"That just about takes care of all of your check-in, ma’am," the airline clerk said politely. She glanced around the nearly empty terminal, once again congratulating herself on the wisdom of volunteering to work on Christmas Day. Everyone felt sorry for her, having to work and miss out on celebrating Christmas with her family, but she alone knew that it was one of the slowest days of the year for air travel.

The thin, dark-haired woman fumbled through her purse once more for her credit card. She looked up at the clerk once more and smiled. "I’m so sorry to take up so much of your time," she apologized, "but I haven’t traveled by air in ages and I’m just not used to all of these check-in procedures."

"No problem, ma’am," the clerk drawled. "They don’t call us the friendly skies for nothin’!" {And as long as there’s nobody else in line behind you, you can take all day for all I care.} "Now have you decided if that’ll be smokin’ or non-smokin’?"

"Oh, definitely non-smoking," the traveler replied. "I’ll be going directly from the airport to see my daughter, and I don’t want my clothing to reek of cigarette smoke." She shrugged her shoulders nervously, re-adjusting her stylish wool coat and matching hat.

"Ah, visitin’ your daughter for the holidays?" The clerk took her time entering the data on her terminal. Once she had processed this last passenger, she would have to try to appear busy for the next 4 hours of her shift with no other clerks on duty to talk to.

The traveler seemed pleased in the clerk’s interest. "Actually, it’s kind of a surprise visit. I haven’t seen her in quite a few years, and I haven’t called her yet to tell her I’ll be arriving."

The clerk reached down to tag the woman’s one piece of designer luggage. "Is she married, your daughter?"

"Yes, with two young children." She sighed happily. "This will be the first time that the children will be meeting their grandmother."

The clerk began typing at her terminal again. "Well, there’s nothing better than spending the Christmas holidays with little kids, I always say. Kind of brings out the kid in all of us, if you know what I mean." She smiled and began reading data from the screen. "So, I’ve got you down for a non-smoking seat in first-class on our non-stop flight to LaGuardia, with a connecting flight to Port Charles, New York." The traveler nodded. "Will that be on a major credit card, Mrs. Wilding?"

Veronica pulled out an American Express gold card. "That’s *Ms.* Wilding, to be more accurate," she corrected the clerk, handing her the card. The clerk nodded apologetically. "I’m divorced from my husband and I elected to take back my maiden name."

"So sorry, Ms. Wilding." She handed Veronica back the credit card and then slid a packet of papers across the desk to her. "Have a pleasant flight and Merry Christmas!"

Veronica smiled broadly. "It certainly will be!" she exclaimed, and then scooped up her tickets and boarding pass. As she made her way down the concourse and finally found the appropriate gate, she sighed deeply. {Hold on, Brenda. Momma’s coming. Momma will make sure that everything will be all right.}

Bobbie and Jerry Jacks were still arguing as they walked up the front driveway to Brenda and Jax’s house. "I did *not* put the Santa suit in your parents’ attic!" Bobbie hissed, pulling Jerry back a little so that Lucas couldn’t hear their conversation.

"You did *too*!" Jerry replied, the same urgency in his voice. "I bloody well remember that you hid it way in the back of the attic, behind Grandma’s home movies of Alaska."

Josie struggled to catch up to her oldest grandson and his wife. "What was that about my home movies? I haven’t seen those things in years!"

Jerry groaned and buried his face in his hands. "Nothing, grandma. They’re still missing, as far as I know."

"Hoover!" Josie swore softly. "And here I thought that maybe somebody found them and we could do something more interesting for Christmas than sit around and watch Jax and Brenda make google eyes at each other all day."

Josie, Jerry and Bobbie all arrived at the front door to catch up to Lucas, who rang the doorbell with a frown. "Awww, great-grandma, they’re not gonna do that again this year, are they? With all that mushy kissin’ and stuff?" He looked with disgust at his mother and Jerry. "I mean, they’re married almost as long as you guys, and *you* guys don’t do anything gross like have sex anymore!"

Just at that moment, Jax opened the door and everyone burst out laughing. "Merry Christmas!" Jax said, motioning for them all to come in.

Jerry almost doubled over in laughter. "My goodness, Jax….don’t you look……festive!"

"If you say a word, brother dear, you’re a dead man," Jax said through gritted teeth. He had on some navy flannel trousers and a hunter green shirt, but what really caught everyone’s eye were the bright red suspenders and the bright red tie he wore. The tie had a picture of Rudolph’s head smack in the center, and his bright red nose blinked on and off intermittently.

Jerry looked behind Jax as he closed the door. "Where are you plugged in, little brother?"

"I’ll plug you into something if you don’t shut up about the tie," Jax muttered, motioning that everyone should head for the living room.

Ted came running out of the dining room and caught Lucas immediately, pulling him back in that direction. "Come on, Lucas…..Aunt Brenda’s got sugar-free candy canes for us!" Lucas looked back at Bobbie for permission and when she nodded, he was off like a shot.

Jax, Jerry and Bobbie watched the two happy youngsters head for the table on the food-laden dining room table. Jerry put his arm around Jax. "So, you still haven’t told me where you got that *charming* piece of neckwear, Jax!"

Brenda came up behind them and poked Jerry in the sides. "Merry Christmas, Jerry," she smiled, giving him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"Merry Christmas to you, too, love," Jerry returned. "I was just commenting on how much I *love* Jax’s tie today!"

"You’d better be careful, Jerry, or I’ll ask Kimmy where she got it and buy you one of your own!" Brenda’s eyes twinkled as she went to put her arm around Jax’s waist. She had on a floor-length skirt of burgundy velvet and a white satin blouse. The open neckline of the blouse revealed the heart-shaped pink diamond pendant Jax had given her at their romantic rendezvous. At dawn that morning when Jo came and woke them to open presents from Santa, Jax had presented Brenda with a matching ring and earrings.

"No!" Jerry gasped. "Kim-buh-lee gave him the tie?" He looked around him quickly. "She’s not here, is she?"

Jax’s face became grim. "Not now, but I expect her any minute. I got something rather disturbing in the mail and I need her to straighten it out pronto."

Brenda gave Jax a pained look as she took a large tray of Christmas cookies from Bobbie and set it on the table. "Oh, Jax….does she have to come here today? Of all days?"

"This won’t take long, sweetie….I promise," Jax said seriously. "And maybe at the same time she can explain to me why she thinks this monstrosity of a tie is good public relations."

"Maybe she thinks it can help you win over the caribou vote," Jerry snickered. He got a resounding slap upside the head from Jax, and then the doorbell rang again, rescuing Jerry from further punishment.

Jax took front door duties again, this time admitting Harlan Barrett and Katherine Bell. "Harlan, Katherine, Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas to you, Jax!" Katherine laughed. "You certainly seem to have the …..spirit!" Jax was taking their coats when Brenda entered the foyer.

"Katherine! Daddy! Merry Christmas!" Brenda gave each one of them a hug, but then stayed in her father’s embrace a little longer. "Daddy, are you OK? You look a little pale."

"I’m fine, Brenda," he said, casting a dirty look in Katherine’s direction. "I’ve just been working hard on that new Castelli deal and I must have slept wrong last night. The arthritis in my shoulder is acting up." He hugged Brenda. "Now, where are my favorite grandchildren?"

Brenda shrugged and shook her head. "Just follow the sounds of screaming and the remnants of wrapping paper. Your grandson just almost tipped the Christmas tree in the great room over for the third time today." As Harlan went off in the direction of loud merrymaking, Brenda pulled Katherine back by the arm.

"Is he really OK?"

"I guess so," Katherine groaned. "You know Harlan. He always pushes himself too hard. He promised me that he would get a complete physical right after this Castelli deal closes."

Brenda shook her head. "Yeah, and right after the deal after that, and the deal after that….." The two women went off to follow Harlan towards the sound of children’s laughter.

The doorbell rang again and Jax opened it to reveal a fur-clad Kimberly. "Kimberly, Merry Christmas," Jax said flatly.

"Jasper, greetings of the season," she returned, stamping her delicate feet to rid them of traces of snow. She came into the foyer and opened the top button of her chinchilla coat. "Is there some specific reason that you dragged me away from cable reruns of Jimmy Stewart and a hot toddy today?"

"Something important’s come up," Jax said tersely. "I promise that I won’t keep you from your plans for long. Why don’t we go in the study where it’s quieter?"

Jax caught Brenda on her way into the great room with a large tray of glasses of eggnog. "Do you need help with that, Brenda? Where’s Louise?"

"Oh, I’ll be fine, honey," Brenda said, carefully balancing the tray as Lucas and Ted raced past her towards the candy canes again. "Louise is just taking the turkey out of the oven." She leaned past Jax and her eyes flared when she saw Kimberly. "Dinner’s going to be ready in just a minute. Will you be long?"

"I’ll promise I’ll only be in the study with Kimberly for a few minutes, love. I wanted to show her what arrived in the mail yesterday morning." Brenda nodded and then smiled at Kimberly.

"Merry Christmas, Kimberly," she said, trying desperately to be charitable for the sake of the season.

"Merry Christmas, Brenda," Kimberly returned. Before the two women could come to blows, Jax dragged Kimberly by the arm towards the study.

"You know, Jasper," Kimberly began as they went through the doors, "I’ve been meaning to ask you if you had found a brown leather glove in the helicopter after our trip to Newburgh."

Jax went to stand behind the desk. "No, I can’t say that I have," he answered, somewhat annoyed. "Why -- did you lose one?"

Kimberly sashayed to one of the chairs in front of the desk, casually shedding her fur coat as she did. She let it dangle carelessly from one hand, allowing it to trail on the floor as she walked. "Well, Jasper, I’m *always* losing gloves, you know. It’s a Gemini thing, I think. Beings it’s the sign of the twins, and two gloves to a pair." Jax nodded but clearly had a look that he could have cared less about her sign of the Zodiac. She pouted at his indifference and sat in one of the chairs, crossing her legs so that her short skirt pulled up to mid-thigh. "Maybe you ought to check that little cannibal namesake of yours. He hasn’t devoured any gloves lately, has he?"

Jax had sat in his desk chair but at the insult to Jaz, his gaze shot up to lock with Kimberly’s. "Let’s get down to business, shall we, Kimberly?" She bristled, but nodded. Jax opened a side drawer and pulled out a large brown envelope. "This arrived in the mail yesterday from Carly’s campaign center." He opened the envelope and pulled out a large, glossy picture of her writing on the mirror in Kingston and flipped it towards her.

Kimberly’s face went white. "This came from *Carly’s* people?"

Jax nodded soberly. "With a note that said that if I didn’t immediately withdraw from the race, they would go public with the picture. They insinuated that they have other salacious details of marital misconduct during the campaign." Jax folded his hands deliberately on the desk. "Would you care to explain how they got this and what the bloody h*ll they’re talking about?"

Kimberly was clearly shaken. "I don’t know......how could they....." She looked closely at the photograph. "Jax, this isn’t what I wrote on the mirror!" She looked at him, suddenly putting on a carefully sculpted panic-stricken face. "Jasper, has Brenda seen this? Oh, my goodness -- this didn’t spoil your Christmas with her, did it?"

Jax almost laughed in her face. "Not at all, Kimberly. You see, someone had sent Brenda the same picture some time ago, but Brenda had the good sense not to fly into a jealous rage and do some investigating first."

"Really?" Kimberly squeaked.

Jax nodded again. He folded his hands, making a steeple of his fingers and putting it to the bridge of his nose. "Yep. It seems that she found several things in the photo to indicate that it had been faked." He smiled at her. "Besides, once we sat down and discussed it rationally and calmly, she realized that I would never put our marriage in jeopardy by even looking at another woman, let alone you!" He laughed. "Can you imagine -- me being interested in you?!"

Kimberly gave a hollow laugh. "Can you imagine?" Then she grew somber again. "Let me see the note."

Jax handed her a piece of stationery. "It’s not signed, but it’s obviously from somebody in her campaign -- they had the audacity to use the campaign letterhead."

Kimberly began to shake her head. "Stupidity. Sometimes you’d be surprised to find out where it shows up." She began to fold the piece of stationery. "Would you mind if I kept this? I have a hunch to follow, and I think this whole matter will be straightened out very shortly."

Jax shrugged his shoulders. "I suppose it wouldn’t hurt. But do you think we need to make a pre-emptive strike? Perhaps your resignation would help nip this thing in the bud."

Kimberly grew even paler, her face grim. "I don’t think that’s necessary at this point, Jasper. I think I just need to see some of the people in Carly’s campaign office.....once I’ve done a little investigating on my own." She rose from her chair. "Now, if you’ll excuse me......"

Jax also rose. "You’re going to start today? On Christmas?"

At that point, there was a soft knock at the door and Brenda entered. "Sorry to disturb you, Jax, but everyone’s at the table. We’re just about ready to pray......"

Kimberly smiled. "We had just finished, Brenda. I certainly don’t want to delay your family thing."

Brenda gritted her teeth. "You’re welcome to stay if you don’t have anywhere else to go today, Kimberly."

Jax went to stand next to Brenda and put his arm around her. He knew just how much it had taken for her to invite the black widow to break bread with them. He gave her a silent hug of appreciation, but to Brenda’s surprise, Kimberly put on her coat and began walking towards the door. "No, I need to take care of a little matter for Jax, but thanks *so* much for the invitation."

They emerged from the study and went to the front door. Jax tugged impatiently at the knot of his tie. "Well, now that we’re going to eat, I think I should take off this tie." He smiled at Kimberly. "Wouldn’t want to drip any gravy on such a work of art, would I?"

"Oh, no, Jasper," Kimberly gasped, putting the flat of her hand on his chest. "You *must* keep the tie on. I’ve got several news magazines that have hinted they might stop by today to see how the candidate celebrates the holidays. You *need* to wear this tie for the sake of public relations."

Jax shook his head, putting his arm around Brenda. "I’m sorry, Kimberly, but I still can’t imagine why wearing this monstrosity would help improve my image."

"Jasper," Kimberly said in exasperation, "the mayor of Newburgh sent us that tie as an apology for the behavior of certain citizens at your rally there. If he sees you wearing it on the holiday, he’ll see it as an olive branch – that you forgive the rudeness that he allowed to happen in his fair city. It will almost guarantee us carrying that district’s vote."

Jax helped Kimberly put on the coat again, turning her into a little roly-poly ball of black and white fur. She turned back to him and put her hands on her hips, pushing back the plush fur. "Now promise me you’ll wear the tie, Jasper."

Jax sighed. "All right, all right. To show just how much your guidance means to me, Kimberly, I’ll wear the tie." After giving Jax one more pointed warning look, Kimberly breezed out the door, waving a "Ta" to Brenda on the way.

As Jax closed the door behind her, he turned to Brenda and gave her a wicked smile. He took his right hand and with a dramatic flair, he loosened the knot of the tie and yanked it off his neck, sending it sailing onto the small table in the entryway. "And *that’s* how much her opinion means to me!" he laughed, and pulled Brenda to him for a sizzling kiss. They were still smiling, walking arm in arm, back to the dining room when they heard a woman’s scream. As they looked at each other in panic, Brenda bolted for the dining room, Jax close behind her.

Everyone in the dining room was clustered in one group when they arrived. "It’s Harlan!" Jerry said to Jax as they entered the room. "He was getting up from the table, complaining that he didn’t feel well, when he collapsed."

"Daddy?!!" Brenda rushed over to the small group of people who had gathered around Harlan. Katherine was in the center of them, patting Harlan’s face and crying while Bobbie was crouched next to him, trying to take his pulse.

Jax pulled Brenda back by the arm, trying to give Harlan some air. "Let’s get the kids out of the room, OK?" Jax whispered. Brenda nodded weakly. "Angie -- Neera -- would you take the children back to the great room?" Jax said, nodding his head in the direction of the door. "Maybe they can play one of the new games that Santa brought." Angie and Neera quickly picked up on the cue and herded up the group of scared youngsters, leading them out of the room.

Brenda finally was able to make her way to her father’s side. Harlan’s eyes were shut and his face was a ghastly shade of gray. "Is he alive?" Brenda asked tearfully.

"Just barely," Bobbie nodded. "We need to start CPR, Katherine," she said gently to the sobbing woman. "I need you to let him go so we can lay him flat on the ground until the ambulance arrives." She looked up at Jax. "Call 911 *now*. Tell them we have a probable MI and we need them here right away."

Brenda took Katherine into her arms and comforted her while Bobbie lowered Harlan to the floor. Suddenly, James appeared out of nowhere. "What can I do to help?"

"Here - you take over the chest compressions while I do the mouth-to-mouth," Bobbie said gratefully. As the two of them worked on Harlan, Brenda looked up at Jax with tears in her eyes. The whine of sirens could be heard getting closer and Jerry dashed from the room to let the paramedics in.

Once the paramedics arrived, Brenda had to step away from her father and Jax held her in his arms. Bobbie briefed them on Harlan’s condition and they immediately put him on a gurney. "He needs to get to GH now, ma’am," one of the paramedics said to Katherine. "Do you want to ride with him in the ambulance?" Katherine nodded shakily and took his hand as they began to wheel him out of the dining room.

Brenda grabbed Jax by the arm. "Jax, I have to......"

"Jerry’s already bringing the car around, Brenda. We’ll be right behind the ambulance," Jax said, rushing to get a coat for Brenda.

"I’ll come with you two," James said to Jax. "Paul can stay here and watch over the kids." He looked at Jax. "I’ll drive. You’re in no shape and you would do better keeping Brenda calm."

Brenda was putting on her coat at she looked at Josie. "Will you make sure they children aren’t afraid? They still deserve their Christmas....."

"Hell’s bells, honey, you know I’d make a better Santa than any of those *men* anyway!" Josie said, giving her a big hug. "You just go on and take care of your poppa."

Brenda returned the hug, and then was out the door as James was already honking the horn in the Jaguar. As the ambulance sped from the house, sirens blaring, Jax’s car followed at a similar speed with James driving so that Jax could hold Brenda in his arms.

James had just volunteered to go for coffee when Monica Quartermaine finally came into the waiting area where Brenda, Jax and Katherine had set up camp. "How is he?" Katherine asked, jumping up at the sight of Monica’s drawn face.

"Well, Bobbie’s instincts were on target, as usual," Monica said, putting her hands in her lab coat. "Harlan’s had a fairly serious heart attack."

Brenda put her hands to her mouth and Jax immediately took her in his arms. "How is he, Monica?" Jax asked, since he knew the two women were afraid to hear the worst.

"He’s stable, for now," Monica said, and Brenda and Katherine both heaved a loud sigh. Monica turned to Katherine. "When was the last time he had a physical?"

Katherine gave Brenda a wry look. "We were just talking about that earlier tonight. He’s been promising to get one right after the deal closes that he’s working on."

"Well, he’s going to have to postpone that deal for a while," Monica said seriously. "His cholesterol level is much higher than it should be, and he’s got some pretty severe blockage in two of the main arteries of his heart. That’s the reason he had the heart attack."

"He was complaining this morning that his shoulder hurt," Katherine said, sinking into a chair and dabbing at her eyes. "I should have insisted that he see a doctor, even if it *is* a holiday." Brenda sat down next to Katherine and put her arm around her consolingly.

"Don’t blame yourself, Katherine," Monica continued. "Sometimes these things go on for years without ever developing into anything serious. However, in this case……it has."

"How serious, Monica? Why do I get the feeling that you’re not telling us everything?" Brenda said, dread in her voice.

Monica sat down next to Brenda. "Because I haven’t, Brenda. Your father is stable for now, but we weren’t able to clear the blockage. He really needs surgery to correct the problem so that it won’t happen again."

"So, go ahead with the surgery!" Katherine exclaimed. "I’m sure if it’s a matter of consent that I can sign the papers for you….or Brenda can."

"It’s not a matter of consent," Monica sighed, and took a deep breath. "When we did the work-up to admit Harlan, we typed and cross-matched his blood. We’ve discovered that Harlan has a factor in his blood that makes it more difficult to match – a special T-factor that only occurs rarely in the population."

"Does daddy need blood?" Brenda asked. "I don’t understand."

"He doesn’t need blood now," Monica replied, "but I really don’t feel comfortable doing the surgery without some blood on hand, just in the event that we run into any problems. It’s standard operating procedure around here – I would do this for any heart patient that goes into my OR." Monica sighed. "Our blood bank doesn’t have any T-factor blood right now, and the closest supply is at a hospital in Boston."

"And that’s a problem because...." Jax let the statement trail as he sat down next to Brenda and squeezed her hand.

"While Harlan is stable right now, keeping him that way for another 24 hours might be a little......tricky."

"I’ll fly into Logan and bring it back tonight," Jax said with determination. "I can have the chopper fueled by the time I get back to the house..."

"No go, Jax," James suddenly interrupted. "I heard on the radio a little while ago that there’s a major snowstorm up the coast. Flying conditions for the next 12 hours will be impossible."

"I’ll give blood," Brenda said suddenly. "Is this T-factor thing hereditary? I probably have it, too!"

Monica nodded. "It *is* hereditary, Brenda, but I already checked your blood type from your files in OB, and you don’t match." She saw the question in Brenda’s eyes. "It’s possible Julia might match, but I take it she didn’t come in for the holidays?"

Brenda shook her head, tears gathering in her eyes. "No. She’s not coming for another few days. They’re spending this Christmas with Bill’s parents and were going to come here for New Year’s." She turned to bury her face in Jax’s coat.

"I suppose Jo and Jaz are too young to give the blood," Jax said quietly.

Monica nodded. "We don’t usually take blood from children -- not if it can be avoided." She patted Brenda on the knee. "But as I told you, Harlan’s in stable condition now. We just need to pray that he stays that way until the blood arrives from Boston tomorrow."

There was silence in the room until James rose from the chair where he was sitting. "Dr. Quartermaine -- go ahead and get Mr. Barrett prepared for surgery. I’ll donate the blood."

"That’s very noble of you, Mr....."

"Delvecchio, James Delvecchio," Jax supplied, looking at James oddly. "He’s from the WSB. He’s been protecting us since we started getting those awful threats last Halloween."

".....Mr. Delvecchio," Monica continued. "But first we would have to type and cross-match your blood to see if you had the same T-factor as Harlan Barrett."

"You can put him on the schedule and start to scrub up, doctor," James said stubbornly. "It’ll match."

Monica shook her head at his obstinate optimism. "I’m afraid you don’t understand, Mr. Delvecchio. This factor is very rare. The odds of a total stranger having the same factor are astronomical....."

"No," James said quietly. "*You* don’t understand, doctor. My blood type *will* match his." He gave Brenda a look, and she suddenly put her hands to her mouth and began to tremble.

"Brenda, sweetie, what’s the matter?" Jax asked, holding her more tightly, but she only pulled away and rose to stare at James.

"Oh, my God.........OH, MY GOD!!!" Brenda kept repeating, and Jax rose to take her in his arms to stop her shaking.

Monica stared from one to the other. "Mr. Delvecchio?"

Finally James tore his eyes away from Brenda’s pale face. "The blood type will match, Dr. Quartermaine, because Harlan Barrett is my father."

To be continued.......