There had been a mellowing of Jim Brass, legendary curmudgeon, over the past decade but on that night the legend returned to the police station for his shift. As his mood became obvious, his subordinates, hardened officers in thier own right, ducked for cover not wishing to encounter the wrath. Late into the shift, CSI Catherine Willows stepped into his office. "Hey Jim." She was smiling. Word had leaked over to the lab about the storm that had blown in and she had come to check on her friend.

"Catherine." His tone softened for her but only a little.

"Having a bad night?" She looked concerned...and a little amused. She had always found it humorous that he could incite such fear. She had always seen through his act and known that underneath it, he was a teddy bear.

"Could say that...bad night, bad year...bad life."

"Oh, sounds pretty serious. Look, shift will be over in a couple of hours. Let's you and me go get a beer?"

He sighed. He really didn't want to face her scrutiny, but a beer with a friend did sound good. "Okay. Meet you at Grumpy's?"

She smiled and left. He felt better...but just a little.

After work Catherine headed to the bar. She found Jim already there, half way through his beer. "Sorry," he smirked. "Got started without you." She ordered hers and settled onto the stool next to him. She slipped her hand over his and spoke. "Jim, what's up? You've been a bit wierd lately and then last night...well, you dialed the clock back ten or fifteen years."

He sipped from his mug and then swallowed. He wouldn't look at her. "Yeah, well...last night I felt like that Jim Brass. The guy who came out here with all that baggage and an axe to grind."

"So what happened?"

"Look, Catherine. I really would rather not talk about it."

"Yeah, okay. But Jim, you know you have friends. Whatever it is, you don't have to be alone."

"That's just it, Catherine. I'm so god-damned tired of being alone. Going home to an empty house. No hope for a future that is anything but more perps and perverts."

"Jim, you've never had a problem getting girls...when you wanted to."

He flinched. "I don't want to get girls, Catherine. I want a woman. Hmmmp, there's an image for you. Caveman Brass dragging his woman into the cave by her hair." He snorted into his beer.

"Oh, I don't imagine you'd have to do much dragging. I know several women that would go willingly."

"Yeah, until they found out what a washed up old grouch I am."

"I don't believe that for one minute, Jim. You're one of the funniest men I know. A lot of women find that very attractive, you know. And with those broad shoulders and those steamy blue eyes of yours, well you've melted more than one of Victoria's secrets." She watched him stare into his glass. "But I have the feeling we aren't talking about women in gerneral...but one in particular."

Jim sat very still. Should I spill my guts and see what she says? No, keep it to yourself. You've already been a big enough fool. No need to tell her waht a jackass you've been. Still, she might be able to give you some perspective...and maybe a way out.

"You know I've been eating alot a this place I found a few months ago?"

"Yeah, Nick and Greg go there alot."

"The owner, she ...well..."

"Isn't she the one that took you home from the hospital after you got knocked out?"

"Yeah, took real good care of me."

Her eyes narrowed. "Jim what happened when you were staying at her place?"

Assuming his innocent look that he knew wouldn't fool her for one minute he answered. "Nothing...not that I didn't want to...but..." Catherine waited patiently. Jim needed to talk at his own pace. She watched as different emotions played over his face until finally resignation settled in. "Thing is...see...she's a lot younger than me."

"How much, Jim?"

"About twenty years. She has her whole life ahead...and me, well...I guess mine's starting to wind down."

"You're not winding down Jim. It's just that you quit beating your head against the wall. But aside form that; so there's twenty years between you...so what? Is she interested? You obviously are."

Jim smirked, "oh yeah...she's interested. She...I ...god, Catherine, I didn't know I had that kind of heat left in me."

"You saying that you..."

"No! Not that, well...no just some hard core making out, you know...but I walked away. It just doesn't seem right..."

"Because she's younger than you?"

"Yeah. She could still have a family...you know, kids and all. Me, I'm past all that."

"Well, that puts her...what, mid thirties maybe? Old enough to know what she wants.And as for the family thing; maybe she doesn't want it...or can't have it. Besides, would it be so terrible if you did start over in that department?"

"Oh, yeah...that's be great. Just wheel me into the high school graduation. Be sure the little cup is under my chin so I can drool into it."

"Hey Jim, Seventy-something isn't as bad as it used to be. And as much as I detested so much about Sam's life, there is one thing I always admired. He lived it...fully, right up to his death. He didn't let anything slow him down. I think that's a good way to live, just not running over everthing in your path like he did. But sucking every bit of the marrow out of the bone...know what I'm saying."

"Yeah, I think so. But it still doesn't feel right."

"Well, just give yourself a break. You're being too gloomy. I can understand why she's interested. And if you're interested too...well. why not see where it goes?"

"Because Catherine, I don't think I could take it if things blew up. I just don't seem to recover from things like I used to." He was moross.

"Well, maybe that just means you work a little harder a getting it right this time. But you deserve some happiness, Jim...as much as any man I know, you are due."

They finished their beers. Jim thanked her for the friendly chat and promised to think about what she said. They headed out of the bar and home.

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Oh my, where do I go from here? Hmmmm, any suggestions?