Title - A Christmas Carol
Author - Ashley aka Ginger
Rating - PG 13 I guess
Disclaimer - I don't own any of the UC characters
Summary - The Scrooge Tale UC style
It was a cold, snowy day in Chicago, Illinois. Most of the city was in full swing, busy celebrating Christmas Eve. Children we're patiently awaiting the time when they could finally open stockings with their family. Dads were running to the store for last minute gifts they forgot to buy. And wives were running around their respected homes cooking meals, cleaning rooms, and still wrapping presents. Most stores were closed, with the exception of the few local liquor stores, some toy stores, and the always helpful Hallmark Stores. While most of the city was celebrating, one small group was busy working, much to the dismay of it's employees.
The atmosphere inside the large warehouse was not what you would have expected for the day before Christmas. Four unhappy workers sat in a main room while an equally unhappy handsome man sat in a large office on an upper level. One woman sat on the top of a table, her long legs dangling over the side. Her hair framed her face perfectly accentuating deep eyes. She looked as if she was bored to death. Another woman was walking back and forth across the room. She filed her nails as her long dark hair swung around as she made each turn. A young man sat at a computer, clicking the mouse feverishly. His eyes glued to the screen in front of him. The second man, older and tougher looking than the first, sat at a table, writing slowly. Occasionally receiving glances from each of the other three.
"I can't believe we are still here," Alex complained with another glance at Jake who was holding everyone up. She couldn't understand why Donovan wouldn't let the others go though. They had finished theirs way before.
"Yeah, I should be home opening gifts or something," Cody added. "My Dad's going to be mad I'm late."
"If you were home, Cody, you'd be doing the same thing you are here. Playing computer games," Monica joked.
"Yeah, but I would have to open them first," Cody laughed.
"You finish the paperwork and we all can get out of here," Donovan added, receiving glares from three of his four workers, as he slowly walked down the steps from his office. Only Jake had not glanced up, silently grateful for a little more company on Christmas Eve.
"Yes, Mr. Scrooge," Cody muttered under his breath.
"What was that, Cody?" Donovan asked, annoyed and knowing full well what he had said.
"I said 'I need a snooze'" Cody tried, knowing he failed to hide his remark and returned to his computer screen.
"Careful Cody, he's got a gun you know," Monica whispered when Frank turned around.
What's the rush to do all this paper work? Alex wondered. She was done, so was Monica and Cody. They were only waiting on Jake.
Could Jake get anymore selfish? Monica thought. Why doesn't he hurry up. We all want to go see our families.
Though Cody had something else on his mind. I never realized how much Donovan is like the Grinch. I wonder why he doesn't like Christmas. It could be that his head wasn't screwed on quite right. It could be perhaps that his shiny shoes were too tight. But I think that the most likely reason of all May have been that his heart was two sizes too small, Cody thought trying his best to contain his laughter.
"Done," Jake said emotionlessly as he handed his paperwork to Donovan. He hated paperwork more than anything in the world, especially after missions he really gets involved in. He almost wished he was still undercover for Christmas. At least then he wouldn't have to be alone. He knew the others were mad at him but he could handle it. The Priest at the church was visiting others this Christmas. Leaving Jake alone in a hotel down the street. Shaw would have given anything for company this Christmas especially but he was too proud to tell everyone he would be alone. He knew that they all had family to go to and he didn't want to intrude either. I don't need their charity, Jake said to himself as he walked out the door.
*
Frank Donovan entered his apartment wondering why his workers couldn't just finish their paperwork and not complain. Sometimes he wondered how such people ended up working for him. He stopped when his key would not enter the door as quickly as it usually does. He finally got it to work and he opened the door. A small rustling behind him caught him by surprise and Frank turned around quickly. Nothing was there. He turned back towards his apartment only to be greeted with a familiar face. The familiar face of his dead boss.
"Hobbs?" Donovan asked in disbelief.
"Yes, Frank it's me. Shut the door."
Shocked, Donovan shut the door and turned to see the ghost of his fallen comrade. He was completely black and white and chains covered his entire body. Heavy chains.
"Do you know why I'm here?"
"What happened? What's the chains? Why are you here?" Donovan spat out an array of questions still trying to comprehend who was in front of him.
"I'll take that as a no. I'm here to save you Frank. Save you from sharing the same fate as myself."
"What do you mean?" Frank asked, still sitting in disbelief at what was in front of him.
"Frank we are so much alike. I don't know how you don't see it. I'm ashamed of the life I lead. I was selfish and never cared about my team. And that's what brought about my demise. But not only mine. But others." his former partner, Hobbs explained.
"Everyone else in our operation is still alive," Frank stated coldly and confused.
"That is true. But I've ruined so many lives with my hurtfulness. I could have helped you, all of you. But I didn't. I chose to be a hard ass and lock myself away from you. It was wrong and there are things about my life I would like to change. But I can't. I must wear these chains for eternity. To make up for my coldness in life. I'm here to save you from my fate. Your doing to your team what I taught you a leader should be. But it's not."
"There's nothing wrong with the way I handle my team," Frank shouted now getting angry. "Your not real. I refuse to listen to you. You know nothing about me. Nothing about what I have become."
"Your me, Frank"
"I'm not you! Your not real. I'm overtired. This is just my imagination playing tricks on me. Nothing more.
"Your wrong Frank. And I'll prove it. You will be visited by three ghosts tonight. Heed their warnings Frank and maybe you can avoid my fate."
With that the ghost of Jonathan Hobbs disappeared leaving a distressed Frank Donovan to ponder what he had actually just witnessed.
Author - Ashley aka Ginger
Rating - PG 13 I guess
Disclaimer - I don't own any of the UC characters
Summary - The Scrooge Tale UC style
It was a cold, snowy day in Chicago, Illinois. Most of the city was in full swing, busy celebrating Christmas Eve. Children we're patiently awaiting the time when they could finally open stockings with their family. Dads were running to the store for last minute gifts they forgot to buy. And wives were running around their respected homes cooking meals, cleaning rooms, and still wrapping presents. Most stores were closed, with the exception of the few local liquor stores, some toy stores, and the always helpful Hallmark Stores. While most of the city was celebrating, one small group was busy working, much to the dismay of it's employees.
The atmosphere inside the large warehouse was not what you would have expected for the day before Christmas. Four unhappy workers sat in a main room while an equally unhappy handsome man sat in a large office on an upper level. One woman sat on the top of a table, her long legs dangling over the side. Her hair framed her face perfectly accentuating deep eyes. She looked as if she was bored to death. Another woman was walking back and forth across the room. She filed her nails as her long dark hair swung around as she made each turn. A young man sat at a computer, clicking the mouse feverishly. His eyes glued to the screen in front of him. The second man, older and tougher looking than the first, sat at a table, writing slowly. Occasionally receiving glances from each of the other three.
"I can't believe we are still here," Alex complained with another glance at Jake who was holding everyone up. She couldn't understand why Donovan wouldn't let the others go though. They had finished theirs way before.
"Yeah, I should be home opening gifts or something," Cody added. "My Dad's going to be mad I'm late."
"If you were home, Cody, you'd be doing the same thing you are here. Playing computer games," Monica joked.
"Yeah, but I would have to open them first," Cody laughed.
"You finish the paperwork and we all can get out of here," Donovan added, receiving glares from three of his four workers, as he slowly walked down the steps from his office. Only Jake had not glanced up, silently grateful for a little more company on Christmas Eve.
"Yes, Mr. Scrooge," Cody muttered under his breath.
"What was that, Cody?" Donovan asked, annoyed and knowing full well what he had said.
"I said 'I need a snooze'" Cody tried, knowing he failed to hide his remark and returned to his computer screen.
"Careful Cody, he's got a gun you know," Monica whispered when Frank turned around.
What's the rush to do all this paper work? Alex wondered. She was done, so was Monica and Cody. They were only waiting on Jake.
Could Jake get anymore selfish? Monica thought. Why doesn't he hurry up. We all want to go see our families.
Though Cody had something else on his mind. I never realized how much Donovan is like the Grinch. I wonder why he doesn't like Christmas. It could be that his head wasn't screwed on quite right. It could be perhaps that his shiny shoes were too tight. But I think that the most likely reason of all May have been that his heart was two sizes too small, Cody thought trying his best to contain his laughter.
"Done," Jake said emotionlessly as he handed his paperwork to Donovan. He hated paperwork more than anything in the world, especially after missions he really gets involved in. He almost wished he was still undercover for Christmas. At least then he wouldn't have to be alone. He knew the others were mad at him but he could handle it. The Priest at the church was visiting others this Christmas. Leaving Jake alone in a hotel down the street. Shaw would have given anything for company this Christmas especially but he was too proud to tell everyone he would be alone. He knew that they all had family to go to and he didn't want to intrude either. I don't need their charity, Jake said to himself as he walked out the door.
*
Frank Donovan entered his apartment wondering why his workers couldn't just finish their paperwork and not complain. Sometimes he wondered how such people ended up working for him. He stopped when his key would not enter the door as quickly as it usually does. He finally got it to work and he opened the door. A small rustling behind him caught him by surprise and Frank turned around quickly. Nothing was there. He turned back towards his apartment only to be greeted with a familiar face. The familiar face of his dead boss.
"Hobbs?" Donovan asked in disbelief.
"Yes, Frank it's me. Shut the door."
Shocked, Donovan shut the door and turned to see the ghost of his fallen comrade. He was completely black and white and chains covered his entire body. Heavy chains.
"Do you know why I'm here?"
"What happened? What's the chains? Why are you here?" Donovan spat out an array of questions still trying to comprehend who was in front of him.
"I'll take that as a no. I'm here to save you Frank. Save you from sharing the same fate as myself."
"What do you mean?" Frank asked, still sitting in disbelief at what was in front of him.
"Frank we are so much alike. I don't know how you don't see it. I'm ashamed of the life I lead. I was selfish and never cared about my team. And that's what brought about my demise. But not only mine. But others." his former partner, Hobbs explained.
"Everyone else in our operation is still alive," Frank stated coldly and confused.
"That is true. But I've ruined so many lives with my hurtfulness. I could have helped you, all of you. But I didn't. I chose to be a hard ass and lock myself away from you. It was wrong and there are things about my life I would like to change. But I can't. I must wear these chains for eternity. To make up for my coldness in life. I'm here to save you from my fate. Your doing to your team what I taught you a leader should be. But it's not."
"There's nothing wrong with the way I handle my team," Frank shouted now getting angry. "Your not real. I refuse to listen to you. You know nothing about me. Nothing about what I have become."
"Your me, Frank"
"I'm not you! Your not real. I'm overtired. This is just my imagination playing tricks on me. Nothing more.
"Your wrong Frank. And I'll prove it. You will be visited by three ghosts tonight. Heed their warnings Frank and maybe you can avoid my fate."
With that the ghost of Jonathan Hobbs disappeared leaving a distressed Frank Donovan to ponder what he had actually just witnessed.
