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There's garland wrapped around the murder board.
It's the metallic tinsel kind that's red and green and looks a little like Christmas threw up and is the exact opposite of the decorations Malcolm grew up with. There's no attempt at elegance or sophistication in the tiny baubles that hang from it either, equally as bright and gaudy as the garland itself.
Malcolm kind of loves it.
He isn't entirely sure who put it there, but he strongly suspects it was Dani, and he's pretty sure she did it just to mess with them. He's not complaining, though, because every time someone scowls at the explosion of Christmas as they tape something to the board, her eyes twinkle with glee.
It's adorable.
So Malcolm is careful not to knock it down as he adds the latest information from the autopsy report to the board, even though he has to lift the garland where it drapes down in a jaunty arc in order to tape the paper beneath it.
"Edrisa was right," Malcolm says as he smooths the paper down. "Tox screen shows unusually high levels of arsenic in our newest victim, just like the two before."
When he turns around, he finds JT glowering at the decorations and Dani biting down a smile.
"Three vics in three weeks with no obvious connection but the same cause of death?" JT leans back in his chair, his raised eyebrow finally relaxing as he looks away from the board.
With a subdued nod, Malcolm tries to temper his own grin. He feels terrible for the victims and their families, obviously, but having a serial case to occupy his mind, especially at this time of the year, is the best Christmas present he could ask for. "We officially have a serial killer."
"Bro, can you at least try to look worried about that?" JT murmurs.
The best Malcolm can do is shrug, but he doesn't manage to tamp down on the excited bounce in his step as he moves from the board to a seat by the door.
JT just shakes his head. Dani hides her smile with her hand.
"I know we never want more victims," Malcolm says, sitting down with his back to the door to space himself out from Dani and JT, "but I think that, with three victims to dig into now, I'll be able to refine the profile substantially. This is going to help us catch this guy."
"That's great news, Bright." Gil's voice floats to him from the doorway and Malcolm turns to face him just as JT and Dani look that way, as well. "We're going to need all the help we can get."
"Gil? What are you doing here?" Malcolm asks, unable to keep the surprise from his voice.
Walking into the room, Gil stops at the head of the conference table and gestures to the murder board on the far wall. "We have a case."
"And you have an entire week off," Dani says. She looks just as confused as Malcolm is to see Gil there.
"Yeah, well, duty calls," Gil shrugs.
"Does Mother know you're here?" Malcolm's pretty sure he already knows the answer to that question and Gil's refusal to meet his eye only confirms his suspicions.
"You know, boss, I admire your dedication, I do." As he speaks, JT closes the folder in front of him so Gil can no longer read it from where he's standing. "But you've had exactly one Christmas off in twenty-five years. The chief was pretty clear about you taking a break this year."
A tilt of Gil's head is all the acknowledgement he gives regarding his past Christmases, but Malcolm knows it's true. Ever since Malcolm was a boy, they would arrange their celebration for a few days after Christmas since Gil was always working on the big day. It meant that Malcolm would usually spend the night of December 27th at the Arroyo house only to wake up early and find presents under the tree and stockings fit to burst hung from the bookshelf in the livingroom.
It was always his favourite part of Christmas.
It's also a tradition the two of them carried on, even after Jackie passed. Job permitting, Malcolm would fly in for Christmas with Mother then stick around a few days for a second Christmas with Gil. Two years ago, he even had to fly back out to DC to wrap up a case on the 26th, but still flew back on the 27th, just for the one night, so they could celebrate together.
This will be the first year in over two decades that they break that tradition.
"Well, that was before we knew we had a serial killer." Gil's answer to JT's unasked question pulls Malcolm from his thoughts before they can turn too melancholy.
Because as sad as he may be about losing their Christmas together, he has no intention of letting Gil miss out on his holiday.
So he pushes to his feet and walks the few steps to Gil's side. "Yes. A serial killer that Dani, JT, and I are completely capable of tracking down." He pauses to get a read on Gil, who seems far from adamant, which is good. Great, really. Because when he takes hold of Gil's elbow and gently steers him back towards the door, Gil actually moves, even if he scowls at Malcolm the whole time. "We even have the might of the entire NYPD behind us. Which means you and mother can still take that cozy trip up to Vermont that she's been talking about non-stop for the last two weeks."
They stop once they reach the door and Gil looks back to JT and Dani, who are both smirking but also nodding their agreement with Malcolm's assessment.
"As much as I hate to say it, he's right, boss," JT says. "We got this. And you deserve some downtime."
Dani's got that twinkle in her eye again. "Yeah. Go ski, or curl up by the fire, or whatever it is people your age do up in Vermont."
The comment earns her one of Gil's half-irritated/half-indignant glares, but it's one they've all received so many times by this point that it doesn't even faze them and Dani just smiles sweetly.
But instead of arguing that he's not actually an old man, he waves off the comment and turns to face Malcolm again. The lines in his face smooth out until there's nothing but concern left behind and he lowers his voice for only Malcolm to hear. "You sure about this, kid?"
Malcolm drops his head as a smile tugs at his lips. The way Gil looks out for him, the way he loves him, has always been a bright spot for Malcolm in a life full of darkness. "Yes, Gil, I'm sure. Go, have fun. You both deserve all the happiness you can get."
"But Christmas—"
"Can wait to be celebrated in the new year. With Ainsley out of town covering the congressional scandal, we were going to have to push things back anyways."
Seeing how Christmas at Whitly manor is typically a subdued affair, haunted by more ghosts than A Christmas Carol, pushing it back doesn't exactly hurt Malcolm's feelings.
"And the 27th?"
And, well, that one hurts a little more.
A lot more.
But Malcolm plasters on his best false smile. "We can reschedule that, too."
It's not really a surprise when Gil reaches out and wraps a hand around the back of Malcolm's neck, giving the same light squeeze that he's been offering since the night he came to arrest Martin, but Malcolm still leans into it, grateful for the comfort it always brings. "I just hate that you'll be alone for Christmas, kid."
Dragging out that plastic smile again, Malcolm gives his head a small shake. "Not alone." Malcolm raises his voice a little, enough to make it clear he's including JT and Dani in the conversation, even if they likely already heard most of what was said. "Assuming we wrap things up quickly — which I'm confident we will — I'm going to head to Boston for that symposium, remember?"
"Right. The psychological seminar thing?" Gil sounds a little dubious and Malcolm isn't entirely sure if it's the name or the idea of a symposium at all that's throwing Gil off.
"Sociopsychological analysis of violent crime. It's going to be riveting."
"I think we have very different understandings of that word," Dani says wryly. This time it's JT trying not to smile, and failing miserably.
"Does that mean you don't want to join me?" Malcolm teases, already knowing the answer, but he's rather impressed with the faux-disappointed look that Dani manages.
"You know, I wish I could, I do, but I promised my auntie I would make it to her house for dinner on Christmas."
"You don't know what you're missing."
JT arches an eyebrow. "Pretty sure she does. Besides, what kind of symposium runs over Christmas?"
And really, there couldn't be a worse time for JT's impressive analytical skills, but Malcolm just waves off the question with an absent swipe of his hand and a shrug that he's hoping conveys a 'what are you gonna do' type of attitude. "You know these academic types. Knowledge comes before everything."
"Bro, aren't you one of those academic types?"
"What? Me? No. I'm more of a hands-on, boots on the ground, law enforcement—"
"No."
"Law-enforcement-adjacent type," Malcolm amends.
The good news is that the back-and-forth between Malcolm and JT seems to ease Gil's worries a little. When Malcolm looks back, some of the tension around his eyes has disappeared and the pull of his shoulders isn't quite so stiff.
It's progress.
"Anyways. Between the case and the symposium, I'm going to be busy the whole week. You don't need to worry about me, Gil. I promise."
"I always worry about you, kid," Gil sighs, voice quiet. "But if you're sure?"
"I am. Very sure." If ever there were two people who deserve a break, Malcolm is quite certain it's his mother and Gil. They deserve all the happiness they've been finding with one another, too. "Now get going before Mother launches a missing persons investigation to find you."
It earns him a genuine smile — the kind that crinkles up the corners of Gil's eyes — and the type of hug that Malcolm has only ever gotten from Gil himself. It's the one that's warm and firm and full of love and it makes Malcolm feel like maybe all of his broken pieces won't just fall apart after all.
And then, with a quick farewell to JT and Dani, Gil is off, ready to head to Vermont for his first Christmas away from New York ever.
Malcolm hopes he loves it.
He also throws himself back into the case with a renewed vigor to keep his mind off the fact that Christmas this year just got a whole lot more lonely.
It's fine, though, because Malcolm has a case and he has Dani and JT and it feels an awful lot like he has a purpose in life at the moment. And really, that's more than enough.
Until it isn't.
Because the next day, early on Christmas Eve, he cracks the case.
It's 6:30 in the morning when he calls JT and launches into an excited explanation about algae content and tidal flow and, after a whole lot of grumbled curses, they get a hold of Dani and head out to pick up their suspect.
She doesn't even put up a fight.
As a matter of fact, she hands them her confession like a gift wrapped Christmas present, loose ends all tied up in a pretty little bow.
And then they're done.
Well. There's a fair bit of paperwork, which Malcolm even sticks around for, but once all that is wrapped up, they're free until the 26th (barring any high profile murders that would haul them back in).
"This is amazing," Dani says as she pulls on her jacket. She gently tugs her hair from where it's temporarily trapped beneath the collar, sending a wave of curls cascading over the heavy wool. "This will be the first year since I joined the academy that I don't have to cancel on Christmas at my auntie's."
"Well you better get out of here before someone ropes us into another investigation." It's half-teasing and half-serious but JT actually keeps his voice hushed like he's worried he might jinx them if he says it too loudly. He's still at his desk, signing off on all their reports in Gil's absence, but he looks up with a grin as he adds. "Merry Christmas, Dani."
"Merry Christmas. To both of you." The smile never leaves her face as she hugs JT and then tugs Malcolm in for a warm embrace as well. "Have fun at that symposium," she says once she pulls back, and then quickly turns back to JT. "Wish Tally a happy holiday for me, too."
"Will do," JT nods.
Malcolm gives a little wave as she heads toward the elevators. "Merry Christmas, Dani."
And then there were two.
"So when do you leave for your conference?" JT says, already looking back down at the stack of papers in front of him. There are only a few pages left upright, the rest face down where he's already signed off. He'll be done soon, Malcolm realizes.
"Uh. I'll catch a train tonight, I think." Malcolm leans up against the side of JT's cubicle, not quite ready to say goodbye. "You and Tally have any big plans?"
"Nah. Quiet Christmas this year. Most of my family is out of state for the holidays and most of hers decided to do a cruise this year." The way JT's nose scrunches up tells Malcolm exactly what he thinks about that idea and Malcolm finds himself grinning at the thought of Tally dragging a reluctant JT aboard a cruiseliner, clad in cargo shorts and a Hawaiian button up. "So we're just celebrating the two of us."
There's a pause then, like JT is considering saying more but hasn't quite decided if he wants to. It leaves Malcolm intrigued more than anything, and he waits quietly for JT to continue.
When he does, it's...not what Malcolm was expecting.
"You're welcome to join us if you want. You know, if the symposium doesn't pan out."
For a moment, neither of them moves. JT remains where he is with his pen hovering over the last page of Dani's incident report, and Malcolm leans just a little harder into that cubicle wall.
"I, uh. I don't..." A few false starts and stops slip out before Malcolm can find the proper words. "I appreciate the offer. But I'll be out of town. Uh. Thank you, though."
JT nods, just once, and doesn't say anything more.
A rather awkward silence follows, but Malcolm is quick to take his leave soon after, wishing JT a Merry Christmas and accepting the firm handshake JT offers in response. Then he's on his way to the elevators, sure he feels JT's gaze on his back the entire time.
And as the elevator doors slide closed behind him, Malcolm honestly doesn't know if he's disappointed or relieved.
The offer was...beyond kind. He knows JT and Tally don't get enough date nights, enough time together at all, really. Not with both of them working long hours and JT's schedule often eating up evenings and weekends. They must both be thrilled to have Christmas to themselves. Malcolm certainly wasn't going to impede on their time together.
No matter how much he would love the company.
It's fine, though. It's not like he's unaccustomed to being alone. He spent the latter half of his childhood and most of his teenage years in solitude. Hell, even through Harvard and his tenure with the FBI, Malcolm often found himself isolated from his peers. It's only been since he joined Gil's team that he's started to become reacquainted with companionship, maybe even with friendship.
Which means that one Christmas alone isn't the end of the world.
And Malcolm is quite certain that, if he tells himself that enough, he might actually believe it.
Besides, once he's outside in the brisk air of a New York December, it's easier to remember that it really is just another day. And like any other day, he hails a cab, stops at a bodega for licorice and coffee beans, and then heads home for the night.
He doesn't dwell on the fact that he's alone for the holidays. As a matter of fact, by the time he's halfway through a yoga practice, he's much more settled. And once he lets Sunshine free of her cage and she's had time to flit around before landing on his shoulder to nip at his hair, he's in a pretty good mood, all things considered.
Still, when midnight rolls around and it's officially Christmas day, Malcolm can't deny the pang of loneliness in his chest.
He can, however, sleep it off.
Hopefully.
With only the light of the moon illuminating his way, he climbs into bed and gets himself comfortable and covered up before strapping on his restraints, wondering if this will be the year he receives a Christmas miracle and actually sleeps through the night.
He's not exactly hopeful.
Still, he blows out a slow breath and readies himself to try. Just before he closes his eyes, he looks over to Sunshine's cage, though he knows she's likely fast asleep.
"Merry Christmas, Sunshine."
The words are swallowed by the silence of the loft, almost like they'd never been spoken at all. And while the stillness of the apartment doesn't usually bother Malcolm, tonight, it feels especially oppressive. There's nothing to do, however, but pop in his mouth guard and close his eyes and hope that he sleeps most of the night — and most of Christmas — away.
Of course, it doesn't quite work out how he'd planned.
A nightmare about that ill-fated camping trip sends him screaming into consiousness just after three in the morning, drenched in sweat and with the phantom feel of blood congealing between his fingers for hours afterwards. He loses count of how many times he washes his hands, how many books he starts and stops to distract his traitorous mind, but finally, just as the first rays of sun make themselves known in an inky sky, he shakes off enough of the fear that he thinks he might be able to sleep a little more.
Falling back asleep is always hit or miss after a nightmare — usually miss if he's honest with himself — but he still climbs back into bed, straps and newly cleaned mouthguard in place.
And he gets his Christmas miracle. He falls into a deep and dreamless sleep for a few hours and is only just swimming his way back to the waking world when he hears a knock on his door.
He blinks once, twice, then shoots up in bed as his heart races in his chest. There was no buzz to be let into the building, which means someone broke in or has a key.
It takes another rap on the door for his sleepy mind to realize that anyone breaking into the building would probably not be so courteous as to knock on his door.
"Hey man. It's JT. I know you're in there."
Already unclipping the chains from the restraints around his wrists, Malcolm spits out his mouthguard and calls out a croaky, "Uh. One minute."
He takes a quick look around, making sure there's nothing out that's unfit for company, then makes his way to the door. It's only as he's pulling it open that he realizes the restraints are still firmly wrapped around his wrists, but it's already too late to hide them.
JT and Tally are both standing there, each holding a small stack of gifts and much larger stack of dishes.
"Uh. Hi?" Malcolm says. That initial flood of embarrassment is quickly overtaken by confusion as he takes in Tally's beaming smile and JT's slightly more reserved expression, like he's a little unsure but determined to see this — whatever this is — through.
"Merry Christmas, Malcolm!" There's so much love and warmth and cheer in Tally's voice that Malcolm finds himself smiling back without even meaning to.
And then she's squeezing past JT and, if it weren't for the stack of gifts in her arms, Malcolm is sure he would have been wrapped up in a typical Tally embrace. As it stands, she just leans in and kisses him on the cheek before bustling into the apartment, making a beeline for the kitchen island.
"Merry Christmas?" Malcolm calls after her, still trying to find his footing.
"Merry Christmas, man," JT echoes, smirking now as Malcolm turns to him, no doubt radiating the confusion he feels. "It's gonna take us a little to warm everything up if you want to go get ready."
JT's gaze drops down, taking in the pyjama bottoms, t-shirt, and restraints that Malcolm is currently sporting, but there's no judgement in his eyes.
It only takes a moment for Malcolm to find his words, and his voice is, thankfully, less sleep-scratchy than a moment ago. He considers it all a win. "Ready for what, exactly?"
"Christmas morning celebration." In what is clearly an act of Christmas cheer, JT leaves the duh unspoken. "No need for the fancy suit, but maybe a step up from sleepwear would be good."
With a grin, JT follows Tally into the kitchen, leaving Malcolm standing at the door, absolutely bewildered, until his brain catches up.
And he realizes that he's not alone.
He's still not sure what's happening, but a warm gratitude begins to swell in his chest as he closes the door and heads to the bathroom. That feeling only grows as he quickly showers and leaves him buoyant enough that he skips most of his hair and skin care regime, sticking with just the basics for the day. It's maybe fifteen minutes after his unexpected (but so very welcome) guests arrived that Malcolm makes his way to the kitchen.
His own outfit — a pair of navy dress pants and grey knit sweater — falls somewhere between JT's dark wash jeans and button down, and Tally's red and green floral dress, but he's already expecting a quip from JT about his clothes as he rounds the island.
"Would you look at that, hon? Kid does own something besides five figure suits."
Malcolm ducks his head, hiding the slight flush to his cheeks and his grin at the teasing, but he doesn't miss the way Tally swats JT's arm with the back of her hand, softening the blow with a quiet laugh. "Be nice."
"What? I'm nice," JT huffs as he pulls out the last of what are obviously home baked croissants from a cloth bag. Before he even has it set on the platter he's using, though, he looks over at Malcolm, all traces of teasing gone from his face. "You look nice, man. Relaxed. Rested, even."
"Thanks. You look nice, too," Malcolm says, a little uncertainly. He's still not used to this whole friendship thing and has trouble with things like this.
But it's Tally that answers, her smile absolutely dazzling as she eyes her husband. "Thank you, Malcolm. I chose his outfit so we'd coordinate. Mr. Grumpy over there thought it was over the top."
"Definitely not over the top," Malcolm hurries to assure her. He means it, too. The green in her dress is the same rich jewel tone as JT's shirt and Malcolm is only now noticing that she's even tucked a red pocket square into the breastpocket of JT's jacket.
They really do look adorable together.
"And you look stunning as well, Tally," Malcolm adds.
She flashes him a smile and then turns back to the stove where she has a large pan of scrambled eggs cooking. "Thank you."
"Hey, no flirting with my wife," JT grumbles under his breath as he opens the oven and grabs hold of a casserole dish. He sets the dish — what looks to be cheesy hashbrowns — on the island just next to where Malcolm is standing.
It smells delicious.
But Malcolm just looks up at JT with a smirk. "Sorry, Mr. Grumpy."
There's no heat in JT's glare and the whole expression vanishes completely the second that Tally's laughter floats through the kitchen. Besides, soon enough, the three of them are working together to put the finishing touches on a breakfast that Malcolm was not at all expecting but is eager to try.
It isn't long before they're seated at the island — Tally in the middle, bracketed by Malcolm and JT — and Malcolm quickly discovers that all of the food is just as delicious as it looks.
And the conversation, the camaraderie, is even better.
"So, not that I'm not grateful, because I am, but why the Christmas morning surprise?" Malcolm asks. He's taken a spoonful of every dish — several spoonfuls of a few — and has nearly cleared his entire plate before he works up the courage to ask.
He watches as JT and Tally share a quick look, just before Tally leans back in her chair, making sure JT and Malcolm have a clear sightline to one another.
Not that they need it just yet.
"Look man, you might have fooled Gil with that whole conference bullshit, but you're not nearly as good at lying as you seem to think," JT says to the last of the bite of frittata on his plate. It's only when Malcolm doesn't respond — there's no point in denying it now and he can't come up with a single good excuse for the lie — that JT finally glances up, his fork still absently pushing that small bite around. "No one should be alone at Christmas."
Tally nods her head, her expression soft as she looks at her husband and reaches out to curl her hand over his on the island. When she turns her gaze to Malcolm, there's still a tenderness there that reminds Malcolm how lucky he is to have both of the Tarmels in his life. "Besides, Christmas is one of those occasions where it truly is 'the more the merrier,' don't you think?"
Malcolm has to swallow around a lump in his throat but his smile never waivers. "I do now. Thank you for coming."
"And thank you for having us," Tally says with a pat to Malcolm's knee.
"Well, it's not like we gave him much of a choice in the matter, hon." The words are muffled through a mouthful of frittata but it leaves both Malcolm and Tally chuckling. Once he swallows, JT claps his hands together, lighting up like a Christmas tree — a decoration Malcolm's home is noticably missing. "Now how about presents?"
"How about we tidy up first?" Tally's laughter only grows at the exaggerated pout she gets from JT, but that seems to have been his entire goal, considering the way he obviously delights at the sound.
"Fine. Tidy, then presents," JT capitulates, already getting to his feet to clear their dirty dishes.
With the three of them working together, it doesn't take long to clean the kitchen and put away the leftovers — Tally appears to have been cooking for a family of twelve, so there are a lot of leftovers — and then head to the living room with a fresh cup of coffee apiece.
"Me first," Tally says, just as Malcolm and JT are halfway to seated. Malcolm sits back in the chair, cup of coffee balanced on his thigh, while JT settles on the sofa with his own mug on the table. "Starting with my beautiful husband."
The gifts they brought are stacked on the coffee table and Tally exchanges her mug for the box with Santa Claus faces all over it, then immediately hands it to JT.
"Thanks, hon," JT says, just a little bashful. It's not an expression Malcolm has ever seen from the man before and it makes him grin as he watches JT rip through the festive paper the same way Malcolm remembers doing as a boy.
Actually, the whole thing feels a little like Christmases from back then, back before his world shifted so spectacularly. Back when Malcolm still believed in the magic of the season. So he watches with a growing smile as they exchange their gifts, and he lets himself be swept away by the sudden flood of gratitude that slams into him as he opens the very thoughtful presents that they brought for him, too. And since his gifts for the whole team are already wrapped and waiting on his bookshelf, he even gets to bask in the joy of witnessing their surprise and delight at the present he'd spent months deciding on for them.
It's just one of many things that makes the day perfect in a way that Malcolm never could have imagined.
It's midafternoon when Malcolm's phone rings with a video call, one he answers with a smile on his face that no longer holds a hint of that plastic deceit.
"Mother, Gil," Malcolm grins, shifting to get JT and Tally in the frame, too. "Merry Christmas!"
The call only lasts for ten minutes or so, but it's enough for Malcolm to pick up on every microexpression, every nuance in their tone and their words. Enough for him to know without a shadow of a doubt that they're happier than they've been in far too long.
That they're in love.
It settles something in Malcolm to see it, even before they make plans for a family celebration once they're back in the city in a few days. Malcolm and Gil even set the date for their second Christmas, deciding January 2nd is just as perfect as December 27th.
The funny thing is, Malcolm actually means it. There isn't even a pang of loss at the change, finally understanding it's the celebration and the people he's with, not the date, that truly matters.
And he couldn't be more grateful to JT and Tally for helping him to see that.
They wind up staying the whole day, letting Malcolm spring for Chinese take out for dinner as the last hints of sunlight fade from the sky. They eat around the coffee table in the livingroom, takeout boxes passed between them as they talk and laugh and share stories from the past and hopes for the future.
It's there, amidst empty cartons and the warmth of a friendship he'd never even planned for, that Malcolm realizes maybe it's okay to start some new traditions, to make room for something unexpected.
Maybe it's more than okay.
Because somehow, the magic that Malcolm thought had been lost over two decades ago seems to have found its way back into his heart. And by the time they're exchanging hugs at the end of the night as the Tarmels prepare to leave, he's decided that he doesn't intend to lose it ever again.
Fortunately, with the friends and family he's building around him, he doesn't think that will be a problem.
"Merry Christmas, bro," JT murmurs as he tugs Malcolm into a firm embrace.
And Malcolm couldn't agree more.
"Merry Christmas, JT."