He wasn’t surprised at the interruption. He knew Sue wouldn’t let him sulk for long. Levi announced their presence, his cold wet muzzle sliding beneath his hand with a gentle nudge. Myles looked up and even he understood her sign. OK?

He sighed. Was he? He wasn’t certain. He was finding it difficult to grasp his own Christmas miracle and he felt like an ungrateful wretch for not bouncing about the bullpen humming Here Comes Santa Claus as Tara was doing.

Sue sidled into the chair next to him. “Want to talk about it?” she asked kindly.

“No.”

“Too bad.”

“Thomas…”

“Leland…”

He looked at her and smiled because she was so infuriatingly stubborn but very likely the best friend he ever had…and had been for a very long time, he suddenly realized.

“It appears I owe you a long overdue thank you,” he began somewhat gloomily.
“I think the impact of the last few days has finally caught up with me. As hard as it is for me to admit it, that Christmas Eve twenty years ago really happened.”

Sue found his look of confusion endearing. There was something about Myles that made her want to envelop him in a hug and tell him that everything would be all right. He was so intense – and impulsive and superior most of the time that when he acted like a lost little boy, it pulled at her heartstrings all the more.

“Myles – we actually…” Sue shivered with excitement. “…we met before. Shared something so spectacular. It’s no wonder we gelled so quickly as a team…”

Myles arched a dubious eyebrow. “We? Might I remind you that I was hardly your stalwart enthusiast when you first showed up on the scene.”

“Well, no,” Sue agreed, “but now we know why.”

“We do?”

Sue nodded her head and even Levi wagged his tail in agreement as he tried sneaking his nose into Myles’ pocket for the homemade treats he had taken to carrying there. Myles fished one out for him despite Sue’s protests and cast her an inquiring glance. “Mind enlightening me? Why was I such an asinine…”

Sue rapped him sharply on the head and that shushed him.

“Isn’t it obvious? On some level, you must have recognized me from the Polar Express, only your sub-conscious wasn’t ready to allow you to remember so you had to make sure you put some distance between us.”

“You wouldn’t let me,” he commented gravely as he methodically stroked Levi’s big head. The dog rolled his eyes up at him expectantly, hoping for another treat in the offing. Myles didn’t disappoint.

“Myles…” Sue rebuked indulgently. “You’re such a softie. I never would have believed that two years ago.”

“Exactly what I was referring to.”

“But you’ve changed and we’ve all benefited from the transformation. Myles, yesterday was incredible. Lucy couldn’t stop talking about it last night. And Bobby said you blew him away!”

A smile tugged at the drooping corners of Myles’ mouth. “Yeah – but you couldn’t get out of there fast enough,” he couldn’t resist teasing, enjoying the predictable blush that flooded Sue’s cheeks.

“Yes, well, we’re talking about you, not me,” she reprimanded primly determinedly getting back on target. “I’m glad that the others were there to hear you sing. It brought their memories back…”

“So they could come to the realization that I was the one that invited the darkness onto the Polar Express.” Myles was morose again.

“And the one who conquered it!” came Sue’s quick and indignant response.

“With your help,” Myles glowered. “You did it, Sue, not me and you were just a little girl. What -–maybe seven?”

“Eight.”

“All right, eight years old. I was four years older than you. I should have been the one looking out for you.”

“I had Jack for that,” Sue said with a satisfied smile.

“Prince Jack even in his youth,” Myles sighed glumly. “You know, I still have some of them.”

“Some of what?” Sue looked at him, perplexed.

“Some of your memories,” he elaborated. “I thought for the longest time that they were mine. And then when I realized they couldn’t be, I thought I’d made them up just so that I could endure the past. Now I know they’re not mine, fabricated or real, they belong to you.”

“Which ones?” Sue asked, intrigued.

“Leaning back against the couch and squinting your eyes closed so that you could see the coloured lights from the Christmas tree in a blurry rainbow. My father – your dad used to do that with you.”

Sue smiled thinking of what transpired when Jack and she continued that tradition. Someday, would Jack sit back with his…their daughter on his knee teaching her the same simple joy? “It’s a good memory,” was all she said to Myles.

“Yes – very good. Better than any of my own but it doesn’t belong to me, nor do the others.”

“Of course they do, Myles. I gave them to you! They’re gifts and you can’t take them back.”

“What am I supposed to do with them then? Imagine my horror at finding myself fawning over the sweet memory of a pink Barbie convertible – especially since my sister hated all things Barbie. That one gave me nightmares.” Myles shuddered.

Sue laughed. “That’s what Santa brought me when I was seven. And I didn’t use it for my Barbie. I hated her. Probably because my mother loved those dolls and wanted me to as well. I collected little porcelain dog statues and I used the convertible to chauffeur my kennel around. One of them was nearly as handsome as you, Levi.”

Myles smiled in spite of himself. “Your mother must have been livid.”

“Not as much as when I lopped off Barbie’s hair and started a kitchen fire burning it and her clothes in the sink.”

“Sue Thomas-soon-to-be-Hudson you have just shocked me! I may never be the same again!”

“It was only a small fire – completely contained in the sink since I had the presence of mind to turn the faucet on,” Sue said defensively.

“But it’s tarnished my mental image of your perfect little childhood,” Myles objected jokingly, but Sue could tell there was an underlying core of truth hidden there.

“My childhood was hardly perfect, Myles. And definitely not idyllic, though my mother would tell you differently,” she responded tartly and went on to enlighten him ending with the sorry scene that prompted her mutinous intention to runaway to the North Pole the year of the Polar Express.

“I could have been one of those girls,” he lamented. “What’s worse, I acted with their childish behaviour when you joined the team and I didn’t have the ignorance of youth for a defense.”

“Myles,” she warned in exasperation. She hadn’t meant to add to his wallowing and he seemed to be in a mood to take anything she said and bend it into a negative twist.

“Sue,” he mimicked and then grabbed her hand and gave it a little squeeze. “A wise woman once told me that whatever we face in life, we need to look at it as an experience and go on. I hadn’t realized she was talking from such vast first hand knowledge. Perhaps I would have respected the advice more had I known.”

They shared an affectionate glance; memories from just over a year ago now taking precedence over the youthful ones that were giving him such a hard time. “In fact that same woman told me that real courage comes with admitting you need help…and reaching out for it.” He looked down at their clasped hands. “I’m reaching out, Sue.”

I am completely speechless. Well, almost. Myles has her memories! That was funny and yet so sweet, too. Sue and the dog statues and the convertible -- I could sooooo see that.

Kav, this story is just plain magical every step of the way.

Myles really is an old softie, isn't he???

Kav, the magic continues!!!

Joy

Simply magical...gotta love it!

Wonderful scene between Myles and Sue.

Myles really is just one big softie
isnt he more soon please Kav Lin

Awww, that was great Kav! They remember now

WOW....that was great...

~laura michelle~

I find it amusing that Myles had memories about getting a Barbie for Christmas. It shows how close a connection he and Sue had, despite all of his efforts in the beginning to shrug her off as an invalid. I'm really glad they finally did make friends. All that tension would not have been good in the bullpen all these years.

i so love myles....i can't help it,,,but don't you all fall in love with him like this...he is just to sweet, and i really want to help him, be there for him.....come myles i bet i can help ya

I love how Myles is changing. Your stroy is magical, Kav...simply magical.

Kim

Very, very magical ... Myles, I'm so proud of you !!!

ahh myles and sue..so cute, but you know what is even cuter? j/s

This story is really wonderful! Kav, you're making me love Myles! With all his insecuities and his changes he is the veritable protagonist of this story, other than Magic obviously!

Ornella

I love the easygoing friendship between Myles and Sue. It's like they've been old friends forever and I like that a whole lot better than the tension he created earlier on.

Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!

It is officially Christmas Eve here.

Kav - I have purposely been avoiding your Polar Express
1) Because I was TRYING to wait until it was finished.
2) Because I wasn't that big of a fan of the movie.......roller coaster effects were
my 'undoing'......


BUT - I Can Resist ANYTHING but TEMPTATION!!

I have to quit for now at 33 pages. Next two days my house will be filled with family and I will love it...........but it means no more reading time........so to avoid temptation ...I am shutting off my computer.....knowing that your wonderful story will be waiting.

Highlights? too many to list.........but the J/S kisses have me holding my breath.

and POOR Levi - crawling into the room with his food dish!! Ah - priceless.

Although it's been said, many times, many ways...............Kav, You Are the GREATEST!

Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful talent with all of us.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I don't care what you come to my story and tell me... You are the queen of magic and beauty.... (Although, please don't stop coming to my story and complimenting me.... I'd miss you too much.... and the cookies are limited edition... let me know if you want me to ship them.... )


?

Can I give Myles a hug????

Em

i'm so happy to see myles reaching out to her, soon he can build his own christmas memories

cath

superb...

I jinxed you? I jinxed you? How did I jinx you????????? Pfffffftttttttt!

There you go again, making me feel sorry for Myles - feeling compassionate for him.....hoping he's not alone for Christmas. (Which I know he won't be....and he'll have wonderful Christmas memories of his own.)

Merry Christmas, Kav. May the peace that is this season be very real to you!

“And your point would be?”

Myles had to chuckle at the frosty tone he heard in Lucy’s voice as he entered the bullpen once again. He noted Howie dogging Lucy’s heels and surmised accurately that their friendly snitch was perilously close to overstepping his bounds.

“My point is that Mrs. C has been doing this kind of thing for a lot longer than you have. I mean look at Jack and Sue. How long have you been dropping the ball on that one? Mrs. C had them pegged twenty years ago and she had them engaged within two days of making first contact now that they’re adults.”

Tara was hanging onto his every word eagerly. “Is that what they call it? First Contact – you know when someone from…up there…reveals himself to one of us down here.”

Bobby admired her bouncing derriere from the safety of his desk and grinned. “Kind of like an alien encounter, isn’t it luv?” he asked, pleased when Tara bestowed him with a beaming smile.

“Exactly…in a matter of speaking, though I’m not sure which of us would be considered the alien party,” she frowned as she twirled a wispy edged red pen with a snow globe eraser on the end to consider this dilemma.

Bobby laughed outright. “Guess that would depend on your perspective, wouldn’t it?”

“I know Christmas is just around the corner but we actually do have open cases to hopefully clear up before the holidays not to mention the paperwork still pending for the completed cases,” Myles commented coolly as he breezed through the bullpen on the way to his desk. “Don’t you think it’s time to get back to work.” He stared at Howie pointedly.

“I agree!” Lucy said hastily and gave Howie a disgruntled look as he chortled with glee.

“You see what I mean – eh? You just agreed with Leland. When’s the last time that happened? It’s a Christmas miracle.” He didn’t wait for Lucy’s reply before gloating. “Mrs. C knows her stuff. I told you she has this down to a fine art after – well I can’t tell you how long – she’d clobber me if you knew how old she was.”

Myles sighed in exasperation, irritated with himself for being drawn into the conversation. Responding to Howie was like giving a dog a bone. They’d never get rid of him now, but his interest had been piqued. “What are you talking about?”

“Nothing.”

“Matchmaking.”

Myles looked at Lucy’s unhappy face and couldn’t keep a smile from creeping into exsistence. “Is somebody sulking because Mrs. C succeeded where you failed?”

“She did not!” Lucy snapped. “And who did all the groundwork anyway? I put in months of unflagging devotion to the case! All the preliminaries were watched over by yours truly and Mrs. C can’t just waltz in and take credit for getting them together like just that.” Lucy snapped her fingers two inches away from Howie’s nose before flouncing away. Myles admired the sway of her hips as she marched back to her desk.

“Whoa – ” Howie held his hands up in alarm and shuddered. “Is it me, or did it just get cold in here all of sudden? You gotta watch what you say Lucy. You know they keep lists.”

“This is sounding more and more like an alien encounter all the time,” Tara exclaimed happily.

“Or like a three ring circus,” Myles agreed. “I’m sure that Mrs. C doesn’t want all the glory, Luce,” he consoled.

“And she did get first dibs at them. On the Polar Express,” Tara added thoughtfully. Her knees started to bob again. Every time she thought of that train she had the nearly irresistible urge to hurl herself into nonstop cartwheels. She wondered if she still had it in her.

“For your information, that’s not what we were talking about. You were just making assumptions again.” Lucy stared pointedly at her computer screen willing the conversation to close.

Myles look questioningly at Howie who shrugged. “Women!” he sighed as if that explained everything but in truth revealed absolutely nothing.

“Apparently Mrs. C had a special message for Lucy. Something about meeting Mr. Right. It doesn’t look like Lucy fancies the bloke by the sounds of things,” Bobby supplied helpfully, enduring the scathing looks of both women.

Myles tried to hide his annoyance as he sauntered over to Lucy’s desk. He deliberately entered her workspace and, resting an arm along the back of her chair he leant over her shoulder. “Anyone I know?” he murmured into her ear.

He braced himself for the onslaught of emotions that always threatened him when Lucy was near. Two years and he still wasn’t over her. Which was impossible, of course. He’d dated plenty of women – some semi-seriously. He just wasn’t ready to settle down as he had proven rather painfully for both of them.

Lucy ignored him. She was good at that. Good at closing herself off so he couldn’t read her emotions. She used to be so open. Had he done that? He frowned when she wouldn’t respond and, floundering, he looked towards Howie for enlightenment. Now there’s an oxymoron if ever there was one, he thought without amusement.

“Lucy you could ask Myles to…” Howie ventured. “Or not…” he amended hastily as the stare that Lucy fixed him with threatened to freeze him on the spot. He’d seen abominables with warmer eyes.

Myles perversely lingered over Lucy’s chair, crowding her space and getting her back up. He could tell by the prickly way her spine stiffened. He loved to watch a slow simmer brew into a boil. Any minute she was going to blow and all that passion, all that fire would explode around him like 4th of July fireworks. He held his breath in anticipation.

“Of course if you two don’t want to be in on the only way Jack and Sue can get married by Christmas then I guess I’ll have to figure all the details out on my own. I'm perfectly capable of rising to the occasion and I told Mrs. C that before she sent me over here. I told her she was wasting her breath trying to get you two to cooperate even in a situation as desperate as this one. After all you did come to blows over those falalalalas on the Polar Express.” Howie nodded his head wisely and with a shrug muffled his scarf more tightly around his neck in preparation of his departure.

“Wait!” Lucy and Myles both exclaimed at the same time.

“I dunno,” Howie looked at them speculatively. “They’re still talking about your rendition of Deck the Halls. Nobody had ever took it to mean well, you know, literally decking…” Howie punched his hand and winced.

“Myles started it!”

“I did not. I would never hit a girl!”

“You were singing off key on purpose to throw everyone off.”

“You were screeching orders like a drill sergeant…”

“Only because you can’t follow simple directions!”

“I can if they’re clear enough. Your convoluted drivel would mire Rudolph on a clear night!”

A sharp piercing whistle drew everyone’s attention to the doorway.

“Howie what are you up to now?” Jack asked in a resigned voice. He had the beginnings of splitting headache and all this shrieking wasn’t doing his patience or his temper any good. He’d spent the better part of an hour calling every church in all the neighbouring states trying to find one that would marry them before Christmas day. None of the pastors had been sympathetic to his plea; some had been downright rude. They could still manage a quick civil wedding at the courthouse, or a garden one conducted by Zoola the Zodiac Mistress of the Mid-Winter Night’s Hallowed Hills – neither of which Sue would be crazy about.

“Me?” Howie looked at Jack, aghast. “Sheesh! I’m just an innocent bystander, offering a sympathetic ear, and you blame me. That’s it – I’m leaving. And you two – Lucy has the details if you’re game… unless you’re chicken that is.” With that parting shot he chicken walked past Jack and down the hall.

“Does somebody mind telling me what that was all about?”

“It looks like Howie has a plan that could get you and Sue married by Christmas but he’s only willing to share with Lucy and I,” Myles answered, perturbed.

Jack brightened. “It’s a long shot, but I’m willing to try anything. Let me know what transpires.”

“But Jack…” Lucy protested.

Myles frowned. Was there a trace of desperation in her voice? He placed a restraining hand on her shoulder and spoke over her. “We’re on it, right Luce? Is the prospect of dinner with me so appalling? Consider it taking one for the team.”

“But…”

“Thanks Luce. I’ll keep my cell on all night.” It was Jack’s puppy dog eyes that clinched the deal.

amazing, bring it on!!!!

Lucy, you need to take one for the team

Love the banter !!!


Merry Christmas!!!!

Great post.....Love Myles and Lucy....


~laura michelle~

What will happen next oh my!

Hey Kav! You know... and I think Bobby might be with me in this.... but I really do want to know if Tara still has those cartwheels in her...

**nudge nudge **

ditto ut is not officially Christmas here yet but I love your spelling of the word.

and that's how it usually goes

Poor Lucy. But it is for Jack and Sue, after all!

Kim

You know, Kav, I could hear that whole bantering session in my head!! I was right in the middle of it and totally loving it!! I was holding my breath, waiting for Tara to break into cartwheels across the bullpen!!!

Now, what is Mrs. C's idea to get Jack and Sue married by Christmas Day???

Merry Christmas to you, Kav!!!

Joy

wonderful banter with the team

happy Christmas Kav

cath

that was terrific the banter with howie and the team
just hope they find somewhere soon so they can be married more soon please
and have A happy christmas Kav Lin

Aw, Luce, it won't hurt for you to take one for the team, even if it does mean that you have to work closer to Myles. But, think about it, he's a lot different than he was when you two were dating.

Hm... Maybe she's just afraid that she might actually have warm fuzzy feelings about Myles Leland that she thought had fizzled out.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Merry Christmas everybody -- though I guess some of you are already in Christmas past! This is all I managed to write today and it has a strong warning.


“You know you’ve lost your mind, don’t you?” Sue told Jack affectionately as she fielded his attempt to snag her into his lap as she headed for the kitchen. She thought she had successfully escaped his clutches until she found herself floundering in the air only to land on the couch – with Jack beneath her.

“It’s all your fault. First you steal my heart. Now my mind,” he complained, tickling her waist playfully. She squealed her protest and shifted to get away but only succeeded in burying herself further into the cushions. Jack moved quickly, scissoring her legs with his own, splaying his hand against her midriff, pushing her back down, his body following hers, aligning their hips as his other hand switched from tickling to a completely different kind of assault on her senses.

Gasping, Sue lay beneath him, any protest she might have made dying on her lips as she felt the warmth of his fingers sensuously slide along her bare midriff. She felt the restraints of her shirt buttons popping one by one as his hand moved purposefully across her flesh.

“You weren’t content until you’d made my body yours as well, were you?” he accused with a gentle smile that only eased his predatory look marginally. “Well, turn about is fair play, and I don’t want to wait any longer than I have to in order to make your body mine. So if Howie says he can get us married by Christmas, I’m willing to give the guy the benefit of the doubt.”

Sue’s back arched in surprise as the last button on her shirt released and Jack’s hand smoothed upwards over her curves. She knew he could feel her hammering heart beneath his palm. She could feel it jumping against her flesh so hard she was sure the relentless battering would bruise her. His hand rested heavily against her breast as his pulsing heat surged into her body and she was lost in a haze of searing sensation.

He bent his head and followed the path his hand had charted, swirling her hot flesh with the tip of his tongue, teasing the milk white surface with the gentle scoring of his teeth. He buried his head in her neck briefly, nuzzling his favourite spot at the hollow of her collarbone and sighed contentedly. His life was nearly perfect now – the only thing necessary to complete it would be having the right to finish what they so quickly seemed to start every time they were alone.

His lips hummed along her neck sending courses of charged energy spiking down her spine. She’d never been more aware of how each nerve ending could trigger another, and another until her entire body felt like a pulsating charge of unleashed current. She moved restlessly, pulling futilely on his shoulders, trying to draw him up higher so that she could reach his lips. She suddenly needed to kiss him, couldn’t bear another second without his mouth against hers. He resisted, continuing his maddening assault on the tender skin of her neck. She whimpered.

“I give up,” she confessed in a breathy whisper. “I’ve completely lost my mind as well. Jack, kiss me!”

“I am,” he muttered against her tender flesh, but she could only feel the movement of his breath along her goosebumps. He lifted his head and repeated himself before returning to his slow, deliberate exploration of her recently exposed flesh. He could spend a lifetime paying homage to every square inch of skin, he thought, delighting in her uninhibited response to his meandering path.

He took his time traveling up towards her mouth, nipping playfully along the strong line of her jaw, rubbing tantalizing circles around her moist lips with his chin, kissing the tip of her nose, the slope of her cheek, the intoxicating stretch of hairline between ear and brow and all the while he felt her impatience growing.

It was building inside her – an inferno so powerful she didn’t have the strength to hold it back. She didn’t want to. Their lips met and her passion exploded, surprising them both when she took command of the kiss. She cradled his face in her hands, her fingers cupping his jaw, slightly rough at the end of the day. She held him close, afraid that he would move his tantalizing lips away again before she was ready to let him go.

Jack had no intention of moving another muscle. Ever. He was in heaven, Sue’s unrestrained onslaught sending his senses reeling to impossibly new heights. Her teeth teased his lower lip, her breath mingling with his as her hand stroked down his neck and across his right shoulder. It slipped beneath his shirt and began a shocking foray across his chest, all the while her lips whispered magic against his mouth. Promised him an ecstasy he hadn’t yet tasted. It was his turn to whimper, a deep, guttural groan that vibrated through his chest. She felt it through her hands as they stroked his upper torso, reveling in this newfound power that she alone possessed.

He eased his full weight more fully against her, grinding their hips together as he fisted his hand into her tangled mass of hair. His mouth moved urgently over hers, taking command once again, his passion spurred on by hers. He was burning up from the inside out and he didn’t intend to incinerate alone.

Wow that was hot! Literally! Nicely done Kav!

Merry Christmas indeed! Very nice post, Kav! My Christmas day is all wrapped up now, and I'm exhausted...a nasty has just about knocked me off my feet and did its best to put a damper on my holiday! Your post was a nice distraction from my sniffles. Thanks for taking the time to write even over Christmas!

Kav, I had a wonderful Christmas, I hope you did!!!

I'm with Jack - if Howie can get them married by Christmas Day, I'd trust him!! These two have to get married before they both go up in flames!!!

Tina, I'm sorry to hear you're sick - hope you feel better soon!!!

Joy

WOW....that was amazing

~laura michelle~

Now that's what I call a Christmas present! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, Kav.

Kim

You weren't kidding when you gave this a quadruple blush warning, were you? Wow!
Merry Christmas, Kav, and thanks for that little gift.

Kav, love the story can't wait to see what Howie has in mind for the wedding. I hope that Lucy will go along with working with Myles.

I hope that everyone had a Merry Christmas. We had very bad storms here today but thankfully none of the tornadoes touched down in my area this was a very unusual Christmas.

Can't wait for more of the story.

Dianna

Kav,

This is my first response to this story, but BELIEVE me, I've been lurking and loving it... and now that I'm all caught up I can honestly say that my ONLY regret is that I know the story will be coming to an end all to soon. Today's post heated up a dreary Christmas (weather-wise) here in Kentucky! Thanks for sharing your wonderful imagination, and your more than wonderful fuzzies! Hope your Christmas was absolutely wonderful.

TinaLynne, from one Tina to another, hope you feel better very soon.

Tina

Oh, wow, Kay!! Now that's what I've been waiting for!!! Very nicely done!!!

Donna

all I can say Kav hope you had a reatful christmas
and more soon Lin

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

that was a Christmas present and a half

cath

*babbles incoherently*

*slithers into a sighing puddle*

Kav... that was *happy sigh* wonderful.

Wow.....




So... Kav... dearest.... did anyone else in our delightful story spend their Christmas melting? or unwrapping anything special?

if you know what I mean

**Nudge Nudge Wink Wink!**