AN: A Merry Christmas to all my readers, fellow writers and their loved ones. Thank you for reading my stories here and all the support you've given me.

ACT 3

The morning of Christmas Eve arrived and while Mike woke up in better spirits, Jeannie knew her father well enough to see he was still wound up about something. Early that morning, she had found him asleep on the sofa with the photo album sitting across his lap. She had gently pried it free from his fingers then draped a light blanket over him before she removed his glasses and for a brief moment watched him sleep peacefully.

"Please try to be home for Christmas dinner, Mike. Steve will be coming," Jeannie said at the door as an after-thought.

"I'll be here," Mike replied with as much conviction as he could muster.

…..

Mike's hopes for a much improved day evaporated when he was told that Brennan had failed to follow orders and subsequently lost a suspect for the robbery department. After Mike delivered a tongue lashing to the young rookie, no one was inclined to step foot near the vicinity of his office. Even Tanner, who cancelled his flight arrangements to make it to work, didn't want to approach the Lieutenant about taking the afternoon off. So when a visitor in the form of Father Scarne asked to see the detective in question, all eyes turned in the direction of Mike's office as if it were the last place on Earth where anyone in their right minds wanted to find themselves , yet the priest casually strolled over to see his long-time friend.

….

After the second knock, Scarne was invited into the office. "Hi, Mike. How are you?" The priest beamed, seemingly oblivious to the tense vibes radiating off the Lieutenant.

"I'm having one of those days, or should I say weeks, since nothing has gone right for me lately."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Say, it's after lunch and I haven't exactly had a very good day myself. Why don't you and I head out for a quick bite? I'm guessing you haven't eaten either."

"Maybe some other time, Joe. Today's just not a good day."

"Come on, my treat. You can't bury your head behind that paperwork all day without something to eat."

One long look into the priest's warm eyes and Mike couldn't find it within himself to turn down the offer. With a heavy sigh, he pushed himself up from his seat and nodded.

Smiling, Scarne waited for Mike to grab his coat and hat then the two walked out of the office.

Mike felt a little warm under the collar as he felt, rather than saw, the furtive glances of his colleagues behind his back.

…..

After a delicious lunch with pleasant company, the strained muscles in the back of Mike's neck began to uncoil. Small talk turned to a little friendly banter which brought about much needed, if a little strained, laughter until Mike's eyes wondered to the clock on the wall. "Joe, I'm sorry, but I have to go." Wiping his mouth with the napkin, Mike jumped up from his seat and made to retrieve his wallet when Scarne's hand rested on his arm as he said, "No, I've got it." When the waitress came around to collect the bill, Scarne handed her a sum of money that amounted to considerably more than just the bill itself. She opened her mouth to protest that she couldn't possibly accept such a generous tip, but Scarne waved his hand and stated, "It's Christmas." The waitress grinned broadly, thanked him enthusiastically and wished them both a Merry Christmas.

As the two men left the diner, Scarne placed an arm around Mike's shoulders and began to steer him in the opposite direction of the LTD parked nearby.

"Joe, I really have to go," Mike protested.

"I have something to show you first. Come on, it won't take long. What's a few more minutes going to harm?"

"Is it really that important?"

"It is to me and it will be to you."

Confusion and irritation began to make way to a nagging curiosity as Mike felt he had little or no choice but to comply to Scarne's wishes. After all, the two of them went back a long way and he owed the priest much more than a simple request to spare several more minutes of his time. He also knew Scarne well enough to know he wouldn't ask something of him unless it were a matter of great importance.

They turned the corner and stopped outside an antique store displaying an array of clocks from decorative cuckoos to ornate grandfather clocks facing the store window.

"Take a look inside. Tell me, what do you see?" Joe Scarne instructed, as they stood outside the window of the shop front.

Looking dubiously at his friend, Mike started to feel a little foolish but once again he did as he was asked. He peered through the window and saw Jeannie standing at the counter on her own. Not a moment too soon, a bespectacled older man stepped out from the back of the store and placed an item on the glass counter. Mike squinted through the window but his eyes failed to make out what the item was.

"Do you remember when you told me you lost your pocket watch? The one that Helen gave you on that last Christmas you had together?" Scarne's voice broke the silence.

"Wait a minute, are you trying to tell me that…" Mike started as he turned to face Scarne. His friend nodded as if he had just been empowered to read his thoughts.

"That's right. Jeannie found it a couple of weeks ago and she wanted to tell you but you were never home. The watch stopped working so she took it upon herself to get it repaired in time to present it to you after Christmas dinner tonight."

"How do you know all this?" Mike asked incredulously.

"Who do you think has been taking your place at the dinner table? Well, in truth I was only at your place two, maybe three times in the hopes to catch up with an old but dear friend who sadly was never around. Jeannie is sure a good cook. I can't remember the last time I had a home cooked meal that tasted as good as anything she dished out," Scarne chuckled as his expression took on the look of someone reminiscing over a time long gone past.

"Jeannie never said anything to me," Mike replied in a quiet and disappointed tone. He always thought he and his daughter were close enough to talk about anything. What changed?

"When have you given her the chance to say anything besides, have a good day and please be home for dinner tonight?"

Taken aback as Joe's tone turned serious, Mike swallowed hard as he stole another glance through the window. He's right. I can't remember the last time we sat together at the dinner table talking. I mean really talking. Not since Thanksgiving Day.

"Oh, we better go. I wouldn't want to keep you from work for too much longer and I have one last place to show you," Scarne announced before he clapped Mike on the shoulder and started to walk away.

Not wanting to be caught staring through the window by his daughter, Mike tore himself away from the store front and all but jogged to keep up with his friend.

Time suddenly meant very little to Mike as his thoughts were filled with questions about his relationship with his daughter. Was it possible that he had been inadvertently distancing himself from her? Remembering the recent dream he had of his late wife and soul mate, Mike felt a pang of guilt for what he was doing not just to himself and those around him but to his last connection to Helen.

After walking for almost a block, Mike came to a halt beside Scarne who stood facing yet another store front. This time it was a jewellery store. Perplexed, Mike opened his mouth to ask why Joe had taken him here but the priest simply pointed at the scene taking place beyond the glass that separated them from the tableau.

Mike peered through the glass and saw another familiar figure standing at the counter.

Forgetting the reason why he was there in the first place, Mike started for the door when a hand barred his way.

"I wouldn't go in there if I were you, Mike," Scarne warned.

"What are you talking about now? That's my partner in there and I don't remember asking him to go on a shopping trip during work hours!" Mike snapped waspishly.

"Now hold on just a minute here and please will you keep your voice down?" Scarne said in a pained voice.

Not understanding what could possibly be so important to his priest friend, Mike started to object but stopped himself when out of the corner of his eye he saw something that warranted his immediate attention and concern. He hadn't seen Steve all morning and so he had no idea that his partner was sporting an injury. A rectangular gauze was taped to the young man's temple just above his eyebrow.

"Don't worry, he's okay."

"What? What do you mean he's okay? What the hell happened to him? Why didn't he call me?" Mike turned in surprise at Joe's comment.

"I'm afraid that's something you'll have to ask him about. Trust me, you'd rather hear it from him," Scarne said the last with every indication the subject was over.

Shaking his head in frustration, Mike returned his attention to the window. He looked on as a store clerk held up what appeared to be a locket on a chain. The clerk handed the item to the young man at the counter and Mike watched silently as Steve studied the locket and smiled. It was no ordinary smile that Mike caught light up his protégé's face. His mind took him back down memory lane when he caught the same nervous smile passing over the same albeit younger face. It was the day Steve graduated from the Academy to join the force.

"In case you're wondering, that locket there is Steve's gift to Jeannie for Christmas. There's a picture of you and Helen that fits in perfectly in the frame."

Mike's thoughts were interrupted by Scarne's voice which articulated more than just words.

"Steve and Jeannie?" Mike blurted out, spontaneously.

"I'm sorry, Mike, but you're asking the wrong person," Scarne replied with a wry laugh.

"Well, you certainly seem to know about everything else going on in my life. Most of which I didn't even know about!"

"Let me ask you one question. How would it make you feel if Steve cared more about your daughter than you realize?"

Mike drew a deep breath then let it out slowly. He thought about Joe's question for several moments, not knowing exactly how he was going to answer the question because he wasn't quite sure he knew the answer himself. He knew one thing for sure and that was he loved them both. Jeannie was his only child and Steve was his partner. No, he corrected himself. Steve was more to him than that. Over the years the young man had grown to be the son that he never had. Then why is it so difficult for me to consider the possibility of having Steve as my son-in-law? The answer came to him unbidden as he looked up into Joe's eyes and said in a steady voice, "I couldn't be happier."

Nodding, Scarne smiled warmly. "Show and tell is over. Let's get you back to work before the guys send out an APB out for you."