DISCLAIMER: I don't own Glee and never wanted to. This is loosely based off the movie "Fred Claus". Have a few things from the film but not everything. I've added my own twist, of course!
STOP RIGHT THERE! IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE FIRST THREE PARTS, GO DO THAT!
Mercedes stood in the corner of the room, watching on as the doctor stood up and backed away from the bed. This was horrible. Absolutely horrible. After the fight that Nicholas had with Sam, he ended up injuring his tailbone, making to where he was bed ridden on the night before Christmas Eve.
"It's impossible for you to travel."
"Don't tell me that, doc."
"I'm sorry, Nicholas but you can barely move." He told the man as he pulled out some medicine from his bag, "I'm placing you on bed rest."
Mercedes watched as the doctor handed the pills and written instructions to Annette before his exited out of the room. She could already feel the chaos coming when the news got out, that's why she needed to get on top of things.
"I can't believe it." Nicholas said as he looked between Mercedes and his wife, "This is the most critical year ever and I won't be able to do my job."
"The only person who could step in..." Annette stopped herself, shaking her head when she realized who, "Sam."
Nicholas sighed at the mention of his brother, shaking his head as he laid it back on the pillows, closing his eyes, "Sam wouldn't do it. He wouldn't even come back here."
"Just give me a couple of hours. I promise this is going to get fixed." Mercedes reassured them before she walked out the room, pulling her phone from her pocket to quickly dial someone.
"Hello."
"Hey, I need a big favor."
"Name it."
"Where did you get it?"
"Doesn't matter. There's your money, I've paid my debts. I'm out." Sam made it known clearly before walking out the restaurant, shivering as the cold air blew in his face for the short walk to pick up his food and return to his place. He had finally paid off his debts thanks to his brother. When he had got to his apartment and started to unpack, he had found the envelope in his bag. He had to be honest, he hated how he left things with him. He always was there for him when their parents weren't and for him to treat him like that put Sam in a position to where he felt bad.
About thirty minutes later, he stuck his chopsticks in his Pad Thai, leaned back on the couch and looked at the screen that was showing A Christmas Story. Hearing a knock at this door, he titled his head back, wondering if he should just ignore it or not, but the knocks only got persistent. He sighed deeply before sitting his box down and getting up, heading to his door. He opened and immediately fell backward when something was sprayed in his face. He didn't hit the ground because someone in fact caught him, his eyes closing and then him falling off to sleep as he was pulled out his apartment.
Sam groggily opened his eyes a couple of hours later. He looked down as he found himself on a couch, the sounds of machinery and Christmas music flowing through his ears. He closed his eyes tightly again before adjusting them to the light that was flowing in from the windows. He sat up, looking around, his eyes landing on the woman sitting on the corner of her desk on the phone. He watched as she looked over to where his was, seeing her slide off the desk and tell that person that she had to go.
"Good, you're awake." She greeted as she stopped in front of the man, "I'm sorry, but I needed you to come without a fight."
"So, you had some people kidnap me?"
"It was the only way to get you here." She said as she looked at him seriously, "Sam, your brother is not in any shape to deliver presents. He hurt himself badly after the fall."
"I have to go see him. Is he okay?"
"He will be but there's no way he can deliver presents tomorrow night. A year without Santa Claus is something that I don't want to imagine."
"You're an expert at all of this stuff, I'm sure you'll figure it all out. Hell, you just had me kidnapped, maybe you can deliver the presents, Mercedes."
Mercedes watched as he got up and started to make his way to the door, "I would but I can't."
Sam stopped and turned to look back at her, "Why not?"
"It's the rules, Sam." Mercedes told him as she dropped her hands to her sides, "Only a Claus can."
Sam eyebrows furrowed as he stared back at her, the information slowly processing his head and realizing exactly why he was here, "Me? Oh hell no. No."
"Your brother needs your help and this is the only way you can." Mercedes informed him, "There are so many little children looking forward to waking up to gifts from Santa."
"Reality is, you don't get everything you want."
"True but the job must be done." Mercedes said quietly as she sighed before turning away, "But do what you want, Sam."
Sam cursed and ranted incoherently to himself before pinching the bridge of his nose, finding the dumbest reason to get out of it, "I changed my name, so I can't do it."
Mercedes stopped in her tracks, looking over her shoulder, "You're a Claus, no matter your name change or not."
"I don't even know how to operate a sleigh, let alone do everything else required."
"It's not like we're going to send you out there blind. We're here to help you."
Sam stared at her for the longest time before mumbling and groaning, looking up at the ceiling as a prolonged, staggered breath released from his mouth, "I can't believe I'm about to say this but...I'll do it."
Mercedes smiled him as she turned back around, going over and giving him a hug, catching him off guard, "We don't have that much time, so let's get started."
Sam didn't even get a chance to return the warm hug before she let go and headed out the door. Good gracious he was regretting this already, but that happy smile on her face and the warmth of that hug, would make him do anything she wanted.
Sam was pulled in different directions as soon as he exited out of Mercedes' downstairs office. He didn't know that there was so much that went into this. He didn't even have a chance to get to check in on his brother since he got here and now he was being carried away to sleigh operating class. Six hours later and before he had to go get into the suit he fitted for earlier, he had to meet Mercedes outside in the reindeer stalls. As he entered, he found the woman with a couple of helpers putting food and water into the bowls. Once he came closer, his eyes went wide once they set on the creatures, "Holy shit." He remarked as they lifted their heads from their food to look at him, "I don't remember them being this big."
Mercedes turned around, smiling at the man as she walked over to where they were, "From your left to right, you have Bizzy, Lightning, Pandora, Cocoa, Bulb, Snow, Cinnamon and Marshmallow."
"So, no Dasher, Prancer...hell even Rudolph? That whole song is a damn lie."
Mercedes giggled as she moved forward, "You have to study them too, Sam. They have to be in the right order, or you going to have some beef between your guiders."
"Seriously?"
"Yes." She heard her phone dinged in her pocket, indicating that she was needed, "I have to go but don't panic, you got this."
Sam watched as she gave his arm a squeeze before walking away, prompting him to look back at the woman. He jumped slightly when he felt someone push him in the back. He turned and gulped, taking a step back when one of the reindeer was face to face with him, flaring his nostrils at him which caused Sam to raise a brow, "You have a crush of Mercedes too? I don't blame you but back off, Bizzy boy."
The afternoon of Christmas Eve, Annette sat the cup of hot tea down on the night stand, getting onto the bed to sit next to her husband. She placed her hand on his shoulder, watching as he gave her a small smile just as there was a knock on the door.
Nicholas looked up and watched as his brother entered the room, dressed in his own version of his suit. He greeted him with a gentle smile, still in disbelief that he agreed to do this but a big part of him knowing that this was all Mercedes' doing, "Something I've never in a million years thought I'd see."
"Well, don't get use to it. It's a one time thing." He responded as he walked fully into the room, "How are you feeling?"
"Sore and tired, disappointed but mostly thankful you're here."
Sam gave the man a lopsided grin. He had to admit to himself that he was happy to be doing this, not only because of the guilt he felt but for the one time in his life, he wanted to do something right, "I do have a favor to ask before I fully agree to set out of this."
Nicholas looked at him, moving his glasses from his face, "A favor?"
"Well, I'm still going to do it regardless but I was hoping that you would be willing to give me an early gift."
Annette rolled her eyes at her brother in law, muttering, "Unbelievable."
"It's nothing like that, Anne." Sam reassured his sister-in-law before his eyes went back to his brother, clearing his throat, "Can...can Mercedes tag along? I really don't want to do this by myself. I know it's not in the rules, but that woman knows everything and I would be much comfortable if she's there."
Nicholas looked at his wife, who was just wearing a smile as she looked at them both, "Mercedes?"
"Yes." Sam replied as he looked at them, "Please."
Annette looked at Sam closely, raising a brow, "But did you ask Mercedes before you came in here asking for this?"
"Yes...sort of, no...but..look, can she or not?" He said, honestly started to get flustered and frustrated with this conversation.
Nicholas smiled At him and nodded his head, "Okay."
"Okay." He repeated with a smile on his face as he clasped his hands together, "Wish me luck."
Annette watched as he left out, her eyes going back to her husband, "This is going to be interesting."
"It is, it really is."
Mercedes looked at her watch, seeing that time was wining down. She didn't let it vocally be known but she was indeed really nervous for Sam. This job wasn't a walk in the park and that crash course that Sam had wasn't enough to prepare him for this night. She was stressing herself out just thinking about it. She for one wanted him to a wonderful job and she believed he could, but they only had so little time get him ready.
"How do I look?"
She turned around when she heard his voice, staring at the man, who was now sporting a red suit, black boots and instead of a red hat, it was green, which caused her to chuckle because he was truly a rebel. Minus the signature white beard, he looked really, really legit and dare she say it, cute too, "I'm digging this, stand in Santa."
"One time only Santa." He reminded her as he made his way to the sleigh, stepping on the side to get in, "But, I'm glad my brother is allowing me to have company?"
"Huh?"
"You're coming with me...if you want to."
"What? Me?" Mercedes snorted as she watched as he looked at her, her amusement coming to a close when she saw his face, "Oh, you're serious?"
"I am. I even took it upon myself to pack us snacks and quilts to keep us warm." He said as he smiled down at her, raising his brow before holding out his hands, "What do you say?"
Mercedes smiled as she grabbed ahold of them, stepping up and getting in without a second thought. It wasn't like she hasn't been in the sleigh before, but she hasn't been outside of the pole in it. She took a seat, immediately wrapping herself up in the thick quilts that were there, "I can't believe I'm about to do this."
"You?" He laughed nervously as he took a seat beside her, watching as she placed some of the quilts over his lap, "I'm about to do what I always deemed was the impossible."
Mercedes looked at him, "I believe in you."
Sam stared into her eyes and let a smile take over his lips. He came out of his amusement when he heard someone yell out that they were ready just as Mercedes' watch timer went off.
"It's time."
Sam took a deep breath as he grabbed ahold of the reins, looking over at Mercedes, "Ready?"
"I'm ready."
Sam nodded his head before he turned back around, closing his eyes for a moment before he lifted the reins up, watching as they went back down for the indication of the reindeer to start moving. Here we go.
