I can hear his footsteps behind me as he's running to catch up with me. I probably made a mistake when I called him my new partner – and in front of Joel of all people. I track Sandburg as he comes up behind me and pats me on the back. He's really into that touchy-feely sort of thing he talked about in the hospital.

"You were just kidding about going through the academy, right? I don't want to be a pi – cop."

I hear what he almost said. He almost said pig. Not a flattering description of a police officer. Well, he struck me as being a hippy.

"No. Actually, I was serious. If you're going to be backing me up, I need to know that you are trained enough in the basics to protect me and not get yourself killed."

"Jim? That won't work. The longer I'm away from you, the longer it will take to get you under control. Can't you see that?"

I can see that. That's just the point. I just don't want to admit that to Sandburg. The last thing I want to do is to relinquish my life to someone else. Especially if that someone else is Blair Sandburg. I'm sure he's a perfectly fine kid. But I don't know him.

"I'm still going to have to run it by the captain somehow. I know the department issues ride-along passes to people. Usually, they last a couple of months. Maybe you can do it that way. Come up with a story that you want to ride-along with a police officer."

"I don't think that's going to give me enough access, man. I see this as an ongoing prospect. You'll never get full control in a couple of months. Basics? Yeah. But not the everyday things that you took for granted before your senses came back on line. But if you want me to, I can come up with a story that will work."

"Good. You need anything else?"

He backs up a few steps. I can see the hesitation come across his face.

"No. I'm good, man. When do you want to get together again?"

"I'll contact you. Let's not rush into things."

Truth be told, I was still wary about the guy. The background check hadn't even been finished yet. If he was hiding things in his past, I wanted to know beforehand.

I turn around and walk off, effectively dismissing him. Joel offers me a ride back to the station. I accept it. As I get into the car, I look back at Sandburg. He's just standing there. He's probably in shock somewhat over what happened. I shake the feeling of going back. He's a big boy and he can find his own way. But the feeling doesn't leave me.

I start on the reports when I get back to the station. That's when it hits me. I should have had Sandburg come back to the station with me. He'll have to give his side of the story formally in a report. I grab the phone and make a call to his office at the university. There's no answer. I turn over his card and see a number listed there. Must be where he lives. I call the number. It's a Chinese restaurant. I ask for Sandburg. The woman tells me that he won't be there until later this evening. She asks if I want to leave a message. I tell her no. I can contact him at the university. I finish my reports and get ready to leave. I've got to go by my place, change clothes and go to Carolyn's. I'll find out if she really has learned to cook. I think all the time we were married, I cooked the majority of the meals we had at home.

My thoughts keep drifting back to Sandburg. I'm not quite sure why. I think about the past couple of days we spent together. How he was so patient when I didn't want to be. How he accepted my failures better than I did. When things didn't go right, I'd get frustrated and he would be the picture of calm. I wonder where he went. He didn't tell me where he lives. Maybe it's over the Chinese restaurant. Or below it. I'll contact him tomorrow.

See, that's why I want to take things cautiously. I don't even know this guy.