Gift of the Magi

By My Dad

"Now get out of my office, Ellison!" Captain Simon Banks yelled, as Detective Jim Ellison, unable to hide the grin on his face, beat a hasty retreat.

"What a deal!!" Jim chuckled to himself. "Just wait till Sandburg hears this one."

Blair Sandburg, his partner, had been nagging him for weeks to take a vacation... to recharge his batteries so to speak. Well, this was not a vacation, but it was the next best thing. A three day weekend, over the Christmas holiday, in Las Vegas, Nevada! A coordinated police team in Vegas required a replacement detective for the holiday weekend and he finagled the assignment from Simon Banks, his Captain. Round trip for two and an expense paid weekend in Vegas! That is, if Sandburg could squeeze the time off at the university. They had to leave day after tomorrow.

As he rushed home to break the news to his roommate, he chuckled to himself at his good fortune. Many a deserving detective on the Cascade Force was standing in line for this one and he had nabbed it. Sandburg would be tickled to share in this assignment trip for sure... and maybe he would cease his nagging about vacation time.

~~~~~~ Across the city ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Now get out of my office, Blair!" Professor Karl Dobson yelled, as Blair Sandburg, unable

to hide the grin on his face, beat a hasty retreat.

"What a deal!!" Blair chuckled to himself. "Just wait till Jim hears this one."

Blair had been nagging his partner for weeks to take a vacation... to recharge his batteries so

to speak. Well, this was not a vacation, but it was the next best thing. A three day weekend, over the Christmas holiday, in Honolulu, Hawaii! An archaeological team in Honolulu required a replacement representative for the holiday weekend and he finagled the assignment from Professor Dobson, his faculty advisor. Round trip for two and an expense paid weekend in Hawaii! That is, if Ellison could squeeze the time off at the department. They had to leave day after tomorrow.

As he rushed home to break the news to his roommate, he chuckled to himself at his good fortune. Many a deserving graduate student at Rainier University was standing in line for this one and he had nabbed it. Jim would be tickled to share in this assignment trip for sure... and maybe he would be able to cease his nagging about vacation time.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Jim and Blair arrived home within moments of each other. Each had a special Christmas package/trip to unfold for the other. Blair could hardly contain his excitement over the news he had to share, but he deferred to his older brother roommate. His excitement turned to disbelief as Jim laid his gift out for Blair. Three expense paid days in Las Vegas, Nevada... the bright lights.. the movie stars.. not to mention the casinos and other entertainment. Blair was momentarily speechless. At first Jim thought Blair was just overwhelmed. However, when Jim paused to take in Blair's reaction, he was a bit dismayed at the lack of excitement in his young friend.

When Blair found his voice again, he said, "I can't go, Jim. I have a commitment that I thought you might like to share." Blair then laid his gift out for Jim. Three expense paid days in Honolulu, Hawaii... the tropical climate... the beaches.. not to mention the surf and other entertainment. Now it was Jim's turn to be speechless.

Such a dilemma. Neither of the good friends were looking forward to spending the Christmas holidays without each others company. Even if they were spending it in plush playgrounds, it would not be the same as sharing with a friend.

The next morning, both were quiet as they went out their separate ways to work. The older went to the Department and the younger to the campus. Tomorrow would start the holiday weekend.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Driving through the slow winter traffic, Jim thought about Blair's gift offering. He shook his head and smiled to himself. "Chief, you're something else." he said to himself as he recalled it. "Blair did this for me more than himself" Jim thought. He has been hounding Jim to take a vacation and this was the way he could get it done. "Who wouldn't jump at the chance for a Hawaiian Vacation?" Jim chided himself, "Instead of a Cascade, Washington winter." A wave of guild crossed Jim as he thought about his justification for the Vegas trip. He could not spoil Blair's gift to him. After all he was so sincere in his sharing of the trip gift and their vacation time together.

Before arriving at the Police Department, Jim had decided to pass up the assignment to some other deserving Detective. He had to take Blair up on his thoughtful Christmas offer. "Hawaii it is!!" he mumbled and smiled to himself.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Driving through the slow winter traffic, Blair thought about Jim's gift offering. He shook his head and smiled to himself. "Partner, you're something else." he said to himself as he recalled it. "Jim did this for me more than himself" Blair thought. He has been hounding Jim to take a vacation and this was the way he could get it done. "Who wouldn't jump at the chance for a Las Vegas Vacation?" Blair chided himself, "instead of a Cascade, Washington winter." A wave of guild crossed Blair as he thought about his justification for the Hawaii trip. He could not spoil Jim's gift to him. After all he was so sincere in his sharing of the trip gift and their vacation time together.

Before arriving at the Rainier Campus, Blair had decided to pass up the assignment to some other deserving Grad Student. He had to take Jim up on his thoughtful Christmas offer. "Las Vegas it is!!" he mumbled and smiled to himself.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Ellison, you and Sandburg are something else!!" Simon exclaimed when Jim turned down the trip to Vegas. In a heartbeat, Simon had phoned another detective who jumped at the chance to replace Jim on the assignment.

Jim said, "Thanks. I have some time off on the books, so I'll start it now if you don't mind, Captain. I need to go home and pack for the trip with Blair. We leave tomorrow."

"Go ahead," Simon sighed, "See you after the holidays..... have a Merry Christmas."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Blair, you and Jim are something else!!" Professor Dobson exclaimed when Blair turned down the trip to Hawaii. In a heartbeat, Dobson had phoned another student who jumped at the chance to replace Blair on the assignment.

Blair said, "Thanks. I have some time off accumulated, so I'll start it now if you don't mind, Professor. I need to go home and pack for the trip with Jim. We leave tomorrow."

"Go ahead," Dobson sighed, "See you after the holidays..... have a Merry Christmas."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Once again the two roommates arrived home within moments of each other. Rushing to their respective rooms to throw together suitcases and appropriate wear, one searched for sandals and sun lotion, while the other sports jacket and slacks. Each, hearing the other packing, paused to meet in the communal living room. One with swimwear stood looking at the other holding dress shoes. Almost simultaneously they said, "I canceled my trip so I could go on yours."

Jim and Blair sat opposite each other having abandoned their packing for trips that were no longer to be.

Dropping his sandal to the floor, Jim broke the silence. "Well, Chief... you wanted me to take some time off.... so.. Merry Christmas." Jim smiled offering his gift of time.

"Yeah, partner... and you wanted to spend some time together.... so.. Merry Christmas." Blair smiled offering his gift of time.

Both laughed at the new dilemma. "What'll it be, Chief? Tofu? ... or Wonder Burgers?" Jim asked, as the winter flakes started to float past the window.

Looking at the white blanket of new fallen snow quickly forming outside the window, Blair answered, "Chuck a log on the fire and order out for Pizza... my treat. Looks like it's gonna be a long restful weekend." "Merry Christmas, Jim" he added.

"Merry Christmas, Chief." Jim smiled.

End