Gambit hadn't slept at all that night. All the coughing and retching was really hard to endure when you're asleep. So, after 5:30 am, the Cajun finally fell asleep. So now, at 12:00 pm , as he stirred and exited his dream, he felt an unnatural warmth in the crook of his knee. He had heard recently about Kitty's new puppy, so he figured maybe the storm that night had scared it into coming here with him. He wouldn't have minded a dog in bed with him, if he hadn't realized that this wasn't Kitty's little harmless Cocker Spaniel. Lying next to Gambit on the little hospital bed was a huge Doberman Pincher. On the chair next to it, a rubber poker chip.

He wasn't sure what to think. Should he be scared? Should he get up and go around the mansion to find out who's it was? Then he froze. He remembered yesterday, when Hank had confirmed strep throat was what he had, he'd visited Crystal and heard a low growl. This dog…was Crystal's?

Suddenly, Kitty phased through the wall with some breakfast for Gambit. She didn't even hesitate at the sight of the dog. "Hey, Gambit! Like, how do ya like your Christmas present? I totally helped Crystal find it for you!" She beamed and sat the tray on the table next to a stunned Cajun. She patted the Doberman's head, now over her fears, and said in a baby voice, "Hey, Jake-y! How's Aunt Kitty's little puppy? Huh?"

Surprisingly, it didn't snap at her or claw her like Gambit thought it would. It actually seemed to growl a reply as the girl petted it's short black fur. "W-Wait a min'te, dis…d-dis is mine?" he muttered, his voice raspy and faded from a night of coughing and strep, but Kitty still heard him. "Like, yeah, didn't you know? Crystal and me picked it out for ya! I kinda figured 'fierce, but sweet, that's, like, so Gambit!' ya know?"

Gambit had stopped listening at "Crystal and me". She really did ask Kitty! He shook his head warily, trying to clear the image of lots of puppies at the shop. Merde, wat she gone an' dun now? He thought to himself as he sat up for the first time in two days. It felt good to stretch after being crammed in the little white cot, especially with the extra space taken up by "Jake-y". The dog stared up at the injured mutant with a look of understanding in its giant auburn eyes. It growled low, but Gambit could tell it was full of affection. He slowly reached a shaky hand toward the Doberman.

Just as Crystal walked into the infirmary room, the dog thrust its long brown and black head into his outstretched hand. Crystal froze for a split second and she was about to call the dog off of her Cajun. But instead, she hung near the doorframe, examining every interaction the two made toward each other carefully. Gambit was smiling and laughing and Jake seemed to smile, too, his long pink tongue hanging loosely from his mouth. Both their eyes shown with happiness.

Finally, Gambit reached for the poker chip toy. "Wan' it, Jake? Go get 't, Mon ami!" The Cajun thrust the toy toward the door, getting a little too rough as he slid into the wheelchair beside the bed. Kitty and Crystal exchanged glances of amusement as the two circled each other playfully, Gambit throwing and Jake retrieving. "Kitty, where y'all git dis' one? He's fantast'c!" Remy almost squealed happily as the dog bounded across the room toward him, almost slipping on the tile.

"I don't know," Kitty laughed, "maybe you should, like, ask your girlfriend?" She gestured toward the doorframe where Crystal stood leaning against the frame. Gambit's playfulness faded and was replaced with deep compassion and caring. He rolled slowly over to the purple-clad teen with no expression on his face. She froze again. What's he gunna do? She thought.

Suddenly, he grabbed her wrists and put her in his lap, kissing her passionately. "Thank you, chere, you brighten dis' Cajun's day." He sighed as they released. Kitty giggled madly and phased back through the wall, probably going to Bobby and Kurt to gossip. Jake whimpered pathetically, and the two mutants—still locked—rolled over to their new dog; no, his new dog. "Hey, bud," Gambit held Crystal with one hand and scratched behind Jake's ear with the other, "you t'ink Gambit f'get 'bout ya?" All three of them smiled and walked/rolled/rode out of the room, leaving behind an undiscovered note: "Gambit, hopefully you've received this by now and left the infirmary. You are free to go back to your room, but do not forget you duties as Crystal's "Secret Santa". Please remember that this is in two days on Christmas day. ~Beast"