A/N: A million, bajillion thanks to cyko and Boleyn for betaing this for me.

I realize that, yes, I suck. I'm posting up to chapter 6 today to try and make up for my suckiness.

December 24, 2006
OK. It's my last shot. In one week, it will be a new year. And this year, I won't think about Lindsay.

As much.

Here I am, sitting in my car, working up the nerve to go in there. I know she's there. And knowing Flack, there's mistletoe hanging up. And that would be awkward.

So I'm trying not to go in.

But I have to. I didn't get into a suit for nothing. Plus, I spent a hundred bucks on her present. I'm going to have no use for it. I have to get in there.

I take whatever dignity I have left and get out of the car.

OK. Step one, down. Step two, get inside.

A minute later, that's accomplished.

Step three, find Lindsay.

I find them all in the break room. Flack is dressed as Santa, and he's handing out everyone's presents.

We did Secret Santa again this year. I got Lindsay. I got Lindsay last year, too. Last year's present was not nearly as sentimental as this one. I got her a specially-made pillow with the word "Montana" on it. She actually seemed to like it.

This year, hopefully she'll know it's more from the heart. I slide the present under the tree, smiling at my coworkers. Stella seems to be on at least her third glass of spiked eggnog. I sit down next to Hawkes.

"What've I missed?" I whisper.

"Stella got me a book, I got Flack 'Yoga For Dummies' and Mac and Lindsay's presents haven't been open yet," he says.

Flack pulls out another present. "This one is to...Elf Danny!" he proclaims. I grab it out of his hand.

"Don't call me an elf," I mutter. I open it and see a light blue pillow. Yeah. I'm confused.

Lindsay pokes my side. "Turn it over," she hisses. I do, and I can't help but grin like an idiot. On the front, in white lettering, it says "New York."

"Thanks, Linds," I say.

She grins at me. "I just thought that, with the pillow you got me last year, and all, I thought you might like one."

Flack coughs. "Excuse me. We still have two presents left. This one is to Mac," he says, handing Mac a rectangular box.

Mac opens it and pulls out what looks like a photo album. He starts looking through the pages. "Stella, this is..." He sounds a little choked up. "This is beautiful. Thank you, Stella."

"I've been working on it for a while," she says with a warm smile. "I was going to give it to you when I finished it, which happened to be a few weeks ago."

He smiles, his eyes filled with tears. "Thank you."

"What is it?" Lindsay asks. Mac passes her the photo album. I look over her shoulder as she reads through it.

There were pictures from Mac and Claire's wedding. Mainly Mac and Claire, a few had Stella and Mac, and other people from the police department.

Even Flack chokes back a small sob. "That's really beautiful, Stel," Hawkes says.

"Can we, uh," Flack says, wiping his eyes, "give out the last present? Please?" Everyone nods.

"It's for you, Lindsay," he says, handing her my box. Lindsay looks around at us.

"I wonder who this could be from," she says, her eyes landing on me. "There's so many people who it could be from..."

She winks at me and opens the box. She pulls out the necklace and gasps. "Oh my God, Danny..."

I got her a silver locket. On the back, I had "10-04-06" engraved, as a reminder. Inside, I put pictures of me. Because, really, who wouldn't want me in their locket?

She looks at me for a second, silently questioning the date. Suddenly it comes to her, and she gives me a small grin. "I love it," she says.

I smile back at her. Who knew I could love Christmas this much?