The rest of the Squad cleaned up the mess and soon they too were heading to the hospital. Walsh stopped the Squad in front of a toy store.
"What's up?" Capt. Johnson asked
"I'll be right back." He said
Walsh went into the store just before it was getting ready to close.
"Can I help you find something?" A young man asked
"Do you have any Tickle Me Elmo dolls?" Walsh asked
The boy looked around.
"It's for a little girl, all she wants for Christmas is a Tickle Me Elmo, her parents just died in a car accident. She's in the hospital now." Walsh said as he searched
The manager walked up with one in his hand.
"Very last one." The Manager said
"Okay." Walsh took his wallet out of his pocket
"It's on me. The little girl needs something to smile about." The manager told him
Walsh was shocked and choked up when he said "Thank you."
He took the doll and returned to the Squad. Jimmy remembered earlier that afternoon.
"Well hello little girl, what's your name?" Santa asked
"Carly." The little girl shied away
"Well Carly what do you want for Christmas?" Santa asked
"A Tickle- Me Elmo." Carly replied"Here, let me get that off of the packaging for you." Jimmy said
Walsh handed the Elmo doll back to Jimmy who quickly took it off of the cardboard. Soon DK, Lombardo, and Jimmy were testing to make sure that it worked. Capt. Johnson just watched in amazement as the guys played with it. Finally, they pulled up at Mercy Hospital.
Walsh took the Elmo and put it in his coat pocket. He walked into the ER and found Taylor.
"What took you so long?" Taylor asked
Walsh simply opened up the pocket of his bunker coat.
"How is she?" He asked
"They are trying to find a family member who can take her." Taylor said, "She's got nothing wrong with her."
"Does she know?" Walsh asked
"They tried to tell her, but I don't think she understands." Taylor said
"This sucks." Walsh replied
"Yeah it does, but maybe you can lift her spirits up a little." Taylor smiled
The rest of the Squad gathered around as Walsh and Taylor walked into Carly's room.
"Hi Carly." Walsh said
The little girl looked at him.
"I brought something for you." Walsh added
She sat silently
"A good friend of mine asked me to give this to you since he knows something bad happened today." Walsh said as he pulled the red doll from his pocket.
"ELMO!" Carly called out, confused as to how Walsh knew she wanted Elmo.
"Well…" Taylor opened her coat up. "We are Santa's Elves."
Taylor smiled and so did Carly. Walsh put his arm around Taylor.
"I wish I could say Merry Christmas." Jimmy said, "Truth is, how merry is it really going to be for her?" He crossed his arms
DK and Lombardo looked at him.
"Any word on the family?" Capt. Johnson asked Mary Proctor
"Child services is coming to get her. There's no family left for her." Mary frowned
"That's heartbreaking." Lombardo said
"Wish there was something we could do." DK added
"Maybe there is…" Capt. Johnson said
He walked into the room.
"Billy, Alex, can I talk to you a minute?" He asked
"Carly, we'll be right back okay?" Taylor asked
The only response they got was Elmo giggling.
"The kid's got no family. Child services is coming in to take her into the system." Capt. Johnson said
"Before Christmas? The kid will get nothing." Walsh said
Taylor had a sparkle in her eye, "Wait a second Billy." She said
"What?" He asked
"We have the spare room." Taylor said
"You think they'd let us?" Walsh asked
"Let you what?" A woman said, "Lynn Thomas Child Services"
"Well Ms. Thomas. This is Billy and Alex Walsh. Two FDNY firefighters." Capt. Johnson introduced them
"Mr. and Mrs. Walsh." She said as she shook hands with them
"Well, we heard that there's no one left for Carly." Taylor said
"That's correct, I've got to try to find a placement for her." Ms. Thomas said
"Since it's right before Christmas, we thought that maybe a little miracle could happen for her." Walsh said
"What are you proposing Mr. Walsh?" Ms. Thomas asked
"We have a spare room." Taylor said
"Do you have any experience as parents?" Ms. Thomas asked
Walsh looked disheartened by the question.
"No ma'am." He replied
Taylor quickly chimed in, "But we're expecting." She smiled
Walsh did a double take and a huge grin spread across his face.
"Well, since it is very close to Christmas, we can do a temporary placement with you and we'll see what a judge says after that." Ms. Thomas said
"That's great." Walsh smiled
"You are sure you can handle it?" Ms. Thomas said
"Believe me, I've known these two a very long time, and I believe they can more than handle it." Capt. Johnson said
"Well, if your Captain has all the confidence in the world with you, that's good enough for me." Ms. Thomas said
She handed her card over to Walsh.
"I'll get the paperwork started right now." She said as she walked towards the desk
Walsh looked at Taylor
"We're going to have a baby?" He asked
She nodded, "We're having a baby." She laughed and tears fell down her cheeks as Walsh took her into his arms
Capt. Johnson stood back and watched with a huge smile across his face.
"Looks like this Christmas is full of miracles." Capt Johnson said as he shook Walsh's hand and hugged Taylor
They walked over to the desk and signed the paperwork and then walked back into the little girl's room.
"What's going on?" Jimmy asked
"Taylor and Walsh are giving the little girl a Merry Christmas." Capt. Johnson said
"You know, tomorrow's Christmas Eve… there's nothing to give the kid for Christmas." DK said
"She's getting a home." Lombardo replied
"Yeah, but I mean, like presents to open Christmas morning." DK said
DK quickly thought about it and walked over to the nurse's station.
"Mary, you think it'd be possible to get a collection up to get some Christmas presents for the little girl?" He asked
"That's a great idea. I'll see what I can do." Mary smiled
Capt. Johnson, Lombardo, and Jimmy all pitched in to help. After a few minutes Mary came back with an emesis basin filled with money.
"Hopefully this will help her a little bit." Mary said
DK was overwhelmed with the support that everyone had given this little idea of his. They went into the lounge and counted it.
"There's 500 bucks in here!" DK exclaimed
"Tis the season." Jimmy smiled
Taylor and Walsh walked into the lounge.
"Before you say anything…" DK started, "We took up a collection. Didn't figure it was right for the kid to not have any Christmas presents this year."
Taylor and Walsh looked at the money.
"Thank you." Walsh said
"We have something to tell you." Taylor smiled
"Yeah, we know, you're taking in the kid." Lombardo said
"No, that's not it." Walsh smiled, "We're going to have a baby!"
"Wow!" Jimmy said
"That's great." DK said
"A little Walsh, who woulda ever seen that one comin'?" Lombardo asked
CHRISTMAS EVE
"So should we take her with us or how's this gonna work?" Walsh asked as he drank his coffee
"Mom's going to come over and watch Carly so that we can go and get some presents for her." Taylor said
"You tell your mom yet?" Walsh asked
"Yeah, I told her about Carly." Taylor replied
"No, I meant about the baby." Walsh said
"Not yet, I want to surprise her." Taylor responded
Carly came into the kitchen.
"Hey kiddo, how you doin' this morning?" Taylor asked
"I want Mr. Scruffy." Carly frowned
"Mr. Scruffy?" Walsh asked
"Yeah, he's my dog. He'll be scared because he's all alone." Carly cried
"I'll take care of that." Walsh said as he went to the phone
"Well, we'll see if we can get Mr. Scruffy, is that okay?" Taylor asked
"Please." Carly said
"Would you like some breakfast?" Taylor asked
"Please." Carly replied
Taylor was taken aback by the girl's politeness.
"Well what would you like to have for breakfast?" Taylor asked
"Do you have pancakes?" Carly smiled slightly
"Of course we have pancakes." Taylor said
"With strawberry syrup?" Carly asked
"We even have strawberry syrup." Taylor smiled
"And chocolate milk?" Carly smiled
"And chocolate milk." Taylor picked Carly up, "Why don't you help me?"
"Can I?" Carly's eyes sparkled so brightly
Walsh returned to them.
"Ms. Thomas told me to meet her at the address at 10 to go in and get her things." Walsh said, "Including the dog."
"Well, let's get her some breakfast made, mom should be here any minute, and then we can go get the stuff." Taylor said
"Pancakes? They're my favorite." Walsh bent down next to Carly
"Really?" She asked
"Really." He smiled as he tickled her stomach
He stood back up. "I think we can handle this parenting thing."
"I do too." Taylor said with a smile
Her mom soon came over and then they were off. They went to the apartment and picked up the few things that there were. Mr. Scruffy was an old ragged looking mutt.
"I think he's kinda cute." Taylor said as she led him to the Explorer
They finished up and did their shopping quickly. When they got home Carly met them at the door.
"Mrs. Alex look what I drew for you!" Carly said
It was a picture of Taylor dressed as an elf and a picture of Santa too.
Walsh let out a little laugh.
"I think someone wants to see you." He smiled
"Mr. Scruffy?" She asked as Walsh let the dog in the house
It was a happy reunion for them.
"I honestly think that that right there is more important to her than any other Christmas gift she could possibly get." Beth Taylor said
"I think you might be right mom." Taylor said
"I'm proud of you both." Beth said
"Thank you." Walsh replied
Soon it was time for dinner, and then it was time for bed. Taylor and Walsh both went upstairs to tuck Carly in.
The little girl got down on her knees beside her bed and folded her hands together.
"God, I want to thank you for Mr. Bill and Mrs. Alex. They are very nice and even Mr. Scruffy thinks so." Carly said, "But please help Santa Claus find them and give them the best gift in the world! Mommy always said that love was the best thing you could give. So could you make sure they get love? Thank you."
Taylor stood in the doorway and watched as a tear trickled down her face. Walsh put his arm around her.
"I think that we did the right thing." He said
They walked in and tucked her in. Each of them gave her a kiss on the cheek. Mr. Scruffy wagged his tail, so they each petted him. Finally they said good night and turned the light out. Then they went downstairs to set about the monumental task of wrapping the Christmas gifts and putting them under the tree. The clock struck midnight.
"Merry Christmas." Walsh gave Taylor a kiss
"Merry Christmas to you too… Santa." Taylor smiled and they continued back to work with the presents. "We are Santa's elves… filling Santa's shelves… Dolls we try out… see if they cry out… we are Santa's elves." Taylor sang
Walsh just smiled and watched the fire flicker in the fireplace with the silhouettes of the stockings hanging from the mantelpiece. For the first time in years he had a real family to share Christmas with. That was all he needed.