This story is something that evolved from a really late night discussion between myself and my hubby. While discussing the story, he started laughing at a silly verse that popped into his sleep-deprived mind unbidden... I liked it and wrote the rest of the poem, although the first verse is his. We all know the drill: the FK characters are not mine much as I may wish otherwise. No money being made, no infringement intended, so please don't sue. I will be archiving this on my page (URL in my sig if you want to visit), and Mel and Michael may archive as well. So may any T+Vpacker if they want or any DP. Anyone else, please ask. Special thanks to Shana, ML, and Cheryl for beta-reading! Great job, ladies! You're the best! I really rushed them because I started this yesterday & I'm going out of town for a week today. THANKS for rushing this ladies!!! -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Santa Drives A Caddy by "Micki" Lynn McCormick Dec 98 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Tracy sighed. Nick had called and said he'd be in late, so Reese had her doing paperwork until her wandering partner chose to put in an appearance. On top of that, an afternoon shift staff-sargeant for their precinct had stopped at her desk before he went home for the night with the news. Each year a different precinct hosted a Metro PD Christmas Charity fundraiser, a public dinner and family entertainment evening with proceeds from the tickets purchased going to support the pet charity. Tracy knew the charity had recently switched, and wasn't even sure what one it was now. But to top it all off, and she got to be the one to tell her partner since he'd not yet arrived, 81-kilo had been the team selected to play Santa and his elf to the hordes of excited screaming children at the event. She didn't know who was getting the worst end of that one, Nick having to be in a hot suit, or her -appropriately attired- having to be 'his elf' for the night. She looked at her watch again. Damn! Where was that man anyway? ----- A few nights later Nick and Trace had gone over to the morgue to pick up the toxicology reports on a murder-suicide. Nat had planned to bring them over, but then the first of the victims from a multi vehicle pile-up on a road near the lakeshore where high winds had blown water over the road only to freeze solidly into what might as well be a skating rink. It wasn't often that the air would be cold enough to do that while the water was still relatively warm. But freak of nature of no, she and the rest of her department would be swamped. As they entered, Natalie looked up. "Hey, if it isn't Saint Nick and an el--" Tracy cut her off. "DON'T even say it!! It'll be bad enough after the fact. I don't need it now too." Natalie pulled her gloves off and walked over to her desk. She pulled a folder from it and handed it to Nick. After they talked for a few minutes, Tracy asked "So why don't you join us?" Natalie looked at the two cops, puzzled. "Join you? For...?" "The charity thing that we have to dress up for. If we have to embarrass ourselves, you can too." Tracy looked from the doctor to her partner, and back, grinning. "Besides, you can't tell me you wouldn't like to play Mrs. Claus to his Santa," Tracy's grin turned mischievous. "I'm sure Nick would like it too..." Natalie looked surprised, pleased and embarrassed all at once. "I couldn't. Besides, my department didn't get drawn, your precinct, and *you* did." Nick, who had been standing there grinning at the mental image of Natalie as his Mrs. Claus, joined the argument. "Sure Nat. It'd be fun." "Fun? For whom?" Nick stepped beside her and whispered in her ear. Tracy couldn't hear what he said, but Natalie stepped back holding her hands up. "Alright, I give." She glared at Tracy first, presumably for bringing this up in the first place, then settled her glare on Nick. "I'll be your Mrs. Claus. Now get outta here and let me get to work!" Tracy smiled. "See ya later, Nat." Nick stepped over and kissed her cheek. "Thanks. Come over after work?" "Not if I don't get finished I won't. Now go..." As Nick turned away from her she smiled, shaking her head. ~This might be fun~ she thought, ~but I'll be damned if I let them know I like it.~ Still shaking her head, Natalie went over and pulled two more disposable plastic gloves from the box and returned to her task, humming a Christmas melody. ----- It was Sat Dec 19th, and Natalie and Nick were dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus. They were on their way over to go and pick up Tracy from her apartment, then they were off to the Christmas party. From 6pm until 9pm was dinner and other family activities, which included Santa. They had a list of all the names of children that would be in attendance, and during that time they would get called up for a visit with Santa and get a little gift as well as having their photo taken. At 9pm the family activities ended, and from 9:30 until 1 am there would be a dance with a live band, and alcohol available. They had decided to go in costume and bring a bag with a change of clothes suitable for the dance party after, and Tracy had managed to convince Vachon to come, although he had said he wasn't going to show up until about 8:30, enough time to see Trace dressed as an elf, but not having to contend with the meal. While enroute to Tracy's, Nick realized he needed to stop at a service station for gas. While they were stopped, Natalie went into the restroom. Just as Nick finished filling his tank, a little boy of maybe 7 came around the corner of the building, and stopped in his tracks, wide eyed. Then a frown crossed the little boy's face, and he slowly walked over to stop Santa as Nick neared the convenience store door. "Hey... Mommy says the Santa's that the store's got aren't real. She says 'cause we just had to move and can't tell our address that the real Santa won't be able to find us this year." The little boy's brow creased, as he continued, "You're just a store Santa going to work aren't you? The real Santa wouldn't be here in a car. He'd be at the North Pole in his workshop making toys. But if you got any way of talking to the real Santa, can you ask him to give my Daddy a new job? Then we won't gotta live where we hafta live now." Nick knelt down before the boy. "What's your name?" "Michael Adams." "Tell me what happened that made you move." Nick had caught the boy's attention, and was ready to 'encourage' him to elaborate if the child didn't want to talk. "Daddy used to work as a truck driver 'for I was born. He got hurt and couldn't drive big trucks no more. But the company he worked for put him in a office where he used to keep track of where trucks were dropping off stuff and where places needed empties to fill to take somewhere and send them on the radio to the next place to get stuff. Then the company got bought by a bigger company and made a part of it, and they already got somebody doing that, and my Daddy got... laid off?... Anyway, he don't got a job, and with no money he couldn't pay the bank and we had to move out of our house. We had to give my dog to my friend who lived next door." The little boy started to sniffle back tears. "Where did you move to?" Nick/Santa asked. The little boy replied, "Don't tell the cops? Mommy's scared they'll find us there and make us move someplace where we can't all be together." He pointed at a boarded up & very dilapidated looking building that looked like it may once have been a small house converted into a little store, long before it had been vacated and abandoned. "There. But we're not supposed to tell." Nick held his hand up to the child and stood. Natalie was looking from around the corner of the garage, not wanting to disturb the scene before her, although she couldn't hear what was being said. He turned and beckoned her over, handing her his credit card as she did. He spoke softly so as to be below what the child would hear, then sent Natalie in to pay for the gas. While Natalie was inside, Nick had found out where the family used to live and that the boy had a 4 year old sister whos name was Tracey-Ann. Natalie handed Nick his credit card, and the little boy a candy cane. "This is for you, Dear." "Thanks Mrs. Claus. Ummm... Could I get another one for my sissy?" Natalie smiled and looked at Nick who whispered, "There should be loose change in the glove compartment." "Sure, Sweetie. Just wait a minute, okay?" A minute later she returned and handed the little boy another wrapped candy cane. ----- Vachon came in about 8:40, showing the security person detailed to watch for gate crashers his pass, which was a different colour from the purchased tickets. "A little late, aren't you?" The guard looked a little skeptical of the well groomed but long-haired biker, who evidently thought new jeans and a leather jacket were the epitome of dressing well. Pointing to the green-clad blonde on the stage who was trying hard to keep her costume from riding up as she escorted a squirmy toddler up the step & placed him on Santa's lap, he added "The elf's my date. She's been busy, so why show up til now?" The guard nodded and let him pass, and Vachon found a seat out of the way but near to the stage. After the last child had their picture taken with Santa, the photographer called the elf and Mrs. Claus up. "Don't go away, Santa. We'd like to take your pictures for the newsletter." He sent the ladies up, and got a lot of laughter from the adults present when he insisted the photo be taken with both ladies seated on Santa's lap. A couple of photos later, and the three were finally allowed to leave and go change. Nick was first back, and spotted Vachon immediately, coming to join him at the table he had garnered. A few minutes later and the two ladies returned and joined them. Natalie wore a jade coloured Chinese dress with a single split going to mid thigh, and had her hair piled loosely on top of her head and secured with a pair of plastic chopsticks that matched. Many loose strands wisped out and curled around her face. Tracy wore a shimmery and clingy backless cocktail dress, which really complemented Vachon's casual attire in a surprising way. She had used a little glitter spray in her hair, and as the band set up and the lights for the dance floor were double checked, it sparkled in the coloured lights. Most of the families had left, although there were a few children still around. Soon the dancing started. There were many people that they knew. But there were a larger number of people who they didn't, those who had bought tickets for the party. Nick and Natalie were taking a break, sitting and just relaxing at their table, while Vachon and Tracy danced. Someone bumped into the pair, and suddenly Tracy found herself in the arms of another man whose previous dance partner had draped herself over Vachon. She looked over at Vachon who just shrugged, so she finished the dance with the new fellow. "I'm Gordon Kallven from the 27th. I recognize another officer. I've seen you at a couple of crime scenes. But I've never had the chance to speak. You would be...?" "Det. Tracy Vetter, Homicide. 96th." "Hey, you're the ones hosting the shindig this year." He smiled, "Hey, isn't that where the guy who drives the big boat got transferred to? He was homicide too." "If you mean the big Caddy convertible, yeah. Nick's at the 96th. He's my partner." "Really? I'm surprised he'd let you near it." They bumped into another couple but Gordon seemed not to notice this time. Tracy looked confused. "Why wouldn't he let me near his car?" "Oh, come on! We've all heard what his partner did to it. It's a local legend y'know." "No, I don't know." As Gordon's hand drifted south, Tracy stepped away. "Look, I have no idea what you are talking about. All I know is you pull me from my date, start making accusations I know nothing about, and start feeling me up. Forget it!" The couple that they had bumped into a moment before drifted over, and a native fellow detached himself and spoke in a quiet, firm voice. "Gordon." "Captain Stonetree." "Gordon, go find your date and quite bothering this lady. She didn't wreck Knight's car, by the way. That was his previous partner, Don Schanke. Don't bother the lady." After Gordon had walked off, Stonetree introduced his date to Tracy. "Sorry 'bout that," he added, nodding in the direction of the disappearing officer. "It's the beer." Tracy rolled her eyes. "Thanks. You used to be Nick's Captain, I take it? Why don't you two come over and join us at our table. I think he and Nat are over there right now." She walked back to the table with the captain and his date, as they all dodged dancers on the floor. ----- Over the next few days Tracy found her partner to be even more distracted than normal. He'd disappear from his desk, and when she'd find him he'd be checking out someone with the Department of Motor Vehicles or some other such investigation, but nothing even remotely related to any of their cases. Finally Tracy had had it, and threw her coat on and headed out. "I need some answers & he won't tell me!" she was heard to mutter under her breath as she headed out. A few minutes later she had arrived at her destination. Looking up as she heard the door open, Natalie was surprised to see Tracy without her partner, but the angry expression she wore made Natalie shut off the recorder. "What's the matter, Trace?" "Nick. Do you know what the hell is going on? He won't talk to me." "You're having a problem with him?" "He keeps disappearing to God only knows where. If I do find him he's very busily checking someone out someones drivers licence or previous employment, or other stuff like that. But it sure isn't for any of our cases, and he won't talk to me. Do you know what's up?" Tracy looked like she was getting the beginnings of a headache as she rubbed her temples. "Well, actually, no. Nick told me he's been pretty busy with a personal project of late. He did ask me if I'd go grocery shopping with him on the 23rd. Which is pretty strange." Natalie had peeled off her gloves and escorted Tracy to the staff lounge where they both sat down with a coffee. "Tracy, I do have an educated guess though." Natalie detailed to Tracy about their encounter with the little boy at the gas station, and the things the child had told Nick, and how he had whispered to her he was looking for stuff to sew on a sock and make a little sock doll for his little sister because he said she was too little to understand if Santa couldn't find them this year with their move. "Oh, the poor kid. You said he looked to be about seven?" Tracy looked worried about the child. "Yeah. I asked him why he was whispering that to me when he'd been talking to Nick, and he said that he had to whisper so that Santa, being a boy, wouldn't think he was weird for trying to make something from sewing, since that was girls stuff." Natalie smiled at the younger woman. "So why would Nick be acting the way he is because of that?" "Well, Nick's got a bit of money, and at times he seems a bit of a philanthropist. I know that got to him, and I'd bet he's finding out as much as he can about that family to see if there is anything he can do to help them. Nick hasn't said, but I'll bet that's it. Of course if he's using work as a means of doing so, he probably doesn't want to let you know what he's up to so that if anyone finds out and complains, it would just be his just his ass in a sling, not yours too. I think that's why he asked me to go shopping with him too. For that family." "You're probably right, Nat. But if you find out for sure, will you let me know? He's driving me nuts right now!" Tracy crumpled her paper cup after draining the coffee from it, and tossed it into the garbage can. "See ya later, Trace. I have to get back." Natalie waved at Tracy as she left the room, then turned and headed down the hall to where her work was waiting. ----- On the morning of Christmas Eve, once they had finished work and booked off, Nick decided he had enough time to check out one other line of inquiry on his pet project. Finding that Aristotle was not at home, he stopped by the Raven, and found him involved in a conversation with both Janette and LaCroix. He walked up to them, since he knew without a doubt that at least two seated there felt him, and without preamble, asked Aristotle for a few minutes of his time. A quarter hour later, the two men returned, both smiling. Aristotle had hacked into the Social Services records and found out the reason that the family had been assessed as not needing assistance, and the document altered slightly, so that the next time the information was called up it would flag for re-evaluation. Even if the rest of his plan didn't fly, at least the family would be able to have food to eat. As Nick was about to leave, LaCroix came over, asking him why he wasn't going to stay the day with Janette. "I've got a lot of things to do, LaCroix. I don't have time for your games tonight." Nick had gone shopping with Natalie all evening prior to their shift, and he was tired. LaCroix must have picked up on his thoughts about Natalie, because with the usual style for his on air broadcasts as the NightCrawler, he began to pick at Nick's mind, trying to twist his own thoughts into ones that would suit LaCroix but not his own quest. Nick hadn't budged, however, and with a final dig, LaCroix had chided him about why he didn't just leave the mortal world behind since he was always using his 'gifts' in his mundane and boring life with the mortals. Nick finally returned to the loft, his spirits in a spiral. On one hand he was so pleased with what he'd arranged with Aristotle, but on the other he couldn't help but listen to his master's voice, at least some, and that had put a damper on his spirits. He finished his green bottle, then went straight to bed since he had to be up early. ----- Christmas Eve saw Natalie working, although Nick and Tracy were on days off. They weren't out of the precinct, however. Two of the uniformed officers from the 2pm til 10pm shift who worked in Traffic violations both had families. Nick & Tracy had agreed to cover their shifts for them. Tracy for the entire shift for one, and Nick from sundown for the other whose kids were a little older. Nick stopped at the morgue on their way past to speak to Nat for a couple minutes. As he walked in, in uniform, Natalie looked up and smiled. "You know what they say about the effect that men in uniform have on the ladies.." "Hi Nat." He walked up behind her and gave her a quick hug. "I wanted to know what time you're off tonight." "Midnight. Someone with a family wanted to switch and work the night so they could have the evening with their family. I'm on the schedule for 10 til 6, but I'm on Frank's shift tonight, and he'll do mine. Why?" Natalie covered a yawn. "I wondered if you wanted to come over. I'd like you to if you can, but I'll probably be elsewhere until about 1am. If you don't mind waiting for me a little bit, that would be great. You want to watch movies?" Nick realized she'd yawned, and added, "If you're not too tired that is." Natalie smiled. "I'm fine, Nick. I just got up a little earlier today than I'm used to. Sure. Why don't I find a rental place that'll be open all night in spite of it being Christmas Eve, and then head over. I should get there around the same time then." "Great! I'll see you later!" He kissed Natalie's forehead then turned and left as quickly as he'd arrived. ----- Nick looked in his mirror, and straightened the false beard and mustache. He didn't think he would be seen, and if not it would possibly hamper his movements a little, but it was a necessary precaution in case he was. Nick loaded the boxes into his trunk, putting the last on the seat beside him, and left his garage. Soon he had pulled up before the old boarded up building that little Michael had pointed out. Nick had made an aerial reconnaissance of it previously, and knew where there was an old chimney that the fireplace had been boarded over inside when it had been converted into a store. From the registered renovations then, he believed he could open the seeming 'wall' from inside it, leaving it open for use again as a fireplace. Nick took the largest box, which he'd measured against the specs and figured he could manage it although it would definitely be a tight squeeze, and flew up to the roof. He dropped down, balancing the box on his head since he'd need to use his hands at the bottom. After he had moved the false panel and stepped out, he scanned the building quickly. At the far end in a small room that seemed to be mostly closed off, he could hear the heartbeats of the humans. They were all in the one room, and from what the child had described, he expected they were likely all huddled together for warmth within a pile of blankets and pillows on the floor. As quietly as he could he opened the box, and began to put together the artificial tree. He had trim and ornaments for the tree, as well as stockings for the children which he hung beside the now uncovered fireplace. A few garlands around the room would brighten it up as much a possible with them having to leave the boards up. Then he took the empty box and left the way he came. His next trip was with a sack full of wrapped toys for the children mostly. There was new warm clothing for all the members of the family, new blankets, and even two boxes with futons, the kind that you put the frame together yourself. Those of course had to be brought in separately from the rest. Nick made certain to leave a small tool set for putting the futons together with. At least that would raise their sleeping areas slightly off the floor, giving them a little more warmth. His second last trip he brought in a small folding table and folding chairs in a flat box which he set up. Then he placed the larger box on top of it. There was an assortment of food items, mostly no perishable, with a few perishables places inside a cooler packed with ice. There was enough specialty items for a Christmas feast for the family, as well as enough other non-perishables for a family of 4 for a week. He carefully placed a card on top where it couldn't be missed. If the father showed up at the de Brabant Foundation on Boxing Day morning, he would go through an interview that would give him the feeling of having earned the job, and would also be used to find a job within the foundation in a capacity that would best suit the man's skills. His final visit he set about preparing the fireplace ready to light, leaving a bundle of wood beside it. He left a bundle of newspaper beside it also, and a box of long fireplace matches. He was just about to step carefully back into the fireplace when he heard a little gasp, and turned to see the little boy whom he had spoken to before. "You **ARE** the real Santa!" The little boy whispered. "Thank you!" He ran over to Nick and threw his arms around him, beginning to cry. After a minute, he pushed the little boy away slightly, and rubbed his eyes free of the tears of happiness. "You have to go to bed now. You want this to be a surprise for your family in the morning, right? If you don't go back to bed and back to sleep, others may wake up worried, and then it'll ruin the surprise." Nick caught the little boy's heartbeat, and gave him a little extra encouragement to feel sleepy. He hugged Nick again. "I love you, Santa," he whispered to Nick, then began to back slowly toward the sleeping area. Realizing the child wouldn't go until he was gone, Nick thought for a moment about the description of Santa's exit in a favoured children's book. He stepped into the fireplace and pulled the shiny new grate across it. Then looked back at the boy from his kneeling position withing the fireplace, he touched his finger to the side of his nose and nodded before flying back up the chimney. ----- It was about 1:30 when Natalie lifted her head from her drowsy rest against the back of Nick's sofa to the sound of the lift motor engaging. A moment later Nick stepped out, clad in his costume, and beaming more broadly than she had ever seen him before. "I thought so! That little boy from the garage, right?" "Yeah. It's good I went in costume since he saw me." "I'll bet he was really excited." "Oh yeah. But not as surprised as his parents will be in the morning, I'll wager. Nick began unbuttoning his suit as he headed for the stairs. "I'm really glad you came over, Nat. I'll be back in a sec after I change. If you want to start the movie go ahead." Natalie looked up at Nick, sharing his enthusium. "I'll wait for you," she said smiling. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= SANTA DRIVES A CADDY Santa drives a cadillac From nineteen-sixty-two. Some say the caddy's powder green, Some call it powder blue. His girlfriend is a coroner, His ex, she tends the bar. The partner (that) liked souvlaki Was the one near killed his car! His father tries to mentor - Leave the mortal world behind. Saint Nick refused those teachings, Hopes mortality to find. So Santa in his caddy Hides presents in the boot. (Brit, & trunk didn't rhyme AT ALL!) Christmas Eve he goes delivering, And with them he takes food. (Still had to use a 1/2 rhyme!) The child who thought to disbelieve, His family that is poor, All wake on Christmas morning To a banquet on their floor. Childrens toys, with clothing and food and treats for all. A card left in the middle reads "Merry Christmas to you all." Inside the card a paper From the de Brabant Foundation: The twenty-sixth, at ten A.M., Please come to this location. Santa drives a cadillac From nineteen-sixty-two. Some say the caddy's powder green, Some call it powder blue. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= - End of "Santa Drives A Caddy". - Comments are welcomed! See link at end of story section menu, or email me at or