Disclaimer: Same as usual.
Note: My Idiot Muse® is officially about to get killed. After all, it's not as if I haven't two long fics in progress already that need updating, no, it's also only two more days until Christmas. (Germany, remember? Our Big Event is on Christmas Eve!) So, I'm BUSY! But nooo, the dratted critter insists on coming up with more of these. Argh! So here we go again … enjoy, and please pass by the feedback box on your way out? DB, December 2005

Forty Ranger Romance Themes: Jason and Kat

#3: Gift

by Dagmar Buse

-What am I doing all alone in a dingy hotel room in Chicago on Christmas Eve?-

The thought had been running through Kat's head all day, ever since she'd entered the coffee shop down the block, had been hit by the scent of spruce and spices and been bombarded with Christmas carols wherever she went. Even her usual diversion of doing touristy things and people-watching in a new city had failed; too many ventures were closed for the holidays, the shops were too crowded, and people on the streets were far too intent on last-minute errands to provide any interest.

So, she'd fought her way through the crowds in a nearby shopping center to get the few things she needed and had returned to her room. She'd sorted her clothes, organized her luggage and, after buying a light lunch, had curled up on her bed with a book she'd meant to read for ages. -At least the mattress is halfway comfortable for once!-

But the novel could barely hold her attention; only as long as she was munching on her sandwich and apple. Feeling lonely and a bit depressed, she'd decided to inspect the courtesy bottles of grooming products in the bathroom and instead of showering had indulged in a long soak in the tub. It hadn't been much fun; while the warm water and perfumed foam had relaxed her muscles, Kat would've preferred the luxury of her mother's jacuzzi at home, with soft music, a few dainty nibbles and a glass of wine. -And definitely NO carols!-

Alas, it was not to be. She was on tour with a ballet company, had been for the past three years since she'd graduated, and a special holiday gala performance was scheduled tonight. Afterwards, the tour manager had reserved a table at a good restaurant for the troupe; they would have a nice dinner, but it simply was no comparison to the comforts of home. And while Kat liked her colleagues well enough, their company couldn't make up for missing her loved ones.

-Mum and Dad. My friends. Jason.-

She sighed as she finished blow-drying her hair and smoothed the long tresses into a tight ponytail at the back of her head. She dreaded having to wear the wig that came with her costume, but that was just one of the drawbacks of belonging to a company with no permanent theater. Another one – the one that had stranded her by herself in Chicago right now – was that they got to perform on dates when the regular personnel got to take time off to spend with their families. Like tonight, on Christmas Eve.

There was still a lot of time to kill before she had to leave for the theater, so Kat climbed back onto her bed. She wasn't in the mood to pick up her book again, she had learned not to eat or drink too closely before a performance, and she definitely wasn't going to watch TV; the ubiquitous holiday programming would only remind her more of what she was missing.

Her small travelling alarm clock showed 3.45pm – which meant it was a quarter to one back home. What would her family be doing right now?

-Mum … Mum will be stuffing the turkey, getting it ready for the oven; Dad is laying the table, putting the wine to chill, and they'll be leaving for church in the afternoon, to enjoy a quiet evening before the barbecue -- with shrimp! -- tomorrow. The gang … everybody who's in Angel Grove right now will be meeting soon at the Youth Center or Adelle's to exchange presents before joining their families.- A parcel with the gifts they'd sent her had been waiting at the reception desk when the ballet company had checked in two days ago; she'd open them over room-service breakfast in bed the next morning. -And Jason … Jason'll be at home, with his parents. The Scotts always attend the midnight service, so maybe he'll be wrapping last-minute gifts in his room …-

Kat sighed longingly as she pictured her fiancé at his desk, fighting with colored paper and ribbon. Jason wasn't the most gifted person when it came to this kind of thing, but he did put a lot of effort into it, always slipping a pretty tag, ornament or just a twig of holly under the bows. His present to her had been Fed-Exed to her last stop, just so he could be completely sure she would have it in time for Christmas. Smiling softly, she opened her nightstand drawer and took out the small box wrapped in pink metallic foil. There was a gift tag, an adorable white fluffy kitten wearing a Santa hat, attached to the thin gold ribbon, and the loving message he'd written made her go all mushy inside.

-Oh, to hell with the cost!-

Before she could change her mind, Kat reached for the phone and dialled Jason's number. After only two rings, he picked up.

"Hello?"

"Jason? It's me."

"Kat! How are you? Are you okay?"

She laughed softly. "Yes, I'm fine, worrywart. I just wanted to talk to you."

"Oh, okay." She heard him chuckle in return, and the longing to be with him grew. "Thanks; it's great to hear you, too. How's Chicago?"

"Cold. Wet. It's been snowing off and on, but it's more slush than a picture-postcard White Christmas."

Jason's grin was apparent even through the static of the phone line. "Well, the last proper White Christmas I had was in Geneva. It's raining here, kind of a drizzle, but at least not too cold."

"I'd take that over this miserable excuse for weather anytime," she said plaintively.

"Poor thing," he commiserated. "But you didn't call me just to exchange weather reports, did you? At least I hope not."

"No, silly! I told you, I just wanted to hear your voice."

"Aww." She had to giggle at his absurdly pleased tone. "Did you get your present?"

"Yes, I'm holding it right now." Kat shook the small box lightly, but couldn't detect any significant noise from within. "Love the tag."

Jason laughed. "Thought you might. Did you look inside yet?"

"No – I wanted to wait until tomorrow …"

"Oh. Aren't you curious at all?" he teased. Usually, Kat could hardly wait to open her presents.

"Truthfully? I'm dying of curiosity," she admitted. "I don't know how I'm going to sleep tonight; the guys have sent me presents, too!"

"I know – I met Tanya at the post office when she mailed it. I think you're gonna love your gifts – especially Kim's."

"Really?"

"Yup. But I'm not telling."

"That's mean," Kat pouted. "Not even a hint? Pretty please?"

"No way! I want to live until next year!"

She had to grin at that. Kimberly could be quite formidable when someone crossed her plans – and her present had come with an enormous warning sign not to open it until Christmas morning, or else. "Chicken!"

"Yeah, well, I have plans for next summer," Jason said, his voice dropping to an even deeper level. "Big plans – and they all involve you, love."

"I know," Kat whispered, shaken by the warmth that reached out to her across the distance, cloaking her in safety and caring even through a scratchy phone connection. "I have the same kind of plans."

How could she not – as both their plans centered around their wedding? He'd be finished with college in May, and provided he could get the job he wanted, they could finally be together when her contract ran out soon after.

"Good. Now open your present," he told her.

Oh dear Lord, she wanted to!

"It's not Christmas yet," she felt compelled to protest, however.

"It's Christmas Eve – and somewhere in the world, people are already exchanging gifts, I'm sure. Go on, open it."

"I really shouldn't …" But Kat could feel her resolve melting faster than the snow outside.

"You want to, don't you?"

"Yes …"

"Then open it. I'll hold."

"If you're sure …?"

"Positive."

"Okay." Tucking the receiver between her ear and shoulder, Kat realized her fingers were trembling as she untied the neat bow. She had to force herself not to tear the paper, but as she finally unfolded the thin layers, she found a small black box inside. -From a jeweller? Oh my!- She lifted the lid and couldn't help a small gasp of pleasure.

"Oh!"

"Do you like it?"

Tears were blurring her vision as she took a delicate gold chain from the dark-red velvet. Dangling from it was a penny-sized heart-shaped pendant with a tiny diamond winking in one corner.

"Like? No – Jason, I love it! It's lovely!"

"Not as lovely as you. Merry Christmas, my heart."

"Thank you. M-merry Christmas to you, too." Words were so terribly inadequate; Kat wanted nothing more than to hurl herself into Jason's arms right then and express her surprise, pleasure and gratitude with the longest kiss ever. The feeling intensified a hundred times as she looked at the back of the pendant – Jason had had "Love, Forever. J." engraved on it.

"You shouldn't have," she choked; she knew that Jason didn't have a lot of money. -He must've worked extra shifts at Rocky's dojo after classes to afford this!-

"It's only eight-carat gold and a diamond chip," Jason admitted. "I wish it could've been more – you deserve so much better – but …"

"Don't you dare apologize, Jase!" Kat interrupted him. "I love my present because it's beautiful and … and just perfect, because you chose it for me, and I wouldn't change it for one of Liz Taylor's gazillion-carat rocks! Thank you so much!"

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely, and if I were there with you, I'd show you exactly how much!"

"I'll hold you to that when you come home," he murmured softly, giving her words a deeper, more intimate meaning that made Kat blush with pleasure and a shiver of desire. "Rain check?"

"Definitely." Kat knew how to put a passionate promise into a single word, and was rewarded with a soft, sharply-indrawn breath.

"It's a date then."

"Count on it."

Down the hall, a door banged, the sound barely muffled by distance. It wasn't all that noisy, but it broke the charged mood between the two. Irritated, Kat glanced at her alarm clock and was dismayed to see how much time had passed.

"Oh damn," she sighed unhappily. It wasn't really ladylike to swear and would probably shock her mother, but for once she didn't care. -Dammitall!-

"What's the matter?"

"I've got to get ready," she grumbled. "If I'm not downstairs in half an hour, I'll miss the transport to the theater. We're having a last rehearsal before the performance."

"Oh." Now it was Jason's turn to sigh. "I understand. Take care then."

"I will … you too."

"Sure. Break a leg, love."

"Thanks."

"I miss you."

"Miss you, too." Suddenly, tears threatened to fall full force. Kat knew that if she stayed on the phone any longer, she'd have a full crying jag – because she was feeling lonesome, bored, because she missed home and Jason so much … and that would be disastrous for the upcoming performance. -Oh, HELL!-

All she could do was whisper into the phone. "I love you, Jase."

"Love you, too. Bye."

"Bye …"

Both hesitated for a few seconds, then hung up almost simultaneously. Sighing deeply, Kat replaced the receiver in its cradle, slipped from her bed and finished dressing. Her bag was already packed with a change of clothes for dinner afterwards; all that was left to do was to put her small make-up case on top, and she was ready to go.

She was about to tuck her new necklace back into the drawer for safekeeping when she hesitated. She'd packed a fuchsia-colored V-neck top for later; it would be the perfect setting to wear the pendant. There was one girl in the ballet who'd likely scoff at the modest piece of jewellery, but Kat didn't care.

Jason's gift might not be worth much monetarily, but the sentiment behind it was priceless. Yet the most invaluable gift Jason had ever given her – and it was one she knew would be hers for the rest of her life – was threefold: The freedom to follow her dream, to be a dancer on stage while he finished his studies and they could start their life together as husband and wife. His trust, that even though they'd been separated for long months each year while she was on tour with the ballet company, she'd remain true despite numerous temptations. And lastly, his love.

With a determined nod, she stepped in front of her mirror and fastened the chain around her neck. The gold gleamed softly against her skin, and the diamond chip blinked back at her in a tiny rainbow of color. A brilliant smile lit Kat's face.

-The perfect gift indeed!-