Others own but I now operate, love, cherish and feed

Thanks as always, and much love to, Melvin, for whom Jake was created. Love you, welp.

As mentioned, this first appeared in the AWP ::aly waves at Bast:: zine, We Gather Together, a Jake holiday zine. I've made changes, and I hope, have
improved it since I first wrote it over two years ago. There are slight differences from the zine. The second
half of the zine dealing with Christmas and Chanukah will appear in December. For the timeline, this story begins approximately three weeks after Everything's Jake.

As We Gather Together-Thanksgiving

By Alyjude

"This isn't going to work."

"Shove it over, Ellison."

"Chief, what part of 'this isn't going to work' didn't you get?"

"That would be the 'this isn't going to work' part." Jim slowly lowered his end of the large dresser and as the round knobs that constituted its feet touched down, he straightened. Vision momentarily blurred by stinging sweat trickling into his eyes, Jim gave up the idea of paralyzing Blair with one of his killer laser looks, opting instead to lift the hem of his undershirt and swipe the material over his sweaty face. Once he could see again, he said dryly, "Let me explain this in layman's terms, Sandburg. This big honking dresser isn't going to fit through this needle's eye."

"why don't you move the bed?"

Two hot, sweaty, overworked men turned in the direction of the small-disembodied voice. Craning their necks, they spotted the source of the voice.

Jake.

Their son, wearing only the upper half of his Star Wars pajamas, sat on the floor in front of the door. With his bare legs splayed out in front of him, he was busy working the hook and ladder of a red toy fire engine.

Blair glanced away from their son and turned his attention to his partner. "Um, we could do that, I suppose."

Jake snorted as he placed the vehicle back on the hardwood floor and moved it cautiously forward. The ladder fell off and stricken, he froze. After a moment, he carefully held it up. "broke, daddy. it's broke."

Sandburg glanced at Jake's sorrowful face, then up to Jim who was currently trapped behind the dresser. If Blair let his end down, well, actually - he couldn't. No place to rest it other than on his unhappy son. "Uh, Jim? Can you squeeze by your end, shove the bed towards me, then--"

"Yeah, I'm on it, hang on."

Jim started the squeeze play and grimaced as the corner of the dresser came into alignment with his more sensitive body parts.

"Ooh, be careful, valuable merchandise there, Detective Ellison."

"daddy? my ladder, it's broke."

"You think I'm not being careful, Sandburg? And don't move an inch!"

"I know, welp, I know. Just hold your horses, hands kind of full here." Then, "Jim, suck it in, NOW!"

"I'm sucking, I'm sucking!"

"but daddy, it's broke now."

That was the last straw. Blair lost it. His laughter filled the bedroom and the dresser teetered precariously. Jim had managed to squeeze the family jewels past the killer dresser and was currently scowling at his partner while at the same time, Jake held up the ladder again and whined, "dad-dee, you *have*ta fix it now."

Choking back further laughter, Blair responded with what he hoped was his best reasoning tone. "Jake, in order to fix your ladder, I'd have to set the dresser down, and in order to do that, I'd have to set it on you. The problem with that is that we're not partial to squished Jake, so hang in there, let Jim move the bed and soon, all will be right with your world. Okey dokey?" Jim smiled at Blair's lengthy attempt to soothe their four year old, then gaped when Jake went back to the fire engine, nodding happily. Jim put his shoulder to the bed and shoved while at the same time marveling at Blair's ability with Jake. His own father would simply have told Jake not to bother him and to "go to his room". Jim straightened and walked back to the dresser, picked up his end and sure enough, with Blair angling to the right, they managed to get the thing almost into position. They then began the dance of furniture movers all over the world as they positioned, shifted, shook their heads and tried again.

"daddy? someone's--" "Just twoooo-more minutes, Jake," Blair promised.

Jake nodded, then looked over his shoulder. Someone was at the door. He glanced back at Blair's straining back and Jim's scrunched up face - then scrambled up and ran out into the living room to answer the door for his daddy.

(O)

Naomi was about to ring the bell when she heard what had to a stampede of wild horses coming towards her. She frowned and took a cautious step back. At the same moment, the door swung open to reveal -- nothing.

Naomi blinked twice.

"hi. who are you?"

She followed the voice down and her eyes widened at the small tousled-haired boy gazing up at her. "I'm Naomi. Who are you?"

Bright blue eyes widened as the child's mouth formed a huge O and the door was slammed in her face. She heard the same stampeding horses move away.

(O)

Jake ran to the doorway of the bedroom and said excitedly, "daddy, daddy! it's nomi, nomi's here!"

Both men were just putting the dresser down, but at Jake's yell, froze.

Blair looked at Jim.

Jim looked at Blair.

"Um," Blair said eloquently.

"Yeah, um," Jim agreed. "Um, Jim?"

"Don't 'um' me, Sandburg. She's your mother."

Blair would have flipped his bedmate off, but Jake stood in the doorway, not to mention that he still held his end of the dresser. "Jake, why don't you go keep her company--" Blair's voice trailed off as he caught his son's shocked expression. "You did let her in, right?"

Bright blue eyes widened as once again the small heart-shaped mouth formed a perfect O. Without a word, the herd of wild horses flew out into the hall and tore back into the living room. Jim cocked his head and listening as small feet hit the hard wood floor, said, "Nope, I don't think he did let her in."

"Wise man, our son."

(O)

Jake skidded to a stop in front of the door and quickly threw it open. He leaned forward and pushed at the screen. "wanna come in? daddy and jim are in the bedroom," he said with a huge grin. Naomi pulled at the screen and stepped inside. Behind her, Jake shoved the door closed again and shivered at the sting of cold air that had followed her entrance. With the single-mindedness of a four year old, Jake asked the only thing that could possibly matter to Naomi or any visitor.

"wanna see my room, nomi?"

She gazed down at the open and excited face and found herself just naturally sinking down to his level. She unwrapped her wool scarf and let it drop to the floor along with her shoulder bag. With an answering grin, she said, "I'd love to see your room."

Jake grinned happily and grabbed her hand. "come on, i'll show you my bed and my play table and my pengy and a'course, my wolfy, jakey."

Before she knew it, Naomi Sandburg was being charmingly dragged by the hand through the living room by a blond curly haired boy wearing the top of a pair of Star War pajamas, navy blue briefs and one half-on white sock that flapped as he walked.

(O)

"Blair? Don't you think we ought to--"

"Huh-uh, we should. Definitely."

"Like -- now? As in, 'on the run'?"

Blair lowered the dresser and gazed at his partner. "I suppose we should," he said with a marked absence of enthusiasm. "Jake doesn't think before speaking, Chief," Jim warned, a twinkle in his eye.

"Well, no," Blair said, wiping his hands on his shirt. "Of course he doesn't. He's only fou--" Blue eyes widened and a very sexy mouth formed a perfect O.

"Shit."

"Yup."

They took off at a run.

(O)

Jake almost had Naomi to the hall door when Blair rushed out, closely followed by Jim. Both men skidded to a nervous halt, Jim thudding into Blair's back. With a small wave, Blair quipped, "Hey, mom. Long time, no see. Guess you got my email, eh?"

"Yes, dear, I did. Finally."

"So, where did it catch up to you?"

Jake was still holding Naomi's hand but he was no longer tugging. He was now listening and watching --along with Jim.

"Well, from New Zealand, I traveled to Katmandu and from there, to Sri Lanka and--" A tug at her skirt stopped her and she glanced down at the excited up-turned face.

"my room? and where's sury latka?"

The polite tension was cut, and laughing, Blair reached down and picked up his son. Brushing unruly curls back from Jake's forehead, he said proudly, "Mom, this is Jake, and Jake, this is your gran... this is my mom."

Jake wiggled happily in Blair's arms as he nodded his head. "i know, she's my nomi and she went to the 'lmpics."

"Why yes, Jake, I did. And by the way? I'm very glad to know you."

"my room now?"

Jim shifted to the forefront and took the wiggle wart from Sandburg's arms. "Room second, young man. We get you dressed first. And hello, Naomi. Good to see you."

"Good to see you too, Jim."

As Jim started down the hall, Jake twisted in his arms to keep his eyes on Naomi as he pleaded, "but, but, my room, nomi has to see my room now."

A gentle pat to a wiggling rear was followed by Jim's laughing voice as he warned, "Be patient, Grasshopper."

Once Jim and Jake were out of sight, Naomi turned away from her son, quickly picked up her scarf and bag, and dropped them onto the couch. Turning in a small circle, she took in her son's new home.

"This is beautiful, Blair. And I'm in love with the entrance and courtyard."

Blair took a couple of uncertain steps toward his mother, than self-consciously stopped. He was suddenly very aware of his dirty jeans, white sleeveless undershirt, bare feet, and -- sweat. "Glad you like it, mom."

"I guess I'm a little behind on your life."

"A little."

"I had a backlog of emails. Read them all as soon as I returned to John's place in England. I was very surprised to read that you'd moved out of the loft, but now," she waved her hand around, indicating Jim's stereo against the far wall and the loft table in the dining room behind her, "I can see you've apparently brought much of it here."

Blair shuffled his feet and said, "There was an accident. The loft, the whole building, was damaged. Jim -- lives with me now."

Mother and son hadn't touched or hugged and so far, Naomi had avoided any eye contact with her son, but at the last part of his sentence, her eyes flew to his face. His expression told her exactly what he'd meant, but still... she had to confirm.

"You and -- Jim? Together?"

He nodded warily. Blair loved his mother and had meant every word he'd told her before the press conference, but facts were facts. Blair was now a cop and in addition, now living with Jim in every sense of the word. He'd made the choice to become a cop in spite of her plea to the contrary, and in all the time since, she hadn't been there for him. Nor had she been with him during the time he'd made his heart-wrenching decision to move out of the loft, let alone during the miserable weeks that had followed the move.

She'd failed to answer every single letter, email and voicemail. But it hadn't kept him from trying, nor had it kept him from sending that last email. Taking a deep breath, he said simply, "We're together. In every way."

"I see," Naomi said. Her gaze swept past Blair to the long hall that Jim had disappeared down as she asked, "Is Jake Jim's or yours? He looks like Jim, but he has your curly hair."

In spite of what his mother was inferring, Blair's smile was genuine. "He does look like Jim, doesn't he?"

"Ah, so he's his."

"No, mother, he's ours. His name is Jacob Michael Porter. His grandmother was my landlady. The Anjasmayo belonged to her."

Naomi fingered a bit of red hair behind a shapely ear and cocked her head. "Maybe you'd better tell me?"

Before he could say a word, the thunder of small feet heralded the arrival of the youngest member of the household. Jake, now dressed in jeans and a blue turtleneck sweater, charged into the room, Jim close on his heels.

"all dressed," he said, breathlessly. "now my room? please?" He reached up and took possession of Naomi's hand, then tugged insistently.

With an apologetic glance that promised more talk, Naomi allowed herself to be pulled down the hall.

Jim took one look at Blair's face and immediately came up behind him. He slid an arm around his partner's waist, then rested the side of his face against Sandburg's.

"Didn't go well?"

"Could've gone better. A little awkward, you know?"

"That's not your fault, Chief. She's the one who's been a stranger lately, not you." "Yeah, well, I threw her for a loop. She didn't think for a minute I'd really become a cop."

"I never doubted it."

Blair turned in Jim's arms, reached around him and pinched his firm butt. "Liar."

"Stinker."

"That, my fine Sentinel, would accurately describe the two of us."

Jim took a deep whiff and grinned. "Ah, the delightful odor of manly sweat. Can't get enough of it if half is yours."

"Yeah, well, we're rank, Jimbo. But between the two of us, you're the older, the taller, and the stinkier. You may have the shower first."

"I had every intention of going first, so there. You can finish up with your mom."

Before Blair could do anything to his sentinel, Jim had slipped away and was jogging down the hall laughing. Shaking his head, Blair headed to Jake's room.

(O)

"...and this is my collection of badges, see? Daddy took them from his 'puter. and this is my fort, I built it but jim helped and this is a piccie of the lonely jaguar, see? i drew that and see his eyes? he's very speshul and his eyes are blue and i won these at the halloweeny carn-ee-val and here's a piccie of cherry that daddy drew." One toy after another joined her on the bed, as did large pieces of construction paper, stuffed animals and finally photographs. Naomi listened and watched, her eyes taking it all in. Her heart nearly broke at how much like Blair this boy seemed to be.

Jake climbed up onto his bed and laid four photos on her knee. One small finger pointed to the first one.

"that's me and daddy and jim at the carn-ee-val. Daddy won and so did i. i'm the great wizard jake and daddy is indy and jim is dav-ee crockett, king of the wild frontier." He pointed at another picture and tapped it. "that's my second bestest friend, cherry, see? with her daddy? that's her daddy's fire engine and I have one too but it's broke, but daddy and jim will fix it."

He held the third one up and brought it to Naomi's face, urging her to take it, which she gladly did. "that's me and my gammy but gammy is in heaven with bluey but she didn't want to leave me but she's okay, god is holding her now, see?"

Naomi nodded and wondered about the stinging behind her eyes, but then Jake picked up the final picture and his voice changed a bit as he said, "and this is me and my daddy, see? and he's pushing me on the swing and see, i'm going higher than anybudy else because my daddy is pushing me, see?"

Naomi gazed at the photo, a photo showing her laughing son in jeans and a green sweater, hair tied back, standing behind a swing set and waving at the camera. In front of him, flying high was Jake, hands gripping the chain of the swing, legs kicking out wildly, head thrown back as he laughed.

Naomi saw it all. Sliding her arm around the small body, she whispered, "show me more, Jake."

(O)

"We should rescue her, you know."

Blair was leaning against the sink in the bathroom, watching Jim through the shower door, a small grin on his face. At Jim's suggestion, he pushed himself away from the sink and said nonchalantly, "From what?"

"She's a prisoner in his room."

"Yes and she's finding out everything she needs to know. By the time he's shown her every toy, photo, and stuffed animal, she'll have the big picture."

"I can't believe you're afraid of your mother," Jim said over the sound of the shower.

"I can't believe you're afraid of my mother."

A spray of water hit Blair on the side of his face.

(O)

"kitchen, you havta see our kitchen."

Once again, Naomi found herself being dragged down the hall, through both the living room and dining room, and finally into the kitchen.

"i need a boooster seat and jim said he would buy me one but i only want our telfone book so he covered it for me, see?" She found herself grinning in disbelief. He never stopped -- just like Blair. "are you here for turkey day, nomi? cause we're gonna have the biggest and bestest turkey with apple and walnut stuffin and marshmallows on sweety tatoes and jim says i can mash the other taters, that's what cherry calls them, and daddy is making real bread and jim is making the pie and we're gonna have real whupped cream and you can have one of the drumsticks, 'kay?"

Years of listening to her son's chatter left Naomi well versed in following the conversation of one four year old. She listened, oohed and aahed, and nodded excitedly. At the last part, she knelt down in front of him and put her hands on his hips. "I'd love to share Thanksgiving with you, Jake."

At her acceptance, Jake's eyes grew round with excitement, his mouth following suit, and before Naomi could blink, the boy was zipping around her, barreling through the swinging door and running like the wind through the apartment yelling, "daddy!"

He didn't get far as his small body thudded into Blair's, bounced, and was deftly caught by strong arms before he could hit the floor.

"Whoa, Jake, what's up? You finish showing Naomi around yet?"

"we havta 'vite nomi for turkey day, daddy, we just *hav*ta." He pulled at his father's hand and started tugging ferociously. "come on, we havta invite her now."

As Blair was pulled along, he glanced helplessly over his shoulder at a still slightly damp Jim, who simply saluted, an evil grin on his face.

"Hey, Chief, he's the 'boss round these here parts."

(O)

Jake didn't have to tug his father far. Naomi had left the kitchen and was now standing in the dining room, smiling shyly. She spoke before her son could say anything. "We keep meaning to have Thanksgiving together, don't we? How long has it been, Blair?"

"Ten years. And we'd love to have you, Mom. You know you never need an invitation." Her gaze swept over her son, then down to Jake, and finally to Jim. He nodded his agreement and gave her a lopsided grin. Something melted inside Naomi. She reached out and ruffled Jake's curls. "Looks like you and me are going to demolish a couple of turkey legs, Jake."

"yippee!!"

(O)

"So we're now six for Thanksgiving, eh, Chief?"

"It would appear so." Blair looked hard at his partner and asked, "Are you really okay with this, Jim?"

Ellison snagged the towel from around his wet partner's waist and pulled the body into his. Nuzzling beneath the wet hair, he nodded, then slid his hand down the damp back to stop at the sweet swell of Blair's ass. Letting his finger brush lightly against the moist skin, he whispered, "We're a family now, Chief, and Jake needs his grandmother. Besides, we've never really had what you'd call a traditional Thanksgiving. I'm looking forward to it."

"How can you make a simple yes sound so sexy? And you do know your shirt is now all wet?"

"I know you're all wet, Chief."

Laughing, Blair wiggled against Jim's body, effectively rubbing more of his dampness on the larger man. "Not any more, I'm nice and dry now. Smell good too."

"Back off, Stud. Your mother and our son are just outside and--"

"And we have plenty of time. Besides, you love to live dangerously."

Jim tilted his head to give Blair access to his neck, then moaned as Blair rained small kisses on sensitive sentinel skin. "Clean shirt and jeans," Jim groaned, not really caring.

Blair lifted his mouth away from the warm pulsing skin at Jim's neck and grinned. "Rule number one," he whispered softly, "of dangerous sex is remove all clothing first -- and fast, before horny short man rips clothing from equally horny partner."

Jim hurriedly removed his clothes and they tumbled backward onto the bed that Blair had managed to maneuver them toward.

Moments later their laughter was smothered by hot kisses. They were quick, spurred on by the immediate threat of a young voice yelling, "daddy", but the sex was no less impressive for their rush. They'd both learned in the last few weeks as fathers that fast and furious was extremely rewarding.

"So, that's everything, Mom."

The afternoon had sped by with Jim and Blair finishing up with their bedroom while Naomi fixed lunch for her new grandson. After a meal of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with apple slices and yogurt, Jim offered to take Jake to the park so that mother and son could talk. Now they sat in the living room, the afternoon sun casting long fall shadows across the hardwood floor.

As Blair finished bringing his mother up to date on his life with Jim and Jake, he found himself breathing a sigh of relief. Reliving the last weeks had been more difficult than he'd thought it would be. He watched as his mother took out a tissue and dabbed at her eyes before blowing her nose. "Mom? You okay?"

"I'm fine, honey. Just a bit overwhelmed. I think I would have liked Karen."

"No doubt about it, Mom." Blair stood, and gazing down at Naomi, asked, "Something to drink, maybe?"

Naomi tilted her head in thought, then with a teasing smile, said, "A nice Chardonnay, perhaps?"

"I was thinking -- chamomile tea," he joked back.

"Let's make it together, all right?"

Blair's answer was to hold out his hand.

Naomi smiled gently and took it. Together, arms around each other's waists, they walked into the kitchen.

As they worked, Naomi found that she couldn't hold back the questions that Blair's revelations had generated. "Jake seems so settled, honey. How has he really taken everything?"

Turning the heat on under the water, Blair answered, "There were a few tough days after Karen's death, and I suspect we'll have others. There have been nightmares, sudden crying jags, a lot of clinging, not wanting me to go to work, that kind of thing, even some bet wetting. But overall, we've been very lucky. "I think the impact was somewhat cushioned due to the fact that he'd been with me for a week before Karen's death. Even before that we'd spent so much time together that it just seemed natural, you know? He was already thinking of this place as home, strange as that sounds."

Naomi dropped the tea bags into each mug, then smiling tenderly at her son, said, "I've only spent a short time with him and he's already hooked me. It's like loving you as a child all over again."

Blair brushed a gentle kiss across his mother's cheek. "He's a wonder, Mom. No doubt about it. Jim and I can only guess at his early years as Karen could only share what she encountered when she first brought Jake home. I've got to tell you, Mom, that Jake needed so much. But the love and stability his heart was crying out for, Karen supplied in spades."

"As, I suspect, have you, honey." Blair shrugged as he poured the water into the mugs and together they moved to the kitchen table. While dunking her tea bag absently, eyes on her mug, Naomi said, "Jim seems to have acclimated himself to the situation."

Naomi had chosen her words carefully, keeping her tone neutral, but her son was no dummy. His head shot up and his responding question was almost a dare.

"Why wouldn't he, Mom?"

Naomi stared at the brown liquid in the CPD mug and tried to gather her thoughts. She and Blair were walking on eggshells as it was and she certainly didn't want to shatter any more of them if she could help it. "I don't know, honey," she finally said. "Jim's always seemed such a loner, I guess. Not very family oriented, you know?"

"Mom, he's a natural. Far more than I. In fact, I suspect his one regret regarding his divorce, other than the idea of failure, was that he and Carolyn had no children. He's a big softie, Mom."

Grinning, she held up one hand in surrender. "Okay, okay, you've convinced me. He's fine, he's loving it, I get it, sweetie."

"Good."

Naomi took a thoughtful sip of her now drinkable tea, then asked, "How are you two handling the job and a child? Being a cop doesn't exactly -- I mean, you two don't have normal hours and your situation is rather unique--"

"Mom," Blair immediately interrupted, "we handle our jobs and Jake the same way hundreds of cops handle it. We're hardly unique."

"Hundreds of cops in Cascade are gay?"

"Oh," he said sheepishly, "you mean that kind of unique."

"Yes, dear, that kind of unique."

"We're not the only same sex couple raising children within the Cascade Police Department. Okay," he held up his hand as Naomi started to say something, "we are the only male same sex couple raising a child, but still--"

Naomi tried to bite back the laughter at the way Blair was trying to explain, but the choking and spluttering were a dead give away. She finally let loose. When Naomi realized that she, the original flower child, was sitting in a quaint kitchen that belonged to her beautiful and brilliant son, who was now a cop and carried a gun, not to mention the loving another man part, and had just made her a grandmother, her laughter exploded.

It was only as her mind conjured up pictures of Blair with a gun, a vision further complicated by Jake, that the laughter ended. She tried to control her breathing as she said, "Blair -- what about," she swallowed, "your gun? How do you protect--"

"Mom, come on, you don't think that wasn't my first concern when he started visiting me? Our weapons are stored in a lock box in the closet, on the top shelf, and Jake has been lectured and coached. Trust me, he wouldn't touch either weapon. He's smart, Mom. Very smart."

"I noticed. He's so much like you that it's--"

"Scary?" Blair offered with a grin.

"I was going to say wonderful."

"Yeah, well, that's what you say now." Blair smiled as he spoke, but Naomi caught the fact that said smile hadn't reached his eyes. She was about to question him when the front door slammed shut and Jake's voice cried out, "we're hoooooome!"

Laughing, the two Sandburgs stood and headed out to the living room. As they walked into the dining room, Naomi made herself a promise to quiz her son later.

(O)

"So, how was the park?"

Jake sat on the counter, legs dangling over the edge. He was helping his daddy fix carrots for the salad, help that consisted of sneaking some of the cut carrots and popping them into his mouth every few seconds. "park was kewl and there were new swans, daddy! Just wish't that nomi could have taken me, wanted to show her the swans and ducks and geese and my swing and where cherry and i play--"

Blair held up a hand, laughing. "Okay, I get the picture. Maybe she'll take you tomorrow."

"is nomi gonna sleep on the couch, daddy? cuz, she doesn't *hav*to, she can sleep in my bed with me, she can, honest. or i could--" He paused long enough to pop another carrot into his mouth, just beating out his father's hand. As he pretended to find his tennis shoe very interesting, he finished, "or i could sleep in your room. i could do that."

"Well," Blair said smiling, "you certainly could, but I suspect that such a sacrifice won't be necessary. Besides, how would your pengy and all the rest of your toys survive without you?"

Jake's head shot up, eyes bright and excited as he exclaimed, "oh, but i'd bring them with me, daddy!"

"Huh-uh," Blair muttered as visions of a bed littered with toys and a floor impossible to negotiate filled Blair's mind. "Don't worry, kiddo, we'll figure something out. By the way, Mr. Porter, do I have any carrots left for the salad?"

"a'course," Jake scoffed. Small fingers then tried to pick up several more orange slivers, but this time, Blair's hand was the quicker.

"I don't think so, Hoss. I'll take care of these." Blair scooped them up and dropped them into the salad bowl. After wiping his hands, he lifted Jake and set him down before placing the salad in the fridge.

"Why don't you go whisper in Jim's ear that the kitchen is now his and he can start his famous teriyaki burgers, okay?"

Nodding happily, Jake started to take off on a run, but Blair snagged his shirt. "Um, why don't you walk into the living room, Hoss?"

"that's tooooo slow, daddy! and i gotta tell jim now."

Blair narrowed his eyes as his own childhood actions came back to haunt him. How many times had he been this impatient with his mother as he was growing up? What was that old saying? Oh, yeah: "What goes around, comes around". Smiling ruefully, he addressed his son. "I know there's a great distance between here and the living room, and that between here and there you'll be accosted by alligators, hippos and bears, but slow is good, even if it takes two extra days and you run out of food and water and you get real tired, but still, I suggest you walk -- slo-owly."

Jake had been paying studious attention and as he rubbed his nose, his face brightened. "oh, it won't take me two days, daddy! i'll just hitch a ride with a hippo!" With that, he marched out of the kitchen, leaving an open-mouthed Blair behind.

(O)

Jim and Naomi were talking quietly as Jake walked through the dining room. Seeing just the back of Jim's head, Jake began to tiptoe carefully toward his father. As he crept closer, he held his hand to the side of his mouth and began to whisper, "taraki burgers, taraki burgers, taraki burgers--" "... he was completely astonished--" Jim stopped mid-sentence, cocked his head, and grinned.

"Um, Naomi, seems it's my turn in the kitchen. There are apparently a few teriyaki burgers with my name on them. Will you excuse me?"

Catching a glimpse of Jake peeking around the edge of the sofa, she smiled, winked, then said, "Of course, go ahead."

Jim stood, but not before reaching back and wrapping his fingers around one small hand. "Hey, look who's here? If it isn't my man, Jake. Was the hippo ride fun?"

"fun and bumpy," came the giggling reply.

"I can believe that, Hoss. Now," he swung Jake up and plopped him next to Naomi, "why don't you keep Naomi company while Blair and I do our thing in the kitchen, okay?"

"'kay!"

"We'll call when dinner is ready and you can escort Naomi into the dining room, all right?"

Jake shook his head, whipping it back and forth as he said, "no, no, no, we can't eat in the dining room, that's speshul, for turkey day! we haveta eat in the kitchen, right?"

"Good point, Hoss, very good point. Wouldn't want to overuse the room before Thanksgiving, would we?"

With a positive nod of his head, Jake affirmed, "nope!"

"Right. So when I call, you escort Naomi into the kitchen."

"yup." Another firm nod.

(O)

"In case you're interested, the hippo delivered our son safely into the loving arms of his grandmother. They are now reading Harry Potter, and we're not eating in the dining room."

Blair handed Jim the package of hamburger and said, "Let me guess -- the dining room is only for Thanksgiving and we haveta eat in here. Am I close?"

Jim regarded his partner suspiciously. "Just when did you turn into a sentinel? Exactly?"

(O)

"... and he has a scar, riiiiight here," Jake touched Naomi's forehead and tapped gently, "and it's like litnig and voldeeeeemart gave it to him and he flies on a broom--"

"Who," Naomi interrupted, fascinated. "Voldemart or Harry?"

"harry. and he's the bestest in the world and the fastest too but i bet if my daddy flew a broom, he'd be the bestest - jim too!"

Jake sat comfortably in Naomi's lap, and as the words tumbled out, his finger moved across the book that rested on his lap. Both he and his 'nomi' were bent over the open tome, Naomi's red hair mingling with Jake's blond curls.

"I always knew that if Blair had ever decided to fly a broom, he'd be the best."

Twisting his head so that he could see her, his eyes bright with curiosity, Jake asked, "did he, nomi? Did he ever try?"

"No, sweetie, he didn't. But he tried quite a few other things when he was your age."

"what? what?" Jake demanded.

"Well, he once tried to use my hand beaters to propel him through the water in the bathtub. Got pretty far and fast too, until he flooded the bathroom. And then there was the time he spotted a caterpillar on the sidewalk. He decided to study it but the postman came along and -- well -- he stepped on it. Blair decided right then and there to save all the other caterpillars by capturing as many as he could.

"He decided my bedroom would be a good hiding place so they'd never get--"

"squishted?"

"Exactly. It took him awhile to get their home ready, what with raiding the pantry for all the jars he could reach. Then he had to wash them out in the bathtub, dry them, and finally fill them with dirt and grass. Once he had the jars ready, he caught as many caterpillars as he could and put them in their new homes. He'd talked our neighbor into poking holes in the lids, so once the caterpillars were safe, Blair hid them under my bed."

"did he save them all, nomi?"

"Well, you know, he was mighty little and he really couldn't put the lids on very tight--"

Jake immediately clamped his hand over his mouth as he kicked his legs wildly. From behind his hand, he mumbled, "uhm, ohm!"

"Yep, uh-oh. They escaped and my bed was crawling with them. A little fact I discovered upon climbing in that night."

Harry Potter temporarily forgotten, Jake jumped down from Naomi's lap and ran happily into the kitchen, Naomi following a bit more sedately.

"daddy! daddy! you saved the kittypillars, but they exscapted!" Blair rolled his eyes at his mother, who now lounged against the wall beside the door. At Jake's words, Jim turned from the stovetop, spatula in hand, and said, "Oh, ho, what's this, Jake?"

Grinning broadly, Jake said with great pride and authority, "daddy tried to save all the kittypillars of the world but they exscapted into nomi's bed!"

Jim crossed his arms over his chest and regarded his partner with one raised eyebrow. "And just when did you save all the 'kittypillars' of the world, Chief?"

"Aw, God. Um, Jake, let's you and me--"

But Jake would have none of that. "tell him, daddy, tell him!" But before Blair could even attempt to explain, Jake launched into the story, eyes bright with excitement.

"daddy didn't want anyone else to squish kittypillars, did you, daddy?" At Blair's woebegone expression and mouthed "no", Jake went on. "so daddy emp-teeed a whooooool lot of jars and cleaned 'em real good and fulled them with grass and dirt and good kittypillar things to eat and kapshured a whooool bunch of kittypillars and put them in the jars and he saved them and hid them from being squishted except," he moved closer to Jim and lowering his voice dramatically, whispered loudly, "but they exscapted."

Jim cupped his mouth and whispered just as loudly into Jake's ear, "kittypillars will do that to you every time."

Jake nodded wisely, saying, "i know, but daddy didn't."

"No, Jake, he didn't. Did Naomi tell you about the Superman cape and the toilet?"

Eyes that were already round with glee, grew impossibly wider as Jake peeked around Jim and said, "nomi?"

"Yes, well, I'm saving that one for a bedtime story. For now, why don't we all pitch in with getting supper ready?" She didn't miss the daggers being shot at her from Blair. Grinning, she led Jake to the table.

Dinner was a fun affair as Jake-stories were shared, allowing Naomi to learn even more about her new grandson. Used to Blair's childhood pickiness when it came to food, she was surprised to discover that Jake loved green salads doused with bleu cheese dressing and liberally sprinkled with crispy croutons. It didn't escape her notice that he ate the croutons first, after dunking them to his fingertips in the pungent dressing.

Naomi also noticed that neither Jim nor Blair batted an eyelash when small fingers traveled to their bowls and plucked their croutons from the leafy greens. But the best part was watching him finally shovel the dressing drenched greens into his mouth.

Observing Jim and Blair with Jake was another eye-opener.

She smiled as she watched the way Jake's sloppy teriyaki burger was automatically cut into fourths by Jim even as he told her about a recent case; or the way Blair, without a second thought, handed off the ketchup bottle to Jake as he interrupted Jim with his own version of the story. Relaxed, Naomi listened to the easy banter, watched in delight as Jake's head moved back and forth between his two fathers even as he stuffed long, crispy, ketchup-smothered fries into his mouth. Small instructions would be interspersed between storytelling and Naomi marveled at the parenting she was now counting herself fortunate to witness.

"... so we decided that the guy really was crazy -- Jake, ketchup dribbling -- when he tried to staple his -- you missed a spot, Hoss -- pants shut."

"Yeah, Jim, but who caught him stealing your --Jake, is that you kicking me -- stapler, uh? Me, that's who, and who -- oh, it is, is it? Should I kick you back, young man? And who called Dr. Willard, the police shrink, down to the -- no, Jake, I don't think you can reach Naomi from here to tickle her feet --interrogation room? Uh? Me, that's who--"

"Oh, big deal, Chief. So what if you -- no, you can't have any more croutons, Hoss. You'll turn into one giant cheesy breadcrumb -- rescued my stapler and called Dr. Willard? That's your job now, Detective."

"Well, duh, Detective, and what, Mom? The couch and the new chair? Yeah, we both felt the new ones were more comfortable than the old ones and -- yes, Jake, they're perfect for reading and playing 'capture Jake' on -- yes, most of the furniture from my old room -- yes, Jake, the room you slept in on poker night and not with your mouth full, okay, buddy?"

Naomi finally couldn't help it -- she started laughing delightedly, the sound bubbling up and unrestrained as the three men stared at her -- clueless.

(O)

The dishes were in the dishwasher, the kitchen clean and sparkling. Jake's face had been cleared of ketchup and now all four sat together in the living room, the fireplace ablaze.

The day had gone incredibly fast and now a clean and pajama clad Jake sat on his father's lap for his nightly visit with Harry Potter. Naomi listened as Blair mesmerized them with the adventure. His voice took on all the accents and sounds of each character as he wove the Potter spell for his son. The fire crackled cheerfully as Jim sat beside Blair, long legs home to Jake's feet. His gaze moved contentedly from Jake's rapt expression to Blair's fluid one, his own smile coming and going, his contentment clearly visible. Naomi shook her head absently. So many differences since--

Her thoughts faltered but she picked them up again and thought back to her first meeting with Jim. As she called up the memory, she focused on her son and remembered how amazed she'd been by his hair and how long he'd let it grow. But more than his hair, she'd noticed the glow that seemed to surround him when he introduced Jim. Lord, how proudly he'd said Jim's name.

As her mind replayed the scene in Simon's office, Jim's actions surged to the forefront. The quiet smiling manner in which he'd watched and listened while she and Blair had sparred, and later when Simon had come to Blair's rescue -- God, even then, Jim had loved her son.

Jim Ellison had been in love with her son from the beginning, she realized. Lord love a duck, of course.

And Blair?

No, she shook her head. Not from the beginning. Hero worship, maybe, but not love, not even attraction. But at some point it had happened for him, because the love she was seeing now had been very evident at the press conference.

So how had it finally happened? And when? Another discussion for Blair and her. For now she was content to settle back and let her son's beautiful voice warm her.

(O)

"but what 'bout nomi?"

Blair dropped the upside-down boy on his racecar bed and grabbed for the comforter before Jake could start a tug-o-war. He wasn't fast enough. Jake reached, got a hold, and before he knew it, they were playing Jake's favorite "before I go to sleep" game. Grinning and tugging, Blair answered, "Well, she's decided to take us up on Jim's offer to stay at the loft while she's here. It's clean now and while we haven't finished painting, it's livable and close. How does that sound?"

Jake frowned and was about to protest when Blair tossed in the surprise. "And she's going to stay with you while we're at work next week."

Jake froze in his tug as he asked with wide eyes, "she is?"

"Yep. You'll have plenty of time with her, and she'll eat with us every night and fix you breakfast and lunch--"

"does she know how to make mickey mouse pancakes, daddy? cuz if not, i can show her and how 'bout grilled cheesy samwiches?"

"She's an expert, Jake. And she makes the best French toast in the world."

"'kay, she can stay at the loft then," he said, only somewhat mollified by the decision. "but you gotta tell mags cuz her an puddles will be aw-fully dis'pointed."

"Maybe Naomi will take you over to see them and you can show her Puddles' new tricks."

Pumping his arm in the air, Jake announced, "you betchum!"

Blair gave Jake a patient smile and decided that maybe Jim wasn't quite finished paying for teaching their son about Red Ryder. "You betchum" had become Jake's favorite response, which had been fine until he'd said it to Simon by using the entire quote. Blair could still see Simon's stunned expression when Jake had said, "you betchum, red ryder!".

On the other hand, Blair mused, maybe everyone owed Jim a big favor. "Okay, you snuggle down with wolfy and Jim will be in momentarily, and yes," he hastened to add as Jake started to get up, "Naomi will be in to kiss you good-night too."

Jake grinned and snuggled down as he quipped, "i knew that."

"Huh-uh," Blair said knowingly before leaning over and kissing his son's forehead. He let one finger trail down the button nose, over the lips, down the chin to stop at Jake's chest. Jake obediently glanced down and Blair tapped the small still-baby nose. "Gotcha!" he exclaimed. "Man, you are so easy."

Jake giggled and tried to capture the flying finger but it darted overhead, always staying just out of reach. Blair dipped his finger down, swooping in toward Jake's lips, which opened in an attempt to catch it. Blair changed the direction of his hand and landed in Jake's curls. He tickled, then took off again. They played like this for a few more minutes, until Jim's arrival forced the finger into retirement.

"Hey, ready for bed?"

Jake nodded happily and as Blair turned away, the boy snatched the finger and caught it victoriously. "whoopeeeee! i win, i win!"

"Well, I'll be darned. So you did," Blair admitted with a smile.

Goodnight kisses and hugs were exchanged again, with Naomi arriving just in time to receive her fair share. Giving Jake a last kiss on the cheek, she brought the covers up and tucked them under his chin as he gave her a sleepy "night nomi".

"Sleep tight, Jake. See you in the morning."

"yep! park, swans and frenchy toasty!'

All three smiled and as Jim turned out the light, they could hear a small voice admonish, "and no syrup for you, jakey! syrup is bad for wolfies!"

(O)

Jim sat down on the edge of their bed and kicked off his shoes. Naomi was settled at the loft, Jake was sound asleep, thank God, and to complete Jim's contentment, Blair was divesting himself of his clothes. Life couldn't be better.

"daaaaady!"

Jim sighed and stood. "I'll go." Then with a look at Blair's chest and the soft curling hair, he sighed again. "Just," he waved his hand in the general direction of the bed, "just be naked and under the covers when I get back, okay? For me?"

"Jim, it's only ten."

"Just -- be there, naked. I know a couple ways two guys can pass the time before actually going to sleep. Trust me."

Blair chuckled and said, "Right. I'll get the cards."

"Schmuck."

(O)

Stepping inside Jake's room, Jim found his son on his knees, Jakey clutched to his chest.

"What's up, Hoss? Besides you?"

"thirsty."

"You're thirsty?"

Jake held out the wolfpup. "no, no, jakey is thirsty."

"Ah, yes. Jakey. Shall I take him to the bathroom and let him lap up some water from the faucet?"

"i should go too," Jake announced as he held up his arms.

"Well naturally."

Jim lifted Jake and settled him on his hip, then carried him into the bathroom. He filled Jake's cup, then held the rim to Jakey's muzzle. Jake made some rather convincing slurping noises, then smacked his lips. "jakey's all done now." Jim started to put the glass down, but Jake mumbled, "long as i'm here--"

Suppressing a knowing grin, Jim arched one eyebrow and inquired, "Oh? You're thirsty too?"

Jake ducked his head and nodded, then said, "a little. just a little."

Jim handed the boy the cup, but Jake turned slightly away and shook his head. Jim held the cup to Jake's lips and eyes crinkling in mirth, watched as Jake lapped up the water.

Placing the empty cup in the sink, Jim observed, "You know, I do believe Jakey is a much neater lapper-upper of water than you, young man."

Jake, far from being upset by the observation, simply nodded and said, "i know. but i'm only a little boy - he's a wild animuuuule. i need practice."

Chuckling softly, Jim carried the wild "animuuuule" and the little boy back to bed. He retucked them both in before bestowing final kisses, but as he was heading out, Jake said, "could you tell me 'bout the pilgrums again, please?"

Lord.

(O)

Jim walked wearily into the bedroom. It had taken him twenty minutes to re-tell Jake all about the Pilgrims, Thanksgiving, turkeys, and the Indians. Naturally Jake corrected him every time his version deviated from Blair's. But finally, eyes fluttering shut, Jake slept. Now Jim dropped down on the edge of the bed wanting nothing more than to crawl under the covers with his favorite bed-warmer.

Except his bed-warmer was absent.

Hearing the bathroom door open, Jim asked, "Blair, how did this happen? How did we end up parents?"

Grinning, a naked Blair walked out of the bathroom and over to the bed. He went down on his hands and knees, crawled over to Jim, slid one arm around Jim's waist and the other over Jim's right shoulder, then as he nuzzled Jim's neck, he murmured, "It's like this; you get all horny and won't wait for me to provide the required protection and the next thing you know -- you're suffering six weeks of morning sickness. Seven and a half months later -- pop, we're parents."

Bringing his arms across Jim's chest, Blair added in a whisper, "You horny now, my little beefstick?"

Jim dropped his head back on Blair's shoulder and with eyes closed and a smile curling the edges of his mouth, he said, "I am so emasculated."

"Want me to buy you something, my little cupcake?" Blair teased.

"I want a new apron," Jim groused.

Blair dipped his tongue into Jim's ear, then gave the lobe a gentle tug before whispering, "Fuck me first and the world is yours."

Jim shivered and shifted as his very happy dick nudged at his jeans. He turned and spoke against Blair's lips. "So all I have to do is fuck you and the world is mine?"

"The world," Blair whispered, his voice husky with emotion, humor and lust, "me, you name it, my little--"

Jim smothered the rest of Blair's words with his hand, then quickly replaced it with his mouth. Ah, yes, much better. Much, much better. Lips still attached, Jim managed to maneuver them backwards until he was looming over Blair, who had two very busy hands trying to remove Jim's clothing. Somehow he succeeded. Enjoying the feel of skin moving against skin and the tingle of two dicks rubbing, Jim rested his cheek against the soft curling chest hair. For a moment, he stilled, choosing instead to listen to the thumping of Blair's heart. No symphony, orchestra, or band, nor the sweetest piano music in the world, could sound more beautiful nor bring greater happiness to Jim than this simple sound.

Blair, realizing that something was happening, stopped all movement, other than running his right hand up and down Jim's back. "What is it, Jim?"

Jim seemed to burrow in deeper as he said, "Nothing. I -- just -- love listening to your heart."

(O)

Monday came too soon for the Ellison-Sandburg family, but knowing that Naomi would be arriving before they left for work allowed them to grab a few extra minutes of sleep. Cajoling a sleepy Jake out of bed proved easier than usual since all Blair had to do was croon 'Naomi' into his ear.

All three were just completing their bathroom duties when Naomi arrived. Jake, still in his pajamas, immediately said, "yippee! my nomi and frenchy toasty!

Kisses and hugs were exchanged, then while Jim and Blair dressed, Naomi took over in the kitchen. To Jake's avid interest and coaching, she made the French toast and was just scooping several pieces out of the cast iron skillet when Jim and Blair walked in.

"Sit, enjoy, the paper is on the table and the coffee is hot. French toast on its way," she announced, spatula in hand.

Jim looked at Blair, who was staring at his mother as if she were a complete stranger. "Chief, I could get used to this."

"She's wearing your apron, Jim. This woman is not my mother, she's an imposter."

"Sit down now, young man, or this spatula will meet your butt."

Jim quickly scooted in beside his giggling son and said, "You're right, she's not your mother, but do what she says anyway. Maybe she'll give you an extra piece of French toast."

After dropping a kiss on his mother's cheek and narrowly avoiding the spatula, Blair joined Jim and Jake. Five minutes later, all four were enjoying their breakfast and coffee. Of course, Jake's coffee was hot chocolate, but he didn't seem to mind.

The only rough spot came as Blair got up to carry his dishes to the sink and refill his coffee cup. Naomi turned to smile at him and froze. Blair was wearing a holster and a -- gun.

The holster was fitted across shoulders that were broader than she remembered and the leather rested against his side. As she blinked in shock, she realized that naturally Jim was wearing his, but he wore it attached to the back of his belt and mostly out of sight.

Blair, seeing his mother's gaze fastened on the weapon, immediately took her arm and guided her out of the kitchen, leaving a stunned Jake and an understanding Jim behind.

In the living room, Blair let go and faced his mother. With arms held out and away from his side, he said, "This is it, Mom. This is me -- now."

Naomi found that she couldn't take her eyes away from the gun.

The gun.

Her son's gun. In a small voice, she said, "You know how to use that. You know how."

"Of course I do, Mom. And I'm a good shot."

Eyes still fixed on the gun, Naomi asked almost timidly, "Have you -- have you ever--"

"No."

"But you -- would."

"I'm a cop, Jim's partner."

"So you wouldn't hesitate."

"I pray not." Blair moved to her side, his hand seeking her's, suddenly desperate for her understanding. And perhaps her -- blessing. "Mom, I'm at peace with this. It's right, and it's where I belong."

Her eyes lifted and locked on his as her lips parted slightly. For the first time in a long time, Naomi really saw her son.

Blair. And he was still her son. He hadn't really changed, not where it counted. He wasn't different, just -- more. It was as if additional dimensions had been added. Nothing had been lost, as she'd feared, and she could see that now. But still -- in her heart of hearts -- she had to pray that he never had to kill with that gun -- because -- because he was her Blair. With a gentle smile that she hoped would convey her understanding, she said, "You know, I could use another cup of coffee." Grinning in response, Blair led her back to the kitchen.

(O)

The only chore that had to be completed before Jim and Blair left for the station was the removal of the car seat from Volvo. Blair, after one look at Jim, who was gazing up at the ceiling while he whistled lazily, offered to do the dirty job. But he wasn't looking forward to the task, let alone the sweating and cursing that inevitably accompanied the task.

He took his mother out to the garages and started to show her what to do when she held up a hand. Five minutes later she had the car seat sitting on the ground. Blair glanced from it to his mother, then back to the ground. Finally he said, "This is one of those female things, isn't it?"

"I think so, dear."

"Do you have any idea how long it took me - never mind. I'm assuming you require no assistance with securing," he pointed disparagingly down at the seat, "that?"

"No, honey, I don't need any help. But perhaps you should purchase another one today? Then we don't have to go through this twice a day."

"Good idea, Mom."

(O)

"We need to stop at Bryant's on the way home and buy another car seat," Blair suddenly announced.

Jim glanced away from the house they were watching to stare aghast at his partner. "Excuse me? Another car seat? What, am I pregnant again?"

"Ha-ha, Jim. And you'd know before me."

"Sandburg, I know nothing before you. And don't we have enough problems with the one we have? Even working together, it takes us ten minutes to move the damn thing."

"You'd know if you were pregnant before me, and you better not be, cause it won't be mine. We've been playing safe."

"So if I'm not pregnant, why do we need another monstrosity called a car seat for our one child?"

"For Naomi. So we don't have to keep changing the damn thing every day. And while we're at it, you need to buy a new car. You're gonna have to give up the truck."

Jim blinked. Then blinked again. He couldn't remember crossing through the looking glass or any other parallel universe-type device. "*I*need to give up the truck?"

"Come on, Jim, do you really want to go back to taking two vehicles to and from work? Or taking the Volvo everywhere we need to go as a family? Of course, we could just start taking the Volvo to work and leaving the truck at home, but I don't think the green bomb is exactly police material, you know?"

"So you buy the new car. A police-material car."

"Cool! I'd love to. I'd love doing all the driving, chasing down the bad guys, and we both know I'm the better driver--"

"Sam Golden in Burglary has had his eye on this truck for months," Jim hastily interrupted. "He'll take it in a minute. I'm thinking -- SUV. Or maybe a Jeep? Or another Ford?"

"Um, could work." Blair grinned. Jim was so easy.

Eyes back on the house, Jim mused, "Maybe we could go shopping this weekend? They always have great sales over the Thanksgiving holiday, right?"

"Yeah, great idea, Jim. But no Expedition. Bad karma, you know. And most definitely no F-150."

"Oh. Right."

As Jim watched the house, his thoughts started traveling. A big truck, lots of room for sports equipment, kid stuff, bicycles, camping equipment-- "When do we take Jake camping?" he suddenly asked.

"It's a little cold now, but spring would be good. He's never been, could be fun." Blair watched Jim from the corner of his eye and smirked as the older man began to nod enthusiastically.

"We'll teach him to fish. He'll love it, Chief."

"Suspect so."

"Could buy him a fishing pole for Christmas."

"Yeah, we could do that. And his own sleeping bag."

Jim was in the process of turning excitedly back to Blair when his sentinel hearing picked up the opening of a door. Jim focused and quickly identified the three people exiting as their targets.

"Fuck. They're on the move, Chief. This is it, make the call."

The small niggling feeling that he was being watched forced Carl Dodd to sneak a furtive look over his shoulder. He could find nothing out of the ordinary. No people or cars, just one water sprinkler washing the sidewalk across the street. Satisfied, he quickly opened the garage door and hurried inside, his partners in crime a few steps behind.

He, John Rambus and Jolene Watkins, had robbed several Import/Export businesses in the last three weeks and the money was stashed in the freezer in the garage. They'd played it safe by laying low in the rental house, but were now ready to head out of town and try greener pastures and newer pickings. Dodd and his cohorts utilized one game plan and stuck to it religiously; send Jolene to each business on the pretext of wanting to import rugs for her supposed decorating business. Her job, once inside, was to case the building and inquire about security and their ability to protect her merchandise. While on the inevitable tour, she'd take pictures from the small camera hidden in her purse.

Jolene, in addition to her little camera -savvy purse, wore Joy, something that made it ridiculously simple for Jim to pinpoint the one thing all robberies had in common. Once he'd assured himself that no employees of the victimized business used Joy, he'd ask about female visitors. He'd hit pay dirt at each of hit import-export businesses, thanks to each owner relaying a recent visit by a comely brunette wearing expensive clothing, jewels and -- Joy.

A composite had been quickly created but it was a simple mistake made by the mysterious Joy-doused lady that had finally broken the case wide open. It seemed that their mystery lady got too cocky and at the last business, she'd touched something; a small male nude figurine.

Once the prints had been lifted and processed, it had all came together. Her identification led the Cascade PD directly to her cohorts. She was known to associate with Carl Dodd and John Rambus and in fact, all three were wanted in six states in connection with several robberies and scams.

In doing their background check on the three, Jim and Blair discovered a quirk; when invading a city, the three always rented a home. Working all morning, checking every real estate agent in Cascade, the detectives of Major Crime found three possible rentals that fit the timetable.

Which explained why Jim and Blair were parked on a 'T' intersection, several hundred feet from 13762 Wisteria Lane. Detectives Brown and Rafe were eating stale tuna fish sandwiches on Elm Street and Detective Taggert and Inspector Conner sat playing I Spy on Emerson Avenue. Prior to the movement now occurring, the only conversation overheard by Jim had been a male voice inquiring about the location of the morning paper and a female voice answering that it was in the bathroom. That small exchange had done nothing to aid in determining if they had the right house. But now, as three adults, all matching the descriptions, walked into the garage, it looked as though the team of Ellison and Sandburg had drawn the lucky rental.

Jim watched the two men empty the freezer of four large saran-wrapped packages. He zeroed in on them to confirm that the stolen money was inside, and satisfied that it was, he said, "Ready, Chief?"

"Ready."

Jim started the engine and drove forward slowly. He signaled and made his left onto Wisteria. The house was halfway up the block. As Jim proceeded at a snail's pace, the three criminals started to get into a green Buick Regal parked in the driveway. When the reverse lights came on, Jim hit the accelerator.

"Hang on, Sandburg."

The Buick started backing out so Jim swung the wheel sharply to the right and screeched to a stop behind the car. The brakes on the Regal were quickly applied. Seconds later, Carl Dodd jumped out and never once thinking the old truck might contain cops, yelled angrily, "WHAT THE FUCK?"

Both detectives opened the doors and took up defensive positions behind them, their guns drawn.

"THIS IS THE CASCADE POLICE DEPARTMENT. EVERYONE OUT OF THE CAR - NOW!"

Jim's words energized Dodd. He immediately ducked behind the car door even as he pulled a gun. He fired three rounds at the truck.

Jim focused sentinel sight under the Buick and fired. A scream of pain greeted his shot. As Dodd fell to his side, gun dropping from panicked fingers, sirens heralded the arrival of their back-up. One car, driven by Detective Brown, pulled in behind the truck as two others, one a squad car, the other the Ford Tauras belonging to Taggert, pulled alongside the driveway.

Seeing the barricade of vehicles, Jim yelled out, "YOU, IN THE CAR, THROW OUT YOUR WEAPONS, STEP OUT CAREFULLY AND PUT YOUR HANDS ON YOUR HEAD!" The passenger door was pushed open and Jolene Watkins stumbled out, her knees hitting the ground even as she struggled to raise her arms. She was, to sentinel sight, clearly unarmed. A moment later, the back passenger door on the right also opened and disgorged the final member of the gang. A gun was tossed several feet away to land on the grass. John Rambus followed, and like Jolene, went to his knees, hands clasped on top of his head.

Jim, Rafe, and Henri moved forward, guns trained on the suspects. Megan moved to Dodd, who lay on the grass bleeding from a bullet wound to his knee. Jim could hear the siren of the approaching ambulance and realizing that Henri and Rafe could handle Rambus and Watkins, he started to turn to Megan. A sound from the right side of the truck caught his attention and stopped. "Jim?"

Rapid heart beat, the scent of blood-- Jim raced around to Sandburg's side of the truck and skidded to a stop. Blair sat with his back resting against the side of the vehicle, right hand pressed flat against his left shoulder. Blood seeped from between pale fingers.

"Fuck," Jim hissed out as he knelt beside his partner. It didn't take a genius to note the sweat gathering on Blair's upper lip, his pallor, the shallow breathing -- or the wry smile.

"Right through the damn crack, Jim. Rivals your aim."

Jim craned his neck, spotted Joel, first aid kit in hand, and yelled, "TAGGERT, OVER HERE WITH THAT - PRONTO!"

Joel never blinked as he spun around and ran to Jim's position. When he spotted Blair and the blood, anxious fingers began to tear through the kit to pull out bandages. Seconds later, he and Jim were ripping them open and stuffing them against the wound.

Blair watched, then whispered, "Kinda slippery in the back, Jim." Fuck, Jim thought. Exit wound.

He placed Blair's hand over the dam of bandages, pulled him carefully forward, then used his shoulder as a brace for the younger man. The exit wound came into view and Joel immediately started packing it with more bandages. As Blair rested his head on the offered shoulder, he muttered, "Mom is gonna kill me."

"No, Chief. She's gonna kill me."

(O)

Blair remained conscious, if somewhat addled, throughout his stabilization and loading into the ambulance. The medics tried to convince Jim to follow, but no one was surprised when he jumped inside and took a seat next to the gurney holding his partner. Just before the doors were closed, he tossed his keys to Megan.

As the ambulance raced through the streets, lights flashing and siren blaring, Blair watched Jim fuzzily. It felt weird to be the reason for the speed, the noise and the blinking lights. Had he ever been conscious while being transported? No, he was sure not.

Blair tried to count back -- there had been Lash, except no ambulance -- just Jim's truck -- and he hadn't gone to the hospital. He'd definitely been unconscious when he'd been taken to the hospital after the drug overdose -- and did hanging from a helicopter count as ambulance transportation? Probably, but he'd been unconscious by the time the damn thing had landed. And of course, he'd been, well -- dead - when Jim had fished him out of the fountain. And certainly he'd been out of it while being transported, and had, in fact, stayed that way for 24 hours. Good place to be sometimes - la-la land.

Okay, this was a first then. This was the first time he'd been transported awake. And man, sirens were loud when you were inside. And if the noise wasn't bad enough, there was Jim doing his jaw dance. The man's eyes were doing a little dance of their own too. First he'd fasten that pale blue gaze on the IV drip, then down to Blair's chest, then back again. Oh, yeah, this was fun.

Blair decided to try and buck up his partner.

"Man, get over it. This could just as easily have been you. Besides, the wound is clean, in, out and high. Bet the doctor sends me home, Jim. So buck up, damn it." Jim shook his head in amazement but Blair didn't miss the small grin tugging at the corners of Jim's mouth. "Bet I get good drugs with this too," he added, just to see that beautiful grin widen. He wasn't disappointed.

"Sandburg, you're hopeless."

"Nah, but this is guaranteed to ensure a few days of being waited on hand and foot. Good drugs, good service, servants catering to my every whim -- oh, yeah, I'm down with this."

A chill ran through his body as his eyes started to drift shut -- but then they popped open in horror as he tried in vain to sit up. "Jake," he hissed out in panic. It took Jim and the other paramedic to keep Sandburg down. "Ssh, it's okay. I'll tell him, Chief, he'll be fine. And Naomi is with him, remember?"

At the mention of his mother's name, Blair fell back weakly, eyes closing tightly. "Oh, yeah -- and we're both dead meat. Her first fucking visit and we get a bad guy with incredible aim or incredible luck."

(O)

Naomi watched lovingly as her grandson drew pictures at the kitchen table.

Her grandson.

She was a grandmother. This was so groovy.

Naomi grinned at her use of the word so loved in her younger days. She watched Jake's laborious efforts on her behalf -- he was drawing her the "bestest ever picture" -- and shook her head in wonder. She was looking at a carbon copy of her son.

She was about to try to sneak a peek at the drawing when the phone rang. Still smiling and with her eyes on Jake, she walked to the phone on the wall and picked up. "Hello?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end but in the background she heard what sounded like a voice over a speaker.

//Naomi? It's Jim. There's been -- a bit of -- um, Blair has been--//

"Jim, what is it?" Her voice carried a twinge of panic and she quickly glanced back to Jake, relieved to find that he hadn't heard her.

//Naomi, don't panic. We don't want to scare Jake, and Blair really is fine. But he -- was -- has been --shot. The wound is clean and he's fine, okay?//

She nodded, eyes glued to the small boy sitting so peacefully at the kitchen table. Then she remembered that Jim couldn't see her nod. "Which -- I mean, where are you?"

//Cascade General, ER//

"All right. You'll keep me -- posted?" She heard a sound on the other end of the phone and she suspected it was a sigh of relief.

//Yes, of course. I'll call you from his room as soon as I'm allowed to see him//

"Very good, Jim. Talk to you shortly." She hung up quickly because Jake was suddenly paying attention, head cocked, eyes regarding her solemnly.

"that was jimmy?" At her nod, he wagged a finger at her and said, "bad nomi, rule is i always get to talk to jimmy or daddy!"

She grinned at his attempt at severity and answered with, "I see. Well, in the future, I shall be quite pleased to make sure you talk with them."

Jake nodded happily and was about to go back to his drawing when she made an instant decision. "Jake, we need to go somewhere." What changed her mind, she'd never later be able to say, but suddenly it was the right thing to do, the necessary thing.

The blue eyes that regarded her now held worry. Jake might only be four, but he'd immediately picked up on her concern. He scrambled up and asked, "go where, nomi?"

She knelt down before him and took one small hand. "Honey, daddy's had a little accident and we need to go to the hospital."

Jake pulled his hand away and stepped back, shaking his head. "nuh-uh. my daddy is fine. he and jimmy will be home in a while."

"He is fine, sweetie, but I thought you might want to see him, and I know he'll want to see you."

Eyes widened, then narrowed with such suspicion that Naomi almost regretted her decision. "he's fine? okay? my daddy is okay?"

"Yes, honey."

With the stubbornness and simplicity of a four year old, Jake shook his head and demanded, "so he should be hooooome now!"

Jake hadn't moved an inch and his body language warned Naomi not to try to comfort him -- yet. She was beginning to realize that maybe she'd made yet another mistake, but it was too late to back off. Taking a deep breath, she forged ahead. "Sweetie, sometimes doctors like to keep you overnight or even for a couple of days, so daddy may not be able to come home right away, but you can see him, okay?"

Jake ducked his head, took a swipe at his face and then mumbled, "'kay."

Naomi rose and started for the door, Jake with his head down, following. She moved out to the dining room and took his small red jacket off the chair. She held it out for him and he silently allowed her to help him into it, then waited patiently while she grabbed her purse and keys. Holding out her hand, she asked, "Ready?"

Jake nodded, his expression guarded.

(O)

"You know the bullet made a clean exit?"

"Tell me something I don't know, Doctor."

Doctor Phillip Meadows smiled. He was used to dealing with cops when one of their own was brought into his hospital. Get to the point, give all the pertinent facts, let the partner see the injured partner as soon as possible, and you'd have a happy group of cops.

"Basically, Detective Ellison, your partner is going to be fine. He did lose quite a bit of blood and we're transfusing now, but he was very lucky. No real damage, muscles good, nothing vital hit. We're going to admit him, keep him a couple of days and if all goes well, he can go home Wednesday, just in time for Thanksgiving. At this point, I'm estimating full duty in two or three weeks."

The tall man before him closed his eyes briefly, then nodded. "I can see him now?"

It didn't escape the notice of Doctor Meadows that while the request was most definitely in the form of a question -- wasn't.

"He's in--"

"Treatment room four, I know."

"Er, yes. Go on in. He's a little woozy now, but feeling no pain."

"Thanks, Doc."

They shook hands and as Jim started for his partner, Simon stepped out of the elevator, his signature unlit cigar clamped between grinding teeth. Before he could ask, Jim held up one hand and said, "He's fine. They're giving him blood now, he can go home in two days and will back to full duty in two or three weeks. Give or take a couple of heart attacks -- mine."

Simon's relief was immediately evident; he removed the cigar. "You gonna share how this happened?"

"Hasn't Joel?"

"He has, but I'd--"

"Like to hear it from me?"

"Do I get to start or finish a sentence around here, Detective?"

"Sorry, sir." But it was obvious from the twinkle in Jim's eye that he wasn't.

Simon pointed the cigar at him and said, "So, you're standing here with me for what reason? Go see your partner. You can fill me in later."

"Aye, aye, Captain." Jim gave a small salute, spun on his heels and marched to treatment room four, Simon's famous glare giving his back a good sunburn.

As Jim disappeared around the corner, Simon lowered his head and rubbed his eyes. Sandburg had been a cop for how long now and already in the hospital? Geez. But he had to hand it to Jim, the man seemed to be handling it well. Hell, Simon was damn proud of how he was handling this, let alone Jim. For a few minutes, Simon debated waiting for a chance to see Sandburg himself or to head back to the station, but the ping of the near-by elevators said office. The door slid open and he found himself face-to-face with Naomi Sandburg and -- Jake.

Well -- fuck.

"Naomi," he said warily.

"Simon."

Odd. He couldn't move. He watched as Sandburg's mother stepped out, Jake clinging to her hand for all he was worth. Simon could tell the boy was scared, his blue eyes taking in the corridor, darting back and forth and clearly -- searching.

Simon could suddenly move. He quickly knelt before the small lost-looking boy. "Hey, Hoss, how ya doing?"

Wide blue eyes blinked back at him, then skittered away, still searching.

"Jake, he's fine. Jim is with him right now and the doctor said he can go home in two days. He'll be home for Thanksgiving, son."

"home? for thanksgiving?"

"Yes, Jake. Home," Simon reassured.

Jake uncurled two fingers from his tightly clenched fist and held them up, repeating, "two days?"

"Yep. Two days." Simon waggled two of his own in Jake's face, then dove in and tickled. A small smile crept out. "Bet you'd like to see him, uh?"

"please?"

Simon glanced around, fully aware that children weren't allowed in ER, let alone the treatment rooms. Hell, Jake might not even be allowed in Blair's room. It was a sure bet that Blair would be out of it, not to mention that any equipment he was hooked up to might be frightening for Jake. But would IVs upset him more than not seeing his father? Probably not.

"Okay, Hoss, but first, let's go over there," he pointed to a row of chairs against the far wall, "sit down and I'll fill you in, okay, buddy?"

Jake nodded slowly, then slipped his hand from Naomi's and held it out to Simon. The big man took it and as he guided the boy to one of the chairs, he had to blink back a sudden sting of moisture. When he sat down, he quickly lifted Jake to his lap. While Naomi settled herself on the other side, Simon told both of them everything that Joel had told him and all that Jim had shared about Blair's condition. He didn't exactly hold back, but he did choose his words very carefully.

As he spoke, Jake's eyes grew wider and he'd shake or nod as necessary. His small fingers never relinquished their tight hold on Simon's massive ones. When Simon was finished, Jake's eyes were the size of saucers, his mouth forming a small o.

"the bad guys? daddy and jimmy caught 'em?"

"Yep, they did. Got 'em cold, Hoss. Now, you ready to see your daddy?"

Jake immediately slid from Simon's lap and cocked his head in a gesture that could only be translated into, "what's keeping you?"

Grinning, Simon, reached out and tugged at Jake's jacket, bringing the boy back in close. Placing his hand against Jake's soft pale cheek, he gazed at him over the rim of his glasses and warned, "You understand that your daddy will be tired and very sleepy, right?" At Jake's serious nod, Simon went on. "And you understand about the IV?" Again, Jake nodded solemnly, then added, "energy juice."

Simon's grin spread wide across his handsome face as he agreed. "Exactly, Jake, exactly. I'd say we're ready." A small hand grabbed a large dark finger, and Simon rose. With Naomi holding Jake's right hand and Simon holding his left, the three started down the long hall.

(O)

Jim moved to the side of the bed and took the still hand in his own. He squeezed and whispered, "Chief?" Eyelids fluttered and after repeating his entreaty, the hand Jim held squeezed back and the eyelids lifted.

Sandburg smiled wanly and in a voice raspy from thirst, said, "Hey, man."

"Hay is for horses. How ya feeling?"

"Um, like -- I just got kicked by a horse. Thanks for asking." Jim grinned and lowered his head. He touched Blair's lips with his own, then ran his tongue over the younger man's lower lip. Blair scrunched up his face, saying, "Euwww, taste of hospital."

"No," Jim whispered back, "taste of Blair."

"You are so gone on me, man."

"Don't you know it."

Blair smiled as his eyes moved to the left. Jim, following the movement, spotted the water glass and immediately moved to pour. Fortunately the hospital bed was already somewhat raised, so all Jim had to do was cup the back of Blair's head to bring him within sipping reach of the straw. Blair sipped the water gratefully.

When Blair was done, Jim lowered the injured man back down. As he was replacing the glass, Blair's heart started racing. Jim didn't even have to ask. "I called her, she knows, and everything's cool. Relax."

Voice fortified by the cooling liquid, Blair chuckled and said, "I feel like I should salute."

Jim sat down carefully on the edge of the bed and smiling, said, "Well, if you must." For a moment, the two men just stared at each other, grinning. Blair's fingers somehow found their way around Jim's. The moment lengthened until Jim suddenly cocked his head, then muttered under his breath, "Shit."

"Jim?"

"She's here, Chief. And -- she brought Jake."

"I knew it. I just knew it."

Standing, Jim reassured his partner. "I'll take care of it, don't worry."

"Jim, don't let him see me here in the treatment room, like this," he swung his gaze up to the hanging IV bag full of the dark red, life-giving liquid. "Wait until they move me upstairs and this thing finishes, okay?"

"You got it, babe. Go back to sleep. I'll take care of him."

Jim started to leave, but an "ahem" from the bed caused him to turn back, a questioning look on his face.

"Your shirt, Jim. The -- blood."

"Fuck."

Jim immediately pulled the edges of his jacket together and zipped it up. "How's that?"

"You'll pass."

Simon could see the cubicle that had the number '4' attached to the green curtain. With Jake's hand in his, the small fingers gripping tighter than Simon would have thought possible for a four year old, they moved forward only to have Jim step out from the other side of the billowing sheet. Jake's hand immediately slid from Simon's and the boy launched himself at his father. Jim was ready and easily caught the boy, then swung him up to nestle securely in his arms.

"jimmy! where's my daddy? must see my daddy now!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it was stubbornly insistent. As he spoke, Jake searched all around Jim, his head bobbing first right, then left in his search for his daddy.

"Hey, welp, it's okay. Daddy's fine and right now, we're gonna go sit in the special room--"

"but i want -- no -- *have*ta see him."

"I know, and you will, but let's talk first." Jim walked away from the cubicle and turned into the small and empty waiting room. He sat down on one of the couches and waited until a nervous and pale Naomi took her seat next to him. Simon remained standing.

Once everyone was settled and Jake had stopped wiggling, Jim started in. "Okay, honey, listen up. Daddy is okay, but he did lose some blood," Jim paused, gauging Jake's reactions. At the nod of understanding, he went on. "As soon as they finish giving him more to replace what he lost, the hospital staff will move him to a real room and that's when we can see him. Until then, you and I have to wait here. But, guess what?"

Eyes downcast, a sad, frowning Jake mumbled, "what?"

"Daddy told me -- to tell you -- that he loves you and expects a big eskimo kiss the minute we get into his room. Think you can handle that?" Jake's head came up and with blue eyes swimming in unshed tears, he blinked twice. The corner of Jake's mouth twitched, heralding a small grin. In a tremulous voice, he asked, "a esk-eeee-mo kiss?"

"Yep. You can do that, right, Jake?"

Nodding eagerly, Jake affirmed, "i can do that. esk-eeeee-mo kisses are my bestest kisses." Then in typical stubborn Jake fashion, he added, "soon. must be soon!"

"Just as soon as they move him, welp. In the meantime, we can watch the television up there," he pointed to the corner of the ceiling, "which just happens to be showing a Batman cartoon."

Jake shook his head worriedly. "no, too long, too long, must see now, jimmy!"

Jim's expression softened as he noted Jake's lower lip starting to tremble. He quickly cupped the back of Jake's head and brought him in close, tucking him under his chin as he began to croon softly. "I know, babe, I know. And it will be soon, I promise." Jim started to rock the small body, then slipped his left hand under Jake's sweatshirt and started rubbing gentle reassuring circles on the soft warm skin.

(O)

Simon's legs were stiffening up on him so careful not to disturb Jim or Jake, he rose slowly, stretched, then moved the few steps to the door to glance down the hall.

Nothing happening and they still hadn't moved Blair, but then, it had only been thirty minutes since Jim had brought them into the waiting room. He turned around, and smiled. Jake, his body almost molded to Jim's, was watching the cartoons, one hand clutching Jim's jacket, the other against his lips. It was obvious to Simon that Jake was as close as he'd ever seen him to actually sucking his thumb. Which was a testament to the boy's worry and unease.

Jake needed to see Blair and Simon just hoped that they could get him in without any fuss. Naomi watched as Jim nuzzled the soft curls under his chin, then drop down and press a tender kiss against Jake's temple. The boy smiled slightly and Jim, sensing it, let his fingers start to climb up Jake's sweatshirt. Jake giggled, but didn't try to stop the advancing threat. Jim paused, then dug one finger in and tickled. More giggles erupted a Jake's fingers joined the fray. Soon, Jim and Jake were indulging in a war of fingers and it was clear that Jake was going to win.

As Naomi followed their play, she could feel the tears threaten. She'd been right -- and -- she'd been wrong to bring Jake. Naomi fought down the urge to stand, to go into the hall, to demand -- no, if Jake had to wait, so must she. But God, how she needed to see her son.

(O)

Another hour passed and not once did Jake let his guard down. He had to be exhausted, but he didn't give in, didn't sleep or nap. His vigilance finally paid off. A woman in white stepped into the room. "Detective Ellison?"

Jim lifted his hand and the nurse addressed him. "Detective Sandburg has been moved to room 112. You may see him now. Go to the end of the hall, through the double doors, then to your left. His room will be third on the right."

At the blessed words, Jake began to bounce in Jim's arms. Smiling, all three adults headed out to find room 112, Jake content to ride in his father's arms.

(O)

They stood just outside 112, Jake trying to peek in and catch his first glimpse of his father.

"Jake, my man, before we go in, you need to understand a few things, okay?" Jim cautioned.

Jake nodded impatiently, but he listened.

"Your daddy will have what's called an IV hooked to his arm, but that's a good thing. There will be a machine inside that will show you daddy's heartbeat too. It's kinda neat, but we can't touch it. And finally, daddy is wearing a bandage, a big white one, across his chest and over his left shoulder. He'll be kinda sleepy and a little pale, okay?"

The eyes of an owl had nothing on Jake Porter at that moment. He nodded, his expression one of awe. "heartbeat? i can see my daddy's heartbeat?"

"You sure can. You ready?"

Pursing his lips, he gave a little humph, then said, as if everyone should know, "i been ready for, like, forever!"

Chuckling, Jim said, "Right. And you've been darn patient too, young man. Let's go in and start those eskimo kisses." Jim gave the boy a peck on the end of his nose, which solicited the required giggle.

They walked in, Naomi and Simon right behind.

(O)

Sandburg heard the giggle and opened sleepy eyes. He watched Jim, with Jake in his arms, move toward the bed. Once they were close enough, and noticing how Jake was almost jumping out of the protective circle of Jim's arms, Blair gave his son a dopey grin. "Hey, guys, got no place better to visit than a hospital?"

Simon walked around to the left of the bed and snorted. "You got it, Sandburg, no place better than your sorry excuse for a hospital room. And have you forgotten the first thing we learned at the academy? Ducking 101?"

"Hey, I ducked, man! unfortunately -- so did the bullet." Blair gave his boss a small shrug, a shrug that involved only his right shoulder.

Naomi, standing at the foot of the bed, cringed at the word "bullet", but remained silent, happy to be able to drink in her son's appearance. She almost moaned at his pallor and at the expanse of bandages, but quickly sent up a prayer of thanks to whomever might be listening.

Jake kept leaning forward, trying unsuccessfully to get to his daddy, but Jim held fast. "daddy? daddy?"

"Hey, pardner, how ya doing?"

"would be better, would be better--" He leaned forward again, this time almost tumbling out of Jim's arms.

Jim managed to lean back at the last minute, as he cautioned, "Whoa, buddy, hang on."

"esk-eeee-mo kiss! haveta give daddy the esk-eeee-mo kiss!"

"Just a minute, or you'll land headfirst on the floor!"

"nuh-uh, you'll catch me."

Simon was about to say something about that when a nurse stepped in and spotted Jake. Gasping, she said, "Excuse me, but children are not allowed in the patients rooms. You'll have to take him out into the waiting room immediately."

With a saintly expression to rival the angels, Jim turned and said, "How exactly does this rule apply to us?"

The nurse blinked rapidly and then indicating Jake, said stiffly, "That would be a child. The rule is for their protection as well as the patient's. I absolutely must insist."

"Ma'am," Jim replied in his best gentleman-cop tone, "there are no children in this room." He then turned to Simon and entreated, "Captain Banks, back me up here."

Drawing himself to his full height of six feet, five inches, Simon said regally, "Detective Ellison is correct. There are no children in this room." He favored Blair with a dubious glance and as an afterthought, added, "Unless you count your patient, who forgot to duck." Jake put his hands over his face in a good imitation of an ostrich, Naomi just shook her head, and Blair simply closed his eyes. He figured that pretending to sleep might protect him later from the amazon that was clearly his nurse. Something about the tableau must have gotten to the woman because suddenly she took off her glasses, wiped them a bit, then said gruffly, "Must need a new prescription." She turned on her heel and walked out.

Blair opened his eyes and said with disgust, "She's right. There are children in this room."

Jim nodded and added with a grin, "Five, counting you." Jake giggled, then wiggled insistently. Jim lowered him to the bed, allowing the boy to perch on the edge. With legs dangling over, Jake grabbed his daddy's hand and held on with both of his own.

Blair watched Jake -- and Jake watched Blair. Finally Blair said in mock seriousness, "I have the need for a nose to nose confrontation, Mr. Porter." That was all that Jake needed. With surprising care and gentleness, he scooted over, fitted himself against Blair's good side and smiling, began to rub his nose against his father's. Eyelashes fluttering as their noses moved, Jake started to giggle. When they were done, Jake planted a big kiss on Blair's cheek, then settled back down as if he were home.

One eyebrow cocked, Blair looked up at Jim, who simply smiled lovingly back. Blair gave a small surprised shake of his head and glancing back down at his son, said, "Well. I'm comfortable now, how 'bout you, Jake?"

Hands securely wrapped around Blair's arm, which rested across Jake's chest, Jake said cheekily, "i'm purrrr-fect!"

"Well, thank goodness."

Jake tilted back his head and frowning slightly, asked, "hurt?"

Blair shook his head and answered, "Nah, eskimo kisses are great medicine, Hoss."

Jake lifted his head up a bit, and with a twinkle in his eyes, said, "me, medicine man!"

Soft chuckles greeted his words and he happily dropped his head back down, feeling truly good for the first time since his nomi had told him they needed to go to the hospital. He didn't like hospitals.

Naomi stepped closer and held out her hand. Blair managed to untangle his from Jake and took his mother's, saying, "It's okay, Mom."

"I know, honey, I know. And I'm dealing."

Blue eyes glittered back at her as Blair said softly, "You have no choice."

If Jim or Simon had been eating or drinking at that moment, food and beverage would have quickly decorated Blair's room. Both men did a double take as their mouths dropped open. Naomi had the grace to blush. "I get it, honey. I do."

Satisfied, Blair nodded. Simon chose that moment to say his good-byes. Patting Blair's head and smirking, he said, "I'll check in on you later. Don't drive the nurses to distraction and be good."

"Yes, sir, whatever you say, sir."

Rolling his eyes and then glancing at Naomi and smiling, Simon muttered, "Like that was ever true." He then stepped over to Naomi and giving her a hug, said, "It's good to see you again, just wish the circumstances were a bit different."

"I know," she agreed. "And I guess we'll be seeing each other on Thursday?"

"Absolutely. I'm looking forward to it. Although," he added, with a glance back at Sandburg, "I'm thinking this could be a disaster with Blair out of commission, cooking-wise, that is."

"Hey," Blair interrupted, "I can supervise."

"We'll see, Sandburg, we'll see." Simon turned back to Naomi. "I'm looking forward to having Daryl meet you."

Naomi smiled just as Jake said, "uh-oh."

All eyes were trained on him as he shrugged and said sadly, "only two drumsticks!"

(O)

Jim flipped through the magazine, amazed at his choices. Picking out a new truck wasn't going to be as easy as he'd thought.

As he perused the magazine, he pondered the fact that Naomi had decided to leave with Simon. Both he and Blair had been surprised by it, but neither could say exactly -- why. Maybe it had been the way Naomi had looked up at Simon, or the way Simon had gazed down on Naomi. Not that Blair had spent much time wondering. Less than fifteen minutes after his mother's departure, he'd fallen asleep, his son following suit. Jim, left to his own devices, had stopped thinking of his boss with Sandburg's mother and had grabbed a couple of magazines from the waiting room, content to wait and -- watch. Putting the magazine aside, Jim glanced over at his partner and their son. His expression softened as he took in Jake's position. The boy was curled up against his father, one tiny hand resting on Blair's stomach. Jim wondered idly if all three of them would fit on the hospital bed. Best not go there. Nope, the nurse would throw them out for sure. He glanced at his watch and noted that in less than an hour, dinner would be served. He'd have to get Jake up soon, maybe take him down to the cafeteria and grab a couple of sandwiches to go, then join Blair for dinner. He leaned forward and brushed some hair from Blair's face as he decided that yeah, he had a good plan. They'd eat, he'd take Jake home, get him into bed, Naomi would baby sit, and Jim would come back here. In the meantime, they could sleep and he'd watch.

(0)

Jake's eyelids fluttered as his small fingers tightened around the blanket. "daddy?"

"Hey, Hoss, wake up. Time for dinner." Jim was about to warn his son to be careful but the boy instinctively rolled over slowly and gently. Smiling up at his father and following a nice, large yawn, he said matter-of-factly, "i took a nap."

"Yep, you did. So did daddy."

Jake tilted back his head to find his daddy grinning down at him.

"all better now, daddy? go home now?"

Blair kissed the tip of Jake's nose, gave his own little yawn and shook his head. "Fraid not, welp. Remember, I'll be staying here another day, but home on Wednesday."

Jake looked from one man to the other. His face screwed up into the famous "I don't like this one bit" look as he said grudgingly, "'kay. but i think the doctor is wrong."

Blair glanced up at his partner, one eyebrow arched. Jim shrugged, grinned, then reached his arms out as he said, "Come on, Hoss. You and I are heading down to the cafeteria. We'll grab us some dinner, bring it back up here, and eat with daddy, okay?"

"dinner? with daddy?" At Jim's nod, Jake obediently held out his arms.

Jim lifted him, careful not to disturb the bed or Blair's wound. As Jake settled in the crook of Jim's arm, he said, "i'm down with that!" Then glancing back at his father, he asked, "what do we bring you, daddy? grilled cheesy samwich?"

Ruffling the curls, Jim responded with, "We don't have to bring him anything back, he gets his dinner delivered. On a tray, no less. And if we hurry, we'll be back in time to join him."

"okay, but i want my dinner delivered too."

Blair gave a raspy little chuckle and pointed at the door. "Go. Bring back food. Bring back fattening food and if you choose wisely, you may eat off of my tray, Hoss."

Jake, into the game now, saluted and gave an expectant look at his other father. Jim understood the part he had to play, that of vehicle for his son, so with Jake-in-arms and directing his every move, he headed into the hall. With a smile, Blair relaxed, shifted uncomfortably and gave a thought to catching a few more z's before the two 'J's" returned.

(O)

Jake pointed one short finger at a mound of white-grey goo and asked, "and what's that?"

"Um, I haven't a clue. Maybe -- mashed potatoes?"

"ick. doesn't smell like mashed tatoes."

"No it doesn't," Blair agreed.

"what's that?"

"Um, peas?"

Jake shook his head firmly and said with the assuredness of youth, "no. green glue." With that, Jake took charge. He reached over, picked up the pretty pink lid that had been on top of his daddy's dinner and with a satisfied thunk, dropped it over the gruesome looking meal. He picked up his grilled bacon and cheese sandwich, looked at both halves, then handed over the larger portion as he stated firmly, "much better for you."

Jim grinned with undisguised glee and pride as Blair took the offered sandwich. With great solemnity, he said, "Thank you, son."

"your welcum."

All three agreed that Blair would be safe if he ate both the applesauce and the jello that had accompanied his mystery meal. Jake also decided that the hot, rather delicious smelling broth would be all right too, but first, he insisted on "taste-testing" everything before pronouncing them "eatable".

Blair was just finishing off the soup when one of the LVN's appeared. From her demeanor, it was clear that word had spread that in spite of all evidence to the contrary, there were absolutely no children in this particular hospital room. As she collected the tray and gave a knowing look at what Blair hadn't eaten, she said, "You look as though you could use some ice cream, Detective Sandburg. Three to be exact. Need to beef you up a bit. I'll be back in a few."

As she turned, a small voice that couldn't possibly be there, piped up with, "cho*cooo*- lot, please?"

As the nurse walked out, she mused, "I'm thinking -- chocolate." She wisely ignored the child-like giggles.

(O)

"He's sound asleep, Jim. You can get him home and in bed without waking him." Jim nodded and lifted Jake into his arms. As he started to move toward the door, Blair said, "Um, Jim? Wounded man here."

Smiling, Jim bent at the waist and dropped what started out as a chaste kiss on his partner's ready lips. In spite of the warm child-load in his arms, the kiss quickly escalated. When his back started to protest, Jim reluctantly pulled away and up.

"Some wounded man," he whispered.

"Hey, it ain't my lips that are injured, you know?"

"Thank you, God."

(O)

Jim pulled the blanket up around Jake's neck, dropped a kiss on the exposed cheek, then turned and headed out to the living room. Naomi had only one lamp on, but a fire crackled and popped in the fireplace. Jim took his usual spot at the end of the couch and sighed in relief.

"You must have taken Jake after he'd fallen asleep."

Naomi's voice sounded tinny in the large room and Jim didn't miss the undercurrent of fear. "Only way," he said. "I suspect we would have seen our first major tantrum if I'd tried to bring him home awake."

"No doubt," she said with a smile. With her eyes on the flames, Naomi added, "You have every right to be angry with me."

"I know, but I'm not."

Naomi blinked, then faced Jim. "You're not?"

"No."

"All right, if you're trying to pull a Gaslight on me, it's working."

The bark of laughter startled her almost as much as Jim's lack of anger. She was now completely unsettled.

Jim's chuckles died down and with a wave of his hand, he said, "I'm sorry, Naomi, but you said that in the same tone of voice that Sandburg used when he told me the same thing. He was certain I was playing head games with him. I guess I'm still amazed at how much alike you two can be. It's almost -- scary."

A small smile crept across Naomi's face. "Were you? Playing headgames with him?"

"Oh, yeah. He can be so easy, for all his intelligence."

The grin on Naomi's face widened. "I've noticed that about him -- on occasion." Gnawing on her bottom lip, Naomi glanced back at the fire, a question burning to get out.

Jim, seeing her need, said, "Naomi? Is there something else?"

"I really thought -- taking him, I mean, I know I had no right, but I really -- damn." She stood quickly and stepped almost angrily over to the fireplace. Picking up a log, she tossed it in and as the sparks flew up, she said, "I think I was trying to make a point, somewhere in all the excuses, for bringing him to the hospital."

"I know, Naomi."

Surprised, she whirled around to see Jim regarding her with that piercing look of his. The one that made her want to crawl into a hole and never come out. The one that stripped her bare of all agendas. With a shake of her head and a wry smile, she said, "I bet you get a lot of confessions, Jim."

"How'd you guess?"

Naomi ignored that as she said, more to herself than to Jim, "I think -- I'm okay with all this--"

"All 'this' being Blair as a cop as opposed to your son in a gay relationship, or suddenly with his own son?" Jim said with a grin.

Naomi walked swiftly to Jim and sank down beside him. She reached out a tentative hand and as he took it, she said softly, "I love you, Jim Ellison. And I love all that you've given to my son. You're the best thing that ever happened to him. I know that. And Jake? He's the best thing to happen to both of you. And to me. "I just wish I could explain my feelings about the cop thing, Jim, because that day, at the station, I was happy for him, so damned happy for him. I could see how thrilled he was when you threw that shield to him. His expression told me that at that moment, he was getting everything he wanted. Well, almost everything." She gave Jim's hand a squeeze with her last words.

With a deep breath, she went on, still trying to explain. "I saw his happiness, so why am I afraid? And obviously I don't mean just the thought of losing him. I've had almost four years now to deal with that fear. I'm afraid of losing him, Jim. Do you see?"

"More than you'll ever know, Naomi. More than you'll ever know. I worried about him every minute he was at the academy, and I worry every day that he'll lose that special something that is Blair Sandburg. I tried to shut him out, tried to protect him, to push him away -- but damn, Naomi, you created a stubborn man. He just would not go away.

"I learned that no matter what, no matter what was thrown at him or who hurt him, he remained -- Blair." Naomi nodded her understanding as she said, "Yes, I know that, up here," she tapped a finger to her temple, "But not here," she moved her hand to her chest, resting the palm over her breast. "I just can't feel it here, Jim. I'm so afraid that he'll become, I don't know, hard? Immune?"

"He won't, Naomi. He's learned to box up his feelings but keep them close. By the way, he taught me to do the same."

"Okay, you're going to have to explain that, Jim."

Jim rested his head back and tried to find the right words that would convey all that her son had taught him. Finally, "I -- used to tell him that if he was going to follow me around, he'd have leave a part of himself outside. I remember he called it, "checking your humanity at the door". Well, he didn't buy it for a second. But he did learn to put certain parts of himself safely away, then bring them back out when needed. And by watching him, I learned to do the same. I think I'm a better cop for it."

A sly grin started at the corners of Naomi's mouth. "So what you're saying is, police work hasn't changed Blair, but he's changed--"

"Police work?" At Naomi's delighted nod, Jim smiled. "Yep, I guess that's what I'm saying. He's a force to be reckoned with, all right. I almost feel sorry for the Cascade Police Department."

"It'll never be the same, will it?"

Grinning from ear to ear, Jim said proudly, "Nope."

They stared at each other for a moment, then broke out into laughter. As Naomi laughed, she fell forward and Jim caught her. He held her and together, they laughed even harder. "Oh -- God," she gasped out between bouts of the giggles. "How long before he has you all meditating?"

"Are you -- kidding?" Jim tried to breathe, to catch his breath, but he was laughing too hard. Somehow he managed to say, with tears streaming down his face, "He already has. Joel and Megan meditate, and who knows--"

"When -- I see Simon," Naomi's breath caught, she gulped, wiped her eyes and finished, "doing it and wearing -- an earring--"

"Aw God, did you have to give me that vision, woman?"

Their laughter exploded.

Jim stepped quietly over to the chair by Blair's bed and sat down. The room was dark, the only illumination courtesy of the corridor light outside. Blair still didn't have a roommate, which surprised Jim, but he was grateful. He reached over and took Blair's cool hand in his, then sat back to -- watch. As he took in his partner's face, he decided that Blairwatching was easy. Hell, he could do it forever. The only thing that topped it, Jim thought, was watching Blair when he was awake.

Pale blue eyes drifted away from the beloved face to focus on the heart monitor. What would he do if that spiked green line ever stopped -- for good? Jim's gaze flicked back to the sleeping man. "Lord," he whispered into the dark, "don't let me ever find out."

(O)

Blair felt pain. He tried to ignore it, but the damn thing persisted. He cracked open an eye and in spite of no glasses and the subsequent blurry world, he could tell he was in a hospital.

Oh, yeah, now he remembered. The pain was thanks to a bullet in his shoulder. Damn, he was thirsty. Blair turned his head and the first thing he saw was Jim. At least, he supposed it was Jim. Even blurry, the figure looked like him. Blair smiled like a dope. Then he remembered something else -- or rather -- someone else. Jake.

He'd been here, had dinner with him. Gave him half of his sandwich. And now? Oh, yeah, home. Damn, what time was it, anyway? Glasses. He really needed his glasses.

With his good hand, he searched the tray table and found them, undoubtedly thanks to Jim, who always thought of everything.

Blair slipped them on and the world, while remaining mostly dark, at least took on a sense of reality. The light from the hall gave him enough illumination to see all that he wanted to see, namely his water and Jim. Blair smiled tenderly at the sleeping man, who couldn't be comfortable. His long legs were stretched out in front of him and his head was propped up by his hand.

Blair wiggled a bit, maneuvered himself more to the right, punched clumsily at his pillow, then settled in to watch Jim sleep. The quiet of the halls outside his room told him that it had to be late and between shifts. He reached for his water, struggled with the straw, but finally took a long draught of the still cold liquid. There, that was better. Blair rested his head back as he slid the mug back onto the table.

Jim must really be dead to the world, Blair thought muzzily. But he'd probably sense Blair's awakened state soon enough. That meant that he didn't have long to indulge himself in watching the older man sleep. What never ceased to amaze Blair was how young Jim looked when he slept. The lines that spread out from his eyes and sometimes drew his mouth down, the wrinkles that represented his career, his past, and all those who'd hurt him over the years, smoothed out and disappeared when he slept. The haunting look that seemed to float behind those cool, blue orbs, was hidden now by the closed lids. Blair wondered if that look would ever completely disappear? If Jim would truly ever trust and let go? Sometimes, like now, in the dark quiet of those lonely hours after midnight, Blair hated every single person who'd ever hurt Jim. He hated William Ellison and Grace Ellison and Steven Ellison. He hated Lila and Veronica. He hated Laura and he hated Alan. And as often as not -- he hated himself. He was certainly not innocent of the crime of hurting Jim Ellison. Hell, no. The pain in his shoulder bit sharply and Blair winced. He wondered if he were due for a pain pill. He'd hate for a nurse to come in and possibly awaken his sleeping beauty. Blair grinned at that. His sleeping beauty. God, he was glad that he was the one in this bed. That he was the injured one and not Jim. Jim was so -- vulnerable -- when hurt. And stubborn. Blair was a damn nuisance when Jim was injured or sick, what with his worrying. Suddenly he gave an internal chuckle. Man, was that selfish or what? He was glad he was hurt? Because he didn't have to be the one worrying? Didn't want to see Jim hurting?

Oh, robber? Please shoot me, not the big lug next to me. Thank you. For crying out loud. But in truth, it was so much better when it was an injured Blair. Mustn't see Jim hurt -- mustn't. Can't -- lose -- Jim. Ever. Can't -- lose Jim.

(O)

"Hey, you're awake."

"Yep, and now, so are you."

The two men grinned at each other.

"So," Blair drawled out after a yawn, "don't you think you should get home? Jake will be spitting fire if he wakes up and finds that he's not here and you're not there."

Jim stretched his arms over his head and gave his own huge yawn. He missed the hungry eyes watching the sudden flash of white skin as his stomach was exposed. He brought his arms down and blearily checked his watch. It was a little after four. "I'm thinking you're right. Jake can be quite the disciplinarian, can't he?"

"Oh, yeah. When he wags that finger, you know you're a goner. And by the way? You're going to be useless at work today. Go home and sleep."

"Hey, no worries, to coin a certain exchange officer. The only thing facing me at work is some clean-up and writing the report. Right now, I'm thanking our lucky stars that we put in for Wednesday off."

"Not exactly how we imagined spending it, though. Guess I'll be forced to supervise your cooking efforts. Dear me." Blair gave an exaggerated sigh and tried to look crestfallen.

Jim didn't buy it. "You know, a truly gifted man such as yourself should be able to prepare quite a feast from his sick bed. I'm not worried in the least." Jim leaned forward and with a conspiratorial wink, added, "On the other hand, Naomi will be more than willing to cook."

"Man, you're smart. Our first -- vegetarian -- Thanksgiving. Tofu turkey, sprout stuffing, algae pudding? Oh, yeah, we let her do all the work and this will be a Thanksgiving you'll never forget." He glanced up at the ceiling and grinned as he added, "Of course, me, I'll get tongue."

Jim's eyes narrowed as he leaned in closer and rested his arms on the edge of the bed railing. "You want tongue, Sandburg? I'll give you tongue -- a tongue lashing. You will supervise my efforts or else," he warned.

Blair looked appropriately horrified as he said, "A tongue lashing? Not that, Jim. Anything but that."

"Have you ever been lashed by my tongue? You might find that you enjoy it, Chief."

"Why you -- scallywag."

One eyebrow arched. "Uh, Sandburg? Scallywag? Scallywag?"

"Hey, if the scally fits, wear it."

Jim leered at his partner. "I prefer the wag."

Blair rolled his eyes heavenward and groaned. "Get outta here, Ellison, before you corrupt my saintly self."

"Oh, yeah, like I haven't done that before."

Blair gave a snort, which Jim promptly interrupted with a kiss.

"New technique for mouth-to-mouth, gentlemen?"

Jim nearly flew back as the brusque voice broke into his exploration of Blair's mouth. Blushing, Jim faced the built-like-a-brick-house of a nurse.

"Uh--"

"Save it, young man. Shift change. Move it or lose it."

Blair tried to keep a straight face, and he might have succeeded if only Jim hadn't blushed again. And stammered.

"Yes -- we-ll, I'll b-be--"

Amid his chuckles, Blair said, "He's leaving, nurse. Say good-bye, Jim."

Head down, Jim started out -- but not before saying in a somewhat daring tone, "Good-bye, Jim."

Laughter followed him all the way down the hall, and thanks to being a god damned sentinel -- all the way to the truck.

(O)

Jake fumbled sleepily for his wolfpup, found it, clutched it close and started to roll over. Remembering that he had to be careful, he moved slowly only to find himself in his own bed. He bolted upright and threw off the covers, but before he could jump out of bed, Jim stepped in, both hands held up in a placating gesture.

"Yes, Jake, you're here, not at the hospital with daddy," he explained patiently and gently. "Daddy's fine and Naomi is going to take you over later today, okay? Then I'll join you both for dinner. How does that sound?"

The small boy froze, then frowned and wagged a finger at Jim. "you trickted me!"

Jim's expression softened as he moved to sit beside his son. Scratching the wolfpup behind the ear, Jim said quietly, "No, I didn't trick you, son. See, hospitals have something called 'shift changes'. When that happens, everyone has to leave because one set of nurses is going off-duty and another set is coming on. The new nurses have to check their patients, take their temperatures, blood pressure, and in some cases, like daddy's, take some blood--"

Jim got no further as Jake's expression turned from of rapt interest to horror. "they took blood? but -- but my daddy needs blood!"

Eyes began to pool with worried tears and Jim reacted quickly. He scooped the boy up and crooned, "It's okay, honey, honest. Daddy has plenty now. The doctors need a small sample because it helps them to know that he's getting better."

Somewhat mollified, Jake mumbled against Jim's warm and comforting sweater. "but i coulda stayed," he whined softly.

"No, Hoss, the nurses need everyone out when they make a shift change. You, me, everyone. Since you were sleeping so soundly and daddy was worried about Jakey, we both decided I should bring you home and tuck you into your own bed with scruffy here."

A hand wiggled under Jim's protective circle of arms, rooted around for the stuffed animal, then with head still buried, he waved it in front of Jim's face. "he's not scruffy and he's fine, jimmy. jakey ordered me to stay with daddy."

"Oh, he did, did he?"

Jake's head moved up and down against Jim's chest as a small voice answered, "yup!"

"Well, Jakey looked awfully glad to see you last night, Hoss."

"he did?"

"Yup."

"maybe i -- should take him with me? when we go to see daddy?"

Jim looked down at the curly blond hair and smiled. This kid was smart -- too smart. "Oh, I don't think that will be necessary, Jake. Daddy comes home tomorrow, so I think that you and Jakey can manage to sleep in your own bed tonight."

"do i have to?"

"I'm thinking -- yes. Daddy will feel better knowing that you're in your own bed, keeping me company."

"he will?"

"Yup."

"'kay. as long as it's just one more night, i guess i can sleep -- here."

Jim rested one finger under Jake's chin and lifted until he could see the worried face. "I'm very proud of you, Jake."

The boy's lower lip trembled and he immediately hid his face back in the comfort of Jim's chest. "i want daddy -- home."

"I know, honey, I know."

Slowly Jim rocked the small body in his arms, his hand cupping the back of Jake's head.

(O)

"Hey, anyone in here interested in French toast again? This time stuffed with bananas?"

Jim glanced up at Naomi, who stood in the doorway, a spatula in hand. She wore a long teal dressing gown and was smiling tenderly at the two of them.

"I knew I smelled something wonderful. Hoss, can you smell it too?"

Jake twisted in Jim's arms and peeked at Naomi from under slightly wet lashes. "i smell it. smells -- goooood."

"So are you two ready to eat? I know my French toast is more than willing to be eaten."

Jake sat up completely, and giving it more thought, said seriously, "i could eat brekkie. i could. but we have to save some for daddy, to take to him, 'kay?"

"As if we'd have it any other way? I made extra for that very reason. Now let's go eat, guys. The sooner we finish, the sooner we can get this show on the road."

Jim stood, Jake still in his arms, and followed Naomi through the apartment and into the kitchen. Jake was swung into his booster seat, Jim sliding in beside him. Naomi had already set the table and moments after Jim and Jake sat down, a plate loaded with stuffed French toast was slid in front of each of them. Naomi went back to the range, filled her own plate, then joined her grandson and for all intents and purposes, her son-in-law. "Naomi, this looks delicious."

"My prized recipe and one of Blair's favorites."

Jake already had a mouthful, but that didn't stop him from trying to speak. "mymrn famortim too!"

Naomi beamed as Jim added his pronouncement that it was now one his favorites as well.

(O)

"Okay, you have the directions to Maggie's and the park, right?"

"Got it, Jim."

"And you'll be heading to the hospital around one, right?"

"Should we synchronize our watches, sir?"

Before he could stop himself, he lifted his arm and glanced at his watch. Then with a sheepish grin, said, "You got me, Naomi."

"You're too easy, Jim."

"Maybe that's why Sandburg and I go so well together, eh?"

Naomi swatted Jim on the back of his head. "Go to work, Jim. Jake and I have things well in hand."

"Right. And speaking of Master Jake -- where is he?"

Naomi gave him an exasperated look and said, "Jim? Hello?"

Jim cleared his throat, saying, "Oh, yeah," he said sheepishly. He promptly focused in on his son. "Damn."

"Jim?"

"I'll be right back, Naomi. He's in our room."

(O)

Jim hurried down the hall. When he got to the bedroom, he entered carefully.

Jake, still in his pajamas, was curled up on Blair's side of the bed and wrapped up in Blair's old plaid robe.

For a moment, Jim couldn't move. Something was gripping his heart and making breathing difficult. As he stood watching, ideas swirled in and floated out again, arguments were made and excuses delivered. But all the mental discussions ended with one four year old whose first three years had been -- God only knew what -- and whose last few months had been filled with loss and change. Some days demanded extraordinary measures.

Jim walked to the bed, sat down on his side, and picked up the phone. He had two calls to make.

He punched in the first number and waited.

//Banks//

"Simon, it's Jim. I have a -- favor -- to ask."

The curled up mound didn't move, but Jim heard a sniffle.

//Jim, just come in long enough to get that report on my desk. I'm not expecting any more than that. By the way, I stopped by the hospital this morning and Blair's fine. He looked worried, but fine//

"Yeah, I've got the twin to that look next to me. That's why the favor. I'd like to bring Jake with me--"

//Bring him, Jim. If Rhonda can bring Carrie in and I can bring in Daryl, I think we can handle Jake. Besides, we'd love to see him. I'm sure we can keep him busy while you type laboriously. I'm betting that after thirty minutes, you'll be seriously wishing for Sandburg//

"Like I need typing a report to wish that, Simon?"

A deep chuckle could be heard by anyone choosing to listen.

//Bet you were wishing more last night, Ellison//

"That's a whole 'nother wishing, Simon. And Jake and I will be there in thirty. A certain wolfpup is still in his pj's."

The wolfpup in question was suddenly waved in the air as a small and muffled voice said, "can be dressed -- pronto."

Jim smiled, thanked Simon, then hung up. He turned and stretched out beside the still- covered mound that was his son. He waited until he heard another sniffle before gently taking the wrapped-up boy and cradling him in his arms.

"I'm thinking that when we get to the station, you should sit at daddy's desk. What do you think?"

"daddy's desk? can i?"

"Seems the perfect solution. His desk and chair are probably lonely too."

Two small arms crept up and encircled Jim's neck as a wet face settled against the older man's cheek. "luv you, jimmy."

"Love you too, Hoss. Love you so much."

(O)

"Jake, my man, I think I should make one more phone call before we get you ready for work, okay?"

Jake, still safely cuddled within the strength of Jim's arms, nodded.

"Don't you want to know who I'm calling?" Without lifting his head, Jake asked, "who?" Jim pretended to give the question great thought, then said, "Um, the hospital?"

The boy moved swiftly, almost standing in Jim's arms, bare feet planted on Jim's thighs. He brought his nose close to Jim's, and with wide eyes, asked, "we can call daddy? at the hospertal?"

Jim, grinning from ear to ear, nodded.

Jake did a nice swan dive around Jim's body and scrambled over to the nightstand and the phone. He lifted the receiver and held it out demandingly. "call, call, call--"

"You know, I think I'll call--" Laughing, Jim took the offered item, dialed, and when the operator answered, asked, "Room 112, please. Bed B." He waited for a few seconds, then the ringing of the phone and finally, Blair.

//Hello?//

"Hey."

//Morning. Missed you//

"Yeah, it's been how many hours?"

//Six//

"And you slept how many of those hours?"

//Five//

As both men chuckled, Jake decided there'd been enough chit-chat. He reached up and wiggled his fingers in front of his father's face.

"Um, I have this big problem, Chief, and I think only you can solve it."

//What's wrong?//

"I have this growth on my leg. It's wearing pajamas and it's tied the sleeves of your ratty plaid robe around its neck."

//Ah, yes. The Jakelump. Put it on//

"Will do. Here it is." Jim handed the phone over and Jake, settling on Jim's lap, immediately held the receiver up to his ear and started babbling.

"daddy, don't let the nurses take too much blood, 'kay? and nomi made stuffted french toast with 'namas and i had three pieces and jimmy is taking me to your desk and i getta sit in your chair and help him fill up papers and see unca simon and cherry will be soooooo mad cuz i got to sit in your chair and be a detektuve but not her and are you being good?"

The laughter at the other end of the line brought a huge grin to Jake's face. He glanced up at his other father, eyes bright and dancing. "daddy is laughing, can you hear him?"

"I can hear him, Jake."

When the noise of Blair's mirth died away, Jake, not skipping a beat, asked again, "well? are you? being good? you can't come home tomorrow unless you are. are you?"

//I'm being very good, Jake. Very, very, very good//

"what did you have for brekkie?"

//I only wish I'd had anything as good as you. I had oatmeal//

Jake shuddered and said, without removing his mouth from the phone, "jimmy, daddy had oatmeal for brekkie! won't he be happy when we get there?"

//Why will I be happy, Jake? Besides seeing you and Jim?//

"it's a secrut, daddy, but if you promuse not to tell--"

//I promise//

Jake put his hand over the phone and whispered, "we're bringing frenchy toasty!"

Jim tried, he honestly tried, but seeing his son hiding his secret from spying nurses by covering up the phone, well, he lost it. Judging by the sounds on the other end -- so had Blair. Again.

(O)

"Okay, step back and let me get a good look."

Jake obediently did as asked and waited.

"I believe we've found the perfect outfit for a junior one day only detective."

Jake glanced down at himself and nodded happily. His best jeans, a bit too long and gathering at the top of his sneakers, but still -- with his new belt -- perfect. Add his tucked in red, white, and black flannel shirt and he was pretty certain that he looked puurfect. "i'm ready."

"I agree. Lead the way, partner."

Jake gave a last longing look back at Jakey, who sat on his pillow, and with chin up, headed out of his bedroom.

In the living room, Naomi waited, a paper bag in one hand and two jackets in the other. "Okay, here's your daddy's French toast, Jake." As Jake carefully took the bag, she said to Jim, "I'll meet you at the hospital around one or so, all right?"

Helping Jake into his blue jacket with the hood, Jim nodded. Jake, juggling the bag as his father tried to slide a sleeve over it, smiled up at her and said, "i told daddy about our secrut, nomi! he can't wait!"

"Well, I'm expecting that between your visit and our French toast, Blair will be ready to come home tomorrow. And just between you and me, there might enough French toast for you and Jim too."

Jacket on now, Jake hugged the bag to him and said, "well -- only if daddy doesn't want it all--"

As Jim pulled the truck into the garage, he shot a sidelong glance at his son. Jake's head was swiveling around in almost every direction, eyes taking in all the police cars, motorcycles, and the large police vans. When two uniformed officers walked by and smiled as they saluted Jim, Jake's eyes gave the word 'round' a run for its money.

Jim swung into his parking stall and after shutting off the engine he turned to face Jake. "Well, we're here. You ready?"

"i'm very ready!"

Jim reached over and unhooked the boy from the car seat, grateful that Naomi had been kind enough to remove it from her rental and put it in the truck. And no, his masculinity was not in question, should anyone ask. He was smart enough to know damn well that only a woman was talented and intelligent enough to do such a thing well.

Once out of his seat, Jake scooted over so that as soon as Jim got out, he could stand on the seat. Brown bag in hand, arms outstretched, he waited patiently. Jim grinned and held out his arms. Giggling, Jake jumped and was neatly caught, then set down. As they started to walk toward the elevator, Jake's small hand crept into Jim's large one. It wasn't until he and Jake stepped out of the elevator that Jim realized what bringing Jake to the station could mean. He and Blair had only been a couple for a shade under a month and that fact was in no way common knowledge. Yet, here he was at the station, with Jake. As Jim stepped across the hall toward Major Crime, a few people smiled and asked about Blair, but no one seemed surprised to see Jim Ellison with a four year old in tow. Shaking his head, he walked into Major Crime.

For Jake, entering Major Crime was awesome. Hand tightly holding on to Jim's, he tried to see everything at once, to take it all in, eyes bright with excitement, mouth slightly open.

A large man spotted him and his face was nearly split in two by the huge grin that suddenly appeared. "Hey, Jake, my man, remember me? Henri Brown?"

The big man went down into a squat in front of Jake and gave the hood on the back of his jacket a tweak, then ruffled big fingers through Jake's curls. As Henri put up his right hand, palm facing Jake, Jake did the same and they high-fived each other. Seconds later, Jake was surrounded by cops. Jim quickly lifted the boy and set him down on the edge of Blair's desk,

Questions about Blair were asked and with legs dangling over the edge of the desk, Jake proudly answered that his daddy would be home tomorrow and that he and Jimmy were taking him "frenchy toasty" to make him even better.

Rhonda brought Jake a cup of hot chocolate and with an accepting nod from Jim, presented the boy with a coconut sprinkled donut. As Jake ate and slurped, he listened while the others quizzed Jim. Jake had started licking the small pieces of coconut off his donut when Simon entered from his office, a frown quickly replaced by a big grin as he spotted Jake.

"Jake, my main man. Glad you decided to drop by today and help Jim out."

White icing and flecks of coconut on and around his lips, Jake put down his cocoa and held out his arms as he said, "unca simon!"

The big man took him into his arms and gently wiped the sticky mouth with his fingers. "So," he said with a grin, "you gonna do Jim's paperwork for him today?"

"yup! we're gonna full them out, then go see daddy."

"Sounds like a plan to me. By the way, Daryl says he's really looking forward to seeing you on Thursday. He's bringing a couple of games that he thought you might be interested in playing."

"games? i play games reeeeeal goooood, unca simon."

"That's what I've heard and I know you play a mean game of poker."

"yup! but we have a problem, unca simon. jimmy says there are only two," Jake held up two fingers and wagged them in Simon's face, "drumsticks on a turkey. but tell daryl it's okay, i'm gonna give him mine, 'kay?"

Eyebrow arched, Simon looked at Jim over the top of Jake's head. Shrugging, Jim said, "Seems he's promised a drumstick to Naomi too. Three people, two drumsticks."

"Ah." Simon turned his attention back to Jake and lowering his voice, said,"I'm gonna let you in on a little secret; Daryl prefers the wings, so you and Naomi can munch away on the drumsticks to your hearts content."

"wings? he pre--pre -- furs, wings?"

"Yep. He'll probably eat both of them."

Jake wiggled his nose as he considered this new bit of information, then in all seriousness, said, "well, i'll still share my drummystick. daddy says they're reeeeeal big."

"I'm sure Daryl will appreciate that, Jake."

Jake gave Jim a very pointed look, then followed it up with another rather pointed look at the desk. He then c