A/N: Happy December! Welcome to my Christmas fic! Thankyou for all the kind reviews I've been getting from the people both here and at Club DM - I appreciate all your support. Another special thanks to Trynia Merin and Sabertooth Kitty, to Aquila for your 'Left to die' picture and making me a VIP member at Club DM, and to Agent 57 for making me laugh! You guys are the best!

Sorry the Halloween story took so long! I'm sorry if it upset anyone - I know there's no proof of Damien anywhere, but then again, no-one ever actually said DM was an only child!

Anyway, as you guys know, I don't own Danger Mouse or any of the characters inside it, same as I don't own Thunderbirds, Justice League, Biker Mice from Mars, or Ninja Turtles - darn it!

However, the character Kim Taylor is a registered character of the non- existant ET Studios ;) - in other words, me. Also, the characters Jerry Taylor, Belinda Taylor and William Woodruff are mine. If anyone uses them without my permission *Holds up fist*. Except Aquila though - that picture you did was cool, buddy! :)

Anyway, on with the show! One warning though, this first chapter has alcohol and er, love-scene references and this whole story has a hint of angst from my last fic - you can't expect DM to leave his past behind altogether...

*

A Christmas Story

*

Chapter 1

"Feel the beat of the Rhythm of the Night...ight...Forget about the worries on your mind...ind..."

The occupant of the single bed tossed and turned. The bedside table with the lamp, clock and the framed picture shook as the occupant suddenly sat bolt upright, sweat covering his forehead.

"Damien...!"

The mouse's voice trailed off into nothing, and then he gave a tired sigh. Another dream. That was all it was.

The mouse got out of the bed and went over to look out of the small window of his bedroom. Opening it up, he immediately regretted it as cold air came rushing in, and he banged the window shut again.

"Good grief", he muttered to himself. "With the way I wake up every night, you would think it was June, not December!"

The mouse's face came into clear view from a streetlamp outside. His fur was white, and a black eyepatch covered his left eye, whilst his right one, the colour of amber, surveyed the street.

Danger Mouse was not having a good month. Although he had now rid himself of the devious Crumhorn and that blasted mind-control machine, he had not been able to do it without a fight - and he had also had had to reveal the most painful secret of his life to his two best friends, Kim and Penfold. And although it had finally been a relief to get it off his chest, it had been hard - and was now resulting in nightmares for DM.

Nearly every night, it was the same thing - DM would see himself and Damien as children, playing and singing to the old 80's song 'Rhythm of the Night'. Sometimes, it was heart-wrenching. But some nights when DM was lying awake, waiting for sleep to come, he would actually find himself looking forward to the dreams, as it was the closest he could come to having his brother back.

But this wasn't the only dream DM would have. Other times, the dream would be more horrendous, more frightening. DM would see the replay of what had happened on that terrible Halloween night thirteen years ago, but with a shocking twist. He would not only see Damien's body beneath the churning waters, choking as life was stolen from his lungs, but DM would also see Crumhorn's face, taunting him as he held up Damien's corpse from below the waters. Then there were the bright lights, and a scream of pain - DM's scream. He would then hear laughter from far away; evil laughter, laughter that lived to see him suffer - and then he would wake up, his stomach churning as he remembered the visions from his sleep.

It was enough to make him sick.

DM looked at the clock on his table - 6.05 am. He couldn't go back to sleep; he felt too restless. Groaning, he left the room and made for the kitchen.

Once in the kitchen, he filled the kettle with water, and was about to put it on to boil, when he had a better idea.

He reached into a cupboard and brought out a bottle of whiskey and a glass. He poured the Scotch into the glass and took a gulp. Taking the bottle, he sat at the table, downing his Scotch and trying to think.

Why were these dreams haunting him? He had told Kim and Penfold everything, he visited the grave - he had a picture of Damien, both on his bedside table and on the wall in the hallway. He'd even seen his brother's spectre - something he was sure of, as the spectre had left him Damien's old badge. But DM still didn't know why he was having the dreams. Was there something he still had to do? If there was, at any rate HE didn't know what it was.

DM poured himself another whiskey. He didn't drink it often, and it was far too early, but he didn't remotely care - today was an exception.

He downed the whiskey in one go. He longed for another, but knew he had to stop, otherwise he'd be drunk before the day had even begun.

Before temptation could get the better of him, DM took up the bottle and put it away. He washed the glass and put it back. Then he went to brush his teeth.

*

Kim Taylor grinned at the letter with her name on it in all too familiar writing. No doubt it was from her eldest brother, Jerry and his wife Belinda - at last. They hadn't written for a few weeks - Kim hoped nothing was wrong.

There was also another letter for Kim, in writing she didn't recognise. She frowned at it for a moment, then realised it must be from headquarters.

Kim took the letters, along with mail for DM and Penfold, back to the kitchen where DM and Penfold were having breakfast.

"Mail call", said Kim. "Penfold, here's your 'Chuckles Weekly'". She threw the comic down next to him.

"Ooh, goodie!" said Penfold, immediately abandoning his cereal and opening up the comic.

"Penfold, manners. How many times have I told you not to read at the table?" asked DM, as Kim handed him a bill, the weekly newsletter from HQ, and an advertisement leaflet.

"Oh, but CHIEF!" exclaimed Penfold. "Last week, Henry the Hedgehog and Harriet the Hare were trapped in a cave by Freddie the Fox on their way to a Christmas party. I can't wait to find out the conclusion!"

Kim and DM rolled their eyes at each other, and then Kim sat down to open her own mail. She opened the one from her brother first; she couldn't wait to hear his news.

She read the first paragraph, and then gave a shriek, startling both DM and Penfold.

"Kim, whatever's the matter?" asked DM in concern.

"No!" cried Kim, looking excited. "It's from Jerry - he and Belinda are expecting a baby!"

"Why, that's wonderful!" exclaimed DM warmly.

"Hooray!" cried Penfold. "You're going to be an auntie!"

"I...! I know..." Kim's voice trailed off as she read more of the letter. Then she started to frown.

"What's wrong?" asked DM.

"Oh - nothing", said Kim, folding up the letter quickly. She didn't say anything else after that. But when Penfold left the kitchen to go to the bathroom, she leaned across to DM and said:

"The thing is, Belinda was pregnant twice before, but both times the baby didn't live - she miscarried".

"Oh, I'm ever so sorry", said DM comfortingly. "But I'm sure everything will be alright this time - "

"I'm not so sure", said Kim, biting her lip.

"When is the baby due?" asked DM.

Kim was silent. Then she said quietly, "It's almost time".

"WHAT?!" cried DM. "And - and they haven't told you?"

"They were afraid", explained Kim, but she couldn't help feeling hurt. "When they found out she was pregnant, she was already a month along. They were worried and decided to have some tests. They think she'll be alright, but there's a 50/50 chance of the baby not surviving. And even then Jerry didn't want to tell Ricky and me - they were afraid of getting our hopes up, but if the baby died..."

Seeing she was upset, DM put a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry", he said gently. "Just see what happens. If you believe enough, maybe everything will work out for your brother and sister-in- law".

Kim smiled, but then realised that DM was looking tired and hagged.

"DM, are you OK?" she asked.

"Yes, I'm fine, thanks", said DM, pulling away. "Why?"

"You look worn out. Another nightmare?" realised Kim.

"Oh, I can't get rid of it", groaned DM, putting his head in his hands.

"You really should go and see a doctor, DM", said Kim anxiously. "I'm getting really worried about you".

"I'll be fine", said DM. "But I just wish I could leave this year's Halloween events behind me - and look back to the good times with Damien - "

"Oh, I know, I know", said Kim, puttting her arms around him.

At that moment, Penfold was heard calling Kim's name. She loosened her embrace and went out to the lounge to see what Penfold wanted.

DM tried not to let his heart beat too much as he touched the spot on his shoulder where Kim's right hand had been. His stomach flip-flopped and his appetite suddenly vanished.

He didn't know why; he just felt a strange attraction to Kim. She was everything he'd ever dreamed of; kind, gentle, brave, beautiful...

DM blushed as he thought back to the night they had spent together, nearly four months back now. It had mostly happened because he hadn't been able to control his emotions, and Kim not able to control her own - whatever they were. Now, DM couldn't really remember anything except for the feelings of - desire. Also, he had a memory of gentle hands, touching his cheek, gently tracing down his neck, and then changing route, running a soft pattern across his chest...

Stop this! DM closed his eye tight and tried to block out the feelings and the memories. Stop this NOW! She doesn't want you; if she did, she would have told you by now! So just cut it out!

But DM knew he wasn't going to get rid of his urges that easily...and to be perfectly frank, he was in no hurry to.

"DM!" called Kim's voice suddenly. DM jumped; he seemed to be getting too caught up in his thoughts these days.

He came into the lounge to see Kim and Penfold standing next to the TV/radio screen. There had obviously just been a call, as the screen was just switching itself off. Kim was looking worried, and Penfold was looking confused.

"What's wrong?" asked DM, looking between them.

"There was a call from HQ", said Penfold.

"A call? Why didn't you come and get me?"

"It was for me", said Kim. "It was the Colonel; he sent me this letter this morning". She held up the unopened letter. "He wanted to make sure I'd received it. He wants to see me this morning".

"What for?" asked DM.

"He didn't say, but it sounds important", replied Kim.

"Then I'd better take you now", said DM. "Don't worry, Kim. Whatever it is, I'm sure we'll get it sorted out".

"OK", said Kim, sitting down on the couch.

"Penfold, come on", said DM to the hamster.

"Oh, but I haven't finished my comic", moaned Penfold.

"Penfold, I am not going to leave you here by yourself", said DM firmly. "And that's the end of it. You can finish reading your comic when we get back".

"Oh, alright", sighed Penfold, sitting down on the couch next to Kim. DM went and sst on his other side.

"Now, brace yourselves", warned DM, as the lift dropped downwards. But Penfolds yells were still heard anyway.

*

DM, Kim and Penfold got out of the lift at Level 6 at HQ and started to make their way down the corridor. DM tried to ignore all the people staring intensely at him - to him, it was a re-encounter of the way he'd been treated when he had first joined the agency years ago.

"Ignore them", Kim hissed, as she realised what everyone was looking at. Penfold put an arm around DM's waist and glared at two young does whispering behind their hands. It was enough to scare them, and they quickly hopped down the corridor.

It was a relief to reach the Colonel's office. They knocked on the door, and the Colonel himself answered it.

"You wanted to see me, sir?" asked Kim nervously, as the Colonel invited them in and motioned for the three of them to sit down.

"Yes, urgently", said the Colonel. "Would you like a drink? A whiskey or a Scotch, maybe?"

"Er, no thankyou, sir", said DM, wincing guiltily as he thought of his early morning drink.

"Have you any apple juice?" asked Penfold eagerly.

Colonel K smiled. "You know I always keep a bottle especially for you, Penfold".

In ten minutes, everyone had gotten a drink. DM, Kim and the Colonel had tea, and Penfold had his apple juice. DM was relieved; it would be enough to keep his friend quiet for a while.

"So - why did you want to see us, sir?" asked Kim, taking a sip of her tea.

The Colonel's smile faded and he leaned forward in his seat.

"Now, Kim. I am going to give this to you straight. Over the past week, certain - AGENTS - have been talking amongst themselves. Talking about you".

Kim sat back in her own seat, not sure how to react. "I don't understand".

"The thing is", said the Colonel, looking a little embarrased now. "The thing is - it seems a lot of our agents aren't very happy with - well, the way you look".

"The way I look?" repeated Kim, looking over at DM, who was raising an eyebrow.

"Colonel", he suddenly said. "Would you please tell us exactly what is wrong with Kim's appearance?"

"Well - the fact that she's a human", said the Colonel.

"You're scared that I'm going to give away our secrets?" asked Kim, dumbfounded.

"Not me SPECIFICALLY, old girl. But other agents here are afraid of just that".

"I wouldn't!" cried Kim.

"Of course not, my dear. But - you have to admit - having a human in the agency is risky. I'm afraid that in time, people in the human world will start to piece the jigsaw together, if you see what I mean".

"So you want me to leave?" asked Kim, upset.

"Oh, no. I'm giving you two options", offered Colonel K. "You may leave the agency if you do not wish to follow my forthcoming offer. I'm afraid it's all I have to give".

Kim listened intently, her heart pounding.

"Do you remember the medicine the DM took, the one that transformed him into a human? Well, the scientists have been able to make more - only to give it the opposite - and permanant - effect".

Kim sat there, taking all this in. "So what are you saying? All I have to do is drink it and I'll turn into an mouse?"

"Any animal, really", replied the Colonel. "But it's a question of whether you want to do it".

Kim looked at DM again for help. He was looking very concerned. Even Penfold had stopped drinking his juice to listen.

"Colonel K, is this really necessary?" asked DM.

"I'm afraid so, old boy. Like I said, it's all I can offer you: drink the medicine, or Kim will have to leave. And don't look at me like that", added the Colonel sadly, seeing the angry look on DM's face. "I'm in charge, but I wouldn't be a very good leader if I didn't take other people's feelings into account".

"I wonder if we can get back to you on this?" asked DM. "Let us think about it for a bit".

"Of course. Take all the time you need".

DM got up, and helped Kim up. She looked pale, and was shaking. Penfold left his juice and got up too.

"We'd better go, sir", said DM. Kim was glad he was talking for her; her nerve had failed her.

"Bye then", said the Colonel. "I'll see you soon". He waved after them as they left the office.

"What am I going to do?" asked Kim, as they stood outside the office door. DM put an arm around her, trying to ignore the fact that his arm was shaking from just touching her.

"Let's go away and think for a bit", he suggested. "Let's go somewhere where we can really concentrate".

"The Cat and Mouse", realised Kim, perking up a bit.

DM nodded and led them off down the hallway. People started to stare at them again. His patience finally worn off, DM snapped: "What are you looking at?" Everyone jumped and quickly turned away, all flushing guiltily.

"Touchy", Kim and Penfold heard one of the male trainees say and they exchanged glances.

"And it's not even lunchtime yet", muttered Penfold.