The Jamie Series #6

Paying.

by Gillan

Blair stepped out of the cubicle as the last of the other parents left the wide changing room. He was wearing a loose pair of red board shorts.

"No speedo?" Simon drawled.

"Hardly." Blair stacked his neatly folded clothes on top of his shoes in the locker.

"Jim's late," the captain announced, fiddling with his camera.

"He'll be here," Blair said confidently. "He wouldn't miss Jamie's first swimming lesson, would he, piglet?" Jamie grinned toothily up at his father from the stroller.

"Okay, all set." Simon tucked his lens cap in the camera bag and stowed it in the roomy locker. "Ready to immortalize the first lesson. At least we'll have photos if Jim misses it."

Blair glanced at Jamie and grinned. "He's not going to miss it. He's here."

Simon looked around. "Where?"

"He's close." Blair nodded at Jamie who was squirming in delight. "Dad-dad-dad," he was chanting.

"The Dad-dad early warning system is never wrong," Blair smiled.

"Sentinel baby, huh?" Simon chuckled. Blair shot a quick glance at Simon but the police captain appeared to be kidding.

"Seriously, Sandburg, doesn't it ever bother you that Jim is Dad-dad while you are still Blair?"

Blair blinked in surprise. "No," he said honestly. "Why should it? I mean, when Jamie calls me Blair he's saying Daddy. Aren't you, piglet?" Blair crouched down and kissed a snub nose.

"Beh," Jamie said on cue, patting Blair's face.

The changing room door swung open and Jim appeared, gym bag in hand. "Sorry I'm late, guys."

"Dad-dad!" Jamie shrieked, pumping chubby little legs in excitement.

"There's my boy!" Jim swooped and blew a raspberry kiss on the giggling baby's cheek.

"No time for that," Blair said, grabbing the gym bag and unzipping it. He snagged a pair of black board shorts and tossed them at his lover. "Hurry up or the lesson will start without us."

"Yes, sir," Jim said smartly, saluting and stripping on the spot.

"Okay, Jamie, your turn." Blair quickly lifted the baby out of the stroller and onto the change table. It had seemed like the best idea to delay changing him until the last possible minute and as he stripped off the diaper he was glad he had. The thing was soaked clear through.

Simon had picked up the tiny square of lycra that was Jamie's suit and now he dangled it from one long finger. It was smaller than his hand. "Oh my god," he said in awe. "This has got to be the cutest thing I have ever seen."

Blair snatched the speedos off him and drew them up Jamie's legs, tying the draw string securely around his hips.

"Hold it right there," Simon ordered as Blair stood Jamie up, steadying him on the change table. The captain lifted the camera and squeezed off a quick shot.

"Okay." Jim tucked his clothes in the locker and snapped it shut. "Let's get this show on the road."

They stepped out of the second door into the pool area. The lightly heated water was blue and sparkly, small puffs of steam rising from its surface into the days cool air. Jamie's rosebud lips formed a perfect O and his eyes grew big.

"Baff," he said in awe as Simon snapped another skilled shot.

"It's a swimming pool, Jamie," Blair chuckled, darting a glance at his laughing lover. Jamie's expression was priceless as he took in the huge expanse of water.

"Baff," he repeated. "Baff, Beh, baff."

Simon took a seat on a nearby bench with a grin on his face and his camera at the ready. "This is gonna be fun," he pronounced.

000

Jim put the phone down with a bang. "Still no answer in the loft."

"Jim, she'll be fine. She raised me, right?"

"Why doesn't that comfort me?" Jim asked the empty squad room, grinning as Blair shot him a mock frown.

"Seriously, I think we should be more worried about her," Blair returned. "She's not as young as she used to be."

"Couldn't tell it by looking at her," Jim said with a dreamy look on his face, earning a slightly more authentic frown and a punch on the arm. "Hey!"

"Ellison, Sandburg, my office," Simon called through his open door.

Jim and Blair trooped in, making faces at each other when the captain couldn't see them.

"Coffee?" Jim shook his head and Blair helped himself. "Did you guys hear about the attempt on Charles Nelson's life last night?"

"Yeah," Jim said, making a sour face. It was hard to tell whether he was grimacing at the would-be assassin or the fact that the perp had failed in his attempt to kill the famous white supremacist. Jim's past dealings with Nelson had been tempestuous to say the least. "O'Neal and Grace are handling that, right?"

"Wrong. This is your case now, Jim," Simon informed him flatly.

"Say what?" Blair exclaimed, missing his coffee cup with the sweet and low.

Jim sat up straighter. "Sir?"

"Sorry, Jim. I know you've probably seen enough of Nelson to last a lifetime, but this comes straight from the top. Nelson himself has requested you on this case."

"That's nuts," Blair burst out. He stifled any further protests as Jim spoke.

"Blair's right, sir. Why would Nelson want me on the case? I arrested him for god's sake!"

"Nelson says he respects you as an investigator, Jim." Simon spread out his hands in a placating gesture as Jim muttered his opinion of that. "I know, but my hands are tied. Nelson has a lot of friends in high places."

"What's he up to?" Blair speculated.

"With Nelson there's always some game going on," Jim agreed.

"The mayor was willing to cut him some slack over his request because of these." Simon opened a folder and handed over three newspaper clippings sealed in plastic.

"Not more clippings," Blair moaned, bad memories of the recent kidnapping connected to Nelson still fresh in his mind.

"They were delivered this morning with this note." Simon held it up. It was a white piece of paper and scrawled on it were three words. 'It's your fault.'

Blair peered over Jim's shoulder as the detective studied the clippings. Headlines and by-lines were snipped, leaving just the body of the story to get the message across. The first was about Nelson's arrest on assault charges, the second reported the collapse of the prosecution case against Nelson and the third outlined Jason Warner's sad fate at the hands of the fanatics who objected to the famous white supremacist being released.

"As your name features prominently in each story, Jim, the mayor felt you would want to work the case," Simon continued.

"And the fact that he's also giving in to Nelson is purely a coincidence," Jim said sardonically.

"That's the mayor's concern," the captain said frankly. "Jim, from my own point of view I'd be glad to have you working on this. We've seen what kind of hatred and fanaticism Nelson stirs up, both in his supporters and detractors. We don't need another case like the Warner kidnapping on our hands."

Jim picked up the folder and studied it for a moment before nodding. "Yes, sir."

Blair took a last gulp of his fragrant coffee and followed his partner, casting a look back at Simon. Banks nodded to him and Blair nodded back. He didn't need anyone telling him that his place was by his sentinel's side.

000

Charles Nelson greeted them at the door. "Detective Ellison, Mr. Sandburg. Please come on in." He led them through to his office and closed the door behind them. "I'm very pleased to see that my request was granted. I feel safer already, detective, knowing you are on my case." Nelson's voice was cultured and urbane, his expression affable and smiling. Blair could understand why the man was so popular.

"The detectives already assigned were every bit as capable," Jim said politely, perching on the edge of a chair. Blair followed his lead, sitting but not allowing himself to get comfortable.

"I'm sure they are," Nelson said genially, leaning back in his chair behind the huge desk.

The detective produced the note, sheathed in plastic. "What does this mean to you?"

Nelson surveyed it across the polished wood of his desk but made no move to touch it. "It doesn't mean any more to me than all the other cowardly threats I have received over the years," he said coolly. "I wouldn't have bothered you with it myself, but my secretary panicked when it arrived this morning."

"Have you had any similar threats?"

"I really couldn't say, detective. People like to make threats, and most of these people don't sign their names. I'm sure that particular note falls into the same category."

Jim asked a few more questions, but Nelson had nothing of interest to add. Finally the detective stood up. "Thank you for your cooperation, we will leave you to your work," Jim said politely.

"Please, a few moments more, detective," Nelson said, smiling pleasantly. Exchanging a quick glance with his partner Jim sat back down.

"I have very specific needs with regards this case," Nelson said, speaking carefully. "It's the reason I requested that you work on it. Those other detectives were unknown quantities. I like to control the people who work for me, Jim, I like to own them. May I call you Jim?

"No," Jim said. "And let's get this straight right now, Nelson. I don't work for you, and you don't own me."

"Straight," Nelson murmured reflectively. "Interesting choice of words."

Blair watched anxiously as Jim's jaw clenched. The detective didn't usually let people get to him this quickly, but Nelson certainly had a knack for antagonizing him.

"You tried to buy me once, Nelson. I thought you learned then that I'm not for sale."

"I did, detective. And I never make the same mistake twice. Mr. Sandburg," Nelson turned his attention to Blair. "All ready for your court date?"

 "What?" Blair frowned, caught off guard. Beside him Jim stiffened.

"Your adoption hearing. I understand it's next week? My lawyers tell me barring unexpected problems you should have no trouble getting custody. Congratulations by the way, detective." Nelson turned his attention back to Jim.

"Our private lives are none of your business," Jim said in a low dangerous tone.

Nelson smiled. It was not a pleasant smile. "On the contrary, detective. I think it's everybody's business. In fact, I think this is something the public has a right to know."

"What are you talking about?" Blair asked quietly, leaning forward to place a warning hand on Jim's forearm. The bigger man's fists were clenched on the arms of the chair and a muscle beat rhythmically in his jaw.

"I'm talking about the media, Mr. Sandburg, and what they might think about two gay men adopting a baby boy. I'm talking discussion, debate, moral outrage, public outcry. Politicians looking to score quick popularity fixes. In short," Nelson leaned back, smiling expansively. "In short I'm saying that with hardly any effort at all I can hold your private lives up to public scrutiny through the glaring lens of the media. I can get that kid whisked out of your arms and out of your lives." The smile turned deadly. "I can make it so you never see him again."

Blair felt his blood turn to ice at the deadly earnestness in the man's voice. Rage rose in his heart.

"What do you want?" Jim hissed between clenched teeth. It was his turn to hold Blair's arm as the smaller man tensed.

"I told you, Jim. I like control of the people that work for me. Too many cops seem to feel that if I were to eat a bullet it would be what I deserve. So I want the cop on this case to have a vested interest in keeping me alive."

"Right now we're more likely to want to turn a blind eye next time the assassin shows up," Blair retorted, anger choking his voice.

"That's why my publicist and media consultant have orders to run with this if anything happens to me," Nelson informed them pointedly. "Like I said, it's in your best interests to keep me alive and well informed." The older man turned his keen gaze on Jim. "You will locate the threat against me and you will neutralize it. And the threat against you will go away."

"We will do our job," Jim said, stone faced. "Your threats mean nothing to us."

"When you catch this man I want to know it, detective," Nelson went on as if Jim hadn't spoken. "I want you to inform me, personally. You have too much to lose if you don't."

The look Ellison gave the man was deadly, and then he turned and walked out. Blair turned to follow him. He paused at the door.

"You know, we would have done our jobs anyway, without the threats," Blair said seriously.

Nelson met his eyes. "I didn't get where I am today trusting in the goodness of humanity, Mr. Sandburg."

"Yeah, right," Blair said, hoping his expression conveyed just what he thought of where Nelson was now. He followed his partner out.

000

Jim was already in the elevator when Blair arrived and they rode down together in silence.

"Are you okay, Jim?" Blair asked once they reached the parking level.

"Other than wanting to punch a wall?" Ellison said tightly. "Fine."

Blair sighed. "What are we gonna do?"

They arrived at the truck and climbed in.

"What we were gonna do without the threats," Jim said. "Our jobs."

"What if Nelson decides to throw us to the wolves anyway?" Nelson's words rang in his ears. 'I can get that kid whisked out of your arms...' Suddenly Blair longed to be holding his son tight.

"It's not going to happen, Chief, we won't let it happen."

"How do we stop it, Jim? What do you do against a man like that?"

Jim stared out of the windscreen at the dirty concrete walls of the parking garage. Finally he turned and reached for Blair's hand, holding it tightly in his. "We'll find a way."

000

"Where to first?" Blair asked once they were on the road.

"Judge Warner's home."

"You're kidding?" Blair's head whipped around. "The judge isn't a suspect in this, surely?"

"His son was killed because of the kind of fanaticism that surrounds Nelson." Jim shot a glance at his lover. "Don't you think that makes him a suspect?"

Blair's throat tightened as he recalled the kidnapping case. Judge Warner had paid for freeing Nelson with his sons life. Extremists who objected to Nelson being freed had kidnapped the judges son, resulting in the boys death. Before Jamie, Blair knew he couldn't have begun to understand what the Warner's were going through. Now that he was a parent himself he couldn't begin to understand how they were coping with their terrible loss. He didn't like the idea of harassing them over this and he said so.

Jim sighed. "No-one is harassing them, Chief. But we have to go by the numbers on this. Besides, they received bags of mail from the public commiserating with them over their loss. We need to look for similar letters to the one Nelson received."

"More letters," Blair groaned, but his mind was still on Nelson and his threat and he knew Jim's was too.

The Warner home was a large fenced property in an exclusive neighborhood. Jim knocked on the wide wooden front door. A small lady in a spotless overall answered the door.

"Detective Ellison, ma'am, this is Mr. Sandburg. Is Judge Warner in?"

The lady studied the badge and handed it back. I'm sorry, detective," she said politely. "The judge and Mrs. Warner are staying at a friends home in the Bahamas. I have no idea when they will be returning to Cascade."

Jim and Blair exchanged glances. "When did the judge and his wife leave?"

The housekeeper sniffed and twisted her hands in her apron. "The day after the funeral," she said in a choked voice. "Excuse me." She pulled a tissue from her pocket and dabbed at her eyes.

"We're so sorry," Blair said sincerely.

"Ma'am, I understand the Warner's have received a great deal of mail since the funeral?" Jim said gently. "Would it be possible for us to see some of it?"

"I suppose that would be okay," the housekeeper said, stepping back and gesturing for the men to follow her. The hall was dark and cool, covered with mellow oak panels. Pictures lined it and Blair felt a pang as he noticed how many of them were of children. There were babies and toddlers and teenagers, standing in front of country houses, posing with surfboards, wide white grins and gap toothed smiles.

"Jason was the youngest of five," the housekeeper told Blair, following his gaze along the halls picture hung gallery. "The baby."

Blair looked solemnly at his lover, their own baby in the forefront of his mind. Jim met his look, knowledge of all his lover was feeling shining in his eyes, and then turned to the housekeeper. "The letters?" he prompted her.

"In here." She led them into the wide airy kitchen. A box sat on the bench, nearly full of letters of all shapes and sizes. "I was opening them at first, but they were upsetting me, so the judge told me to leave them for when he came home. Some of them..." The lady mopped at her eyes again. "How can people be so cruel? To say Judge Warner deserved what happened?"

Blair patted her on the shoulder. "There are some terrible people out there," he said sadly.

"We can take care of this," Jim reassured her. "I'm sure the judge wouldn't mind us taking these in the circumstances. They will all be returned to him when he wants them."

"There might be some Mrs. Warner would like to see," the housekeeper said. "Some lovely cards and letters."

"There are some decent people out there too," Blair smiled at her gently and she nodded.

000

"Well, that sucked," Blair said, climbing back into the truck. "How can the Warner's ever come back to that house?"

"I suppose there are good memories there too," Jim shrugged and started the truck. "I don't know. I don't even want to wrap my mind around what they have been through."

"Being a parent gives you a whole new perspective, doesn't it."

"One I could do without when I am trying to maintain my objectivity," Jim returned grimly, starting the truck with a flick of his wrist.

"Come on, Jim. Who could maintain their objectivity in any of this? Nelson pushes everybody's buttons, and the death of a child? Who would want to be objective?"

"And if Warner were involved in the attempt on Nelson's life? I would need to be objective then, wouldn't I?"

"Would you?" Blair muttered. "After Nelson's threats today I can't say I care one way or another what the hell happens to him."

"That's what the McGraw's probably thought when they decided to kidnap Jason Warner," Jim said angrily. "Vigilantes taking the law into their own hands lose track pretty quickly of what's right and wrong, Chief."

"That was different, Jim," Blair returned heatedly. "They were nutcases. What did they hope to achieve by kidnapping that child?"

"And what do you think would be achieved by Nelson's assassination?" Jim swung his piercing gaze on Blair.

"Cleansing the world of a bigoted homophobic hatemonger?" Blair speculated. "One who obeys the letter of the law just as long as it suits him, and then hides behind it when he's threatened."

"Oh yeah, that sounds familiar right now, huh? You work with me to uphold the law, but Nelson threatens us today and suddenly you are ready to throw that law out the window?"

"I'm ready to do whatever it takes! That creep threatened our child, Jim. And if the law can't protect us then darn right I will throw it out of the window!" Feeling rage overwhelm him again Blair slammed the side of his fist against the truck door.

"Damn." Jim pulled over to the side of the road and shut off the engine. "Damn, you are shaking!" he exclaimed, unbuckling his seat belt and twisting around. He reached for his lover but Blair twisted away from him, opening the door and jumping out onto the grassy verge along the edge of the road.

He stood there for long moments in the sunlight, taking deep cleansing breaths of air. Dimly he became aware of Jim standing behind him.

"I'm sorry, Jim," he finally said in a hushed tone. "I guess that house just got to me. Those pictures..."

"Don't apologise," Jim said quietly, laying a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Half the reason I was so angry is because I agreed with what you were saying. I guess I was arguing with myself as well as you."

Blair turned to face his lover. "I know," he said softly.

Blue eyes met blue. Both were somber and sad.

"We'll do our job, Blair. That's all we can do. We'll worry about the rest later, okay?"

"That's a nice idea," Blair agreed. "Can't see my worry genes coming on board though. They are pretty much steaming full speed ahead right now."

"We should talk to Simon," Jim said slowly. "We are going to need all the friends we have if Nelson follows through with his threat."

Blair laid his hand over Jim's heart for a moment in a subtle caress, mindful of their public surroundings. "Lucky we have so many good ones," he agreed.

"Like you told that lady," Jim said, climbing into the truck. "There are good people in the world too."

000

"Great, Chinese food for lunch?" Blair said as they pulled up in front of a restaurant in Chinatown.

"If you are a very good boy," Jim said patronizingly. "This restaurant is owned by the Chin family."

"Boy, we are revisiting the past today, aren't we?"

"Just following the trail the perp laid out for us in those clippings."

Blair followed Jim into the restaurant which was bustling with customers, hardly surprising as it was well into the lunch hour.

Jim spoke briefly to the hostess and they were directed to a room in the back, past the kitchens. Blair glanced into the busy kitchen as they passed, white coated waiters dashed by him and cooks called out incomprehensible instructions to their helpers.

Michael Chin was sitting at a desk in a small cramped office. He was typing away at a key board, a pair of crutches leaning up against a battered old filing cabinet next to him. He looked up as the two men appeared in the doorway.

"Ah," he said in soft satisfaction. "I was starting to feel a little slighted. Someone tries to whack Chuck Nelson and I'm not even a suspect? Makes a man feel pretty low quality."

"Mr. Chin," Jim said politely. "How are you?"

A bitter look crossed Michael Chins smooth handsome face. "How do I look?" he asked, nodding at the well worn crutches.

"Glad to see you back at work," Jim gestured to a seat. "May I?"

Chin nodded and leaned back carefully in his chair. "My family found a place for me here," he explained. "Working in the market is still a little beyond me right now. And as you can see I am hardly in any position to go climbing over Nelson's walls in the middle of the night." Chin again indicated his cane. "But as soon as I am, well, then we might be meeting again."

Jim ignored that. "You have an extended family, Mr. Chin. As I recall some of them were very vocal with the media after the case was thrown out. Have any of them made any specific threats against Nelson?"

Chin shook his head. "Like I'd tell you if they had? No, detective. If my family or friends were going to kill Nelson they would have done it a year ago. Unfortunately we trusted the justice system to do our work for us, but as usual people like us are left with nothing."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Chin," Jim said sincerely.

"I'm sorry for you, detective," Chin returned. "Hunting for someone who wants to kill Charles Nelson could become a man's life work."

They took their leave of the bitter young man, and headed for the station.

"Well, that was helpful," Blair said gloomily. "Jim, isn't it possible that our would-be assassin is one of the many many other people who hate Nelson's guts? Chin is right, it is a very big list."

"My instincts are telling me it's personal," Jim said thoughtfully. "Besides, we can't really check up on all those hundreds of unknowns, can we? Look on the bright side, we have the rest of the afternoon to wade through threatening letters.

"Oh, goody."

Simon was free when they arrived in the squad room, so Jim and Blair went straight in to report on what little progress they had made that day. The captain heard them out, listening intently to the report, asking the occasional question.

"Well, keep on it," Simon encouraged. "It's beginning to look like needle in a haystack time."

"Yes, sir," Jim agreed, but he didn't rise to leave and Simon cocked a brow at him curiously.

"Is there anything else?"

Jim exchanged a glance with his partner. "Yes, sir, there is. Nelson threatened us."

Simon straightened in his seat. "Threatened? How?"

Blair took over the story. "He threatened to go to the press and make a big noise about us adopting a baby, Simon."

"The press?' For a moment Simon merely looked puzzled, and then his frown cleared as he thought it through. "Oh I get it. I suppose there'd be plenty of folks just waiting to crawl out of the woodwork and protest something like this."

"Party time for the Southern Baptists," Blair muttered tartly.

"Nelson has tremendous pull with the media, Simon," Jim said gravely. "A few well worded stories could start one of those hysterical witch hunts in the media. We've all seen them before."

"What does Nelson hope to gain by this?" Simon asked curiously. "He's got you working on the case, just as he wanted."

"He doesn't trust us to do the job," Blair explained.

"To do it his way," Jim interjected. "Nelson said he wanted me to locate the threat against him, Simon. And neutralize it."

Simon leaned forward, chewing his cigar thoughtfully. "That's odd in itself though, isn't it? A man like Nelson would thrive on the publicity if we were to bring someone to trial over his assassination attempt. Why would he try to blackmail you into 'neutralizing' that kind of free press?"

"Unless the threat against him is about more than his life," Blair said in sudden realization.

Jim and Simon exchanged looks. "Maybe someone has something on him," the captain speculated. "If that was the case it stands to reason he wouldn't want a detective working it that he couldn't control."

"If we're right he probably has his own people on this already," Jim reflected. "He just can't take the chance that a cop might turn this guy up before him. Damnit! I should have seen this!"

"Nelson was counting on his threat clouding your judgment, Jim," Simon consoled his detective.

"Well it worked," Jim said bitterly. "But at least we have something now. Find the would-be assassin, and maybe we find a way to bring Nelson down."

"Excuse me," Blair said. "That all sounds sweet, but his threat against us is still very real. How does this help us fight that?"

"You know, I'm not down-playing the seriousness of his threat here, but you guys are assuming you would lose if it came to a fight," Simon pointed out. "Nelson can make a fuss, but he can't guarantee how it would swing."

"I'm not willing to trust Jamie's fate to that slim chance, Simon," Jim said forcefully.

"What other choice do you have right now? Your best chance is to catch this guy," the captain said briskly. "The rest is a moot point till then."

000

Naomi was reading on the couch when they let themselves into the loft, Jamie at her feet, banging on his drum.

"He's been calling for both of you the last five minutes," she reported with a smile, closing her book and rising to greet her son with a kiss.

"There's my boy." Jim scooped up the wriggling infant and snuggled his neck.

"Did you have a nice day, mom?" Blair asked.

"Oh, honey, we had a great time! I hope you'll let me do it again next time I'm in town?"

"Anytime," Blair said, smiling at the light in her shining eyes. "Will you stay for dinner, mom?"

Naomi shook her head. "I ate while I fed Jamie. Oh, and I gave him his bath too."

"Something of a prerequisite after feeding him," Jim joked. "Um, Naomi? What is he wearing?"

"We did a bit of shopping," Naomi confirmed. "I saw that and I just couldn't resist it."

Jim perched Jamie on his hip and rubbed the fabric of the wheat colored jumpsuit between his fingers. It was a one piece outfit ending in ribbed cuffs at his knees and elbows. "Naomi, is this what

I think it is?"

"It's hemp, Jim," Blair's mother reported. "It's a natural fiber that can be grown without pesticides and with no negative impact on the environment," she informed him with wide eyed sincerity.

Next to her Blair gamely suppressed his laughter.

"And this?" Jim lifted one of Jamie's little bare feet. A gold chain with tiny bells chimed gently. The baby laughed, scrunching his toes as Jim stroked the pink sole of his foot.

"It's an anklet, Jim. I bought it in the same place I found the outfit." Naomi turned shining eyes on her son. "Oh, Blair, we found this wonderful vegetarian restaurant called Govinda's, it's run by the Hare Krishna's. Honey, you just have to try it!" 

Blair was laughing now, the somewhat dazed expression on his lovers face tickling his funny bone.

"Well, they were singing and dancing and Jamie just loved it! He was stamping his foot and the bells were tinkling. It was so adorable. He is trying so hard to walk now, honey," she said excitedly to Blair. "What perseverance!"

"But... an anklet?" Jim said in dismay.

Chortling helplessly, Blair was no help whatsoever. Naomi shrugged on her coat and picked up her copious purse.

"Bye bye, Jamie," she said, crossing the room to deposit a kiss on his small nose. "Grandma will see you soon. Bye, Jim," she finished, pecking a kiss on the tall man's cheek.

"Uh, see you soon, Naomi," Jim managed. "Thanks for... uh, taking care of him."

"I'll walk you to the car, mom," Blair volunteered, still grinning. Riding down in the elevator Blair snaked a playful arm around her waist and squeezed.

"Could you have pushed any more of Jim's buttons?" he teased.

Naomi blinked innocently. "Me?"

Blair hugged her close, laughing, and after a moment or two his mother joined him, giggling merrily.

"Well," she chuckled. "It's good for him to push his limitations a little."

"I think Jim does okay, all things considered," Blair said fairly. "You know, we are probably never gonna see that anklet again."

They arrived at Naomi's car. "Don't let him turn my grandson into one of those OshKosh clones," she warned. "Little polo shirts with alligators on the pockets and Reebok sneakers." She shuddered.

"No, mom," Blair said dutifully. "It's Nike all the way for the Ellison-Sandburg family."

"You know what I mean," she admonished.

"Yeah, mom, I do." Blair kissed his mothers cheek. "But Jim loves Jamie with all his heart, and that's what matters, not the clothes he wears, right?"

"My genius son," Naomi marveled fondly.

000

When Blair let himself back into the loft Jim was pouring warmed milk into a bottle for Jamie, helped along by the infants plaintive calls for his ba-ba.

"Ba-ba is on the way, Jamie," Blair informed him, picking him up and kissing his round cheek. "Blair's hungry too, he might just have to eat you up, hmm? Num-num!" Jamie wriggled and giggled as his father made a kissing meal of his face and neck.

"That's enough," Jim said mock sternly as he screwed the lid on the bottle. "You'll get him too excited to sleep."

"But I want to play," Blair moped, making an exaggerated sad face for the baby's benefit. Jamie patted his stubbled face reassuringly.

Jim lifted the baby from Blair's arms and settled himself on the couch.

"Ba-ba," Jamie said, eying the bottle greedily. He latched onto the proffered teat and was instantly transported to bliss.

"Some people are easy to please," Jim smiled, settling him comfortably in the crook of his arm. He lifted the other arm and Blair snuggled underneath it.

"I love that mom wanted to spend the day with him," Blair said hesitantly. "But I kind of look forward to feeding him and bathing him, especially when we work long hours like we have today. It's the only time we have with him."

"When this case is done we'll take some early days," Jim promised. Jamie's eyes opened and focused intently on Jim, his initial urgent suckling abating to a satisfied pull at the teat.

"When this case is over," Blair said, a little fearfully. He stroked a gentle finger down one flushed cheek and Jamie switched his attention swiftly, one plump hand grasping Blair's finger.

"You know, Chief, there is one choice we haven't talked about yet," Jim began a little uncertainly. Blair knew instantly that he was speaking about their problem with Nelson. He laid his head on Jim's shoulder, silently listening.

"Our adoption is legal in Cayenna," Jim said quietly. "If the court here refuses to ratify it we could go back there."

Blair lifted his head to face his lover. "Go back to South America?" he said in astonishment.

Jim stroked Jamie's fingers where they gripped Blair's. "I still have friends down there, I could find work. And there are some good schools in South America. We could find you something."

Blair opened and closed his mouth in shock. "You'd do that? You'd give up... everything?"

Jim met his lovers dazed eyes with a smile of such serenity that Blair felt it pierce his heart like an arrow. There was no pain though, just a release of the days tension that he hadn't even realised he was still carrying. It was with a much lighter heart that he could finally return that smile, and without words they both acknowledged that they already had everything they needed right there in that circle of light.

000

The next morning Jim had a date in court and Blair had some work to do at the university. The teaching fellow actually made it to the station before his partner, and he sat at Jim's desk, idly flipping through the case file.

As he studied the press clippings he cast his mind back just a few weeks before when another case connected to Charles Nelson had involved press clippings. A thought occurred to him, and he quickly logged into the police data base, using Jim's ID code. By the time his lover arrived he had a break in the case waiting for him.

"Blair, you're a genius!" Jim said in amazement, flipping through the printed paper.

"Yeah," Blair agreed modestly. "But I'm not a cop, and I need you to fill in the blanks."

000

Simon Banks arrived from a long lunch meeting after two, and Jim and Blair ducked into his office before he even had a chance to hang up his coat.

"Something you want to share with me, boys?" the captain drawled, looking at their excited faces.

"We have it, Simon, boy do we have it," Jim crowed. "Blair, you tell him, you figured it out."

"I had a few ideas," Blair said, flushing happily. One thing he loved about Jim was his total willingness to give credit where it was due.

"Want to share them with me?" Simon prompted.

"Well," Blair began, almost bouncing with eagerness. "It occurred to me that we were still caught up in the McGraw case, where the clippings about Nelson were what the McGraw's used to justify their hatred of him. I studied these clippings," he spread the latest ones out on the desk, "And I started wondering why the would-be killer chose these three, out of all the hundreds of stories that have appeared about Nelson in just the last year."

"And?" the captain prompted again.

"And we already knew they were all from The Tribune," Blair continued without missing a beat. "So I made a quick visit to their web site and turned up these, the original stories. I printed them up." The young man spread three pages on the desk. "Check out the by-lines," he said eagerly.

"C.C Cooper," Simon read out. "My god," he looked up at Jim for confirmation. "They were all written by the same journalist?"

Jim nodded. "Puts a whole new slant on the case, doesn't it, sir."

"You better talk to this Cooper."

Jim and Blair exchanged glances. "That would have been ideal, Simon," Jim filled in. "But I talked to her editor at The Tribune. Turns out C.C Cooper, Catherine Collins Cooper, drove her car off a cliff in the Olympia Bluffs three weeks ago."

Simon rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "The plot thickens. Suspicious circumstances?"

"The investigating officer is calling it a clear cut case of suicide. No mechanical problems in the car, and the tire tracks show it drove straight over the cliff, without swerving or hitting anything on the way."

"But?" Simon encouraged, seeing there was more to the story.

"But when Cooper's brother, Josh Cooper, was informed of his sister's death, he apparently went wild, insisting that she had been murdered," Blair interjected. "By the time the investigators could follow it up he had clammed up. Claims he was distraught, didn't know what he was saying."

"The editor at The Tribune did tell me something else that is pretty interesting, Simon," Jim chimed in. "Cooper was working on a big expose in the weeks leading up to her death. The guy wouldn't tell me who it was about, but I think I can take an educated guess."

"So can I," Simon agreed grimly. "Do you think Nelson could be responsible for this woman's death?"

"I think Josh Cooper might be thinking it, sir." Jim pulled the note out of his folder and laid it on his captain's desk, over the press clippings. "It certainly sheds a different light on this note. When he says 'It's your fault', he's not talking about the stories, he's talking about the writer."

"Find Josh Cooper," Simon ordered. "Bring him in."

"Just waiting for some details," Jim said, pulling open the door and waiting for Blair to precede him from the room. "And then we are on him."

000

Josh Cooper was not at the garage he was part owner in, and his partner confirmed that he had been pretty upset about his sister's death. He had also been drinking heavily for the past few weeks.

His home address led Jim and Blair to a block of condominiums in one of the up and coming neighborhoods. They parked the truck in the visitor bay and climbed the stairs to the second level. Jim knocked briskly on the door.

Blair looked around him as they waited, admiring the leafy suburb, the quiet streets, the secluded privacy of the blocks. Jim leaned forward, appearing to be listening hard.

"What is it?" Blair asked.

"He's climbing out the window," Jim said in realization. "Mr. Cooper!" he called loudly. "It's the police, Mr. Cooper. Open up!"

Without pausing Jim kicked the door in, sending it flying back on its hinges to crash against the wall. Swiftly Jim raced into the apartment to a window opposite the foyer. It was wide open and he stuck his head out.

"The roof," he shouted. "Call for back up."

And with that he was flying out the front door and around to the stairwell.

"Call for back-up," Blair muttered, pulling out his cell phone as quickly as he could while still following his partner. "So what else is new?" He pushed a number for auto dial and dutifully requested back-up. It had quickly become a habit to do this, and the dispatchers all knew his voice by now.

When he arrived up top it was just in time to see a young man with brown hair leap from the roof, obviously attempting to make it to the roof next door. He almost made it, but his legs failed to find purchase and he began slipping backwards, hands scrabbling desperately for a hold.

"Help me!" he screamed, and then like a blur of motion Jim was leaping from the roof onto the next one.

Blair felt his heart leap into his throat and choke him as Jim also clung for long desperate moments on the roofs gutter, before his greater upper body strength paid off and he pulled himself to safety.

Moments later he was grasping the young man's wrist and dragging him onto the grimy concrete.

Breath whistling out of him Blair felt his legs give way, and he collapsed onto his knees on the rough surface beneath him.

"Chief, you okay?" Jim called over in concern and Blair sketched a rough wave back at him, unable for the moment to find his voice.

000

An hour later they were sitting in the lunch room while Taggert and Rafe interrogated their prisoner. Blair was clutching a cup of coffee between cold hands and Jim was sitting opposite him, dabbing antiseptic on the scrapes his hands had suffered scrabbling for a handhold on the roof.

Simon stuck his head in the door. "Jim? Why aren't you in with Cooper?"

"I thought I'd let Joel start him off, sir," Jim said without taking his eyes from his partner. "He's been dying to get into that whole interrogation thing."

"It's amazing how intimidating he can be," Blair joked vaguely.

Simon looked worried. "You guys okay?" he said, stepping into the doorway.

Jim looked from his captain to his lover. "I hope so, Simon," he said quietly.

"I'll leave you to it," Simon said, taking the hint.

"Jim?" Blair laid his mug down on the table carefully, mindful that his hands still had the tendency to shake. "Are you okay?"

"Am I okay?" Jim repeated, laughing incredulously. "My god, Blair, look at yourself and ask me that. You are still shaking, aren't you?"

Blair felt heat rising in his face. "I'm sorry," he said awkwardly. "It was just so unexpected, getting there just in time to see you take that leap. I'm okay."

"Are you?" Jim asked shrewdly. "Blair, I'm the one who should be apologizing. I promised I wouldn't do this any more, remember?"

Blair shook his head in puzzlement, and then a sudden thought struck him. "Jim, you're talking about that ultimatum I made, aren't you?"

Now Jim shook his head. "It wasn't an ultimatum, Chief," he denied. "You made some very reasonable requests and I made you some promises, one of them being that I would stop taking unnecessary risks. I broke that promise today."

"Oh, Jim," Blair groaned, leaning his head in his hands for a moment, feeling his hair cascade down around his face. He straightened as he felt Jim's hand on his shoulder. The big man had pulled his chair around until he was sitting to Blair's right, his back to the door.

"I'm sorry, Blair."

Looking into his lovers sincere eyes Blair resisted the urge to weep. "Jim, please," he said mistily. "I had no right to make that ultimatum in the first place, no right to demand that promise from you."

"I gave you that right," Jim said. "We gave each other that right when we joined our lives, remember?"

"I remember that you are a cop, my love," Blair said, covering Jim's hand where it lay on his shoulder. "You were a cop when I met you and fell in love with you, and you were a cop when we joined our lives. I haven't got the right to tell you what you can do, how you should be. No-one has. I have felt bad about this for so long."

Jim studied Blair for long moments. "Well, now I'm mad," he said firmly. "You cannot go around feeling bad and not telling me, Blair. Now listen up, and hear me, okay? Everything you said that night I agreed with. It's all stuff I should have done when we first got together, if I wasn't such a selfish set-in-my-ways jerk. Uh uh," he chided as Blair opened his mouth to object. "My turn to talk."

"Okay," Blair agreed, watching the sincerity shine from his lovers eyes.

Jim sighed, looking unsure where to start now that he had the floor. "In the past when I took risks, it was because I didn't have any reason not to, you know? I only had myself to worry about, and I guess that got to be a habit. I didn't slow down when we got together because it didn't occur to me that I should. That was the selfish part."

"Old habits can be hard to break," Blair excused huskily.

"I know," Jim agreed. "Like today. Blair, when we got Jamie I realised that I was risking more than my life, and your happiness. I was risking our family. I don't want to do that any more."

Blair looked down at his hands on the scarred old formica surface of the table. He longed to be holding his lover tight, but he knew Jim would never be comfortable with that at the station, especially in this glass fishbowl of a room.

Jim was continuing, his voice reflective as he spoke. "Remember last week, when I was wrapping up the details of the Myer case? I got home late and you were already in bed. The loft was warm and cozy, and when I looked in on Jamie I could smell how sweet and fresh he was. I had this sudden image of you bathing him, laughing with him, holding him close while you fed him and it came to me. I realised that nothing I did could get back those hours I was away from my family. I hated that feeling."

"I've been there too, Jim," Blair murmured reassuringly. "I've been caught up in my work and looked up at the clock and realised time was getting away from me. Those are the habits of a lifetime, man, you can't expect to break them overnight."

"My dad spent a lifetime living that way, Blair. I don't want to do what he did. I don't want to wake up an old man and realize I have thrown away everything important."

"Not going to happen," Blair said firmly. "Although the way you jumped off that roof today you'll be lucky to make it to an old man," he said sternly.

Jim scratched his head. "That is what I was apologizing for in the first place, wasn't it?" he said ruefully.

"Just be careful, Jim," Blair said tenderly. "I know you occasionally have to take risks, that is part of your job. Just don't take more than you need to. And I know occasionally we are both going to get caught up in our work. But every time we come back to ourselves and figure out what we did wrong is a step forward. You are already a better man than your father will ever be, Jim."

Jim laid his hand over Blair's where it lay on the table, and the smaller man turned his own hand up so that they were clasped. He gently stroked the scrapes and cuts on that supple palm.

Behind Jim the door opened and with a last tender squeeze Blair released his lover's hand and looked up at Simon standing in the doorway. The captain's face was shining with glee as he bounced into the room and dragged over a chair, sitting down on it.

"Did I tell you guys how great you are?" he said with a huge grin.

Jim exchanged an incredulous look with Blair. "Not lately," he said cautiously.

"Well you are," Simon said expansively. "And if this pans out I will tell you so to the tune of a free dinner, on me, at the restaurant of your choice."

"Cooper confessed?" Blair ventured.

"Better than that, Blair my boy, vastly better. He's in there singing like a bird, and incidentally crying like a baby which is pretty pathetic."

"What did he have to say?"

"Turns out the reason he was so sure that Nelson whacked his sister is that C.C was blackmailing the man." 

"Blackmail?" Blair gasped.

"Seems she lucked out while conducting that in-depth expose on Nelson, either that or she was better reporter than she was blackmailer," Simon said with a cop's callousness. "But according to Cooper C.C was meeting Nelson that night to turn over ten year old video tape footage that Chuck was paying big bucks for."

"Tell me she had copies," Jim said hopefully.

"According to Cooper she had everything copied, and big brother knows the safe deposit box she kept it in."

"So what's on the tapes?" Blair asked curiously.

"That's what's so sweet," Simon grinned hugely. "Seems Nelson has a taste for pretty girls in school uniforms, among other things. Underage girls. Can you believe it?"

Blair's mouth turned down. "What a creep," he exclaimed.

"Where's the evidence?" Jim asked.

"Downtown bank. We are just waiting for the right paperwork, Cooper has agreed to allow us to open it. Gracious of him considering he has already confessed to attempted murder."

"Why didn't he just turn this evidence over to the cops?" Blair asked.

"He muttered something about wanting to protect his sister's reputation," Simon said caustically. "I get the feeling the dumb bastard's been drunk for most of the last three weeks."

"So what do we do now?" Blair said, feeling a little bewildered at the abrupt end to the case.

"Pray that the box isn't empty," Simon said fervently.

"And Nelson's threat about going to the press?"

Simon pulled out a cigar and rolled it thoughtfully between his fingers. "I've been thinking about that. If the details of this case somehow... leaked out to the press, Nelson would not come out smelling too sweet."

Jim assumed a serious face. "Mud does stick," he agreed. "Even if we could never link him to Cooper's death, just the suggestion that he might be involved in the murder of a journalist would be big news."

"Nelson might find he doesn't have as much influence with the media when that little gem comes to light," Simon said sagely. 

Blair was looking back and forth between the two cops as they bounced the details back and forth. "That is totally unethical," he exclaimed.

Both Jim and Simon turned innocent inquiring expressions on him.

"Your point, Sandburg?" Simon drawled.

Blair held up a defensive hand. "No point," he added hastily. "Just making an observation."

"Noted," Simon said with a satisfied chew on his cigar.

000

Blair looked up from his books an hour later as Jim stiffened beside him. Following his lover's gaze he saw Charles Nelson standing in the doorway to the squad-room. Dressed to perfection in a long coat with a fine wool muffler dangling beneath its lapels Nelson stood keenly surveying the room. He caught Jim's eye and cocked his head, waiting where he stood.

"He we go," Jim murmured for Blair's ears only.

"Mr. Nelson," Jim greeted, standing up and crossing the room. "Can I help you?"

"We need to talk, detective, somewhere private."

Jim glanced over his shoulder. "I'm sure my captain won't mind if we use his office, he's out on business at the moment." He gestured and Nelson preceded him through the now silent bullpen.

"You called and said you had caught the man who tried to kill me," Nelson said shortly.

"A man named Cooper confessed an hour ago," Jim confirmed.

"Cooper?" Nelson repeated. "Did he state his reasons for the attack?" he asked cautiously.

"We both know his reasons, Nelson," Jim said acerbically. "He believes you murdered his sister."

"I didn't kill that silly bitch," Nelson muttered. "I wouldn't pay her any blackmail money either. Did she think she was playing with an amateur? She's not the first to try to attach herself to my gravy train."

"Then how did she die?" Blair asked.

"She probably did just what they said she did," Nelson said sarcastically. "I turned the tables on her and threatened to expose some of her youthful peccadilloes. She could dish it out but she couldn't take it!"

"Whether you killed her or not didn't matter to her brother," Jim said tartly. "And it won't matter to the press when they get hold of the story. Especially when the contents of those tapes is bought to light."

Nelson's face grew ugly and he stepped closer to Jim. "You are very brave for a man whose life I hold in my hand," he sneered. "I want those tapes, or do you imagine I won't carry out my threat?"

"I don't care what you do," Jim said carelessly. "I'm not handing over those tapes. As a matter of fact they are already in my captain's possession, being logged as evidence." Jim smiled coldly. "If I can't put you away, Nelson, the next best thing will be to help break you."

Fists clenched Nelson gritted his teeth in rage. "You will be very sorry you didn't play ball with me over this, Ellison. Kiss that spic kid good bye when you get home tonight, because I am going to bring you down if it's the last thing I ever do."

The older man turned to leave but before he reached the door Jim was there, barring his way out.

"Not, yet, Chuck," Jim drawled. "It's my turn to threaten. Before I swore to uphold the law here in beautiful Cascade I worked for Uncle Sam, and he paid me cold hard cash to get my hands dirty for the good of my country. I thought I was a long way from those days but today I find I am not." Jim's voice lowered to a growl and he stepped so close to Nelson that his breath ruffled the man's graying temples. "If you ever do anything to threaten my family again I will find you, Nelson, me or one of my brothers in black. And I will beat you until you are dead."

 Grey eyes met steel blue for long silent moments, and then Jim stepped aside and allowed the old man to leave the office.

As soon as the cashmere coat had disappeared around the corner Blair collapsed against Simon's desk with a rough gasp. "Man, you even scared me with that!" he exclaimed.

Jim took a deep breath, his back still to Blair. With concern the younger man watched as his lover made a visible effort to relax, taut muscles flexing under the thin material of his shirt. Finally Jim turned to face him.

"Let's hope it worked on him," Jim said wearily. "I'd hate to have to kill him."

Blair huffed a laugh. "Man, if you are serious don't tell me, I don't want to know."

"Okay, Chief," Jim said amiably. He held out his arms, inviting Blair to break his no hugs at work rule, and with a laugh that was half hysterical Blair accepted.

000

"Jim, remember when I said life with you was like a roller coaster ride?" Blair said several days later.

"Hmm," Jim hummed an agreement.

"Well, I might have been understating things a little. This last week has been, well, grueling to say the least."

They were laying on their backs in the park, sprawled on a thick woolen blanket underneath a bright blue sky. As promised by Jim they had taken off from work early, the day just too beautiful to waste. Jamie was sitting between them, babbling away to himself in baby talk.

"Pretty grueling," Jim supplied. "But we survived it, and that's what counts, right?"

Blair turned on his side and rested on his elbow, head propped in his hand. "Just barely. When that story appeared in the paper..."

Blair thought back to the day after Cooper had confessed to attempted murder. The Tribune had run a page six story about the Cascade Cop of The Year for 1997 adopting a baby with his gay partner. The story had been short, the details mainly about the highlights of Jim's career. Blair's name had not even been mentioned.

Page one of the paper had run a banner headline in which Nelson's name had featured prominently.

"Simon took care of it," Jim said easily, switching to the same position on his side as Blair. Jamie took the opportunity to attempt to scale the formidable heights of his father's shoulders and Jim automatically placed a steadying hand on the infant's diaper-bulky bottom as he struggled to his feet.

"I know," Blair agreed, recalling Simon's smug smile as he bragged about his contacts at The Tribune. "After all, Nelson's not the only one who can pull strings in the media," Blair mimicked the captain's deep voice.

Chortling in delight at the unusual sounds issuing forth from Blair, Jamie swung around and took an unsteady step, leaning forward and toppling against his other father's sturdy chest.

"Hey, did you see that?" Blair exclaimed in delight, thoughts of Simon's timely leaks to the press banished from his mind. "That was almost a step!"

Jim sat up, crossing his legs beneath him. "When do babies usually walk?" he asked curiously.

Blair shrugged, sitting up and lifting Jamie to his feet, twisting him to face Jim. "About a year I guess. Scoot back a bit and then call him," Blair suggested.

Jim obediently shifted back a few inches until he was on the edge of the blanket. "Jamie, come to dad-dad," Jim coaxed, holding out his hands.

Jamie grinned toothily over at him, and kicked one tiny hiking boot against the rug. Blair steadied him with a hand on each hip, fingers overlapping in front.

"Come to dad," Jim called again, hands outstretched. With a reckless chortle Jamie launched himself fearlessly from Blair's hands, taking one unsteady step, and then another. Before he could topple forward for the third, Jim was swooping forward and catching him up with both hands, lifting him off the ground and crowing in delight.

"Oh, clever boy!" he cheered. Blair was laughing and clapping his hands, delight filling him at the wonderful scene.

"His first step!" Blair wrapped both arms around them, squeezing tightly. Jamie wriggled and giggled under the close hugs. Jim gave in and sat him back on the rug where he immediately struggled to his feet, Jim's knee his prop.

"Persistent imp," Jim said proudly. Blair's smile faded a little and Jim looked concerned.

"Three days, Jim," Blair whispered fearfully.

All Jim could do was place a comforting arm around his lover's shoulders. It was indeed three days until the adoption hearing.

000

The next three days crept by, long days and even longer nights. Blair tried to keep himself occupied during the day, but at night his imagination took over, and his dreams were fitful and frightening.

 Whenever he awoke from a nightmare he would find Jim awake next to him, eyes gleaming in the darkness. Blair would then wrap his arms around his lover and try to banish the night terrors in the warmth and love. Even Jamie seemed affected by the atmosphere, waking easily in the night and crying pitifully.

The night before the hearing as they were ready to climb the stairs to bed, Jim went into the nursery and scooped Jamie's sleeping body up in his arms. Wordlessly he preceded Blair up the stairs and laid the softly snoring baby on the center of their bed.  

"I think we all need each other tonight," Jim said softly, and with a grateful sigh Blair curled himself around their child, one extended over him to lay on Jim's thigh. He slept better that night than he had for weeks.

The day of the hearing dawned clear and cold, and Blair dressed Jamie in his corduroy overalls with a long sleeved sweater underneath. Thick socks and his little suede boots completed the warm outfit, and before they left the loft they spent ten minutes in the living area, letting Jamie stretch his legs and practice his new found walking skills. It was still two steps and then collapse, but the steps were getting more sure, little legs less wobbly as tiny booted toes pointed confidently forward.

When they arrived at the courthouse their friends and family were waiting on the steps. It was a closed hearing, although their lawyer, Martin Biggs, still insisted that it was going to be a quick and painless procedure. Nevertheless it was closed, so Jim and Blair weren't really expecting to see anyone they knew. It was a bit overwhelming therefore to see more than a dozen people waiting for them, including Naomi, Blair's mother, and Steven, Jim's brother.

"Just come to lend our support," Joel said, clapping Jim on the back.

"I hope it's okay," his wife, Angela, said.

"It's wonderful of you to come," Blair said, feeling a little misty at all the love and support shining in his friends and family's eyes. His mom hugged him, and then lifted Jamie from his arms.

"My grandson can stay with me while you get this all sorted out," she said happily, kissing a round wind-flushed cheek. 

"Steven, thanks for coming," Jim was saying, holding out a hand to shake. Steven grasped it and then hauled his big brother in for a hug.

"It's not everyday I become a legal uncle," he teased. He stepped back from Jim and then glanced over the taller man's shoulder, a new smile lighting his caramel eyes. "Someone else wanted to tell you that too."

Blair followed his lover's gaze as he turned, seeing William Ellison at the same time as Jim did. The older man was standing uncertainly at the bottom of the courthouse steps, looking a little doubtful about his welcome. For a moment Blair was doubtful too, and then the frozen look on Jim's face melted a bit and he took a few steps down the stairs. William took a few steps up and the two men met in the middle with a strong hug.

Behind him Blair heard Naomi sigh. "Families should be together," she murmured happily.

And then it was time to go into the judges chambers.

000

After all the worry and the threats and the fears Blair wasn't sure what he was expecting, but it wasn't the babble of legalese and the piles of crisp white papers that seemed to be traded back and forth between their lawyer and the judge. 

Martin spoke about the Adoption Petition filed and the foreign Adoption Decree ratified by the US embassy in Cayenna. He produced the all important Visa and then handed over the glowing Home Visit report. Blair felt his head whirling long before it was over.

The judge was a comfortable motherly woman in her fifties named Margaret Danbush. Martin had assured them that she was a fair and impartial arbiter in these kinds of cases.

"Mr. Ellison," she said, neatly stacking the documents in front of her. "I have spoken to many people in the course of my career who have been in the process of adopting children. I haven't handled that many international adoptions, but I am reassured that your lawyer has dealt with all the minutiae of intercultural and international law. So before I make any final decisions here I would like to speak with you and your partner for a few minutes." 

Looking only a little nervous Jim smiled at the judge. "Yes, your honor."

"I have been impressed with your background check, detective. From war hero to Cop of the Year, you have excelled in your chosen fields. I admit I was somewhat concerned about the kind of hectic schedule you must have, but the Home Study report contains a statement by your captain saying that you have already scaled down your involvement in the types of dangerous cases that might take you away from home for long periods of time. Doesn't it bother you that this might adversely affect your career?"

Jim cleared his throat. "I'm a family man now, your honor. My career takes second place to that," he said sincerely.

"I'm glad to hear it," the judge smiled. "Now, you understand that I have to address the issue of your lifestyle, I would be remiss in my duties to Jamie if I didn't," she continued sternly. "Do you feel that Jamie would be adversely affected being raised by gay parents?"

"If I believed that, your honor, I would never have attempted to adopt him. Jamie is growing up in a world were he will have to learn about and understand many different cultures and lifestyles. We will teach him tolerance for those different for himself, and we will also teach him to make his own decisions and choices. Blair and I love Jamie very much, and I think that's the most important thing we can give him."

Jim looked over at Blair and then back at the judge. "That's it," he said a little awkwardly. 

The judge smiled. "Very eloquent," she complimented. She then looked at Blair. "Mr. Sandburg. You are here because your partner is adopting Jamie. You are helping to raise the child, and therefore you have come under a great deal  of scrutiny. So far you seem to have passed with flying colours. An excellent student and teacher, praised by your colleagues, commended by the police department where you work as a consultant. Your superiors also tell me that you have scaled back your load at the University."

Blair nodded. "My time with my family is very important to me," he confirmed.

"And what is your opinion about Jamie being raised by gay parents?" she asked.

Blair frowned thoughtfully. "I had an unorthodox childhood myself," he admitted. "But no matter how many different places we visited or lived, no matter how often my mother grew restless and decided it was time to move on, I never doubted that I had her whole-hearted love and support. Jim and I love Jamie, materially we can supply him with everything he needs, and I believe emotionally no-one could ever love him as much as we do. We are already his parents," Blair finished abruptly, hoping he hadn't said too much.

The judge pressed her glasses more firmly on her nose and frowned down at the papers in front of her for a moment. "I'm inclined to agree with you," she said slowly. Then she was smiling over at the desk where the two men sat, their hand clasped firmly together under the table.

"It's my pleasure to tell you that this Decree of Adoption has been ratified by the Washington State Court, District of Cascade. You are required to submit to four Post Placement Home Studies over the next three years, but to all intents and purposes, Mr. Ellison, you are a father. Congratulations."

Blair heard the words but for a few moments he couldn't seem to absorb them. He turned to look at Jim for confirmation.

"Mr. Sandburg," the judge said quietly, drawing his stunned attention back to her. "Congratulations to you too. Jamie is a very lucky little boy."

 Jim's hand was squeezing his so hard Blair almost cried out, and then his fingers were released and Jim was breaking his own rule and hugging him tightly in public. Blair could hear Biggs talking in the background, and the judge answering him, somewhere further afield he could hear doors opening and people filing in for the next case, but all he was aware of were strong arms holding him tight and the sting of joyful tears in his throat.

Blair," Jim muttered in his ear.

"I know," Blair whispered back. "I know." They separated then, hands still clinging for as long as possible before they began shaking hands with a beaming Martin. Then they filed out of the chambers to face their eager family and friends.

000

Much much later that night Blair woke from his sound sleep to see Jim sitting at his desk, flipping through papers in the dark.

"Jim?" he muttered sleepily. "Is something wrong?"

"Sorry I woke you," Jim said, switching on the desk lamp. Blair squinted against the sudden light.

"Wotcha doin?" he yawned, kicking the covers aside and padding naked over to his lover. Jim pulled him onto his knee and wrapped warm arms around him, snuggling close.

"Just going through some papers, making sure everything's okay," Jim said softly, stroking gentle hands over sleep flushed skin.

"Isn't that what we are paying Martin for?" Blair lifted some of the papers on the desk. "Aren't these the documents from Rich? I thought Martin had these?"

"He did, but now they go in the safe deposit box with the rest of this stuff," Jim said, picking up a gold chain that gleamed dully in the dim light.

Blair stroked the crucifix that dangled from it, running his finger over the fall of gold chain. "Remember that day, Jim?" he murmured, half closing his eyes as memories flooded over him. "Jamie was laying on the blanket, wrapped up in my jersey, you had fed him that mush with your finger. Who would have thought then that we would be here now, that Jamie would be ours for the rest of our lives?"

"Not me," Jim said fervently. "I wasn't thinking any further than getting us all to safety."

"Any regrets, Jim?" Blair asked curiously.

"About this?" Jim lifted surprised brows. "What do you think, baby? I might not have understood that first bond you had with him, but I always respected it. And it didn't take long for the little piglet to seduce me too."

Blair chuckled lowly. "It sure didn't," he agreed. "Our sentinel baby. Wonder what kind of parents we'll make?"

"I think we have done okay so far," Jim said firmly. "And in the morning we can talk about everything else that parenting involves, including these insurance papers I was going through."

"Insurance?" Blair again glanced at the desk, his chest tightening as he spotted Jim's Last Will and Testament sitting there looking official. He knew Jim had updated it even before the hearing, naming Blair as Jamie's guardian in the event of his death. He loved the big man dearly for caring enough to make sure his family was taken care of, no matter what, but he didn't want to think about wills and death tonight. Tonight he was still in celebration mode.

He knew one sure way to distract Jim and he used it now, stretching in a slow supple yawn that stroked his naked body along the length of Jim's robed form. Jim's breath caught in his throat and his gentle hands tightened on soft skin.

Blair climbed to his feet and stood for a moment, pretty sure he knew what the golden glow of the desk lamp was doing to the contours of his naked body.

"Okay," Jim said hoarsely. "I will stop talking about wills if you stop using that voodoo magic on me."

Blair suppressed a snicker and casually flicked his hair over one shoulder. He turned his back on Jim and climbed gracefully onto the bed, bending over and crawling the last few inches, and then collapsing onto his face with a sigh of pleasure. Behind him the light flickered out and next to him the bed depressed as Jim joined him, pulling the covers over them both.

"You win," Jim whispered into his ear, eager hands curving over sturdy shoulders, stroking luxuriant curls to one side with a gentle sweep.

Blair turned into Jim's embrace, tucking his head into the strong curve of Jim's neck with a sigh of pure joy. 

"You know me too well," Blair breathed back. "How am I going to surprise you if you know me so well?" 

Jim threw back his head in a shout of laughter and Blair wrapped a hand over his mouth.

"Shh, you'll wake the baby!"

"My love," Jim grinned, tugging Blair back to his side. "Somehow I just cannot imagine a day you will stop surprising me."

"Yeah?" Blair grinned back, flattered.

"Yeah," Jim confirmed. "But I would appreciate it if you didn't bring home any more surprises for a while, okay?"

"No more babies?" Blair joked and Jim rolled his eyes back in his head in feigned shock.

"Please," he pleaded. "It's gonna take all the energy I have left to raise our sentinel baby."

"Okay," Blair agreed, stroking a caressing finger over his lover's smooth chest. "No more babies. How about a puppy?" 

Jim collapsed into laughter again, burying his face in Blair's hair and chortling into the curls.

"What?" Blair asked.

"We'll talk about it," Jim offered, before rolling on top of his lover and ending the conversation very firmly for the night.

000

Rain scattered against the glass of the windows and below them in his cot the sentinel baby in question stirred in his sleep, comforted by the familiar sounds that surrounded him. A smile curved rosebud lips and a dimpled hand clutched reflexively at a tiny plaid bear with a torn ear.

The End.

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