It had been a month since Jim Brass had discovered his new epicurial adventure cafe. He had tried almost all the menu items at least once and hardly ever missed out on one of her specials. The adventure with the proprietess was exciting also. As he climbed off the scale the previous morning, Jim noted with displeasure that this was costing him...more than money. Either he was going to have to double his workouts or cut back on the feasts. Speaking of feasts, Thanksgiving is coming up soon. Guess I'll be working this one too. Wonder if Jenny...no, she's probably looking forward to a nice quiet, non cooking day at home.

His shift had turned into a double...and then some. It was getting dark already and as he headed out of the station, he turned down the street towards his favorite cafe. He wasn't sure if she would be there or not since she was trying to find more good help and cut back on her hours a little. But he knew her good food would be. That'll be another hour at the gym.

The inside of the cafe was a bright contrast to the darkness outside. As he stood trying to decide if he wanted more time in the gym or the Alfredo special, he caught her coming out of the kitchen in the corner of his eye. She looked tired. Still, when she saw him, she smiled that smile of hers. He returned her grin and once again was drawn to her eyes. What is it with her eyes? Tonight they look almost grey. It seemed to Jim that her eyes changed color daily.

"You're still here?"

"Yes," she replied. "No rest for the wicked." she smirked.

"Thought you hired some new help?"

"Lasted four hours. He's gone. I didn't like the way he treated my customers."

Suddenly they both her yelling outside. At first Jim was inclined to credit roudy teens with the noise but then he realized that the voices sounded older...and panicked.

He ran outside and spotted a shopkeeper a few doors down screaming and yelling; pointing at a guy that had just run out of the shop. Turning his head, he yelled over his shoulder to Jenny to call 911. Then he took off after the guy. Jim wasn't as fast as he had been just a few years earlier. But he was smarter than most of the crooks in Vegas. He saw where the guy cut through an alley and Jim knew where it ended. He headed that way. Rounding the corner of a building and heading to the end of the alley, Jim's head met with something cold and hard. He was out before he hit the ground. The perp dropped the fence pole and ran away. Jim Brass never knew what hit him.

Emergency vehichles came from all directions. Jenny described the events and officers fanned out in all directions looking for Brass and his perp. They found Brass, still out cold. Jenny followed the ambulance to the hospital and waited to find out how he was. It wasa easy to know when he was conscious, the entire hospital heard him bellow when the doctor suggested that he should stay there the night. A nurse came out to find Jenny. "Miss? Didn't you come in with Captain Brass?"

"Yes."

"The doctor would like to speak to you."

Jenny followed her back to the exam room where a very upset Brass was fuming at the doctor. Jenny felt bad for her friend; the left side of his face was pretty bruised. She could see the swelling along his hairline and there was a gash over his ear.

"Look, Captain Brass," the doctor was saying. "You really shouldn't be alone tonight. You have a concussion and you need to be observed."

"I'm not staying." Jim's tone and physical attitude left no room for argument.

Seeing Jenny the doctor approached her."Please, talk some sense into your friend. It will only be one night in the hospital."

She glanced from him to Jim and saw how uncomfortable he was with the suggestion. "Well, if there's someone to keep an eye on him...then could he leave?"

"I suppose that would be alright."

"Well, then he can stay with me tonight. Then if he seems okay tomorrow he can go home."

"Wait" JIm started..."I don't want to put you out...I could...stay...here, I guess." His lack of enthusiasm would have been funny in other circumstances.

"Oaky, Miss..." said the doctor. "But I need to give you some instructions. And a prescription. His head's going to hurt like hell for a few days." He went on to explain that Jim had a concussion...no surprise there...and that short term memory loss was probable. He might wake up tomorrow and not know what hit him, literally. The doctor also explained warning signs to watch for and if they appeared she should bring him back immediatly.

She thanked the doctor; Jim thanked her; and they left.