Chapter Text
Alex was fine with Christmas.
Yes, it did mean more young children being rushed into the ICU, waddled up in their winter clothes, after being hit by a car driven by someone who had too much sherry.
Yes, it did mean those frozen blue fingers of people who and nowhere to stay on frosty nights, and the painful red chilblains that formed from just one nights rest in a warm bed.
Yes, it did mean the fathers of family's who arrived with veiny scars up and down their arms and still hearts after plugging in the Christmas lights went wrong.
Oh and so many with alcohol poisoning.
But to Alex it meant people were just a little more cheerier, the wards were decorated with tinsel and made the place look brighter as he monitored another unstable heart rate.
The reception area was by far the best looking, with a mini Christmas tree perched on the desk and fairy lights draped around the walls. A seasonal calendar on display on the desk next to the bobble head santa. It was given to them by the local fire service actually, after Alexander's ward had saved the life of one of the senior firefighters- caught under rubble in a burning building and luckily recovered with only a slight limp and a patch of white scar tissue to show. The thing itself was a little cheesy, but nice. Photos of each firefighter in a different pose for each month, Alex particularly liked the one of July- where the guy was wearing ONLY an American flag and some sparklers with a badly photoshopped firework in the background. That had certainly gotten a few looks from patients.
Alex was surprised then, as by the middle of December someone still hadn't flipped it over to December.
"Hey John?" Alex called out while he finished pouring out his coffee from behind the desk. Laurens hummed slightly, checking his schedule again for the upcoming Christmas week.
"Nobody's changed the calendar yet."
"Huh," John leaned a little closer and stared intently at the sheet, "Guess we all forgot."
Alex walked out from behind the desk, shuffling up next to him and taking a sip from his black coffee. He may be a medical professional and a doctor, but Alex would be comatose if he couldn't supply himself with an unhealthy amount of caffeine every day.
"Damn. Looks like I'm working Christmas Eve. Seems like you're Boxing Day."
"Not too bad, I've got plans with Thomas on Christmas but I'm sure he'll be okay with that."
John turned around and meant against the desk, smiling down at Alex cheekily.
"Oh really? Whatcha planning then?" Laurens raises his eyebrows as Alex scowls.
"Nothing like you're thinking of," Alex grumbles and pokes John harshly in the ribs. "Breakfast in bed, ice skating and a fancy dinner."
"Aww you're a romantic, he'll love it."
"I sure hope so." Alex takes another sip and moves back towards the calendar, each day is ticked neatly in the receptionists handwriting but the page is still on November. Alexander flips it, then promptly almost drops his coffee and screams.
It's Jefferson. Jefferson is December.
Except it's not a thing Alex expected.
He's sitting on the arm of a chair, tinsel and holly berries in the background. Frost photoshopped on as a border. He smiling right up at the camera, practically winking. He's wearing a Santa hat, and a much more revealing outfit then any of the other months. It's a typical Mrs Claus costume with the miniskirt with white fluff trim, and tiny cropped red top. With bells. Jeffersons legs are crossed, showing much more than Alex wants to see at work of his upper thigh, and god damn him he's holding out a sprig of mistletoe. What. The. Fuck.
Alex's hands are covering his face, only parting his fingers so he can see the calendar when John rushes over. Alex moans as Johns bursts out laughing at the picture.
"Well, I am disappointed we didn't see this sooner! Now the whole ward gets to see Alex's boyfriend everyday!"
"John, noo."
He's blushing now, pink spreading all up his cheeks and neck so much that he pushes his hands closer to his face to hide it. John just laughs and examines the picture a little closer, tutting approval at every detail.
"Y'know he really did put quite a lot of effort into this. The whole ensemble is just fantastic. Who knew his legs could work such a small skirt?"
Why didn't Thomas tell him about this?! He had just winked and smiled at Alex when they dropped it off at the reception, nudging him a little with a promise of a surprise. Alexander had forgotten all about it. And he didn't even want to get started in the picture, trying to ignore how he felt just a little hotter and the feeling in his chest when he looked at Jefferson. He probably made it so sexy just for him. Damn Thomas, damn Christmas and damn his long stocking clad legs.
"Christmas is ruined, Thomas has got a lot of explaining to do."
"I'm sure he does, though you might prefer him in that outfit while he does all the talking?"
Alexander jabs John again, this time he laughs and snaps a picture of the calendar.
"Can we hide it or something? Say we lost it or it got ruined?" Alex practically begs, running his fingers through his hair and trying really hard not to look back at the calendar.
"Nope. I want everyone who walks into this room to see this. It's beautiful. You should be proud of your boyfriend."
Alex just groans again and takes a large gulp of his coffee. His phone buzzes silently in his pocket, it's Thomas. Alexander's eyes widen as he swipes to accept the call and barges out the front door.
Distantly, John can hear Alex half-whispering half-screaming Thomas's name while gesturing wildly. He laughs, grabs a pen and crosses out the first week of so of the days in the calendar they missed. Then, almost an afterthought, scribbles out a couple words on the side of the picture.
'To Dr Hamilton, with Love.'