Secret Santa: The Conclusion
Casey sat at his desk in his office catching up on his much dreaded paperwork, when somebody knocked at his door. He turned his head and saw Kelly open the door just enough to partially lean in.
"You said when you traded names with Cruz, you got Tony," he said.
Casey looked at him with a blank expression on his face for a couple seconds before answering point blank, "I lied."
"So it was you," Kelly said.
"Kind of obvious, huh?" Casey asked.
"Oh just a little," Kelly said as he stepped into the room and held up the box of cigars that had been his Secret Santa gift.
Casey shrugged, "I told you, I'm no good at buying presents."
"You said for women, that's why you didn't want Brett," Kelly pointed out.
"I also said I hate shopping for people and never know what to get in general," Casey replied. "That's why I traded with Cruz. If I was going to buy for anyone, I figured my best bet was you."
Kelly raised one eyebrow curiously, "How'd you know Cruz drew my name?"
"I didn't," Casey answered, "I was prepared to trade my way through the whole list until I got yours."
Kelly blinked, "Seriously?"
Casey merely nodded in answer.
Kelly didn't know what to say, he leaned back against the door and said humbly, "Thank you."
"So how's Capp liking his rubber chicken?" Casey asked.
"I don't think he even cares who got it for him," Kelly rolled his eyes, "he's having the time of his life with it."
Casey choked on a snickering laugh.
"And you?" Kelly asked. "Any idea who your Secret Santa is?"
"No idea, but," Casey reached over and picked up the two pound chocolate bar that had been his present, "Even if I didn't already know it wasn't you, I'd just guess it's not anybody who's sleeping in the next room. That'd make anybody bounce off the walls and clear through the ceiling."
"You wouldn't really eat the whole thing at once, would you?"
"Do I look like I have a death wish?" Casey asked. "It's going to take me until Easter to eat this thing. Or..." he looked back at Kelly, "If you help, maybe New Year's."
Kelly chuckled in response.
"So do you think Brett knows who hers is?"
"I don't think so," Casey smirked, fighting the urge to laugh, "A pepper spray keychain is about as impersonal as it can get."
Kelly busted out laughing, "Cruz is even worse than you are."
"All things considered though, she'll probably use it sooner or later," Casey said.
"Her luck it'll be some date who's a real prick," Kelly remarked.
"Well," Casey shrugged, "practical gifts are always a good idea."
"Speaking of," Kelly opened the cigar box, "the reports aren't going anywhere, how about we head out to the apparatus floor and test these out?"
"I'll get my coat," Casey pushed back his chair and stood up.