Family Life Part 61
\nReally?
\nBy Patt<\/p>\n
Word Count: 1893<\/p>\n
Summary: What is up with Jim? Is it mid-life crisis or worse? <\/p>\n
Notes: This is what happens to people when everyone discusses everyone else\u2019s sex lives. Let\u2019s hope they learn from this. \uf04a <\/p>\n
Blair had a week long break from Jim wanting sex, but there was something going on with Jim. He was too attentive at work and too frigging nice all the time. To everyone. Blair knew he had to look into this and see what was going on. <\/p>\n
Blair thought by taking sex away from Jim, it would calm him down. Instead, his Sentinel walked around with a constant hard on that was there for everyone to see, not that anyone would be staring at Jim\u2019s crotch, and don\u2019t you just know he was probably very uncomfortable. <\/p>\n
Mason started work in Major Crimes that morning and everyone was making him feel welcome but Jim. Jim, who was being nice to everyone, was not being nice to Mason. He wasn\u2019t being rude or anything, just ignoring him was what he was doing. It had something to do with Mason. Blair knew that Jim really liked Mason, so it couldn\u2019t be that he didn\u2019t care for him. No, it had to be something else and Blair was going to find out about it that night. <\/p>\n
Mason walked up to Jim and Blair and said, \u201cHow would you like to go for lunch with me and Megan today?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim said, \u201cWe\u2019ve got plans, but thanks, anyhow.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, okay. Well maybe some other time.\u201d Mason walked away like a puppy dog that had been kicked. <\/p>\n
\u201cJim, what are you talking about? We have no plans,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted some alone time with you. So shoot me,\u201d Jim answered. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe can have alone time anytime. I want you to tell them we\u2019ll have lunch with them today. Now go on, do it,\u201d Blair bossed. <\/p>\n
Jim walked over to Mason and Megan and told them they\u2019d love to have lunch with them and Mason lit up like a light bulb with happiness. Megan told Jim what time they\u2019d go and Jim agreed to it. <\/p>\n
Jim sat back down at his desk and said, \u201cWe\u2019re going at 12:30, because Connor can\u2019t get off until then. She\u2019s busy finishing up a report for Simon.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat works out just fine. Where are we going?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t ask.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair walked over to Mason and asked him and came back over to the desk. \u201cWe\u2019re just going across the street.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s good, nice and close. Plus they have super good food at the diner. I\u2019m going to have the meatloaf dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou must be hungry if you\u2019ve already figured out what you\u2019re going to have,\u201d Blair teased. <\/p>\n
Jim leaned in to Blair and whispered, \u201cDo we get to make love tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair blushed and answered, \u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope so, I need you like crazy.\u201d <\/p>\n
Blair knew that Jim was whacking off in the shower every day, because he could smell it when he went into the bathroom. Why was Jim so horny? What was Blair missing? <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
Lunch with Megan and Mason went well. Jim was civil and almost friendly, so no one noticed his odd behavior except for Blair. Blair watched Jim closely during lunch and found him looking at Mason numerous times. Blair didn\u2019t know what to think of this. Did Jim find Mason attractive? Was Jim Jonesing for Mason? These were all things that Blair needed to find out. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
The rest of the day was pretty quiet and at 5:00, everyone left for the day. Jim and Blair were driving home and Blair said, \u201cSo what do you think of Mason, Jim?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim looked over at Blair oddly and said, \u201cI like him just fine, why?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI just wondered if you like him as much as I like him. Do you consider him a friend?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim thought on that a moment. \u201cI would consider him a friend. I would call him for bail money.\u201d Jim thought he would tease Blair. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m serious, Jim. You were acting weird at the station today and it all started with Mason. Do you have something against him?\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I like him. He\u2019s a nice guy. I think he\u2019s a good catch for Connor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen what is the problem?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no problem. I don\u2019t know where you\u2019re getting this from, but I\u2019m fine and so is Mason.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJim, I can tell when you lie. I\u2019ve always been able to tell. Now what is wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI have some things on my mind and I\u2019ve got to work them out before I discuss anything with you. I\u2019m fine, you\u2019re fine and we\u2019re fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTalk to me Jim, I might be able to help you figure something out. I want you to talk to me. This all started with taking pictures of us. Why did you do that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBlair, I was trying to spice up our sex life. I thought it might need that, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy would our sex life need spicing up?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cWell, when I went to lunch with Mason he told me how fantastic things were for him and Connor and I began to wonder if they were that good for us. He said they liked to try new things all of the time. We never did, so I figured we might have to do that,\u201d Jim admitted. <\/p>\n
Blair just looked at Jim in shock and realized that he and Mason discussed sex like he and Megan did. That surprised Blair like nothing else had ever done. Jim didn\u2019t seem the type to discuss anything with anyone. Blair wasn\u2019t sure how he felt about being discussed. <\/p>\n
\u201cJim, we try new things all the time. Was it his idea to do the Polaroid shots?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, he thought it might spice up our sex life,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhy would he think that our sex life needed spicing up?\u201d Blair wondered. <\/p>\n
\u201cI told him that you didn\u2019t seem too thrilled with me anymore,\u201d Jim admitted. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? What in the fuck are you talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSome nights you don\u2019t seem that interested in me,\u201d Jim said carefully. <\/p>\n
\u201cJim, I\u2019m always interested in you. Why would you think that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know. I\u2019m sorry. I don\u2019t know what\u2019s wrong with me lately,\u201d Jim said sadly. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve noticed that you\u2019re horny a lot is something new going on?\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cAll I have to do is hear your voice and I\u2019m hard. If I smell your shampoo, I get hard. Jesus, everything makes me hard. I want you all the time,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
\u201cJim, why didn\u2019t you tell me you were having troubles? This sounds like your dials are up to high. Have you even bothered to check your dials on your sense of touch?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t checked my dials, no. I didn\u2019t even think of that. Is it so bad that I want you all the time?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt is if it\u2019s interfering with work and home. You walk around with a hard on almost all the time. That can\u2019t be comfortable. Not to mention someone is going to notice and it\u2019s going to piss me off,\u201d Blair explained. <\/p>\n
\u201cAre you mad at me because Mason and I discussed private things?\u201d Jim wondered. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo, Connor and I discuss personal things a lot. It\u2019s not a biggy, but he\u2019s not telling you exactly what\u2019s going on in his life. And here he made you think you were falling down on the job.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou mean, he\u2019s not having sex twice every night and once in the morning?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s exactly what I mean? They haven\u2019t had sex in a while and that\u2019s why Connor was asking me about it. She thought it was something with her and it was. He was afraid of hurting the baby. He evidentially didn\u2019t want you to know he was afraid of hurting the baby, so he told you those stories. He made you feel inadequate. Now I have some questions for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, I\u2019m ready,\u201d Jim said as he pulled into the parking lot at Prospect Place. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll just sit down here for a few moments, because I need to ask you some things.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI love you, Chief.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know you do, Jim, but that isn\u2019t always the answer to everything. Now when we make love do I make you feel good?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course you do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you feel like you need more when we\u2019re finished?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cNot usually. Every now and then, I\u2019m really horny and need more, but usually I\u2019d rather have you in my arms and sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did you get from the videos that we took?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cHornier. Every time I saw you, I needed you more.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd are you going to be all right making love to me without videos and pictures?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBlair, I just want to make love to you again, I don\u2019t care about the videos or pictures.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCheck your touch dial and see what it\u2019s on right now,\u201d Blair ordered. <\/p>\n
Jim closed his eyes and Blair could tell he was doing what he was told. \u201cIt\u2019s on 8, that\u2019s why I\u2019ve been so touchy feely lately. It wasn\u2019t because I wasn\u2019t making you feel good.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou thought you weren\u2019t making me feel good?\u201d Blair was shocked. <\/p>\n
\u201cWell, if I was still so horny, I figured you were too and I must not be doing it right.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJim, you\u2019re a doofus sometimes, you do know that, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I know that. Do you still love me as much as you used to?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t believe you\u2019d even ask. Really? Get a grip, Jim.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m getting a grip. I love you too.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you feel better with your dials turned down?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t turn it down yet. I needed to see what you thought. Are you sure you don\u2019t want me to make love to you twice a nice and once in the morning?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTurn it down to five, right now. We\u2019ll make love when we feel like it and no sooner or later. Mason lied to you, what do you think about that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that he should have a talk with someone experienced like you.\u201d Jim said with a smile in his voice. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think Connor got him on the right track. She seems happy, but if you notice anything like that again, tell me about it so I can help with the problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShould we go upstairs, Chief?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWait a minute, is that why you were treating Mason weird today? Because you thought he was doing it more then you were?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, yeah. I didn\u2019t want to disappoint you,\u201d Jim said sheepishly. <\/p>\n
\u201cFrom now on, you tell Mason we have sex all the time and we love it. He doesn\u2019t need to know the details. Okay?\u201d Blair couldn\u2019t believe how much Jim had taken from their conversation. <\/p>\n
\u201cJust to clear things up in my head, I do satisfy you, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJim, get out of this SUV and start running now. I\u2019m going to kick your sweet ass.\u201d Blair was smiling and getting out of the SUV. <\/p>\n
Jim locked it up and began to run, making Blair laugh. Jim was actually going to run from him. This turned Blair on to no end. God, they were both sick. Blair smiled and started to run after his lover. <\/p>\n
The end <\/p>\n
Family Life Part 62
\nDon\u2019t Mess Around with Jim
\nBy Patt<\/p>\n
Word Count: 4754<\/p>\n
Summary: Jim is not superman and the kids discover that they don\u2019t like their dad being hurt. <\/p>\n
Notes: Thank you to Bee for this idea. <\/p>\n
Blair was teaching his classes at the academy when Captain Mitchell came in to his class and asked to speak with him. Blair followed him out to the hallway and knew something had happened. <\/p>\n
\u201cBlair, your partner was in an altercation and they asked for you to go up to the hospital. He\u2019s got some broken ribs, a black eye, and a banged up forehead, a concussion and a fat mouth to contend with so far. He was jumped by three men, and was supposed to wait for back up and he didn\u2019t. So Captain Banks is rather upset with him, but he said that Jim needed you up there right away. I\u2019ll take over your class. It\u2019s almost done with anyhow. Drive carefully and give him my best.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair smiled. \u201cI will sir. Now I better get my things and get running. I\u2019ll tell the class that you\u2019re taking over for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair didn\u2019t want to say any more then that because he was worried sick and didn\u2019t want everyone to know he was scared. He quickly told his class he had to leave and grabbed his backpack and did just that. <\/p>\n
He hurried out to his SUV and raced over to Cascade General and went looking for his partner. If he\u2019s all right, I\u2019m going to kill him. <\/p>\n
After a wait of about 20 minutes, Simon came and got him and led him to Jim\u2019s room. \u201cThey have to admit him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, for about two days for observation. He got hit in the eye with the top of the baseball bat and the doctor said he\u2019s lucky he has any vision left. His ribs are cracked from the baseball bat and one side of his forehead is swollen from hitting the pavement. Then he got hit in the mouth once. No missing teeth. Although I\u2019m tempted to change that for him,\u201d Simon stated. He was joking, but only half-way. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe answered a call on his way to work this morning. I told him to wait for Brown and Rafe for backup, but he heard a woman screaming for help and decided he had to make the move then. Yes, he did save the woman\u2019s life, probably, but he could have been killed just as easily. I\u2019ve already yelled at him for an hour, so you can relax. You don\u2019t have to get after him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSimon, if I would have been with him, he wouldn\u2019t be lying in that bed right now. I\u2019m going to have to give this some thought,\u201d Blair said sadly. <\/p>\n
\u201cBlair, you can\u2019t blame yourself for his foolish actions. He has to realize he\u2019s not Superman and he can be hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know that Simon, but the kids aren\u2019t going to take this well. They\u2019ll be scared, especially Sam. They won\u2019t want him to be a cop after this,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
\u201cSandburg, you can\u2019t give up your life in law enforcement every time your family is scared.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you think I don\u2019t know that? I would just like the kids to have a normal upbringing with no trips to visit one of the dad\u2019s in the hospital.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know, but Blair, don\u2019t go thinking about giving up on the academy. They love you as a teacher. You love to teach, it\u2019s a perfect set up. Promise me you\u2019ll discuss this with Jim first.\u201d Simon was worried that Blair was going to give up something again in his life that he wouldn\u2019t have to. <\/p>\n
\u201cI promise. I\u2019ll give it a great deal of thought, Simon. Now where is his room, in another hospital?\u201d Blair asked sarcastically. <\/p>\n
Simon stopped in front of room 307 and Blair almost laughed about that. But then he remembered why he was here and the smile left his face. He walked in the door and saw his lover lying on the bed, sleeping. He looked at Jim\u2019s face and saw a perfectly round black eye from the bat, a scrape and bruise from the pavement on his forehead and his lip and chin were bruised. At least he was alive. Blair sat down in the chair next to the bed and Jim opened his eyes. <\/p>\n
\u201cChief?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, it\u2019s me. Go back to sleep. I\u2019ll be here when you wake up,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry. I know I should have waited but I could hear the woman crying and begging for help. I just had to go,\u201d Jim rambled on. <\/p>\n
\u201cJim, go back to sleep. We\u2019ll discuss this when you\u2019re stronger. Now sleep,\u201d Blair said sternly. <\/p>\n
Jim could tell by looking at him that he was in deep shit. Blair hadn\u2019t looked this angry in a long, long while. He closed his eyes in hopes that when he woke up, Blair would be smiling instead of snarling. The next thing he knew, he was asleep. <\/p>\n
\u201cSandburg, I\u2019m going to head back to the station. Is there anything you need? Do you want me to get the kids and tell them what has happened?\u201d Simon asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I\u2019m going to go home at 5:00 and tell them what has happened. I\u2019ll take them to dinner and then they can come up and see their dad. They\u2019re not going to be happy, I can tell you that much.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not happy either and he\u2019s not my dad. So I know how they\u2019re going to feel. Things will be better in a few days. Jim is off duty for five days and then desk duty for two weeks. So I was going to partner you with Connor when you come back to work. For right now, just take care of your partner and the kids. Let me know how he\u2019s doing later today,\u201d Simon barked. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll call as soon as the kids are back at home and settled in bed. Jim is going to have to rough it out at the hospital by himself because it\u2019s not like I\u2019m going to leave the kids alone,\u201d Blair said softly. <\/p>\n
\u201cGood luck with the kids, Sandburg. I\u2019ll talk to you later on tonight. Take care of him and the kids too. And find a moment to take care of yourself.\u201d Simon left the room and Blair just stared at his lover\u2019s face. He was pretty banged up and Sam was going to be really upset. He wondered if maybe he should wait to let Jim see them until he was better. No, it didn\u2019t pay to lie. Blair knew that from experience. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
About 3:00, Blair woke Jim up. \u201cJim, I need you to wake up for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cChief, you still here?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I\u2019m still here. I\u2019ve got to go and get the kids. I\u2019m going to bring them up to see you, so hopefully you\u2019ll be awake and sitting up by then.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cChief, don\u2019t bring them up here yet. I\u2019m not ready to see them. They\u2019ll be upset and I can\u2019t take it right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen you should have thought of that, shouldn\u2019t you? I\u2019m bringing them up to see you after dinner. So get as presentable as you can by then,\u201d Blair said as he got up to leave. <\/p>\n
\u201cChief, don\u2019t be so mad at me, please?\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to stay mad at you for a long, long while. So just forget about me forgiving you anytime soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
With that said Blair walked out the door and didn\u2019t look back. Jim sighed and knew that he was in big trouble.<\/p>\n
Jim knew he should have waited for back up. He knew that. Why didn\u2019t he? He always had to screw things up. Blair was never going to forgive him for this one. Usually Jim didn\u2019t get hurt that often, so he didn\u2019t have to worry about this type of thing. Jim rang for the nurse and she came walking in and said, \u201cMr. Ellison, what can I get for you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim looked at her name tag and saw it was Mandy and said, \u201cMandy could I have some scrubs to put on, my children are coming up to see me soon. I\u2019d like to take a shower and have clean scrubs to put on.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll give you a sponge bath. You can\u2019t have a shower until tomorrow. It\u2019s on your orders, sorry,\u201d Mandy said seriously. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about if I just wash up at the sink on the other side of the room?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat would be fine. I\u2019ll go and get you some wash cloths and some scrubs. I\u2019m glad to see you awake and moving. I\u2019ll let your doctor know that you\u2019re doing very well. If you need more pain meds, just let me know,\u201d Mandy said on her way out the door. <\/p>\n
Jim sighed again and wondered if he could sneak a shower in without their knowledge. He was already in deep shit, what more could it hurt, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
When Max, Drew and Sam drove up they parked and got everything out of the SUV and walked up the stairs. Drew was teasing Sam and they were all laughing. Max opened the door to find Blair standing there. All three of the kids jumped in surprise. \u201cPop, what are you doing home? I didn\u2019t see the SUV.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on in, I need to talk to all three of you,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
They all laid their backpacks and jackets on the floor next to the front door and walked into the living room. Blair said, \u201cSit down, I have some news.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sam crawled into Max\u2019s lap and sat with him holding on for dear life. They all knew something had happened. <\/p>\n
\u201cYour dad was in an altercation with some bad people today and he got beat up pretty badly. He has a couple of ribs broken, a bruised, swollen eye, a bruised, swollen forehead and a big fat lip and chin. He\u2019s got to stay in the hospital for two days and then he\u2019ll be off for three more days and then desk duty for two weeks. So we\u2019ll go out to eat dinner and then we\u2019ll go see dad at the hospital. It\u2019s up to you guys if you want to see him there or at home. What do you want to do?\u201d Blair figured he would give them a choice. Not all people liked hospitals. <\/p>\n
\u201cI want to see my daddy,\u201d Samantha cried into Max\u2019s chest and Max held her tight. <\/p>\n
\u201cI want to go see him tonight,\u201d Max agreed. <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want to go to the hospital, but I will because I have to be sure that he\u2019s all right,\u201d Drew explained. <\/p>\n
\u201cHow did it happen?\u201d Max asked. <\/p>\n
Blair explained what had happened and Drew said, \u201cI don\u2019t like him being a cop. It\u2019s too dangerous. What would happen if something happened to both of you? Where would we go?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour dad and I have a lot of things to discuss in the next few days, so you\u2019ll let us make up our own minds. It is dangerous to be a cop, but it\u2019s also dangerous to be a regular person these days. So keep that in mind too. Now go get ready and we\u2019ll go out to eat first and then up to see dad.\u201d<\/p>\n
All of the kids left Blair sitting in the living room and Blair knew that they were going to make Jim feel guilty. Blair didn\u2019t know how he felt about it. Jim was a most excellent cop and he would hate to see him giving that up for anything. Blair liked being a cop too. There was going to be a lot of talking and thinking for the next few days. Blair also knew that he was very angry with Jim and that was going to have to be covered. But he didn\u2019t know when. They didn\u2019t have a lot of alone time and at the hospital the nurses would always be coming in and interrupting him. It would have to wait until they got home from the hospital. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
Jim managed to get a shower taken and dressed in the clean scrubs before the nurse came back in. <\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Ellison, I told you no shower,\u201d Mandy growled. <\/p>\n
\u201cI couldn\u2019t let my kids see me like I was. I feel better now and I can move really well. I\u2019m sitting in my bed like a good little patient, so I don\u2019t know what your problem is,\u201d Jim snarled back. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis will all be written in your chart. Dr. Spenser isn\u2019t going to like it one bit.\u201d Mandy turned and walked out of the room and almost ran into Blair and the kids. <\/p>\n
Sam saw Jim and started to cry. Max picked her up and held her. Jim said, \u201cBring her over here. She just needs to see I\u2019m fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Max took Sam over to Jim and she wouldn\u2019t take her face out of Max\u2019s neck. <\/p>\n
\u201cSam, I\u2019m fine, just a little banged up. Sit with me on the bed and talk to me. You\u2019re going to hurt my feelings,\u201d Jim said hoping to make her feel guilty. <\/p>\n
It worked. She looked at him and smiled and held her arms out for Jim to lift her. Jim said, \u201cMax will you set her on the bed. I can\u2019t lift anything yet. Broken ribs do that to a person.\u201d<\/p>\n
Max set her down on the bed and then Max leaned down and kissed the top of Jim\u2019s head. \u201cI\u2019m glad you\u2019re all right, dad.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks, Max. I\u2019m doing pretty well. I feel much better then this morning, I\u2019m telling you. Drew, come give your old dad a hug,\u201d Jim called out to Drew who was still standing over by the door. <\/p>\n
Drew continued standing where he was and Blair walked over to him and Drew went into Blair\u2019s arms. Jim could hear Drew crying and it broke his heart. He wanted to kick his own ass. <\/p>\n
Blair just held Drew close and finally said, \u201cDrew, he\u2019s fine, now let\u2019s go over and see him. He feels badly about scaring you kids but this is part of life. Come on, let\u2019s go over and give him a hug.\u201d<\/p>\n
Drew walked over with red rimmed eyes and gave Jim a very quick hug. Jim pulled him down for more of a hug and said, \u201cI\u2019m going to be fine, Drew. I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDaddy, you look terrible, but you sound like you\u2019re good.\u201d<\/p>\n
Max laughed and said, \u201cYou do look terrible, dad.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, you do,\u201d Drew agreed. <\/p>\n
Jim talked with the kids for about two hours and then he began to grow tired. Blair stood up and said, \u201cTime to let dad get his sleep. We\u2019ll come and see him tomorrow night too.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNight dad,\u201d Drew said as he hugged and kissed Jim. <\/p>\n
\u201cNight dad,\u201d Max said as he gave him a gentle hug. <\/p>\n
\u201cI love you daddy,\u201d Sam said as she kissed the part of his face that wasn\u2019t bruised. <\/p>\n
\u201cMax, can you take the kids down to the car? I\u2019ve got to talk to your dad alone,\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cMay I have the keys? We\u2019ll listen to music while you talk.\u201d Max said as they walked out the door, keys in hand. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey took it pretty well, don\u2019t you think?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cI just wanted you to know I wouldn\u2019t see you until tomorrow night when I bring the kids. Sleep well,\u201d Blair turned and left the room. <\/p>\n
Jim knew at that very moment that he might be in trouble of losing Blair. He had screwed up one time too many. Jim had known this day would come, but he hoped it would be much later on. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
Blair got the kids in bed and got ready for bed himself. He just wanted to sleep and forget that this day had even happened. As soon as he got all comfortable in bed, the phone rang and he picked it up, \u201cSandburg.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBlair, talk to me. I can\u2019t sleep now. I need to know what\u2019s going on with me and you,\u201d Jim pleaded. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really upset with you right now and I don\u2019t want to talk about it when I\u2019m this upset,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
\u201cAre we still going to be together when I come home?\u201d Jim asked hoping to hear good news. <\/p>\n
\u201cOf course we\u2019re going to still be together, Jim. What a stupid question. I\u2019m mad, but I\u2019m not insane. I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGod, I\u2019m so glad to hear that, Blair. I love you too. I\u2019m sorry I went in alone. I think I might give it thought if it ever happened again. I\u2019m not as young as I once was. I\u2019m not as tough as I used to be. I\u2019m getting old.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll tell you what, I\u2019m just about ready to go down to the station and see the guys that did this to you so I can beat the shit out of them. I can say or do whatever I want when it comes to you, but no one else can mess around with you. And that includes beating you up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t go hitting anyone Chief. You only think Simon is irritated now. He\u2019d be worse then. Promise me you won\u2019t go to the station to see them,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have to promise. I\u2019m not stupid. They would get off if I did that. No one messes with you and gets away with it,\u201d Blair reminded Jim. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo you\u2019re not coming to see me until tomorrow night?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf you play your cards right and do what you\u2019re told, I\u2019ll buy you lunch and bring it up tomorrow afternoon. But you have to follow orders, understood?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUnderstood, Chief.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJim, I do love you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I love you, Blair.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNow go to sleep and rest up for lunch tomorrow afternoon,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI will. Sleep well, Chief.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGoodnight, Jim.\u201d Blair hated hanging up the phone because he knew he was going to miss Jim like crazy. Oh wait a minute he was going to have the bed all to himself. He never thought of that. He stretched out and loved the feeling of being alone for all of ten minutes. Then he missed his warm blanket. Then he missed those strong arms. Then he just missed Jim for everything. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
The next day the kids were adapting quite well to having Jim in the hospital. They went to school without any problems and they knew that when they got home, they could go and visit dad. <\/p>\n
Blair went to the station to check out these dudes that beat the shit out of his husband and he couldn\u2019t believe it. Jim had said he was falling down on the job. That he was too old for this shit and he wasn\u2019t a good cop anymore. The size of these guys was unreal. No wonder Jim had had a hard time dealing with them all alone. All three of them were bigger then he was. The smallest one was about 6\u20193\u201d weighing in at about 250. And that was the smallest one. Jim forgot to mention their sizes. Blair was going to have to teach Jim a lesson in how to give a report to your partner. <\/p>\n
When Blair got back upstairs Simon saw him and said, \u201cWhat are you doing here? I thought you would be taking a few days off.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am. I just wanted to check those guys out that got the upper hand on Jim. He failed to mention how big they were. Jim didn\u2019t have a fucking chance. What was he thinking?\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe was thinking about the woman that these guys were going to rape and probably kill. He wanted her out of there. She\u2019s here if you would like to meet her,\u201d Simon stated. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo, that\u2019s okay. If she wants Jim for anything, tell her thanks, but no thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSandburg, it\u2019s not her fault that those men beat Jim up. Jim should have waited until his backup arrived. He knows that and you know that too,\u201d Simon barked. <\/p>\n
\u201cI know. I\u2019m just in a mood. I didn\u2019t expect them to be so fucking big. They could have killed him easily. Why didn\u2019t they?\u201d Blair wondered. <\/p>\n
\u201cJim fought them off. He might not have won the entire fight, but he held his ground until the backup got there. They were in need of medical attention when we got there. So Jim did some damage to them too. Stop being so hard on him, kid. He did pretty darn good for what he had to work with,\u201d Simon boasted. <\/p>\n
\u201cSimon, I just know you aren\u2019t defending him going in on his own. Right? Am I right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course I didn\u2019t want him to go alone. That\u2019s stupid. I told him as much. But you don\u2019t have to keep telling him, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAll right, I\u2019ll leave him be for the time being. I\u2019m off to go get lunch for my boyfriend,\u201d Blair said smiling. <\/p>\n
\u201cTell him to get better soon. Also tell him that two weeks on desk duty is the hell he has to pay for not waiting for backup,\u201d Simon snickered as he walked to his office. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
Jim heard Blair two floors down. Blair was whistling a happy tune which gave Jim hope for a happy Blair instead of a pissed off Guide. When Blair came through the doors he was carrying a sack from Wonder Burger. Jim couldn\u2019t believe he was going to luck out that much. <\/p>\n
\u201cHey Chief,\u201d Jim said smiling. <\/p>\n
Blair went over and kissed him on his cheek that didn\u2019t have any owwies and then he started pulling out the lunch. \u201cSit up, man. You can\u2019t eat lying down.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim put his bed up and sat happily waiting for his lunch. Blair gave him his burger and his fries and his drink and then pulled his salad out of the bag. \u201cYou\u2019re having a salad?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I didn\u2019t feel like anything heavy just in case I go after the goons that beat you up,\u201d Blair teased. <\/p>\n
\u201cBlair, I kid you not, I don\u2019t want you near them. They were stronger then you could imagine. There was no way I could have won with them. Just no way,\u201d Jim said sadly. <\/p>\n
\u201cJim, did you ever consider the fact that they were huge and built bigger then you, as part of why you couldn\u2019t keep up with them?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I just figured I was slowing down because of my age.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJim, they were fucking huge. I went and looked at them and wanted to smack you senseless myself. But you already had enough damage to that brain of yours. What were you thinking?\u201d Blair was ranting. <\/p>\n
\u201cI sometimes think I\u2019m Superman. Honestly, I think I do. There is no other explanation other then I took a stupid pill that day and I don\u2019t have any at the house.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEat your lunch, Superman and then we\u2019re going to have more discussion about this,\u201d Blair ordered. <\/p>\n
Jim did as he was told and smiled with his swollen mouth making Blair almost laugh. Almost being the key word. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
Max drove all of them home and they changed their clothes and got ready to go and see their dad at the hospital. <\/p>\n
Max said, \u201cI\u2019m glad dads all right and he\u2019ll be able to go back to work again soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy? He\u2019ll just have that chance of getting hurt again, don\u2019t you think?\u201d Drew asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s going to get hurt again?\u201d Sam said loudly. <\/p>\n
Both of the boys knew they had made a mistake discussing this in front of Sam. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo honey, we\u2019re talking about getting hurt by falling down the stairs in the loft,\u201d Max said. <\/p>\n
\u201cDaddy never falls down the stairs,\u201d Sam answered. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut he could and we just want to be really careful,\u201d Drew added. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhy don\u2019t you go and watch some SpongeBob while we\u2019re making dinner?\u201d Max asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, call me if daddy calls.\u201d Samantha went running for her room singing SpongeBob Squarepants the entire way. <\/p>\n
As soon as they heard the tv go on, Drew said, \u201cI think he should retire.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDrew, he loves being a cop. What would he do all day long? Be a banker? Be a teacher? It\u2019s not who he is. He\u2019s a protector and being a cop is what he is.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut what if next time, he doesn\u2019t come back? Will pop be able to raise us by himself?\u201d Drew wondered. <\/p>\n
Max sighed. \u201cDrew, he\u2019s going to be fine. We don\u2019t know that we\u2019re going to be alive tomorrow, do we? There is no guarantee. We have no insurance that says our lives will last forever. We have to live them as they come. And I for one want him to be happy. I\u2019m upset that he was hurt, but I think he\u2019ll be more careful now. I really believe that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope you\u2019re right. The only reason I\u2019m not saying anything to him is because you\u2019re promising that he\u2019ll do better at staying alive from now on,\u201d Drew said. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo you\u2019re going to let this subject drop?\u201d Max asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cFor the time being, but if anything happens again, I\u2019m not staying quiet. I\u2019m going to tell him what I think.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair came walking in the door at that moment and said, \u201cYou guys ready to go get something to eat before we see dad?\u201d<\/p>\n
Both of the boys hugged Blair for no reason and Blair liked it. He needed that damn hug. It felt good to be needed now and then, and this was one of the times. <\/p>\n
They collected Sam and went out to eat dinner and then drove up to the hospital. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
When they arrived, Blair parked and said, \u201cAre you okay with your dad being hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo\u2026\u201d Sam answered. <\/p>\n
\u201cI meant the boys, Sam.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it sucks, but I know he loves being a cop, so I\u2019m going to go along with his decision to stay. He\u2019s staying, right?\u201d Drew asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cYes, he\u2019s going to continue to be a cop. How do you feel, Max?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like he\u2019s got to be more careful, but I think he might have learned it this time. I\u2019m fine with his decision to stay,\u201d Max added. <\/p>\n
\u201cI want to see daddy,\u201d Sam whined. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going up right now, sweetheart. Let\u2019s go tell daddy how much we miss him and love him,\u201d Blair said taking her hand in his. <\/p>\n
\u201cOh yes, I want to tell him that. Can I hug him tonight?\u201d Sam asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou can hug him anytime, Sam. You just have to be careful. He\u2019s still got major owwies. We don\u2019t want to hurt him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I never want to hurt my daddy,\u201d Sam said as she flew into the room where Jim was sitting in a chair waiting for them to get there. <\/p>\n
Jim stood up and Max, Drew and Sam all went over and hugged him gently but enough to let him know he was loved and needed. Blair smiled from the doorway and realized everything was going to be all right. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
Max and Drew took Sam downstairs to the SUV and waited for Blair. Blair wanted to talk to Jim once again. <\/p>\n
\u201cJim, we need to set something up where someone will be in charge of the kids if something happens to one or both of us. Who would you leave the kids to?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim thought a moment and said, \u201cEither Connor or Simon. Either of them would be good to the kids. Maybe Simon because he and Rafe don\u2019t have a family to take care of and Connor does. So yeah, I\u2019d say Simon,\u201d Jim answered. <\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, once you feel better, we\u2019re going to the lawyer and getting papers filled out. I don\u2019t want the kids to have to worry about that. They have enough problems with us being cops,\u201d Blair stated. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think that\u2019s a good idea and Simon will be pleased that we thought of him. Go downstairs now Chief. The kids will be worried. I\u2019ll see you tomorrow afternoon when I get released.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNight, Jim.\u201d Blair bent over and kissed his lover softly and let him know he was going to miss him terribly. <\/p>\n
\u201cNight, Blair.\u201d Jim watched sadly as Blair walked out the door and realized how much he hated the hospital and sleeping alone. \u2018Next time think of this, you moron.\u2019<\/p>\n
The end <\/p>\n
Family Life Part 63
\nDrunk as a Skunk
\nBy Patt<\/p>\n
Word Count: 2554<\/p>\n
Summary: Drew finds out what it\u2019s like to be drunk for the first time in his life. <\/p>\n
Notes: Thanks to Bee for the idea again. <\/p>\n
Max had missed the last two days from classes because of the flu. It was the weekend, but he still felt horrible. He decided that he wasn\u2019t going to go to Marshall\u2019s party, because he just didn\u2019t feel good enough to even think about getting dressed. <\/p>\n
Drew walked into the kitchen and saw Jim and Blair making dinner and said, \u201cDo you mind if I go with Mike and Mark tonight to a party? Max doesn\u2019t feel like it, but a friend from school is having a get together with dancing and things like that. His name is Marshall Olsen. He lives about five blocks from here. I would have a ride there and a ride back, grampa gave his permission already for Mark and Mike to go. Do you mind?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat time are you leaving and what time do you plan on being home?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cMark said he would pick me up at 7:00 and we\u2019d be home by 12:00. No later,\u201d Drew answered. <\/p>\n
Blair came around and hugged his son and said, \u201cYeah, go and have a good time, but be safe. If there are any problems, you know where we are. Take your phone with you and keep it with you at all times.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks, pop. Thanks, dad. I really appreciate you guys giving me a chance to go somewhere without Max,\u201d Drew said happily. He rushed up the stairs to make some phone calls and Jim smiled at Blair. <\/p>\n
\u201cDo we know anything about these parents that are having the party?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo, but we have to let him grow up sometime. This is as good a time as any. Mark would never drink and drive, so I feel like we\u2019re safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood, if you feel okay about it, then I am too,\u201d Jim said calmly. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
Max walked into the living room and said, \u201cIt\u2019s no fair that I didn\u2019t get to go tonight. They\u2019re probably dancing with my girlfriend as we speak.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim laughed. \u201cFlu is a pain, but it\u2019ll be gone in another day or two. Just have patience.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you and pop want to play cards? I take it Sam is sleeping already,\u201d Max said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019d love to play cards. That\u2019ll keep us busy until Drew gets home. We worry, you know?\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
\u201cSam has been sleeping for an hour already. Didn\u2019t you notice the peace and quiet?\u201d Jim teased. <\/p>\n
They all walked up to the dining room table and Max got the cards out. It was ten o\u2019clock and Drew wasn\u2019t home for two hours, so they had some time to kill. <\/p>\n
They played and laughed and joked until it was about 12:30. Jim looked at his watch and said, \u201cWhere is he?\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair got up and called his cell phone and got the voice mail instead of Drew. \u201cHe\u2019s not answering his cell phone. Let me call Mark.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair dialed Mark\u2019s cell phone number and heard it ring twice and Mark answered, \u201cHello?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMark, this is Blair, do you have Drew with you?\u201d<\/p>\n
There was dead silence and Mark said, \u201cHe wouldn\u2019t come with us, so we left him there. I was going to go and get William to go and get him. I didn\u2019t know what else to do. He was drinking. I don\u2019t know where he got the booze, but he\u2019s drunk.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair stood up and said, \u201cMark, I need the address right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim saw the look of worry come across Blair\u2019s face and stood up to join him near the phone. Blair wrote down the address and Blair thanked Mark and hung up the phone. <\/p>\n
\u201cMax, has Drew ever been interested in drinking before?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo more so then any almost 14 year old. They always want to know what it\u2019s like. I kept telling him it was no fun; all you do is throw up. Why? Is he drunk?\u201d Now Max joined Jim and Blair in the kitchen. <\/p>\n
\u201cMark said that Drew wouldn\u2019t go with them, he wanted to stay and drink more. So we have to go and pick him up,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
Jim got both of their jackets and headed to the front door. Jim turned to Max and said, \u201cYou\u2019re all right to watch Sam, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry about Sam. Go and get my brother.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim and Blair left right away. Jim was very upset and worried. This didn\u2019t seem like Drew at all. \u201cBlair does he remind you of the type that would drink?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know. I have no idea what type drinks and what type doesn\u2019t. It\u2019s been a long, long time since I was 14. I don\u2019t remember if I liked drinking or not. I don\u2019t think so. I\u2019m super disappointed in Drew. He knows better. He promised us he would be home by 12:00 and that Mark would be driving him home. He lied. This isn\u2019t like Drew at all.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t know that for a fact, Blair because he\u2019s going on 14 and we\u2019ve only had him for a year. We don\u2019t know everything there is to know about him. There is a lot left we need to find out. We\u2019re going to find out about some of it tonight. I can\u2019t believe he\u2019s pulling this shit.\u201d Jim was very disappointed also. But he was more worried then anything. <\/p>\n
They drove up to the house and Jim and Blair got out of the SUV, to get Drew. A man answered the door and said, \u201cEveryone is already gone. They all left about a half hour ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you Mister Olsen?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I got home and found them all in my stash of liquor and I threw everyone out. I don\u2019t put up with this kind of shit,\u201d Mr. Olsen said. \u201cI take it one of you kids was one of the trouble makers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot normally, but for some reason, he was drinking tonight and we\u2019re here to find him. Do you know where they would have gone?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey said something about going to the park and hanging out there. He\u2019ll probably sober up and come home when he comes to his senses,\u201d Mr. Olsen said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThank you for telling us where they went. I would suggest the next time there is a party, an adult be present for it,\u201d Jim growled. <\/p>\n
\u201cHey, don\u2019t take it out on me because you\u2019re fucking kid is a loser.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair had to hold Jim back. Jim wanted a piece of Mr. Olsen in the worst way. <\/p>\n
Blair pushed Jim back to the SUV and they got in. \u201cI\u2019m going to kick his ass when we finally find him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJim, you\u2019re not going to kick his ass. We\u2019re going to talk to him and then he\u2019s going to be grounded for a month. Everything he likes to do will be taken away for a month. That\u2019ll hurt him worse then kicking his ass. Besides, we don\u2019t kick our kids\u2019 asses.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim\u2019s cell phone went off and Jim saw it was Drew. \u201cDrew? Where are you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI came to the park with a bunch of older kids and they left me here. Now there is a man following me around. I don\u2019t know what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re on our way, keep walking around and don\u2019t let him get close to you. I\u2019m going to stay on the phone with you while I drive. In fact, let me put pop on so you can talk to him while we drive over there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair took the phone and said, \u201cDrew, are you all right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m scared. They just left me here. They told me I was a baby and they weren\u2019t babysitting.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy would they call you a baby, Drew?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I wouldn\u2019t go and steal from the 24 hour store. They dared me to do it and I refused and they started making fun of me after that. Then they left me here all by myself. That man is getting closer to me, pop.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWalk faster Drew. We\u2019re almost there. Dad is going to listen for you and we\u2019ll find you in two shakes,\u201d Blair assured Drew. <\/p>\n
Jim listened as they drove up to the park and Jim pulled up, slammed his SUV into gear and was out and running in no time. Blair said, \u201cDrew, are you all right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat man is right here. He\u2019s coming over to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDrew, run,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
Drew wasn\u2019t thinking and hung up the phone as he started to run. Blair got out and started to run in the direction that Jim had gone and listened to hear what he could with his mere mortal hearing. <\/p>\n
He soon heard Jim yelling for him to call the police. Blair did. He called the police and told them where they were and Jim had a hold of the dude in question. Drew saw it was Jim and Blair and ran into Blair\u2019s arms. <\/p>\n
\u201cOh I see, you wanted him for yourself,\u201d The stupid man said and Jim punched him right in the mouth. <\/p>\n
Blair said, \u201cJim, hold on to your temper. I mean it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The cops got there and they arrested the man for trying to pick Drew up. Jim knew he was going to be out by morning, but he sure as hell wanted him to remember this day so Jim reared back and hit him again.<\/p>\n
The cop that was called said, \u201cDetective Ellison, just take your son home and try and keep track of him this time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFuck you,\u201d Jim shouted to the cop. Jim was ready to take on the full force. <\/p>\n
Blair said, \u201cThank you, officer, we\u2019ll take him home right now. He went to a party and they left him here by himself.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou would think being cops, you would take better care of your kids,\u201d Officer Riley said. <\/p>\n
Jim started towards him and Blair stopped him. \u201cJim, he\u2019s right. We never even checked the house out before the party. We didn\u2019t check out the family or anything. We know better then this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Officer Riley said, \u201cExactly, you know what happens at these parties, so you would think you would have been extra careful. He could have been hurt if you wouldn\u2019t have been here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim pulled Drew into his arms and said, \u201cI\u2019m sorry Drew. We let you down and you let us down. We both have a lot of explaining to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Officer Riley patted Jim on the shoulder and said, \u201cIt happens to us all now and then, but learn from it, Ellison.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI intend to. Thank you for getting here so quickly,\u201d Jim said as he walked towards the SUV with Drew in tow. <\/p>\n
\u201cThank you for being so understanding,\u201d Blair said before he left. <\/p>\n
He got to the car and Drew was crying in the back seat and Jim was very quiet in the front. Blair got in and said, \u201cDrew stop crying right now. That\u2019s not going to help your case any, so forget it. We\u2019re going to have a long talk tomorrow and we will discuss what will be taken away from you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim drove home and didn\u2019t say a word. He knew that cop had been right. Things could have been horrible for Drew and it was Jim and Blair\u2019s fault. <\/p>\n
Blair didn\u2019t say anything to Jim because he knew he was on the verge of yelling and shouting and that wasn\u2019t the answer either. So he just stayed quiet and waited for them to get home. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
Max was waiting on the balcony when they drove up with Drew. Jim could hear Max\u2019s elevated heart beat and knew his brother was very worried. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really sorry, dad and pop,\u201d Drew said with his head hanging down. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t get to be sorry, Drew. Now get your ass up stairs. We\u2019ll talk then,\u201d Jim shouted. <\/p>\n
Blair grabbed Jim\u2019s arm and said, \u201cJim, calm down.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou want me to calm down? That man was going to rape our son in the park for Gods sake. I\u2019m not going to calm down. I\u2019m pissed, I\u2019m angry, I\u2019m hurt and I\u2019m lost for a reason that he would do this to us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJim, he\u2019s not doing it \u2018to\u2019 us, he\u2019s just doing it. He was rebelling. Kids do that. He got it out of his system and we\u2019ll not have to worry about that again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re damn right. From now on, we\u2019re going to know everywhere they go. Who they\u2019re going with and what we can expect. We\u2019re never going to be taken off guard again. This is the sorriest day in Drew\u2019s life, because he is going to be punished big time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair just sighed and followed Jim up the stairs. When they walked in, Max was standing there but Drew wasn\u2019t in the room. <\/p>\n
Jim went to the stairs and said, \u201cDrew get your ass down here right this minute.\u201d<\/p>\n
Max looked upset. \u201cIs dad going to hit Drew?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I\u2019m not going to hit Drew, but we have a lot of discussion to hammer out before he gets to go to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair went up the stairs and came back down without Drew. \u201cJim, he\u2019s passed out on the bed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour brother was drunk as a skunk and went with people he didn\u2019t know. They deserted him at the park and he was almost attacked by a pervert in the park. I just want you to know, Max, that new rules are going to be made. I don\u2019t want you to think we\u2019re being mean. We just have to make you boys safer. New rules, new way of life,\u201d Jim stated. <\/p>\n
\u201cI was really scared because it was taking you guys so long to get back. I just knew something had happened to him. You hear about these nightmare stories all the time, but Drew thinks nothing can touch us because we\u2019re cops kids. I guess he learned tonight that even a cops kid can get into trouble,\u201d Max said. <\/p>\n
\u201cGo to bed, Max, we\u2019re going to have a busy day tomorrow,\u201d Jim advised. <\/p>\n
Max hugged both Jim and Blair and said, \u201cThank you for saving him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t have to thank us for doing our job. If we had been doing it right, we wouldn\u2019t have had this problem,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI love you guys,\u201d Max almost whispered. <\/p>\n
\u201cI love you too, Max,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
\u201cGoodnight Max. We love you guys no matter what you do,\u201d Jim confessed. <\/p>\n
Max walked up to his room and Jim and Blair got ready for bed. <\/p>\n
Blair went into Jim\u2019s arms and said, \u201cJim you have to control that temper of yours. We don\u2019t want to push our children away from us. They need to know they can come to us with anything, even if it\u2019s bad news.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know, I\u2019ll sleep on it tonight and hopefully I won\u2019t be as angry tomorrow. I\u2019ll try and calm my act down.\u201d<\/p>\n
They talked for about an hour and then decided that tomorrow would be soon enough to discuss their new rules of the house. Instead of worrying about anything, they got some much needed sleep. <\/p>\n
The end <\/p>\n
Family Life Part 64
\nRules
\nBy Patt<\/p>\n
Word Count: 3578<\/p>\n
Summary: The morning after. Drew is going to find out what the consequences of drinking are. <\/p>\n
Jim woke up at 5:00 to the sound of Drew puking his guts out in the bathroom. He listened to be sure that Drew was all right, but he didn\u2019t go down to baby him. He didn\u2019t think that would be the right thing to do, even if he wanted to. God, this being a parent was hard work. But he knew he had to stay strong and be tough on Drew. Sighing, Jim turned on his side and looked at Blair who was wide awake too. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo one said it was going to be easy,\u201d Blair whispered. <\/p>\n
\u201cI know, but I want to go down and hold him and tell him that everything will be all right. It was partly our fault. I feel like shit.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know you can\u2019t, right?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I know I can\u2019t. But there is a special sort of hell for parents when they have to listen to their kids hurt and can\u2019t help them,\u201d Jim ranted quietly. <\/p>\n
Jim heard Drew go back upstairs and Jim wished he could go back to sleep. <\/p>\n
\u201cDid he go back upstairs?\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cYes, right now he\u2019s waking Max up to talk to him. Max isn\u2019t a happy camper about being woken up at 5 in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s talking to Max? Listen and make sure he\u2019s all right,\u201d Blair said softly. <\/p>\n
Jim listened and didn\u2019t say anything for the longest while. Then he turned to Blair and said, \u201cHe asked Max if we were going to give them back now? He asked if they needed to pack their bags right now. He asked if we were going to call someone first thing this morning. Basically he\u2019s asking Max what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is Max telling him?\u201d <\/p>\n
Jim listened some more and Blair saw Jim frown. \u201cMax thinks that we might make them leave. He\u2019s never seen us so pissed and he\u2019s worried that they\u2019ll have to find another foster home.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, it\u2019s time for our talk right now,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think we should let him stew a while before we let him off the hook,\u201d Jim replied. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou want him to think we\u2019d actually send him back to a foster home? Really?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I don\u2019t want him to think that, but I also didn\u2019t like coming that close to having a pervert touch our son last night. Did you forget that?\u201d Jim asked angrily. <\/p>\n
\u201cOf course I didn\u2019t forget it, you ass. Don\u2019t talk to me like I\u2019m stupid. I just don\u2019t want him worrying that we\u2019re going to be shuffling them off when we get up,\u201d Blair said just as angrily. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry. I\u2019m totally out of my league here. I don\u2019t know what to do or say. I want to hug him, but know I can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy can\u2019t you hug him, Jim? Just because we\u2019re mad doesn\u2019t mean we don\u2019t love him, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRight\u2026 So I could go upstairs and hold him in my arms and tell him that I love him?\u201d Jim asked sadly. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think it would be a good time to do it. Let\u2019s go upstairs and do some talking,\u201d Blair said as he pulled on his sleep pants. <\/p>\n
Jim pulled his on and got a tee shirt on and they walked down the stairs. \u201cDrew hears us and is freaking out.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s stop in the bathroom really fast, okay?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cGood idea, it wouldn\u2019t look good to pee our pants while we\u2019re trying to be tough.\u201d<\/p>\n
They both took care of business and then washed up. They walked up the stairs and knocked on the boys\u2019 door. <\/p>\n
\u201cCome in,\u201d Max said softly. <\/p>\n
Drew was sitting on his bed, head hanging and looking totally lost when the dad\u2019s walked into the room. Jim went over and sat next to Drew and pulled him into his arms. \u201cDrew, I might be angrier then I\u2019ve ever been, but I will never stop loving you. You\u2019re our son. You mean the world to us and that\u2019s why we\u2019re so angry about what happened. We could have lost you, just as easily as found you. We\u2019re going to have a long, long talk a little later. But I don\u2019t want you and Max worrying about if you have to leave. You can\u2019t leave. This is your home. You are our boys. Do you understand?\u201d <\/p>\n
Drew started crying and held on to Jim really tightly. Blair sat next to Max on his bed and pulled him into his arms and said, \u201cWhat he said.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe thought you would make us leave,\u201d Max admitted. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut you didn\u2019t tell him that we wouldn\u2019t. Why? Why in the world would you think we would make you guys leave?\u201d Blair asked Max. <\/p>\n
Max pulled out of Blair\u2019s arms and said, \u201cWe still don\u2019t know exactly where we belong in this life yet. This is still new to us. I didn\u2019t want to say we were staying and then have you guys say something else.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair found himself getting angry and started to pace. \u201cYou\u2019re our sons. We don\u2019t just give you away.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not, our mom and dad did?\u201d Max shouted. <\/p>\n
Jim said, \u201cOkay, let\u2019s not yell or anything else. Let\u2019s stay calm. Max, you\u2019re never leaving except to go to college. You boys are stuck to us like glue. Do you both understand that we love you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Drew nodded his head in the affirmative and Max said, \u201cWe do now. But we were scared last night. You guys were really mad. We didn\u2019t know where it would go from there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair was still pacing as he said, \u201cWe might get angry anytime, but we will not raise a hand to you boys. We will never make you leave and we love you no matter what. I can\u2019t believe you boys believed we would make you leave.\u201d<\/p>\n
Max said, \u201cI\u2019m sorry, pop. I didn\u2019t mean to make you angry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was already angry, Max, this had nothing to do with that. I\u2019m just disappointed that you believed we would give you away if we didn\u2019t like what you did.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you\u2019ll just get angry with us now and then and we don\u2019t ever have to worry about you getting rid of us?\u201d Max asked. <\/p>\n
Jim smiled. \u201cYes, Max, that\u2019s exactly what our life is. We might be angry, but we\u2019ll get over it. We might want to ground you for life, but we won\u2019t. You might not like us when we give you the list of our new rules, but you\u2019ll get over that too. All of us will love the others no matter what. I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n
Max got up and hugged Blair. Blair finally stopped pacing and said, \u201cI love you, Max.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI now know exactly what it means to be loved. I don\u2019t think we ever really knew before. It\u2019s something different that we\u2019ll have to get used to. I love you and dad both,\u201d Max admitted freely. <\/p>\n
Drew whispered, \u201cI love you guys too.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNow I want you guys to sleep a little more and then when you get up, we\u2019ll make breakfast and have a good long talk. Nothing is to be said in front of Samantha, is that understood? I don\u2019t want her to worry when she doesn\u2019t need to,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
Drew lay back on the bed and closed his eyes instantly. Jim knew he was tired. Jim also knew the boys probably wanted to talk. \u201cAnd guys, you are free to talk. I\u2019m turning my hearing down. We\u2019ll see you when you get up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks, dad. Thanks, pop.\u201d Drew said softly. <\/p>\n
\u201cGoodnight, boys. We\u2019ll see you in a couple of hours,\u201d Blair said as he headed for the door. <\/p>\n
They turned the light out on their way out the door. Jim knew they would sleep for a couple of hours. <\/p>\n
\u201cWant me to start some coffee?\u201d Blair asked once they got down the stairs. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d rather hold you in bed,\u201d Jim suggested. <\/p>\n
\u201cOh wow, I didn\u2019t think that would be on the agenda. I\u2019d rather do that any day,\u201d Blair said as they walked up the stairs to their room. <\/p>\n
They slid into bed and Blair was in Jim\u2019s arms in record time. \u201cCan you imagine how it must feel to think you might not really belong in your own home?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, not really. Neither of us had lives like they did or do. This is all new to them, Blair, but they\u2019ll get the hang of it with time. I swear this is going to get easier if it kills us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you really turn your hearing down?\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cI sure did. I think they need some time alone, just the two of them to discuss what just happened. Then they\u2019ll realize that they do belong here and things will get easier. I love you, Blair.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I love you, Jim.\u201d<\/p>\n
They cuddled closer and Jim could hear Blair start to fall asleep and smiled. He really didn\u2019t think he\u2019d be taking a nap, and that was the last thing he remembered. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
Jim woke up at 8:00, went downstairs and called his dad. <\/p>\n
\u201cEllison.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHi dad, it\u2019s me. Could you come over and get Samantha for some reason today? We need to discuss things with the boys and we can\u2019t do it with Samantha listening in. She\u2019s too young to know about drinking. Did Mark tell you what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, he did and I told him I was very angry that he left Drew with strangers. I couldn\u2019t believe he did that. But he said Drew wouldn\u2019t go with them for anything. So he finally had to give up. I told him the next time anything like that happened, he had to call you or Blair and then me. He said he understood. He was very upset about the entire thing. I\u2019m sorry that this had to happen to Drew. I didn\u2019t realize that he drank,\u201d William said. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe never did. It was his first time, as far as we know. We\u2019ll find out when we discuss things with them today.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think you need to have the discussion with Samantha there. She might only be five, but something scary could have happened and she needs to understand too,\u201d William said. <\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, we\u2019ll have the talk with Sam here. I\u2019ll talk to you later, dad.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBye, Jimmy. Take care of those grandkids for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim hung up the phone and smiled. His dad had never been there for him when he was young. He was always working too much or just didn\u2019t have time for him. Now he had all the time in the world for his grandkids and Jim was tickled about that. The kids were lucky to have William and Naomi. <\/p>\n
Jim went in to take his shower. When he came out, Max was in the kitchen making Jim and Blair their coffee. Jim hugged him and said, \u201cGood morning, Max.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood morning, dad. Thank you for letting us sleep in a little bit. I was bushed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo were we, kiddo, so were we.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair grumbled something as he walked by with his clothing for the day. Jim looked at Max and both of them started to laugh. Blair wasn\u2019t a great morning person. <\/p>\n
Drew came downstairs and said, \u201cGood morning.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood morning, Drew. Did you get a little sleep?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I feel much better now. Thank you for coming up and talking to us last night. We realize now that we\u2019re yours. It\u2019s a weird feeling. We\u2019ve never had that feeling before. This is new to us,\u201d Drew explained. <\/p>\n
\u201cWell, get used to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Max smiled and said, \u201cWe\u2019re going to, dad.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cWould you guys like some hot cocoa?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cI would love some,\u201d Drew answered. <\/p>\n
\u201cMe too.\u201d Max replied. <\/p>\n
Jim got up and made them each a big cup of hot cocoa. Samantha came walking into the kitchen and said, \u201cMax, can I use your bathroom? Poppy is in mine and I have to pee.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood morning, sunshine,\u201d Jim said as he leaned down and kissed the top of her head. <\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t kiss my head, daddy, my hair is dirty.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGo use our bathroom, Sam,\u201d Max ordered. <\/p>\n
\u201cHer hair is dirty?\u201d Jim whispered, making both of the boys laugh. <\/p>\n
Blair came walking out a few minutes later and said, \u201cCoffee, I need my coffee.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim laughed and got him a big cup of coffee and handed it over to him. <\/p>\n
\u201cGood, there will be no bloodshed this morning,\u201d Blair teased. <\/p>\n
Jim told Blair what Sam had just said and Blair started laughing. Sam walked into the kitchen and said, \u201cWhat are you laughing at poppy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt your daddy. He\u2019s silly, isn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, he is. But I like him very much,\u201d Sam said ever so seriously. <\/p>\n
Jim got up and started to make a nice breakfast and they all talked and had a nice morning. Nothing was said about the discussion and Max and Drew were hoping it got forgotten, but Jim looked at them every now and then to remind them of what was coming up. <\/p>\n
They finished breakfast and then the boys helped Jim clean the kitchen. Blair got Sam settled in the bathtub and washed her hair, since it was dirty. Before long, things were back to normal and Jim said, \u201cDon\u2019t go anywhere you two. We\u2019re having a family discussion in a few minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Drew looked scared and Jim said, \u201cIt\u2019s a discussion, Drew, not a life sentence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Drew managed a smile at Jim\u2019s attempt at humor. <\/p>\n
Blair came walking out and said, \u201cMiss Samantha is all clean and ready for some play time I would guess.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, not yet. She\u2019s going to be in on the discussion with us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair looked surprised and said as much, \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s old enough to know what rules are and what happens when they get broken. She needs to know what could happen to her if she did something we didn\u2019t want her to do,\u201d Jim explained. <\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, Sam honey, come sit down at the table. We\u2019re going to have a family discussion,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
Sam said down and said, \u201cOh goody, I love discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim asked, \u201cDo you know what a discussion is?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, but it must be fun because Max and Drew are here too. They only do fun things.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim looked at Sam and saw the innocence and wasn\u2019t sure what to do about it.<\/p>\n
\u201cSam, sometimes people do things they aren\u2019t supposed to and they get in trouble. Do you understand what I mean?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cLike if I said I was going to clean my room and I didn\u2019t, you would be angry with me,\u201d Sam answered. <\/p>\n
\u201cExactly. Now what happens when Drew goes somewhere at night and doesn\u2019t come home when he supposed to?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cDrew would never do that, because he is a good boy,\u201d Sam said smiling. <\/p>\n
\u201cDrew, tell her what you did last night and tell her what almost happened,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
Drew told her the entire story including the part about drinking for the first time and leaving with strangers and a pervert almost getting him. When he was done, they all looked at Sam to see what she would say. <\/p>\n
\u201cDrew, why would you do that? Daddy said you had to come home. Did you get a spanking?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I didn\u2019t get a spanking, but dad and pop are going to make new rules for the house and I\u2019m going to be in big trouble for a long, long while,\u201d Drew answered. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re lucky you didn\u2019t get a spanking. Some kids get them. I bet they hurt. Daddy and poppy should have given you one because that man might have hurt you. We would cry forever if someone hurt you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Drew hugged her and said, \u201cI think daddy and poppy should give me a spanking too. But they don\u2019t do that. Instead they\u2019re going to punish me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sam thought about that for a moment and said, \u201cWhat are you going to do to him, daddy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to ground him. That\u2019s when you take away something that means a lot to someone for two weeks and they have to think about what they did wrong,\u201d Jim explained. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think he should still get a spanking,\u201d Sam confessed. <\/p>\n
\u201cSam, we don\u2019t spank in this house,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe you should start. Drew wouldn\u2019t have done that if he knew he was getting a spanking.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim and Blair looked confused and didn\u2019t know what to say. <\/p>\n
Drew said, \u201cDad, I think she\u2019s right. Maybe you need to hit me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDrew, I\u2019m not going to hit you. We\u2019ll discuss things, but I don\u2019t hit.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe entire evening scared the crap out of me, I think he needs a smack too,\u201d Max added. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t hit or smack,\u201d Blair replied. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat new rules are we going to have?\u201d Drew asked suddenly. <\/p>\n
\u201cFirst of all, when you want to go somewhere if it\u2019s somewhere we don\u2019t know, we have to check it out first. We fell down on our jobs last night and we could have paid dearly for that. We will check out everything and everyone you do things with from now on. If we say no, that means no. I don\u2019t care how bad you want to do something, you can\u2019t do it without our okay,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
\u201cNext there will be no story telling. Only the truth in this house. If you want to go somewhere you ask us and tell us the truth. If we say no, then so be it. But at least we all know we\u2019re telling the truth. No more lies. No more sneaking around and no drinking while you\u2019re underage ever again. Drew you should have called us and told us where you were and asked for a ride while you were still at that house. You wouldn\u2019t have gotten in near as much trouble as you\u2019re going to be in. You\u2019re grounded for two weeks off the Wii. Max will continue to use it and you won\u2019t even think about objecting to this punishment. That\u2019s not all, don\u2019t look so relieved. You won\u2019t be going anywhere for two weeks except to Karate class and your cooking class. That\u2019s it, buster. You\u2019re home with us when you aren\u2019t in school. Am I understood?\u201d Jim said quite sternly. <\/p>\n
\u201cUnderstood,\u201d Drew answered softly. <\/p>\n
\u201cCan I still go to Mary\u2019s house and play sometimes?\u201d Sam asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cYes, but you have to ask us and we have to know where you will be at all times. You can\u2019t leave grampa\u2019s house once you get there for anything without telling us,\u201d Blair answered. <\/p>\n
\u201cOh and I almost forgot, Drew. No phone calls for two weeks. You\u2019ll see your friends at school, but they can\u2019t call you on your cell phone, text you or call the house. Understood?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cUnderstood,\u201d Drew said very unhappily with this new addition to the punishment. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe will start to have more discussions about things as a family from here on. And now for our punishment,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
\u201cYour punishment?\u201d Max asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cYes, we let you boys down. We didn\u2019t act like good parents at all, so we\u2019re going to give a talk at your school about drinking and driving and what can happen. You have no choice in having us there and we don\u2019t have a choice either. We have to do things differently now and this will be the start. I want all of your friends at school to know what can happen,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
\u201cDad, that\u2019s sort of embarrassing to have our dads give lectures at our school,\u201d Max said. <\/p>\n
Blair said, \u201cTough. It\u2019s the way life is, so don\u2019t even think you\u2019re getting out of this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I didn\u2019t do anything wrong,\u201d Max whined. <\/p>\n
\u201cMax, this is one of those times where you just remember who the parent is. We\u2019re doing it and you haven\u2019t got any say in it. So better get used to it,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone is going to tease us,\u201d Drew said. <\/p>\n
\u201cDrew, would you like another week added on to your punishment?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I\u2019m good.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do I get?\u201d Sam asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou get to be in charge of telling us when your brothers aren\u2019t doing what they\u2019re supposed to do,\u201d Jim suggested. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey always do what they\u2019re supposed to do. I love my brothers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Drew and Max got up and hugged Sam tight. They loved their little sister too. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe love you too, Sam,\u201d Drew added. <\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, now it\u2019s time for laundry day, so everyone bring me their dirty clothes,\u201d Blair ordered. <\/p>\n
They all took off in the directions of their hampers and got their clothes. Jim looked at Blair and said, \u201cI think we did a pretty good job today.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we did too. Now we just need to stay tough with Drew. I can tell he\u2019s going to push our buttons on this punishment thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll stay strong Chief, don\u2019t you worry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am worried. This is just the beginning. Gosh, I hope we get better at this as we go along,\u201d Blair joked. <\/p>\n
\u201cEvery month will get easier, I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair kissed Jim and then went in to help Sam get her clothing ready. Today was a good day. They were all together as a family and they were all safe. <\/p>\n
The end <\/p>\n
Family Life Part 65
\nDropping By
\nBy Patt<\/p>\n
Word Count: 5036<\/p>\n
Summary: Naomi is in town for a short while and the kids get a drop by visit. Will Jim find out what Blair knew all along about his mother? <\/p>\n
Samantha was sitting out on the balcony, playing with her K\u2019necs when she came rushing into the house and shouted. \u201cGuess who\u2019s here?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim listened and heard Naomi down below so he knew. He smiled and said, \u201cYour teacher.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo silly, it\u2019s Naomi. She told me she was coming for a visit, but I didn\u2019t know when. Let me go and tell my brothers,\u201d Sam said quickly as she rushed up the stairs to tell Max and Drew that their grandmother was here. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat in the world?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to be just fine, Chief. She loves the kids, so let\u2019s let her spend time with them. It\u2019s good for them,\u201d Jim assured him. <\/p>\n
Jim opened the door as Naomi was just about to knock and she said, \u201cHaven\u2019t I mentioned how much I hate when you do that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s good to see you too, Naomi.\u201d Jim laughed. <\/p>\n
She hugged him and then saw her son and lit up like a bulb. \u201cBlair, I\u2019m so happy to see you.\u201d She rushed to his side and hugged him so hard it almost took his breath away. <\/p>\n
\u201cDid you get my last letter that I asked you to come for the school play?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I didn\u2019t get any mail that I know of. But then again, I didn\u2019t check. I\u2019ve been in Peru and it\u2019s so beautiful there I had to come and tell you all about it. But first I want to see my grandchildren.\u201d<\/p>\n
Max, Drew and Sam came walking down the stairs at that very moment and Naomi grinned like crazy. \u201cOh my god, you kids are getting so big. I can\u2019t believe how much you\u2019ve grown since I was here last. I\u2019m going to be here for a week and I\u2019ve got some plans made. Blair and Jim, do you mind if I take the kids to Seattle on Saturday? There is a wonderful show opening from Peru and I promised the artist that I would bring my grandchildren to see her work. She\u2019s fantastic. It would only be for the day, so you wouldn\u2019t have to worry about us staying all night or anything. What do you think?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim said, \u201cWhy don\u2019t we get you a hotel near the art gallery and you can stay Saturday and Sunday?\u201d He thought it might be nice for her to spend some time with the kids. <\/p>\n
Blair looked at Jim like he was insane. \u201cMom, I don\u2019t know how I feel about them leaving for a weekend. We\u2019ll have to discuss this further.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim said, \u201cChief, it\u2019s one weekend out of the last six months, I think we can handle it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow do you kids feel about it?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe would love to go with Naomi and we would keep a close eye on Samantha. We wouldn\u2019t let her out of our sight. She would be safe with the three of us watching her,\u201d Max promised. <\/p>\n
\u201cJim, do you swear this is a good idea?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll have to find out where the show is at and find a hotel close by. I want the kids to be able to walk to and from it if there was an emergency. And Max you and Drew will keep your cell phones charged and on your person at all times. Is that understood?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
Naomi smiled and said, \u201cHere is the information about the show, Jim. Thank you for trusting me to take care of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou did a wonderful job with Blair, so I\u2019m hoping the same thing will happen. They\u2019ll have a good time and learn at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair said, \u201cThe boys will have to check in with us at least three times a day while they\u2019re gone, so we know everything is all right.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI swear, Blair, you\u2019re worse then some old woman,\u201d Naomi teased. <\/p>\n
Max and Drew snickered, but stopped when Jim glared at them. \u201cNaomi, he\u2019s worried about them. You can\u2019t blame us for being worry warts. This is our first separation. You have to promise you will do everything in your power to make this a wonderful and safe trip for them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan I borrow your SUV, honey?\u201d Naomi asked Blair. \u201cAnd of course I will make this a fun and safe trip for them. I\u2019m going to stay at a hotel tonight and be back in the morning to take them. So are you certain I can use your SUV?\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cOf course you can. That would be a nice vehicle to travel in and it\u2019s almost brand new. Chances of breaking something are slim,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo what is the art show about?\u201d Jim asked, finally realizing it might be something that wasn\u2019t appropriate for the kids. <\/p>\n
\u201cShe paints. They are paintings of the jungle with Spider Monkeys. They are quite beautiful. The children will love them. She has a large show of about 100 paintings. She\u2019s been in Peru for about 18 months now. We\u2019ll have dinner with her one night and everything. It\u2019s going to be fantastic,\u201d Naomi exclaimed. <\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t wait for tomorrow to get here,\u201d Max said happily. \u201cCan we go up and pack, now?\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair smiled. \u201cMom, what do they need to pack for the art show? What type of clothing do you want them to wear?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow about wearing Dockers and polo shirts for the boys and a dress for Samantha? Then nice clothing to wear that night when we go out for dinner,\u201d Naomi said. <\/p>\n
Jim said, \u201cCome on guys, I\u2019ll help you pack. Blair will you help Samantha pack her bag?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure will,\u201d Blair answered. <\/p>\n
Jim walked upstairs with the boys and he grabbed the suitcase down and set it on the bed, opening it to begin packing. \u201cYou boys have to swear to me that you\u2019ll be extra careful and will never take your eyes off of Sam the entire time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDad, we promise. We\u2019re looking forward to this and we don\u2019t want anything happening to our little sister while we\u2019re there. You don\u2019t have to worry about a thing,\u201d Max said solemnly. <\/p>\n
Drew said, \u201cDad, I know I let you down a few weeks ago, but I learned my lesson. I\u2019ll be so well behaved; you won\u2019t know what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, I\u2019m going to tell you one more time. You have to check in when you get there. You have to check in when you\u2019re at the show. You have to check in when you get back to the hotel. Do you think you can remember all of the check in times?\u201d<\/p>\n
Max grinned and patted Jim on the back. \u201cStop being such a worry wart. Everything is going to go smoothly and we\u2019ll be just fine. We promise to do our best at taking care of Sam.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI wonder if we should take jeans for the hotel, lounging and stuff,\u201d Drew asked as he was looking through his drawers. <\/p>\n
\u201cTake a pair of jeans and a couple of tees and then take some sleep pants, because she\u2019ll probably have you all doing yoga while she\u2019s at the hotel. You\u2019ll like it. You\u2019ve seen pop do it many times,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
Max said, \u201cDrew, don\u2019t forget underwear and socks. Take good socks and good shoes. We\u2019ll wear our tennis shoes in the SUV for the trip up, but we don\u2019t want to embarrass Naomi while we\u2019re at the show.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou boys are doing just fine. Finish packing and then come on down stairs and we\u2019ll talk a little more before its bedtime.\u201d Jim walked down the stairs and realized his sons were truly growing up. Yes, Drew had screwed up once, but they all learned from that and Jim felt like they had to give them some growing room or they would be a mess. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
Blair was helping Samantha pick out dresses, sleep wear, socks, undies and shoes. When he was done, she had enough for a week. \u201cMom, she\u2019s got too much stuff packed. It\u2019s a waste.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBlair honey, women never have too much stuff packed. She\u2019ll wear everything, I\u2019ll see to it that she changes a few times for the show. We\u2019ll be back on Sunday at about 1:00, if that\u2019s all right with you and Jim.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly, Mom, I can\u2019t believe he\u2019s letting them out of his sight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBlair honey, he knows that I did a good job with you. Even when I wasn\u2019t trying you turned out really well. So the kids will be great with me. Don\u2019t you worry about a thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair finished packing her bag and then picked out her clothing to wear in the SUV the next day. Sam was super excited and was talking like crazy. Naomi just kept hugging her and kissing the top of her head. <\/p>\n
\u201cBlair, I can\u2019t tell you how much I enjoy these children of yours. You and Jim are doing a wonderful job of raising them. I just want you to know that I do notice. Even if I don\u2019t say it often enough, I love you all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair hugged his mom and said, \u201cI love you too, mom.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim walked in and said, \u201cThe boys were doing fine without me, so I decided to let them do it themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJim does it bother you that they\u2019re growing up so fast?\u201d Naomi asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cNot really. I\u2019m content with the fact that soon they\u2019ll be going to college and planning their adult lives. I couldn\u2019t be happier about them growing up. Now Sam is another story. I want her to stay five forever.\u201d Jim picked her up carried her out of the room. <\/p>\n
Naomi looked at Blair and he said, \u201cHow are you doing with them growing up?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m with Jim on this one. I want her to stay little for a long, long while, but the boys will make excellent adults and we\u2019re anxious to see them as such. We adore these kids, Naomi. Please promise you\u2019re going to take very good care of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Naomi hugged Blair tight and said, \u201cI promise.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s all I can ask. Why don\u2019t you sleep on the sofa in the living room tonight?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cI have some calls to make and things to do tonight. So I\u2019ll see them at 7:00 tomorrow morning. I thought we\u2019d get an early start.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWait a minute. Jim still has to find the hotel for you and make the arrangements.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh I guess that would be good, wouldn\u2019t it?\u201d Naomi laughed. <\/p>\n
Blair felt panic rise and she must have seen it. \u201cBlair, everything will be all right. Now let\u2019s get Jim busy on finding the hotel for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
Jim went upstairs with Sam and they looked at hotels and Jim found a great one down the street from where the art gallery was. He talked to the head person and found out it was in a very safe area in an up and coming part of town. Jim went ahead and paid for the two suite room. Naomi could share with Sam. Then the boys would have their own room. It was going to be fun for them. Jim printed up all of the information, the pictures they had at the sight and the address and directions. When he was done, he and Sam walked down the stairs as Blair was taking Sam\u2019s bag to the front door. <\/p>\n
Jim said, \u201cNaomi, here is all of the information about the hotel. Its two blocks from the gallery. The suite is all paid for and here is some money for food.\u201d Jim had taken money out of the safe upstairs so that Naomi would have plenty on hand. \u201cAnd here is my extra Visa card. Use it wisely.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh my gosh you act like I wouldn\u2019t have money. I have plenty of money to spend on my grandchildren, but I\u2019ll have more if you pay for the room,\u201d She said smiling. <\/p>\n
Jim handed her the Visa card and then the envelope with the 500 bucks in it and smiled at her. <\/p>\n
\u201cJim, I want to thank you again for letting me take the children with me. I know this hasn\u2019t been easy for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim hugged Naomi and said, \u201cWhy don\u2019t you stay here tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI already asked her and she has plans. So we\u2019ll see her at seven tomorrow morning.\u201d Blair hugged his lover. <\/p>\n
The boys came walking down the stairs with their bag all packed and Jim said, \u201cWe still need to do up the bag with bathroom supplies.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh yeah, I forgot,\u201d Max said laughing and Jim has his first real moment of unease. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s kidding, dad.\u201d Drew said laughing. <\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I\u2019m going to take off for the night. I\u2019ll see you all in the morning. Have fun dreaming about our road trip,\u201d Naomi said as she walked to the door. Everyone hugged her goodnight and she left. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to bed so we can get up early. We have our alarm set for 5:30,\u201d Drew said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll be up too, to see you off. It\u2019s not like we would just stay in bed while she drove off with you,\u201d Blair kidded. <\/p>\n
Sam said,\u201d I\u2019m tired too. Could we read a book in my room, poppy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure enough. Goodnight, boys. We\u2019ll see you in the morning.\u201d Blair walked into Sam\u2019s room to read her a bedtime story. He was going to miss doing it on Saturday night. He already missed her and she wasn\u2019t even gone yet. <\/p>\n
Blair read to her and she fell asleep half-way through. He shut all of the lights off and then met Jim in the kitchen. \u201cAre we going to bed now too?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim smiled. \u201cI was hoping we could.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI meant to sleep. We\u2019ve got a big day coming up tomorrow. I want to be bright and ready for anything,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
Jim said, \u201cWell, I\u2019m going upstairs to have fun with myself then.\u201d He headed towards the stairs after he locked the front door for the third time that night. <\/p>\n
\u201cI swear you have OCD with locking the door over and over again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI just worry about anyone coming in and getting to Sam. Sometimes I hate her room being on this floor. If I had to do it over again, I would put two rooms upstairs and make that the office again,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
\u201cJim we would have no sex life with Sam next to us,\u201d Blair pointed out. <\/p>\n
\u201cI know. That\u2019s why I don\u2019t have it done.\u201d Jim walked up the stairs<\/p>\n
Blair followed him rubbing his ass the entire way. Jim smiled because he knew he was going to get some. He was one lucky son-of-a-gun. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
At 5:30 the next morning, Sam woke Blair up and said, \u201cYou\u2019re still sleeping. You told me to get up when the clock was on how old I am. It says 530. What time is that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what time we\u2019re getting up. Are you ready for your big trip with Naomi?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou and daddy won\u2019t miss us too much will you?\u201d Sam said holding Blair\u2019s hand. <\/p>\n
\u201cSam, are you sure you want to go with them? If you wanted to stay home with me and daddy, you can. They can go by themselves,\u201d Blair assured her. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I want to go, poppy. I want to be with Max and Drew. They love me and I love them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim smiled at the talk Blair was having and got out of bed. It was time to make them breakfast. <\/p>\n
Jim brushed his teeth, peed and washed his hands. Then he went in to make breakfast. He could hear the boys getting up and heading down to their bathroom. <\/p>\n
Jim made pancakes, French toast and scrambled eggs for everyone. There was enough food for ten people on the stove when Naomi arrived at 6:30. \u201cOh Jim, you are such a dear. Now we don\u2019t have to stop for breakfast. We can head right in to town and make our morning sight seeing,\u201d Naomi said. <\/p>\n
Everyone sat down and ate like they hadn\u2019t seen food in a month. Blair didn\u2019t know why he was so damned hungry, but he was. <\/p>\n
Once breakfast was all done with, they all went in, brushed their teeth and got ready to go. The boys made up a bag with the toiletries in it and asked for Sam\u2019s. Blair got them, added them to the boys\u2019 bag and they were ready to go. <\/p>\n
Jim hugged each child like they weren\u2019t coming home again. He kissed all of them too. \u201cGeeze, dad, we\u2019re coming home tomorrow. It\u2019s not like you\u2019re never going to see us again,\u201d Max teased. <\/p>\n
\u201cHey, give your old dad a break. I just don\u2019t like seeing my children leave without me. So shoot me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then Blair gave them all hugs and kisses and no one teased him because he looked like he was going to cry. Then Blair hugged Naomi and said, \u201cGuard them with your life, mom.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI will honey. See you tomorrow.\u201d And like that, they were loading everything in the SUV and off they drove. Jim and Blair looked so lost and sad in the parking lot it was pitiful. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
Jim was worrying as usual, when the phone rang and it was Max. \u201cDad, we just got to Seattle. We\u2019re going to do some sightseeing and then check in to the hotel at 2:00. The art gallery opens at 5:00. So we\u2019ll probably call you at two and at ten or eleven when we get back from the show.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you having fun so far?\u201d Jim asked worriedly. <\/p>\n
\u201cOh yeah, we\u2019re having a blast. She\u2019s telling us baby Blair stories and they are funny,\u201d Max joked. <\/p>\n
\u201cJust remember that it\u2019s your pop and that it\u2019s not supposed to be make fun of pop weekend,\u201d Jim said sternly. <\/p>\n
Blair looked at Jim wondering what he was talking about. \u201cHere, your pop wants to talk to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim handed the phone to Blair. Blair said, \u201cSo what\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNaomi said you didn\u2019t wear clothes for the first four years of your life. Is that true, pop?\u201d Max asked. <\/p>\n
Blair sighed and said, \u201cNo, that isn\u2019t true. She\u2019s exaggerating. Just ignore those dumb stories.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going sightseeing and then checking into the hotel at two. Talk to you then. I love you, pop.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI love you, Max. Take care of the family,\u201d Blair said before he hung up the phone. <\/p>\n
He turned to Jim and said, \u201cThis is supposed to be off time for us. We\u2019re supposed to be bopping like bunnies, right?\u201d What are we doing wrong? I don\u2019t feel like bopping and the idea upsets me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe idea of bopping upsets you?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo, the idea that I don\u2019t want to bop upsets me. We should be all over each other. Know what I mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim got down on his knees and pulled Blair into him and unzipped his jeans, took out his cock and started to suck on Blair like crazy. Blair was getting into it pretty quickly and started thrusting into Jim\u2019s warm, inviting, mouth. Before long he threw back his head and howled with his completion. <\/p>\n
Jim licked him off and put him back in his jeans and said, \u201cNext time, try not to worry so much about bopping.\u201d Jim laughed as he zipped Blair back up. <\/p>\n
Blair went down on his knees and did the same thing. But Jim was so close that he came almost immediately from being on the edge sucking on Blair. Jim was breathing good and hard when the phone rang. He pulled away from Blair and answered it. \u201cEllison.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDaddy, I wanted to say hello to you when Max called, so he said I could call you anytime I wanted to today.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s right, Sam, you can call us anytime you want to,\u201d Jim assured her. <\/p>\n
Blair almost laughed because Jim\u2019s cock was lying limply outside of his jeans and looked like some type of pervert. Jim looked down to see what was causing Blair to laugh and frowned as he put himself back in his jeans. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
Naomi had taken them to the Space Needle and they loved it. They had gone to a park that was filled with ducks, swans and geese. They all had a wonderful time feeding the birds. Naomi told them it was time to check in and they left. <\/p>\n
When they got to the room, Max said, \u201cWow, this place is pretty cool, right Naomi?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly the best for my grandchildren.\u201d<\/p>\n
They all unpacked and got ready to go to the art gallery. Max called Jim really fast to tell him they were leaving the hotel. They didn\u2019t talk too long because Naomi was telling them more stories. <\/p>\n
By the time they got to the art gallery, it was open. Naomi said, \u201cYou\u2019ll stay with me at all times, no matter what.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe understand, Naomi,\u201d Max said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just reminding you,\u201d Naomi said as they walked in. She saw her friend and introduced her grandchildren to this wonderful artist. Her name was Becca Wood. The kids couldn\u2019t believe how gorgeous the paintings were. It was like being right in the jungle. They were very true to life. <\/p>\n
There were a lot of paintings to see and there was food and drinks and everything else. Sam was starting to get tired at about 9:00 and Max said, \u201cNaomi, can we take Sam back to the hotel and we\u2019ll just wait for you there?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll walk you and then I can come back. You can watch movies and order room service. How does that sound?\u201d Naomi asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat sounds like a lot of fun. Thank you, Naomi.\u201d Drew said. <\/p>\n
\u201cCome on, let\u2019s get going before room service closes,\u201d Naomi suggested. They all walked quickly back to the hotel. It had gotten rather cool and none of them had jackets with them. <\/p>\n
When she deposited them in the room, she took off for the evening. Drew made sure the door was locked and bolted and then called Jim and Blair. <\/p>\n
Blair answered, \u201cSandburg.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh I must have the wrong number, I was calling for my pop.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cVery funny, Drew. Are you guys back at the hotel now?\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Naomi brought us back, locked us in and she went back to the party. It was still hopping.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe left you there alone?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cPop, we\u2019re almost grown. We\u2019re fine, we\u2019re going to watch a pay-per-view movie and order room service. She thought that would be fun for us,\u201d Drew explained. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat movie are you going to watch?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe were thinking about Kick-ass. Does that sound all right to you?\u201d Drew wondered. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo, that\u2019s not all right. That\u2019s a rated R movie and Sam is with you. She doesn\u2019t get to watch rated R movies.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about Alice in Wonderland?\u201d Drew said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat would be fine. But probably boring for you boys. Isn\u2019t there anything in between?\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll pick out something that isn\u2019t rated R, how does that sound?\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cSounds like a plan. Don\u2019t open the door to the hotel for anyone. Understood?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cPop, we\u2019re getting room service. We have to open the door,\u201d Drew whined. <\/p>\n
\u201cAll right, but be sure it\u2019s them at the door before you open it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSay goodnight to dad for us, okay? You sleep well, pop.\u201d Drew hung up before Blair would think of anything else to bother them with. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
They ordered tons of food from room service and ate their little hearts out. Then Sam went to sleep on Max\u2019s bed and Max and Drew were lying on his bed watching a movie on HBO. They kept hearing noises. Max finally got up and went to the door, put the bolt on and opened it to see if someone was out there. There stood Naomi, trying to get the key card to open the door. She was drunk, Max knew that much. \u201cOh Max, honey, will you open the door for us?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUs?\u201d Max asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cI brought back Becca with me and we\u2019re going to talk all night long,\u201d Naomi said cheerfully. <\/p>\n
Max opened the door, even though pop and dad had both said to only open it to Naomi. In walked Naomi, Becca and some guy. Naomi pointed in the direction of the room for Sam and her and said, \u201cThat\u2019s my room. I\u2019ll be in, in just a moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere is Sam?\u201d Naomi asked seeing both beds empty. <\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s sleeping with us tonight, Naomi. She does that sometimes at home too.\u201d Max said. <\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, well if you need me, we\u2019ll be in the other room,\u201d Naomi stumbled across the room and walked in and shut the door. <\/p>\n
Max shut the door to their room and locked it. <\/p>\n
\u201cDrew, I think I need to call pop and dad and tell them this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho was that guy?\u201d Drew asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cI have no idea, but I don\u2019t want a strange man in our room during the night.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, call them and tell them what\u2019s going on,\u201d Drew advised. <\/p>\n
Max picked up his phone and called. <\/p>\n
\u201cEllison.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDad, could you come and get us at the hotel?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim jumped out of bed immediately and said, \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNaomi is back. She brought Becca from the art show and some guy we don\u2019t know. I don\u2019t like the idea of having strangers around Sam or us for that matter.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll be right there. Where is Sam now?\u201d Jim asked as he dressed. Blair was beside him dressing too. <\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s in bed with me. I won\u2019t let anyone near her dad. I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood, now stay in the bedroom until we get there. I\u2019ll call you on your phone when we\u2019re outside the door. Keep that door locked.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim hung up his cell and said, \u201cI don\u2019t know where my fucking brain was when I agreed to this. I should listen to you. You know your mother better then anyone else.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJim, she wouldn\u2019t let anyone hurt the kids.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBlair, she\u2019s drunk and probably passed out. There is a stranger in the hotel room with our three children. I\u2019m not a happy camper.\u201d<\/p>\n
They both rushed down the stairs after they printed out the directions again and took off for the drive to Seattle. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
An hour later, Max\u2019s phone rang and it was Jim. \u201cWe\u2019re outside the door. Open it for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMax and Drew opened the door and hugged the two men fiercely. \u201cWe\u2019re so glad you\u2019re here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on, let\u2019s get out of here.\u201d Blair began getting some clothes on Sam. She was in pj\u2019s and that wouldn\u2019t work.<\/p>\n
The boys got their bag and stuffed everything in it and then they were all ready to go. Sam was in Jim\u2019s arms and Blair had a hold of Drew and Max. The boys knew that their dad\u2019s were plenty upset. <\/p>\n
They got down to the SUV and Jim got everyone settled in the back seat. The drive home was very quiet. Jim finally said, \u201cDrew and Max, we\u2019re really proud of you for using your head tonight. Your grandmother wasn\u2019t using hers, that\u2019s for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had a really good time, until then,\u201d Drew admitted. \u201cThey were serving champagne at the party and she had quite a few of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s all fine and dandy, but there was a strange man and woman in our children\u2019s room that didn\u2019t belong there. This is unacceptable behavior,\u201d Blair ranted. <\/p>\n
The rest of the drive was silent. Jim didn\u2019t want to say anything he couldn\u2019t take back later. So he just shut his mouth. <\/p>\n
An hour later, they were parked in the parking lot outside their house. They got the kids upstairs and put to bed for the night. <\/p>\n
\u201cJim, I can\u2019t believe she did this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBlair, I should have listened to you. The next time, slap me in the face when I think I know something better then you do. You know how she is. You probably knew that she might do something like this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was afraid of this. She pulled this a number of times with me. And I was always scared. Thank God the boys called us and we could get to them quickly. <\/p>\n
They climbed into bed and both of them knew it might be awhile before they slept. They were very angry. <\/p>\n
The phone rang at 4:00 and Jim answered it. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJim, have you heard from the kids?\u201d Naomi asked sounding scared. <\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Naomi, we picked our children up because they were scared to be in a hotel room with two strangers. Bring Blair\u2019s car back tomorrow, but don\u2019t expect him to talk to you. He\u2019s one pissed off father.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Jim. I drank too much and wasn\u2019t thinking. I\u2019m not used to drinking.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNaomi, I trusted you and you let me down. It won\u2019t happen again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh I would never do this again. The next time I\u2019ll be sure to say sober,\u201d Naomi swore. <\/p>\n
Jim laughed and said, \u201cNext time? You must be joking right? There will be no next time ever again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll see you both tomorrow and talk to you when you\u2019ve cooled down. I think you need to meditate, Jim.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMeditate this, Naomi.\u201d And Jim slammed the phone down as hard as he could. <\/p>\n
Blair kissed his lover and said, \u201cCalm down. We\u2019ll get through this. We learned a hard lesson and it won\u2019t happen again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI love you, Blair.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I love you, Jim. When she comes tomorrow, we\u2019re just going to tell her what you did tonight. She has to understand what could have happened. And she didn\u2019t even notice they were gone until four. God, I\u2019m just embarrassed to say she\u2019s my mom.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGo to sleep, babe. We\u2019ll see things clearer in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair went into Jim\u2019s arms even more and they slowly went to sleep. <\/p>\n
Things weren\u2019t going to be fun the next day, but it was something that had to be done. <\/p>\n
Fuck meditation. <\/p>\n
And fuck Naomi. <\/p>\n
The end <\/p>\n
Family Life Part 66
\nMothers
\nBy Patt<\/p>\n
Word Count:1741<\/p>\n
Summary: Blair has to deal with his mother and isn\u2019t happy about it. <\/p>\n
Notes: This is just a short one to let you know that Blair didn\u2019t just forget about his mom. <\/p>\n
Jim woke up the following morning and went downstairs to make a nice breakfast for the kids and Blair. He knew that it was going to be a hard day for Blair. Having to tell your mother that you don\u2019t trust her with your kids would be a hard call. But Jim and Blair knew that it had to be made. <\/p>\n
While he was making the pancakes and putting them in the warming tray, Samantha came walking in. <\/p>\n
\u201cDaddy, I thought we stayed in another city last night.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, we had to come and get you and the boys because Naomi was acting like she was the child. So we had to bring you home. Max and Drew were quite upset with Naomi and you slept through the entire thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh no, are you mad at Naomi? Does this mean I don\u2019t have a gramma anymore?\u201d Sam was nibbling at her nails.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, it just means we won\u2019t let you go anywhere alone with her. She doesn\u2019t watch you like we would watch you,\u201d Jim explained. <\/p>\n
Max and Drew walked into the room and Max said, \u201cBig breakfast for pop, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, your gramma is going to be here in a little while and I know it\u2019s going to be hard for you pop to say the things he has to say. So let\u2019s all try and make things easy for him this morning,\u201d Jim suggested. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think I want to start calling her gramma,\u201d Drew said. <\/p>\n
Jim wondered what that had to do with anything. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I think she got confused with us calling her Naomi and thought we were good friends instead of being gramma and grandkids. She just got confused. She needs to know how to treat grandkids and friends differently. Don\u2019t you think, Max?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, Drew, I agree with you. I hope pop doesn\u2019t come down too hard on her, because we love her and all. We just don\u2019t want to be in her care,\u201d Max agreed. <\/p>\n
Blair came walking into the kitchen and said, \u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019m going to tell her today, Drew. She has to realize how you treat your grandchildren and you might be on something with the name business. Call her gramma from now on and we\u2019ll see if that doesn\u2019t help fix things a little. But I want you all to know that you\u2019re not to go with her without our permission. If she stopped by for no reason while we were at work, you have to say no. My mom is too flighty to take on the care of three kids. And we love you too much to have something happen to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone sit down for breakfast, it\u2019s ready,\u201d Jim called out over his shoulder. <\/p>\n
They all ate well and then helped Jim clean the kitchen up. Even Sam helped with loading the dishwasher. And as usual as soon as she left the room, Jim reloaded it to make him happy. This made Max and Drew smile like crazy. <\/p>\n
Blair went in and sat down to read the paper and there was a knock on the door. Max grabbed Sam and said, \u201cCome on, you can play Wii with us.\u201d Sam went along with her brothers happily. <\/p>\n
They all took off up the stairs and Blair felt bad for them. He knew they felt guilty about everything happening. They always blamed themselves first. <\/p>\n
Blair opened up the door and his mother stood there looking sad. \u201cBlair honey, I\u2019m so sorry about last night.\u201d She hugged him close to her but he didn\u2019t hug her back. <\/p>\n
\u201cCome in and sit down, Mom,\u201d Blair said as he shut the door and moved into the living room. Jim joined him on the sofa and Naomi sat on the love seat across from them. <\/p>\n
\u201cI know you\u2019re angry with me. I drank some champagne, which I\u2019m not used to doing and I don\u2019t even remember what happened. I promise I\u2019ll never do that again,\u201d she explained. <\/p>\n
\u201cOh mom, there will never be a next time. I wouldn\u2019t let you take our kids to the grocery store right now. You\u2019re too damn wild. I knew this and still let them go, so it\u2019s partly my fault. I was hoping that you had changed as you got older, but you\u2019re still the happy go lucky person you were when I was a kid. I didn\u2019t like it then and I like it even less now when I have children to raise.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you\u2019re telling me because I screwed up once, I never get my grandchildren again?\u201d Naomi was getting angry now. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019m saying, mom. We would never trust you again. Sad, but true. The boys were scared and they don\u2019t even scare that easy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat in the world were they scared of? I was there. I would have protected them,\u201d she insisted. <\/p>\n
\u201cNaomi, you didn\u2019t even know the man that was in the hotel room with you. And why were a couple in your hotel room anyway? What were you doing? What were you thinking?\u201d Jim decided to say something too. <\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly, Jim, I passed out so I don\u2019t know what happened, but when I woke up, I would have cared for them. You know this, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNaomi, what if that man had gone into the room with our children? You didn\u2019t know him from Adam. He could have hurt our children or taken them for all you knew. You were too busy being drunk. You always give lectures to Blair about drinking beer now and then so I don\u2019t ever want to hear another lecture come out of your mouth about drinking,\u201d Jim growled. <\/p>\n
\u201cBlair honey, you can\u2019t mean this. I won\u2019t be able to see my own grandchildren?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, you can see them whenever you like. But it has to be with us around. They were scared and I won\u2019t let something like this happen again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd by the way, Naomi, the kids decided they are calling you gramma from now on. Max and Drew think that you treated them as friends when they called you Naomi. They wanted a grandmother, not a friend. They have friends,\u201d Jim pointed out. <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want to be called gramma.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen don\u2019t come and visit, mom.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJim talked you into this didn\u2019t he? He\u2019s always been controlling, but I didn\u2019t realize how much,\u201d Naomi spat out. <\/p>\n
\u201cMom, I wanted to go in and wake you up last night and slap you senseless, but he wouldn\u2019t let me. He said it would be better when I was cooled off. So I listened to him. He doesn\u2019t control me, he advises me sometimes as I do him. Don\u2019t try turning this around on Jim. It\u2019s not his fault you were a flake with our children.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I never\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the problem, you never think before you talk or act. It was pitiful when Max and Drew called because they didn\u2019t know the man and woman that you brought home from the gallery. They could have been big time perves for all you knew, but you didn\u2019t care. You were there to have fun,\u201d Blair was angry now. He got up and started pacing the floor in front of Naomi. <\/p>\n
\u201cBlair, remember all of the places I took you? Did you ever get hurt?\u201d Naomi wanted to know. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I lucked out. There was always one good grown up around to help me out. So luckily I wasn\u2019t hurt. But there were many times where I wanted to run like crazy and find another home.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I can\u2019t take the kids to the mall today and out for lunch?\u201d Naomi asked. <\/p>\n
Jim stood up and said, \u201cNot today, Naomi. Not today.\u201d Jim walked into the kitchen and Blair knew Jim was upset about everything, especially his lover being left with strangers when he was a child. This was news to Jim. So Blair knew he wouldn\u2019t take it well. <\/p>\n
\u201cCan I at least see them?\u201d Naomi asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cMom, I think that you should give them a few days. They took off upstairs when you knocked on the door. They feel like they ratted you out, and they shouldn\u2019t have to worry about something like that, should they?\u201d <\/p>\n
Naomi looked like she was going to cry. \u201cBlair, I just want to hug them and tell them I love them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, you have a screwy way of showing that to them. Give them four or five days and then come back. They need time,\u201d Blair suggested. <\/p>\n
\u201cHere are your keys to your SUV. Thank you for the loan. I don\u2019t know when I\u2019ll see you again, sweetie. I probably will go back to Peru.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair took the keys and smiled at her. \u201cHave a good time, Mom.\u201d Blair hugged her goodbye and walked her to the door. Jim didn\u2019t come out of the kitchen and Blair didn\u2019t push him on it. <\/p>\n
When Blair shut the door, Jim came around the corner and pulled Blair into his arms. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Chief. Things shouldn\u2019t have to be this hard.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, they shouldn\u2019t. But we\u2019re going to have a great week. We\u2019re going to find something fun to do for next weekend. We\u2019re going to make it up to the kids. Maybe we could plan a nice camping trip,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s starting to get pretty cool at night for camping. If we camp outdoors anyway. If we go in the cabin, that\u2019s a different story,\u201d Jim added. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll figure out what to do, but let\u2019s take the kids to a movie today and out to eat for dinner. It\u2019ll be a good day for them. I know that Drew and Max feel guilty for tattling on my mom. We have to make them feel good about everything. Okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI love you, Chief.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n
They kissed for a few minutes and then Blair said, \u201cFind a movie that we can all see together as a family.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow about The Expendables?\u201d Jim teased. <\/p>\n
\u201cGet serious, I want something that\u2019s not going to warp them for life,\u201d Blair joked back. <\/p>\n
They went upstairs to find something on the computer and plan their day out. <\/p>\n
Things were going to be fine. The kids were fine. Life was fine. It got a little topsy turvy but it was back to normal again. <\/p>\n
The end <\/p>\n
Family Life Part 67
\nDrip, Drip, Drip
\nBy Patt<\/p>\n
Word Count: 3280 and this doesn\u2019t include the recipes at the end. <\/p>\n
Summary: Something is keeping Jim up at night and it\u2019s not Blair. <\/p>\n
Notes: Thank you to Bee for the suggestion for this story. I\u2019m having fun with all of them. \uf04a <\/p>\n
Jim laid upstairs ready to scream. He could hear a drip somewhere in the house, but he was yet to find it. When he asked Blair to listen for it, Blair did and fell asleep. Jim wished he could do the same damn thing. He was exhausted. He couldn\u2019t find the leak anywhere during the day. But at night when all was quiet he could hear it quite well and it was driving him insane. He was going to have to figure something out because even when Blair turned on the white generating noise machine, Jim could still hear it. Blair accused him of imagining it, if anyone could believe that. The kids thought he was nuts. Blair thought he was nuts. Hell, even Jim thought he was nuts. But something was going to have to be done and that\u2019s all there was to it. Jim needed a plan. He was going to ask Blair about it the next day even if it meant Blair was going to laugh all the way to work and back. Jim didn\u2019t care. He was desperate. <\/p>\n
Jim put the pillow over his head and still heard, \u2018drip, drip, drip\u2019 and he sighed rather loudly until Blair woke up. <\/p>\n
\u201cJim, I\u2019m going to kick your ass if you don\u2019t get to sleep. You\u2019ve woken me up three nights in a row. One of us needs to get some sleep. It\u2019s going to be me. Don\u2019t wake me up again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cChief, you still don\u2019t hear it?\u201d Jim asked once again. <\/p>\n
Blair lay there and listened and said, \u201cNope, don\u2019t hear a damn thing other then my clock ticking beside the bed. How about if I put some music on to help you sleep? You know Robert Cray Band always helps you sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim looked at him as if he was insane. \u201cNo, Robert Cray Band gets me in the mood for fucking, but it doesn\u2019t put me to sleep. Speaking of that, want to fool around since we\u2019re both awake?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo Jim, I want to sleep. Now leave me alone. The next time you wake me up to listen to a non-existing drip, I\u2019m going to make you sleep in the tub. I mean it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim moved up to Blair and pushed his hard-on up against Blair\u2019s leg and Blair said, \u201cGod, I don\u2019t believe it. You\u2019re horny all the time. Even when you can\u2019t sleep you\u2019re horny. Does the drip make you hard or something?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim pulled away from Blair and looked hurt. \u201cNo\u2026 I couldn\u2019t sleep so I was thinking about you. Then I was thinking about us fucking and the next thing I knew I was hard. So shoot me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t temp me, Jim. We are not fucking at 3:00 in the morning. I need more sleep then this. Leave me alone. I beg of you,\u201d Blair pleaded. <\/p>\n
\u201cFine, I\u2019ll go make my rounds of the sinks and try and find the leak again,\u201d Jim said sounding quite annoyed. <\/p>\n
\u201cJim, if you get out of this bed once more tonight, I\u2019m not letting you back in for a week. I mean this. Now go to sleep.\u201d Blair pulled the pillow over his head and started mumbling about stupid Sentinels and Jim just smiled. <\/p>\n
Jim kissed Blair\u2019s shoulder and Blair pulled the pillow off his face and said, \u201cI just know you aren\u2019t going to try and still get sex.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim went over to his side of the bed and turned his back to Blair. Blair was all right with this, because he wanted to sleep. Now if he could just get \u2018back\u2019 to sleep he\u2019d have it made. <\/p>\n
Jim lay there listening to the drip for another two hours and then fell asleep at 5:00. The alarm went off at 6:00 and Jim wished he was dead. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, Jim thinks we have a leaky faucet somewhere and he can\u2019t figure out where,\u201d Blair was telling Connor. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you mean you can\u2019t figure it out?\u201d Connor asked somewhat baffled. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe can\u2019t figure out which faucet it is and during the day it doesn\u2019t seem to leak,\u201d Blair told her. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhy don\u2019t you put a towel in the sinks before you go to bed? The one that is damp in the morning is the one with the leak.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGod, Connor, I can\u2019t believe we didn\u2019t try that. He\u2019s tried everything else, that\u2019s for sure. I\u2019ll tell him about that now,\u201d Blair said as he walked over to Jim\u2019s desk. <\/p>\n
Jim looked up and said, \u201cI heard. We\u2019ll try it tonight and see if that works.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen all we need to do is find a good plumber,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you talking about? I\u2019ll fix the leak.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJim, you can\u2019t even \u2018find\u2019 the fucking leak. How could you fix it?\u201d Blair knew it wasn\u2019t nice to tease a man on such little sleep, but he couldn\u2019t help it. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll have you know that I\u2019ve been doing my own plumbing work for years. I haven\u2019t called a plumber since\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJim, Jim, Jim. Don\u2019t you know that you should never do home repairs yourself? You should always have them done for you, so you can call them up again if something doesn\u2019t work right. If you fix it, you\u2019re still stuck with the same problem as you started with. We\u2019ll hire it done.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBlair, Blair, Blair. No we won\u2019t hire it done. I\u2019m fixing the fucking leak if it\u2019s the last thing I do.\u201d Jim walked off to the break room for more coffee and Blair just smiled. <\/p>\n
Blair knew it might be the last thing he did, if Jim kept waking him up every night like he had been doing. <\/p>\n
Simon walked by and said, \u201cBoth you and Jim look like you haven\u2019t slept in weeks. What\u2019s the problem?\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s Jim,\u201d Blair answered shortly. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s he done now?\u201d Simon asked. <\/p>\n
Blair told him what was going on and Jim came and sat down at his desk and Simon started laughing. \u201cJim, you do know that you can hire someone to figure out where the leak is, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSimon, thank you for your concern but I\u2019m going to find it and fix it myself.\u201d Jim started to work on his file and Simon walked away laughing out loud. <\/p>\n
Blair looked over at Jim and saw the hurt look on his face and felt bad for a moment. Then he remembered how tired he was and laughed along with Simon. <\/p>\n
This was like war. Jim knew he had to do it and do it correctly, now. He would show them. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
When the guys walked into the loft, Max said, \u201cMan you guys look beat. Want me to make dinner?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat would be so nice, Max. Why don\u2019t you ask Drew to help? I would appreciate a little nap before we eat. I\u2019m exhausted,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
\u201cIs dad still waking you up all night about the leak?\u201d Max asked trying not to smile. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou know there is water leaking somewhere in this house and when I find it and fix it you\u2019re all going to have to eat your words,\u201d Jim said as he sat down in the living room to pout. <\/p>\n
Max went to get Drew to help with dinner. Sam came walking out of her room and said, \u201cDaddy did you find the leak yet?\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair couldn\u2019t help it, he laughed. Jim was pissed. \u201cNo sweetie, not yet. Would you like to help me find the leak after dinner?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure. I\u2019m just in my room doing my homework right now. Can we start looking right now?\u201d Sam asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cSweetie, I don\u2019t hear it right now. It\u2019s only at night when I hear it,\u201d Jim explained. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo it only leaks while we sleep?\u201d Sam asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know, Sam. We\u2019ll look after dinner and see what we can find,\u201d Jim assured her. <\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, daddy. I\u2019m going to finish my homework and then I\u2019ll help you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, pumpkin. You\u2019re much nicer than poppy who keeps laughing at daddy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMax and Drew laugh at you too, daddy,\u201d Sam informed him. <\/p>\n
Max said, \u201cSorry dad. We\u2019ll try and keep it to ourselves from now on.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to lie on the sofa until dinner is done. Let me know when it\u2019s time to eat,\u201d Jim said grumpily. <\/p>\n
Blair was upstairs listening as he was trying to sleep and almost laughed when Sam had told him that the boys were making fun of him too. But he didn\u2019t. Instead he went to sleep in about two seconds flat. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
\u201cDad, it\u2019s time to get up. Dinner is on the table,\u201d Max said as he gently woke Jim. Max had hated waking the poor man up, because he knew that Jim was getting no sleep at all. <\/p>\n
\u201cThanks, Max. I\u2019m starving. I only had a candy bar today,\u201d Jim got up, went into the bathroom and washed his hands. Just seeing the damn faucet pissed him off all over again. <\/p>\n
Drew was upstairs waking Blair up and he hated waking his pop up too. \u201cPop, it\u2019s time for dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks, Drew. I\u2019ll be right down,\u201d Blair answered and followed Drew down the stairs. <\/p>\n
As they all sat down to dinner, Blair noticed how exhausted Jim really looked. It was time to stop teasing the poor man. <\/p>\n
\u201cDinner is excellent, Drew and Max. Thank you so much for doing this for us. It\u2019s nice having teens in the house,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
\u201cMost people don\u2019t admit to liking teenagers too much,\u201d Drew said smiling. <\/p>\n
\u201cWell, we do. We\u2019re lucky we\u2019re stuck with you two,\u201d Jim said seriously. <\/p>\n
\u201cHey, what about me? Are you lucky to have me?\u201d Sam wondered. <\/p>\n
\u201cYes, honey, we\u2019re thrilled to have you. You\u2019re a big help too,\u201d Blair admitted. <\/p>\n
They all ate and talked about their days at school and at work. Jim finally started to clean the table and Drew said, \u201cWe got it, dad. You and pop go and watch the news and chat with Sam.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks, boys, everything was wonderful. I love stuffed pork chops,\u201d Jim confessed happily. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe Zucchini and Asparagus Casserole was fantastic as well. It went nicely with the chops, \u201cBlair added. <\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, we had a good time making them. Did you like them Sam?\u201d Drew asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cI love them. I love meat,\u201d Sam said. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou take after daddy, he loves meat too.\u201d Blair smiled at all of them and went in to sit down to watch the news. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s good to eat meat, huh daddy? That way maybe we can find the leak and fix it for poppy,\u201d Sam said. <\/p>\n
Blair had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing, but Max and Drew laughed all the way into the kitchen. <\/p>\n
Jim sat down on the sofa next to Blair and said, \u201cEveryone laughs at me. I don\u2019t even know why I try?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJim, we should call a plumber and have him take care of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBlair, give me a few days to find the leak.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhatever makes you happy, but if you wake me up tonight, I\u2019m not going to be nice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim said, \u201cYou were nice last night? I don\u2019t think so.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJim, I wanted to kill you, so yes I was nice last night. That would be this morning, not last night.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhatever. I\u2019m going to find this damn leak if it kills me.\u201d<\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
Jim got up an hour later and found Sam. She followed him around as he listened in the walls and under the sinks. <\/p>\n
\u201cDaddy, there aren\u2019t any faucets in the wall. Why are you listening to the wall?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSam, sometimes there are leaks in the walls and I\u2019m just making sure I don\u2019t hear the leak anywhere in those walls. We need to make sure there isn\u2019t a huge leak somewhere we can\u2019t see,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
After about an hour, Sam said, \u201cCan I go and watch some tv in my room? I\u2019m done with my homework and this is boring, daddy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure, go ahead. Jim continued to listen to the walls and under the sinks until it was time to give Sam her bath for the evening. Jim went and got her and helped her get into the tub. He poured the bubbles into the already filling tub and Sam squealed with delight. <\/p>\n
Blair stood in the doorway and asked, \u201cNeed any help, Jim?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I can handle this, Chief.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair walked upstairs to see if the boys needed any help with homework. He knocked and heard Max say, \u201cCome in.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBoys, do you have your homework done for tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n
Drew was the first to answer. \u201cI got mine all finished and put in my backpack already.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo do I,\u201d Max agreed. <\/p>\n
Jim came up carrying Sam and said, \u201cSomeone wanted to say goodnight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re going to bed already, pop?\u201d Max teased. <\/p>\n
Sam said, \u201cI\u2019m going to bed silly. Daddy still has to find the leak.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both boys burst out laughing and tried to stop. But it was too late. <\/p>\n
\u201cBoys, get ready for bed, it\u2019s almost bedtime,\u201d Blair suggested. <\/p>\n
They both went running down the stairs hoping to get away from the hurt look on Jim\u2019s face. <\/p>\n
Jim had Sam give smooches to her poppy and then tucked her in bed and read her a story. When she was sleeping, Jim walked in to the bathroom and got ready for bed himself. He had decided that tomorrow he would call a plumber and that\u2019s all there was to it. He was tired of being laughed at. <\/p>\n
He heard the drip and groaned. \u201cFuck it, I\u2019m finding this damn thing tonight.\u201d Jim didn\u2019t realize he had just said it aloud. <\/p>\n
Jim started listening and realized it was behind the tub wall. He was going to have to pull the faucet out and see how much damage had been done by the leaking. He went to get his tool box and Blair just frowned as he walked by with it at 10:00 in the evening. Blair knew it was going to be another long night. Blair then heard Jim pounding on the wall in their bathroom and this worried him some. <\/p>\n
Blair walked into the bathroom and saw that Jim had a hole in the wall behind the pipe that led to the tub faucet. Blair didn\u2019t even know what to say. It was quite the mess. <\/p>\n
\u201cJim, what in the hell are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI found the leak. I found it. It was easy once I set my mind to it. Now I just need to repair this pipe leading to the faucet. It\u2019s leaking below, so this could have been major damage if we wouldn\u2019t have taken care of it now.\u201d Jim seemed quite proud of himself and very, very pleased. <\/p>\n
\u201cTurn the water off in here and we\u2019ll wait until morning,\u201d Blair advised. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to try and get it done tonight before I go to bed,\u201d Jim answered. <\/p>\n
\u201cJim, it\u2019s ten o\u2019clock. Let\u2019s let everyone sleep tonight and you can do it tomorrow on your day off. How does that sound?\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I guess I could do that,\u201d Jim replied. <\/p>\n
Jim shut the water valve off in the tub and then got ready for bed. He was happy as hell that he had found the leak. Now to get it fixed. He was going to show everyone. They wouldn\u2019t be laughing tomorrow. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
Jim woke up at 4:00 in the morning and heard water dripping, no more like gushing and got out of bed to check and see what was going on. When he got downstairs, he walked into the bathroom and the tub was filling with water leaking from the pipe that was exposed. Jim sighed and wondered what he had done to deserve this. Then he saw that the pipe was leaking in the wall too. He was going to have to shut the water off in the house to fix this. So that\u2019s what he did and began to chip away at the wall and get closer to the pipe problem. He didn\u2019t even notice how fast the time was flying by. It had been almost over two hours. He was so into it, he didn\u2019t even hear Blair walk into the bathroom. <\/p>\n
\u201cOh my God, Jim, what have you done?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim jumped when he heard Blair\u2019s voice and knew he had been caught red-handed. \u201cI\u2019ll get it fixed, don\u2019t you worry.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair used the bathroom and then flushed the toilet and no water filled the bowl back up again and he said, \u201cJim did you shut the water off in the house?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, that\u2019s the only way to fix this mess.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJim, they have to get ready for school. What do you suggest we do? Go to the neighbors?\u201d Blair asked sarcastically. <\/p>\n
Jim tightened the pipe that he was working on and the damn thing stripped and he knew he had fucked up big time. He laid his head against what was left of the wall in the tub area and just stayed there. <\/p>\n
\u201cJim, do you want me to call the plumber now?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I just stripped this and I can\u2019t fix it. I need help,\u201d Jim confessed. <\/p>\n
Blair went into the kitchen and called the plumber they had had to call once and talked to him for a short period of time. Blair walked into the bathroom and said, \u201cHe said not to turn the water on in the house because it could damage the wall even more and flood the bathroom. So I guess we\u2019ll call Daryl downstairs and see if we can use his bathroom today.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim sat dejectedly on the side of the tub with his head in his hands. \u201cI honestly just wanted to fix it myself. I wanted to show you that I knew what I was doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut Jim, you\u2019re not a plumber, why would you think you\u2019d know how to do it? Do you think a plumber knows how to shoot a killer or stop a suspect from hurting someone?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere you go. He doesn\u2019t try and do your job, so you shouldn\u2019t try and do his. Now let\u2019s get the kids up and get them down to Daryl\u2019s one at a time. You call Daryl while I get the kids up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim went into the kitchen and dialed Daryl\u2019s number and asked if they could all come down there one at a time and take showers. Daryl of course said yes. Then they took their turns and got ready for school. Jim and Blair were off that day, so they could await the arrival of the plumber. <\/p>\n
Max drove everyone to school and Jim and Blair were left to wait for the good or bad news about the leak. <\/p>\n
\u201cJim, the next time you hear a leak in the wall, I want you to call a plumber right away. If you can hear it leaking, that\u2019s bad. Understood?\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, it\u2019s understood. I\u2019m sorry I was so stubborn. I really wanted to do it myself,\u201d Jim said shamefully. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll see how much it\u2019s going to cost to put the wall back up and the tile. He might give us a good price to do it,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think we could do it ourselves, Chief.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJim, did we learn nothing here today?\u201d Blair ranted. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re right. We\u2019ll have it done and see that it\u2019s done by professionals. Sorry,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
\u201cNow you\u2019re talking,\u201d Blair said happily. <\/p>\n
The end
\n___________________________________
\nBAKED STUFFED PORK CHOPS<\/p>\n
6 rib pork chops (1 1\/2 inch thick, each about 3\/4 lb.)
\n1\/4 c. all-purpose flour
\n2 tbsp. butter
\nSalt to taste
\n1 c. white wine, apple juice or cider<\/p>\n
STUFFING:<\/p>\n
4 slices day old bread
\n1\/2 c. finely chopped onion
\n1\/4 c. butter
\n2 tbsp. chopped parsley
\n1 1\/2 tsp. salt
\n1\/8 tsp. black pepper
\n1\/2 c. finely chopped celery
\n1\/2 c. dark raisins (optional)
\n1 tsp. dried marjoram leaves<\/p>\n
Make stuffing. Cut bread into 1\/4 inch cubes. In 1\/4 cup hot butter in large skillet, saute onion and celery, stirring until onion is golden, about 5 minutes. Add bread cubes; stir to combine. Remove from heat. Add parsley, raisins, 1 1\/2 teaspoon salt, marjoram and pepper; cut a pocket in each pork chop. <\/p>\n
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using sharp paring knife, cut a pocket in each pork chop, all the way to the rib. Fill pocket with stuffing; fasten with 2 wooden picks. Coat chops on both sides with flour-salt mixture. <\/p>\n
Heat butter in large skillet. Brown chops well on both sides, about 10 minutes on each side. Remove from skillet. Add juice, wine or cider to skillet. Stir over medium heat to dissolve browned bits. Pour into bottom of roasting pan. Stand chops in bottom of pan. Cover with foil. Bake 1 hour. Remove from oven; discard wooden picks. Bake chops, uncovered, 40 minutes or until tender. Serves 6.<\/p>\n
ZUCCHINI AND ASPARAGUS CASSEROLE<\/p>\n
1 medium zucchini
\n1 8 oz. pack Kraft Monterey Jack Cheese, shredded
\n1 can Campbell’s Cream of Asparagus soup, undiluted
\n1\/2 cup UNCLE BEN’S\u00ae rice, partially cooked and drained
\nsmall amount fresh onion and\/or garlic (or onion and garlic salt)
\nsalt and pepper
\nparsley flakes
\nsweet basil flakes<\/p>\n
Preheat oven to 350\u00b0F. <\/p>\n
Peel, remove seeds, and dice zucchini to bitesize pieces. Mix all of the above ingredients in a casserole dish seasoning with salt, pepper, basil, parsley, garlic and onion as desired (or to taste). <\/p>\n
Bake for 35-40 minutes. <\/p>\n
This meal is quick and easy to prepare.<\/p>\n
Family Life Part 68
\nThe Stalker
\nBy Patt<\/p>\n
Word Count: 4343<\/p>\n
Summary: Max feels like someone is watching them. <\/p>\n
Notes: Thanks to Bee for the idea. I didn\u2019t want it to get too heavy, so this isn\u2019t as serious as it could be. And then again, I\u2019m just starting. It might be. \uf04a<\/p>\n
Max was eagerly awaiting Jim and Blair to get home. He had something to discuss with them and wanted to talk to them in private. So as soon as Jim and Blair walked in the door, Samantha went running to them and gave hugs and kisses. Then Drew walked up and said, \u201cHow did you day go, dads?\u201d<\/p>\n
Max didn\u2019t say anything and Jim was watching him like a hawk. He knew something was up. \u201cOur day was fine. Anything new around here?\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cNo, dad, it\u2019s pretty calm. Max has been being a butt head all afternoon long, but other than that, we\u2019re all fine,\u201d Drew answered. <\/p>\n
\u201cMax, why are you being a butthead?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cCould I talk to you in private?\u201d Max said very seriously and even Blair took notice of this. <\/p>\n
Blair smiled and said, \u201cCome on upstairs with us and you can talk to us. Drew, how would you like to start dinner? Sam could help.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure, we\u2019ll do that. See if you can give him his sense of humor back. He\u2019s no fun whatsoever.\u201d Drew took Sam and walked into the kitchen. He figured he could look and see what they had out for dinner and go with the flow. <\/p>\n
Jim and Blair walked upstairs and were dreading talking to Max. Both men had a feeling it was something bad. <\/p>\n
\u201cSit down and talk to us,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
Max sat down on the chair by the dresser and said, \u201cHow do you know if someone is stalking you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim and Blair looked at each other and didn\u2019t know what to say. They were expecting a million things to come out of his mouth, but that wasn\u2019t one of them. \u201cWhat do you mean, stalking you?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not sure, but I think someone is following us. I see him in the shadows and in a car that is way behind us every day. This has been going on for about four days now and I decided I might not just be acting weird, maybe there is someone following us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou said you saw him in the shadows. Did you see a man?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t swear to it, but I would say a tall man about your size dad. He\u2019s always in the shadows when I look. We stopped and got ice cream today and I saw him in the shadows across the street watching us. Then when he saw me looking at him, he left. Just like that he was gone.\u201d Max was very nervous. His poor little body was shaking and Jim and Blair both pulled him up out of the chair and hugged him. He accepted the hug gratefully and said, \u201cWhat should I do?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, as of tomorrow, I\u2019m going to have Connor on it. He won\u2019t notice her so much and we have to be sure to tell Drew not to mention he sees her if he does. Now keeping Sam from saying hello to Connor is going to be a big problem. We\u2019ll see how the first day goes and then we\u2019ll plan it from there. Why didn\u2019t you tell us the first day, Max?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cI figured I had an overactive imagination. You know you just gave all of those stranger danger stories to Sam, so I figured I was just being panicky. I\u2019m sorry I didn\u2019t say anything right away. But yesterday I saw the shadow of a man and today I saw that same shadow. I could only see his eyes. They were spooky looking in the shadows,\u201d Max admitted. <\/p>\n
Blair said, \u201cWe\u2019re going to call Simon about this tonight and have you watched day and night. We\u2019re going to see who this is, because it could be someone after me or dad. We don\u2019t want that to happen, so we\u2019ll stay on top of it. But I don\u2019t think we need to scare Drew and Sam yet. What do you think, Jim?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we need to tell Drew, but not Sam. It\u2019ll freak her out and she won\u2019t want to leave the house. But Drew is a good kid, he knows when to run and so forth, so we can get this guy caught and see what\u2019s going on,\u201d Jim replied. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll go downstairs and take over the cooking, and you can tell Drew, Jim. I\u2019ll send him right up.\u201d Blair walked down the stairs, shaking on the inside even though you couldn\u2019t tell on the outside. Why was someone watching his family? Why was Blair so scared? He didn\u2019t know anything about it yet, so it didn\u2019t pay to get nervous or anything. Besides, Connor wouldn\u2019t let anything happen to their family. He knew that much. And who would be watching out for a big pregnant woman to be the shadow of their children? He had to believe that everything would work out just fine. There was nothing else to think about except the good things. <\/p>\n
He walked into the kitchen and said, \u201cDrew, dad wants to see you upstairs for a moment. I\u2019m going to take over dinner with Miss Samantha. Is that all right with you, Missy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d love you to help me, poppy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Drew walked out of the kitchen and up the stairs without saying a word. He could tell Blair seemed upset about something. What was going on? When he got upstairs, Jim filled him in on what was happening and that he had to act like normal tomorrow when they got out of school. Jim said, \u201cDo you ever feel like you\u2019re being watched while in school?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I never have, but I do feel it when we get out of school. Do you notice anything, Drew?\u201d Max asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t, but I\u2019m going to pay attention now. So a pervert is watching us?\u201d Drew wondered. <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know, Drew. It could be someone that wants to hurt you kids, therefore I\u2019m going to see about putting Connor on it. No one would look at a pregnant person and worry about being watched by her. She\u2019s a perfect decoy. I want you to do the same thing you did today. Leave school, pick Sam up and then drive downtown for ice cream. Keep it exactly the same and Connor will be waiting on the other side of the street from the ice cream shop. Don\u2019t be afraid, she would never let anything happen to any of you. All right?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe trust Megan. I feel better now that I told you. Drew, don\u2019t be so worried, I won\u2019t let anyone hurt you either. Remember, we do know some Karate. It\u2019s not like we\u2019re defenseless,\u201d Max said hoping to calm his brother down. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat if he\u2019s after Sam?\u201d Drew asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cThen we\u2019ll get him, Drew. Don\u2019t you worry, okay?\u201d Jim assured them. <\/p>\n
\u201cDad, I think we should do something different tomorrow, because he\u2019s not going to expect us to do the very same thing. How about the Library tomorrow? I need to take some books back anyhow and Sam loves the library. There are all of those empty buildings across the street that could hide this guy and maybe Megan could find him,\u201d Max suggested. <\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, change of plans you\u2019ll go to the library. No where else. To the library and back home. Don\u2019t let anyone out of your sight, Max,\u201d Jim instructed. \u201cAnd Drew, don\u2019t stare across the street, because then he\u2019ll know you see him. Try and not watch the street at all. Ignore him as much as you can.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow are we going to keep Sam under control? She likes to wander off now and then at the library,\u201d Drew mentioned. <\/p>\n
\u201cNot tomorrow. Actually, not any day. If she can\u2019t stay with you, she doesn\u2019t get to go. I mean that, if she starts acting up, you tell her that you all have to leave. She might just shape up fine and dandy from then on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Max and Drew stood up and Drew said, \u201cOkay, so you know that Megan will be our watcher?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to call her tonight. She and Mason are off tomorrow. I might have Mason be inside the library watching out the window while she\u2019s across the street,\u201d Jim said, \u201cI\u2019m going to call them now. You boys go ahead and do your homework and act like nothing is wrong. We\u2019ll get this taken care of fast and easily. Wait and see.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim stayed upstairs and called Connor\u2019s home phone. <\/p>\n
\u201cConnor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHi, I need to ask you a favor,\u201d Jim began. <\/p>\n
\u201cSure, you know all you need to do is ask,\u201d Connor answered. <\/p>\n
Jim explained what was going on and what he needed the next day. She told Mason while she was on the phone with Jim. Mason got on the other extension and talked to Jim too. They worked it out so both of them would be there the next day. Connor swore they would guard the kids with their lives and Jim believed it. Connor was wild about these kids. <\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, guys. Max said they would be at the library at about 3:30, so if you could work things out for then, that would be perfect,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
Jim hung up the phone when they had worked it all out and put on his game face. He needed to look normal, not scared to death like he was. <\/p>\n
Jim walked down the stairs and Blair was setting the table. Jim smiled at Blair and Blair whispered, \u201cDid you call Megan?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I did. She and Mason are both off tomorrow and will be there. Mason is going to be on the inside and Connor is going to be in the shadows across the street. I told her to be very careful. I would die if something happened to her. That baby is just as important as our kids are. So I told her no heroics. She promised she would be good. Mason said he would be on top of everything. I believe that they\u2019ll do a good job. If nothing else, they might just get a license number or make of car that we can start with.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood, I feel better already. Although I would like to follow them myself,\u201d Blair confessed. <\/p>\n
Dinner was quiet for a change. Even Sam seemed to sense that something was off. She finally said, \u201cDaddy, can you help me with homework when we\u2019re done eating? I have a lot of it tonight and I need help.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood Lord, how much homework could they give out in Kindergarten?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cYesterday afternoon she had quite a bit to do. It\u2019s not like when we were in K or first grade. They\u2019re way ahead of the game now,\u201d Max said. <\/p>\n
\u201cSam do you always tell your brothers thank you for helping with your homework?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cOh yes. I love my brothers. No one else has cool brothers like I do. They all have icky brothers,\u201d Sam said making Max and Drew laugh and mess up her hair. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m glad you love your brothers. They love you too. We have a good family, that\u2019s for sure,\u201d Blair said happily. <\/p>\n
Jim got up and started clearing the table for dishes to be done. \u201cMax, could you please close the drapes on the balcony door for me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDad, that would be a change that someone might notice,\u201d Max whispered. <\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, just sit in the living room and do your homework. Pop and I are going to clean the kitchen and then I\u2019m going to help Sam with her homework,\u201d Jim said as he got things off the table as soon as he could. He didn\u2019t want the boys in the living room by themselves for long anyway. <\/p>\n
Blair was doing the dishes and said, \u201cSneak upstairs and get down on the floor and see if you see anyone watching the house through the window.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d Jim did just as he was asked. He went upstairs, got down to the floor and crawled to the window and peered out to see if he could see anything. It took awhile for his eyes to adjust. It was really dark. Then he saw him. There was a man across the street watching something. He would guess it was Max and Drew. Jim looked around to see if he saw a vehicle out of place but saw nothing. When he looked back at the person in the shadows, he was gone. Jim looked all over the place and didn\u2019t see him anywhere. Then he saw a green SUV pull out of the parking lot across the street. Jim thought it might be him. He couldn\u2019t see in, because he had limo tint on all of his windows. <\/p>\n
Jim walked downstairs and went into the kitchen and told Blair about it. <\/p>\n
\u201cDid you get the license number?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo, he was facing an odd direction, I wouldn\u2019t have seen it no matter what. But it was a green SUV. We\u2019ll check and see if we can find anything out on the computer tomorrow,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
\u201cJim, it\u2019s not like we can put in a green SUV. There would be thousands.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim thought for a moment and said, \u201cIt looked like a GMC. I think that\u2019s what it said on the hood ornament. That would help, wouldn\u2019t it?\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cYes, that narrows it down. Now if Megan and Mason find something tomorrow we\u2019ll have it made,\u201d Blair said as he closed the dishwasher and started it up. <\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s help the kids with their homework,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
\u201cSounds good to me. It\u2019ll take our minds off of everything,\u201d Blair agreed. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
When everyone was in bed for the night, Jim double checked the locks on the windows and the doors. He wanted their home to be super safe. With his hearing, the chances of anyone getting in would be slim to none. <\/p>\n
He got upstairs and undressed and climbed into bed with Blair. Blair held on for dear life. \u201cJim, I\u2019m so scared. I called Simon and told him what was going on. He said we need to file a report tomorrow and if Connor doesn\u2019t find anything tomorrow, then they\u2019ll send Rafe and Brown the next day. He told me not to worry, like that\u2019s at all possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim kissed Blair and they kissed for a long, long while. \u201cWhat\u2019s that about, Jim?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m scared.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMe too,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want to go to work tomorrow, but I know that he\u2019ll leave if we\u2019re with them. So we have to play it by the book. Tomorrow Mason and Connor and the next day Rafe and Brown.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you think it might be someone that wants to hurt us because of something we did to them?\u201d Blair wondered. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t pay to speculate, because we have no fucking idea. Let\u2019s try and get some sleep and then we\u2019ll go from there,\u201d Jim said as he pulled Blair in for one final kiss. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
The next day, Jim and Blair didn\u2019t go out on any calls. They wanted to be near the phones if something came up. Everyone in the bullpen had been told about the situation and they were all willing to take shifts and find the fucker. <\/p>\n
At 3:30 Jim and Blair just kept looking at the clock. At 4:30, the phone rang and Jim answered, \u201cEllison.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDad, we\u2019re heading home. Megan found someone and she said they\u2019re bringing him into the station. So she said it\u2019s safe for us to go home now. We\u2019ll see you later.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBe careful, Max. We don\u2019t know that it\u2019s who we think it is yet. So drive careful and get right into the house. Call me when you get home,\u201d Jim instructed. <\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, dad. Stop worrying so much, okay? We\u2019re fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim hung up the phone and said, \u201cMason and Connor are bringing someone into the station. We\u2019ll see if any of this pans out. It might be the wrong person and Connor over-reacted.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, she wouldn\u2019t have done that, Jim. She knew how important this was to us and the kids. She would have made sure before she cuffed someone. <\/p>\n
At 4:45, the elevator doors opened and out walked Mason and Connor with a man that Jim didn\u2019t recognize at all, but from the look on Blair\u2019s face, he could tell his partner knew just who he was. <\/p>\n
Blair got up and started for him but Jim reached him first and stopped him. \u201cChief, let\u2019s let they start to question him first. In the meantime, I want you to fill me in on who this is,\u201d Jim advised. <\/p>\n
Blair listened to his lover for a change and walked into the break room. Jim followed, while Mason, Connor and Simon walked into interrogation room 1 with the man. <\/p>\n
As soon as Jim entered the room, Blair shut the door. \u201cJim, he\u2019s someone I used to see before you. He was always jealous of me and you and said as much but I never thought he would become a stalker. Honestly, I don\u2019t know why he was watching the kids. He said he wanted to be with me and have a family, but that\u2019s the one and only time we discussed kids. I told him I was in love with you and he didn\u2019t take it well.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were dating this guy while we were dating?\u201d Jim asked shocked to his very core. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo\u2026I had broken up with him and then you and I started dating. So no, he was never between us. Ever.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI beg to differ. He was watching our children, Blair. What was he doing that for?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cJim, I don\u2019t know. I haven\u2019t seen him in four years. So cut me some slack,\u201d Blair snapped. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Chief. I just don\u2019t understand why he\u2019s watching our children. You I could understand, but not our kids. Did he ever seem weird about kids or anything?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou mean, did I think he was a perve? Yes, I thought so. That\u2019s why I stopped dating him. He was very strange and I didn\u2019t want to be part of his little show.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s go see what he has to say for himself,\u201d Jim said as he opened up the door and walked out, not waiting for Blair. <\/p>\n
Blair knew that Jim was going to blame him. It was in his nature to be insecure and this would have made him totally insecure. Blair hated John and was sad that this came up so that Jim had to be upset by it all. Blair followed Jim into the hallway to watch John answer questions. <\/p>\n
Simon nodded at Jim and Blair when they walked up. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe won\u2019t even give us his name,\u201d Simon said. <\/p>\n
\u201cJohn Adams,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou know him?\u201d Simon asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cI dated him four years ago and the break wasn\u2019t a good one. I hadn\u2019t heard from him, so I never gave him another thought. But I guess he could have been watching us for some time. Why not let me go ask the questions. It might be easier.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, but I don\u2019t want you hitting him or screaming at him. Just ask questions and see if he\u2019ll give you any answers,\u201d Simon barked. <\/p>\n
\u201cYes, sir,\u201d Blair replied as he opened the door and walked in. <\/p>\n
\u201cHello, Blair.\u201d John said. <\/p>\n
\u201cHello, John. What are you doing here today?\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cThese two cops picked me up for standing across from the library, minding my own business. I wasn\u2019t doing anything,\u201d John answered. <\/p>\n
\u201cThen why don\u2019t you talk to them? Why did you have no Id on you? Why are you watching my children?\u201d Blair asked softly. <\/p>\n
\u201cI walked, so I didn\u2019t need my license. I didn\u2019t want to talk to them because they\u2019re asses. And I don\u2019t even know who your children are,\u201d John said. <\/p>\n
\u201cJohn, do you drive a green GMC?\u201d Blair asked and watched as the color drained from John\u2019s face. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo what if I do?\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cYou have been seen watching our children and following them after school. We\u2019re charging you with stalking. And judges aren\u2019t kind to stalkers when it comes to kids. Why were you stalking our children?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you think you can just get rid of someone that easily? Do you think that I didn\u2019t matter at all? Do you ever think about the family we could have had. I mean a real family, not some adopted shits,\u201d John answered. <\/p>\n
\u201cJohn, how do you know they\u2019re adopted?\u201d Blair asked softly. <\/p>\n
\u201cBlair, this should have been our family. Not his and yours. We belong together, you and I. I only wanted what belonged to me. And if I couldn\u2019t have what belonged to me, I would take away what had made you happy. Believe me it wouldn\u2019t have hurt my feelings to kill them all. Especially the little girl, she was quite annoying. You didn\u2019t do a very good job raising her, Blair.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair was in shock. Did John realize what he had just said? \u201cSo you were planning on killing them today?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I could get them away from the tallest one. He\u2019s a pain in the ass. He watches all of them like hawks. He\u2019s annoying too,\u201d John said. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s only 16 years old, John. He\u2019s a kid. Of course he was watching them like a hawk. You were tailing him and he saw you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe shit was too busy listening to his loud, obnoxious music to notice me believe me. If he said he noticed me, he was lying. This doesn\u2019t surprise me at all. They look like little liars.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo what had you planned for today?\u201d Blair asked knowing that Jim was outside the door, wanting to kill this man. <\/p>\n
\u201cI planned on abducting them first and seeing if I could talk you into raising them with me. Ellison was always a shit head and you know it. I don\u2019t know why you ended up with him, but it\u2019s insane.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you planned on kidnapping them today, but not killing them?\u201d Blair asked as he wrote everything down. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt all would have depended on what you said to me. I was going to call out of the blue and ask you out and if you said yes, they could live, if you said no, they would die.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mason and Megan looked each other in horror. Today could have been their last day in this world if Max wouldn\u2019t have watched things so closely. Megan shivered and wanted to kill this man. <\/p>\n
\u201cJohn, you do know that you\u2019re going to be charged with attempted kidnapping, attempted murder and stalking, right?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cDo you miss me, Blair?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I don\u2019t miss you, John.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen see this would have been their last day. You\u2019re very selfish,\u201d John then shut his mouth and refused to say anything else. <\/p>\n
Blair got up and walked out of the room. Jim glared at Blair and Blair glared back at him. \u201cI didn\u2019t ask for this, Jim. He\u2019s nuts, I\u2019m not.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon stood in between them and he said, \u201cJim, this had nothing to do with Blair. He didn\u2019t know how this guy felt about him. How would he know that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess you\u2019re right,\u201d Jim said as he smiled at Blair. <\/p>\n
\u201cToo late,\u201d Blair snapped as he walked by Jim. <\/p>\n
\u201cBetter kiss ass fast,\u201d Simon ordered. <\/p>\n
Jim caught up with Blair and said, \u201cI couldn\u2019t help it. I was jealous.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf John? Why?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I thought you had been alone for a long while before we got together. I didn\u2019t know you had just left a guy,\u201d Jim explained. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat difference did it make, you idiot?\u201d Blair shouted. <\/p>\n
\u201cI thought I was the only one on your plate at the time,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou were. What are you talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you weren\u2019t seeing him at the same time as me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJim, there was no him and me when there was a me and you. I broke up with him about four months before me and you. Do you get it now?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Blair, I got it. I\u2019m sorry, I\u2019m just insecure,\u201d Jim confessed. <\/p>\n
\u201cYeah? Well, you\u2019re going to make it up to me later,\u201d Blair said with a smile that reached his eyes for the first time that day. <\/p>\n
Mason walked up to them and said, \u201cSandburg, he said that he\u2019ll sign a plea bargain if you agree to see him in prison.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTell him I will,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
\u201cTo hell with that, you\u2019re not going to visit anyone in jail,\u201d Jim shouted. <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t plan on it, Jim. I just said, I would. That doesn\u2019t mean I will.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, okay\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy don\u2019t you come and tell him yourself. The DA is here and is writing up the charges and the plea bargain right now. They\u2019re going to suggest he go to the Mental facility of their choice,\u201d Mason told him as they walked to the door. <\/p>\n
\u201cHow long is he going to be in?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re talking ten years,\u201d Mason answered. <\/p>\n
Blair walked in and told John he would come to see him every week while he was in the mental institution. John agreed to everything they said and signed their papers. It was a done deal. <\/p>\n
Blair walked out and said, \u201cIt\u2019s all done with, Jim. We can go home and hug and kiss our children.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry I was an asshole,\u201d Jim said softly. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll forgive you this time, but the next time, I\u2019m kicking your sweet ass.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI love you, Blair,\u201d Jim whispered. <\/p>\n
Blair smiled and said, \u201cWow, an I love you at work? This is a new one.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s go home to our kids,\u201d Jim suggested. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhy didn\u2019t I think of that?\u201d Blair asked laughing. <\/p>\n
Things were going to be just fine. <\/p>\n
The end<\/p>\n
Family Life Part 69
\nFriend or Foe
\nBy Patt<\/p>\n
Word Count: 5147<\/p>\n
Summary: Jim\u2019s Ranger friends are in town for a week and want to spend off time with Jim. Blair of course tells him to go and hang out with them. Will Jim\u2019s attitude change towards his family? Or will his friends accept him for who he is? Lots of questions and lots of answers to follow. <\/p>\n
Notes: Thank you, Bee, for this idea. It\u2019s not exactly what you asked for, but the muse went her way again. Geeze, I have no control at all. <\/p>\n
Jim\u2019s phone rang at the station and he answered, \u201cEllison.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, panther, are you doing anything tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJohn? Is this you?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cOf course it\u2019s me, who else calls you panther?\u201d John replied. <\/p>\n
\u201cAre you in town?\u201d Jim wondered. He was wild about John and some other members of the team that were in the \u2018old\u2019 unit in the Rangers. <\/p>\n
\u201cMe, Ben, Tom and George are in town for a week and wondered if you could get off work and go on a fishing trip with us. It wouldn\u2019t be the same without you, panther.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGive me your number and I\u2019ll see if I can swing it,\u201d Jim answered as he pulled a sheet of paper out to write the number on. <\/p>\n
John gave him the number and Jim hung up the phone. Blair was watching him like a hawk. \u201cAn old friend?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBetter then that, Blair. One of my Ranger friends and there are four of them in town for a fishing trip and want me to go along with them. Would you mind if I could get the time off with Simon?\u201d Jim asked sweetly. <\/p>\n
Blair didn\u2019t know what to say. He didn\u2019t know anything about this Ranger friend and now Jim wanted to leave for a week and desert all of them? No, Blair wasn\u2019t happy about it. <\/p>\n
Jim could tell that Blair was thinking, no, so he said, \u201cBlair, they are just male friends, they aren\u2019t that kind of male friends. There is nothing to worry about. John, Ben, Tom and George are all the best of guys. I was in the same unit with them for about two years before we were separated. I haven\u2019t seen them since. Chief, say you\u2019ll at least think about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGo ask Simon if you can get the time off. Go, before I change my mind,\u201d Blair grumbled. <\/p>\n
Jim hurried to Simon\u2019s door and knocked, waited for entry and then hit his boss up with the same story. He was in there for a long while and Jim came out all bummed out. <\/p>\n
\u201cSimon said that there is too much going on right now. So I guess I\u2019ll have to just see them a couple of nights when they get back,\u201d Jim said sadly. <\/p>\n
Without saying a word, Blair got up and walked into Simon\u2019s room. Jim didn\u2019t listen, but he didn\u2019t have to listen. He could see Simon arguing with Blair and could tell when Simon started losing the argument. YES. Blair was a God at winning arguments. Jim should have sent him in first. <\/p>\n
Blair walked out smiling and said, \u201cAs of tomorrow morning you are off for seven days. Don\u2019t abuse it in any way, Jim. I mean it. If I have to bail you out, I\u2019m going to be really pissed off.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cChief, thank you. You\u2019re the best. I\u2019ll make it up to you and the kids too. I wouldn\u2019t normally even go, but I know I won\u2019t see them again for at least another ten years. I\u2019m going to call him and tell him the good news.\u201d Jim picked up his phone and called John. He told him he had the next seven days off and John told Jim that he was theirs for five of them. Jim said, \u201cCome by my place tonight and meet my family.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s your address? We\u2019ll pick you up tonight at 8:00. Did you go and get married panther?\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cMore like my significant other and three children. My address is 852 Prospect Place and the condo number is 307. I\u2019ll be ready at 8:00.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll see you at 8:00. Be ready, we don\u2019t want to get to the cabin too late at night,\u201d John said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll be ready. See you tonight,\u201d Jim replied before he hung up the phone. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo you\u2019re leaving tonight?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, they\u2019re going to pick me up at 8:00 tonight and meet you and kids first. It\u2019s going to be great, Blair. Stop worrying.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll stop worrying when you get home. I don\u2019t even know these men. They could take you somewhere and I\u2019d never see you again for all you know,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
Jim smiled. \u201cI\u2019ll get an address or something of where we are going to be. Would that make you feel better?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot better. Thank you for thinking of it. Now just don\u2019t forget and leave without giving me a place,\u201d Blair stated. <\/p>\n
\u201cI promise. This is going to be so great. I haven\u2019t seen them in ten years, so it\u2019s going to be like a reunion. It\u2019s going to be fantastic.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair didn\u2019t know how he felt about Jim being so happy about leaving him and the family for a week. Jim hadn\u2019t been this excited in a long, long while. Oh hell, maybe Jim really did need the break and Blair was going to give him that break. <\/p>\n
They worked the rest of the day and got off at 5:00 and headed home for dinner. Blair called Drew from the SUV and said, \u201cDrew, dad is leaving on a five day trip as of tonight at 8:00. I was wondering if you could start dinner so I\u2019ll have time to help him get packed and ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure, pop, you know that\u2019s not a problem. I\u2019ll get it done now and you\u2019ll have plenty of time to spend with dad before he leaves. Where is he going?\u201d Drew wondered. <\/p>\n
\u201cJim, where are you going?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI have no idea. Just camping. I didn\u2019t ask them where yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe doesn\u2019t know yet. It\u2019s a camping trip with his old Ranger Unit. So you can tell Max about it, but we\u2019ll tell Sam. She\u2019ll be upset that she\u2019s not going with.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIsn\u2019t that the truth?\u201d Drew asked smiling. <\/p>\n
\u201cTalk to you soon,\u201d Blair said before he closed his cell phone. <\/p>\n
\u201cJim, I don\u2019t want to beat a dead horse, but I truly do want an area where you\u2019ll be. I don\u2019t like the idea of you leaving without you even knowing where you were going. That\u2019s not like you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Chief. I was just caught up in the moment. I\u2019ll get the address or area for you tonight and you can write it down. It\u2019s a cabin, I know that much. He said something about the cabin. Hell, for all I know, it\u2019s got a phone and everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope it does. Sam isn\u2019t going to take you leaving with strangers well and it would be nice if you could call her from time to time,\u201d Blair suggested. <\/p>\n
\u201cChief, I\u2019m leaving on a bit of a vacation. I might not get a call made when I think of it. So I don\u2019t want you getting all pissy with me if I don\u2019t call every day. It\u2019s a camping trip,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
\u201cPissy? Don\u2019t worry. I could care less if you call,\u201d Blair said as he turned away from Jim and didn\u2019t say another word. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry. I didn\u2019t mean to say pissy. I don\u2019t even know where that came from. I\u2019ll do my best at calling, but I\u2019m not promising anything.\u201d Jim explained. <\/p>\n
Blair didn\u2019t respond one way or another. He totally blew Jim off and knew that would upset Jim more then anything else. He was right. <\/p>\n
\u201cNow see, you\u2019re pissed off now and not talking to me. How in the hell am I supposed to go and have a good time if I\u2019m worried about you being pissed off at me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen don\u2019t worry about it,\u201d Blair answered. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut you \u2018are\u2019 pissed off at me, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho cares? We\u2019re home, let\u2019s get upstairs and tell the kids you\u2019re leaving. You get to tell Sam.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim followed Blair and could tell by his walk that he was good and pissed off. Jim had succeeded in making this much harder then it had to be. Jim sighed and walked to the doorway that was left open by Blair. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you mean you\u2019re leaving us for five days? Why can\u2019t we come, daddy?\u201d Sam said tearfully. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey are friends from my old Army Unit and I haven\u2019t seen them in ten years. I need some time alone with them. They don\u2019t let kids hang out with them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo why isn\u2019t poppy going?\u201d she asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cBecause he wasn\u2019t in the Army. The five days will fly by, Sam. You\u2019re going to take care of poppy for me, okay?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m in charge of poppy?\u201d Sam asked, brightening up quite a bit. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s right. You have to keep him in line.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cWhy would poppy be in a line, daddy?\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cNo, that means you have to be sure poppy won\u2019t get into any trouble,\u201d Jim explained and smiled at her. <\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
They all had dinner with the boys asking questions about the Rangers and Jim answering them as best as he could. Even Sam asked questions, but Blair hadn\u2019t said a word to Jim since they left the car. Jim didn\u2019t like the silent treatment and felt like Blair was treating him like he was two years old. <\/p>\n
\u201cBoys, would you mind cleaning up so pop can help me pack? Sam could help you load the dishwasher,\u201d Jim suggested. <\/p>\n
\u201cSure, you guys go ahead and get your bag packed,\u201d Max said. <\/p>\n
Jim pulled Blair by the arm and said, \u201cCome on, Chief. We\u2019ll talk upstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair walked up the stairs but Jim could tell he wasn\u2019t probably going to be doing any talking. <\/p>\n
Jim pulled out an old duffle bag from the closet and Blair said, \u201cYou aren\u2019t seriously going to take that are you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim was thrilled that Blair was talking to him. He didn\u2019t care if Blair was trying to tell him what to do or not. \u201cYeah, I\u2019m taking this. This is how Rangers pack.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFine, do whatever you want,\u201d Blair replied. <\/p>\n
\u201cBlair, if you didn\u2019t want me to go, why did you ask Simon for me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t realize that I would have to go five days without talking to you. I figured you would be calling every day and every night. It just never occurred to me that you wouldn\u2019t want to,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt isn\u2019t that I wouldn\u2019t want to, it\u2019s the fact that I might not have cell phone coverage out there and besides, I don\u2019t even know where we\u2019re going yet. Let me find out where it is. If it\u2019s close to town, then we\u2019ll probably go into town for supplies every day and I\u2019ll call you from there. Okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair went into Jim\u2019s arms and they held on to each other for a long while. Blair finally pulled away and said, \u201cCome on, we better get you packed, so they don\u2019t tease you about being slow since you\u2019re an old married man now.\u201d<\/p>\n
They talked and kissed and talked some more while they packed up his gear for the trip. When they were done, Jim tied it up and carried it down the stairs. <\/p>\n
He looked at his watch and saw that it was 7:50 already. He wouldn\u2019t have much time with his family. \u201cHey, everyone, come on out here really fast,\u201d Jim shouted. <\/p>\n
Max, Drew and Sam walked into the living room followed by Blair. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cI want to give you all hugs and stuff, it\u2019s almost time for me to go. I\u2019m going to miss all of you so much.\u201d Jim pulled Blair into his arms first and hugged him very hard. Then he pulled in Max, followed by Drew and finally lifting Sam up for a huge hug and kisses. \u201cYou have to all promise me that you\u2019ll be good for pop while I\u2019m gone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe promise, dad. Don\u2019t worry so much,\u201d Max said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll be really good and you can buy us a surprise when you get home,\u201d Sam suggested. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a good idea, Sam. You think of something you want while I\u2019m gone, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, daddy.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was a knock at the door and Jim opened it and four huge guys came walking into the loft. They all hugged each other and stood back to be introduced. <\/p>\n
\u201cJohn, Ben, Tom and George, this is my better half, Blair, our oldest son, Max, our next son, Drew and our littlest, Samantha. Everyone these are my friends.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sam went over to each of the man and hugged their leg. The guys started laughing and said, \u201cWow, way to teach her about strangers, Jim,\u201d John teased. <\/p>\n
John shook hands with Blair and said, \u201cIt\u2019s really good to meet the person that was able to tame this dude down.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s not tamed much,\u201d Blair said jokingly. <\/p>\n
\u201cGood, I\u2019m glad to hear it,\u201d George said. <\/p>\n
\u201cOh guys, where is this cabin that we\u2019re going to be staying in?\u201d Jim asked offhandedly and hoped the guys wouldn\u2019t razz him too much about it. <\/p>\n
\u201cI figured Blair would need to know, so here is the map and the address. There is a phone at the cabin, so you can call at night if you want to.\u201d John handed the paper over to Blair and Blair took it happily. <\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, man. Take good care of him for us,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
Jim said, \u201cWe\u2019ll see all of you when I get back.\u201d Then all five of the men walked out the door and shut it behind them. Blair couldn\u2019t believe he wasn\u2019t getting a kiss goodbye. But then again, Jim might not know how they felt about PDA. It was part of life. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
\u201cSo what have you all been doing for the last ten years?\u201d Jim asked as he buckled into his seat in the back of the van. <\/p>\n
John said, \u201cWell, I got married, divorced and thankfully had no children. Nothing against your kids, Jim, but kids are for other people not me. We\u2019re looking into starting a Security Firm and wanted to see if you were game.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAll of you are moving here?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cSeattle is where we found a good piece of property for a good price and there are jobs to be had there. Are you interested?\u201d John asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo, sorry. I\u2019m working and I love my job. My family is all here and I like living in Cascade. So thanks for the invite, but I\u2019ll have to pass on it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ben said, \u201cI got married and had two kids and divorced about four years ago. I haven\u2019t seen the kids in four years. She moved them clear across the county. They live in Texas. I miss them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe told him to sue for custody, but he said she was really good at raising the kids, he wasn\u2019t. So he\u2019s just missing out on their lives right now,\u201d Tom answered. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhy aren\u2019t you going to Texas to visit them?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cShe said I was a drunk and she got total custody of them and I didn\u2019t fight it. I should have, but I didn\u2019t.\u201d Ben seemed sad about that. <\/p>\n
George said, \u201cI\u2019m still married and my wife said she\u2019d gladly move to Seattle. She loves the football team.\u201d <\/p>\n
They all laughed about that and Tom said, \u201cSince when have you gone for guys, Jim?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSince I was 16. No one asked while we were in the Unit, so I didn\u2019t think it was the time or place to tell you. I used to sleep with some of the other guys in different Units.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBlair seems nice enough,\u201d George said. \u201cSort of girly name though isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n
Even Jim laughed and said, \u201cYou had to meet his mom to really understand that. I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if she had considered naming him Freedom or something. She\u2019s a hippy of sorts and she named him. It\u2019s not like he was going to change it after he got used to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
They talked and laughed and the time went by really quickly as they drove to the cabin. <\/p>\n
John said, \u201cWe\u2019re going to stop at the store by the cabin and get some supplies that aren\u2019t up there. Like essentials. Beer and beer and beer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim laughed and realized that John was very serious. \u201cWhat about food, guys? We have to eat.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLeave it to Jim to think about his stomach first thing. The pantry and fridge is already stocked. We\u2019re just joking. We didn\u2019t know what kind of beer to get for you, so we\u2019re stopping for that,\u201d John teased. <\/p>\n
When they got to the store, Jim was already tired. He wished Blair was with him to sleep with him. He always slept better when Blair was with him. So much for that. Jim knew this might be a long five days. He got the feeling that these guys wanted to talk him into the move to Seattle. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
When they pulled up into the driveway of the cabin, Jim whistled. \u201cThis is some cabin. How many bedrooms?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFive. So we each get our own room. Now we need to unpack so we can get to bed early. We\u2019re going fishing at 6:00 tomorrow morning. No arguments. That\u2019s the best time for fishing,\u201d John ordered. <\/p>\n
They all took all of the food, drinks and everything else into the cabin. Jim got settled in his room and came out and said, \u201cDo you mind if I call and tell him we got here in one piece?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPanther, let it go for one night. We\u2019re going to go to bed and get up early. This is supposed to be our week with you. Not his. So let\u2019s all get ready for bed and sleep fast.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim looked at his watch and realized it was already midnight. He wouldn\u2019t call at that time of night anyhow. He would have woken everyone up in the loft. <\/p>\n
He got ready for bed and slipped under the covers. It was September, so it was getting cool at night. He really missed his bed warmer. He smiled as he thought about Blair and then realized he hadn\u2019t kissed him goodbye. \u2018Oh fuck.\u2019<\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
The next day, they all were up and ready to go at five a.m. Jim almost laughed at all of them acting like kids on the first day of school. <\/p>\n
They went down carrying all of their gear and saw that there were benches built into the side of the lake. They all got a bench and got busy getting their lines ready. There was no talking while they were fishing. Fishing was serious business. They didn\u2019t want to scare away the fish with talking. Before long, they had each caught from three to six fish and Jim said, \u201cI think that\u2019s enough for now. We should clean them and fix them for dinner tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
So that\u2019s exactly what they did. They got them all cleaned and then washed them at the cabin and put them in the fridge until it was time to cook them. Jim filleted all of them, so that they didn\u2019t have to worry about skin and bones. <\/p>\n
\u201cHey guys, you have to see this,\u201d George called out from the back door. <\/p>\n
They all went rushing to the door and looked out. There was a huge hot tub and a large pool. \u201cThey\u2019re both warm. They must be heated,\u201d George commented. <\/p>\n
\u201cHot damn, who wants to swim? I know I do,\u201d John shouted as he slipped his clothing off and jumped into the pool, bare ass naked. <\/p>\n
Ben followed suit, then Tom did and George said, \u201cCome on, Jim. It\u2019ll be like old times.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim took his clothes off too and jumped into the pool too. There was a net in the middle and balls to hit to each other from one side of the pool to the other. They played like water volley ball and had a blast. They all played until they couldn\u2019t laugh any longer. Jim was the first one out and walked into the house naked to use the bathroom. <\/p>\n
He listened to see if anything was going on and he heard George say, \u201cWhat do we do if Jim doesn\u2019t want to move?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen we\u2019ll have to move the business to Cascade. We have to have Jim in the group, that\u2019s what we had all decided and it\u2019s got to be that way,\u201d John said. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut he said he wouldn\u2019t give up being a cop,\u201d Tom reminded them. <\/p>\n
\u201cWell, we\u2019ll try and change his mind. I mean, we can\u2019t force him but it wouldn\u2019t be the same without him,\u201d Ben said. <\/p>\n
Jim walked out of the house and got back into the pool and said, \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were just saying how it would be nice if maybe we moved the business to Cascade. Would you be interested if we moved there?\u201d John said. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo, sorry. I love being a cop. So does Blair and we work together,\u201d Jim replied. <\/p>\n
\u201cWell it\u2019s nice seeing you anyhow. We still might bring the business here so we\u2019ll see you more often. Would you mind that?\u201d Ben asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cI would love seeing you more often. You guys were my family for a long, long while. Blair would love having you there too. He\u2019s a really nice guy,\u201d Jim assured them. <\/p>\n
They all played ball some more and finally when the sun started to set, they got out, dried off and dressed and started cooking dinner. John and Ben were in charge of that night\u2019s dinner. Jim didn\u2019t know what they were using for seasoning, but it smelled wonderful. <\/p>\n
They were all drinking beer before, during and after dinner. At 8:00 that night, Jim considered calling Blair, but he was too damn tired. \u201cWhat\u2019s the game plan for tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n
John smiled and said, \u201cWe\u2019re going to hike and hot tub all night long when we get back with our sore legs and feet.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSounds good to me. I\u2019m going to catch a shower now to wash the chlorine off me and then I\u2019m going to catch some shuteye,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou wuss, you\u2019re going to bed already?\u201d Ben asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m tired, I\u2019m older then you guys,\u201d Jim answered. <\/p>\n
\u201cOlder my ass,\u201d John said laughing. <\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, no one is as old as John. He\u2019s the same age as God,\u201d Jim teased. John ran after Jim and tackled him. Before long they were all laying on top of him laughing their asses off. <\/p>\n
Jim took a shower, came back out and had more beer and talked some more with the guys. He was having a very good time. He missed Blair and the kids, but he liked being away too. He wasn\u2019t sure what that meant. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
Jim woke up once during the night and heard Ben and Tom in bed together. Jim smiled. They didn\u2019t seem the type, but then again, neither did he, they had all said. Jim put the pillow over his head and went back to sleep. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
The hike was wonderful. It was beautiful country out there and Jim really enjoyed himself. They had all left at 7:00 and it was now going on 5:00, so they were starving. \u201cWho\u2019s going to cook tonight?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou are,\u201d John answered. <\/p>\n
\u201cOh goody, what am I making?\u201d Jim asked laughing at his friends. <\/p>\n
\u201cPork chops are what are in the fridge. It\u2019s up to you what you do with them. Show us how good you are at being a husband,\u201d George teased. <\/p>\n
Jim went into the kitchen as soon as they were back and started cooking dinner. He made baked chops, fresh salad, cooked fresh green beans and fried up potatoes. He had everything going and the house smelled great when John came in and said, \u201cDon\u2019t need any help?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou could set the table,\u201d Jim answered. <\/p>\n
\u201cI could do that for you,\u201d John said as he walked past and got the plates and silverware. When he walked by he kissed Jim. Jim said, \u201cHey, what\u2019s that for?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing, just showing you a little thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo thanks, needed,\u201d Jim said and went back to cooking dinner. <\/p>\n
Jim didn\u2019t know what the hell was going on, but that was not a thank you kiss. That was a kiss, kiss. Jim was confused and could use Blair about now. <\/p>\n
They all sat down to dinner and George said, \u201cJohn said he scared you. He thought you felt the same way about him, Jim.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I\u2019m in love with Blair. There is no one else in my life but Blair.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s fine. No harm in finding out, is there?\u201d John asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cI guess not. I never knew you swung that way,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
\u201cJim, we all swing that way. Don\u2019t worry, I\u2019ll bug George from now on. His wife knows he plays both teams,\u201d John replied. <\/p>\n
\u201cThanks, makes me sound like I\u2019m second best doesn\u2019t it?\u201d George said laughing. <\/p>\n
Jim was shocked. How in the hell had he missed all of this? <\/p>\n
They got the dishes done and everything cleaned up and then it was time for the hot tub. <\/p>\n
Jim didn\u2019t know how he felt about the hot tub now, because they all might want to do something and he\u2019d be the odd man out. But he needn\u2019t have worried. Everyone got in, drank their beers and told old stories all night long. Finally at about 10:00, they all got dried off and went into bed. <\/p>\n
There was a phone on the night stand in his room, so Jim picked it up and saw it was connected, so he dialed Blair\u2019s number on his cell phone. <\/p>\n
\u201cSandburg?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHey Chief.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGod, I miss you. They have a land line?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have a land line. But I haven\u2019t had a chance to call before now. I\u2019m sorry. It\u2019s hard keeping up with the four of them, let me tell ya.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI miss you so much, Jim. The kids miss you too.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI miss all of you, but I really miss you. God, I had too much beer to drink tonight and I\u2019m horny as hell. I\u2019d give anything to be fucking you right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair laughed and said, \u201cOkay, so you are drunk. Go to sleep, Jim. I\u2019ll talk to you another night. Call me when you aren\u2019t drunk or horny and just want to talk. Okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay. I love you, babe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI love you too. Be careful and be good,\u201d Blair said before he closed his cell phone. <\/p>\n
Jim punched his pillow a few times and rolled onto his hard-on and tried to go to sleep. He could hear and smell sex going on in the other rooms and it about make him come just by scenting them. But Jim knew that would be like cheating on Blair. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
The next day, Jim got up at 8:00 and made coffee. He didn\u2019t know what time everyone else got to sleep, but he had been up listening until about 2:00. Jim was exhausted. <\/p>\n
Finally at about 10:00 everyone else got up and Jim had breakfast made and the coffee waiting. <\/p>\n
\u201cI say we just hang around the house today and take it easy,\u201d John suggested. <\/p>\n
\u201cSounds good to me. We\u2019ll relax and talk about the first thing that pops up,\u201d Ben said laughing. <\/p>\n
Tom walked in and kissed Jim and said, \u201cGood morning, Jim.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim pulled away from him and said, \u201cI told you guys, I don\u2019t fool around on Blair.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve never given it much thought have you? Why not at least think about it before you say no,\u201d George said. <\/p>\n
\u201cJohn, I talked to Blair last night and I told him I was coming home early. So could you drive me to Cascade today?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cJim, we just want to fuck around, we\u2019re not asking for your hand in marriage or anything,\u201d John assured him. <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t fuck around,\u201d Jim shouted this time. <\/p>\n
\u201cFine, be like that. See how hard it is to get ride from the highway. I\u2019m not taking you anywhere,\u201d John growled. <\/p>\n
Jim walked into this bedroom, locked the door and got dressed and put his gear in his duffle bag once more and then out the door he went. <\/p>\n
\u201cHey, we can\u2019t make him walk back to Cascade,\u201d George said. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf he was really our friend, he would have given it more thought then two seconds before he turned us down. He\u2019s not really our friend,\u201d John said. <\/p>\n
Jim could hear them as he walked up to the road and started towards the highway. He was getting a late start but hoped to get cell service as he walked closer to town. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
Once Jim arrived in town, he called Blair from the pay phone, explained what had happened and told him where he was. Blair said he would be there in two hours. Jim knew he would be, so he sat in the restaurant for the next two hours and waited for his ride. When Blair drove up, Jim hurried out to the SUV and jumped in. He leaned into Blair and kissed him hard and said, \u201cI\u2019ve never been so happy to see anyone in my life.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJim, were you worried about being alone with them?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cSort of. They were making me really nervous. So I knew I had to leave then. John was pissed off that I turned him down, both for the job and sex. And believe me it would have been just sex. These guys don\u2019t take anything seriously. Oh and one more thing, they\u2019re fucking drunks.\u201d Jim was so pissed he could hardly see straight. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Jim. I know how badly you wanted this to work out. Who would have thought they were into orgies?\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cI know, I\u2019m in shock. I\u2019ve never been hit on by so many people in my life. And they didn\u2019t seem to want to take no for an answer. I was afraid another night of drinking and they might just attack me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJim, they\u2019re your friends, they wouldn\u2019t have attacked you. But they also should have left you in peace when you stated how you felt about things. I\u2019m a little pissed off that they were getting kisses while I sat home getting nothing,\u201d Blair teased. <\/p>\n
\u201cI know, I agree.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJust lie back in the seat and rest. When we get home you can do whatever you want to me,\u201d Blair offered. <\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, I\u2019d like to sleep with you. I mean that. I haven\u2019t slept worth shit in two nights. I\u2019m ready for a nap.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRest and when we get home, you can rest some more.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim did just that. <\/p>\n
The end<\/p>\n
Family Life Part 70
\nFavorite Stories
\nBy Patt<\/p>\n
Word Count: 3229<\/p>\n
Summary: The wind is blowing, rain is falling hard and the weather takes a big dip. The electricity is out, so what do the Ellison-Sandburg\u2019s do to keep warm and busy?<\/p>\n
Notes: Thank you to Bee for another good idea. Since I wouldn\u2019t give her a camping story, she\u2019s going to at least get stories around a make shift camp fire. LOL Okay, Bee, it didn\u2019t turn out as I expected it. I\u2019m sorry. LOL <\/p>\n
When Jim and Blair got home that night the kids were bundled up with blankets in the living room. The weather had taken a drastic change and it dipped down to 45 degrees and the wind was howling, the rain was falling and it was cold outside. But worse, yet, it was cold inside. <\/p>\n
\u201cHey dad, hey pop, how was your day today?\u201d Max asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cBetter then here. It\u2019s cold in here,\u201d Jim said shivering which he usually didn\u2019t do. Blair figured it was because of the rain and the wind outside making Jim feel colder then it actually was. Jim headed over to the heater and turned it on for the first time since the end of winter. <\/p>\n
The heater popped on right away and Blair said, \u201cThings will warm up in just a few minutes, kids. It\u2019s angry out there tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
Samantha jumped off the sofa and left her blanket behind long enough to give hugs to both of the tired men. \u201cHow was school today, sweetie,\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cGood, it was good.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing happened that you want to tell us about?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a boring day. It was show and tell for six kids today, but not for me. So it was boring. They all brought boring stuff,\u201d Sam ranted. <\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe if you would have paid more attention to them, it would have been more interesting,\u201d Jim pointed out. <\/p>\n
Sam ignored Jim and said, \u201cMax and Drew, it\u2019s not cold in here anymore. Daddy fixed it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both of the boys folded their blankets neatly and took them upstairs. Sam took hers into her bedroom and set it on her bed. Jim went into the kitchen to start dinner. <\/p>\n
Blair sat down at the table with Sam and helped her with her homework. Max and Drew brought their work down too and they all did work at the table. <\/p>\n
After about an hour and a half, Jim said, \u201cClean up time. It\u2019s time to eat.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYay, I\u2019m starving,\u201d Sam said happily. <\/p>\n
The boys hurried and washed their hands and set the table for Jim. They liked to help out when they could, and since Jim made dinner, they felt like it was only right to set the table. <\/p>\n
As they ate dinner, Drew said, \u201cWe\u2019re going to have to get our winter coats out for tomorrow. Don\u2019t you think, pop?\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair smiled and said, \u201cWe\u2019re going to have to see what the weather man says. For all we know, it might be back in the 60s or 70s tomorrow. We can hope.\u201d<\/p>\n
Max smiled. \u201cWell, I\u2019m taking mine out of the big closet and putting it on the coat rack in our room. I\u2019m going to be warmer then I was today that\u2019s for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair said, \u201cDrew and Max are you done with your homework?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy do I get the feeling that I\u2019ll be sorry if I say I am?\u201d Max asked cheerfully. <\/p>\n
\u201cI was going to ask if you boys would help dad clean the kitchen up. I\u2019m still doing work with Samantha for tomorrow,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
Jim sighed and said, \u201cI swear, they give more homework to the five year olds then they do to the teens. Or so it seems anyhow.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s because she moves at a much slower pace. And keep in mind all of you that she\u2019s just learning to read and write, so everything goes slower.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, you\u2019re right pop. We\u2019ll help dad with the dishes, don\u2019t worry. Maybe we can have a game of Sorry when all the homework is done,\u201d Drew suggested. <\/p>\n
Jim said, \u201cI like the idea of that. I love Sorry. So does pop and Sam. So let\u2019s get this show on the road.\u201d<\/p>\n
They cleared the dishes quickly and got them washed off and loaded in the dishwasher as fast as they could. When they were all done, Blair had just finished with Samantha. <\/p>\n
There was a huge clap of thunder and a gigantic streak of lightening running across the sky and suddenly the lights were out. Everything on the street was out. <\/p>\n
Samantha started to panic first thing. \u201cDaddy, poppy, I can\u2019t see anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair grabbed her and said, \u201cIt\u2019s all right, Sam, daddy will light a candle for us and we\u2019ll be able to see each other.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre we never going to have lights again?\u201d Sam asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis must be Sam\u2019s first time with a power outage. Max and Drew, come over here by us and sit next to us until dad gets the candles going,\u201d Blair instructed. <\/p>\n
Jim lit five candles and placed them in the living room and dining room. It wasn\u2019t like having lights, but it was great. They could at least see each other. <\/p>\n
Jim thought of something fun to do and said, \u201cMax and Drew, take one of the candles with you and get your sleeping bags and your pillows and come back down here. We\u2019re going to light a fire and we\u2019ll lie around the fire and tell campfire stories.\u201d<\/p>\n
Max and Drew must have thought it sounded good because they grabbed a candle and went up the stairs. Jim could hear them running into things and tripping over things in their room. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about me, daddy? Do I have a sleeping bag?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, precious, you have a sleeping bag. Let\u2019s get your pajama\u2019s on and we\u2019ll bring that and your pillow out into the living room. Poppy, you\u2019re in charge of starting the fire.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair gladly went and started the fire quickly so they would all have a blazing fire to tell their stories by. Blair was really looking forward to this. It was great that Jim thought of it. Once the fire was going pretty well, he went into the kitchen and got the graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows to make their dessert with. He brought out skewers from the kitchen to roast the marshmallows on. This was going to be so much fun. He was hoping the electricity stayed off all night. He would like a family night. This was working out great. <\/p>\n
!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n
Max and Drew put their sleeping bags in front of the fireplace and made room for Jim, Blair and Sam. They both just lay on the floor watching the fire. It was warm and beautiful at the same time. <\/p>\n
Jim brought Sam out with her pj\u2019s on and Drew said, \u201cThat\u2019s what we forgot. Let\u2019s run back up one more time for lounge wear.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim said, \u201cHurry up, when you get done, pop and I will run up and do the same. \u201c<\/p>\n
When the boys got back downstairs, Jim and Blair rushed upstairs to get their sleepwear on and came down dressed for winter. They both even had socks and slippers on. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou think you\u2019re warm enough, dad and pop?\u201d Max asked trying not to laugh at the two of them. <\/p>\n
\u201cHey, we don\u2019t know how long the lights are going to be out. Better safe then sorry.\u201d Blair teased. <\/p>\n
They all lay down in front of the fire on their sleeping bags and Jim said, \u201cTonight Max and Drew are going to tell Sam why they like living here with us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what we have to talk about?\u201d Max whined. <\/p>\n
Blair said, \u201cTell her how you didn\u2019t really want to live with us at first.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sam looked shocked. \u201cYou didn\u2019t want to live with poppy and daddy? Why?\u201d<\/p>\n
Max sat up for this discussion and so did Drew. \u201cFirst of all, Drew always liked the idea of living here. From the very start he liked dad and pop, but I was a little leery because they were gay. I was afraid that the kids at school would tease us and that wouldn\u2019t be cool at all.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou mean because daddy and poppy love each other? This scared you?\u201d Sam asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, in a way it did. I was afraid that the kids would tease us, or that dad and pop wouldn\u2019t want us after a month or more or that they just wouldn\u2019t like us. It was a very scary time for us, Sam. We were a lot older then you, so it was harder. We had already lived with so many people that it wasn\u2019t even funny. The idea of leaving here and going to a new place scared me the most. I liked pop and dad, but not as much as Drew did.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDrew, you were way smarter then Max.\u201d Sam was quite sure of this. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think so too. It took me a couple of months to totally warm up to dad and pop, but once I did, I was hooked for life. Now I can\u2019t imagine my life with anyone else. I love dad and pop, Drew and you too, Sam.\u201d Max sighed with contentment. <\/p>\n
\u201cDrew, do you like it here too?\u201d Sam asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cI love it here. I love everyone in this house and I too can\u2019t imagine my life any differently. When my mom signed away her rights as my parent, I was so happy. She was a mess. It wasn\u2019t totally her fault. She was on bad drugs at the time, but she was no type of mom we wanted to have. We knew that we were better off here with dad and pop. Do you like it here, Sam?\u201d Drew asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cI love it here. I love all of you and I don\u2019t remember my mommy or my daddy, so I only know you guys. You\u2019re my family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Max and Drew hugged her and Drew said, \u201cWe\u2019re glad to be your family. Now it\u2019s pop and dad\u2019s turn. Who was happiest about taking us in?\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair cleared his throat and said, \u201cI\u2019m going to be truthful. Dad didn\u2019t want children, so he had to be convinced of this. I wasn\u2019t sure I was going to be able to talk him into it, but he\u2019s really good at compromising. I was the happiest about taking you boys in. It was like my life was complete when you were in it. It took him a little while longer. Only because he was afraid to love you and then have you taken away. We both worried about that, and we\u2019re thrilled when things worked out as well as they did.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey need to know the truth. I didn\u2019t want anyone to live here but me and pop. I didn\u2019t think I had any room in my heart for anyone else. I\u2019m a selfish person and thankfully pop talked some sense into me and we gave it a try. But if pop would have listened to me, there would be no family right now. And I can\u2019t imagine my life without you kids in it. I adore all of you. But on Father\u2019s Day, we need to really thank him. Not me so much,\u201d Jim confessed. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s okay, dad. I didn\u2019t want to live here either. I didn\u2019t really like you that much. I liked pop, but not you so much. You seemed, sad, lonely and angry at the same time. I\u2019m so glad that you listened to pop and I\u2019m glad that I listened to Drew. They both knew all along that we were going to be a great family. We just fought it for awhile.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow about we take a breather and have some dessert?\u201d Blair asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cI love dessert,\u201d Sam answered. <\/p>\n
\u201cI swear she has a 200 pound person inside of her. That\u2019s all she does is eat,\u201d Drew teased. <\/p>\n
Blair said, \u201cHere you go, Sam, this is how we\u2019re going to cook the marshmallows. Then I\u2019ll show you what we do with them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair guided the marshmallows onto the skewers and then helped her hold it over the fire. She watched in awe as the marshmallow started turning brown and then almost black before they pulled it out of the fire. <\/p>\n
\u201cNow, we take two graham crackers and put chocolate bars on one side and the marshmallow on the other and squish them together. Does this look yummy or what?\u201d Blair asked. \u201cNow be careful, it\u2019s still hot. Let it cool down for a moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Drew and Max were next. They put their own marshmallows on the skewers and roasted them. Jim had the crackers and chocolate waiting for their melted mess. <\/p>\n
Finally Jim and Blair made one for themselves and ate them happily with the kids. \u201cSo what do you think of this dessert?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
Max smiled and said, \u201cThey\u2019re called S\u2019mores, Sam and the reason they are called that is because we all eat them and want some more.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sam started laughing and said, \u201cAre they really called that poppy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, they are Sam.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI loved it. Is this what camping is like? Sitting around a fire and eating gooey things?\u201d Sam wondered. <\/p>\n
\u201cYes, that\u2019s what camping is about and a lot more. Some day we\u2019re going to go camping in the spring and we\u2019ll show you how camping is in tents. It\u2019s great. You\u2019ll love it,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s go brush our teeth, Sam, so you can lie down and fall asleep if you want to.\u201d Blair took a candle and grabbed Sam\u2019s little hand. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis has been great fun, dad. Thanks for thinking of doing this,\u201d Max said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI agree, it\u2019s more fun then playing Sorry and you know how much we love beating your butt off at Sorry,\u201d Drew said. <\/p>\n
\u201cGeeze, I only lost two games one time. You\u2019re never going to let me forget it are you?\u201d Jim asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s right, dad. Pop is a much better loser then you are though,\u201d Max said. <\/p>\n
When Blair came back out, he said, \u201cSam is getting sleepy, so she\u2019s going to lie down and we\u2019re going to tell her some stories to help her go to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sam snuggled into the sleeping bag and waited for the stories. <\/p>\n
Drew and Max told different stories about how nice it was to have a little sister in their life and how they were glad they were all a family. They all looked down and Sam was fast asleep. <\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s such a wuss,\u201d Max joked. <\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s five, Max, give her a break,\u201d Jim reminded him. <\/p>\n
\u201cI know. We meant it about how great it is having a little sister. She\u2019s terrific. We really love having her around. Even our friends like her. Their parents like her. She\u2019s just a really nice kid. Thank you for giving us a little sister. We never thought we would ever have that in our life,\u201d Max admitted. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou are most welcome. She came to us this way though, so we can\u2019t take any credit. I think she\u2019s a joy to have around too,\u201d Blair said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhile we\u2019re being all truthful and everything, I have a question for you, Max,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
\u201cHit me,\u201d Max kidded. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhy did you give up on football? Was it because of us? You told us it was your grades and peer pressure, but I have a feeling it was because you were taking so much flack about us. Am I right?\u201d Jim hoped he was wrong. <\/p>\n
Max didn\u2019t answer right away and Blair said, \u201cMax, you can tell us the truth. We\u2019re tough, we can take it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, it was because of you guys. They made it horrible to try and have a home life, a football life and a school life. I couldn\u2019t have it all, so I had to choose which was most important. They teased me for a good long while, but they got over it. Now they\u2019re teasing someone else, I\u2019m sure. I didn\u2019t like them anyway. I never really fit into their upper class lifestyle. I was glad when I made the decision to give it up. But I didn\u2019t want you and pop to feel bad about it. So that\u2019s why I didn\u2019t tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blair said, \u201cDrew, do you take any flack for having gay parents?\u201d<\/p>\n
Now it was Drew\u2019s turn to be quiet. <\/p>\n
\u201cTell us the truth,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI get teased at school all the time because I like cooking class. They all say I\u2019m in the right family. We\u2019re all fags. But I ignore them. Max gets in fights sometimes because of me, but I tell him not to bother.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDrew, that\u2019s horrible. Regular men cook all the time. Don\u2019t they know this?\u201d Blair was shocked. <\/p>\n
\u201cPop, you are a regular man. Just because you\u2019re gay doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re not a normal guy. I know this, Max knows this and so does Sam. You both need to worry less about us. We\u2019re doing just fine,\u201d Drew admitted. <\/p>\n
Jim put a couple more logs on the fire and they sat and watched as they began to light up and burn. <\/p>\n
\u201cDo you take any flack at work for being gay?\u201d Max asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cYes, we do. But nothing we can\u2019t handle. Don\u2019t worry about us either. We\u2019re doing just fine,\u201d Jim assured them. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat time is it?\u201d Drew asked. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s ten o\u2019clock. I guess you guys might be tired now,\u201d Blair figured. <\/p>\n
We\u2019re going to brush our teeth and then go to sleep if you and pop don\u2019t mind, dad,\u201d Max said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s fine, boys, go do your thing,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
While the boys were in the bathroom, Jim and Blair kissed and Jim said, \u201cI might be too old to sleep on the floor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo sleep on the sofa. You\u2019ll still be warm enough,\u201d Blair suggested. <\/p>\n
\u201cDo you mind?\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cNot hardly, Jim. I\u2019m sleeping on the loveseat,\u201d Blair teased. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis sofa is big and wide, we\u2019ll sleep together. Okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay. I need to get ready for bed,\u201d Blair got up and grabbed a candle and walked into their bathroom and got ready for bed. <\/p>\n
Max and Drew came out and saw the sleeping bags on the sofa and Max said, \u201cYou\u2019re a wuss, dad.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cYes, yes I am.\u201d<\/p>\n
They laughed as they crawled into the sleeping bags and got ready to settle down for the night. <\/p>\n
Blair came out and Drew said, \u201cGood, I wanted to say goodnight before I fell asleep.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGoodnight, guys,\u201d Blair said softly. <\/p>\n
\u201cGoodnight, Drew and Max,\u201d Jim said. <\/p>\n
\u201cSee you in the morning,\u201d Max said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll be here,\u201d Jim answered. <\/p>\n
Jim took a candle and got ready for bed in the bathroom. When he came out he smiled at his sleeping family on the floor in front of the fireplace. It looked so cozy. Then he went to say something to Blair and saw Blair on the sofa sound asleep. <\/p>\n
Jim snuggled up behind Blair on the extra-wide sofa and kissed the back of his neck. \u201cNight, Chief.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI love you, Jim.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I love you, Blair.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim fell asleep to the sounds of the firewood crackling and he thought this was one of the nicest things they had all done in ages. It was a good night. This was a good family. <\/p>\n
The end<\/p>\n
PattRose1@aol.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Family Life Part 61 Really? By Patt Word Count: 1893 Summary: What is up with Jim? Is it mid-life crisis or worse? Notes: This is what happens to people when everyone discusses everyone else\u2019s sex lives. Let\u2019s hope they learn … Continue reading