"Are you certain that you don't want to go over to Dad's house for a few hours with us?" Jessica asked as she stepped into the house, giving him a warm hug.

"No, I don't want him to be upset, and you know that he still blames me for Haley's death. It's just easier when you bring Jack over there, since then he doesn't have to deal with me."

She nodded sympathetically, and then grinned as Jack came running into the foyer, throwing his arms around Jessica's waist. "Aunt Jessica!"

"Jack! Are you ready to go over to Poppop's house?" He nodded enthusiastically as Aaron helped him into his coat. "All right, we probably won't be home until after nine. Is that all right?"

"That's fine. I have some cleaning up to do here, after all. Enjoy your time with your grandfather."

Jack nodded before hugging him and following Jessica outside. After watching Jessica drive away, Aaron went back into the house and tugged on his own coat, picking up the package for Erin and heading to the garage. A part of him was very apprehensive about visiting Erin on Christmas Day, but this had been the only time that he could get away while Jack was on break. On the short drive, he thought about what it must be like to have to spend the holiday alone, away from her family, and it filled his heart with a weird sort of sadness.

Aaron was surprised to find that there weren't many vehicles in the parking lot of the facility, since he had assumed that a lot of family would want to check in on their loved one this time of year, and he fought to keep that melancholic feeling in check as he parked and then headed inside. Lauren was sitting at the front desk, and she gave him a sad smile as she beckoned him over, having him sign in the log. "Did her children make it?"

"No. I take it that you called?" He nodded. "I hate when partners are like that. She needs as much support as she can get right now. The holidays are so rough, especially when you've just entered the program." Lauren let out a long, frustrated, sigh. "But, it appears that you brought a gift for her, which is incredibly kind of you. She's in her room, I think that I can trust you to not do anything?"

Aaron nodded quickly, feeling a bit of heat in his cheeks, even though he knew that she had to say such things because other people had flouted that convention. "Who knows if she'll even see me for long, though. I mean, this is a surprise visit."

"I have the feeling that she's lonely enough to talk to you for a little bit, Aaron. I'll let you head up now."

He gave her a quick flash of a smile before turning on his heel and making his way through the halls, remembering where Erin's room was quite well. Still, as he stood outside her door, he found himself hesitating, not certain that she'd want to see him, especially on Christmas. He was there, though, and would see this through until the bitter end. Raising his hand, he knocked lightly and waited for Erin to answer the door.

"I'm coming!" she barked out, and he chuckled a little at the irritated sound of her voice, making certain to wipe the mirth from his face as the door was yanked open. "What are you doing here?"

"Merry Christmas to you, too, Erin." He held out the gift he had wrapped for her, and she took it with a frown on her lips, allowing him to enter her room. It was still just as stark, though he did notice that she had kept the vase from his bouquet, a few scraggly blossoms that had held on arranged in the best possible way. "I know you don't want to see me…"

"The only people I wanted to see this holiday were my children, but that was a pipedream. Alan probably didn't think I was fit enough to receive them here. Do you want me to open this while you're here?"

The quick change of subject took him by surprise, and he nodded as he followed her deeper into the room, taking a seat in the one chair in the room while she sank down onto the end of the bed, setting the present in her lap as she bent her head over it and began to carefully undo the tape holding the paper together. The small feeling of anticipation took him by surprise, and he leaned forward to watch her carefully as she unfolded the paper before spreading apart the tissue paper that he had wound around both shawl and shawl pin. That small piece of decorative metal made her smile openly, and for the first time, Aaron felt like he was truly seeing their boss. After caressing the pin, she set it aside and opened up the main gift. "I didn't know what would be appropriate to give you, but I felt like you needed something."

She looked up at him, tears making her eyes sparkle, and shrugged. "I didn't need anything, especially after everything…" Her voice broke off as she looked back into her lap, her fingers caressing the soft yarn. "But thank you for the kind gift. I do get cold here, more easily than I do at home, and this will help keep that cold at bay. And somehow you managed to choose my favorite pastel, too. I'm sorry, I'm not good company today."

"Are you at least adjusting to this new routine?"

Erin wrapped the shawl around her shoulders, affixing the pin in a way that pleased her before looking back up at him. "I'm trying. I'm trying so hard not to be furious with you, and Agent Morgan, and the Director. And myself, if I'm completely honest. And we're supposed to be honest here. I'm not allowed to say that I don't talk with other people any more. That's what led to this, according to the group therapist." She held up her hand as she pressed her lips together, and Aaron nodded, knowing that she had reached her limit of being open and honest with him. "Thank you. I know that you probably don't want to be here, but your presence was most welcome. Go back to your son, someone needs to spend time with their children this holiday season."

He could hear her voice break as she said that, and he nodded as he rose to his feet, knowing that he couldn't push her past her limits. They both got to their feet at the same time, and Erin led him over to the door of her room, turning to look up at him. For a moment, he felt like he should kiss her, but knew that would be stepping over a major boundary. Instead, he lifted one hand and caressed her cheek before leaving her room, knowing that things had somehow shifted between them in that short space of time.

On the drive home, he thought about what he would do with this new turn of events. Seeing Erin vulnerable, it called to his protective side, and he knew that he had to be careful to make certain that they always kept their boundaries in place. He wouldn't allow anything inappropriate that might rise up between them derail her progress, especially not when he had a girlfriend. Pulling into his allotted parking space, Aaron took a deep breath and made his way back to his apartment, his thoughts muddled and unfocused.

"Hey, I was wondering why you didn't answer the door! Now I know."

Looking up, he found Beth standing in front of his apartment door, a bright smile on her lips and gift in hand. "I completely forgot that I told you to come over while Jess had Jack over at Roy's. There was a small errand that I had to run, but come in! We have until nine."

"That's enough time for a Christmas movie and some wine. Perfect!" Her sunny smile never left her lips as they went inside, and Aaron nodded, feeling relieved to have her there, since it was enough to take his mind off Erin and how alone she was at the rehabilitation center.