DISCLAIMERS: See Part 1

DISCLAIMERS: See Part 1.

ARCHIVING: Only with the permission of the author.

MISBEHAVIN' (Part 9)

(story 4 in the Miscommunication Series aka It Sucks To Be You Series)

By cnrocks/CaseyROCKS

Benson-Novak Residence

Parking Garage

December 22, Friday 7am

"Okay, Santa Liv, check your list one more time." She pulled the list from her pocket. "One: Luggage. Check. Two: Presents for Stablers." She looked over the brightly wrapped parcels and double-checked all the tags. "Check." Olivia took a pen out of her pocket. "Three: Take the booty to the Stabler tribe. Next stop Queens." She crossed off the items and slammed the rear closed.

She reached into her pocket for her keys and her hand came into contact with her cell phone which immediately started to vibrate. She looked at the ID. "Hey Tex," She answered. "Merry Christmas."

"Hi Yankee. Merry Christmas to you too. Whatcha doing?"

"I'm just about to head over to the Stablers to drop off some presents. You?"

Abbie ignored the question. "Queens, right?"

"Yeah."

"Great."

Liv pulled the phone away from her ear and looked at it, bewildered. "Wha...?"

"I gotta go, call me the second you get done and get back in the car, okay? Okay. Bye."

Stabler Residence

Queens

December 22, Friday 9:30am

Olivia stopped by her car door and gave Elliot a hug. "Merry Christmas El, and please thank Kathy again for those delicious cookies. Casey is going to love them... if I share them."

"How do you know I didn't bake them?"

"They don't have O-R-E-O stamped on them." Olivia laughed at the mock pout on his face.

"That's okay, manly men barbeque." He waved her off. "They don't bake."

"Hey, barbeque cookies. You might have something there, partner." She slugged his shoulder and got into the car. She immediately rolled down the window.

"Get out of here." Elliot patted the roof. "Drive carefully. Don't stop for any hitchhiking reindeers and don't sleigh sloshed." He grinned.

"Gotcha, Dad."

"Have a great time Liv and let us know how the trip went, okay?"

"You bet. See you next week. Merry Christmas," Olivia yelled back as she drove away.

Olivia stopped at the red light. She pulled the list back out of her coat pocket. "Four: mail Abbie's present. Abbie!" Olivia fished her phone out and hit recall.

"It's about time you called back."

"Yeah, yeah. So what was so important?"

"You still in Queens?"

"Yeah, I'm just about to head out, why?"

"Swing by the JFK. I have a present waiting for you."

"Ab-bie!" Olivia said with a bit of a whine.

"Right on the first guess."

"Waitaminute. You're at the airport?"

"Well, we may have broken our tradition of Christmas dinner last year since it was your first year with Casey but I figured the three of us could celebrate at least one day this weekend. No?" She was met with silence. "Liv? Do you have plans?"

Olivia thought for a moment. "I'll be by to get you in a few. I'll explain then."

Somewhere on the New York Thruway, going north

December 22, Friday 11am

Abbie bounced up and down in her seat, excitedly. "C'mon Benson, are we there yet?"

Olivia looked over, with raised eyebrow, at the grinning attorney. "You're doing this just to drive me nuts, aren't you?"

"Uh huh. I have to take my fun where I can get it."

"Oh, you're gonna get it all right."

Abbie leaned over and put her head on Liv's shoulder. "You love me and you know it."

Olivia pushed her back to her side of the seat. "Yeah, yeah... it's the only thing keeping you alive right now." She laughed.

"Are you sure Casey isn't going to mind me tagging along? I don't want to put you in the doghouse."

"She'll be fine with it. We ended up booking a two-bedroom suite because it was the only thing they had left. So it's not like the three of us will be sleeping in the same bed." She looked over at Abbie's mock lecherous grin. "Don't even think about saying it." She waved a finger in warning.

Abbie laughed. "Nope, not saying a word." Abbie made the gesture of locking her lips and throwing away the key. Her silence lasted about ten seconds. "Nice wheels, by the way. An SUV for the SVU."

Liv chuckled. "Thanks. I know - when we went to the dealership, I kept calling it an SVU. The salesman didn't have a clue." She paused. "Casey thought we should get something a little more grown-up. So we both got rid our vehicles and bought this one."

"Your Mustang was plenty grown-up." She grinned. "Vroom, vroom."

"Spoken like a twelve year old."

"What was she driving?"

"A ten speed."

"A ten speed what?"

"Bike."

"What?"

Olivia began to laugh. "She used to ride to the courthouse on her bike."

"You're kidding?"

"Nope."

"But you gave up your 'Stang and all she gave up was a bike."

"Both bikes actually."

"What was the other one, a trike with a bell and basket?"

"No, a Harley."

Abbie's mouth dropped open and no sound came out. Olivia leaned over and closed it.

"Whoa." She finally uttered, impressed.

"Yup." Liv kept stealing glances at Abbie who was still processing that information. She shook her head. "That reminds me." Olivia pulled her phone out and dialed Casey. She frowned when it went to voicemail. "Hey Case. We have company for the weekend, so all that running around naked will have to wait for another time." She chuckled.

"No it doesn't," Abbie leaned over and spoke into the phone. "Naked is good. Nekkid is better." She waggled her eyebrows at Benson.

Olivia playfully shoved Abbie back to her side of the car. "Call me back when you get the message. See you in a few hours." She gave Abbie a look.

"Oh please, like that look works on me anymore. Drive." She made a shooing motion with her hand. She waited a few moments. "So, are we there yet?"

Olivia turned the radio on... loud. Abbie just laughed.

A few minutes later Abbie reached over and shut the radio off. "So what's it like - this Hunter Mountain area?"

"Casey and I come up here as often as we can. It's a really nice resort area for both summer and winter. Lots of shops and restaurants. That's why I left before Casey. I want to get some shopping time in. They have a handcrafted jewelry shop up there that has the most unique pieces in it."

"Whipped." Abbie said with a smirk.

"You should be so lucky." Olivia stuck her tongue out at Abbie.

"Oooh, I think I am getting sick." She threw the back of her hand up to her forehead.

"Just you wait."

"You know something I don't know, Benson?" Abbie looked over.

"No, but you know Casey and I will help you any way we can. Happy couples want EVERYONE to be happy."

Abbie nodded once and turned her attention back to the passing scenery.

"To get back to your question, Abigail..." This got her a glare from the attorney. "The lodge we are staying at, the Snowbyrd Den, is extraordinary. It has a huge fireplace in the central room and smaller fireplaces in each suite. They have a spa, exercise equipment and jacuzzis both indoors and out. Dozens of different runs - from beginner to expert, downhill to cross country." She turned to Abbie for a second. "You do ski, right?"

"Phft. I'm from Texas." Abbie dismissively waved her hand.

"Water skiing in the Gulf is not the same."

"Oh." She frowned and then brightened. "Putting roller skates on and grabbing a passing truck's bumper?"

Liv thought for a moment. "Skitching?" She mentally shrugged. "At least you are used to falling on your ass."

"Funny... not!"

"Well there are plenty of beginner slopes for you to start out on and I'm sure you will be able to find a lovely young ski bunny to give you lessons or to just keep you company around the fire." She smiled.

Abbie smirked. "With my luck lately, the ski bunny would have fangs and be rabid and come after me like a bacc... vampire."

Liv looked over incredulously at Abbie. "You watched Xena last light didn't you?"

"Umm, maybe."

Casey Novak's Office

December 22, Friday 12pm

Casey finished putting the last file in her briefcase when she heard her office door open. She looked up to see a blonde head poke in.

"Knock knock, you ready?"

"Just about. The arraignment this morning took longer than I thought. Judge Ebenezer Petrovsky was presiding." They both chuckled. "I appreciate you driving us up there. You sure you don't mind stopping at the apartment before we hit the road? I just need to double-check. I'm sure Liv forgot something."

Alex smiled. "It's fine. I appreciate the company. When I kept hearing about the weekend you had planned with Liv, I thought about the old Cabot lodge. I haven't been there since my Mother died. The rest of the family doesn't use it much anymore. We can't seem to coordinate schedules, especially this year. I was just going to hang out at home. But I figured why not get some rest, relaxation and a change of scenery? I could use the downtime. Plus I haven't skied in ages." Then she added, "It's been a strange couple of months."

"Good strange or bad strange."

Alex thought for a second, then shrugged with a half grin. "I'm not really sure."

Benson-Novak Residence

December 22, Friday 12:45pm

Casey keyed the lock and pushed open the door. "C'mon in, Alex; this will only take a second. I just wanted to make sure that Liv grabbed all the stuff she was supposed to take up."

Alex walked in and looked around the festively decorated apartment. "It looks great in here Casey. Very Christmassy."

"Thanks. I love Christmas and poor Liv, she just gets swept up in the Novak holiday tidal wave." She looked beneath the tree. "Ah, good. Liv must have taken the gifts for the Stablers to Queens today. They're gone." She moved the branches of the tree a bit and rooted around underneath. She pulled out a brightly wrapped box. Gotta take this one. It's Alex's. I knew Liv would forget it, she didn't know Alex was my ride up. She thought to herself and she put it in her bag. Hmmm, good. Abbie's present is gone too. She must have taken it to be Fedex-ed.

Casey walked back over to Alex and took one last look around the apartment. "I think we're set."

"Let's hit the road then." She turned to the door and then stopped abruptly. "Do you mind if we stop at my place first?"

Casey nodded no. "Of course not."

"I figure we can raid the wine collection. I'll donate some holiday cheer to your weekend."

Upstate New York, Rt 23A

Just outside Hunter Mountain Resort

December 22, Friday 4:15pm

"It's been a really nice trip up here, Alex. Thank you again for driving." She looked out the window. "I hope Liv had a good trip up. I wonder why she didn't call when she got there?" Casey took her phone out of her bag. She waved it at Alex. "Guess it would help if I turned it on. I turned it off while I was in court."

"Been there and done that." Alex agreed.

Casey turned her phone on and it immediately chirped to indicate messages.

"Guess she did call." Casey grinned and retrieved her messages. Alex watched Casey's smile fade and she was sure somewhere inside Casey was stomping her feet.

Alex whispered, "What happened?"

Casey sighed. "The people staying in our suite decided to use the fireplace for something other than snuggling. Somehow or another some embers set fire to the rug which set off the sprinklers. The room is a disaster. They have no other rooms." She blew out a breath, disgustedly. "We were lucky we got that reservation. The area is booked solid for the holiday."

Alex put her hand on Casey's arm. "I have a solution. You can stay in the lodge with me. It's just a couple of miles outside the resort area. Still close enough to enjoy the resort."

"I can't impose like that."

"You aren't. The place is huge. I have already called the caretaker to get it ready and stock it with basic groceries. Please Casey, this way you don't have to give up your holiday."

"Big house, huh? I don't want us to be under your feet. This is your weekend too."

"It has four bedrooms, two have their own fireplaces, a huge living room and there is a hot tub out on the deck. You'd have to make a real effort to get under my feet. You know you want to..." Alex cajoled.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. It will be fun. I think we even have some Christmas decorations still in the basement up there. You can let the Novak holiday tidal wave go free. It will be nice to see the place decorated again. I miss it."

"How could I pass up an offer like that?"

Alex signaled and pulled into a gas station. "I am going to stop for gas now; that way I don't have to worry about getting gas on the way home." She got out of the car and then she leaned back in. "Call Liv and tell her of the change of plans."

Casey dialed Olivia's number. It rang once and Liv answered.

"Hey Case. Did you get my message?"

"I had my phone off. What's up? Did you get everything done on the list?"

"Everything but mailing Abbie's present."

"Well, we can do that on Tuesday. She'll just get it a little late."

"Not exactly."

"Liv?"

"Abbie's here in New York."

"Where?"

"We are on Rt 23A looking for a convenience store." Liv put the phone up to her shoulder to muffle the receiver. She pointed to a place off the highway. "Pull in there; you should be able to get your Ring Dings, ding dong."

Abbie saluted and signaled. She pulled up on the far side of the store.

"Liv? We? Is Abbie with you?"

"Yeah, she came into town to celebrate the holiday. Surprise. I knew we had booked the two bedroom suite so..." Liv was interrupted by Abbie.

"I'll be back in a sec, Yankee." Abbie got out of the car and closed the door. She wandered backwards down the sidewalk to the front door. Abbie was playfully blowing kisses and waving at Liv.

"Casey? It's not a problem, is it? We have the room. I honestly didn't think you would mind."

"No Liv, I don't mind. Abbie is always welcome. But we don't exactly have the suite anymore. There was a fire at the inn. That's what I was calling to tell you. Our plans changed. Liv, the place we will be staying at is the Cabot lodge. Alex graciously offered her family's home for us."

"Oh." A pause then a panicked, "OH!"

"She said the lodge had four bedrooms, so sleeping arrangements are not the problem. I just don't know how to spring this on her."

Just then Casey looked up to see an exiting Alex, who was looking down putting her credit card away, colliding with the entering tall Texan. She opened the car door and ran for the store.

"Hey! Watch it!" Alex screamed as she fell to the ground from the collision.

Liv heard the scream and bolted from the car. She and Casey made it to the scene at the same time.

"ALLIE!" Abbie cried out the second she recognized the blonde and went to help her stand up only to have her hands batted away once Alex was standing again.

"I should have known." Alex snapped. "And don't call me Allie."

The Detective and the ADA looked at each other. "Case, I don't think you need to tell her after all."

Cabot Lodge

Upstate New York

December 22, Friday 6:30pm

"Just get the stuff on the list, okay?" Casey insisted as she practically pushed Liv out the door.

"What about some ice cream?" Liv asked, "And do you mind if I at least put my coat on?" Olivia set the list on the table by the door and grabbed her coat off the rack. She threw her scarf around her collar.

"Fine, get whatever else you want but make sure you get the items on the list." Casey blew out an annoyed breath. "Otherwise your Christmas dinner is going to be crackers and soup."

"Okay, okay. C'mon Abs, lets go attack the stores." She grabbed her keys.

"Hey Allie?" Abbie called over while she put her coat on. "Can I drive the Benz?"

Alex looked behind her. "You can't be talking to me. My name is not Allie." She glared. "And absolutely not. You cannot drive my car. Don't even breathe on my car."

"You want me to be seen in a... a... pseudo-truck with Butchy McFabulous here?" She waved her thumb at Liv. "It'll kill my reputation as a sophisticated, charming woman-about-town."

"If you refer to me as Butchy MacFabulous again, I'll kill more than your reputation." She grabbed Abbie by the shoulders and shoved her to the door. "Let's go, Slick."

Alex put her head out the door and yelled after them. "And get a Christmas tree." She closed the door and turned to a grinning Casey. "Okay, the decorations and things are in the cellar. That's down here." She unbolted a door that Casey assumed was a closet door. It was just slightly behind the front door. Alex jiggled the knob to pull the door open. "It's loose. I'll have to get someone to fix that. She hit the light switch on the light wall and started down the stairs. "Coming?"

"Right behind you, boss." Casey replied cheerfully. Her tone changed when she saw the condition of the basement. There were webs and dust everywhere. "I guess no one has been down here for awhile, huh?"

"I didn't think I would be either or I would have asked the mice to tidy up after themselves." Alex replied drolly.

"Mice?"

"Field mice. We are on a mountain surrounded by trees. It happens."

Casey looked around the cellar. Her eyes darted everywhere searching for movement. "This place reminds me of those slasher movies. Except we aren't in our underwear."

"What?"

"Y'know, the kids in the movies are always making out on the couch, they hear a noise and end up wandering in a creepy attic in their underwear only to meet their doom. So we have a creepy cellar but no underwear."

"T-M-I, Casey." Alex laughed.

"You know what I meant." They grinned at each other.

Abbie opened the front door and yelled back outside. "Keep your shirt on - I'm getting it." She looked around and spied the list on the hall table. She grabbed it and shoved it in her pocket. A horn honked. "Geez, she's the one that forgot it." Abbie slammed the door and the draft slammed the cellar door as well. The knob fell off.

Twin frowns temporarily replaced the smiles when they heard the door slam shut.

"Draft." Alex said reasonably. "I think the holiday decorations are in those trunks over there." Alex pointed and they moved to the far end of the basement.

Casey worriedly looked once over her shoulder to the staircase and then followed Alex. Casey took her time exploring the other items while Alex rooted through the trunks. There were all kinds of sports equipment, furniture, bikes and book shelves.

"There are some really nice antiques here, Alex." She moved a cover off of a rocking horse. "How cute. Was this yours?"

"Yes. My first pony." She smiled wistfully. "I got him for one Christmas."

"Alex?" Casey turned serious. "I apologize for the intrusion. If you would like me to take the trouble twins back to Manhattan, say the word. I'll find a reason and you can have your peace and quiet."

"No, no Casey. It will be nice having Christmas here again. I had some of my happiest holidays here." She took a breath. "We didn't come here much after my Father died. He was the skier. Then when Mother died, there really wasn't any reason to come up here and celebrate like a family. So now we just grab an odd weekend or week here and there." Her eyes softened. "I am really looking forward to this weekend. Honestly." She looked at a pile of boxes. "I think what we are looking for is in the trunk on the bottom. Give me a hand, please?"

Casey helped her lift the other boxes aside and Alex popped the latches on the trunk. She lifted the lid.

"Oh my... it's beautiful. Casey lifted a porcelain angel out of the trunk. "Was this your tree topper?"

"Yes. Most of the ornaments are glass. There are a couple in there that my brother and I made in school. Popsicle sticks and yarn mostly. We would sneak them onto the tree after the grown-ups got done decorating for real. They would ignore them, of course."

"That's nice. One year, when I was a kid, I decided we needed to go all natural at the house. I convinced my brothers to help me string popcorn and gumdrops and we hung candy canes and bubblegum."

"That sounds really nice."

"It was until we saw the lovely trail of pilfering ants the next morning." Casey laughed. "After that we stuck to non-edible."

Alex pulled out some light strands. "We may need to untangle these. Hopefully they will work." She set the lights aside. "Oh look, we have tinsel too." She looked up at Casey. "I think we are good to go here for a tree anyway. Hopefully, they will remember to actually get a tree."

"I'm sure they will. Now how big and what kind is anyone's guess. I'm going to go out on a limb here..." Casey joined Alex in groaning at that unintentional pun. "Sorry." She shrugged. "Anyway, I'll bet that Abbie goes for the biggest tree she can find and my Liv looks for a Charlie Brown tree."

"You are probably right. I'd expect nothing less from Liv or Abbie."

"Speaking of which..." Casey looked expectantly at Alex. "What about you and Abbie?" Alex opened her mouth to speak but Casey held up a hand. "Let me guess - yes, no, maybe, I don't know." Her tone was light.

"What was the question again?"

"You... Abbie?"

Alex closed the lid on the trunk, she wiped some dust off and sat down. She clasped her hands nervously in her lap. "I would like to try with Abbie but I'm afraid."

"Of getting hurt? Alex, I don't think Abbie will intentionally hurt you. The woman adores you." Casey put her hand on Alex's shoulder.

Alex looked up. "No, not me. Her." She paused. "She seems to have lots of accidents while around me. If we got together she would probably implode."

"If you keep teasing her, she will spontaneously combust."

"I'm not." She looked at Casey who just stared back. "Not intentionally. I just want to go slow. I want us to be real friends first. That's why I am glad you and Liv are around."

"I see and here I thought you liked the scintillating conversation we bring to every social gathering."

"That too." Alex deadpanned. "But you know what I am really glad to have you here for?"

Casey shook her head.

"You get to help me carry all this stuff upstairs." She stood and slapped Casey on the shoulder. "If you will go open the door again, we can start bringing all this stuff up."

Casey made her way up the stairs while Alex picked up a few smaller boxes.

"Uh, Alex?" Casey shook the door. "The door won't open." Casey twisted and pulled on the knob. "Whoa. The knob won't even turn." She walked back down a few steps. "Looks like we are stuck here until the twins get back."

Alex, who was making her way back to the staircase, stopped. "Well, I guess we can go through some more boxes. Maybe we can find some other decorations. Wreaths, garland, candles, that kind of stuff."

"Sure. At least we have ligh..." Just then the bulb flickered and sputtered and went out.

"You had to say it." Alex accused mirthfully.

"Sorry."

"Just stay where you are though. There is a lot of boxes and stuff. I don't want you to trip." Alex felt around as she started to continue to make her way to the stairs. "Ow!"

"You okay?"

"Yes. I just stubbed my toe. Too bad we didn't find any candles before the lights went out." Frustration evident in her voice.

Casey sat down on the steps. "They'll be back soon and we'll end up laughing about all this."

"I'm sure." Alex replied reassuringly.

"Umm, Alex? Did you just put your hand on my thigh?"

"Casey, I'm still about ten feet away from the stairs."

"AAAAHHHHHHHHH!!" they both yelled simultaneously.

Hunter Mountain Resort

December 22, Friday 7pm

Olivia hit the alarm lock on the SUV keychain and it beeped. She and Abbie began crossing the parking lot to the mall entrance.

"Tell me again, why we are at this mall instead of the grocery store?"

"Because thanks to you getting us lost this afternoon we didn't get a chance to go shopping like I intended. I need to pick up something else for Casey. And if I make my guess right, you need to pick up something for Alex, yes?"

"You think you are so smart." She looked at Liv who stood with her arms crossed and a smug look on her face. "Yeah, I planned on shopping in Manhattan. Then when you invited me up here, I figured my best bet was to pick Casey's brain for an idea."

"What's wrong with my brain?" Liv held open the door so Abbie could enter the mall.

"What brain?"

"Just for that you're on your own." Olivia mock pouted.

"You don't have a clue either, do you?"

"Nope. Casey picked out Alex's gifts." Olivia pointed to the right and motioned Abbie to walk in that direction.

"What did she get?"

"A bracelet that Casey was sure Alex just had to have and some tickets."

"Tickets? Who?"

"No, not the Who. To Chicago. A concert."

"You are sending her to Chicago? Why?"

"She likes Chicago."

"But you are sending her all the way to Chicago to attend a concert?"

Liv scratched her head. "We are sending her and a guest to a concert at Madison Square Garden."

"Benson, the Garden isn't in Chicago."

"I know that, ding dong. But Chicago will be in Madison Square Garden in January."

"Oh. OH!" Realization dawned.

"Yeah, Casey got tickets for us as well. It's part of my birthday present."

"How old you going to be anyway? Eighty?" Abbie snarked.

"Watch it, ya whippersnapper or I'll beat you with my cane." She waved her invisible cane at Abbie. Both broke out in laughter.

They continued on in silence for a few shops. Liv kept shaking her head as they walked past the windows.

"What else did you get Casey?"

"Some clothing, some CDs, some toys." Then she mumbled, "Anewfryingpan."

"Toys?"

"Get your mind out of the gutter. She collects movie toys. I got her some of the latest Star Wars toys."

"I collect toys too."

"Whoosh, right back to that gutter, I see."

"No, I do models. I like working with my hands." Abbie said matter-of-factly.

"I don't care who you date AND I just bet you do."

"Nice of you to join me in the gutter, Benson. No, I do car models and stuff. I have since I was a kid."

"Wow. I don't really have the patience for that. How come I never knew that about you?"

"I don't know. I guess I really don't share that information much." She shrugged. "I also like to..." her voice trailed off.

"What?"

"Nevermind. I am not giving you that kind of ammunition."

"O-kay." Liv looked puzzled, but let the issue drop.

They continued their circuit of the mall.

"Oh, look. A pet store. Buy me a Christmas bunny?" Abbie hopped a couple of times and stopped at the first window which had rabbits and guinea pigs in it.

Liv laughed at her antics. "You get bunnies for Easter."

"What do you get for Christmas?"

"Reindeers." Liv deadpanned.

"I don't think my lease covers those. Nevermind." She walked to the second window.

They stopped and looked at the puppy in the window.

"He... she... it's so cute. It looks like a walking black pompom."

"I am pretty sure your lease doesn't cover that either." She turned Abbie away from the window. "C'mon Slick, there's a boot shop, if I remember correctly, right up here. It's more your style."

"Okay, okay, no need to handle the merchandise." Abbie shrugged off Liv's hands. They continued walking. "So do you have any idea what I can get for Alex?"

"Not a clue." She grinned at the attorney. "We are pathetic. Let's keep walking, maybe something will jump out and scream buy me."

"Better than it screaming bite me."

Olivia and Abbie sat in the food court nursing a couple of cups of coffee.

"Okay, we have been through the mall... twice. I managed to get a locket and chain for Casey and all you managed was to pick yourself out a new pair of boots and a ski jacket. We still don't have your Alex problem fixed."

"I still have a few days. Maybe talking to her at the house will give me a clue."

"It must either be late or they spiked the coffee." Liv looked in her cup. That actually makes sense."

Abbie cuffed Liv on the shoulder. "Okay, so we are done here for the moment. We need to go do the grocery shopping and then find a tree. The superstore we passed on the way here is open twenty-four hours, so I vote we do the tree first. It's getting late."

Olivia drained her coffee, pushed back her chair and stood up. "Shhhh, be vwery, vwery qwiet, we are hunting Christmas spruce."

Abbie stood as well and held out her hand for the keys. "C'mon Elmer, I'll drive."

Cabot Lodge

December 22, Friday 7:30pm

"You know, it's my mother's fault."

"What is, Casey?"

"My Mother caught me smoking when I was thirteen and... ahem... convinced me what a horrible mistake it would be to start smoking."

"O-kay. And this has to do with our situation, how??"

"If she would have let me smoke, I'd have a lighter or matches in my pocket and we wouldn't be sitting..."

"Standing." Alex interrupted.

"... and standing in the dark."

"Well, in that case you need to thank my family." Alex began to make her way carefully over to Casey.

"Umm, why?"

"Ow, damn." Alex's foot collided with a box.

"You okay?"

"Fine. I have more toes on the other foot," Alex replied drolly. "Anyway, if my mother hadn't married my father then they wouldn't have had me and if they hadn't had me... I hope those are a strand of lights wrapped around my foot." She tried to shake them loose. "And then I wouldn't be here and if I wasn't here..." She finally bent down and unwrapped her foot. She pushed the strand aside. "...you'd be sitting in the dark... alone." She paused. "Well, except for maybe a mouse or two."

"Hey!"

Alex laughed. "Keep talking. I think I am almost over to the stairs."

"Would you like me to tell you a ghost story?"

"Not unless you want to sleep in the yard tonight." Clunk. Alex's foot hit the riser on the bottom of the staircase. She began to slowly climb up the stairs on her hands and knees. She felt around to see where Casey was sitting. She finally made contact.

"Alex? You touch me there again and you'll have to marry me," Casey snarked and pulled Alex's arm in, forcing Alex to sit next to her.

Alex playfully bumped her shoulder. "Okay, but you're having the kids. This body was not meant for childbirth." They both chuckled.

"How long do you think we have been down here?"

"I don't know. But I hope they get back soon. I'm thinking I'm going to regret having that last soda."

Casey pushed her body up a couple of stairs. "Higher ground."

"Very funny, Novak."

Spruce-It-Up Tree Farm

December 22, Friday 9pm

"Okay, let me get this straight. You want sixty dollars for any tree we pick out. Plus we have to cut it down ourselves. AND you want another fifty for the use of an axe to do that with?"

"Yup."

"That's highway robbery."

"That's supply and demand. You want a tree, I have the trees. It's only a couple of days before Christmas. How bad do you want the tree?"

Liv turned to Abbie and they walked a couple of feet away from the vendor.

"Oh and cash only." He called over to them with a big phony smile on his face.

"How much cash do you have on you?" Liv whispered to Abbie.

Abbie rooted through her pockets. "I have about fifty. I didn't think I would need cash. I always just use my credit cards."

Olivia did the same. Her wallet produced another twenty. "Okay, we have enough for the tree." She looked over her shoulder at the vendor, glared and turned back to Abbie. "But not the axe."

"So how do you propose, genius, that we get the tree out of the ground?"

Liv looked all around hoping for inspiration. She rubbed the back of her neck nervously. She snapped her fingers. Her eyes turned to Abbie. She handed her the twenty. "Pay the man for a tree. I'll be right back. I have to get something out of the car."

"Liv? Liv?" Abbie called out after her.

"Just pay the man, Abs. I'll be right back." Liv yelled back without looking. She continued walking to her car.

"Here's your sixty bucks." Abbie handed over the money.

"So, how are you ladies planning on getting the tree out of the ground without the axe?"

"Nevermind." Liv spat out as she returned. "You have your money. Now I am going to get my tree. C'mon, Abbie."

Abbie gave one last look to the vendor and followed Liv. Silently they looked at a few dozen trees before they could agree on the one they wanted.

"I do like this one Liv. Now what?"

Olivia kneeled down and pulled the bottom few branches off the tree. She tossed them aside. She looked at the size of the trunk. It was about eight inches around. She pulled a few more branches off. Satisfied that a good portion of the trunk was now exposed, she wiped her hands on her pants and stood back up.

"You going to cut it down with your laser glare?" Abbie joked.

Olivia looked over her shoulder to make sure no one else was nearby. She unzipped her jacket and pulled her gun out.

"Whoa, Benson." Abbie held up her hands in surrender. "I didn't mean it."

"Thank you, but this isn't for you." Liv walked a few paces away. She crouched down again and took aim at the trunk. She fired. The sound echoed but she took aim again. It took five shots and the tree fell over.

Liv, stood back up and put her gun back in the holster, then zipped her jacket back up. About the same time the vendor made his presence known.

"What? How?"

"Problem?"

"You can't shoot off a gun up here!"

"Gun? What gun?"

"I'm calling the police." He turned away.

"What can I do for you?" When he turned back, Liv flashed her badge at him. "You do know that price gouging is illegal, right?"

He looked at Abbie. "I'm an attorney. Would you like me to quote the statutes?"

He looked back at Olivia. "But the gun...?"

"What gun?" She turned to her friend. "Did you hear any gunshots?"

"It's hard to tell. Could have been a car backfiring. Sound echoes up here."

He looked at both women. "Five times?" He tried to look past Abbie to see the tree.

Abbie stepped in his way and stared back at him. She smirked and a twinkled entered her eyes. "You know most guns hold six shots." Liv just nodded her agreement.

The vendor gulped. "Car backfires, I guess that's what I heard." He half turned as he walked away,looking nervously at them. The women unrelentingly stared at him. Olivia moved to put her hands in her pockets. His eyes widened in panic. "Ummm, enjoy your tree." He took off in a run.

Cabot Lodge

December 22, Friday 10:30pm

Liv grabbed the inside lever to pop the rear hatch. She and Abbie got out of the car and each grabbed a couple of shopping bags from the back. Olivia swung one of the bags at Abbie and hit her.

"I cannot believe you got us tossed out of the grocery store."

"It wasn't my fault."

"Ab-bie, you started a fight over a box of Twinkies."

"It wasn't Twinkies. It was Ring Dings." She argued back. "I didn't get my fix this afternoon since we got sidetracked meeting up with Alex." She stopped and glared at Liv. "It wasn't a fight either. I just convinced that other shopper to give up the last box."

"You stole it out of her cart when she wasn't looking and then took off in a run to the registers."

"Wasn't my fault she couldn't keep up. I'm faster and cuter." She smirked at Olivia.

"The woman was eighty if she was a day."

"Nah, she wasn't a day over seventy." She answered playfully. "And boy what an arm. She nailed me with that snowball in the parking lot." She shivered just thinking about that cold slush.

The Detective shook her head. "You." She juggled the bags so she could point a finger at her companion. "Are incorrigible."

"I prefer to think of it as charming."

"You would." Olivia raised her hand to knock and thought she'd try the knob first. A puzzled look crossed her face and she shared it with Abbie. "The door isn't locked."

Olivia handed her bags to Abbie and carefully opened the door. "Casey? Alex?"

"Down here," came twin muffled twin voices.

"Where?"

"The basement." Casey answered.

"The door is jammed; we couldn't open it." Alex added.

Abbie put all the bags on the floor. "I think I found the problem." She picked up the knob. "It must have come loose."

"Well," Liv looked over the door frame, "we can't take the door off the hinges they are on the other side."

"Let's just try placing the knob back, maybe we can get it to turn."

Abbie did just that and between the two of them they managed to jiggle it enough to open the door a crack.

Olivia reached her hand into the opening and grabbed the door by the frame. She pushed it the rest of the way open. The light from the living room shined down into the dark stairway. Looking up were the attorneys.

"Why are you sitting in the dark?"

"We wanted some alone time to make out and the couch seemed so clichéd," Casey snarked. She stood up only to be moved aside by Alex who jumped to her feet.

"The bulb burned out." Alex hurriedly pushed past them both. "Out of the way."

Liv looked at Abbie and then Casey.

"Big Gulp came back to haunt her." Casey shrugged. "What took you guys so long?" Olivia and Abbie exchanged nervous glances. "I don't want to know, do I?"

"Probably not." Abbie agreed. She slapped Olivia on the back. "Let's go get the rest of the stuff and the magnificent tree I picked out."

"You? You picked out?" She glowered at Abbie. "We picked out. And I felled it."

"Felled? Did you just use the word--felled? How very woodsy of you." She stuck her tongue out at Liv. "Well, I paid for it."

"I paid for part of it."

"Yeah, the bottom three branches."

They continued to bicker and argue the entire time they were making trips in and out with the groceries. Casey just shook her head.

Alex returned just as they went out to bring in the tree. Casey was in the kitchen putting the groceries away. "Where are they?"

"Getting the tree."

Alex walked to the front door just as the two reached it. "Why don't you stand it up right there?" She pointed. "Lean it on the house and we'll get the living room all prepared for it. Then you can bring it in."

"Good idea." Olivia clapped her hands together and rubbed them briskly. "I need to thaw out." She glanced around the room. "Where are all the decorations and things?"

"Still in the basement."

"Need help bringing them up? Abbie here was made to carry heavy things."

"Hey!"

Olivia snickered. "Oh right, no light. Got a flashlight handy?"

"Basement."

"A candle?"

"Basement."

"Torch?"

"No."

"Then I figure we can do a couple of things. We can expose Abster here to masses doses of radiation until she glows like a nightlight."

"What?"

"That would take too long." Casey said reasonably.

Abbie just looked between the two of them.

"We can set Abbie on fire and use her like a torch."

"NO!" Alex replied immediately. Which cause Abbie to smile. Then Alex added, "We have no matches."

"Hey!"

"Okay. Then I guess we use my last resort idea." She looked deadpan at each of the women. Then she raised her eyebrow in challenge to Abbie. "I'll go get the flashlight out of the car."

"You... you..." Abbie shook her finger at Olivia. "Oooh, I hate you."

Olivia just blew Abbie a kiss, then grabbed her jacket and keys. She laughed all the way out the door.

"Decorations?"

"Check. Boxes standing ready."

"Tree stand?"

"Standing by. Awaiting its tree."

"Okay, Abbie and I will lift the tree into the stand. Case, can you tighten up the bolts on the stand? Alex will you stand back a few feet and make sure we are holding the tree up straight?"

"Ready Abbie?" She waited for the nod. "On three. One... two..."

"Do you mean on three or right after three?" Abbie interrupted.

"Three." Liv lifted the tree. "Ooof."

For a few seconds she was the only one lifting, then Abbie joined in. Casey positioned the trunk into the stand and began tightening down the bolts to hold it in place.

"Liv lean it a little to your right," Alex directed. "That's it. Perfect."

"All done." Casey stood and threw her arms out in a flourish. "Nicely done."

They all took a few steps back and admired the tree.

Abbie nudged Olivia. "We did good." They smiled at each other.

"Liv, honey? Can I ask you a question?" Casey leaned into Olivia and put her arm around Liv's waist.

"Sure. You can ask me anything." She rested their heads together.

"Why does this tree have a bullet hole in it?"

DOINK DOINK