A/N: Ah, finally, Christmas day has begun! Well, in this story anyway.

Thanks for the review Trinitystargazer3! I'm so glad you loved that chapter! It definitely is one of my own favourites too. Oooh... your own Doc story! I'm bouncing now! Am looking forward to reading it when you get around to posting it! :D

Anyway, enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 15
Christmas Day

There was a soft knock on the door, and Steven looked up. He had already dressed quietly, so as not to wake up the doctor, who was still fast asleep. "Merry Christmas," Ruth said quietly, her smiling eyes looking up at him. "Merry Christmas," Steven replied. After a whispered conversation with Ruth, they closed the door again, and Steven went over to the other small bed to wake doctor Crane.

As soon as the doctor was getting ready too, Steven went downstairs, where he was greeted by the elderly couple. It was still rather early, but Jethro and Ruth did not seem to mind being up early. When asked, they told him that they were early risers, and this was a normal time for them to be up. Besides, it being Christmas morning, they doubted Jenny would stay in bed for a long time anyway. Steven grinned. Yes, he agreed with that assessment, although, it had been rather late last night.

"What would you like with your breakfast? A cup of coffee perhaps?" Ruth asked, as she filled a mug for Jethro. Steven gladly accepted. After a while, he asked if it was possible if he could use their phone for a moment to see if his wife was home by now.

"Sure, go ahead," Jethro said. Steven rose, and went to the living room. He hoped he would reach her this morning. He was rather anxious to hear her voice again, and so far, for the past few days, either the connections had been terrible or she hadn't been home. At least this time the phone rang. Unfortunately, no one answered, despite it being so early. Perhaps she had gone to stay at a friend's place? He had half a mind to call Nancy, but he didn't know her number, so he thought he should perhaps try doctor Cassidy. He was also an early riser, was he not? At least the country doctor wouldn't mind if he would wake him, and it would set Steven's mind at ease at least if someone in New York could try and get a hold of his wife. Dialling the number, he waited for his friend's voice. The phone had just rang twice, when the call ended abruptly, and a tin voice, with which Steven was now quite familiar, informed him that this service was currently not available.

Frustrated, Steven returned to the kitchen. He would have to try again later. At least he would soon be in New York himself. Perhaps by that time, Tippy would be home.

"Managed to reach her?" Jethro asked, as Steven sat down at the table again. He greeted Oliver, who had found his way to the table and the coffee now too.

"No, she did not pick up at home, and when I tried calling a friend, the line went dead," Steven said, trying to hide the anxiety in his voice. Ruth put a steaming mug of coffee in front of him, and patted him on the hand. "Don't you worry now, I heard on the radio that it's bad weather all 'round. Last night it's been snowing quite a bit. Perhaps your wife stayed over at someone else's place?"

"Yes, that is what I was hoping for. I suppose I will find out when we are back in New York."

Oliver regarded Steven for a moment, and felt a twinge of sympathy for the military man. He had been separated from his wife for months, and now he could not even get in touch with her via the phone. He himself had been glad he had been able to reach Lynn last night, and he had only been apart from her for a few days.

"What time did you say the train was leaving?" Oliver asked, changing the subject slightly.

Jethro looked at the clock. "In forty-five minutes."

"Just enough time for a good breakfast," Ruth said decisively, planting a full plate before each of the two travellers. Jethro too had a plate in front of him. Just as they were about to start, they heard someone stumbling down the stairs. The running footsteps stopped right outside the door, and the small head of the young girl peered inside. Upon seeing no new strangers, she skipped inside. "Hi!" she greeted everyone cheerfully, going over to Ruth and Jethro to give each of them a kiss.

"Good morning, Jenny."

The girl sat down next to Ruth again, opposite Oliver. She also received a plate with breakfast. Jethro nodded approvingly, and indicated for a moment of silence, in which he said grace, also thanking for this day during which they remembered that God had sent His Son to the world to save them. After the prayer, conversation flowed easily, but soon came the moment that Steven and Oliver had to leave.

Jenny looked at Oliver tearfully. "Do you have to go?"

Seldom had a child touched him in his heart as this young girl had touched Oliver these past twelve hours. The gruff doctor crouched down so he and Jenny were at the same eye-level. "Yes, honey, my wife is back at home, and I really want to see her again. Steven wants to go see his wife too," he said with a nod towards the military man, who nodded.

Jenny thought about that for a moment. She could understand that the wives of the two men didn't want to be alone. It was no fun being alone. But she had grown fond of the two men, even though they had just met the night before. With a sad face, Jenny gave in. Then she fell into Oliver's arms and put her arms around his neck. "Then I'll ask Jesus if He can bring you to your family soon, so they're not alone."

"Thank you, Jenny," Oliver said, after he had swallowed a few times. Jethro, silently touched by the scene as well, put his hand on the girl's head, took his wife's hand, who silently took Steven's. Steven, having an inkling of what was about to happen, put his hand on Oliver's shoulder, even as he still held onto Jenny. Before Oliver knew what was happening, Jethro once more prayed.

"Dear Lord, thank You for the blessings You've given us. In particular we thank You that You've brought Major Doss and doctor Crane in our midst, that we could have a good celebration last night. Lord, we want to ask Your blessing for this day, and ask that You bring these two men safely home to their wives and family. Thank You, that, though we may be separated from our loved ones, we may know that You are always near. Amen."

Once more, Oliver was at a loss for words. And he thought doctor Cassidy was religious! Looking up, he saw the peace that had settled upon the faces around him. Even Jenny's face was beaming up at him. It unsettled him a little, but he tried to shake it off. They needed to hurry if they were to catch the train.

They said goodbye to Bob, who had come downstairs, just as the two men were about to leave the house, and Jenny and Ruth waved them off, while Jethro brought them to the train station. Ruth had quickly pushed a small bag into Steven's hands, and the military man had thanked her for everything.

At the train station, they just had time to buy a ticket, before they had to board. They thanked Jethro once again, and the old bus driver nodded. "'t Was our pleasure."

TBC