After dinner, the family gathers around the TV to watch 'Miracle on 34th Street'. Steve still remembers it as one of Catherine's favourites, as well as a memorable afternoon they spent cooped up in a hotel room, one Christmas on deployment, when they had managed a few hours together, with the exact same movie as background. The memories make him smile, followed by a feeling of nostalgia that invades him. He can tell Catherine is really happy at being home, and considering he has only seen her twice, for one or two-day missions in the last 2 years, this is a refreshing change. Her relationship with her parents is also something he always admired, as they banter and joke innocently with each other. Catherine's brother, Peter, is coming home the next day and Steve looks forward to seeing him, as they are both SEALs and always got along well.

Before the movie is over, both her parents retire, wishing everyone a good night. Jimmy has fallen asleep on the sofa, and Catherine is watching the movie attentively, with Steve discreetly stealing occasional glances her way. Suddenly, he is brought back to reality by the ringing on his cell phone. He looks at the caller ID and sighs: Danny. He has to answer him, or else brave the wrath of God when he gets back to Hawai'i. He bids Catherine good night, sorry for not having a few more moments alone with her, and heads to the guest room. Catherine smiles at Steve and follows his retreating figure out of the living room, until he disappears from her line of sight. She imagines Steve's nervous about telling Danny he's not coming home. Or maybe it's someone else calling and that's why he left the living room to take the call. Catherine realises that she hasn't heard any calls between Steve and Lynn, all the while they were in Montana, but that thought is little solace. She feels an inexplicable sadness take over her, despite the movie on TV, the fact that it's Christmas time and that she's at home, with her family.

In the guest room, Steve finally answers his phone.

"Hey, Danny. Sorry for not calling any sooner. How are you? How is everyone?"

"Hey, Steve. Everything's fine, here. And you?"

Steve's nerve falters at that precise moment. He prefers to postpone the problem. Until never, he hopes. "I'm all right, I guess. Danny… I'm not coming home for Christmas. I wouldn't be good company, this year. Please understand."

"Hey, it's OK, we all deal with grief in our own way. I kinda figured as much, by now. How are you feeling?"

"You know, sad, mad, tired of putting people I love in the ground," he says, placidly, surprised that Danny's cutting him some slack.

"I hear you. How was the funeral?"

"Awful. Not much more I can say about it."

"Wish I had been there, to support you."

"Yeah, Danny, about that…" Steve starts, wincing as he contemplates how to go about explaining Catherine.

"Hey, don't. You don't have to explain. I'm just happy to hear your voice, since I had to infer that you were still alive from the lack of bad news."

"Sorry, Danny. I just couldn't talk."

"Forget about it, I'm glad you're OK."

"Thanks, buddy," Steve concludes, wanting to end the conversation, cowardly leaving the Catherine subject for another time. 'Live to fight another day' comes to his mind, and he smiles to himself. "How is everyone in Hawai'i?"

"Everyone is fine, they're all eager to see you return."

"About that, Danny… it might be a few more days. Maybe a week or two. I don't really know."

"What's there to know? What's going on?"

"Nothing, nothing… I just need some time to get myself back into shape, that's all," Steve says, not wanting to share until he's sure of his next move. After all, Danny has a family.

"OK… I'm not sure I understand what's going on, Steve, but I will wait to hear from you. Don't worry about 5-0, we can hold down the fort, OK?"

"OK. Thank you, Danny. Give my love to everyone. And Merry Christmas to all. Tell Grace and Charlie I'm thinking of them. Tell them I'll spoil them when I get back."

"I will. You take care, OK?"

"Thanks, Danno."

And while Steve manages to get a very decent night's sleep, Danny is restless all night, wondering what's going on in Montana.