The morning started out the same as the previous one, except this time, Sara’s symptoms seemed to worsen ten fold, basically meaning her plan to get into work early to see who had been dropping off those gifts was a bust. The coughing never seemed to stop, even with cough drops, and she’s sneeze at least once every ten minutes. Her nose dripped like a broken faucet, and by the time she left the loft, she was in need of some serious tissue paper. That trip she had been thinking about making to Jersey was beginning to sound all the better as she hopped onto her bike and sped down the road. So what if she didn’t have the money to pay for it, a flu shot was something she was in desperate need of, as were antibiotics.

Sara walked into the precinct a while later, her sneeze echoing throughout the entire homicide department, startling her partners as she walked into their office and immediately reached for a tissue.

“Jeez, Pez, you really needed to go to a doctor,” Danny said as he held the box of tissues so she could grab one without having to reach over any desks, especially his.

“Find me one on my HMO, and I’ll go,” Sara retorted as she threw her jacket onto the coat rack and sat down at her desk. “Remind me why I voted for Bush in that last election?”

“Because you’re a republican,” Jake sincerely replied.

Both Danny and Sara glared at him. “Stupid rookie,” Sara said under her breath as she reached for another tissue and sneezed into it.

“At least have Vicky look you over,” Danny suggested.

“No,” she growled. “I’m NOT that sick!”

“Yes, you are. You’re sneezing, you’re coughing, and your nose is running like a faucet,” he pointed out. “If you won’t do it for your own sake, then do it for ours. I’ve got a family, and Jake… well, Jake would probably die if he caught a cold out here.”

“What is up with you guys? Is it ‘Take cheap shots at the rookie’ day?” Jake retorted as he stood up and walked out of the office, obviously angry at Danny’s last comment.

He and Sara began to laugh when the door closed. “Alright, fine, I’ll have Vicky look me over,” she finally gave in now that Jake was gone. She hated to admit her weaknesses in front of him. It made her feel all the less powerful and in control. It made her look like a girl.

Within a few minutes, Jake returned holding a cup of coffee in one hand and a small gift wrapped box and card in the other. “You got another one, Sara,” he said, placing the box on her desk with a very sour look on his face. She quickly snatched it up and opened the card. Just as she predicted… “On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… Three karat diamond earrings.”

Sara nearly fell off her chair when she opened the box to find the beautiful tear drop earrings glittering inside. Okay, this had definitely been the last straw. She wasn’t going to accept anymore of these expensive gifts even if it killed her. Sara stood up and grabbed her jacket, yelling, “I’ll be back in a little while,” over her shoulder as she stammered out of the precinct and got on her bike. She was going to put an end to this, once and for all!

Arriving at the Iron’s mansion, Sara decided to let out a little of her frustration on the door, banging on it loudly so almost everyone inside could hear her. It was promptly answered by a frightened gray haired old butler, who wasn’t spared her anger as she growled, “Where is he?”

“The… the conservatory,” the butler stuttered as he quickly moved away from her, still afraid.

“NOTTINGHAM!” Sara yelled as she stomped down the grand hall, her heels pounding against the cold marble. “Where the hell are you?”

“Right here,” Ian popped out from right behind her, giving Sara the scare of her life as she jumped up, spun around, the Witchblade drawn on her wrist, the sword immediately coming into contact with his neck, but never breaking skin. Ian merely stood there, calm as ever while the ‘Blade retracted into its bracelet form.

“God, damn it, Nottingham!” Sara cursed. “What the hell is wrong with you?” She let a couple of seconds of dead silence pass between them, taking the hint that he wasn’t going to answer. “What’s the meaning of this?” she continued, throwing the black velvet box which contained the earrings at him. He was quick to catch and open it to see what she was talking about.

“What are you inferring?” Ian replied, still gazing at the earrings, then looking up at her with those big beautiful brown eyes.

Sara was finding it hard to stay mad at that look, but still, she refused to let down her guard. This was all too weird for her… her stalker buying her expensive gifts. That was flat out sick and crazy! But there was that part deep down inside that was flattered by his gesture, if he was the one who was actually buying the gifts. And if not… well, that was a bridge she’d cross when she came to it.

“I know it was you,” Sara spat.

“What makes you think it was me?” Ian counteracted calmly.

“Oh, please! Who else can afford Godiva chocolates, a dinner for two at an expensive New York restaurant, and three karat diamond earrings on three successive days in a row? Definitely none of the guys I know!” she retorted.

“Are you sure it couldn’t be someone else?” he continued asking the questions and avoiding the answers.

“Will you stop that?” Sara yelled. She was sick of having to answer everything.

“Stop what?”

“THAT! Stop asking me the questions and answer some for once!” Just then, a coughing spell began and lasted for at least a minute before she got it under control.

Ian watched her carefully, noting that she looked a bit pasty. Her eyes were red as well, and her nose was running. “You know, you should see a doctor about that,” he said, not realizing what a mistake he had made.

Sara looked up and glared at him with such venom in her eyes that it made him feel slightly on the edge. She was getting quite unnerved by the way this had completely turned around on her. “I know it was you, and I swear, if I get another expensive gift delivered to my office, I will be back here to return it to you. Do I make myself clear?”

“Crystal,” Ian said.

Sara turned around, making her way out of the mansion the way she had entered, without the earrings. She hadn’t realized what kind of impact it would have on her conscience, taking back a perfectly good pair of earrings, three karat diamond earrings. She felt like kicking herself, but decided to vent her anger in another way; driving as fast as she could down the freeway until she reached the precinct. It was going to be another one of those bad days for anyone who crossed her.

Chapter 4: Thursday, December 11th: The Fourth Day Of Christmas