile, Sammy looked into John's eyes. "Santa, I don't want a toy," she announced.

That little bugger, I got her a Chatty Cathy doll so she could have someone to talk to. And she didn't have a backup.

John gulped thinking they were in trouble if they couldn't pull through for Sammy. She leaned in closer to John and whispered. "Santa, I'm Jewish, so I don't need anything for Christmas. But, I want something for a friend."

At John's nod for her to continue, she said, "I want Miss Zoe to have a special Christmas present; something that will make her happy. She does lots stuff for us, but we don't do much for her."

John found a little smile on his lips as he heard a muffled sniff through his ear bud. "That will teach you," John said quietly.

Oh Shut up.

"I'll certainly do my best." John answered.

"Thank you Santa," Sammy replied and gave John a big hug and a kiss on his cheek, then wiggled off his lap.

"Sammy." John called out to her.

"Yes, Santa."

"Even if you're Jewish, you still get a present," He said, holding out a small box.

She galloped back up to him and took the box from his hand. "Thank you."


Giggles and snickers could be heard all around them. "What're you kids laughing at?" Rhonda asked with mock irritation.

"Lionel the elf has to kiss you." Zoe said as she walked by.

"He does, does he?" Rhonda said.

"Make sure that thing covering the boys stays there okay?" Zoe said with a knowing quirk of her brow. "You're under the mistletoe. You get a kiss. And who knows, maybe more?" Zoe playfully wiggled her eyebrows at the school teacher.

Rhonda and Lionel looked up to find mistletoe hanging over their heads. Lionel fussed nervously and looked around, shuffling his feet. Rhonda, who decided it was her best chance to do again what she had been dreaming of since the stake out, smiled as she stepped forward, slipping her hands around his waist. And besides, she thought Lionel was hot elf.

"So, how about it Chippy?" Rhonda asked softly.

"Well, I guess it's tradition, who am I to argue?" Lionel smiled, pulling her to his barrel chest and planting one right on her.