Just a note in response to some of the reviews: Some readers have suggested that Catherine and Jim have a baby after I had them "lose" a baby in earlier chapters. I'm sticking with what Jim told Catherine, however. The odds of a couple their ages conceiving and carrying to full term a healthy baby are poor. It does happen but there are many factors against it. The character of Catherine is in her late forties, pushing fifty. Pre-menopause is certainly affecting her fertility and quality of eggs, as well as her body's ability to handle a pregnancy. Jim is pushing sixty. While I've written him as still a very robust lover, the reality is that men face their own issues at that age. Fertility is an issue as well as the quality of the sperm. Chromosomal defects increase dramatically for babies born to such couples. While I appreciate the "sweetness" of a baby born to our fantastic couple, I just don't want to go there. If I stick with the reality of the situation, it would be too depressing. And while I enjoy good fantasy, I am one who tends to keep at least one foot grounded in reality. Now, on with the story!
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Catherine slept fitfully until the phone rang. Gil asked her to open her front door. "What?" Why?" she asked drowsily.
"Please Cath, just do it."
She made her way to the door, opened it and gasped when she saw his expression. "Jim?" she cried in terror.
Gil reached over and grabbed her. "He's at the hospital, Cath. The perp shot him but it's a through and through…not life threatening. The bullet missed anything vital. But…when I heard, I thought I should be the one to tell you. He's going to be okay, Cath. Really."
Tears were streaming down her face. Lindsey had heard the commotion and appeared in the doorway from the hall. "Mom?"
"Jim's been…hurt," Catherine told her daughter. "I'm going to the hospital…"
"Me too. I'll be ready in a sec," the teen yelled over her shoulder as she ran down the hall."
Catherine looked at Gil. "You'll drive us?"
"Of course. Throw on some clothes and we'll head over."
Jim woke in the ER. His shoulder ached and his head felt like lead. A nurse was hovering, checking the IV and performing other tasks that he really didn't want to think about. He looked around and recognized no one. "Catherine?" he whispered.
The nurse turned and smiled at him. "You're back with us…"
"Catherine?" he managed again. He looked towards the door, hoping she would walk through. He couldn't explain it really, but he needed her…wanted her. Somehow he knew he'd be okay if she would just walk through that door.
The nurse finished her tasks and left as Jim drifted back into darkness. No one was aware, then, when the door opened and then quietly closed. A small body darted across the room and two small blue eyes peeked up over the edge of the gurney. Tears formed in the eyes as they remained riveted on the figure lying on the bed.
A few minutes later a commotion was heard in the hall. The small blue eyes blinked and then disappeared as the small body crawled under the bed. The door opened and Catherine charged through, Gil close behind.
She made her way to the gurney and stopped, studying Jim. Her hand went to his face, stroking his cheek lovingly. "Jim," she whispered.
His eyes fluttered open and focused on her. A small smile crept into the corners of his mouth. "Hey…"
"Don't you dare 'hey' me," Catherine snapped. "You promised me…you promised me, Jim."
"I know…sorry, Babe." Jim licked his lips. "I tried…but when I saw the kid; had to get him out."
Catherine sighed. "I know…it's who you are…part of what I love about you. It's just…you scared me Jim."
He reached for her hand, taking it in his. "Sorry…didn't mean to…love you," he said weakly.
"Just…rest, do what they tell you to do and get well. I want you home."
"Why, so you can kick my butt?"
"Yeah, that and more," she smiled.
Jim drifted back into oblivion, feeling better now that Catherine was with him. Gil stepped up from behind Catherine, putting his arm around her. "He'll be okay, Cath. It's okay."
"Yeah," she said, tears trickling out of her eyes. "This time."
"You knew when you married him…"
"I know but it doesn't make it easier," she sighed.
The door opened again and Lindsey came in. "How is he, Mom?"
"Okay, I think. The nurse said the doctor is with a more serious emergency and Jim is next on his list. They've got him hooked up to an IV and have the bleeding under control."
"What happened?"
Gil spoke up. "The suspect had the boy in his car and was headed out. An officer shot out the windshield and Jim took advantage of the distraction to open the passenger door and pull the boy out. The suspect opened fire and PD returned fire. We haven't determined whose bullet went through Jim."
"Oh my god," Catherine gasped. "Friendly fire?"
"Possibly."
Catherine looked back at Jim. "You don't think some one took advantage of the situation to retaliate for Bell, do you?"
"I doubt it, Catherine. I think everyone knows Jim would give anything to be able to take that bullet back."
Dammit Gil, if they didn't back him properly…"
"Cath, don't jump to any conclusions. Whatever ill will was hanging on was buried when Jim took that bullet from Cutler. Everyone respects Jim for doing what he did that night. And Jim doesn't need to hear your doubts. He has to work with these guys…"
Yeah, and he needs to know he can depend on them…know, not just believe."
Something made Jim's gurney shake. Gil's eyebrows shot up as he looked at Catherine. Together they leaned over, peering under the bed. There they spotted the boy. "Drew?" Gil asked softly.
The boy scooted further back, away form the CSIs. Lindsey had made her way over to the other side of the bed and bent down, scooping the underweight kid up. "I got 'em."
Gil stepped around and took the boy from her. They watched as the boy curled into himself in a defensive posture, as if he expected to be hit. "It's okay Drew. No one is going to hurt you," Gil said softly. "But why are you in here?"
Drew slowly turned to look at Jim. A small finger emerged as he pointed at the detective.
Catherine stepped closer. "You came to see about Jim?"
Drew nodded and pointed again. Gil moved closer to the bed to give the boy a better look. "He's hurt but he will be okay, Drew. Right now, he's just tired so he's asleep."
Drew wiggled until Gil couldn't hold him and he crawled out onto Jim's bed. He carefully edged up and nestled in under Jim's free arm and rested against him, his small arm lying across Jim's chest. Within minutes, he was asleep too.
The three watched in fascination as the small boy melded with Jim. "That's odd," commented Gil.
"Yeah," agreed Catherine. "He hardly knows Jim…just from Jim pulling him from the car."
"I think it's kind of cute," added Lindsey.
Just then the door flew open and an out of breath woman in her mid fifties blew into the room. "There he is!" She looked straight at Drew.
"Who are you?" Catherine asked. "And why are you in my husband's room?"
"I'm Edna Goodlette and I'm from CPS. Drew is one of my cases now. He ran away from the nurse that was taking care of him and we've been looking all over since then."
"What are his injuries?" Gil asked.
"A few cuts and bruises from tonight and a pretty good knot on his head. But he shows sign of severe neglect and abuse, so I wanted him checked out."
Catherine looked at the boy, her heart breaking for him. "How old is he?"
"Six but he looks more like a four year old. He barely talks and he's scared of everyone and everything." The woman huffed as she looked at him.
"Well he's not scared of Jim," Lindsey observed.
"So I see…" the woman said.
Jim's eyes began to open and he groaned, which stirred Drew. The small blue eyes flew open, terror stricken as they focused on all the people in the room. He burrowed into a surprised Jim, who chuckled when he realized what was pushing on his side. "Drew?"
The small head gazed up over Jim's chest into his face, eyes wide with hope.
"Hey kid, whatcha doing here?"
Drew continued to stare. "He came to visit," Catherine told Jim. "He was hiding under the bed until we realized he was there. Then he crawled into bed with you. He won't have anything to do with the rest of us, even is afraid of us. He just wants you."
Jim looked at Catherine as she explained but now his gaze turned back to Drew. He used his good arm to hold the little guy closer. Then he glanced at the older woman.
"She's CPS, Jim. She came to take Drew back to his room," Catherine explained.
Jim felt the shudder that travelled through the small body next to him. He looked back at the boy. "You should go with her."
Drew clung to Jim tighter. Ms. Goodlette stepped closer to take the boy and everyone saw the panic in the small body. Jim held up his hand to stop the woman. "He'll go when he is ready, not before," Jim told her.
"But I…" as she saw the determination in Jim's face, she paused. "This is highly irregular."
Lindsey stepped closer, her body providing a barrier between Drew and the woman. "Well Jim's not your regular guy. He's special and I guess Drew sees that."
The woman huffed again and then stormed out of the room. "Where do you think she's going?" Catherine asked.
"To get reinforcements, I suppose." Gil smiled. "The Brass clan is pretty intimidating."
Jim chuckled and then winced as pain shot through his shoulder. The doctor entered and immediately insisted that the child be removed from the bed. Drew cowered as he realized what the doctor was saying. Gil reached to pick him up but Drew scooted over to Lindsey instead. She smiled and lifted him off the bed, then took his hand. "We're going to get something to eat," she told the others. "Then I'll bring Drew back so he can check on Jim."
Catherine smiled and winked at her daughter. Reaching into her wallet, she handed Lindsey some cash. "Don't let the wicked witch find you."
"No worry…" Lindsey said as she led Drew from the room.
Gil watched the scene with amusement. "Catherine I think you may have a son soon."
Catherine looked over at Jim who was watching as the doctor checked his wound. "Jim and I need to talk first…"
"Of course." Gil smirked as he looked at Jim also. Jim had a huge heart. There was no doubt in Gil's mind how things would turn out.
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Many, many thanks to those who review. You make my day! I do appreciate your continued interest and it keeps me interested too. Okay, so Jim's not dead; not even close. And Drew is in the picture. Comments? Suggestions? Tomatoes?
