Chapter 9 – Christmas Day

On arriving home, Sam and Clover place a call to Jerry on their x-powders telling him the good news.

"…and Alex will be coming home in the morning?" Jerry asks excitedly.

"If all goes well, Jerry!" responds Sam.

"That is the BEST Christmas gift I've gotten! Ever! Thank you, girls! Merry Christmas!"

"Thanks, Jer! For us too! Merry Christmas!"

Dr. Malstaff is an early bird. By 8 AM he has checked Alex's test results. Everything is fine. He signs her release, as the staff call Clover and Sam to pick her up.

The gals almost fly to the hospital, and are there at 8:30 AM. They quickly go up to Alex's room, where she waits for them, in a wheel chair.

" ' Morning guys! Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas, Alex! Ready to go?" asks Clover.

"I sure am! But they won't let me walk out! I have to be wheeled out in this wheel chair!" replies Alex in exasperation.

"That's right, young lady!" responds a nurse's aide who begins to wheel Alex toward the elevator. "We want you to leave in one piece! This wheel chair ensures us of that!"

"But I'm okay!" Alex begins to protest.

But Sam intervenes. "Just humor them, Alex! If it is hospital policy, they aren't going to change it for you!" Sam then smiles in a friendly manner to the aide, who returns the smile.

On the ground floor, Alex is wheeled to the hospital exit door. Clover gets the car, Alex is loaded in, and the gals are finally on the way home for Christmas!

On entering their villa, Alex says, "Gee! We never got a chance to decorate the villa!"

"Well, we did a little decorating!" responds Sam, as she takes Alex into the Living Room. There, under an electric star is an old Nativity set.

"It's beautiful! Where did you get it?" gushes Alex.

"My family had it for a number of years," responds Clover, "but we haven't put it up for awhile!" she adds with a blush of embarrassment.

"But it's SOOOOO neat!" Alex exclaims.

Clover and Sam smile, and nod in approval. Sam goes over to the stereo system, and puts on some Christmas music. The gals sit together happily on the sofa, as they listen.

At 11 AM there is a knock at the door.

"I wonder who that could be?" asks Clover.

"I'll get it!" responds Sam.

As Sam opens the door, who is standing there but Jerry in a Santa outfit followed by a number of WOOHP agents dressed as elves.

"Special delivery!" says Jerry, as Sam steps aside in astonishment, to let the group in.

"What the….?" asks an astonished Alex, as Santa and his elves enter.

"I know you didn't get a chance to do much decorating or shopping, so we have a Christmas Tree, trimmings, decorations, and dinner!" replies Jerry.

The girls are all excited! In no time, the WOOHP elves have the inside of the house decorated, and the dinner prepared for all. Prior to dinner, Jerry hands out Christmas gifts.

"You know, you girls forgot about these, when I WOOHP'd you before!" Jerry says as he hands the girls the gifts they purchase, wrapped for giving. "I sent off your gifts to your parents as well. I hope you don't mind!"

"But Jer, how did you know who was to get what?" asks a bewildered Clover.

"Well, you each had a list," Jerry adds jovially, "I just deciphered your handwriting, and I knew who got what from whom!"

Jerry then gives the girls an additional present. "These are from me!"

Excitedly the delighted spies open their gifts. They are outfits each one really wanted to get, with the matching shoes and accessories, but they needed the money for their Christmas presents to others, so they had to pass on them!

"OH, Thank You Santa Jerry!" exclaims Alex as she gives him a hug and kiss on the cheek.

"I'll Second!" gushes Clover, as she does the same.

"Thanks so much, Jerry!" responds Sam, as she also does the same.

"But Jerry, how did you know we liked these outfit?" asks Sam.

"Let's just say a little G.L.A.D.I.S. told me!" Jerry responds happily.

"I think we owe G.L.A.D.I.S. a new surge protector!" remarks Clover, happily.

Then Sam pulls out an envelope for Jerry. "We didn't forget you either, Jerry!"

Jerry is surprised. It is a gift certificate at the Knifes Icon, a trendy electronic gadgets store, and Jerry's favorite place to shop.

"Why, thank you girls!" a very obviously touched Jerry responds, as he gives each a hug and kiss on the cheek.

"Ah, sir?" an agent elf asks.

"Yes, Billings?"

"Dinner is served!"

"Excellent! Let's all enjoy our Christmas feast!"

With the invitation, all the WOOHP elves, Santa Jerry, and the spies go into the dining room, where a wonderful turkey and ham Christmas dinner is laid out for consumption.

Jerry presides over the dinner.

After the very delicious dinner, Jerry offers a toast of Christmas punch.

"Please everyone, fill your glasses for a toast!" All do.

"A Merry Christmas to us all!" Jerry says.

Everyone one responds, "A Merry Christmas to us all!"

And Clover and Sam add, "And God bless us, everyone!" as they look at Alex happily, giving her a hug.

"And God bless us, everyone!" they all respond with a smile.

And in the Living Room, the star above the Nativity set flickers a little brighter.