Party time!
Charlie Burns sighed heavily as he pulled into the Hoover's parking garage after lunch on Saturday afternoon. He'd tried to get himself into the spirit of the holidays without much success, and now he was actually dreading the party. The thought of having to be happy and cheerful while he talked to all the rambunctious kids who would be in attendance that afternoon was almost more than he could stomach, but he'd told Ms. Julian he'd be there, and he was a man of his word, even if he did feel more like the Grinch than Jolly Old St. Nicholas.
He grumbled to himself as he retrieved the shopping bag containing his costume from the back of his SUV. No way was he going to be caught driving through the streets of Washington, DC dressed as Santa Claus. Checking his watch, he nodded to himself. It was 1:45. The party started at two o'clock, but the guest of honor wasn't scheduled to appear until 2:30. He figured he'd have a few minutes to go cruise the party trays that were laid out in the conference room before ducking into the mens' room to change into his red suit and white beard.
The extra large conference room had been transformed into a Christmas fantasy land. The walls were festooned with red and green garland and thousands of multicolored twinkling lights. Several large glittering snowflakes were hung at various levels from the ceiling, and brightly decorated Christmas trees and snowmen stood on either side of a red carpeted aisle leading up to the large velvet chair where Santa Claus would soon be seated. Enchanted by the seasonal decor, Charlie smiled in spite of his gloomy attitude. Maybe he could manage to be jolly for a couple of hours, if it would make some kids happy. After all, today wasn't really about him. Today was about helping other people enjoy the holiday.
Spying a large tray of frosted sugar cookies on a nearby table, he snagged a few yellow stars and a chocolate frosted reindeer and found a quiet place to sit so he could enjoy his treat. He watched with interest as the party guests started to arrive.
Agents from every division were welcome to bring their families for the afternoon, so a large crowd was expected. In addition, Ms. Julian had invited several families from the school she supported, in hopes of providing them with some much needed assistance at Christmas. The FBI offices at the Hoover had been collecting money all year in order to help the less fortunate members of the community, and these families had been designated as the beneficiaries of that generosity. Each child would receive a coat, a new pair of shoes, some warm clothing, and of course, toys.
After lugging several large gift bags into the room, Booth stopped to chat with his friend. "Hey, Charlie! How's it going? Caroline says you're gonna be Santa this year. I really appreciate it, buddy...it's gonna mean a lot to the kids who are gonna be here today, getting to see the Big Guy. A lot of these kids don't have any other way to do that. I guess we kinda take it for granted, taking our kids to the mall for that sort of thing, but I guess it's hard for some families to get there."
Shrugging off the thanks, Charlie nodded slightly. "Yeah, well, I had a couple of hours to kill, so why not? I've got nothing better to do today." Shrugging a shoulder, he nibbled on a cookie. "It's not like I've got a lot of stuff to do to get ready for the holidays anyway. It's just me and the cat, you know? I don't have any family in town, and I'll probably heat up a microwave turkey dinner for Christmas Day, just like I do every year." Realizing he sounded full of self-pity, Charlie chuckled. "It's really no big deal. Like Caroline said, I'm probably the only single, childless guy at the Hoover."
"Oh…". Somewhat embarrassed, Booth cleared his throat, wondering if he'd touched on a sore topic. "Yeah…" Hearing someone call his name, he turned quickly, welcoming the change of subject. "Oh, Agent Perotta...good to see you this afternoon!"
Prentice Perotta walked over to join them, balancing a squirmy Cooper on her hip. "Thanks. I hope it's okay that I came by myself. I decided Peyton could use a break. She's beat, you know, being nine months pregnant, and she's not going to have many more afternoons to just relax in peace and quiet before Jeremy gets here."
"Of course, it's okay." Grinning at the noisy baby, Booth chuckled as he tickled the little boy's tummy. "I imagine she'd like to rest and enjoy the quiet for a couple of hours. Oh, I'm sorry. Let me introduce you...Agent Prentice Perotta...this is Special Agent Charlie Burns. He's in charge of our RICO division here in DC. Charlie, this is Prentice Perotta. She's Peyton's sister, visiting for the holidays and to help with Peyton's new baby when he gets here. She's with the FBI's office in Minneapolis…Domestic Terrorism."
Standing up to shake Agent Perotta's hand, Charlie couldn't help but grin at the attractive brunette as she tried to calm the wiggling toddler. "Minneapolis? That's a coincidence. I used to live in St. Paul, although it's been a few years since I've been back there. Well, what do you think of DC so far?"
"It's nice, even if there won't be a white Christmas this year." Prentice smiled shyly at the agent as she settled a restless Cooper on a nearby chair. "I mean, I like the Twin Cities area, but Peyton's been trying to get me to transfer to the DC office for awhile now, although I'm not sure that's what I want to do…our parents live in Virginia, and Minnesota might as well be on the other side of the world as far as they're concerned."
"Yeah, I get that." Charlie offered a sad smile. "I've tried to get my parents to come to DC for a Christmas visit, so they could do all the nation's capital touristy stuff and see the way the Mall is decked out for the holidays, but they're timid about it, because they say it's too far for the 'old folks' to travel, coming all the way to the East Coast. It's almost like I want them to go to the moon, you know?"
Booth's gut instinct went on high alert as he noticed the friendly smiles and shy glances between the two agents as they chatted. There seemed to be a spark...a little bit of romantic chemistry between them. "You know what? I bet Charlie here would be glad to give you some information on the all of the available positions here in the DC office, right, Charlie? I'm sure you wouldn't mind helping her with that..."
"Um, yeah...I'd love to...I mean, you know, if that's what she wants." Shifting from one foot to the other, Charlie shrugged nervously as he gulped down a cookie before looking at his watch. "But right now, I've gotta go change. We don't want Santa Claus to keep the kids waiting, do we?"
"True…", Booth agreed with a grin, "...and we definitely don't want to get crossways with Caroline by making her wait, either."
"You got that right!" Pausing awkwardly, Charlie grinned as he grabbed his shopping bag. "I hope I get to talk to you later, Prentice. I'd enjoy comparing notes about the Twin Cities..."
She nodded as she tried to corral her nephew, who was headed for one of the shimmering Christmas trees. "I'd like that, too. It'd be fun." After grabbing Cooper's hand, Prentice turned to Booth as she watched Charlie walk away. "He seems so nice…imagine him giving up his afternoon like that to play Santa Claus...not many men would be willing to do that..."
"Yeah, Charlie's a good guy. Now, why don't we get you and Cooper some punch and cookies…"
Oooooooooo
The party was in full swing as Charlie, alias Santa Claus, stood in a hallway off to one side, waiting for Ms. Julian to announce his arrival. He looked across the crowded room, trying to catch another glimpse of Agent Perotta. He finally caught her eye, and she gave him a brilliant smile and a small wave. His heart fluttered a bit as he waved back. Hmm...maybe this Santa gig isn't such a bad deal after all...especially if it gets pretty women to notice me...
Finally the big moment arrived, and the crowd cheered as Santa Claus's grand entrance was announced. A fanfare of Christmas music played loudly while he waved to the guests before strolling up the red carpet to take his seat with a flourish. He chuckled heartily as he began in his best Santa voice. "Well, Ms. Julian, it looks like we have a fine collection of good boys and girls this year. I wonder if any of them would like to come tell me what they want for Christmas."
"You bet, Santa." Caroline smiled happily as the children clamored to get in line. "Okay now, kids...one at a time...Santa will be able to talk to everybody...no need to push…let's make a line..."
After his initial irritation and discomfort had worn off, Charlie was surprised to find how much he was enjoying himself as he pretended to be the Jolly Old Elf. It was fun to listen as the kids told him about the video games, doll houses, and ponies that they wanted, and he'd posed for pictures with several kids, much to their parents' delight. Everybody seemed to be enjoying themselves tremendously, and only one or two children had been afraid of the large man in the furry red suit. He was able to gently dry their tears and put them at ease with the skill of a seasoned Santa Claus.
Caroline grinned as she came to stand by Booth, who was still arranging gift bags for the party guests. She gave him a gentle nudge in the ribs as she watched Santa Claus interact with the kids.. "You were right. Charlie Burns is doing an excellent job as St. Nick."
"You didn't tell him it was my idea for him to be Santa, did you?" Booth looked mildly panicked as he stacked more bags. "I mean, I wanna stay friends with the guy…"
"You know me better 'n that, Cher'." She gave him a coy smile. "I told him it was Director Hamilton's idea, which was almost a mistake, because we all know that couillon never had a genuine idea in his life. But don't worry. Your secret is safe with me."
"Good. Thanks." Sighing with mock relief, Booth winked at his friend and offered her a sly charm smile. "I don't suppose you're gonna make me any pralines for Christmas, are you?"
"Pralines are only for good boys...like those who close their cases quickly and give the prosecutor a lot of good evidence so she can easily get a slam dunk conviction." Caroline grinned at Booth and nodded. "I bet there'll be some treats under the FBI Christmas tree with your name on it."
"You're the best, Caroline…" Booth chuckled as she preened a little bit under his compliment.
"I know. It's about time you figured that out." She nodded toward Santa's chair. "Oh, lookie there...better get your phone out…"
It was finally Christine Booth's turn to have a visit with Santa. As she made herself comfortable on his knee, she studied him intently. "Are you real?", she asked solemnly, "...or are you make believe?"
"Ho ho ho. What kind of question is that, young lady? You're sitting on my lap, aren't you?"
The child thought over the question carefully. "Yes, but Maribeth at my school says that Santa Claus isn't real...that it's just my mommy and daddy giving me presents instead you bringing them in your sleigh and coming down the chimbly."
"Hmm...I see." Santa stroked his beard as he thought over the question. "Let's be logical for a minute, okay, Christine? Look...your mommy and daddy are standing over there, right? Wave at them…"
Christine gave a small wave and her smiling parents waved back.
"So if they were really Santa Claus, then they'd be up here, sitting in this chair, and listening to what all the boys and girls want for Christmas, right? But instead, the kids are all telling me what they want for Christmas, and not your Mommy and Daddy. So what do you think? Am I real?"
"Well...I guess...maybe you're real." A grin spread across the child's face. "I think maybe Mommy and Daddy give me presents because they want to be like Santa Claus, and maybe there's a lot of people dressed like Santa Claus around Christmas because they all want to be nice, just like you are."
Laughing happily, Charlie nodded in agreement. "And I think that's a pretty good answer. So what do you want for Christmas this year, Christine?"
"I want some Shopkins, and a Shopkins house, and a chemistry set and a new pair of rollerblades." The little girl giggled as she unwrapped the candy cane she was given. "Thanks, Santa."
"You're welcome, Sweetheart. Have a Merry Christmas." He smiled as she jumped down from his lap.
"Merry Christmas. I'll leave some cookies out for you on Christmas Eve, okay?"
"Great! Thank you." Santa chuckled softly. "Chocolate chip, okay?"
Hank Booth had a great time pulling on Santa's beard before announcing that he wanted 'a million Legos and a big black dog' for Christmas, much to his mother's dismay. "I wanna big dog that goes 'woof, woof', Santa!" Bouncing happily, the boy continued. "I'll build him a big Lego dog house!"
Unfortunately, his mother was not as enthusiastic about her son's requests as Santa Claus was. "It seems that we already have a million Legos, Booth…and most of them are usually found all over the floor.", Brennan groaned as she showed him the picture she'd taken of Hank and Christine sitting with Santa. "That was the last thing I wanted to get for Hank…more Legos...and a dog...wherever did he come up with that idea? We don't have time to take care of a puppy or a dog."
"Just calm down. It's no big deal, Bones. We'll just get him one of those big buckets full of blocks and he'll be happy. It doesn't really have to be a million. And I think we can go get him one of those big pillows that look like a dog, too...remember? Pillow pets, or something like that? They had those at Priceco. Oh, look...Peyton's little boy is going to talk to Santa…"
Cooper babbled incoherently for a minute or two before finally telling Santa he wanted a 'Thomas train' and a big dump truck. After bouncing the active toddler on his knee, Santa handed to boy to his aunt with a sly wink and an extra candy cane. "Don't forget to be good...both of you."
"We will." Prentice giggled happily. "I'm looking forward to seeing you again real soon, Santa."
"I'm looking forward to seeing you again, too. Make sure you leave me a treat…"
"I'll remember…" Prentice balanced Cooper on her hip as she wore a flirty grin. "Merry Christmas…"
Oooooooooo
After a few more hours of festivities, the party was winding down. The presents had been distributed to the families who'd needed the most assistance, and every child present had received a new book, courtesy of Brennan's publisher. The punch bowl was almost empty, and the cookies were all gone except for a few crumbs and a couple of broken stars. Booth beamed happily as he watched a little girl play with a small brown teddy bear, cradling it as if it was a baby. "I was right, Bones...all the little kids liked the stuffed animals. Look how much fun she's having with that bear."
"It does seem that you were correct about that, as usual. Everything considered, I'd say the party was a great success. You and Caroline did an excellent job of putting it together." Brennan picked up some torn wrapping paper and stuffed it into a trash bag. "Charlie Burns did very well playing Santa Claus, too."
"He really did, didn't he? He was a lot better at it than I hoped he'd be, especially considering he didn't want to do it in the first place." Booth handed Brennan some ribbon and some torn boxes. "I wouldn't be surprised if he decided he wanted to be Santa for next year's party, too." Hesitating slightly, Booth glanced at his wife. "Hey, I know you may not feel like doing a lot of extra stuff for Christmas this year, seeing as you're probably in a delicate condition and all, but I'd like to invite Charlie to have Christmas dinner with us. I guess he doesn't have anybody here in town to celebrate the holidays with. His folks live in Minnesota and he isn't able to visit them for the holidays."
Rolling her eyes at her husband, Brennan stood with her hands on her hips as she pretended to glare at him. "Even if I am pregnant, I'm not in a 'delicate condition', Booth. Women can lead normal lives even while pregnant." Smiling merrily at him, she shrugged as she picked up some empty gift bags. "Of course Charlie can come for dinner, if he wants. It's no trouble to set an extra plate, and we'll have plenty of food."
"Thanks, Bones. I'll ask him about it next Monday." He leaned over and gave her a kiss. "You're pretty wonderful, you know that?"
Brennan laughed as she threw her arms around her husband's neck. "As are you, Booth. Now, come on...let's collect our children and go home. I'm tired...I want to take a nap before dinner."
He grinned as he twitched an eyebrow at her. "What an interesting coinky-dink. So do I."
She stuffed the trash bag down into the can as she smirked at him. "I was planning to sleep…"
Nodding, he smiled back as he gently took her hand in his. "So was I...eventually…"
Couillon is a Cajun word for idiot, pronounced coo-yawn. Thanks, FaithinBones.
If y'all have time to review, I'd appreciate it. Laura