Advents Calendar
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
by RoadrunnerGER
Disclaimer: No, still don't own them. Who said so? They're not mine. :(( The same applies to the song.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews. :D Have a great first Advent. :)
2
All I want for Christmas is you
Actually Alex could not say that she was in the mood for Christmas.
She was sitting on the sofa at her parent's house, the gossip of her aunts in her ear and nodding from time to time, but never really realizing what they were talking about. Her sister and sister-in-law joined in the twitter and they all were worse than a flock of geese.
Alex's brother's birthday fell on the first Advent this year and so they all joined at home to celebrate both occasions.
The problem was that Alex did not want to party. She felt anything but up for a party.
"Alexandra," an annoyed voice reached her mind. It became even more insistent, "Alexandra!"
"Yes, aunt Josephine?" she finally replied.
"It's not polite to just sit and stare while we're talking. Nobody will be fooled by your occasional nods," she nipped any excuse in the bud. "You're brooding about something. What's up, honey?"
None of your business, Alex thought.
"You know," aunt Penelope scolded. "You'd be much happier if you didn't have to be here on you own."
Oh no, not this subject again! Inwardly Alex was rolling her eyes. She knew exactly what was about to come.
"Oh, I remember as if it was yesterday when you were elected Prom Queen," aunt Josephine slobbered over her memories. "You were such a pretty thing back then."
So what am I today?
"Yeah, we all thought that you'd get married soon and get a house full of children. What lovely children they would have been."
Remember that I gave birth to a child? Ask Fiona!
"But instead you ran off to be a cop like your father!" aunt Penelope wailed. "How could you do that? Such a pretty thing and such an ugly profession."
Your luck that your dear brother can't hear you from over in the dining room. He'd be pissed, and rightly so.
"And then you had to marry this cop," aunt Josephine said snappishly. "Joe was the wrong choice, honey. See what happened! Got himself shot! And you couldn't even have a family."
Alex looked at her sister and Fiona looked at her. Then both their gazes were drawn out of the window into the garden, where Neal was playing together with his cousins and the two dogs.
He's tall for his age, Alex thought and smiled lovingly when her nephew ran after the Frisbee they were playing with. Rex caught it first and the boys were chasing the dog. Alex and Fiona chuckled.
"Oh, the dangers you're exposing yourself to," aunt Penelope whined. "You could be shot every second, stabbed or beaten to death." She was almost in tears now. "Kidnapped! You could be dead, Alexandra. If nothing else could convince you it should be that."
"Penelope is right," aunt Josephine frayed. "You should quit and find yourself another job and a decent husband. We want to see you happy, Alexandra. We want to see you with children of your own."
When Josephine reached out to caress her cheek Alex flinched back. That was too much.
"I am perfectly happy where I am and with what I am doing," she replied, doing her best to hide her anger. "It's an important job and I'm proud to be a cop."
"After all, she's no ordinary cop," Lorraine, her sister-in-law threw in. "She's a detective with the Major Case Squad."
Thanks for trying to help, but I guess this only makes it worse.
"And this so called high profile squad gets her into high profile trouble," aunt Penelope ranted. "You ever heard of a kidnapped cop before?"
"No," aunt Josephine backed her up.
Alex tried not to listen to them. Why could they not just shut up? It was her choice! And she was happy with being at Major Case.
"That's all his fault," aunt Penelope said.
That made Alex listen attentively. She won't talk about Bobby, will she?
"This insensitive bloke is who gets her into trouble. He should look out for Alexandra, but instead he lets her get kidnapped." Aunt Josephine obviously planned to talk herself into trouble.
"You're right. Where was he to prevent it? He almost got her killed!" aunt Penelope supported her.
"God beware that she ever loses her heart to another of those stupid cops."
"She is sitting right next to you," Alex exploded, shooting up from her perch. "And she doesn't like how you're talking about her partner!" Her eyes spread fire and her voice was full of venom. "Bobby's the most wonderful man she's ever met and she's proud to call him her partner and friend. He's her best friend. How dare you insult her friends?"
She glowered at her aunts in turn, her cheeks reddening with fury.
"So, are you finished? Let me tell you something. Nothing what Bobby did led to this woman kidnapping me. It was her choice and her alone. It's part of my job. I love my job. Nothing what you're saying can convince me otherwise. You're pathetic. You're pathetic old witches who have nothing else to do than to gossip about your family and friends. I wonder how you can stand yourselves."
Alex pivoted on her heels and stormed out into the kitchen. She was close to tears. Her heart ached and she held on to the kitchen counter, because her vision blurred.
How can those bitches insult Bobby? He's the best friend I ever had, except Joe maybe. Oh, Joe, I miss you so much.
The memory of her dead husband threatened to overwhelm her. Naturally this was the time of the year she thought more often of him.
Why didn't I stay at home?, she wondered. I knew that something like that would happen… happens every time I meet the old girls.
The radio was on and a soft instrumental Christmas tune sounded out of the speakers. It could just gradually calm Alex down. Then there was a short commercial and another song started. Mariah's dolce voice made her even more sad at once.
I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
I don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you
Alex grinned sourly. If these old bitches would know what I really want, she thought. They would have a heart attack. No, Penelope would have a heart attack, Josephine would have a stroke.
I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need, and I
Don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I don't need to hang my stocking
There upon the fireplace
Santa Claus won't make me happy
With a toy on Christmas day
Even as the song became more upbeat and happy now the lyrics still made her sad. Yeah, her aunts would really have a problem with what she saw instead of the presents underneath the Christmas tree. She would not need to hang her stocking there upon the fireplace. Santa Claus would make her happy just with one thing on Christmas day.
And this one thing could not just be wrapped up and placed under the tree. This one thing had dark brown, salt and pepper curls and the most boyish smile she had ever seen. It had dark chocolate eyes. It was tall and handsome.
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you, youuuuu, ooh ooh baby, oh oh
Never before had she realized that this was true. Never before she had dared to admit to herself that these feelings were inside of her. Never before had she thought of her partner and best friend, Robert Bobby O. Goren, as the man she truly loved with all of her heart.
I won't ask for much this Christmas
I won't even wish for snow, and I
I just want to keep on waiting
Underneath the mistletoe
Where can I find a mistletoe?
Alex remembered the one out in the hall, but as Bobby had refused to accompany her to her parents' combined Advents and birthday dinner, she would not have any opportunity to meet him underneath the small bundle of green leaves and white shimmering berries.
I won't make a list and send it
To the North Pole for Saint Nick
I won't even stay up late
To hear those magic reindeer click
'Cuz I just want you here tonight
Holding on to me so tight
What more can I do
Oh, Baby all I want for Christmas is you, youuuu, ooh baby
How she wished that he would be here with her. He would hold on to her so tight and protect her from all evil, even her old aunts.
Since when do I need protection? Alex was surprised by herself. Was it the kidnapping? Has it changed me? What about the rest of the year? It was a hard year…
All the lights are shining
So brightly everywhere
And the sound of childrens'
Laughter fills the air
Children's laughter. That caused a chill running down her spine. Out of the kitchen window she could also look out into the garden. Neal was still playing with his cousins.
A pang of regret pierced Alex's heart. Sometimes she wished she would not have given him to her sister. But she knew how happy Fiona, Collin and Neal were and blinked the pain away when she shook her head.
And everyone is singing
I hear those sleigh bells ringing
Santa won't you bring me
The one I really need
Won't you please bring my baby to me quickly, yeah
Ohh ohh, I don't want a lot for Christmas
This is all I'm asking for
I just want to see my baby
Standing right outside my door
And I thought that I would see you standing right outside my door today, Bobby. Well, for you it's quite easier to avoid my aunts.
She knew that he liked her parents, and they liked him, but not all of the others liked him as well. His oddities deterred them.
Stupid!
Ohh ohh, I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
Oh, Baby all I want for Christmas is you, you ooh, baby
All I want for Christmas is you, ooh baby
Slowly the music faded into a commercial break.
Alex blinked back her tears. There was no way Santa Claus would grant her this Christmas wish. Bobby was still mourning the death of his mother and retreated more than ever before. Alex worried. For the time being, her partner was quite vulnerable.
Whistling a Christmas song, Alex's brother strolled into the kitchen.
"Hey, Alex," he cheered. "Why don't you come over? Don't stand here all alone while everyone's having fun!"
She smiled up at him, replying, "I'll be right there."
For another moment she watched the playing children, then she took a deep breath, sighed and went back into the lion's den.
tbc…