Hi everyone- Endurance here! I'm pleased to announce that ModernDayBard and I have teamed up for another Christmas fanfiction series. This year we selected Criminal Minds as our fandom. All of these stories are set with the seasons 2-7 team of Emily, JJ, Hotch, Reid, Morgan, Rossi, and Garcia. We don't own the characters (major or minor), show plotlines, or any of the Christmas songs referenced. Read the author's notes at the end if you are interested in knowing our preferred versions of the songs.
If you are interested in any of our previous collaborations, please check out the stories "A Very Baker Street Christmas" and "The Adventures of Brooklyn" (written with TaliesinTaleweaver) in Endurance's profile.
*ding*
The high-pitched sound of the elevator signaled to its single occupant that it was officially time for Monday to begin. Emily Prentiss sighed as the whooshing doors parted. Coming off of a weekend was always rough, but even more so when you've just returned from chasing a serial arsonist.
Needless to say, the brunette wasn't in a very cheery mood. And as she trudged to her desk the last thing she expected to see was a stack of shimmery, colorful knick-knacks heaped on her desk.
"What the..." she groaned and slammed her travel mug on the wood surface. "Who the heck left this stuff here?"
*bang* "Ouch," the muffled voice came from Garcia's office.
"Garcia?" Emily poked her head in to see the blonde come out from underneath one of the tables in the room. "What are you doing?"
"Oh, hey Em. I was just fixing the wires to one of my speakers. You're just in time for the test run."
"Test run?" Garcia did not reply, only smiled widely as she walked over to her IPod dock pressing a few buttons.
Have a holly, jolly Christmas;
It's the best time of the year.
I don't know if there'll be snow,
But have a cup of cheer.
The old classic was briefly muted by the sounds of the elevator and the hum of chatter coming from their fellow agents as they entered the bull pen.
"What's all of this," Reid asked, looking just as confused as Emily by the mass sitting on her desk.
"Come on kid," Morgan interjected. "Haven't you ever seen Christmas decorations?"
"Garcia what is all of this?" Hotch's stern voice interrupted.
Prentiss snorted, "That seems to be the question of the day." Garcia resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
"Sir, I just thought we could start the week with a little Christmas cheer." She waited to finish until they were joined by Rossi and JJ. "You all have been dealing with a tough few cases and I wanted to give us a chance to relax a bit and celebrate. If I had talked to you all first you would have beat around the bush and never done anything."
Say hello to friends you know,
And everyone you meet.
"Holly Jolly Christmas" had been on repeat the entire time as Hotch appeared to consider what Penelope had said.
"Sir?"
Hotch smiled and shook his head a little. "Garcia, get an actual playlist together. Emily, Morgan and Reid, sort out these decorations. Rossi and JJ…. You're on hot chocolate duty." With as chorus of "Thank you" and beaming smiles everyone got to work. It turns out that Garcia was right. The bull pen was already beginning to fill a little more… jolly.
Song: Holly Jolly Christmas
Recommended Version: Burl Ives (From the Rudolph Special)
