Let's Just Leave it at That by Michelle "Hey, Gage, how was your Christmas?" Johnny was greeted in the kitchen of Station 51 by Marco Lopez. Pouring himself a cup of coffee and joining Marco, Chet and Mike at the table he answered simply, "Fine." "Just fine? Come on, Gage," Chet implored. "I know you better than that. " He turned to Marco. "Probably had a bevy of babes showering him with useless gifts." Marco nodded. "Yeah, tell us, John, did you get a kiss under the mistletoe?" Christmas day: "Uncle Johnny, Uncle Johnny! What did you bring me?" Roy's son Chris was jumping up and down at the sight of the packages in John's arms. "Let the man get in the house," JoAnne told the exuberent boy. John just grinned as he handed Chris a brightly wrapped box with a big red bow. "Open it and find out." "Me too?" asked Roy's daughter Jennifer. "Now do you think I'd forget the prettiest ten -year-old." He presented her with a package as well. Then looking to JoAnne he added, "I didn't forget you either. Merry Christmas!" Chris who had already torn into the wrapping pulled a muscular looking figure from his box. "All right! Stretch Armstrong. I got a Stretch Armstrong." "Chris, what do you say?" his mother asked. "I got a Stretch Armstrong." There was a pause. "Oh, yeah, thanks, Uncle Johnny." Johnny cocked a smile. "Oh, yeah, you're welcome." Jennifer hugged John when she saw that her gift was a new stuffed bear for her collection. And JoAnne opened a box of stationary. Placing a kiss on his cheek she told him, "It's lovely. And we're so glad you could come. Dinner will be ready in an hour or so." She then hurried to the kitchen as Roy entered to greet his partner. Johnny moved further into the room and the two began the usual guy talk, football and how Archie Griffin had won the Heisman for the second year in a row. The conversation was interrupted by Jennifer's insistant tapping to her father's arm. Roy glanced down. "What is it, Jen?" With a mischievious smirk Jennifer pointed to the ceiling just above the two men's heads. "Mistletoe," she informed them. Johnny chuckled as Roy's eyes quickly darted upward then back to his daughter. "So?" "You have to kiss. It's the rule. You said so." Roy's mind flashed back to earlier that day when unbeknownst to them Jennifer and Chris who were discussing their various gifts happened to be in the exact same location as he and Johnny were now. How he insisted that they give eachother a kiss, it being Christmas. He swallowed remembering that he had indeed told her it was one of the rules. And his ten-year-olds new policy in life lately had been 'Don't get mad. Get even.' "Honey, this isn't the same thing," Roy said softly. Jennifer folded her arms. "Why not?" "Well... because... Chris is your brother." "You always say Uncle Johnny is like your brother." "Yes... well... that's different." He knew he did not sound too convincing. "You said I had to kiss Chris because he's my brother and I love him," she said stubbornly. "Don't you love Uncle Johnny?" "Yes... well... that's different," he tried again. He looked to Jennifer then to Johnny whose expression said, 'Just do it already.' Roy swallowed hard before placing one hand on either side of Johnny's face. They knew they were both thinking the same thing. 'We've gotten through blazing buildings. We can get through this.' Roy glanced to his daughter one last time before bringing his lips to Johnny's in a brotherly kiss. Two seconds later it was over. Station 51 "Gage, Gage," Chet's voice brought Johnny from his memory. "Huh?" "Did you get a kiss under the mistletoe?" John looked to his three colleagues. "Yes," he answered matter-of-factly. "Yes, I did. And let's just leave it at that. Don't you just LOVE this story!? Send Michelle YOUR feedback |