Disclaimer: This original story is not authorized or endorsed by Warner Bros, ABC, Lors Thornwald Inc, Edelson Productions, William Schmidt, or anyone else having rights to "Prey". It is not intended infringe on any rights or copyright and is not written for profit. Any characters not recognizable from the series "Prey" belong to the author.
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It was 9:15 in the morning but it was still as gray and bleak as it had been at dawn. Tom would know, he'd been up to watch the sunrise; he'd seen it try, and fail, to make it over the New York skyline. He put his collar up against the biting wind and watched as the falling snow swirled over the pavement, trying to force its way into every opening it could find, including Tom's clothing. Tom jammed his hands deeper into his coat pockets and cursed himself for not dressing warmer.
He hadn't planned to be in New York this long. The end of October, the latest, he had been told. But the UN negotiations had gone much slower than expected, and one of their aides - the one Tom was supposed to meet with - had gone missing. So, here he was in December, freezing to death, in front of the Plaza Hotel, waiting for Steve to contact him.
Tom pried a frozen hand out of his pocket and checked his watch. Where was Steve? It wasn't like him to be late. He stepped off the curb and peered down the street for any sign of him.
"Hey, buddy. You wanna move it?"
Tom turned and found himself staring into the face of an old man, wearing a black cape and top hat and pulling a horse and carriage behind him.
"This is my spot ... has been for over 30 years. So, you wanna get back on the curb? Ol' Oscar here," jerking his thumb back towards his horse, "sorta gets antsy if he's not on his spot. Y'know what I mean?"
Tom's head nodded "yes", although he didn't have a clue what the old man was talking about. He complied with the request and stepped back on the curb, watching as the man pulled his horse up to the place where Tom had been standing.
"How's that, boy," the old man said as he stroked the horse's glossy black mane. "Got somethin' for ya." Oscar peered expectantly at his master, already anticipating the shiny red apple that popped out of the old man's pocket. "Good boy," said the man as he held the apple under the horse's muzzle and heard the satisfying 'crunch' as Oscar accepted his gift.
Turning back to Tom, he said, "Thanks. Not everyone's as understandin' as you about moving outta Oscar's space." Extending his hand to Tom, he said, "Name's Felix ... Oscar you've already been introduced to." Tom studied Felix' hand for a minute and wondered why the tips of his gloves were cut off. If he had gloves, he'd want the fingers intact. But, then again, half a glove was better than what he had. He gave Felix a small smile and shook his hand.
"I've had Oscar for 10 years now. Named him Oscar after the Odd Couple." When Felix got a blank stare from Tom he added, "Remember, ... Oscar Madison and Felix Unger?" Still nothing from Tom. "Well, maybe you're too young to remember. Anyway, you interested in a ride around the park?"
"Isn't it a bit cold for that?"
"I guess for some it is. Well, maybe another time," replied Felix.
"Maybe," said Tom, ... but not likely, he thought to himself, as he felt a shiver travel through his body. Felix nodded and touched the brim of his hat to Tom, before turning his attention back to Oscar.
Tom jerked his head up as he sensed Steve approaching and spun around to face him. "You're late." he growled.
"I know," panted Steve, as he felt Tom's annoyance pour over him. "The taxi had a heck of a time getting through all the traffic. It's especially bad this time of year. You want to get some breakfast?"
"Fine. Where?"
"Well, how about right inside the hotel."
"The hotel? I stood out here freezing, waiting for you for an hour, only to go back into the hotel I just came out of ...?" Tom stopped and just narrowed his eyes at Steve.
"Look, I'm sorry. Things have changed again and our morning meeting's been cancelled." Putting his hand on Tom's shoulder as he walked toward the hotel entrance, he said, "You'll feel better once you've gotten something hot inside you. Besides, I have good news - I have an assignment for you."
Steve waited for Tom to finish his cup of coffee before he continued. He knew Tom was frustrated. There was nothing harder on a chameleon than to be idle - and two months was a long time for anybody to do nothing.
"You were saying ..." said Tom as he put his empty cup down and wiped his mouth with his napkin. He was finally feeling warm again and, amazingly, in a much better mood.
As he refilled Tom's cup from the coffee carafe the waitress had left at the table, Steve explained, "One of our deep cover agents will be flying into LaGuardia Airport tonight. With the masses of people commuting for the Christmas weekend, we're hoping the arrival will go unnoticed. Code name for the mission is "gift". You are to procure the "gift" and bring it back here to the hotel and wait for further instructions."
"Human or one of us." asked Tom, taking a forkful of his scrambled eggs.
"One of us. In fact, it might be advantageous to concentrate your scanning to our species exclusively. We can't afford to miss this one in all the congestion."
Tom thought about that for a minute. He was sure he wouldn't need to limit his scan - it wouldn't be the first time he had to pick out prey from throngs of people. But, maybe a little extra focus on his own species might help if this agent was as important as Steve seemed to feel.
"Fine," he answered and reached for the freshly refilled cup of coffee.
Steve studied Tom for a moment. Despite the risks that might come with tonight's mission, it was good to see Tom finally come to life. He smiled as he watched Tom actually eating food, rather than just picking at it. Steve's thoughts stopped abruptly as he felt Tom looking at him.
"What's the matter? Why are you smiling?" Tom asked
"No reason. By the way, how are you handling the holiday atmosphere? Quite a bit of activity going on in the city."
Tom nodded. "But I'm not quite sure I understand what all the fuss is about."
"What do you mean?" Steve frowned at Tom's remark. Even if their species didn't celebrate Christmas, he was quite sure Lewis must've instructed Tom on human customs.
Tom put his fork down for a minute. "What is this compulsion they all seem to have to shop? And, between all the music, the lights, and the crowds, my senses are getting overloaded."
Steve laughed. "Yes, it can be a bit much for us. I find I have to tune it out at times as well. But, most of the humans appear to like it. All the preparations and music relate to certain stories and fables surrounding this time of year."
"Yes, I've noticed that. I've heard something about a round young virgin and an old man in a red suit. I'm still trying to figure out the relationship. They also seem to be waiting for a silent night, but the music never stops."
"I think you've got your stories a little mixed up ..."
"Maybe, ... but they certainly seem to like the old man a lot. They have clones of him on almost every street corner and in most of the stores." Tom reached for another slice of toast as he spoke. "Actually, I think that's his name - Santa Clones."
"Santa Clones?" Steve just looked at him and frowned. "Don't you mean 'Claus"?"
"No. 'Clones'." Tom paused a second. "That was a joke."
"Oh."
Tom put his slice of toast down and looked at him. "You're supposed to laugh."
"Why? It wasn't funny."
Tom frowned. He looked down for his fork and never saw the smile that curled around Steve's mouth. "Well, Sloan would've laughed," he mumbled.
"That's only because she likes you ..."
As Steve was speaking, Tom felt the room start to fade into the distance. Sloan. His lips could still taste the lingering flavor of her name on them. He missed her terribly. He hadn't been allowed to call her - for security reasons - Steve had told him. Feelings for Sloan washed over him almost uncontrollably and he struggled to slow down his rapidly beating heart before Steve picked up on his emotional burst. He tried masking himself but when he looked up, he found Steve staring at him and wondered how much he had sensed.
"Look, don't take it so hard - your joke wasn't that bad. I'm just not used to seeing your 'humorous' side."
Tom looked up at Steve and unconsciously started to rub his hands. "It wasn't the joke. I was just ... thinking ..."
"About what? Your assignment? I know you're anxious to get on it," Steve replied. Then his eyes caught sight of Tom's reddened hands. "Hey, didn't I tell you to get gloves? How are you going to handle a weapon with hands as raw as that."
"I did try to get gloves." scowled Tom.
"So, where are they? For them to do any good, you have to actually put them on."
"I never got them. Look, ... I went to Macy's, like you said, but when I picked out a pair of gloves and a scarf, three women practically wrestled me to the floor for them. Later, the security guard told me never to go near a table that said "SALE - 50% OFF". I barely escaped with my own clothes intact."
"You expect me to believe that? You're a chameleon. I'm sure you've handled tougher assignments than fending off women during a sale at Macy's!"
Tom just raised an eyebrow at Steve and Steve shrugged. "I guess I see your point."
Just then, Steve looked at his watch. "Oops, gotta go. Our meeting may have cancelled, but I already rescheduled another one for myself." Steve grabbed the check as he pulled his wallet out of his pocket. "You want to get the tip?" Tom gave him a blank look. "Never mind. I can see your mind is elsewhere." Steve threw a ten dollar bill on the table then leaned toward Tom. "Remember, LaGuardia Airport - 8:00 PM. Retrieve the "gift" and return here with 'it'. Don't be late. Better rest up before tonight - you never know what could happen. And, for god's sake, get some gloves." As Steve walked away from the table, he said to himself, 'he won't do a thing I've told him, except to be at the airport. Chameleons ... stubborn as the day is long - just like Lewis!'
Tom arrived at the airport early and waited near the central baggage claim area as planned. He'd been scanning for almost an hour now, but he was coming up empty. Sure, he'd scanned some of his own species at the terminal, but no one jumped out at him with the right 'signature'. Maybe the plane was late. What plane? Steve never gave him the flight. That was on a need-to-know basis and Tom didn't need to know. This was strictly a retrieval mission. He checked his watch again and redoubled his scanning efforts. This did not feel right.
He was so intent on locating the agent that he never felt someone approach him from behind. Almost too late, he felt a hand grip his shoulder and he spun around to face his assailant, hand already inside his coat, grabbing for his gun.
"Mr. Daniels? I believe you're waiting for me."
Tom just stared helplessly at the 'agent'. He let his gun slide back into the holster as a smile spread across his face. "Sloan!"
"Shh-h-h." She placed her fingers gently on his lips and whispered into his ear, "You're supposed to refer to me as the "gift", remember?"
He kissed her fingers as they touched his mouth and then, in front of thousands of people, he drew her into his arms and kissed her long and passionately, as though he never wanted to let her go. With much reluctance he finally released her.
"We should get out of here - it might not be safe." Putting his arm in Sloan's and taking her travel bag in the other, he led her out of the terminal and hailed a cab. "Plaza Hotel." he told the cabbie through the window and then nestled next to Sloan for the short trip into the city.
Tom and Sloan didn't say much during the ride to the hotel. They let their hearts speak the words their mouths couldn't seem to utter as they clung to one another in the backseat of the cab. Suddenly, the taxi lurched to a stop and Tom looked out to see his hotel.
"We're here," he said to Sloan. He noted the fare on the meter and handed the driver the correct amount. The cabbie pushed his cap back and looked at the money as Tom and Sloan exited the vehicle. "Cheap tipper," he said under his breath, then snickered, "Must have other things on his mind." He shook his head as he pulled away from the curb and parked further up the street.
"Good evenin'. I see you got your lady with you this time. Nice night for a ride in the park, don't ya think?"
Tom turned to see Felix tip his hat to him and Sloan. Tom just smiled as he tried to walk past him into the hotel but Sloan held him back. "I'd love to do that, Tom."
""You would?" Tom gave a surprised look. "It's not too cold?"
"No, I don't think so ... there's a nice blanket in the carriage that we can snuggle under."
Tom glanced over at the carriage and raised an eyebrow at the red plaid blanket on the seat. "Well, OK. But, first I'll have to do something with your bag and ... "
"Stop stonewalling the lady and get in the carriage. I'll take the bag."
Tom turned to see Steve standing next to Felix, grinning from ear to ear. Steve walked over and took the bag from him as Tom gave him the once over. Steve wore the same clothes as the airport cab driver. "New career choice? It suits you."
Steve smirked and shook his head. One joke and he thinks he's a comedian.
As they climbed into the carriage. Tom leaned toward Sloan, and whispered in her ear, "I love my 'gift'. Thank you for coming."
"You're welcome. I love my gift, too. But, it's Steve we should be thanking. This was his gift - to both of us." Tom turned around to look at Steve, but Steve was suddenly engrossed in a conversation with Felix. "But, I did bring you a gift of my own." Sloan said as she produced a thin wrapped box from her pocketbook.
Tom looked down at the small package in his hands. "I'm sorry, I don't have one for you."
"That's Ok," Sloan purred, "I'm sure you'll think of something."
Tom's eyes twinkled at her as he unwrapped the box. He pulled out a pair of gray gloves and a matching scarf. "How did you know ...."
"Steve." smiled Sloan.
Steve looked up at the mention of his name and said to Felix, "Looks like our lovebirds are all set."
"Uh huh," answered Felix. "Nice lookin' couple ... and he's a real gentleman."
"Yeah, but he's a lousy tipper." Steve pressed a hundred dollar bill into the old man's hand. "This should make up for it." Steve started to wave goodbye to Tom and Sloan but he could tell that they were already lost in a world of their own.
"I'd better follow them," Steve decided. "My guess is Tom's not going to be scanning anything tonight but Sloan."
Steve walked back to the cab he had "borrowed" for the night and climbed into the driver's seat. He checked out his cap in the mirror, flicked his sign to "Off Duty", and turned into Central Park. He marvelled at how surprisingly good he felt ... maybe there was something to the human expression "there's more joy in giving than receiving". Of course, he was sure that tonight, Tom and Sloan might argue that point with him.
*The End*