A subject change seemed in order right then. "So, how's your case?"
"All wrapped up and waiting for Griss under the tree," he gestured to the tiny Christmas tree in the corner, which indeed did have a file folder with a bow sitting beneath it. Sara laughed loudly as she caught sight of the paperwork, pleased mostly that he still had some humour and spirit buried within. Nick seemed proud as he watched her amused reaction and a genuine, though still small compared to the one he sported this time last year, smile spread across his lips.
"Clever," she replied through a grin after her laughter had died down. She began to prepare some coffee for herself. "My arson was a bust," she continued, not waiting for him to ask about her case. "It wasn't arson at all. You know that today is the last day of Chanukah, right? Well the neighbour had accidentally bought fairly fast-burning candles this year and overnight the Shamash burnt real low and caught the menorah on fire." Nick quirked an eyebrow; he had just assumed that menorah's would have been made of inflammable substances and said as much to Sara. "Yeah, I know. The only reason this one caught was because it was a really cheap one… I'm tempted to say he got it at a Dollar Store somewhere. It was just plastic coated with gold spray paint, so it went up fairly quickly." Sara added a drop more crème and indicated to the couch.
"Didn't you pull a fake case last year too?" Nick asked as the pair strolled across the room to sit down.
"Yeah," she smiled slightly. "That one wasn't as serious though. It was called in as a B&E, but the robber was really the dad pretending to be Santa. The man and his wife were newly divorced and this was going to be the dad's first Christmas without his son so he wanted to do something special," Sara paused and giggled as the case details came swimming through her mind. "He dressed up in full Santa gear and entered through a window in the hallway that he knew never latched shut. He planned on scooping up some of the presents from under the tree so that he could fill his sack, then wake up the kid with some noise, climb a quarter of the way up the chimney and then slide down just as his son entered the room so he would discover Santa depositing gifts under the tree…"
"Right!" Nick exclaimed as he remembered the story now. "And he didn't tell the ex-wife! The noise woke her up instead of the son and as she went to investigate she noticed the window left open and a dirty footprint on the carpet below!" He finally let out a tiny laugh. He tired of holding his coffee and set it on the table beside him.
"Yeah. Then the guy gets stuck as he's in the chimney because the sacks too big now and so the woman just finds half her presents missing and half a body dangling from her chimney!" Sara giggled a little more freely and Nick joined in.
"Geez, the luck that you have around the holidays is ridiculous. You get all the good cases," he said wistfully.
"That's karma trying to make up for all shitty Xmases I've had before now… or maybe the spirits of the holidays are just trying to win me over again. Either way, I think I'm going to hold out at least until next year… I'm trying to draw a case that involves an elf somehow," Sara laughed, unaware that the brief mention of her past had sobered Nick once more. She turned to look at him when his voice didn't join hers. "What? Elves are funny," she defended.
Nick smiled lightly and shook his head. "Not that. It's just… how can you be so… I'm almost temped to say happy but it doesn't really fit. Close though. I mean, you're a very talented secret keeper and I don't know any specifics, but I have gathered that holidays were never a happy occasion for you. It's a wonder that you can smile at all when they roll around. Yet, every year you come in – if not actually cheerful than a very good imitation of it – ready to tackle crime with the same gusto as always. You just… you amaze me sometimes…" he averted his eyes. "I wish I had even half your spirit."
Sara set her coffee on the floor in front of her. She was disappointed that she had inadvertently ended the brief light-hearted portion of their conversation; however Nick obviously needed to talk about things. "Hey," she waited until he looked over at her again. Her eyes visibly softened as their gazes met. "You have ten times my spirit," she said with no room for argument. "Don't belittle yourself like that. You've been to hell and back again this year and, since your past is just as mysterious as mine, I'm going to assume it's not the first time," Nick started to deny that but Sara continued. "I don't want to hear unless you want to tell me." She paused long enough for Nick to nod. "All I'm trying to say is that… you don't give yourself enough credit. Holidays are always the hardest and this is the first one since you were rescued. So, maybe you haven't found your smile again just yet… but I have no doubt that you will." She reached out and cupped his face softly, making sure that he got her message loud and clear: "You, Nick Stokes, are the best and bravest man I know. You amaze me everyday."
Nick placed a soft, grateful hand on top of the one she had placed on his face. They stayed in that position for a few more seconds, enjoying the rare opportunity to study each other. Finally Nick gripped her hand and moved it to his mouth. He gave it a sweet kiss and settled it between his two hands in his lap. "Thank you, Sara," he replied almost bashfully. He leaned back into the couch and let out a loud sigh. "I'm sorry I killed your mood."
"Don't be; this year it was just a very good imitation." The corners of Nick's mouth tugged upwards a tiny bit. Sara pulled her hand out of his and patted his knee before standing up. "Hey, what do you say we skip out early? Our cases are done. Its Xmas day. And there's only an hour and a half left in shift anyway… I'm sure Griss won't care. We can do whatever you want: grab breakfast, watch a movie, go for a drive and throw eggs at any Santa's we see wandering the streets... anything you want." She offered him her hand to help him up.
He hesitated a moment before accepting it. As soon as he was on his feet he scratched the back of his neck a bit self-consciously. "That's a temping offer; especially the Santa Claus thing… but I don't know what kind of company I'll be. I might ruin your day even more..."
"Nick, the only way you could ruin my day is by not coming with me," she assured. "I'm going to let Griss know we're leaving. Could you throw out my coffee please? Thanks," she didn't wait for his answer. "I'll see you in the locker room in five."