This story is an AU/AU and takes place in modern day Los Angeles and will cover several years in the lives of Jack & Ennis. The focus of their relationship is friendship, which develops slowly into love.

I'll update this story once or twice a week. I'm not sure which days, so check back often. Thanks for reading. Comments are appreciated.

Chapter 1

As Dr. Ennis Del Mar drank the last of his morning coffee, he felt the warm rays of the sun through the dining room window reflected off the ornate glass of the china cabinet. Despite his baby daughter's wails coming from her nursery upstairs, and his short night of sleep due to one of his arguments with his wife, not to mention their baby wasn't sleeping through the night, he let his mind drift to the day ahead. One thing he could count on was the weather, usually sunny and beautiful, just the way he liked it. Today he had a particularly interesting appointment scheduled that he was looking forward to with much anticipation. His light mood was interrupted as Alma came into the room. She was rattling on about how tired she was already and how much her head hurt because of Junior's teething, making it sound as if it was his fault. He gave her a peck on the cheek, acknowledging her complaints with a grunt and with that was out the door to begin his day.

…

As Ennis headed south in his shiny black BMW with the new leather smell, out of the corner of his eye he noticed Junior's pink baby booties hanging from his rear view mirror. They had been lovingly crocheted by her Aunt Anna. Ennis started to reflect on his life. It seemed unreal what he had accomplished at the age of 32. When he was orphaned at age 11, his life hadn't look very promising, but his sister and brother stepped up and raised him, being older than he was, 5 & 10 years respectively. They spoiled him by trying to make up for what he'd lost in his young life, and wanted him to have the finer things in life. Ennis would have been satisfied being a fisherman when he grew up, always being fascinated by the sea and boats, and dreaming of sailing off to fish for a living. His sister and brother had other aspirations for him though, and both worked night and day to give him a chance to make something of himself. He hadn't disappointed them, and worked hard to become a successful doctor they could be proud of.

His brother, Keith, who was yet to settle down, was able to follow his heart and became a cop in the city. Ennis was very proud of him but like his sister, often worried for his safety.

Ennis' sister, Anna, had given many of the best years of her life to her brothers, sometimes working three jobs to see them through. Ennis loved her like a mother. Ennis and Keith were now adults and had good careers, while Anna doted on her husband of four years. He was the chief of surgery at the hospital where Ennis was on staff, and Ennis had introduced them while he was doing his residency. It was a happy day when she wed and would be well taken care of. She deserved it after all the years she went without. Anna wasn't able to have children, so Junior was the apple of her eye and she was a fantastic aunt which pleased Ennis immensely. Ennis' brother-in-law, Jim, was a terrific uncle and he and Ennis were quite close in work and in their personal lives. Jim had been instrumental in establishing Ennis' practice but Ennis' personality and work ethic took care of the rest, making him extremely successful.

A car horn jolted him from his thoughts and he stepped on the gas at the green light and was again on his way, the spring breeze blowing through the open window ruffling his hair with the sun shining down on his arm. He made good time this morning, his habit of listening to the radio road report paying off. As he passed the flower shop a block from his office, he made a mental note to stop and get flowers for Alma on the way home from work.

...

Exiting the elevator, Ennis hurried over the brown and rust carpet toward his office.

"Morning, Connie, how's my favorite office manager?" he said to the slim blonde making coffee in the break room as he walked past on his way to his office.

"Dr. Del Mar, good morning, how's that little angel of yours today?"

"Teething and cranky, but beautiful as ever," he said with a smile. Seemed he couldn't keep a grin off his face when talking about Junior.

"Your first appointment is due at nine. I'll bring you a cup of coffee in a second."

A few minutes later Connie handed him a cup of strong black coffee in his "Great to be a Dad" mug. He smiled his thanks from where he was seated behind his mahogany L-shaped desk going over patient files on his computer. Ennis took a sip of the steaming coffee, then set the mug down on a coaster that was near photos of Alma and Junior, and one of the three of them at Disneyland. Ennis was comfortable in his office with the mahogany paneling, the one beige wall and the book shelves which were built on site along with his desk by a master craftsman a couple years ago. A big sunny window was positioned across from the desk letting the sun stream in nearly year round, and the view from the 10th floor was spectacular.

"Are all my appointments confirmed for today?"

"Yes, Dr. Del Mar. Even Jack Twist for 2:15."

"Good, that's one patient I'm very curious to meet."

"Yes, should prove to be quite interesting," she said as she got on with her morning duties.

...

After an uneventful morning of seeing patients, over lunch, Ennis thought back to when he'd first met Mr. and Mrs. John Twist Sr. who'd been needing a new family physician. Ennis hadn't thought he had much of a chance of being selected, feeling they'd go with someone who had been in practice longer, and someone older, but to his surprise, he was chosen. It was another feather in his cap as Alma put it, since shifting the focus of his practice to celebrities and the well-to-do. She'd been very proud of him. In fact, it was she who had pushed Ennis to gear his practice in a direction where he could make more money. Ennis wasn't in his profession to make the big bucks, he was in it to help people. To minimize arguments with Alma, he allowed her to convince him that he was perfect for working with people who required a high degree of discretion and secrecy. Hell, he didn't want his own personal business gossiped about so he understood this perfectly well. He was well respected and trusted in his profession so had built up a good reputation along with good list of patients.

Having the councilman and his wife as part of his practice hadn't hurt at all, and most of the time he got along well with them. Denise Twist was one of the nicest ladies he had met, and John could be nice too, but he had another side as well, and that took some getting used to. Denise Twist balanced the couple out and Ennis seemed to fit in with what they had been looking for and what they needed in a doctor. He and Alma had even been invited to their home socially on a few occasions during the past year since he had become their personal physician.

Several times Ennis had gotten an ear full from Mr. Twist about his son Jack. Seemed Jack was one of the subjects that tended to bring out the worst in John. Times like that, Ennis would just grunt and nod, and let John go on, half afraid to voice any opinion or make many comments, as he was not much of a conversationalist anyway. It seemed to help the man to have someone to vent to. Ennis figured maybe that was all that was needed, and hoped it was helpful for John with his ulcer and high blood pressure. Yes, meeting John Twist Jr. was going to be very interesting. Little did Ennis know in how many ways it would prove to be so.

To Be Continued...