Jim stayed at Jenny's that day and the next day also. She had worked the second day, running up to check on him whenever she had a chance. He was feeling much better by the time she closed the cafe. He was enjoying the food at every meal and the company in between. Over the years he had gotten used to be on his own but never really liked it. It wasn't that he always wanted to talk, but that he liked having another body in the room; liked the feeling that someone actually cared that he ws there. And Jenny seemed to. By the end of the second day though, he ws insisting that he go home. He was concerned that he was taking too much of her time; she had precious little of her own time as it was. But his larger concern was that as he began to feel better, he was having a more difficult time keeping his hands off of her. His self respect depended on doing just that.

Finally she agreed to drive him to his house. Once he was settled in to her satisfaction, she left. Jim sat in his easy chair, feeling very lonely. Reaching for the remote and turning on his tv he thought, it's better this way. I'll stay away for awhile until I get myself under control again. His sigh was deep and his heart was heavy.

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A few days later he was back at work. His face looked horrible, but he was feeling much better. Already tired of the sympathetic looks as people passed him in the hall, he had retreated to his office. There he sat concentrating on the part of his job he hated the most; the administrative stuff. Hearing a knock at his door he looked up to see Nick standing there. "Hey Nick. What brings you to my part of the world?"

"Had an interrogation to do. Working that B&E on the strip with Vega. Thought I'd poke my head in while I was here," smiled the Texan.

"So, case solved?"

"Yeah, pretty much. Have a few lose ends but it'll be in the bag by the end of the shift. So how you feeling?"

"Better. A lot better than my face looks, I can tell you that." Jim was smirking.

"Yeah, we coulda used you in the room just now. Your face woulda scared the hell outa the suspect." laughed Nick.

Jim chuckled. "How's the gang? Haven't seen you guys since I've been back. Kinda chained to my desk for a few more days. Seems the Sheriff actually cares about my sorry ass and doesn't want me in the field until next week."

"We're okay. Busy, as usual. Grissom caught a case with lots of bugs in it so you know he's a happy man. Sara's on vacation. Don't know how that happened, actually. But somehow Griss convinced her to take a few days off. Everybody else is about the same, I guess."

Jim smiled. "Maybe I'll poke my head in over there later. Let everyone have a chance to feel sorry for me with this face and all."

"Hey Brass, I ate at Jenny's today. She was asking how you're doing. Said she hadn't seen you in a few days. She seemed kinda worried...I dunno, just not smiling like usual. Anyway, might wanna poke your head in there too."

"Yeah...I'll,uh, have to do that. Thanks."

"Well, back to the lab. Listen, you go easy, okay. No more playing the hero for awhile. Sure is good to have you back, though."

"Thanks, Nick." Brass rolled his eyes. Hero my ass...dumb jerk is more like it.

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He managed to make himself stay away from Jenny's for two more days. Nick's assessment of her mood had made him feel a little guilty but he wasn't sure he had his emotions under control. Determined not to cross some invisible line with her, he wanted to put his feelings back in the box before seeing her again. He had debated himself many times and the conclusion was always the same; he was too old for her. Oh, but he did miss her cooking.

He waited for the mid morning lull between breakfast and lunch. She usually was finished with her part of the kitchen work by then and took a break. As he walked in she was sitting at the table in the corner, having a little snack. She looked up and upon seeing him, a huge smile broke out; a smile that he'd come to think of as his smile. He took a deep breath and his chest felt so huge he thought he'd pop the buttons on his shirt. Keep it in the box, Jimmy. Willing his heart to slow down, he spoke. "Hi Jenny."

"Your face looks terrible, but you sure look good." Joy danced in her eyes; a dark blue today. He noticed that her shirt was navy blue. That's it! Her eyes change color depending on what she's wearing...why didn't I see that before?"

"I feel better than I look, I promise. I just came by for a cup of coffee and to thank you for looking after me."

She walked behind the counter and returned with his coffee. "No thanks needed, Jim. You were helping us out. My neighbor was being robbed ...it could have just as easily been me. You were due some looking after."

Jim put on his best Jimmy Stewart face and rubbed his thumb on the table top. "Auh shucks, ma'am. Don't owe me anything. I was just doing my job," he drawled.

She burst out laughing. "Jim. I didn't know you do impersonations."

"Not often...just when the occassion seems right." He was grinning. So she appreciated my humor there...

"Jim...I wanted to ask what you are doing for Thanksgiving."

"Thanksgiving?" He was feeling a bit flustered. Uh oh...can't spend the day with her...won't be able to stay out of trouble that long.

"Yeah, you know...turkey, stuffing...getting stuffed. Pilgrims, Indians...football."

"Yeah...ah, I usually work holidays. I don't have any family to spend them with and it seems unfair that the younger guys have to miss it with their family just because I'm senior to them. So I work them and let the guys with family have a chance at a normal holiday."

Her eyes crinkled at the corners as her face smiled. "Very noble of you. Me, I'd take that holiday and sleep all through it."

Jim laughed. "Yeah, I have done that a time or two."

"Well, when you finish working, why don't you stop by. I'll have some turkey for you. And you can help me decorate."

"Decorate?"

"Yeah, I spend Thanksgiving decorating the cafe for Christmas. We're suppossed to have all our Christmas stuff up for that Friday. The retailers really want eveyone in the Christmas shopping mood." Her expression betrayed her disdain for the whole idea.

"Okay, I'll help you decorate. Gotta warn you though, I never have been very good at it. Less is more; that's how I look at it."

"Good. Now I won't be so lonely all day. There's no lonlier feeling than decorating for Chrismas all by yourself."

"Unless, it's trying to celebrate Christmas all by yourself," he groaned.

They chatted a while longer and then Jim said that he had to leave. He was still on duty and should head back to his office. As he reached in his pocket to pay for the coffee, her hand covered his. The warmth of her touch sent electricity through his whole being. "Treat's on me," she said.

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