At work, Diane and Claire stepped easily into a groove. Everyone on the squad quickly got over their initial revulsion and grew to respect her. Even John, after Claire extended the olive branch. When they worked cases together, Claire could shift into any personality that was likely to get the fastest response from witnesses and suspects. Diane was able to balance her out and play �good cop� to her �bad cop.� Claire was a brilliant strategist, and she was able to track down anyone anywhere. With her unique looks, she was not as good at diving undercover, but that was one of Diane�s fortes. They were racking up collars at a rate that far exceeded what Diane had been able to accomplish with Jill. The relationships among the squad members were smoothing out, and the problem caused by Jill�s entanglement with her ex-husband quickly became a thing of the past.

The holidays were approaching. John had decorated the squad room with lovely, festive Christmas and Hanukkah items. He looked stricken when Fancy said, �What about Kwanzaa?� Always eager to please, even after Fancy tried to assure him he was just yanking his chain, clever John found a way to incorporate Kwanzaa images into the holiday motif.

�Diane, it�s Friday night, and I still haven�t heard what you�re doing for Christmas,� John nudged her for the umpteenth time.

�Nothing. Really. I keep telling you. I don�t celebrate the holidays. Not since�not since I was a kid.� Diane stopped, unwilling to explain herself further. Danny and Andy looked at one another, knowing the reason and the price she had paid for it over the years. John yearned to know, but knew Diane wouldn�t entrust that information to him. He didn�t even try to ask Claire about her plans. She still scared him. He sighed, collected his coat and belongings, and said his Merry Christmas wishes to everyone. John left to do some last-minute shopping and then join friends in Greenwich Village who were hosting a marathon, three-day Christmas extravaganza at their loft.

Claire broke the uncomfortable silence that ensued with John�s departure to ask Andy what his plans were.

�Thank you for asking. Katie, Theo and I are going to have a nice dinner on Christmas Eve, and Katie will come back the next morning for presents. Same thing we do every year,� Andy said. His face took on a hint of sadness. He was still worried about Theo�s blood disease, which was looking more and more like leukemia every day. He had nightmares about Theo losing all his hair, becoming one of those bald kids in the hospital. He worried that this might be their last Christmas together, and he fought the urge to make it an extraordinary Christmas because he didn�t want Theo to think he was dying. Same thing we do every year. That was important to Andy. Maybe keeping everything the same would keep Theo alive for the next Christmas, and the one after that. Maybe. The doctors didn�t know anything.

Danny was spending Christmas with his sisters. Fancy, Greg and Baldwin had plans to visit their respective families. Everyone was accounted for. Except for Claire.

�So, Claire,� Greg asked, �your turn. How do you plan to spend the holiday?�