El Libro Negro de Smila™

Le contraste est mauvais..

Tant pis j'aime bien la lumière .

Alright, Jack / Kate fic number two!  Like the first one, it’s kind of short and was written mostly in an attempt to process the evolution of their friendship.  I’ve got ideas for longer, more narrative fiction later on, but there are series of moments in the films that I’m trying to flesh out for myself first.

Title: In My Time Of Dying Fandom: Jack Taylor (Iain Glen) Pairing: Jack Taylor / Kate Noonan Rating: PG 

In My Time of Dying - @ LJ

Or

Summary: When Sam is ordered off a case due to a stomach bug, she finds herself alone for Christmas. But just as she’s starting to sympathize with Scrooge, a certain someone comes home to brighten up things.

Author’s notes: Just a little fluff for the Christmas holiday! Hopes ya enjoy ;D       (I’m planning on continuing Showing The Change very soon. This is just a little something different ‘cause it’s Christmas!)

Christmas Eve. What an exciting and thrilling night that is. Children scurrying around in the anticipation of Santa’s arrival, parents wrapping up some last minute gifts, and everyone’s moods suddenly getting just a little bit brighter. It’s a time to be with one’s family. A time to sit back and lounge by a crackling fire. A time when… everything is close to being absolutely perfect.

At least, that’s how it’s supposed to go.

On this particular Christmas Eve, Samantha Massey could argue against that. This year was different from most Christmases she’d experienced. It was supposed to be her very first Christmas with her new husband, but no. Life had other plans. Things just had to go to heck and steal her detective off into a very dangerous, very secretive case.

Honestly, Sam couldn’t complain. She’d been through her fair share of years when she herself had been busy at work as December rolled around. But things always managed to work out somehow. That’s one of the ways Christmas was so special.

But not this year. This year, everything was wrong. She wasn’t in Texas; she was in Los Angeles. She wasn’t with her family; she was alone in a dimly lit house. She wasn’t feeling the joy of Christmas; she was feeling the burn of a sneeze as her hands grasped for more tissues. Screw allergies.

So this Christmas Eve, Sam decided, was going to suck. And because it was going to suck, she privileged herself every right to be a Scrooge and not talk to anyone. She even turned down Ryan Summer’s invitation to his fancy Christmas party. In Sam’s mind it was the movie star’s sad attempt to make sure she wasn’t completely alone for the holidays. After all, she was a newly married woman. A woman whose husband wasn’t even around for their very first December 25th together!

As she stifled another sneeze, Sam clutched the warm blanket closer to her knees. It was at this moment when she realized how much of a a blessing sweatpants were.

“Achoo!”

‘Ugh,’ she thought bitterly. ‘I get over a stomach bug only to drown in a cold.’

To distract her mind from her pounding headache, Sam fumbled around for the remote control to the tv in their living room. She quickly found it sitting next to her and turned on the screen. It seemed like every channel was playing either Elf or White Christmas. She settled on White Christmas and snuggled herself into the blanket wrapped around her body.

One of those random chills made her shiver as she watched an extravagant dance number take place on the tv. She tried not to think of the times when she’d sit down and watch this movie on repeat with her siblings. It only made her wish she was in Odessa with them instead of here, in California, wondering if her husband was even still alive.

The case Dave had been sucked into was far from easy or safe. She didn’t know too much about it, but she did know that it involved him having to constantly watch his back. In fact, he hadn’t even been in contact with her for at least a week. It was these types of situations that Dave was good at but Sam hated. She would much rather have a full on shootout than blend in with the crowds and use stealthy maneuvers to get information. But, at least it was Dave who’d stayed healthy enough to take charge of this case. Even though she didn’t want to admit it, he was much more equipped for these delicate types of things.

But that didn’t mean she wasn’t dying to be with him.

Ding dong!

Whipping around, Sam stared at the door of their small house. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. Who would be stopping by this late at night?

Some of Dave’s warning words echoed deafeningly in her mind. ‘I’m gonna have to disappear for a few days. Don’t be too quick to trust people while I’m gone. If they find me it won’t take them too long to find you. So watch your back.’

Feeling her heart speed in anxiously, the Deputy Marshal instinctively grabbed the pistol sitting across from her and stood up. She flipped off the tv, threw down the fuzzy blanket, and began to take slow steps towards the door. Green eyes narrowed defensively, Sam positioned herself on the far corner of the locked door.

She held the pistol close to her chest and hovered her hand over the doorknob. After sucking in a breath to steady her nerves, she unlocked the door and flung it open aggressively. Her hands shot forward to point the gun at the figure in the doorway, a strong look on her face. But that’s when her eyes widened.

“Easy Marshal,” said the smooth, sultry voice of Dave Reyes as he pushed the pistol away from his face. “I’m not here to kill anyone.”

“Dear God,” Sam mumbled in shock as she pulled the gun back and yanked her husband inside. She slammed the door behind him. “When did you- how did you- mm!”

Her voice was cut off as Dave suddenly leaned forward and smashed his lips against hers in a passionate kiss. He eventually pulled back with a warm smile on his face. “Oh, I needed that.” He leaned forward again for another round only to have Sam push him back.

His fiery partner fixed a cold glare on him. “You can’t just show up out of nowhere and kiss me like you haven’t been gone for a week!”

Dave tilted his head as he studied her expression. “I told you I’d be undercover. Things were too risky for me to call you or come home.”

Sam held her angry glare as she tossed her pistol aside and crossed her arms over her chest. “I didn’t know where you were! You disappeared off face of the freakin’ planet. I was stuck here, alone, wondering if you were even still alive. You could’ve at least tried to contact me!”

“It wasn’t safe,” Dave protested, tilting his head as he studied her frustrated expression. “I had to wait until things were in the clear before I could come home. But hey, at least I made it in time for Christmas.” He smiled, hoping she would join him.

But, to his disappointment, she didn’t. She only sniffed and brushed her hair back. “Yeah. It’s about damn time too. A-Achoo!” She exclaimed as she sneezed on him.

Dave flinched, a slightly disgusted look on his face. But then he sighed with a small laugh. “You look like a mess, Massey.”

She fixed a glare on him. “Reyes. You ain’t helping my self esteem here.”

He smirked as he walked deeper into their house and into the living room. His gaze landed on the discarded fuzzy blanket and box of tissues on the couch. His eyes softened a little sadly. “… I guess it was pretty bad that I missed most of our first Christmas together, huh?”

“Yeah,” Sam agreed gruffly as she came up behind him, her arms still crossed. “I spent the past few days receiving photos from my family back in Texas and ignoring invitations to Christmas parties.”

“Why exactly?” Dave asked curiously.

She gestured to herself. “Have you seen me? I’m either sneezing every ten minutes or coughing up a lung.”

Her husband looked her over briefly before his eyes lit up with an idea. He smiled and quickly picked up Sam by her waist, easily plopping her down on the couch.

“Reyes, what?” She questioned as he wrapped the blanket around her and left the tissue box on the coffee table.

“Shh,” he gold her, placing a finger to her lips. “Don’t question. Just enjoy.”

She raised an eyebrow. “That was suspiciously vague.”

“What did I just say?” He asked as he turned a corner and went into the kitchen.

Sam rolled her eyes. “Right. No talking.”

About ten minutes of listening to Dave fumble around in the kitchen went on before the smell of chocolate began to reach Sam’s nose. Soon, her husband returned into the living room with two mugs in hand.

He was smiling proudly as he handed her a warm mug of hot chocolate. “Madam,” he said sweetly, green eyes sparkling.

Sam took the drink in surprise. She took a long, much needed sip before breaking into a smirk. “Are these baby marshmallows I see floating around?”

Dave grinned triumphantly. “They are indeed. Very manly of me, I know.”

She stifled another roll of her eyes and instead watched as Dave turned on the tv and flipped to a Christmas music station. The detective whipped around to face Sam again. “Okay, you wait here while I get changed into something less battle-worn.”

It was then that Sam noticed how bedraggled Dave actually looked. His normally clean and crisp suit was torn and stained. Apparently he’d had worse of a day than she’d assumed. But before she could call him on it, he disappeared down the hall and into their bedroom.

While he was gone, Sam quickly jumped to her feet and darted over to the Christmas tree sitting against the wall. She snatched up a present marked ‘To: Dave.’ Hurrying, she dived back to the couch and pretended like she’d never gotten up.

It didn’t take too much longer for Dave to return in some much more comfortable attire. He wore a pair of black sweatpants paired with a maroon sweater.

“You look nice,” Sam commented as he headed for the couch.

Dave chuckled, crawling over the armrest and scooting himself next to Sam. He saddled up beside her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I thought I might as well rock the ugly Christmas sweater look since it’s just the two of us.” His eyes spotted the present tucked under her arm. “What’s that?”

“Hm? Oh, that?” She smoothly pulled it out and handed it over. “Merry Christmas, partner.”

Dave took the nicely wrapped gift in his hands. “Sam, you didn’t have to get me anything.”

She rolled her eyes. “C’mon, none of that now. Just open your damn present.”

He mumbled a quick “yes ma’am” before hurrying to unfold the paper. The gold and red covering was soon ripped off to reveal the cover of a decorative photo album. Dave held it out and traced his hands along the golden edges. He smiled when he saw a picture of he and Sam on their wedding day. Quickly, he began to flip through the pages to see more and more of the photos they’d taken on that special day. His smile grew and grew. “Massey…”

She leaned forward anxiously, almost nervously. “Do you like it?”

“Seriously?” Dave asked as he turned to face her with a smile. “I love it.” He planted a kiss to her lips. “And I love you. Thank you for this. Now I can look back on that day whenever I want.”

Sam grinned triumphantly. “That was the idea. I’m glad you like it.”

As he stared into her attracting, emerald eyes, Dave suddenly remembered what he had shoved into his pocket. Snapping his head around, he pulled it out to make sure it was still there. “Well, while we’re exchanging presents, here’s yours.”

Sam blinked as she took the small box from his hands and looked it over. Her eyes glanced up at his with that familiar gleam in them before she ripped the paper away and chucked it at his face.

The detective dodged to the right and the wad of paper went flying to the floor. He sent a smug smirk in his wife’s direction.

Sam ignored him as she continued to unwrap her present. “Wipe that grin off your face.”

He didn’t wipe that grin off his face as he watched her pull out a small box.

“Oh…” Sam mumbled as she opened the box to see a shining silver chain with a beautiful red jewel to complete the necklace. “This looks so expensive…”

“It was,” Dave agreed with a small laugh. “But don’t think I didn’t see you eyeing this thing when we went to the mall a few weeks ago. Here, let me put it on you.” After moving the wedding album go the side, he gently pulled her blonde hair back and fastened the chain around her neck.

Sam touched the red scarlet jewel fondly. “I think this contrasts with the sweatpants.”

Dave shook his head in amusement. “Baby, you make this look good.” He sneakily kissed her neck. “And that necklace was made for you.”

The Deputy Marshal lifted her head so he could keep pressing soft kisses to her skin. “Mm… You’re gonna spoil me…” She pushed his head back so she could look into his deep eyes. “But Dave, I really do like it. It’s damn near perfect.”

He smiled. “You’re damn near perfect, Massey.”

She smirked. “Shut up and kiss me, Reyes.”

“Yes ma’am,” he responded swiftly before leaning in to close the gap in between them. They kissed passionately and lovingly, barely stopping more than a second for air. Soon, Dave had scooted himself forward so he was holding himself above Sam, still kissing her fiercely but smoothly. He lowered himself closer to her as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

“You might catch a cold from this,” she warned as she forced her body back into a sitting position.

“I’ll take my chances,” Dave replied, following her lead and sitting right next to her. He brushed a strand of blonde hair out of her face as the music changed to a different song.

I’ll be home for Christmas You can plan on me Please have snow and mistletoe And presents by the tree Christmas Eve will find me Where the lovelight gleams

“Hm,” Sam mused as she heard the words. “Fitting.”

I’ll be home for Christmas If only in my dreams

Dave turned to her with a playful gleam in his eye and promptly began to sing along to the lyrics. “I’ll be home for Christmas. You can plan on me.”

“Dear God,” Sam said with a small laugh as she watched the detective break into song.

Seeing her surprised but amused expression, Dave smiled and wrapped a strong arm around her shoulders. “Please have snow. And mistletoe. And presents by the tree.” He raised an eyebrow at her. “Come on, don’t let me do this by myself. I know you know the words, Miss Marshal.”

She shrugged. “I don’t know, I was kinda enjoying hearing your charmingly sultry voice.”

“Christmas eve will find me,” he continued before looking at her expectantly.

With a roll of her eyes, she began to sing. “Where the lovelight gleams.”

“I’ll be home for Christmas,” they both sang together in semi perfect harmony. “If only in my dreams.”

Dave smiled at her in an almost proud way. “Well, look at that. She can sing.”

“Who said you could sing any better?” Sam challenged teasingly as she rested her head against his shoulder and let out a small sigh. “… I’m glad you’re home, Dave.”

“Me too, Massey,” he said, pressing a light kiss to her forehead and holding her close to his side. “Me too. Hey, let’s take a walk down memory lane, shall we?” He asked before grabbing the wedding album again and flipping to the first page. His eyes widened. “Okay, you’re not supposed to have those pictures. Which one of my best men betrayed me?”

“Both of ‘em,” Sam responded firmly, smirking and pointing to the selfies Ryan and Jamal secretly took while Dave adjusted his tux in the background.

The detective sighed. “Well, at least I have evidence now. I can hold this against them forever.”

They shared many more laughs and smiles as they continued to go through the entire album. There were pictures of everything that occurred that day. Cassandra sneakily making sure Sam and Dave never saw each other until the ceremony, the Three Stooges being put in charge of the reception, Sam walking down the isle, the long awaited kiss that sealed the deal, Dave asking Sam’s mother to dance, Jamal being the DJ, and so much more. Oh, but the best photo was definitely of the back of Dave’s cruiser which depicted a sign that read, ‘Just Finally Married’. To this day they wondered who planned and executed that.

As she leaned against her husband’s shoulder and watched him flip through each page, Sam found herself not being able to quite wipe the smile from her lips.

On this particular Christmas Eve, Samantha Massey thought she could argue with the stereotypical plans of the heartwarming night. But, even though this Christmas wasn’t going exactly how she imagined it, she couldn’t complain. Dave was home, they were back together, and that’s all that really mattered to her.

Maybe this Christmas wouldn’t suck just as badly as she had planned.