Full Version: The Christmas Present - Sairs
RomanceFanFiction.net > The Highlights - A Place To Start > Seasonal/Holiday Challenges > 2007 Seasonal/Holiday Challenges > Christmas Challenge 2007: Elfwriters
~*~*~*~
Dear Santa,
I don’t know if I will ever be able to forgive myself, let alone asking for forgiveness from anyone else. What I do ask though, is that you give Jenny the best Christmas she deserves, a family who will love and care for her and give her a future that I know I will never be able to provide.
Please watch over her and help her to grow into the fabulous person that I know she will become.
Thank you and I know you’ll grant my one wish.
Jenny’s Mom.
~*~*~*~
Chapter 1
~*~*~*~
Tara watched the snow float and twist gently to the ground, its dance entrancing her like a delicate ballet. She couldn’t help but follow each flake as it made its own individual journey to the tarmac below her window. She loved this time of year, the special message that was conveyed through carols and songs, sharing not only gifts with people but also the gift of family and friendship.
Although, this year was different, this year she was truly alone. Her Grandma had passed away in the summer and she was the one link to her family she had left. As she thought of her Grandma a single tear rolled down her cheek, leaving a chill on her skin as it flowed towards her lip. Gently she wiped it away and admonished herself, Grandma’s last wish was for Tara to be happy and she was determined that she was going to be happy. She was going to start a new Christmas tradition, one where it didn’t matter if she didn’t have any close family, she had friends. She could take on the world with the support of her friends, for now they were her family.
~*~*~*~
He opened the letter and read it, his heart breaking in two. He placed the letter on his desk, “Elizabeth!” he called, his deep voice echoing around his office, the vibrations causing a precarious pile of letters to wobble and flutter to the floor like a storm of giant snowflakes.
The door to his office opened and in bustled his wife, her silver grey hair fastened high on her head, her face framed with round gold rimmed glasses and a huge smile crossed her lips. “What’s so urgent, dear? I nearly dropped the cookie dough on the floor,” she asked as she wiped her hands on a brightly coloured cloth.
“I’m sorry, Elizabeth,” but you need to read this, he replied handing her the letter.
Elizabeth took the letter and read it, her smile disappearing from her face, “Oh my, that’s awful, what are we going to do?”
He stood up and grabbed his jacket from the hook behind the door, “I’m going out early, I need to find Jenny and make sure she’s safe.”
“Where are you going to take her?” Elizabeth asked her voice laced with concern.
He reached for another letter and handed it to her, “Grace made one last request before she died; I think we can honour it, don’t you dear?”
Elizabeth read the letter, “Are you sure?”
He smiled, his cheeks turning rosy, and a slight ripple coursing through his rotund belly, “I think it’s the best gift she could receive and I think it will be the opportunity she needs to find true happiness.” He gestured to his wife to follow him over to a large screen on the wall. When Elizabeth was standing next to him, he waved his hand and an image appeared on the screen. “Watch them, dear. Then tell me what you see.”
She watched for a minute, “I see the need for a very large bush of mistletoe, not just one sprig. There are four people in that office who are in love but too afraid to admit it. There is also one person who should be working for Cupid, because by the look on her expression she can see what should be happening but can’t actually get a result!”
He chuckled, “I’ll show you her letter later; she’s desperate for the tension to melt away and be replaced by the love that she knows should be there. She says she can’t think of any other schemes to get things in motion, she’s hoping for a little divine intervention.”
“And you think you’re the one to provide it?”
“Well with a little seasonal cheer and a special gift I have every intention of granting every one of them their wish. It might be a challenge, but I’m sure we’re up to it.”
She shook her head, “Dear, whenever you say we, it usually means you’re not entirely sure of what’s actually going to happen. Your confidence barometer just sank five candy canes,” she nodded towards the wall.
“With your support, Elizabeth I know we’ll be a success. Could you work some magic with your cookies?”
“My cookies are always magical, you know that. Otherwise your delivery service would be severely hampered and you’d never make it.”
He walked over to her and pulled his wife into a hug, “I know, dear. Your love helps me to tackle all of the challenges life continues to throw at us. Now do you think we can make all of their Christmas wishes come true?”
She looked into her husband’s sparkling blue eyes and remembered the first time she’d looked into them and knew she would never be anywhere other than by his side. “It’s the magical time of year and if you’re determined, I’m sure we’ll be successful. I’ll go and get my special recipe book, there’s bound to be something useful in there.”
“You do that, dear, I’m off to find Jenny and make sure she ends up where she’s supposed to be.” He gently brushed his lips on his wife’s forehead. “I’m not taking the boys; I’ll go by less conspicuous means.”
“You’ll want to change your coat then,” she suggested.
He shook his head, “I don’t think so. I think this outfit will help me blend in with the locals.”
She smiled, “Okay, Dear. I’ll have hot chocolate and gingerbread ready for when you return. How long do you think you’ll be?”
“As long as it takes to make sure Jenny ends up in the right place. I’ll send a message before I return.”
“You do that, dear. I’ll have Elgin watching the message board and he’ll let me know when you’re about to return.”
She smiled as she turned to leave his office; he watched her go, wishing that everyone in the world could understand how much having love in your life made even the darkest day seem brighter. He finished fastening his buttons and headed for the bright green door in the office wall. He pressed a four digit code into the glowing number panel by the side of the door. The sound of bells signified he’d entered the right code and the door opened inwards, revealing a long dark corridor. He took a deep breath and stepped over the threshold, the black engulfing him with a whoosh. He tumbled and turned in the end like the a car on a rollercoaster, the glow of his office diminishing until it was nothing more than a star twinkling in the night sky.
Suddenly he stopped moving and landed on his stomach in a large pile of snow, allowing him a few moments to regain his senses before he stood, he looked around his surroundings. Chuckling, he thought, I really ought to get the navigation system tweaked on that doorway; it always sends me off course by a few miles. Standing he shook the snow from his coat and began to trudge through the fresh snow towards Jenny.
~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~
Tara watched the snow float and twist gently to the ground, its dance entrancing her like a delicate ballet. She couldn’t help but follow each flake as it made its own individual journey to the tarmac below her window. She loved this time of year, the special message that was conveyed through carols and songs, sharing not only gifts with people but also the gift of family and friendship.
Although, this year was different, this year she was truly alone. Her Grandma had passed away in the summer and she was the one link to her family she had left. As she thought of her Grandma a single tear rolled down her cheek, leaving a chill on her skin as it flowed towards her lip. Gently she wiped it away and admonished herself, Grandma’s last wish was for Tara to be happy and she was determined that she was going to be happy. She was going to start a new Christmas tradition, one where it didn’t matter if she didn’t have any close family, she had friends. She could take on the world with the support of her friends, for now they were her family.
~*~*~*~
He opened the letter and read it, his heart breaking in two. He placed the letter on his desk, “Elizabeth!” he called, his deep voice echoing around his office, the vibrations causing a precarious pile of letters to wobble and flutter to the floor like a storm of giant snowflakes.
The door to his office opened and in bustled his wife, her silver grey hair fastened high on her head, her face framed with round gold rimmed glasses and a huge smile crossed her lips. “What’s so urgent, dear? I nearly dropped the cookie dough on the floor,” she asked as she wiped her hands on a brightly coloured cloth.
“I’m sorry, Elizabeth,” but you need to read this, he replied handing her the letter.
Elizabeth took the letter and read it, her smile disappearing from her face, “Oh my, that’s awful, what are we going to do?”
He stood up and grabbed his jacket from the hook behind the door, “I’m going out early, I need to find Jenny and make sure she’s safe.”
“Where are you going to take her?” Elizabeth asked her voice laced with concern.
He reached for another letter and handed it to her, “Grace made one last request before she died; I think we can honour it, don’t you dear?”
Elizabeth read the letter, “Are you sure?”
He smiled, his cheeks turning rosy, and a slight ripple coursing through his rotund belly, “I think it’s the best gift she could receive and I think it will be the opportunity she needs to find true happiness.” He gestured to his wife to follow him over to a large screen on the wall. When Elizabeth was standing next to him, he waved his hand and an image appeared on the screen. “Watch them, dear. Then tell me what you see.”
She watched for a minute, “I see the need for a very large bush of mistletoe, not just one sprig. There are four people in that office who are in love but too afraid to admit it. There is also one person who should be working for Cupid, because by the look on her expression she can see what should be happening but can’t actually get a result!”
He chuckled, “I’ll show you her letter later; she’s desperate for the tension to melt away and be replaced by the love that she knows should be there. She says she can’t think of any other schemes to get things in motion, she’s hoping for a little divine intervention.”
“And you think you’re the one to provide it?”
“Well with a little seasonal cheer and a special gift I have every intention of granting every one of them their wish. It might be a challenge, but I’m sure we’re up to it.”
She shook her head, “Dear, whenever you say we, it usually means you’re not entirely sure of what’s actually going to happen. Your confidence barometer just sank five candy canes,” she nodded towards the wall.
“With your support, Elizabeth I know we’ll be a success. Could you work some magic with your cookies?”
“My cookies are always magical, you know that. Otherwise your delivery service would be severely hampered and you’d never make it.”
He walked over to her and pulled his wife into a hug, “I know, dear. Your love helps me to tackle all of the challenges life continues to throw at us. Now do you think we can make all of their Christmas wishes come true?”
She looked into her husband’s sparkling blue eyes and remembered the first time she’d looked into them and knew she would never be anywhere other than by his side. “It’s the magical time of year and if you’re determined, I’m sure we’ll be successful. I’ll go and get my special recipe book, there’s bound to be something useful in there.”
“You do that, dear, I’m off to find Jenny and make sure she ends up where she’s supposed to be.” He gently brushed his lips on his wife’s forehead. “I’m not taking the boys; I’ll go by less conspicuous means.”
“You’ll want to change your coat then,” she suggested.
He shook his head, “I don’t think so. I think this outfit will help me blend in with the locals.”
She smiled, “Okay, Dear. I’ll have hot chocolate and gingerbread ready for when you return. How long do you think you’ll be?”
“As long as it takes to make sure Jenny ends up in the right place. I’ll send a message before I return.”
“You do that, dear. I’ll have Elgin watching the message board and he’ll let me know when you’re about to return.”
She smiled as she turned to leave his office; he watched her go, wishing that everyone in the world could understand how much having love in your life made even the darkest day seem brighter. He finished fastening his buttons and headed for the bright green door in the office wall. He pressed a four digit code into the glowing number panel by the side of the door. The sound of bells signified he’d entered the right code and the door opened inwards, revealing a long dark corridor. He took a deep breath and stepped over the threshold, the black engulfing him with a whoosh. He tumbled and turned in the end like the a car on a rollercoaster, the glow of his office diminishing until it was nothing more than a star twinkling in the night sky.
Suddenly he stopped moving and landed on his stomach in a large pile of snow, allowing him a few moments to regain his senses before he stood, he looked around his surroundings. Chuckling, he thought, I really ought to get the navigation system tweaked on that doorway; it always sends me off course by a few miles. Standing he shook the snow from his coat and began to trudge through the fresh snow towards Jenny.
~*~*~*~
Chapter 2
~*~*~*~
Tara bounded into the bullpen, her hands filled with boxes and her heart filled with Christmas cheer.
“Whoa, love, what’s got into you today?” Bobby asked from his desk as he watched the petite blonde bound behind her desk.
She looked at Bobby aghast, “It’s the first of December!”
He thought about it for a minute, glancing at his desk calendar to check, “I guess you’re right, love it is the first of December.”
“It’s the start of the Christmas season. I’ve brought cookies and decorations!”
Bobby grinned, “Did you say cookies?”
“Yes, chocolate chip cookies today.”
He leaped out of his chair and dashed over towards her desk, “Let me help you, love. I wouldn’t want you dropping any of your precious cargo.”
She shook her head, “It’s a wonder any crimes that don’t involve food are ever solved by you. Your stomach seems to be in charge most of the time.”
He saw the playful glint in her eyes and grinned back, “Well what’s not to get excited about when there are homemade cookies involved! And you’re always kind enough to bring them in to share with the less fortunate agents who do not have your baking talents.”
“Well now that you’ve grovelled enough you can take the cookies and place them in the kitchen so that everyone can enjoy them with coffee. You can have first taste and tell me what you think of them.” She couldn’t help but giggle as she watched him virtually skip over to the kitchen area, open the box of cookies and place them on a plate. When he’d finished he took the last one from the box and turned to grin at Tara before taking a bite from the cookie. “Is it okay?”
“Delicious,” he mumbled his mouth full of cookie.
Turning towards her desk she opened her other box and began to arrange tinsel and other decorations on her desk.
~*~*~*~
He stood next to a coffee shop opposite the church and waited, he rubbed his hands together as he waited. She would be here soon, he thought and then he would make sure that she got her wish and Jenny got a family.
~*~*~*~
She looked down in the bassinet and her heart broke in two, if it could have been different she would have cherished bringing up Jenny, but she knew it wasn’t to be. She could hardly support herself, let alone give her daughter everything she deserved. One day she hoped her daughter would understand and forgive her, even though she knew that she’d never forgive herself, but she felt like she didn’t have a choice. She made sure that Jenny was wrapped up snugly and she pulled the hood up on the basinet after giving her daughter one last kiss.
“I know he’ll look after you. You deserve to have a family, Jenny. Never forget, I love you,” she whispered before gently brushing her finger over her cheek.
She placed the bassinet in the shelter of the doorway and walked away, daring to look over her shoulder once, just one last glance she reminded herself before leaving the church and heading back into the mêlée of the city.
~*~*~*~
He watched her leave the bassinet in the doorway and head back into the crowds on the street, “Don’t worry,” he said quietly, “Jenny will be safe, I promise.”
~*~*~*~
D walked into the bullpen a brown manila file in his hand, he stopped at Tara’s desk and smiled at the glistening decorations that adorned it, “Christmas arrived already?”
She smiled and lifted her eyes from her computer screen, “its December which means the holiday season is upon us and we cannot afford to waste a moment.”
“And she brought cookies too,” Bobby piped up from his desk.
D grinned, “Cookies, guess I’ll just have to rescue one before I return to my office.”
“Help yourself, Bobby’s already tested them and they’ve passed his scrutiny.”
“In that case I’m sure they’re absolutely delicious. But before I sneak out a cookie, I have a job for both of you.”
“You do?” they both said in unison.
He nodded, “You’ve been requested to attend a break in at St. John’s Church in Layfayette square.”
Bobby raised his eyebrows, “A break in? That doesn’t usually require F.B.I presence.”
“Not usually, but this request has come from a very senior source and it identifies both of you as the agents needed to attend.”
“What about D.C.P.D?” Tara asked.
“They’ve been advised not to enter the building until you have arrived. You are the agents in charge.”
Tara stood and grabbed her coat, “Guess we’d better go and see what’s going on.”
“Yes, love. It’s not every day we receive a special request to attend a break in at a church, or get the opportunity to be agents in charge!”
“Keep me informed and Tara,” D started.
“Yes.”
“Thanks for the cookies; it wouldn’t be Christmas without them.”
“You’re welcome, enjoy!” She replied before following Bobby out into the corridor.
~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~
Tara bounded into the bullpen, her hands filled with boxes and her heart filled with Christmas cheer.
“Whoa, love, what’s got into you today?” Bobby asked from his desk as he watched the petite blonde bound behind her desk.
She looked at Bobby aghast, “It’s the first of December!”
He thought about it for a minute, glancing at his desk calendar to check, “I guess you’re right, love it is the first of December.”
“It’s the start of the Christmas season. I’ve brought cookies and decorations!”
Bobby grinned, “Did you say cookies?”
“Yes, chocolate chip cookies today.”
He leaped out of his chair and dashed over towards her desk, “Let me help you, love. I wouldn’t want you dropping any of your precious cargo.”
She shook her head, “It’s a wonder any crimes that don’t involve food are ever solved by you. Your stomach seems to be in charge most of the time.”
He saw the playful glint in her eyes and grinned back, “Well what’s not to get excited about when there are homemade cookies involved! And you’re always kind enough to bring them in to share with the less fortunate agents who do not have your baking talents.”
“Well now that you’ve grovelled enough you can take the cookies and place them in the kitchen so that everyone can enjoy them with coffee. You can have first taste and tell me what you think of them.” She couldn’t help but giggle as she watched him virtually skip over to the kitchen area, open the box of cookies and place them on a plate. When he’d finished he took the last one from the box and turned to grin at Tara before taking a bite from the cookie. “Is it okay?”
“Delicious,” he mumbled his mouth full of cookie.
Turning towards her desk she opened her other box and began to arrange tinsel and other decorations on her desk.
~*~*~*~
He stood next to a coffee shop opposite the church and waited, he rubbed his hands together as he waited. She would be here soon, he thought and then he would make sure that she got her wish and Jenny got a family.
~*~*~*~
She looked down in the bassinet and her heart broke in two, if it could have been different she would have cherished bringing up Jenny, but she knew it wasn’t to be. She could hardly support herself, let alone give her daughter everything she deserved. One day she hoped her daughter would understand and forgive her, even though she knew that she’d never forgive herself, but she felt like she didn’t have a choice. She made sure that Jenny was wrapped up snugly and she pulled the hood up on the basinet after giving her daughter one last kiss.
“I know he’ll look after you. You deserve to have a family, Jenny. Never forget, I love you,” she whispered before gently brushing her finger over her cheek.
She placed the bassinet in the shelter of the doorway and walked away, daring to look over her shoulder once, just one last glance she reminded herself before leaving the church and heading back into the mêlée of the city.
~*~*~*~
He watched her leave the bassinet in the doorway and head back into the crowds on the street, “Don’t worry,” he said quietly, “Jenny will be safe, I promise.”
~*~*~*~
D walked into the bullpen a brown manila file in his hand, he stopped at Tara’s desk and smiled at the glistening decorations that adorned it, “Christmas arrived already?”
She smiled and lifted her eyes from her computer screen, “its December which means the holiday season is upon us and we cannot afford to waste a moment.”
“And she brought cookies too,” Bobby piped up from his desk.
D grinned, “Cookies, guess I’ll just have to rescue one before I return to my office.”
“Help yourself, Bobby’s already tested them and they’ve passed his scrutiny.”
“In that case I’m sure they’re absolutely delicious. But before I sneak out a cookie, I have a job for both of you.”
“You do?” they both said in unison.
He nodded, “You’ve been requested to attend a break in at St. John’s Church in Layfayette square.”
Bobby raised his eyebrows, “A break in? That doesn’t usually require F.B.I presence.”
“Not usually, but this request has come from a very senior source and it identifies both of you as the agents needed to attend.”
“What about D.C.P.D?” Tara asked.
“They’ve been advised not to enter the building until you have arrived. You are the agents in charge.”
Tara stood and grabbed her coat, “Guess we’d better go and see what’s going on.”
“Yes, love. It’s not every day we receive a special request to attend a break in at a church, or get the opportunity to be agents in charge!”
“Keep me informed and Tara,” D started.
“Yes.”
“Thanks for the cookies; it wouldn’t be Christmas without them.”
“You’re welcome, enjoy!” She replied before following Bobby out into the corridor.
~*~*~*~
HOoo I need more hun, this is great
Chapter 3
~*~*~*~
They arrived at St John’s and found a D.C.P.D car waiting at the curb, two officers sitting inside. Bobby walked over to the window knocked on the window and held up his I.D. so that the officers could clearly see who they were. The window rolled down and the officer inside spoke, “So you’re the hotshot F.B.I agents we had to wait for. I hope there was nothing important inside, ‘cause if there was the thief’s had enough time to empty the church, gift wrap everything he’s stolen and deliver them in the time we’ve had to sit here and wait for you.”
“I’m sorry we weren’t very quick, but we’re just following orders, just like you. How about you enjoy the warmth of your vehicle, whilst my partner and I check out the church? We’ll let you know if we need you.”
“You’re the boss,” he replied tersely before shutting the window.
Bobby turned to Tara, “Guess relations between our departments just entered the freezer.”
“Well we are treading on their toes and neither of us has any idea why.”
“Guess the answer to that question is going to be inside the church. Shall we go and take a look?”
She nodded, and loosened her jacket so that she could gain access to her gun if she should need it. “Shall we check the perimeter first?”
“Sounds good to me, love.”
Two minutes later they had checked the perimeter and stood at the front of the church, “It looks like they got in through here,” Bobby nodded at the broken lock on the door.
“And there isn’t any sign of disturbance anywhere else, so I guess they left this way too.”
“On three, we’ll head in, I’ll go to the right, and you take the left. Now if there’s a problem, shout.”
She grinned, “You too!”
Bobby returned her smile, “Ready.”
She nodded.
“One... Two... Three...” Bobby opened the door and stepped into the church, once he was sure the entrance way was clear he headed off towards the right, disappearing from Tara’s view.
She followed him inside the church and turned left; deftly she made her way along the back of the church and then turned to face the altar. Slowly she walked forward, checking her line of sight in both directions. As she approached the altar she heard a soft mewling sound. She listened carefully, hoping the sound would be repeated so that she could ascertain where it was coming from. A few moments later the mewling sound occurred again, she followed the sound and couldn’t help but gasp at what she found hidden under a tablecloth on a side table. She bent forward and gently lifted the tiny baby from its bassinet and pulled it into her arms; the infant opened her eyes and snuggled into the warmth that had been lacking in her hiding place. “Hello, sweetie,” Tara whispered, as she looked into the tiny face.
She stiffened at the sound of footsteps behind her; instinctively she lowered herself and the baby behind a pew, slowly raising her head so that she could see who was approaching her. Relief washed through her as she saw Bobby’s familiar frame walking towards her. Slowly she stood and rebalanced herself and the baby.
“Hey, Tara, there was nothing out of place on the other side of the church,” Bobby stated as he walked towards her. Noticing the bundle in her arms, “Did you find something?”
She nodded, “You can say that again. I don’t think there was a burglary, more of a delivery.”
Bobby’s face clouded, not sure what to make of Tara’s statement, the sound of gurgling caught his attention.
“I found this,” she replied, gently pulling the blanket away from the baby’s face. “I think someone wanted us to find her.”
“A baby?”
Tara nodded again, “You score ten out of ten on your observation test, Bobby. The question is, what do we do with her now?”
“Child and family services?”
“At Christmas!”
“Tara, I’m not sure what we can do about her, I don’t think she falls under F.B.I. jurisdiction.”
Tara thought about it for a moment, “Maybe there’s a note in her bassinet. I didn’t think to check, maybe there’s a clue to who her mother is.”
“I’ll check,” Bobby offered, following Tara’s line of vision before walking over to the bassinet. “We’re in luck,” he said a few moments later, carefully pulling out an envelope. He pulled out a white piece of paper and began to read aloud.
“To whom it may concern,
Please care for Jenny. I cannot care for her; if I did her life would be in danger. Please find her a family who will love her and raise her as one of their own. She is a special child, as are all God’s children, but she deserves a future that I cannot give her. Please tell her one day that her Mommy loved her very much and giving her away was the hardest thing she has ever had to do.
Thank you and God bless,
Jenny’s Mom”
Tara couldn’t help but let the tears flow from her eyes, her heart filled with sadness for the small child she cradled in her arms. “Hello, Jenny, I’m Tara and I’m going to make sure you’re safe,” she whispered to the child.
Bobby watched Tara, his heart breaking as the tears flowed from her eyes, and “I guess we could put the baby into protective custody until we know what danger she’s in.”
Tara looked up from Jenny and met his eyes, “Do you think D. will go with it?”
Bobby smiled, “Well we are the agents in charge and the mother’s note does indicate that Jenny could be in danger. I think it’s the least we can do until we know for sure what danger Jenny and her mother are in.”
“Thank you,” she replied quietly.
“Although...”
“What?”
“Do you have much experience with babies, ‘because my knowledge is seriously lacking, other than what goes in usually comes out the other end with rather unsavoury consequences!”
Tara scrunched up her nose, “Guess that’s one of the joys of parenthood. Not that I was planning on that when I left home this morning.”
“Neither was I, love. Guess we ought to get her back to the bullpen and decide what we’re going to do next.”
“Sounds like the start to a plan. I’ll put Jenny back in the bassinet and take her to our car. She’ll be warmer in there. Why don’t you advise our D.C.P.D counterparts that there wasn’t a break in and we can release the scene?”
“Okay. Meet you in the car in a few minutes.”
~*~*~*~
He smiled from his concealed position, everything was going to plan. Hopefully Jenny would work her magic and all of the wishes in their letters would be granted and he could return to Elizabeth and her delicious gingerbread men and women that would be waiting for him.
~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~
They arrived at St John’s and found a D.C.P.D car waiting at the curb, two officers sitting inside. Bobby walked over to the window knocked on the window and held up his I.D. so that the officers could clearly see who they were. The window rolled down and the officer inside spoke, “So you’re the hotshot F.B.I agents we had to wait for. I hope there was nothing important inside, ‘cause if there was the thief’s had enough time to empty the church, gift wrap everything he’s stolen and deliver them in the time we’ve had to sit here and wait for you.”
“I’m sorry we weren’t very quick, but we’re just following orders, just like you. How about you enjoy the warmth of your vehicle, whilst my partner and I check out the church? We’ll let you know if we need you.”
“You’re the boss,” he replied tersely before shutting the window.
Bobby turned to Tara, “Guess relations between our departments just entered the freezer.”
“Well we are treading on their toes and neither of us has any idea why.”
“Guess the answer to that question is going to be inside the church. Shall we go and take a look?”
She nodded, and loosened her jacket so that she could gain access to her gun if she should need it. “Shall we check the perimeter first?”
“Sounds good to me, love.”
Two minutes later they had checked the perimeter and stood at the front of the church, “It looks like they got in through here,” Bobby nodded at the broken lock on the door.
“And there isn’t any sign of disturbance anywhere else, so I guess they left this way too.”
“On three, we’ll head in, I’ll go to the right, and you take the left. Now if there’s a problem, shout.”
She grinned, “You too!”
Bobby returned her smile, “Ready.”
She nodded.
“One... Two... Three...” Bobby opened the door and stepped into the church, once he was sure the entrance way was clear he headed off towards the right, disappearing from Tara’s view.
She followed him inside the church and turned left; deftly she made her way along the back of the church and then turned to face the altar. Slowly she walked forward, checking her line of sight in both directions. As she approached the altar she heard a soft mewling sound. She listened carefully, hoping the sound would be repeated so that she could ascertain where it was coming from. A few moments later the mewling sound occurred again, she followed the sound and couldn’t help but gasp at what she found hidden under a tablecloth on a side table. She bent forward and gently lifted the tiny baby from its bassinet and pulled it into her arms; the infant opened her eyes and snuggled into the warmth that had been lacking in her hiding place. “Hello, sweetie,” Tara whispered, as she looked into the tiny face.
She stiffened at the sound of footsteps behind her; instinctively she lowered herself and the baby behind a pew, slowly raising her head so that she could see who was approaching her. Relief washed through her as she saw Bobby’s familiar frame walking towards her. Slowly she stood and rebalanced herself and the baby.
“Hey, Tara, there was nothing out of place on the other side of the church,” Bobby stated as he walked towards her. Noticing the bundle in her arms, “Did you find something?”
She nodded, “You can say that again. I don’t think there was a burglary, more of a delivery.”
Bobby’s face clouded, not sure what to make of Tara’s statement, the sound of gurgling caught his attention.
“I found this,” she replied, gently pulling the blanket away from the baby’s face. “I think someone wanted us to find her.”
“A baby?”
Tara nodded again, “You score ten out of ten on your observation test, Bobby. The question is, what do we do with her now?”
“Child and family services?”
“At Christmas!”
“Tara, I’m not sure what we can do about her, I don’t think she falls under F.B.I. jurisdiction.”
Tara thought about it for a moment, “Maybe there’s a note in her bassinet. I didn’t think to check, maybe there’s a clue to who her mother is.”
“I’ll check,” Bobby offered, following Tara’s line of vision before walking over to the bassinet. “We’re in luck,” he said a few moments later, carefully pulling out an envelope. He pulled out a white piece of paper and began to read aloud.
“To whom it may concern,
Please care for Jenny. I cannot care for her; if I did her life would be in danger. Please find her a family who will love her and raise her as one of their own. She is a special child, as are all God’s children, but she deserves a future that I cannot give her. Please tell her one day that her Mommy loved her very much and giving her away was the hardest thing she has ever had to do.
Thank you and God bless,
Jenny’s Mom”
Tara couldn’t help but let the tears flow from her eyes, her heart filled with sadness for the small child she cradled in her arms. “Hello, Jenny, I’m Tara and I’m going to make sure you’re safe,” she whispered to the child.
Bobby watched Tara, his heart breaking as the tears flowed from her eyes, and “I guess we could put the baby into protective custody until we know what danger she’s in.”
Tara looked up from Jenny and met his eyes, “Do you think D. will go with it?”
Bobby smiled, “Well we are the agents in charge and the mother’s note does indicate that Jenny could be in danger. I think it’s the least we can do until we know for sure what danger Jenny and her mother are in.”
“Thank you,” she replied quietly.
“Although...”
“What?”
“Do you have much experience with babies, ‘because my knowledge is seriously lacking, other than what goes in usually comes out the other end with rather unsavoury consequences!”
Tara scrunched up her nose, “Guess that’s one of the joys of parenthood. Not that I was planning on that when I left home this morning.”
“Neither was I, love. Guess we ought to get her back to the bullpen and decide what we’re going to do next.”
“Sounds like the start to a plan. I’ll put Jenny back in the bassinet and take her to our car. She’ll be warmer in there. Why don’t you advise our D.C.P.D counterparts that there wasn’t a break in and we can release the scene?”
“Okay. Meet you in the car in a few minutes.”
~*~*~*~
He smiled from his concealed position, everything was going to plan. Hopefully Jenny would work her magic and all of the wishes in their letters would be granted and he could return to Elizabeth and her delicious gingerbread men and women that would be waiting for him.
~*~*~*~
Chapter 4
~*~*~*~
Tara followed Bobby into the Bullpen, she held the bassinet carefully in her hands, and she placed it gently on the floor next to her desk. The change in movement woke the baby and she began to cry, Tara knelt down next to the bassinet and gently picked up Jenny.
“Is that a baby crying?” Myles asked from behind his desk.
“Yes,” Bobby replied placing the letter on his desk before turning towards Tara’s desk. “We found her in the church.”
“Why isn’t she being handled by Children and Family Services, the Hoover Building is not the best place for a baby,” Myles retorted.
“Because we found a letter that may make Jenny vulnerable and in need of F.B .I protection,” Bobby picked the letter up from his desk and waved it in the air.
“And it’s Christmas, we couldn’t let her be with strangers over Christmas,” Tara added emphatically.
“And you’ve known the baby all of twenty minutes? Hardly makes you best friends, now does it?”
“Myles!” Tara exclaimed, “She needs someone to care for her until we find her mother. Her mother could be in danger.”
“And you think you’re the best person to care for her?”
“At least she’ll be safe.”
“But what do you know about babies?”
“Guess I’m going to find out,” Tara replied indignantly, rocking Jenny in her arms.
“Well if Jenny is staying with us, I suppose we ought to use our resources to find out who her mother is and how we can help her,” Myles replied softening as he watched Bobby watching Tara with the baby.
~*~*~*~
D. walked into the bullpen and noticed Sue, Lucy and Tara leaning over something on Tara’s desk, he paused and looked at them, and he couldn’t quite make out what held their interest until he heard a familiar gurgling sound that threw him back to a time when his home was filled with the same noises. “Okay, where did we get the baby?”
Tara and Lucy turned towards D, Lucy gently touched Sue’s shoulder and she turned too, “Ladies where did we find the baby?” D. repeated his question.
“We found her in the church. Apparently it wasn’t a break in but a delivery,” Tara replied, her hands twisting nervously.
“And why is she with us and not with the appropriate facilities?” D asked interested to find out why Tara and Bobby hadn’t handed the infant over to Children and Family Services.
“She was left with a letter that indicated both she and her mother were in danger and Jenny needed protection. We decided we would give her protection until we found her mother,” Tara stated.
“And you would be one of the people willing to protect her?”
Tara nodded, “Bobby and Myles volunteered too!”
D. knew that Bobby would do anything for Tara, he’d been watching the office dynamics for a while, Jack was destined to be an ostrich and forever keep his head buried in the sand about his feelings for Sue, whereas Bobby was slightly more open about his feelings, but he still needed a kick in the pants for him to actually do something about it. Maybe the baby would be the kick in the pants for both Jack and Bobby, as babies usually had a strange effect on people. He remembered the strange memo he’d received earlier in the day about the break in at the church, maybe there was a greater power at work. “Well then, I guess we should make baby Jenny and her mother our priority as we do seem to be lacking in other cases at the moment.”
“I’ve begun a search to see if I can find Jenny’s birth certificate at records, it might give us enough information to find out who her mother is and how we can find her,” Tara offered.
“That sounds like a good place to start,” D. replied. “Jack, Sue, perhaps you could talk to people near the church, maybe they saw whoever left the baby?”
Jack nodded, “On our way.”
~*~*~*~*~
He hung his coat up on the hook on the back of the door and turned to his desk. He slowly sat down in his large red leather office chair and picked up the candy cane shaped remote control and pressed a small button on the stick of the cane. A picture appeared on the large T.V. over the roaring log fire, it showed an office with a group of people looking intently at a small bundle wrapped in one of the women’s arms. He smiled to himself, she was safe.
The door to his office opened and his wife came in with a large tray, “Here you are Dear, a nice mug of hot chocolate and some of my cookies to warm you up after your journey. Did everything go well?”
“It looks like everything is going to plan, dear. Look, Jenny’s been taken to people who are going to care for her. They’re one big family, even though they aren’t related to each other.”
“Well it is the season for miracles and you do have a way of using the seasonal magic to help.”
He chuckled, “Yes it is one of the most magical times of the year.”
~*~*~*~*~
Tara sighed, as she double checked her computer screen again.
“What is it, love?” Bobby asked from his desk.
“I’ve searched the database four times and I cannot find a baby named Jenny born in the DC area within the last three months.”
“Perhaps she wasn’t born in the D.C. area and her mother travelled into the area to escape whatever or whoever she’s running from,” Bobby offered.
“Well I guess I’ll have to widen my search,” her fingers began to tap furiously on her keyboard.
“If there’s something to be found I know you’ll find it,” Bobby offered supportively.
Tara felt her cheeks redden slightly, “Thanks.”
~*~*~*~*~
“Progress report?” D. asked from his position in front of the whiteboard.
“No birth records for a baby girl named Jenny in the D.C. area, I’ve widened my search but I’m not sure whether I’m searching for the proverbial needle in the haystack!” Tara explained.
“Well I’m sure you’ll turn something up,” D. smiled; “Did forensics turn anything up?” he looked at Jack and Sue.
“The fingerprints found at the scene were partials and unfortunately no matches were found, although trace is working on DNA from hairs taken from Jenny’s bassinet,” Jack began. “Sue and I spoke to local residents and store workers in the vicinity of the church, but nobody saw anything other than Santa standing on a corner opposite the church about half an hour before Tara, Bobby and DCPD turned up. He then mysteriously disappeared.”
“Maybe Santa made a delivery a little earlier than his schedule,” Bobby piped up from his desk.
“Well if he did he obviously knows more than we do, but at this time of year there are more Santas on the street than uniformed cops. So finding the Santa that was opposite the church is going to be a challenge, one that we can save for tomorrow. Now I don’t think we can achieve anything else tonight. Who’s going to be the first team looking after Jenny?”
“Well I suppose that Tara and I found her we ought to take first watch,” Bobby offered.
D smiled, “Good, ‘cause I wouldn’t want to turn up at home with a baby and not have a chance to explain everything to Donna first. If things don’t go well tonight and we still have Jenny tomorrow, I guess I could persuade Donna to take her tomorrow evening, it’ll bring back those memories we thought we’d left in the past.”
“Memories?” Sue asked curiously.
“Smelly diapers, baby sick, crying every three or four hours, those were the good old days where we managed on a couple of straight hours sleep every evening.”
Bobby paled, “You make it sound like torture rather than fun and you did it twice!”
“Yep, we were a glutton for punishment, but when they’re your children you forget about those kinds of things and look forward to the people they’re going to grow into. And even though I say it myself Davy and Tanya haven’t turned out too badly.”
“They’re great children,” Sue offered genuinely, “You and Donna have a right to be proud.”
“Most days,” D. chuckled, “Although I am becoming more familiar with Tanya’s Principal than I would have liked, but what can you do when you have a daughter who likes to stand up for everything she believes in, whether or not she is breaking the rules to make her point.”
Everyone chuckled, “Did she manage to find all of the frogs she freed?” Jack asked.
D shook his head, “One is still missing, and apparently it can be heard croaking through the school halls.”
“I’m sure that will be one story that is passed throughout the school’s history, Tanya will become a legend,” Bobby grinned, “She’s nearly up there with my record at school, but my adventures did not involve frogs but kangaroos.”
“Now, Crash, that’s a story you’ve got to share,” Jack requested.
“Not tonight, I’ll save it for a special occasion.”
“Bobby Manning, you’re a tease!” Lucy chimed in from her desk, “You build up the suspense and then leave it hanging in the air.”
“That’s the art of good story telling, but tonight is not the night, ‘because I have a young charge who needs to be taken home and put to bed.”
As if on cue, Jenny began to cry from her bassinet.
“I guess Jenny’s right; it’s time to call it a night. We’ll see what we can turn up in the morning.” D turned to Bobby and Tara, “Now do you have everything you need for tonight?”
“We’ve got bottles, formula, diapers and a baby. Does that sound about right for a night in with an infant?” Tara asked.
“There’s one thing you’ve forgotten,” Myles replied.
“What?” Tara asked.
“Ear plugs!”
“Ha, ha, Myles,” Bobby replied, “I’m sure Jenny will be a very cooperative baby, won’t you, love?” he asked as he leant over the baby’s bassinet.
The baby gurgled her response.
“It sounds like you have everything covered to me,” D replied, “I am on the end of a phone if you have any questions you’d like to ask.”
~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~
Tara followed Bobby into the Bullpen, she held the bassinet carefully in her hands, and she placed it gently on the floor next to her desk. The change in movement woke the baby and she began to cry, Tara knelt down next to the bassinet and gently picked up Jenny.
“Is that a baby crying?” Myles asked from behind his desk.
“Yes,” Bobby replied placing the letter on his desk before turning towards Tara’s desk. “We found her in the church.”
“Why isn’t she being handled by Children and Family Services, the Hoover Building is not the best place for a baby,” Myles retorted.
“Because we found a letter that may make Jenny vulnerable and in need of F.B .I protection,” Bobby picked the letter up from his desk and waved it in the air.
“And it’s Christmas, we couldn’t let her be with strangers over Christmas,” Tara added emphatically.
“And you’ve known the baby all of twenty minutes? Hardly makes you best friends, now does it?”
“Myles!” Tara exclaimed, “She needs someone to care for her until we find her mother. Her mother could be in danger.”
“And you think you’re the best person to care for her?”
“At least she’ll be safe.”
“But what do you know about babies?”
“Guess I’m going to find out,” Tara replied indignantly, rocking Jenny in her arms.
“Well if Jenny is staying with us, I suppose we ought to use our resources to find out who her mother is and how we can help her,” Myles replied softening as he watched Bobby watching Tara with the baby.
~*~*~*~
D. walked into the bullpen and noticed Sue, Lucy and Tara leaning over something on Tara’s desk, he paused and looked at them, and he couldn’t quite make out what held their interest until he heard a familiar gurgling sound that threw him back to a time when his home was filled with the same noises. “Okay, where did we get the baby?”
Tara and Lucy turned towards D, Lucy gently touched Sue’s shoulder and she turned too, “Ladies where did we find the baby?” D. repeated his question.
“We found her in the church. Apparently it wasn’t a break in but a delivery,” Tara replied, her hands twisting nervously.
“And why is she with us and not with the appropriate facilities?” D asked interested to find out why Tara and Bobby hadn’t handed the infant over to Children and Family Services.
“She was left with a letter that indicated both she and her mother were in danger and Jenny needed protection. We decided we would give her protection until we found her mother,” Tara stated.
“And you would be one of the people willing to protect her?”
Tara nodded, “Bobby and Myles volunteered too!”
D. knew that Bobby would do anything for Tara, he’d been watching the office dynamics for a while, Jack was destined to be an ostrich and forever keep his head buried in the sand about his feelings for Sue, whereas Bobby was slightly more open about his feelings, but he still needed a kick in the pants for him to actually do something about it. Maybe the baby would be the kick in the pants for both Jack and Bobby, as babies usually had a strange effect on people. He remembered the strange memo he’d received earlier in the day about the break in at the church, maybe there was a greater power at work. “Well then, I guess we should make baby Jenny and her mother our priority as we do seem to be lacking in other cases at the moment.”
“I’ve begun a search to see if I can find Jenny’s birth certificate at records, it might give us enough information to find out who her mother is and how we can find her,” Tara offered.
“That sounds like a good place to start,” D. replied. “Jack, Sue, perhaps you could talk to people near the church, maybe they saw whoever left the baby?”
Jack nodded, “On our way.”
~*~*~*~*~
He hung his coat up on the hook on the back of the door and turned to his desk. He slowly sat down in his large red leather office chair and picked up the candy cane shaped remote control and pressed a small button on the stick of the cane. A picture appeared on the large T.V. over the roaring log fire, it showed an office with a group of people looking intently at a small bundle wrapped in one of the women’s arms. He smiled to himself, she was safe.
The door to his office opened and his wife came in with a large tray, “Here you are Dear, a nice mug of hot chocolate and some of my cookies to warm you up after your journey. Did everything go well?”
“It looks like everything is going to plan, dear. Look, Jenny’s been taken to people who are going to care for her. They’re one big family, even though they aren’t related to each other.”
“Well it is the season for miracles and you do have a way of using the seasonal magic to help.”
He chuckled, “Yes it is one of the most magical times of the year.”
~*~*~*~*~
Tara sighed, as she double checked her computer screen again.
“What is it, love?” Bobby asked from his desk.
“I’ve searched the database four times and I cannot find a baby named Jenny born in the DC area within the last three months.”
“Perhaps she wasn’t born in the D.C. area and her mother travelled into the area to escape whatever or whoever she’s running from,” Bobby offered.
“Well I guess I’ll have to widen my search,” her fingers began to tap furiously on her keyboard.
“If there’s something to be found I know you’ll find it,” Bobby offered supportively.
Tara felt her cheeks redden slightly, “Thanks.”
~*~*~*~*~
“Progress report?” D. asked from his position in front of the whiteboard.
“No birth records for a baby girl named Jenny in the D.C. area, I’ve widened my search but I’m not sure whether I’m searching for the proverbial needle in the haystack!” Tara explained.
“Well I’m sure you’ll turn something up,” D. smiled; “Did forensics turn anything up?” he looked at Jack and Sue.
“The fingerprints found at the scene were partials and unfortunately no matches were found, although trace is working on DNA from hairs taken from Jenny’s bassinet,” Jack began. “Sue and I spoke to local residents and store workers in the vicinity of the church, but nobody saw anything other than Santa standing on a corner opposite the church about half an hour before Tara, Bobby and DCPD turned up. He then mysteriously disappeared.”
“Maybe Santa made a delivery a little earlier than his schedule,” Bobby piped up from his desk.
“Well if he did he obviously knows more than we do, but at this time of year there are more Santas on the street than uniformed cops. So finding the Santa that was opposite the church is going to be a challenge, one that we can save for tomorrow. Now I don’t think we can achieve anything else tonight. Who’s going to be the first team looking after Jenny?”
“Well I suppose that Tara and I found her we ought to take first watch,” Bobby offered.
D smiled, “Good, ‘cause I wouldn’t want to turn up at home with a baby and not have a chance to explain everything to Donna first. If things don’t go well tonight and we still have Jenny tomorrow, I guess I could persuade Donna to take her tomorrow evening, it’ll bring back those memories we thought we’d left in the past.”
“Memories?” Sue asked curiously.
“Smelly diapers, baby sick, crying every three or four hours, those were the good old days where we managed on a couple of straight hours sleep every evening.”
Bobby paled, “You make it sound like torture rather than fun and you did it twice!”
“Yep, we were a glutton for punishment, but when they’re your children you forget about those kinds of things and look forward to the people they’re going to grow into. And even though I say it myself Davy and Tanya haven’t turned out too badly.”
“They’re great children,” Sue offered genuinely, “You and Donna have a right to be proud.”
“Most days,” D. chuckled, “Although I am becoming more familiar with Tanya’s Principal than I would have liked, but what can you do when you have a daughter who likes to stand up for everything she believes in, whether or not she is breaking the rules to make her point.”
Everyone chuckled, “Did she manage to find all of the frogs she freed?” Jack asked.
D shook his head, “One is still missing, and apparently it can be heard croaking through the school halls.”
“I’m sure that will be one story that is passed throughout the school’s history, Tanya will become a legend,” Bobby grinned, “She’s nearly up there with my record at school, but my adventures did not involve frogs but kangaroos.”
“Now, Crash, that’s a story you’ve got to share,” Jack requested.
“Not tonight, I’ll save it for a special occasion.”
“Bobby Manning, you’re a tease!” Lucy chimed in from her desk, “You build up the suspense and then leave it hanging in the air.”
“That’s the art of good story telling, but tonight is not the night, ‘because I have a young charge who needs to be taken home and put to bed.”
As if on cue, Jenny began to cry from her bassinet.
“I guess Jenny’s right; it’s time to call it a night. We’ll see what we can turn up in the morning.” D turned to Bobby and Tara, “Now do you have everything you need for tonight?”
“We’ve got bottles, formula, diapers and a baby. Does that sound about right for a night in with an infant?” Tara asked.
“There’s one thing you’ve forgotten,” Myles replied.
“What?” Tara asked.
“Ear plugs!”
“Ha, ha, Myles,” Bobby replied, “I’m sure Jenny will be a very cooperative baby, won’t you, love?” he asked as he leant over the baby’s bassinet.
The baby gurgled her response.
“It sounds like you have everything covered to me,” D replied, “I am on the end of a phone if you have any questions you’d like to ask.”
~*~*~*~*~
Oh my goodness! Your posting a challenge story so close to the deadline. I love it! 
A big Welcome to you! I don't have time to read now, but I loved the intro and can't wait to see if what I think is going to happen with little Jenny, will happen, and with whom!
Be back later this evening to do so.
Lynn
A big Welcome to you! I don't have time to read now, but I loved the intro and can't wait to see if what I think is going to happen with little Jenny, will happen, and with whom!
Be back later this evening to do so.
Lynn
Sairs - I want MORE!!!
Sam
Sam
Chapter 5
~*~*~*~*~
Bobby followed Tara out of the bullpen, she carried Jenny and he was carrying Jenny’s belongings. “I didn’t think something so small could have so many necessities,” he said.
Tara chuckled, “I guess we’re in for a fun evening, are you sure you want to do this?”
“Well I did have plans to watch the football tonight, but I guess we can watch the football at your house,” he pleaded.
“I don’t mind, but it all rather depends on our house guest and whether she likes football.”
“Oh, she likes football.”
“How can you tell?”
“I just know, call it my Aussie super sense.”
“Well we’ll see how your Aussie super sense will see you through tonight.”
~*~*~*~
They decided to leave Tara’s car at the Hoover building and took Bobby’s, they crèche had lent them a baby car seat so Jenny could travel safely home. Fifteen minutes after Bobby started fiddling with the car seat he was finally satisfied it was in securely. He turned to Tara, “I guess we need to get Jenny in there next.”
“Shall I try?”
“Go for it, love, ‘cause if it’s as hard as getting the seat in correctly it’s going to take us a while.”
Tara placed Jenny into the car seat and then began the battle with the straps, “Whoever invented these things must really hate parents and children, ‘because they’re far too fiddly!” She exclaimed her voice laced with frustration.
“I guess if it’s meant to be child safe then it’s going to be a challenge, just think of medicine bottles.”
Tara nodded in agreement, “Yep I guess you’re right. Got it!”
“Jenny’s settled, so I guess its home we go!”
~*~*~*~*~
Tara unlocked her apartment door and let them inside. “Let’s set up Jenny in the spare room,” Tara suggested.
“Fine by me, love,” Bobby replied following Tara into her apartment.
A few minutes later Jenny was settled and they left her in the spare bedroom.
Tara walked into her kitchen, “What would you like for dinner? I’ve got some pasta or I could rustle up something else?”
“You don’t have to cook, we could order in.”
Tara turned to look at him, “How often do you order in, instead of cooking?”
Bobby hung his head slightly, “Well when there’s just one of you, it’s easier to order in.”
Tara grinned, “There’s only one of me, but I manage to cook on occasions, you’ve tasted the cookies!”
He leaned against the kitchen counter, “If you want the truth, scrambled eggs, toast and anything out of a packet is about as adventurous as my cooking gets. That’s why I enjoy dinner at Donna and D’s, freshly home cooked meals. And you know how much I love your cookies, the highlight of the Christmas season.”
Tara blushed, “Well that’s decided then, pasta it is. And after this case is over I’m going to make sure you have a home cooked dinner more often. No wonder your cholesterol level was rocketing!”
“Well that’s an offer I certainly can’t refuse.”
“Now make yourself useful and fill this pan with water,” she directed.
~*~*~*~*~
The pasta was delicious and Bobby made a point of telling Tara as he helped wash up the dishes, he had forgotten what good company Tara was. They hardly had the opportunity to spend time with each other outside the bullpen, he’d been nervous around her since their evening at the charity concert had ended in a way he would never have predicted.
“Penny for them?” Tara asked quietly as she dried one of the plates.
Her voice jolted him from his thoughts, “Sorry, love, miles away.”
“In another continent?”
“Maybe, I do spend a lot of time this time of year thinking about Mum and Pop at home, but usually we end up being so busy over the festive season that thinking is about all I get done. What about you, love, do you spend time with your family?”
Tara smiled sadly, “I did. This will be the first year without Grams, she was my family.”
Bobby remembered the summer where Tara had taken two weeks sudden vacation, she hadn’t been quite as bubbly when she returned, and it was as if the spark that filled her eyes had been blown out. “I’m sorry, love.”
“You don’t have anything to apologise for, we all lose people who are close to us, and it’s the natural order of things.”
“It doesn’t stop it hurting though, does it?”
Tara could feel her eyes filling with tears, she tried to blink them away, and she didn’t want to appear vulnerable in front of Bobby, especially Bobby. “No it doesn’t.” His actions then surprised her and caught her off guard; he enveloped her in a hug.
“It’s okay, love,” he said gently into her hair as he felt her relax in his arms, he knew that she was crying because his shirt was getting damp where her cheek was resting against it.
The warmth of his embrace and the comfort of his words allowed the walls she’d built around her heart to begin to melt. She knew that he wouldn’t judge her; he’d understand and help her move on, as only true friends could.
~*~*~*~*~
Elizabeth mopped at her eyes with a huge red handkerchief, “That was a lovely moment; it looks like you’re on the way to answering Grace’s request.”
He blew his nose in his matching red handkerchief, “It was, wasn’t it, dear? Now all I’ve got to do is get them past the friendship and move onto the next stage. Then Grace really will get her wish.”
“Well I’m sure a little Christmas magic will help to achieve Grace’s request,” Elizabeth chuckled.
He went to his desk and pulled open one of the large drawers, he took out a large package and went over to the display on the wall. He pressed a button on the side and waited.
“Hello?” a voice echoed through the speaker on the wall.
“Ah, Morris, I have a little job for you.”
“You do, Nick?” the voice answered.
“Yes a very special one.”
“I’ll be with you in five minutes,” the eager reply echoed around the room.
“Morris, dear? Are you sure?” Elizabeth asked.
“It’s been three centuries since he had his problem, it’s about time we gave him another chance. He’s ready, dear.”
Elizabeth smiled, “I’m sure he is if you have such confidence in him.”
“He’ll be perfect, trust me.”
~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~
Bobby followed Tara out of the bullpen, she carried Jenny and he was carrying Jenny’s belongings. “I didn’t think something so small could have so many necessities,” he said.
Tara chuckled, “I guess we’re in for a fun evening, are you sure you want to do this?”
“Well I did have plans to watch the football tonight, but I guess we can watch the football at your house,” he pleaded.
“I don’t mind, but it all rather depends on our house guest and whether she likes football.”
“Oh, she likes football.”
“How can you tell?”
“I just know, call it my Aussie super sense.”
“Well we’ll see how your Aussie super sense will see you through tonight.”
~*~*~*~
They decided to leave Tara’s car at the Hoover building and took Bobby’s, they crèche had lent them a baby car seat so Jenny could travel safely home. Fifteen minutes after Bobby started fiddling with the car seat he was finally satisfied it was in securely. He turned to Tara, “I guess we need to get Jenny in there next.”
“Shall I try?”
“Go for it, love, ‘cause if it’s as hard as getting the seat in correctly it’s going to take us a while.”
Tara placed Jenny into the car seat and then began the battle with the straps, “Whoever invented these things must really hate parents and children, ‘because they’re far too fiddly!” She exclaimed her voice laced with frustration.
“I guess if it’s meant to be child safe then it’s going to be a challenge, just think of medicine bottles.”
Tara nodded in agreement, “Yep I guess you’re right. Got it!”
“Jenny’s settled, so I guess its home we go!”
~*~*~*~*~
Tara unlocked her apartment door and let them inside. “Let’s set up Jenny in the spare room,” Tara suggested.
“Fine by me, love,” Bobby replied following Tara into her apartment.
A few minutes later Jenny was settled and they left her in the spare bedroom.
Tara walked into her kitchen, “What would you like for dinner? I’ve got some pasta or I could rustle up something else?”
“You don’t have to cook, we could order in.”
Tara turned to look at him, “How often do you order in, instead of cooking?”
Bobby hung his head slightly, “Well when there’s just one of you, it’s easier to order in.”
Tara grinned, “There’s only one of me, but I manage to cook on occasions, you’ve tasted the cookies!”
He leaned against the kitchen counter, “If you want the truth, scrambled eggs, toast and anything out of a packet is about as adventurous as my cooking gets. That’s why I enjoy dinner at Donna and D’s, freshly home cooked meals. And you know how much I love your cookies, the highlight of the Christmas season.”
Tara blushed, “Well that’s decided then, pasta it is. And after this case is over I’m going to make sure you have a home cooked dinner more often. No wonder your cholesterol level was rocketing!”
“Well that’s an offer I certainly can’t refuse.”
“Now make yourself useful and fill this pan with water,” she directed.
~*~*~*~*~
The pasta was delicious and Bobby made a point of telling Tara as he helped wash up the dishes, he had forgotten what good company Tara was. They hardly had the opportunity to spend time with each other outside the bullpen, he’d been nervous around her since their evening at the charity concert had ended in a way he would never have predicted.
“Penny for them?” Tara asked quietly as she dried one of the plates.
Her voice jolted him from his thoughts, “Sorry, love, miles away.”
“In another continent?”
“Maybe, I do spend a lot of time this time of year thinking about Mum and Pop at home, but usually we end up being so busy over the festive season that thinking is about all I get done. What about you, love, do you spend time with your family?”
Tara smiled sadly, “I did. This will be the first year without Grams, she was my family.”
Bobby remembered the summer where Tara had taken two weeks sudden vacation, she hadn’t been quite as bubbly when she returned, and it was as if the spark that filled her eyes had been blown out. “I’m sorry, love.”
“You don’t have anything to apologise for, we all lose people who are close to us, and it’s the natural order of things.”
“It doesn’t stop it hurting though, does it?”
Tara could feel her eyes filling with tears, she tried to blink them away, and she didn’t want to appear vulnerable in front of Bobby, especially Bobby. “No it doesn’t.” His actions then surprised her and caught her off guard; he enveloped her in a hug.
“It’s okay, love,” he said gently into her hair as he felt her relax in his arms, he knew that she was crying because his shirt was getting damp where her cheek was resting against it.
The warmth of his embrace and the comfort of his words allowed the walls she’d built around her heart to begin to melt. She knew that he wouldn’t judge her; he’d understand and help her move on, as only true friends could.
~*~*~*~*~
Elizabeth mopped at her eyes with a huge red handkerchief, “That was a lovely moment; it looks like you’re on the way to answering Grace’s request.”
He blew his nose in his matching red handkerchief, “It was, wasn’t it, dear? Now all I’ve got to do is get them past the friendship and move onto the next stage. Then Grace really will get her wish.”
“Well I’m sure a little Christmas magic will help to achieve Grace’s request,” Elizabeth chuckled.
He went to his desk and pulled open one of the large drawers, he took out a large package and went over to the display on the wall. He pressed a button on the side and waited.
“Hello?” a voice echoed through the speaker on the wall.
“Ah, Morris, I have a little job for you.”
“You do, Nick?” the voice answered.
“Yes a very special one.”
“I’ll be with you in five minutes,” the eager reply echoed around the room.
“Morris, dear? Are you sure?” Elizabeth asked.
“It’s been three centuries since he had his problem, it’s about time we gave him another chance. He’s ready, dear.”
Elizabeth smiled, “I’m sure he is if you have such confidence in him.”
“He’ll be perfect, trust me.”
~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 6
~*~*~*~*~
Morris straightened his outfit, he wasn’t sure the baseball cap covered the top of his ears; they were rather more pointed than all of his friends and families. He looked at his reflection in the window, he couldn’t detect the tops of his ears, “Okay, then here we go,” he said to himself quietly as he walked into the doorway and pressed the buzzer for Williams.
“Hello?” a woman’s voice echoed in the porch.
“I have a delivery for a Miss Williams,” Morris stated proudly, he still couldn’t believe that he’d been given such an important assignment.
“It’s a little late for deliveries, which company are you with?” came the woman’s voice.
Morris began to panic a little, “It’s from a Mrs. Grace Williams, it has to be delivered on the first of December at 8pm. “
“What?” Came the reply.
“A Mrs. Grace Williams arranged for this package to be delivered today, my company’s been holding it since July.”
“I’ll buzz you to let you in,” came a man’s voice.
Morris waited for the door to unlock and he headed inside and up the stairs to Tara’s apartment. When he reached her door he knocked sharply. He waited for a few moments and then the door slowly opened. Morris looked up into the face of a very tall man; well he was tall, when your stature is only four feet five inches.
“You have a package for Miss Williams?” the man asked.
“Yes I do,” Morris held out the package for the man to see. “I need a signature please.”
The man took the package and the clipboard and hastily scribbled on it before handing it back to Morris, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Merry Christmas,” Morris grinned.
“Merry Christmas,” the man replied, before closing the door.
Morris tipped his cap and thought happy thoughts before he disappeared in a cloud of glittering stars.
~*~*~*~*~
Bobby turned towards Tara, “Here’s the package love, although I’m sure there was something a little off with the delivery man. I thought I saw pointed ears under his hat and he was rather short, I must be seeing things.”
Tara giggled, “It is the season for it.” She stood looking at the package, her name and address had been written in her Grandmother’s handwriting. She rubbed her fingers over the writing, memories of her Grandmother flooding into her mind.
Bobby watched her, “Are you going to open it?” he asked quietly.
“I can’t believe that she sent this, the date on the package was just a few days before she died. Whatever’s in here must have been really important to her.”
“The only way to find out, love is to open it.”
She walked over to the sofa and sat down with the package on her lap, she carefully began to open the package. A loud wail from the spare room made her jump.
“You carry on with your package, I’ll see to Jenny,” Bobby said as he hurried to see what had upset the baby.
Tara’s fingers shook as she peeled back the paper to reveal a handcrafted wooden box, on the top was etched ‘to my darling granddaughter, who made my life sparkle.” Tara’s eyes filled with tears, she wiped them away with her fingers. She inhaled deeply before unclasping the lid of the box; she gently lifted the lid releasing a shower of glittering gold and silver sparkles that shimmered briefly in the air before disappearing.
“Whoa! What was that?” Bobby asked from behind her.
“Some sort of glitter, I think,” Tara replied before taking a small white envelope out of the box. She opened the envelope and took out a letter, she began to read.
My dearest Tara,
I know this will be the first Christmas you have without me, darling. I want it to be just as magical as every other Christmas you’ve had. The sparkle in your eyes Christmas morning has made Christmas a wonderful holiday for me. I’ve loved watching you grow from a tiny baby into the most wonderful young woman. My wish for you is for you to be happy, to find someone special to share your life with, to make your own family. I know you’ve been hurt in the past, but now is the time to let down the barriers to your heart and let him in, you know who I mean.
Now in this box are my most special Christmas gifts for you, treasure them, love them and use them to help make the holidays as special as you can.
Remember I will always love you.
Grams.
Tara couldn’t help but cry, her Grams had been an important part of her life and she’d taught her so many things in her life that she couldn’t ever repay her for. She had helped shape her into the woman she’d become.
“Hey, love,” Bobby said as he slid in beside her, Jenny cradled in one of his arms, the other he slid comfortingly around her shoulders.
She leaned into the warmth of his embrace and held the letter for him to read.
“It’s a lovely letter, are you going to take her advice?”
“I’m going to try,” she sniffed.
“What else is in the box?”
She pulled out a photograph of her with her Grandma, she couldn’t have been older than two or three and they were sitting together in front of a large Christmas tree, both with huge grins on their faces.
“You were a cute toddler.”
“Thank you,” she replied as she placed the photograph to her side and picked up a small glittery angel. “My Grandpa gave this angel to my Grandma the first Christmas after they were married. It always hung on her Christmas tree every year and she said it reminded her of how much my Grandpa loved her and how special their life together was.”
“That’s a lovely story, now you can hang it on your Christmas tree.”
“I don’t think I’m having one this year, it’s not going to be the same.”
“Tara you bounced into the office this morning laden with decorations.”
“But that’s different, that was for you guys and to try and help me get into the spirit. But here’s different.”
“But usually you have decorations everywhere.”
“But this year’s different.”
“But it doesn’t have to be, love. Your Grandma wanted everything to be special for you even though she’s not here to share it with. You wouldn’t want to disappoint her, would you?”
She shook her head.
“How about you let me help you decorate this year?” he asked hopefully, remembering decorating the tree at home with his Mum and Pop.
“You don’t have to,” she replied quietly.
“But I want to. I haven’t decorated a tree since I left Australia; I never really had a need for one here.”
“It would be nice for Jenny to have a tree,” she glanced over at the sleeping baby resting against his chest. For a moment she wished that it was their baby cradled in his arms and they were planning their family Christmas. She thought about her Grandmother’s letter, maybe it was time to let other people in, and maybe she would be surprised.
“Well we did promise we’d look after her until we found her mother, although I’m not sure we’re going to be able to swing keeping her for Christmas. I think Children and Family Services will have caught up with us by then.”
“But we can make sure she enjoys her first Christmas whilst we’ve got her.”
“That we can, love.”
Tara lifted the angel from the box and as she did so more of the glittery powder danced in the air, a little of it landing on Tara and Bobby. Where it touched their skin warmth spread throughout their bodies melting the last few remnants of wall that surrounded their hearts.
~*~*~*~*~*
Elizabeth clapped her hands with excitement, “Well it looks like Grace’s present has caused the beginning of something wonderful.”
“It does, dear, doesn’t it? A little Christmas magic can unlock a whole new future. I’m sure tonight is just the start of something special for them.”
“What about Jenny?”
“I’ve got everything covered, dear,” he clicked his fingers and the image on the screen changed to show a young woman sitting inside a busy bus terminal, a small backpack clutched in her hands.
“She will be safe, won’t she?”
“With Jack Hudson’s team on the case, she’ll be safe and back with Jenny for Christmas, I promise,” he leaned over and placed a kiss on his wife’s cheek.
~*~*~*~*
~*~*~*~*~
Morris straightened his outfit, he wasn’t sure the baseball cap covered the top of his ears; they were rather more pointed than all of his friends and families. He looked at his reflection in the window, he couldn’t detect the tops of his ears, “Okay, then here we go,” he said to himself quietly as he walked into the doorway and pressed the buzzer for Williams.
“Hello?” a woman’s voice echoed in the porch.
“I have a delivery for a Miss Williams,” Morris stated proudly, he still couldn’t believe that he’d been given such an important assignment.
“It’s a little late for deliveries, which company are you with?” came the woman’s voice.
Morris began to panic a little, “It’s from a Mrs. Grace Williams, it has to be delivered on the first of December at 8pm. “
“What?” Came the reply.
“A Mrs. Grace Williams arranged for this package to be delivered today, my company’s been holding it since July.”
“I’ll buzz you to let you in,” came a man’s voice.
Morris waited for the door to unlock and he headed inside and up the stairs to Tara’s apartment. When he reached her door he knocked sharply. He waited for a few moments and then the door slowly opened. Morris looked up into the face of a very tall man; well he was tall, when your stature is only four feet five inches.
“You have a package for Miss Williams?” the man asked.
“Yes I do,” Morris held out the package for the man to see. “I need a signature please.”
The man took the package and the clipboard and hastily scribbled on it before handing it back to Morris, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Merry Christmas,” Morris grinned.
“Merry Christmas,” the man replied, before closing the door.
Morris tipped his cap and thought happy thoughts before he disappeared in a cloud of glittering stars.
~*~*~*~*~
Bobby turned towards Tara, “Here’s the package love, although I’m sure there was something a little off with the delivery man. I thought I saw pointed ears under his hat and he was rather short, I must be seeing things.”
Tara giggled, “It is the season for it.” She stood looking at the package, her name and address had been written in her Grandmother’s handwriting. She rubbed her fingers over the writing, memories of her Grandmother flooding into her mind.
Bobby watched her, “Are you going to open it?” he asked quietly.
“I can’t believe that she sent this, the date on the package was just a few days before she died. Whatever’s in here must have been really important to her.”
“The only way to find out, love is to open it.”
She walked over to the sofa and sat down with the package on her lap, she carefully began to open the package. A loud wail from the spare room made her jump.
“You carry on with your package, I’ll see to Jenny,” Bobby said as he hurried to see what had upset the baby.
Tara’s fingers shook as she peeled back the paper to reveal a handcrafted wooden box, on the top was etched ‘to my darling granddaughter, who made my life sparkle.” Tara’s eyes filled with tears, she wiped them away with her fingers. She inhaled deeply before unclasping the lid of the box; she gently lifted the lid releasing a shower of glittering gold and silver sparkles that shimmered briefly in the air before disappearing.
“Whoa! What was that?” Bobby asked from behind her.
“Some sort of glitter, I think,” Tara replied before taking a small white envelope out of the box. She opened the envelope and took out a letter, she began to read.
My dearest Tara,
I know this will be the first Christmas you have without me, darling. I want it to be just as magical as every other Christmas you’ve had. The sparkle in your eyes Christmas morning has made Christmas a wonderful holiday for me. I’ve loved watching you grow from a tiny baby into the most wonderful young woman. My wish for you is for you to be happy, to find someone special to share your life with, to make your own family. I know you’ve been hurt in the past, but now is the time to let down the barriers to your heart and let him in, you know who I mean.
Now in this box are my most special Christmas gifts for you, treasure them, love them and use them to help make the holidays as special as you can.
Remember I will always love you.
Grams.
Tara couldn’t help but cry, her Grams had been an important part of her life and she’d taught her so many things in her life that she couldn’t ever repay her for. She had helped shape her into the woman she’d become.
“Hey, love,” Bobby said as he slid in beside her, Jenny cradled in one of his arms, the other he slid comfortingly around her shoulders.
She leaned into the warmth of his embrace and held the letter for him to read.
“It’s a lovely letter, are you going to take her advice?”
“I’m going to try,” she sniffed.
“What else is in the box?”
She pulled out a photograph of her with her Grandma, she couldn’t have been older than two or three and they were sitting together in front of a large Christmas tree, both with huge grins on their faces.
“You were a cute toddler.”
“Thank you,” she replied as she placed the photograph to her side and picked up a small glittery angel. “My Grandpa gave this angel to my Grandma the first Christmas after they were married. It always hung on her Christmas tree every year and she said it reminded her of how much my Grandpa loved her and how special their life together was.”
“That’s a lovely story, now you can hang it on your Christmas tree.”
“I don’t think I’m having one this year, it’s not going to be the same.”
“Tara you bounced into the office this morning laden with decorations.”
“But that’s different, that was for you guys and to try and help me get into the spirit. But here’s different.”
“But usually you have decorations everywhere.”
“But this year’s different.”
“But it doesn’t have to be, love. Your Grandma wanted everything to be special for you even though she’s not here to share it with. You wouldn’t want to disappoint her, would you?”
She shook her head.
“How about you let me help you decorate this year?” he asked hopefully, remembering decorating the tree at home with his Mum and Pop.
“You don’t have to,” she replied quietly.
“But I want to. I haven’t decorated a tree since I left Australia; I never really had a need for one here.”
“It would be nice for Jenny to have a tree,” she glanced over at the sleeping baby resting against his chest. For a moment she wished that it was their baby cradled in his arms and they were planning their family Christmas. She thought about her Grandmother’s letter, maybe it was time to let other people in, and maybe she would be surprised.
“Well we did promise we’d look after her until we found her mother, although I’m not sure we’re going to be able to swing keeping her for Christmas. I think Children and Family Services will have caught up with us by then.”
“But we can make sure she enjoys her first Christmas whilst we’ve got her.”
“That we can, love.”
Tara lifted the angel from the box and as she did so more of the glittery powder danced in the air, a little of it landing on Tara and Bobby. Where it touched their skin warmth spread throughout their bodies melting the last few remnants of wall that surrounded their hearts.
~*~*~*~*~*
Elizabeth clapped her hands with excitement, “Well it looks like Grace’s present has caused the beginning of something wonderful.”
“It does, dear, doesn’t it? A little Christmas magic can unlock a whole new future. I’m sure tonight is just the start of something special for them.”
“What about Jenny?”
“I’ve got everything covered, dear,” he clicked his fingers and the image on the screen changed to show a young woman sitting inside a busy bus terminal, a small backpack clutched in her hands.
“She will be safe, won’t she?”
“With Jack Hudson’s team on the case, she’ll be safe and back with Jenny for Christmas, I promise,” he leaned over and placed a kiss on his wife’s cheek.
~*~*~*~*
Chapter 7
~*~*~*~*
Tara tossed and turned in her bed unable to sleep. The reason she couldn’t sleep was that Bobby was asleep in her living room on her couch. Every time she thought about him and how close he was her mind wandered down a road she’d tried constantly to avoid, ‘cause thinking that way only caused a hot and sticky Tara.
She turned over again and thought about her Grams and the wonderful box she’d sent her. Her Grams knew how much Christmas had meant to Tara and her last gift was something she was going to treasure forever.
A sharp wailing cut into her thoughts, for a moment she’d forgotten about Jenny, coming to her senses, she threw back her comforter and quickly hurried to the spare room. She went into the darkened room and scooped up the crying infant. “Ssh, sweetie, what’s the matter?” She asked the baby as she rocked her in her arms.
“I don’t think she’ll give you an answer,” Bobby said sleepily from the door. “She’s got a good set of lungs on her, hasn’t she?”
“I’ve heard all babies do. All we need to figure out is what she wants.”
Walking over to them he said, “Well it’s two in the morning, I guess she’s either hungry, lonely or left us a message.”
“Well I can’t smell anything particularly unsavoury,” Tara said as she gently sniffed the air, “So I think we’ll try a bottle.”
“I’ll go and put it one in the microwave,” Bobby offered as he headed towards the door.
“I’ll rock her and see if that helps,” she replied heading towards the antique rocker her grandmother had left her, she sat down and made herself comfortable as she began to slowly rock backwards and forwards. Jenny’s eyes looked into Tara’s face as they rocked; her wails slowed to nothing more than a small whimper.
~*~*~*~*~
Bobby stood in the doorway for a moment watching the scene before him, Tara had Jenny cradled in her arms and was gently rocking backwards and forwards singing to her. He couldn’t help but think of a future where Tara would be rocking their own child, it was a dream he’d never thought he’d realise after he’d messed up their relationship with his own confusion it had taken him a long time to build bridges with Tara and he wasn’t going to do anything to upset her again, even if it meant them being nothing more than friends forever. Jenny’s cries brought him back to reality and he walked over to them handing Tara the bottle.
“It’s not too hot, is it?” she asked quietly.
“I checked it on my wrist and it didn’t feel hot.”
“Well then, Jenny, are you hungry?” she asked offering the infant the bottle of formula.
Jenny grasped the teat and began to drink the formula eagerly.
“I guess that cry means she’s hungry, then,” Bobby stated his eyes never leaving the infant.
“And then she’ll need winding and then I’m sure a dirty diaper is in our near future. Why don’t you go and get some rest, you could always do the next shift.”
“I’m now wide awake, I don’t mind sitting up with her if you want to get some sleep.”
“I couldn’t sleep anyway, my mind was working overtime.”
Bobby chuckled, “We’re going to be arguing in a minute about whose going to stay up with the baby, how about we both handle this shift and hope she sleeps the rest of the night.”
“Wouldn’t want to argue, it’s not the season for arguing.”
“How about I make us some hot chocolate for when she’s finished her milk?” he offered.
“That would be great; there are some marshmallows in the cupboard if you want some added sugar.”
“We might need that to see us through tomorrow,” he replied, gently brushing his hand over Jenny’s head, before heading out into the kitchen.
~*~*~*~*~
“She’s asleep,” Tara said quietly as she walked into the kitchen.
Bobby handed her a mug of hot chocolate, the marshmallows on top had just begun to melt. “Thank you.”
She led them through to the living room where she perched on one side of the sofa, Bobby sat beside her.
They sat in comfortable silence as they sipped their hot chocolate.
“Do you ever think about having a family?” he asked quietly.
“It has crossed my mind,” she admitted, “but there’s an ingredient missing.”
Confusion crossed his face.
“A man.”
“What about Stanley?”
Tara scrunched up her face, “He and I parted ways last November. He was relocated to Chicago and I didn’t want to go with him, so we decided that as we were going nowhere it would be sensible to part as friends.”
“I didn’t realise that you and he weren’t together anymore.”
“It’s something I didn’t want to talk about. I thought at first maybe Stanley and I would make it, he understood me, well the intelligent part of me, but he didn’t get all of me. I started to notice that he liked my brains and intellect but didn’t understand my quirks.”
Bobby chuckled, “Like the fluffy pens, penchant for Winnie the Pooh and friends and a love of everything Disney?”
She smiled, “Yes, he couldn’t understand my fascination with them or with Christmas. Stanley didn’t embrace the holiday spirit.”
“But they’re what makes you, you. Your enthusiasm for life, your need to make the world a better place for everyone you know and those you’ve yet to know. Yes you’re the most intelligent person I know a whiz on the computer but that’s only one side of you. He must have been blind not to see how special you are.”
Tara felt her cheeks redden as Bobby talked about her.
He noticed the change in her, “I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
“You didn’t, it’s just that... No one has ever said such lovely things about me before. Thank you.”
“It’s the truth, Tara.”
“So currently without anyone in my life the chances of a family are slim.”
“You’ll find the right person one day.”
“I hope it’s before I’m old and grey.”
“There’s someone out there waiting just for you, maybe you’ve even met him already.”
“Well if I have you’d think he’d have acted.”
“Maybe he’s scared of ruining what they have already.”
Tara narrowed her eyes as she looked at him, “Do you know something I should know?”
Bobby thought about what he’d said, he gulped, was he going to be a coward and not tell her how he felt or was he going to be brave enough to risk everything to take a hold of his life and work on getting a future he wanted?
“Bobby?” she asked quietly noticing the look of panic that seemed to fly over his face.
He coughed nervously; he hoped he could phrase the words he wanted to say without upsetting her. “Well I know there is someone who worships every step you take, looks forward to every smile that graces your face. Your Christmas cookies are the highlight of my year.”
Tara gasped, “You?”
Bobby hung his head, “Would it be so bad?”
“But you said that when we kissed it made you remember how much you loved Darcy!”
He shook his head, “I didn’t claim to be very intelligent, did I? At the time we kissed I was wrapped up in the dream that Darcy and I had a future and at that moment I wasn’t thinking very clearly. But that moment did stir something in me and when I realised that I’d made a mistake with Darcy I couldn’t help myself thinking about you. But you were with Stanley and I couldn’t ruin your chance of happiness with him, because you didn’t try to ruin my chance of happiness with Darcy.”
“But why didn’t you say anything after Stanley and I had finished?”
“I didn’t know you and Stanley were finished, I just assumed you were still having a long distance relationship. And the second thing was I was scared of ruining our friendship. Your friendship means too much to me to lose, you’re my family here, you and the others, but especially you. You make me smile, you give me as good as I give you when we argue, and your enthusiasm for life makes me see things in a different way. I didn’t want to lose that if we didn’t work.”
She reached forward and gently took his hand, “But what if we could work?”
“Then I’d be the happiest man on the planet.”
She smiled, “Would you like to give us a chance?”
“I would if you would.”
“I would.”
She leaned forward closing the distance between them, their lips finally touching in a kiss that was much gentler than their first, yet filled with the promise of things to come. As they were losing themselves in the emotions that accompanied their kiss Jenny crying shattered the moment.
Bobby regretfully pulled away from Tara resting his forehead against hers, “It’s a wonder there are families containing more than one child, because babies seem to have a habit of spoiling the moment.”
“I’m sure there’s a way around the interruption, but that’s something we can work on in the future. For now I see a dirty diaper in ours. Do you want to toss for it?”
“No need, I’ll change her,” he replied before placing a chaste kiss on her lips, “But I hope we can continue this afterwards.”
She grinned, “Maybe.”
~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*
Tara tossed and turned in her bed unable to sleep. The reason she couldn’t sleep was that Bobby was asleep in her living room on her couch. Every time she thought about him and how close he was her mind wandered down a road she’d tried constantly to avoid, ‘cause thinking that way only caused a hot and sticky Tara.
She turned over again and thought about her Grams and the wonderful box she’d sent her. Her Grams knew how much Christmas had meant to Tara and her last gift was something she was going to treasure forever.
A sharp wailing cut into her thoughts, for a moment she’d forgotten about Jenny, coming to her senses, she threw back her comforter and quickly hurried to the spare room. She went into the darkened room and scooped up the crying infant. “Ssh, sweetie, what’s the matter?” She asked the baby as she rocked her in her arms.
“I don’t think she’ll give you an answer,” Bobby said sleepily from the door. “She’s got a good set of lungs on her, hasn’t she?”
“I’ve heard all babies do. All we need to figure out is what she wants.”
Walking over to them he said, “Well it’s two in the morning, I guess she’s either hungry, lonely or left us a message.”
“Well I can’t smell anything particularly unsavoury,” Tara said as she gently sniffed the air, “So I think we’ll try a bottle.”
“I’ll go and put it one in the microwave,” Bobby offered as he headed towards the door.
“I’ll rock her and see if that helps,” she replied heading towards the antique rocker her grandmother had left her, she sat down and made herself comfortable as she began to slowly rock backwards and forwards. Jenny’s eyes looked into Tara’s face as they rocked; her wails slowed to nothing more than a small whimper.
~*~*~*~*~
Bobby stood in the doorway for a moment watching the scene before him, Tara had Jenny cradled in her arms and was gently rocking backwards and forwards singing to her. He couldn’t help but think of a future where Tara would be rocking their own child, it was a dream he’d never thought he’d realise after he’d messed up their relationship with his own confusion it had taken him a long time to build bridges with Tara and he wasn’t going to do anything to upset her again, even if it meant them being nothing more than friends forever. Jenny’s cries brought him back to reality and he walked over to them handing Tara the bottle.
“It’s not too hot, is it?” she asked quietly.
“I checked it on my wrist and it didn’t feel hot.”
“Well then, Jenny, are you hungry?” she asked offering the infant the bottle of formula.
Jenny grasped the teat and began to drink the formula eagerly.
“I guess that cry means she’s hungry, then,” Bobby stated his eyes never leaving the infant.
“And then she’ll need winding and then I’m sure a dirty diaper is in our near future. Why don’t you go and get some rest, you could always do the next shift.”
“I’m now wide awake, I don’t mind sitting up with her if you want to get some sleep.”
“I couldn’t sleep anyway, my mind was working overtime.”
Bobby chuckled, “We’re going to be arguing in a minute about whose going to stay up with the baby, how about we both handle this shift and hope she sleeps the rest of the night.”
“Wouldn’t want to argue, it’s not the season for arguing.”
“How about I make us some hot chocolate for when she’s finished her milk?” he offered.
“That would be great; there are some marshmallows in the cupboard if you want some added sugar.”
“We might need that to see us through tomorrow,” he replied, gently brushing his hand over Jenny’s head, before heading out into the kitchen.
~*~*~*~*~
“She’s asleep,” Tara said quietly as she walked into the kitchen.
Bobby handed her a mug of hot chocolate, the marshmallows on top had just begun to melt. “Thank you.”
She led them through to the living room where she perched on one side of the sofa, Bobby sat beside her.
They sat in comfortable silence as they sipped their hot chocolate.
“Do you ever think about having a family?” he asked quietly.
“It has crossed my mind,” she admitted, “but there’s an ingredient missing.”
Confusion crossed his face.
“A man.”
“What about Stanley?”
Tara scrunched up her face, “He and I parted ways last November. He was relocated to Chicago and I didn’t want to go with him, so we decided that as we were going nowhere it would be sensible to part as friends.”
“I didn’t realise that you and he weren’t together anymore.”
“It’s something I didn’t want to talk about. I thought at first maybe Stanley and I would make it, he understood me, well the intelligent part of me, but he didn’t get all of me. I started to notice that he liked my brains and intellect but didn’t understand my quirks.”
Bobby chuckled, “Like the fluffy pens, penchant for Winnie the Pooh and friends and a love of everything Disney?”
She smiled, “Yes, he couldn’t understand my fascination with them or with Christmas. Stanley didn’t embrace the holiday spirit.”
“But they’re what makes you, you. Your enthusiasm for life, your need to make the world a better place for everyone you know and those you’ve yet to know. Yes you’re the most intelligent person I know a whiz on the computer but that’s only one side of you. He must have been blind not to see how special you are.”
Tara felt her cheeks redden as Bobby talked about her.
He noticed the change in her, “I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
“You didn’t, it’s just that... No one has ever said such lovely things about me before. Thank you.”
“It’s the truth, Tara.”
“So currently without anyone in my life the chances of a family are slim.”
“You’ll find the right person one day.”
“I hope it’s before I’m old and grey.”
“There’s someone out there waiting just for you, maybe you’ve even met him already.”
“Well if I have you’d think he’d have acted.”
“Maybe he’s scared of ruining what they have already.”
Tara narrowed her eyes as she looked at him, “Do you know something I should know?”
Bobby thought about what he’d said, he gulped, was he going to be a coward and not tell her how he felt or was he going to be brave enough to risk everything to take a hold of his life and work on getting a future he wanted?
“Bobby?” she asked quietly noticing the look of panic that seemed to fly over his face.
He coughed nervously; he hoped he could phrase the words he wanted to say without upsetting her. “Well I know there is someone who worships every step you take, looks forward to every smile that graces your face. Your Christmas cookies are the highlight of my year.”
Tara gasped, “You?”
Bobby hung his head, “Would it be so bad?”
“But you said that when we kissed it made you remember how much you loved Darcy!”
He shook his head, “I didn’t claim to be very intelligent, did I? At the time we kissed I was wrapped up in the dream that Darcy and I had a future and at that moment I wasn’t thinking very clearly. But that moment did stir something in me and when I realised that I’d made a mistake with Darcy I couldn’t help myself thinking about you. But you were with Stanley and I couldn’t ruin your chance of happiness with him, because you didn’t try to ruin my chance of happiness with Darcy.”
“But why didn’t you say anything after Stanley and I had finished?”
“I didn’t know you and Stanley were finished, I just assumed you were still having a long distance relationship. And the second thing was I was scared of ruining our friendship. Your friendship means too much to me to lose, you’re my family here, you and the others, but especially you. You make me smile, you give me as good as I give you when we argue, and your enthusiasm for life makes me see things in a different way. I didn’t want to lose that if we didn’t work.”
She reached forward and gently took his hand, “But what if we could work?”
“Then I’d be the happiest man on the planet.”
She smiled, “Would you like to give us a chance?”
“I would if you would.”
“I would.”
She leaned forward closing the distance between them, their lips finally touching in a kiss that was much gentler than their first, yet filled with the promise of things to come. As they were losing themselves in the emotions that accompanied their kiss Jenny crying shattered the moment.
Bobby regretfully pulled away from Tara resting his forehead against hers, “It’s a wonder there are families containing more than one child, because babies seem to have a habit of spoiling the moment.”
“I’m sure there’s a way around the interruption, but that’s something we can work on in the future. For now I see a dirty diaper in ours. Do you want to toss for it?”
“No need, I’ll change her,” he replied before placing a chaste kiss on her lips, “But I hope we can continue this afterwards.”
She grinned, “Maybe.”
~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 8
~*~*~*~*~*~
They walked into the bullpen fashionably late.
“I see the little rug rat kept you up,” Myles retorted as he took in their tired expressions.
“She managed to sleep for a couple of hours in a row,” Bobby replied in between yawning. “I don’t know how parents cope without sleep.”
“It’s something you get used to and can only dream about for the first couple of years of your child’s life,” D added as he entered the room.
“Well we survived one night and it’s bound to get easier the longer you do it, right?” Tara looked at D hopefully.
He chuckled, “Well it doesn’t get easier you just get used to not having the luxury of lots of sleep.”
Tara slumped into her chair, “You have a way of bursting my illusions, D.”
“Think of it this way, Tara, it’s only a short term arrangement until we either find Jenny’s mom or we hand her over to Children and Family services,” D reminded her.
“We think we’ve found the identity of Jenny’s mom,” Jack stated as he entered the bullpen with Sue and Levi.
“You have?” Bobby asked his face suddenly filled with interest.
“The lab matched the fingerprints they took from the note; it looks like Jenny’s mom is Marie Lawrence. Her prints are on file as she is a witness in a federal case against a law firm that’s under investigation for jury tampering. Marie was a legal secretary with the firm. She was the one who tipped of the Bureau that there were dodgy dealings.” Jack explained.
“What happened to make Marie abandon Jenny?”
“I’ve talked with the team running the investigation, Marie began to receive threats, she was offered a place within the witness protection programme, but she turned it down. The team were offering her protection and moved her to a safe house. Unfortunately there was a leak, someone found out where Marie was being kept; they attacked the house the day before yesterday. One agent was killed and another seriously injured, they did manage to take down the perpetrator and Marie and Jenny managed to escape.”
“Poor Marie, she must have been terrified. So she left Jenny in the church knowing that someone would find her and look after her and Marie’s on the run trying to protect herself,” Tara sighed.
“We need to find her,” Bobby stated as he began to pace, “’Cause if they’re prepared to hire a hit man to take her down, she’s still in danger and Jenny certainly needs her mum.”
“I’ve got a photograph of Marie and a list of her known contacts, now all we’ve got to do is find her,” Jack said as he handed out copies of Marie’s file.
“Let’s hope we can find the needle in the haystack before the opposition does,” Myles stated dryly.
“I suggest we split up and see what we can find,” D began. “Is Jenny in day care?”
“Yep we booked her in on the way up, Bobby and I are listed as her next of kin for now,” Tara explained.
“Okay, well you and Bobby take her friends. Sue, Jack, you take her work colleagues, Myles and I will take family. We’ll check back in after lunch to see how we’re getting on.” D announced.
Everyone nodded and grabbed their coats.
~*~*~*~*~
“Well, dear. They’re making good progress, aren’t they?” Elizabeth said as she watched the screen.
“They certainly have, although I think they could use a little guidance in finding Marie,” he grinned.
“What do you have in mind?”
“A little anonymous tip off.”
“I hope it works as well as your plan to implement Grace’s wish. That seems to be going rather well.”
“It does, doesn’t it,” he looked rather pleased with himself.
“Just don’t go bragging to Cupid, will you. You know what happened last time someone interfered with his caseload,” she admonished.
“Well Grace’s letter came to me and as she addressed the letter to me, then I consider that she thought I was the right person to deal with her request, not Cupid. Do I get upset when he gives gifts as part of his role,” he emphatically shook his head, “No I do not!”
“That’s okay, dear. I was just reminding you, that’s all. Now don’t you have an anonymous tip to deliver?”
“Yes, dear,” he replied heading out of the door to his office.
~*~*~*~*~
Bobby and Tara returned to the bullpen and found the others looking like they felt, “I take it you didn’t find anything?” Bobby asked.
“No,” they all said in unison.
“Marie seems to have hidden herself well,” Jack said as he organised a pile of papers on his desk.
“Better than most criminals,” Myles added.
“The question is where do we look next?” D asked.
“Well I think I might be able to help there,” Lucy smiled as she came into the bullpen waving a piece of paper in the air.
“Don’t keep us in suspense, Luce what have you got?” Myles asked.
“An anonymous tip just came in via the fax machine, Marie appears to be hiding in Woodley Heights,” Lucy explained, “The tipster was even kind enough to give us address.”
“Well then, let’s go and find Jenny’s mom,” Bobby said enthusiastically reaching for his coat.
~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~
They walked into the bullpen fashionably late.
“I see the little rug rat kept you up,” Myles retorted as he took in their tired expressions.
“She managed to sleep for a couple of hours in a row,” Bobby replied in between yawning. “I don’t know how parents cope without sleep.”
“It’s something you get used to and can only dream about for the first couple of years of your child’s life,” D added as he entered the room.
“Well we survived one night and it’s bound to get easier the longer you do it, right?” Tara looked at D hopefully.
He chuckled, “Well it doesn’t get easier you just get used to not having the luxury of lots of sleep.”
Tara slumped into her chair, “You have a way of bursting my illusions, D.”
“Think of it this way, Tara, it’s only a short term arrangement until we either find Jenny’s mom or we hand her over to Children and Family services,” D reminded her.
“We think we’ve found the identity of Jenny’s mom,” Jack stated as he entered the bullpen with Sue and Levi.
“You have?” Bobby asked his face suddenly filled with interest.
“The lab matched the fingerprints they took from the note; it looks like Jenny’s mom is Marie Lawrence. Her prints are on file as she is a witness in a federal case against a law firm that’s under investigation for jury tampering. Marie was a legal secretary with the firm. She was the one who tipped of the Bureau that there were dodgy dealings.” Jack explained.
“What happened to make Marie abandon Jenny?”
“I’ve talked with the team running the investigation, Marie began to receive threats, she was offered a place within the witness protection programme, but she turned it down. The team were offering her protection and moved her to a safe house. Unfortunately there was a leak, someone found out where Marie was being kept; they attacked the house the day before yesterday. One agent was killed and another seriously injured, they did manage to take down the perpetrator and Marie and Jenny managed to escape.”
“Poor Marie, she must have been terrified. So she left Jenny in the church knowing that someone would find her and look after her and Marie’s on the run trying to protect herself,” Tara sighed.
“We need to find her,” Bobby stated as he began to pace, “’Cause if they’re prepared to hire a hit man to take her down, she’s still in danger and Jenny certainly needs her mum.”
“I’ve got a photograph of Marie and a list of her known contacts, now all we’ve got to do is find her,” Jack said as he handed out copies of Marie’s file.
“Let’s hope we can find the needle in the haystack before the opposition does,” Myles stated dryly.
“I suggest we split up and see what we can find,” D began. “Is Jenny in day care?”
“Yep we booked her in on the way up, Bobby and I are listed as her next of kin for now,” Tara explained.
“Okay, well you and Bobby take her friends. Sue, Jack, you take her work colleagues, Myles and I will take family. We’ll check back in after lunch to see how we’re getting on.” D announced.
Everyone nodded and grabbed their coats.
~*~*~*~*~
“Well, dear. They’re making good progress, aren’t they?” Elizabeth said as she watched the screen.
“They certainly have, although I think they could use a little guidance in finding Marie,” he grinned.
“What do you have in mind?”
“A little anonymous tip off.”
“I hope it works as well as your plan to implement Grace’s wish. That seems to be going rather well.”
“It does, doesn’t it,” he looked rather pleased with himself.
“Just don’t go bragging to Cupid, will you. You know what happened last time someone interfered with his caseload,” she admonished.
“Well Grace’s letter came to me and as she addressed the letter to me, then I consider that she thought I was the right person to deal with her request, not Cupid. Do I get upset when he gives gifts as part of his role,” he emphatically shook his head, “No I do not!”
“That’s okay, dear. I was just reminding you, that’s all. Now don’t you have an anonymous tip to deliver?”
“Yes, dear,” he replied heading out of the door to his office.
~*~*~*~*~
Bobby and Tara returned to the bullpen and found the others looking like they felt, “I take it you didn’t find anything?” Bobby asked.
“No,” they all said in unison.
“Marie seems to have hidden herself well,” Jack said as he organised a pile of papers on his desk.
“Better than most criminals,” Myles added.
“The question is where do we look next?” D asked.
“Well I think I might be able to help there,” Lucy smiled as she came into the bullpen waving a piece of paper in the air.
“Don’t keep us in suspense, Luce what have you got?” Myles asked.
“An anonymous tip just came in via the fax machine, Marie appears to be hiding in Woodley Heights,” Lucy explained, “The tipster was even kind enough to give us address.”
“Well then, let’s go and find Jenny’s mom,” Bobby said enthusiastically reaching for his coat.
~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 9
~*~*~*~*~
Bobby and Tara entered the apartment building, the rest of the team were watching the exits to make sure they weren’t surprised or Marie escaped.
They walked into the foyer and checked the location of the apartment, noticing it was on the third floor they began to climb the stairs.
“I hope she’s in, love, ‘because that baby needs her mum,” Bobby said quietly.
Tara nodded, “I’ve enjoyed looking after her, but she really does belong with her mom.”
They walked up to the door and knocked; as they waited they both unfastened their holsters in case of any unforeseen trouble.
They knocked again, “F.B.I open up,” Bobby said authoritatively.
They heard the clunk of a lock being unlocked and then the door opened slightly, “Can I see some identification?” a woman asked from behind the door.
Bobby pulled out his ID and passed it through the gap in the door, “I’m agent Manning and this is agent Williams we’re here about Jenny.”
A sob came from the other side of the door, and the security chain was unlocked and the door opened slowly. Behind the door a young woman stood her face haggard with worry and stress.
“Marie?” Tara asked quietly.
She nodded, “You’d better come in.”
They walked into the dingy apartment; Marie quickly checked the corridor before shutting and locking the door.
Marie walked in and looked at them, “Is she safe?” she asked wringing her hands nervously.
“She’s fine, we found her yesterday and we’ve been looking after her,” Tara reassured her.
“I didn’t want to leave her, but it was too dangerous. They found us before and I wasn’t going to let her get hurt, she needed to have a real family and a life. I can’t give her that at the moment.”
“Let us help you,” Bobby offered. “We’re aware of what happened at the safe house. We can arrange for you to go into the witness protection programme, or we can ensure your safety until you testify.”
“The other agents offered to protect me and they got shot. It’s not fair of me to expect anyone else to give their life for me.”
“It’s what we do,” he replied genuinely.
“The witness protection programme would be safer,” Tara began, “did the other agents explain what happens?”
Marie nodded, “But I’ve seen the movies where witnesses get tracked down and they can’t have any contact with family or friends.”
“It’s very rare that anyone in the witness protection programme is found, it is safer than what you’re doing now and it gives you and Jenny a chance for a future, together. She needs her mother,” Tara explained.
“But I don’t know if I can do that on my own.”
“You’ll have support and you will make friends and most importantly you’ll be safe,” Tara continued.
Marie sank into the threadbare sofa and placed her head in her hands. “I want to do the right thing by Jenny; she deserves the best future possible.”
“And that’s with you. It’s obvious you love her; you made sure she was wrapped up and left in a place where she would be found quickly. I bet you even watched to see that she was found, didn’t you?” Bobby asked.
Marie nodded, “I saw the police car and then both of you.”
“Well we didn’t turn Jenny over to Child and Family Services because we believed that we would find and help you. That’s what we want to do, we want to give Jenny her mother and you a life without fear,” Tara stated emphatically.
Marie looked at them, “If you found me it won’t be long before they do. I want nothing more than to be Jenny’s mom, I have to trust someone and you both took care of Jenny. Okay, I’ll go into the witness protection programme if you can arrange it.”
Bobby and Tara smiled with relief, before Tara began to speak, “The rest of our team is outside, we’ll move you to a safe house that only we know the location of and then we’ll set the witness protection programme in place. There’ll be one of us with you until you’re settled.”
“What about Jenny?” Marie asked.
“We can bring her to you, or we could continue to look after her until you’re happy with the arrangements,” Tara suggested.
“I’d like her with me, if that’s okay?” Marie asked quietly.
“There’s nothing we’d like more than to reunite Jenny with you. We’ll arrange for her to be brought to the safe house once you’re settled,” Bobby explained.
“Thank you,” Marie said as tears of relief and joy ran down her cheeks.
~*~*~*~*~
Tara cradled Jenny in her arms as she walked into the apartment, Myles and D were sitting with Marie, they had taken the first watch and now it was time to swap with Tara and Bobby.
When Marie saw the baby cradled in Tara’s arms she hurried from the sofa and gently took the baby from Tara. Marie’s face lit up with love and happiness as she looked into the baby’s face. “Jenny,” she cooed, “I missed you.” She then began to rock the infant in her arms. “Thank you,” she said as she looked at Bobby and Tara.
~*~*~*~*~
Two days later.
Tara and Bobby watched as Jenny and Marie left with the US Marshall. As the car drove away, Marie turned and waved out of the rear window. They waved in return.
“I’m going to miss that little girl,” Bobby said wistfully.
“Me too,” Tara replied. “Although we know they’re going to be safe and once the case is over they can get on with their lives being family.”
“A family, I like the sound of that,” Bobby said as he put his arm around Tara’s shoulders and pulled her into a hug.
“Me too. But first we have one more job to do.”
“We do?”
“Yep. I’ve been given the best Christmas present I could ask for.”
“You have?”
“Don’t let it go to your head, but I think you and me is a pretty special present. But I know two other people who are not as quick at acting on their feelings as you and me.”
Bobby chuckled, “It took us nearly eighteen months, love, and I don’t call that quick.”
Tara rolled her eyes, “Sue and Jack have been dancing around their feelings for years.”
Bobby recognised the look of determination on her face, “You have a plan, don’t you?”
“Just a little something to help move nature along.”
Bobby shook his head, “Count me in.”
~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~
Bobby and Tara entered the apartment building, the rest of the team were watching the exits to make sure they weren’t surprised or Marie escaped.
They walked into the foyer and checked the location of the apartment, noticing it was on the third floor they began to climb the stairs.
“I hope she’s in, love, ‘because that baby needs her mum,” Bobby said quietly.
Tara nodded, “I’ve enjoyed looking after her, but she really does belong with her mom.”
They walked up to the door and knocked; as they waited they both unfastened their holsters in case of any unforeseen trouble.
They knocked again, “F.B.I open up,” Bobby said authoritatively.
They heard the clunk of a lock being unlocked and then the door opened slightly, “Can I see some identification?” a woman asked from behind the door.
Bobby pulled out his ID and passed it through the gap in the door, “I’m agent Manning and this is agent Williams we’re here about Jenny.”
A sob came from the other side of the door, and the security chain was unlocked and the door opened slowly. Behind the door a young woman stood her face haggard with worry and stress.
“Marie?” Tara asked quietly.
She nodded, “You’d better come in.”
They walked into the dingy apartment; Marie quickly checked the corridor before shutting and locking the door.
Marie walked in and looked at them, “Is she safe?” she asked wringing her hands nervously.
“She’s fine, we found her yesterday and we’ve been looking after her,” Tara reassured her.
“I didn’t want to leave her, but it was too dangerous. They found us before and I wasn’t going to let her get hurt, she needed to have a real family and a life. I can’t give her that at the moment.”
“Let us help you,” Bobby offered. “We’re aware of what happened at the safe house. We can arrange for you to go into the witness protection programme, or we can ensure your safety until you testify.”
“The other agents offered to protect me and they got shot. It’s not fair of me to expect anyone else to give their life for me.”
“It’s what we do,” he replied genuinely.
“The witness protection programme would be safer,” Tara began, “did the other agents explain what happens?”
Marie nodded, “But I’ve seen the movies where witnesses get tracked down and they can’t have any contact with family or friends.”
“It’s very rare that anyone in the witness protection programme is found, it is safer than what you’re doing now and it gives you and Jenny a chance for a future, together. She needs her mother,” Tara explained.
“But I don’t know if I can do that on my own.”
“You’ll have support and you will make friends and most importantly you’ll be safe,” Tara continued.
Marie sank into the threadbare sofa and placed her head in her hands. “I want to do the right thing by Jenny; she deserves the best future possible.”
“And that’s with you. It’s obvious you love her; you made sure she was wrapped up and left in a place where she would be found quickly. I bet you even watched to see that she was found, didn’t you?” Bobby asked.
Marie nodded, “I saw the police car and then both of you.”
“Well we didn’t turn Jenny over to Child and Family Services because we believed that we would find and help you. That’s what we want to do, we want to give Jenny her mother and you a life without fear,” Tara stated emphatically.
Marie looked at them, “If you found me it won’t be long before they do. I want nothing more than to be Jenny’s mom, I have to trust someone and you both took care of Jenny. Okay, I’ll go into the witness protection programme if you can arrange it.”
Bobby and Tara smiled with relief, before Tara began to speak, “The rest of our team is outside, we’ll move you to a safe house that only we know the location of and then we’ll set the witness protection programme in place. There’ll be one of us with you until you’re settled.”
“What about Jenny?” Marie asked.
“We can bring her to you, or we could continue to look after her until you’re happy with the arrangements,” Tara suggested.
“I’d like her with me, if that’s okay?” Marie asked quietly.
“There’s nothing we’d like more than to reunite Jenny with you. We’ll arrange for her to be brought to the safe house once you’re settled,” Bobby explained.
“Thank you,” Marie said as tears of relief and joy ran down her cheeks.
~*~*~*~*~
Tara cradled Jenny in her arms as she walked into the apartment, Myles and D were sitting with Marie, they had taken the first watch and now it was time to swap with Tara and Bobby.
When Marie saw the baby cradled in Tara’s arms she hurried from the sofa and gently took the baby from Tara. Marie’s face lit up with love and happiness as she looked into the baby’s face. “Jenny,” she cooed, “I missed you.” She then began to rock the infant in her arms. “Thank you,” she said as she looked at Bobby and Tara.
~*~*~*~*~
Two days later.
Tara and Bobby watched as Jenny and Marie left with the US Marshall. As the car drove away, Marie turned and waved out of the rear window. They waved in return.
“I’m going to miss that little girl,” Bobby said wistfully.
“Me too,” Tara replied. “Although we know they’re going to be safe and once the case is over they can get on with their lives being family.”
“A family, I like the sound of that,” Bobby said as he put his arm around Tara’s shoulders and pulled her into a hug.
“Me too. But first we have one more job to do.”
“We do?”
“Yep. I’ve been given the best Christmas present I could ask for.”
“You have?”
“Don’t let it go to your head, but I think you and me is a pretty special present. But I know two other people who are not as quick at acting on their feelings as you and me.”
Bobby chuckled, “It took us nearly eighteen months, love, and I don’t call that quick.”
Tara rolled her eyes, “Sue and Jack have been dancing around their feelings for years.”
Bobby recognised the look of determination on her face, “You have a plan, don’t you?”
“Just a little something to help move nature along.”
Bobby shook his head, “Count me in.”
~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 10
~*~*~*~*~
Christmas Eve
The bullpen was filled with Christmas music and a range of decorations. Tara and Bobby had arrived early that morning to put Tara’s plan into operation.
Bobby sat on the edge of Tara’s desk which was the best position to watch the fun unravel. “Trust them to be late today,” he grumped.
“Well what’s worth having is worth waiting for,” she smiled as she reached out and took his hand.
“That’s true, love” he replied as he slowly leaned forward and captured her lips in a kiss that suddenly deepened from the chaste kiss he had intended sharing with Tara.
“Where’s the mistletoe?” Jack asked, his voice interrupting them.
Bobby regretfully pulled away from Tara and looked at Jack who was standing next to Sue smiling at them, “Well Sparky I’d say the mistletoe is directly above you.” He nodded towards the ceiling. He felt Tara squeeze his shoulder as he watched the shocked look creep over Jack and Sue. “You’re not going to let Tara down with the Christmas spirit, are you?”
Jack flushed a deeper red, “Well... er...”
Levi barked in encouragement.
Jack looked at Sue and then nodded towards the ceiling; Sue smiled nervously as Jack began to close the distance between them. He gently brushed his lips over Sue’s and was surprised when she allowed him to deepen the kiss.
Bobby looked at Tara and grinned, “It looks like your plan might have worked, love,” he whispered in her ear before pulling back and holding up a small sprig of mistletoe above their heads. “I saved a bit, love,” he said before kissing her.
Myles, Lucy and D walked into the bullpen and stopped dead in their tracks at the scene before them.
“Has someone put something in the coffee?” Myles asked.
“If they have I want to know who and why didn’t they give me fair warning!” Lucy fumed that years of careful nudging had gotten her nowhere and apparently all she needed was some mistletoe!
“It looks to me like it’s the season for miracles and happiness!” D chuckled. “It also looks like it might be time to announce the changes to the dating policy.”
~*~*~*~*~
From their sofa they watched the scene in the bullpen, “I think you did it, dear. You answered all of their Christmas wishes.”
“Indeed I did and even though I say it myself I’m quite proud of myself!” He chuckled, his large belly jiggling like a bowl full of jelly.
“You have a right to, dear.”
“Now I have to leave my comfortable sofa and prepare for tonight, ‘cause I have millions of children to deliver their Christmas wishes.”
“You do, dear. You’d better get dressed and I’ll check with the Elves that the sleigh and deer are ready.”
“I love this time of year, ‘cause magical things really do happen for everyone.”
“Make sure you’ve got your thermal shirt on dear, you know how cold you get when you travel.”
He chuckled, “You never stop looking after me.”
“That’s my job, dear,” she replied before pressing a quick kiss to his cheek.
~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~
Christmas Eve
The bullpen was filled with Christmas music and a range of decorations. Tara and Bobby had arrived early that morning to put Tara’s plan into operation.
Bobby sat on the edge of Tara’s desk which was the best position to watch the fun unravel. “Trust them to be late today,” he grumped.
“Well what’s worth having is worth waiting for,” she smiled as she reached out and took his hand.
“That’s true, love” he replied as he slowly leaned forward and captured her lips in a kiss that suddenly deepened from the chaste kiss he had intended sharing with Tara.
“Where’s the mistletoe?” Jack asked, his voice interrupting them.
Bobby regretfully pulled away from Tara and looked at Jack who was standing next to Sue smiling at them, “Well Sparky I’d say the mistletoe is directly above you.” He nodded towards the ceiling. He felt Tara squeeze his shoulder as he watched the shocked look creep over Jack and Sue. “You’re not going to let Tara down with the Christmas spirit, are you?”
Jack flushed a deeper red, “Well... er...”
Levi barked in encouragement.
Jack looked at Sue and then nodded towards the ceiling; Sue smiled nervously as Jack began to close the distance between them. He gently brushed his lips over Sue’s and was surprised when she allowed him to deepen the kiss.
Bobby looked at Tara and grinned, “It looks like your plan might have worked, love,” he whispered in her ear before pulling back and holding up a small sprig of mistletoe above their heads. “I saved a bit, love,” he said before kissing her.
Myles, Lucy and D walked into the bullpen and stopped dead in their tracks at the scene before them.
“Has someone put something in the coffee?” Myles asked.
“If they have I want to know who and why didn’t they give me fair warning!” Lucy fumed that years of careful nudging had gotten her nowhere and apparently all she needed was some mistletoe!
“It looks to me like it’s the season for miracles and happiness!” D chuckled. “It also looks like it might be time to announce the changes to the dating policy.”
~*~*~*~*~
From their sofa they watched the scene in the bullpen, “I think you did it, dear. You answered all of their Christmas wishes.”
“Indeed I did and even though I say it myself I’m quite proud of myself!” He chuckled, his large belly jiggling like a bowl full of jelly.
“You have a right to, dear.”
“Now I have to leave my comfortable sofa and prepare for tonight, ‘cause I have millions of children to deliver their Christmas wishes.”
“You do, dear. You’d better get dressed and I’ll check with the Elves that the sleigh and deer are ready.”
“I love this time of year, ‘cause magical things really do happen for everyone.”
“Make sure you’ve got your thermal shirt on dear, you know how cold you get when you travel.”
He chuckled, “You never stop looking after me.”
“That’s my job, dear,” she replied before pressing a quick kiss to his cheek.
~*~*~*~*~
Epilogue
~*~*~*~*~
One year later.
Tara sat next to their Christmas tree and watched the twinkling lights, her Gram’s angel hung from the tree shimmering and glittering.
“Merry Christmas, love,” Bobby whispered in her ear as he sat down behind her and pulled her back into her arms.
As she leaned into his embrace he handed her a small beautifully wrapped package. “What’s this?” she asked.
“An early Christmas present. Open it, love.”
Her fingers eagerly opened the wrapping paper to reveal a small black velvet box; she turned in his embrace to look at him.
“Open it, love,” he requested gently.
She noticed that her fingers began to shake as she opened the box to reveal a diamond ring, “Bobby?” she asked her voice catching in her throat.
Bobby met her eyes and smiled, “The past year has been the best one of my life and I want my future to be the same and I can’t imagine a future without you in it. Will you marry me?”
Tears welled in her eyes, and she nodded as she replied, “Yes!”
Bobby grinned and took the ring from the box and slipped it on to her finger before kissing her tenderly.
~*~*~*~*~
Elizabeth clapped her hands, “Nick! Nick!” she called.
“What?” Nick replied hurrying into their living room, his large red coat open waiting for the buttons to be fastened. “I was just getting ready.”
“He asked her to marry him!”
“Who?” Nick asked confused.
“Bobby asked Tara to marry him, Grace got her present.”
Nick grinned, “Excellent. “ He waved his hand and the picture on the screen changed.
A toddler sat cradled in her mother’s arms looking at their Christmas tree.
“Jenny’s safe too, Elizabeth. There will be a special present under her tree tomorrow. A guardian angel to make sure that neither she nor her mother will ever have to worry about being in danger again.”
Elizabeth mopped a tear away from her eyes, “Merry Christmas, Nick.”
“Merry Christmas to one and all,” Nick called before disappearing into a cloud of sparkles and dust.
His wife chuckled to herself as she heard the tell tale jingle of bells and a deep “Ho, ho, ho,” disappearing into the distance.
“Safe travel, m y love,” she said quietly before heading into the kitchen to make cookies to celebrate the end of the busiest time of the year at the North Pole.
The End
~*~*~*~*~
I hope you enjoyed!
I didn't want to post this until I had it finished, in case I didn't make the deadline! But I made it! 
Happy 2008 to everyone.
Take care
Sairs
~*~*~*~*~
One year later.
Tara sat next to their Christmas tree and watched the twinkling lights, her Gram’s angel hung from the tree shimmering and glittering.
“Merry Christmas, love,” Bobby whispered in her ear as he sat down behind her and pulled her back into her arms.
As she leaned into his embrace he handed her a small beautifully wrapped package. “What’s this?” she asked.
“An early Christmas present. Open it, love.”
Her fingers eagerly opened the wrapping paper to reveal a small black velvet box; she turned in his embrace to look at him.
“Open it, love,” he requested gently.
She noticed that her fingers began to shake as she opened the box to reveal a diamond ring, “Bobby?” she asked her voice catching in her throat.
Bobby met her eyes and smiled, “The past year has been the best one of my life and I want my future to be the same and I can’t imagine a future without you in it. Will you marry me?”
Tears welled in her eyes, and she nodded as she replied, “Yes!”
Bobby grinned and took the ring from the box and slipped it on to her finger before kissing her tenderly.
~*~*~*~*~
Elizabeth clapped her hands, “Nick! Nick!” she called.
“What?” Nick replied hurrying into their living room, his large red coat open waiting for the buttons to be fastened. “I was just getting ready.”
“He asked her to marry him!”
“Who?” Nick asked confused.
“Bobby asked Tara to marry him, Grace got her present.”
Nick grinned, “Excellent. “ He waved his hand and the picture on the screen changed.
A toddler sat cradled in her mother’s arms looking at their Christmas tree.
“Jenny’s safe too, Elizabeth. There will be a special present under her tree tomorrow. A guardian angel to make sure that neither she nor her mother will ever have to worry about being in danger again.”
Elizabeth mopped a tear away from her eyes, “Merry Christmas, Nick.”
“Merry Christmas to one and all,” Nick called before disappearing into a cloud of sparkles and dust.
His wife chuckled to herself as she heard the tell tale jingle of bells and a deep “Ho, ho, ho,” disappearing into the distance.
“Safe travel, m y love,” she said quietly before heading into the kitchen to make cookies to celebrate the end of the busiest time of the year at the North Pole.
The End
~*~*~*~*~
I hope you enjoyed!
I didn't want to post this until I had it finished, in case I didn't make the deadline! But I made it! Happy 2008 to everyone.
Take care
Sairs
That was perfect hun. I loved it
Wow, sairs, I just gobbled that up. What a lovely surprise after my first day back at work after the holidays! 
“Just don’t go bragging to Cupid, will you. You know what happened last time someone interfered with his caseload,” she admonished.
Oh, Sairs, I fear that line is just begging for a sequel...perhaps for our Valentine's Day Challenge, hmmmm?
This was a great read, fun and fuzzy and beautifully crafted. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
kav
QUOTE
“Dear, whenever you say we, it usually means you’re not entirely sure of what’s actually going to happen. Your confidence barometer just sank five candy canes,” she nodded towards the wall.
I loved how you managed to create a magical setting with little details like this. I could actually picture it all in my mind...and I am glad to see that Santa has come into the 21st century with some very cool gadgets to help make his life (and his wife's) easier.QUOTE
“Just don’t go bragging to Cupid, will you. You know what happened last time someone interfered with his caseload,” she admonished.
Oh, Sairs, I fear that line is just begging for a sequel...perhaps for our Valentine's Day Challenge, hmmmm?This was a great read, fun and fuzzy and beautifully crafted. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
kav
Sairs, that was an amazing story! From the beginning to the end you had me captivated. I was sad to see it end too and I'm glad you made it before the deadline!
Imagine my surprise and delight to sign on this morning and find this jewel!! Sairs, every word is magic!! I love your imagination and all the really fascinating ways Santa can make his miracles come true!!!
This story is full of Christmas spirit and all the beautiful ways we can help people fulfill their dreams!! Thank you so much for sharing!!!
Joy
This story is full of Christmas spirit and all the beautiful ways we can help people fulfill their dreams!! Thank you so much for sharing!!!
Joy
Oh Sairs...what a beautiful story..I loved every words of it!!
I loved the interaction between Nick and Elizabeth...so sweet!
Thanks for this
Josy
I loved the interaction between Nick and Elizabeth...so sweet!
Thanks for this
Josy
wow, Wow, WOW! That was such a great read, I LOVED IT!!!!
Thank you so much for posting it!
Thank you so much for posting it!
Hi there!
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU TOO!!!
BRAVO!!! BRAVO!!!
A beautiful, cute and magic story!
Congratulations!
Tere
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU TOO!!!
BRAVO!!! BRAVO!!! A beautiful, cute and magic story!
Congratulations!
Tere
This is the first chance I've had to get back and read your story Sairs. I loved it! Your portrayal of Tara and Bobby hit the mark on their personalities. I could see the progression of their relationship happening exactly in this manner. 
I was very pleasantly surprised at Grace being Tara's grandmother. Up until you revealed this fact, I had her as Jenny's mom! You sure did fool me!
I also loved the way you tied Tara's grandmother into the picture. Of course, Tara would be missing her greatly this first Chistmas without her.
And lastly, the magic that Santa disbursed throughout the story was perfect. And Cupid better not be upset with Santa for bringing the two couples together or else he is liable to have a whole lot of angry fanfic writers doing some nasty things to him come Valentine's Day!
But my very favorite part was how Bobby began telling Tara how wonderful she is in the third person but then reverted to the first person:
QUOTE
He coughed nervously; he hoped he could phrase the words he wanted to say without upsetting her. “Well I know there is someone who worships every step you take, looks forward to every smile that graces your face. Your Christmas cookies are the highlight of my year.”
Thanks for sharing this magical story with us.
Lynn
My apologies for not getting around to reading this sooner Sairs! You snuck it in on me!!
Bobby and Tara didn't stand a chance once Jenny came into their lives, did they? And it all turned out for the very best. Jenny and mom were reunited, as they deserved to be, and Bobby and Tara benefited from getting a sneak peek at what their life could be like. They even decided to share the wealth and give a little push where it was well needed. Delightful.
Thanks for sharing this!
Tina
Bobby and Tara didn't stand a chance once Jenny came into their lives, did they? And it all turned out for the very best. Jenny and mom were reunited, as they deserved to be, and Bobby and Tara benefited from getting a sneak peek at what their life could be like. They even decided to share the wealth and give a little push where it was well needed. Delightful.
Thanks for sharing this!
Tina
It was beautiful!
Santa and Mrs. Claus were wonderful... and yes, they could give Cupid a run for his money
I love the presence of Tara's grams through the story even though she had died.
Thank you!
Santa and Mrs. Claus were wonderful... and yes, they could give Cupid a run for his money
I love the presence of Tara's grams through the story even though she had died.
Thank you!
This was soooo cute, I loved it!!!
Simply beautiful. 
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