December 17th- Jones Tavern
Everyone was there, but certainly getting a bit drunk during the whole course of it. During one story, Scotty admitted that he had tricked Lilly into thinking that he was back with her sister; when she was still very much still missing. However she certainly over heard this, and immediately marched him outside. Her eyes were icy, before Lilly broke into a smile," Your such an idiot!"
" I got you there Lil," Scotty replied," I do know who sent the rose, but who addresses the card" Pook?"
Lilly froze in terror befor trying to snatch the card away, " Give me it Scotty!," before literally ripping the card out of his hand, "There's nothing on it?"
He grinned, "So who calls you Pook, or commonly known Pooky?", seeing how Lilly was this close to smacking his face.
" Shut it Scotty, you mentioning that word again," her words were making him laugh," I hate you," she replied jokingly.
Back inside, Vera was clearly having too much to drink," So I'm Santa right, bosses idea. I got these kids sitting on my damn lap crying and stinking at the sametime. Then out of the blue, some old guy hands me a rose, and tells me to give it to someone named,"Pook,", well I'm thinking that these guys a whack job."
Slamming down his shot glass onto the table, Vera was then handed another one," Until I realized that he was referring to Rush," causing just about every man in the tavern to chuckle, as Lilly now walked in.
" There's Pook now," seeing Lilly glaring at him.
Kat then interrupped, " All do respect who's been writing romantic stories lately," holding up one of the papers," Her legs were like silk, smooth and soft," seeing Jefferies trying to grab it out of her hand," Sounds like our Will Jefferies is doing some side writing when he's not being a detective."
" Give me that NOW!", he demanded, " What a man writes is none of your damn business!"
Vera groaned," Will pratically stays up all night typing out this sappy romantic fics, I can't think, I can't sleep with all that racket going on."
"How do you think I felt, after sleeping next to you?" Kat questioned," All due respect, you nearly kicked me off the bed during the middle of the night?"
While the two continued arguing back and forth, Scotty now handed Lilly a drink," So it was your dad, probably a good thing right?"
" Yeah, and a stupid joke as well. I can't even believe that I would ever fall for that joke?"
He smiled, before handing her something," Merry Christmas Lil," seeing the shocked look on her face," What I can't give my partner something?"
Shaking her head,Lilly looked at the nicely wrapped present, "You never do, in the seven years that we've been partners."
Very slowly, she pulled away the paper to discover a gold bracelet; enscribed in the middle was; 2003 partners.
Lilly glanced up before alllowing him to put on the bracelet, before their hugged," Thanks, it means a lot to me," but clearly she was crying. Scotty had never seen her cry before," What, are you crying Lil?"
" I guess I never thought I was a good partner or friend to you."
He smiled, " You have always been one loyal friend, sister and partner to me Lil. Taught me how to be a better cop," seeing Lilly throwing the wrapping paper in his face.
" Your full of shit Scotty, I also got you something," his also was in a small nicer wrapped box. When Scotty opened the box, he saw that she had gotten him a watch with 2003 also enscribed inside," Guess we were thinking of the same thing."
Handing him an envelope, Scotty's eyes widened, inside was an IOU for tickets to opening day for the Philadephia Phillies game, " You actually are going to take me to the game?"
" Why not, were friends that's what friends do right?"
Scotty now hugged her," You really know how to make Christmas special Lil."
Just then the two heard the sound of Stillman and Jefferies singing to an old 40's song. Lilly barely could contain her laughter, of course the two men were slightly drunk; but it didn't really matter. Dispite everything, Scotty stood there offering his hand to Lilly. As the two danced, Vera pulled Kat onto the floor.
"Ouch, that was my foot VERA!," Kat exclaimed," Stop stepping on my feet!"
When Lilly and Scotty both returned to their tables, she continued watching both Stillman and Jefferies singing on stage, along now with Doherty, " That's a first, Doherty actually not breathing down the bosses throat;" seeing now Scotty lighting a cigar.
A little while later, Vera clearly was having way too much to drink when he began reciting the story about thanksgiving from hell.
"So we're cooped up in this house, all weekend. I'm telling you it was pathetic, the fights, and of course I get yelled out for accidently walking in on Rush when she was taking a shower," as the whistling increased. In fact several men, glanced over at Lilly.
Vera took another drink before speaking," Not to say that Rush wasn't all pleased, nothing compared to me catching her and her side kick partner in bed. You probably enjoyed her roping all over you didn't you Scotty!"
Scotty rolled his eyes," I never slept with my partner Nick, not like you who slept with Miller over there!"
Kat now threatened to hit Vera with her shoe, but he was daring enough to still talk," Sorry guys I rather not die tonight, but not to mention later on I'm forced to sleep down in the basement with; Will and Scotty. Had to sleep on a cot!"
" Until you broke the damn thing!", uttered Jefferies," Kept me up all night with that racket!"
Kat then took then microphone from him," I should now mention that Will over here is a romance writer," holding up several pieces of paper," He's printing out sheets of this."
" Give me that," Jefferies barked, before Kat stagged off.
As the hours went on by, it was clear that everyone there had too much to drink. Lilly had left early, due to having a bad headache. Scotty took her home before going back to his apartment, he knew that this Christmas was going to be yet another bad one from hell.
Somehow the festivites leading up to the three days Christmas at Stillman's was only going to worsen.