It had been six months since Blair had started at the police academy. He was now a full-fledged member of the Cascade Police Department. He was a detective with the Major Crimes unit and he was officially Jim's partner. It had taken some convincing from Simon to get the Chief to agree to let them be partners. Not because of Blair's dissertation but because they were now a couple. The department had a strict policy about couples not being partnered together. Simon argued that Jim worked better with Blair by his side. And he had Jim's solve rate since Blair had been working with him to back him up.

Ray had been successful so far with his studio. Several of his former students from the university had signed up for classes at his studio and had even signed up to teach classes of their own. Bodie had found his footing in his job as a consultant with the Cascade PD. He was able to use some of the tactics from CI5 to help solve cases in Cascade.

It was a Saturday and Jim and Blair were enjoying the morning by making love. It was 10 o'clock and Blair hadn't even been out of the bed. Jim had gone down and gotten them some toast and coffee, but other than that they had spent the morning in their bed. Jim was so distracted by his lover that he didn't hear the elevator as it came up. He didn't know they had a visitor until they heard the knock on the door.

Jim looked up as Blair cursed. "Tell me that's not my dad or Bodie."

"Nope," Jim said as he extended his hearing. Then he sat straight up. "It's my dad."

Blair sat up. "You're kidding. I thought he was in England."

"Apparently he's back," Jim said as he grabbed a shirt.

Blair grabbed a shirt and they quickly got dressed. They were half way to the door when Jim laughed. "What?" Blair asked.

"You're wearing my shirt, Chief," Jim said as Blair groaned.

"Well, I guess your dad is about to find out we're together," Blair said as Jim went over to the door.

"You ready?"

"As ready as I'm going to be," Blair said as he indicated for Jim to open the door.

"Hi Dad," Jim grinned as his father came in.

"Hi Jimmy," William Ellison said as he came in. He looked over at Blair. "Good morning Blair."

"Good morning, Mr. Ellison," Blair said as he grabbed his shoes. "Jim, I think I'll go downstairs and see if Ray needs any help in the studio. You and your dad get caught up. You'll have to make a fresh pot of coffee though."

Blair had his shoes on and was out the door before Jim could say anything. He looked at his father. "Do you want some coffee?"

"That would be nice," William said as they went over to the kitchen. "So, Steven and I got back from England and there were messages for me about a press conference that Blair had made."

Jim sighed as he got two mugs out of the cabinet. "Yeah, his dissertation was leaked and he gave a press conference saying that the work was fiction. He was discredited academically."

"The dissertation was about you," William concluded.

"The dissertation was about people like me yes," Jim said as he started a new part of coffee. "He never meant for it to be published with my name in it."

"So what happened?"

"His mother gave it to a publisher without his permission," Jim said as he sat down at the counter. "She did it out of spite. Blair had just found out who his father was and he was spending more time with me and with his father than he was with her. She thought if his dissertation was published and he would leave everything police related behind."

"Okay, so he discredited his work, and that's why he's still living here?"

"No, Dad, he's still living here because he is my partner in every since of the word," Jim said as he gave his father a look. "He gave up his life's work to protect me. He didn't have to. I didn't want him to. I was going to figure out a way to still do my job even with my secret out, but he did it because he loves me. We had been together for a while before Naomi decided to try to ruin our lives. She thought I would kick him out."

"He loves you very much to give up his career and his life's work for you," William observed. "And I know how much you love him. It was written all over your face when you brought him to the house. I saw the press conference, Jimmy. My assistant had recorded it and I watched it when I got home. I saw the look in his eyes as he discredited everything he had worked for. He did it out of love. I wish I could have someone like that in my life."

Jim nodded as he got up and got the coffee for him and his father,

Blair was straightening up in the studio when Ray came over and gave him a cup of coffee. "So what's going on?" his father asked.

Blair sighed as he took the cup. "Jim's father is upstairs."

"Is that why you're wearing Jim's shirt?"

Blair blushed a little. "We got dressed in a hurry when his father knocked on the door."

He went over to a chair and sighed as he sat down. "His dad and brother were out of the country when everything happened with my dissertation. I can only imagine how angry Mr. Ellison is with me."

"I doubt that," Ray said as he came and sat across from his son. "Once Jim tells him what happened and why, he will understand."

"I hope so," Blair said as he looked up to see Jim and William come in. He stood up and looked at his lover. "Is everything all right?"

"Everything's just fine, Blair," William said as he walked over to the younger man. "Jimmy explained exactly what happened and why. And while I can't say I want to see your mother any time soon, I can say that I am sorry you had to give up your life's work. And I am glad you and my son finally admitted how you feel about each other."

"Thank you, Mr. Ellison," Blair said as he held out a hand to the older man.

William smiled as he shook Blair's hand. "I think it's time you called me William. Or Bill."

"Probably Bill, since William is Bodie's first name," Blair laughed as he looked at his father. "Oh, yeah, you two haven't met. William Ellison, I'd like you to meet my father, Ray Doyle."

"It's nice to meet you Mr. Doyle," William said as they shook hands.

"You too," Ray said. "And please, call me Ray."

Bodie came in and looked at them. "Family reunion?"

"You could say that," Jim said. "Dad, this is Ray's partner, Bodie. Bodie, this is my dad, William Ellison. I'd give you all of Bodie's names, Dad, but we might be here a while."

"Funny," Bodie said as he shook William's hand.

"Why don't you all come over for dinner tonight?" William said as he looked at Jim. "Steven will be there and so will Sally. It will give us all a chance to get to know each other."

"I'd like that," Jim said as he looked at Ray and Bodie. "What about you two?"

"Dinner would be lovely," Ray said as he gave Bodie a look. "Tell us when you want us to be there and give me the directions to the house. Can't trust this one to find his way to work and back on most days."

That night, Ray pulled up in front of William Ellison's house as Bodie let out a low whistle. "Looks like your son is marrying into money, Ray."

"Behave," Ray said as they got out of the car. "And Blair hasn't said anything about him and Jim getting married. At least not yet."

"Your son isn't as commitment phobic as you are," Bodie said as Ray stopped him.

"You asked me to marry you before I even got out of hospital. Excuse me for wanting to make sure your intentions were honorable."

"And what's your excuse now?" Bodie asked.

Ray shook his head. "Not here, not now. We'll discuss this later."

He left Bodie and walked up to the door to the house. Bodie sighed and followed his partner to the door. William greeted them and led them into the living room. He asked them what they wanted to drink. They both said scotch. Bodie noticed the bottle. "Haven't had that brand since I left England," Bodie said as he accepted his glass.

"I was introduced to this brand during the war," William said as he looked at them. "I was in England working in intelligence with a Scottish major. He swore by this brand of scotch."

Ray and Bodie exchanged a look. "What?" Blair asked.

"Bill, what was the name of the major you served with?" Ray asked.

"Let me think," William said as he took a sip of his scotch. "His name was George. George Cowley."

Bodie just laughed. "What is it?" Bill asked.

"George Cowley was our boss at CI5," Ray explained. "He turned the reins over to Bodie and our friend Murphy when he retired. Bodie turned everything over to Murphy when he came here."

"How is George?" William asked as Ray looked at his drink.

"He died," Bodie said bluntly. "Not long after he retired. Cancer."

William nodded then lifted his glass. "To George Cowley."

"To Cowley," Ray said as he gave William a smile.

"To the Cow," Bodie grinned as Ray gave him a look.

When they sat down for dinner, William looked at Blair. "Steven and I have talked to our lawyers."

"That's right," Steven said as he looked at his brother and his brother's partner. "They think you have a good case against the publisher and the university. The publisher should have never taken your dissertation to print. And the university shouldn't have fired you."

"I appreciate your support," Blair said as Jim reached under the table and squeezed Blair's hand. "That part of my life is over now. I like working as a detective."

"If you change your mind, just let me know," William said as Blair nodded.

When Ray and Bodie got home that night, Ray grabbed a beer out of the fridge then went out to the balcony. Bodie followed him at a slower pace. He saw Ray sitting in his lounge chair looking out over the harbor. He opened his beer as he sat down in his lounge chair.

"I know what you're thinking," Bodie said after a minute.

"Oh really?" Ray said as he took a sip of his beer.

"You're feeling guilty about not being there when Cowley died. Tell me, if he had told you he was sick before you left, would you have gone?"

"I don't know," Ray sighed. "I just knew I needed to leave before you got back. There are a lot of things I might change about what happened then."

"I think Cowley didn't tell you because he knew you had to leave," Bodie said as Ray gave him a look. "He knew you needed to leave but he didn't know you were going to stay gone. I think we all thought you would come back to London. And while I'm not happy about the way you left, I understand why."

Ray nodded. After a minute, he held his hand out to Bodie. Bodie smiled as he took Ray's hand and they looked out at the water.