Insert your favorite standard disclaimer here. {Yes I know they are not mine, no I didn't make any money of this, yadda, yadda, yadda. }
If you haven't read the first two stories in the series, you may be a little lost. So, I recommend you do so before tackling this one. ('A Place to Belong' and 'The Place Where We Belong') This one takes place about three years after Where We Belong ended.
PS -- I'm still living in my delusion that Jim and Blair were equal partners in the relationship, both equally to blame for the events depicted in the S2P1,S2P2 and TSbyBS. If you don't agree, don't bother to email me, don't critique my story on the lists and you may cease reading now. *g*
Thanks to Laurie, TAE and Shallan for the editing, and to Ruth and Cindy for their comments and encouragement. Now, on to the story. *g*
Feedback: TRISHBSC@AOL.COM
Trishbsc
Blair noticed that Gracie was staring off into the distance. Afraid his godchild was locked in a zone, he knelt down beside her and gently placed his hand on the small of her back, "Gracie?"
The child immediately turned to stare at him. She glanced back in the direction of the jungle before answering, "Daddy's sad."
"Why do you say that, peanut?" Blair soothingly asked, puzzled by the tone of certainty in the child's voice.
"He is. I know." She looked away from Blair and returned to staring at the jungle.
Blair shook his head. Even at the age of four and a half, Grace Ellison was a very perceptive child, probably the result of being born a Sentinel.
Placing one arm around her shoulder, he asked, "Where is he?"
"By the waterfall. I can hear it."
Blair looked in the direction of the waterfall, but it was too far for him to see anything. He felt Gracie moving away from him. Reaching out, he grabbed her shoulder before she could move off into the jungle. "Whoa, you stay here." Glancing over, he noticed that Jake had joined the two of them.
"I can find him," Grace whined with a little pout as she stamped her right foot.
"So can I. You two stay here and play. I'll be right back." Blair replied firmly as he climbed to his feet.
A look of determination on her face, Grace folded her arms across her chest and glared at him. It was the same look Jim used on him periodically. He'd have to remember to tell Jim about this. Hiding his laughter and with an unwavering look on his face, Blair pointed to the family's hut.
Jake, recognizing that particular look, tugged on his sister's hand. He knew better than to argue with Blair when he looked like that.
Grace gave him another glare before, somewhat reluctantly, she turned away from the jungle and started to walk to the hut. Once the kids were far enough away and occupied with some of the other children from the village, Blair starting laughing. Grace was so like her father, it was downright scary. The only question was whether her attitude was something all Sentinels possess or just Ellisons?
He stopped by the hut long enough to grab something from his backpack and stuff it into his pocket. He had a pretty good idea about what was bothering Jim, and would probably need it for ammunition. With one last look to make sure the twins were obeying him, he set off into the jungle to check on Jim. He was confident he could find the waterfall. It had become a favorite spot for Jim when something was bothering him, much like the balcony had been for both of them back at the loft.
Blair immediately noticed Jim sitting on top of a large boulder by the edge of the waterfall pool. He watched for a moment. His friend slowly shredded a large fern leaf into tiny pieces as he stared into the clear, blue water. As Jim reached for another leaf, Blair carefully made his way over to the rock and scrambled up the face until he was sitting next to his friend. Jim didn't say a word, but he did smile briefly before returning to his own thoughts.
The two men sat quietly, listening to the soothing sounds of the waterfall. Finally, after about ten minutes, Blair couldn't stand the suspense. "What's wrong, Jim?"
"Second thoughts about going back to Washington, I guess," Jim answered after a moment's thought. "I really don't think I belong there, any more. The reasons I left Cascade in the first place haven't changed. I just don't know if I'm doing the right thing, leaving here." Jim dropped the remains of the fern into the water, watching as it drifted away on the slow moving current.
"Do you remember this, Jim?" Blair asked as he pulled out a crumpled letter from his pocket.
Solemnly, Jim reached out and took the letter. Carefully, he unfolded the wrinkled paper. He winced as his own handwriting leaped at him from the page. This was the note he had written to Sandburg just before leaving Cascade. This was the note that signified the end of his old life. Unable to speak around the lump in his throat that had formed as the painful memories of his last few weeks at the PD and the city of Cascade resurfaced, he simply nodded. Even now, six years later, the wounds were only half-healed.
Seeing the pain in Jim's expression, even after all this time had passed Blair decided it was time for a little 'tough love' and maybe a good kick in the butt, too. "I remember it, too, Jim. Some of what you wrote was correct, but most of it was bull." Blair slapped the piece of paper so hard as he said bull that the letter almost flew out of Jim's hands.
"Sandburg, you don't..." Jim started to say, but Blair waved off his response.
Pointing a finger at Jim's chest, he continued, "YOU said there was no place in modern society for someone like you, but you ARE wrong. There are places for you if you would just stop and think about it logically for a minute."
"As what?" Jim asked sarcastically. "I'm not interested in going back into the military and I don't have any other experience except as being a cop and there's no way I can go back to work for the police department as a detective. I'd go nuts working as a security guard, so don't even go there."
"I still don't see why you believe that you can't be part of law enforcement, but I'm not going to argue with you about it At least not right now," Blair answered.
"So what's your solution to this, Chief? What kind of career do you think I can have back in Washington?"
Blair looked his friend right in the eye as he answered, "I think the Search and Rescue idea you had is a good alternative. In fact, Steven is already checking into it for you. I didn't think there was any sense in waiting until we were back in Washington to check on things."
Jim was as shocked by Blair's matter of fact tone as he was by the fact that Blair remembered an off-handed comment he had made earlier. "I didn't ask him to do that. Besides, I was only joking about working for the park service."
"I thought it was a good idea. I still do. The solitude would be good for your senses for a while, particularly after living here for the last few years. I think you're gonna need some time to get used to living in a city again. So will the kids. I figured it would be a good option for you, so I talked to your Dad about it. He mentioned it to Steven, who is following up for you."
Noticing that Jim was about to argue, Blair held up one finger before continuing, "You're not the only one who can make arrangements for someone else's career." There was a twinkle in Blair's eye.
"Touche, Chief. Touche," Jim replied with a two-fingered salute.
Blair winked back, before continuing to speak on the previous topic, "You also said that I had found the place where I belonged, but you were wrong, AGAIN. I may, and I repeat, MAY, have been born to be a teacher, but definitely not at Rainier. I don't belong there -- too many political games that I'm not willing to play. Washington University may not be the place for me either, though I'll give it my best shot. Tacoma will be a good place for both of us to try and start over."
Jim disagreed with what his friend was saying. "You're a good teacher, Blair. You should be teaching someplace. Hell, you're good with kids in general. They trust you. Gracie and Jake love you to death. So do most of the other kids in the village."
"That's my point, Jim. Trying to teach Anthropology 101 to over a hundred college students when only three or four are really interested in the material gets tough to do day after day after frustrating day. Get the picture? Besides, who says I need to be a college professor? Even better, who says I have to be in a classroom to be a teacher?"
"What are you talking about? Where else would you teach?" Jim was lost in the Sandburg zone and he knew it. It had been a while since he had felt like this.
"Do you think I wasn't teaching when I was working with you at the PD? Get real, Jim. Getting you guys to open up your somewhat limited minds to the different avenues of investigation was some of the toughest teaching I've ever done," Blair rejoined, but the twinkle was still in his eye.
"Thanks a lot, Chief," Jim replied sarcastically.
"You know what I mean." Blair emphasized his point using one finger to poke at Jim's chest with each word.
"I know. You did a lot of good at the station." Jim ran Blair's words over several times in his mind. Rubbing his forehead, he asked, "So, do YOU want to go back?"
Blair threw his hands up in to the air as he answered. "Yes, without a doubt, no hesitation. I want all of us to go back. You have to stop thinking that finding 'where to belong' is a physical place. It's not about living in the jungle, or about living in Cascade. It's about what you're doing and who is with you, Jim. The place where WE belong is with each other and with Gracie and Jake, not to mention the rest of the family."
"The rest of the family?" Jim asked sardonically, one eyebrow raised.
"Yeah, the rest of the family, namely William and Steven. You do remember them, right? And you can't tell me that you don't miss Simon." Blair raised his eyebrows, awaiting Jim's response. He knew he was pressing Jim hard, forcing him to admit to emotional relationships, and was half- afraid that he was pushing his friend too far. He was pleased to see his fears were groundless.
"I do miss him and the rest of the guys from the bullpen," Jim admitted. "But, there are some things that are more important. What about the Chopec? Who will protect them?"
Blair rolled his eyes. It seemed that Jim was looking for any justifiable reason not to leave Peru. "You've trained your successor, pretty well as far as I can tell. Davi is almost as strong a sentinel as you are and no one has bothered the tribe for the last three years. The NSA seems to have given up on getting you back and no one else has been dumb enough to change the Chopec's territory."
"He's only sixteen," Jim said. "He's still a child."
Blair shook his head. "Only by our so-called 'civilized' standards. Here he's considered a man and a warrior. Now that he's found his guide, he'll be fine without you and me around. The whole tribe will be fine without our presence here, Jim."
Davi had been only ten years old when Jim had first arrived, and was already recognized as a budding sentinel. Jim became his mentor when he had first arrived, much as Incacha had taken him under his wing all those years ago after the crash. Then, a few months ago, during a meeting with another tribe, Davi had found his guide. There was no doubt in anyone one's mind that the young Sentinel and Guide would be married before the year was over.
"Anything else on your mind? Any more doubts you need dispelled?" Blair was sure there was something else bothering Jim about going back to Washington next week, as planned.
Jim smiled. He knew his friend was baiting him, but that didn't stop him from continuing. "I worry about Gracie. How will she manage her senses in the city? I'm worried about both of the kids. All they know is living here in the jungle. Neither of them has even seen a city. What if they don't like it there?"
"They've seen pictures of cities in my books, Jim. Your father and Eli have made sure to keep me well supplied in reading and writing material for me and for them. They're both ready to start kindergarten in the fall. Hell, they're ahead of kids their age even back in the States."
Noting the disbelieving expression on Jim's face, he continued. "They have two months to settle in to modern living before school starts. You don't have to worry about them. They'll be fine as long as they're with us. You've already experienced most of the problems that Gracie will face. That will be a help to her."
"They're still babies. They would be a lot safer if we'd stay here," Jim said sadly, but knowing they would go back to Washington.
"Gracie has the Ellison glare and Jake will stand up to anything to protect his sister." Blair was determined to snap Jim out of this depressing mood. "Enough with the gloom and doom, all right? Trust me, everything is going to work out, and trust yourself a little while, you're at it."
"I'm worrying about nothing, aren't I?" Jim asked with a wry grin.
"Yep, but you're a parent. So I guess you're allowed to be a little paranoid," Blair replied.
They both sat quietly, reflecting on what had been said, listening to the sound of the water. This time it was Jim who broke the silence. "So, Gracie has the Ellison glare? I hadn't noticed."
"It's not quite up to strength yet to work on adults, but it's getting there," Blair answered, slapping Jim on the back.
"Good, she's gonna need it when we get back to the States." Jim climbed to his feet and offered his hand to help Blair to his feet. "Let's head back. We've got a long trip to prepare for."
The flight back to the States was long and tedious even for Jim and Blair, who were both experienced travelers. Thankfully, Grace and Jake had slept through most of the trip. Blair had provided two pairs of earplugs for the sensitive Sentinels to wear during the flight. Now, as they stood in the long line at Customs, Jim's long suppressed feelings of paranoia kicked into overdrive as he stared at the uniformed Custom's officials. Gracie immediately sensed his anxiety and became quite fussy.
"Relax, Jim," Blair whispered as he picked up and tried to comfort Gracie. "If anything was going to happen to us, we never would have made it this far. They would have grabbed us as soon as we'd disembarked. They aren't stupid enough to snatch two grown men along with two small children in front of all these people."
Jim heard what Blair was saying, but it didn't stop him from using his senses to scan the area. "Better safe than sorry, Chief, particularly with two small children in the line of fire." During his scan, he immediately noticed that they had picked one of the slower moving lines of people trying to get through Customs. With a sigh, he reached over and rubbed the small of Grace's back as Blair rocked her back and forth.
Blair moved forward as the line slowly advanced, still holding the now quiet Grace in his arms. "The documentation is fine. If we ever get to the agent, you'll see that there's nothing to worry about. Besides, I'm more concerned about our immediate future."
Jim took Jake by the hand as the line advanced another person, "What are you concerned about?" This was the first time Blair had admitted to having any concerns about their return.
"I'm starved. Where are we gonna eat?" Blair replied with a wink. There were now only five people between them and the Customs agent.
Jim suppressed a chuckle. Only Sandburg would be thinking of his stomach right now. With an evil glint in his eyes, Jim innocently suggested, "How about Wonderburger? There's one right by the entrance to the airport."
"No way!" Blair protested quickly, shaking his head.
"Plleeeaaase? I could really go for a triple cheeseburger with a nice thick shake?" Jim begged, batting his eyes shamelessly.
Jake tugged on Jim's shirt, adding his own opinion, "Yeah! Me hungry, too!" Jim pointed to Blair and winked at Jake, who immediately started begging Blair too. Much to Blair's dismay, Grace, spurred on by the antics of her brother, began bouncing in his arms.
Before Blair could answer any of them, the Customs agent was requesting their papers. Blair set Grace down on the floor as he handed his passport to the man, Jim heard him mutter softly under his breath, "Right now, even I wouldn't mind a little grease, not that I'd admit that to Jim. No way, I'd never hear the end of it."
Glancing over at Jim, Blair saw him winking and wearing a self-satisfied smirk on his face. "Damn Sentinel."
They passed through Customs without even a second look from the official. Jim started to search the crowd for his brother, who had promised to pick them up. With the innate ability most four year olds possess to note when a parent is distracted, Grace ran on ahead of the group with Jake only a few steps behind her.
"Gracie! Jake! Come back over here," Jim said firmly, as he watched his children wander a little too far away from him. Even though they had no problems passing through Customs, the long delay there had resulted in the twins having plenty of time to wake up and be ready to play.
On the other hand, Jim was running out of energy. Between trying to manage their luggage and keeping control over the twins, he was ready for a nap.
He was so distracted; he didn't even notice the presence of his father and brother until they moved in front of him, blocking his path.
William reached out and pulled him into a hug, bags and all. "Welcome home, son," his father whispered softly into his ear as he removed two of the suitcases from his son's possession and set them on the floor.
"Hi, Dad," Jim answered, returning the embrace. After releasing his father, he looked to his brother and started to laugh. Steven had cornered Gracie, who was eyeing the stranger standing in front of her with great suspicion.
He watched as Steven tried to hug his niece and was firmly rebuffed. It was a standoff. Jim was obviously enjoying watching his little brother flounder. He snickered when Blair finally intervened, introducing his godchildren to the Uncle they had never met. Jake was much less restrained than his sister and immediately latched onto Steven's hand. Grace trailed along in Steven's shadow as they made their way back to where the rest of the group was standing.
Leading Jake by the hand, Steven made his way to his brother's side. "Good grief, big brother. That one is definitely your offspring. She's got your glare," he said, nodding back at his newly acquired shadow, as he too reached out to hug his brother.
"Told you so, Jim. That glare is hereditary," Blair interjected, laughing as hard as Steven did. Jake was laughing along with the adults without really knowing why.
"Let's get out of here," Jim said, picking Jake up and tickling him. "I'm starved."
"Wonderburger! Now!" Jake shouted.
"Definitely your offspring, Jim," Steven added as he picked up Grace and started moving towards the exit. William waved for the porter, who was patiently waiting a few feet away from the group, to collect the group's entire collection of luggage as they made their way out of the airport terminal.
None of them noticed the mousy-looking man smoking a cigarette, who was lurking behind one of the decorative pillars in the baggage claim area. Nor did they notice that he had paid special attention to Jim and the two children.
After a quick stop at the Wonderburger drive through, the trip to the Ellison residence took only thirty minutes.
But it was a very long thirty minutes. Jim and Blair were stunned by what they saw out of the windows of the limo that William had arranged to take them all home. The city of Cascade was in sad shape. Almost a third of the buildings they passed were either boarded up or had all the windows broken out.
Those few that were occupied were clearly in need of repair. Very few people were visible on the streets. It was almost as if people were afraid to be outside. As they passed several intersections, Jim noticed that several drug deals were occurring in public as if there were no repercussions from being observed breaking the law.
The limo turned north and headed away from Jim's childhood home. Jim also noticed they were traveling away from the hotel where they had planned on staying.
"Where are we going, Dad?" Jim asked as he turned to face his father.
"I just thought it would be better if you all stayed at my place, Jimmy. That hotel you wanted me to make reservations at is in a really bad section of town, now."
Still puzzled, Jim continued, "But home isn't out in this direction."
"I moved out of the old place, son. Sally and I moved into one of the newer gated communities that have sprung up over the last few years," William explained.
Jim didn't like the idea that his childhood home no longer belonged to the family, but after seeing the way that Cascade had changed, he understood the necessity. "Sorry, Dad. I hadn't realized how bad things have gotten here. Why didn't you say anything?"
William picked nervously at a piece of lint on his pants. "Some things shouldn't be explained in a letter."
Jim and Blair exchanged worried glances, wondering what else had gone wrong in Cascade.
Blair, in a not so subtle attempt to change the subject, asked, "Steven, where are you living now?"
Steven winced, but answered. "Down the street from Dad, actually. I was the one who let him know when the house became available. Sommerset is a very nice community. Actually, you can see for yourself." Steven gestured out the window.
All that could be seen from their limited perspective was a ten-foot stone wall with razor wire coils on the top. The limo slowed as it made a right turn into the drive leading to a guardhouse. Jim watched, with professional interest, as one guard approached the limo. The second guard remained in the house, but clearly was watching what was happening at the limo.
The gate into the neighborhood appeared to be made from heavy-duty wrought iron. Not something that could easily be forced open even by their large vehicle. The area behind the gate was nicely landscaped, but all low groundcover. There was no place where someone breaking in could conceal themselves.
The guard didn't make them exit the vehicle, but he did request that the rear windows be rolled down and verified that each passenger in the back was on his approved guest list.
After they were cleared by security, the limo pulled up in front of the third house on the right. Jim was the first one out of the limo. He walked around to the back of the car, waiting for the driver to unload their luggage. As he waited, he had a prime view of Grace and Jake's dumbfounded expressions as they were escorted up the walk by their grandfather. For the twins, seeing something in a book was nothing like experiencing it first hand and there were no two-story huts in the jungle.
Jim tipped the driver and, with a little help from Steven and Blair, carried the luggage up to the house. As he walked, automatically noted the presence of the heavy metal bars on the ground floor windows. His keen eyesight also noted evidence of an electronic security system surrounding the doors and windows into the home.
He sighed deeply as he realized just how far conditions had deteriorated in Cascade. Private citizens were forced to retreat behind fortifications better protected than some maximum-security prisons. He forced a smile onto his face as Sally was waiting in the doorway to give him a big hug.
Guido Bertelli entered the crowded restaurant and headed for the private room in the rear. He knew his father would be here. He didn't want to be the bearer of this particular message, but it had to be done. Guido was sure that there was trouble coming for the family. He needed to be on top of the situation because his father's right-hand man, Antonio, had been cultivating a closer relationship that was now threatening Guido's position in the hierarchy.
As he approached the door, his father's bodyguards acknowledged his presence and opened the door for him. His timing was good, since the meeting was just breaking up. Every Wednesday his father met with the lieutenants in charge of the specific operations. Alfonse Bertelli ran the crime in Cascade with an iron fist. No one challenged him; no one questioned his commands, not even his son.
His father waved for the waitress to be sent into the room. This place served the best Veal Parmesan in town. He gestured for his son to sit down at his right hand. "Guido, sit, eat something."
Guido shook his head at the offer of food and instead ordered a glass of wine.
"So, what brings you here? It must be important if you are not on rounds today," Alfonse asked. He motioned for the remaining lieutenants to move away, all but Antonio. He was gestured to remain.
Guido bristled at the inclusion of Antonio in what should have been a private conversation between himself and his father, but remained silent on the issue. "I heard a rumor on the streets..."
Alfonse interrupted his son. "Rumor? You abandoned the rounds because you heard a rumor?"
"I've confirmed the rumor is true or I wouldn't have brought this to your attention. It was reported to me that the Superman detective is back in town. He was spotted at the airport yesterday, along with two kids in tow. His return may cause us grief," Guido Bertelli reported to his father.
"What the hell are you talking about? Superman?" Alfonse reached for his glass of wine. His son was not making any sense.
"Remember, a few years ago, the guy with the super senses? We had a hit out on him for a while, but he fled down to someplace in South America." Guido paused as the waitress returned with his father's food and another bottle of wine. With a nod, he waited until the girl left before continuing. "He was detective of the year, who couldn't be bought off. Several people had tried."
"So what? What can one man do against us? We own this town! Nothing happens without my approval and the Keystone Cops in this town can't do a thing about us. Hell, half of them are on my payroll anyway." He picked up his fork and began to eat; assuming the conversation had ended.
Guido was not happy with his father's lack of concern. He noted that even Antonio appeared to be slightly alarmed. Ellison had been considered a serious threat to the organization six years ago, and the reasons why hadn't changed. "Don't you want the hit put back into place?" he pressed.
His father's face grew red with rage. "No!"
"With all due respect, perhaps you might consider putting a watch on the man. While it's possible he is simply here for a visit with old friends and may not remain, there's always the possibility that he has heard of the situation here and plans on interfering," Antonio interjected.
While Alfonse considered the suggestion, Guido fumed. Why wasn't his father taking him seriously? It was only when Antonio had spoken up that his father thought about the implications of Ellison's presence in Cascade.
"You're right, Tony, let's see what the man does. He may not stick around. I want a watch on him though, in case he is here to stay. Do we know where he's living?"
Guido answered quickly, attempting to regain control over the situation. "No, but we know he has a father and a brother still in the city. They were also present at the airport. I'll have their places checked out."
"Handle this, my son. I'm making this your problem. Consider it a test to determine if you are fit to run the organization after me." Alfonse refocused his energy on the food in front of him. Guido rose from the table and quickly walked away. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed one of his sources at police headquarters. This was a test he would not fail.
After his son left the room, Alfonse looked up from his food. "Tony, keep an eye on the situation for me."
Tony nodded, before asking, "Why were you so hard on your son, sir? He was correct in bringing this matter to your attention."
"I agree. It was the manner in which he brought it to my attention. He's sloppy, in words and in actions. I have been too lenient with the boy. It's time he was challenged. I meant it when I said this is a test for him, so watch and report directly to me."
"I understand, sir," Tony replied as he rose from the table. As he left the room, he wondered if this was not only a test for Guido, but for himself as well.
Sally had coffee and cake waiting for them in the living room when they arrived. Leaving the luggage in the foyer, the group adjourned to relax for a while before unpacking. After greeting the new arrivals, Sally said that she had several errands to run and would see them all later.
Blair noticed a strange look passing back and forth between Sally and William, but couldn't interpret what had been discussed silently between the two of them. He was distracted by Jake's attempt to break off a piece of the cake with his fingers and, before he looked up again, Sally was gone.
Jim hadn't noticed the subtle undertones in the room. He was too busy mentally gathering his arguments on why it wasn't a good idea for them all to stay with William and Sally.
"Dad, we can't stay here. Think about it. We are talking about a couple of four year olds who are curious about everything and don't really understand the difference between antiques and toys."
"Don't worry about that, Jimmy. Sally has already put everything that I care about out of the reach of the kids. I want you all to stay here at the house."
Jim took a bite out of the chocolate cake that Sally had left, mostly for him. Growing up, he could have eaten an entire cake by himself, if she would've let him. "Come on, Dad, we are talking about four extra people here. You can't possibly have enough room for all of us and consider the amount of food you'll need to stock to feed us all, it's like trying to feed a group of ten."
"The rooms are ready for you. I've planned this all out and Sally didn't have a problem cooking for two, always-hungry, teen age boys. I think she can handle the four of you."
"Dad..." Jim knew he was fighting a losing battle, but wasn't quite ready to surrender.
"Jimmy..." William answered with a gleam in his eye.
Jim turned to face Blair, looking for support. "What do you think, Chief?"
"Remember what I said about family, Jim. Give it up. You're gonna lose this one."
William took another sip of his coffee before adding his final argument. "I've only seen you and my grandchildren one time in the last six years, son. I'd like to spend some time with all of you before you leave for Tacoma."
"Besides," Steven interjected for the first time, "you have to stick around for the wedding."
"Wedding?" Jim grinned broadly at his little brother and then slapped him on the back. "You dog, Steven. Who's the lucky girl?"
Steven shook his head. "Not me, bro," he said, then pointed at their father.
"Dad?" Jim was stunned by the revelation.
"Yes, Jimmy. I may be old, but I'm not dead yet. There's still some life in these old bones."
"But...But..." Jim stammered. Blair rolled his eyes and kicked Jim's shin. With a glare at Blair, Jim finally got out his question. "Who are you marrying?"
William rolled his eyes at the expression on his eldest son's face. "Well, at least you didn't say, 'Who'd marry you?' Sally's agreed to marry me," he answered with a smile.
"Really?" Jim said with an even larger grin on his face. Sally had been like a mother to him and Steven when they were growing up, more so than their biological mother had been. "That's great, Dad. Of course, we'll stick around for the wedding."
"So, does this have anything to do with why Sally ran off so quickly?" Blair asked.
Steven leaned forward to reach for the coffeepot to refill his cup as he answered, "She's out with her sister, tonight. They're picking out flowers for the wedding. Sally received a flyer in the mail about a florist whose specialty is weddings."
Blair looked down to where Grace and Jake were sitting on the floor, leaning against the coffee table. Grace was sound asleep, her head resting on the table. Jake was sitting next to her, wearing more of the cake than he had eaten. "I think it's past their bedtime. They've had a long day," Blair whispered as he reached for a napkin to wipe Jake's face.
Jim chuckled. "We'll be right back, Dad, after we put the rug rats to bed."
"Second bedroom on the right is their room, Jimmy. I hope they like it."
"We'll find out in the morning, Dad," Jim called over his shoulder as he picked up Grace and headed up the stairs.
When Jim entered the room, he whistled his admiration for what his father had done. He had clearly been planning this for a while. This bedroom had been set up with two single beds. William had decorated this room to be a permanent bedroom for his grandchildren. Above each bed was the child's name carved in wood. Several stuffed animals had been strategically placed around the room. Between the two beds was a small table with a night lamp already turned on. The bed spreads and sheets were a jungle motif.
Neither child woke as Jim and Blair undressed them and tucked them into their respective beds. As the two men left the room, Blair whispered softly, "Your Dad is gonna spoil them rotten, Jim."
"He's their Grandfather. It's his job," Jim answered. After a slight pause he added, "Besides, I don't think I can remember another time when I've seen my Dad this happy."
Blair smiled and nodded. A little spoiling wouldn't hurt the twins and Blair couldn't remember a time when he had seen Jim this happy and relaxed around his family. Obviously, Jim had found peace with his decision to return to Washington.
He bounced down the stairs after Jim to rejoin William and Steven in the living room.
Today had been a good day.
Jim and Blair walked into the police station for the first time in almost six years. This time, they had to come through the main entrance and register as visitors instead of being able to simply park in the garage and head up to Major Crime.
As they stood in the lobby and waited for the desk sergeant to confirm that Simon was available, Jim noticed a young uniformed patrolman dropping off a report. The officer was dressed in full tactical gear, which was unusual unless a major incident was about to go down. He also seemed very familiar to Jim, only when the young man turned and stared at him and Blair, with a surprised look on his face, did Jim place who he was.
"Daryl? Is that really you?" Jim asked, amazed at the way the young man had matured. He still remembered a teenager who complained about his father's choices in video games. "When did you become a cop?"
"Graduated from USC with honors two years ago and then entered the police academy the following summer," Daryl answered proudly. "Are you guys here to see my Dad?"
"Yeah, we are staying with my Father right now, before we head out to Tacoma, so we thought we'd drop by to see how the old gang is doing," Jim answered.
"Cool. Most of them are still around. Dad is in the same old office. Henri, Brian and Joel still work in Major Crime. They'll be happy to see you," Daryl replied as he adjusted his vest slightly.
"Coming back from a major bust, Daryl?" Blair asked, gesturing at the tactical gear. "It's hard to believe it's you under all that."
Daryl looked down at his gear and grimaced. "No, just about to go out on patrol. The city's changed a lot since you guys have been gone, and not for the better. This has become standard issue for all patrol officers."
"We've seen what you mean for ourselves on the way into town yesterday. How did this happen? This was one of the best police forces in the country. Even with Cascade's high crime rate, things were never this bad!" Blair exclaimed.
"The Bertelli Family moved into high gear about four years ago and took over. No one's been able to stand against them. Everyone who's tried has paid for it," Daryl explained, the bitterness evident in his voice painful to hear.
"Your Dad?" Jim asked.
"And Megan. My Dad is physically scarred, but Megan paid with her life."
"Simon didn't said anything about that," Jim said sadly after a long pause as Daryl's words registered. He glanced over at Blair, who was speechless. Neither of them had known that Megan had been killed. While Jim hadn't always gotten along with her on a personal level, he had respected her abilities as a detective.
"Dad didn't want to tell you about it in a letter. He said it would be too cruel since there was no way you could've gotten back for her funeral. Look, I've got to go. Will you guys be around for a while?"
"At least a week, Daryl. Things are kinda up in the air right now, but we're staying for the wedding this weekend, " Jim answered.
"Good, then I'm sure I'll see you around. I know Dad is invited to the wedding, so I'll see you then for sure."
Blair waved good-bye to Daryl and muttered softly, "I wonder what else someone didn't want to tell us in a letter."
Jim shook his head. "I don't know, Chief. Let's head upstairs. Hopefully, Simon will be more forthcoming in person than he was in his letters."
The two men exited the elevator and headed for the door marked Major Crime. As they walked down the hallway, they noted there weren't very many familiar faces.
Pushing open the door to Major Crime, they were happy to see a few good friends. Rafe was sitting at the same desk he had before Jim had resigned. He was talking on the phone to someone. Brown still sat across from him. He was eating his lunch and didn't even look up at them.
Surprisingly enough, it was Rhonda who was the first to recognize them. She stood up from behind her desk and moved around it to give both of them a big hug.
"I'm so happy to see you guys. It's been too quiet around here without the two of you," she greeted them.
Her words attracted Henri's attention. He promptly dropped his sandwich when he saw who was standing in the bullpen.
"I don't believe it. When did you two get back to town and how long are you staying?" Brown asked as he slapped Blair on the back and punched Jim in the arm.
"We got back into town yesterday. We're staying in town until after my father's wedding. Since we had some free time on our hands, we thought we'd drop by and see how you all are doing."
In the meantime, Rafe had ended his phone call and also moved over to greet Jim and Blair. All the noise from the group drew Simon's attention from his office.
"What's going on out here!" Simon yelled as he limped out of his office with the assistance of a cane. Jim immediately noticed that at some point in the last few years, Simon had lost his right leg below the knee and was using a prosthesis.
"Look what the cat dragged in, Captain," Rafe answered, pointing to Jim and Blair.
Simon smiled briefly but then turned and stalked back towards his office. When he reached the doorway, he turned back again and yelled with a grin, "Ellison! Sandburg! My office! Right now!"
Jim and Blair disengaged themselves from the crowd with a wave and followed after Simon.
Rafe was the last to return to his desk and managed to overhear Rhonda muttering, "God, how I missed that."
Simon was sitting down at his desk as the two men entered his office.
"Pull up a chair, gentlemen. Would either of you like some coffee?" Simon asked.
"No thanks, Simon," Blair answered politely. Jim also waved off Simon's offer.
"So, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?" Simon queried, studying the two men sitting uncomfortably in front of him.
"How about a few explanations, Simon? You can start with what happened to Megan or why you need that," Jim demanded, gesturing at Simon's cane, which was propped against the wall behind Simon's chair.
"Haven't you learned anything about tact and diplomacy from me over the last few years, buddy?" Blair muttered under his breath.
Simon winced at the anger he heard in Ellison's voice. "Look, I'm sorry I didn't tell you guys about this before you came back. I can't tell you the number of times I started to write a letter to you explaining what happened, but I've never been able to find the right words."
"Tell us now, Simon," Blair said softly. "Whichever event is easier for you to talk about first."
"It happened at the same bust, Sandburg. It was a very dark day for the Cascade PD. It was supposed to be an easy bust. We were breaking up a protection racket down by the docks. Connor and I were posing as the owners of a new warehouse in the area. Rafe and Brown were covering the back with a couple of uniforms. Taggart was in the empty warehouse across the street with the rest of the backup and a surveillance team."
Simon paused, taking a long swig of his coffee.
"Just take your time, Simon," Blair said soothingly.
"Somehow, they knew it was a set up. They came in the front door with four guys and just opened fire on us with automatics. No warning, just came in shooting."
"So they just shot her? Point blank?" Jim asked, his rage barely masked in his voice.
"Yeah, she was a few steps in front of me. She never had a chance. I managed to dive behind some crates, just didn't get my legs out of the line of fire fast enough. It took twelve hours of surgery to save my left leg. There was nothing they could do about the other one."
"It gets worse, doesn't it?" Blair asked in subdued voice.
"They sent another four guys around the back to keep our backup busy. Before the shooting was over, Megan and three of the patrol officers were dead. Rafe, Brown, and another of the uniforms and myself were all hit."
"How did they know it was a sting?"
Simon shrugged. "We never did find out. It was six months before I was even allowed out of the hospital and another three months before I was allowed back on desk duty. The trail was cold by then."
"It was those damn Bertellis, wasn't it?" Jim asked, his voice dripping with unconcealed poison.
Simon ignored Jim's question, countering with, "How about some lunch?"
Jim started to ask again, but stopped as Simon tilted his head at the glass partition.
Jim noticed that their conversation was under a great deal of scrutiny. He bit his tongue and nodded. As Simon was putting on his coat, he whispered only loud enough for the Sentinel to hear. "Not here, Jim. Never mention that name here. The walls have ears."
The three men entered the small deli located near the police station. It was quiet this time of day, being well after the lunch rush, yet it was too soon for dinner. They sat down at a small table in the back, away from the one other customer.
"Simon, what's going on? Why couldn't we talk in the station?"
"Things have really changed around here, Jim. I don't trust half the guys who work in the precinct any more. Most of the good cops left for greener pastures in the last year. The police have lost all control over the city. Bertelli is in charge now."
Jim winced as he wondered if things would have been any different if he hadn't left Cascade. "I'm sorry, Simon. I had no idea this was going to happen when I resigned. I feel like I left you holding the bag."
Blair's eyes flashed in anger at Jim's words. What was it about Ellison that made him feel guilty for everything wrong in the world? Before he could speak his mind, Simon did it for him.
"Wrong Jim. You had no reason to believe this would happen to Cascade. The brass screwed up royally when they made your life a living hell, here. I wouldn't have stuck around as long as you did. You had every reason to walk away and not one good reason for staying here." Simon glared at Blair as he spoke the last sentence. He still held Blair partially responsible for some of the problems Jim had been faced with before leaving Cascade. Not that Blair could have stopped the harassment from happening, but at least Jim wouldn't have dealt with the situation alone.
Blair noticed the glare and flinched, but Jim didn't notice the exchange. "Doesn't change the fact that you've been left holding the bag, Simon. Though I'm sure Daryl has been a big help to you. You must be very proud of him."
Simon grinned broadly at the mention of his son. "I am. He's a good cop, Jim. I just wish things hadn't gotten so bad around here. I worry about him out on these streets. The best I could do was make sure he was assigned to an experienced partner."
"You did a great job with Daryl," Blair added.
Simon nodded in response to Blair's compliment. If Jim didn't hold Sandburg's previous actions against him, what right did he have to maintain a grudge? It was ancient history. Jim and Blair were back and he was happy to see both of them.
"Simon?" Jim had obviously asked him something, but Simon didn't have a clue what it was.
"Sorry, Jim. Got lost in my thoughts for a minute. What did you ask?"
"If you wanted to come to dinner tonight?" Jim explained. "Bring Daryl along. We didn't really get a chance to talk to him."
Simon smiled. It was just like old times. "Thanks, Jim. We'll be there. What time?"
"Around six."
Rhonda looked up from her typing just as Simon entered the bullpen. She handed him his messages as he passed by her desk. "That one on top is urgent. Commissioner Freeman is looking for you."
"Thanks, Rhonda. I'll call her," Simon answered as he closed the door behind him.
A few moments later, Rhonda heard his angry voice emanating from the office. She winced as she realized he was talking to the commissioner. She could only hear a few words here and there, but she was sure the commissioner was asking about Jim Ellison.
"Yes, he stopped by... old friends... I don't think he'd... but... treated him like dirt... I'm not gonna... I won't... I'm on my way."
She wasn't surprised when a few moments later, Simon exited the office.
"I'll be tied up with the Commissioner for a while. You might as well cancel my appointments for the rest of the day."
Rhonda nodded and picked up her phone. Poor Simon, these days it was all Major Crime could do to keep their heads above water. This was the only department that remained untouched by the Bertelli family influence and that was strictly due to Simon's vigilance in selecting those who worked for him.
Simon and Daryl climbed out of the car and headed for the front door.
"Do you think he'll consider meeting with the new commissioner to discuss her offer?" Daryl asked.
"I don't know. I hope so. As much as I hate to admit it, we need him back. This city needs him back," Simon replied as he stared at the Ellison residence. He quickly noticed Jim was standing in the doorway waiting for them to walk up the path to the house. Simon winced at the expression on his old friend's face. Clearly, Jim had overheard Daryl's question about his meeting with the commissioner.
Time to face the music, he thought, as he gestured for Daryl to enter the house in front of him.
"Jim," he started to explain, but stopped as Jim raised his hand and shook his head.
"Business later, Simon. For now, let's just enjoy a good dinner and catch up on the past few years."
Simon quickly agreed with the suggestion, as he really hadn't wanted to discuss this matter with Jim this soon, anyway.
William Ellison appeared to greet them, a smiling Sally at his side also offering her respects.
Simon greeted the couple, offering his congratulations before glancing around the foyer, wondering where his son had disappeared to so quickly. Soon, he heard the sound of Daryl's voice along with Sandburg's off to his left, and turned in that direction.
Hopefully, he wouldn't have to discuss the Commissioner until after dinner. Condemned men deserved a last meal, and Sally's reputation as a great cook was well known.
Jim eyed his empty coffee cup. Conversation during the meal had stayed in safe territory. Old friends catching up on several missing years. Now, after dinner as they lingered at the table over dessert, he needed to find a way to get Simon away from the others. Opportunity was about to present his chance.
Realizing the coffeepot was empty, Sally started to stand up.
"I'll get another pot of coffee ready, Sally. You just sit and relax," Jim said, quickly climbing to his feet.
Jim gestured for Simon to follow him into the kitchen. Somewhat reluctantly, Simon rose from his chair and trailed after him.
"So, what offer does the Commissioner want you to sell me on?" Jim asked as he searched the cupboards for the coffee can.
"She wants you to take your badge back and become a detective, again," Simon replied as he grabbed the empty coffeepot and moved to the sink.
Jim shook his head. "No way, Simon. I've already been down that road. I'm not interested in carrying a badge again."
Simon smiled as he filled the coffeepot with water. "I told her you'd say that, so plan B was to offer to hire you as a consultant working out of Major Crime. The salary she offered sucked, but I talked her into upping it for you. It would be about twenty percent more than you were making as a detective. The only catch is that you'd have to get a private investigator's license."
Jim didn't say anything until after he had finished measuring out the coffee grounds to place into the filter. A lot was on the line here, and he didn't want to make a hasty decision. "What about Sandburg?"
"I warned her that the two of you would be a package deal. The same offer will be extended to Sandburg, but only after you agree to the terms."
Jim stared Simon straight in the eye. "What do you think I should do, Simon?"
Simon removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes before answering. "I'd love to have you back in Major Crime. I'd even take Sandburg back if that's what it takes. Despite all the grief you caused when it came to collateral property damage and Sandburg's tendency to talk incessantly about things I don't understand, I missed having the two of you around."
"Gee, thanks for that glowing assessment, Simon."
"But taking on the Bertellis is gonna be a nasty job. Even worse, she also expects you to investigate who in the police department is on Bertelli's payroll."
Jim waited for Simon to continue, but was surprised when he remained silent. "I'm not sure you gave me an answer, Simon."
"You're right, I didn't give you an answer. You and Sandburg need to come to your own decision. I promised myself that I wouldn't try to influence you either way." Simon awaited Jim's decision.
"I need to think about this, Simon, and you're right about my needing to see what Blair thinks. This affects him, too. He'll need to work things out with Eli and Washington University if we accept."
The two men stood silently watching the coffee brew, pondering the alternatives that were available, no matter if the answer was yes or no.
"What's taking the two of you so long? Do you need help in there?" Blair called from the dining room. "There are people out here dying for another cup of coffee."
"Sorry, Chief. We're coming," Jim yelled back as he poured the freshly brewed coffee into the carafe.
Just a little before midnight, Simon and Daryl left for home. Blair volunteered himself and Jim to clear up the table, allowing Sally and William to retire for the evening.
"So, Jim, what were you and Simon talking about in the kitchen when you were supposedly making coffee?"
"I wondered how long it would take you to corner me about that, Chief. I thought I'd have 'til tomorrow morning before getting the third degree from you though," Jim retorted as he started to rinse the dishes in the sink.
"Jim, you don't have to wash them before putting them in the dishwasher," Blair said as he took a mug out of Jim's hands and placed it into the top rack of the dishwasher. "See, you put dirty dishes into this machine, push the start button and they come out clean."
"Wow, see what happens after you live in the jungle for a while. I forget how all this new- fandangled technology works," Jim replied sarcastically.
"Quit stalling, Jim, and spill it. What did Simon want?" Blair demanded as he placed several dessert dishes onto the bottom rack.
Jim just handed the remainder of the dishes to Blair to put into the dishwasher, as he continued to annoy his best friend. "Hey, Chief, you were the one who started the lecture on how to use a dishwasher. I wasn't stalling."
"Jim!" Blair hissed with a glare, his hands on his hips. He wanted to shout, but he didn't want to wake either the children or William and Sally.
Jim started to explain as he began to wipe down the countertops. "Okay. Don't get so excited. The new Police Commissioner has a job offer for me..."
"She's giving you your badge back. That's great," Blair interrupted, slapping Jim on the back.
"You didn't let me finish, Chief. Simon told her that I wouldn't accept it," Jim replied, awaiting the explosion from Blair. He didn't have long to wait.
"What? He shouldn't have done that. I keep telling you that part of being a Sentinel is protecting people, not to mention that it's a Jim Ellison trait. I still say that law enforcement is the perfect career for you."
"Don't get tied up in knots, Chief. He's right. I told you I don't want to be a detective again. But then she offered a consulting position to both of us," Jim added, wiping his hands on a dish towel.
"Really? A paid position for both of us?" Blair thought about it for a moment. "Simon didn't say no to that offer, too, did he?"
Jim chuckled as he answered, "No, he told her he'd pass the offer on to us."
Blair waited for Jim to continue, slightly annoyed that Jim was only giving up bits and pieces at a time. "So what did you tell Simon?"
"That I'd talk to you and we'd think about it," Jim said, his tone very matter of fact.
"Think about it! Jim, what's there to think about? This is a great opportunity for you," Blair exclaimed as he closed the dishwasher and pressed the start button.
"Slow down, Chief. I'm not sure this is such a great idea. First, we'd be taking on the Bertelli crime family, which is a large operation and it's not gonna be easy to take down. Second, she also expects us to ferret out the bad apples within the PD itself."
Blair crossed his arms over his chest. "I haven't heard a good reason to say no yet, Jim."
"It's conditional upon both of us getting a private investigator's license," Jim added, one eyebrow raised.
Blair shook his head. "Still haven't heard a reason to say no."
"Okay, what are you going to do about Washington University? You do have a contract with them."
"They don't have me assigned to teach this coming semester. I was going to finish working on those last couple of articles about the Chopec. They did want me to give a series of lectures about my experiences living with the tribe, but we're talking about a couple of long weekends during the semester."
"What about Eli? I thought you were going to be working with him," Jim pressed.
Blair shrugged. "He and I hadn't agreed on a new topic for our next series of articles. I can see what he thinks about doing a study on the destruction of one of the last major crime families in the country. Sounds like a best seller to me."
Holding up one finger as a warning, but with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, Jim said, "Chief, if you say one word about movie rights, I'm gonna hit you. Remember what trouble that got us into the last time?"
Blair frowned. He wasn't sure what answer Jim was looking for here. "Cards on the table, Jim. I don't like what I've seen here in Cascade. I really don't like the fact that these people killed Megan and the DA's office hasn't been able to touch them. I want in, but you have to make up your own mind."
"I need to think about it, Chief. I'm not sure you understand what she's asking us to do," Jim said, leaning back against the countertop.
"I do, Jim. I really do. Now, the only question before us is, do you want to take this on? You're out of practice." Without another word Blair headed up the stairs to his bedroom.
"I really don't know what I wanna do," Jim said to himself as he turned off the lights and headed to bed, himself.
Alfonse stared at his first born and only heir to the empire he had been building in the Pacific Northwest. Guido was such a disappointment to him. Running the Bertelli's family enterprises often required an iron fist, but his son tended towards a steamroller approach. He just didn't understand that if you pressed people too far, they would have nothing to lose.
Guido started fidgeting at his father's intense scrutiny. Why didn't the old man say something? It seemed nothing he did would ever please the old man. Maybe it was time for his father to retire, permanently. He was so lost in his thoughts that he almost didn't realize his father was speaking.
"Did you find him yet?"
"He's staying with his old man in the Sommerset Community. I've checked it out. Security is pretty tight over there," Guido explained.
His father sighed. His son never did pay attention to anything outside his immediate task. He was now more convinced than ever that he should begin training another to take his place. He glanced over at Antonio who was seated to his right. There was a lot of potential in that one, much more than in his own flesh and blood. The potential just had to be properly focused.
"That's because a lot of Cascade's good citizens with old money and political clout have retreated to live behind those gates. It is considered to be one of the most secure neighborhoods in the city." Alfonse hated having to explain what should have been obvious.
"No place is completely secure. No one is untouchable. All the sheep that live in this city are ours to control. I'll find a way inside and make them afraid of us."
He shook his head. "No, my son. While you're correct that no one is untouchable, there is no need to draw attention to our operations by attacking in their own homes those few remaining people with the potential to hurt our operations. Until now, several of them have not advocated pursuing our operations because we have not hurt them personally. Be patient. There will be other opportunities."
"We can take him out now before he can do any damage to our operations. I have a plan to get us inside that house and take everyone out, no witnesses."
"NO! Find another way. I will not approve any plan that involves taking out innocents. Ellison was a soldier in addition to being a cop. He understands the risks of playing the game, but no innocents. There are some lines even I won't cross. Ellison's children are not a part of this."
"But that will make the job impossible..."
Alfonse interrupted his son's whine, "Find a way. This discussion is over."
"Yes, sir!" Guido said angrily as he retreated from the room.
"Report, Antonio, tell me how my son is doing with this assignment," Alfonse demanded as he turned to face his right-hand man.
"I'm concerned. Your son is so determined to prove himself that he is becoming sloppy. Ellison is not a man to be trifled with. As you mentioned, besides being a first rate detective, he was a part of Army Special Forces. Most of his military record has been sealed, not to mention that there were a lot of dead bodies coming out of the jungle when he was living there. It's rumored that the NSA killed his wife and then was stupid enough to try and kill the rest of the family. Most of them came back in pieces."
Alfonse sighed. "If my son fails to obey my instruction in this manner, he will have to be dealt with. Keep a close eye on him. My instincts tell me that there's a major storm brewing and I'm not sure if any of us will walk away."
Antonio nodded and set off after Guido.
Standing in front of the mirror, Jim pulled on his tuxedo jacket. Just as he was starting to put on his tie, Blair entered the bedroom with Grace and Jake holding his hands. While his children were properly attired for the wedding, Blair was still wearing his jeans and a tee shirt, which were soaking wet. His hair was half in his usual ponytail, the other half dangling in front of his face. "They're all yours," Blair stated firmly between clenched teeth, his exasperation evident in his tone.
"Problems, Chief?" Jim asked innocently, his eyes twinkling with laughter.
"SHE doesn't want to wear a dress. SHE wants a tux too," Blair answered, tugging on Grace's hand, pulling her forward to face her father. HE doesn't want to go to the wedding. HE wants to watch cartoons," he continued, as he forced Jake out from behind him. "I'm going back to my room to finish... to START getting dressed myself. They are your problem, now."
Jim watched as Blair turned on his heels and fled the room. He stared down at the twins. Grace pouted, but didn't look away. Jake just stared at the floor, his arms crossed over his chest. Neither of them realized that they were on very thin ice with their father until he spoke. "You two! Sit on the end of the bed and don't move until I tell you!" When neither of the kids moved an inch, Jim added, "NOW!"
Passing by the doorway, William heard his son's tone and entered the room. "The kids giving you a hard time, son?" William asked with an evil smirk on his face as he reached over and finished tying the knot on Jim's tie.
Slapping his Dad's hands away, Jim answered, "You're enjoying this way too much, Dad."
"You'll understand someday, Jimmy, just what a joy it is to watch your grandchildren drive your children out of their minds."
"Oh God, Dad, please don't even mention grandchildren to me right now. I'm having enough problems with the idea of getting them to go to kindergarten in a few months, much less having them married with kids of their own. Why don't you work on Steven for a while? He's not married. I'm sure he'd be happy to provide you with a few more grandchildren to spoil."
"Shut up, big brother. You really didn't need to go there," Steven said as he entered the room, dressed in his tux.
"Sure I did, Stevie. It's my job as the eldest sibling to harass you."
Steven reached out to punch Jim in the shoulder. Jim ducked away and whapped Steven in the back of the head as he retreated.
William chuckled at the antics of his sons. "So, are you ready, boys?" he asked as he tried to get hold of Steven's tie to straighten it.
"I say we need to get downstairs. We can't start the wedding without the groom, the best man and the father of the bride," Steven replied.
"Not to mention the ring bearer and the flower girl, who should remember that if they don't start behaving, they are going to be grounded from watching any television for the rest of the weekend," Jim added, with a warning look at his children.
Gracie and Jake straightened up immediately upon hearing the threat of being grounded. They had grown very fond of watching cartoons in the short time they had been in Washington.
"I'll see if the bride is close to being ready," Jim said with a grin. He had been surprised when Sally had asked him to walk her down the aisle, her own father having passed away a few years previously. "Blair was delayed getting dressed because of the twins so, Uncle Stevie, do you mind keeping an eye on them until he's ready?"
"No problem, bro. The florist is here setting up and the caterer is arranging the buffet and the cake in the hall. The kids will get a kick out of a seven-tiered wedding cake."
"Just make sure you keep them out of the cake until after the ceremony. They don't need any more sugar," Jim admonished as he watched his brother and the kids leave the room.
William sighed deeply as he too watched his son and grandchildren leave.
"Dad?" Jim asked, not sure what was bothering his father on what should be a very happy occasion.
"Sorry, Jimmy. It's just that having the whole family here is wonderful, but it also reminds me of all those wasted years when we weren't together. I'm so sorry about..."
"Don't, Dad. It's ancient history, now. Even before I left for Peru, I considered the issue closed or I wouldn't have asked for your help with Rainier. Just concentrate on making Sally happy and being a good grandpa."
William embraced his son and whispered, "I think I can handle that, Jimmy."
"Good, now, since I can hear the guests gathering downstairs, you go play the congenial host while I go check on the bride."
Steven checked his watch. The ceremony was supposed to start in fifteen minutes. It was time to get the twins and himself into place.
Looking down, he managed to grab Jake's hand before he could stick it into the wedding cake. He spun around when he realized that Grace had wandered away from them. His immediate thought was that Jim was going to kill him for losing his niece the first time he had been held responsible for keeping an eye on the kids. After a quick scan of the area, he saw her standing in front of the two huge flower arrangements in front of the altar.
"Pretty aren't they, Gracie?" Steven said as he took her by the hand and led them to the back of the church were he could see Blair was waiting.
In his haste, he didn't hear her quiet answer of, "Flowers smell funny."
William checked his watch as he stood at the altar. In ten minutes, the wedding would start. He couldn't believe this was finally happening. He couldn't believe that Sally had actually said 'Yes' when he had asked if she would have him.
He had always known that Sally had loved Jimmy and Stevie as if they were her own children, but he hadn't been sure of how she'd felt about him. He wasn't sure who had been more surprised, Sally because he had finally asked the question, or himself because she had agreed.
He saw Steven hurrying down the aisle towards him.
"All set, Dad?" Steven asked as he took his place, straightening his jacket and running his hand through his hair.
"I've waited for this moment for years, son. It's like a dream come true."
"Well, then you'll be happy to know that I saw the bride standing just outside the corridor, as the dressmaker was making some final adjustments before she walks down the aisle. I thought for sure she was gonna elope with Jim when she saw him in that tux," Steven lightly teased.
William gave his son a mock-stern glare, "Don't even kid about that, son, or I'll be forced to ground you like Jim does with the twins."
"Anything but that, Dad. I can't miss South Park," Steven whined.
Even as he listened to his son's teasing, he looked down the aisle, hoping for a glimpse of his beautiful bride. Instead, he saw Blair handing the little basket of flowers to Grace and the pillow with the ring on it to Jake.
He checked his watch again. Only a few more minutes, he thought to himself.
Just a few more minutes.
Blair checked his watch. In five minutes, the wedding would start. William had asked him to be an usher, but he had said no. He and Jim had decided that having Grace and Jake stand at the altar with the rest of the wedding party would be too much of a temptation for the twins.
So, after their stroll down the aisle, Blair would make sure they sat in the front pew with him for the remainder of the ceremony.
Blair let his gaze rove over the crowded church. He hadn't realized how many friends William and Sally had invited. He recognized a few familiar faces in the crowd. Simon and Daryl were sitting towards the front. Rafe, Henri and Joel had also been invited to the gathering.
It had been very nice of William to include some of Jim's friends. Steven had mentioned that some of his friend's had also been invited. Not to mention that Steven's girlfriend was one of the bridesmaids. Her suggestive smiles and too obvious comments had Steven running for cover and the ceremony hadn't even begun.
Blair knelt down beside the twins to put the finishing touches on their appearance and remind them one last time about what they were supposed to do.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jim and Sally approaching.
It was time.
Jim checked his watch. It was time. The guests were all seated and the music was beginning. As he and Sally took their places, he realized that he hadn't had a clue how much his father had loved Sally. He had known all along that Sally had loved his father. It was the reason that she had stayed on after he and Steven had left home.
He smiled at Sally as the guests rose and they began their walk down the aisle.
As the processional began, he watched with pride as his children led the way. After all the threats from himself and Blair, the two of them were actually behaving. He glanced from side to side, recognizing both old friends from his childhood and familiar faces from his years with Cascade PD.
A strange smell tickled his nose. Not something he could identify exactly, but his senses went into a high alert status. It reminded him of danger.
As he was reaching the pew where Simon and Daryl were sitting, the scent was becoming stronger. Just as Blair had taught him, he piggy-backed his eyesight on the direction of the scent. His attention was immediately drawn to the large flower arrangements in front of the altar. Focusing carefully, he saw an object was hidden beneath the flowers in each of the vases.
That's when he recognized the smell.
C-4.
Pushing Sally in the direction of Simon, he yelled to the group at the altar. "There's a bomb!"
He had started for the altar, but only got a few steps closer before his world exploded.
The man watched the proceedings below him from his place in the balcony. His target was approaching the altar, and everything was going exactly as planned. His finger hovered on the button. His instructions had been very specific. The bombs had been designed to explode with most of the force directed outward, towards the aisle. The bride didn't have much of a chance, but it was unlikely to kill anyone else in the wedding party.
Just a few more steps and his debt to the Bertellis would be paid in full. If he had known what that loan to get his wife's flower shop started was going to cost him, he might have thought twice. With a sigh, he refocused his attention below. It was too late to worry about that now.
To his horror, he saw his target push the bride into a pew and run towards the front of the church. Somehow the guy knew what was waiting for him. Everyone below him was scrabbling for cover. The curly-haired guy sitting in the front pew grabbed for the flower girl, pushing her beneath him. The groom dove for the ring bearer to do the same. The best man, a few seconds slower to respond, did his best to protect them both. The priest gestured for the bridesmaids to duck behind the marble altar.
His target couldn't be allowed to disarm the bombs. He couldn't fail -- they would kill him if he failed. Not knowing what else to do, he pressed the button, watching the results with morbid fascination.
He waited for the smoke to clear. Looking carefully, he realized his target was down, blood running down the side of his head. The guy who had protected the little flower girl was kneeling next to her, checking her out. The groom was struggling to move out from beneath the best man, who wasn't moving at all.
The large African-American man in one of the pews towards the front was taking charge, shouting orders to several other guests as he moved towards Ellison. Hearing footsteps on the side stairs, the bomber quickly made his way out the window and down the fire escape. His getting caught wasn't part of the plan.
Jim regained consciousness as the result of a wave of pain passing all over his body. His head was throbbing. That was the worst of the pain. His left shoulder was immobilized, along with his left knee. Having assessed all the damage, he carefully opened his eyes.
"About time you woke up, Ellison," Simon said softly, in regard for the headache he was sure Jim was suffering.
His mouth too dry to answer, Jim attempted to moisten his lips.
"Try this." Simon helped Jim lift his head enough to sip from the straw in the ice water he was holding.
"Thanks," Jim said, his voice still cracking from disuse.
"Let me try to answer all the questions I see in your face, Jim. It's been a little over twenty-four hours since the ceremony. Sally and the bridesmaids didn't have a scratch on them, Blair has a few bruises, but otherwise he's okay too. He protected Grace from the blast. She has a couple of bruises too, but nothing that required treatment."
Jim recognized that Simon was giving him the good news first.
"Blair is upstairs with Jake in the pediatric wing. He has a broken arm and a cracked rib, more from your father landing on him than from the blast. Last I checked, he and Grace were sleeping comfortably in the bed with Blair keeping watch."
"Stevie? My Father?" Jim croaked.
Simon took a deep breath, now for the bad news. "Your Dad is okay. He required a few stitches in his head and on his back. Your brother protected him from the blast. Other than you, Steven took the worst of the damage. He's in the intensive care unit. There was a lot of internal bleeding. The doctor said he came through the surgery well, and should be fine as long as no complications arise. Your Dad is keeping him company."
"Investigation?"
"Joel is handling the investigation around the explosives. You or Sally was clearly the target. The design of the bomb was such that the force was aimed in your direction. I don't really believe that Sally was the target."
Jim nodded in agreement with Simon's conclusion.
"Once things were under control at the church, Rafe and Brown hit the streets. Word is that the Bertellis put a hit out on you." Simon wasn't surprised when Jim tried to get out of the bed after his revelation.
"No way, Jim. You're not in any condition to leave here. The doctor wants to keep you here for a day or two. You've got the hardest head of anyone I know, but this time your brain was seriously shaken. Besides, Sandburg made some pretty nasty threats if I let you up and right now I'm more afraid of him than you."
Allowing his friend to help him settle back, Jim closed his eyes. He almost lost his family, again. One of his enemies had tried to come at him through his family, again.
"Look, Jim. I'm gonna let Blair know that you're awake. You've got a couple of guards outside your door. Joel is upstairs with Blair and the kids. No one is gonna get through him, so don't worry. You stay put."
The next time that Jim woke up, it was Sandburg who was occupying the chair that was previously Simon's. Sitting in his lap was little Gracie, fast asleep. A squirming little body moving by his right side let him know where Jake was. Looking down, he gently moved Jake's hair so he could see his son's face.
"They wanted to see for themselves that you were okay," Blair whispered.
"How's Steven doing?" Jim asked, his voice just as quiet so as not to disturb the sleeping children.
"Much better, they think he'll be released from the ICU in another day or two."
"Has Simon filled you in?"
"Yep, and judging from that determined look on your face, you've made your decision."
Jim nodded. "I'm staying. Bertelli didn't come after me. He came after my family, and now I'm gonna make him pay."
Blair shook his head.
"Sandburg! Don't argue with me on this."
"You misunderstand, Jim. You and I, We're gonna make him pay," Blair explained, looking down at the sleeping child in his arms. "The Bertellis are about to learn just what it means to take on a Sentinel and his Guide."
The End for now
Author's Note: Yes, I know. This is a rotten way to end this. There will be more. Several other stories are demanding attention first, and won't allow the muse to finish this one. The most demanding is Herald Sentinel -- Homecoming, which is coming next.