The 12 Days of Christmas
Thanks for all of your reviews! They definitely add fuel to the fire.
I don't know why I made promises that I couldn't keep…who promises to update a story right around Christmas time! Well, I thought I'd have enough time to get it all done but that hasn't turned out to be the case. So enjoy days 4, 5 and 6 and then enjoy your Christmas! Will get the last six days up soon though! Happy Holidays!
Day 4
Nine.
The number was stuck in her head. The last three days had been full of surprises, and as she dressed for work, she was as excited as a kid on Christmas. Some of his gifts had matched closely to what was in the song, but some were simply things that she loved. She was unable to imagine what was in store for today.
When she was done with work eight hours later however, the great mood she had woken up in had vanished. Now she knew why people hated working on Monday's. Everything piles up from the weekend and it ALL needs to be done.
By the end of her shift she had gone out into the field to fix two flats, she'd changed the breaks on a van, and had done a total of 7 oil changes. She was muddy, oily, greasy and annoyed. The last thing she wanted to do was to deal with three men.
Instead of heading home she took the familiar walk down to the docks. She stripped out of her coveralls and dove into the water – shorts, t-shirt and all. The cool water combined with her fast strokes soothed her muscles and washed away the grime from the day. Eventually, her arms grew tired so she simply floated on her back, letting the current carry her in while she watched the sky grow dim.
After the sun dipped below the horizon she headed back to the dock. When she was almost there she noticed a pair of legs dangling in the water. She swam to the ladder and pulled herself up. She rung out her hair, walked to the end and sat down next to Sawyer.
"Thought you could use this," he said as he handed her a towel.
"Thanks," she replied simply as she wiped off her face and arms and ran the towel through her hair.
They sat in companionable silence; watching as the stars appeared one by one.
"Rough day?" He finally asked.
She sighed. "You could say that."
"How about some magic fingers?"
Her mood rose considerably.
About a month after they arrived in the 70s, a particularly harrowing day at the motor pool, left Juliet completely hunched over. She had been studying motor components for the entire shift, which required her to be bent over a car. After eight hours, her back was stiff and she couldn't stand straight.
Sawyer had sat her down on the couch and had proceeded to give her the BEST back rub she had ever had. His fingers had some sort of magical powers that knew exactly where her aches and pains were, and he worked each of them out. When he was done, it was like she'd never even gone to work that day.
After that, he hadn't given them out often, but when he did; his back rubs made her feel like a new person.
He scooted back on the dock and she stood and sat between his legs. Her toes were skimming the water as he worked his magic. It felt fantastic.
"You know, you should have been a massage therapist," she said after a few minutes.
"Eh," he replied, "just imagine all the people you'd have to touch every day. I don't think I could do that."
She laughed, being a doctor, she knew just how he felt.
A few minutes later he stopped rubbing and her audible protest had him chuckling.
"That's it?" She asked.
"Yeah, nine whole minutes," he laughed.
"Nine?" she said. "NINE!"
He laughed as she stood up, her abrupt movement knocking him onto his back.
"Hey sunshine, you can give the gift back if you don't like it."
"Actually I loved it!" She replied. "It was the fastest nine minutes of my life though. I think they should change it to the 30 days of Christmas instead."
He laughed.
She walked to her clothes and picked them up. "I better head home get dinner started. I'm sure the boys are wondering where we are."
But he stopped her with a tug on the wrist. "Stay and chat awhile and maybe you'll get the rest of your gift," he said, with a certain measure of hope in his voice.
Smiling and intrigued, she dropped her coveralls,
He pulled her down so she was lying next to him. Sure they'd sat close to one another before but this was…different. She grabbed the towel and stuffed it under their heads and they laid and stared up at the stars. The night air was warm but her wet clothes had her leaning into his warmth. He put his arm under her head and wrapped it around her shoulders. It was amazing to her how content she was to just 'be' with him. How she would be more than okay with this moment, and nine more like it, to be the rest of her gift.
After awhile, he pulled a little booklet out of his pocket. "Happy fourth day of Christmas Blondie," he said with a grin.
She held up the booklet and saw it was coupons for back rubs, nine coupons for back rubs to be specific. He grabbed it back from her and ripped one off.
"One down, eight remain," he smiled as he handed it back to her.
"Are they all going to be only nine minutes long?" she asked with feigned innocence.
He just laughed.
She turned towards him, laid her head on his shoulder and smiled.
"Thanks James."
Day 5
After work on Tuesday, Juliet swung by the security station, grabbed Jin, and headed to the rec room. The sub had returned that morning and everyone had been picking up his or her parcels and packages all day. Juliet's Christmas gifts for her friends were waiting for her there, she had put thought into each and she was excited that they had finally arrived.
Upon reaching the rec room they saw that Sawyer and Miles were already there. Both were huddled over a small box with big grins on their faces.
"What's this all about?" she questioned.
The two jumped and quickly turned, hiding the box behind them.
"Uh, nothin', nothin' at all," Miles replied in a very unconvincing tone.
"Mmhmm," was all she said in reply before going to find her own boxes.
Her and Jin spent the next 15 minutes rifling through everything to find their stuff. She was about to walk out the door when Miles shouted from across the room.
"HEY JULIET!"
"What?" she replied, anxious to get home and open her packages.
"Can you come over here and help me with these?"
She watched as Miles attempted to carry three huge boxes, it obviously wasn't working out for him very well.
"Why doesn't Sawyer help you with them?" she asked, looking around for him.
"He, uh, he had to leave."
She just shook her head.
"Just take the two, I"ll get the third okay?"
"Thanks Juliet, you're the best." He said over his shoulder as he took the two boxes and ran out the door.
She placed her packages on top of the box and carried it all back to their house.
Miles had disappeared during transport, so she arrived home by herself. The front door was open and she merely assumed it was because Miles couldn't close it after carrying in the boxes. She placed the box on the front porch and walked in the house.
As she walked in, she noticed something on the floor. Small, round candies coated in chocolate. She picked a few up but they started to melt in her hand, so she simply proceeded to follow the trail. They ended up leading out the back of the house and on to the back porch. There she found Miles, Jin, Sawyer and a pyramid of Milk Duds boxes.
"Milk Duds!" she exclaimed. "I haven't had those in so long!"
The pyramid was made of seven boxes, and the boys were each eating out of the eighth.
"Eight maids a milkin' Sunshine," Sawyer drawled as they all chewed away.
"We had to put in our sub order weeks ago…how did you…"
He just winked and shrugged.
Smiling, she grabbed the box out of his hand and took a few for herself. They were content to hang on the porch and enjoy the delicious candy.
"So who's cleaning up the chocolaty mess in the hallway?" she finally asked.
The three stared at each other then proceeded to push and shove their way off the back porch. Jin and Sawyer made it off first and they headed for the quad. Miles started to follow, then turned back, grabbed the box back out of her hand, and then ran off.
She laughed, scooped up the other boxes, and headed back inside.
Day 6
That morning, instead of meeting in the mess hall for lunch, Sawyer had told her to wait at the motor pool, that he would come pick her up.
It was nearing noon and her stomach was growling. She was about to ditch him in favor of sloppy joes when he pulled up in his jeep.
"Hop in Blondie," he shouted.
She climbed in the jeep, noting the basket in the back seat.
They started driving and quickly reached the fence. He hopped out, turned off the fence and drove them to the other side.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"You'll see," he responded with a mischievous grin.
About 30 minutes later he stopped driving. They had reached a clearing but they were literally in the middle of the jungle, in hostile territory no less.
Sawyer hopped from the jeep, grabbed the basket out of the back and a blanket that had been sitting underneath it. He walked over to the middle of the clearing, laid down the blanket and proceeded to start pulling items out of the basket.
She was still sitting in the jeep.
"Where are we?" she asked.
He just smiled. "Are we going to eat lunch or what?"
She sighed and climbed down from the jeep.
The lunch he'd packed was actually quite good. Chicken salad sandwiches, some fresh fruit and bottled water. He had even snagged a box of milk duds for dessert.
They talked about their gifts for their friends over lunch. Juliet was excited to give Jin his Korean/English dictionary and Sawyer couldn't wait to give Miles his fake Dharma phone book. He'd changed all the phone numbers of all the girls who lived on the Island. It was going to be great.
Once they were finished eating, they laid down on the blanket, each in opposite ways so that their heads were close together.
"So why did we come all the way out here for lunch James?" Juliet asked again.
"To give you your gift," he responded.
"Seven milk duds at lunch don't count!" she joked and he laughed with her.
"Actually the reason we came out here is because this is where The Swan is going to be built."
She thought about it…seven swans a swimming.
"You're getting good at this," she said with a smile.
"Why thank you m'lady," he responded with a grin.
They laid in the sunshine for a little while longer, then packed up and headed back.
TBC...
My drive time might be off a bit for their trip to the swan…any ideas as to how far away from the barracks it actually is?? If anyone knows I'll be glad to correct it. Cheers!