Fic: Advent Calendar (December 25): Christmas Night
Title: Advent Calendar (December 25): Christmas Night
Author: stellaluna_
Fandom: CSI:NY
Rating: PG for language
Summary: This is a day for family.
Disclaimer: None of these are mine. Characters are the property of Anthony Zuiker, Jerry Bruckheimer Television, CBS, and Alliance Atlantis.
Notes: This is my attempt at a fic version of an Advent calendar. There will be 25 of these.
Stella hugs Mac tight as soon as she opens the door to him, pulling him close before he has a chance to get out of it. He hugs her back, awkward as always, but she's still glad to feel his arms around her and the cold press of his cheek against hers. "Hey," she says into his ear. "Merry Christmas. I'm so glad you made it."
"Merry Christmas," he says. "Am I the last one?"
"No," she says. "Danny isn't here yet, and neither is Flack. Flack is going to pick him up on the way, so they should be here soon."
Mac starts to unbutton his coat as they step out of the entryway and into the living room, and Hawkes waves to him from the couch. "Evening, Mac," he says. "Merry Christmas."
"Happy holidays, Sheldon." Mac hangs up his coat. "So what's on the agenda for tonight?"
"Nerd party," Hawkes says, sounding very happy.
"Nerd party?" Mac says, looking skeptical.
"He means that we're not planning to do anything wild and crazy," Stella says. "I think games and booze are on the agenda."
"And by games, she means board games," Hawkes says. "Nothing decadent like strip poker."
Mac smiles, and Stella tucks her arm through his. "Go sit down," she says. "Get comfortable. Let me play hostess and get you something to drink."
"Beer?" he asks.
"You got it." She goes off to the kitchen, and when she gets back, Mac is sitting across from Hawkes on the couch, sorting through the board games stacked on the table. He pauses when he gets to Risk. "Let me guess," Stella says, and hands him his beer. "You're an absolute shark at that game."
"I've played it a time or two," Mac says.
"Shark," Hawkes says, looking at Stella and nodding. "I can tell."
"No doubt about it," Stella says. "So how was your day?"
"Mine?" Mac says. "It was fine. Nothing happened, so I caught up on paperwork."
"I wish you hadn't volunteered to take the Christmas shift," Stella says, frowning at him.
"Hey, it was time and a half," Mac says. "And since I'm not going to Chicago this year, I thought I might as well make sure everyone else had time off."
"Next year you're going to take the day off," Hawkes says. "We'll make sure of it."
"How was your day?" Mac asks.
"It was good," Hawkes says. "Saw the family, got caught up with some of my relatives, tried to relax. Tried to explain to them that I'm still Jewish, so I still don't go to church with my parents."
Stella smiles. "But you had a good time?"
"Yeah. My aunt Lucy is still a pain, but that's nothing new. And I'll tell you something, just because I celebrate Hanukkah now, I'm not about to turn down my mother's turkey. Or her sweet potatoes." Hawkes leans back. "What about you?"
"Oh...it was good," Stella says. "I helped with the cooking and with serving the meals, and then I got to play with some of the kids afterward. And I read to them, too."
"That sounds great," Mac says, and Hawkes nods. Stella shrugs. She always feels awkward talking about the ways she chooses to spend Christmas. Not because she thinks they'll feel sorry for her -- she doesn't have to worry about that, not with the team -- but because she can't help being afraid that it's going to come off sounding self-righteous, or like bragging. And it's not like that. It's just something she does. Just something very little that's the least she can do, she thinks, and not anywhere near as much as other people do, or as much as she could be doing.
The doorbell rings again before either of them can ask her any more questions, to Stella's relief, and she goes to answer it. She buzzes in Flack and Danny, then opens the door so she can watch them come inside. Flack is first, trailed by Danny. "Hey, guys," she says.
"Hey, Stel," Flack says, and grabs her in a tight hug, lifting her halfway off her feet. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas," she says, and hugs him back, then turns to Danny. "Merry Christmas, Danny."
"Merry Christmas, Stella." He gives her a hug, but she can feel tension in his shoulders when she puts her arms around him, and his face is stormy when she pulls back enough to look at him.
"Long day?" she asks.
"What's that supposed to mean?" he says, looking suspicious.
"Just asking," she says. "You look a little worn out."
"I'm not," Danny says. "I'm not, okay? I'm just glad to be here. That's all."
"He's regressed a little," Flack says. "Hasn't quite recovered from family time yet." He gives Danny a punch in the shoulder. "You're with the grown-ups now, Messer. Go chill out."
"Sorry," Danny says, looking guilty. "Sorry, just...yeah, like he said. And like you said. It was a long day."
"It's okay." Stella puts an arm around his shoulders. "Go ask Mac to get you a drink. He knows where everything is."
"Sure," Danny says, nodding. "Sure, that sounds good. Thanks. And sorry again." He wanders off.
"Is he really okay?" Stella says to Flack in an undertone as she hangs up the coats.
"Yeah, he's fine," Flack says. "His family got him all wound up, that's all. Like usual. He was much worse when I first picked him up."
"Was he?"
"Yeah. I picked up, oh, let's say a cranky eight-year-old in Staten Island. I think now we've made it all the way to twelve or so. A pissed-off twelve-year-old, but it's progress." Flack grins. "We'll get him back to his thirties before the night is out."
Stella laughs at the image. "I'm sure we will. How was your Christmas?"
"Better than his," Flack says. "Don't get me wrong: my family drives me crazy, and I'm glad that's over with for another year. But once I get out of the house, I just shake it off. No way to live otherwise."
"Wise choice," Stella says. They walk into the living room. Danny is stretched out in one of the armchairs now, holding a beer and looking a little more cheerful as he sorts through board games with Hawkes. Mac is standing next to Danny, and he nods at Flack. "Merry Christmas, Don," he says.
"Merry Christmas, Mac." Flack steps over and grabs him in a hug, and Stella just stands there and enjoys the look on Mac's face. Flack lets him go after a minute and turns to Hawkes. "Happy holidays, dude. Happy late Hanukkah."
Hawkes smiles. "Thanks. Merry Christmas. You're not hugging me."
"Watch me," Flack says, and lunges at him.
Mac, who's looking relieved to have escaped, follows Stella into the kitchen as she goes to get more drinks. "So the gang's all here now," he says. "Almost."
"We should call Lindsay later," Stella says. "Wish her a merry Christmas, too, since she couldn't be here. I just hope she's got cell reception out there in the great wild West."
"I hear they've even got horseless carriages out there now," Mac says. "And indoor plumbing."
"You mean indoor outhouses," Stella says, and they both laugh, then Mac turns serious again.
"We should call her," he says.
"We will." Stella squeezes his arm. "Come on, help me with this, and then you can go take over all of our armies in Risk."
"Stella?" Mac says, as they're pouring drinks.
"Yeah?"
"I was wondering. You told me once that your rule was no men in your apartment."
"That's true," she says. "It is."
"That hasn't changed?"
"No." She shakes her head, then looks up at him. "But you four are exceptions to that rule."
"We're still men," Mac says.
"Yes, you are," she says. "You're very good men. That's the difference." She pauses, thinking. "Anyway, family is always an exception."
"Family," Mac says, sounding thoughtful.
"Yeah." Stella smiles at him. "Now grab those drinks, Detective."
-
-
-
"A toast," Stella says a little while later, and they all hold up their glasses. "To absent friends and to present colleagues. And to family."
They clink glasses, and Stella looks around at Mac and Danny and Hawkes and Flack. "I'm glad you're all here," she adds. "Really glad," and they turn to her, smiling.
Feedback is always appreciated.
Author: stellaluna_
Fandom: CSI:NY
Rating: PG for language
Summary: This is a day for family.
Disclaimer: None of these are mine. Characters are the property of Anthony Zuiker, Jerry Bruckheimer Television, CBS, and Alliance Atlantis.
Notes: This is my attempt at a fic version of an Advent calendar. There will be 25 of these.
Stella hugs Mac tight as soon as she opens the door to him, pulling him close before he has a chance to get out of it. He hugs her back, awkward as always, but she's still glad to feel his arms around her and the cold press of his cheek against hers. "Hey," she says into his ear. "Merry Christmas. I'm so glad you made it."
"Merry Christmas," he says. "Am I the last one?"
"No," she says. "Danny isn't here yet, and neither is Flack. Flack is going to pick him up on the way, so they should be here soon."
Mac starts to unbutton his coat as they step out of the entryway and into the living room, and Hawkes waves to him from the couch. "Evening, Mac," he says. "Merry Christmas."
"Happy holidays, Sheldon." Mac hangs up his coat. "So what's on the agenda for tonight?"
"Nerd party," Hawkes says, sounding very happy.
"Nerd party?" Mac says, looking skeptical.
"He means that we're not planning to do anything wild and crazy," Stella says. "I think games and booze are on the agenda."
"And by games, she means board games," Hawkes says. "Nothing decadent like strip poker."
Mac smiles, and Stella tucks her arm through his. "Go sit down," she says. "Get comfortable. Let me play hostess and get you something to drink."
"Beer?" he asks.
"You got it." She goes off to the kitchen, and when she gets back, Mac is sitting across from Hawkes on the couch, sorting through the board games stacked on the table. He pauses when he gets to Risk. "Let me guess," Stella says, and hands him his beer. "You're an absolute shark at that game."
"I've played it a time or two," Mac says.
"Shark," Hawkes says, looking at Stella and nodding. "I can tell."
"No doubt about it," Stella says. "So how was your day?"
"Mine?" Mac says. "It was fine. Nothing happened, so I caught up on paperwork."
"I wish you hadn't volunteered to take the Christmas shift," Stella says, frowning at him.
"Hey, it was time and a half," Mac says. "And since I'm not going to Chicago this year, I thought I might as well make sure everyone else had time off."
"Next year you're going to take the day off," Hawkes says. "We'll make sure of it."
"How was your day?" Mac asks.
"It was good," Hawkes says. "Saw the family, got caught up with some of my relatives, tried to relax. Tried to explain to them that I'm still Jewish, so I still don't go to church with my parents."
Stella smiles. "But you had a good time?"
"Yeah. My aunt Lucy is still a pain, but that's nothing new. And I'll tell you something, just because I celebrate Hanukkah now, I'm not about to turn down my mother's turkey. Or her sweet potatoes." Hawkes leans back. "What about you?"
"Oh...it was good," Stella says. "I helped with the cooking and with serving the meals, and then I got to play with some of the kids afterward. And I read to them, too."
"That sounds great," Mac says, and Hawkes nods. Stella shrugs. She always feels awkward talking about the ways she chooses to spend Christmas. Not because she thinks they'll feel sorry for her -- she doesn't have to worry about that, not with the team -- but because she can't help being afraid that it's going to come off sounding self-righteous, or like bragging. And it's not like that. It's just something she does. Just something very little that's the least she can do, she thinks, and not anywhere near as much as other people do, or as much as she could be doing.
The doorbell rings again before either of them can ask her any more questions, to Stella's relief, and she goes to answer it. She buzzes in Flack and Danny, then opens the door so she can watch them come inside. Flack is first, trailed by Danny. "Hey, guys," she says.
"Hey, Stel," Flack says, and grabs her in a tight hug, lifting her halfway off her feet. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas," she says, and hugs him back, then turns to Danny. "Merry Christmas, Danny."
"Merry Christmas, Stella." He gives her a hug, but she can feel tension in his shoulders when she puts her arms around him, and his face is stormy when she pulls back enough to look at him.
"Long day?" she asks.
"What's that supposed to mean?" he says, looking suspicious.
"Just asking," she says. "You look a little worn out."
"I'm not," Danny says. "I'm not, okay? I'm just glad to be here. That's all."
"He's regressed a little," Flack says. "Hasn't quite recovered from family time yet." He gives Danny a punch in the shoulder. "You're with the grown-ups now, Messer. Go chill out."
"Sorry," Danny says, looking guilty. "Sorry, just...yeah, like he said. And like you said. It was a long day."
"It's okay." Stella puts an arm around his shoulders. "Go ask Mac to get you a drink. He knows where everything is."
"Sure," Danny says, nodding. "Sure, that sounds good. Thanks. And sorry again." He wanders off.
"Is he really okay?" Stella says to Flack in an undertone as she hangs up the coats.
"Yeah, he's fine," Flack says. "His family got him all wound up, that's all. Like usual. He was much worse when I first picked him up."
"Was he?"
"Yeah. I picked up, oh, let's say a cranky eight-year-old in Staten Island. I think now we've made it all the way to twelve or so. A pissed-off twelve-year-old, but it's progress." Flack grins. "We'll get him back to his thirties before the night is out."
Stella laughs at the image. "I'm sure we will. How was your Christmas?"
"Better than his," Flack says. "Don't get me wrong: my family drives me crazy, and I'm glad that's over with for another year. But once I get out of the house, I just shake it off. No way to live otherwise."
"Wise choice," Stella says. They walk into the living room. Danny is stretched out in one of the armchairs now, holding a beer and looking a little more cheerful as he sorts through board games with Hawkes. Mac is standing next to Danny, and he nods at Flack. "Merry Christmas, Don," he says.
"Merry Christmas, Mac." Flack steps over and grabs him in a hug, and Stella just stands there and enjoys the look on Mac's face. Flack lets him go after a minute and turns to Hawkes. "Happy holidays, dude. Happy late Hanukkah."
Hawkes smiles. "Thanks. Merry Christmas. You're not hugging me."
"Watch me," Flack says, and lunges at him.
Mac, who's looking relieved to have escaped, follows Stella into the kitchen as she goes to get more drinks. "So the gang's all here now," he says. "Almost."
"We should call Lindsay later," Stella says. "Wish her a merry Christmas, too, since she couldn't be here. I just hope she's got cell reception out there in the great wild West."
"I hear they've even got horseless carriages out there now," Mac says. "And indoor plumbing."
"You mean indoor outhouses," Stella says, and they both laugh, then Mac turns serious again.
"We should call her," he says.
"We will." Stella squeezes his arm. "Come on, help me with this, and then you can go take over all of our armies in Risk."
"Stella?" Mac says, as they're pouring drinks.
"Yeah?"
"I was wondering. You told me once that your rule was no men in your apartment."
"That's true," she says. "It is."
"That hasn't changed?"
"No." She shakes her head, then looks up at him. "But you four are exceptions to that rule."
"We're still men," Mac says.
"Yes, you are," she says. "You're very good men. That's the difference." She pauses, thinking. "Anyway, family is always an exception."
"Family," Mac says, sounding thoughtful.
"Yeah." Stella smiles at him. "Now grab those drinks, Detective."
-
-
-
"A toast," Stella says a little while later, and they all hold up their glasses. "To absent friends and to present colleagues. And to family."
They clink glasses, and Stella looks around at Mac and Danny and Hawkes and Flack. "I'm glad you're all here," she adds. "Really glad," and they turn to her, smiling.
Feedback is always appreciated.