Disclaimer: I do not own Trixie or the Bob-Whites. No profit is being made from their use.


Chapter Eleven

Jim had helped Trixie to his bed by the time her brothers arrived. The pounding on his door informed him of their presence. Wiping the sleep from his eyes, he walked wearily toward the door. Hearing shouts coming from the other side, he prepared for the upcoming confrontation by taking a deep, calming breath before letting them inside.

"Where's Trixie?" Brian asked in alarm as he shoved past Jim.

"Asleep in the bed," Jim said as he rubbed his head, still fuzzy with sleep.

"In your bed?" Brian demanded angrily, looking at Jim's lack of clothing.

Clad only in his jogging pants, Jim motioned for the two Beldens to sit down. "She's had a rough night. It was more comfortable for her there."

"I can imagine," Brian said testily as he remained standing. "Where did you sleep?"

"The couch," Jim answered defensively, pointing to the quilt and pillow. "Good grief, do you think I would take advantage of your sister in her condition?"

Mart grabbed Brian's arm before he could say more. Pushing his brother down onto the quilt-covered couch, he asked, "What do you mean by 'her condition'? What happened tonight?"

"Your sister has been sleuthing again," Jim explained with a sigh as he sat at the end of the sofa. "I knew her job at the police station was going to be trouble."

"That still doesn't explain things," Mart frowned. "What kind of condition is she in?"

"She's fine," Jim assured them. "It's just going to take awhile. Your sister is slightly inebriated."

Both brothers sat stunned. "Trixie?" Mart managed to croak out. "That's impossible."

"Did you get her drunk?" Brian accused.

"Damn," Jim swore under his breath. Neither brother was in the mood for listening. "No, she did that on her own."

"You caused this," Brian insisted. "What did you do to her?"

"If you two will just listen, I can explain everything," Jim said impatiently, trying to remain calm.

"I want to see Trixie," Brian demanded.

"Me, too," Mart agreed.

"I'm right here," Trixie said as she appeared in the doorway wearing only one of Jim's t-shirts.

Brian glared at Jim as he rushed to her side. "Are you alright, sis?"

Trixie exchanged a helpless glance with Jim before answering. "I'm perfectly fine now," she assured him.

Brian cast a curious look over her. "Where are your clothes? What is going on here?"

"Gosh, Brian," Trixie groaned, "Jim gave me something to sleep in." She glanced down at the shirt which hung just above her knees. "My own clothes are rather smelly."

"Moms and Dad are on their way," Brian informed her. "They are going to want an explanation for all of this."

"I tried to tell them, Trix," Jim said from his seat on the couch. "Perhaps they'll listen to you."

"Stay out of this," Brian ordered him. "I was talking to Trixie."

"Don't shout at him," Trixie yelled back, wincing with pain as the room seemed to spin a little. "You should be thankful he showed up when he did."

Mart, having had time to study the situation, remained quietly on the couch with Jim. "I'm beginning to think that we owe you for saving our sister," he remarked.

Trixie walked over and sat beside Jim. "Do you two think you can listen now that you see I'm safe and sound?"

Brian plopped in the chair across from them. Frowning, he urged, "Go ahead. I'm listening."

When Jim and Trixie finished explaining, Trixie looked haughtily at her oldest brother. "Don't you have something to say now?"

"Thank you, Jim," he said grudgingly, and then he frowned once again at Trixie. "Do you think you've learned anything by this little escapade?"

"Probably not," Mart chuckled. "It's not like any of her previous stunts have taught her anything?"

Jim caught her hand in his. "Are you always doing the unexpected?" he asked with a grin. "Or is it to become the expected?"

Mart snorted at his sister. "Don't try to figure her out, Jim," he cautioned. "Just when she starts to make sense, it all goes downhill."

Trixie's retort was interrupted by the opening of the door. Dan walked in and surveyed the not-so-happy scene. "I see I'm not the only reinforcement to arrive," he nodded at the Beldens. He gave Jim an encouraging glance. "I thought it might be a good idea for me to return home."

"Have a seat, Dan," Mart grinned. "The parents are about to arrive and you are going to have front row seats."

"Moms and Dad are coming here?" Trixie moaned. She whirled toward Dan. "You can take me home while these three explain things to them."

"Trix," Dan said hesitantly, "I don't know if that's such a good idea."

"It's a great idea," she nodded vigorously. "By the time they see me, they will have calmed down." Jumping up, she pulled Dan to his feet.

"Uh, Freckles," Dan looked away, slightly embarrassed, "you might want to get dressed first. Your parents might not appreciate…."

Jim and her brothers glared disapproving at Dan for having noticed her lack of attire in the first place. Trixie, innocently unaware, hurried to Jim's room to dress although she still had on Jim's t-shirt when she returned.

"I hope you don't mind," she told Jim, "but mine's not fit to wear."

Jim stood up to hug her. "It looks better on you anyway." Ignoring the frowns on her brothers' faces, he gave her a swift kiss. "I'll talk to you later after we explain things to your parents."

As Dan drove Trixie back to her dorm, he gave her a sideways grin. "You know, Freckles, these late night drives are becoming a habit of ours," he chuckled.

"I know," Trixie sighed wearily. "I'm really sorry about dragging you into all of this."

Dan gave an exasperated sigh of his own. "I would mind it so much," he told her, "if I knew you would always be careful."

"Please," Trixie begged, holding head in her hands, "it was bad enough listening to Brian. Don't you get started, too."

"I can't help it, Trix," Dan admitted. "I know what's out there. Someday you're going to come up against a situation that you can't get out of."

Trixie chewed on her bottom lip as she digested Dan's words. She honestly felt bad about what she had put everyone through. The excitement, however, was a different thing. It hadn't made her feel bad. Everything about the night, except perhaps for the drinking, had been a rush. How could she explain that to Dan without sounding foolish?

"You know, Dan," Trixie offered tentatively, "if I were another cop you would be congratulating me."

"But you're not," Dan pointed out, an edge to his voice. "You're not trained, you're not protected, and you make the rest of us worry and feel responsible."

Trixie flinched at the anger in Dan's tone. "Okay," she said quietly, "I understand why you are so angry."

"Do you, Freckles?" he asked seriously. "Do you know how the rest of us would feel if something bad were to happen to you?"

"Gee," she moaned, "I should have just stayed and faced my parents."

Dan pulled into the dorm parking lot, shut off the engine, and turned to glare at her. "I'm serious, Trix. I'm sure your brothers and parents never have a decent night's rest when you are out of their sight. And what about Jim? Are you able to think of anything but yourself?"

Trixie turned her head away from Dan to hide the tears she was trying desperately to hold back. His sharp manner had its desired effect. She felt miserable. "I didn't realize I…that you thought I was that selfish," she stumbled over her words.

"You're not, Trix," Dan shook his head. "You are the most unselfish person I have ever met." He paused as she continued to look away. "I know you want to help, and that's a great thing."

"It is?" she asked defensively. "It doesn't sound like you mean it."

Dan laughed at the spunk back in her voice. "Maybe this kind of work is in your future," he suggested, "or maybe not, but in the meantime, take some self-defense classes. Let someone know what you're planning. Make sure your cell phone is charged and keep it with you. Just use your head a little bit." He paused, and then said quietly, "Before it gets blown off."

"Everyone was really upset, weren't they?" Trixie asked, not really expecting an answer.

"Especially Jim," he told her. "At least, your family didn't know what was going on until it was all over. He was frantic."

"I made you rush home from your uncle's," Trixie acknowledged with an apologetic whisper.

"Nah," Dan grinned, "I just wanted to ruin Frayne's weekend."

Trixie blushed at the implication on Dan's expression. "Thanks, Dan," she smiled regretfully, "but I guess I did that on my own. Do you think they are going to be mad at the station?"

"Let's just say that it's a good thing that you don't have to show up until Monday," he told her. "That might give the sarge a little time to cool off."

Dan tried to make light of it, but Trixie could tell she was going to be in big trouble. "Oh, well," she grimaced, "by the time this weekend is over I might get lucky and be thrown in jail."

The rest of the weekend went by in a blur. Trixie's parents and brothers came to check on her. She flushed as she remembered Brian pounding on Jim's apartment door. She had painstakingly explained everything to her brother, but it had still taken hours for Jim to convince him that he had not taken advantage of her. And then, Dan arrived early as well. Through all of this, Jim stayed by her side as much as possible, but there was little time for them to be alone, especially after Honey and Di rushed to be with her on Sunday.

"I'm sorry," she murmured into the phone on Sunday night. "I feel like I ruined all our plans."

"You didn't ruin anything," Jim assured her. "I wanted to spend the weekend with you and that's exactly what I got. Besides, you did spend most of Friday night in my arms."

"Don't remind me," she groaned with embarrassment. She realized that Jim had been super, taking care of her when she had been so sick. "And now the sergeant insists that I come in tomorrow afternoon for a meeting."

"It won't be so bad, Trix," Jim assured her, "besides Dan told me he already read you the riot act."

"He did," Trixie admitted, flushing as she recalled Dan's words. She sighed and continued, "Jim, about that. He was right, you know."

"He was?" Jim questioned, the surprise evident in his voice.

"I'm sorry I acted so recklessly," she apologized. "I'm not a thirteen-year-old kid anymore."

"Well, I, for one, am glad of that," Jim laughed.

"Me, too," Trixie giggled. The paused and then turned serious. "He, also, got me to thinking."

"Am I going to like this, Shamus?" Jim asked carefully.

"He suggested that I might benefit from some training," she explained. "That if I ever find myself in that kind of situation, I would be able to handle it better."

Jim sighed, a long and resigned sigh. "Does this mean that you are going to be in these types of situations again?"

"I don't know," Trixie shrugged. "Sometimes I feel like that's what I'm supposed to do."

"Can you, at least, keep me informed of your plans?" Jim asked. "I'm not sure if I can survive another night like the one we just had."

"Would it help if I promise just that?" she replied.

"I can deal with that," Jim agreed, "even if I don't like it."

"Although, Jim, just because I agree to tell you my plans, it doesn't mean you can talk me out of them," Trixie told him.

"Heaven help me," Jim laughed, "I think my life is going to get a whole lot more interesting."

"And that is a promise I can keep," Trixie chuckled.

"Maybe the sergeant can change your mind," Jim grinned into the phone as he heard the answering moan. Laughing, he set about easing her mind, as well as his.

None of Jim's comforting words could erase the dread she felt. When Monday afternoon arrived, Trixie nervously walked to the station. As she walked, she noticed the suspicious house was now surrounded by evidence tape. Hopefully, that was a good sign.

"Belden," the sergeant bellowed as she entered his office, "have a seat."

"Yes, sir," she said meekly.

"I'm only going to say this once, and I had better never have another occasion to repeat myself," he glowered at her. "Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," she nodded.

"I have to admit you did uncover an insurance scam," he began. "They were taking out policies on artwork and faking their destruction. Most of it was resold on the black market." He paused as his eyes glittered dangerously at her. "Now for the fun part. That was the most dangerous, idiotic, and reckless escapade I have ever seen. Not only did you put yourself, your friends, and your co-workers in danger, you jeopardized the investigation. I do not ever want to hear of anything so foolhardy in the future. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," she answered sheepishly.

"You can go now," the sergeant dismissed her. As she got up to leave the sergeant called out to her once more. "And Belden," he said with a twinkle in his eyes, "you might want to consider joining the force one day."

"Yes, sir," she said with a grin.

THE END