This Christmas

Christmas Eve, Eve

Injured and exhausted, Alex stumbled through the dark alleyways of the unknown city, looking for a safe haven to spend the night. He had been running from his captors for weeks and the stress was starting to get to him. "Maybe I should just let them kill me." He mumbled to himself, sure that Isabel already believed him dead. He was about to give up when he heard a familiar song coming from somewhere.

I'm dreaming tonight of a place I love

Even more than I usually do

And although I know

It's a long road back

I promise you . . .

Flashes of Isabel ran through his head as relief passed over him. With a new determination, he pressed on. "I promised I would be home for Christmas and this year I will be." He mumbled to himself before making his way towards the music.

Isabel rushed out of the store with her package, cursing herself for waiting until nearly the last minute. She had only bought a present for one person, Claudia. Everyone else would have to deal. She wasn't shopping, decorating, or helping anyone this year. God had cursed her on Christmas and now she cursed Him.

She looked at her watch, 8:22 pm. She would drop off the gift and get home well before midnight where she would hide until Christmas was over. She hated the holiday and just wanted to spend it alone until it was over.

She sped over to the Max and Liz's house and squealed into the driveway. Getting out of the car, she walked to the door. The wreath that hung on the door last Christmas greeted her. She stopped and closed her eyes for a minute, bracing herself for what she would find inside. She had avoided this all season, not wanting to see the house decorated as it had been a year ago.

Taking a deep breath, she rang the bell. Liz smiled as she answered. "Isabel! I'm so happy that you're here. Come in."

She almost declined, thinking that she could just hand the present to Liz and make a quick getaway, instead she lifted her head a bit and marched herself through the door.

"Let me get your coat."

Knowing she couldn't bear to stay that long, she shook her head.

Max walked into the room smiling. "I thought I heard someone out here." He walked over to Isabel and gave her a quick hug.

Isabel didn't give Max or Liz a chance to say anything else, shoving the wrapped present into Liz's hands. "I brought this for Claudia."

Liz smile weakened as she realized that Isabel had no intention of staying. "She's already in bed, but you are welcome to stay over. We can make some cocoa and sit up and talk if you like, or you can just go to bed in the guest room." Her voice trailed off but Isabel could hear the hope in her voice.

Isabel shook her head one more time then looked straight into Liz's eyes, she didn't want to hurt her sister-in-law but she just couldn't do it. "I can't."

Liz nodded her understanding before giving Max a look telling him that he would understand too.

"Well, I'm going to go." Isabel said as she turned towards the door.

Max grabbed her and hugged her tight once again, then made way for his wife to do the same.

As Liz hugged her, she whispered in her ear. "We are here for you. Please, if you need anything, call or come by."

Isabel nodded, "I'll call you after Christmas." Then she walked out the door.

Patched and cleaned up, Alex lay on the small cot and thought about the last few hours. When he had finally made it to the outpost, there had been no music playing. He had been confused at first, "What had he heard?" But finally, he accepted it for what it was, a Christmas miracle. With thoughts of Isabel going through his head, he dropped into his first deep sleep since he had fallen from the Blackhawk.

Alex opened the door to their home to find Isabel lying on the couch asleep. He walked over to her and caressed her face. "Isabel," he said softly, "I'm home."

Isabel's eyes fluttered open, realizing Alex had returned home she jumped up and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him excitedly. "You made it. You made it home for Christmas."

Alex grinned from ear to ear. "I promised I would."

Isabel hugged him close again. "I missed you so much."

"I missed you everyday I was gone." Alex answered. "I love you."

Isabel kissed him then responded. "I love you too."

Christmas Eve

Isabel shot out of her bed. She had just had the strangest dream. Instead of Alex talking to her, Alex had been talking to another Isabel. It was as if she had dreamwalked him. She looked down and noticed Alex's picture on the bed, near where her head would have been.

"It couldn't be... Could it?" She asked herself. Had she dreamwalked him? She didn't believe it; she hadn't even tried, but if she had then that meant . . . she stopped. "You've lost your mind." Isabel chastised to herself.

The more she thought about it though, the more she wondered. She had to be sure. Lying back down on the bed she picked up the picture, knowing what she had to do.

Immediately, Isabel found Alex in the dream plane, where she saw him talking again to a dream version of her.

"Why did you do it? Why did you stay for that last show?" She asked.

Alex held her hand and answered. "Six of the soldiers that were at that show lost their lives on Christmas. If I gave them even a little glimpse of home their last night on earth, then it was worth it."

"Not to me!"

Thoughtfully, Alex asked, "Would it have been worth it if I hadn't died?"

Isabel looked up at Alex talking to her double. She hated that she had been without him for a year, but that was nothing compared to living her life without him, living her life as those soldiers families now did. Now that she understood he was alive and she was going to get him back, she was ashamed that she had made such a big deal about him being home for Christmas.

Pushing past her shame, she said aloud. "It's almost Christmas Eve."

Her double disappeared as Alex looked over at her. He motioned towards the clock, it was well past midnight. "Actually it is."

Isabel smiled. "And you're here."

"If only in my dreams." He answered back

Isabel jumped out of bed knowing that Alex was indeed alive!

Less then an hour later, she was at Max's door.

Max did his best to conceal his surprise. "Isabel. I'm so glad you decided to come."

Ignoring the niceties, Isabel barged past him into the living room where Liz, Michael, Maria and Claudia were sitting. "Alex is alive!" She announced.

Ignoring the disbelief on their faces, she continued. "Last night . . . I dream walked him . . . he is fine . . . he is alive."

Max walked up and put his arm around her. "Isabel, I know you want to believe it but . . . "

Isabel shook her head while he spoke then finally cut him off. "Max I KNOW it's true!"

Understanding how strong the connection was between the aliens and their human partners, Liz was the first to accept the happy news. She got up and ran over to Isabel, hugging her fiercely in celebration. "I'm so happy for you!"

Thinking about it for a minute, Liz frowned and asked. "Is he hurt?"

"I don't think so. I'm not sure. All I know is he is alive and he will be home for Christmas!"

Maria walked over to the phone and dialed the number to her USO contact at the base. "Yes, can I speak to Colonel Anderson?

Everyone listened as Maria talked to her friend. "I see, uh huh. When will that be? Hold on." She snapped her fingers at Michael. "Pen, paper." She ordered.

Michael handed her a pen.

"I'll get some paper." Max said. Maria didn't wait, she just started writing on the wall next to her.

"Someone will be there." Maria said into the phone. "Yes. Thank you! Merry Christmas! Bye."

Isabel stood at Maria's side during the whole conversation and pounced on her when she hung up. "Well?"

Maria grinned from ear to ear. "You were right. He's alive. They just got word less then an hour ago that he wandered into some remote outpost yesterday." She pointed at her writing on the wall. "He's coming home on a medivac. That is the flight information. He will be coming in to Dover AFB early tomorrow morning at 6am."

Relief swept over Isabel, but she knew she would not be completely at ease until Alex had her in his arms. Isabel stepped towards the phone when Maria stood in her way. "I'll get my plane ready – no need for you two to have to fly on a commercial plane on Christmas."

Isabel nodded her gratitude.

Handing Claudia to Max, Liz took control of the situation. "Michael – you need to get to the grocery store before it closes. You're job is Christmas dinner." Michael nodded as Liz continued; Max – presents – lots of them. Maria handle the transportation issues then you and I will go with Isabel to her house, help her pack and then after we see her off, we will get the house Christmasified."

Maria mimicked Liz, "Christmasified?"

Rolling his eyes, Michael looked over at Max. "Looks like we have another Christmas Nazi in the making." He said as the others erupted with laughter.

Isabel grinned from ear to ear. It was wonderful to laugh again.

Christmas

Isabel stood behind the ropes on the tarmac with her military escorts and watched as the door to Alex's plane opened. Two men in uniform came down the stairs. She could barely stand still, this waiting was killing her. Thinking back to that night, one year ago, when she first learned he was dead, she remembered the vision she saw. She prayed she wasn't dreaming now. The memory of last Christmas made her hold her breath until she saw him appear.

He was bruised and limping, but he was the most wonderful vision she had ever seen. The joy overwhelmed her as tears started to form in her eyes; she couldn't contain her self, she jumped over the ropes and ran towards him as fast as her legs could take her. Finally reaching the love of her life, she threw her arms around his neck and pulled him close. "Welcome home!" she cried into his chest, holding on as if her life depended on it.

Alex winced from the pain of his injuries, but he ignored it and wrapped his arms around the girl of his dreams. Disregarding the reporters that had turned out to document the homecoming, he pulled her face towards his. Remembering the love that had kept him alive over the past year he kissed her passionately.

Finally, he pulled away enough to speak, "God you look beautiful! I love you Isabel."

She smiled at him and through her joyful tears, "I love you too Alex... so much. I'm so glad you're home!"

Later that night, after eating more then their fill and opening the presents, Isabel and Alex lay in their bed, holding each other in the darkness.

Isabel burrowed into Alex's chest. She wanted to explain why she had thought he was dead. "I couldn't dreamwalk you. Then they showed me pictures of you with the other band getting onto the helicopter. They showed me pictures of the wreckage, there was nothing left."

Alex hugged her tightly and started to relive what he could remember. "I got on the Blackhawkafter the show and it took off. While it was still close to the ground someone started shooting at us, it had to swerve to miss the missile. I fell out. I was hurt, but I tried to make it back to the base. That's when I was captured." He stopped when he felt the dampness on his chest.

"I thought I had lost you." She whispered through her tears.

Lifting her chin so he could look into her eyes, he placed his hand over her heart, "You will never lose me because I will always be right here."

They laid in silence for a while, just content to be in each other's arms. Alex broke the stillness with his quiet apology, "Isabel, I am sorry I didn't make it home for Christmas last year."

Isabel smiled as she snuggled closer to him. "It doesn't matter. You're home now."

"But I broke my promise."

Isabel reached up, pulling his head towards hers so she could kiss him. "No you didn't. You were here for Christmas, even if it was only in my dreams."

The End