A Christmas Story




Here you go, folks. Hope I haven't kept you waiting too long. And in case you can't remember what's happened: Jing-Mei and Dave got together, they broke up. Thirteen years later, she gets a message that he's called her at work. She doesn't call him back, thinking he's just being nostalgic, so she goes home. On the way, she stops a man from shooting a storeowner, and then goes home. But when she awakes, she finds herself sleeping next to the one and only Dave Malucci.

------------------------------- Chapter Two: Noblesse Oblige -------------------------------

Jing-Mei Chen supposed there was a logical explanation all of this. There had to be one, there just *had* to be. But attempting to figure it out was where her real problem lay. Okay, so first she figured she could think about what she did last night: she went to work, as she was walking home almost got shot in a convenient store, tried to save an insane young man, and then when she arrived at home she went to sleep. Sleep, she went to sleep. She didn't go out to a bar, didn't go anywhere, she went to sleep!

So how in Hell had she ended up waking up next to - in the arms of - Dave Malucci, a man she hadn't seen in about a dozen years, a man who, as far as she knew, still lived all the way in New York. Had he come to visit? Maybe he was in town and stopped by at her apartment, and they got drunk together. Perhaps Dave had slipped something into her drink. She quickly pushed that thought aside. No, that wasn't his style. Maybe they just got *really* drunk. But that didn't make sense at all, because for one: Why would Dave be in "town?" Two: How would he find out where she lived now? Three: Even if they did get drunk together, she was sure she would remember the events leading up to her intoxication. And four: They weren't even in her apartment, they were in this cramped and lived in room, with clothes and toys strewn about, family photos on the dresser, Laura Ashley curtains, a tiny poster bed and a little bay window. They were in *his* house, or somebody's house, someone who had a family and children, obviously.

Instinctively, Jing-Mei reached for her Cartier watch on the nightstand, where she always put her watch before she went to sleep, but instead found a Timex Indiglo, which read "7:57 A.M." Glancing back to Dave as she realized she'd missed the first half of the shift she needed to cover, she rubbed her eyes, hoping that this was a dream, but when she glanced down he was still there.

He suddenly stirred, nuzzling his face into her stomach, and she jumped as she heard him speak for the first time: "Mmm…ten more minutes, Jing-Mei…it's Christmas…"

Suddenly, the door burst open, and Jing-Mei snapped her head around in time to see about a six-year-old girl in a pink nightgown walk into the room, carrying probably an eighteen-month-old boy, and she was singing a Christmas carol at the top of her lungs. But the only thing Jing-Mei could focus on at that moment was how much the little girl looked…like her, except olive skinned like…like Dave. And the boy…the boy too…

The girl put the little boy on the bed and jumped up herself, still singing her song - "Jingle bells, Santa smells, Rudolph laid an egg…!" - before she gestured to the dog, patting the bed, and it soon joined them as the girl began to jump up and down.

"You're jumping, sweetheart," Dave said to the girl, as he disentangled himself from Jing-Mei. "Daddy needs five more minutes to sleep, okay, guys? That could be his Christmas present, wouldn't that be nice? And what's Frankie doing on the bed?"

As all this was happening, Jing-Mei was watching with awed eyes as the little boy crawled directly up to her, climbing onto her stomach and settling himself there, looking down at her with an expression that demanded attention. For an instant, the only logical explanation she could think of was that Dave had two children she wasn't aware of, and last night she'd gotten very, *very* drunk, and she'd stayed the night as his house and had sex for old time's sake while the children slept.

"Come on, Mommy!" the girl called, and Jing-Mei quickly glanced around to see whom she'd been speaking to before realizing that she'd been speaking to *her*. "Let's get up and go open presents!"

And that was enough to send her bolting from the bed, gently placing the boy to the side before doing so. She stumbled over a toy for a moment before regaining her balance, looking around before spotting a pair of sweatpants that were obviously Dave's because they were too big for her, but she didn't care right now. She made haste towards the door then, as Dave, still half-asleep, reached out to her, calling her name.

"Jing-Mei…" he said, grabbing her hand and pulling her close to him, and when he opened his eyes and looked up at her, she was surprised that they were still the beautiful brown color she remembered them to be, though she wasn't sure why she thought they would be different. He seemed as if he were going to say something, before noting her apparent horror, his brow furrowing almost immediately. "You okay?"

"No!" she exclaimed, before she could stop herself, startling the room into silence. "No, I am not okay! What…what happened last night? What is going on??"

"What?" he asked, alarmed at her demeanor and confused by her questions. "What do you mean - last night? Are you talking about me getting drunk at the party? I can't…really remember it. Did I do something wrong?" He was suddenly alarmed. "I didn't do anything stupid, did I?? I didn't hurt you, right? If I did, Jing-Mei, I'm so sorry…"

"We got drunk together?" she asked. "At a party, we got drunk together?"

"No…" he said, slowly. "I got drunk. You offered to drive home, so you didn't drink. But did I hurt you, Jing-Mei? Why are you so upset?"

"I didn't get drunk?!" she shrieked. "Then why can't I remember last night??"

"Last night, we…" he started, but he trailed off, his expression changing from confusion to absolute worry. "Jing-Mei, are we talking about the same thing?"

"Yes! Last night!" she yelled, as if that alone would explain everything, ignoring the scared expression of the children and the rather startled expression of Dave. "Where the hell am I?"

"What??" he asked, a now truly frightened expression on his face. He stood, picking up the baby as he did so when he started to fuss, balancing him on his hip in such a way that displayed his obvious experience with having children. "Jing-Mei, what is going on?"

"That's what I'd like to fucking know!"

"Watch your language around the kids," he immediately reminded her, before eyeing the jacket she was putting on. He handed the child to the little girl, telling her to watch him for a moment before turning back to Jing-Mei. "Where are you going?"

"Anywhere but here," she said, dashing out the door, glancing into the hallway cautiously before heading down the stairs and into a messy and disorganized living room, with a load of gifts underneath a garishly decorated Christmas tree. "I have to get to the hospital, I shouldn't even be here right now, I'm supposed to be covering a shift."

"The hospital??" he asked, as if that were the most absurd thing in the world. She heard him following her down the stairs, and she was about to leave before she realized that she was barefoot. Quickly, she grabbed a pair of sneakers that looked about her size sitting by the door, and she slipped them on. Perfect fit. "A shift??"

"Yes!" she yelled, whirling around to face him, startling him so much he took a step back. "I need to cover a shift at the hospital for another doctor. I *am* still a doctor, you know."

"Yeah, but…" he began, before they both heard the sound of a key turning in the door lock. They both glanced at it, and while Jing-Mei wasn't quite sure what to do, Dave muttered: "Oh, God damn it…shit…Jing-Mei, we don't have time for this right now. Please, pull yourself together…"

The door opened, sending a cold wind sweeping into the room, and in walked a couple she'd never seen before except in pictures, both holding wrapped gifts in their arms. It was Dave's parents, Rhonda and Antonio Malucci, the former smiling brightly while the latter had a cigarette hanging from his lips.

"Dad, no smoking in here," Dave said, and even after all these years it was still apparent that they didn't get along. Jing-Mei remembered hearing about Dave's father occasionally when they'd been dating, and from what she knew Antonio had offered nothing to Dave during his childhood except for degrading him and humiliating him…and maybe worse; Jing-Mei knew there were things that Dave wouldn't tell her. But she did know his father had always been an asshole, Dave had said, and he always would be. And despite that, Dave still tolerated him because his mother asked it of him, and he loved her for everything she'd gone through for him with his father, so he would do anything for her. "Dad, I said put that out."

"I'll smoke wherever I want," he snapped.

"Not in my house."

"Stop it, both of you," Rhonda stated, exasperation laced in her voice. She mumbled sarcastically: "God, I need some eggnog."

"Of course you do," Antonio stated. "Hell, it's almost 8am."

"Oh, dear God," Dave breathed. "Here we go again…"

"Jing-Mei!" Rhonda suddenly said, turning to her as she regained the bright smile that Dave had inherited. "Merry Christmas. Are the Annie and Josh awake yet?"

"What…? I mean…" she tried, but gave up. This was just *way* too weird, and she did *not* feel like dealing with it on Christmas morning. She was just going to go to work, and get her shift done, and then go home to her *own* place, and forget this ever happened. She turned back to the door, pulling it open. "Excuse me, I…I have to go."

"Where are you going, Jing-Mei?" Rhonda called, and then turned to Dave. "Where is she going?"

"Damned if I know," she heard Dave say under his breath.

"You two fighting again?" Antonio sneered.

"Shut up," Dave mumbled. He glanced up at the heavens then, saying, "God, why can't you just make him mute for one day?"

"Where's my car??" Jing-Mei asked, as she glanced in the driveway to see that there was only a silver minivan and a blue Cadillac. Suddenly, she turned back to the house, running back inside and saying to no one in particular: "Where's my Ferrari?!"

"What the hell are you *talking* about??" Dave asked, his expression showing his confusion, though now it was mixed with worry and slight frustration. "You don't own a Ferrari!"

"Can I borrow your car?" she asked, though it was Antonio she turned to and not Dave. "Look, I promise it'll be retuned."

"The Caddy?" Antonio asked, incredulous. "Why don't you take your own damn car??"

"Oh, just let her borrow your precious Cadillac, for God's sake," Rhonda said, rolling her eyes.

"She's got a perfectly good minivan sitting out there in the driveway!"

And faster than they could blink, Jing-Mei grabbed the keys off of the hook near the door and darted back outside, ignoring Dave's voice as he called out to her, ignoring what he was saying, ignoring everything as she started up the car and drove away at speeds that were illegal in this suburbia, and made her way as fast as she could back into the city, back to her home.

-------------------------------

Minutes later, Jing-Mei pulled up to her apartment building, the same one she'd saved up tons of money and pulled an enormous amount of strings to obtain. It even had a doorman, Tony, with whom she was good friends with and even provided health advice to occasionally. Still wearing pajamas underneath a coat, she then leapt out of the car, running towards the entrance where her doorman sternly stood.

"Tony, thank God…" Jing-Mei started, beginning to walk past him, but the older man immediately blocked her way. "What's wrong?"

"Sorry, Ma'am," he informed her, "but the entrance is for residents and guests only."

"What?? What are you talking about?" Jing-Mei said, feeling the panic creeping up on her yet again. "It's me, Dr. Jing-Mei Chen. Apartment C. I gave you advice on your diet after your heart attack!"

The man did not budge. "Uh huh…"

Just then, her downstairs neighbor walked to the door with his small dog in his arms, and to Jing-Mei's surprise, Tony opened the door for him. But before her old neighbor could go any further, Jing-Mei called out to him: "Jack Peterson!"

His little white dog began barking ferociously at Jing-Mei, startling her, as Mr. Peterson said to Tony, "Who is this woman?" startling her even more.

"You know me, Jack!" Jing-Mei said, her voice cracking as her heart began beating at speeds that shouldn't be possible. She noted Mr. Peterson's audacious look, his eyes looking her up and down as he failed to recognize her. "You do! Dr. Jing-Mei Chen. We're on the co-op board together. We fought side by side for garbage disposals. Every morning we exchange quasi-sexual witty banter!! Think!"

"Should I call the cops?" Tony asked Mr. Peterson, and Jing-Mei's expression was beseeching, as were her eyes. "I'm gonna call the cops…"

"No," Mr. Peterson suddenly said, raising a hand to Tony.

Jing-Mei audibly sighed with relief, thanking God that her horrible, messed-up morning was finally over. "Thank you, Jack. I know if I can just sleep this off, I'll be fine…"

"And sleep you shall. Noblesse oblige is not dead. Not yet, anyway," he stated, and then extended an open arm towards her, to which Jing-Mei moved towards. "Come, let's get you some help. Surely there must be a shelter somewhere in this city…"

"A shelter?!!" Jing-Mei shrieked, stopping dead in her tracks, even taking a step backwards. "I'm the richest woman in this building! I've got twice the square footage you have!!"

The two men before her only offered her a look of pity, and, frustrated, she turned back to the minivan, feeling tears come to her eyes. Maybe if she got to the hospital and talked to someone there who wasn't absolutely insane, like Kerry or even Michael Gallant, anyone, someone who would explain to her just what the hell was going on. But when she got there, she was only met with the same behavior from a familiar security guard, Gus.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa…" he said, as she tried to enter the Lounge so she could change into a pair of scrubs. "Hold it right there, Ma'am."

"Gus," Jing-Mei said. She really didn't have time for this right now, not on this morning, of all mornings. "Where's Dr. Weaver? Is she here yet?"

"Dr. Weaver?" Gus said, with a knowing chuckle. "I don't think so. But I'm sure another doc will be happy to see you if you wait in Chairs."

"No, I'm not a patient," she said, shaking her head furiously. "I'm Dr. Jing-Mei Chen, and I need to change so I can start my shift."

"Let me see some ID, then."

"I…" She sighed, realizing that it was in her apartment. "Look, it's in my apartment, but my doorman wouldn't let me in, he didn't know who I was. But I'm the Chief of the Emergency Department here, and I need to get in there, I'm late for covering a shift."

"Yeah," he snorted. "And I'm the King of England. Listen, lady, I don't care who you are," he said, crossing his arms over his chest. "You don't got ID, I ain't letting you in."

"Maybe you're not hearing me," she snapped, her anger rising at her frustration at this whole day. She approached the hospital directory, which held the names of all the major staff members that worked here and their phone numbers. "Right here! Dr. Jing-Mei Chen, Chief of the - Dr. John Carter? He doesn't even work here anymore, he…" She suddenly paused, another name catching her interest. "Why is Dave's name here? I…I don't understand…"

"Ma'am," he said, trying to usher her away but she couldn't take her eyes off of the names. This was all wrong, so very wrong. John Carter couldn't be the Chief of the ED because, for one, she was, and second of all, he'd opened up a private practice funded by his Gamma. And Dr. Weaver was no longer here, her name was missing from the board completely. The Chief of Staff instead read Dr. Elizabeth Corday, which was ridiculous because she'd moved back to England a long time ago. And Dave…? Well, Dave left her and Chicago behind and went to New York City. "Ma'am, you're gonna have to wait in Chairs or leave."

"That's not necessary, Gus," she heard a familiar voice say behind her, and turned to see Dr. Carter standing behind her, donning scrubs and a lab coat, his hands shoved into the large pockets. He smiled at her, though she could see the worry there. "Deb, what are you doing here?"

"I…" she started, but didn't even know where to begin as John wrapped an arm around her shoulders, leading her away from the security guard and into the Lounge. Instinctively, her eyes moved to her locker, but it wasn't there, instead the name read "Malucci." Oh, dear God, this was ridiculous, she thought, as she felt tears come to her eyes for the second time that morning. "John, I don't know what's going on. I woke up this morning, and - I was with Dave, and when I went to my apartment, they wouldn't let me in, and - and now - and now I can't…"

"Deb, calm down," he said, sitting her down on the Lounge couch and kneeling before her. She took a few deep breaths to keep herself under control, and then looked to her worried friend's expression. "Dave called, he told me what happened, I…"

"Dave called…?" she asked, her words curling into a question. She nodded then, numbly, as she realized that something very weird was going on, but she didn't know what. She couldn't have just gone crazy overnight, could she have? Was she insane?? "John, I…I don't work here."

"No, you don't," he said, his eyes searching hers for whatever answer he wanted to explain her strange behavior. He sighed then, after apparently not finding what he was looking for, and stood, outstretching his hand to her. "Why don't I call Dave and have him pick you up?"

"No!" she exclaimed, standing as well, and realized that she'd startled him. She tried to smile, though failed miserably, and made her way towards the Lounge door, feeling humiliated, though she wasn't sure why. But she supposed crazy people didn't know a lot of things. "I just need to get some fresh air, I'll…"

"Jing-Mei, wait," he said, grabbing her arm before she could leave. "Why don't we call Dave? Just to let him know you're all right."

"No!" she said, suddenly angry. "Here's an idea: why don't *you* call Dave, because I'm leaving, I need to leave…"

Quickly, she exited the Lounge and moved into the ambulance bay, making her way across numbly, her face registering nothing stepped up to the street like a zombie. She'd parked next to Doc Magoo's, and she began crossing the desolate street, oblivious when a car came out of nowhere, screeching to a halt within inches of Jing-Mei, startling her into a shriek as she took a step back.

"Hey!" a voice called from inside the Ferrari, and she turned to look at the driver, though she couldn't get a good look through the window, which was reflecting light from the sun. "Watch where you're walking! You almost dented my two-hundred thousand dollar car!"

Though still slightly stunned, Jing-Mei finally registered the Ferrari, which looked very familiar…and the voice of the driver, also so familiar…

"That's right!" the driver continued. "My new car's worth more than your shitty house! Man, I feel like I really *did* win the lottery!!"

"You!" she screamed, moving to the passenger's side window in shock to come face to face with Cash, who was now dressed sharply in a thick, white turtleneck sweater, with a brown suede jacket that matched his slacks. She glared with angry eyes as he had the audacity to smile at her. "What the fuck did you do to me?!"

"Miss me, Jing-Mei?" he asked, keeping that smile.

"That's my car!" she continued to yell. "You stole my car!"

"It's a callable asset seized in accordance with the acquisition by-laws of your alt-fate contract," he said, as if that explained everything.

"What?!!"

"Basically," he said, smirking. "It's my car now. Get in." She hesitated only briefly before opening the door and sitting inside. If anyone had the answers to what exactly was going on, then it had to be him. "Now, look, I don't make the rules, Jing-Mei. This is how it works. And, no, you aren't crazy. And I suggest you buckle up…this thing *moves*."

Rather joyfully, he drove off in a burst of acceleration, practically sending Jing-Mei in the back seat. Recovering, she began screaming again: "What the hell is happening to me??"

Handing Jing-Mei a paper bag, Cash grinned widely as she began breathing into it, saying: "This kinda thing makes a lot of people throw up, I've seen it happen. So if you get the urge, just roll down the window and do it out there. Wouldn't want you marring this exquisite leather interior…"

Still hyperventilating into the bag, Jing-Mei began to sob, really losing it now, but Cash only smiled as he went on. "Look, I don't know what you're getting so worked up about! You did this, you brought this on yourself."

"Brought what on myself?!" Jing-Mei asked, feeling as if she were going to have a heart attack, though she knew it was just a simple panic attack and all she had to do was breathe…breathe… "I didn't do anything!"

"No?" Cash asked, smirking again. "Come on, Jing-Mei. 'I've got everything I need.' Remember that? Sound familiar??"

"You mean just because you thought I was cocky," Jing-Mei asked, incredulously, "I'm now on a permanent acid trip?!!?" He only offered a laugh, and she swore if he kept up this behavior she was going to smash his head into the steering wheel and knock him unconscious in one foul swoop. "Give me my Goddamn life back, you asshole!"

"Hey, hey, now," Cash said, feigning hurt. "What about me, huh? I'm working hard for you here, Jing-Mei! On Christmas too! Now you did a good thing last night, intervening that way. I was moved, absolutely touched…"

"Please," Jing-Mei interrupted, as he pretended to wipe a tear from his eye. "Just tell me what's happening to me. In plain English, none of this mumbo jumbo!"

"It's a glimpse, Debby."

"Oh, that explains it," she snapped sarcastically. "What glimpse? A glimpse of what??"

"Look, eventually everyone gets one. Some of 'em take seconds…" He glanced pointedly at Jing-Mei then. "Some of 'em take a lot longer to figure it out. Which, in your case, should be considerable."

"Look, I just want my life back," she said, and then suddenly got an idea. "What's it going to take? You want to talk turkey, let's talk turkey! How much money do you want??"

Cash just rolled his eyes. "It doesn't work like that, and I can't tell you why."

"Why not??"

"Because you got to figure it out for yourself!" he said, with exasperation. He was exasperated?? *He* was exasperated??! "Are you listening to me? Look, Jing-Mei, in my experience the best way people deal with this is to just relax and breathe through it…let it come to you."

"Look," she said, simmering with frustration and anger. "I don't have *time* for this right now. I am conducting a study in the ER that was almost finished, and if I don't get the results in - "

"Oh, you're working on a new study now, baby."

"You know what?" Jing-Mei yelled, irate. "I've had it with you! I've had it with all of this shit!! I need my life back! *My* life, not yours, *mine*!!"

Suddenly, Cash slammed on the breaks, bringing the car to a halt and practically sending Jing-Mei through the windshield. Glancing up, she realized that the car was parked right next to the minivan…they were right back where they'd started. She glanced back to Cash, only to see him holding out a small red plastic bag.

"What's this, a signal?" she asked, as she peeked into the bag and pulled out a Barbie bicycle bell. "Will you come whenever I ring it, or something?"

"Do I look like I live in a bottle?" was the sarcastic reply, before he reached across Jing-Mei's seat and opened the door for her. "Get out."

"But what do I do?" she asked, horrified at the prospect of living in this "glimpse." "I don't know where to go, or…I don't know my own kids' names!"

"Look, Jing-Mei, I'm late," he stated. "I'd love to help you out some more, but I gotta go handle my business…happy trails."

She glanced out to the lonely street outside, and then back to Cash, becoming desperate. "You did this to me, you can't just leave me like this!"

"Fine," he said, with a sigh. He began to open the driver's side door, sticking one foot out as if to leave. "You want to know everything, I'll tell you everything. But not here, let's get some fresh air…"

"Thanks," Jing-Mei said, stepping out of the car, but before she could even turn around, she heard Cash's door slam shut, and the car took off in a blast of horsepower. She stood there, stunned, hardly able to believe she fell for that as she gazed down the street, listening to the sounds of ambulances approaching and feeling the wind whipping against her. Shivering, she glanced at County General and then to the plastic bag in her hand, before moving back to the minivan.

"Deb!" she heard from behind, but didn't have to turn around to know it was John Carter calling out to her. She watched him approach, but he was looking down the street, in the direction the Ferrari had driven off in. "Who was that?"

"Oh, no one," she replied numbly. "I…I have to go…"

"I don't want you driving home like this," he said, ushering her towards the passenger's side door and pulling it open for her. "Let me drive you."

"How will you get back to work?" she asked, though she climbed inside and buckled her seatbelt.

"I took the El today," he replied, closing the door for her, and when he rounded the car to the driver's side and got in, he continued with: "I'll just grab one of my cars and head back here after my break."

"You keep cars at my house?" she asked, slightly confused.

He smiled quizzically. "I live next door to you."

"Oh! Right," she said quickly. "Yeah, it was just…the way you said it…"

"Deb, you look terrible," he suddenly blurted out, his expression showing his pure concern. He'd started the car but she suspected it was only for the heat, and that a long conversation was coming on. Even though she hadn't really seen him since he'd gone into private practice - well, in her other, *real* life - he was still the same person she remembered, and she knew him well enough to guess what was going to happen next. "Are you okay? I mean, you leave the house on Christmas morning, freaking out, and you don't tell anyone where you're going…"

Jing-Mei looked up at him. "We're friends, aren't we?"

"I was hoping me and Susan moving in next door to you might've hinted at that," he said, winking. "But maybe I don't say it enough…" There was a pause, as she glanced back to the dashboard. She felt his hand on her arm. "Deb, talk to me…"

She looked up at him again, his expression showing his willingness to listen, though she knew as a doctor he would think she'd gone totally nuts. So she just decided to stick with the basic: "I'm kind of having a bad day…"

"The suicide rate doubles during the holidays," he said absently, nodding. She raised her eyebrows, incredulous, and he seemed to realize what he'd just said. "Oh! I didn't mean that, like…look, all I meant is that a lot of people have a hard time dealing with all the forced reverie, that's all… Is that you?"

"Is it…?"

"Trouble at work?" he tried.

"I don't…I don't think so."

"It's not Dave, is it?" he asked, and Jing-Mei paused at the mention of his name. "Is everything okay between you guys?"

"Dave's my husband," she said, seeking the confirmation to a statement that she already knew was true. Instinctively, she looked at her left hand, where a simple but beautiful diamond ring lie alongside a golden band.

"Yeah, he is," John stated. "Are you guys…thinking of separating? Last time I talked to you, everything was fine. Has something changed since then?"

"No," she said, trying to gain a coherent thought so she could explain this somehow to John. She looked at him, ready to spit it out. "It's just…"

But he interrupted her, his eyes widening as if he had just figured it all out. "He cheated on you, didn't he?? He cheated on you with Evelyn. I knew he was going to do it, I *knew* it. What a jerk…"

"No!" she insisted, and then sighed, realizing that perhaps the best way to go about this "glimpse" was to wing it for now.

"Is it *you*?" he asked, a pained expression almost coming to her face. "Have you been thinking about…?"

"Just…can you just take me home now, John? Please?"

"Are you sure?" he asked softly, and she nodded. He pulled the van out of the parking space, heading down the street, and they sat in uncomfortable silence the entire way home. Within a few moments, they were back at Jing-Mei's house, which she finally got a good look at: it was a charming, suburban two-story home, with some tasteful Christmas lights decorating a tree in the center of the snow-covered lawn. It was almost exactly what she'd dreamed of as a little girl. Dave had certainly been shocked to hear that when they'd first started dating. He'd always assumed that just because she came from a rich family, she'd want something like that. But, moreover, he'd been shocked because it was the exact same thing he wanted.

They exited the minivan, and John walked her to her backyard for some reason, but she didn't bother to ask why they didn't use the front door. It was probably so he could figure out what to say before he left her. And, finally, he did say it.

"Look," John said, stopping, and she stopped as well to look at him. "Thirties, house, kids, financial responsibilities, you start thinking…this isn't the life I dreamt about. Where's the romance, where's the joie de vivre? Is that it?"

"It's just two kids, right?" she asked, and he chuckled as if she'd said something funny, but she'd been dead serious. God, she hoped it was only two.

"You made a choice, Deb, a promise to your husband. Maybe sometimes it seems like you gave up the world, but look what you got," he said, indicating the property. There was a swing set in the backyard, a dog run with chewed up lawn, and a wooden sun deck in the process of being built. Oh, yeah, just look at what she had… "Four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, and a partially finished basement…" He grinned then, at what he'd said. "So it's not the mansions we lived in when we were younger, but you've got a family, a real family, and that's the difference. Don't screw up the best thing in your life just because you're a little unsure about who you are. Okay?"

She nodded, and he hugged her gently then, before sliding open the back door and turning her towards it, and he left without another word, rushing to his house to get out of the cold, and she figured it was a good idea too, so she stepped inside, but cautiously so. She didn't know this house at all, and tried to gain her bearings. So…she was in what looked like a den…stepped down into the kitchen…

"Nothing yet?" she heard, and Dave walked absently into the room, holding a portable phone to his ear. He was just wearing a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved tee shirt, but, God, he looked as great as she remembered him to be. At that instant, he spotted her, a look of relief washing over his face, before he said into the phone, "Never mind, she just walked in…" She flinched as he slammed down the phone, before staring her down angrily, and she held her breath, waiting for what was coming next. "Do you have any idea what you put us through today?!! You walk out of here at seven-thirty in the morning, don't tell me *where* you're going, and I don't see you until hours later. I had state troopers looking for you! I called hospitals…" He suddenly pointed to the phone. "I was just on the phone with the morgue for God's sake!!

"Do you know what I had to go through this morning??" he continued. "My dad was down my throat about how he'd been right about you all along, my mother told him to shut the fuck up, which started a whole other fight, and then the kids were crying because of them, and I had to deal with that on top of everything else!

"What kind of person leaves their family on Christmas morning without a word about where they're going??" he went on, as she watched him vent, the frustration and anger on his face building, and she prayed to God that he would finish soon, because she was almost to her breaking point. His voice cracked as he said: "What kind of person does that!??"

"I don't know!" Jing-Mei screamed, jumping in. "Please, stop yelling at me!"

He suddenly stopped then, looking at her curiously. "Where were you?"

"I was in the city," she admitted.

"The city?" he asked. "Chicago? Why?"

"Because…" she began, and then sighed. "Because that's where I live."

"Oh, God," he said, raising his hands in the air in exasperation before turning and cleaning up the kitchen table, gathering plates. "Is that what this is about? That's what this is about, isn't it??"

"Look, you don't understand," she said to his back, the dishes clattering angrily together in his hands, but she needed him to know what was happening to her. If anyone would listen and believe a whacked-out idea like this, then surely it was Dave. "I woke up…here, and this is very strange, because…this is not my house. I'm not…'Mom.' Dave, you're not my husband…"

"God *damn* it!!" Startling her, the dishes slammed down, one even breaking and sending a piece flying to the floor, and Dave turned to face her, irate. "You know what, Jing-Mei? This isn't funny anymore, I'm not laughing. I am really, *really* pissed off…" His expression turned from anger to confusion as she pulled the little bell out of the red bag and began ringing it furiously. "What…what the hell…?"

"What's that?" she heard from below, just in time to see the little girl ride up to her on a pink bike. She reached up and took the bell from Jing-Mei's hand, who resisted slightly, and then examined it, before smiling brightly. "I like it. Thanks, Mom!"

"That's my bell," she tried to explain to the child, and then turned to Dave. "She took my bell."

"You went to the city to buy a bell?" he asked slowly, as if trying to figure this out, but then seemed to think otherwise as he sat down at the table heavily. He glanced up at her with disappointment written all over his face. "You missed the whole thing, Jing-Mei. The pancakes, the presents…we spent six hours putting that bike together, and you didn't even get to see the look on Annie's face when she opened it…you missed Christmas, Jing-Mei. You missed Christmas."

"I…" Jing-Mei began, as she felt her cheeks flush crimson. She somehow felt ashamed, although none of this should be happening, and finally relented, giving in to the moment. "I'm sorry, Dave…I didn't…"

"Look," he said, approaching her and placing his hands on her arms, squeezing them comfortingly. "At least you're home. Now get dressed, you're not going to Carter's party dressed like that."

"Party?" she asked, looking up at him. "I…no, I can't go to a party…"

"What?" Dave asked, his expression confused once more. "You look forward to this party all year. What is with you today?"

"Trust me, Dave," she said, holding up her hands defensively. "I really don't think going to a party is the right move for me at the present time."

"Fine," he said, after a pause. He picked up the phone then, dialing. "Do whatever you want."

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Telling my mother she doesn't have to stay with the kids," he replied.

"Why not?"

"Because you'll be here."

Pause. Then: "I'll be ready in ten minutes."

"God!" he breathed, exasperated by now as she moved past him and towards a hallway door. He eyed her suspiciously as she opened the door to find a closet.

"Christ…" she muttered under her breath, before turning back to her "husband." "Where the hell is the bathroom??"

"That was so funny," he said, turning and climbing up the stairs, "I almost passed out."

Realizing she wasn't going to get any help from Dave, she decided that perhaps the best thing to do was keep hunting. Climbing the stairs, she hoped to find her bathroom off of the bedroom…if she could remember where *that* was too. She also hoped that she wouldn't see Dave, so she wouldn't have to seem so awkward in front of him. The least questions asked, the better. When she got to the bedroom, she cursed fate for allowing him to be looking through his closet, but she quickly made her way to the bathroom door, which she closed immediately.

She looked in the mirror, seeing herself for the first time this morning, and noted just how tired she seemed. Glancing around a small, cluttered bathroom, she tried to find something that was hers, but everything out at the moment seemed to be Dave's: shaving cream, razors…he'd always been messy. Looking to the mirror again, she realized that that wasn't her. It looked like her, but it wasn't her. She didn't belong here. Oh, God, it wasn't her at all…

A sob escaped her throat, and she hoped that Dave hadn't heard it as she quickly turned on the water, rinsing her face in the comforting cool water. She sat down on the toilet, hugging herself as she cried silently, when suddenly she heard a knock at the door. Oh, dammit.

"Jing-Mei?" Dave asked from beyond the closed door. "Can I come in?" She didn't know what to say, or what to do, so she just sat there, hoping that he would go away, but when he was met with silence he opened the door and stepped inside, kneeling before her, his expression showing his pure concern. "Jing-Mei, what's going on with you today?"

"I…it's just been a really bad day."

"Why?" he asked, and she damned him for caring. "Are you…I mean…is it *me*? Did I do something wrong?? Because if I did, I'm sorry, and I'll fix it, I'll - "

"No," she interrupted, looking into his brown eyes, which were so full of love it took her breath away. She hadn't seen eyes like that in 13 years… "Dave, I'm sorry. I'm just having a bad day, I'll be better tomorrow, I promise. It's just that time of the month…"

"That time of the month doesn't do this," he stated softly. "Jing-Mei, what's really wrong?" Silence. He reached out and touched her knee, but she flinched, and he pulled away, startled that his touch would do that to her. "If you want me to leave, I will." More silence, and he only nodded and left the room.

Oh, God, she'd broken his heart…again.

She rinsed off her face once more before leaving the bathroom, closing the light behind her, and steeled herself before entering the bedroom, though she soon found it deserted. Sighing, she moved to the closet, pulling open the door to see department store brands and imitation leather shoes. She clicked her tongue disapprovingly as she reached out and touched the fabric on one of the shirts, but she knew her criticism was only to take her mind off of her current situation.

"This is just…" she said, searching for the right words. "This is sub-par…I can't wear any of these things…"

She felt eyes on her then, and turned to see the little girl - what was her name? Annie - standing in the doorway, watching her at the closet. They stared at each other for a moment, before Annie turned and ran away, down the steps and out of sight. Shaking her head, Jing-Mei turned back to the closet, mournfully picking out a shiny burgundy shirt, muttering to herself, "This is going to be one hell of a night…"

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Part 3
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