Christmas Wishes (Sue Thomas FBEye)

Chapter One

Elves were strange little creatures. They could be seen or hidden in plain view according to their needs. Right now Dewberry didn't want to be seen while she observed the activity in the bullpen. The team was decorating a Christmas tree with music in the background, not that her Special Client could hear the music, thought Dewberry. The volume was also too low for her to feel the vibration... still she was fully enjoying herself.

"Sue, this year the honour is yours." The dark agent bestowed the honour on her by giving her the angel to place at the top of the tree.

"Jack, I don't particular like ladder," she argued. "Or heights."

"Nothing to worry. I will hold it right behind you," he promised, inviting her to step up.

Dewberry giggled as she watched the agent watch the woman... or more precisely a part of her anatomy that she wouldn't name. Good thing she was wearing pants, thought Dewberry, wondering if Sue could feel his hungry eyes on her.

"Close your mouth, mate," teased his Aussie friend.

Jack rolled his eyes, without letting Sue out of his sight. She was very carefully tying the angel. When she was done she extended her arms to see her work of art. The angel was straight, and she managed to place a yellow light behind her so her wings were glowing. Just when she was about to take her first step down, Dewberry blinked. It was only a small blink, because the wood was already weakened and she needed only a little bit of magic to break it.

Sue fell backward... into Jack's open arms.

"I knew one day you would fall for me," Jack mouthed for her eyes only. "My wish comes true."

He deliberately took his time to lower her down as he admired the crimson blush spreading all over her face.

"Nice catch, Sparky," commented Bobby.

"Too bad he hasn't learned how to reel her in yet," murmured Myles, shaking his head in despair.

With her pointy ears, Dewberry could hear their heartbeats going into frenzy when they touched. Jack Hudson would make a very nice Christmas wish for Sue, but still... Dewberry remained pensive. The young elf couldn't shake the feeling she was missing something. Sue's childhood memory flooded through her once more. The woman had faith, but at one point, in the aftermath of the tragedy, it flickered so much... and somehow... somewhere... something got lost.

Time to visit Ohio, decided Dewberry.

***

'How can dust accumulate in a closed closet?' mused Dewberry, between fits of coughing. Still, she did a thorough inventory of the treasures lining up the two shelves. She was almost ready to call it quit, having found nothing of interest, when a small shoebox wrapped with silver paper and tied with a royal blue ribbon caught her attention. It had been shoved at the back, under and behind games and puzzles.

"Maybe," muttered Dewberry, carefully picking it up, only to drop it when a noise in the bedroom startled her.

A woman in her fifties opened the door, and suspiciously looked into the closet. Her eyes registered surprise at the silver box as well. She picked it up, forgetting all about the dusting she was planning on doing in the room frozen in time.

The woman sat on the single bed that still bore the same pink and white comforter from almost two decades ago. She removed the blue bow, and without tearing the silver paper she delicately lifted the cover. A small smile curled the corners of her mouth and her eyes became misty. The time capsule. She had forgotten about that, but the memory filled her mind. So much care had gone into that particular school project. She placed the skates medallion in the palm of her hand and sobbed.