So, it's a little early for the Holiday Fest, but it is going to be a multiple chapter(like 5 maybe), so just bare with me! And excuse the cussing!
A Christmas Carol; The Last Ship Version
Chapter 1
"Damn it!" Mike said as he looked over the report. He was not happy at all. Nothing was going right and it was December 23rd. His staff all wanted Christmas off and Mike had the power to ensure they all worked. Christmas was not a good time of year for him. He missed his family. He missed having people at home. Hell, he even missed having a real home.
"Sir?" Lt. Maddie Rawlings asked as she walked into his office.
"This report is to be fixed now; or no one gets to be off for Christmas. Enough of this shit." Mike exclaimed as he practically threw the report at her.
"Sir; what's wrong with it? This is the third time you've handed it back, but you haven't told us what's wrong with it." Maddie asked.
"Figure it out yourself! And don't question." Mike said as he grabbed his cover and overcoat.
"Sir?" Maddie asked.
"I am out for the day. I suggest you email me the corrections and I will decide if you all get Christmas Eve off." Mike said. He noticed the downcast look on Maddie's face but decided not to address it. She stepped out and walked back in with a gift box.
"In hopes that we would have the next two days off; I brought in my gift to you today. I know you don't do Christmas but it didn't seem right to not give you something. Its not much, just some baked goods." Maddie told him. She tried to hand him the box, but Mike gestured at his desk. She sat it down and nodded. "Merry Christmas, sir." Maddie said before leaving the room. Mike looked at the box for a moment, and remembered how much he had always liked sweets. Christine had always fixed all kinds of cookies and fudge. He grabbed it and left the office; not saying a word to any of his staff; who were working feverishly. He had outlawed Christmas decorations in the office and so everything about his office was very bleak.
He got back to his BOQ, changed into a pair of pajama pants and t-shirt; ordered a pizza and began drinking; which had become something of a habit for him. He opened the box of cookies and candy from Maddie Rawlings and immediately ate a piece of fudge. It was not Christine's recipe; but it was still delicious. There were sugar cookies, fudge, peanut clusters and ribbon candy. It all brought memories back. Happy memories.
His pizza arrived and by nine; Mike was not feeling much. He drank a lot. Far more than he should. Christine would be mad if she knew. He was what Russ Jeter called a 'functioning alcoholic.' His alcoholism didn't get in the way of his job, but he was not a nice person to be around. Most of his friends avoided him and he didn't have family anymore. No one had the courage to interfere, and so Mike spent his off-time in a drunken stupor.
Somewhere around midnight; he passed out. He had eaten most of the pizza and all the cookies and candies; which was causing some serious heartburn. He hadn't bothered to check his emails to see if the report had been sent, and honestly; there wasn't much wrong with it. A few spelling and grammatical errors that normally a generous boss would have just corrected themselves. Not Mike. And with a stomachache; he was in no mood to look at it now.
Usually when he drank himself into a stupor; there were no dreams or nightmares about his missing and dead family; but maybe because of the indigestion he had caused himself; he was restless. It made him dread sleep, because at some point; he would have a nightmare. After dosing himself with some antacids, he settled into bed; wishing Christine was next to him, admonishing him about the alcohol and sweets. He faded into sleep, and all too soon, the dreams started. At some point; he felt someone or something tapping his arm.
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" Mike exclaimed.
"Not happening, Mister. Get dressed." A very familiar voice said and as soon as Mike opened his eyes, he knew why. It was Christine. She looked very angelic and beautiful. She hadn't aged at all and was dressed all in white; just like their wedding day, but with a less formal look.
"Its really you?" Mike asked. He immediately began getting out of bed, even though he didn't know why.
"Its me and I'm not happy with you. Now get your butt dressed." Christine said.
"Are you real?" Mike asked, ignoring her.
"Not…real, real. You are the only one that can see me…and you are actually not. You are feeling me." Christine answered.
"I've missed you and the kids. Where are they? I want to see them." Mike asked.
"Not now. They've missed you too, but I need you to focus. Now; unless you want to go out in your boxers, get dressed." Christine told him.
"Where are we going?" Mike asked as he grabbed a pair of jeans out of the closet. He threw them on, along with a flannel shirt, and his jacket and shoes.
"Your past, present and future. You need to know that your actions affect others." Christine said.
"I don't have a family anymore. How do my actions affect anyone else?" Mike asked.
"You have an entire office full of people that depend on you…or your moods to see how their family time and time away from work is going to go. Did you realize that Lt. Rawlings was at your office until midnight, waiting for your email? And she badly needed to be home. You will see why shortly, but first; your past." Christine said. She grabbed Mike's arm and jerked him through the door leading out of his BOQ.