In the Heat of the Night
\nBy Patt<\/p>\n
Jim was pacing in the loft, his temper flared and couldn\u2019t remember a time when he was more pissed off at anyone. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you mean it\u2019s none of my business?\u201d Jim shouted. <\/p>\n
\u201cJust what it sounds like. This is my life, if I want to do something, I can. You\u2019re not my dad, after all,\u201d Blair shouted back. <\/p>\n
\u201cI know I\u2019m not your dad, because if I was, I\u2019d be beating your ass right about now,\u201d Jim growled. <\/p>\n
\u201cFirst you\u2019re yelling, now you wish you could beat on me. Is there something you want to talk to me about Jim?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShut up. Just shut up. Now, why did you get arrested tonight? And why didn\u2019t you call me when it happened?\u201d Jim barked. <\/p>\n
\u201cSame reason. You\u2019re not my dad. You\u2019re my roommate. I call you if my car breaks down, but I don\u2019t call you if I get arrested and beat up in jail.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho touched you?\u201d Jim snapped. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhy does it matter? I was arrested and I stood up for what I believed in and that was that. What happened afterwards could have happened to anyone,\u201d Blair explained. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the middle of the night. What were you doing at the police station at this time of night? Why didn\u2019t you call and let me know?\u201d Jim asked sounding almost normal again. <\/p>\n
Blair could tell Jim was letting go of some of the anger and they could possibly work this out. <\/p>\n
\u201cJim, I was with University friends, okay? I don\u2019t want to call you in front of them and think I can\u2019t take care of myself. They would think I was a weakling. I couldn\u2019t have my fellow teachers think that, could I?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid they all get arrested?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo, just me. I was the only one that looked like trouble to them. They let everyone else go home. They booked me and threw me in the cell with about ten other men and didn\u2019t even offer me my phone call,\u201d Blair said quietly. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat precinct?\u201d Jim bellowed. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter, Jim. I got beat up because I look like a hippy fag and that\u2019s what the cops said too. They announced my arrival to the rest of the people,\u201d Blair sat down on the sofa and stopped pacing with Jim, finally. <\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t fucking believe this. Didn\u2019t you tell them that you\u2019re a paid observer now? Things shouldn\u2019t have gone like this at all,\u201d Jim ranted. <\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t get a chance to tell them anything. They were too busy hitting me,\u201d Blair shut up as soon as the words got out. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe cops hit you?\u201d Jim asked in a whisper.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t mean for that to slip out. Yes, the cops are the ones that hit me. Now can I go to bed?\u201d Blair started to get up and Jim pushed him back onto the sofa again. <\/p>\n
\u201cI need names. I know you have em\u2019. Who were they?\u201d Jim asked getting angry again. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere was no harm done. I\u2019m going to bed,\u201d Blair said as he started to get up. <\/p>\n
Jim pulled his arm and Blair yelped in pain. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the fuck? What\u2019s wrong with your arm?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf I tell you, you have to promise you won\u2019t hurt them. You\u2019ll let me file a report with Simon. Do you swear?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cBlair, I need to go down and take care of this tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, you aren\u2019t going to go down tonight, or I\u2019m moving,\u201d Blair shouted. <\/p>\n
\u201cMoving? What the hell does moving have to do with any of this?\u201d Jim asked honestly. <\/p>\n
\u201cI can take care of myself. I planned on going and filing a report with Simon in the morning. It was no big deal. You\u2019re making it sound like I can\u2019t take care of myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTake your shirt off,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo\u2026I don\u2019t have to do anything you tell me to. Now I\u2019m going to bed and you\u2019re going to get out of my way.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBlair, why won\u2019t you take your shirt off?\u201d Jim was worried now. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to file a complaint with Simon tomorrow. That will be soon enough. Right now, I\u2019d like to go to bed,\u201d Blair said sadly. <\/p>\n
\u201cBlair, please tell me what they did to you,\u201d Jim pleaded. <\/p>\n
\u201cAs soon as you promise to stay here with me and not touch anyone over it,\u201d Blair responded. <\/p>\n
\u201cFine, I\u2019ll stay here with you and let you file the report tomorrow. I understand you\u2019re a big boy now, but these guys had no right to hurt you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re right. They didn\u2019t have any right. They hurt me cuz I look like a fag,\u201d Blair said as calmly as he could. <\/p>\n
\u201cTell me what happened. I\u2019m staying here. I promised,\u201d Jim swore. <\/p>\n
\u201cI was walking out of a gay bar with six friends, I was the designated driver and the cops were waiting for us. Called us all sorts of pretty names and shoved us around. Then they said that I was drunk and couldn\u2019t drive home. I told them I was the designated driver and they laughed and said I was the designated fag. They threw me up against the cop car and then threw me again. They patted me down and had a good time feeling me up and down and every which way they could. They told my friends to beat it or they were going to be hauled in too. I told them to leave and the cops started to hit me for opening my big mouth. They told me \u2018no fag is ever in charge\u2019. When they finished hitting me, they put me in the back seat of the car and I asked if I could call Captain Banks and they laughed and asked if he was one of my regulars. I then said, \u201cFuck you,\u201d and things went downhill from then on. So, that, my friend, is what happened. I know you\u2019re shocked to find out about me this way, but it had to happen sometime.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim just looked at him not saying a word. Finally Jim took a deep breath and said, \u201cI knew you were bi. I\u2019ve known all along. It didn\u2019t matter to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, I don\u2019t have to move?\u201d Blair asked pitifully. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou never have to move from your home, Sandburg. I can\u2019t believe you thought that little of me to think that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI just got carried away, like in the middle of a heated argument you say and do things you don\u2019t mean. Hey, it\u2019s the middle of the night. We can tell Simon it happened in the heat of the night,\u201d Blair said sounding somewhat hysterical. <\/p>\n
\u201cChief, can I hug you if I promise not to hug hard?\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair went right into Jim\u2019s arms and let him hold him as tight as he wanted to. Jim began to run his fingers across Blair\u2019s ribs and back and said, \u201cChief, they hurt your ribs. We have to go to the Emergency Room. Come on, let\u2019s get up there and take care of it. Anywhere else?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cAnywhere else I want to go?\u201d Blair replied. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo, did they hurt you anywhere else?\u201d Jim said sternly. <\/p>\n
\u201cMy balls and my penis. They kicked me quite a few times. I\u2019m sore as hell,\u201d Blair admitted. <\/p>\n
Jim put his arm around Blair\u2019s shoulder and then the two men walked outside to get into Jim\u2019s truck. Jim had to help Blair get up. Jim was getting madder by the moment. <\/p>\n
Jim got him up and seat belted in and then went over to his side of the truck, taking deep breaths. <\/p>\n
\u201cAre you using the breathing techniques that I told you about, Jim?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a matter of fact, I am. Thanks for the lesson in that. I\u2019m really pissed off Blair and I\u2019d like to take someone\u2019s head off right now. Not yours, theirs.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know. I feel the same way,\u201d Blair confessed. <\/p>\n
As Jim was driving he decided to get a little more information. \u201cSo Chief, how did you get out of there without calling me or Simon?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA friend of Rafe\u2019s came in to talk to the guys and saw me sitting there and whispered something to all of the men there. The next thing I knew, they were letting me go and told me it was a big mistake. I didn\u2019t waste time making trouble, I needed to get out of there. Rafe\u2019s friend must have called you after that, because you knew I was arrested when I got here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRafe\u2019s friend called him and Rafe called me. He said that I might want to do some checking on this one.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJim, I\u2019m in a lot of pain, can I just lean back and relax?\u201d Blair asked suddenly. <\/p>\n
\u201cSure, Chief. I\u2019ll wake you when we get there,\u201d Jim said calmly. He felt anything but calm on the inside. He was going to have to kill those fuckers. <\/p>\n
\u201cJim, remember your promise, right?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cYes, it\u2019s going to be the hardest promise I\u2019ve ever made,\u201d Jim answered. <\/p>\n
Jim drove to the hospital with Blair sleeping next to him. Jim called Simon and told him to meet him at Cascade General. <\/p>\n
~~~~~<\/p>\n
When Blair woke up, Jim was leaning over him undoing his seatbelt. Simon walked up to them and asked, \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBlair was beat up at one of the stations tonight. Not in the cell, but by the cops,\u201d Jim said angrily. <\/p>\n
\u201cWho? Who the fuck would mess with one of ours?\u201d Simon shouted making Blair lean closer into Jim. <\/p>\n
\u201cSorry, Sandburg, I didn\u2019t mean to scare you. You don\u2019t look beat up,\u201d Simon said looking Blair over. <\/p>\n
\u201cBelieve me he is. Now, let\u2019s go in and have a doctor look at him and I\u2019ll fill you in on the charges to be brought against these fuckers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have the paperwork with me, Ellison. You could have warned me ahead of time. This is going to get ugly I can tell already,\u201d Simon said huffing as he walked into the ER. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhy did you have to call him? Now, he\u2019s going to be mad at me and I don\u2019t want to do this anymore,\u201d Blair pleaded. <\/p>\n
\u201cDo what?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cI want to go back to just being a teacher. I don\u2019t want Simon to hate me. I don\u2019t want you to be embarrassed when this comes out,\u201d Blair said sadly. <\/p>\n
Simon walked out hearing what Blair said and said, \u201cCome on, kid. I\u2019m not mad. I was mad, but I\u2019ve over it. Let\u2019s see what the doctor says.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim smiled at Simon for being kind to Blair at that moment and said, \u201cI\u2019ll get the paperwork and start filling it out for you, Blair.\u201d<\/p>\n
About an hour later, Jim had told Simon exactly what had happened and Simon finally said, \u201cSo, what station was this, Blair?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 12th. I don\u2019t want Jim going over there. Is that understood, Simon? He promised me he wouldn\u2019t touch them and he has to keep his promise or I have to move,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
The nurse came out and got Blair. Jim and Simon had to wait in the waiting room.<\/p>\n
~~~~~<\/p>\n
In the examining room, Blair was stripped, dressed in hospital pretties and then taken to x-ray. He came back and sat for about an hour and the doctor came in to talk to him. <\/p>\n
\u201cBlair, you have two cracked ribs, so we\u2019re going to tape you up and then admit you for the swelling in your testes and penis. I want to watch it so the swelling doesn\u2019t get out of control.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDr. Spenser, could you please let me go home tonight. I swear, I\u2019ll put ice on it religiously. Please don\u2019t make me stay all night,\u201d Blair begged. <\/p>\n
\u201cAre you living alone?\u201d Dr. Spenser asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I have a roommate who is a cop. He\u2019s stickler for rules, so if you say ice, he\u2019ll see to it that I use ice. I promise,\u201d Blair pleaded once again. <\/p>\n
\u201cOkay. We\u2019ll tape you up and send you home with a special ice bag to sit on. I don\u2019t want to hear you didn\u2019t do it either,\u201d Dr. Spenser said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll do it. They hurt, so I won\u2019t forget,\u201d Blair promised. <\/p>\n
The nurse came in after the taping and helped Blair get dressed. \u201cYou ready, Blair?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cReady as I\u2019ll ever be, Michelle. Thank you for all of your help,\u201d Blair said as he got up from the chair after tying his shoes. After just that little bit of work, he could hardly breathe. <\/p>\n
As he came around the corner, he saw Simon talking to the doctor and the doctor was signing some papers. Simon must have gone and got the proper paperwork. <\/p>\n
Blair walked out to the waiting room and Jim was pacing. <\/p>\n
\u201cHey, Jim. Are you doing all right?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m fine. Why didn\u2019t you call me back to talk to the doctor?\u201d Jim asked angrily. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a big boy now, Jim. I can talk to my own doctor and follow his orders.\u201c Blair had his bag with him and walked out the door of the Emergency Room. <\/p>\n
Simon came out at that moment and said, \u201cYou pissed him off all ready?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, it doesn\u2019t take much when it comes to me,\u201d Jim admitted. <\/p>\n
They walked out to the truck and Blair was sitting in the cab waiting for Jim. <\/p>\n
Simon opened up the door and said, \u201cI\u2019m going to follow you over to the loft. I have the paperwork now, so we\u2019ll get it filled out and filed. See you there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair didn\u2019t feel like talking, so he said, \u201cJim, I know you\u2019re angry, but spare me. I\u2019ve got other things on my mind right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid they threaten you, Blair?\u201d Jim inquired. <\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, as a matter of fact, they did. They don\u2019t want to go to jail anymore than I did. So, excuse me if I\u2019m not jumping up and down to get these papers filed,\u201d Blair said angrily. <\/p>\n
\u201cLean back and relax. We\u2019ll talk about it when we get home,\u201d Jim said as he drove carefully all the way home. <\/p>\n
~~~~~<\/p>\n
Simon was waiting by the loft door when they got out of the elevator. Blair was never so happy to see the elevator working in his life. <\/p>\n
Jim opened up the door and all three of them walked in. Blair went and filled up both of his ice packs first thing. Then he set one the sofa to sit on and the other he put on his penis. He didn\u2019t even care if Jim and Simon were there. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s all you have to do for it?\u201d Simon asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I have to do this fucking shit for a week. He said the swelling will go down by then. That means I\u2019m going to miss teaching my classes because I sure as hell can\u2019t take an ice bag to class and explain what happened. Know what I mean?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry about the dean, Blair. I\u2019ll go and talk to him tomorrow. As far as your pay is concerned, the city will pick up the difference. So, try and not worry about any of this,\u201d Simon explained. <\/p>\n
\u201cThanks, Simon. That would help a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSimon, he was threatened by the men at the station to not report it. So, we\u2019re going to have to watch out for him now,\u201d Jim stated. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not like we don\u2019t watch out for him anyway,\u201d Simon reminded Jim. \u201cHe\u2019s one of ours.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair was warmed to the center of his being hearing Simon say this again. He was so afraid that he would have gotten so angry he would have fired him from the consultant job. Blair had just started getting medical benefits. <\/p>\n
Blair started filling out the paperwork. He explained in great detail what had happened and what he needed to put into the file and before long he and Simon were all done with it. Simon then used Blair\u2019s room to fax it to the office for Rafe and Brown. They were waiting to arrest the men named. <\/p>\n
Thankfully, Blair had remembered each and every one of their names. He would never forget the beating those men gave him. <\/p>\n
Blair leaned his head back on the sofa and took a deep breath. Simon looked at Jim with questioning eyes. Jim just shrugged his shoulders. <\/p>\n
Neither men knew what to say or do, so Jim finally said, \u201cAre you all right, Chief?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo Jim, I\u2019m not all right. Three men beat the shit out of me because I was at a gay bar. It\u2019s just not right,\u201d Blair ranted. <\/p>\n
\u201cI agree with you, Blair. There is nothing they could do that would be good enough to pay for what they did to you. They deserve the same treatment. Too bad we can\u2019t do that for them,\u201d Simon stated. <\/p>\n
\u201cThanks for listening to me and believing in me, Simon.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, what about me? I believe in you all the time,\u201d Jim said seriously. <\/p>\n
\u201cThank you,\u201d Blair replied and this made Jim smile a little bit. <\/p>\n
I\u2019ve got to get to the station and see that everything is done by the book. We don\u2019t want any reason to have this thrown out of court. Take care, Blair,\u201d Simon ordered as he stood to leave. <\/p>\n
\u201cAgain, Simon, thank you for understanding and not making me feel worse,\u201d Blair said and then leaned his head back again to rest. <\/p>\n
Jim walked Simon to the door and said, \u201cSimon, I want those fuckers to pay big time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJim, it\u2019s not like they\u2019ll get off scot free. We have witnesses and we have Blair \u2018s injuries to show for it too. Now just take care of him and stop worrying about what\u2019s going to happen to those men. Let the courts take care of them,\u201d Simon said as he walked through the door. <\/p>\n
~~~~~<\/p>\n
Once Simon left Blair said, \u201cI\u2019m going to go to bed with my ice packs. I want to just go to sleep and pretend this night ever happened.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on, you\u2019re going upstairs. My bed is much comfier. I\u2019ll help you get settled,\u201d Jim said pushing Blair toward the stairs. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo offense, man, but I don\u2019t want to climb the stairs every time I want a drink or need more ice. Down here is better for me. Thanks, anyhow,\u201d Blair said as he grabbed a bottle of water and went into his bedroom. <\/p>\n
Jim looked sadly at Blair, because he knew that Blair wasn\u2019t telling him how he felt. Jim wanted to be here for Blair, just like Blair was always there for Jim. <\/p>\n
The phone rang and Jim grabbed it before it could ring again. <\/p>\n
\u201cEllison.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow is Sandy? I just heard the news. I\u2019m going to be over at 10:00 to sit with him while you work. Simon thinks we need someone on him at all times. So, I\u2019m first up,\u201d Conner said. <\/p>\n
\u201cBlair is doing very well, thank you,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t believe those fuckers did what they did and just thought they were going to let him go and Sandy wouldn\u2019t press charges. Do you think they threatened him too?\u201d Conner asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, he said they did. So we\u2019re going to keep an eye on them all once they get out and be sure that Blair is safe. We\u2019ll see you at ten to take over the watch,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
\u201cTake good care of our Sandy,\u201d Conner said before she hung up the phone. <\/p>\n
It made Jim feel good that people in the bullpen would stand behind Blair during all of this. There were a lot of people that wouldn\u2019t understand what had happened and Jim just hoped that Blair wasn\u2019t ever subjected to their talk. <\/p>\n
Jim laid down on the sofa and fell into a fitful sleep and woke up at 7:00. He could hear Blair having a nightmare and walked into Blair\u2019s room without even knocking. <\/p>\n
\u201cChief, it\u2019s me. You\u2019re all right. Calm down,\u201d Jim said softly. <\/p>\n
\u201cSorry, did I wake you?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
Jim smiled and said, \u201cNo, I was up already. Couldn\u2019t sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGeeze, I don\u2019t know why,\u201d Blair said half joking. <\/p>\n
Do you feel like talking about it now?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou know what, Jim? I think I\u2019d rather talk to a shrink about it,\u201d Blair admitted. <\/p>\n
\u201cA shrink?\u201d Jim said somewhat surprised. <\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, you know a Psychiatrist. I\u2019ve heard they help you get over a great deal. Believe me this is going to take awhile to get over. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou do know that I\u2019m here for you, right?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, Jim, I do. Thanks. You\u2019re always here for me. I\u2019m sorry that I let those cops get the better hand over me,\u201d Blair said looking at the floor. <\/p>\n
\u201cChief, the only ones that should be ashamed are the lousy fucks that did this to you. You have every right to be angry, but not ashamed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks, Jim.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are most welcome, Blair. Promise me that you\u2019ll open up to me if you need to,\u201d Jim pleaded. <\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, I\u2019ll talk to you when I\u2019m done meditating. I need to balance my thoughts,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
\u201cConner is coming to sit with you all day long. You can teach her how to play 5000 Rummy while she\u2019s here. She\u2019ll like it. She likes you,\u201d Jim acknowledged. <\/p>\n
\u201cI like her too. What does everyone have to babysit me?\u201d Blair wondered. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re playing it safe and we\u2019ll see what they do,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got to take a shower. That\u2019s all there is to it. Would you take the tape off of me, so I can get clean?\u201d Blair questioned. <\/p>\n
\u201cStand up and I\u2019ll do it for you,\u201d Jim said as he started to quickly undo the tape from his friend\u2019s chest and stomach area. <\/p>\n
Jim saw all of the bruising and said, \u201cI need to get pictures of this.\u201d Jim grabbed the instant camera and took three different shots and then used his digital camera for the next set. \u201cI hate to ask you this, but I need to get pictures of your genitals.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair blushed and pulled down his pants and boxers so Jim could take the pictures. Jim couldn\u2019t believe how swollen Blair was. And everything was completely black and blue. <\/p>\n
Jim set the camera down and pulled Blair\u2019s pants back up. \u201cSorry I had to do that, Chief.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s okay. I knew that someone was going to have to do it and I was hoping it wasn\u2019t going to be Conner. I would have died,\u201d Blair explained. <\/p>\n
\u201cCome on, I\u2019ll help you get undressed for your shower. Then just call me in and I\u2019ll dry you off and get you back into the clean clothes I\u2019ll have out for you,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThanks, Jim. It hurts when I move, especially when I bend.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey should have taken the pictures at the hospital earlier. No one was taking it seriously. I\u2019m going to have to tell Simon that too. Doctors tend to let abuse cases go by the side of the road. They don\u2019t like to get involved because it would take up some of their precious time. I\u2019m sorry that it had to be me to take them. As I said, they should have been taken earlier,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThank you for taking this as seriously as I\u2019m taking it. I agree, the hospital should have taken the pictures, but I might have played it off as nothing. I was embarrassed. So I don\u2019t like blaming the doctor for everything. He was really thorough and a nice guy to boot. I think it was my problem,\u201d Blair replied. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere you go blaming yourself for all of this mess, when we all know who is to blame. I want you to stop looking at the floor when you talk to me. Understood?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
Blair looked up at Jim and saw nothing but friendship and love shining in his eyes. \u201cUnderstood.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, let\u2019s get you ready for that shower,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, Jim.\u201d <\/p>\n
Jim got Blair all settled in the bathroom and he got on the computer and uploaded the pictures to a file. Then he sent the file to Simon for the report. He had no sooner finished doing this when the phone rang again. <\/p>\n
He grabbed it and said, \u201cEllison.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJim, I just received the pictures and I don\u2019t want to believe them. My god, that\u2019s fucking horrible. I can\u2019t believe they did that to him just because he was a designated driver for some gay friends of his,\u201d Simon stated. <\/p>\n
\u201cSimon, he\u2019s bi, if that makes a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t make any difference, but I wasn\u2019t aware of that. Although I don\u2019t tell him who I sleep with either. It\u2019s none of our business. Those fuckers are going to pay big. Rafe and Brown just arrested them and took them down to holding for prints and everything. They weren\u2019t happy campers, to say the least.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI bet they thought they were big shit, until the cuffs were put on them. Blair isn\u2019t settling for less then a normal person would go for. Throw the book at them, Simon.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI planned on it. Don\u2019t you worry. I think they\u2019ll make bail easily, so I want someone on him at all times.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, Simon,\u201d Jim said sincerely. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re welcome. Take good care of your partner.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cListen, I have to go. Blair is done with his shower and I have to help him get dressed again. Talk to you later today,\u201d Jim said hurrying to get off the phone. <\/p>\n
Jim went in with clean clothes and help Blair get dressed. He then taped Blair\u2019s ribs up again and before long he looked almost normal. But Jim knew he wasn\u2019t. There was a vacant look in his eye, like he was lost or something. <\/p>\n
\u201cChief, I\u2019m really sorry this happened to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMe too,\u201d Blair answered. <\/p>\n
\u201cI would have felt better if you would have called me and let me pick you up,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI know that, Jim, but I had to keep you in mind too. I knew you would beat the hell out of them and that wouldn\u2019t have worked out in my favor. Probably the opposite would have happened. They could have brought up charges against you and me. So that\u2019s why I couldn\u2019t tell you,\u201d Blair explained. <\/p>\n
\u201cBlair, I\u2019m really going to try and work on my temper so that you\u2019ll never be afraid to call me again. I want to be there for you all the time, not just some of the time. <\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, Jim. I could have used you last night. They scared the crap out of me,\u201d Blair declared. <\/p>\n
\u201cCan I hug you?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I could use a hug,\u201d Blair answered. <\/p>\n
The two men just stood in the middle of the kitchen, hugging for the longest time. Jim wanted to be there in the worst way and now was better then never. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry I said I might go to a shrink.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBlair, you might need one.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think talking with you will help me enough. Having you on my side helps everything look better,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
\u201cConner is going to be here soon, so I\u2019m going to get ready to go. I want you to take it easy and don\u2019t cheat playing cards with Conner,\u201d Jim kidded. <\/p>\n
\u201cI won\u2019t. Thank you for the hug,\u201d Blair commented. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere are more where that came from,\u201d Jim replied. <\/p>\n
~~~~~<\/p>\n
When Jim arrived at the station everyone was asking about Blair. They all wanted to hear how he was doing. They seemed genuinely concerned. Jim was glad to see that. <\/p>\n
He took the time to tell each one of them what had happened and how Blair was really doing. Jim told them to call or drop by and it would make Blair feel much better. <\/p>\n
Rafe asked, \u201cDid they hurt him bad?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, they hurt him bad. They could never give those men enough time in prison. They deserve worse then that,\u201d Jim stated. <\/p>\n
Joel hugged Jim and said, \u201cThat\u2019s for Blair.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy don\u2019t you stop by the house and give it to him yourself? He thinks we\u2019ll all blame him for ruining three careers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey don\u2019t deserve the career. They dirtied their names and badges when this happened,\u201d Brown said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThanks for understanding, guys,\u201d Jim said walking towards Simon\u2019s office. <\/p>\n
He knocked and heard, \u201cCome on in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim walked in and sat down in the office. \u201cAre they downstairs?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, they are. They\u2019ve all got lawyers so I suspect they\u2019ll be out soon,\u201d Simon said. <\/p>\n
\u201cJesus, I can\u2019t believe they did this to Blair and they\u2019re going to be walking the streets soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJim, it\u2019s how the system works. You know it as well as I do. Just hope for the best and maybe they\u2019ll get a lot of time in prison,\u201d Simon remarked. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut the only one that will really suffer from the trial is Blair. He\u2019s already been embarrassed beyond belief. Now he\u2019ll have to go through this. Everyone at the trial will see the pictures and you know how degrading that would be,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to trust the system, Jim. Did you want to go down and see the pieces of shit that beat Sandburg up?\u201d Simon inquired. <\/p>\n
\u201cYes, as matter of fact, I\u2019m going to go now. I\u2019ll be back shortly,\u201d Jim replied. <\/p>\n
~~~~~ <\/p>\n
He went down to see the three guys that had done that to Blair and said, \u201cWow, you don\u2019t look as tough behind bars. Do you feel as tough? I noticed they put you in a cell alone. Sandburg wasn\u2019t given that option was he? You guys are going down and going down hard.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is he, your bitch, Ellison?\u201d Barker asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat difference would it make?\u201d Jim replied. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt makes you both sick,\u201d Barker shouted. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got the witnesses to the crime in the parking lot, so don\u2019t think you\u2019re going to weasel out of this. Like I said before, you\u2019re going down hard,\u201d Jim warned. <\/p>\n
\u201cEllison, you\u2019re as big a freak as he is. You\u2019ve let him live at your place since day one and he\u2019s never moved out. We all know how it is,\u201d Fuller said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d rather be a freak, than cops that go to prison,\u201d Jim said as he turned and started to leave. <\/p>\n
Ramsey called out, \u201cWe recorded the little whimp crying out for help. We\u2019re going to pass that around the station and then we\u2019ll see who is going to be the winner. He would just as soon die as let anyone hear how weak we were. He called out for your help, Ellison. How does it feel not being there to help him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRamsey, keep your fucking trap shut. I don\u2019t care what you have, you know what we have? Pictures of the damage you did to his body. You\u2019re all going down.\u201d <\/p>\n
Jim stormed off and left them shouting obscenities. Jim wanted to say more. He wanted to beat the shit out of them. But he had promised Blair he wouldn\u2019t do any of that. So he had to suck it up and do things right. Blair meant a lot more to him then beating on some punk assed cops. <\/p>\n
~~~~~
\nThat afternoon, Simon walked out into the bullpen and said, \u201cCan I have everyone\u2019s attention?\u201d<\/p>\n
They all turned and looked his way and sat up straighter.<\/p>\n
\u201cBlair Sandburg isn\u2019t going to have to go to trial. Those animals saw the pictures of the damage and knew their gooses were cooked. They all three pled guilty and made a deal with the DA. They\u2019ll each get a year. I know, don\u2019t go ballistic, Ellison. It\u2019s not long enough, but they lose their jobs, they lose their pensions and they will be on probation for another year. They will also have to do community service. Blair gets to choose the service. I figured he would like that part. So if you\u2019re ready Ellison, I\u2019m going to follow you home so we can tell Blair the news.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim started for the elevator and Simon caught to him. \u201cJim, it\u2019s the best we could do. The judge was lenient because all three men had no prior involvement in any crimes. We have to take what we can get.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know, Simon. I understand, but it doesn\u2019t make me feel much better. He\u2019s not going to be happy about it either.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s get to the loft so I can tell him and Conner. We\u2019ll let him be the judge of what went down. He might surprise you and be all right with that,\u201d Simon stated. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll see. I\u2019ll meet you over there,\u201d Jim said as he got into his truck and left the parking lot. <\/p>\n
~~~~~ <\/p>\n
Blair was watching the parking lot when Jim and Simon pulled up. Blair became nervous right away. He walked into the loft and said, \u201cJim and Simon are here. They\u2019re probably going to tell me that they\u2019re out on bail. It\u2019s bullshit.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSandy, don\u2019t think that yet. We\u2019ll see what they have to say first,\u201d Conner remarked. <\/p>\n
Jim walked in the door, followed by Simon. <\/p>\n
\u201cSimon, please don\u2019t tell me that they made bail already,\u201d Blair pleaded. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo, they pled guilty and made a deal with the DA. They\u2019re going to each do a year in prison, lose their jobs, their pensions and be on probation for a year after they get out. They also have to do six months of community service, that you get to choose for them,\u201d Simon explained. <\/p>\n
Conner stood up and started pacing. \u201cA year? A fucking year is all they got?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cConner, let\u2019s let Blair tell us how he feels,\u201d Simon ordered. <\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like she just said. They\u2019re going to get out in one year and come after me. What would stop them? They won\u2019t be cops anymore. They have nothing to lose,\u201d Blair said sadly. <\/p>\n
\u201cBlair, it\u2019s the best we could do. The judge felt sorry for them. He said since it was the first offense for all of them, one year was more then enough. The DA had to take it or chance getting less when you went to trial.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut Simon, did you ever think about maybe I wanted it to go to trial? No jury in their right mind would have let them off after what they did to me. But now, I\u2019ll never know because the DA made a decision without asking me,\u201d Blair ranted. <\/p>\n
\u201cChief, I totally agree with you. I think it was a bad move too. But like Simon mentioned, it\u2019s too late now. The deal has been made. So now we have to learn to deal with it,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe? Did you get beat up? I don\u2019t think so. I\u2019ll be dealing with it by myself,\u201d Blair said rather angrily. <\/p>\n
\u201cI thought we could talk about things and deal with them together. I even thought we could go to therapy together. I want to do it with you,\u201d Jim offered. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019d go to group therapy with me?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cYes, there is little I wouldn\u2019t do for you, Blair.\u201d<\/p>\n
Conner said, \u201cI wouldn\u2019t mind going either. I think we all need to stand behind you and see how you feel about things as you start to heal.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cConner, no offense, but I just want Jim to go. I think we could all use a class at the station though. No one knows how to treat people that are gay or bi. They need to learn. I don\u2019t want this to happen to anyone else,\u201d Blair suggested. <\/p>\n
Simon cleared his throat and said, \u201cI think that\u2019s a terrific idea, Sandburg. Do you know anyone that teaches such a class?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, sir I do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI want you to contact him and it will be a mandatory meeting that we\u2019ll all go to. Would that make you feel somewhat better?\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cYes, that would help a great deal. Thank you, Simon. I\u2019m not happy about the year they all got, but I am happy about me choosing a community service when they get out. I\u2019ve got some ideas all ready,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
Simon laughed and said, \u201cI just bet you do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, sir, we should get out of their hair so they can talk,\u201d Conner suggested. <\/p>\n
\u201cI agree. Talk to you two later. Oh by the way, Blair, you\u2019re off for two weeks from the University and it\u2019s with full pay from the department,\u201d Simon stated. <\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, Simon. I\u2019ll be fully healed by then. In the mean time, Jim is going to have to do all of his own paperwork in the bullpen,\u201d Blair kidded. <\/p>\n
\u201cI want Jim to have a week off. That\u2019ll give both of you some time to work things out, like getting therapy set up and thinking of some community services. Take it easy, both of you,\u201d Simon called out over his shoulder as he walked through the doorway. <\/p>\n
Jim shut the door and looked at Blair sadly. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Chief.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot your fault, Jim. Remember we\u2019re not to blame in this. Someone wise told me that this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim smiled and said, \u201cLet\u2019s get some therapy lined up. I think we both need it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair looked a little worried as he said, \u201cAre you going to be embarrassed when you hear how I was afraid for my life and things like that?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim hugged Blair to his chest and just held on for dear life. <\/p>\n
Finally Jim stood back and said, \u201cNothing you could say or do will embarrass me. It might piss me off, but it won\u2019t embarrass me. I\u2019ve got to work on my anger issues. I need help with that too, Chief.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll be here to help each other, Jim.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat we will, Blair.\u201d<\/p>\n
~~~~~<\/p>\n
Six Months Later: <\/p>\n
Therapy was finally over with. Blair felt like he could go on without worrying about what people thought. <\/p>\n
Jim was handling his anger issues much better. So it had helped both of them. <\/p>\n
If Jim had learned one thing from therapy it was to talk to Blair instead of holding it inside. So he had big plans to talk to him that day. <\/p>\n
~~~~~<\/p>\n
Blair came home from teaching his class to get ready for working along side Jim. He walked in the door and saw Jim sitting there, thinking or zoning. Blair wasn\u2019t sure. <\/p>\n
He walked over to him and touched his shoulder. <\/p>\n
\u201cHey Chief, guess who has the rest of the day off?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s great. Want to go see a movie?\u201d Blair wondered. <\/p>\n
Jim smiled and said, \u201cHow would you like to go on a date with me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJim, you don\u2019t date guys.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBlair, I don\u2019t date other guys, I want to date you,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat brought this on?\u201d Blair inquired. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been six months and I told myself I was going to give you six months to heal before I asked you out,\u201d Jim confessed. <\/p>\n
\u201cJim, you\u2019re not gay.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBlair, I get hard when I think about you. I would call that gay,\u201d Jim declared. <\/p>\n
\u201cHave you ever been with a guy?\u201d Blair questioned. <\/p>\n
Jim thought a moment and asked, \u201cDoes that include blow jobs?\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cYou let a guy give you a blow job?\u201d Blair asked, wonder in his voice. <\/p>\n
\u201cYes, while I was in Vice. I liked it, but I just haven\u2019t found the right person to jump the fence for. I think you\u2019re the right person.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHell yes, I want to go on a date. I\u2019m in love with you. I have been for two years,\u201d Blair confessed. <\/p>\n
\u201cSame here. I just wasn\u2019t sure about what to do with it,\u201d Jim admitted. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a date. Where are we going?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a surprise. I love you, Blair.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI love you back. I also love afternoons off.\u201d<\/p>\n
The end<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In the Heat of the Night By Patt Jim was pacing in the loft, his temper flared and couldn\u2019t remember a time when he was more pissed off at anyone. \u201cWhat do you mean it\u2019s none of my business?\u201d Jim … Continue reading