AN: True story...
Waiting till after it starts snowing to put up Christmas lights is the number one cause of holiday casualties.
Yet there was FBI agent, Peter Burke, standing outside in the freezing cold calling out to his partner, Neal Caffrey, as he climbed a tree in an attempt to fix some lights.
It all started that morning when Neal arrived at Peter's house to help as per promise from yesterday's shopping. When he'd arrived, Peter quickly began to explain how his wife, Elizabeth, wanted them to light the entire tree in the front yard. Let's just say the tree wasn't exactly arm-length. And so the challenge began to string lights at the very top. After many failed attempts, they had the idea to tie the strand to a dog toy and throw it to the top of the tree. There's was no logic to this plan, only hope and pure desperation as with everything involving the holiday season. So anyway, it took a few tries for the toy to reach the very top, but when it finally did, much to their dismay, it became tangled and stuck on the highest branch.
"Now what," Neal asked unsure of what to make of the situation.
"Climb the tree and get it," Peter replied.
Neal hesitated, sizing up the tree. "You know I think it looks nice how it is."
Peter glared. "Climb the tree, Neal," he said with a firm FBI voice.
"I would, but you're more properly dressed. You should do it!"
"That's your fault for wearing a Devour. You knew we were putting up lights."
Neal rolled his eyes, "Yes, but no one said I would have to climb a tree."
"Look, you either climb the god damn tree or say good bye to your Chase Saphire."
The ex-convict let at an audible sigh, clearly annoyed, before giving in and passing the trademark hat to Peter. It took the man only a few minutes to scamper the entire height of the tree and reach the dog toy. In a hurry to get out of the snow laden tree, he quickly began to untangle the strand from the trees many branches. It didn't take long to separate the two, but Neal soon found he too was separated from the tree.
The scene played in slow motion before Peter as the partner he came to know and love fell backwards off the tree. In an instant, Peter seemed to be under the man prepared to stop his fall. It never came. Peter looked up to find Neal hanging, literally, by one leg six feet in the air with arms and legs flailing about wildly. His left foot had gotten caught in a length of lights, stopping his fall but also leaving him in a very strange, awkward position.
Peter stared in shock for a moment before bursting out in laughter. It sort of looked like a poorly made Christmas ornament.
Neal glared harshly at his partner. "A little help here?"
"You know," Peter said between bits of laugher, "I think you're right. It does look nice how it is." Peter turned to head inside quickly before he completely lost it.
"Peter, I swear..." Neal called after him but the door was already closed.
Inside Elizabeth greeted Peter, asking him how the lights went. "Oh yeah," he replied, "Neal got really into it."
Maybe Christmas lights aren't such a bad thing after all...