The Jamie Series #9

Priorities.

by Gillian

Jim spooned the last mouthful of warm porridge into Jamie's mouth and then wiped the baby's chin with the bottom of his bib.

"There you go, piglet," he said fondly, untying the bib and pulling it off. "I don't know what Blair was worried about, we are managing just fine without him, aren't we?"

Jamie made a grab for the empty cereal bowl as it was whipped off his table. "Blair," he said mutinously.

"He'll be home Thursday," Jim said patiently. "The day after tomorrow."

"Blair," Jamie repeated, sticking his lower lip out.

"Here, have some apple while I get my shoes on," Jim offered, lifting the baby onto the floor and handing him a wedge of peeled apple. But the baby didn't seem too interested, tossing the apple slice away and sitting on the floor where Jim placed him.

"Blair!" he yelled, and then began crying, fat tears rolling down his cheeks.

Jim hastily tied his laces and scooped him up, holding him close. "What's wrong, little guy?" he asked, pressing a kiss to Jamie's forehead. "Oh, hey, you're a bit warm." He pressed his lips to Jamie's skin again, holding them there for a few moments. "I think."

The cop carried the baby down the hall to the bathroom, opening the cabinet and pulling out the thermometer that sat on the forehead, reading the temperature from the skin and displaying it on a liquid crystal screen. He had never really mentioned it to Blair, but sometimes the line between 'normal' senses and his sentinel senses became pretty blurred. He knew it bugged his partner when he asked him if he could hear or see something in particular, but he really wasn't doing it to be funny. It was just that his sentinel senses had become so much a part of him that he lost track of the line that separated them from the senses everyone else had. In fact it wasn't until his senses submerged, the way they had on various stressful occasions, that he truly realized how much they had become a part of him.

"Ninety-nine," Jim read off the display. He cuddled the fretful baby close. "Well, it's higher than usual, but not really high." With a worried frown Jim studied their reflections in the bathroom mirror. Jamie was resting his head on his father's shoulder, his normally smiling mouth turned down. In this situation he would usually ask Blair's advice, and then most likely he could leave the solution in his partner's capable hands. After all, Blair's schedule was a lot more flexible than his own was. But today Blair was in Chicago at a conference, and he was here minding the store. Or the baby in this case.

Jim looked at his watch and swore. In just a few hours he was meeting with the DA to go over his deposition for the big court case on Friday. This was one case nobody wanted screwed up, and everyone was going out of their way to make sure all the t's were crossed and the i's were dotted.

"Okay," Jim said, making a decision. "We'll get you to school, see how you go during the day."

Jamie fretted on the drive over, sucking on his thumb with wet eyes gleaming at Jim every time he glanced in the rear view mirror. He began crying in earnest when Jim handed him to Mary-Anne at the child care center.

"Oh dear," she said, looking into the baby's miserable face. "Someone's not happy!"

"I think he's starting to run a bit of a temperature," Jim said worriedly. He held a hand to the baby's forehead, frowning as he realized it was warmer than just thirty minutes ago.

Mary-Anne made a face and handed Jamie smartly back over. "I'm sorry, Jim," she said apologetically. "But I have to ask you to take him to the doctor. We can't take the risk of Jamie spreading infection."

"But I have to go to work," Jim protested. "It's just a little bit of a fever."

"I really am sorry, Jim," Mary-Anne said firmly. "But I have twenty children here. Even if this is just the flu we can't have Jamie here when he's sick. You understand that, I'm sure."

"Of course I do," Jim agreed, his mind racing. He remembered Blair mentioning that the center would call them to come pick the baby up if he was ill. He glanced at his watch again. "Uh, okay, Mary-Anne, I will call and tell you what the doctor says."

"I would appreciate it, Jim," She called after him as he rushed down the hall.

Jim phoned the doctors surgery with one hand as he fastened the baby back into his seat. The nurse was very helpful and promised that the doctor would squeeze them in between appointments if Jim bought Jamie over straight away. The detective them dialed Simon as he drove.

"Banks."

"Simon," Jim greeted, trying to tune out the sounds of the baby's miserable crying. "I'm running a bit late."

"How late?" Simon said impatiently. "Is that Jamie crying?"

"Yeah," Jim confirmed. "He's sick, I'm taking him to the doctor."

"Can't Sandburg do it?" Simon asked shortly, and then swore under his breath before Jim could speak. "Oh yeah, I forgot he was away. Jim, we have that appointment with the DA at eleven sharp. I don't need to tell you how important this is."

"No, Simon, you don't," Jim returned. "I will be there." He rang off, folding the phone one handed. "It's okay, Jamie," he said, glancing back at the fretting baby in the mirror. "Dad's here."

"Daddaddad," Jamie sobbed.

The surgery was quiet when Jim arrived, and Nancy, the receptionist, led them to a waiting room and asked Jim if he wanted a cup of coffee while he waited. Jim gratefully accepted, it seemed like a long time since breakfast. Jamie calmed down a bit in his father's arms, cuddling against Jim's broad chest and hiccupping little sobs now and then. He was almost asleep when Dr. Stewart entered the room.

"Hi, Jim," she smiled. "Hey, Jamie," she greeted the baby stirring in Jim's arms. "Not feeling too good, little man?"

"He has a temperature," Jim reported. The doctor lifted Jamie from his arms and sat him on the padded table. Instantly the baby started crying again.

"Dad dad," he sobbed.

"And he doesn't want to be far away from his dad," Dr. Stewart smiled. "Let's take a look here." She lifted Jamie's arm and carefully pulled his sleeve from his shoulder, exposing a small reddened patch of skin. "Hmm, as I thought. He's having a slight reaction to the vaccination."

"Slight?" Jim questioned, holding the baby around his middle, absently kissing one of the hands clutching at him.

"I warned you it was a possibility," the doctor reminded him.

"One in two thousand, you said. Blair is gonna hand me my hat for this," Jim groaned as the doctor began taking the baby's temperature. "He didn't want Jamie to have the measles vaccination. Started waving all these pamphlets at me about how dangerous it can be."

"I've read those pamphlets," the doctor said, peering into the baby's tiny ears. "Believe me, Jim, I have studied the effectiveness of the measles vaccinations against the cases where serious side effects have been reported. And as I told you and Blair at the time, there have been side effects. But overall I genuinely believe the vaccination is the best and safest way to go. I have seen children suffer terribly with the measles. It can even be fatal."

"I know, that's why we went for it," Jim agreed. "And now Jamie is sick."

"He's having a reaction to the shot," the doctor corrected. "He'll be miserable for a few days, but he will get better. I recommend children's aspirin to bring his temperature down, and give him plenty of fluids."

Jim set Jamie's clothing to rights as the doctor patted his shoulder. "Don't worry about him, Jim," she said with a smile. "He'll be his cheerful self in a few days."

"I appreciate you fitting us in," Jim said gratefully.

000

Jim sat in the front of Blair's car in the parking lot, his cell phone in his hand. With two phone calls he had exhausted his options for baby-sitters and it was a quarter past ten already. Angela was busy on a big decorating job and her receptionist couldn't even promise when she would be able to get back to Jim. Besides, her pregnancy was getting along and she tired more easily than usual. And Stephen was out of town, something Jim knew but had forgotten in his desperation. A sudden thought struck him and he dialed another number, cuddling Jamie against him as the baby sniffled on his shoulder.

The phone rang at the other end and Jim closed his eyes, praying under his breath. "Pleasepleaseplease." A click signaled an answer.

"Hello."

"Dad? It's Jim."

"Jimmy!" His dad sounded glad to see him and Jim stifled a pang of guilt that he was only calling to ask a favor. "What's up?"

"Uh, dad? I really hate to ask this, but Jamie is sick and Blair's away and I really have to be into work in, damn, in forty minutes for an important meeting. Can you…"

His dad chuckled on the other end of the phone. "Sure, Jimmy, bring him over. I'm sure between us Sally and I can take care of a sick baby."

Jim almost wilted with relief. "Dad, that is great! I will be right over."

With a quick stop for aspirins and juice on the way, Jim was in his old neighborhood in twenty minutes. He lifted Jamie and his spare bag out of the car and bounded up the drive. His dad was waiting in the doorway.

"Hi," he greeted, leading them into the house. "Sally is at the store, she won't be long. What's wrong with the little guy?"

"Reaction to his measles shot," Jim explained. "He's not contagious but I don't think child care will take him like this. Besides, he's miserable. I really appreciate this, dad."

"No problem," Ellison senior dismissed. "I know your work is important."

Jim handed Jamie over and immediately the baby began to fuss. "He's a little clingy," Jim apologized. "His baby aspirin is in this bag with some juice I picked up, if you just give him a few drops first and then give him the juice it will take the taste away. He's very sensitive to taste."

"Jimmy," his dad laughed. "It's okay, I will manage. Now you go before you're late."

Another glance at his watch showed Jim he was already going to be late, but Jamie was still crying, sobbing loudly now and reaching out for him with pudgy hands.

"Dad dadda," he called wretchedly, his eyes swollen with tears.

"Jim," his dad said softly. "He'll be okay, he'll calm down once you leave. He has to learn you can't always be there. You have to work."

"I do have to work," Jim agreed reluctantly. "And he has learned, dad. He is at child care five days a week, sometimes for nine or ten hours. He is usually really good about it."

Jim took a step to the door, but Jamie's plaintive cries were like a hook in his heart and he couldn't cross the threshold. With a muffled curse he turned and looked at his dad standing there holding the sobbing baby against his shoulder. Jamie's arms were still outstretched, plump little fingers opening and closing pleadingly. Wet swollen eyes shone sadly and his bow of a mouth was turned down in a sad frown. The decision was made before he knew it, and he lifted the baby from his father's arms, feeling a strange pang of satisfaction as Jamie's arms wound around his neck and a flushed little face was buried in his shoulder.

"Jimmy? What are you doing?" his dad admonished. "He has to learn about these things."

"Yeah, he does," Jim agreed. "But not when he's sick. Not when there's any other way."

"I thought you said you had an important meeting."

"I do," Jim confirmed. "And if this was Friday I would have big trouble, court waits for no man. But it's not Friday and I do have an option."

"Won't this cause you problems at work?" his dad protested as Jim picked up Jamie's spare bag and threw it over his shoulder.

"Oh yeah, big time," Jim sighed, heading down the drive to Blair's car, Jamie on his shoulder and his dad following behind. "But you know what? I can't worry about that now. My son needs me, and I am gonna be here for him."

When he turned from strapping a protesting Jamie in his seat he could see the hurt expression on his dad's face and he frowned. "I am not getting at you with this, dad," he said shortly, tossing Jamie's bag on the seat and accepting the pharmacy bag from his father. "There are going to be plenty of times when I can't be here for Jamie, but when that happens Blair will be here. I understand that after mom was gone you didn't have anyone."

"Understanding isn't forgiving though, is it, Jimmy?" his dad said shrewdly.

Jim hesitated and the older man sighed. "It's all right, son," he said quietly. "Take Jamie home, we can talk later."

"We always figure there'll be a later to talk, don't we, dad?' Jim said, climbing into the car. "Thanks anyway, for offering to take care of him. I appreciate it."

"Anytime, Jimmy," his dad said as the detective pulled slowly down the driveway. With his sentinel hearing Jim heard him repeat the sentiment as he drove away. "Anytime."

Jamie was dozing fitfully in the back seat as Jim girded his loins and called his boss.

"Um, Simon, it's Jim," he said as Banks answered.

"Please tell me you are only five minutes away," Simon pleaded.

"I'm really sorry, Simon," Jim said sincerely. "Jamie is sick and I can't leave him."

"Damnit, Jim!" Simon said loudly, and then Jim could clearly hear him taking deep calming breaths on the other end of the phone. "Okay, Jim. I am a parent, I understand these things happen. But tell me please, what am I supposed to do with the DA and all these people waiting in my office?"

Jim tightened his grip on the phone. "I don't know what to tell you, captain," he said helplessly. "All I know is I can't leave Jamie."

"Then maybe I'll have to bring them to you," Simon retorted, then rang off.

"Great." Jim folded the phone and tucked it into his pocket. "Simon is pissed with me and my dad thinks I was insulting him." He frowned all the way home, but softened when he lifted the baby out of his car seat once in their parking spot. "It's not your fault, piglet," he said tenderly, kissing a flushed rounded cheek. "Daddy's been dragging you from pillar to post for the last two hours when all you want is a cuddle, isn't it?"

Jim wasted no time once in the loft, he filled a bottle with Jamie's favorite blackcurrant juice and shook the contents of the liquid baby aspirin. Before the toddler even knew what hit him Jim had the end of the stopper in the corner of his mouth and was squeezing. Just as Jamie's face was wrinkling with disgust at the supposedly cherry flavored medicine Jim stuck the teat into his mouth. The blackcurrant juice did the trick and Jamie's swollen eyes drifted closed as he gulped the vitamin packed liquid.

"There you go, son," he crooned, slipping into Spanish as he often did when it was just the two of them. Blair was trying to polish up on his knowledge of the language too, but Jim felt more comfortable communing with his son when they were alone. He continued holding the toddler even after he fell fast asleep.

For half an hour he sat on the couch, sensing the lowering of the baby's temperature through his clothes, every now and then laying his hand over the narrow chest, feeling the steady heartbeat thumping away. As he sat there he thought about his father and Simon, wondering what his boss had meant when he said he would bring the meeting to him. Within minutes he knew.

Half a dozen cars pulled up out the front and Jim heard Simon's voice sounding brusque as he entered the elevator downstairs. Carefully the detective stood up, treading on light feet to the nursery and laying the baby in his crib. He drew the door closed and was opening the front door just as Simon reached it.

"Shh," he cautioned, noting with surprise the presence of District Attorney. "Jamie's asleep."

"The mountain comes to Mohammed," Simon said quietly, gesturing to the DA and her assistants.

"Sorry to disturb you at home, detective," DA Walters said briskly. "But Captain Banks felt this was important enough to warrant the intrusion."

"Ahh, please come in," Jim said, gesturing into the loft. The DA and her assistants filed in, leaving the detective and his captain facing each other in the hall. "I'm sorry I let you down over this, captain," he finally said.

Simon's frown faded and he sighed. "I understand the choice you made, Jim," he said sincerely. "But while I respect it, I think it was the wrong choice."

Jim nodded. "I know what you mean, Simon. And from a work point of view it was a wrong choice. But it was the right thing for Jamie, Simon. For my son. And right now my son is my priority."

Simon nodded his understanding and followed Jim into the loft. The DA and her assistants were already set up around the coffee table, and Jim took the hint and put a pot on to brew.

"Sorry to drag you out, DA Walters," Jim apologized.

Walters smiled. "I've had three days off in the past two years, detective. And that was when my son broke his leg skiing, and I flew to visit him. I have dragged myself in to work as sick as a dog, but when my son needed me, I was there. And he's twenty-six years old."

"You mean this never ends?" Jim said in mock dismay.

"'Fraid not," she said cheerfully. "Now, let's get down to business."

They buckled down, fueled by coffee and coffee cake Jim had purchased the day before after dropping Blair off at the airport. He had looked forward to polishing off the forbidden treat while his strict lover was away, but the team made short work of it as the day wore on. At about two Jamie stirred awake and Jim was up in an instant, alerted by the change in heart rate, even before the baby wailed his misery aloud.

"It's okay, Jamie," Jim reassured the boy, lifting him out of his crib and cradling him close. "Dad-dad's here." He kissed a flushed cheek, smiling a little at the cranky look he received in return. He turned and found DA Walters in the doorway.

"Can I help?" she asked.

Jim studied the middle-aged woman clad in her elegant suit. "Um, he needs changing," he ventured. "I can handle that."

Walters stepped over and laid a soft hand on the baby's forehead. "He's quite warm," she observed. "Does he have medicine?"

"Baby aspirin, out on the counter. There's juice in the refrigerator."

"I'll find it," Walters said briskly, turning on her heel and leaving father and son alone.

Jim set about stripping off the baby's jump suit and diaper. He really needed a bath, but that would have to wait until business was over, Simon's patience could only be stretched so thin. Jim settled for a liberal application of talcum powder, and then buttoned Jamie into another romper.

It was quite a sight, seeing the city's feared DA pouring juice in a bottle with a merry teddy bear decal on the side. Simon and the assistants were still surrounded by paper when Jim accepted the baby aspirin and again squirted the required dosage into Jamie's mouth. Again he stuffed the teat of the juice bottle between the rosebud lips before Jamie could crankily protest, and then he settled onto the couch with the child cradled against his chest.

"Can we get this done?" Simon asked impatiently.

"Don't let me stop you," Jim answered, and they swung back into business. An hour later they were done and Jim gratefully saw them off at the door. Walters swung around and faced him.

"See you in court on Friday, detective," she said pointedly, and Jim nodded.

"You will."

Breathing a sigh of relief Jim closed the door behind them. "Phew," he mimed into Jamie's sullen face. "I thought they'd never leave. Feel like something to eat?"

Jamie didn't look enthusiastic at the prospect, but Jim was starving so he made himself some soup and toast. The baby grudgingly accepted a few spoonfuls, but turned his nose up at the toast. By evening his temperature was back up and Jim gave him a tepid bath, rinsing off the sweat of the day, and cooling the tiny body down. He was settling him down in his arms with another bottle when the phone rang.

"Ellison."

"Hi, Jim," Blair greeted. "Miss me?"

"Like you wouldn't believe," Jim said fervently.

"That sounds serious," Blair said suspiciously. "How's Jamie?"

"Hit the nail right on the head, sweetheart," Jim said quietly, pressing a kiss to the baby's forehead. "Jamie has been having a reaction to the measles vaccination."

"Oh no," Blair breathed. "I knew it. I knew that was a bad idea."

"It's just a mild reaction, Blair," Jim reassured him. "His temperature was pretty high, and he's been cranky. Just not feeling too good."

"Poor mite," Blair commiserated. "Give him a kiss for me."

Jim smiled. "I just did."

"Do you need me to come home tonight, Jim? 'Cos. I can, there's only one more day of lectures any way."

"If this had happened yesterday I would have been begging you to come home," Jim said dryly. "But the worst is over now. He was too sick for Day Care so I stayed with him."

"Oh, Jim," Blair said in dismayed tones. "You had your deposition meeting with the DA today! How did you manage?"

"Simon bought the whole group over here and we got it done."

There was silence on the line for a few minutes. "DA Walters was in our house?" Blair finally asked.

"Yepper."

"She scares me."

Jim huffed a gentle laugh, mindful of disturbing the baby dozing against his chest. "She's okay actually. She was pretty understanding. But I have the feeling if I miss my court appearance all hell will break loose."

"Ill be home tomorrow night," Blair said decisively. "If I can change my flight. I'll just skip the afternoon program."

"That sounds good, Chief," Jim said gratefully. Dr. Stewart says the piglet should be on the mend by tomorrow, but I'll feel better knowing he's with you on Thursday."

"Hey, Jim?"

"Yeah?"

"I miss you."

"I miss you, Blair. We both do."

000

At eight PM Wednesday night Blair walked in the door to the loft, suitcase in his hand.

Jim emerged from the nursery, wiping his hands on a towel. He dropped the hand towel on the kitchen bench and walked straight across the room, holding open his arms and engulfing Blair in a hug.

"Oomph," Blair mumbled as Jim squeezed him tight, lifting him off the ground in enthusiasm.

"Oh, I missed you," Jim said into a cloud of brown curls.

"So I see," Blair laughed, hugging his lover tight. When he was finally allowed to draw back he cupped Jim's strong jaw in his hands. "You okay, Jim?"

Jim smiled into concerned blue eyes. "I am now. Come see Jamie."

Blair walked under Jim's arm into the dim nursery. The teddy bear night-light by the crib cast cool colored shade along the walls, highlighting the round curves of the baby's cheeks, and casting shadows under the sweep of long closed lashes. Blair laid his hand against Jamie's forehead.

"Still a bit warm," he said in some concern.

"But cooler than yesterday," Jim said. "He's had a better day."

Blair leaned over and laid a gentle kiss on a lightly flushed cheek, then quietly left the room.

"I can't believe I go out of town for a few days and he gets sick," Blair complained as Jim retrieved two beers from the refrigerator.

"Babies get sick," Jim said realistically, taking a seat on the couch and holding out his arm in invitation. Blair snuggled underneath.

"Except he didn't pick up some winter bug," the young man interjected. "It was a reaction to that damned shot."

"I still say it was the right thing to do. He would be a lot sicker if he contracted measles. And that shot was for mumps and German measles too. We were protecting him by having him immunized, Blair. He'll be fine."

"Yeah, I know." Blair took a long pull from the beer bottle. "How about you? I don't imagine Simon was too impressed with you for not showing for the meeting."

"He bought the District Attorney to the loft, Chief. How impressed should he have been? I will be in his bad books for a while, that's for sure."

"Humph," Blair snorted. "All the extra time and work you put in down there, Jim, you should be entitled to a little slack now and then."

"Simon has cut me some slack, Blair, and you know he has. To tell you the truth I think he's right to be angry. As a cop I am in a position of public trust. The public expects me to put their safety first, and if I screw up my testimony in court on Friday a dangerous man could be let back out on the street. I put my personal life before that obligation."

"You put your son before that obligation," Blair corrected. "And no-one will ever convince me it was the wrong thing to do."

"But then you're biased," Jim teased, kissing the top of his young lover's head.

"True." Blair tilted his head and met Jim's lips with his own, deepening the welcoming kiss. "Hmm, that's what I needed," he hummed as Jim released his lips. "I was beginning to feel superfluous around here."

"Don't ever think that, Blair," Jim said, holding his lover's blue eyes with his own. "I needed you, we both did. So many times in the last two days I would have given a whole lot to be able to turn to you. God knows how a single parent copes."

"You should have called me," Blair said, looking guilty.

"No, babe, don't feel bad," Jim insisted. "You were working. If you had been here I would have left Jamie to you and gone to work, why should you feel guilty if the circumstances were reversed?"

"I guess."

"It was last night I missed you most," Jim admitted lowly. "Jamie woke up in the night and his temp was up again. I bathed him and gave him more of the baby aspirin, but as I was sitting here in the dark nursing him… Well, it was really lonely."

Blair caressed Jim's head, rubbing gentle fingers over the shorn hair.

"Although I have to admit," Jim said with a little shame on his face. "It was kinda nice being needed so much."

"Jamie has that knack," Blair agreed.

"Just when I think I can't love that little guy any more, he creeps further into my heart."

"Funny you should say that," Blair said, still stroking Jim's hair lovingly. "Just when I think I can't love you any more, you manage to surprise me."

"Yeah?" Jim grinned happily.

"Yeah."

"Love you, Chief."

The End.

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