New
Arrivals
Author-Suzie
Titles
Christmas Day
by Suzie
Summary: Sequel request for Stocking.
Disclaimer: Some of the characters in this story belong to the UPN Network and Pet Fly Productions as part of the television show The Sentinel. I do not claim these characters as my own. No money has changed hands.
Notes: Boy, this caught me off guard. I got my first request. Several people have asked for a sequel to Stocking. Seems that they're curious as to what was under the tree.
"Okay, Chief, your pick," Jim said as he sat on the sofa.
Blair was seated on the floor, almost, but not quite, under the tree with the presents. "Umm ... oh ... let's open the ones from your brother." He handed a small box to Jim. Blair picked up the other box and read the small card taped next to the neat bow. "To: Blair. Thanks for being there when it counts. From your new friend: Stephen. Wow, Jim, I guess he really does like me."
"Of course he does," Jim smiled, watching the younger man tear into wrapping and open the box. How could he not like you?
"Oooh, Jim! Will you look at this?!" Blair's eyes were wide as he grinned from ear to ear. He carefully pulled from the box a beautiful ebony desk and pen set with gold inlays. "This will look so cool on my desk!"
"Very nice, Chief," Jim remarked happily.
"Open yours, Jim," Blair said excitedly, setting the set back inside the box.
"To my brother, Jim. Thanks, Stephen," Jim read the card aloud. Shaking the lightweight box, which was the size of the boxes used to wrap ties in, Jim tried to guess what it was.
"Jiiim! Open it already!" Blair whined impatiently.
"Okay, okay," Jim smiled. He was more careful about unwrapping the package than Blair had been with his. Jim opened the box and gaped slightly at the contents. "Oh, this is very nice, indeed."
"What is it?" Blair asked, scooting closer so he could see. "A Season Pass to the Mariner's?! Jim, that's incredible, man!"
"Look again, buddy. It's for two," Jim said.
"Umm ... Jim ...," Blair began, putting on his best begging puppy face.
"Don't start," Jim said, reaching out to playfully push Blair away. "They're mine and I'll take whoever I want."
Blair sighed heavily and pouted.
"Well ... okay," Jim chuckled. "You can go to the first and the last games, guaranteed. But, I may want to ask someone else to a few in-between."
"Cool! Thanks, Jim."
"Now, let's see what Naomi sent us."
Jim opened his box first. He removed a framed certificate telling him Naomi Sandburg had adopted a wolf in his name. There was also a framed picture of his wolf, a female named Destiny. She stood regally with a gray and black coat, and bright golden eyes that were intense with emotion. "Blair, open up yours," Jim said quickly. He was sure Naomi had sent the same to Blair.
"Oh my God!" Blair breathed as he removed the certificate and picture. "He's beautiful!" Blair had received a wolf by the name of Napanee. The photo showed the big male lying comfortably in the sun with a shiny gray, brown and black coat. His ears were perked up and his eyes shone bright with intelligence and curiosity. "Oh wow, Mom out did herself this time."
"There's more in the box," Jim said, holding up a sweatshirt with the Wolf Haven logo on it and a stuffed wolf.
Blair pulled his sweatshirt from the box. "Wolf Haven. Tenino, WA. Where's that?"
"Out near Olympia," Jim answered. "I've heard of it. It's a sanctuary for abandoned and injured wolves."
Blair held the stuffed version of a wolf and giggled, "I always wanted a pet."
"How 'bout the next weekend we have off we go visit our friends at Wolf Haven?"
"Really!?" Blair said excitedly. "That would be so awesome, Jim!"
Jim stood up and walked to the balcony doors, "Blair, look. It's snowing."
**********
"I don't know why I let you talk me into this, Chief?" Jim said as he strolled next to Blair.
There was a small park near the loft and Blair had managed to drag Jim out to walk in the falling snow. The fluffy white flakes were clinging to everything and covering the landscape quickly.
"Ah, Jim. As much as I hate being cold, I love the snow. And snow on Christmas day doesn't happen very often, man. Enjoy it!" Blair enthused.
It was 10am. The snow seemed to bring a hush to everything. Cascade had never been so quiet.
Spoosh! A big snowball hit Jim in the back of the head. "Sandburg!!" The big man bellowed.
"Yes, Jim?" Blair replied from behind him.
Jim turned, eyed the snowball Blair was holding, and brushed the snow off his head and shoulders. "And what, pray tell, are you planning to do with that?"
"What? This?" Blair grinned, holding the snowball a little higher.
"Uh-huh ..." Spoosh! The second snowball hit Jim in the chest. "You're dead, Sandburgh!"
**********
Warm and dry once again, after their snowball war that ended with Blair on the ground as Jim pummeled him with the snowballs and both men laughing gleefully. Jim was sitting on the sofa watching "It's a Wonderful Life" while Blair hummed around the kitchen preparing the ham to go into the oven.
"What time is Simon coming over?" Blair asked while he stuck cloves in the big ham.
Jim looked at his watch, "Any time now."
"We'll eat around 4:00, okay?"
"Sounds great, Chief," Jim said. He stood and stretched. "What else we having?" he asked, stepping over to join he friend in the kitchen.
"Sweet potatoes, veggies, and apple pie for dessert," Blair smiled. "Open the oven, please."
Jim opened the heated oven so Blair could slide the pan in.
There was a loud knock on the door.
"C'mon in, Simon! It's open!" Jim called.
The door opened. "Merry Christmas, men! How are we doing this glorious day?" Simon grinned broadly, holding two shopping bags.
"Hey, Simon. Take it you're having a good day?" Blair asked.
Jim closed the door and took the bags from the tall, slender black man. Simon hung his coat on a hook next to Jim and Blair near the door.
"I just spent a fantastic morning with my son," Simon replied. "And he liked every one of his gifts. I don't have to return anything!"
"You should have brought him along," Jim mentioned as he unpacked the bags onto the dinning table.
"Nah, I dropped him at his grandparents. He was looking forward to it."
Blair hurried out of the kitchen to join Jim at the table, "What have we here?"
"I didn't know what you were making for dinner so I brought both red and white. And there's some snacks, too. Hope you don't mind."
"No, Simon, this is great!"
There were three bottles of red and three bottles of white wine. Crackers, cheeses, beef sticks and salmon. Not the cheap stuff, but the kind of things people buy for fine parties.
"Thank you, Simon."
"Yeah, thanks," Blair smiled. "Let's open a bottle now."
"Oh ... here," Simon said. He handed a small box to Blair, and a larger package to Jim.
"You didn't have to ...," Jim began.
"They're from both Darryl and I," Simon interrupted.
Blair already had his opened. "Oh ... cool! Thanks, Simon!" he exclaimed.
Jim leaned close to see what Blair had received. "Oh my God!" Jim chuckled. "I don't believe you did this."
Blair giggled and removed the ring from his ear and replaced it with the small item from the box. "This is so great, man!" It was a gold shield, reproduced exactly, except for size of course.
"It was Darryl's idea actually."
Jim rolled his eyes and grinned. Simon went to the kitchen to retrieve corkscrew and glasses.
"Open yours, Jim," Blair said.
"It better not be the mate to that," Jim said, pointing to Blair.
"Now that would be interesting."
Jim opened the package slowly; knowing how much Blair hated it. The young man stood next to him, bouncing with impatience.
The contents of the package took Jim and Blair by surprise. It was a picture of Simon, Jim, and Blair at the Special Olympics last summer. Children surrounded them and each was laughing with true happiness.
"That was an awesome day. Wasn't it, Jim?" Blair finally said. His voice quiet.
"It sure was," Jim replied. "Thanks, Simon. This is really great."
"Darryl took the picture," Simon said, handing a glass of wine to each. "To friends," he toasted, holding his glass high.
Jim and Blair tinked their glasses to Simon's and said in unison, "To friends."
The three sat in the living room, and Blair handed Simon a gift from under the tree. "Jim and I got you this."
Simon grinned as he opened the package that contained a box of his favorite cigars. The ones he seldom buys because they're so expensive. "Thanks, guys. I'll savor each one."
"And this is for Darryl from us. It's that video game he said he wanted." Blair handed the package to Simon.
"He'll like that."
"If he already received it, I kept the receipt," Jim mentioned.
"I don't think he did, but I'll let you know."
**********
The day was perfect. Good wine, good food, great friends.
"This has been the best Christmas I've had in a few years," Simon said as he and Jim walked to the door. "Thank you for inviting me."
"Glad to have you, Simon," Jim smiled. "Are you okay to drive?"
"Yeah, I haven't had anything but coffee in the past two-hours."
"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow then."
"No ... I don't want to see you until Monday."
"Captain?"
"I know you're scheduled. I called Rainy in to take your spot. He wanted to work anyway, but didn't get on the schedule. For as long as you've been on the force you've worked the holidays. You deserve this, Jim."
"Thank you. There is somewhere Blair and I wanted to go next time we had time off."
"Go do it then." Simon turned and called to Blair, who was curled up on the sofa, "Merry Christmas, Sandburg!"
"Uh huh. See ya, Simon," Blair replied sleepily. "Merry Christmas."
Jim saw Simon out, then returned to sit on the opposite end of the sofa from Blair. "Want to go to Tenino Saturday?"
Blair cracked open his eyes and stared at Jim, "Thought you had to work?"
"Not now. Simon was in a real generous mood."
"So we can see Napanee and Destiny?"
Jim nodded.
"Cool." Blair struggled to sit up. His wine fuzzed head making it hard to get his balance.
Jim chuckled and caught one of Blair's arms to pull him upright.
"Any plans for tomorrow?"
"First ... we recover from today. Then ...," Jim shrugged.
Blair leaned to one side until he basically fell against Jim's side. Then he latched his arms around the other's waist and sighed, "Thanks, big guy."
"For what?" Jim asked, placing an arm around Blair.
"For the best Christmas ever."
Jim patted Blair's back and noticed the younger man had relaxed completely. Sound asleep. Jim pulled the blanket down from the back of the sofa to cover him. Blair shifted, his head ending up on Jim's thigh as he snuggled into the blanket. "The best Christmas ever, Chief," Jim whispered.
end
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you'd like to read about the real Napanee and Destiny, as well as the other wolves housed at Wolf Haven follow the link and check out their web site. WOLF HAVEN <http://www.wolfhaven.org/>