NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: Hopefully, I can get this story finished by Christmas Eve, which I think would be kinda appropriate. Thanks to everyone who's favorited, alerted and reviewed this work. Your support means everything:)

Chapter Six

After talking Hunter down from his figurative ledge, Miz locked up the lot and RV and drove Hunter to the hospital. Hunter's snippiness with his employees the past few days now made sense. Miz wanted to comfort Hunter, give Jay a hug, and knock Kurt's teeth down his throat, all at the same time.

Once Hunter was admitted into the hospital (no mention of the gun or suicide attempt was made), Miz left a frantic message for Jay to meet him at Smith Memorial Hospital, and then found a seat in the waiting room. It was time to straighten things out...

"Doctor, I would say it's a nervous breakdown," Miz sighed to the doctor on duty (his name was Dr. Kevin Lofglun). He'd given a cover story about finding Hunter inconsolable and in shock in the trailer after learning of his wife's infidelity. "What do you think?"

The doctor was a youthful looking man with a nervous tic of pulling on his earlobe until it was red. "It appears to be an acute case of Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood," he explained to the young delivery driver, who got up to speak with him.

"Is that more expensive than a nervous breakdown?"

Dr. Lofglun shook his head. "So, Mr. Mizanin. Precisely what position do you hold with Triple H Trees?"

"I would describe myself as a contact man. I keep contact between Mr. Helmsley and the customers...in a borrowed truck."

"So, you're an errand boy?"

Miz glared at the Doctor. "I don't think I called you a pill-peddler, did I?"

The exchange was cut short as Jay emerged from an elevator. Miz rushed over in tired relief. "Jay, you made it!"

"Thanks for your call. I just had enough time to swing by my place and put my dinner in the fridge. How is he?"

"He had a nervous breakdown. Thanks for getting here so soon."

"Is it serious?"

"It was a terrible shock. Hunter's gonna need some time to get over it." He gestured for Jay to move in closer. "He had a gun pointed to his head. I didn't say anything about it to the doc, because that would bring in the cops, and then we'd have a huge mess. We have to keep this on the down-low, okay?"

"Absolutely."

"This incident must be kept in strict confidence between the three of us. Me, you, and Hunter. Speaking of Hunter, he wants to talk to you."

"He's awake, then?"

"Yeah. He says he owes you an apology, and an explanation." A pause. "Not to change the subject, but how was your date?"

"Less said about, the better," Jay sighed. "Let's just say I can't describe the evening without using the word cluster in it somewhere."

"That bad, huh?"

"Yeah," nodded Jay as Miz led him to Hunter's room. "This day has been all kinds of suck. I'm glad it's almost over..."

~~~TLATS~~~

Hunter was sitting up in a hospital bed, dressed in a standard issue gown. He had dark circles under his eyes, and he looked pale and exhausted. He still managed a weak smile as he shook Jay's hand as warmly as he could.

"Thank you for coming, Jay." He pointed to one of the chairs in the room. "Sit down." Once Jay got situated, Hunter began;

"Do you remember the last time you came to my house for dinner? I said that if things go well, I might take it easier...and maybe by Christmas make you manager of the tree lot, and assistant manager for the tree farm. Now I have to take it easier, for the sake of my mental health." Hunter paused. "Jay, would you mind working for me again?"

"Not at all," Jay reassured his boss. "You don't even have to ask, Hunter."

"I was such a fool, Jay. I didn't trust you. I hated you. At the end, I couldn't even stand the sight of you. That's how far jealousy can drive a man."

"But that's all over now, right?"

Hunter nodded. "When I first got that anonymous letter two weeks before Thanksgiving, I laughed. Stephanie seeing one of my employees behind my back. My wife!"

"But how could you suspect me, Hunter? I don't swing that way!"

"You see, you were the only one of my employees besides Kurt who's been to my home...and you sent my wife flowers after the dinner party."

"But that's just good manners."

"I know it was. But when that poison gets into a man's mind, it makes you say and think and do things that are completely out of character...Just try to understand."

"I do understand, Hunter. Sorry this had to happen to you."

Hunter pointed to a night stand next to his bed. "Open the drawer. There's something in there for you."

Jay opened the drawer. Inside it were two items. He gasped softly. "My keys. And my name tag. But there's more keys on the key ring."

"I put the main keys to the tree lot on it. And my business cell phone is in there. Stephanie's number has been blocked, so she shouldn't be a problem."

Jay was touched and awe-struck by his boss's gesture. "Thank you, Hunter. What should I do about..."

"Kurt? I want him dismissed as quietly as possible. No scandal. Don't even mention the subject to him. We won't lower ourselves to his level."

"Good decision, Hunter." Jay grinned as he got up from his chair. "This will be the biggest Christmas in the history of Triple H Trees. I just know it."

"I know it will."

"Take care of yourself. Stay in touch."

"Jay?" The new tree lot manager was halfway to the door when Hunter stopped him. "Before you go?"

"Yeah?"

"Now that you're the boss, if you want to give yourself a raise..."

Jay smirked. "I'll talk it over with myself, and if I don't want too much money, I'll give it to myself. Thanks!"

"Congratulations, Jay. I wish it was under better circumstances."

"That's alright. Thank you. Good-bye, and take care."

~~~TLATS~~~

"Mike, I don't know how to thank you. You saved my life," Hunter said to Miz, who was visiting one last time before heading back to the tree lot (he would be spending the night there again, after stopping by his place for a suitable change of clothes).

"Don't mention it. It was a pleasure. If you need me, I'm just a phone call away." He paused and smirked. "I'm still nothing but an errand boy at the tree lot, aren't I?"

"In other words, you'd like to be a salesman?"

"I wouldn't be that blunt."

"When I get to feeling better..."

"But then you might change your mind. Who knows how long you'll have to stay here. You're a pretty ill man, Hunter. This isn't just an ordinary breakdown."

"All right, you're promoted," Hunter chuckled, tossing a small box of Kleenex at his favorite pain in the ass. "Now, go!"

"Thanks, Hunter!" Miz grinned before he practically skipped out of the room. "Take care."

~~~TLATS~~~

"Jay, I think I speak for all of us when I say heartiest congratulations," Kurt wheedled, pouring on the fake charm. It was now morning at the tree lot, and everyone was gathered in the breakroom after helping unload the new shipment of trees, still in happy shock over Jay's rehire/promotion. "What a load off my mind. Now we're all one little happy family again. I promise to cooperate as much as I can. I want you to be a great success. From now on, you're going to the office, aren't you?"

"That's right, Kurt," Jay said, politely.

"If anybody deserves that office, it's you."

"Thanks." Jay glanced down at the new jewelry on Kurt's finger. "Where'd you get the ring?"

"Nice, isn't it? I had a little luck last night, too. Real diamond. My grandma gave it to me. That's what you get when you're a good boy. Some get apples, I get diamonds."

Grandma, huh? A grandma with a boob job who just bought a new entertainment center? Jay wondered to himself. "So, I guess you're a good boy?"

"Yeah. By the way, I have some ideas for the wreath kit displays."

"Thank you, Kurt. The rest of us can take care of the that. Right now, I'd like you to go into the north corner, and you know those trees in that corner?"

"Yeah. The small ones?"

"That's right, and the big trees on the south corner?"

"South corner?"

Jay nodded. He had a bland smile on his face to conceal the fact that he wanted to slap the smirk off of Kurt's lips. "South corner. I want you to take all the trees from the south corner...and move them to the north corner, and the small trees...from the north corner and move them to the south corner." Jay caught the look of disbelief on Kurt's face. "You don't want to do it?"

"I didn't say that," Kurt backpedaled. "Of course I'll do it. I'm a team player."

"All right then, get to it. Thanks."

Meanwhile, Mike was busy on his end. "Hi, Is this the Heartland Employment Agency? Yes, my name is Mike Mizanin of Triple H Trees. We have an opening for a new errand boy and delivery driver. I want a educated, healthy young man, good family, clean driving record, a truck that runs, and no bad habits. Great, you've got someone! Send him over. Right away, if you can. Tell them to ask for Mike. I'm at the cashier's booth. I appreciate it. Thanks."

After he hung up, he noticed Anna, Trish and Jeff standing in front of him with surprised looks on their faces. "What's the matter, you never saw me dressed up before?"

"Who promoted you?" Trish asked.

"Yes, you look quite spiffy today," Jeff commented. Instead of the grubbies he usually wore while running errands, Miz had on a nice winter coat, a flannel shirt, and new looking Levis. "You clean up very well."

"I can't give you the whole story. Suffice it to say, that if it hadn't been for me, this place would be closed on account of a death in the family, and you'd all be unemployed," Miz explained, just as the phone rang. "Hold on a second. Good morning, Triple H Trees, this is Mike, how can I help you. Oh, hi, Mrs. Helmsley."

Miz smirked and covered the receiver with his hand. "Don't miss this, guys. Yes, this is Mike speaking. That's right. I didn't bring you that bottle of perfume? Well, you won't get it! What do you think of that? Beall's is an hour away, there's no way I can drive there, not when I have other responsibilities, you know how much gas that'll eat up, and how much wear and tear I'll have on my truck?

"Yes! This is Mike speaking. You want to speak to Hunter? That's too bad. At the moment he's up in a balloon with two blondes with breasts that are big without implants." He paused, as the employees assembled around him snickered. "Now, listen as I go in for the kill. You wouldn't like to speak by any chance to Mr. Angle, would you?"

CLICK! Dial tone. Miz grinned. "Busted. I'll let you all connect the dots. In the meantime, I'm getting some coffee."

Anna chuckled at the retreating form of the lot's favorite pain in the ass. "Well, I'll be dammed."

"So that's why Hunter's been so cranky." Trish nodded.

Jeff provided his own two cents. "I guess it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what was going on. I'm surprised that none of us caught on sooner."

~~~TLATS~~~

After moving the trees as Jay had requested, Angle stumbled into the office. "You sent for me, Jay?"

Jay leaned across the desk. "Angle, I'm a little worried about you. Will you be comfortable under a former, fellow salesman?"

"Working under a younger man? Jay, this is the age of youth, and I always ride with the times. You're a smart young man and my hat's off to you."

Jay closed his eyes and counted to ten before he spoke again. "Let's cut to the chase. You and I never got along."

"You really think so?"

"Admit it. You don't like me."

"I don't? Wait a minute, Jay. You are the boss."

"That's right."

"But I'm not going to be a "yes" man. You know what I'll do? I'm going to contradict you. I do like you! Anything else bothering you?"

"Yes, Kurt. I don't like you."

"That's your opinion, and I'll give you points for honesty. So now, it's up to me to change your mind. I don't think it'll be so hard. I heard the funniest joke. Do you want to hear it?"

"No, thank you!" Jay barked, before Hunter's cell rang. "Hello! Yes, this is Triple H Trees. Mrs. Howard? How are you? Oh, okay, you're calling for Heath. Oh, I'm sorry. I hope it's nothing serious. Fine, I'm glad to hear that. Don't worry about it. Tell him that until he's feeling completely better, take it easy the next couple of days. Oh, it's cool. We'll pick up the slack. Tell Heath to take care of himself, okay? Okay. Stay in touch. Bye."

"Really, Jay, that's a wonderful attitude," Kurt schmoozed, after Jay disconnected the call. "What's so wonderful about it? I've been around, and I have my eyes open. If anyone disagreed with you around here, it was Heath."

"Leave Heath out of this!" Jay snapped, smacking the desk.

"Hey, I have nothing against Heath," Kurt backpedaled. "I think he's a nice kid, but he doesn't know when to stop sometimes-"

"Not another word about Heath," Jay snarled, as he advanced on Kurt, which forced the smarmy salesman to back out of the office and out into the hall. He works hard, and he's a nice guy, and he's an honest kid, and you shut your piehole!"

"Hey, take it easy! I was agreeing with you."

"I don't want you to agree with me, Kurt! You're fired."

Kurt looked like he'd been hit in the head with a metal tree stand. "What?!"

"I said, you're fired. Get out of here, you two-faced, double-crossing...two-timer! Go on. Get out of here!"

Kurt ran from the office like a scalded dog. "Guys! Hey Guys! Guys!" he shouted, like he was a five year-old tattling on his brother. "Did you hear what he called me? He called me a double-crossing two-timer!" Anna and Trish just watched with quiet smirks on their faces. The brothers Hardy were suppressing their laughter. Even Miz, who had been on his way back to the breakroom, stopped to watch the drama, knowing that Kurt was getting exactly what he deserved.

"I told you to get out of here!" Jay caught up to Kurt at the cashier's booth and shoved him. Now leave!"

"Don't you push. Don't you push! What right have you got to fire me? Does Hunter know?"

"That's none of your business! I'm the manager, and you don't work here anymore!"

"How do I know you're the manager? Prove it to me in black and white."

"I'll prove it to you in black and blue if you don't start your stepping and hit the bricks, Angle!"

Kurt glared at Jay and brushed the dirt off his coat. "All right! Nice little case of assault and battery. You'll hear from my lawyer. What about my paycheck?"

"Anna, get the man's paycheck. It's in your register. We have everything prepared. I decided to pay you until the end of the season. We don't want to waste any time."

"I'm entitled to a letter of reference!" barked Kurt, snatching the paycheck from Anna's outstretched hand.

"I forgot it. I'll have Trish bang out a letter and send it to you. To whom it may concern: Mr. Angle has been employed Triple H Trees for two years during which time he's been efficient...as a stool pigeon, a troublemaker, and a rat! If he doesn't clear out, he'll get his ass kicked and cheerfully handed to him! Sincerely, Jason Reso, Manager of Triple H Trees."

That left Angle speechless and completely humiliated. Without a backwards glance, he stomped out of the lot and burned rubber as he squealed his tires driving out of his parking space. Everyone in the lot waited until Angle was gone. Then, they all broke into applause, with Anna whistling through her fingers, the Hardys shouting Bravo! and Mike slapping Jay on the back in appreciation.

Jay took a comical bow and waited until the applause died down. "Thanks, everyone. Now, for our next trick...we're gonna make all these trees disappear. Let's get to work and sell these bad boys..."

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: Don't worry too much about Kurt. Bottom feeders like his character in this story usually land on their feet in one way or another. Now everyone knows what happened with Hunter and his wife. BTW, I had considered casting Evan Bourne as the errand boy who turns salesman, because I thought it would be fun trying to write him as a cocky pain-in-the-ass type. However, my Miz muse talked some sense into me, and he wound up with the part. Miz is the pain-in-the-ass that you don't mind having because he's good at his job and knows it, and you know he'll always have your back.

Smith Memorial Hospital is another Lemax Christmas building that inspired me.

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