Santa's offer

"What is wrong with you that you play Santa Claus? Did somebody force you to do that?" Sara had to ask. It had been on her mind the whole time, why would Sofia agree to do such a ridiculous thing? She was the Deputy Chief, when she dressed up like Santa Claus people didn't take her serious. When she was not too far away from the blonde's office, she went there to get answers to her questions. Maybe there was a good explanation why her former colleague had agreed to be Santa Claus. Maybe somebody had a very embarrassing photo of her or threatened to slash her car tires. Anything like that.

"Pure fun, Sara."

"Fun? You really enjoyed that?" That was worse than being blackmailed.

"Yes." The blonde grinned. "It's a way to forget about all the bad things we have to see every day. A way to laugh and have fun with your colleagues and I could have some people sitting on my lap." Yes, a few. Not everybody had been invited to sit on Santa's lap. "Not to mention, I could slap everybody, you don't get away with slapping your boss on a normal day. Yesterday I could slap Ecklie, didn't get in trouble and everybody laughed. This moment alone was worth being the Santa Claus."

"Everybody would laugh and cheer anyway." Sara shot back dryly. She would.

"Maybe, but I would have to look for a new job, I like the one I have. Come in, close the door."

"Why? Am I trouble?" Sara did as told, but she preferred to stand instead of sitting down. It felt a little bit like being called into the dean's office.

"No, I wanted to ask you how you are and it's not necessary the whole world hears it."

"I'm fine."

"You have always been a bad liar. I heard about you and Grissom's…break-up."

So much for, she wasn't office gossip. Apparently that had changed since the Christmas party. Another reason why Sara hated those parties, too many people came together, had too much time and pocked into too many topics, that weren't their business. In the end they came up with a half truth of the private life of their colleagues, which needed to be confirmed or completed; depending on the type of story.

"When you want gossip, I'm the wrong person. I also don't discuss my relationship status or any other private business at work. No matter if you were Santa or not, it's not your business." Sara's voice was cool. The blonde had no right to ask her about Grissom or her marriage. They were colleagues, not close friends. And even as the Deputy Chief, she was way out of line to demand private information.

"I'm sorry, I didn't want to invade your privacy, it only seems like…you could need somebody to listen. Or is there somebody, who listens? Greg? Nick?"

"What part of it's not your business did you not get? You're the Deputy Chief and not the department shrink. Which I don't need, so don't get any ideas of counseling orders."

"You don't have to talk to the department shrink, like you don't have to talk to me. It's okay, I only want you to know, when you feel like talking, or want somebody to listen, or just sit there and have a beer with you, I'm available. Twenty-four/seven."

"Is that your Christmas present for me?"

"No, it's an offer, nothing else. No strings attached. You can take or not, it's up to you. And it has nothing to do with Christmas, I would have made you the same offer if we had summer now. We work together, we might not be friends, but sometimes it's easier to talk to somebody, who is not a close friend." As if Sara had close friends. Greg was the closest to a close friend she could offer and she didn't want to discuss her marriage problems with him or anybody else.

"Thanks, I'm fine."

"Good." Sofia smiled. "How much did you hate the party last night?"

"A lot."

"Was there nothing good about it?"

"Well, Santa had a nice advice for me, it made me laugh. I'll try it the next time I walk through the city, so get ready for a lot of phone calls, because people will end up in front of buses."

Sofia chuckled. "Don't tell me about your plans or I have to arrest you."

"You want to arrest me because I smile? Santa, we're in Las Vegas, people are allowed to smile here." Sara opened the door. "Merry Christmas, Deputy Chief Curtis. Keep your hands at yourself!"