Nightcandle

Disclaimer: I don't own Janice and Mel or anyone else who may appear from the series.

Uber Warning: This is Uber. If you don't like uber I suggest you try it. It's actually very good. Just a little piece of advice. If you don't want to take it that's probably wise. There's no telling what I may have you do.

I unwrapped the ceramic candle holder, from about three layers of cotton, and newspaper. It was more than fifty years old, and it was still in almost perfect condition, except for one long nick in its base. I looked up at Grandma Mel and smiled. Though she was in her eighties, she still was as sharp as she was fifty years ago. I was staying with her for Christmas, while my parents were away. She was sitting beside the fireplace watching my every move. I didn't bother me though, it was like this every year. She smiled, and her blue eyes shone in the firelight. My father told me that they were still as bright as they were when he was little.

I set the candle holder on a table by the window, where it went every year, then sat in a chair across from my grandmother. "You ever gonna tell me where you got that thing?" I asked this every year, and she would always give me the same story. She would tell me that she got it in Greece during the war. Then she would say that she would tell me the rest when I was older. Grandma Mel always had stories to tell. Some were about her and Aunt Janice, and others were about some warrior named Xena. I always enjoyed them but I didn't know whether to believe them or not. My father said that the stories she told of her and Aunt Janice were true but he didn't know about the others.

She grinned widely at me then asked, "How are you doing in your classes?"

I went to the University of South Carolina, and was majoring in anthropology. Of course she was thrilled about this. "Fine, you're not going to tell me are you?"

"Yes, this year I think I'll tell you."

Initially, I expected her to dodge the question like she did every year, so I was totally shocked when she agreed to tell. I remember the first year I asked. I was only seven, and was used to Grandma Mel telling stories about everything she had. Her mansion was like a museum, with all the things she had acquired through her travels, and there was a story for each of them. When I asked about the candlestick, she said, 'A girl my age shouldn't hear about such things.'

Grandma Mel was always like that. She wouldn't tell anything directly about the war, or what happened to her. I smiled happily at her. She grinned back and her blue eyes took on a fire that I had only seen a few times before. She slowly began a tale that, I'll forget, and would never want to.

Mel looked up from the crate she was labeling and searched for Janice. The little archeologist was talking rapidly to one of the workmen as he loaded a crate. They had finally wrapped up this dig, and were ready to leave, but the war was giving them some trouble. It was only a week until Christmas, and shipping and airlines were booked solid or shut down. Mel shivered against the wind and pulled her coat closer to her. For the past month they had been trying to get passage back to the states, and finally they had found a plane that would take them and the artifacts they found back to New York. Mel watched as Janice threw down the clipboard she was using and headed toward her. 'She's pissed,' Mel thought to herself. "What's wrong?" Mel asked as Janice came closer.

"The damn pilot says he can take either us or the artifacts but he won't take both."

"What do you mean he won't take both?"

"He's either trying to steal what we've dug up or he's trying to get more money."

Mel eyed the pilot, who was looking around nervously. He glanced their way and quickly turned around when he saw Mel looking at him. "Personally, I think he's trying to steal it."

Janice looked at Mel and smiled. "I think you're right. I say he gets neither. We could always find another plane, although it might be a while before we do."

"That would mean finding a place to keep the boxes until we could get passage." Mel finished for her. They looked at each other then Janice turned to go tell the man where he could stick his airplane.

Janice stepped into the suite and shook her head. 'Leave it to Mel to get the best room in this place. ' There were two bedrooms a sitting room that led out to a balcony, and a kitchen and bathroom. It wasn't exactly the Hilton but it would do. This was going to be their home for a while. Janice had been told about this place by one of the men at the hangar. The owner rented out rooms to reporters and photographers that were covering the war, so he expected people to be staying longer than a few days. The owner had gladly rented them the room, and had left them alone. Janice said it was because he had seen how many bags Mel had and didn't want to blow out his back. She dropped her bags on the floor and went out to the balcony. In warmer weather it would have been enjoyable to set out there and look out over Athens, but now a cold wind was blowing that seemed to cut to Janice's bones.

She looked to the north, where the war was moving steadily closer. Silently she cursed the Nazis and had just decided to see how inventive she could become, when she heard Mel trip over her bags and almost fall. She heard Mel mumble something that sounded like, oh shit, and she looked up in surprise. "Janice Covington, if you don't watch where you drop your bags I'll . . . "

"You'll what Mel, teach me a little southern justice?"

"I'll show you southern justice in a minute, Yankee."

Both of them started laughing as Janice picked up her bags. "Which room you want?"

"I don't guess it matters, take whichever you want."

Janice chose the room closest to the kitchen, and giggled when she heard Mel say, "figures." She dropped her bags again and turned to go back out into the sitting room to see Mel looking out the balcony doors. Her gaze to fell to the north, where even now battles were being fought. "Mel, we should go out and get some groceries. So we can get back before dark."

Mel looked at her and smiled. "Let me go get my coat."

Five minutes later they were on the street walking toward a marketplace. Even in the middle of war the marketplace was crowded. People busily hurried around doing their shopping quickly before the shops closed at dark. Janice wasn't much of a shopper, except when it came to shopping for food. Mel told her she'd never get lost because she could smell food from miles away. Of course the fact that Christmas was only a week away caused Janice to pay more attention to her surroundings. She still had to find Mel a present, and for Janice that wasn't an easy task. She never knew what to give anybody for a present. To her it was the hardest part of the holidays.

Mel stopped at what seemed to be a small general store. Janice decided to browse while Mel took care of the major shopping. One wall was nothing but inexpensive trinkets that Janice thought would be good for nothing but clutter. She continued to peruse the trinkets until her eyes fell on a ceramic candle holder. It wasn't very tall but it was still enough to catch the eye. It was blue and flecked with gold, the base was wide set with an odd design going around it, while the middle tapered out thinly before the top widened out slightly again with an opening for a candle. Janice picked up the candlestick and eyed it over carefully. Her trained eye told her it wasn't very old, and there were no visible scratches or nicks in it. When she held it up to the light, she could see it had a coat of gloss over the original paint causing it to shine. The blue was vibrant and stood out more than the small flecks of gold that were sprinkled through it. Yet when she took it out of the light and set it back down on the table where it was in more of shadow the gold seemed to glow brightly like stars on a clear night.

Janice used her imagination and figured that when a candle was lit in it the gold flecks would probably twinkle, while the blue served as the backdrop for the night sky. She looked up to see Mel still engrossed with her shopping. 'What the hell,' she thought as she picked up the candlestick and quickly paid for it. She stepped outside and stuck the candlestick inside her jacket. She leaned against the wall and lit a cigar as she waited patiently for Mel to finish. Mel came out carrying three bags. Janice quickly took one, and asked, "All done?"

"Yeah, lets get back to the room, it'll be dark soon and I'm starting to get hungry, and if I'm starting to get hungry then you must be ready to eat your own arm."

"Funny reb, real funny."

Both of them failed to notice the man following closely behind in the shadows.

"So Aunt Janice got you that candlestick in Athens?" I asked.

"Yes she did. To this day I think it's the best gift anyone's ever given me."

"But what happened to the artifacts you dug up?"

"We left them at the hangar for storage. It was cheaper to keep them there, and since the war was getting closer, we didn't want them somewhere where just anyone could walk in and take them."

I looked back at the candlestick. The gold flecks were shining brightly with the blue taking a subtle backdrop. The gold almost seemed to be floating in the air below the flame of the white candle that now burned in it. "But who was the man that was following you?"

"Well, you wouldn't let me finish. Now sit down and I'll finish my story."

Mel looked to the north again from the balcony door. The sky there glowed orange and red, and an occasional explosion could be heard. For two days it had been going non stop and it didn't seem like it was going to let up anytime soon. Mel was startled by a hand on her arm and looked down to see Janice smiling up at her. "You gonna stand there and watch it all night?" She asked.

"No, just gonna throw curses at it and hope they work."

Janice put her arm around Mel's waist then laughed, "I can't imagine you cursing anything Mel, besides it won't work I've already tried."

Mel rested her arm across Janice's shoulders and was again surprised at how natural it seemed for them to comfort one another. Janice gave her a small squeeze before letting go and heading back to the couch. Mel moved the curtains back into place before following the faint light back to where they now sat in the dark listening to the radio. Most of the stations were carrying news reels but Janice finally found one playing Christmas music, in English, which to Mel was an added bonus. She watched as Janice sipped at the whisky she had brought with her from New York. Mel had fully expected it to be gone by now, but Janice had managed to control herself. Through the whole trip Mel had yet to find her passed out in odd places. She remembered the last time she had found Janice passed out. She had found her a few hours after in the bathroom of the hotel lounge they were staying in. Janice was passed out under the sink, when Mel walked in. At first she was mad enough to spit fire, then she realized that she shouldn't be mad, she should poke fun. It really was funny and the more she thought about it the harder it became to stop the giggles from bursting out.

"What are you laughing at?" Janice asked.

"Oh, a bathroom in a nameless hotel."

"Oh, yeah. I remember that. Kinda."

They both started laughing and for a moment the war being waged a few miles off was forgotten. "You know Mel you're pretty strong."

"Well, I'm a meat and potatoes kind of girl. You're the one that gets mad when you wake up and find I've carried you somewhere."

"Can I help it if I don't like to be slung over someone's shoulder like a sack of grain?"

"If you want me to carry you like a baby next time tell me now, or should I wake you up and ask how you prefer to be carried."

"Wake me up. I might actually want to walk."

"OK."

Their teasing was interrupted by a loud burst of explosives. The sound sobered them quickly, and their thoughts were turned back to the present. "I guess I'll go check on our cargo tomorrow." Janice said, as she took another drink. "It'll also give me a chance to check up on the latest news."

Mel nodded but didn't say anything. She figured she would do some more shopping tomorrow. She already had Janice's gift, but it would pass time to look. Mel felt the slight pangs of depression forming in her stomach. It would be her first Christmas outside of South Carolina and away from her family. It would also be the first Christmas since her father died. But it would also be her first Christmas with Janice. So far she hadn't noticed it, so maybe she was hiding it well enough. She enjoyed every minute she spent with Janice and never regretted helping her on her quest to find the scrolls, but she still couldn't help but miss the ways she was used to. "Hello are you in there?" Janice asked.

"What? Yeah, sorry. Were you saying something?"

"I was saying I was going to bed. Are you okay? You seem a little out of it."

"I'm fine. I think I'll sit up and listen to the radio some more."

Janice nodded and headed to her room. She took one last look back and saw Mel sitting on the couch, seemingly staring at nothing. Mel's mood had been worrying her lately but she didn't know how to go about asking her about. She wasn't sure if she should come out and ask or if she should just let her work it out on her own. She quickly changed into the boxers and T- shirt she slept in and climbed into her bed. She lay there looking at the dark ceiling, when the answer to Mel's mood hit her like a ton of bricks. She cursed herself for not getting it sooner. Mel missed home, and her father. This was probably the first Christmas she was away from either. She debated on whether or not to go out and talk to her, but finally decided against it.

She figured she would talk to her tomorrow. These thoughts made her realize that tomorrow was the day before Christmas eve.

Janice checked the boxes over and found them to be just the way she left them. Satisfied she turned to leave, and found herself staring at a man in a dark coat. She recognized the form immediately and wondered what the hell he was doing there. "I thought you were in the States, where it was safe for scum like you?"

"Janice is that any way to treat an old friend of the family?"

"You were Harry's friend not mine, Creighton. Now, what do you want?"

"I was wondering if you were interested in selling any of the artifacts you found. I'm particularly interested in jewelry and any other trinkets you may have dug up."

"I'm not into that, Creighton, sorry. You'll have to look somewhere else for a quick buck."

"I'm not looking for a quick buck, Covington, only enough money to get out of the country."

"Is someone after you, Crieghton? Doesn't surprise me. What did they threaten to do, kill you or just torture you?"

"None of your business, are you going to sell or what?"

"Sorry, I have a personal attachment to some of these trinkets, and even if I didn't I wouldn't sell them to you." Janice felt the weight of the candlestick in her jacket and was thankful that she hadn't removed it. Alexander Creighton was known to be a little forceful if he didn't get his way.

"Well then I guess that's all I can do. Good day Janice."

He turned and walked out. Janice couldn't believe it. Something wasn't right. He wouldn't give up that easily. But it seemed he did. She shook her head and headed out to her truck. The encounter with Creighton had left her confused.

Half an hour later she walked into the apartment, still perplexed over the chance meeting. Mel looked up and smiled when she walked in the door. Janice smiled back then took her jacket to her room, when she came back in Mel started asking questions. "Was everything alright?"

"Yeah, everything was fine. I had a little visit from one of Harry's friends though."

"Harry's friends, you mean a smuggler. What did they want?"

"He wanted me to sell him some of the stuff we found. He wants out of the country bad."

"Did he threaten you?"

"No, but he gave up too easily. That worries me. Mel do me a favor, for the next few days watch yourself."

"Ok, Janice, I will. But the same goes for you."

A few hours later Janice asked Mel if she wanted to go for a walk. "Isn't cold out there?" she asked.

"Not really. Come on let's go get some air, you've been sitting in here all day."

The walk was uneventful except for Janice buying a candle. Mel had a million questions why, which Janice would answer with why not. It was almost dark when they made it back to the apartment. Mel opened the door and saw the kitchen light burning. "Janice did you leave the kitchen light on?"

"No. Why would I do that?"she said as she entered the room.

To Janice something didn't feel right. She was just turning to Mel to say so, when a gun shot rang out. Janice felt the impact, as she hit the floor. Warm blood soaked her jacket and the floor, as she rolled and came to a stop under the table. Her hands went to her side, but they didn't find the hole she was expecting. Instead there was a long gash, and silently she thanked God that she had kept the candlestick in her pocket because it just saved her life. She heard Mel screaming and slowly focused on her assailant. She started to rise but a sharp pain in her side made her stay where she was. She heard Mel speaking to the man in the room.

"Please, let me go help her."

Janice quickly grabbed the candlestick from her pocket and shoved it under the table where it was hidden by the table cloth. 'No need them knowing I wasn't hurt as badly as they thought I was.' Mel was by her side in seconds. Creighton laughed hysterically at them both. Janice felt Mel's hands go to her side and she quickly grabbed them. "Mel, help me up."

"Janice you should stay still you've just been shot."

"No miss Pappas, I think you should do as she says. I wouldn't want to have to shoot you too."

Mel looked up at the blonde in the coat. She wanted to smash his nose, and poke out his eyes. She knelt beside Janice again, who was glaring angrily at the man. Mel easily lifted Janice to her feet and felt the blood that soaked her side. Janice leaned against her heavily and stumbled a little as she rose. "Creighton, didn't I tell you that I wouldn't give you the artifacts. You must be insane to come in here and start shooting."

Mel looked down at Janice. "This is Harry's friend?"

"Yeah." Janice pained voice answered.

"Yeah, I'm Harry's friend and I think Janice owes me big time. I kept her father out of some major trouble a long time ago."

"That is none of my business. I don't owe you anything."

Creighton eyes narrowed as he raised the gun again at Janice. Mel acted quickly doing the only thing that she knew to do. She talked. "Wait, what do you want. If its money then I can help you. I can get money."

Janice looked at her and sneered. "Mel, don't offer this bastard money. He doesn't deserve it."

"Oh, I deserve it Janice. The world needs people like me to function. As for what I want, well we need to take a little ride. Those artifacts will give me more than you could ever give me Miss Pappas."

Creighton walked them out the back door. Janice still leaned heavily on Mel. Mel was getting worried about her. She had hardly spoken and was stumbling ever few steps. She looked back over her shoulder at Creighton and was rewarded with a shove. He guided them both to a car parked in the alley. He motioned for Mel to get behind the wheel. "Can't have you two ganging up on me, can we? Remember I'll have the gun to her head the whole time."

"Where are we going?"

"To the airport. I have cargo to pick up."

Mel tried to drive slow, as she racked her brain for a way out. Creighton, however insisted that she go faster, and a well placed fist in Janice's side convinced her it was the smart thing to do. Janice was in the same battle. She had no idea, that wouldn't get one or both of them killed. She realized how hard it was to think when you had a pistol barrel shoved into your temple. Her side felt like it was on fire, and the punch from Creighton had made it bleed again.

Mel kept watching them both in the rearview mirror. She looked back with disgust as Crieghton winked at her. 'God he's crazy. I think he's enjoying this.' The thought sparked an idea in Mel, that was very out of character. Of course, she had no way to know it would work unless she tried. She looked back again to see Creighton staring at her. A quick glance at Janice showed the little archeologist's pale face and drawn eyebrows. Mel knew she had to try. She looked again at the blond devil in the backseat and almost scowled evilly when he winked again. She raised an eyebrow at him instead and gave him a small smile then turned her eyes back to the road, but not before she caught the look of confusion and excitement on his face.

She finally pulled the car into the hangar lot, watched as the headlights flashed across the front of the empty building. To the north the sky was painted in red and orange, casting a strange glow over everything. "Alright what I want you to do is come back here and open the door. One wrong move and your friends brains are all over the windshield. Got it." Mel nodded and slowly got out of the car and opened the back door. Creighton stepped out, dragging Janice behind him. He shoved the small woman at Mel then snarled, "walk."

Mel looked at him trying not to show the hatred and fear. Instead she replaced with a look of interest, and intrigue. Creighton eyed her down as she grabbed a hold of Janice and helped her walk toward the building. She opened the door and stepped inside.

Janice looked around trying to find any weapon she could. She glanced up and saw an engine from one of the planes suspended above the floor. It had been removed, probably for repair, or spare parts, while the body of the plane had been taken somewhere else. Further investigation showed several engines in the same condition. 'Now I have a chance.' Janice thought. 'I'll bust that asshole's head wide open.' She had to work hard to stop the evil grin from spreading on her face. She looked up at Mel and saw her staring at Creighton with an odd look. 'Great now what is she doing?'

"Both of you set down over there by the crates." Creighton said pointing with the gun. "I want both of you where I can see you."

Mel lowered Janice down easily before sitting herself and she cast another glance at the man. He was looking directly at her now not bothering to hide any thing. His eyes were full of the desires his body felt. He wanted Mel. The looks weren't lost on Janice either, who swore he would be missing several parts of his anatomy if he touched Mel. Of course they both thought that she was almost delirious from the gunshot. She certainly hadn't proven otherwise. She felt Mel's hand grasp her own and she squeezed it hard, before falling sideways onto Mel's shoulder. Mel moved quickly and grabbed Janice's face in both hands. "Janice, are you ok?" Her only answer was a sly look and a wink from the redhead.

Mel cocked her head and looked at Janice as she understood what was going on. She helped Janice the rest of the way to the ground before she turned and stood in front of Creighton. "We have to get her a doctor. She'll die if we don't."

"It's all the same to me Miss Pappas. If she dies then that will make it easier for me to get the artifacts and get out this hell on earth."

"What makes you think it will be easier? I have a say on what happens to them as well as Janice."

"Miss Pappas, you wouldn't want to stop me would you? I could make it worth your while to hand them over to me."

"What's in it for me?" Mel asked as she took a step closer to Creighton.

"Well a one way ticket to the states." Creighton to another step closer.

Mel raised her eyebrow, as she watched the man step closer. She made no move to stop him, which only seemed to encourage him to step further. "And a cut of what I get from these old pieces of pottery." He was only two steps away now. Mel took a deep breath, knowing that what she had to do next was get the gun away from him. What she didn't expect was to her a crack and watch as Creighton fell to the floor, the gun skidded across the concrete to her feet. She looked up and saw Janice standing behind him with a monkeywrench in her hand. She gave Mel an 'I can't believe you did that look,' before she staggered and fell against one of the crates.

Mel picked up the gun then ran to her friend. "Janice!"

"I don't think I'm as ok as I thought I was."

Mel looked at her friend's pale face then down to her side which was coated with fresh blood. She ripped a long strip off her skirt and pressed up under Janice's jacket and over the wound. She looked back up at Janice's face and received a questioning look. "Were you trying to seduce him?"

"I thought I was doing ok."

"Yeah, you were. Are you crazy?"

Mel's answer was cut off when she felt two rough hands grab her and fling her into one of the crates. Her vision blurred as she looked up to see Creighton attacking Janice. The gun was knocked away, and skidded under one of the crates out of reach.

Creighton pushed Janice backwards, and quickly followed her trying to get a good hold on her. She was quick though, even injured, and he was having a hard time. One punch landed and it sent the woman to the ground with a thump. She answered with a kick that made Creighton double over, out of breath. Janice got back to her feet, and Creighton charged her sending them both backwards into the supports of the engines overhead.

The heavy machine started to sway under the barrage. Below the two traded blows, neither one ready to give in. Creighton knocked Janice backwards again into the supports, releasing a heavy creak from above as one of the cables snapped. Janice risked a glance up to see the heavy engine block hanging from one steel cable. She advanced on Creighton, who in his wild rage, didn't notice the danger from above. She sent punches to the man's face with all the strength she had left, but they only made him angrier. He delivered a blow to Janice's cheek that left a large cut and she was sure that it broke something. Her momentum sent her once again into the support, causing the heavy engine to fall. Alexander Creighton looked up and did nothing but watch death descend on him.

Mel couldn't see everything that was going on. Her vision was blurred and was only now starting to clear. She saw the heavy engine fall and immediately feared for Janice's life. She didn't know if her friend was under it or not. All she saw was the dust cloud the engine block sent up as it hit the ground. She clumsily got to her feet and ran toward the rubble. The dust had already started to clear, and she could see that she wouldn't have to worry about Alexander Creighton anymore.

Her eyes quickly scanned the wreckage until she saw what she was looking for. Or at least part of it. One of her boots was sticking out from the peices of support that had fallen. Mel quickly made her way to it and started to throw the pieces off the body of her friend. Tears filled her eyes as she uncovered her friend. Janice seemed to be covered in blood. Mel made her way to her side and knelt beside her. "Janice, Janice can you hear me?"

Silence. "Come on Janice wake up."

"No, Mel, I'm tired leave me alone."

Mel let out an excited laugh and reached down and cupped her friend's face. "Janice, we have to get out here."

Janice came fully awake, and tried to set up, only to be stopped by a wave of pain. "Damn, Mel you didn't have to actually show me southern justice did you?"

"Very funny. Com on I'll help you. We have to get you to a doctor."

"Great cause I don't feel so good."

Despite the doctor's protest Janice refused to stay in the hospital. Mel had her back at their apartment and resting before noon on Christmas eve. The authorities had questioned them all last night about what had happened and after hearing the story for the fourth time they finally left. Mel had stayed beside Jaice the whole time, and everytime a doctor or nurse tried to make her leave Janice would throw a tantrum.

Mel looked out the balcony doors, silently going over all that had happened the day before. Ouside the sky was dark and to the north war waged on. The radio was playing softly in the background, so it wouldn't disturb Janice. She had been asleep all day, and Mel didn't expect her to wake up until morning. 'What a lovely Christmas.' Mel thought dryly. A muffled cough from behind caused her to turn. Janice was leaning in her doorway looking at her. The redhead was pale and looked weak, but still managed to smile. "Janice, you should be resting."

"Mel, I've been laying in bed all day. Besides if any one needs rest it's you. I know you haven't had any sleep."

Mel made her way to Janice and helped the woman over to the balcony doors. Janice leaned heavily on her larger friend, as they both stared into the northern sky. Mel looked down at her watch, and saw the hands struck midnight. "Merry Christmas, Janice."

"What? You mean it's midnight?"

Mel nodded then handed Janice a gift. Janice looked at it for a minute then opened it. Inside was a gold pocket watch. Janice looked up at Mel with a large smile on her face. "Thanks Mel, I don't know what to say."

"That look was enough. You looked just like a kind when you open a present."

Janice laughed, then looked up at Mel again. "Well, your gift is under the kitchen table."

Mel looked at Janice a little confused. Janice motioned toward the table, wanting Mel to go get it. Mel had cleaned up the blood from the floor but was still weary about the spot. She knelt beside the table and felt under the table cloth. Her hands closed on an object which she quickly pulled out.

Looking at the present she made her way back to Janice. "Where did you get this?"

"I got it at the general store, where we bought our food. I thought it was something odd enough for you. The gold flecks caught my eye."

"Yeah, I say they did." Mel studied the candlestick, and quickly found the long nick in the base.

"That little gift saved my life." Janice said softly.

"What?"

"That nick is from the bullet Creighton shot at me. If I hadn't had that in my pocket then I would be dead."

Mel felt tears spring to her eyes as she went to Janice's side. She wrapped her arm around the woman's shoulder and squeezed. She was thankful when Janice didn't pull away but instead rested her head against Mel's shoulder.

After a few moments Mel let go then went in search of the candle Janice had bought. She found it quickly by the door and stuck it in the candlestick. She set it on the table that was away from the window and lit it. The gold flecks shone with the flame, seemingly with a life of its own.

Both of them were looking at it, almost in a trance when, outside everything went quiet. Both the women were used to the background noise of the explosions, so the silence seemed loud to them. They looked out the window to see the flashes of bombs had stopped and now only the red glow from the north remained. Mel turned up the radio. "Both sides of the war have decided to call a truce tonight in honor of the Christmas holiday...."

Mel looked back at Janice to see her opening the balcony doors. Outside the night was silent. Not a sound was made anywhere in the city. It seemed that everyone was afraid. Afraid that any sound would stop the deadly rampage to the north all over again and bring it down on their heads. Mel put her arm back around Janice as they stared out of the doors and to the silent red cast northern sky. Inside the nightcandle burned brightly, and on the radio a song that seemed to reach deep into both of their hearts played. Silent Night.

I looked wide eyed at Grandma Mel as she finished her story. She waited patiently for me to comment and finally I found only one word that would fit. "Whoa."

"Exactly" Grandma Mel said as she smiled at me.

"That was amazing. I had no idea."

"No idea, what dear? That you're old grandma wasn't always a quiet old lady."

"No, I've never thought you were quiet. I am glad you told me though. Now I'll really have something to tell my grandkids."

"I'm glad. No you better go get ready. You're Aunt Janice is coming and I think she 's bringing some of her own grandkids. Oh yeah, and don't tell her I told you that story ok."

"Why not?"

"Cause she's a little resentful that her life was saved by an inanimate object."

I moved off to the kitchen laughing and still reeling from the story I had just heard. One thing about my Grandma though, she really could tell a story. True or not.

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