As promised, Jim sat on Catherine's porch the next morning when she pulled in the drive from taking Lindsey to school. He was holding a small box of chocolate éclairs and smirking.

Catherine opened the door and he followed her in. Turning, she took the éclairs from his hands, put them down on the foyer table, and proceeded to commit what in other circumstances might be considered sexual assault. But Jim wasn't complaining about being the victim…not at all.

The onslaught began as soon as the door was closed behind him and continued into the living room. He was marginally aware of their progress through her house until he found himself on her bed with her on top of him. Somewhere along the way he seemed to have lost his clothes, as had she. But nope, he wasn't complaining one bit. He tried to take control of the situation, restrain the assailant, but she was having none of it. He was at her mercy and loving every second of it; loving her.

"God, you are amazing Baby," he murmured as they descended from the ecstasy created by their coupled bodies. Catherine hovered over him, her heavy lidded, satiated eyes gazing into his. "You're not so bad yourself Mr. Éclair. I so enjoyed your different view of big, warm, and creamy."

He pulled her down into a long, loving kiss and then rolled her over, encompassing her in his arms to hold her. "I missed you so much last night, I couldn't sleep," he whispered.

"Me too. I kept having these dreams…"

"Good ones, I hope?" He was nuzzling her ear.

"Oh very good," she smiled, "but not good for sleep."

"Mmmmm, mine too. I um…well, let's just say it's been a long time since certain urges have kept me awake like that. All I could think about was you…"

"Jim, how are we going to do this? What about work? I mean, if we are at a scene together, how am I supposed to keep my mind on the job when all I want is to…well, commit a crime myself."

He snickered. "And what crime would that be? Or was this a sample?"

"Very much a sample. Who knows, I might show up at your office one day, throw you down on your desk and have my way with you. What do you think about that?" Her look was wicked.

"I think I'd be the envy of the PD." He smirked.

"And you'd be struttin' like a peacock as a result, I'll bet."

Grinning, he replied. "I'll be struttin' anyway; that is, if I can walk after your assault just now." He pulled her tighter to him. There was entirely too much distance between them, he thought, and he needed to feel more of her warm skin on his.

Catherine inhaled the scent of him as he wrapped her in a loving cocoon. She felt his warmth and listened to his heartbeat, relishing the effect he had on her senses. "Jim…"

"Yeah Baby?" he said quietly.

"Hold me like this forever…"

"Yeah Baby." And he kissed the top of her head to seal the promise.

They woke, still holding one another, and laid lazily on the bed as the afternoon sun crept further into the room. Jim was content to lay there, his fingers gently travelling across her smooth skin and he thought about this amazing turn of events in his life.

After a few minutes, Catherine glanced at the clock. "Oh my gosh," she exclaimed. "I've got to get moving. It'll be time to pick Lindsey up soon."

Reluctantly they separated and Catherine headed for the bathroom. Jim began searching for his clothes. It took a few minutes since they were strewn along a path through her house. Finally dressed, he waited for her to emerge from the bathroom. "How about I go home and clean up and then pick you and Lindsey up for dinner tonight? We'll let her choose the place. I think we need to let her in on what's going on between us…test the waters."

Catherine tilted her head and smiled at Jim. None, not one, of the men she had dated since Eddie had been interested in including Lindsey in their plans. None had cared how she felt or even if she cared that he was dating her mother. Yet it seemed to be a priority with Jim. She had the sudden realization that if Lindsey had a problem with him in their lives Jim would melt into the background and their developing relationship would quickly revert back to a very deep friendship. Part of her was scared by this thought, but the mother in her was gratified. Maybe she had at last found the right man; she was beginning to believe it with certainty.

"I think that sounds like a wonderful idea. About six then?"

As usual, Jim's smile was more in his eyes than on his mouth. "Six it is. I'll see you both then." He kissed her as if he was already missing her and then left. Catherine stood in the middle of the room, dazed. How have I missed this all these years?

Six came and Jim appeared on the Willows doorstep again. Lindsey had been ambivalent about the dinner date but agreed to go. When given a choice, she requested a new pizza place by the mall so Jim drove straight to it.

They had placed their order for pizza and the waitress had brought their drinks. Jim decided to try to thaw some of the ice. "So Lindsey, thank you for helping me with surprising your Mom at Radio City Music Hall. I couldn't have pulled it off without your help."

Lindsey almost smiled at him. "She said it was fun, so you're welcome."

"I wish you could have seen her up on that stage. She looked fantastic."

Lindsey looked from him to her mother. "Yeah, I'll bet she did," she said sarcastically.

Jim frowned. "She really did. It was like she was born to be a Rockette." He looked over at Catherine, who looked like she was ready to strangle her daughter.

"Yeah, she showed me the star key chain. Was that before or after you decided to sleep with her?" Her anger was apparent.

Jim was stunned by the teenager's vehemence. Catherine reacted first. "Lindsey, apologize to Jim."

"Why? You two have done it haven't you. I mean, come on Mom…you spent all that time away…we all knew you'd end up in his bed."

Now there was no doubt. Catherine really did want to strangle her daughter. Jim spoke up. "Lindsey, one of the reasons I wanted to have dinner with you tonight is to talk about this…your mother and I. I mean, we've been friends for a long time, but I told her on this trip that I want more…a longtime relationship. You get what I'm saying?"

"Yeah…sure. You want in her in your bed. Most men do so it's no surprise. The surprise is that she wasn't in it sooner."

Jim sighed, trying to collect more patience. "If that's what you think, then you are missing the point. I love your mother, Lindsey. I want to explore the possibility of a serious relationship with her. But if it is a problem for you, then I won't. I don't want to get between the two of you."

Lindsey glared at him. "Nice tactic….different at least. None of the others tried to use me to get to her…"

"Lindsey!" Catherine exclaimed.

Lindsey looked at her mother. "It's not his fault, you know. Men sniff around you all the time…maybe if you didn't dress like a tramp all the time…but hey, it's who you are, tight?"

Jim hadn't been prepared for this and tried to collect his thoughts. He looked from Lindsey to Catherine and saw how hurt she was by her daughter's comments. "Lindsey," he began, "If you don't want me seeing your mother then just say so."

"Like it'll matter," she fired at him. "She'll do whatever she wants, no matter what I feel about it."

"Lindsey, I am warning you," Catherine said in a low, angry tone.

"What, you'll send me to my room? Yeah, like that'll stick. Don't know what the fuss is all about anyway. He is so not your type."

"Lindsey, stop it now…right now."

"He's short, balding, old…you always like your men young and hot. So why him?"

Catherine's eyes shot to Jim. Lindsey's spite had found its mark; Jim looked shaken. "Not that I owe you an explanation, Lindsey…but Jim is very considerate and loving. I would think that watching me make one mistake after another with men, you would realize that the glamour boys aren't worth the time of day. Besides, Jim is the right height for me, he's not bald, and he is most definitely not old."

"Oh, so that translates as good in bed, I suppose," shot Lindsey.

"Lindsey, please…" Jim pleaded. This feels like trying to talk to Ellie, he thought.

Lindsey looked at her mother. "He's just gonna dump you like all the others and then you'll end up crying all night and I'll have to try to help you…"

"Lindsey, Jim's not like that…" Why am I trying to reason with a teenager, anyway?

They ate dinner in silence and Jim drove the Willows women back to their house. Lindsey charged inside, leaving Catherine alone with Jim. "Well, that went well," she said sarcastically.

Jim looked at her forlornly. "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea…us, I mean." He stared ahead at some unknown point on the other side of the windshield.

The hurt in his voice made Catherine ache. She reached across the seat and took his hand. "Jim…" she whispered. He turned to look at her and she saw his heartbreak. Tears sat in his eyes, unshed. His face looked crumpled and he looked tired. "I refuse to let Lindsey break us apart. Please Jim…"

A single tear trickled down his cheek. "Baby, I love you. I love you too much to be the source of trouble between you and Lindsey. She's got this thing about you and men…maybe if I'm not around, if you concentrate on her for awhile, she'll get over it."

You can't pay any attention to what she said, Jim. She's just being a teenager…speaking without thinking and reacting through all those hormones."

"Yeah, I know. But she still needs you. And I know how bad things can get when your child gets the wrong idea, thinks you don't love them or something. Not being with you…it'll hurt. But to ignore Lindsey's feelings and push her on this and have things turn out between you and Lindsey like they have between me and Ellie…to have Lindsey turn out like Ellie, that would crush me. I don't ever want you to have to hear things about Lindsey like I've had to hear about Ellie. I love you too much for that."

"But …"

"No Catherine. Where Ellie is concerned, I'm full of regret. I don't want that for you. I won't let it happen. Maybe if we feel the same way after she's grown, but for now…"

Tears were falling freely now. "I love you, Baby," he whispered. "Now please, go see about her. Take care of Lindsey."

She leaned over to kiss him but he turned away, a small sob escaping as he looked out of the window. "Jim?"

"Please…just…" Struggling for control, he couldn't say anymore.

Catherine got out of his car and walked inside, a vise clamping her heart. By the time she made it to the bedroom she was crying uncontrollably. She curled around a pillow on her bed and sobbed until finally, exhausted she fell asleep.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Okay, please don't shoot me. But we Brass fans know that Jim is perfect; his world isn't.

Also I apologize. I haven't done as well this week with frequent posts. It's been a crazy week with mostly good things happening but still, a lot has been going on that kept me away from the keyboard. I'll try to do better.

Meantime, the little button is still down there somewhere.