I'm a bit surprised I was able to get this in before December 25th. Still dealing with 2020 (now I can add pneumonia to the list of things that have happened), but hopefully I can build some momentum into 2021. I have a couple of job interviews after the first of the year, and I'm walking much better now without being hooked up to a bunch of machinery.

There seemed to be a bit of a demand for 'Casey as Santa' stories, and this one popped into my head. I can't say it's my best Christmas work (it's hard to top Chuck proposing to Sarah on Christmas Eve), but hopefully you'll like it.

Please leave reviews. Have a Merry Christmas, and may you have a great 2021.

Casey took a long look in the mirror, making sure he had the beard and eyebrows on just right. Looking back over his shoulder, he saw the large red bag and verified in his mind he packed all of the gifts. A lot of people were going to have a Merry Christmas thanks to him.

But the depression he felt meant that he wouldn't be one of them.

He originally wasn't planning on playing Santa. He was supposed to be sitting on a plane departing LAX for New York, then to St. Petersburg, Russia. Gertrude Verbanski had left a couple of days ago to reunite with her family. Casey was supposed to meet her there, but a Nor'easter had wreaked havoc with airports on the East Coast, meaning his flight had been cancelled. Because of the holiday, he'd have to wait almost a week before he could fly there, which would only leave him two days in Russia with Gertrude. Hardly worth the effort, but he'd make it anyway.

He thought he could alleviate some of his depression by having Christmas out here. Everybody was on board with that. Ellie and Devon had flown in from Chicago with their two kids, Clara and John. As it was hard to turn someone down who named their child after you, Casey was only too happy to play Santa for their kids. And given how close he had become to Chuck and Sarah over the years since he retired, he was practically a grandfather to their first child, Mary Samantha. He didn't want to disappoint them, either. Finally, he wanted to stop and help his daughter, Alex, as she was throwing a Christmas party at a local youth home. Morgan and Big Mike were able to procure toys and electronics from the Buy More for Casey to give out. Of course, when Morgan did wonderful things like this, it made it much harder for Casey to want to kill him for marrying Alex.

Casey straightened his Santa suit and put on his hat. Suddenly his phone began to ring. "Yes?" he inquired.

"Mr. Casey, this is the airline. We have some good news for you. We were able to find you a flight heading for St. Petersburg out of Boston-Logan Airport for today."

Casey's eyes widened. "I thought all of the airports on the East Coast were shut down."

"Actually, just the ones in New York and Philadelphia had to be shut down for a couple of days. Boston got about 6 inches of snow. Nothing they couldn't handle."

Casey couldn't believe it. He could have the full week in Russia with Gertrude? "What do I need to do?" he asked.

"You'll catch Flight 447 out of John Wayne Airport. The flight leaves at 6:00PM. You'll have an overnight stay in Boston before leaving from there tomorrow morning at 8:30AM Eastern time."

Casey checked his watch, It was 4:00PM. "I don't know if I can get to the airport on time."

"We'll try to hold the plane for as long as we can. It may get delayed because several passengers were in the same boat you were, sir, and we want to accommodate as many of them as possible."

Casey growled quietly to himself. He couldn't cancel on everyone; he had gifts they bought their kids. And there is little doubt if he explained his situation, they would all insist he should make the flight, which would only make him feel guilty.

Casey thought for a moment. Ellie and Devon were staying at a hotel only ten minutes away from Chuck and Sarah. If he could get their presents to Clara, John, and Mary quickly, the hard part would be the youth home. But Big Mike and Morgan's mother would also be there, so they could distribute the gifts to the kids. He'd just give a few quick hugs to the younger kids who believed in Santa, then tear down the 405 to get to the airport.

"Hold that seat for me," he ordered the customer service associate. "I'll be there."

~/^\~

Casey ran through the lobby of the Hyatt Regency, sprinting towards the elevators, and making sure the bag of presents wasn't jostled too hard. After all, there was no point to sprinting if he ended up breaking everyone's toys. He took the elevator to the 12th floor and headed down the hallway. He stopped at a mirror to make sure everything was in place before knocking on the door.

"Santa!" Clara and John screamed at seeing Casey at the door.

"Merry Christmas!" Casey bellowed as he accepted hugs from both of them.

"Santa, Merry Christmas!" Ellie said, giving him a hug.

"I think I have presents for you two." Casey reached into the bag and got the gifts meant for Clara and John.

"Wow, I love it!" Clara cried at seeing the Chicago Cubs jersey with her name and favorite number 8, on the back of it.

"This is so cool!" John said, looking over his Sony PS-5 and a half-dozen games to go with it. "Thanks, Santa."

"Now you two keep being good and Santa will return next year with more good stuff," he said in a deep baritone. He headed for the door. "Merry Christmas, everyone!"

Devon followed him to the door. "What's going on, John?" Devon whispered so the kids wouldn't hear. "I thought you were going to stay for a while."

"Plans got screwed up," Casey replied quickly. "I'll tell you the whole story later. But right now, I've got two more deliveries to make. Have a Merry Christmas."

Casey jogged down the hall to get to the elevators.

~/^\~

Casey knocked on the door to Chuck's and Sarah's apartment. Casey was shocked when Sarah answered it. Not because she answered it, but this person who used to kill and seduce for a living was wearing the ugliest Christmas sweater he had ever seen. And here he thought he had changed.

"Merry Christmas, John," Sarah said, giving him a hug.

"Wait, don't tell me: Bartowski got you that sweater."

Sarah grinned. "Not exactly the toughest guess in the world."

"Well, I know you have far more taste than that. Chuck? Not so much."

"Oh, look who's just in time," Chuck said as he walked to the door with Mary in his arms. "Mary, do you know who this is?"

"Santa?" she said quietly.

"That's right!"

Casey was a tiny bit surprised. Mary had, thankfully, inherited her mother's looks. Unfortunately, she also inherited her father's inability to not talk. Hearing her talk so timidly was something of a shock.

"Do you remember what you asked Santa for this Christmas?" Casey asked her.

"I wanted that Barbie set with the beach house and the pool."

"Well, let's see what we have in here for you."

Chuck put her down as Casey reached into his bag and pulled out a gift, handing it to Mary. She tore it open.

"Oh, you brought it!" Mary exclaimed as she looked over her Barbie Malibu House, complete with a set of four dolls. She jumped up and gave Casey a hug. "Thank you so much, Santa!"

"You're welcome, Mary," Casey replied. He spotted the time on the cable box next to the TV. "Gotta get going. Santa's very busy today."

He headed for the door. Sarah followed him out. "Where are you going?"

"I'll explain later," Casey called out over his shoulder as he made a beeline to his car.

He got in and took off for the youth home. His mobile phone began to ring. He hit the hands-free button on the steering wheel. "Yes?"

"John, what is going on?" Ellie asked. She sounded like she was trying to keep the anger out of her voice, but Casey could tell she was upset.

"I'm very sorry to bail so quickly," he replied humbly. "Something came up right before I was headed over there…"

The call waiting beeped in, and Casey saw it was Chuck. "Ellie, hang on. Chuck wants an explanation, too. Let me put you two on conference."

Casey hit the three-way call button. "Case, what is going on?" Chuck demanded. "I thought you were going to stay and play with Mary."

"I have to apologize to both of you. Remember three days ago my flight to New York was cancelled because of the Nor'easter and I couldn't get to St. Petersburg? The airline called and said they would route me through Boston."

"What time does the flight leave?" Ellie asked.

"Wheels up at 6:00PM."

"It's 4:45 right now, Case! You'll barely make it!"

"But I would have had no way of getting those gifts to you. That wouldn't be fair to you or your kids."

"You could have just told us and we would have made alternate plans," Chuck said.

"That's why I didn't tell you. Because I KNEW you'd tell me to forget about being Santa and head to the airport. There's no way I was going to let the kids not see Santa."

"Your heart was definitely in the right place, John. Even if your brains weren't," Ellie replied far more gently than before. "Just make your flight, OK?"

"Right after I make one more stop."

"What are you talking about?"

"Alex and Grimes have that party. If I wasn't going to let your kids down, I sure as hell ain't letting a bunch of orphan kids down."

He honked his horn at someone who cut him off in traffic. "You know what? If I miss my flight, I miss my flight. This is more important. You two enjoy Christmas. God knows all of you deserve it."

Casey hung up the phone and streaked down the freeway at 90 MPH.

~/^\~

Morgan paced back and forth, checking his watch for the tenth time in the last two minutes. The kids were enjoying the party, but they were champing at the bit to get their gifts. He then heard the screech of brakes. He ran outside to find Casey pulling the bag out of his car.

"Dude, where were you?" Morgan asked. "Everybody's waiting for the big bearded guy!"

"Had to stop at the Bartowskis and the Woodcombs. Apparently, I'm on a world Santa tour."

Morgan quickly fixed Casey's beard. "You and Mike need to help distribute the gifts," Casey told him. "I have to go right away after this."

"What are you talking about?" Morgan was shocked.

"I'll explain later."

"But Alex had some big news…" Morgan started, but it fell on deaf ears as Casey opened the door, and the kids inside cheered at seeing Santa Claus.

"Ho ho ho, everyone!" Casey bellowed. "Have all of you been good boys and girls this year?"

Most of the kids answered in the affirmative. "Perhaps I can get some help passing these out?" Casey asked, motioning to Morgan and Big Mike.

Alex pulled Casey aside as Morgan and Big Mike began to hand out the gifts. "You're leaving right away, Morgan said?" Alex asked him.

"I have to, honey," Casey replied guiltily. "Apparently, I didn't miss my flight to St. Petersburg, but I have to be at John Wayne Airport for a 6:00 flight."

"But Dad…"

"I am so sorry I can't spend more time with you before you head to your mother's tomorrow."

"No, I mean…I wanted to tell you…I'm pregnant."

Casey's eyes widened. "Grimes…" he growled, looking as far from being a jolly person as he could be.

"Dad!" Alex exclaimed, not believing his reaction. "Morgan and I have been married for three years now. You know all of that money we got from Carmichael Industries when they sold everything off? We've actually invested that and have even more now! More than enough for me to stay at home full-time and work on getting a doctorate while raising our child!"

Casey gave her a look. "Who decided you got to stay home?"

"Who would you trust more to raise your grandchild? Morgan or me?"

Casey nodded. "Good point." He hugged her tightly. "So proud of you. You're going to be the best mom"

"Thanks, Dad," Alex said in his embrace, a few tears coming to her.

Big Mike came up to them. "All the kids got their gifts."

"Thanks for your help, Mike," Casey replied.

"Morgan said you have to get out of here quickly?"

Casey nodded. "I was supposed to get on a 6:00 flight so I could still go to Russia with Gertrude, but…" he checked his watch. "…it's too late. I won't make it now."

"Hey, you did all of this, let's see what we can do for you."

Big Mike walked away and got on his cell phone as Morgan came up behind Casey and Alex. "Did you tell him?" Morgan asked Alex.

"She did," Casey replied. "And if I hear even once you're not pulling your parenting weight, I'll do to you what my grandson does to a diaper."

"Dad, we don't know if it's going to be a boy or girl yet," Alex said.

Casey never looked more confident. "Oh, it will be."

"Casey," Big Mike said. "Remember my cousin, Sergeant Powell? He was at the Buy More that one Christmas? He's sent a unit over here who will take you to the airport and get you past security quickly."

Casey breathed a sigh of relief. Perhaps he would make his flight after all. "Thanks, Mike," Casey replied, shaking his hand. He then turned to Alex and gave her a hug. "Safe travels, honey. I'll talk to you when I get back."

Casey went out to his car to get his suitcase.

~/^\~

Big Mike's cousin came through. They were through security and heading to the gate in an airport cart. The flight would leave in ten minutes, but the airline knew Casey was coming.

"Checking in for Flight 447 to Boston Logan," Casey told the gate agent, handing her his ID and showing the ticket on his smartphone.

"Why are you dressed as Santa Claus?" the amused gate agent asked.

"I was just at a youth home in West Covina passing out gifts to the kids. You only booked me on this flight two hours ago."

"And you still went to play Santa?"

Casey shrugged. "Couldn't let the kids down."

The agent smiled at that. "Give me one second."

She started typing into her computer. After a moment, she pulled an item off of the attached printer.

"We had an extra seat in first class for Flight 447 and a couple for the flight to St. Petersburg. You deserve them."

It was rare to see Casey's eyes light up in joy, but he certainly couldn't contain his happiness at not being stuck in middle seats for 20 hours of flying. "Thank you very much," he said humbly.

"Hey, anybody who goes the extra mile for this holiday deserves a gift."

Casey gave a little smile and headed down the jetway, the thoughts of Ellie, Devon, Chuck, Sarah, Morgan, and Mike in his minds. And especially Alex and his impending grandchild.

"Merry Christmas, everyone," he said quietly.