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After they'd, once again, lugged everything, this time from the steps indoors, Reid had to smirk at the fact that Rossi's gaping mouth meant this had actually surprised him. It might be worth it after all, he thought as everyone set about removing their outerwear to begin what they'd come here for.
It was undisputed, even unquestioned, that Garcia was in charge. "Okay," she said, "let's set up the tree here. "Guys, we'll have to move this furniture a bit." She looked at the men momentarily when no one moved and snapped her fingers.
"Hotch," Morgan quipped as they each took one end of a love seat. "How does it feel taking orders from Garcia?"
Oh man, Reid thought, this may end up being a hoot. Once the furniture was arranged to their goddess's satisfaction, she pointed to a box. "The stand for the tree is in there," and then turned her attention to JJ and Emily leaving the men to set up the tree. "Let's get all the food into the kitchen so we can make some sense of this stuff."
"Ay ay captain," Emily saluted as she giggled and grabbed the box of food she'd brought and headed for the kitchen with JJ and Garcia following suit.
Rossi continued to watch as if it were a program on television. He wanted to press pause and ask what the hell was going on. Hotch had the tree stand together while Will and Morgan lifted the tree into position and Hotch adjusted the screws until it was straight, or at least he thought it was until his sane mind left him for a moment and he asked, only to be told by Reid that it was off about two centimeters. Rossi was surprised Reid didn't drop dead at the look Hotch threw his way. "Well, you asked," Reid replied in his defense.
Once the tree was straightened, to Reid's satisfaction, the other three stood back and looked at their handiwork. "What's next Mama?" Morgan called into the kitchen.
Rossi could see his kitchen countertop covered with food. A turkey, sweet potatoes cranberry sauce, vegetables, numerous other staples, plastic containers holding things the women had prepared ahead of time, whipped cream and a pie. "Leave the tree to stand for a while. Get a ladder and start hanging decorations." Garcia told him as she placed a few cartons of eggnog and a bottle of rum on the counter. The women, he noted, had dressed for the season. Garcia wore a red sweater with a large Christmas tree on it and dangling earrings that matched. Emily and JJ were more understated, both in black sweaters, JJ's sported a white shawl collar with colorful ornaments and ribbons on its front. Emily wore a turtleneck with poinsettias of red and white accentuated with green holly. He had to admit to himself they all looked very festive.
"Where's your ladder Dave?" Morgan asked.
"Um… garage," Rossi replied, "I'll…"
"It's okay, I got it man." Morgan headed through the kitchen in the direction of the mud room.
Henry felt he'd remained quiet far too long and there was important business to be taken care of. "How is Santa gonna know where I am," he stressed agonizingly.
"Yeah," Jack chimed in.
"I sent him an email," Garcia hollered from the kitchen.
"You know Santa's email?" Jack asked excitedly.
"Your computer goddess knows everything and no, I can't tell you or I would be in serious trouble with the FBI," she told them.
Jack was relieved that Santa knew where he'd be when another thought stuck him as he watched the flames dancing in Rossi's fireplace. "Do you think it's big enough? Aunt Jessica took me to see Santa at the mall and I don't think he'll fit in there."
All eyes turned to Reid standing next to Rossi who elbowed him. "Make up some statistic," Rossi said while trying not to move his lips.
"Oh, it has been proven over thousands of years," Reid began, "that there is no chimney too small, no door or window he can't get through because Santa is magic. He's able to mold his body to the shape of the opening he needs to get through."
"What if he burns his bum when he comes down," Henry asked.
"Fireproof," Reid said, "Santa's suit is fireproof."
The adults almost broke into laughter as the two children looked at one another and sized things up. Santa knew they were here; he could fit down the chimney and wouldn't get burned. They knew they'd both been good boys and the look passed between them that said this might work out after all.
The doorbell chimed. "That's likely Kevin," Garcia said.
"I'll get it," Reid offered.
"Kevin," Rossi nodded his head, "why not?"
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As decorations were hung from the ceiling according to Garcia's diagrams, dishes began appearing on the coffee and end tables, nuts, candies, cheese and crackers, a vegetable tray, chocolates and chips with dip. "Watch that Henry doesn't eat too much of that," JJ yelled from the kitchen.
"What's too much Uncle Spence?" Henry asked.
"I don't know bud," Reid whispered. "Let's just wing it."
"There," Morgan said as he tacked the last piece of decorative ribbon to the ceiling, "done."
"Just in time for dinner," Emily called from the kitchen. "It's just soup and sandwiches and then after supper we can decorate the tree."
Men and boys filed into the dining room for some hearty vegetable soup which really hit the spot after they'd all come in from the cold outside. The wind hadn't lessened, they could see through Rossi's French doors that led to the deck. They listened to Jack and Henry relate all that they hoped Santa had for them. Rossi still remained quiet, finding it difficult to believe that the team had come and taken over his home.
The meal over and the dishes loaded into the dishwasher, the group returned to the living room to decorate the tree. Garcia pulled over another container with lights, garlands and many balls to make the tree festive. JJ and Emily had also brought ornaments as well. Garcia and Morgan managed to wrap the tree in lights without having to untangle them or starting world war three, which everyone viewed as a plus. Once the garland was wrapped around, it was time for the ornaments and everyone got in on the action, lifting the boys to reach where they couldn't until the branches were well laden with a myriad of radiant reds, whites, greens and golds and the tree became a spectacle of shining color and yuletide splendor.
"I want to put the angel on top Daddy!" Henry exclaimed.
"No, I want to put the angel on top," Jack insisted.
"How about," Emily said, "since Rossi hasn't had a tree in many years, we let him put the angel on top?"
"You two don't want to be fighting," Reid said. "Not with you know who coming."
With much trepidation the boys agreed at last to let Rossi put the angel on the tree, giving it its crowning glory. Everyone clapped when she'd finally taken her rightful place.
"Time for eggnog and hot chocolate," Garcia said and turned toward the kitchen only to be stopped by Rossi's hand on her arm.
"I just wanted to say thank you to all of you for doing all this for me. I think I know why you did it and I…"
"You told us in Indianapolis that you hadn't been able to put up a tree for twenty years." JJ said.
"That case was solved," Emily added. "We figured it was about time."
"And anyway, we didn't do it totally for you," Garcia said softly. Rossi shook his head, not quite understanding. "We also did it for Carolyn." She saw Rossi's eyes water at the mention of his ex-wife's name.
"You didn't even know her."
"We know you loved her and she loved you." Garcia took his hands in hers. "That's enough for us. The first Christmas after you lose someone is always the hardest. She'd want you to be happy. She'd want you to be with your family."
