The Deputy woke up on a bed in the Wolf's Den with her side patched up and a damp cloth on her forehead. She let out a groan and looked around and saw Wheaty walking into the room holding some sort of a box.

     "Oh hey you're awake! How are you feeling?" He asked and set the box down on a table on the other side of the small room.

     "Like I got kicked in the stomach, how about you?" The Deputy asked and Wheaty laughed.

     "Good one, nice to see you're getting your sense of humour back. But seriously, Marianne told me I have to 'monitor your progress' so how do you actually feel?" Wheaty laughed and the Deputy sat up, leaning on her knees with her elbows.

     She pulled the towel off of her forehead and wiped away the extra water with the back of her hand. "I feel much better, my fever isn't bad anymore and my head only hurts a little bit."

     "A little bit? God, Marianne told me she gave you enough painkillers to numb an elephant. I'm surprised you can still feel anything." Wheaty sounded shocked.

     "Yeah...I just kinda have a high tolerance I guess." The Deputy shrugged and looked around the room, trying to look for something. "Hey Wheaty, what day is it?"

     Wheaty looked down at his watch. "Oh uhhh, it's December 22, why?" He asked and the Deputy let out a sigh of relief. She really didn't know what day was which anymore but she was very happy that she didn't miss Christmas. Christmas was pretty important and she wouldn't have been able to stand it if she missed it, plus then everybody would know something was wrong with her.

     "Thanks Wheaty, what's been going on here?" The Deputy asked him, concerned about the state of things.

     Wheaty shrugged. "It's been pretty quiet, apparently the cult gets pretty slow around Christmas, we haven't had a single Resistance member go missing since you left for that hunting trip. Hey, I've gotta ask. What happened up there? When you came in you said you were camping but you were in no condition to be camping so...what gives?" Wheaty's face showed concern, as well as his words.

     The Deputy brushed a hand through her hair. "I was going up for a night and to go hunting but the I had a little incident with a not-so-frozen creek and I had to stay for longer." She said and Wheaty let out a low whistle.

     "That doesn't sound good. But how'd you survive through that storm? We were going to send a group out to look for you when Eli talked us out of it." Wheaty leaned in closer and lowered his voice. "He said you probably wanted some time alone after everything you've gone through and for us to let you be." He looked at her with a face that said he should not have been telling her this but he was doing so anyway.

     The Deputy gave him a small smile and nodded. "Thanks Wheaty."

     "Of course we were going to look for you so we looked at the cameras but you must have been in a blank spot." That made sense for Jacob to have a cabin away from anyone's cameras. "We were actually getting ready to send out a team to look for you when you came knocking on our front door, you have perfect timing." Wheaty have her a cheerful smile and the Deputy let out a chuckle.

     "I guess it was kinda perfect huh?" The Deputy asked and Wheaty nodded. She was happy that the Whitetail Militia hadn't forgotten about her, but she was also relieved that Wheaty had forgotten he asked her about the storm.

     Tammy's voice called Wheaty from down the hall and he perked up. "Hey I gotta go, but you stay here and rest. Marianne said those antibiotics need time to kill that nasty infection you've got." Wheaty instructed and the Deputy nodded. Wheaty shuffled out of the room in the direction of Tammy's voice, leaving the Deputy by herself.

     Wheaty was nice, he'd always been kind to her when she arrived, especially after she destroyed those radio jammers on the radio towers for him. It was a shame he had to go through this, he was always so bright and cheerful. Eli told her that all of the fighting used to really get to Wheaty and that it took him a long time to embrace his job fully. But now he fit in great with the Militia. Even though he's young he'd proven himself to everybody there, even Tammy.

     The Deputy took Wheaty's advice and laid back down. It was such a weight off her chest to be in the Wolf's Den and not Jacob's cabin. She didn't even realize how strained she'd been up there, or how easier she breathed down here. That must have been the reason she fell down the stairs when she got to the Wolf's Den, her whole body knew that she was safe and so it just decided to let Jesus take the wheel.

     She was just glad that Wheaty was there, if not it would have been pretty embarrassing to just fall down the stairs and pass out alone on the floor.

     Thankful that she was finally able to relax, the Deputy listened to Wheaty and got the rest she had been hoping for.

     Her infection was pretty much gone, those antibiotics Marianne has used worked like a charm. She was able to leave the Wolf's Den and she had actually rested enough to stay conscious.

     It was Christmas Day, December 25, and the Deputy had gotten her truck back up and running (with the help of a nice Resistance member and a jumper kit). Now she was on her way to make her Christmas rounds. She had promised Nick and Kim that she'd be there by 10 o'clock in the morning so she made sure to get going in time.

     The Deputy looked over at a small stack of poorly wrapped gift sitting in her passenger seat of her car. Each one was wrapped in brown paper and had a name written on it with sharpie, it didn't look the best but it was the thought that counted, right? Either way she brought one to Mary May and Pastor Jerome at the Spread Eagle and told them about what happened.

     As it turned out, everyone was worried about where she'd gone, especially her friends (GFHs). Mary May tried to give back her gift sayings she didn't need anything but the Deputy forced her to keep it. Pastor Jerome opened his with the Deputy, thanking her politely. When he realized what it was, he smiled. It was a new hollowed out bible.

     "Since I broke your other one, I figure it was the least I could do." The Deputy shrugged and Pastor Jerome gave her a hug.

     "Thank you, for everything Deputy." He thanked her and the Deputy smiled.

     When she got to Nick and Kim's house, Nick was the first one to greet her. He was wearing a Christmas sweater with a Christmas tree pattern all over it. "Merry Christmas indeed!" The Deputy exclaimed with a laugh and Nick sighed, a big smile still on his face.

     He showed the Deputy the sweater and told her about how Kim had them in storage. "She's had them for years but I never agreed to wear mine till now." He told her while the Deputy fished their gift out of her truck.

     "And how is it?" The Deputy had to ask.

     Nick pulled at the collar with his finger. "A little itchy." He said and the Deputy just laughed.

     He walked the Deputy inside where Kim and Carmina were sitting on the floor next to a small Christmas tree. Kim was wearing a match sweater to Nick's and Carmina was in a baby version with a little onesie. Their house wasn't very decorated but they did have some music playing on a small speaker. Their tree reached to about the Deputy's hip, wrapped in glittering lights and tiny ornaments. Each ornament was handmade out of things like pipe cleaners and glitter coated pine cones.

     "Ho ho ho, Santa's here!" Nick exclaimed and Kim laughed. The Deputy followed him, a present under her arm.

     Kim picked up Carmina and walked over to the Deputy, giving her a big hug. "Merry Christmas! We were worried about you! How are you?" She asked and Carmina babbled in baby talk on her hip.

     "Merry Christmas! I've been fine, how's the baby's first Christmas?" The Deputy asked and gave Carmina a big smile.

     Kim adjusted Carmina on her hip and looked over at Nick who had just walked around the couch by where Carmina was playing. "It's been good, we had breakfast a little bit ago and now we're having some play time. Come in, come in." She motioned and the Deputy followed her.

     She set her gift under the Christmas tree and followed Kim to the floor with Carmina. Carmina was only a few months old but she was already crawling around everywhere.

     Nick sat himself on the couch, studying the Deputy. "Where've you been, Dep? We haven't heard anything from you." He asked and the Deputy glanced over at Kim. Kim gave her the look that Nick was worried and motioned for her to go talk to him.

     "I was up in the mountains. I was trying to find some deer but I didn't have any luck and I wound up staying in this old cabin I found." She said. She'd rehearsed that line in her head over and over on the drive there, making sure people would believe her. Nick nodded and took a sip of his beer. "Really? No eggnog?" The Deputy messed with him and Kim laughed.

     Nick looked at the can, squinting to read it. "Oh I was sure this was eggnog." He said in an obvious lie. "Oh well, guess it can't go to waste now." He said and shrugged.

     The Deputy laughed and turned back to look at baby Carmina who was crawling all over her lap. She laughed her cute baby laugh and tried to grab the Deputy's sweat shirt to pull herself up to her face. "I think she wants a kiss." Kim laughed and the Deputy picked Carmina up, holding her up to her face. She gave her a little kiss on the cheek and Carmina was delighted.

     The Deputy kept planting kisses on Carmina's face, making her giggle every time. It was such a blessing for the Deputy to be able to be with a baby like this. She knew that this baby was going to be protected her whole life because she would never let anything happen to her, ever. And Carmina was so happy, she would put her tiny baby hands on the Deputy's cheeks and try to pull it like she was a doll. She had amazing strength for a baby, which always made the Deputy laugh.

     She never really thought about having kids, she just didn't seem like the type. She was more of a fun aunt sort of person, but every time she was around Carmina she could feel Nick and Kim giving her that look. That 'you would be such a good mom' look. But she could never raise a kid, so she just had to settle for spoiling this one.

     The Deputy was laying on the floor with Carmina crawling all over her. She had discovered how fun it was to sit on top of her godmother's stomach and bounce up and down. It hurt her side a bit but the Deputy couldn't care less. Nick and Kim sat on the couch together, watching them play. They exchanged stories about childhood Christmases and what crazy things their parents did around the holidays. The Deputy didn't have much to offer in in that conversation but she gladly listened.

     Noticing how quiet she was, Kim tried to rope the Deputy into the conversation. "So what about you Deputy? Do you have any funny Christmas stories?" She asked and stirred her hot chocolate.

     "Not really, we didn't celebrate much when I was a kid." She shrugged and sat up, letting Carmina bounce on her extended legs.

     "Really? That's sad, every kid should have Christmas." Kim said and the Deputy didn't look away from Carmina.

     "It's fine, now I can just focus on this little baby's Christmas." She said and tickled Carmina's stomach.

     Kim smiled and got up. "I would like to see what in the world you could have gotten for us." She said and picked up the present from under the tree.

     "I'm sorry it doesn't look prettier, I couldn't find wrapping paper anywhere." The Deputy apologized and picked Carmina up, holding her close to her shoulder.

     Kim simply waved her hand and sat down next to Nick. "It's absolutely fine, we haven't used proper wrapping paper since those Peggies moved in." She said and handed it to Nick to unwrap. Nick set his beer down and quickly unwrapped it, the Deputy watched to see their reactions.

     It was first confusion. "A camera?" Kim asked and picked it up. "Deputy, is this your camera?" She asked and the Deputy nodded.

     "I'm not using it and every new family needs a good camera to take photos with." She explained and glanced down at the squirming baby in her arms.

     "Oh Deputy, thank you!" Kim exclaimed and Nick nodded along. "Yeah thank you, but why would you give it to us?" He asked not without a smile on his face.

     "I don't really have any pictures from when I was a kid, my mom didn't take any, and I remember growing up wishing I had some so I figured you could make sure you take pictures of Carmina." The Deputy said and looked over at the couple.

     Kim was already pushing buttons and turning it on, while Nick still looked shocked. "Alright, first picture on the camera! Say cheese!" She said and pointed the camera at the Deputy.

     "Oh no, I couldn't! Seriously it's enough that I'm here, I don't need to be in your family photos!" She laughed but Kim just shook her head.

     "Nope, rules are rules, you're Carmina's godmother, you should be in the pictures." She was firm and the Deputy agreed.

     "Fine, but I'm taking the rest of you guys only, ok?" She made Kim promise and she nodded her head.

     "Perfect! Now say 'Baby's First Christmas'!" The Deputy laughed and held Carmina up in her arms, holding her so that she looked like she was flying. Carmina laughed and giggled and looked down at the Deputy with bright blue eyes.

     The sound of the camera click made Carmina look over at her parents, the Deputy kept her gaze on Carmina, swooping her around in the air like she was actually flying. The camera clicked again and Kim looked at the pictures.

     "These are great! Thank you so much Deputy!" Kim said and showed Nick the pictures. Nick was clearly gushing on the inside but tried to hold it together outwardly.

     The Deputy stayed until Carmina fell asleep, she thanked Nick and Kim for the snacks they had and the hot chocolate before she braved the cold again.

     She found Grace at the Lamb of God church, she was kneeling outside in the snow next to her dad's grave. The Deputy waited by the stone wall, not wanting to interrupt Grace if she was praying. Grace turned around, saw the Deputy and waved her over. The Deputy stuck her hands in her pockets to try and help block out the cold. She walked over to Grace and waited by another grave.

     Grace stood up and turned to look at the Deputy. "Hey Dep, I've been wondering where you were at." She greeted her and the Deputy nodded.

     "You and every other person in this valley." The Deputy let out a small laugh.

     "I'm serious, where were you?" Grace asked, clearly she had been worried. She and the Deputy were pretty tight, they did a lot of missions together so when one of them 'disappeared' the other tried to find them.

     "I was up in the mountains on a hunting trip, got caught out in the storm so I had to bunker down for a few days in an old cabin I found." The Deputy explained, though Grace didn't seem to buy it.

     "Ok..." she said, still keeping a watchful eye on the Deputy. "Merry Christmas." She said, a little late but better than never.

     "Merry Christmas, I got you a little something." The Deputy said and took a keychain out of her pocket. She held the key chain out for Grace to take and waited for her to grab it.

     "What is this?" She asked, studying what looked like a little metal slab hanging off the key ring.

     "Pastor Jerome showed me a picture of you and your dad when you were little so I had a keychain made with the picture on it. That way you can have a little bit of him with you." She said and Grace looked up at her, a shocked look on her face.

     "Deputy...you did this for me?" She asked, holding the keychain in the palm of her hand.

     The Deputy nodded. "It's not much but I couldn't just do nothing after everything you've done for me." She said sheepishly.

     Grace smiled and looked down at the keychain again. It really did have a picture of her and her dad on it. It was a really old picture from when she was just a little kid. She was wearing an oversized camo shirt, her dad's shirt and smiling while he had his hands on her shoulders. "I thought I'd lost this picture in the fire. Thank you, seriously." She thanked the Deputy who only smiled.

      Sharky and Hurk were both at the trailer park, blasting the loudest Christmas music they could find on Sharky's speakers. When the Deputy got out of the truck they were arm wrestling over who's snowman was better. They both looked pretty lopsided but it was nice to see them doing something together. Sharky was wearing his normal hoodie but had on a winter hat and green scarf. Hurk had on his bandana and an American flag scarf. Their gloves had been discarded on the ground, probably from when they started arm wrestling. They looked like two kids, both of them with serious expressions on their face.

     The Deputy stood a few feet away from them and tried to clear her throat loud enough to get them to notice her. Obviously she couldn't get anywhere near loud enough to be heard over the blaring music so she just yelled Sharky's name. When he looked up to see who was calling his name, Hurk slammed his hand into the table they were arm wrestling on. Sharky was so blindsided by seeing the Deputy he almost didn't get mad at her for making Hurk win.

     He turned the music down (only a little) and ran up to give the Deputy a hug. Hurk followed his lead, telling him that the winner should be the one to hug the Deputy first. They started arguing and the Deputy just laughed.

     "You know I would have won that fair and square if the Deputy hadn't of distracted me!" Sharky exclaimed and Hurk just shook his head.

     "Man you know I'm just stronger than you! I'm telling you bro, beer makes me strong!" Hurk blurted out and Sharky folded his arms over his chest.

     "How about you both hug me?" The Deputy proposed while Sharky and Hurk eyeballed each other.

     They lifted their chins, surveying each other. Sharky gave a nod and Hurk followed suit. "Alright then." Hurk said and quickly wrapped his arms around the Deputy's shoulders before Sharky could. "Ha! I got the first hug, suck it cuz!" He said and Sharky frowned.

     The Deputy laughed and Hurk stepped away. Sharky hugged the Deputy, turning her around so that he could stick his tongue out at Hurk from over her shoulder.

     "Merry Christmas guys." The Deputy said, giving Sharky a pat on the back. Sharky let go o fthe Deputy and adjusted his hat on his head.

     "Oh yeah that's today innit?" Hurk asked and Sharky thought hard.

     "Yeah I guess it is!" He said in an excited tone. Then his excitement turned to a frown. "But Santa didn't come!"

     "Nah man, he knows you're on his naughty list." Hurk chuckled and Sharky threw him a look.

     "I got you guys something." The Deputy interjected and the cousins both looked at her with wide eyes.

     "You did?" Sharky asked and the Deputy nodded. "But we didn't get you anything!" He exclaimed, mortified.

     "It's more of a thank you, you two have been a major help to me ever since I got here so it's the least I could do. Hang on let me get it." The Deputy turned and walked back to her truck. They followed her, trying to peak over her shoulder at what she was giving them. She pulled a gift out of her passenger seat and turned around, holding it in her hands. She held it out and Hurk took it, quickly tearing the paper off.

     "Hey Sharky, look it's us!" He nudged Sharky's shoulder and showed him what he was holding in his hands. It was a framed picture of them that the Deputy had sneakily taken in fall. They had made a giant leaf pile in the forest by Sharky's house and the picture was of Hurk leaping in while Sharky yelled at him.

     "Aw Dep, this is the sweetest thing, thanks!" Sharky thanked her and looked back at the picture.

     They started arguing about who's house it would get hung up in until the Deputy suggested they shared it and took turns keeping it. When they agreed to a bi-monthly ownership plan, the Deputy headed over to Adelaide's house.

     Xander opened the door to the house wearing a reindeer sweater and pyjama bottoms. He had flour in his hair and was wiping his hands on a towel he had laid over his shoulder. "Deputy! It's so good to see you! Merry Christmas!" He greeted her and pulled her in for a hug.

     "Hey Xander, Merry Christmas! Can I come in for a minute?" The Deputy asked and Xander stepped aside.

     "Absolutely! Hey Addie, the Deputy's here!" He shouted into the house and the Deputy heard what sounded like a pan clang from the kitchen.

     "Is everything ok in there?" The Deputy asked and Xander just waved her off.

     "Yeah, me and Addie have been cooking all day. Would you like me to take your coat?" He asked and the Deputy handed him her coat, a little uncomfortable with the rush of politeness.

     Xander lead her towards the sound of Christmas music and Adelaide cursing. "Now how the hell am I supposed to make green bean casserole if I don't have any green beans?" Adelaide asked to no one in particular. Her expression quickly turned cheerful when she laid eyes on the Deputy.

     "Hey there Deputy! Happy Holidays! Come 'ere you!" She walked around the kitchen counter and wrapped her arms around the Deputy. When they pulled away from the hug the Deputy was able to see Adelaide much better.

     Adelaide was wearing an apron that said 'Kiss the Cook' on it that was covered in some sort of food. Flour was dashed across her face and she brushed some out of her hair. It looked like instead of cooking, her and Xander had a food fight. Her kitchen looked like a tornado whirled right through it, there were dirty dishes and pans stacked up in the sink, empty cans of vegetables were set out on the counter waiting to be thrown away. Three different pots on the stove were filled with various, un-nameable foods that cooked slowly.

     "You two look like you've been having fun." The Deputy let out and laugh and Adelaide nodded, resting a hand on Xander's shoulder.

     "Yep, I'll tell ya, cooking was never this hard when I was cooking for my ex-husband and Jr." She said and pinched Xander's cheek. "But I guess you do more for the people you care about." She gave Xander a wink.

     Xander was clearly touched but still turned to the Deputy. "So Deputy, any plans today?" He asked and picked up a spoon to stir a pot with.

     "I've been going around visiting people all day. Oh and by the way..." the Deputy pulled a small paper wrapped parcel out of her pocket and handed it to Adelaide, "Merry Christmas!" 

     "Oh Dep you know you didn't have to get me nothing!" Adelaide said while opening her gift. The Deputy simply sat there and smiled at her. When she unwrapped it she was holding a little bottle full of sand. Her eyebrows furrowed with confusion. "What is this?" She asked, holding the bottle up to the light so she could see into it better. 

     "Well I've heard you and Xander talking about wanting to go somewhere warm and that is sand I collected from a beach in Panama years ago. I figured that until you can actually go somewhere warm then you might as well have a little piece of it with you." 

     Adelaide's jaw was slack, her eyes studying the Deputy's face intensely. "Deputy I...I can't take this, you've keep this for so long." She stuttered out but the Deputy shook her head. 

     "Don't worry that's only half of the sand, I still have half of it with me." She assured her and Adelaide walked around the counter. 

     "Well thank you honey, this is just the sweetest thing you coulda done for me!" She thanked her and gave her another hug, pulling her tightly into her chest. The Deputy liked getting hugged by Adelaide, she had a certain way of enveloping your whole body with her arms that was comforting. When Adelaide pulled away from the hug she clasped the Deputy's shoulders in her hands. 

     "Now I just wish I'd gotten something for you!" She exclaimed unhappily and marched back around the counter.  

     "Oh it's fine, you guys have been such a big help to me this past year, I couldn't imagine my life without you in it. So think of this as a thank you gift that just so happens to be a Christmas gift too." The Deputy said and Adelaide set the sand on the counter near the knives. 

     "Well you have to stay for dinner now." Xander said and the Deputy shook her head. 

     "No I don't want to intrude on your guys' Christmas, I couldn't do that! And besides Sheriff is expecting me down at the Jail in a little bit." She stammered out but Adelaide just shook her head. 

     "Now honey, you can't just go around saying sweet shit like that and not expect anything in return! If you won't stay for dinner then at least have a couple cookies, I've got my cookie right here." She bartered with the Deputy and reached over and slapped Xander's butt. He gave her an accepting but playfully agitated look. 

     The Deputy looked over at a plate of cookies Adelaide had set out on the counter. They didn't look very good but they were chocolate chip so she might as well take a couple. The Deputy caved. "Ok fine, I will take two cookies, but then I'm letting you two have a nice and peaceful Christmas." The Deputy sighed and Adelaide looked pleased with herself. 

     "Well if you insist." She bantered and schooched the plate of cookies closer to the Deputy. The Deputy took two cookies and left the Marina, still laughing at the scene inside Adelaide's house. 

     After she stopped by the jail, the lumbar mill to see if Jess was around, and then back around to the Wolf's Den to give Wheaty another crate of vinyls she'd found, the Deputy made her last stop. Dutch's bunker. Her gift to him was a six pack of beer that they shared. 

     They exchanged stories, Dutch telling her about being in Vietnam and about his son. The Deputy told him about growing up in Chicago and they just talked until midnight. Eventually the Deputy fell asleep on his couch and Dutch went to bed, leaving her there with a blanket.