If You Believe

Summary: Scott and Carol make an emergency trip to visit the Millers when one of Lucy's classmates is bullied for believing in Santa. ...post-second movie..

A/N: To be honest, I'm not really sure where I'm going with this. But I had a clear picture of this first scene here, so I wanted to get the story at least posted before Christmas. Chances are this will be a short fanfic, five chapters at most.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Impatient for school to be over, Neil Miller checked his watch. Five minutes until Lucy got out at three. Then he had to drop Lucy back at the house before driving over to his office for a client's appointment. The week after Thanksgiving was always busiest for the psychiatrist, probably because most of his already-troubled clients spent the holiday with their families.

He nodded acknowledgment to some of the other parents he recognized, wondering which one he should approach for some small talk to pass the time. That idea was instantly dismissed when, much to his shock, he spotted his wife's ex-husband walking up the block. Santa Claus was wearing civilian clothes, but his long, white beard and large belly still made him stand out.

What in the world is Scott doing here? Neil thought, bewildered. Still, he couldn't help but smile and give Scott a big hug in greeting. "Hey Scott!" he exclaimed once they broke apart. "What's going on? Christmas is less than a month away, I'd think this is crunch time for you."

"Oh it is, trust me," Scott replied. He pulled a strange, fancy red cell phone out of his pocket. "I'm on call. Bernard had a melt-down when he heard I had to make this trip." Scott then smirked at the sweater Neil wore, a loud pattern stitched in varying shades of green and red. "Nice sweater, but I've already got enough elves."

Ignoring that remark, Neil raised an eyebrow. "'Had to'? You're here on business?"

"Well, don't get me wrong, I'm excited to hang out with Charlie," Scott assured him. "But apparently there's going to be some sort of crisis that needs my involvement. No idea what it is yet though. Curtis and Bernard just told me I had to leave."

Not sure what to make of the explanation, Neil just shook his head. "Crisis? I can't imagine what that could mean."

"You and me both, pal. I'm just here on orders," Scott agreed.

When an awkward moment of silence passed as the two waited, Neil asked, "So, Curtis? I always thought your head elf was Bernard."

"Curtis is the Keeper of the Santa Handbook," Scott explained. "We're training him to take over. After over two thousand years on the job, Bernard is looking to retire." At Neil's startled expression, Scott added, "He's the oldest elf we have. Only Judy is close at about fifteen-hundred-years-old."

Amazed, Neil replied, "What happens to elves when they retire?

"They turn human and grow up. Bernard has a lot of human friends, so he'll be able to find his way," Scott said with forced confidence. But Neil could easily sense the worry behind Scott's words.

Neil automatically switched to psychiatrist mode. "Hey, don't worry. If human life doesn't work out, Bernard will always be welcome at the workshop, right?"

His assurance seemed to make Scott feel a little better, but Neil was distracted when he noticed a nearby parent listening intently to their conversation, disbelief on the mother's face. Trying to keep calm, Neil gave her an easy smile. "Oh, uh...he's playing Santa at a mall back home," Neil lied. "He wants to practice staying in character for when kids ask him questions."

The mother sighed with relief, believing his thin excuse. "Oh, phew, thank goodness," she replied, then looked at Scott. "Well, for what it's worth, I think you'll be a fantastic Santa. Your beard is the best I've ever seen!"

Scott chuckled, a sincere "ho ho ho" that drew stares from other parents. "Thank you, ma'am." Shaking their heads, the two men returned to their conversation, careful to keep their voices lower. "Quick save there, Neil. I might use it some time."

"You have my permission," Neil replied. The two looked up when the elementary school's front doors opened and kids started filing out, led by their teachers. Neil found Lucy in the growing crowd, but he decided to let the sidewalk traffic thin out before tried to reach her. She apparently had the same thought, chatting with friends while she slowly made her way toward her father. Her eyes lit up when she caught sight of her honorary uncle and waved. Scott did the same.

Neil had to smile as well. Even after nine years, it still amazed him that his family had such a good relationship with Scott. The sting of what happened all those Christmases ago, when he and Laura tried to get Scott arrested, never really went away. And of course there was the memory of how their relationship had been before, when Scott barely made any time for his own son. Scott turning into Santa had saved their family from a lifetime of heartbreak.

They both whirled around when a girl about Lucy's age started crying hysterically. The petite, brown-haired girl was on the ground, holding her hand in pain. Sure enough, Lucy switched direction and ran over to the girl. Since the crowed had thinned, Neil and Scott went over as well.

"Are you okay, Britney? What happened?" Scott asked immediately, helping the girl to her feet.

"I-I think so," Britney sobbed, still holding her scabbed hand. She looked up at Scott in confusion. "H-how did you know my name?"

Neil traded a knowing look with his daughter, who quickly answered, "Uh, I told him. Once. When we were talking about school." Lucy winced, not comfortable with lying. She changed the subject. "Britney, did those boys push you down again? You need to tell the teacher."

"No!" Britney insisted. "I'll get in trouble!"

Concerned, Neil asked, "You were the one hurt. Why would you get in trouble?"

"B-because the teacher will tell my parents," Britney cried. "And they'll tell me to stop being a baby. Just like those boys do."

Rare anger crossed Lucy's face. "Believing in Santa Claus doesn't make you a baby. I believe in Santa Claus. He's real. Right, Uncle Scott?"

This time, Neil glanced at Scott, who as expected had grown very uncomfortable. Neil was worried himself. Even though Scott had been able to tell his family who he was, there was a very strict "Secret of Santa" clause that forbade him from telling anyone else. "Um, well...Neil, why don't you handle this?" Scott panicked. Confused and disappointed Lucy just stared at him.

"Actually, I think that would be a very good idea."

The group looked up to find who must have been Britney's mother. She went to her daughter's side, checked to make sure the injury wasn't serious, and turned to Neil. "Dr. Miller, right?" she asked.

"Yes, Mrs. Walker?" Neil replied, remembering her first name was Rebecca. When she nodded in confirmation, he said, "What's the problem here? Britney says she's scared to tell you that some boys were bullying her."

Embarrassed, Rebecca pulled Neil to the side, while Lucy and Scott continued to comfort Britney. "Dr. Miller, I promise this isn't what it looks like," Rebecca whispered. "It's just that, when we told Britney there was no such thing as Santa Claus over the weekend, she refused to listen. She still does. Unfortunately, her classmates heard about it when one of her friends broke her confidence. Her classmates have been giving her a rough time, but she won't stop believing in Santa, no matter what we say." She paused to catch her breath and anxiously glancing over at her daughter. "What I'm trying to say is, you're a psychiatrist, right? Couldn't you...I don't know, talk to her, make her understand? Maybe you can get through to her."

When Neil gave her a reluctant look, Rebecca added, "Of course we'll pay your hourly rate."

"No, it's not that, I..." Neil trailed off. How am I going to get out of this? he thought frantically. If he were a normal psychiatrist, he wouldn't have any problem taking on the case. But he wasn't. He was a psychiatrist who happened to know that Santa Claus really did exist. I can't lie to Britney, he reminded himself. I can't tell her he isn't real. Because he is. But I want to help her family. So what am I supposed to do?

Her brow creased, Rebecca asked, "Dr. Miller? Is there a problem?"

Neil sighed. He wasn't proud of what he was about to say, but it was the only way out. Besides, this was probably the "crisis" Scott was here for, which meant that he'd be the one to help Britney. So Neil didn't feel completely horrible when he began, "Um, Mrs. Walker, I'm sorry but...this is a sensitive subject for me. I don't think I'm the right psychiatrist for your case."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, uh, how do I explain this..." Neil answered. "Have you been in this town long?"

"My whole life."

Gathering his courage, Neil uneasily continued, "Then you might remember an incident about nine years ago. It was all over the papers – a boy's father had a mental condition where thought he was actually Santa Claus. Divorced from his wife, the man kidnapped his son on Christmas Eve."

Rebecca thought for a moment. "You know, I think I do. It was a major news headline. National networks even picked up on it because it was a holiday-relevant story. But what does that have..."

"That man was my wife's ex-husband," Neil explained. "That night changed out family forever. I just can't take a case like this, I'm sorry." Well, at least none of that was a lie, he thought, even though he didn't feel any less guilty for using the emotional ordeal as an excuse.

It worked, though, as Rebecca had shock and sympathy on her face. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry. To be honest I think I've heard about this from other parents but I just never made the connection. Again, I'm so sorry, please don't think any more about it. We'll take Britney to another psychiatrist."

Embarrassed again, she hurried away from him towards her daughter. "That's what I'm afraid of," Neil muttered. He waited until Rebecca and Britney had walked away before he rejoined the group.

"What was that about, Dad?" Lucy asked. "Is Britney in trouble? Did you tell her mommy not to punish her?"

Unsure what to say, Neil could only glance at Scott. "Well, Bernard and Curtis were right," he said as Scott raised an eyebrow. "And they've got impeccable timing."