Archive of Our Own ^beta

Stockings were taped to the lockers,
askew, Chim said it was “Festive,”
Hen said, “It’ll do.”
Bobby surveyed the room,
soft smile in place,
A captain at peace,
rare calm on his face.

On the couch, Eddie gazed
at the photo Pepa sent,
Christopher smiling gap-toothed,
his whole face content.
Buck leaned in close and asked,
“Cookies and milk ready?”
No personal space,
his voice slightly unsteady.

“All ready for Santa,” Eddie sighed. “Now he’s off to bed.”
A nudge on his shoulder,
“Morning’s not far,” Buck said.
They smiled at each other
with their usual sap.
Neither moved back. Not even a gap.

The shift carried on that way
long into the night.
The rigs were all polished,
Christmas lights glowing bright,
Bobby was cooking with all of his might.

“What’s the opposite of the q—”
Ravi started to ask,
and was shushed with
superstitious alacrity fast.
The siren rang out anyway,
and everyone glared.
“Probie jinxed us,” Chim muttered.
“Not a Probie!” Ravi dared.

Dispatch crackled in,
timing truly inspired,
“Station 118, you’re required.”
Bobby switched off the stove,
Then into his radio said,
“What’ve we got?”

“Possible entrapment,”
dispatch began to explain,
“Caller reports Santa on a roof with a sleigh.”
Bobby looked heavenward,
sighed once and then said,
“Dispatch, say again?”

The message repeated,
the answer remained.
Chim whooped, Hen groaned,
Buck looked utterly thrilled.
Eddie muttered, “Remember,
We have kids who believe in this man.”

They found him as stated,
just hanging there,
lights tangled round antlers,
sleigh floating mid-air.
Nine reindeer, offended.
One Santa Claus, stressed.

“Please help me,” he said faintly.
“I’m behind on my list.”
“There’s Denny and Jee-Yun,
and Harry and Chris,
Good kids every one that I just can’t miss!”
Buck went soft.
Eddie absolutely did not not.
Ravi wisely decided to keep his mouth shut.

They fixed it with ladders
and trained LAFD calm,
Chim offering theories,
Hen keeping him on task.
Bobby’s command washing over them,
a much-needed balm.

They freed sleigh and reindeer,
cleared the scene at last.
Santa stood taller, relief clear in his eyes,
“Thanks for keeping them safe,”
then he took to the skies.

They stood there a moment,
just staring at air,
As sleigh bells faded
to somewhere not there.
Chim broke the silence.
“Okay. So. Wow.”
Hen laughed and said,
“The kids won’t believe this!”

Eddie huffed out a laugh.
“I was here and can’t believe it!”
Buck just grinned wide,
like he’d always believed.
Ravi whispered,
“Did that actually—” and gulped.
“Yes,” Bobby said calmly. 
Rescuing legends was part of the job.

Back at the station,
dawn was creeping in slow,
coffee replaced cocoa,
fatigue starting to show.
Then Buck pointed above him and asked,
“Was that there before?”
Up high in the rafters,
green mistletoe hung,
Suspiciously matching
the sprig Santa wore.

Ravi arched a brow.
“Well, we all know the lore.”
Chim grinned. Hen smiled.
Bobby pretended to clean.
Eddie glanced up, then at Buck,
then back to the green.
“Did you know,” Buck said lightly,
heart absolutely not,
“Mistletoe’s an old custom from folklore.
It’s thought—”

“Come here, you dork!” Eddie laughed fondly,
head over heels. “I love you so much.”
Their first kiss was quick,
no LAFD rules broken or bent wrong,
Right there by the engine,
not drawn-out or long.

Chim might disagree,
after so many years
of lingering looks, constant touches,
stifled feelings and fears.
But nobody teased them,
the moment too sweet,
Joy filling the space
where they finally meet.

Somewhere far off, bells probably rang,
or maybe a chorus of angels sang.
And if Santa flew lighter,
his job neatly done,
Well, miracles happen
when firefighters run.

So if you hear laughter
drifting out into the dawn,
From an LAFD station
still chugging along,
It’s the 118 team,
emergencies done just right,
calling “Merry Christmas to all,
and to all a good night!”