Christmas Remembered

Even before he exited the elevator on the seventh floor, Detective Ellison heard the Christmas music and smelled the fake pine spray. He dialed his hearing down a few notches knowing once he was in Major Crimes he'd be able to tolerate the music better, but he had to dial down his sense of smell quite a bit before a headache took over his somewhat good mood, a mood that was quickly turning to…well, a not so good mood.

The elevator doors opened just as a new song began. He dialed his sense of smell down one more notch while cursing the person who thought fake pine scent was a good thing, and walked through the double doors to the Major Crimes bullpen. It looked like a Christmas tree farm and the North Pole had both exploded right here in the Cascade Police Department.

Rafe, looking Christmassy in his charcoal gray suit and red tie with matching pocket handkerchief, was standing on a ladder hanging silver snowflakes from the ceiling. Megan Connor had an armful of holly garland and from the looks of it had been busy distributing it around all the windows, posts and doorways she could find.

`Geez,' Jim thought to himself. `Don't these people know the meaning of moderation?'

"Hey, Jimbo, Merry Christmas. Where's your little elf today, still taking exams?" Henri asked, ignoring the scowl that was becoming more prominent on Jim's face. "Here," the black detective said as he tried handing Jim some silver garland and bright red poinsettias. "We could use the help."

The glare that Jim aimed at Henri finally got through because the man, the garland and the poinsettias were soon out of his sight.

"Scrooge and Bah Humbug," Henri mumbled under his breath as he walked away not realizing that his friend smiled, hearing every word. It's not that Jim disliked Christmas. That wasn't it at all. He did have a reputation to uphold, although over the past few years he guessed his friends were beginning to see through the façade.

Jim made his way to his blessedly free of holiday charm desk and sat down. The stack of files on his desk stared back at him. The case he had just closed had taken several weeks to solve and without Blair's help the paperwork was really backed up. He sighed thinking how glad he would be once Blair was finished with the Police Academy and became his official partner. His official "police" partner, that is. He already considered Blair his life partner. That had become official six months before. A smile graced the detective's face for a moment, knowing he couldn't let that happen too often around there. His co-workers could be merciless.

While the computer was booting up Jim grabbed the file from the top of the pile and opened it. He glanced out into the bullpen where everyone seemed to be having a lot of fun. "What the hell," he mumbled to himself and opened the bottom drawer of his desk and pulled out a shoebox sized package that Blair had given him the day before. Inside was a green tree, maybe eight inches tall, with tiny decorations. He placed the tree at the front of his desk by the computer monitor and put the box back in the drawer. He shook his head and smiled, remembering the look on Blair's face when he made Jim promise to put the tree out for others to see.

He worked uninterrupted for the next two hours, slowly whittling away at the mound of papers. Finally, the tension in his shoulders made him stop typing and he stretched his neck, turning it one way then the other to loosen it up. The Christmas music was still playing, although someone had the good sense to turn it down so that it stayed in the background. Nat King Cole was singing about roasting chestnuts and Jim closed his eyes, remembering how he and Blair had spent last Christmas.

"Hey, Jim," Steve Ellison said to his brother once he had answered the phone. "You have any plans for the holidays or are you working again this year?"

Jim wasn't sure what to say. Although relations with his brother and father had improved over the past year he wasn't sure he was ready to spend Christmas with them. They didn't know about him and Blair and that was just fine. He didn't want to have to deal with the attitude he was sure he'd, they'd, get. He surely didn't want to subject Blair to his family's homophobic ideas.

"No special plans. I'm not scheduled to work, but I will be on call." It was only a little lie and gave him an out at the last minute if he needed it. "What did you have in mind?"

"Elaine and I were going up to the cabin this year, but had to change our plans. Thought maybe you'd like to get out of Cascade for a few days. It's already stocked with plenty of food. I called Bert a few days ago and he has everything ready. You can get the key from him. You remember where he lives, right?"

So, he and Blair spent four days in his brother's secluded cabin in the north woods near the Canadian border. Bert had a small tree set up in the main room and a few decorations set out and enough food for several weeks, just in case. They sipped hot chocolate after a busy day of hiking in the snowy woods and had hot tea with Blair's delicious blueberry pancakes and real maple syrup from Vermont. The best part was making love, yes, that's what it was, making love, by the large fireplace as the flames cast shadows over them.

"Jim. Hey, man, come on." Jim was startled out of his thoughts only to see the deep blue eyes of his lover staring at him from across the desk. "Where were you? I thought you were zoning there for a minute," Blair said softly.

A slight blush colored the older detective's cheeks. "I, um. You ready for lunch? I'm starving. I thought we could just go back to the loft; there's some Thai leftover from last night."

The day was cold and overcast so even though it was late morning and with the curtains still drawn the loft was fairly dark. The first thing Jim did was to make a fire in their fireplace. Several large red candles, nestled in evergreens had been placed on the hearth and they were also lit. Once the fire was going strong and the thick comforter was spread out in front of the hearth Jim looked around the room.

In contrast to what they left in the Major Crimes bullpen, the loft was very tastefully done. They didn't have a tree but there were evergreen sprigs on the dining table and mantle, laced with red ribbon and candles. A Menorah was prominently displayed on the mantle in deference to Blair's religious heritage and a Nativity scene sat on a table under the window. Jim thought about all the Christmases he never celebrated once he moved from his father's house. It had always been just another day to him until Blair came into his life.

Blair watched Jim as he pulled containers from the fridge and heated them up. It was winter, but they had less than two hours before Blair had to be back to the academy. It seemed like a fire now was wasted effort and wondered what made Jim think of it. Blair portioned out the food and called Jim to the table.

"How `bout we eat in here, Chief?" Jim had his shoes off and was sitting near the hearth.

"Are you sure you're okay? Eating in the sacred living room…isn't that like breaking house rules three and four?"

The other man laughed. "I guess it is. Leave the food there then. You're the only thing I need right now, anyway." Blair looked over the scene and smiled. He pulled out the band holding his hair back in a ponytail, removed his shoes and joined his partner on the floor.

Once Blair was settled in front of the fire he felt Jim's strong arms come around him.

"You know what I was thinking about back at the station?"

Blair smiled. "Let's see if I can guess. Christmas decorations, blazing fire in the fireplace, you and me snuggled together…last year at the cabin." Blair turned so he could see his lover's face. "It was my favorite Christmas ever." They kissed, softly at first then more passionately. Somewhere along the line Jim was able to mumble that it was his favorite Christmas, too.

Lunch was totally forgotten until it was time for Blair to head back to the academy and Jim to return to the precinct.

Blair had a phone call to make before his last exam. He dialed the number and was pleased when the intended recipient answered the phone. Their business was concluded and Blair entered the classroom ready to ace his exam.

***

"Ellison, my office, now!"

"Now what?" Jim asked Henri as they sat at his desk sipping freshly poured coffee and discussing Henri's new case. Henri shrugged.  The detective entered his boss' office, coffee cup in hand and questioning look on his face. "What is it, Simon?"

"Jim, it has come to my attention that you have excess leave, again this year. The Chief sent a memo saying excess leave has to be used, so you are off until next year. I know that's only ten days and this is short notice, but I want you to finish up what absolutely has to be done then I want you out of here. I don't want my ass chewed by Chief Dover this close to Christmas. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Sir." Jim almost snapped to attention. It had been a long time since he'd had ten days in a row off, but the thought of spending the time with Blair made the anticipation a whole lot more interesting.

The paperwork was cleared up in an hour and Jim headed back to the loft. Blair wouldn't be home for a few hours yet. Maybe he could get everything arranged by then.

"Steven, Merry Christmas."

"Hey, big bro, you too, what's up?"

"I know it's late, but are you and Elaine going up to the cabin this year?"

"No. We've been invited to her family's place in Seattle. You want to go up to the cabin again this year?"

"I was kinda thinking…I have a few extra days off and Blair likes the outdoors, hiking and all that, even in the snow."

"Jimmy, I'm sorry, but I've already promised the cabin to someone else, from the company. Newlywed, you know how it is; just got married six months ago. He, ah, wants to get away from the in-laws for their first Christmas."

"Okay, Steven. Sorry to have bothered you at work." Steve heard the disappointment in his brother's voice, hating that he had to do that. He hadn't expected his brother to request the cabin.

"No problem. You know, maybe you should buy one of your own, a cabin, that is. That way the two of you could have it whenever you wanted to get away." There was no reply. "Just something to think about, Jimmy."

When Blair got home he found his partner slouched down on the sofa with his feet up on the coffee table. "Hey, big guy, you look like someone ate your last candy cane."

"No." Jim managed a small smile and pulled Blair down onto his lap. Maybe a few days in the loft with their own fireplace wasn't the worst way to spend the holiday.

"I have something to do tomorrow and I need you to come with me."

"And what would that be? And what makes you think I can just take off from work?"

"You're not going in to work tomorrow. In fact, you have the rest of the year off. Simon called me. So, you gonna help me tomorrow, oh frosty one?"

"Frosty? I'll show you frosty." Jim shoved his lover onto the sofa and quickly covered him with his own body. Blair's blue eyes sparkled with anticipation as he felt Jim's arousal.

"I take it back," Blair said between kisses. Jim looked at him, questioningly. "There's certainly nothing frosty about you. You're the hottest guy I know."

Blair had turned down the invitation to a morning shower with Jim claiming he was starving and wanted to start breakfast. "After all," he reasoned, "we did miss supper last night."

Jim smiled, remembering what they did instead of eating.  He closed the bathroom door. Once the water was running Blair grabbed the bags he had packed and took them down to the truck. One more trip finished the task.

"I thought breakfast would be done by now, Chief." Jim was standing behind Blair with his arms around him.

"I had to run out for a minute. Go dress. As much as I love to see you in a towel, we'll never get around to eating breakfast if you stay like that." Blair turned the bacon and finished whisking the eggs for his famous spinach and goat cheese omelet. "We need to leave here by ten-thirty, remember."

They were on the road by ten-twenty. "Where to, Chief?"

"Head north."

"North? That's it, north? Blair what's going on and where are you taking me?"

"You'll find out soon enough."

An hour and a half later Jim realized where they were. "Sandburg, isn't Steven's cabin here?"

"Yep. Took you long enough to figure it out, oh great detective, not to mention Sentinel."

"But he told me he loaned it to someone from work. Some guy who just got married…"

Blair smile. "He did. Wait, why did he tell you that? He wasn't supposed to say anything."

"Well, I sort of called him to see if we could borrow the cabin again this year."

"You did? Jim…"

Jim wasn't ready for the mushy stuff so he changed the subject a little. "Steven had an idea. He said I should buy a cabin of my own, for the two of us. Blair, what did you tell him?"

"Nothing. He's a smart man. He can put two and two together and get four. He may not know for sure, but he seemed okay with what he did know." Blair watched emotions play over his lover's face and finally settle into a satisfied grin.

A short while later they pulled up to the front of the cabin. Bert was there waiting with the key and helped them unload the truck before he left. Inside the cabin was just how they remembered it from last year. Fresh pine boughs were arranged over the mantle and several tables, their scent filling the room. A fire was already blazing in the fireplace.

It didn't take long for the lovers to make themselves comfortable on the floor in front of the fireplace. Blair had made a pot of hot chocolate and they sipped the liquid from bright red mugs. It had started snowing and the outdoors was covered with a fine white powder. If it kept up, by morning they wouldn't be able to get outside. The thought didn't seem to bother either man. They had everything they needed right here.

"Merry Christmas, Jim."

"Merry Christmas, Blair."

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