Part Two

Trying to play innocent for in that instant she had figured out what it was that Operations wanted from her. It was a demented gift just like him to want to bestow. She really did not want North having that back in her possession. "What would that be sir?"

"You know what it is. I expect it wrapped and under the tree at CLHQ. You will find a card for it in your room."

"Sir, I am not sure your information is up to date."

"Just have it there or else." With that Operation walked away.

"Great!" Rita turned and headed for Comm. "One more thing for my list."

Once she had completed her report and sent copies to the appropriate personnel, she went directly to CLHQ. Deck the Halls could be heard blasting down the hallways of CLHQ. Someone was in the holiday spirit. The tree, a tall Douglas fir whose scent permeated the area, stood in the main hall. The twinkling lights made it a beautiful sight to behold. Then her gaze fell on all the gaily-wrapped presents that were already under the tree. A soft good lord escaped from her lips. That was enough incentive to get her to run upstairs as she noted that from the stair case railings hung a series of stockings with all the CLers names: Dominique, Cheryl, Curlly, Sherry, Lease, and so many others on different stockings. Moving quickly up to her floor, she could hear assorted giggles and the sounds of wrapping paper being cut.

Walking down the hallway she saw a moving pile of wrapped presents with legs moving towards her. She began to laugh. "All right whoever is hiding behind there do you need any help?"

"No, no, thanks." Came out muffled voice. "I have it all balanced."

Upon recognizing the voice, she exclaimed, "Nabiki!" Couldn't you make two trips?"

"Why waste time? I still have other things to do like make the coquito."
She said as she walked away.

Rita was happy to hear that Nabiki would be making the traditional Puerto Rican beverage for the festivities. "Nabiki, you are a goddess. I have been looking forward to having some." Rita called after her.

"Don't worry. I'll make sure to make you an extra portion for you."

"Fabulous. I'll see you later."

"But you are making the flan right?"

"Oh my I almost forgot. Yes of course I already bought the ingredients." Her list kept on growing.

Rita quickly entered her room and showered. She slipped into a robe and walked to her bed and sat down. She picked up the phone and dialed Curlly’s room.

"Hello."

"Curlly, I am finally ready to go shopping."

"Rita sorry I have been tagged for a quickie mission. I should be back by tonight. I just have to make contact with an informant and see what he has to say. Gotta go now."

"Curlly I really have to talk to you later."

"Sure. No prob. When I get back. Don't buy too much. What I am I saying of course buy too much especially if you are buying for me." She said as she laughed and hung up.

Great she thought, I hate shopping by myself. She went to finish getting ready and brave the mall. Parking was such a nightmare. Brushing her hair into a ponytail, a sudden knock on the door caused her to loose her grip on her hair. She walked over to see who was going to remind her of something else she forgot. When she opened the door there stood a fine specimen of the male species whose very sight made her worries and list vanish. Drinking in the sight of the black clad wonder was a balm.

"Rita." Came from the soft lips in a lightly accented voice that drove her mad.

"Michael!" Breaking from her trance she put her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder. Hugging him close, just breathing in the intoxicating scent of him was wonderful. His arms came around her waist and he held her.

He broke the silence. "I have it on good authority that you are in need of a shopping partner."

She moved her head back to look at him but not breaking the embrace. "Who told?"

Now would that be repaying my informant by letting you know that?"

"Well how could I possibly thank them for sending you?"

"You realize you could have asked and I would have gladly joined you."

***

Part Three

"I didn't want to bother you. Plus I know that you Mr. Organized and Efficient probably finished already."

"True. Yet we have not had much time together lately. So are you ready to go?"

"Just give me a second to finish with my hair and then we can leave." She put her hair up and grabbed her jacket.

"Rita, don't forget your gloves." Michael knew she was always forgetting them. She grabbed them from the dresser. He took her hand and they walked out into the hallway. As they made their way downstairs they bumped into DragonLady, who was surprisingly covered in tinsel and garland.

Laughter pealed out from Rita. "What happened to you?" She said between giggles.

With an exasperated look coming over her face, she began to explain how she came to be like his. "I was decorating my tree and my cats decided to help. Help being the operative word."

Michael ever the gallant said, "It looks very becoming on you."

DragonLady looked at him suspiciously, waiting for the punch line. He continued, "Very festive. It brings out the color in your eyes."

"Thanks Michael but if it is just the same to you I will be changing soon. As soon as I find Grace, she promised she would help."

"Oh could you tell Grace that I need to talk to her tonight."

"Sure. See you guys later." She walked away leaving a trail of twinkling tinsel in her wake.

They made it to the outside of CLHQ and there in front was Michael's motorcycle. Rita looked at it and him in bewilderment. Normally she wouldn't mind a ride with Michael but she had shopping to do.

"Michael I hate to break it to you but where am I going to put my packages?"

Michael moved to sit on the motorcycle and held out his hand and said, "Trust me."

What could she do when he put it like that? She slipped in to sit in back of him. He handed her a helmet that she put on. She slid in closer to him and rested her head on his back. He revved the engine and they were off. The wind whistling and the scenery passed in blur. Rita relaxed and enjoyed the ride. She could tell that he was up to something but she could not determine what. They arrived at the mall and finding parking for the motorcycle was a snap.

They walked into the mall and saw the throng of people. Individuals loaded down with packages trying to move as quickly as possible in order to complete their tasks.

"Where do you wish to start?'

"Barnes and Noble."

"Barnes and Noble he repeated.

"Yup, its this way."

They walked in to the store. Rita browsed through the titles and picked out some books for the girls. She also saw an inflatable 'The Scream' doll from the famous painting. She thought that would be perfect for Madeline. Michael was holding some of her items as they walked together to the register. Rita stopped suddenly in her tracks. The line of people waiting to pay was gargantuan. There were at least 20 people by her calculations in line.

"Dear Lord, that can't be." She said with a tone of disappointment in her voice.

Michael was immediately on alert thinking that he must have missed something "What's wrong Rita?"

"Nothing just the size of the line. We are going to be here a long time Michael."

"Oh I think not cheri." He walked forward to the end of the line with Rita following him. "King, now." He said softly. So softly that Rita almost missed it.

"King what do you mean Michael?'

Someone caught her eyes as she waited for a reply. It was a man who was approaching them and he carried not purchases. Tall, athletic, but it was the look around his eyes that caught her attention. He had Section written all over them.

"Yes, Sir." The man said to Michael. Michael began passing him the items Rita had selected.

"What are you doing, Michael."

"Rita, King here is going to make the lines for your purchases. Just give him the money. He will meet us at the next store by the time we need to make the next purchase. He will then bring back the purchase to CLHQ for us. Any more questions?"

***

Part Four

Rita looked at Michael in shock as he handed over the rest of the purchases. They walked away as he was still processing. "Michael, how could you do that? I mean it is a brilliant idea and quite thoughtful but it is grunt work. And King is just taking it?"

"An operative has to do whatever his superior orders no matter how silly or unbelievable it sounds. King needs to learn that lesson or else he will never make it out of the abeyance pool that he is in."

Oh brother office talk in the middle of free time. She thought that the man never left Section. Sometimes she wondered that about him. Michael saw the look on Rita's face and decided that was just not what she wanted to hear. Michael grabbed her and pulled her to him and kissed her softly. When they broke apart she smiled at him.

"We should finish shopping."

"Yes." They continued their shopping handing off the packages to poor King. Through this method they finished their shopping in not time. Rita was amazed at how quickly they had accomplished all of her shopping needs. Well, all except one. Except for one, for with Michael accompanying her she did not have the chance to purchases his gift. It had finally dawned upon her what she should get him but getting rid of Michael was going to be rather difficult. Almost downright impossible. This called for something drastic.

At the next store as she was handing packages to King. She looked at Michael hoping he would fall for this. "Michael, I picked the wrong size blouse for North. Can you get me another one while I finish here while I look at the gloves over there. Please."

"Fine." And he walked away.

Rita turned quickly to converse with King. "Ok King you are going to buy Michael's presents for me. Go to the music store please and buy this." Rita wrote down the list on a piece of paper. "Don't you dare tell Michael," she admonished.

"Of course not." He did not want to imagine if he spoiled Michael's Christmas what his punishment would be.

"Good plus get this." She wrote one more thing on the piece of paper and handed it to King.

She said that none too soon when she saw Michael approaching with a look in his eyes. "Is there a problem?"

"Of course not. Michael what makes you say that? I think we are done we can head back now."

"Fine." Michael knew Rita was hiding something but it was not earth shattering. So he decided to humor Rita. "So have you made all of your purchases?"

"Why of course?"

"So you do not plan on buying me?"

Rita became flustered at that point. "Michael asking after your present is kind of impertinent don't you think? How could I possibly ever forget you? Let's just say your present took the most thought. We should get going."

When they arrived back to CLHQ Rita made a beeline for her room. In her room she began gathering the items to cook the flan and the Oreo pie. Michael was browsing through Rita's CD collection trying to find something soothing to listen to. She began to prepare the sugar to be caramelized. But she had to wait until the sugar reached a temperature of 300 degrees. Standing over the pot willing it to boil quicker. Michael found her in this position after he had put in an Andrea Bocelli CD.

"Why don't you let me watch it while you make the pie?"

"Michael be careful you know if it boils too long it will burn and make the flan bitter."

He shook his head at her. She worried too much. "I know Rita. You just go ahead. Trust me."

She began creating the Oreo pie which was rather simple to make so it did not take that long to complete."

Michael looked at the thermometer Rita had in the pot. "Its ready."

"Great." She took a potholder and poured the sugar into the baking pan. She began to move the pan so all the sides were covered. Then because ever since she was a child she poured the remains of the sugar on some wax paper. Waiting while it cool, she put the ingredients together for the flan. She poured the batter into the pan. Putting the pan in a double boiler she put the deserts in the oven.

Then she took a piece of the sugar candy and began to suck at it and then she popped it into his mouth..

Seeing that Michael was staring at her. She thought she forgot her manners. "Michael, do you want some?"

"Not right now."

"It tastes really good." She tried tempting him into taking a piece.

***

Part Five

"Do you want a glass of wine?"

"That sounds fine." The music filled the apartment with that man's incredible voice. Rita was lost in the music.

He opened the wine and let it breath. He walked over and noticed that Rita had begun to lick her sticky fingers. He grabbed her hand and began to lick her fingers slowly. This brought a rush of warmth to her face. Distracted by his actions she did not hear the knocking on her or door or that the door was being opened.

In walked Curlly and Grace. Curlly caught an eyeful of what was going on in the kitchen area and started laughing. "Whatever Rita cooked I want some. It must be really tasty."

"You'll have to give us the recipe Rita." Grace chimed in.

Michael unruffled merely stopped what he was doing and held Rita's hand as he straightened up and said, "Good evening, ladies. I trust you finished all your shopping."

Rita on the other hand was a bit embarrassed and annoyed because Michael had to stop.

Curlly saw this and decided to tease her. "Rita you sure are quiet. I don't think I have ever seen you this quiet."

"You aren't even laughing." Grace added.

Michael decided this had gone on enough. "Ladies, what brings you hear? Besides mortifying Rita."

"But its so much fun since Rita is hardly ever caught in a compromising situation." Curlly wasn't willing to give up her fun.

Grace piped in, "Operations wants to see you Michael."

"Ah, I see. Rita I will see you later. This will give you a chance to wrap my present." He leaned over and kissed and then walked out of the room.

"So Rita what did you get Michael." Curlly said as she popped a piece of sugar candy.

"Yeah and why did you need to talk to the two of us."

"Well, I got Michael, a couple of our favorite classical pieces on musical sheets written for the cello. Plus something else that is personal and you guys don't need to know. Now why I brought you hear is that Operations cornered me. He wants North to have his disco ball back for Christmas."

The girls were stricken silent by the news that North would be getting her torture device back. Rita laughed. "Now whose has gone quiet? That man is sure giving out a messed up present. Well he is going to have to deal with North if he got her just that."

Curlly broke the silence coming to her senses. "What! How did he find out you had?"

" I have no idea but you guys have to bring it back here so I can wrap it and stick it under the tree."

"Rita you can't give that back." Grace pleaded. Curlly meanwhile was stealthily moving towards the Oreo’s that Rita was going t o use to decorate the pie.

"No choice orders are orders. So hop to it. Curlly get your hands off those cookies!"

"Sheesh! Come on, Rita. Where's your Christmas spirit."

"Curlly…"

"Come on Curlly. Rita looks like she needs to finish cooking. Or maybe she needs Michael to help her clean up some more." Grace began tugging Curlly towards the door.

"You two get back here quick. Maybe I'll have a surprise for you." In walked King loaded down with bags.

"Is this our surprise?" Grace inquired. "He's pretty good looking." The two girls left the room in a whirl of laughter much like a mini hurricane. Rita thanked King. She began wrapping Michael, Curlly’s and Grace's gifts. Then she proceeded to wrap the other presents. Grace and Curlly dropped of the disco ball. They helped her wrap the ball and they left to finish their own Christmas present wrapping.

Michael returned and slipped into the room without announcing his presence. When he walked in he saw Rita pulling the desserts out of the oven. He also noted that all the presents were now wrapped.

Rita turned around and saw him holding another present. "Michael what's that?"

"Operations gave me the card for North's present plus this one that goes with it."

A feeling of dread came over Rita like a wave. "What is it?" She was afraid to ask but she just had to know.

He knew the news was not going to please Rita. "A multicolored flashing ball."

A look of horror broke out over her face. "Oh my God that man is sick, just sick flat out demented. It is going to be Club North down there you know."

"Rita now is not the time to be worrying. There's nothing you can do about it." Michael had other plans for this evening and brooding over Operations taste in presents was not his idea of fun.

A thoughtful look crossed Rita's face. "Yeah. Right. He didn't say I couldn't steal it again."

Michael flashed a quick smile at her. "That's my operative"

The End