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B.J Sandburg Part Twenty-Five.
Blair smoothed his rounded neckline thoughtfully. "Tell me honestly, how does this look?"
Jim ran his eyes over his soon-to-be-wife. The young woman was wearing a short dress with long sleeves in a muted shade of sky blue. He was wearing his hair back and up, and with a single strand of pearls around his neck, donated by Naomi, he looked cool and elegant.
"You look wonderful," Jim said sincerely. He fumbled with his cuff link and cursed as he dropped it, again.
"Let me do that," Blair smiled, crouching to pick up the shiny gold link. His knees hit the bottom of his tummy and he rocked back on his heels. Jim grabbed his elbow and hauled him carefully up.
"Careful!" Jim warned.
"Drunk again," Blair joked, eyes twinkling. He took the link from Jim's hand and fastened it in place. "Anyone looking at you would think you'd never done this before."
"I've never had a wedding quite like this one," Jim vowed.
"I've never had a wedding at all," Blair reminded him. He smoothed the skirt of the dress over his tummy. "And I must admit, I feel like a bit of a fraud," Blair lamented. "I don't even like dresses."
"Then you should have gone for slacks," Jim said, trying to concentrate. For some reason his mind was all over the place today.
"Slacks for a wedding," Blair jeered. "Even my non-conventional mother would spin out over that."
"I like you in slacks," Jim defended.
Blair patted his cheek and trotted out to the kitchen. "You really don't have a clue, do you?"
"One year as a woman and you're an expert?" Jim called after him. He shook his head and studied himself in the small mirror. They'd moved downstairs to Blair's room a few weeks before, when Blair had grown tired of running up and down stairs to the bathroom ten times a night. But the cramped quarters down here were a little tiring.
He gazed at himself in the mirror. What the hell were they doing? How the hell had things got this far? He was about to enter into a marriage with a woman who didn't exist, who, in fact, would be changing back into a man in five weeks.
Jim took a deep breath, and then another. He'd held himself together through all this for Blair's sake. He'd coped with the gender change, his new feelings towards his partner, even taken the news that he was going to be a father in stride. He could certainly cope with this.
He nodded to himself in the mirror and followed his partner into the kitchen. Blair was digging around in a small blue bag.
"I go for a year without owning a purse," he muttered. "Now I have one, and I can't find a thing in it."
"Are you sure you feel up to this?" Jim asked quietly.
Blair looked up. "I feel fine."
"Because you went through a lot yesterday, Chief," Jim continued. "We can put this off for a while."
Blair peered at him from the corner of his eye. "Are you sure you're not the one who doesn't feel up to this?"
"Me?" Jim asked, surprised. "I'm fine."
Blair nodded. "You're always fine," he agreed. He lay his purse down and leaned back against the kitchen counter. "I thought it might be easier for you once you had Simon to talk to," he said thoughtfully. "But you're still keeping all this locked away, aren't you?"
Jim looked at him guiltily. "I don't know what you mean, Chief."
Blair huffed a smiling breath. "Don't worry about it, Jim," he said, shaking his head fondly. "You handle this anyway that makes you feel better."
Jim rubbed his neck ruefully. "I don't get away with anything any more," he muttered.
Blair spread his arms wide. "Look at me, Jim," he appealed. "This is not exactly how I pictured my wedding day, you know. I thought I'd at least have a bow tie."
"And be wearing pants," Jim chuckled ruefully.
"To say the least. So if I can handle this, you can get through your second wedding day without freaking out, okay?"
"My second wedding day," Jim mused, feeling a little calmer.
"And your last one, Jim," Blair said gazing deeply into his eyes. "You and me."
"And what is this going to mean once you change back?" Jim murmured quietly.
"Everything," Blair told him firmly. "For better or worse we've stood up in front of our friends and family and vowed to spend our lives together."
"For better or worse," Jim repeated softly.
"For richer for poorer," Blair quoted, smiling gently.
"Till death do us part."
Their lips met in a kiss. Blair's rounded stomach hit Jim's flat one and they both chuckled.
"Let's do this!" Blair enthused as Jim opened the door. "But I warn you, I'm not vowing to obey, so get that idea right outta your head."
"Damn," Jim joked. "And I was counting on that particular vow."
********
"You know, there's this tribe in New Guinea with some weird marriage rituals," Blair said, reflectively, clicking the snap on his purse open and closed repeatedly.
Jim gamely ignored it.
"One of them involves the couple winding fish bones in their hair, probably as a guarantee of full fishing nets for their married life. Not unlike the western custom of throwing rice in hopes of good harvests."
Jim let him chatter on, feeling the familiar nonsense calming him down. All he had to do was focus on helping Blair, and then he wouldn't have to worry about facing his own nerves. Not just about the wedding either. In four weeks Blair would have the twins, and a week after that he'd change back into his old self.
Then the fun would really begin.
Blair was babbling about the tradition of carrying the bride over the threshold as they pulled up in front of the building. Jim could see Naomi waiting on the stairs, and his father standing in the foyer with Steven by his side.
"I guess this is it," Blair said, unbuckling his belt.
"Yeah," Jim agreed nervously.
"Jim?" Blair said softly.
Jim turned worried blue eyes on him.
Blair smiled. "As far as I'm concerned we're joined already."
Jim blinked. "Blair?"
Blair's hands came up and rested on his belly in his habitual pose. "This ceremony is a formality to protect the pods. And nothing written on a legal document can change what we feel for each other."
Jim felt the last of his tension melt away. To protect the pods. That made sense. "You're right," he agreed.
Jim climbed from the car and hurried around to help Blair out of his side. The young woman stood for a moment, hand on his back. "Okay now, Jim?"
Jim nodded, and then paused and did a double take. "Was I just manipulated?" he said suspiciously.
Blair patted his cheek again. "Well if you were, it was done brilliantly," he said serenely. Then he waved to his mother and began climbing the stairs to City Hall.
Jim was left speechless. "It's not too late to run," he finally muttered to himself before following him.
********
"Congratulations!" Naomi exclaimed. She threw her arms around Blair before the Justice of the Peace had even closed her book.
"Well done, son," William enthused, seizing Jim's hand and pumping it firmly.
"Thanks, Dad," Jim said, longing to loosen his collar. He accepted his brother's handshake and a squeezing hug from Simon.
"How does it feel to be a married man again?" Simon asked with a twinkle.
"I'll tell you when my brain stops spinning," Jim said dazedly.
"A few papers to sign," the Justice interjected quietly. She smiled. "And then you can go celebrate."
Jim watched Blair from the corner of his eye as they signed the papers. They were married.
********
"So," Simon said, rubbing his hands together on the front steps of City Hall. "We've arranged a little get together at Reilly's."
"We?" Jim said suspiciously.
"Come on, Jim," Megan coaxed, taking his arm. "It's the least you can do after I saved you from all those practical jokes."
"But they wouldn't even have known about the wedding if not for you," Jim protested.
William had his arm wrapped around Steven's shoulders. "A few celebratory drinks sound nice," he said genially.
"Yeah," Blair agreed. He nudged Jim's arm. "It's also an excuse to give Megan another going away party."
"Please," Megan beseeched, a hand on her brow. "I still have the headache from the last one."
Jim held his hands up. "Fine," he agreed. "But I'm telling you right now, no strippers, tin cans or handcuffs."
Blair slanted a curious brow. "What kind of parties have you been going to?"
"And why weren't we invited?" Steven inserted.
********
"No, really," Simon said over the music. "How do you feel?"
Jim considered the question. "I feel better actually," he confessed. "One more hurdle over with."
Simon sipped his drink. "And the next hurdle is the birth?"
Jim nodded. "And then the change," he said, casting a glance around to ensure no one was in earshot.
"And then what?" Simon said curiously, tilting his head to one side. "After you've cleared all these hurdles. What next?"
Jim shrugged, blowing out a breath.
"I'll tell you," Simon continued. "There'll be a whole new set of hurdles."
Jim frowned. "Oddly I don't feel comforted by that, Simon," he said wryly.
"It's your wedding day, Jim," Simon said bracingly. "And as your older, and wiser friend," he held up his glass in a mock salute. "It's my job to give you the benefit of my years of experience."
"Do tell," Jim invited, sitting back in his chair.
"Sing, sing, sing," Rafe and Henry were chanting, and Steven joined in. Megan bounded up onto the small stage and Blair followed her reluctantly.
"Karaoke," Simon said, shaking his head. "If that's not listed in the bible as one of the signs of impending Armageddon, it should be."
Jim watched with a grin as the music started and his partner and Megan started singing.
"Jim?" Simon tapped his arm. "My advice?"
"I'm all ears," Jim said, straightening dutifully in his seat.
"I was just saying. You can't afford to wait for things to be just right, you know?"
Jim didn't, but he nodded his head.
"Because there's always gonna be another problem cropping up, another bend in the road to negotiate."
Jim nodded again, wondering how many drinks Simon had indulged in. A cell phone sounded and Simon reached for his pocket, mellow look fading. "Damn," he cursed. "I'll be right back."
He disappeared and left Jim watching in delight as Blair and Megan swung into their version of 'Islands in the Stream' to the karaoke machine.
Steven had been absorbed into Rafe and Henry's gang, and was now involved in a bizarre drinking contest that involved their ties around their brows and empty glasses on their heads. His father and Joel were engrossed in some vital conversation at the bar, and the rest of the Major Crime squad was singing along with the girls on stage.
The song ended and Jim cheered and applauded with the rest of the bar as Megan bowed and Blair attempted to bow.
"More, more!" the crowd hooted, and after a whispered conference the music started again and Blair and Megan launched into an Abba tune.
"Jim?" Simon tapped him on the shoulder from behind and after only one glance Jim was on his feet.
"What's happened?" he said grimly, following Simon into the quieter foyer.
"It's Nelson Drew," Simon said harshly. "He's escaped from the hospital."
Jim gaped at him. "I thought he was at deaths door?"
"So did we. I promise you, Jim, heads will roll over this."
Jim rubbed his brow furiously. "That's all very well, Simon, but how does that help us? He tried to kill Blair," he lowered his voice. "He... touched him." Fury overtook him again and he turned away, clenching his fists.
"Look, Jim," Simon said reasonably. "This isn't some serial killer we're talking about here. This is just a nut-job who torched his wife and got caught. We will find him."
"And what am I supposed to tell Blair?" Jim fretted.
Simon shook his head. "Blair's a trooper, he'll understand. And Drew is badly injured. The odds are we'll find him laying face down in an alley somewhere."
Jim looked at him sharply. "Unless he has an accomplice."
Simon looked impatient. "We went through this accomplice stuff five years ago, Jim. You couldn't prove it then and we still have no proof of it now."
"And yet this garden variety nut-job keeps escaping and eluding capture," Jim said ironically. "I have to keep my family safe, Simon. Whatever it takes to do that."
"Understood," Simon affirmed. "You're taking off for the weekend?"
"Our honeymoon," Jim brooded, glancing back into the bar. The number was over and Blair was sitting at a table with Megan sipping ginger ale. He was also looking their way.
"And in a few weeks you're heading up to Alto for the delivery," Simon recalled. "Well, as of now your leave is extended."
"What?"
"Go," Simon urged. "Pack some bags and take off with your family. I'll call and keep you updated with the Drew situation."
Jim thought it over. Drew had found and followed them before, if they stayed in town he'd have to be constantly on alert, looking over his shoulder.
"I would like to spend more of this time with Blair," he admitted. "This last month is gonna be the hardest for him."
Simon slapped him on the shoulder. "And for you too," he reminded Jim.
Jim shrugged that off. "I'm okay," he dismissed. "But I will take you up on your offer." He quirked a smile. "Thanks, Simon."
"I'll keep you updated," Simon promised. "And when your honeymoon's over I'll meet you in Alto and introduce you to Paul."
********
"Are you going to tell me what's wrong, or do I have to guess?" Blair asked as he drove them home. Jim felt stone cold sober, but he'd had a few beers and Blair hadn't, so the young woman had taken the wheel.
"It's Drew," Jim said shortly. His job was to protect Blair and he felt as if he'd failed again.
Blair flicked him a sympathetic glance. "He died?" he guessed.
"I wish," Jim retorted. "He escaped."
"What?" Blair set his jaw, eyes on the road. "How the hell did that happen?"
"I don't know, but Simon's taking names and kicking butt as we speak."
"What a mess," Blair muttered. "Are we in danger?"
Jim shook his head. "I'm not taking any chances," he vowed. "Simon's cleared us, and we're leaving town, tonight."
Blair chewed this over. "So, we get a longer honeymoon," he finally said.
Jim gazed over at him. "Just another hurdle to jump," he murmured.
"We've made it this far," Blair assured him. "Nothing's gonna stop us now."
End of Part Twenty-Five.
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